Friday, September 18 2015 | Vol. 34, No. 38
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Indo American erican News
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26th Annual Janmashtami Celebrated by HGH
From left: Anish Pillai, Mark Burson, Consul General of India P. Harish, Ambarish Ford with his wife Svaha Ford, Jugal Malani and Durga Agrawal Photos: Bijay Dixit
HOUSTON: Hindus of Greater Houston celebrated the grand annual Janmashtami for the 26th time with great pomp and fervor on September 12. People poured into the George R Brown convention center despite the many conflicting events on the same day and the road closures due to construction around the center. More than 45 organizations who vowed their support to this event, a big support from ISKCON, great personalities like Ambarish Ford and Ajit Wadekar, the first Indian cricket captain to win a test series outside India, and several specials planned, all free of charge to the community, it kindled people’s interest and nearly 5,500 people turned out. Coinciding with 50 years since Swami Prabhupada arrived in United States, a large contingent of Hare Krishna devotees from other parts of USA, also attended the event. An unusually large number of youngsters helped with the celebrations this year, an accomplishment of Vivek Sharda and Ronak Maheshwari who attended Janmashtami for the first time last year, were so inspired that they took a lead role in bringing over 50 volunteers from the University
of Houston. Welcomed by youngsters at the entrance, one would walk straight into a 20 feet in diameter Rangoli with a peacock theme that was designed and created single handedly in 6 hours by Sangita Bhutada, a Limca Book record holder. After a traditional procession, around 110 children including a toddler came dressed as Krishna or Radha for a costume contest setting a new record of participation. This was followed by a very interesting cultural program with the theme “Krishna Jawan Ho Gaya.” It showcased Krishna and his friends touring India and witnessing the way people celebrated Lord Krishna. Apt with the felicitations of Iskcon50, a Kirtan by members of ISKCON lifted the devotional mood and got the gathering involved with many singing and swaying rhythmically to the chanting. Amongst the many decorated temples and booths was a very informative and eye-catching exhibition by ISKCON about the important milestones of Swami Prabhupada with an audio visual presentation. “One who had used his fame and wealth to spread the glories of Krishna” was the introduction given for the Chief Guest of the evening - Ambarish Das or Alfred Ford, the
Rangoli by Sangita Bhutada
great grandson of Henry Ford. In his address, Ambarish reflected on his search for the meaning of life and experimenting with the intoxicating ideas of freedom in the 60’s. In a life defining moment, he stumbled on a Radhe Krishna album by George Harrison at his campus record store which had “two little beautiful people on it.” It was a purchase that changed his life and according to Ambarish, he “started crying when he heard the record.” He embraced the Hare Krishna lifestyle fervently and helped devotees in Hawaii purchase a temple. After his initiation in Hawaii, he travelled all over the world with his wife, also a devotee, to spread Krishna consciousness because “it is a spiritual science not just for Indians but for everybody around the world.” Ambarish Das, now 65, also spoke about the Mayapur temple in West Bengal which he helped build by donating $25 million – admitting that he was “nervous as that was the time when the Ford company was about to go bankrupt due to the economic downturn of 2006-07” but was glad that the “transcendental project worked out beautifully and would help Westerners, Europeans and Americans come to Mayapur and chant Hare Krishna.” Consul General of India P. Harish also addressed the gathering stating that India’s greatness and diversity lies in the fact that every state celebrates Janmashtami in their own unique way. He commended the Hindus of Greater Houston for enabling all the city’s temples to come together under one roof and herald the birth of Lord Krishna together. A special flavor and a pleasant surprise to the evening was the appearance of Ajit Wadekar, who led the Indian cricket team to fame by winning the first ever win outside
Phoolon ki Holi
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Are you Breathless? Yes, Say the Houstonians
Glimpses of the Show
Photos: Navin Mediwala and Liz Macias
BY VANSHIKA VIPIN HOUSTON : The jam packed audience of more than 12,000 people was indeed left breathless at the Bollywood 2015 ‘Breathless’ show held at Miller Outdoor theatre on September 12. On achieving the milestone of the tenth year, Bollywood Blast, produced by Samskriti and directed by Infused Performing Arts and Karmagraphy, got the entire theatre’s adrenaline on a dancing high. Samskriti, true to its tag line, has been bringing both the eastern and western world of dance, on one stage through its persistent endeavours aimed at uniting different cultures through the medium of performing arts since 1994. One such effort has been ‘Bollywood Blast’ – a fable of creative expression spread across Houstonians dancing community with the common thread of Bollywood music. This year, 2015, marks Samskriti’s 21st Anniversary and It was the 10th Anniversary of Bollywood Blast & was a tribute to Anil Kumar.This year Dr. Rathna Kumar of Samskriti Indian Performing Arts collaborated with Kiron & Tina Bose from Infused Performing Arts and Kavita Rao from Karmagraphy to create a heady mix of magical Bollywood dance, bold aerial acrobatics and engaging storytelling choreography. The audience got in the groove on the latest Hindi music hit ‘Girls
like to swing’ from Dil Dhadakne Do movie. Kiron & Tina knew they would be able to swing the thousands to this enthralling dance. Continuing the momentum, the Infused Performing Arts crew performed hip hop dances on songs like ‘Thag le’, ‘anvai anvai’ and ‘party abhi baaki hai’. Versatility, the flavor of Infused Performing Arts, was visible in all acts performed by these groups. Tina Bose, the artistic director of the group, wowed the spectators with her Kathak Performance on ‘Radha Nachegi” whereas Kiron, the creative director, created grand magical illusions with fire on the racy number ‘Malang Malang’. Devotional fervour was showcased through human pyramid formation on ‘Shree Ganesha’ song whereas the funny bone was tickled through the ‘Thurki chokro’ in Rajasthani costumes. The Infused group ended the performances with the contemporary medley act on Bollywood numbers. Infused Performing Arts provides Bolly-
wood dance classes and custom choreography for special occasions and competitions, for all ages at their studios in Stafford, Pearland, Katy, and Dallas. Choreographers, Kiron Kumar and Tina Bose are well trained professional performers and dance teachers. They have been featured on ABC 13, Fox 26 and CW39 news. Their shows have a unique trademark of combining magic and dance on stage. If there was one thing that Bollywood could bring in, it would have to be colorful nostalgia of the 80’s. Eastman colors and impressive bright costumes made for the perfect visual treat for the acrobatics and the stunts in the ‘Bollywood Blast’. The cherry on the top was a comic run-of -the -mill Bollywood story of the 80’s that always sought revenge. Scripted by Karthik Chander, the classic theme of good over evil amidst the dance choreography wowed the audience. Vanshika Vipin and Sunil Thakkar gave their special
presence with their acting talents. It was a funny take on the run-ofthe-mill theme that flooded the 80’s movie scripts. The storyline is focused on a thief who is double-crossed by his partner and sent to jail, who later in his life meets with his son to seek revenge. As each Bollywood story would have it, the virtues win over vice in this dance choreography too. Choreographed by Kavita Rao, director of Karmagraphy, the troop performed an astounding aerial act on the song ‘San Sanana’ from the movie Asoka. Known for her contemporary style of dancing and having been featured in various television shows in USA, Kavita took the dancing bar to another level with their vivacious Salsa performance on ‘Senorita’. ‘Munni Badnaam’ , ‘Disco wale Khisko’, ‘Mehboob mere’ and ‘Jai Ho’ were few other hip shakers for the Houstonians who were swaying in rhythm of the music. An evening that ends with a standing ovation is an evening
well remembered. With an active support from Infused Performing Arts and Karmagraphy, Samskriti gave the dance lovers of Houston one of the most memorable nights to remember. The event photography was done by Navin Mediwala and Liz Macias. The organisers thanked their partners in progress, especially the collaborators and sponsors for making this grand event a success. For those who want to still bask in the pleasure of dancing moves, hop on to these two future shows: INFUSION 2015 on October 3, at 4:30 pm at New Stafford Centre (free event) and the Rockets Halftime Bollywood performance on April 13, 2016.
For photo collage, see page 4
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26th Annual Janmashtami Celebrated by HGH CONTINUED FROM PAGE
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India. He continues to contribute to humanity by coaching cricket to physically challenged people. The Lifetime Achievement Service Award was presented to Dr. Durga Agrawal, an industrialist and philanthropist, for his sustained community service. The Janmashtami celebrations owes its beginnings to Dr. Agrawals’s efforts. The Akhil Chopra “Unsung Heroes” Awards given in memory of Akhil Chopra, a 28 year old active member of the community who was shot dead while meditating in a park about 10 years ago were presented to Mark Burson for spreading the message of the Brahma Kumaris and Anish Pillai for
his work with ISKCON. Hindus of Greater Houston also recognized their own Padmakant Khambati, a founding member of Hindus of Greater Houston who passed away in 2015, with a memorial award. Immediately following the Arati, youngsters took to the floor for the dandiya with live music by Kashmira Nayak and Darshak on the drums. The outstanding feature in the evening’s celebrations was clearly the Phoolon ki Holi – Holi with Flowers, where baskets of rose petals were placed at several locations for revelers to pelt each other with handfuls of petals and play this version of Holi.
