Author Archives: apul

Singh caps stellar year with tour’s top honor

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Vijay Singh won his first PGA Tour Player of the Year award on Monday, icing a season that saw the 41-year-old golfer capture nine titles and a record-breaking $10.9 million in prize money.

The Fijian national ends Tiger Woods’ five-year reign over the title, and is the first non-American to win the award in nearly a decade. Singh came ever-so-close to winning it last year, and felt he was more deserving of the honor, which is voted on by fellow tour players.

He rededicated himself to surpassing Woods atop the world rankings, and accomplished the goal in roughly half the expected time. The new focus supplemented a near-legendary work ethic and training regimen that once included hitting 1,000 balls a day.

So will winning the award invite complacency? Not a chance.

Singh told the Associated Press that he already has started a new workout program, “to take it a little higher.”

AP/Yahoo!: Singh wins PGA Tour Player of the Year award
Sepia Mutiny: Asians remain dominant in golf

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Gen. Musharraf goes to Washington

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Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf paid a visit to Washington, D.C. over the weekend, where he met with U.S. President George W. Bush, and more notably, gave a series of tantalizing interviews to the capital’s press corps.

During a closed door meeting, Bush and Musharraf discussed the war on terror, trade between their two countries, and the Palestine-Israel conflict. In a joint press conference where Bush did most of the talking, he praised his Pakistani counterpart, saying, “our relationships are good, they’re strong, and they will remain that way.”

In turn, Musharraf congratulated Bush on his victory in last month’s elections. “All that I would like to say, that I’ve come here basically to congratulate the President very sincerely, with all my sincerity, for having won the elections,” he said.

The lovefest between the two men ended shortly after the brief photo opportunity. Free of the White House muzzle, Musharraf sounded off on a number of topics in subsequent interviews with various media outlets:

Search for Osama Bin Laden: “He is alive, but more than that, where he is, no…we don’t know where he is.” — Washington Post/Yahoo!
India and Kashmir: “I’m very optimistic of the future.” — AFP/Yahoo!
U.S. request for access to nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan: “It shows a lack of trust.” — Washington Post/Yahoo!
World’s safety after Iraq invasion: “I think it’s less safe, certainly…we have landed ourselves in more problems.” — Wolf Blitzer/CNN
Purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter jets: “We discussed the F-16 issue…that is all I would like to say.” — AFP/Yahoo!
Timetable for democratic elections in Pakistan: (Crickets chirping)

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South Asian obsession favored in Compton

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Last night’s edition of Fox 11 News in Los Angeles had a segment about a cricket club thriving in a most unlikely location — the much-maligned city of Compton.

Compton, which is widely-known for violent crime and as the birthplace of gangsta’ rap, plays host to one of Southern California’s most successful cricket teams.

Activist Ted Hayes founded the Compton Cricket Club as a way to offer kids an alternative to crime and gangs. “The idea of cricket is to teach people how to respect themselves and respect authority, so they stop killing each other,” said Hayes to Fox 11 News.

The club recently defeated their cross-town rival, yep, Beverly Hills, but lost in the next round, failing to capture this year’s L.A. County Cup.

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When you care enough to send the very _____

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Per my Friday night custom, I visit a nearby drug store on Wilshire Blvd. to pick up a bottle of soda pop and some correspondence stationary. I hop over to the greeting card aisle whenever I need to restock my arsenal of overpriced pieces of color-printed cardstock. On one such occassion, I ran into the following birthday card from Ohio-based American Greetings:

 

I felt compelled to purchase and share the card with the Mutiny because it sprung forth many conflicting questions that I could not answer: Is this good-natured, equal-opportunity ribbing? Does such mainstream inclusion signify true acceptance and integration? Is the joke really just derived from a sinister dig at turbaned Sikhs? Did I really just shell out $2.30 for a card that I’ll probably never address? Why do my Friday nights resemble that of a kind, old granny?

Any answers are greatly appreciated.

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Law & Order: Ganesh conceals heroin

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Last Wednesday’s episode of NBC’s “Law & Order” featured Indians using religious objects to smuggle heroin into the U.S.

Here’s a quick recap of the episode: A group of prep school students and gang-members are shot to death in a drughouse. The investigation leads to “Rahim of Bombay,” a Pakistani importer of religious objects. Rahim smuggles Afghani heroin inside his imports, because customs inspections are less stringent on religious devices. Rahim sells out his boss, a U.S.-sponsored warlord named Khaleel. At the end of the show, Khaleel is convicted for the murders.

An estimated 15 million viewers tuned in to the program, according to Nielsen Media Research.

“Law & Order” often reminds us that their stories are “ripped from the headlines.” Does anyone know if there’s a real-life event that inspired this episode? My curiosity is peaked because I’m anticipating another defamation suit filed by a desi who believes that a “Law & Order” villain is based on him.

