Greetings Curry Lovers!

I've got a real "end of term" feeling. Probably because it is the end of term for many school children and we are rapidly approaching the end of year 2003! As Muslim school girls in France face a ban on wearing the hijab, Home Office Minister Fiona MacTaggart has spoken about one of the nicest things about Britain - the core belief of Religious Freedom. Her comments come in the same week that the Muslim Youth Helpline won a Philip Lawrence Award for good citizenship.

If one can define a year, then for me, 2003 has been about contrasts. As Asians climb the corporate ladder, storm the ranks of our Police Service or help Crack Crime together, we still hear about "snowy peaks" in the Corporate Sector, and discrimination in the public sector. London Mayor Ken Livingstone hosted a reception for Black & Ethnic Minority Councillors following the recent publication of the 'Ethnic Groups in London' report which shows conclusively that Asians boost London's economy. Local Government is one area where Asians are still under-represented and Mr Livingstone is keen to see this issue addressed for elections next year.

ASIAN POLICEMEN ON FAST-TRACK	MAYOR'S RECEPTION FOR COUNCILLORS
With all the recent criticism of the Police Service, you'd be forgiven for thinking that nobody would want to be a Police Officer these days, but that is far from the reality. The one notable exception is among Asians. read more	The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone hosted a reception for London's Black and Minority Ethnic Councillors. The event follows the publication of the 'Ethnic Groups in London' report. read more
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS A CORE BELIEF	MUSLIM YOUTH HELPLINE WINS AWARD
The Government's duty to all its citizens is to give them the freedom to practise their own faith, said Home Office Minister Fiona Mactaggart today. She was speaking at an Eid celebration in London. read more	The Muslim Youth Helpline, based in Wembley, were honoured with a Philip Lawrence award for good citizenship. The awards ceremony took place in the presence of the Mayor of Brent, Councillor Peter Lemmon. read more
ASIANS BOOST LONDON'S ECONOMY	CRACKING CRIME TOGETHER
London's economic success depends on its diverse ethnic mix. A report from the 2001 Census shows the role that London's diverse communities have on the life of the capital, as providers of public services and as entrepreneurs. read more	The second annual Cracking Crime conference marked the official launch of the project. Organised by the London BME Cracking Crime Partnership Board, the project provides a London wide platform for local groups. read more
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PRISON SERVICE GUILTY OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION Publishing the findings of its investigation, the CRE announced that it had found HM Prison Service guilty of racial discrimination. The report details the evidence leading to the finding of unlawful racial discrimination, and catalogues 14 areas of failure. read more

Entrepreneurship and business are words never too far from the lips of Asians even if Corporate and Social Responsibility are newly emerging topics for the Asian Business community. So it is doubly nice to hear about four young entrepreneurs in Luton who have formed an organisation - Learn4Work - to offer free computer training to the disadvantaged. Admittedly Health & Safety is now core to all businesses and the HSE are targeting Asians with a series of 'WorkSmart' mini programmes featuring personal stories about a safety incident in the workplace.

The irony of my job is that on one day you are celebrating Asian Business success along with several hundred others, like those at the Asian Business Association Party, and the next day you are soberly noting down the details of how Asians fail to reach the top in the corporate sector! These and many more paradoxes look set to continue in 2004.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS GIVE BACK	HSE TELLS ASIANS TO WORKSMART
Four young entrepreneurs have joined forces to give back to their community. They have formed a free training organisation called Learn 4 Work. read more	The Health & Safety executive have launched a new TV mini-series, entitled 'Work Smart' . The mini-programmes, all featuring Asian participants, last 45 seconds, and feature a story about a health & safety incident. read more
ASIANS FAIL TO REACH THE TOP	ABA - CELEBRATION OF FESTIVALS
What does it take to reach the top job in Corporate Britain? Are a good education and ambition enough to guarantee you a fast-track route? Or do Asians actively opt-out of the corporate sector preferring to "go it alone" as entrepreneurs?. read more	The Asian Business Association held its annual Celebration of Festivals. Guests enjoyed an evening of networking, strengthening business relations with food and drink! read more
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REMOVING REGULATORY BURDEN ON BUSINESS The Government's Regulatory Reform Action Plan, announced today by the Chancellor in his Pre Budget Report, has over 650 deregulatory measures to benefit business, charities and the public services. The plan brings together reforms to simplify and remove existing burdens across government. read more ALL WORK, LOW PAY The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Inland Revenue have launched a new video "All Work, Low Pay" to help people from ethnic minority backgrounds understand their entitlement to the National Minimum Wage. The National Minimum Wage was introduced on 1 April 1999. The current rates are £4.50 per hour for workers aged 22 and over. read more

The spring entertainment programs (as any good Butlin's Red Coat would say!) have already been announced by many South Asian Arts groups. Tamasha Theatre Co. bring us their acclaimed new production 'Strictly Dandia' at the Lyric in Hammersmith. Sody Singh Kahlon from The Funjabis is to launch a solo-performance in 'Sikhs in City'. The simply brilliant Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company bring us the 'Transtep' tour and Hanif Kureishi's novel 'The Buddha of Suburbia' has had the cobwebs blown off it in a new theatre production at Waterman's Arts Centre. A few other things (like clothes!) have also been blown off and be aware that the play contains scenes of nudity.

Bollywood has seen a huge surge in popularity in 2003 with many movies now taking more in revenue outside India than within. The extravaganza that is the Mumbai Hindi Film Industry continues in Birmingham with the launch of a season of music inspired by South Asia. The CBSO (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra) has snagged A R Rahman for two performances of Bollywood Classics and acclaimed artiste Nitin Sawhney will also be performing during the season.

