Friday, April 22 2016 | Vol. 35, No. 17
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Indo American erican News
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Community Flooding Tragedies Sunita Singh
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April 22, 2016
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COMMUNITY
April 22, 2016
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2016 Gala: Daya Goes Over the Rainbow
BY ANAND RAMASWAMY
H
OUSTON: Consider yourself at home, consider yourself part of the family… Thus began the program celebrating Daya Houston’s 20th Anniversary of empowering South Asian women, their children and families to break the cycle of domestic and sexual violence and reclaim their lives. Beautifully sung by HSPVA’s Sara Trogdon, and accompanied on the piano by Haeyun Lee, Daya transported its guests Over the Rainbow for lunch and a retrospective honoring two decades of working towards its vision of building a South Asian community in Houston and beyond, free from family violence. The Junior League of Houston’s opulent ballroom was transformed into the Wizard of Oz’s Emerald City, and guests were greeted by Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Wicked Witch of the West and enjoyed a festive afternoon of lunch, musical performances and powerful speeches that were both moving and motivating. When Daya was founded in 1996, not only was it the first organization to address family violence in Houston’s south Asian community, its inception also revealed the existence and shocking frequency of violence in this small immigrant population. This acknowledgement was the monumental first step in replacing stigma and shame with responsibility and hope. In addition to its client services of counseling, advocacy and case management, Daya’s annual seminars on sensitive subjects like bridging the cultural divide, drug addiction and depression show Daya’s commitment to broadening minds and strengthening communities. Daya has helped thousands of clients rebuild their lives and as founding member, Lakshmy Parameswaran says: “Building stronger families, creates a stronger community, which ultimately makes us a better society.” After welcoming the guests, Daya’s President Sesh Bala shared, “Most aptly, the gala theme this 20th year is the Wizard of Oz. In that story, The Scarecrow wants a brain, the Tinman seeks a heart, and the Lion yearns for courage. Daya’s story too, involves the unfolding of mind, heart and courage. Let us
The Honorable Parvathaneni Harish (left), Nandita Parvathaneni, Lakshmy Parameswaran, P. G. Parameswaran, Jayant Kabad and Kanchan Kabad. Photographs by Enjoy the Moment Portraits.
Guests with regular residents of Oz.
first look at the brain, or rather the wisdom, of the founders of Daya.” After a video tribute, Bala welcomed two of its founding members—Parameswaran and Viji Raman—to take the stage and accept a token of gratitude for their vision, commitment and humanity. Guests were then treated to a powerful speech by the Honorable Parvathaneni Harish, Consul General of India, who attended
Guests enjoy the gala.
the gala with his wife Nandita. He spoke at length about the need and importance of Daya’s services and saluted the organization for its continued growth despite the econom-
ic challenges which can critically contract charitable giving. “Daya’s uninterrupted development and expansion,” he said, “is a testament to how essential Daya’s work has become and the community’s recognition of its immeasurable value to our society.” “What has kept the unstoppable heart of Daya beating for two decades is the generosity and support of individuals like you,” said gala co-chair Fatima Mohiuddin gesturing toward the capacity-filled ballroom. The “heart” came to the forefront as a new fundraising initiative, the Yellow Brick Project, was announced. Mohiuddin continued, “ We are asking donors to purchase a yellow (or for a larger contribution silver or gold) brick and inscribe it with your name or a message of hope. Each brick purchased makes it possible to provide a client with necessities like groceries or medical insurance. A larger gift could cover a month’s rent, giving a client – often for the first time in a – safe and secure home.” In addition to the $125,000 raised through table and individual ticket sales, the Yellow Brick Project raised $38,000 and continues to pave the road to the future at dayahouston.org. After a moving performance of Over the Rainbow by Sara and Haeyun, a first-hand account of Daya’s brand of courage was shared. Introduced by Annu Rao Naik, “Our client’s story is one of determination, resilience and of course, so….much…courage.” “I stand in front of you as a woman, a mother, and a successful professional, but most of all I stand before you as a proud Daya Client. Daya gave me the tools to be who I am and where I am today,” the client began. Despite incredible hardships and physical and emotional abuse, her courage prevailed. She concluded “Today I stand here, an individual with respect and dignity. Daya gave me the courage to break the cycle of domestic violence and rebuild my life. Wisdom. Heart. Courage..Daya.
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April 22, 2016
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April 22, 2016 5 COMMUNITY Flooding Tragedy Strikes Two Local Indian Families BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA
HOUSTON: The latest round of
flooding in the city from the storm over this past weekend had some tragic consequences for two area Indo-American families as both lost key adults in drowning accidents which occurred roughly around the same time and in the same part of the city. The accidents that claimed the lives of Suresh Talluri and Sunita Singh (also called in the mainstream media by her full maiden name, Sunita Vikas Malhara) occurred at roughly 6:45am on Monday, April 18 at the north-south feeder road underpass to the Southwest Freeway at the 610 loop. By that time, the fierce downpour that dumped up to 16 inches of rain in some areas of the city had turned the underpass into an Olympic sized swimming pool which was hard to negotiate in the darkness of a stormy morning. Both Talluri and Singh, who were relatively new to the Houston area, drove headlong into the cold dark waters and then slowly lost control of their cars which floated away. It was not till several hours later when the pumps were able to suck water out that the cars were located with the bodies inside. “I received a call from Sunita at 6:47am,” recalled her anguished but angry husband Rajiv Singh, “telling me in Hindi ‘Main bohot mushkil mein hoon. Sari taraf pani hai. (I am in a lot of trouble, there’s water all around). I see the lights of cop cars.’ And then the phone went dead. I figured somehow I lost signal due to the weather or that she got busy.” Rajiv later related the incident to Channel 13 TV, calling the underpass “a death trap”. Sunita Singh, 49, was a dedicated electrical engineer who had a PhD from Arizona State University. She worked for Bechtel in their office on Post Oak, which is where she was headed, but as the exit on 59 South
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also, though details are sketchy. Funeral services for both Talluri and Singh are expected to happen this weekend, though details are still not available. A memorial account has been created for the Talluri family at www.gofundme. com/sureshtalluri and in 15 hours has raised $62,215 of the $150,000
was blocked off, she took the Westpark exit detour. When she turned into the underpass to get onto Post Oak, she drove into the water. Sunita had come to the US in 2006 and married Rajiv, whom she had known in college, in 2009. Both had children from previous marriages and Oshin, Sunita’s daughter is expected to join the Master’s program in Architecture at the University of Houston in
the Fall. Suresh Talluri was around 38 years-old and had two children with his wife, Kirti and lived in Cinco Ranch in Katy. He was quite well known in the Telegu community. He was on a working visa, had worked for Transocean through Wipro and in November 2014 moved to Rowan Companies as a Senior Analyst. He was apparently on his way to work
goal. Others want to do more, but one way for the community to show their concern is by demanding better warning signals, including flashing lights that work when the water levels have risen and automatic barriers. The Indian community can do pioneering service for the city by designing, funding and pushing City and County officials to install these all across the city.