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Rice Indo-American Business Club Inaugural Event
BY PRAMOD KULKARNI HOUSTON: Business does not take in isolation. Ideally, it occurs at the intersection of educational institutions, business organizations and new-generation thinkers The formation of the Rice IndoAmerican Business Club (RIABC) is the result of one such interaction in Houston. The inaugural event of the club took place Wednesday, September 2 at Rice University’s Jones School of Business’ Shell auditorium. More than 250 guests, representing 85+ businesses and organizations, registered to attend the event. After a networking session, the inaugural event encompassed a welcome by Club President Himanshu Upadhyaya, remarks of appreciation from Rice University President David Lebron and India’s Consul General P. Harish, and keynote speeches by serial entrepreneur Ashok Rao on “The Indian diaspora—past, present and future” and Rice Profesor Prashant Kale on “What can we learn from emerging markets like India”. Joining Upadhyaya in the club’s executive team are Vice President Nishanth Babu, Treasurer Shashank Tomar, Student Outreach Indraneel Shikhare, Alumni Outreach Ankit Jhamb, and Incoming Officers Laxmi Bhamidipati and Nivitri Choudhry. The faculty adviser is Professor K. Ramesh. “Our mission is to become a resourceful and trustworthy partner to Houston’s Indo-American business community,” explained Upadhyaya in his welcome speech. “We also intend to assist the Jones Graduate School of Business in enhancing its brand recognition among the IndoAmerican business community locally and globally, and to connect Rice MBA students to the entrepreneurial and leadership journeys of successful Indo-Americans.” In addition to Rice University faculty support, RIABC receives backing from the IIT Alumni Group of Houston (IITAGH) and the IndoAmerican Chamber of Greater Houston (IACCGH). Dr. Lebron congratulated the RIABC for bringing together three elements that are important for Rice University, “Reaching out to the local community, enhancing diversity for the entire studentbody, and building international relationships. “It is a matter of great happiness and satisfaction that the most prestigious business school has decided to engage with India and the Indian diaspora,” said CG Harish, citing the importance of Indians and NRIs in the United States. “There are 5 million Indians in the U.S., of whom 150,000 are students. These students contribute as much as $5 billion to the U.S. economy in student fees alone.” The first keynote speaker was serial entrepreneur and angel investor Ashok Rao, who began his extemporaneous presentation on the Indian diaspora by citing how far diversity had come to Rice University.
Executive members of the Rice Indo-American Business Club (RIABC) with IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia (center), keynote speakers serial entrepreneur Ashok Rao (in red jacket), Consul General P. Harish and Rice University Professor Prashant Kale. Photo: Bijay Dixit.
“Fifty years ago, it was impossible for an Indian to get an admission to Rice University because it was restricted to only white students of Houston and the state of Texas,” Rao explained. “And here we are today, at the inauguration of the Rice University Indo-American business club.” Desegregation of the university took place in 1966 and now Rice has one of the most diverse student bodies in the United States. Rao traced the Greek origin of the word diaspora as “to scatter or disperse.” According to Rao, diaspora refers to the scattering of a people in search of a better life, who bring their collective memory and culture to their new home, but hold on to the “myth of return”. This is similar to the scattering of the Jews, who lived in different parts of the world and yearned to return to their promise land, but distinct from migrations, i.e., the colonizations of North America and Australia by the English. “The Indian diaspora began its scattering two thousand years ago with people from Rajasthan, who are now identified as gypsies in Europe,” explained Rao. “Then the migrations took place to Southeast Asia. The first relatively recent Indian diaspora occurred in the 19th century as indentured laborers were shipped to work in the plantations in countries such as Mauritius, Guyana and South Africa, after slavery was abolished. The modern Indian diaspora developed after World War II. Britain needed laborers, so the immigration law was changed to allow the entry of people from the Commonwealth countries. This change allowed unskilled laborers from mostly Punjab to migrate. The law was tightened in 1962. There was a second wave of Indian immigrants in the mid-1960s from Uganda after being ousted by Idi Amin. “The reason why we’re all
here today is because President Lyndon Johnson signed the HartCeller Act in 1965, abolishing the racist national origins quota and putting in place a quota based on skills and family relationships,” Rao explained. “Canada created an immigration system based on points, which also allowed Indians to enter Canada in large numbers.” Since 1990, many professionals, particularly software engineers, have gained entry through the H1B program. By 2010, the Indian diaspora consisted of 3 million in the U.S., 4.5 million in UK and 1 million in Canada. Additionally there are 400,000 Indian-origin people in Australia. Finally, we have the Gulf diaspora of about 5 million, created since the 1970s for laborers to work in the oil and construction industries. “What’s the future,” Rao asked. “The answer depends—assimilation in the host countries, political repurcussions, socio-economic conditions, discrimination, etc. This Western diaspora has helped rebrand India from what was once
the land of snake charmers, elephants and poor people.” “We can become victims of our own success,” Rao cautioned. “However, we can take pride in success of the new diaspora. We’ve succeeded through hard work, perseverance and withdrawal into our own culture.” “I look back to our diasporas with pride and look forward to the future aspirations of our diaspora in 125 countries,” Rap said. “I am reminded of Omar Khayyam’s famous lines, ‘The moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on; nor all your piety nor wit shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all your tears blot out a word of it.” The second keynote speaker was Prashant Kale, Associate Professor of Strategic Management at the Jesse H. Jones School of Business, and also the head of the school’s healthcare initiative. Professor Kale discussed India as an emerging market and whether the developing country could be a source of innovation, reversing the current flow of innovation from the developed
countries to developing countries. “If you think of the last 200 years, innovators in the United States have contributed a lot for innovation around the world. Ancient India played a similar role in mathematics, medicine, surgery, textiles and metallurgy,” Dr. Kale explained. “India of today is poised once again as an innovator.” Dr. Rao discussed the concept of “disruptive innovation” coined by a Harvard professor to develop products and services that are cheaper by an order of magnitude to allow nonconsumers in impoverished countries to become consumers. He gave the example of Aravind Eyecare, a network of hospitals in India, that has streamlined the process of cataract surgery. The end service is of high quality, but extremely low cost (between $50 to $200, compared to U.S. cost of more than $2,000), achieved primarily by improving surgeon productivity. The evening’s program concluded with another networking session. For more information on the RIABC, please visit their website: http:// jones.campusgroups.com/riabc.
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IITAGH Hosts A Delightful Evening with Ajit Wadekar
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From Left : Pradeep Anand, Ajit Wadekar, Manohar Hiremagalore, Sundy Srinivas, Pratish Kanani
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Audience at the Ajit Wadekar talk.
Autographed Cricket Bat sold at the live auction Ajit Wadekar
HOUSTON: Mr. Ajit Wadekar, former international cricketer who played for India between 1966 and 1974, was clearly on his game, as he spent an evening with more than 100 people, who gathered for dinner and an opportunity to listen to him speak, at an IIT Alumni of Greater Houston (IITAGH) hosted event at Madras Pavilion on September 9th. India had played Cricket Test matches since 1932 and had not won a single Test Series overseas against cricket powerhouses such as England, Australia and West Indies, until 1971. Mr. Wadekar was the Captain of that historic Indian Cricket Team, which won two Test series overseas - in West Indies and in England. The evening was kicked off by Pratish Kanani, the President of IITAGH, followed by Pradeep Anand who talked about growing up in Mumbai seeing Mr. Wadekar playing for neighborhood, city, state and then the national teams. Pradeep recalled being impressed by the integrity
of Mr. Wadekar who once walked off the field when the wicket keeper caught the ball, even though the umpire did not call him out. Mr. Wadekar knew he had nicked the ball. Pradeep also talked about the discipline Mr. Wadekar brought to the team and the turnaround he affected on the team. Mr. Wadekar shared his memories of the cricket greats in a casual, down-to-earth, and humorous manner that had the room in awe and laughing all at the same time. He shared stories about how Gary Sobers visited his home to give him a new pair of shoes, and how his mother demanded that he wear those new shoes in the next match, where he got out for a “duck” (zero). As Gary gave him a hard time for that no-score, he gave Gary a hard time for throwing him off his game with the new shoes. He casually recalled Pradeep’s story differently, saying, “I had already scored over 100 runs so I figured I would head back in.” He laughed and the audience laughed with him. His shared real stories about the games he played, the colleagues he coached and played with, the team he turned around, the rivals he stood up to, and the games they
all won together. At the end of the evening speech and a Q&A session enthusiastically moderated by Sundy Srinivasan, a signed autographed bat was auctioned to raise funds for the All India Cricket Association for the Physically Challenged (AICAPC), an organization founded in 1982 by Mr. Wadekar. That bat raised $2500 for AICAPC! There are few people in this world who have achieved so much and yet approach life without any ego. Mr. Wadekar is truly one of those individuals. In closing he said, “Houston is known for its hospitals, but now I also know Houston for its hospitality. Thank you!” The humble and humorous hero received a standing ovation.
