Hyderabad (IANS): Luxury Car makers are in for a shock again. After being mute spectators to Indian governments frequent and sudden rule changes, that left many carmakers scrambling, some of the industry’s big names are calling on the government to set clear, stable policies – or face the risk of delays to major investment.
Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Saturday termed as unfortunate the decision of GST Council to increase the cess on luxury cars, saying this would hurt the segment.
The German automobile major also hinted that the prices of luxury cars would leap back to pre-GST regime or even higher.
“The decision to increase the cess yet again is very unfortunate and totally overlooks the contribution we make to the industry and to the economy. Though luxury car industry’s volume contribution is very low, our value wise contribution is much higher and that has immense potential to grow even more in the future, had there been fair taxation,” Roland Folger, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said in a statement.
He said that by continuous taxation of the segment, the overall revenue generation was going to be hurt, as the increase in price would hurt hurt demand.
“It seems the contribution of luxury car industry to the total PV market in India will remain constricted, though in the other developed economies, it is on a higher side and continues to rise gradually. With this increase in cess now, the prices are bound to leap back to the pre-GST regime, in some cases higher than the pre-GST regime, thus negating altogether the benefits of GST regime,” he added.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, which met here on Saturday, decided to increase the cess on SUVs by seven percent. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters that in the new tax regime, the SUVs had got 11 percent tax advantage and the Council decided to increase the cess.
List of Top Most Famous and Best Jewellery Designers In India: Since times immemorial, humans have indulged in the art of designing and creating jewellery. Many civilization’s as old as those of Mesopotamia and Egypt were distinguished for their advancements in jewellery and art. Jewellery designing has come a long way from the simple beadwork of ancient times to the sophisticated metalworking and gem cutting of present times.
Jewellery designers, as professionals have an important role to play in the society. It’s with their help and expertise, that we are able to resolve as tedious a task as jewellery selection for various occasions and events. N4M media through its team of experts, went about selecting and choosing the “Top most famous and best Jewellery designers in India” and the list follows:
Malvika Vaswani
Based out of Mumbai, Malvika Vaswani is a new cross-disciplinary design house, creating products across categories, bound by a core philosophy. The brand is an expert amalgamation of design, craft and process, resulting in its uniqueness and appeal. The studio believes in creating for each unique instance, what complements an individual user. The designs are based on the philosophy that products aren’t temporary, but long lasting and intrinsically valuable. Malvika Vasvani’s firm belief in honoring the qualities of materials, letting them take appropriate form and function leads to create beautifully designed products.
A jewellery designer based out of Kolkata, Eina trained under the pioneering conceptual jewellery artist Ruudt Peters in Holland, and studied at Alchimia Contemporary Jewellery School in Florence. She has built a brand of herself and is famous as a luxury jewellery designer of India.
https://www.einaahluwalia.com/
Alpana Gujral
Daughter of famous artist Satish Gujral, Alpana’s taste of aesthetics developed from the home environment itself. Alpana Gujral is a veteran high end fashion jewellery designer who firmly believes in the fact that Jewelry isn’t meant to make you look rich, rather it’s an essential to adorn you. A pass out from the Delhi school of art, Alpana’s collections are influenced and give a touch of the Mughal era. Her designs reflect of traditional glimmer infused into modernity.
Website: http://alpanagujral.com
Asha Kamal Modi
A professionally trained gemologist based out of Delhi, Asha Kamal Modi is a stalwart amongst the Jewellery Designers in India. She started her store under the brand name “Art Karat” as early as year 1988 when jewellery designing was barely establishing itself as a profession. Asha’s jewellery is mostly influenced by traditional Kundan and Rajasthani styles, while in her initial days her designs drew inspirations from the Khajuraho and Mughal art-forms.
Website: https://www.artkarat.com
Ms.Poonam Soni
Many a hidden talents get identified by fluke and that’s what happened in case of Ms Poonam Soni. Poonam Soni started her career as a hobby. Her designs initially floated on the net and owing to their uniqueness started becoming popular among the social circles. Poonam is a gold medalist from Delhi University.
She is truly a pioneer who started a luxury brand introducing the concept of ‘bespoke jewelry’, signature boutiques & stressed upon service & craftsmanship. Today Poonam Soni has successfully created India’s first luxury jewelry brand catering to a select & niche clientele.
Website poonamsoni.com
Ms.Pallavi Foley
A jewellery designer cum artist Pallavi Foley has numerous awards to her credit. She is a graduate from the NIFT Delhi passing out in year 2000. Today, she runs her own studio and boutique in Bangalore. Owing to high demand for her creativity, Pallavi also provides design consultancy to many Indian and International jewellery brands.
Pallavi has over 14 yrs of experience in her field. She has also been called the Elsa Peretti of the new generation by the World Gold Council.
Website: pallavifoley.com
Neelam Kothari
A formal Indian actress turned jewellery designer, Neelam is infact from a family into jewellery making. Even while pursuing acting, she always was interested in jewellery designing and kept herself associated in the family business. She also pursued a course in jewellery-designing from Mumbai and after quitting films in 2001, started off commercially on her own under the brand name Neelam Jewels. She formally expanded operations launching her jewellery store in Mumbai in 2011 under the name Neelam Kothari Fine Jewels.
Ms.Varuna D Jani
Based out of Mumbai, Varuna D Jani is a renowned name in Jewellery designing. Providing contemporary designs and customisation of her jewellery, Varuna D Jani launch her signature label ‘Varuna D Jani’ in 2006. Thereafter, she expanded it to a flagship store in 2008. Varuna D Jani puts together a beautiful blend of Indian and International sensibilities in her designs. Her expertise and superior craftsmanship is clearly visible in her collection of stylish masterpieces that she designed over a period of time.
Website: varunadjani.com
Ms. Mira Gulati
She is a Delhi-based designer and owner of the Mirari boutique. Mira Gulati studied and trained in the US as a gemologist and jewellery designer. Mira’s ability to capture the spirit of modernity is amply reflected in her exquisite designs.
Website: www.mirari.com/
Ms.Nitya Arora
Mumbai based Nitya Arora is an alumni of the Parsons School of Design, New York from where she majored in fashion designing. Growing up as a child in South Mumbai, Art Deco architecture has always influenced and inspired her. She founded India’s first luxury fashion jewellery store under the brand name of VALLIYAN in 2008. She has a passion working with semi-precious stones, glass, crystals, metals, acrylic, wood and rare materials, with gold plating for the designs that she keeps innovating. https://valliyan.com/
Ms.Suhani Pittie
Suhani Pittie is a jewellery designer based out of Hyderabad, India. Suhani graduated from the famous Gemological Institute of America, USA. Thereafter, in 2004 she launched her own jewellery store under the brand name SuhaniPittie. Suhani is listed as one of the top 10 most inventive and ingenious jewellery designers in the world by the World Gold Council.
PN: We encourage our readers to forward their views, votes, opinions and recommend suitable names for inclusion in N4M Media’s “Top Most Famous” lists. Our lists are revised semi-annually after detailed surveys. Forward particulars with “Kind Attn: N4M Survey” written in subject line to email address: editor@news4masses.com or fill in the Contact Form
India’s GDP growth rate falling to 5.7% following Demonetization and GST implementation drives home the point that the Indian economy is going through a severely challenging phase as additionally reflected in economic indicators like GDP, Unemployment Rate, and Inflation. The economy has been on a downward spiral in the first six months of 2017. India has recorded steep downfall from 7% to 5.7% in the real GDP, which is one of the most crucial economic indicators for a country. Furthermore, index of industrial production has gone down from about 9 % in 2015-16 to about 1.7% in the second quarter of 2017.
The Government took some radical steps in the short duration of one year- Dynamic Demonetization policy and Glorified GST. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8 last year.
Demonetization drive proved to be beneficial only to the banking sector and mobile wallet companies like Paytm
Demonetization was introduced with the goal to curb India’s shadow economy and suppress the use of illicit and counterfeit cash in the economy. However, demonetization drive proved to be beneficial only to the banking sector and mobile wallet companies like Paytm (the biggest beneficiary). Unfortunately, demonetization failed to curb black money as 90% of the scrapped and demonetized notes were back in the banking system within the first two months of the drive.
Digitization was supposed to be another benefit of Demonetization Drive. For a while, the data did suggest that online transactions increased, but the quantum of online transactions plateaued, and eventually dropped back to levels not significantly higher than pre-demonetization adoption rates.
The major tax reform, GST was implemented in July 2017 — has been widely hailed as a positive step because it should simplify business in the long run. But the implementation caused major disruption. “The implementation of the GST so far also appears to have had an adverse impact, rendering prospects for the manufacturing sector uncertain in the short term,” RBI governor Urjit Patel said on Wednesday. However, it is too early to pass a judgement on GST – within 100 days of implementation. Modi government introduced both – Demonetization and GST with the benign intention to boost Indian Economy.
From the economic point of view, it should be clearly understood that any major reform would cause disruptions in the early stage… and may prove to be developmental eventually
World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is going to have a hugely positive impact on the Indian economy. He also said that the recent slowdown in India’s economic growth is an “aberration” mainly due to the temporary disruptions in preparation for the GST, pointing out that it will get corrected in the coming months.
The prime minister claims that he has seen poverty from close quarters. His finance minister is working over-time to make sure that all Indians also see it from equally close quarters: Yashwant Sinha
To make the situation worse, the economic challenge faced by the country was turned into a political stunt when Yashwant Sinha, a former finance minister, somehow made a direct connection between a slowing GDP growth, demonetization and GST, without quite explaining how, or to what extent. In his article, ‘I need to speak up now’, he made direct allegation on the finance minister for working over-time to make sure that all Indians see poverty from close quarters. This led to the series of allegations among the political parties.
