No NRIs please

As India’s economy boomed, the demand for the NRI groom took a nose-dive. It is not only the reputation of the NRI that has travelled via the net that is keeping the prospective brides away, but the recent economic downturn has further strengthened Indian brides’ resolve to keep these boys at bay. Move over NRI boy, the desi is now ready. A special report by Rakesh Anand in New Delhi, India

Wanted: a professionally qualified boy for an extremely beautiful, fair Punjabi Khatri girl, 24/160, B.Com, C.A. (Group 1 passed) employed girl from a respectable family. NRIs please excuse.

The days when NRI grooms were able to get the best brides and the maximum dowry seem to be over. A parent in India today, looking for a suitable boy for their daughter adds the last sentence to their ad as neither their ward is interested in leaving the country for a an NRI husband , nor do they want their daughter to live in a far away unknown land with strangers. Independence, the desire to be close to their parents, professionalism, growing careers and higher education are just some of the reasons that girls from India are now refusing to step ashore for the sake of marriage.
There is not one but a couple of reasons that the demand for an NRI groom has plunged. As India’s economy boomed and jobs opened up in the last decade, every girl or a boy with any education was able to grab one and rise higher in their profession with sheer hard work and grit. Undoubtedly, as Indians are known for their hard work, sincerity and professionalism, sky is the limit. Says a New Delhi based hair designer Neera Yadav, 27,

The decade that wasn't

It is common practice in the media that when the year or the decade comes to a close, we all look back and try to analyze the important events of the decade. For a change, let’s analyze how different the decade could have been if only some of events that that changed the world had not occurred.
Some important event in history like the killing of JFK or Indira Gandhi is still vivid in the minds of those who were around during the time. Some even remember what they were doing at the time when they heard the news. One of those memorable events that changed the world is the attack on the World Trade Towers. So, how would the world have been today if only it had not occurred? 9/11 shook not only America but changed the course of world history. But if the event had not occurred, we would not see harassed passengers at airports, hotels and what have you. Flying would still be safe without the fear of being blowing apart mid-air. The world would not have been that alert and movement would have been free. For decades India has been warning the world of fostering terrorism in its neighboring countries but none, including the number of US presidents who came and went, paid heed. Late Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi sent reminders and sought help in dealing with terrorism around the country's soil but got none and fell prey to one such activity. However, 9/11 jolted America and the world out of its slumber and prompted action.

Responsibilities of Citizenship

While ignoring important issues like crime and terrorism, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney cautioned immigrants and new Canadians of the their responsibilities. At the same time, he reiterated that barbaric cultural practices such as genital mutilation and honour killings will not be allowed in Canada.

Canadians have responsibilities. Who knew?

Jason Kenney, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, is not afraid to be honest. Introducing the new citizenship guide last November, Kenney flatly declared that new Canadians should not engage in “barbaric” cultural practices such as genital mutilation and “honour killings.”

The new citizenship guide, called Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, puts greater emphasis on the obligations of citizenship, such as getting a job, and learning Canadian history (as well as military history), than the old guide which limited itself to extolling the benefits of living in Canada.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/index.asp

The new citizenship guide is a significant improvement from the old Liberal version, which hadn't been updated since 1977. In Kenney's words, “When you become a citizen, you're not just getting a travel document into Hotel Canada. You are inheriting a set of responsibilities, of obligations, as a citizen. And we will expect you to fulfill certain responsibilities, as a citizen. And I think to a certain extent that wasn't sufficiently emphasized in the old guide.”

Dialogue

Temples foster love and harmony

Born in Hoshiarpur, Bikramjit Singh Sandhar moved to Canada with his parents at the age of three. The family made Williams Lake in BC their home and lived there for a long time. Not happy in leaving his aging parents behind, Bikram Singh’s father moved his family back to India so the children could spend time with the grandparents and get to know them. When he was in grade 7, the family moved back to BC. Growing up in William Lake, Bikram Singh at that time never thought he would ever grow hair, as he had never grown them like a Sikh would and then eventually head one of the prominent Gurdwaras of North America. He along with his Youth Slate won by an overwhelming margin of 13, 458 at last years election of of the Surrey based Guru Nanak Sikh Temple. He talked at length to TAOM correspondent on his win and his future plans for the temple. Excerpts of an interview:
You tell me that you never had hair like a Sikh. So what prompted you to grow your hair?
Yes, I never had hair till 1993 and never followed the Sikh religion as a Sikh should. There comes a time in a man’s life when realization dawns on him as to what is the real purpose of life? I started thinking that everyone will one day end up in a funeral hall. If you are having a good time, you don’t think about the bad times. If you do good things, people respect you. I became

Culture Vulture

In their race to the top, Indian television channels are giving sensitivity, convention and tradition an adieu.

Neelam Verma

Look at the numbers -113 million viewers of only the Hindi general entertainment channels in India. A universe where 90 percent of homes have one TV set at least, in a population of 1.15 billion which is 17% of the earth’s population and in a country where 63.5% of the population is between the ages of 15 to 64 years. And in just $15-20 a month you can watch as many as 480 channels right from Indian, to British or American. You name it, you get it.

No wonder competition is huge and more and more general entertainment channels (GEC) are vying for that number one spot on the TRP. Television Audience Measurement ratings are released every Wednesday when the channel heads sit down to dissect the week before and look at their competitors making bigger bucks. It is the war for the hearts and souls of the viewers and of course for revenues generated. After all, the television industry in that country is worth more than $5 billion dollars.

More and more channels are vying for the big pie and in the last almost two years alone; four new general entertainment channels were launched. In this heated battle where soaps are evergreen, the rush is the theme which can vary from conservatism to religious or reality. But what is clear is that India’s television is today at its experimental best and nothing is being left to chance.

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Editorial

Booming India deters future immigrants
Every time I go to India, I come back impressed at the developments taking place in the world’s largest democracy. Economists predict that India will overtake Britain and have the world’s fifth largest economy within a decade. Read More