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Shammi’s Son, Yes and Just as Engaging, with a Wild Streak Tucked In BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA
Aditya Kapoor spoke fondly of his famous parents Shammi Kapoor and Geeta Bali
Aditya Kapoor being introduced by the hosts of the afternoon tea, Pankaj and Asha Dhume at their house.
SUGAR LAND: He can talk a mile-a-minute and rambled on one Sunday afternoon through the key moments to explain why he had taken off on a 5,500 kilometer, 25-day motorcycle ride across northwestern parts of India in October 2013. Mixed in was a frank tale of his life, holding back very little from his audience of mostly first-Genners eager for a touch with celebrity, even once removed. Bespectacled with wavy gray hair that drew a cowlick, hikers boots, jeans and a striped blue half-sleeved shirt over a dark blue undershirt, Aditya Kapoor was at once eager to relate his story and willing to pose for pictures for the fifty or so people who had come to meet him during his visit to Houston where his son Avinash works as a software designer. Kapoor has written a book, aptly named “Bike On a Hike”, on the experience and it is being sold on Amazon. Befitting his personality and demeanor, the book is humorous and easy flowing and is illustrated both inside and on the covers with sketches (by Mumbai-based illustrator Ahmed Sikander) that capture the light heartedness of the narrative. A first-time author, Kapoor was equally awed by the clutch of authors in the room – noted ones like Bapsi Sidhwa and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and self-published ones like Pradeep Anand and Dan Mayur – and recalled the instance when he saw Sidhwa and Divakaruni’s books on the shelves at Crossroads in Kemp’s Corner in Mumbai. The crowd that had gathered at the home of Asha and Pankaj Dhume in Sugar Land was all ears as Kapoor, 50, sat down close to his wife Priti to explain the experiences that he had penned down. But realizing that his pedigree was equally important to his audience, he volunteered some background information on growing up with screen legend parents Shammi Kapoor and Geeta Bali (who died at the age of 31). His chachas (paternal uncles) were the beloved movie stars Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor and his dada (paternal grandfather) was the legendary Prithvi Raj Kapoor who also started the clan’s movie studio. “My greatest sorrow was that I didn’t go beyond 10th grade,” confessed Kapoor. He instead became an aide at RK Studios, but found a change in career path when it was suggested to him by his spiritual guru. He then worked for “a shipping guy”, then spent 20 years in management before finally meeting and befriending Ramesh Anand “who worked in placement in a fancy office. He told me to hustle in the market.” Anand, who has since moved to Houston many years ago, made an amused grin from the audience. Kapoor then got busy in setting up amusement parks, studios and other projects in India and the Middle East, but his realized that he was good in scripts and films and drifted back to Bollywood, became an actor and made 10 to 15 movies. About 10 years ago, Kapoor decided to retire from life in the big city and moved with Goa his wife, Priti who has made a name as a painter in oils and watercolors. That’s where he took up motorbiking, buying a Royal Infusion 500cc classic and joined a bike club. One day he came up with the idea of the long journey and breached it with his wife. “We did it because we became monosyllabical,” joked Kapoor about the 5,500km CONTINUED ON PAGE
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The Unique Charm of Awards Brings Friends and Support to IACF’s Gala
Photos: Murali Santhana
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA SUGAR LAND: A change in venue to the heartland of Asians in this Metroplex and a focus on those who are paving a path for future generations – Gen-Next as the promotional materials called them – helped the Indo American Charity Foundation to raise its profile this past weekend when it held its annual Gala at the Sugar Land Marriott in Town Square on Saturday, September 12. Over the past decade, the 28-year-old charity has tried many venues for its annual gala, from the Hilton Americas (site of last year’s event) to the Safari Texas Ranch (where the 2012 gala was held) but this year’s venue may have been the best choice for its annual fundraiser. The convenience of the location for many of its supporters who live in the area brought in a good-sized crowd of 350, according to organizers. The thrust of the Gala was to recognize and reward the eighteen people, both young and old, who have made an impact on the lives of future generations of Indo Americans. Billed as the “Gen-Next Influential Friends of Charity Awards”, the Board of Directors of the IACF had sought out nominations from across the community, according to Dr. Kamala Raghavan, the current IACF President, and then narrowed down the field. “Each of these honorees is an inspiration to the next generation to follow in providing help to the needy among us,”
said Raghavan from the podium. “We salute their accomplishments, applaud their efforts and humbly support their charity work,” she added. After a cocktail hour in the lobby for most, and a private reception for the honorees, the guests ushered into the main ballroom and the two long tables and aisles of silent auction items were also brought in, set along the back wall, where they continued to do a brisk trade. All eyes in the packed hall were on the stage where Srisanvitha Sridhar, the 2013 IACF Music Idol Winner sang a melodious invocation. Raghavan made her welcome speech and then asked Isha Salas Deselle, the Founder and Executive Director of Turning Point, a local homeless shelter for the elderly in Spring Branch, to speak from her experiences. IACF has provided free flu vaccinations and financial support for Turning Point, a charity it supports. Other charities supported by the IACF were also on hand to talk about the work they do for the community, like Jaishri Kothandaraman and Venkat Dikonda of PEACE which supports education programs and those to which grants were handed out onstage, like Indian Doctors Charity Clinic; Literacy Advance; Friends Helping Friends and Casa de Esperanza. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the awards – a beautifully framed picture and short bio of the recipients – to each of the 18 people (see list in
box) who had come to the gala, many with their friends and family, as the emcee for the evening, the radiant Nina Desai (last year’s Mrs. Bollywood) read out short excerpts from their resume. The honorees were also appreciated in the gala souvenir which had full page pictures and biographies on each
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For photo collage, see pages 14
VICE PRESIDENT CREATIVE SERVICES
KTRK-TV the ABC owned station located in Houston, TX is seeking a strategic Director of Creative Services who has experience with and understands how a media brand interacts with audiences on multiple platforms. This role is responsible for managing the station’s branding, promotions and graphics on all platforms and for producing appropriate original content relevant to each platform. This position requires knowledge of data-focused, audience-based brand development and design, content creation and social media marketing, and experience with sales promotions, community outreach programs and influencer marketing. Must be a team player, motivator and well versed in digital promotions/marketing in a fast paced, ever-changing environment. Responsibilities of the position include:Managing the ABC13 brand on all platforms through the development and execution of innovative creative and marketing campaigns. Leveraging research and real time data analytics to launch timely social media campaigns that grow audience engagement and emotional connection to the ABC13 brand, content and talent.Manage department staff, budget and media buying on and for all platforms. Growing the brand identity by developing and creating original and emotionally-impactful content. The idea candidate should have a track record of managing not only staff but also the creative expression of a media brand on and offair including experience with brand management across digital platforms, including social media. Additionally, a strong understanding of how to use research and data analytics tools to drive audience engagement on all platforms is necessary. Demonstrated experience overseeing the production of original compelling content that integrates sponsors and advertisers is important for success. To be considered all interested applicants must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Please Reference Job ID: 299586BR No Telephone Calls KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
16 September 18, 2015
COMMUNITY
Shammi’s Son, Yes and Just as Engaging, with a Wild Streak Tucked In CONTINUED FROM PAGE
12
Aditya Kapoor described the couple’s 5,500 km motorbike journey as his wife Priti listened
ride on his bike, with his wife riding behind and all their possessions in side-saddlebags. “The book is a diary of the ride,” he added, “and is written from the perspective of the bike.” The story opens with a meeting with the Dalai Lama who hugged the two of them when he heard they had arrived on a bike. “He called all the people back,” recalled Kapoor, “and said, ‘Hey, they came varoom, varoom on a bike!’.” Asked about some trying moments on the 25-day journey, Kapoor remembered being tailgated by a trucker for a long time. When they stopped apprehensively on the side of the road, the trucker came out and expressed his astonishment saying “husband-wife? Bale, bale!!” and started to laugh merrily that they had so much luggage. “We really never felt scared,” added Kapoor, “but came back from the trip feeling the love and affection of the people we had encountered.”