The reduction in GDP growth in the last quarter cannot be attributed to demonetization and GST alone
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi defended his stands and reassured, “It is true that there has been a reduction in growth, but it is also true that the government is fully committed to reversing this trend. Our fundamentals are strong.” The supporters of the Modi government suggested that ‘Inflation was no longer a problem’, which would certainly make things go awry.
The reduction in GDP growth in the last quarter cannot be attributed to demonetization and GST alone. There are other factors like sluggish industrial output, a stagnation of job creation, a sub-optimal monsoon, the general state of the agriculture sector – to name a few.
The GST Council has cut tax rates on 27 items and took steps to ease tax norms for small businesses and exporters
In an urgent bid to stabilize the economy, the GST Council, at its 22nd meeting held in New Delhi on October 6, has cut tax rates on 27 items and took steps to ease tax norms for small businesses and exporters.
Indian economy should be fueled from all corners ensuring that market does not fall prey to political disturbances
It is crucial for all Indian political leaders to understand the gravity of the situation and to look for a solution of the problem instead of harping about it and getting engaged in the blame game. This is the time when Indian economy should be fueled from all corners ensuring that market does not fall prey to political disturbances, which would further slow down the economy.
Disclaimer: The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of N4M Media.
The total employment losses globally due to counterfeit and piracy, which stood at 2 to 2.6 million jobs in 2013, is expected to rise to 4.2 to 5.4 million jobs in 2022, suggesting an approximate increase of 110 per cent, according to a report published by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
Apart from this, it is estimated that the total economic and social costs globally due to counterfeiting and piracy worldwide, which stood at USD 737 to USD 898 billion in 2013, is expected to rise to USD1.54 to USD1.87 trillion by 2022.
A FICCI-KPMG report namely Illicit Trade: Fueling Terror Financing and Organised Crime, which is a product of a FICCI initiative, namely the Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy [CASCADE] was launched on Thursday at the FICCI conference, MASCRADE 2017 (Movement Against Smuggling and Counterfeit Trade), to help improve our understanding of the nexus between terror financing, organised crime and illicit trade.
Terrorism is a global problem that affects almost every country of the world, consequences of which are felt by the industry, government and the civilians alike. More than 55 percent of all attacks in 2016 took place in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nigeria. In order to fund and execute these attacks, terrorist organisations require financing for which they employ different financing mechanisms such as state-sponsored financing, charities and donations, kidnapping and extortion.
It has been observed that illicit trade which includes smuggling, counterfeit and piracy is one of the most preferred mechanisms used by these organisations to finance their operations. Many prominent terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah, Lashkar-eTaiba, Al Qaida, Irish Republican Army, etc. rely on illicit trade for financing upto 20 per cent of the terror operations, recent example of which is Charlie Hebdo attacks.
“Illegal trade in smuggled, counterfeited and pirated goods dampens the economy in multidimensional ways. It destabilises the legal industry, restrains innovation and investments, reduces government revenues and hampers the health and safety of consumers. Moreover, globally it fuels transnational crime, corruption, and terrorism. As it converges with other criminal activities it undermines the rule of law and the legitimate market economy, creating greater insecurity and instability around the world,” said Dr Sanjaya Baru, Secretary general, FICCI.
Smuggling in India takes place in various forms- mis-declaration, undervaluation, misuse of end use and other means. The seizure value for mis-declaration of goods stood at Rs1,187 crore in 2016, while that of undervaluation of goods stood at Rs 254 crore. The seizure value from misuse of end use was at Rs 2,780 crore, seeing a rise from Rs 953 crore in 2015, suggesting an increase of 190 per cent in 2016 from the previous year.
The most commonly counterfeited and smuggled goods are tobacco, cigarettes, electronic items, gold, machinery and parts, alcoholic beverages, auto components, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and mobile phones. As per KPMG in India’s analysis on UN COMTRADE data for years 2012-2016, average smuggling in electronics for these years is estimated to be Rs 3,429.69 crore. Similarly, average smuggling in gold for these years is estimated to be Rs 3,119.56 crore and for machinery and parts is estimated to be Rs 5,913 crore.
The percentage penetration of illicit trade in the cigarettes market increased from 15 per cent to 21 per cent over the years 2010-2015. Whereas, the number of smokers in India over years increased, the sales volume of cigarettes went down, thereby suggesting an increase in the penetration of illicit trade in the industry.
There are certain factors that drive the growth of illicit trade in the industry. Higher taxation rates, availability of cheaper alternative, lack of awareness and lack of enforcement mechanisms are key factors that encourage the consumers to opt for counterfeited, smuggled or pirated good without realising the after effects of promoting the illicit trade.
India has always been in news for something most unusual, bizarre to brazen. From Dads selling kid for mere Rs 25000 to women being declared a witch and lynched for property. News that make your heart cringe to news that make you go bonkers, its all there popping up now and then across the media.
In another most astonishing and freakish incident, some burglars today uprooted an entire ATM and decamped with nearly Rs 30 lakh (3 million) in it after they failed to break into the system, police said today.
The incident took place in southwest Delhi’s Chhawla area and the police were informed about it yesterday.
Police said the thieves sprayed a chemical on the CCTV cameras so that they could not record their activities.
There were no clear footage of the incident, they added.
“It is suspected that the accused wanted to break open the ATM and after they could not do so, they uprooted it and took it away,” the police said. However the public is of the view that the entire operation was well planned and technologically driven as is evident from the action of spraying the cameras with chemicals that froze their operation.
The machine contained cash close to Rs 30 lakhs, they added.
Police have recovered some unclear footage in which two people can be seen inside the ATM booth. Police suspect that there were more people outside the ATM kiosk.
Top officials from India and the US today deliberated extensively to boost cooperation under various aspects of aircraft carrier technology.
The issue was discussed during the concluding session of 4th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation (JWGACTC) here, the defence ministry said.
The JWGACTC was constituted under the Indo-US Defence Trade and Technology Initiative.
The concluding session of the Joint Working Group meeting explored ways to boost cooperation between the two countries in sharing technology relating to aircraft carrier.
The Indian delegation was headed by Vice Admiral D M Deshpande, Controller Warship Production and Acquisition, while the US side was led by Rear Admiral Brian Antonio, Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Carriers.
“Both sides acknowledged the significant achievements of the Joint Working Group so far and discussed plans for future cooperation under various aspects of aircraft carrier technology such as design optimisation, construction philosophy, trials procedure and project management,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
It said the meeting marked yet another significant landmark in the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the field of aircraft carrier technology
India and the United States have pledged to enhance their cooperation as major defense partners, resolving that two of the world’s great democracies should also have the world’s greatest militaries.
United States President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila on Monday.
The two leaders discussed the comprehensive strategic partnership between the United States and India and their shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
President Trump expressed appreciation that Indian purchases of oil from the United States have surpassed 10 million barrels in recent months, and expressed confidence that stronger energy cooperation will be a geopolitical and economic game changer for both countries.
Prime Minister Modi noted that he looks forward to hosting the United States delegation to the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Summit, showcasing innovation and collaboration between India and the United States.
“The meeting lasted for about 45 minutes. Starting with President Trump saying that there is a lot of good report coming from India, he was talking mainly in economic terms,” Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said in a press briefing in Manila on Monday.
He added that the bilateral mainly focused on economic issues with the crux of the discussion was really how to grow trade and investments and how to improve market access in each other’s countries.
“Two issues which came up were obviously the non-proliferation and proliferation linkages, and also terrorism came up particularly in the context of the region west of India all the way till the Middle East,” he said.
This is the fourth meeting of the two leaders in this year.
Prime Minister Modi and Trump met briefly at a gala dinner on Sunday, and held discussions on counter-terrorism, trade and the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region.
They earlier met when PM Modi visited the U.S. and next, at the G20 Economic Summit.
While the employment scenario remains subdued in India, the Indian corporations have created greater than 113,000 jobs within the US and invested almost USD 18 billion within the nation, in accordance with an annual report which provides state-by-state breakdown of the tangible investments made and jobs created by 100 Indian companies doing enterprise in America and Puerto Rico.
The report titled ‘Indian Roots, American Soil’, which was launched by Confederation of Indian Business (CII) yesterday, states that Indian corporations have additionally contributed USD 147 million in direction of company social duty and USD 588 million as analysis and improvement expenditures within the US.
Collectively, 100 Indian corporations make use of 113,423 individuals throughout 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the report mentioned, including that the whole worth of tangible investments made by these corporations exceeds USD 17.9 billion.
The highest 5 states by which Indian corporations have generated most employment are New Jersey (8,572 jobs), Texas (7,271 jobs), California (6,749 jobs), New York (5,135 jobs) and Georgia (4,554 jobs).
Based on the report, the highest 5 states by which Indian corporations have contributed the very best international direct funding are New York (USD 1.57 billion), New Jersey (USD 1.56 billion), Massachusetts (USD 931 million), California (USD 542 million) and Wyoming (USD 435 million).
One of the biggest US job creators in IT is an Indian company, the famous Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)—part of India’s largest industrial conglomerate, the Tata Group. From 2012 to 2016, the IT services and consulting firm rankedamong the top two job creators in the American IT services sector, recruiting more than 12,500 workers from the US, according to another study by The Cambridge Group, a Chicago-based consultancy.
TCS’s US employee growth rate of 57% during the same five-year period eclipsed all other employers in the tech sector.
The CII report further brought out that the typical quantity of funding acquired from Indian corporations per state/territory was USD 187 million, noting that 85 per cent of the businesses plan to make extra investments within the US.
As many as 87 per cent of the businesses plan to rent extra workers regionally within the subsequent 5 years.
Indian business and professionals are making important contributions to the US financial system, mentioned Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna.
“The presence and attain of Indian corporations proceed to develop annually as they make investments billions of and create jobs throughout the USA,” he mentioned.
