Austin South Asian. February. 2020

Monthly Community Paper | www.austinsouthasian.com | 512-828-6709 | Vol. 13 No. 02

India Surpasses U.S. To Become 2nd Largest Smartphone Market Riding on Chinese brands, the India smartphone market surpassed the U.S. for the first time on an annual level, becoming the secondlargest smartphone market after China globally, reaching 158 million shipments in the calender year 2019 with 7 percent growth, a report from Counterpoint Research

said Jan. 24. While Xiaomi continued to be the top player with 28 per cent market share in the calendar year 2019, Samsung was second with 21 percent and Vivo at 16 percent market share, said Counterpoint’s ‘Market Monitor’ service.

(Continued On Page 09)

Candlelight Vigil And Proclamation Of Kashmiri Pandit Exodus Recognition Day

By Manu Shah Photo credit: Biyani Photography January 19 (Houston) - Close to 250 people gathered this evening at the steps of City Hall in Sugar

U.S. Senator Kamala Harris Mulls

Land, TX to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Kashmiri Hindu Pandit community’s exodus from their homeland in Kashmir, India. (Continued On Page 14)

inside

February 2020

How Social Media.........02 The Picture Book World..4 Rising Carbon Dioxide...04 Small Business Owners.05 Middle Market..............06 Arun’s Scribblings.........07 The Same Tool.............08 3 Tips For Gretaer.........09 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kamala Harris from California was considering backing former Vice President Joe Biden in the Democratic presidential primary, a media report said.

The Hill news magazine reported citing multiple Democratic officials familiar with the Harris’s delibera-

tions as saying to The New York Times Jan. 23 that she was weighing the option of backing her former primary opponent.

(Continued On Page 09)

February Is Black History Month

By Kumar Anjaneyulu

Republic Day

March 2020 Health Special 512-828-6709

Death Of Kobe Bryant...09 Write More Letters To...10 Malik’s Page........11,12,13

By Sumaiya Malik Candlelight Vigil...........14 NASA Spacecraft..........15 Each year Americans set aside 20 Super Foods............16 The Price You Pay.........17 A Replacement For........17 2 Sri Lankan Women Receive Padma Awards.....18 Retail Inflation.............18 5 Tips To Help Older.....19 The Republic Day is a national 6 Tips For Avoiding.......20 holiday of India, celebrated every Tips For Hosting...........20 year on 26th January.

February also called Black History Harry And Meghan.......21 Month to focus on historical hind- This day celebrates the anniversary Nothing Can Destroy.....21 sight on the contributions that peo- of the Constitution of India and the ple of African descent have made transition of India from a British Kids Corner....16,22,23,25 Anxious About the........23 to this country.

Dominion to a republic on 26th Ultimate Staycation......24 January, 1950.

(Continued On Page 11) Entertainment.........26.27 71st Republic day celebration at Pflugervile my Grand daughter DEEJA Studying MOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Pflugervile.

2

Austin South Asian | February 2020

IN AUSTIN

BY NEW AND TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED

VEHICLE SALES VOLUME IN 2019 *Claim based on 2019 GST New & TCUV car sales reports.

ALL NEW 2020

RAV4

ONCE AGAIN, WE SOLD MORE VEHICLES THAN ANY OTHER DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN. COME SEE WHY! COROLLA ALL NEW 2020

512-270-5080

www.CharlesMaundToyota.com

How Social Media Is Having Unintended Consequences On Teen Mental Health As teens go through everyday life, they deal with the normal pressures of school, friends, and family. One escape from this stress can be social media, but there can be unintended consequences for their mental health, according to researchers.

Atlee High School senior Kendall Jasinski says she can relate to those unintended consequences. “I started struggling in eighth grade,” said Kendall. “I was truly sad and wasn’t exactly sure why I was feeling that way.”

diagnosed with depression and anxiety.

Although she was told things would get better when she got to high school, Kendall says things got even worse during her freshman year. Halfway through the school year, she was

“In the beginning, she was so low because it wasn’t something anybody understood, she didn’t understand where all these feelings and emotions were coming from,” Kendall’s mom Kristine Jasinski said.

(Continued On Page 19)

For Ads Call 512-828-6709

3

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Love Comes in All Shapes & Sizes Life Insurance Protection Does Too

Call us today so we can size it up for you!

Life Insurance College Planning Annuities Travel Insurance Retirement Planning Critical Illness Long Term Care Disability Income Insuring the Community Since 1992

#InsureYourLove Varsha Grogan, FMLI Independent Life Insurance Agent 930 S Bell Blvd, Ste 205, Cedar Park, Texas 78613

Office: 512-989-2223 Cell: 512-569-2032 vgrogan@gain1776.com www.GAIN1776.com

4

Austin South Asian | February 2020

The Picture Book World

Picture books for young readers are a great resource to promote literacy, improve vocabulary skills and learn a new language and culture.

words all told in an English context. If you want to introduce them to a bit of Indian culture and some Hindi words this is a good book.

As we celebrate Valentine’s day in February create a bond with your children by reading picture books to them. Here are a few books for February.

The words are easy and can be practiced by using it in day to day activities. The bright and bold illustrations incorporate aspects of Indian culture.

My first book of Hindi Words

By Author Rina Singh, and illustrator Farida Zaman

Activity to do: Practice a Hindi word with your little one.

B is for Breath The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings

By Author Melissa Munro Boyd

Another good alphabet picture book to introduce is B is for Breath, written by a clinical psychologist.

Each alphabet demonstrates an activity that can help teach your children about various activities that one can develop to cope with emotions and stress. A book not only for children but parents can apply this too to their day to day life.

The detailed illustrations make each activity easy to understand.

Activity to do: Practice an activity each day to cope with stress.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse!

By Author Laura Numeroff and Illustrator Felicia Bond (Illustrator) As we celebrate valentine’s day this is a simple cute book to introduce the fun of Valentine’s Day. The mouse is making Valentine’s Day cards for his friends.

As he makes each card, he thinks about what

The mummy talks

A is for Akaash to Z is for Zukhaam, the

Rising Carbon Dioxide Levels Put India At 5-10 Times Normal Flood Risk

Ice caps melt and oceans warm and expand due to the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere.

The report, Impacts of Carbon Dioxide Emissions on Global Intense Hydro-meteorological Disasters appears in the January

Activity to do: Create a valentine’s day card for a loved one.

For more resources and book recommendation checkout www.storiesbyshachi.com

Scientists Recreate Sound Of A 3000-Year-Old Egyptian Mummy

A good alphabet picture book to introduce young children to Hindi language and Indian culture.

According to a recent study, the risk of extreme floods or storms could double every 13 years at the rate carbon-dioxide concentrations are building up in the atmosphere.

he loves about his friends. The playful illustrations and characters make this a fun, engaging book to share on Valentine's Day. Children can create a valentine’s day card for their friends.

issue of Climate, Disaster and Development Journal.

Researchers say they’ve mimicked the voice of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy by recreating much of its vocal tract using medical scanners, 3D printing and an electronic larynx.

Technique used

The number of intense “hydro-meteorological” disasters could increase by 5.4% annually for an “average” country facing annually nearly one “extreme disaster” India faces 5-10 times as many extreme events as the average country.

Only in 2019 India saw three major floods in Karnataka, Kerala and Bihar with 312 recorded deaths collectively between the three States.

The sea level has risen globally by around 15 cm during the 20th century and is currently rising more than twice as fast – 3.6 mm per year – and accelerating.

(Courtesy: https://www.thehindu.com/)

Nesyamun, whose mummified body the researchers worked with, because the tongue has lost much of its bulk over three millennia.

“We have made a faithful sound for his tract in its current position, but we would not expect an exact speech match given his tongue state,” said co-author David M. Howard of London’s Royal Holloway college.

Synthesizing sentences

In a paper published Thursday by the journal Scientific Reports, the authors say the technique allowed them to produce a single sound - somewhere between the vowels in `bed’ and `bad.’

Listen to the recreated voice The eerie tone is unlikely to be a precise reflection of the speech of Egyptian priest

The model alone also isn’t enough to synthesize whole words or sentences, the authors said, noting that this would require the ability to calculate the audio output from the vocal tract as its shape is being changed.

“But this is something that is being worked on, so it will be possible one day,” said Howard.

Skepticism Rudolf Hagen, an ear, nose and throat expert at the University Hospital in Wuerzburg, Germany, who specializes in thorax reconstruction and wasn’t involved in the study, expressed skepticism.