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April 22, 2016
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April 22, 2016
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COMMUNITY
April 22, 2016
Chaitri Navaratri Celebrations at Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple of Houston
HOUSTON: The temple celebrated Chaitri
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Navaratri on Friday, April 15 which was attended by over 300 devotees. The navami pooja started around 2:00 pm, which was followed by havan, garba, and aarti. Mahaprasad was served after aarti. Pandit Pradip Pandya wants to thank all devotees for their support and for attending the pooja. The temple is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm and everyday aarti is performed at 7:30 pm. The Gauri Siddhivinayak temple is a nonprofit 501(C) 3 organization and all donations are tax deductible. Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple of Houston is located at 5645 Hillcroft Ave Suite: 701 Houston, TX 77036 For further information or to participate in pooja, sponsorship or volunteering call Pradip Pandya at 832-466-9868 or visit www. siddhivinayakhouston.com for details.
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April 22, 2016
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10 April 22, 2016
COMMUNITY
The Art of Meditation Shows the Colors of Your World BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA
HOUSTON: Seated cross-legged on quilt-
ed sheets folded into squares on the hard tile floor, the two young women were draped in simple white cotton sarees, with their heads covered and a twice-folded cotton handkerchief in one hand held close to their mouths in the manner of that strict Jains use to communicate. They exuded an encompassing calmness and serenity as they explained the principles behind the type of meditation that they teach during the short ten months that they are in residence at the Jain Visha Bharati Preksha Meditation Center. But their role in the Center, which is instantly recognizable by the tall pyramidshaped building that forms the mediation and congregational area, is much more than just teaching classes. The two samanijis – a Jain term for nuns – also offer counselling to the congregation that is spread across the Metroplex on a wide range of personal issues that they encounter. On one fine Sunday afternoon, they spoke soothingly with a young man who had sought them out to discuss his personal mental evolution. Saminiji Vikas Pragyaji, originally from Delhi, and Saminiji Maryada Pragyaji, also from India, both took up residency at the Center just a month ago at the direction of the Gurudev after a two-month Maryada Mahotsav. Both are graduates of the Jain Visha Bharati university located on a man-made oasis of 60 acres in Ladnun, Rajasthan, about 240 miles west of Delhi and 140 miles northwest
Saminijis Vikas Pragyaji (left) and Maryada Pragyaji at the JVB Preksha Center in Houston
of Jaipur. The university was established in 1970 with inspiration from Ganadhipati Gurudev Shri Tulsi (the ninth spiritual supreme head of Jain Shwetamber Terapanth Sangh)
and Acharya Shri Mahapragya (the tenth supreme head) as a center for Jain studies and the Prakrit language. Since then, JVBU has also become a center of learning on Ahimsa
(Non Violence), Jeevan Vigyan (Science of Living) and Preksha Dhyan (Preksha Meditation), and its main aim is lifting up sociospiritual values. Every year, for two months the samanijis across the world return to India and samanijis or samans (sadhus or monks) from the different parts of India comes for the guidance from Gurudev and for personal reflection and growth. They meet at the Magh sukhla saptami, a special religious celebration named ‘Maryada Mahotsav’ which is held each year at different locations, and Acharya Mahashraman, the eleventh supreme head of the Jain Svetambar Terapanth Sangh, decides which Centers they will be sent to. They are rotated through the Centers so as not to form strong attachments, which is a central tenant of Jainism. There are many Centers in India, three centers in the US in Houston; Orlando, Florida and Edison, New Jersey and one center in London. In all the Centers, the samanijis hold weekly activities and camps and larger seminars every quarter to spread the principles of Jainism, Preksha Meditation for life transformative skills through prayogs or exercises for the well-being of individuals and their spiritual development. And just this coming weekend, April 23 and 24 from 9am to 5pm, Samani Vikas Pragyaji and Maryada Pragyaji and two Samnijis from FIU, Miami, Samani Shukla Pragyaji and Samani Rohit Pragyaji will conduct a Meditation camp for adults in the Center,
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COMMUNITY
April 22, 2016
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History of Yoga- Screening of Movie Followed by Lecture
BY NOOPUR SAPATNEKAR
HOUSTON:
SEWA international hosted screening of the documentary-History of Yoga at Keshav Smriti on April 16, and Woodlands Hindu Temple on April 17. The movie followed by a lecture was presented by Ramji Om (researcher and script writer for the documentary) and Deepika Kothari (Debut documentary producer). Ramji OM is MSc in Mathematics. He has been an ardent practitioner of Yoga since his early childhood days.Has written the script and done cinematography of film History of Yoga. Also given Lectures on “Yoga & Indian Civilization – its Continuity & change” at IITs etc. Deepika Kothari is PhD in Physics. Her dozens of scientific papers were published in International & National Journals. Now her area of interest is research, writing and film making on Indian thought, cultural heritage, Yoga and various doctrines with modern scientific outlook. She has also screened the documentary “History of Yoga” with discussion at many Institutions across India, US, Canada, London & Paris. This film was also screened at various Indian Missions Abroad, on International Yoga Day 2015. The documentary film ‘History of Yoga’ traces History & Philosophy of Yoga from 6000 years in the most authentic, lucid and entertaining way. The film is the first ever comprehensive visual document. The film story explores Yoga in Harappa Civilization, Veda, Jainism, Buddhism, Sufism, Hath-Yogic practices of medieval times & other peripheral doctrines. The film ends in 19th century where modern science acknowledges the potential
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of yoga in a new light. “I think there is no such documentation in the world of this depth and vastness on the subject,” says its Director & producer Deepika Kothari, a Physicist and writer. Ramji Om , Cinematographer and writer of the film says, “ To understand the exact context in which yoga was developed and practiced, this film has the answer”. The film aims to help protect knowledge and technique of Yoga from distortion, deliberate exploitation and indiscriminate patenting and preserve it for generations to come. Also it aims to disseminate and popularize it in all the continents where Yoga has become a household practice. The film is a priced possession for Yoga lovers, researchers, educational Institutions and a gift item. Highly researched and well
interpreted this documentary is a delight to watch, 6000 years in just 98 minutes!! At last the presenters concluded by mentioning that wrong interpretations of yoga is a major hindrance in order to make people understand the real value and importance of it. In this era in many places yoga has become a tool of consumerism. We all should pledge to avoid yoga from getting exploited and from becoming a tool of consumerism.
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The Art of Meditation Shows the Colors of Your World
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entitled “The Art and Science of Self Discovery”. This Prekash Meditaion technique have been developed by Acharya Mahapragya based on his own research with Jain scriptures and experiments on himself for 20 years and are scientifically proven. Overall the exercises are called Preksha Dhyan, (“pre” meaning profoundly and “ksha” meaning to see), the practise of which has an ultimate goal of the purification of the soul. “People think that Jains are con-
servative,” said Samani Vikas Pragyaji, “but we would like them to realize that the principles of Jainism are a way of life that are practical.” This weekend’s camp will show how to change one’s personality and develop a balanced healthy and peaceful life with spiritual growth by the practise of various techniques of Preksha Meditation. The sessions will scientifically explain how mediation transforms emotions and negative thoughts. “Religion is based on karma,” she went on, “and you can change your karma by changing your emotions.” She dem-
onstrated that with a simple relaxation exercise (or prayog) based on meditating on the vocal cords. Another such series of exercises is called the Leshya Dhyan or Color Meditation, which deals with the six colors of the aura of individuals.