Chandrajit Banerjee, CII director normal mentioned the story of Indian funding within the US is one which showcases how intertwined the 2 nations are that contribute to one another’s success.
Indian companies are among the many quickest rising traders within the US, contributing to development and job creation within the US financial system, mentioned Senator Chris Van Hollen.
Because the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy, a powerful US-India partnership is significant for the 21st century, mentioned Congressman Ami Bera.
The friendship between the USA and India has continued to develop underneath President Trump’s administration, mentioned Congressman Pete Classes.
Indian companies have introduced a whole lot of thousands and thousands of and hundreds of jobs to Texas and, on the identical time, the reforms led by Prime Minister Modi have opened doorways for American corporations to increase their operations in India, he mentioned.
“I’m glad to see, as CII’s occasion right this moment proves, bonds between our nations ? each business and strategic – proceed to develop stronger,” Classes mentioned.
“Based on CII’s survey, Indian corporations in Virginia have invested over USD 37 million in my state, and I can solely hope that they’ll proceed to spend money on Virginia and that our engagement with these corporations will proceed to develop,” mentioned Congressman David Brat.
Along with spurring financial exercise, significantly in North Carolina, one of these funding serves to strengthen the bond between our two nations, mentioned Congressman George Holding.
The report exhibits that Indian corporations have invested over USD 195 million within the state of Illinois, and created over three,800 jobs, mentioned Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi.
“I hope that Indian corporations proceed to place down roots and spend money on our state, as our financial system and neighborhood are strengthened by their engagement with us,” he mentioned.
“As the biggest India-headquartered multinational in North America, the Tata Group has had operations and investments within the US market for a lot of a long time,” mentioned James Shapiro, resident director North America of Tata Sons Ltd.
Ravi Kumar, president and Deputy COO, Infosys mentioned his firm started working with its first US consumer over 35 years in the past and, have labored to spice up American innovation ever since.
“Earlier this yr, we introduced plans to rent 10,000 American staff over the following two years, partnering with native faculties and universities to shrink the IT expertise hole within the US, and are targeted on upskilling and reskilling staff searching for to develop their careers in pc science,” he mentioned.
The work of Infosys Basis USA has benefited over four,700,000 college students, 13,000 academics and 21,000 colleges throughout all 50 states in America since 2015, he asserted.
The findings of a latest survey amongst Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has confirmed the hardships undergone by this sector following demonetisation and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax by the government. The survey conducted by the All India Manufacturers’ Association (AIMA) which represents the interests of MSMEs, indicates a gloomy picture for the sector.
In the October to December quarter, the MSME sector saw 35% job loss as compared to 20% increase in job creation the previous quarter. The job loss was attributed to demonetisation which was announced in November, 2016.
The January to March quarter saw job loss of 30% and with remonetization gaining ground the next quarter saw improvement in job creation. So in the April to June quarter 15% jobs were created in the MSME sector as compared to job losses in the previous two quarters. Again when GST was rolled out starting July 1, 2017, the sector bore the brunt again. In the July to September quarter the sector witnessed 25% job losses, bringing lots of hardship for the worker class.
JOBS
Most people who lost their jobs were in the age group of 25 to 30 where someone is supporting the family and bringing up children. In the October to December quarter, when the impact of Demonetisation was at its peak, the 25 to 30 age group saw job losses of 40% while it was 35% for the 30 to 40 age group. The 40 to 50 age group witnessed 10% job loss while job loss was minimal at 8% in case of the 50 plus age group.
In the July to September quarter both the 25 to 30 and 30 to 40 age groups saw 35% job loss each, job loss was less in case of the other age groups. However job loss in the age group of 40 to 50 is dangerous as these people could not be reemployed and are vulnerable.
Commenting on these findings, Mr E K Raghunathan, National President, AIMA said, “The findings speak for themselves. The objective of this report was for collecting the exact ground reality without any bias or prejudice based on the two major policy changes which were announced in the past one year. Our intention is not to undermine the objective of demonetisation and GST.”
In terms of revenue also the MSME sector suffered due to these two highly publicized policy changes.
In the normal times of July to September quarter while their revenue was up 20%, it plunged by 35% in the very next quarter (October to December) when demonetisation kicked in. Revenue was also impacted in the January to March quarter but things changed for the better in April to June quarter when revenues showed an increase of 20%.
REVENUE
However, the good times remained for a short while till GST was announced. So in the July to September quarter the MSMEs saw a revenue dip of 30%. Added to this problem is the delay in refunds from the government. This double whammy virtually choked the small scale promoters from all sides.
The survey also finds out that no one invested in any new project during the October to December quarter. Also there was no expansion of projects. In the next quarter a 15% increase in new project/investment was seen. But this was primarily by large companies which had already made budgetary allocation for new projects and pumped in the funds before the end of the financial year.
Things seemed to be turning back to normal in April to June quarter. In this quarter, the SMEs saw about 10% growth in new projects and expansion while it was 15% for large scale industries and 10% from exporters who were recovering some revenue lost in the last five months of the previous year.
“During July to September only 10% increase in new projects/ expansion was noticed and these were mostly due to foreign companies stepping in and large scale industries implementing planned budget allocation,” the report said.
The findings of the survey indicated that about 78% of the companies surveyed felt that demonetisation was not necessary nor it achieved any positive results.
About 90% of the companies felt that GST was introduced in a half baked form resulting in ‘chaos’ and ‘confusion’.
About 72% surveyed companies felt that government of India did not care for their voice and their sufferings.
About 85% felt that the government of India was only keen to increase its revenue be it in hike in the prices of petroleum products, GST slab rates and through penalties and fines.
85% of the MSME companies said the central government only cared for promoting the interest of large industries and was not willing to nurture MSMEs.
Under these circumstances AIMA has suggested that the government resolve the GST portal anomalies immediately. It has asked the government to exempt MSME sector for compounding based on staff strength and not based on turnover.
During the course of my interactions with clients and the press, I often end up clarifying people’s doubts about so many foods that somehow over the ages got surrounded by myths and misconceptions. How these get formed over time is anybody’s guess but some of these I find are plain myths while some others are facts that need be taken seriously.
Today, I put forth and lay bare some myths, misconceptions and facts surrounding one of the most important foods in our lives, from the time we are born to the time we end up in the graves i.e. MILK. Well Milk, today is so important and prone to so many variances that it is one of the most highly regulated foods in the USA and is slowly getting regulated in India as well.
#1. Drinking Milk leads to the formation of Kidney Stones over time.
A myth. Milk consumption doesn’t lead to the development of kidney stones. On the contrary, some research has revealed that drinking milk is associated with lower percentage of stone formation
#2. Milk Helps In Building Muscles?
Yes, provided you are doing weights or some muscle stressing exercises. When you lift weights your muscles get minor tears that heal over a couple of days and repeating the process helps in gaining muscle mass that grows bigger and stronger over time. However, a caution here. If you simply drink too much milk and do not perform any form of weight training or exercise, you may end up gaining body fat instead of the muscle mass.
#3 A cup of milk contains the 09 essential nutrients that the human body requires. If so, what %’ge of daily intake requirements does it serve.
Yes, it does. A single cup of milk, irrespective of whole, toned, double toned, organic or lactose-free provides :
Nutrients
Percent of Our Daily Need
Calcium
30%
Riboflavin
27%
Vitamin D
25%
Phosphorus
25%
Vitamin B12
22%
Protein
16%
Potassium
11%
Vitamin A
10%
Niacin
10%
#4. A bit about different types of milk in the market including aspects like safety and wholesomeness.
Some of the various types commercially available that we refer to while buying in India are:
Full Cream (Whole Milk): This one contains about 3.5 to 6.0 % of fat, almost the same amount found when it leaves the cow (more of a synonymn that includes buffalo milk). Vitamin D may or may not have been added to the cow milk, but if added enhances the absorption of calcium.
Toned Or 2% Or 1% Milk (also known as Low-fat milk) Fat and calorie levels are somewhat reduced when compared to the Full Cream, but it retains the same amount of nutrients as the full cream / whole milk.
Double Toned (Fat-free Milk – also known as skimmed milk or No-fat milk) Double Toned or Fat free milk has less than 0.2% milk fat, which is negligible and hence the name No-Fat. It’s lowest in calories but, has equal amount of nutrients as in the case of whole milk.
Organic Milk (Claimed to be from cows fed with organic feed): The nutrient content remains the same as above milk and offers same health benefits too. It’s just the process that we call this milk organic, but the product remains same.
Lactose-free Milk: It’s the regular milk without the lactose. Tastes good and continues to provide the same levels of calcium, potassium, vitamin D and more.
Infact, all types of milk as mentioned above are equally wholesome and safe to drink, including organic and conventional varieties. However, some Fat Free ones that have a less than 0.2% Fat content and are additionally fortified with Vitamins like D and A are specifically my favorite when it comes to recommending in diet programs for weight loss.
#5 People with lactose intolerance should avoid all milk and dairy products.
Avoiding milk and dairy foods completely leads to lower intake of calcium and other nutrients. Hence its not advisable as it exposes such people to risk for osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and even certain cancers. Bone density also get compromised in both children and adults which may lead to bone fractures.
There is a wide range in lactose intolerance and therefore many people with lactose intolerance can easily consume certain dairy foods with minimal or no symptoms and thereby avoid many problems as said above.
You need to work with your Nutritionist to find out your “threshold” for consuming milk and dairy foods. Its seen that drinking smaller amounts of milk with meals often eliminates symptoms. Hard cheese and yogurt, both fairly low in lactose, are also well-tolerated. Flavored milk, lactose-reduced milk before consuming milk and dairy products are some ways to manage lactose intolerance.
#6 Drinking Organic milk is much healthier than regular milk?