(Continued On Page 08)

5

Small Business Owners Say Continual Tech Investments Are Critical

A new survey of small business executives reveals key insights of what it takes to stay competitive today -- and technology and attracting top talent are crucial.

The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll and

sponsored by CIT Group Inc. (NYSE:CIT), explores the intersection of technology and talent to identify small business executives’ top priorities for investment and growth.

Among those surveyed, 37% plan to invest even more in their businesses during the next 12 months compared to the past 12 months, and of those planning to invest, cloud computing systems, customer relationship management tools and cyber security/data privacy are key priorities.

“Understanding these key insights and trends can help small businesses maintain a competitive edge and also drive growth,” says Ken Martin managing director of CIT’s Small Business Solutions unit, which offers lending options that give small businesses the financial agility needed to adopt advanced technology-enabled solutions.

The survey also revealed that earlier technology investments have already paid off for small businesses, with more than 40% crediting tech spending as a top driver of growth over the past 12 months.

Additionally, 84% of survey respondents agreed that continuous technological investment is a business need. 79% agree that it’s critical in helping to attract and retain customers.

At the same time, small business leaders recognize that their workforce will play a

major role in implementing technology investments and addressing the risks that may come with them.

While 82% of survey respondents say their current workforce is tech-savvy enough to keep up with t h e pace of digital transformation, 6 9 % a l s o s a y t h e y focus on hiri n g techsavvy e m ployees.

“Technology is only as effective as the employees that implement it and the customers that benefit from it,” says Denise Menelly, CIT executive vice president and head of Technology and Operations, “Our own successful integration of technology and talent has been instrumental in empowering both our clients and employees.”

Cybersecurity and data privacy are top of mind for small business executives, as 56% say that the risk of security or data breaches are among the top concerns when it comes to technological changes.

Other concerns include not knowing how new technology will work with current tools or systems and not having enough capital to invest in the latest technology.

Less than a third of small business executives are currently outsourcing financial aspects of their business, such as payroll, credit protection, talent acquisition and accounts receivables management.

However, as companies add more employees, it’s more likely that they’ll consider outsourcing these various services.

As small businesses beef up their investments, they are focusing on technology and talent, which experts say is a formula for success in a competitive market.

(StatePoint)

Austin South Asian | February 2020

6

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Middle Market Companies Upgrading Technology To Drive Growth

Technology and talent are key drivers of future growth, middle market executives say in a new survey.

Designed to illuminate the intersection of technology and talent, the survey conducted by The Harris Poll for CIT Group Inc., was inspired in part by CIT’s own success in better serving customers by combining digital capabilities with deep professional expertise.

The survey finds that nine of 10 respondents believe they must continuously invest in business technology to remain competitive -- with security and privacy protection, big-data analytics, artificial intelligence, automation and blockchain platforms topping the list of planned investments.

Looking back over the previous 12 months, 68% of survey respondents said technology investment was most responsible for their business growth -- outpacing “of-

fering new products” and “improving their supply chain.”

The survey also highlighted the vital role that skilled employees play in providing customer service, with

90% of respondents agreeing that high-touch service is as important as ever in this technological age.

“Middle market companies are clearly reaping rewards from the

digital technologies that are transforming American business,” says David Harnisch, president of Commercial Finance for CIT.

“But they also know that having

the right talent is critical to success.”

A large majority of those surveyed -- 85% -- believe their current workforce is tech-savvy enough

to keep up with the pace of digital transformation, and nearly identical numbers -- 83% -- agree that hiring tech-savvy talent is imperative.

“Business technology is delivering new capabilities all the time,” says Denise Menelly, executive vice president and head of Technology and Operations for CIT. “But technology alone only goes so far.

Smart, agile, tech-savvy employees are essential to helping businesses fully realize the benefits of those technological capabilities.”

Along with the potential of sweep-

ing technological change comes concerns, and an increasing awareness of the severe business disruption and reputational damage that can result from cyber-intrusions and data breaches.

Risk of security/data breach was cited by survey respondents as their number one technology concern -- far outpacing such other challenges as integrating new technology with existing systems, having enough tech-savvy employees or facing upstart competitors.

Nearly three in four respondents said spending on increased cybersecurity and data privacy was their leading technology investment objective over the next 12 months.

At a time when middle market companies are increasingly relying on digital technologies to provide growth opportunities, they are investing their money accordingly.

(StatePoint)

Tips For Relieving Joint Pain In The New Year The health benefits of regular exercise are undeniable, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 30 minutes of exercise at least five times per week.

However, high-impact exercises like running and weight training can lead to joint pain, especially if you have a joint condition.

Just be sure to talk to your doctor about your exercise plan before you get started.

Go Low Impact You don’t need to put tremendous

Instead, opt for high-quality, lowimpact workouts.

There are now exercise machines available for home use that provide the same quality low-impact workout you’d get in physical therapy.

The good news is that smart exercises with low impact can alleviate joint pain and deliver the same health benefits.

Hydrate

Keep Moving

Regular exercise can actually help joint pain and ease symptoms of chronic joint conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And you don’t have to sacrifice workout quality – in fact, research shows that FreeStep users burn 17.4 percent more calories than when using a recumbent bike at the same level of effort.

Beyond calorie burn, it also offers full-body resistance training, which is especially important, as weak muscles can be a root cause of pain.

Here are a few tips to consider for a healthy start to 2020:

Trying to protect your joints by not moving actually does more harm than good.

FreeStep mimics a natural stepping motion that prevents knees from traveling over the toes, as well as stabilizes the back and hips.

weight on your joints or jump up and down in order to break a sweat or elevate your heartrate.

When you’re already in pain, this type of exercise can actually make things worse.

Consider the Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Cross Trainer, a seated exercise machine that takes the weight off the joints while torching calories.

Unlike other recumbent machines which can be bad for the knees, the

It may seem obvious, but ensuring that you drink the recommended daily intake of water is vital to reducing pain in your joints.

Proper hydration helps your body eliminate wastes and toxins that can lead to painful joint conditions.

Plus, it helps to keep the joints lubricated and flexible, reducing friction and inflammation and helping

to maintain healthy tissue.

Stretch Daily Stretching increases flexibility and range of motion, improves movement and function, reduces pain and stiffness and prevents further injury.

Just remember to move slowly and keep it gentle.

At the very least, spend a good five to 10 minutes in the morning stretching your hamstrings, quadriceps, calf muscles and hip flexors.

For a free photo guide to “5 Daily Stretches to Relieve Knee & Joint Pain,” plus a code for $75 off the FreeStep (good through January 31, 2020), visit teeter.com/ freestep-guide.

With the right exercises and maintenance program, you can improve your health and get a stronger body, without pain.

(StatePoint)

7

Austin South Asian | February 2020

To Advertise In ASA 512-828-6709

INCOMPREHENSIBLE

Some cunning know, to brainwash how, With magic tricks and flowery words, Fooling ignorant, for selfish gains.

As incarnation or God’s Avatar , Beware of those, who self declare, Lest be in pain your life be in vain.

Eat to sate hunger, drink to quench thirst,

To clear the bowels who excrete, Just mortal creations infinite.

The mortals who self declare as God, Can only be cunning and fraud, As the Creator is incomprehensible. (arunsunderraj@gmail.com)

8

Austin South Asian | February 2020

3 Tips For Greater Financial Health And Happiness In 2020

What tops most New Year’s resolutions lists? You guessed it. Greater health and happiness.

believe that 2020 could be a par-

Taking steps to protect your financ-

But what most Americans don’t consider is that financial health can be equally, if not more important to overall happiness than other resolutions, such as starting a new diet or joining a gym.

“An annuity can provide a source of lifetime income that’s protected from market losses, and a better ability to create a retirement budget -- all of which can make for a less stressful and happier overall retirement,” says John Kennedy, who leads sales for retirement solutions at Lincoln Financial.

While saving money is one of the top five New Year’s resolutions, it is also in the top five for most commonly failed.

So how can savers commit to a more financially sound future and stick to it? Here are some top tips for achieving greater financial happiness.

• Embrace uncertainty. When it comes to markets, the only known is the unknown. And many experts

are rightfully concerned about what will happen to their investments if the market drops. For this reason, many advisors suggest diversifying your portfolio to include an annuity with optional income benefits.

ticularly unpredictable year.

In fact, research from Lincoln Financial Group shows that 76 percent of investors feel the upcoming presidential election will affect the market.

es and retirement plan can help you feel less anxious and more empowered in uncertain times.

• Protect your income. Lincoln Financial’s research also shows that eighty-two percent of pre-retirees

• Build a new relationship… with a financial professional that is. A trusted financial professional will look at your financial situation holistically to help you determine whether you are on track or need to rebalance your accounts, help

you employ tax-saving strategies, answer your toughest questions and help you strengthen your own financial know-how.