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832-539-1589
12 April 22, 2016
COMMUNITY
HMM Celebrates Maharashtrian Padwa
BY SHILPA NAGLE
HOUSTON:
Houston Maharashtra Mandal organized yet another great program on the occasion of Gudi Padawa, Hindu new year. Almost 250 people attended the event. This event started with traditional way by performing Gudi pooja, by two elderly couples from community. The importance of Gudi Padawa and introduction of program was nicely narrated by Achala Bapat. (Vice President, HMM 2016) Program based on very unique and innovative idea by Nishad Kanhere. “Apan Hyana Aikalt Ka?” (“Have you ever heard them?”) It’s featured on finding out hidden talent of Marathi community in Houston. Actually not hidden talent but a talented persons who have not performed in any of the HMM’s program till date. Because
and Abhijit Dikshit. After this heartwarming and ear soothing program everyone was pleased with the delicious Maharashtrian food from Bhojan with special sweet Shrikhand, Puri and ending with Paan. Now HMM is ready with one another event on May 15, “Anand Gandharva”. Tickets are of this these talent was unknown to most of the community. Shekhar Phatak, Neha Dikshit , Amit Parchure, Deepali Kulkarni, Vrunda Manake. These singers accompanied with awesome musicians, Nishad Kanhere and Prasanna Joshi on Tabala, Shekhar Phatak on Harmonium, and Man-
dar Phadake on Harmonium and Organ, actually rocked the stage. The program was very nicely anchored by Dipti Kanhere and Akshay Deshpande. One of the highlights was an Organ, a traditional instrument. It’s just like a Harmonium, but it is played sitting on the chair, like piano. This organ is made by a Houston based Mr. Mohan Ketakar, who was also one of the supportive musician.(popularly known as Ketakar kaka.) . And it’s very nicely played by Mandar Phadake. To make this event unforgettable, a team of photographers worked hard to capture moments. They are Ravi Ozarker, Rajesh Thatte
DIVORCE
available online on hmmhouston. org. Every program is a great success with the great supporters. HMM president Megha Ozarker thanked the members, non-members, attendees, volunteers, and all the sponsors who are always there with HMM. And three cheers to all HMM 2016 Committee Team Members whose great efforts are always behind every successful event.
Tagore Week Celebration 2016
HOUSTON:
To commemorate Tagore’s 155th Birth anniversary and his legacy of literature, music, art and inspirational global vision, Tagore Society of Houston (TSH) has arranged a gala dinner and a panel dis-
cussion on April 30 at 6 pm at the India House. Swadesh Chatterjee, the driving force behind the passage of US-India civilian nuclear deal in 2008, will be the key-note speaker of the TSH An-
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COMMUNITY
April 22, 2016
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C@deFest 2.2 a Success
BY PIJUSH PAUL
HOUSTON: On April 2, IIT Alum-
ni of Greater Houston (IITAGH) and the Houston Community College (HCC) hosted the second C@deFest 2.2 at HCC Alief Campus for the greater Houston high school students and HCC college students. This six hour event was intended to provide hands on experiences on developing a website and publishing it live on the web to attendees, who have no coding experience. Anand Chauhan a graduate from IIT Madras and currently a Senior Solutions Architect at JP Morgan led the class, which was also supported by volunteers from IITAGH and HCC. This event was the second on this series in Houston area but I was amazed by the attendance on a sunny Saturday. It was well-attended by an enthusiastic and curious group of students with diverse demography background. One thing I found in common among them was that they all had positive entrepreneurial ambition. Some of the students found it so useful first time (C@deFest 2.1) that they attended the event second time. Anand took an interesting approach to this class, teaching to build the website with bare minimum i.e. using a notepad and limited knowledge of HTML language. Although there are multiple paid and free biz available to build website nowadays, students like this basic approach because it gave them the confidence of being in
Tagore Week CONTINUED FROM PAGE
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nual Talk. “Building Bridges: The Role of Indian Americans in U.S - India Relations”, a book authored by Chatterjee will also be launched at the function. Building bridges as a theme, has striking alignment with Tagore’s dream of universalism and inspirational global vision. The panelists taking part in the discussion will be Ray Vickery, Mallika Rajaratnam, Neel Bhan, Rathna Kumar and the session will be moderated by Pradeep Anand. The celebrations will continue at the Tagore Grove (at Ray Miller
complete command. I talked to several students and they were so excited to build their first web page and publish it. Students were provided with 1GB of free domain space, which they can use to promote their profile and business. Volunteers helping students were amazed to see that irrespective of their differences in age and level of computer experience no one wanted to stay behind. In the later part of the class, Anand even taught them how to make a web calculator using Java scripts and also diagnose issues in a HTML script. In a way it was a full recipe for a beginner. Over the free pizza lunch, Anand explained the benefits of having a coding career in today’s globalized economy. Young students were especially interested to know more about how to pursue a coding career. The six figure starting salary of a coding engineer was inspiring for them. I managed to talk to several students during lunch time. One of the student, Lynda, pursuing online Doctorate in Business Management wants to open her own business and C@deFest was her first step towards building and managing her business website. Another student, a retired HR manager, considering to start her own leadership consulting business and C@deFest provided the
skills that she needs to manage her webpage. I talked to several High School students, they want to utilize this knowledge in the class projects as well as making their personal profile. I managed to talk to Ravi Brahmbhatt, Director of Student Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the HCC about the goals of the C@deFest series. He said that the goal is to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the Houston community. Students’ responses and energy indicate that the initiation is moving in the right direction and successfully surpassing its expectation. IITAGH and HCC will keep working on organizing more of these events in future. Anyone interested in attending can contact Ravi Brahmbhatt, ravi.brahmbhatt@hccs.edu. IITAGH is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We help our members connect, develop, and give back to the local community. For more information, please visit www.iitagh.org. For more information on the IITAGH /C@deFest// please visit http:// code-fest.org.
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Park on Eldridge Pkwy) on May 7 at 10 am, where “Tagore Day Proclamation” from Honorable Judge Emmett will be read and garlanding of Tagore statue will take place. May 7 evening will be a FREE community event full of cultural activities at Houston Durgabari. TSH would like to be part of a movement where inspirational learning from Tagore will elevate all to the status of true global citizens. For further information please visit www.tagoresociety. org or call Debleena Banerjee at (281) 757 5669.
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16 April 22, 2016 COMMUNITY Sri Meenakshi Pattabhishekam at Sri Meenakshi Temple BY HARIPRIYA SUNDAR
PEARLAND:
What a grand sight it was to see many devotees gathered in the newly renovated Sri Meenakshi Temple on Saturday evening, April 16. It was windy and clouds were looming overhead, but that didn’t stop the devotees from attending the Meenakshi Pattabhishekam. Inside the Main Temple, there were three sets of vighragas, with Sri Meenakshi in the middle. The priests started doing the pujas and the devotees chanted the slokas and mantras alongside them. The festival is a reenactment of Goddess Meenakshi’ s coronation as queen. The royal couple, King Pandian and his wife Kanchanamalai, did not have a child for many years. After many prayers, during one pooja, a baby girl came out of the fire. She went and sat on the King’s lap. A divine voice from the sky claimed that this child is an avatar of goddess Shakthi. When the child gets to the right age, Lord Shiva will come and marry her. Until then, Sri Meenakshi was trained in
all kinds of warfare and crowned as Queen Meenakshi of the Pandya Kingdom. This coronation ceremony is known as the Pattabhishekam. Once the Pattabhishekam was done the symbolic scepter was handed over to the Chairman S. Narayanan to carry around the Main Temple with devotees. Sri Meenakshi has a beautiful flower palanquin (the Poo Pallakku). The Pallakku was decorated with red and white carnations, and this year jasmine flowers were added to the decorations. The Pallakku was then carried out, parade style, in a procession around the temple. It had started to drizzle but devotees followed the procession around the temple
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
chanting veda gosham and Lalithasahasranamam. A group of devotees carried and played the Chenda Melam, a type of Kerala drum, adding to the liveliness of the festival. Finally, after the ceremony was complete, devotees went into the Youth Center to enjoy a nice dinner provided by Temple. All in all, the Pattabhishekam was full of blessings and grandeur. The weather did not dampen the spirits of the devotees and everything was run smoothly. Chairman thanked the staff and the volunteers. Several volunteers spent many hours to get the Poo Pallakku decorated. It was a great precursor to the grand final Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thiru Kalayanam that is to take place on Sunday April 24.