Organic labeling is not a measure of the quality or safety of a product. As with all organic foods, it’s the process that makes milk organic, not the final product.
Both organic and regular milk contain exactly the same 09 essential nutrients, viz. calcium, vitamin D, potassium etc. Hence either organic or regular, both are highly nutritious.
# 7. Drinking milk causes early puberty!
A myth. No scientific evidence has yet backed that drinking milk may cause early puberty.
# 8. Soy milk is nutritionally the same as Cow’s milk and can be cup by cup substituted.
Although protein and fat content are similar, soy beverages are quite low in calcium content.
The other nutrients in milk important for bone health, includes vitamin D, phosphorus (Ph), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg). These too aren’t present at the same levels in soy beverages.
Hence, while soy milk may be consumed as part of a healthy diet, it should not be considered as a one to one substitute to nutrients present in cow’s milk
#9. Raw milk is more nutritious than pasteurized milk
A myth. On the contrary, unpasteurized milk could be carrying high levels of bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria that could cause serious to critical illnesses and even prove fatal. Nutritionally, its not more nutritious than pasteurized milk.
#10. Milk contains harmful hormones
Hormones are inherent to many foods that we consume including milk. Bovine growth hormone bGH, or commonly called bST is a peptide hormone present in the cow, helping it produce milk. Traces of this hormone is also present in cow’s milk in tiny amounts.
bST is made up of amino acids and when ingested, gets processed in our intestines like any other protein source. The acidic environment in our stomach doesn’t let bST survive and thus gets consumed in our digestive system and thus is of no harm to humans.
With the Indian Judiciary not ready to get down from their High Horses, the overall business environment in India has taken a beating that has over a period of time, manifested itself in the form of sluggish foreign investments and reluctant investors.
Indian MeLords, with their British Legacy system of Judiciary seem to have frozen in time with their infamous elephant sized egos intact. Companies that are unlucky enough to get embroiled in litigation, have harrowing tales to tell about the Indian Judiciary to the outside world. Instance of Judges harassing Companies is a common place in India these days. Arrest warrants for producing entire teams of Company Directors are issued at the whims and fancies of the MeLords, irrespective of the Directors being directly involved or not. Their (Director’s/CEO’s) presence, many a times has been seen merely to satisfy the inflated egos of the Judges, who ensure that the companies acknowledge and stoop down to earn a much deserved reprieve under law.
Harried Owners / Directors loitering the corridors of the Indian courts are often heard swearing to get out of India at the first possible opportunity.
The concerns of the companies and their managements isn’t hidden from either the polity of the country or the Judiciary itself. Now that the economy is in a downward spiral, the government seems to be taking note stirring up from its slumber. Plans to sensitize the Judges across the country to respect the dignity of the Owner / Directors of the Companies are in the pipeline. Alternate arrangement for companies to resolve their issues are being worked out with fervour.
If India wants to attract investments, it needs to develop a good institutional arbitration system with minimum interference of courts and maximum execution of arbitration awards, the Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, today said.
Justice Misra stressed that the country needs to adjust without surrendering “our conceptual sovereignty”. The shift has to be towards institutional arbitration while also keeping in mind the interests of the country.
He was speaking at ‘International Conference on Arbitration in the Era of Globalisation’ here.
“There is a need and there is a purpose. When you are handling a complex economy, there has to be structural adjudication of disputes,” he said.
He added that “apart from the legal issue, it is an issue of getting the investment” and that “India has to inculcate faith in the global investors that it has a very good institutional arbitrator system”.
“It is not the human nature alone but the commercial perceptions, the clauses in the contract and swings in the business sometimes attract arbitrations,” he said, adding that alternative dispute resolution system has gained priority and arbitration is one of them.
Regarding international disputes, he said that they are required to be solved through international dispute resolution mechanism.
“We have to adjust. But when we adjust, we don’t surrender our conceptual sovereignty. And that is where is India has to grow its own arbitration system so that people from other jurisdictions get attracted to have arbitration proceedings here” he said.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha on Saturday urged Indian entrepreneurs to develop products and services that will solve “the problems of our very own”.
India must create its own success stories on the lines of global giants such as Google, Alibaba or Tencent, he said.
“When we solve India’s problems, we will solve world’s problems as well. We should solve the problems of our very own,” Sinha said, speaking at ‘India Ideas Conclave 2017’, organised by India Foundation in Panaji.
Indian entrepreneurs should develop products and services for domestic needs, he said.
“Because if we develop it for our people, same products and services will be used in all other places,” Sinha said, adding that “if we want to be the leader of 21st century, India has to become entrepreneurial engine.”
India has already proved itself in various sectors, the Union minister said.
“India has the cheapest and best telecom services, motorcycles….There is a revolution happening in front of us.
India today consumes more mobile data than any other country including China,” Sinha said.
“We have to create our own Googles, Facebooks, Alibabas and Tencents,” he said.
“We talk about `unicorn’. It is a company with market capitalisation of one billion dollars. We should not be satisfied talking about unicorns, we should talk about super unicorns with the market of ten billion dollars. We should not be satisfied with the idea of super unicorns, we should think how to build mega unicorns with the market capitalisation of hundred billion dollars,” the minister said.
“If we build companies of that scale, we will have economic leadership, that’s how we will give economic opportunities to all our people,” Sinha said.
As President Trump continues on his quest to curb H-1B Visa Program by placing many associated restrictions, an Indian-origin accused from Virginia is likely to be deported to India after spending 28 months in the federal prison. Raju Kosuri was booked for H-1B related fraud worth $20 million in Alexandria, Virginia.
The 45-year old Kosuri pleaded guilty last year to visa fraud and making false statements in the federal court. The court described the case as a visa-for-sale system using H-1B program for specialized foreign workers. He exploited H-1B approval system for greater financial rewards. Smriti Jharia, Kosuri’s wife is also likely to be deported to India, she is one of the immigrants that Kosuri illegally sponsored in the US.
Kosuri established over a dozen of companies in the year of 2000, describing that they provide information technology services. The addresses of these companies were registered in Danville, Virginia. The paper-registered companies were merely just vehicles to source illegal immigrants in the US under H-1B visa program.
The 45-year old Kosuri moved to the US from India in 1999 as a lawful permanent resident. He was paid millions by the companies where the visa recipient worked. He even financed his businesses in millions by the banks, the Virginia Tobacco Commission reportedly granted $500,000 to his misrepresented business. Kosuri and his wife tried to win the federal case through the Small Business Administration using one of his companies.
Kosuri and his wife have a son, who is a native US citizen, who has never lived in India. Kosuri’s wife, Smriti Jharia has also pleaded guilty on the charges of falsely obtaining naturalization. She has agreed to move back to India immediately along with her son and give up her American citizenship, their son will have to bear the repercussions for parent’s criminal conduct.
Kosuri and his family regrets the conduct and has already paid a tremendous price for the same. Jack Hanly, the Assistant US Attorney said, “If fraud like the [Kosuri’s] becomes too prevalent, the result will be that the H-1B process will be severely cut back. That would be a major setback for those who use the program honestly and benefit from its availability.”
The Trump administration has already initiated steps to curb and restrict the H-1B program. President Trump had on earlier occassions even suggested of eliminating the H-1B visa program altogether. The IT industry has started paying the price due to the stricter H-1B norms enforced the USCIS (The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). The fraud cases like this will lead to severe cutbacks in the H-1B process.
The State Bank of India had collected whopping Rs 1,771 crore during April-November 2017 as charges from below minimum balance accounts. The charges were slapped on customers who did not maintain their minimum monthly average balance (MAB) in their accounts, according to reports.
It has been learnt that the amount is more than the bank’s July-September quarter net profit of Rs 1,581.55 crore and nearly half of the Rs 3,586 crore it earned as net profit from April to September.
While apparently it’s not only the SBI alone resorting to collections of such huge amounts due to non maintenance from clients, people say that Banks like HDFC have also collected exorbitant amounts in this way by directly debiting their accounts. Although data was not readily available at hand, but some who maintain current accounts with HDFC and Kotak Mahindra, say that the condition is worst as the Bank debits charges from accounts directly without even an intimation.
SBI did not collect any money from levy of charges for non-maintenance of MAB during the 2016-17 financial year. The charges were re-introduced after a gap of five years during the current fiscal. The bank has a total of 42 crore savings bank accounts of which 13 crore are Basic Savings Bank Deposits Accounts and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts, both categories exempted from levy of such charges.
SBI yesterday reduced the base rate and benchmark prime lending rates (BPLR) by 30 basis points each, which will benefit nearly 80 lakh customers on the old pricing regime. The nation’s largest lender revised down the base rate to 8.65 per cent for existing customers from 8.95 per cent, while the BPLR is down from 13.70 per cent to 13.40 per cent. The bank however did not change the marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) which would have brought down the cost for all borrowers. The one-year MCLR of the bank stands unchanged at 7.95 per cent. The new rates will be effective yesterday, the bank said in a statement.
“We had done the rate review in the last week of December, and based on whatever deposits rates we had, our base rate was brought down by 30 basis points to 8.65 per cent now,” managing director for retail and digital banking, PK Gupta told reporters on phone. Nearly 80 lakh customers who are on the old lending rate regimes and have not moved to MCLR, will be benefited from this reduction. Banks review MCLR on a monthly basis, while the base rate revision happens once a quarter.
Businessmen, the world over, are considered to be the most resolute yet admirably adaptable amongst all professionals and thus are invariably the last to go down fighting. However when reports of businessmen and traders committing suicide become a regular feature, its time alarm bells should start ringing. More so for those at the helm of affairs and incharge of governance, to take serious note and ponder to get to the reasons as to what went wrong in the build up to such a rise.
suicide is not a wish to die, its a cry for help
While people got used to reports of farmers committing suicides in thousands across India, some blaming it on their weak DNA and emotional quotient, the reports of suicides amongst business community has started trickling in.