The Unique Charm of Awards Brings Friends and Support to IACF’s Gala CONTINUED FROM PAGE
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of them. Entertainment for the evening featured a fashion show and Bollywood dance by Jaz Creations whose founder and Executive Director Jasmeeta Singh performed along with several other young women onstage. A live auction was held for eight antique art pieces (from Zarposh India) and diamond jewelry (from Select Jewelers) items, pushed along by Dr. Nik Nikam (one of the honorees) who had conducted last year’s auction too; but it failed to get the crowd’s enthusiasm. Alpa Shah (an IACF Director) captivated the audience with a heartfelt movie song from yesteryear, and then relinquished the mic to Anand Chauhan (another IACF Director) who played along on his guitar as his lead singer Malika Ghei pumped it up with more contemporary pop Hindi songs. As catered dinner (from Dawat Catering, who also provided the abundant appetizers) was served at the tables, Nanda Vura, the incoming IACF President thanked many of the individuals who had made the Gala a reality. DJ Zee played out some fast remixes and Bollywood hits as many guests showed off their moves on the dance floor. IACF 2015 Friends of Charity Award Recipients Abhijit Gadgil Asif Dakri Atul Kothari Chandrakantha & David Courtney Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Dr. S.G. Appan Juuhi Ahuja Dr. Kamlesh Lulla Dr. Karun Sreerama Koshy Thomas Dr. Nat Bala George R. Willy Dr. Nik Nikam Dr. Padmini R. Nathan Ravi K. Sandill Sockalingam “Sam” Kannappan Stuti Trehan Patel Dr. Randy Briones
For photo collage, see pages 14 INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
STORY OF MAHATMA GANDHI
September 18, 2015
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The Story thus Far
After the defeat of Japan in August 1945, Britain agreed to a planned withdrawal from India. All through his life Gandhi had worked for unity between Hindus and Muslims, without much success. There was a large section of nationalist Muslim in the Congress but leaders of the Muslim League were drifting further and further away. Gandhi was not the man to give up hope, however, and he pursued his efforts to bring about a settlement. On the other hand, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League, was hostile to the idea of unity. The Viceroy invited all leaders to Simla and tried to find a solution and bring about Hindu-Muslim accord. Jinnah would not agree to anything except a separate Muslim state of Pakistan. Britain announced and held an election in India. The Congress won most of the non- Muslim seats and the Muslim League won most of the Muslim seats. The deadlock continued. “We can settle the Indian problem in ten minutes if Mr. Gandhi agrees to the creation of Pakistan,” said Jinnah. But Gandhi was distraught.“Cut me in half,” cried Gandhi, “but do not divide India in two.” His words fell on deaf ears. In February 1946, the British government sent a Cabinet Mission to India. It consisted of Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A.V. Alexander. The task of the Cabinet Mission was to study the situation and make recommendations. After careful consideration, the Cabinet Mission issued a statement proposing the withdrawal of British authority from India. They had the idea of a united India. On August 24, 1946, the Viceroy announced the formation of an Interim National Government to replace the Viceroy’s Executive Council. Jawaharlal Nehru was the Vice-President of the Interim Government. The Muslim League declined to join on the ground that it had not been given the right to nominate all the Muslim members. After the installation of the Interim Government, Gandhi was anxious to return to Sevagram, his ashram near Wardha, but the Congress leaders prevailed on him to stay longer in Delhi because they wanted his advice. Then the Muslim League decided to join the Interim Government and an announcement was made to that effect on October 15, 1946. Gandhi once again felt free to return to Sevagram. He was about to leave Delhi when news came of disturbances in Bengal. There was widespread communal rioting in Calcutta and in the Muslim majority district of Noakhali in East Bengal, with murder, arson, looting, forced conversions, forced marriages, and abduction. Gandhi was confused and griefstricken. Instead of returning to Sevagram, he set out for Noakhali to try
to bring peace there. The communal riots spread. There were similar riots in Bihar and the Punjab. Several thousand were killed and injured. Gandhi was greatly distressed by these events. He tried to calm and reassure the people. He walked from village to village and from house to house carrying his message of peace. Wherever he was, there was peace, at least outwardly, but the general situation in India was worsening. Rioting spread from the towns to the villages. In Bihar the Muslims were suffering and Gandhi went there to instill courage into the Muslim minority. The situation in India was so dreadful that the Congress leaders realized that the best way open to them was to accept Jinnah’s demand for a division of the country. Nehru met Gandhi to inform him of this decision. Gandhi asked him, “Is there no way out? No hope of a united India?” Nehru was sad and grave. “Bapuji,” he replied, “unity is impossible... we have to accept it (division of India). Otherwise this deadly turmoil will never cease.” Gandhi bowed his head to hide his despair. On June 3, 1947, British Prime Minister Attlee announced the plan for partition. The Congress and the Muslim League accepted it. For Gandhi it was a spiritual tragedy. With infinite sadness he said, “All of India must accept Pakistan in loving resignation. We have no choice. Hindus must lead the way to a friendly settlement.” Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last British Viceroy, was anxious not to delay the ushering in of independent India and independent Pakistan. He shortened the time limit for the British to quit India. The date for the declaration of Indian independence was fixed for August 15, 1947. Thus on August 15, 1947, India’s long struggle and suffering for freedom was over. A new nation, although split in two, was born. Lord Mountbatten hailed Gandhi as “the architect of India’s freedom through non-violence.” Gandhi had never given his approval to partition, but when it was done he accepted it and did everything possible for the attainment of HinduMuslim friendship. Yet the tension between Hindus and Muslims continued to increase. As a result of partition over 700,000 Hindus, Sikhs, and other non-Muslims, fearing the Muslims, in Pakistan left their homes and set out towards security in India. From India about the same number of Muslims, fearing the Hindus, left their homes for Pakistan. One and half million people on the move were exposed to starvation, disease, and death on the way. Gandhi was on his way to the Punjab when he stopped in Delhi, hoping to quell the riots that had broken out there. Gandhi’s gospel of forbearance and forgiveness towards Muslims marked him as a traitor in the eyes of
many Hindu extremists. In the face of fanatical opposition, Gandhi redoubled his efforts and the major disturbances in Delhi subsided, but there were still disturbances here and there. Gandhi decided to do penance by fasting, which he thought would bring about a change in the attitude of the Hindu fanatics. The fast began on January 13, 1948. There was gloom all over India at the news of Gandhi’s fast. People thought that he would not be able to survive another fast. The whole world watched as Gandhi, 78 years old, fasted to save his country from destruction. On January 18 a peace committee, representing all communities, met and signed a pact pledging unity and the protection of life, property, and faith to the Muslim minority. Gandhi was informed of the pledge and he broke his fast. Gandhi was staying at Birla House. Every evening he held a prayer-meeting in the grounds. During his prayer-meeting on January 20, a bomb was thrown at him, but it missed its target. Gandhi continued his prayer meeting as if nothing had happened. “Bapuji, a bomb exploded near you,” said a voice. “Really?” Gandhi said. “Perhaps some poor fanatic threw it. But let no one look down on him.” On January 30, after a midday nap, Gandhi woke up at 3.30 p.m. The whole day he had had a stream of visitors. Sardar Patel went to see him at 4 p.m. Nehru and Azad were to come after the evening prayer. Gandhi left his room at 5 p.m. and went towards the prayer hall. He passed through a cordoned-off path, accompanied by Manu and Abha, his grand-daughters. As he was walking along a youth came forward as if to seek his blessings. But he stood in front of Gandhi and at point-blank range fired three shots in quick succession. All the bullets hit him. Gandhi fell, uttering the prayer, “Hay Ram.” Gandhi was dead. The assassination gave the world a tremendous shock. Nehru went on radio to tell the country of Gandhi’s death, his voice choked with emotion: “Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives and there is darkness everywhere. I do not know what to tell you and how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the Father of the Nation, is no more. Perhaps I am wrong to say that. Nevertheless, we will not see him again as we have seen him for these many years. The light has gone out, I said, and yet I was wrong. For the light that shone in this country was no ordinary light. The light that has illumined this country for these many, many years will illumine this country for many more years, and a thousand years later that light will still be seen in this country, and the world will see it and it will give solace to innumerable hearts.” -Concluded