COMMUNITY BY RUNMEE BARBARA
HOUSTON: On April 9, at Wood-
lands, the Assamese community got together to herald and celebrate the advent of spring. The Houston Assamese Community celebrated its 36th Bihu celebration this year. BIHU is the national festival of Assam, a far North-Eastern state of India. Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu is the festival that refers to the onset of the Assamese New Year (April 14, of every year). There are two other bihus celebrated throughout the year. Bihu (all three) is associated with farming as the traditional Assamese society is predominantly agricultural. Each Bihu coincides with a distinctive phase in the farming calendar. Traditionally Bihu has been celebrated with Bihu dance and Bihu Geets with groups of youths going from house to house, singing Bihu songs which is known as Husori. This dance is performed by both young men and women and is characterized by brisk dance steps with rapid hands and hip movement. The songs are composed in couplets that rhyme and depicts a different emotion. The different musical instruments used are dhul (drum), Pepa (instrument made of buffalo horn), Gogona, Baanhi (flute), Taal (cymbals) and Toka Xutuli (instrument made out of bamboo). During Bihu, Assamese women gets busy weaving Gamosas (traditional hand towel) and Mekhela Chadors (the traditional Assamese 3 pieces costume). People make different types of traditional snacks called ‘Pithas’ such as Til, Ghila, Sunga, Monda, Tekeli Pithas and Laroos (different snacks made out of rice flour, coconut, molases or sugar). It is a festival of merriment and feasting. Everyone dresses up in traditional attires and exchange sweets and greetings with each other. Keeping the customs of our homeland alive, Assamese community of
April 22, 2016
BIHU Celebration by Assamese Community
ALEXANDER P. MATHEWS, CPA Photos: Utpal Kaushik Sarma
Houston began celebrations outdoors around 9.30am in a lakeside park. It was a beautiful weather perfect for all the fun activities. There were many outdoor games for both children & adults, easter egg hunt for the tiny tots and other competitions. The morning session ended with awards distributed for community service. The evening cultural program started from 6 pm onwards at The congregation Beth Shalom of the Woodlands. The entrance and the stage was very well decorated by traditional Assamese symbolic items and crafts like the Japi (bamboo hat with colourful designs), Gamosa , Xorai, Bota (traditional utilities and symbolic elements made from Bell Metal and brass) and the Mekhela Chadors made of Muga silk (natural
golden silk indigenous to Assam). The cultural evening started with Husori. Members from the community showcased their talent by playing musical instruments like guitar, flute, piano and violin. Other performances included a Ballet dance, kathak dance, Mizoram bamboo dance, semi classical dance, chorus, skit , solo songs and the very famous Bihu dance by a bunch of pretty assamese ladies which kept the bihu spirit alive . Families from Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and students from around Texas also came over to celebrate. The program ended with Mukoli Bihu where everyone danced their heart out. It was a perfect evening of happiness and laughter. The Assamese New Year has truly begun.
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Broadway in Colors of Bollywood HOUSTON: Bollywood & Broadway are almost like as chalk & cheese and yet leave it to dance maestro Mahesh Mahbubani and the amazingly talented crew at Naach Houston to put these words together and create a truly global melting pot of a dance show. The result promises to be an amazing show enthroned in Dance, Visuals and Costumes. India House and Naach Houston bring a special flavor of Dance to Miller Outdoor Theater on April 24. Bollywood Broadway features four acts, the Juke box which will showcase the diverse dance styles of Bollywood followed by Ode to Romance, an amazing rendition exploring the emotional landscapes of love. The third act will be Apsara Lounge, a tribute to goddesses, contemporary interpretation of the classical dance style in the 21st century and finally, Utsav – a celebration of various dance styles of India ending the show on a
17
high note, Naach style. Cast:The talented crew of Naach Houston. Supported By: Technical Team at Miller Outdoor, Arif Memon of DMMS for Lighting & Naach Stage Management Team. When / Where: Miller Outdoor Theatre, April 24, at 8.15 PM. About India House: India House’s mission is to unite
cultures, create bridges and serve human needs by bringing resources, education, services & Indian culture to Houstonians. India House assistance to many organizations. These organizations provide disconnected services and programs to the Indian and neighboring communities, including cultural, language learning, education, immigration, medical, legal and recreational services. About Naach Houston: Naach Houston is a Community based Bollywood Dance Company promoting a Multicultural Dance Experience. As the first full time Bollywood dance studio in Houston, Naach Houston provides a creative space for a Multicultural experience. People of all ages from diverse cultural backgrounds meet and interact, thereby creating a rich tapestry of dance work that empowers the collective human spirit.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
18 April 22, 2016 I
Meeting Prince William in India
t might sound odd but I feel like a line in a famous song from the 1920s: “I’ve danced with a man, who’s danced with a girl, who’s danced with the Prince of Wales.” Herbert Farjeon wrote this in 1927 at the height of the popularity of Edward, Prince of Wales, who briefly ruled as Edward VIII. It popped into my head as I stood with some 30 others in a circular line in the British high commissioner’s drawing-room to be introduced to the Cambridges. Before Sir Dominic led them to the sweating masses in the garden, he put aside 40 minutes for an eclectic selection of Indians. Now in England they say punctuality is the politeness of royalty. The Queen, I’m told, is always on the dot of time. I guess in deference to our Indian habits her grandchildren were half an hour late. But that hardly mattered. Expectation only made our hearts grow fonder. The first thing you notice about the Cambridges is their height. He’s well over six feet and she’s only an inch or so shorter. The next striking feature is their smiles. Both were flashing radiant ones whilst her eyes seemed to twinkle as well. They’re quite mesmerising. Finally, no one missed how incredibly elegant and thin the Duchess is. The first was expected but the second was everyone’s initial comment after she moved on. Maneka Gandhi, who was standing beside me, whispered: “I can’t believe a mother of two, whose last child was born 11 months ago, can be so thin.” Jitendra Singh, the minister in the PMO, nodded in agreement. That reminded me of something ‘Mrs Simpson’(later Duchess of Windsor and the woman for whom Edward VIII abdicated) is alleged to have said: “You can’t be too rich or too thin!” Now small talk is never easy and it certainly doesn’t come naturally. However, it literally trips off the Cambridge tongue and I mean that as a true compliment. To chat with 30 strangers isn’t easy. On top of that to look genuinely interested and appear to enjoy it is a truly royal talent. Plebs don’t have it. When it was my turn, Dominic introduced me as someone who wanted to interview Prince William and added: “I didn’t let him!” It provoked a guffaw. “He’s protecting me!” the Duke riposted. We first chatted about the King and Queen of Bhutan, who he was due to meet a few days later. “I tell you what,” Prince William said with a large smile and a wicked look in his eyes. “I’ll get you an interview with the King and the High Commissioner can’t stop that!” Next, cricket and Sachin Tendulkar, subjects on which I’m no expert. Nor, I suspect, is the Prince. “I gather you hit Sachin for a six yesterday?” I said. “I did indeed and, let me add, it was one of his faster balls.” Everyone started laughing. The Duchess obviously heard her husband’s joke. “What he didn’t add is he got out on the next ball!” Unfortunately, that’s all I can remember of my two minutes. I know we chatted about other things but I was transfixed by her elegance and bewitching eyes. I guess I was star-struck! So, now, you know why I began the way I did. The Herbert Farjeon song revels in the then Prince of Wales. Ninety years later I’m revelling in his great great niece and nephew. Let me, therefore, borrow from the song once again: “My word I’ve had a party, my word I’ve had a spree, believe me or believe me not, it’s all the same to me! I’m wild with exultation, I’m dizzy with success, for I’ve danced with a man, who, well, you’ll never guess…” Karan Thapar in Hindustan Times