Most importantly, building a relationship with a financial professional means bringing more predictability to your future in an unpredictable market.

Setting goals? Take the retirement questionnaire at LFG.com to find out what you need to do to reach your goals.

As you head into the new year, be sure to factor financial health and happiness into the new-year-newyou equation. With a few smart strategies, you can feel more confident about a financially sound future and retirement, come what may.

(StatePoint)

The Same Tools At School And Home Can Help Students Achieve Cutting-edge technologies have long been used in classrooms to help students engage with material and better grasp tough concepts.

And now, many of these same technologies are becoming available for use at home.

classrooms to harness the power of visual learning.

And now that the market has widened accessibility to high-quality

doing homework.

The free online calculator, Classpad.net, includes calculation, graphing, geometry and statistics

E-readers give students a burdenfree way to take home vast quantities of reading materials with them, and an ink-free way to annotate text.

When connected to the internet, students can collaborate on group projects or discuss passages indepth with each other from anywhere, and teachers are able to see

Here are a few ways that educational technology can help students transition from classroom instruction to home study seamlessly:

how students are interacting with the reading.

As access to technology tools widens, students will benefit from the seamless transition that using the same platforms at home and school provides.

(StatePoint)

Scientists Recreate Sound Of A 3000-Year-Old Egyptian Mummy

• Digital learning: Software tools make it easier for students to connect with classroom materials long after the bell rings.

(Continued From Page 04)

Apps such as Edsby, give students access to lesson plans, study guides, homework assignments and school calendars 24/7, while providing a convenient platform for teachers to communicate with parents.

projectors, students can use them in bedroom-sized spaces to review lesson plans, research term papers, cram for exams and more.

• Better visuals:

• More math:

Sharp, bright imagery provided by ultra short-throw projectors, such as the XJ-UT351WN from Casio, allow students in even the smallest

Mathematics software is giving students an all-in-one platform to grasp new concepts both during classroom instruction and while

functionality and is particularly versatile for students on-the-go, as it auto-saves work to a free cloud account that can be accessed anywhere, as well as allows students to customize their workspace with resizable and draggable “sticky notes.”

• Updated reading:

Even cutting-edge medicine struggles to give living people without a thorax a “normal” voice, he said. Co-author John Schofield, an archaeologist at the University of York, said the technique could be used to help people interpret historical heritage.

Encounter “When visitors encounter the past, it is usually a visual encounter,” said Schofield. “With this voice we can change that, and make the encounter more multidimensional.” “There is nothing more personal than someone’s voice, so we think that hearing a voice from so long ago will be an unforgettable experience, making heritage places like Karnak, Nesyamun’s temple, come alive,” he said.

9

U.S. Senator Kamala Harris Mulls Endorsing Joe Biden, According To NYT Report

(Continued From Page 01) The officials told the Times the potential endorsement would not be likely until after President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial that kicked off last week. Harris’s spokesman Chris Harris told the New York Times that the senator “remains focused on the ongoing impeachment trial.”

“No decisions have been made about whether she will endorse, which candidate, nor when an endorsement decision will be made,” he said. Biden has praised Harris since she ended her presidential campaign in early December, despite some tense moments between the two earlier in the primary.

Shortly after the Indian American candidate dropped out, he told reporters “of course” he would consider the senator as a running mate,

The Hill said in its report. “She is solid. She can be president some day herself.

She can be the vice president. She can go on to be a Supreme Court justice. She can be an attorney general. She has enormous capability,” Biden added.

India-West earlier reported that Harris, the first Indian American in the Senate, ended her bid for the White House on Dec. 3, 2019, after faltering poll numbers and fundraising efforts.

Once thought to be the obvious choice for Democratic nominee, Harris’s campaign failed to gain traction with both the Indian American and the African-American community.

(Courtesy: IANS/India West)

Austin South Asian | February 2020

India Surpasses U.S. To Become 2nd Largest Smartphone Market (Continued From Page 01) “Although the rate of growth for smartphone market hit single digit for the first time ever on an annual basis, India is under-penetrated relative to many other markets with 4G penetration in terms of subscribers being around 55 percent,” said Tarun Pathak, Associate Director, Counterpoint.

“Chinese brands share hit a record 72 percent for the year 2019 as compared to 60 percent share a year ago.

“This year, we have seen all major Chinese players expanding their footprint in offline and online channels to gain market share.

For instance, Xiaomi, realme, and OnePlus have increased their offline points of sale while brands like Vivo have expanded their on-

line reach with Z and U series,” said Anshika Jain, Research Analyst at Counterpoint.

Over the past four years, Xiaomi, Vivo, and OnePlus have grown 15 times, 24 times and 18 percent, respectively.

“This highlights that OEMs are mature enough to capture next wave of growth and expand their operations in India,” Jain added.

Samsung shipments remained almost flat while it has shown a 5 percent decline in 2019.

“This is for the first time Samsung transitioned to a completely new portfolio targeting different channels (offline with A series and online with M series).

However, it needs to double down its efforts to keep the momentum

going,” the report noted.

While the smartphone market registered growth, the feature phone market witnessed a steep decline of nearly 42 percent in 2019 and 38 percent in Q4 2019.

“This is due to slowdown in the new shipments from Reliance Jio. However, the players such as itel, Lava, Nokia and Micromax registered positive annual growth despite the overall segment declined showing the untapped potential of the market,” said the report.

In fact, itel emerged as the number one feature phone brand in Q4 2019, followed by Samsung and Lava.

(Courtesy: IANS/India West)

Death Of Kobe Bryant: Helicopter Didn’t Have ‘Black Box’ MEN CAN

A member of the National Transportation Safety Board said the crash site was “a pretty devastating accident scene.”

The helicopter carrying Bryant had no ‘black box.’ There was no voice recorder in the helicopter that crashed in Calabasas, Calif., on Sunday, killing the N.B.A. legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people who were on their way to a basketball tournament, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Investigators would review the iPad and other evidence recovered from the crash site, which extended about 500 to 600 feet away from the center of the wreckage.

“It was a pretty devastating acci-

ance from air traffic controllers before continuing on the route.

The Los Angeles Police Department had grounded its helicopters, but the pilot was licensed to fly in inclement weather and continued

“There wasn’t a black box, and there isn’t a requirement to have a black box” on this helicopter, Jennifer Homendy, a member of the N.T.S.B., said at a news conference on Monday.

But there was an iPad in the helicopter that included the ForeFlight application, which pilots use while in the air to review flight plans, monitor weather briefings and more, she said.

minutes later, witnesses called 911 and reported hearing the sound of whirring blades and a fire on the hillside.

The aircraft had smashed into a hill at 1,085 feet.

COOK! Email your recipe with your photos and see

The investigation, which the N.T.S.B. is leading, will include a review of weather conditions, but it will encompass much more, Homendy said.

yourself in print

“We look at man, machine and the environment, and weather is just a small portion of that,” she said, adding that investigators would review records and evidence tied to the pilot, his company, the helicopter and its instruments, and more.

AustinSouth

Info@ Asian.com

For AD’s Call 512-828-6709 dent scene,” Homendy said.

During the flight on Sunday morning, the fog was so thick that the pilot had to get special visual clear-

toward Bryant’s Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

The helicopter lost contact with controllers at 9:45 a.m., and two

Austin South Asian Invites Contributions From Readers And Community

10

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Write More Letters To Friends And Family

In an age of instant messages, video chats and social media, the art of letter writing has become rare.

But sitting down to write correspondence by hand can be a much more personal way to connect than some of the modern modes of communication.

perts at Pilot Pen are offering some tips: 1. Make Lasting Connections.

Writing and mailing letters daily may feel a bit intimidating, but

Reconnect with long distance friends, send happy mail to your parents, or explore the opportunity to encourage a soldier overseas and make a new friend in the process.

Whoever you choose to write to

Not only does it give you ample opportunity to express yourself, it gives your recipient something tangible to hold onto and revisit.

If it’s been some time since you last corresponded by snail mail, you may find your letter-writing skills to be a bit rusty.

To help you be successful during InCoWriMo and beyond, the ex-

During the month of February, Pilot Pen suggests picking up a pen designed to help you author your best correspondence, as well as overachieve in every aspect of your life.

With G2, America’s number one selling, longest-lasting gel ink pen, you’ll be able to glide through all 29 days of handwritten letters, and anything else that comes across your desk, for months to come.