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18 September 18, 2015 Hunting in Pair: US & India The United States and India are working together to tackle problems and create opportunities for advancement in each of these areas, but perhaps the most important partnerships aren’t always the stuff of trade negotiations and security resolutions. Beginning this week, the US, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is partnering with the Government of India (GoI), the private sector and civil society to reduce tuberculosis in India. While it doesn’t often make headlines, TB is a silent killer that needs to be stopped. TB is second only to HIV/AIDS as the greatest infectious killer disease worldwide, and India has the highest TB burden in the world, accounting for almost 25% of global TB cases. With proper diagnosis and treatment, TB can be cured. However, too many people with TB don’t seek care for early symptoms and get properly diagnosed. Of those in whom the disease is detected, many do not complete their treatment. As a first step, we want to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around TB. Anyone, anywhere is vulnerable to this disease, from the youngest of babies to the most powerful of men and women. That’s why Amitabh Bachchan has stepped up as the spokesperson of this partnership program. He contracted TB approximately 15 years ago, and underwent a year-long course of antibiotics to regain his health. If TB can affect The Big B, it can affect anyone. Fortunately, our investment and partnership on this issue are tried and tested. Through the USAID and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the US has been actively engaged in working alongside the GoI for many years, investing close to $100 million over the last 18 years to prevent and control TB in India. During that time, we have seen dramatic improvements in diagnosis and care, and over 15 million patients have been treated for TB. But it is not enough, and it is clear that governments alone cannot end TB. Together, we have come to realise that we need a multisectoral approach in which partners, both public and private, collaborate to achieve this ambitious yet attainable goal. Ratan Tata and the Tata Trust were the first to embrace this new partnership, and that’s how the Call to Action was born. You’ll see evidence of the campaign over the coming days and months, first in urban sites and later in community health clinics across the country. The Call to Action needs you, too. If you own a business, we invite you to join our corporate campaign. If you support a family, we want to empower you to protect your family by giving you information needed to detect early symptoms of the disease. As Indian scriptures say, “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah (Let all be happy, let all be free from illness)”. Together with you, India and the United States are making the world a safer, healthier place.IE Richard Verma, US ambassador to India
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Spawning a Silicon Valley in India
BY SEEMA SIROHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to be a good listener by most accounts. When visiting the famed Silicon Valley later this month, he can employ his skill to maximum advantage. Modi will meet some of the key players, many of them Indian Americans, who have made Silicon Valley one of the most envied and emulated projects around the world. Why don’t “animal spirits” of the same IIT graduates unleash at home to the same extent is something that will weigh on his mind. What makes Silicon Valley tick? It’s not just the California sun or the formidable beauty of the Redwoods or the vastness of the Pacific — although they do help young innovators reach a mind-altered state. They say Silicon Valley has a unique culture, in fact, so unique that even other American states haven’t been able to recreate the magic. New Jersey tried and failed spectacularly even after recruiting the “father” of Silicon Valley, Frederick Terman, a professor of electrical engineering, who had turned Stanford into a hub of innovation. As Stanford’s provost he famously linked his students to emerging tech industries in the 1950s and 1960s, creating a virtuous cycle that perpetuates to this day. New Jersey couldn’t replicate the model because the various participating industry titans refused to cooperate or fund anything that might benefit the competition. Besides, Princeton University, which could have been a pillar of New Jersey’s high-tech corridor, was snooty about collaborating with industry. Terman was later drafted by Texas but again the joints between industry and academia failed to take hold. If his idea of focusing student research on industry needs, which in turn led the industry to plough more money into research, worked in California why it didn’t in other states? Terman’s interventions are stuff of legend. He encouraged Stanford alumni David Packard and William Hewlett to start a small electronics company in 1939 in a garage in Palo Alto. Thus was Hewlett-Packard
“Indians are entrepreneurs. We have it in our DNA. But opportunities must be created.”— B.V. Jagdish born — in a garage. He established “steeples of excellence” around science and engineering, attracting the best students and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit. He collaborated with industry, created joint ventures with the US Air Force, making Stanford the essential link in the technological revolution. The father of the Internet, Vinton Cerf, developed the TCP/IP protocols at Stanford, which would become the standard of communication between computers. Google started when Larry Page and Sergey Brin developed their algorithm as grad students in the ’90s. As did Yahoo, Sun Microsystems, Cisco and others. Apart from Stanford — undoubtedly the weight-carrying pillar in the enterprise — Silicon Valley is also the birthplace of the venture capital industry, which funds ideas. Some fly and change the world while others crash mightily. The common thread is fearless risk-taking. No wonder Silicon Valley has mesmerised foreign leaders from Charles de Gaulle to Vladimir Putin and now Modi. The Valley Indians are excited about the visit and see no reason why the lessons can’t be applied in India. Here’s some helpful advice from the gurus. TM Ravi, co-founder of The Hive which funds companies that leverage big data, says Modi should “feel the pulse” of Silicon Valley. He should imbibe the “fail fast approach” which means to try something, fail quickly, fine tune, re-
train and relaunch. Incidentally, Ravi also has a sister company in India that provides venture capital. India’s two core problems remain governance and infrastructure, says Ravi, who is from IIT Kanpur. “It’s like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. If a country doesn’t have core infrastructure and good governance, it becomes hard to gather escape velocity.” Yes, India is a big and difficult country but he hopes Modi would be “more aggressive in changing things.” BV Jagadeesh, who emerged from a village near Bangalore and went on to create two companies worth hundreds of millions, is today a passionate angel investor. “A lot of things the PM talks about like smart cities and Digital India go hand in hand with the ethos of Silicon Valley. “We have to change the mindset. We must rejuvenate research in all sectors because a lot of success in the US is the culmination of billions of dollars in research. Indians are entrepreneurs. We have it in our DNA. But opportunities must be created.” His parting shot: “Don’t you think solar technology should have come out of India given the sun and the need for energy?” Think about that. ToI Seema Sirohi is a senior journalist, who writes on foreign policy and India’s place in the world. She has covered India-US relations for nearly three decades and watched their upwardly mobile graph. She takes sides whenever necessary.
Indo American News FOUNDER: DR. K.L. SINDWANI PUBLISHER: JAWAHAR MALHOTRA EDITOR: PRAMOD KULKARNI BUSINESS & PRODUCTION MANAGER: VANSHIKA VIPIN GRAPHIC DESIGN: BHUMI PARMAR CORRESPONDENTS
HOUSTON: MALAY VYAS CHICAGO: NAND KAPOOR INDIA: RAJ KANWAR, ASEEM KULKARNI ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 4 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com
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September 18, 2015
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ALEXANDER P. MATHEWS, CPA For Services In:
INDIVIDUAL & BUSINESS TAXES • BUSINESS TAX CONSULTATION INCORPORATION, FORMATION OF LLC CERTIFIED QUICK BOOK ADVISOR AVAILABLE
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FESTIVAL
Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesha Chaturthi, the great Ganesha festival, also known as ‘Vinayak Chaturthi’ or ‘Vinayaka Chavithi’ is celebrated by Hindus around the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is observed during the Hindu month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) and the grandest and most elaborate of them, especially in the western India state of Maharashtra, lasts for 10 days, ending on the day of ‘Ananta Chaturdashi’. The Grand Celebration A life-like clay model of Lord Ganesha is made 2-3 months prior to the day of Ganesh Chaturthi.The size of this idol may vary from 3/4th of an inch to over 25 feet. On the day of the festival, it is placed on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents for people to view and pay their homage. The priest, usually clad in red silk dhoti and shawl, then invokes life into the idol amidst the chanting of mantras. This ritual is called 'pranapratishhtha'. After this the 'shhodashopachara' (16 ways of paying tribute) follows. Coconut, jaggery, 21 'modakas' (rice flour preparation), 21 'durva' (trefoil) blades and red flowers are offered. The idol is anointed with red unguent or sandal paste (rakta chandan). Throughout the ceremony, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda and Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted. For 10 days, from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesha is worshipped. On the 11th day, the image is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off
May the blessings of Sri Ganesha be upon you all! May He remove all the obstacles that stand in your spiritual path! May He bestow on you all material prosperity as well as lib-
eration!