Delhi: Yesterday, a 50-year-old businessman allegedly committed suicide in a banquet hall in outer Delhi’s Mianwali, the police said.
Ramesh Kumar killed himself by hanging himself on January 5 in a banquet hall, they said.
Kumar left behind a purported suicide note which said that he was taking the extreme step because of his business partner, they said, adding that he also scribbled the same thing on a wall. Police are said to be probing the matter to ascertain if it was financial distress due misappropriation of funds by the partner.
Uttarakhand: In another incident, two days back, an Uttarakhand businessman entered the BJP office after consuming poison. Pandey, who has been in the transport business for the past five years, blamed the Trivendra Rawat-led government and the Centre for loss in business due to demonetisation and GST.
Delhi: Also a couple of months back, in Sep 2017, a 45-year-old businessman committed suicide by shooting himself with his licensed pistol in the national capital Delhi.
The deceased, Ram Khiladi, who stayed with his family in Ranhola area of west Delhi, was reportedly in depression after suffering losses in his furniture business. See Full Report
Mumbai: Citing financial distress, in July 2017, a 54-year-old businessman Kejriwal, committed suicide by jumping from a Kandivali East, Mumbai high-rise building. Kejriwal lived in a fifth-floor apartment in 24-storey Challenger Towers. He had been depressed for some time after suffering heavy losses, relatives had told the police, then. See Full Report here.
Photo credits: Business Insider/Andy Kiersz, data from WHO, AFP, and the Lancet
Noida: In another high profile suicides, in Nov 2016, A 42-year-old man committed suicide after jumping off the fifth floor of Center stage Mall in Sector 18, Noida. The deceased, identified after the incident as Harmesh Goel, was a resident of Sector 37 Noida.
Police Said,” Goel was unable to repay debts, due to which he took the extreme step”. For more details, see Full Report.
While the list goes on, various factors other than just demonetisation and GST have also come to the fore. The exploits of common man at the hands of the banking system, reeling under severe top level multi-crore defaults, dares the government to act judiciously.
The manner in which the banks, go about pressurizing the public for even minor defaults, is yet again, a major cause of concern. To top it all, an insensitive judiciary, that has limitations to understand and appreciate the nitty gritty of small businesses, adds to the woes of the public.
As one individual put it, “The Banks and Govt can’t do anything to recover loans to the tune of thousands of crores from big industrialists, but they go overboard in harassing farmers, small businessman and the middle and lower class, who do not have the ways and means to run away from defaults to foreign lands.”
Recently one Mr Rajesh (name changed) said, “I had a car loan from ICICI, most of which was paid, except for two EMI’s, which I even promised to pay in the coming months. But the ICICI Bank, sent its lawyer along with 4 to 5 goons to my house in my absence. As instructed when the Security Guard asked to receive the Notice, if any, the ICICI team, created a ruccus in the whole area saying that they will give the Notice only to the Neighbours and not the Security Guard.”
In a society that is over conscious to embarrassment in the eyes of others and gives much importance to respectability, resorting to these means of shaming and harassing in front of neighbors, friends and relatives amounts to torture and can drive the most resolute to, many a times, take the extreme steps like self immolations and suicides.
Recently, with sky rocketing number of cases of illegal high handedness and harassments of farmers and loan defaulters at the hands of the banks, NBFC’s, Home Loan and money lenders etc, the Mumbai High Court ruled ‘Debt Collection Harassment To Be Tried As Abetment Of Suicide‘. In its judgement, the honourable High Court said that continuous verbal and physical abuse and repeated demand for return of money amounts to abettment of suicide. See full report here. However, such an action by the High Court, unless vigorously backed by the govt, is too little an effort to stem out such a malaise.
It is high time the Indian government takes note of the plight of the citizens and initiates steps to assuage the feelings and perception plaguing the society about the ‘not-bothered’ attitude towards the sufferings of the citizens at large.
Steps should simultaneousy be taken to sensitize the judiciary through special courses for Judges and the staff, so as to understand the unprecedented problems faced by small businesses and start-ups alike that are typical and unique to the Indian business environment.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today directed officials to explore setting up a designated help desk to facilitate Indians settled abroad, especially those in Canada, who want to invest in the state.
The directive to Secretary, Industries and Commerce and CEO Invest Punjab, Rakesh Verma, came during an interaction with members of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce who called on the chief minister at his official residence here today, an official release said.
Urging the delegation, comprising the Indian diaspora, to suggest ways to further strengthen business ties between the two countries, the chief minister suggested they explore investment opportunities in sectors of mutual interest, such as education, skill development, agro-based industry and information technology.
He called upon the delegation to harness the positive industrial environment prevailing in the state and assured them of his government’s complete support in this regard.
Citing the government’s ‘Connect with Your Roots’ programme, which he launched during his UK visit in September last year, Singh said this would go a long way to help connect youngsters, especially the third generation, who had roots in Punjab.
Representative image only
He said a similar programme should be initiated for the youth whose parents/grandparents had migrated to Canada from Punjab.
Assuring the chief minister of their support, the visiting Canadian delegation led by Kanwar Dhanjal said as the sons and daughters of the Indian soil, it was their moral duty to contribute towards the growth of Punjab.
Dhanjal apprised the chief minister of the Canadian technology for converting paddy straw into plywood, which would not only help the state tackle stubble burning but also help supplement farmers’ income.
Come July 1, 2018 and and Canada will make Cannabis consumption legal at home and on the streets, just like tobacco and alcohol. Parents of teenagers, including myself are very apprehensive of what this means to us and its impact on our society.
My initial reaction to this legislation was “are we starting a millennial equivalent of Woodstock?” If anyone has seen images from that period of hippie culture and ‘flower children’, it will send shivers down your spine, especially if you have a young teenager at home.
The influence of this culture was pervasive across the globe – one only has to listen to the hit Bollywood song from 1971, “Dum Maro Dum” (“take another toke [cannabis/hashish]”) to understand its reach.
Teenagers are gullible, risk takers and their pleasure-seeking brain centers have veto powers over parental control. So, what is going to stop them from trying out another intoxicant that will give them a high? They are drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco, even though the legal age is 21. How do we make our teenagers resist this temptation and ensure they can make informed choices when they come of age?
I am hoping that school awareness and health education classes are definitely giving them a more evidence-based perspective on the use of these intoxicants. My son has been asking us about our perspective on drugs and sometimes, he likes to play the devil’s advocate. I try my best not to reveal my deep-seated fears about teenagers and risk-taking behaviours- their never-ending quest to explore how far can they go and get away with!
The Real Problem is Teenager Access
Canada and some states in United States have legalized medicinal cannabis which means they can receive a legal prescription from a medical doctor trained in use of cannabis and get high grade medicinal cannabis. In Canada, the government also provides tax relief for medical users of Cannabis to help them in buying it at reasonable rates.
The real concern is among parents of teenagers who feel “the recreational legalization is going too fast”. There is natural curiosity among youngsters to test it out.
How many of us know that the human brain undergoes development till the age of 25? And that is what worries me when I hear teenagers using it and their parents allowing it in order to give them a safe place to use it. It is no different than letting them drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes.
This realization came to a head when a mother of a 16 year old son confided in me that she lets him and his friends smoke marijuana recreationally once or twice a week “to help them deal with their adolescent stress”. How much information have parents sought out before giving that permission? I am curious to know how these kids can get away with accessing these drugs and that too in the school.
Bayley (left), Sarah (centre) and Kelsey (right) are among many having a good time during the annual 4/20 marijuana rally at Parliament hill in Ottawa in 2017 (Photo credits: Alex Tétreault)
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada reports that 23% of school students in Ontario, Canada were ‘offered, sold or given a drug at school’. Additionally, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction reports “Canadian youth had the highest rate of marijuana use in 2009-10 (28%) compared to students in other developed countries”. As per the report from UNICEF, in 2013, Marijuana was (and probably, still is) the most commonly used drug among Canadian youth, who are the top users of this weed in the developed world measuring 29 countries.
As a Canadian and as a mother of a teenager, these reports have definitely made me nervous and judgmental. So, I set out to gather evidence and find answers to:
What led to ‘criminalization’ of cannabis and why is Canada legalizing cannabis for recreational use?
What are the benefits of medicinal cannabis vs. the effect on adolescent brain?
How can we influence our teenagers to drive them towards making informed choices?
In this article, I will answer the first question as a way to share what I have learnt and initiate a dialogue among parents of teenagers as the world is moving towards legalizing cannabis following a long period of being classified as a very dangerous drug, bunched together with opioids. There are severe punishments for possession of Cannabis (marijuana, a more derogatory term), yet it has not been a deterrent.
Each of these questions will be answered in a separate article. To explore the first question, it is imperative to explore the history of cannabis in terms of its use recreationally, as medicine, and time-travel with legalization.
A Brief History of Cannabis Use and Legalization
The first question that pops in mind is “Why has Cannabis been illegal while alcohol and tobacco are not”? Then, one wonders, “why is it being legalized?”
Cannabis, or more commonly known as marijuana has had a very chequered history, from being an integral part of medicine and accepted recreationally in many different cultures and religions historically, to being completely banned as the most dreaded drug.
Cannabis has been cultivated in human history longer than any other plant, with its first evidence of medicinal use dating back to 400 A.D.
Archaeological findings have shown 2500 year old human remains with whole cannabis plants used as a burial ‘shroud’ in northwest China. The Altai region, north of Tibetan plateau, seems to be the first place where Cannabis plants have been growing along the river, potentially attracting human attention.
10,200 year old dried cannabis seed specimens have been found on the island of Okinoshima in Japan with evidence of hemp trade with Korea. There is enough evidence pointing to Cannabis as a cash crop – much before “cash” showed up.