International Correspondence Writing Month (InCoWriMo), celebrated in February, is the perfect opportunity to hone your letterwriting skills.

This month-long challenge invites you to hand-write and mail or deliver one letter, card, note or postcard every day of the month.

you note. Wielding this powerful tool will automatically help you feel capable of taking on new challenges.

3. Get Inspired.

why should it? Did you text someone today? Did you send an email?

If the answer is yes, you’re already halfway there.

this process, it will help create a physical reminder of the connection between you and your recipient.

Put pen to paper instead and add a more personal, analog touch to your daily communication.

2. Pick Great Tools.

A trusty pen can get you through any deadline, to-do list or thank

Bombay Express Authenitic Indian Cafe 100% Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly Tuesday - Sunday 11:00 am - 9:00 pm 13000 N IH35 Building #12, Unit # 216 Austin, Texas - 78753

512-491-5055 (Take-Away is possible on all items on the menu)

Not sure where to start? Think of each recipient and what makes them special to you. Share favorite memories or accomplishments that make you extra proud of them.

Then, share one anecdote or piece of news from your life. In our increasingly digital lives, your unique hand-written sentiments will likely bring a welcome bit of cheer into their day.

4. Get Personal.

Remember: the written word is powerful, especially when it’s personal.

Give each note a special touch by writing it on monogrammed stationery or a special postcard.

You can take this personalization concept one step further by using different pens for each recipient.

With four pen point sizes ranging from ultra-fine to bold and more than 25 ink color options, including pastels, and metallics, there’s sure to be a G2 pen suited to your writing style and your recipient’s tastes.

For tools and inspiration, visit powertothepen.com and instagram. com/pilotpenusa.

By rediscovering the art of handwritten correspondence this February, you’ll give yourself 29 meaningful chances to connect with pen pals all over the globe.

(StatePoint)

11

Austin South Asian | February 2020

85ºc Bakery Café A Big Hit In Austin

By Sumaiya Malik When I got back into town after a few weeks in Pakistan, my husband, who is quite a foodie, raved about a Taiwanese bakery he had tried.

vited and welcome! 85ºC Bakery Café is a pure white floor to ceiling happy experience where sparkling clear white cases of gourmet pastries, bread, caramel pudding make you wonder about the variety of new desserts you

Taking advantage of my jet lag (I was waking up really early) he invited me for breakfast to ‘the bakery café on Airport Blvd). I was quite intrigued because all I remembered in that area was Arpeggio Grill.

have never seen before.

Here is a bakery that invited me to come in, choose my own favorite pastries and place them on a white tray on wax paper with tongs provided with the tray.

Every customer gets her or his own as the bakery functions cafeteria style.

Each dessert is in its own cubicle behind a clear Plexiglas door to maintain hygiene.

As I moved my tray forward, the array of desserts and buns were so appealing that my tray filled up quickly.

Needless to say, the intersection of Lamar Blvd and Airport Blvd has transformed!

The bakery is especially known for its ‘soft brioche, along with sweet and savory bread ranging from Taiwanese to Japanese to European, cakes, and other such desserts.’

Tea, boba teas, smoothies, and coffee are all made

There are new shops and lots of parking space where the much talked about 85ºC Bakery Café has opened up at 6929 Airport Boulevard.

One step into the free-standing 85ºC Bakery Café (in a strip mall) and I felt so in-

fresh. 85c is particularly known for its iced sea salt coffees and teas too.

(Nadia Choudhry Eater Austin).

He realized that the prices were set too high for people to have those desserts on a whim.

I picked up a red bean curd bun, two caramel puddings, one mango bun, one eggtart, one cheese tart and one coconut tart and my bill was $16.

That is the moment he decided that there should be a café that provides cakes, coffee and bread at affordable prices.

They have a deal running where you get $3 off every $15 so my bill was even lower.

There are chairs and tables for enjoying the cuisines in house. Many people were even enjoying the sofa setting.

I tried the sea salt latte. The fact that the coffee holds its flavor best at a steady temperature of 85ºC or 185ºF is reflected in the name of the bakery café.

The story goes that the founder of the bakery café, Mr. Cheng-Hsueh Wu visited a café in a five-star hotel.

The bakery celebrated one year on August, 2019. There are 1000 locations world wide and the first one opened in Taipei in 2003. In 2008, it opened in California.

Dallas and Houston also have the chain. My husband and I sat on the sofas and chatted. The sea salt latte was delicious and really 85ºC. We tried what we could and took the rest home.

We had actually devoured all by the evening. From that day onwards, we regularly pick up our favorite treats and now there is a second location at Lakeline. For more information visit: http:// www.85bakerycafe.com/

February Is Black History Month - This Year’s Theme Right To Vote (Continued From Page 01) Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States observe the month annually as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora.

Americans have officially celebrated Black History Month since February 10, 1976, when President Gerald R. Ford established it as a national observance in an address that lauded its founder, AfricanAmerican historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson.

perience in American life, he took on the challenge of writing a proud and true African-American history into America’s national consciousness.

2. Celebrating Helps Us to Be Better understand the privileges the American society has gained.

Why everyone should celebrate the Black History Month:

3. It helps break unfair stereotypes and assumptions and provides the chance to focus on different aspects of the African American narrative.

1.

4. It helps provide other groups the

Celebrating

Black

History

Disheartened to discover that history books excluded the black ex-

The year 2020 also marks the sesquicentennial of the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) and the right of black men to the ballot after the Civil War. The theme speaks, therefore, to the ongoing struggle on the part of both black men and black women for the right to vote.

Month allows us to pause and remember the stories of African Americans so we can commemorate their achievements.

Talk Sunday, February 2, 2020, 2 – 4 PM. 2. Let Freedom Ring! Black History Month Community Sing Along — Saturday Feb 8 from 2:00 p.m.

- 4:00 p.m. George Washington Carver Genealogy Center.

This community sing along features musical selections inspired by the Black History Month theme, “African Americans and the Vote.”

Things to do in Austin to honor the month:

The sing-along will feature vocalist and Song Leader Kristen Trotty and the Texas Preparatory School Choir.

1. Kris Graves: Testament Project – Jan 14 to Feb 29. Free. Central Library Main Gallery.

3. Black Fashion Extra — Saturday, Feb 22 at 7:00 p.m. George Washington Genealogy Center.

opportunity to learn about a past and of a people of which they may have little awareness.

The Testament Project is an exploration and re-conception of the contemporary black experience in America.

This year’s theme - Right to Vote

Opening Reception & Artist

Black Fashion Extra seeks to promote inclusiveness by breaking through boundaries between consumers and the forces of the fashion industry.

Dr. Carter Woodson, known as the father of black history, was the son of former slaves.

He worked his way out of the Kentucky coalmines to become a Harvard-educated historian and journalist.

The year 2020 marks the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment and the culmination of the women’s suffrage movement.

12

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Kumail Nanjiani’s The Lovebirds Ready To Hit SXSW 2020

By Sumaiya Malik Either Kumail Nanjiani, loves SXSW or SXSW loves having his films on board at the festival, but for sure they look at each other to create news.

The star of HBO comedy, Silicon Valley, and hit comedy movies The Big Sick and Stuber is all set to showcase his latest rom-com The Lovebirds at SXSW 2020 this March.

The film is scheduled to release on April 3 in major theaters but that has not stopped the director Michael Showalter from bringing it to SXSW for a soft release (March

13 to March 22) before the big one (April 3).

and ‘Insecure” star Issa Rae.

The film shows a couple (Issa Rae & Kumail Nanjiani) experiences a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery.

The project reunites Nanjiani with “The Big Sick” helmer Michael Showalter, who’s on board to direct from a script

by Aaron Abrams, Brendan Gall, and Martin Gero.

As their journey to clear their names takes them from one extreme -- and hilarious -- circumstance to the next, they must figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.

Nanjiani starred in and co-wrote “The Big Sick” with his spouse Emily V. Gordon in an autobiographical comedy-drama that received an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay.

Paramount’s romantic comedy The Lovebirds brings together “The Big Sick” star Kumail Nanjiani

Call 512-828-6709

He’s starred as programmer Dinesh Chugtai in the five seasons of HBO’s sitcom “Silicon Valley.”

Rae is the co-creator, writer, exec producer, and star of HBO’s series “Insecure” and appeared in the drama “The Hate U Give.”

The 2020 SXSW Film Festival features a diverse slate of high-caliber films, ranging from debut productions by new independent filmmakers to Hollywood comedies and genre standouts.

The festival celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent from both behind and in front of the camera.