of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of all man. All join in this final procession shouting "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya" (O father Ganesha, come again early next year). After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idol to the river to immerse it. The whole community comes to worship Ganesha in beautifully done tents. These also serve as the venue for free medical checkup,
blood donation camps, charity for the poor, dramatic performances, films, devotional songs, etc. during the days of the festival. -hinduism.about.com
Ganesh Chaturthi Special Recipe: Modak For the filling 2 Cup grated fresh coconut 1/2 Cup mixture of unsalted pistachios and unsalted cashews 1/2 Pinch of cardamom powder 1/2 Cup milk 1 Cup jaggery or sugar
13100 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478
www.testmasters.com
281-564-7700
For the outer cover 1 Cup rice flour 1 tsp Ghee 1 Cup water 1/2 tsp Salt Method: To prepare the filling, combine coconut, milk and jaggery or sugar and mix the ingredients well. Cook it over medium flame, stir continuously till they are mixed properly. Add cashews and pistachios and cook for about one minute. Now add cardamom powder. Keep aside the mixture to allow it to cool down. Bring the water to a boil in a vessel. Now add flour, ghee and salt, stir quickly to remove all lumps. Cover
the vessel with a lid for some time and let it cook. Remove the lid and keep stirring the mix. Now remove the pan from heat and transfer all the mixture on a flat plate. Knead it to make soft dough. It should be neither too sticky nor too dry. Grease the palms of your hands properly and make a ball from the dough. Flatten the dough to make a cup shape. Put 3/4 tsp coconut filling
into this cup. Dip thumb and index finger in the oil and make 5-6 small pinches on the outside edges of the cup. Bring them together on top and join to shape a peak. Put modaks on a greased plate. Make rest of the modaks in the similar way. Now steam them for about 15 minutes and serve with ghee. -zeenewsindia.com
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
September 18, 2015
Completely Free Community Health Fair on Sep 26 with Screenings, Consultations and Vaccines
Manvel,TX :The fifth annual ‘Life and Soul’ free health fair organized by Love to Share Foundation America and Global Organization for Divinity (Houston Namadwaar group), both nonprofit community-based organizations, will be held on Sep 26 from 8 am to 12 pm at New Life Plaza (Sai Primary Care), 3945 CR 58, Manvel, TX. The event is completely free, open to all. Except for screening mammograms, no prior registration is required. Honorable Mayor Delores Martin of Manvel, Honorable Mayor Tom Reid of Pearland and State Representative Ed Thompson will kick-off the event at 8 am.
Life and Soul 2015 is supported by Texas Medical Association, UTMB - Project Pink Warrior (Susan Komen Grant), Pearland Medical Center, HEB Plus, Walmart, Internal Medicine Associates of Houston, Tuscany Village, Walgreens, Alvin Community College, Southeast Cardiovascular Associates, Texas Eye Institute, Genesis Hearing Clinic, Third Coast Terminals, US Imaging, Sleep Center of Kirby, Kroger, Fiesta, Foodarama, Shipley’s Donuts, Dominos, Starbucks, Smoothie King, Cooling Tower & Solutions and Bandy & Associates, Inc. Over 50 volunteers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, high school students and others work selflessly to make this event a reality! The screenings for this year include Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, Lung Function Test, Bone Density, Pulse Oximetry, Lung Function Test, Carotid Doppler, Vision and Glaucoma screening, Free Otoscopy and Hearing evaluations. 8-10 hours fasting is
required for the blood tests. Free Mammogram Screenings will be conducted by UTMB. To schedule a Free Mammogram please call 979-864-8415 and mention Life and Soul 2015.General practitioners and specialists will be available to provide free consultations. Free vaccines (flu shots and shingles shot) will also be made available to eligible candidates while supplies last, thanks to the grant awarded by Texas Medical Association’s Be WiseImmunize program. A Diabetes Workshop will be conducted by internist Dr. Lakshmi Seshadri. Interested persons should call 281.412.6606 to register. Hard Hats for Little Heads initiative of Texas Medical Association will be supporting free helmet giveaways to children and adults to prevent head injury. Love to Share Foundation America thanks its sponsors, volunteers and the community for their overwhelming support and welcomes the community to take advantage of the free screenings and vaccinations this year as well.
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Volunteers at Love to Share Foundation America also work at grass roots levels to lend a helping hand to the under privileged, to empower individuals with accessible healthcare, education, leadership skills, and clean environment thus enhancing the quality of life and paving the way for sustainable communities. For more information about Love to Share Foundation, please visit www.lovetosharefoundation.org, email contact@lovetosharefoundation.org. Global Organization for Divinity (G.O.D.) is a nonprofit organization that aims to promote peace, harmony and universal love amid cultural diversity. It is involved in several spiritual, cultural and social activities in the Houston area as well as in several cities in the USA and other countries. Among G.O.D.’s upcoming programs in Houston are Shaking Hands Across Continents, a western-Indian fusion music concert directed by Vidushi Smt. Rajarajeshwary Bhat on Nov 7, and a grand seven-day Madhura Utsav and Srimad Bhagavata Saptaham from Dec 19-26. For more info about these events, call 281402-6585 or email houston.god@godivinity. org.
Maggi Noodles Cleared for Sale in USA by FDA
FLUSHING, NY :Maggi Noodles has just been released for sale in the USA .The FDA tested several shipments of the noodles from India for lead content, finding no unsafe levels. A Nestle spokesperson said, "We have learnt from our official importer in the United States, House of Spices, that the US FDA has tested several shipments of Maggi noodles from India for lead content. Finding no unsafe lead levels, the FDA released the noodles for sale in the United States." Food regulators in the UK, Singapore, Canada, Australia, Vietnam and New Zealand last month had declared already that Maggi Noodles are safe for consumption. Maggi Noodles, owned by Nestlé India LTD and recognized by the product’s bright yellow packaging, dominates the Indian food market, accounting for more than one of every two bowls of instant noodles sold there. Hugely popular with school children and office workers in the US as a cheap, quick snack available at countless retail establishments. Thanks to the new finding by the FDA, consumers can continue to buy Maggi Noodles with confidence.
For advertising contact: Vanshika Vipin at 713.789.6397 INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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COMMUNITY
September 18, 2015
Walk for CRY
HOUSTON: Millions of children can only dream of having the basic rights to live, learn, play and grow. The United Nations Convention on the rights of the child grants children four basic human rights: the right to survival, development, participation and protection. With a vision of a just world in which all children have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential, CRY works to raise awareness and support for underprivileged children. The theme for this year is “Giving children wings to fly”. You can help us achieve this goal and build a better world for millions of children by participating in volunteer activities sponsored by CRY America. With this goal, CRY America’s Houston Action Center, will be hosting a walk on October 10 from 9am-2pm at Lost Creek
Park, Sugar Land. This family friendly event will include a 5K walk, dance performances, facepainting, a live auction, and lots of games for kids! Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students, and free for children under 5. Your participation will help address the issues that cause violation of rights among children and their communities in order to make a lasting change. Join us now! If interested in sponsoring the our annual CRY Walk or for further information about the event please contact Madhulica Misra at madhulica_2000@yahoo.com or 832-9077603 or Indira Bhavaraju at ibhavaraju@ gmail.com. Register online at https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/LocationHome
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1) Kumud Athavale 2) Lalit Chhabra 3) Leena Vaidya
Mama’s Punjabi Recipes
Dahi Vadde (Lentil Balls In Yogurt) Vaddas – which refers to all sorts of edible balls – are popular all across India, where they are cooked in a variety of ways. They can be eaten alone, dipped in a chutney as a snack or cooked in curries for a complete dinner dish. Or they can be soaked in yogurt and eaten as dahin vadde, which is a variation of the popular Punjabi dish known as dahi bhalle. Dahin vadde has become a popular snack in North India, available in many restaurants and especially at roadside stalls where it is eaten drizzled with a tamarind chutney. The dough for vadde comes from the split and skinless white urad (or mahn in Punjabi) dal which is one of the most prized lentils of India since ancient times. The whole black urad is made into the “dal makhani” which is popular in restaurants the world over. Urad dal is both nutritious and recommended for diabetics. Vaddas are fried pieces of the dough, usually round and hard and can be eaten by themselves with imli (tamarind) or other chutneys or dipped, as in South Indian cuisine, in a sambar. Dahin has had special significance in India for millennia not only for use in daily life but in many religious and medicinal purposes. Dahin is one of the panchamitras (five nectars), along with honey, sugar, milk and ghee (clarified butter) used in Hindu puja (worship). Dahin has live cultures that can prevent antibioticassociated diarrhea and is also used in cosmetics, as a hair conditioner and mixed with spices, as a marinade for meats. Full fat dahin has 12% calcium and is high in protein, sugar and carbohydrates. Ingredients : 250gm urad dal (split and skinless) 1 cup dahi (plain yogurt, preferably 1% fat) ¼ cup doodh (milk, preferably 1% fat) Tael to fry with (vegetable, sunflower or cannola oil) Pan of warm pani (water) Spices to taste: namak (salt), mirch (red pepper), dhania (coriander) powder, garam masala, hing (asafetida), jeera (cumin seed), adrak (ginger) powder
Directions: 1.Soak the urad dal overnight in a pot; it should become swollen by the
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morning. Drain the water in the morning a few times to get all the dirt out and then pour through a strainer. 2.Place the soaked dal in a blender and grind to a medium thick paste and place in a bowl. Do not use much water while grinding otherwise it will be difficult to fry the vadde. 3.In the ground dal, mix in the namak, mirch, dhania, garam masala and a pinch of hing (to aid in digestion) and set aside. Do not add haldi (turmeric) or lassan (garlic). 4.Pour some oil in a kadai or wok and place over medium high heat. 5.Take a tablespoon of the mixture and gently slide it into the hot oil making a 1 inch ball. Repeat with the rest of the mixture till there are several balls in the oil. This works best with two people: one dropping the balls and the other frying them and taking them out. 6.Turn the balls over till they are slightly brown all over then take them out, then place on a couple of paper towels to soak the excess oil and let them cool down. 7.Place the cooled down vadde in a warm pan of water and let them soak for 5 minutes. 8.Now take each vadda out of the
water and squeeze gently between the palms of your hands to remove the water. Be careful not to break them, Return them on the paper towel to cool down some more. 9.In a wide brimmed bowl beat the dahin with a large spoon and then mix in the milk thoroughly to thin it down and add taste. Mix in the spices but do not add salt as yogurt is naturally salty; adding salt will make it shed water and will not keep long. 10.Slide the vadde in, cover and let them soak for an hour in the fridge. 11.When ready to serve, sprinkle with roasted jeera (cumin) and black pepper Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her mid-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share some of her delectable Punjabi recipes.