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY It Isn’t About Money
BY KRISHNA BOSE
I am an outsider in politics, as I
described myself in my political memoir. Somehow I have not written about two very precious experiences as a three-term parliamentarian in my book. Recent shameful episodes revealing the influence of money in politics have engendered a sense of cynicism about the quality of our democracy. It is this disenchantment with politics that brought back memories of two heart-warming moments in my election campaigns. The first incident occurred in early 1998. I was campaigning in thestreetsofKolkataasacandidate of the new-born Trinamool Congress. In 1996, I had been elected from the Jadavpur parliamentary constituency on a Congress ticket. In 1998, the breakaway party had no funds or resources, considered necessary for a parliamentary campaign. With great difficulty, I had managed to get hold of an old dilapidated Jeep to move about in my constituency. One day, as I approached the main crossing of Behala in south Kolkata, a rather venerable looking old man raised his hand and stopped my jalopy. There were hundreds of people on either side
of the street who watched what followed. The old man raised a hundred rupee note towards me and begged me to accept it. I declined politely. The old man came closer, raised his voice and said, “Ma, I am an old freedom fighter, I get a pension. I have brought this for you from my meagre pension. Please accept it.” I replied that I knew all about the povertystricken life of freedom fighters and implored him to forgive me and take back his gift. “I have come all this way to bless you,” the old man said, “please do not refuse me.” I could see he looked hurt and would feel insulted if I still turned him back. So I was obliged to accept it, as a huge crowd watched on. Back home, I touched the note to my forehead, put it in an envelope and kept it among my papers. It still lies there. I have never had the heart to use it. With the old freedom fighter’s blessings, I won a great victory in a most tough constituency. Now let me describe the second incident. In 1999, the government fell by one vote in the Lok Sabha. So there was another election to fight within a year and a half. The campaign was in full swing when late one evening my doorbell rang. Although very exhausted, I came
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INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
down and opened the door myself. A few young chaps who looked extremely poor stood there. They said they drove auto rickshaws in the streets of Behala. “We skipped our midday tiffin for the last few days,” they said. “With the money we saved we have brought this for you.” They held a cloth banner in their hands. The cloth was of poor quality. On it was written, in an uneven hand in Bengali, “Stamp on this symbol for Krishna Bose.” I accepted their precious gift with tears in my eyes. There were no press photographers or, what is very common and fashionable these days, a sting operator with a hidden camera. They do not know what a wonderful shot they missed. As I remember these two poignant moments in my parliamentary life, my heart is full of pride for the poor and obscure in our country. They are the ones who uplift the quality of Indian democracy. Perhaps there is the possibility of a politics beyond money power and its consequent cynicism. The writer was a member of Parliament in the 11th, 12th and 13th Lok Sabhas, and chair of the standing committee on external affairs (1999-2004).
HEALTH
April 22, 2016
19
TEXAS ONCOLOGY CANCER PREVENTION SERIES
I Don’t Have Cancer – So Why am I Seeing an Oncologist?
HINDU RELIGIOUS PRIEST SERVICES
Hematology is the specialty that addresses blood disorders. It is an area that does not get much publicity, but is one where many patients need the services of a specialist. This month, Dr. Muffaddal Morkas discusses the specialty of hematology and its interaction with oncology. Vivek S. Kavadi, M.D. BY MUFFADDAL MORKAS If you ask my daughter what I do, her answer would be that I’m an oncologist – a cancer specialist. Even though it’s true that I devote a lot of time taking care of cancer patients, there is another important aspect of my practice that impacts millions of Americans every year. Patients with blood disorders are treated by hematologists, and many oncologists are also trained to practice hematology. I explain to my patients that these are sister specialties that are often intertwined. Some of the most common conditions treated by a hematologist are anemia (low hemoglobin) and thrombosis (blood clots). Anemia affects more than 3 million Americans. This condition is manifested by low hemoglobin, or
shortage of red blood cells. Anemia is often the manifestation of an underlying disease, such as iron or Vitamin B12 deficiencies, other deficiencies, chronic diseases, blood loss, cancers, or bone marrow disorders. Since hemoglobin is needed to carry oxygen in the blood, individuals with anemia get fatigued; therefore, this is often the main presenting symptom. Hematologists treat anemia by evaluating, diagnosing, and recommending treatment for the underlying condition. Patients with thrombosis (blood clots) also see hematologists. Thrombosis affects about 900,000 Americans with about 100,000 deaths each year attributed to it. There are several types of thrombosis related to various parts of the body, which can be very serious and potentially life threatening in some circumstances, especially if the clot travels to the lungs. While cancer in itself can be a risk factor for cause of these blood clots, many people develop the condition from factors completely unrelated to cancer, such as being sedentary for long periods of time (e.g., a transatlantic or transpacific flight), recent surgery (especially
orthopedic surgery), certain medications such as estrogens, pregnancy, smoking, and obesity, to name a few. Hematologists treat thrombosis with a variety of medications commonly known as “blood thinners.” In addition, they provide guidance to other medical practitioners in the management of thrombosis in the setting of any planned surgical procedures. 4Blood disorders may not have specially-colored ribbons or widely recognized awareness events, but my patients with these conditions are every bit as heroic, standing up to and fighting their disease. They deserve all the support and encouragement we can give them. To learn more about hematology, visit www.TexasOncology.com. Dr. Muffaddal Morkas is a hematologist and oncologist at Texas Oncology–Memorial City, 525 Gessner Road, Suite 310 in Houston, Texas.