For more information about the festival please visit: www.sxsw. com

Ziauddin Yousafzai Father Of Malala Yousafzai In Town For Austin Community Foundation Women’s Fund Keyholder20

By Sumaiya Malik

By the time this goes into print, Ziauddin Yousafzai, the father of Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai will have been in Austin on January 30 as a guest of Austin Community Foundation to be the keynote speaker at Keyholder20, a Women’s Fund annual event at the Long Center for the Performing Arts on Riverside Dr. Ziauddin will talk about the need to invest in women issues, the work Austin Community Foundation towards it on the ground in Austin and promote his new book Let Her Fly: A father’s journey.

Keyholder20 is in the fifth year and normal grants cap at about 200K to applying Austin based non-profits annually, but this year’s attendance and corporate participation is four-fold.

Misty Whithed, VP Marketing and Communications at Austin Community Foundation, said that attendance has shot up from 300 to 1200 attendees.

She said what I already knew that

Ziauddin is a global champion of women’s causes.

The world knows the story of Malala Yousafzai, a girl child who was passionate about education and encouraged by her father Ziauddin to pursue studies, was shot in 2012 by

ford, continues to raise her voice for women’s issues as encouraged by her father, the rock behind the vulnerable yet strong young woman.

Ziauddin himself through his un-

tinue to hold on to the core family values is what Austin will hear about and perhaps draw it's own parallels of inspiration.

The invitation to a global champion to local women issues in Greater Austin raises the bar for our city and Austin Community Foundation whose this year grant dispersion has already gone up from 200K last year to 300K this year. T he foundation has shown diversity of thought and perhaps listened to the changing demographics in the city.

Keyholder is the annual fundrais-

Taliban to suppress education of women in Swat, a northern Pakistani city.

Malala survived, was flown to the UK for treatment where she and her family continue to live.

She is now a college student at Ox-

wavering support went on to setup the Malala Fund in 2013 to better the plight of women all over the world.

To come out of the depths of despair and almost lose a child to the Taliban bullet and fight back through raising awareness and con-

ing event for the Women’s Fund, a program at Austin Community Foundation.

The Women’s Fund is a giving network for individuals and companies passionate about improving life in Central Texas for women and children in housing, childcare, education, and preventing unintended pregnancies.

Every Women’s Fund investor receives the opportunity to participate in the selection of grant recipients through an annual vote.

To make your contribution please visit: https://www.keyholderaustin. org/kh20-sponsorship

To Advertise In AustinSouth Asian Call 512-828-6709

13

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Predictions And Morals: Austin Fans And Global Viewers Discuss Meray Paas Tum Ho – Pakistani Drama On Dailymotion

By Sumaiya Malik

sion drama series on Youtube and

far, Dastaan and Zindagi Gulzaar Hai are common knowledge in Austin.

The new entry in the favorites is Meray Paas Tum Ho. (English: I have you), a 2019 Pakistani romantic television series that is about to reach its climax.

Austin South Asian community has long watched Pakistani televi-

Dailymotion (a free Pakistani dramas website). Dramas like Humsa-

Coronavirus

When the virus was first identified, several health officials were worried that it would start a chain of reactions similar to the SARS outbreak of 2002. Health officials from the People’s Republic of China announced that the death toll from the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has risen to 56, with the death of 15 more individuals in Shanghai. The city of Wuhan in Hubei province is one of the most populated cities in China, with over 11 million people. It is the heart of the recent outbreak of a coronavirus, which has now been detected in several countries across the world, including India, the US, and Japan. A city-wide shut down and ban on travel has been imposed by the government in an effort to contain any further spread of the virus.

Human infection by Coronavirus is not new. A previous epidemic, which occurred in 2003, has also been attributed to a virus from this family of pathogens. According to the Center for Disease Control

(CDC), over 8,000 people were infected during the Severe Acute Respiratory Distress (SARS) outbreak caused by what was termed the SARS-CoV. Of these infected individuals, over 700 died.

Why are officials comparing current outbreak to SARS? While the World Health Organisation (WHO) opted to not declare the current outbreak a ‘global health emergency’, the decision came after some debate. “On January 22, the members of the Emergency Committee expressed divergent views on whether this event constitutes a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) or not. At the time, the advice was that the event did not constitute a PHEIC, but the Committee members agreed on the urgency of the situation and suggested that the Committee should be reconvened in a matter of days to examine the situation further,” reads the statement issued by the organisation.

(Continued On Page 15)

The last two episodes out of a total 24 will be shown together in a two-hour finale. It will be available to view on Dailymotion after the actual airing on Saturday, January 25, in Pakistan.

The story starts out simply and goes on to take complexities which have men and women across board talking about what is fidelity, who decides when a sin is really forgiven and if feminism and chauvinism are at play.

Mehwish (Ayeza Khan) and Danish (Humayun Saeed) a middle class couple live in a apartment building with their young school going son.

It seems to be a struggling but happy life. Mehwish is tired of having to argue of monetary struggles and dreams of diamond necklaces, well above her husband’s payroll (Sadaf Haider – Dawn Images).

Story takes a turn when Mehwish has an affair a rich, handsome CEO Shehwaar Ahmed (Adnan Siddiqui) and decides to abandon her husband and son.

The couple goes through a divorce and Danish becomes an overnight millionaire by quietly investing in Shehwaar’s company. He also joins his friend in Stock Exchange as a partner and continues to get richer.

Mehwish and Shehwaar, by a twist of fate, are exposed on the day of the marriage when Shehwaar’s rich wife Savera, the actual owner of the business empire, returns to put an end to the nikah before it happens.

Mehwish starts repenting what she did in the true sense of the word, but by then Danish by his lucky streak has a new love interest and replacement mother figure for Rumi their son in the form of Hania (Hira Mani).

This is where the story hangs.

Will Danish forgive Mehwish and reunite with her or will he marry Hania?

What seems to be a stereotypical story has become a question of morality. What is the right thing to do?

If men can have an affair and get away with it, why can’t a woman?

Should society forgive her? Does it matter if a society forgives anyone?

Should she not forgive herself first? Why is Danish being so hard on Mehwish if he actually loved her?

Audience is seeing a reflection of their own lives and values in the Meray Paas Tum Ho. All the characters have become larger than life.

No one knows what the ending will be so I asked my friends on Facebook what they thought will be the ending.

Surprisingly, my contacts from all over the world jumped in with the maximum traction from Austinites.

I summarize the gist of the predictions here: 1. Most agreed that Danish will/ should marry Hania.

2. Shehwaar and Mehwish both will face consequences. Shehwaar will continue to face the wrath of his powerful wife, Savera.

3. Mehwish will turn to God and ask for forgiveness and in time find someone else.

4. Rumi, the son, will find his mom a match just like he found one for

Danish.

5. One lead character might die (possibly Danish) as the writer Khalilur Rehman Qamar is notorious for writing scripts that kill the lead in the climax.

6. Danish can forgive Mehwish but should not marry anyone until he is really over the pain of losing his first love.

7. Shehwaar will not change and find someone else.

Interesting lessons and insights came to light in this Facebook discussion: 1. We can all make mistakes but if kids are in the equation, one needs to know that there are consequences for every wrong decision that we make as an adult.

2. Providing financial support for an ex-wife even if she is the one who betrayed the husband is the done thing.

3. A person whether man or woman needs to pay the price for betrayal in a marriage.

4. It takes a lot of maturity to love your spouse and recognize what is of value. Sadly many don’t spend time on thinking about this.

5. A woman who is a spent thrift without regard to her family income and is not interested in her own child’s education must pay the price of her stupidity.

So Austin and the rest of the world await the ending of this drama serial. In a followup article we will discuss audience reaction to the ending.

We thank all those who participated in the daylong intermittent discussion on Facebook by listing their names here as they appeared in the discussion.

Hopefully, we are all wiser and more mature: Shezrey Hussain, Iram Sultan, Anahita Hameed, Kirin Dossani, Mahvish Ahmed Qureshi, Ayesha Faisal, Sobia Haroon, Masroor ul Haq, Nadia Rahman, Huma Mansoor, Durain Samreen Khan, Zehra Alidina, Fabiha Haq, Samia Aijazz, Sania Chughtai, Mehreen Gondal, and Samra Shaikh.

14

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Candlelight Vigil And Proclamation Of Kashmiri Pandit Exodus Recognition Day He also presented a proclamation recognizing January 19th, 2020 as “Kashmiri Pandit Exodus Recognition Day” in Fort Bend County.

After the speeches, the assembled crowd held their candles up high in the air as they heard a traditional Kashmiri bhajan (devotional song).