MAMA’S TIP OF THE WEEK FOR ADDED TASTE, MAKE FRESH JEERA (CUMIN) POWDER
The true flavor of Indian food comes not only from using fresh ingredients, but also from using freshly picked herbs and spices that bring out the true aromas and combine with the sauces in the dish to create a wonderful taste. You can tell the difference when you eat the dish! Jeera (cumin) is an especially potent spice that should be used sparingly and not in every food; though unfortunately many people use it without regard to the dish. To get the full flavor of it but with less after taste, roast the jeera on a hot flat plate or pan, stirring constantly so that it doesn’t burn. Then, place it in a small mortar or mixee and make into a powder. The aroma will explode in the air and you can then sprinkle it, especially on dahin (yogurt). .
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September 18, 2015
ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT
Movie Review: Hero
BY ROHIT VATS
NEW DELHI: Director Nikhil Advani's Hero revives the famous dialogue from Subhash Ghai's Hero (1983) at a crucial juncture in the film and IG Shrikant Mathur (Tigmanshu Dhulia) responds to it in the next shot. The expression on Dhulia's face immediately reminds us of his iconic Gangs Of Wasseypur dialogue, "Beta humko tumhare lachchan theek nahi lag rahe hain. Tum se na ho payega." And, you, in all probability, would agree with him. After a carefully planned media campaign, Sooraj Pancholi (Sooraj Kaushik) and Athiya Shetty (Radha Mathur) are finally here, in a story that's still stuck in the '90s. Radha is your regular Hindi film heroine who doesn't care for the repercussions of her actions because her father is the Inspector General of Police in Mumbai. Such a heroine creates the scope for a 'hero' who will tame, test and love her, in that order. Isn't this what Hindi film writers have been doing for years? So, the two meet, sparks fly, songs happen and now the father of the girl is after the boy’s life. Of course, they have eloped by now. But, the poor guy’s problems just don’t end here. Sooraj’s godfather and jailed politician Pasha (Aditya Pancholi) has sworn to track the lovebirds down without knowing that our man has
already earned more enemies than the expressions on his face. It turns into a multi-cornered battle from here on and the audience soon stops caring for any of the involved parties. It’s a film that has been made to establish Sooraj Pancholi as the quintessential Bollywood hero. See how he makes his ‘grand’ entry: As usual somebody says, “Sooraj ko pata chalega toh teri khair nahi.” Cut to a heavily-tattooed Sooraj Pancholi (the
most prominent being the one bearing his own name) doing push-ups. By then everybody has anticipated the next scene. But, no, there has to be a dialogue. Thus an ‘about to be beaten’ Chetan Hansraj says, “Hero ki tarah entry maarta hai, apne aap ko hero samajhta hai kya?” Such untimely ironies, I tell you. And this guy had to meet a girl with a ‘pouty selfie’ obsession, no? -HindustanTimes
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Rani Mukerji is Pregnant, Confirms Sister-in-law; Baby Due in January
NEW DELHI:Over the past few weeks, media has been abuzz with the rumours of Rani Mukerji being pregnant with her first child. It is also said that the talented actress was holidaying in London with husband, filmmaker and YRF head Aditya Chopra and was spotted by a fan at a spa getting a pre-natal massage. The news has now been confirmed by Rani Mukerji’s sister-in-law and TV actress Jyoti Mukerji. According to a report published in Mum-
bai Mirror, Jyoti said, “Yes, Rani is pregnant.” The report also says that the ‘Mardaani’ actress is presently travelling with Aditya and is out of the country. They returned to India from London last week and have taken off to an unknown location. The report also says Rani Mukerji is in her second trimester and the baby is due in January 2016. The delivery will take place in Mumbai. -IndianExpress
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Centre to Give up Control on the Manufacture of Whisky, Wine BY CHETAN CHAUHAN NEW DELHI: The Centre is set to give up its control on the manufacture of whisky and wine, a long-pending move that will finally allow states to hand out brewing licences. Experts say the transfer of this regulating power could give domestic brands a new high apart from reducing prices of potable alcohol and greatly incentivising small breweries. The Industrial (Development and Regulation) Act of 1951 gives the central government the authority to regulate the manufacture of industrial and potable alcohol, including the power to issue licences for production units. This has meant that the commerce ministry has been issuing licences for setting up alcohol manufacturing units across India while the states have been responsible for the rest. The states have thus been licensing distribution and sale, declaring prohibition, and preventing misuse of potable alcohol for non-potable purposes. The states have opposed the mechanism, pointing out that they have complete control over the potable liquor business except issuing manufacturing licences. The issue has also been discussed in the Supreme Court
which concurred with the states. Many chief ministers had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to change the law in the spirit of “cooperative federalism”, arguing that potable liquor business had always been their exclusive domain. Sources said the PM was in agreement, and had asked the commerce ministry to examine the issue. Following an apex court order in the Bihar Distillery case of 1997 that gave states the authority to levy excise as well as all other controls on rectified spirit used for potable purpose, the law commission recommended the following year that states get exclusive rights over the potable liquor business. It said this would improve state revenues while the loss to the Centre would be marginal. Seventeen years later, the commerce ministry has accepted the commission’s recommendation and moved a cabinet note seeking amendment to the first schedule of the 1951 law. The note, vetted by the law ministry, proposes to introduce an exception in item 26 of the first schedule which lists the category of industries regulated by the Centre. The exception proposed is “fer-
mentation industry except potable liquor”, thereby giving exclusive rights to state to regulate the liquor business. A two-word change could bring major investment for the states. “We have a national policy that doesn’t take into account state-specific needs,” a government official
explained. “Once the amendment is notified, states can have their own policies as per local needs to promote entrepreneurship and attract invesment.”Sources said the amendment would help states deal with horticulture and farm waste as they would now be able to give licences for small brewing units. Farm coop-
eratives in Maharashtra had proposed small vineyards but were unable to meet the requirements of the central policy. Now, with states set to get the power to issue licences, small breweries in Maharashtra and elsewhere could be around the corner. -HindustanTimes
McDonald's India to Double Outlets with Rs 750 Crore Investment MUMBAI: McDonald's India is stepping up its operations in western and southern markets of the country by doubling its outlets with an investment of Rs 750 crore in the next five years. "We currently have 213 restaurants, and are looking to add up to another 250 restaurants by 2020, which would entail an investment of Rs 750 crore," said Amit Jatia, vice chairman, Westlife Enterprise, a master franchisee for McDonald's here.
McDonald's, which was the first quick service restaurant (QSR) format to start operations in the country two decades ago, is now betting on alternative, healthy offerings in the face of competition. Other international chain restaurants, most recently Burger King, besides Dominos, Pizza Hut and Dunkin Donuts among others, and food-on-demand delivery services are competing for consumer attention in the segment.