STRICTLY DANDIA, 15 JAN - 14 FEB 2004	SIKHS IN THE CITY, 21-25 JANUARY 2004
'Strictly Dandia' is set during the season of Navratri - nine nights of dancing when young men and women take to dance floor in a bid to attract the 'right' partner and the eye of the judges looking to crown the next Diwali King and Queen. read more	When you’re a British Asian walking the tightrope of two cultures it’s not uncommon to lose your balance – especially if you’re Punjabi! So when a British Sikh actor becomes trapped between acting and being a good little Asian boy, he seeks comfort from a variety of zany ‘Sikhs in the City’ read more
SHOBANA JEYASINGH - TRANSTEP	THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA, 5-14 FEB
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company present a spring tour of their new work, Transtep, an intercontinental mix of movement. The Company explore the universal themes of distance and proximity in 'Transtep'. read more	The Buddha of Suburbia: An exuberant culture-clash of music, sex, drugs and most of all love and lust in their many forms. A stage production by Snap Theatre with universal appeal; sharp and funny! read more
CBSO EXPLORES THE MUSIC OF INDIA AND SOUTH ASIA
The vibrant and diverse culture of India is coming to Symphony Hall, Birmingham, courtesy of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Starting in January, selected CBSO concerts will include everything from traditional Indian music and South Indian classical dance with guest appearances from the world-famous Indian composer A.R. Rahman, Nitin Sawhney and guest ensembles Nadhamanjari and Sam-Yo! - the UK's first ever South Asian Music Youth Orchestra! read more

I can confidently predict a Booker hopeful next year. Although Monica Ali's 'Brick Lane' missed out on the top prize this year (perhaps we'll see it being made into a hip TV drama next year?), South Asian Authors are emerging with considerable strength. Aniruddha Bahal's robust description of sexual scenes in his book 'Bunker 13' won him Literary Review Magazine's 'Bad Sex' Award 2003 which he flew in to collect personally! Who says that there is no such as bad publicity? Or should that be good publicity?

Desire, or more precisely the classic love triangle, is a topic elaborately covered in Chitra Banerjee's 'The Vine of Desire' and we've travelled to Ireland to review Cauvery Madhavan's 'Paddy Indian' which is about the cultural clash faced by a Indian doctor working in a Dublin hospital. The novel has a real 1970's feel to it.

THE VINE OF DESIRE	PADDY INDIAN BY CAUVERY MADHAVAN
Sequels are never a good idea and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's 'The Vine of Desire' is the perfect example of why. Her Earlier book 'Sister of My Heart' created the classic love triangle and this sequel sees it being taken to the West. read more	Padhman Anant is the only son in a medical family in Madras. He joins the staff of a Dublin hospital as a junior houseman and faces the spectre of being an Asian doctor in a land where the patients clearly do not wanted to be tended to by one! read more
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ANIRUDDHA BAHAL WINS 'BAD SEX' AWARD! Aniruddha Bahal, an Indian investigative journalist who founded the controversial Indian news website Tehelka.com, has won the little-coveted 'Bad Sex in Fiction Award' for a turbocharged account of a lovers' tryst that likens their amours to a speeding Bugatti. Aniruddha, who posed as an arms dealer to expose an Indian military bribery scandal in 2001, flew to London to receive the prize. read more

Something else with a real 1970's feel to it is 'Baghban', starring Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan, quite possibly the two biggest stars of that decade. 'Baghban' is now available on DVD and VHS video format.

We couldn't possibly end the year without a competition and quite fittingly we have two copies of a new, hard-to-get-hold-off DVD - 'Salaam Bombay Dreams' - which is a behind the scenes look at the West End's most exotic musical. All you have to do is answer an extremely easy question...and be fastest on the buzzer!

BAGHBAN- OUT ON DVD & VIDEO	SALAAM BOMBAY DREAMS…NOW ON DVD
Eros International has announced the long awaited release of the family drama Baghban on DVD and VHS. Baghban has done well at the box office, taking nearly £750K and being the third highest grossing Bollywood film of 2003. read more	The newly released Bombay Dreams DVD entitled 'Salaam Bombay Dreams' features four hours of behind the scenes footage, exclusive interviews and background information about the biggest and only Asian musical to hit London’s West End! read more
***SALAAM BOMBAY DREAMS DVD COMPETITION ***
We have 2 copies of the recently released 'Salaam Bombay Dreams' DVD to give away. To win a one, simply answer the question below: Q1) Which role does Zehra Naqvi currently play in Bombay Dreams? HOW TO ENTER 1. Reply to this email with your answer. Ensure you provide your full name, a DAYTIME DELIVERY address and TELEPHONE NUMBER. 2. If you are unable to reply to this email, send a separate email to webmaster@redhotcurry.com with your answer. Ensure you provide your full name, a DAYTIME DELIVERY address and TELEPHONE NUMBER. TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Competition is open to UK Residents over the age of 18 only. 2. You must be a registered member of Redhotcurry.com. Please take a moment to sign up. 3. Winners will be chosen from the first two correct answers received. 4. The Editor's decision is final.

After all the endless partying this year, I'm now off to have a seriously long lie down!
Wishing you Season's Greetings and a Peaceful & Prosperous 2004.

Until the New Year.
Lopa Patel (Editor - redhotcurry.com)

PS. Our special free gift offer for new users who sign-up is simmering nicely, so why not tell a friend to sign-up? They might be grateful for the suggestion.