United States has had a very rocky ride when it comes to use and legalization of cannabis- from being widely used as a patented medicine during the 19th and early 20th centuries and being described in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia in 1850 to being strictly prohibited in 1937, passing the Marihuana Tax Act and being dropped off from the U.S. Pharmacopoeia in 1942, only to make it to the top charts among Schedule I drugs which restricts any procurement even for scientific and academic research. Interestingly, California re-introduced cannabis for medicinal purposes with the enactment of Compassionate Use Act in 1996.
Ancient Cultures and Medicinal Use of Cannabis
Cannabis is one of the 5 sacred plants in the Indian Vedas and Lord Shiva is believed to have a strong preference for Hemp. Cannabis is often smoked, or consumed as a spice drink and even as infused oils. It has been used in the Indian culture recreationally in a very subtle and mild form, Bhang.
Surprisingly, Cannabis is not legal in India despite its long history of medicinal use that continues even today in holistic or alternative/herbal medicines, providing relief to many chronic ailments.
Records from ancient China show the earliest use of Cannabis in medicine, dating back to the times of the legendary emperor, Shen Nung, about 4700 years ago. The emperor also cited cannabis, ginseng and ephedra as important remedies. Later, Chinese medicine extended to cover use of cannabis for over 100 medical conditions, as seen in the first Chinese pharmacopeia, Pen-t’sao Ching.
Mediterranean region has also used cannabis medicinally from 1500 to 200 b.c.e., in Egypt and Greece. The Zoroastrians (modern day Iraq), also used cannabis as one of its most important medicinal plant, as mentioned in their religious text, Avesta.
Cannabis moved to the west in 17th century when settlers started to produce hemp in Virginia. Due to its medical use, the 1850 version of U.S. Pharmacopeia mentioned its benefits and despite later laws, cannabis prescriptions were still legal in US until 1970.
Cannabis was banned in United States in 1930 by Harry J. Anslinger, Commissioner of Treasury Department’s Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Unfortunately, this ban was not a result of years of scientific data collection and reasoning. It is an astonishing story of power and politics. Then after 1970, cannabis somehow made it to Schedule I class of drugs, which implied that it had no medicinal use and that it has a high potential for abuse.
What astounds me is that alcohol, known to cause many diseases, killing people after its use, and with scientific proof for its dangers is still legal. So is smoking tobacco resulting in high healthcare costs to countries.
As per records, Anslinger was initially a proponent of marijuana use, but his own political interests and a pressure from alcohol mafia resulted in an overnight shift in his stance, resulting in a ban for cannabis. Anslinger went on to make up false evidence against dangers of cannabis and advocated its ban across the world, starting with severe sanctions against Mexico for not banning its use.
The convention on Narcotic Drugs in 1961 created an international treaty prohibiting the production and supply of drugs like Cannabis, LSD, Cocaine and Heroin, around the world and required the signatory nations to make amendments in their country laws to align with the treaty.
Following this hardliner approach in US, no more research was being funded to test the efficacy for medical cannabis. So, by the mid-twentieth century, cannabis and its extracts metamorphosed from being safe and effective medicine to a dreaded narcotic. The famous movie Reefer Madness was produced with the intent of introducing scare among parents and put the final nail on its coffin- more powerful than the ban.
It is interesting to note here that even with such a strict ban, for 75 years, cannabis has been operating in the underground market worldwide.
Pioneering Research- Away From Public Eye
However, a different environment was brewing in Israel in 1960s with Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, a Chemistry professor, at Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, who discovered an important component of the plant for therapeutic purposes. Surprisingly, National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA, has been funding this research in Israel, thereby identifying the Cannabinoid system in humans.
Israel Marijuana Flag (Photo Credit: Nikki Casey)
Today, Israel has one of the most streamlined and sophisticated medicinal cannabis channels, where modern medicine practitioners work together with patients and Cannabis experts to run specialized treatment centers for children, adults and seniors.
Following research from Israel, in 2016, U.S.Pharmacopeia (USP) invited researchers to serve as scientific experts on the Medical Cannabis panel in order to develop quality standards for medicinal purposes. However, this is in conflict with the federal government’s drug laws, which puts strict limits on use of marijuana even for medical research.
The question still remains hanging in the air as to why US continued to fund cannabis research in Israel and have its patents, while classifying it in Schedule I drugs? Or maybe we all do know the hidden answer.
Why is Canada Legalizing Cannabis while it is Illegal in Many Countries?
Canadian statistics show that 1.5 million Canadians are already smoking marijuana and is the most common drug of abuse in Canada, Mexico and United States. While Canada produces approximately 800 tonnes of illicit cannabis each year (according to International Narcotics Control Board), generating billions of dollars annually, there are about 400,000 people using it medicinally.
So far, records indicate only 3000 medical cannabis users are licensed for legal use. Statistics indicate that substance abuse is on the rise worldwide, with 47000 deaths in Canada alone due to substance abuse in Canada annually.
In this environment, the leading Liberal Party of Canada has taken a new stance on legalization for cannabis with the pretext that regulations will help in enforcement of criminal laws for drug abuse with severe punishments for promotion to minors.
The government aims to reduce low grade cannabis from circulation, prevent and punish use among youth and children and most importantly, open up access to the immense profits in the form of taxes from the $23 billion industry.
This is in a way similar to legal drug injection sites across the country, where no questions are asked when drug addicts bring their own contraband drugs and needles so they can be supervised by medical professionals to reduce incidents of overdose and needle sharing, potentially reducing public healthcare costs.
As explained above, Canadian youths are the highest users of cannabis (25.1%) among the developed countries. This highlights the fact that maintaining its illegal status has not resolved the problem of underground market operations in schools, its use among youth, overdosage, impaired driving, costs of non-violent offences and toxic contamination.
The new-age thinking of ‘accepting’ the ground realities and then working to make the system safe is quite welcome compared to ‘pretending’ that human behaviour can be completely controlled by laws. It makes sense to legalize it like alcohol and tobacco, ensure high quality, incentivise legal production, share profits and restrict use among minors with strict controls.
Is Canada High on Cannabis?
With Israel leading the use and research for medical cannabis, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has launched a dedicated marijuana research centre in 2017 – The Multidisciplinary Centre on Cannabinoid Research, with a tagline “Cannabis is no longer just associated with Getting High but is now tantamount to Getting Healthy”.
The research centre focuses on the use and research of cannabis for disease areas of cancer, pain, inflammation & stress management, immunity, metabolism, drug delivery & nanotechnology, pharmaceutical chemistry, neuroscience and plant science & genetics. The centre is one of its kind in the world integrating agriculture, chemistry, drug delivery, pharmacology and chemical development and has created MoUs with the Lambert Initiative, another medical cannabis research institute at the University of Sydney, Australia.
Following Israel, 30 states in US allow for medical use of Cannabis as of January 2018 and extensive research is underway, but federal laws on controlled substances and its continued classification in Schedule I drugs, legalizing recreational cannabis in US is still very patchy.
On the commercial front, the Canadian government is optimistic about creating immense business opportunities, enjoying total control over retail sales (see news report How Queen’s Park is gearing up to be the largest legal pot dealer in Canada (and maybe the world) with Canada projecting it to be a $23 billion industry including growing, retail, transportation, security, edibles, export, technology, taxes and tourism.
The black market now has serious competition in business and government. Corporate Canada is moving fast to take over the illegal pot market with its highly educated leaders, earning highly paid prestigious positions and operating from corner offices, legitimizing the previously criminal market into a legal enterprise. Their biggest challenge is “will they draw the nation’s estimated 5 million existing consumers away from the underground market?”.
Price and access will determine where Canadian cannabis consumers go. Will the Canadian enterprise call on the underground market to partner up or will they be pushed aside, which usually results in a backlash.
CONCLUSION:
As it turns out, cannabis has immense medicinal use, which I will explore in the next article. I was relieved to see how far back history dates to use of cannabis in medicine and recreation and, most importantly, cannabis has not been reported to be associated with death.
What stood out clearly in the ban of cannabis was more politics and power than science and goodwill. Fortunately, strong advocacy groups are able to bring the impartial science out of the closet.
Definitely, the governments now realize that banning cannabis is hurting the economy more than restricting its use. As statistics point, Canadian youth are among the highest users of cannabis in the world.
So, at this point, Canada has chosen to participate in the new ‘gold rush’ and chomp off a big piece of pie from the $23 billion industry, giving some structure to its use and enjoying the cake, giving a respectable face to the underground cannabis operators, who have immense knowledge of the plant, its growth, marketing and sales channels; funding more research into its medicinal use and reduce criminalization costs.
At the same time, Canadian parents hope that it will restrict the underground market, especially access in schools.
From the beginning of the advent of Islam, muslim women have played a very important and discerning role in the society. However with deliberate media and perception campaigns run 24×7 to tarnish the image of Muslim women, more so in the past few decades, many ills have started getting tagged to the Muslim women across the world. Cropping up have been the many xenophobic assumptions – that Muslim women are oppressed, need to be saved, forced to wear headscarves or hijabs out of fear and so on. Such labels though remain far from reality.
Contrary to played up media image of a Muslim women as a demure un-empowered female, all hiding behind her burqa and sheltered by her men folk, today’s Muslim women are actively engaged in leadership and business roles across the society.
However most of these are far from reality. The phenomenal progress being made by the Muslim women in the world is amazing. Muslim women at the forefront are debunking these orientalist myths while at the same time constantly working to combat the ills within the community.
To cite a few examples, ruling since decades is the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Ms Sheikh Hasina Wazed. Also the Prime Minister of Mali Ms Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé is a charismatic Muslim women. Similarly, President of Kosovo, Atife Jahjaga, is the world’s youngest women president, while being her country’s first female Muslim president and the list goes on. So whether it be sports, entertainment, fashion, business or politics, Muslim women continue to climb the ladder and challenge the views, that belittle them otherwise.