(Continued From Page 01) This tragic event was recognized by a candlelight vigil jointly organized by the Hindu American Foundation, Indo-American Kashmir Forum, and the Hindus of Greater Houston, as part of a series of vigils done around the U.S. to mark the infamous day.

Also joining were Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX) and Fort Bend County Judge K.P. George (D), who heard from members of the Kashmiri Pandit community tell the stories of what happened on January 19th in 1990.

After the program started with a prayer, emcee Dr. Neel Bhan, a second generation Kashmiri Pandit, introduced Suraj Pandit, a third generation Kashmiri Pandit and local high school junior, who told the assembled crowd the history of what happened to the Kashmiri Pandit community.

Suraj stated that on January 19, 1990, “terrorist-driven violence, rape, torture, and murder led to the forced exodus of my relatives and 350,000 other Hindu Pandits from our homeland in our former ‘Paradise on Earth’.”

The next two speakers, Anjali Raina and Sunita Ticku, lived through the events of that fateful day, and told their stories.

Anjali bravely recounted “the tortuous death of my father at the hands of terrorists” and the severe effect his passing had on her fam-

ily.

Sunita Ticku told the story of how terrorists barged into her family’s house, looking for her father, a government official, and ended up “shooting everybody they could find in the house.”

Her grandmother survived that assault after being shot three times in the abdomen - Sunita and her siblings survived only because they had been sent away earlier in response to constant threats by terrorists inciting the “infidels” to “convert, die, or flee”.

Congressman Olson then came up to speak.

He gave an impassioned speech about the Kashmiri Pandits and the horrors that happened to them, and validated the government of India’s revocation of the oppressive Article 370.

He noted that the “amount of people that fled their homes due to radical terrorists was equal to three Sugar Land, Texases.”

Olson concluded by saying that the community should “never stop fighting” to go back home. County Judge K.P. George recounted how he heard of the events of January 1990 as an American of Indian descent.

He himself had not realized the depths of what had happened, and said he was grateful for this vigil to be organized, so that he and others could learn what had happened.

Rishi Bhutada, HAF Houston Chapter coordinator, said, “I was proud to see so many people come out on a cold Houston evening to participate in the vigil and hear these first-person stories of suffering.

We will continue with our advocacy, because this is history that must not be ignored by the world at large.”

Rahul Pandit, past president of Indo-American Kashmir Forum, said, “We truly appreciate the support from the large group of attendees and elected officials in recognizing this day and somber anniversary of our community’s exile from our homeland.

We feel the world is finally listening to our story.”

Neel thanked all in attendance for coming and said “it means the world for the community to be recognized after so many years of struggle and invalidation.”

He concluded by thanking the Houston community and asking everyone to support the Kashmir Pandit community in their struggle to keep their identity alive and “garner a presence back in the Valley of our homeland.”

Meet The Orange Seller From Karnataka Who Won Padma Shri Harekala Hajabba, an orange seller from Karnataka, was named as one of the recipients of the prestigious Padma Shri Award for 2020.

According to a tweet by Indian Forest Services officer Parveen Kaswan, the 68-year-old was standing in line at a ration shop when he received the news that he had been chosen for India’s fourth highest civilian honour.

“Harekala Hajabba was in a line on a ration shop when authorities informed him that he got #Padma Shri,” wrote Mr Kaswan in a tweet that has been ‘liked’ by nearly 6,000 people since it was shared on Sunday.

“This fruit seller from Dakshin Kannada is educating poor children in his village of Newpadapu from a decade in a mosque,” he said, adding that Mr Hajabba spent his own savings on the school.

According to BBC, Harekala Hajabba’s village, Newpadapu, did not have a school until he saved

money from his meager earnings to set one up in 2000.

besides Tulu and Beary language.

The couple walked away.

As the number of students grew, he even took out loans and used his

I felt very bad, and felt that at least the children of my own village should not be in a similar situation.

savings to buy land for the school.

Mr Hajabba, who has never received a formal education, revealed that it was an encounter with foreign tourists that led to his decision of starting a village school.

“The couple were asking me the price of oranges, but then I did not understand. Despite my best efforts, I could not talk in anything

I realised the manner in which communication can help one to progress in life, and at the same time bring people together,” he said to The News Minute.

Harekala Hajabba’s story has won hearts on Twitter.

Affectionately known as ‘ Akshara Santa’ (The saint of letters), Mr Hajabba now hopes that the government will set up a PU college in his village.

15

Austin South Asian | February 2020

This NASA Spacecraft Will Soon Capture The First Images Of Sun’s Poles

NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are planning to launch the ‘Solar Orbiter’, a new

spacecraft that will travel to the Sun to capture the first pictures of its north and south poles. The spacecraft will use the gravity of Venus and Earth to swing itself out of the ecliptic plane — the swath of space, roughly aligned with the Sun’s equator, where all planets orbit.

The spacecraft will launch from

Cape Canaveral on February 7, 2020, at 11:15 pm EST which converts to 9:45 am IST on February 8, 2020. Once the spacecraft is out of the ecliptic plane, it will proceed to snap the first-ever look at the Sun’s poles with its bird’s eye view, NASA said.

“Up until Solar Orbiter, all solar imaging instruments have been within the ecliptic plane or very close to it,” said Russell Howard, space scientist at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC and principal investigator for one of Solar Orbiter’s ten instruments.

“Now, we’ll be able to look down

on the Sun from above.”

The Sun plays a central role in shaping space around us as we know it and its massive magnetic field stretches far beyond Pluto, paving a superhighway for charged solar particles known as the solar wind. “When bursts of solar wind hit Earth, they can spark space weather storms that interfere with our GPS and communications satellites — at their worst, they can even threaten astronauts,” NASA said.

The scientists monitor the Sun’s magnetic field in order to prepare for arriving solar storms but we only get a sidelong glimpse of the Sun’s poles from within the ecliptic plane, which leaves major gaps in the data.

“The poles are particularly important for us to be able to model

more accurately,” said Holly Gilbert, NASA project scientist for the mission at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “For forecasting space

weather events, we need a pretty accurate model of the global magnetic field of the Sun.” The only prior spacecraft to fly over the Sun’s poles was also a joint ESA/NASA venture launched in 1990. The Ulysses spacecraft made three passes around the Sun

before being decommissioned in 2009. However, while Ulysses never got closer than Earth-distance to the Sun, the Solar Orbiter will pass inside the orbit of Mercury carrying four in situ instruments (which measure the space environment immediately around the spacecraft like the sense of touch) and six remote-sensing imagers (which see the Sun from afar).

After years of technology development, it will be the closest any Sunfacing cameras have ever gotten to the Sun. “You can’t really get much closer than Solar Orbiter is going and still look at the Sun,” Müller said.

Coronavirus: SARS, MERS and nCoV, Here’s What’s Similar About These Diseases (Continued From Page 13)

CoV.

This came amidst concerns that the nCoV outbreak was strikingly similar and even potentially as fatal as SARS. The SARS outbreak started in November 2002 in Guangdong, China.

According to the WHO, it cannot be transmitted between humans, and it is transmitted from animals to people (termed a zoonotic virus). The virus is only transmitted via close contact with an infected individual. Twenty-seven countries in the world (mostly in the Middle Eastern regions) have reported cases of MERS.

The virus, another coronavirus, had been transmitted to humans via animals at a market. In a span of eight months, over 8,000 people were infected and more than 700 lives were lost. Its widespread manifestation in 29 countries led health experts to deem it “the first pandemic of the 21st Century”.

However, since July 2003, no case has been reported.

MERS: Why it’s significant SARS may have been last seen in 2003. However, nearly a decade later, another coronavirus causing a similar respiratory illness caught the attention of scientists: the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). It was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and was caused by a virus called MERS‐

No vaccine is available and treatment comprises easing an individual’s symptoms until the virus self-limits its replication.

Animals have been identified as being the primary source of all three mentioned coronavirus infec-

tions. While SARS was thought to have been spread from an animal, officials are yet to determine the original source. MERS was also transmitted from animals to humans. While SARS was spread via an infected person, MERS was only transmitted from animals to people.

Similarly, officials initially thought that 2019-nCoV was also being spread via animals. An initial study pointed towards snakes, which were sold at the now-closed and quarantined market in Wuhan.

Later, reports, however, pointed to bats being the source of the viruses.

While a lot of questions remain unanswered, global experts are working on trying to produce a vaccine.

This can be challenging as the pathogen is relatively new in this virulent form. Furthermore, a rapid adaptation of viral DNA can cause the virus to mutate into a more potentially aggressive form, even before a vaccine can be developed to tackle the initial strain of the virus.