“While we do offer competitive order deliveries, our core focus will be the QSR format, which is robust for us globally,” he said. The company’s overarching strategy now is to offer “healthier beverages” to customers here. “We are now betting big on our coffee. We have opened McCafe’s within our outlets serving premium locally sourced arabica coffee at affordable prices,” he said. “We offer a range of smoothies,
besides coffees and this encourages customers to opt for non-carbonated drinks,” he added. Started last year in the country, there are about 45 McCafes, which in the next two years is expected to go up to 140, he indicated. The company will spend invest Rs 20 lakhs to Rs 30 lakhs per outlet, to set up McCafes. McDonald’s has also rejigged the food menu in the country to make it
more healthy. “We have brought down the calorie content in our sauces by 60-70 per cent, which has cut down the overall calories in the meal by 9 per cent,” he said. Besides, McDonald’s has reduced the sodium content in a number of products between 10-20 per cent, he pointed out. -TimesofIndia
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SPORTS
Shastri” I Want Sustained Brilliance Against SA” Hingis, Mirza, Paes Make History
NEW DELHI (ESPN Cricinfo): Ravi Shastri, the India team director, has highlighted the need for patience to be successful against South Africa. The two teams square off in a four-Test series, in addition to playing five ODIs and three T20s. India are a strong force on home turf, but have occasionally shown fatigue on such long assignments. Most of them were away from home though. India posed a significant threat to a 364-run target in Adelaide, but slipped away thereafter to lose the series 2-0. A similar theme was seen in England when India lost control of a 1-0 lead and in South Africa when they were noticeably drained in the second Test in Durban after a nail-biting draw in Johannesburg. Recently though, India came from behind to win a three-Test series in Sri Lanka, where several batsmen came up with innings of substance and perhaps more vitally, the bowlers showed they could build and maintain pressure for long periods of time. A continuation of those good habits will be necessary to beat the top-ranked Test team in the world, one which has lost only two Test series away from home in the last decade. “South Africa are the No. 1 team in the world,” Shastri told bcci. tv. “We have to play consistent cricket for long periods of time to put them under pressure. That will be the endeavour. Our style of play will not change. If you reflect on our performances in Australia and Sri Lanka, you will see that consistency was the difference between defeat and victory. Sustained brilliance will be the key against the Proteas.
Ravi Shastri is looking for India to concentrate on being patient for long periods of time.
“And that - not letting the opposition off the hook after having them under pressure - demands a lot of patience. We weren’t patient enough both in Australia and during the first Test in Sri Lanka. Once the patience and discipline came, in the next two Tests, we saw the results.” India will have to accomplish that without Ishant Sharma, their premier fast bowler. He claimed 13 victims at 23.23 and became the fourth Indian seamer to 200 wickets, but was also in the spotlight for the send-offs he gave the opposition batsmen as a result of which he was copped a one-match suspension. “I know he has copped a lot of flak over the aggression and he will learn where to draw a line,” Shastri said. “But let me assure you, he has the backing of the entire team. I want him to be aggressive and I will be the first one to push him in that direction. But I will also mark the line. We will miss him for the
first Test. He is our most experienced fast bowler.” The composition of the Indian batting line-up has been a topic of interest. But Shastri felt credit was due to the players for putting their hands up when the team needed it. “Cheteshwar [Pujara] had to sit out a long time and then was asked to open the innings. Not for a moment did he complain or give any excuses, and the reward was there for everyone to see. Ajinkya Rahane was asked to go at 3 when we needed more stability after Shikhar’s injury. Rohit [Sharma] was asked to drop back. They both did it in the interest of the team and they scored runs. It is a case of doing things willingly for the team. These guys don’t think, ‘What if’? They say, ‘Why not?’ “When you have everyone fit and ready, the guys will be back in their normal positions. All the chop and change happened because we had so many injuries. What do you do then? ”
NEW YORK: When Sania Mirza is teeing off from the back of the court and Martina Hingis is all over the net, if they weren’t so pleasing to watch - a gentle breeze combining with cyclonic winds, calming and devastating all at once - you’d want to call their performance machine-like. In their charge to the US Open women’s doubles title, the world No.1 pair lost just 26 games, six of them in the final against the Kazakh-Aussie combine of Yaroslava Shvedova and Casey Dellacqua. The 35-year-old Hingis pinned their success to their combined power. “The way Sania was playing the last three-four matches was incredible,” she said. “She was hitting bombs from the baseline and I was able to pick it up and hit some good volleys. That’s what works best for us. We felt like there was a little bit of nervousness, especially today, but I know I have the same support and trust that I have for her shots and for her game. It’s building up every time we step out on the court together.” Sania, who has played with a number of partners, trying and testing, looking for the right combination, rued that the duo hadn’t come together earlier. “We started playing in March in America and we won three out of three. That rarely happens,” the Indian ace said. “We hit it off and now we have become friends. We were
more acquaintances before. I think it helps in tough moments like today, when you’re struggling to close out matches. We trust each other on and off the court. That helps us through tough moments on the court. We try to help each other out if the other one is struggling. If both of us are not struggling then we win tournaments!” “We are happy to win our second Slam together,” said Sania. “We didn’t think when we started playing this was going to happen so soon. We are the No. 1 team in the world, so we have to keep building on this.” Veteran Indian tennis star Leander Paes scripted history by notching up the US Open mixed doubles title with Swiss partner Martina Hingis to become the format’s most successful male player in the Open era. The fourth-seeded Indo-Swiss pair edged past unseeded Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sam Querrey 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 in a tricky final to win their third Major title together this season. The 42-year-old Paes has now won nine Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, surpassing compatriot and former partner Mahesh Bhupathi’s record of eight titles. He is now behind only the legendary Martina Navratilova, who won 10 mixed doubles trophies. Of those 10, two came with Paes when they won the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2003.
Rahim: This is Our Best Chance to Beat Aussies
DHAKA: Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh’s Test captain, has said that the upcoming two-Test series will be his side’s best chance to beat Australia. Mushfiqur drew comparisons between the current team and the one that pushed Australia more than nine years ago in Fatullah. “This is the biggest chance to beat Australia,” Mushfiqur said.
“We will definitely try to give more than our 100% in both Tests.” Bangladesh have been excellent in one-day cricket since late 2014, winning four bilateral ODI series in a row against Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India and South Africa. In Tests, they won 3-0 against Zimbabwe and lost one Test to Pakistan in May this year; the others were all rain-affected drawn games.
The Australia series is Bangladesh’s last international assignment in 2015, and Mushfiqur wants to cap the year with another high. “It would be a great way to end the year [with a win]. In 2006 they had the greatest team of all time. At that time we were long way from even thinking about beating them, and some even questioned whether we can play
“We are happy to win our second Slam together,” said Sania. “We didn’t think when we started playing this was going to happen so soon. We are the No. 1 team in the world, so we have to keep building on this.”
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September 18, 2015
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Revered Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj, toVisit Vedanta Society of Greater Houston
BY SANCHALI BASU HOUSTON: The long awaited expectation is about to come true. The sincere, hard efforts of the devotees of the Vedanta Society of Greater Houston (VSGH) are finally about to pay off. Months and years of anticipation, persistence and perseverance
have finally convinced the General Secretary of the parent institution, Ramakrishna Math & Mission, Belur, that the Houston center deserves his visit. As part of the US tour which includes his attendance at the Parliament of World's Religions to be held in Salt lake City, Utah from Oct 15-19, Revered Sw. Suhitanandaji will be ar-
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riving in Houston on Sept. 24, 2015, a very auspicious day for VSGH, the 4th anniversary of its new building consecration. Revered Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj joined the Ramakrishna Order in 1958. He received his Mantra Diksha from Swami Vishuddhanadaji, the 8th president and his monastic vows from Swami Vireswaranandaji in 1970. He served as a sewak to Swami Premeshanadaji Maharaj, a direct disciple of Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi. He was the principal of the Higher Secondary Schools at Rahara and the Narendrapur Centers, and served as the Secretary at the Deogarh Vidyapith. In 1995, he was elected as a trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and a member of the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission. He was the Assistant Secretary from May 1997 to May 2012. He is the General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission since May 2012.
It is a huge honor and privilege that the respected Swami has chosen to visit the Houston center from September 24-25 to bless its devotees and reinforce their faith in the belief that Ramakrishna Math & Mission of Belur will be assigning a resident priest to the center in the very near future. That he is coming to the VSGH even with his delicate health and extremely compact schedule, is truly a veritable blessing of the Holy Trio. VSGH is a spiritual non-profit organization founded in 2003. The aim of the society is to conduct spiritual programs that bring a better understanding of the Vedantic concepts. Weekly programs and classes are conducted with this aim. Frequent retreats are conducted by Swamis (monks) of the Ramakrishna Order, visiting from all over America and abroad. On September 24, there will be a reception for the Swami at 5:30 PM
at the VSGH Center, 14809 Lindita Drive, Houston TX 77803. It will be attended by several local dignitaries. After the evening vespers, the Swami will be lecturing on, “Holy Mother: A Universal Epitome of Motherhood.” A special Youth Forum highlighting, “The Different Facets of Swami Vivekananda,” has been arranged for the evening of Sept 25 at 6 PM following the evening vespers. Dinner will be served on both the days at 8:30 PM. All are hereby encouraged to mark these dates and attend this very special event. It is only through solidarity, support and patience, will the dreams of the Houston devotees of getting a Resident Swami at VSGH will come true. For further information, please visit: www.houstonvedanta.org or call Swapna Chaudhuri at 832594-0488.
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