As a tribute to the endeavors of the Muslim women of the world, N4M media surveys comes up with a list of the world’s Top Muslim women everyone should know about.
Anousheh Ansari
On September 18, 2006, Anousheh Ansari’s name was everywhere as she became the first female private space explorer. During her time in space, she wrote a blog that enabled readers to share her literally cosmic experience with her. Ansari described intricate details on her blog and garnered more than 50 million hits from readers around the globe. A successful entrepreneur on Earth, she truly is a remarkable woman.
Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi
Saudi Arabia saw women vote and be voted for in the 2015 Municipal Elections. The first woman to be elected was Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi, who won a seat on the council of Madrakan, a region in the holy city of Mecca. She beat two other women and seven men to the spot. This was a victory for not only women in Saudi Arabia but for women all around the planet, as we saw women rise up over the attempts to repress the female voice. She has inspired countless women in her land and outside of it.
Amna Al Haddad
At the young age of 26, she has made history by being the first Emirati and GCC national to compete in the Asia Regionals and the first and only Muslim woman to do so in a headscarf. She is also a part of Nike’s campaign Inner Strength. In the film, Haddad speaks about how it’s never too late to get up and make a change in your life, as long as you stay devoted. She inspires women everywhere to push themselves to the limit.
Malala Yousafzai
Who hasn’t heard of the power girl, Malala Yousafzai? Born in Pakistan, the schoolgirl defied the Taliban and demanded that girls be allowed to receive education. She was shot in the head for doing so in 2012, but emerged victorious as she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize. An activist for female education and human rights advocate, she is fearless and inspirational, today and everyday.
Ibtihaj Muhammed
Have you seen the first hijab-wearing character by Barbie that gained a lot of buzz? Ibtihaj Muhammed is the face behind the revolutionary doll meant to normalize hijabi women for little kids. The 31-year old sportswoman rose to fame at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where she became the first female Muslim-American to earn a medal at the games, and the first American woman to wear a headscarf while doing so. Quoting Barbie, “Ibtihaj continues to inspire women and girls everywhere to break boundaries.”
Rahinah Ibrahim
Ibrahim, 48, was waiting to board a flight from San Francisco to Hawaii en route to Malaysia in 2005 but she was told she was on the no-fly list. She was eventually cleared to fly to Malaysia, but her visa was revoked afterward and she was unable to return to Stanford. She sued the government in 2006 to find out why. She won the no-fly list ruling and is a standing victim of government wrongdoing, as well as an example of courage and determination.
Amina Wadud
Dr Amina Wadud broke 1,500 years of tradition when she became the first woman to lead mixed-gender Muslim prayers in the UK and delivered the Friday sermon. Wadud received death threats and condemnation but she stands by her views, saying “This is not a movement, it is just a reality.” Most people disagree with what she’s doing, but she proves that Muslims aren’t just one monolith community. It has faces and controversial opinions, and she’s rightful for representing so.
Daisy Khan
Meet Daisy Khan, the Executive Director of the Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE). Khan, who was the former Executive Director of American Society for Muslim Advancement, is now the voice behind countless cultural and religious programs, all in harmony with Muslims as well as non-Muslims. The non-profit organization dedicated to clear misunderstandings about Islam and promoting the ethical values of Islam.
Noor Tagouri
This Libyan-American journalist, activist, motivational speaker and model first stood in the spotlight after appearing in the Playboy magazine’s October 2016 issue. Not only was she the first Muslim woman to appear on Playboy magazine, she was also the first woman to appear on the magazine wearing a hijab. Advocating for a “bold case of modesty” and breaking stereotypes, Tagouri received a lot of support as well as criticism around the globe. Whether you agree with her views or not, it’s clear she’s one of the bravest among all.
Tawakkol Karman
Known as “The Mother of Revolution”, Tawakkol Karman is the first Yemeni,the first Arab woman and the second Muslim woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 32. Karman gained recognition for her work in the nonviolent struggle for safety and rights of women in Yemen. SA journalist by profession and human rights activist by nature, she is a fiercely committed woman, determined to bring about change, all while inspiring others to do so.
The world around us is changing every second in this digital era we live in. The software of our personal computers, smartphones and all the E – gadgets are getting updated timely; and it’s inevitable too. It seems that the Indian politics is the only thing that continues to move along the same traditional patterns without getting updated.
In this context, a question was asked to Rahul Gandhi by this writer at the GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) conference, during his first foreign visit to Bahrain after being elected as the ‘President’ of All India Congress Committee (AICC).
“What can Congress do to innovate Indian Politics?”
The ease with which Rahul Gandhi answered the questions surprised the audience during his interaction with them.
Rahul, who comprehended the essence of my question which also dealt with Indian politics and Congress, was quick with his reply.
“Give us six months. We will update Congress in tune with the change.”
While Rahul Gandhi was replying in a clear voice filled with willpower, Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda, widely known as Sam Pitroda, the man behind the developments in Indian Telecommunications and IT was on stage along with him. The presence of Sam Pitroda, who was the technical advisor to Rajiv Gandhi, could only be seen as a co-incidence in the historical turn of events. It was visible that Pitroda, the Chairman of India’s National Innovation Council was also enjoying the reply given by Rahul.
Mr Mansoor Palloor welcoming the INC President Mr Rahul Gandhi (File photo)
These words of Rahul Gandhi were approving the fact that various activities that are to bring stark changes in the organization’s functioning pattern and the party structure have already been started within Congress.
On 2015 November, while interacting with the students of Mount Carmel College, Banglauru, Rahul Gandhi had talked about remoulding the Party and giving a new face to it. We could hope that the expected plan that promises a new perspective for Congress Party has reached its final stage.
While interacting with the audience in Bahrain, Rahul Gandhi said, “We are not supermen. We also make mistakes. However, we will go ahead rectifying all those mistakes. What we have to do is to present a new Congress party. You will see dramatic change in Congress party .You will be seeing leaders in Congress in which you believe.” This leadership quality of Rahul Gandhi with his honest nature that receives questions with a smile attracts everyone around him.
“I came here in Bahrain to meet you all to let you know that you are an integral part of our nation. There are several issues affecting our land now. You make a part of the solution to those problems. I came here to remind you that whether you are here, or anywhere in the world, you, the Indian citizens residing in these foreign lands should build a bridge with the homeland”, Rahul said at the GOPIO meet.
Rahul Gandhi’s move to assign Sam Pitroda as the Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress is to strengthen that bond with Congress party which had taught the people of India, born into different castes and religions to live together as equals. This step of Rahul Gandhi should be seen as a part of the Congress reformation process. Sam Pitroda was with Rahul Gandhi when he grabbed the world’s attention through his speech on Gandhian values at Berkeley University, California.
It was Pitroda himself who made the Congress leadership realize that time has come to implement new reforms and renovations to the generations-old customs of Congress.
In 2004, NDA alliance under the leadership of then Prime Minister Vajpayee contested the elections citing the huge strides and gains in the IT sector and raising the slogan, ‘India Shining’. BJP’s campaign revolved solely on claims that all the successes mentioned were due to the four-year reign of the NDA government, whereas, it is said that the claim was far from truth.
Sam Pitroda, the man responsible for the Telecommunication revolution, was very well aware that the credits for the developments that the BJP was trying to steal, rightfully belonged to young visionary Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It was Sam Pitroda, who had laid the seeds, the fruits for which were being claimed now by BJP. Not able to restrain himself, the master technologist himself flew down from the United States to disclose and lay bare, the faulty claims of BJP.
Technocrat and Gandhian Sam Pitroda with Mansoor Palloor, spokesperson, Overseas Indian Cultural Congress
Pitroda, who served Rajiv Gandhi for over a decade had left India after his death and gone back to his business in the IT industry.
Pitroda organized a series of press meets at the IT hubs of Hyderabad and Bengaluru to reveal the false allegations raised by BJP. BJP, the then opposition who disagreed and opposed many of the initiatives started by Rajiv Gandhi in the IT sector had gone to the extent of insulting the team, calling them “Computer Boys”.
The real image of a group which had suddenly worn the attire of champions of all the benefits accrued as a result of visionary initiatives introduced by Rajiv Gandhi was revealed before the public by Pitroda.
It was, upon realizing the need to spread the mission started by Rajiv Gandhi to the Indian villages, that Sam Pitroda, known as the ‘Change Agent’ returned to India to involve in the activities as before. He submitted Sonia Gandhi a new rejuvenation plan in 2004 that could inject new energy into the veins of Congress.
Today, Sam Pitroda is a member of the team assisting Rahul Gandhi in Congress reformation mission.
Although born in Odisha, Pitroda carries a strong relation with Gujarat. His father getting inspired by Gandhian thought sent a young Sam to Gujarat to learn about Mahatma Gandhi. Later, his engineering degree too was completed in Gujarat.
Sam maintains cordial relations with the Gujarati community staying abroad. In the recent Gujarat elections, Rahul Gandhi was advised by Sam Pitroda, the technocrat and Gandhian philosopher on all aspects of technology. Rahul Gandhi appreciates and realizes the need for adequate changes to happen in politics in this Technetronic age when technology embraces all walks of life.
We cannot deal the obstacles of the current world with old styles and format. New changes should happen in Congress. Congress is now led by a leader who believes that single thoughts and actions should change.
Rahul Gandhi likes space for open discussions and team work. He at many times has noted that democracy is not something where one orders and others obey. It is due to this, he engages in debates and discussions with the audience at all major meetings. He firmly believes that one person cannot change everything.
What the Indian community all over the world heard through Rahul Gandhi’s words in Bahrain was a call for everyone to join the upcoming change that are to engulf Congress.