China has issued a strict travel advisory against visiting Wuhan. The

city remains on lockdown as well.

Situation in India

Several airports in India, including in Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai, have begun screenings of passengers arriving from China. Suspected cases have been reported across the world, with three confirmed cases in the US as well as a “presumptive” case reported from Toronto. among others.

The Health Ministry in India has issued a travel advisory, cautioning those who may be travelling to exposed regions of the world. Suspected cases have been reported in Mumbai, Kerala, and Hyderabad.

Over 100 people have been asked to remain under home isolation in Kerala following fears of transmission of the virus.

Maintaining personal hygiene, including frequently washing hands with soap and water and using an alcohol-based sanitiser are some good early measures to take. Avoid contact with others if ill and cover your face and mouth. Rest at home and visit a doctor at once if symptoms worsen.

The incubation period of the virus is said to be anywhere between eight days to two weeks. A recent report in Lancet observed a family which had recently holidayed in Wuhan. It is speculated that an individual can be a carrier of the virus without actually being infected by it, though it is unclear if carriers can transmit the virus to a healthy individual.

The most commonly seen symptoms are fever, cough, cold, runny nose and breathing difficulties in more severe cases. The infection may not even present as anything more than a common cold, therefore measures should be taken even at the earliest appearance of symptoms.

However, what does seem to be a pressing cause for concern is that the virus appears to have the ability to rapidly mutate, possibly at a rate faster than a vaccine could potentially be developed.

(Courtesy: https://www.thenewsminute.com/)

16

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Kids Corner

CHILDREN ARTICLES

Email Us Your Articles To Print

Vasundhara Varadarajan 8 years

info@austin southasian. com

20 Super Foods for Your Bones

Osteoporosis is an extremely common condition that inflicts more than 2 million people annually around the globe.

This is a condition that causes the bones in our bodies to brittle and more prone to fracturing.

Like so many other health ailments known to man, the most effective way of dealing with osteoporosis is with prevention treatments.

The good thing is that prevention

can be done by making simple changes in your lifestyle, such as consuming the right foods and drinks.

In this article, we’ll provide you with the top

20 super foods you can consume to keep your bones strong and prevent osteoporosis.

1. Broccoli 2. Lettuce 3. Spinach 4. Green Tea 5. Parsley 6. Oats 7. Lemons 8. Cabbage 9. Green Peas 10. Milk 11. Salmon

The Adventures Of Randy & Square Kid

12. Nuts 13. Fortified Cereals 14. Canned Sardines 15. Tomatoes 16. Baked Goods 17. Meats 18. Tofu 19. Ragi 20. Fresh Fruits (Courtesy: com/)

http://fitandnutrition.

Abhiveer Annoji

17

Austin South Asian | February 2020

The Price You Pay For Faulty Anchoring

In his bestselling book on behavioural psychology — Thinking, fast and slow — Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman explains the ‘anchoring effect’ through an experiment he once conducted using a wheel of fortune.

of African nations in the UN?

The spin of a wheel of fortune cannot possibly yield any useful infor-

above and the participants ought to have ignored the wheel. Yet, their responses on the estimate were 25% and 45%.

Mr. Kahneman rigged the wheel which was marked from 0 to 100 so that it would stop only at 10 or 65.

He asked participants to spin the wheel and then asked them to note down the number where the wheel stopped, which was, of course, either 10 or 65. He then asked them two totally unrelated questions — is the percentage of African nations among UN members larger or smaller than the number you just noted down?

The second question was — what is your best guess of the percentage

Consider this example from the real world: Shares of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd. (DHFL) share were priced at ₹590 each in January 2018 — retail shareholders held 8.4% of the firm’s equity. During the course of the year, business fundamentals deteriorated , resulting in a sharp drop in price from ₹590 to around ₹300 — a 50% fall from the previous peak. mation on the two questions listed

A Replacement For Exercise?

Michigan Medicine researchers studying a class of naturally occurring protein called Sestrin have

found that it can mimic many of exercise’s effects in flies and mice.

The findings could eventually help scientists combat muscle wasting due to aging and other causes.

“Researchers have previously observed that Sestrin accumulates in muscle following exercise,” said Myungjin Kim, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in the Depart-

behaviour very consistently on the wrong side. They end up taking the wrong initial clue, which is stock price or asset price, as the value instead of looking at fundamental data like earnings, book value or cash per share.

ment of Molecular & Integrative Physiology. Kim, working with professor Jun Hee Lee, Ph.D. and a team of researchers wanted to know more about the protein’s apparent link to exercise. Their first step was to encourage a bunch of flies to work out.

Taking advantage of Drosophila flies’ normal instinct to climb up and out of a test tube, their collaborators Robert Wessells, Ph.D. and Alyson Sujkowski of Wayne State University in Detroit developed a type of fly treadmill.

Using it, the team trained the flies for three weeks and compared the running and flying ability of normal flies with that of flies bred to lack the ability to make Sestrin.

(Continued On Page 24)

This is called ‘anchoring effect’ where people refer to an initial clue or one piece of information (10 or 65 as above) to arrive at value, even though it may result in an error in judgment. Mr. Kahneman described it thus — it occurs when people consider a particular value for an unknown quantity before estimating that quantity.

This bias is very prevalent in our day-to-day interaction like in shopping at roadside shops where we bargain. We typically start the bargaining from the price which the vendor quoted irrespective of whether it is right or wrong.

You can see the same effect in discount sales as well, where we end up either buying lot of stuff or stuff which we don’t actually need. We get anchored to the list price and the steep discount as a cue for making the decision to buy. Much of the value that the customer perceives is based on anchoring of discount price rather than estimating actual value of the goods to take an informed decision.

This anchoring bias is prevalent in investing too. One of the basic traits of good investing is to buy stocks, bonds or any asset at a cheaper than intrinsic value.

Investors often take this message very seriously and display their

Instead of taking stock of the new reality, investors rushed to buy more of the stock misled by the 50% fall from peak price — after all, isn’t buying stock cheaper a great idea? And so, the retail shareholding doubled from 8% to 16%.

Investors probably felt the worst was over.

But the stock continued to fall. In the next three months ending (April 2019) the stock fell from ₹300 to ₹150, another 50% fall from recent peak and 70% drop from all-time high.

Though both the peak prices are irrelevant data for assessing the current investment value, investors were misled and bought more shares taking the share of total retail investment in the stock to 21%.

But the stock fell even more... to ₹30 in the next six months. The market price of ₹30 represented a fall of 80% from recent six-month high, or 90% from a 12-month high or 95% from the all-time high.

Thanks to their sustained buying, the share of retail investors in DHFL jumped to 32% in the same period.

Losing wealth Retail investors had lost huge wealth, time and energy by wrongly anchoring the previous high price and continuously buying the stock which was rapidly losing value.

They failed to appreciate that any decision to buy a stock should be based on the intrinsic value of the company and that the previously traded price is a completely irrelevant data point in the decisionmaking process. They were misled because they “anchored” their expectations to an irrelevant number.

Similar anchoring bias is also displayed during the selling of a stock. Investors are often reluctant to sell a stock which is below their purchase price (wrong anchor) and willing to wait endlessly rather than assessing the current intrinsic value of the stock to make the right decision.

How to reduce or avoid the effect of wrong anchoring bias in decision making?

1. Decisions to invest in or divest from a stock should be based on valuation of the stock using parameters such as EPS, cash flow per share, book value etc. rather than on the price.

2. The ‘previous high’ price is an irrelevant data point for considering today’s purchase or sell decision. The current price is the new reality and the investor should consider all the relevant information to take appropriate action.

3. Investors have also lost opportunities by not buying stocks where business is flourishing which is reflected in a high stock price stating the price has already moved from, for example, from ₹100 to ₹150.

The question that investors should ask is: is the price of ₹150 still attractive to make a required rate of return. If the value is still there, then it makes sense to invest and not be bothered about the lowest price point, which, in this case is ₹100.

4. Finally, avoid herd behaviour like the black sheep in the flock.

Knowing the risk — the sheep started moving in the opposite direction to survive.