After the sudden demise of Bramhasri Udayakumar Gullapalli, Pandit Sridharkumar Ramayanam, as his torch bearer will take the responsibility of serving the Houston community for any kind of Vedic/Hindu Poojas at your door step or in the temple. Contact for Gruhapravesham, Sathyanarayana Vratham, Namakaram, Upanayanam, Marriage, All kinds of Homas, New Business or Shop Openings, Shradha Karmas
SDSV Temple 26100, Tina Lane, Katy, Texas 77494. Temple Ph: 8322788666 Pandit Sridharkumar Ramayanam Ph: 7139338821, 8328335662 “IT HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA”
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INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
20 April 22, 2016
COMMUNITY Unexpectedly, Uber and Other Ride Shares Spread the Wealth in India
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA
NEW DELHI: I took my umpteenth ride in an
Uber cab the other night and was still marvelling at the way the system works in India when I got another important lesson when the system broke down. With headlights coming straight at him and the bumpy road suddenly becoming two lanes in each direction, the driver made a sharp turn to the right and just then, the GPS device that was secured in a dashboard holder fell to the floor, the power cord jerked out and the guidance system went dead. The driver pulled over to the side of the road a few yards afterwards and turned on his blinkers to check. My mother and I waited a few minutes for the driver to get started again but the GPS device wouldn’t boot up inspite of the driver pushing the button on the side and repeatedly reinserting the power jack. Then he did something I didn’t quite expect. This uneducated young man barely familiar with his first brush with high-technology quickly reached into his glove compartment and pulled out an Ethernet cable while he called customer service to explain the problem. I marveled while he tried to grapple with the stubborn device and when it seemed hopeless, I opened the app on my cell phone of a competing service, the Bangalore-based Ola, to guide in a cab to the stretch of dark road with a steady stream of traffic to take us onwards. The Ola driver shook his head and said it would cost the Uber driver Rs. 7,000 to have the device
The ride device is a meter and a GPS all rolled into one
replaced. Central to the way the ride share programs work in New Delhi and a few other cities in India – and there are several others like Ola, Jugnoo and Share My Ride - is the GPS device which is given free to the drivers who sign up (but pay Rs. 100 per month afterwards), who are tickled pink that they have this piece of high-powered technology. They carry their own mobile phones to make and receive calls, but the
An Ola driver with his ride device lounted to the windshield
device is their GPS God to making money. The device knows where you are and can find your pickup point on a map, and equally important is that you can see the location of the driver too; his name, license plate, cell number and can call them to guide them to where you are. You even have a choice of rides on the two most popular ones: on Uber it’s between sharing in a pool, solo or the premium service and on Ola you can select an auto rickshaw, micro, mini, sedan or Prime vehicle. The main difference is the price structure and the driver always swipes his phone screen to start and to receive the fare from the device at the end of the journey. Interestingly, in Pune, where Ola has recently entered the market, the auto rickshaw driver only responded to the call but used his own meter. He was tickled that he could pocket all the cash and didn’t have any reporting to do, but that is probably Ola’s strategy for penetrating the market and building a network of operators. One major benefit of the ride shares is that mobile technology has not only penetrated the market place but also the mindset of otherwise semi-literate drivers. They understand how GPS works, follow directions in English (with an American accent) and have their have own e-bank accounts to transfer their fares daily, after deducting commissions. And suddenly, thanks to GPS, Delhi has risen from the depths of foggy knowledge of whereabouts to a city with street names. Ride share services have taken out the sting from one of the final hurdles for traveling in Delhi as you don’t have to waste time chasing after a taxi or rickshaw anymore and negotiate a fare. Empowered with the powerful GPS device, the drivers are always busy and don’t have to wait at taxi stands or loiter the roads to make money, which they are equally delighted, that they can make in bundles. To penetrate the market, ride share leaders Uber and Ola are making joining their services very enticing by offering drivers other incentives too. Both charge a hefty commission on each fare – Uber takes 25% and Ola 20% - and each vary in the way the “driver’s duty” period is estimated. Each offers drivers incentives for being available: up to Rs. 800 ($12) for four “duties” a day, even if it’s up to the next traffic light and a kilometer rate of upto Rs. 20 ($0.30) while the fare is computed at a lower rate. Some drivers who own their cars claim they can make upto Rs. 150,000 ($2,307) a month and take home between Rs. 50,000 to 80,000
($770 to &1,230) after expenses. That’s a powerful attraction in Delhi where drivers, who are really hard to find, get only Rs. 15,000 to 18,000 ($230 to $277) a month when employed by others and many Ola drivers are bidding their time to buy their own vehicles, which are available for as low as Rs. 600,000 or about $9,000. Ride shares, rickshaws and the all-encompassing Metro got a boost when the local city government of Arvind Kejriwal announced another two-week experiment starting April 15, of allowing cars on the roads only on alternate days based on the car’s odd or even numbered license plate. In anticipation, Ola will start offering a much cheaper electric rickshaw shuttle. At present there are 90,000 auto rickshaws in Delhi: that number is expected to boost to 100,000 by the end of the year. The lure has been enough to entice young men from educated and even well-off families to enlist in the ride sharing programs, though not without some embarrassed looks for breaking into what is considered menial work of the lower class. One young Sikh drove around one afternoon, his head covered by a cap and the other night, an obvious college-aged, sullen young man with a disdainful attitude drove us back home. Its good money in a country with chronic under employment and helps pay for their new cars, of which there is no shortage of in India. There is another sinister and less acknowledged side to this unexpected spread of wealth from what are termed “e-rickshaws”, an oversized golf-cart type of battery driven rickshaw that picks up riders who share the same route. On the day of the religious holiday Holi celebrating the advent of Spring, on Thursday, March 24, a 42year-old dentist was killed after being attacked by a mob of young men who beat him up with iron rods and cricket bats. The incident started with a minor altercation as the dentist exchanged a few hot words while retrieving a ball that had flown into the street from his house. The young man who was the ring leader, Nasir, was offended by the slight and brought in others from his slum to extract revenge. Apparently, his new found wealth from driving ride shares had giving him the clout to demand a following and obedience. He and others (including his mother who works as a maid and who egged him on) were later apprehended the next day, thanks to another high-tech gadget that you would expect not to find in Delhi: a surveillance camera in the street.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
April 22, 2016
Nik Nikam Network (NNN Media)
HOUSTON: NNN Media started as an hour-
long talk show in October 2013 and has evolved into a full-fledged YouTube TV channel, “NIK NIKAM (NNN Media),” with 1000 subscribers, 800+ videos, and more than 790,000 views. NNN Media has created a platform to showcase our community’s highlights, and its host, Dr. Nik Nikam, has interviewed more than 300 people during the past two and a half years. NNN Media has covered diverse topics, such as politics, music, entertainment, medicine, law, engineering, spirituality, social issues, cricket, documentaries, authors, movie stars, and many more. In fact, NNN Media also has engaged many non-profit organizations in our community with in-depth discussions. It also has captured Indian cultural activities on-site and has created a collection of videos, accenting our rich Indian cultural heritage. Visit the NIK NIKAM (NNN Media) YouTube channel and enjoy the rich, cultural experiences of the Indian community and its contributions in the Houston area. All programs are live video-streamed to YouTube and permanently stored on NIK NIKAM (NNN Media) channel. MADRAS N PAVILIO & DAAWAT CATERING
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NNN Media has plans to expand to daily programs from Monday to Thursday from 6-7 PM. They plan to have segments on: Young Gen Sports Spin Business Buzz Market Wrap Women’s World …and many more! Dr. Nikam said, “We would like to invite you to host your own weekly, biweekly, or monthly segment and discuss topics that are of interest to the community. You can reach people from all across the globe, not just in the Houston area. In fact, 30 percent of our subscribers are from India. Do subscribe to the NIK NIKAM (NNN Media) YouTube channel so we can bring you many more vibrant and interesting programs that can enrich and entertain you.” If you would like to support, sponsor, advertise, or be a guest on NIK NIKAM (NNN Media) YouTube channel, email at drniknikam@ gmail.com or call at 281-745-4161.