As part of the mission to connect more non-resident Indians to the Party and to interact with them, Rahul will soon visit countries like Canada, Singapore, and Dubai.
In each of his journeys to far away lands, Rahul always behaves like a common man. He reaches out to the public, listens to their worries, and acts as one among them.
A leader who stands in the queue at airports and other public places; a leader who walks out of the airport carrying his own luggage and the list goes on.
However, when it comes to the matters of the masses, Rahul’s voice gets sharp and stern; expressions flash on his face. It’s not just the Congress, but, the hope of an entire nation rests now on ‘Rahul Gandhi’.
Pandit Shiv Dave, originally an Engineer has been practicing Astrology for last 15 years.
The unique system of his astrology is that he does not meet the person initially. However he seeks specific information i.e. Name, DOB, Place of birth and Time from the individual.
Based on this information he prepares your horoscope and tells you about your personality without meeting. If it is close to correct then only he proceeds further with predictions, etc., as there can be a mistake in noting the birth time, etc. He doesnt charge any fees till this point.
Dave firmly believes that the increase in divorce rate is mostly due to not matching the horoscope properly and exhaustively. He says that normally, people just match ‘gunnas’ and tell about suitability, which is, as per him, only 10% of the match making.
Contact details:
Phone No: +91 98223 95760 Website: http://www.astrologershivdave.com/
Address: No.201, Orion Residency, 39 poonawala park, Salisbury Park, Gultekdi, Pune, Maharashtra 411037, India
Swami Jagannath
Based out of Pune, Maharashtra, Swami Jagannath specializes in the field of Astrology and face reading. His claims to be following an an ethical business policy during each stage of his consultation process, from meeting the bhakts, knowing their problems and analyzing those in the light of scientific astrology and know-how.
Contact Details:
Phone No: +91 20 6933 5557 Website: http://www.facereaderswamijagannath.com/
Address: Office No 5 , Disha Apartment , Opp Reebok Showroom, Sanghvi Keshri Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411027, India
Jitendra Guruji
Born in eastern part of India Jitendra Gurguji joined Gurukul at the age of 5 years. He was taught the Vedic knowledge and learnt Vastu Shastra, Kundali Reading, Numerology, Face Reading, Chakras and much more from his childhood. He started practicing Astrology from a very young age.
Jitendra Guruji believes that whenever any problem arises, God always gives us Omen. If we are able to recognize the right Omen, then we can come out of the problem.
Contact Details:
Phone No: +91 86989 02920 Website: http://www.mystikastrology.com/
Address: Koregaon Park, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Shri Vikas Khopade (Pandit Deshmukh)
Astrologer Mr Vikas Khopade (Deshmukh) practices out of Pune and provides consulting based on Jyotish Shastra. He is considered an expert practitioner and is also a celebrated speaker. He has been in the field for past over 20 years now.
Shri Vikas Khopade (Deshmukh) enjoys reading the religious and spiritual texts and derives inspiration from these ancient sciences. He is well-read and a practicing Jyotish. Along with astrology, he also indulges in numerology, palmistry, horoscope matching and more.
Shri Vikas Khopade (Deshmukh) also runs an organization ‘Vikas Manch Sanstha’ that undertakes various social services. He also conducts regular ‘Agnihotra’ for different Nakshatras.
Contact Details:
Phone No: +91 78378 27129 Website: NA http://www.astrologerinpune.com/
Address: SR No-35/57, Ganraya Society Opposite Mataji Traders, Somnath Nagar , Wadgaosheri Napar Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411014, India
Manish Potdar
Shri Manish Kashinath Potdar, is a devotee of Shri Sai baba of Shirdi, and is based out of Pune. He specializes in Vedic astrology & gemmology. He integrates modern scientific knowledge like aura scanning with the ancient writings in his practice. He is also an expert in Indian ‘Vastushastra’ and the Chinese ‘Feng shui’, the art & science of channelising the flow of energy through a “vastu” or place of work, or dwelling.
Shri Manish Potdar has attuned to ‘Reiki’, and ‘Mahikari’, the methods of chanellising cosmic energy through the body for greater physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. He has learnt the ‘Kriya Yog’, a method for spiritual development.
He claims to have united the knowledge of use of crystals for enhancing the aura, through ‘Crystal Healing ’.
A multiple degree holder Manish is a mechanical engineer. Has a diploma in business & Industrial management. Has done advanced learning in astrology from the ‘Maharashtra Jyotish Parishad, Pune’. Is trained in Gemmology from JRVGTI, located in the Fergusson college campus Pune. Also trained in palmistry under Shri B.B. Shastri, a famous palmist from North India .
Contact Details:
Phone No: +91 20 2556 0955, +91 8079486750 Email: manishpotdar@hotmail.com Website: http://manishpotdar.com/
Address: Office No 3; Ashok Sankul, 18 Ashok Nagar, Range Hills Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India
Vijay Kelkar
Mr. Vijay Kelkar is based out of Pune. He is the son of a well well known astrologer Late Shri. Shridhar K. Kelkar and so one can say astrology runs in the genes. Although a management entrepreneur, Mr Kelkar’s passion for astrology helped him establish himself in the Astrology field. Mr Kelkar writes weekly forecast predictions for “Lokprabha”, a publication of “The Indian Express”. He also forecasts investment and business/career prospects for “Outlook Money”. He has also authored a book “Tumchyasathi Jyotish” in Marathi language and also releases yearly pocket books for each zodiac sign.
He also figures in shows “Jodi Tujhi Majhi” which gives an insight of all aspects related to match making and “Disha Career Chya” a career guidance show which allows people to make choices for their future. He also makes daily and weekly predictions for “Vedh Bhavishyacha” a popular segment from the show “Good Morning Maharashtra” on ZEE Marathi Channel.
Daughter of famous artist Satish Gujral, Alpana’s taste of aesthetics developed from the home environment itself. Alpana Gujral is a veteran high end fashion jewellery designer who firmly believes in the fact that Jewelry isn’t meant to make you look rich, rather it’s an essential to adorn you. A pass out from the Delhi school of art, Alpana’s collections are influenced and give a touch of the Mughal era. Her designs reflect of traditional glimmer infused into modernity.
Many a hidden talents get identified by fluke and that’s what happened in case of Ms Poonam Soni. Poonam Soni started her career as a hobby. Her designs initially floated on the net and owing to their uniqueness started becoming popular among the social circles. Poonam is a gold medalist from Delhi University.
A jewellery designer cum artist Pallavi Foley has numerous awards to her credit. She is a graduate from the NIFT Delhi passing out in year 2000. Today, she runs her own studio and boutique in Bangalore. Owing to high demand for her creativity, Pallavi also provides design consultancy to many Indian and International jewellery brands.
Based out of Mumbai, Varuna D Jani is a renowned name in Jewellery designing. Providing contemporary designs and customisation of her jewellery, Varuna D Jani launch her signature label ‘Varuna D Jani’ in 2006. Thereafter, she expanded it to a flagship store in 2008. Varuna D Jani puts together a beautiful blend of Indian and International sensibilities in her designs. Her expertise and superior craftsmanship is clearly visible in her collection of stylish masterpieces that she designed over a period of time.
(@News4masses) 
On September 18, 2006, Anousheh Ansari’s name was everywhere as she became the first female private space explorer. During her time in space, she wrote a blog that enabled readers to share her literally cosmic experience with her. Ansari described intricate details on her blog and garnered more than 50 million hits from readers around the globe. A successful entrepreneur on Earth, she truly is a remarkable woman.
Who hasn’t heard of the power girl, Malala Yousafzai? Born in Pakistan, the schoolgirl defied the Taliban and demanded that girls be allowed to receive education. She was shot in the head for doing so in 2012, but emerged victorious as she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize. An activist for female education and human rights advocate, she is fearless and inspirational, today and everyday. 
Have you seen the first hijab-wearing character by Barbie that gained a lot of buzz? Ibtihaj Muhammed is the face behind the revolutionary doll meant to normalize hijabi women for little kids. The 31-year old sportswoman rose to fame at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where she became the first female Muslim-American to earn a medal at the games, and the first American woman to wear a headscarf while doing so. Quoting Barbie, “Ibtihaj continues to inspire women and girls everywhere to break boundaries.”
Ibrahim, 48, was waiting to board a flight from San Francisco to Hawaii en route to Malaysia in 2005 but she was told she was on the no-fly list. She was eventually cleared to fly to Malaysia, but her visa was revoked afterward and she was unable to return to Stanford. She sued the government in 2006 to find out why. She won the no-fly list ruling and is a standing victim of government wrongdoing, as well as an example of courage and determination.
Dr Amina Wadud broke 1,500 years of tradition when she became the first woman to lead mixed-gender Muslim prayers in the UK and delivered the Friday sermon. Wadud received death threats and condemnation but she stands by her views, saying “This is not a movement, it is just a reality.” Most people disagree with what she’s doing, but she proves that Muslims aren’t just one monolith community. It has faces and controversial opinions, and she’s rightful for representing so.
Meet Daisy Khan, the Executive Director of the Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE). Khan, who was the former Executive Director of American Society for Muslim Advancement, is now the voice behind countless cultural and religious programs, all in harmony with Muslims as well as non-Muslims. The non-profit organization dedicated to clear misunderstandings about Islam and promoting the ethical values of Islam.
This Libyan-American journalist, activist, motivational speaker and model first stood in the spotlight after appearing in the Playboy magazine’s October 2016 issue. Not only was she the first Muslim woman to appear on Playboy magazine, she was also the first woman to appear on the magazine wearing a hijab. Advocating for a “bold case of modesty” and breaking stereotypes, Tagouri received a lot of support as well as criticism around the globe. Whether you agree with her views or not, it’s clear she’s one of the bravest among all.