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Film Festival hosts 14 South Asian premieres in New York

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The inaugural South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) kicked off a five-day showcase of works from the Asian subcontinent with a screening of Gurinder Chadha’s “Bride and Prejudice.”

Altogether, 38 short, documentary and fiction films will screen in New York City at the Clearview Chelsea West and Rubin Museum of Art. The festival bills itself as the biggest of its kind in the country, and will host the U.S. premieres of 14 films.

“I think when audiences come out for this year’s SAIFF, they’ll see the kind of high-standard South Asian entertainment that they’ve really been craving in this city,” said SAIFF managing director Soman Chainani.

Among the numerous films worth checking out are “The Inner Life of Shah Rukh Khan,” a documentary following the Bollywood star, and “Shwass,” India’s 2004 Oscar-entry.

The high-powered festival has some big sponsors — Time Warner Cable and The New York Times — and big advisors — Shekhar Kapur and Sepia-favorite Vikram Chatwal — overseeing the event.

Yesterday’s opening night party and screening of “Bride and Prejudice” (will anyone have not seen this movie when it officially releases in February?) was attended by Chadha, in addition to the ambassadors and consulate generals from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Rediff: New York gets a taste of India
Sepia Mutiny: Dueling film festivals in Manhattan

Update (12/20/2004): SAIFF’s official web site has photos chronicling the festival.

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Bachchan joins Mandelaï¿œs anti-AIDS campaign

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The world’s biggest movie star, Amitabh Bachchan, will serve as a special ambassador for 46664, the global anti-AIDS campaign headed by Nelson Mandela.

Named after the former South African president’s prison number, the 46664 campaign raises awareness of HIV and AIDS, and raises funds for the prevention, testing, care and support of those infected with the viruses. Bachchan has proved to be an active participant in anti-AIDS campaigns in India, which has one of the world’s highest infection rates.

Bachchan joins current 46664 ambassadors Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Will Smith and Oprah Winfrey. Perhaps to distinguish himself from his fellow ambassadors, Bachchan also joined the ranks of senior citizens with blonde highlights (see photo). Population: One.

AFP/Yahoo!: Bollywood superstar Bachchan joins Mandela’s anti-AIDS campaign

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Aguilera seeks spirituality in resort town

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The Times of India reports that U.S. pop singer Christina Aguilera will make her first-ever visit to India during the early weeks of December.

According to the story, Aguilera said, “India has always captured my imagination with its myriad cultures and spiritualism. I am looking forward to my visit with great enthusiasm to feel the color and vibrancy of this great country.”

Where does she plan to find such “color and vibrancy?” In Sahara Corporation’s planned tourist city of Amby Valley. The 234-acre destination outside of Lonavala includes golf courses, lakes, spas and dance clubs.

Sahara has hosted other celebrities in Amby Valley, such as actress Goldie Hawn and tennis pro Anna Kournikova. Aguilera and her family will be the company’s sponsored guest for three days, but the 23-year-old singer is not slated to perform during her stay.

In a reversal of travel protocol, the trip marks the first time that Indian residents are expected to receive vaccinations for a visit by an American traveler.

The Times of India: Christina to visit India

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Ramayana graphic novel available online

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Can’t wait for Gotham Studios’ western-styled renditions of Indian epics? The classic graphic novels of comic book company Amar Chitra Katha are available for online purchase and reading, as reported earlier on BoingBoing.

Started in 1967 by editor Anant Pai and publisher G.L. Mirchandani, Amar Chitra Katha created 436 titles on Indian history, folklore, mythology and culture. At its peak, the company sold as many as 500,000 copies a week, and had their work translated into 18 languages, ranging from Hindi to Serbo-Croat.

Pai started the company after watching a children’s game show, where contestants “were well-versed with the lore of Tarzan and the exploits of Greek gods, but could not answer simple questions about the Ramayana.” Asia Society’s web site hosts a scanned version of that tale, which was one of Amar Chitra Katha’s first creations.

BoingBoing: Indian epic Ramayana as comic

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Gupta Engulfed in Romance With Viewer

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CNN is running a new series of humorous ads, one of which features medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta unintentionally distracting a female viewer.

In light of the recent brouhaha surrounding Terrell Owens’ skit on ABC’s "Monday Night Football," this inter-racial coupling is sure to ruffle some feathers. The sexually-charged tone of the ad alone should raise the ire of FCC dick-tator Michael Powell. Fallout will soon commence.

Is this my lame attempt at creating controversy where none exists? Is the title of this post outrageously misleading? The answer to both questions: yes (head pointed downward in dirty, dirty shame).

One thing’s for sure — the pro-Sanjays lobby over at Mahoot will be quite pleased.

The page that hosts the ad uses one of those unfriendly Flash interfaces, so there isn’t a direct link to the video. You’ll have to skip past the intro, and then possibly click around a bit. Also, Anderson Cooper’s ad includes a brief mention of India.

CNN: Lou Dobbs and Dr. Sanjay Gupta TV Ad

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