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SUDOKU
Place a Number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine. Send us the correct answer before April 27, 2016. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036. Send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published (for first three entrees only & 1 submission per month).
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PART-TIME MULTIMEDIA CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR
Are you a news junkie who scans the morning headlines before getting out bed each morning? Are you tied to your twitter feed throughout the day? Can’t go to bed before watching the 10pm news? KTRK-TV, the ABC O&O located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for a part-time content contributor for both broadcast and digital. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to advance their career as a multi-media journalist. In this position, you will write and edit scripts, work on the assignment desk, and contribute to digital platforms, among other duties.
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Must be willing to work overnights, weekends, and holidays. The ideal candidate has experience gathering information and writing news stories - along with a good understanding of social media trends and apps. College degree preferred. All Interested applicants must apply online at disneycareers.com, ref job #366022BR. Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references. In addition, please mail writing samples to: Robin Freese, Executive Producer, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005. Reference job #366022BR. No Telephone Calls Please KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
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INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
April 22, 2016
ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS BY ROHIT VATS
Just when you thought Shah Rukh
Khan is losing his edge, he makes a comeback. And how? Going back to his early acting days, where twisted characters gave him his big break, Bollywood’s king of romance still has what it takes to give you the creeps. Though one of the better Shah Rukh Khan scripts in years, Fan is not devoid of holes, but it still makes for a thrilling watch. With the actor playing the two main characters in the film, especially two that are at such odds with each other, it can’t be easy to keep a smooth narrative. However, Fan may just well be an inward journey for Shah Rukh Khan where his large celebrity persona meets the humble old him that represents the thousands of his fans. The premise: Superstar Aryan Khanna (Shah Rukh Khan) started out small. He didn’t bother to buy train tickets and stayed in a small, claustrophobic hotel when he first set foot in Mumbai. His insatiable greed for success and an indomitable spirit eventually makes him one of Bollywood’s biggest success stories; a brand unto himself (sound familiar?). Gaurav Chanana (also Shah Rukh Khan) is a 25-year-old who runs a cyber cafe in West Delhi’s Inder Vihar. Unusually confident, he’s a pro at mimicking his idol Aryan. A ‘best actor’ trophy in a local competition gives him a new purpose in life: Now he wants to show his trophy to Aryan.
Like a true fan, Gaurav traces Aryan’s journey in Mumbai – he stays at the same hotel, travels without a ticket... but when he finally reaches the star’s house, the boy from Delhi is lost in the sea of other fans like him. After much planning, Gaurav meets Aryan, but the encounter is nothing he expected it to be. A disillusioned Gaurav tries his best to persuade the star to show some gratitude to his fans, but Aryan is too narcissistic to share his credit with a million people. This is where the story truly begins. The conflict between the two arises from the fact that Aryan Khanna
is not the same person he projects to be. He is menacing and mean in real life, but takes a moral high ground on certain issues. He is in awe of himself yet wants to sustain an image which doesn’t hurt his fans’ adulations. But, he is also not ready to acknowledge their contribution to his stardom. Nevertheless, he is human, and is scared to lose it all. Gaurav is a sharp antithesis to this. He is a regular Joe; he is intelligent but impractical and disconnected from reality. His protective parents indulged him always and never discouraged him from doing crazyAryan Khannainspired antics. When we’re introduced to Gaurav, his mannerisms subtly hint at his cynicism, and the lengths to which he’d go to meet Aryan Khanna. But the question is: How far can he go? The thrill of the movie is watching Shah Rukh Khan trying to one up himself. It is Shah Rukh versus Shah Rukh. Director Maneesh Sharma gives Khan a chance to be self-indulgent
in a film that celebrates his DarrBaazigar-Anjaam days. In a way, Sharma demands the superstar to surpass his previous hit roles. But Shah Rukh walks a tight rope, for he plays both an ageing superstar and a no-name nobody. With his years of practice, SRK aces this role with ease. We see film stars making appearances at wedding parties or ready to do anything as long as they are getting paid. Aryan Khanna is no exception. He is humiliated in the process, but also understands the value of his stardom. Self-deprecating humour and honesty is what makes Aryan Khanna a character to watch out for. The dialogues stand Fan in good stead. Sharat Katariya, the dialogue writer, stays true to origins and renders the Delhi tone to Shah Rukh’s
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Mumbai-ness. He is also the one responsible for giving Gaurav a lovable outlook. Though Fan is irrational at times, it keeps the adrenaline pumping all 143-minutes of the movie. Also, the idea of keeping it a song-less film works because that keeps the overdramatic tone from seeping in. It’s a total throwback to Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘90s avatars, but he once again shows how good he still is in that genre. Maneesh Sharma may appear inspired by Hollywood, but he keeps Fan original enough. As a whole, Fan delivers what it promised in the trailers. Logic may not be its strong point, but Shah Rukh most definitely is; he’s back in his element after a long time. Watch it for him. hindustantimes.com
Happy Birthday
Sachin Tendulkar April 24,1973
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Manoj Bajpai April 23,1969
24 April 22, 2016 Spinners, Uthappa Lift Knight Riders to Top of Table BY NIKHIL KALRO
MOHALI (ESPN Cricinfo): Kol-
kata Knight Riders 141 for 4 (Uthappa 53, Gambhir 34, Sahu, 2-18) beat Kings XI Punjab 138 for 8 (Marsh 56*, Narine 2-22) by six wickets. Another dominant bowling performance followed by another effortless chase led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third win of the season, thrashing Kings XI Punjab by six wickets in Mohali to go on top of the table. Knight Riders’ bowling depth was perceptible as their spinners ripped through Kings XI, in a sub-par batting performance, to keep them to 138 for 8. In the chase, Robin Uthappa’s quickfire fifty effectively sealed the game. In 13 games this season, 12 have been won by the chasing team. Put in to bat, Kings XI lost Manan Vohra early when he flicked Morne Morkel to deep square leg but M Vijay looked in rhythm, scything drives and cuts before failing to pick a googly from Piyush Chawla. A slow start was made slower by the questionable promotion of Wriddhiman Saha to No. 4, who struggled in his
Robin Uthappa takes the aerial route on the leg side, Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2016, Mohali, April 19, 2016.
14-ball 8. Shaun Marsh, though, held one end up despite struggling for fluency. The stage was set for either of David Miller or Glenn Maxwell to fire their side back into the contest, but Knight Riders’ expe-
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rienced bowling attack strangled their strong middle order. With two left-handers batting - Marsh and Miller - Gautam Gambhir turned to Yusuf Pathan for the first time this season. The move reaped rewards instantly when Miller edged Yusuf’s first ball and Uthappa took a sharp catch. Maxwell soon resorted to a switch-hit off Sunil Narine, but Kings XI’s season was summed up when he hammered it to extra cover. Narine’s remodeled action returned two wickets in a frugal spell with an economy rate of 5.50. In a format where teams target implausible numbers during the second half of an innings, Knight Riders’spinners ensured Kings XI could only rebuild after leaving them at 94 for 5 in the 15th over. In between, Marsh used swift footwork to accumulate runs and was particularly effective square of the wicket, on both sides. He got to his fifty in the last over with a sweetly-timed lofted drive over long-on. Along with Kyle Abbott, he took Andre Russell’s first over - the last of the innings - for 18 to lift Kings XI to 138.
With that total, Kings XI needed a miraculous start to have any hope, but Uthappa and Gambhir pushed Knight Riders closer to the target with nine boundaries in a 65-run Powerplay, the most productive in this season. The seamers, Sandeep Sharma and Abbott, were inconsistent but when they found their lengths, Uthappa cleared the infield with lofted strokes on the up, on a pitch offering even bounce and carry. Uthappa eased himself to his first fifty of the season off just 24 balls but his premeditated sweep resulted in his dismissal, as he played around a full delivery from Pardeep Sahu. Gambhir looked set for another fifty before a leading edge was acrobatically taken by Glenn Maxwell, running in from deep midwicket. Axar Patel removed Manish Pandey and Shakib Al Hasan, but Suryakumar Yadav and Yusuf took Knight Riders home with 17 balls to spare. Nikhil Kalro is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
SPORTS
Inzamam-ul-Haq Apointed Pakistan’s Chief Selector
ISLAMABAD: Inzamam-ul-Haq
has been appointed chief selector of Pakistan. A former Pakistan captain, Inzamam was the head coach of Afghanistan since October 2015, and was contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board until December 2016. The PCB, however, requested the ACB that he be released from his contract early. This will be Inzamam’s first time as a selector; he had worked as Pakistan’s batting consultant briefly in 2012-13. The PCB has not set a fixed term for Inzamam’s tenure. He heads a panel that includes former opening batsman Wajahatullah Wasti, Tauseef Ahmed, an offspinner who played 34 Tests and 70 ODIs, and seambowling allrounder Wasim Haider, who played three ODIs and over 100 first-class and List A matches. “I have played a lot for Pakistan but it’s for the first time that I have come [as selector] and the PCB has given me such an important responsibility,” Inzamam said. “I want to thank ACB that they allowed me to do national duty. The three selectors should be involved in first-class cricket and [we have] one fast bowler, one spinner and one batsman so that we can cover three sectors.” Inzamam’s appointment comes in the wake of several changes in Pakistan cricket. His former team-mate Waqar Younis had stepped down as coach on April 4, a day after Shahid Afridi relinquished his T20 captaincy. This shake-up was the result of a poor 2016 for Pakistan. They lost the T20 and the ODI series in New Zealand in January. They lost two of their four matches in the Asia Cup T20 in February and in the ensuing World T20, they lost three out of four games. In both tournaments, they could not make it beyond the first round. Performance reports from Waqar and team manager Intikhab Alam had made several points pertaining to selections. Waqar had suggested the chief selector “should be someone who has played modern-era cricket and has a positive vision” and recommended Inzamam for the job. Pakistan’s next assignment is a full tour of England - four Tests, five ODIs and a lone T20I - that starts in July. Inzamam cautioned against expecting an immediate change in performance.
April 22, 2016
Investors Cheer Infosys’s Upbeat Guidance
BY MOBIS PHILIPOSE
I
nfosys Ltd’s March quarter revenues have grown by 1.6% sequentially to $2.446 billion, slightly lower than the Street’s expectation of 1.9% growth. Profit margins were higher than expected, but largely because of a squeeze on hiring and partly due to a write-back of provision for doubtful receivables. The key US market grew just by 0.6% in constant currency terms. And banking and financial services, the largest vertical for the company, grew just 0.2%. If Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) were to announce on Monday results similar to the one Infosys did on Friday—revenue growth missed estimates and key business segments were struggling for growth—its stock would be punished. Infosys’s American Depository Receipts (ADRs), on the other hand, were up 8% on the New York Stock Exchange at 8.20pm
IST. The company has momentum on its side, and investors are willing to excuse a slight miss on growth expectations after three successive quarters of above-par performance. Besides, TCS shares had outperformed in the past month, and now trade at a slight premium to Infosys based on fiscal year 2016-17 estimates. The rally in Infosys ADRs is partly to make up for recent underperformance. Also, the company has guided for constant currency growth of 11.513.5% for FY17, slightly (50 basis points) higher than the Street’s expectation. Earlier this year, Cognizant Technology Solutions Ltd guided for growth between 10% and 14% for 2016. The wide range suggested greater uncertainty about demand for IT services in the current year. Infosys’s guidance reflects far greater confidence and suggests that it expects the momentum in its growth to continue.
A year ago, when the company said it expects constant currency growth of 10-12%, a number of analysts dismissed it as a far too ambitious target. But Infosys ended the year, the first full year under new chief executive officer Vishal Sikka, with 13.3% growth. Analysts at Kotak Institutional Equities said in a recent note to clients: “Key changes, under the leadership of Dr Sikka, to the approach and response to RFPs (request for proposals), emphasis on innovation and scrutiny of the CEO and COO of large deals, have improved the success ratio in large deal wins and account mining. The benefits of these changes will continue.” Infosys said it won new deals worth $2.8 billion last year, which is 45% higher compared with the deal wins in the preceding year. Under a new leadership team, Infosys has managed market share gains with its growth now well above that of TCS. The company’s revenues grew by 13.3% on a year-on-year basis last quarter, while TCS is expected to report growth of less than 8%. A number of analysts believe that the trend of market share gains should continue, which in turn will help the company offset headwinds such as the drop in IT spending in the key banking and financial services vertical. Kotak’s analysts say, “Broader market challenges in the banking vertical may result in some pushback of IT spend and longer decision cycles, although market share gains will neutralize some of the challenges for Infosys.” The company’s 2016-17 guidance reflects this confidence, which will please investors, notwithstanding the fact that the March quarter results were not exactly impressive. The writer does not have positions in the companies discussed here. livemint.com
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India, US Pledge Increased Cooperation to Crack Down on Tax Evasion BY REMYA NAIR
NEW DELHI: India and the US
will work together to ensure that information under the latter’s Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, is fully reciprocal. Under FATCA, which came into effect last year, Indian financial institutions are mandated to report accounts maintained by US taxpayers to the US government. But so far there has been no reciprocity that would have helped India access such information about its taxpayers. Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who is in Washington to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, met US treasury secretary Jacob Lew on Thursday as part of the sixth annual US-India economic and financial partnership. A joint statement released by both sides after the meeting stressed the need for increased tax cooperation to crack down on tax evasion. “The two sides will continue to
engage in discussions on full reciprocal arrangement on FATCA. We look forward to increased cooperation in sharing of cross-border tax information,” it said. The statement pointed out that tax authorities on both sides had reduced bilateral tax disputes in the last one year besides accepting bilateral Advance Pricing Agreement applications by companies in both jurisdictions as part of efforts to reduce transfer pricing disputes. In addition, both countries will collaborate to tackle offshore tax evasion and avoidance, including joint tax audits and tax examination abroad. The statement added that the US will support the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund in order to increase financing options for India’s infrastructure growth. Remya Nair is in Washington DC on the invitation of the International Monetary Fund as a part of its journalism fellowship programme. livemint.com
Arun Jaitley with US secretary of treasury, Jacob J. Lew, US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen and Raghuram Rajan, governor, RBI, at a bilateral meet in Washington DC.
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