(Courtesy: https://www.thehindu. com/)

18

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Two Sri Lankan Women Receive Padma Awards For Contribution To Arts, Language Teaching

By Meera Srinivasan High Commission lauds their pioneering role in strengthening India-Sri Lanka ties Two prominent Sri Lankan women

Veteran Kandyan dance exponent and guru Vajira Chitrasena, and linguist Indra Dassanayake, a wellknown professor of Hindi who passed away last year, will receive one of the highest civilian honours in India, for their “pioneering con-

an woman to take up Kandyan dance — traditionally performed by men — as her full-time profession.

on Sunday — ‘polished’ Kandyan dance techniques, bringing it to the modern stage from the village

The longstanding friendship they forged decades ago with fellow artistes across the Palk Strait culminated in ‘Samhara’, when the Colomb-based dance company collaborated with Bangalore-based Odissi school Nrityagram.

ritual, Ms. Vajira noted, adding that it was “good fortune” to have been his partner and to create a professional path for female dancers.

In addition to performing world over with her late husband Chitrasena, her teacher and a pioneer in the field, she has choreographed several acclaimed productions and has been teaching scores of students over the past six decades, emphasising the rigour and distinct aesthetic that the Chitrasena Dance Company is known for.

The Chitrasena couple have a special bond with India, where they travelled often from 1959 to 1998 and collaborated with artistes from different genres.

have been named as recipients of the Padma Shri awards for their respective contribution to the arts and language teaching, and strengthening ties with India, the High Commission here said.

re and Udaya Shankar Ji. India is like home to us,” Ms. Vajira said, responding to the recognition.

tributions in their individual fields of work and for strengthening India-Sri Lanka ties”, a statement from the mission here said.

“It was a dream for my husband Chitrasena to receive this honour, as he studied at Tagore’s Shantiniketan and with Guru Gopinath at Kalamandalam in Kerala.

Ms. Vajira, 87, is the first Sri Lank-

He was greatly inspired by Tago-

Guru Chitrasena — whose 99th birth anniversary was observed

Retail Inflation At 5-Year High Of 7.3% In India I n d i a ’s retail inflation rate is now at a 5-year high in December 2019, it reached 7.35% breaching the upper-limit of 6% set by the RBI. Inflation is the constant rise in the general level of prices

where a unit of currency buys less than it did in prior periods.

It indicates a decrease in the purchasing power of a nation’s currency. A shortage of onions drove the surge in December 2019.

Overall, food inflation rose to 14.12% in December as against a negative rate of -2.65% in the same month of the previous year. It was also significantly higher than the 10.01% recorded in November

2019.

Along with vegetables, high prices of pulses, meat and fish also contributed to last month’s spike.

The inflation in ‘pulses and products’ was recorded at 15.44%, while for ‘meat and fish’ it was nearly 10%. The last time retail inflation touched 7.39% was in July 2014, just after Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his first term in office.

READ AUSTIN SOUTH ASIAN

Indra Dassanayake was a renowned Professor of Hindi at the Kelaniya University, near Colombo.

An alumnus of the University of Lucknow, Prof. Dassanayake is considered a pioneer in teaching the language in Sri Lanka, especially for her efforts in re-establishing the Department at the university in 1995 that is the largest centre of Hindi studies in the island.

Thanks to her initiative, the language is taught in over 80 Sri Lankan institutions and schools and six universities.

Her contribution to promoting the language also won her the ‘Dr. George Grierson Hindi Sevi Samman for 2005’ at the World Hindi Conference in New Delhi, the Indian mission said in a media release.

The last time that the government of India honoured a Sri Lankan national with the honour was in 2002, recognising musician and Magsaysay award winner W.D. Amaradeva with the Padma Shri.

(Courtesy: https://www.thehindu. com/)

For AD’s Call 512-828-6709

19

Austin South Asian | February 2020

5 Tips To Help Older Adults Be Healthier In 2020

For many, the new year is about establishing goals for the year ahead.

But where should you start?

As we age, an increasing number of us link our emotional and physical well-being to our overall health.

After all, you can’t do the things you’d like if you aren’t healthy.

to try new things. Prefer working out with others? Group classes can help you discover a new exercise, stick to a schedule and find exercise buddies.

If you’re new to exercise, remem-

With that in mind, Cigna and its Medicare Advantage (MA) fitness partner, the Silver&Fit Healthy Aging and Exercise Program, share these five tips to help older adults get fitter and stronger and be less stressed and happier in 2020: 1. Hit the gym.

Exercise is a proven way to help you get fitter and stronger, improve balance, lose weight, reduce blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health, manage pain and even be more social.

Many gyms offer such options as free weights, machines, pools, classes, private instructors and other amenities that can inspire you

ber that slow and steady is the way to build good habits, avoid injury and achieve health goals. It’s always a good idea to consult your doctor before starting any new exercise program.

Austin South Asian

Editor: Bala Kumar Marketing: Jayachitra Vijay -512-828-6709 Production: Jyothi Mariswaran Admin: Sharada Dayanidhi Publisher: Vidya Kumar Circulation: Vasooda Kumar info@austinsouthasian.com I ©All rights reserved.

No material herein or portions thereof be published without the wirtten consent of the publisher.

The deadline for advertisement and article is 20th of every month.

512-828-670I info@austinsouthasian.com www.austinsouthasian.com

Can’t afford a gym membership?

You may be surprised to learn that many MA plans offer exercise programs at top fitness centers and YMCAs for no extra cost. Check your plan for details.

stress, talk to your doctor. Remember, the mind and body are connected, and stress takes its toll on physical health.

2. Nourish your body.

According to a 2018 Cigna survey, loneliness in America has reached epidemic levels.

For optimal health, nourish your b o d y w i t h healthy, energizing foods, includi n g fruits, vegetables, grains, fish and healthy oils, such as olive oil and sesame oil.

Nearly half of Americans report sometimes or always feeling alone (46 percent) or left out (47 percent). Loneliness has been shown to negatively impact physical and mental health.

Limit pre-packaged, processed foods. Set an achievable goal. Try cutting out one unhealthy food each month, such as sugary soft drinks or chips. Your body will love you for it! Also, stay hydrated, especially when exercising.

4. Get social.

Alleviate loneliness by taking one proactive step each week. For example, call or get coffee with

You can also connect with other active adults on social media. Check out the inspirational health and fitness posts on the @SilverandFit Facebook page and join in the conversations.

5. Practice gratitude.

Happiness comes with thankfulness. Think about people and things you feel grateful for, and start a gratitude journal.

By doing your best to incorporate these five tips into your life, you’ll kick-start your journey toward a healthier 2020. (StatePoint)

How Social Media Is Having Unintended Consequences On Teen Mental Health (Continued From Page 02) One thing that plays a role in Kendall’s anxiety and depression is social media. According to researchers, teens spend on average nine hours or more on their phones every day.

At the same time, eliminate unhealthy habits, such as smoking or drinking alcohol in excess. With an MA plan, you may be able to get help with smoking cessation products or alcohol counseling at no extra cost.

That correlates with a study published by the Journal of Abnormal Psychology that shows teen depression rose 52% from 2005 to 2017. The study also showed that one in five teens are affected by mental illness.

3. Stress less.

“Social media, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat… everyone just puts on this perfect life that they have and only showing the good moments. It would always make me feel like I wasn’t living life as interesting as them and I was just always comparing,” Kendall explained.

Stress can be toxic and debilitating.

Develop a “PLAN” to deal with it.

According to Cigna’s Dr. Stuart L. Lustig, this includes identifying a Period of time to unwind, a Location to de-stress, an Activity to enjoy and the Name of someone with whom you can talk.

friends or family, join a club or volunteer.

Yoga, tai chi and meditation may help you cope with stress, as well as going for walks, listening to music, comedy or audio books -- or even coloring.

While Dr. Lambert and other researchers are trying to understand the impact of technology on our brains, they say, for now, it’s important to spread awareness about mental health and its impact on teenagers.

If you’re experiencing extreme

As for Kendall, her mom says she

believes her daughter has come out on the other side thanks to therapy and medication. Kendall says she recognizes the importance of mental health because stress and anxiety is something that can impact everyone.

“Taking care of yourself and just knowing the signs… knowing when you’re pushing yourself to do too much, just stress, whatever it may be… Taking time for yourself and knowing what you need to do to make yourself feel better is just beneficial for yourself and everyone around you,” said the teen.

Kendall says she will continue to speak out and spread awareness about social media’s impact on mental health. Every locality in Central Virginia has either a community service board or behavioral health authority staffed with professionals who can help someone experiencing mental health issues.

You can locate a program near you here.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 1-800273-8255.

20

Austin South Asian | February 2020

6 Tips For Avoiding Emotional Spending Decisions about spending money are often driven by emotions, even if what your heart is telling you goes against logic.

thing or need something before you buy it. If you do need it, or if it will make a huge difference in your

ing large items. When making major purchases (for example, over $500), take some time between

Emotional financial choices may provide you with short-term happiness, but they are just as likely to result in long-term regret or debt.

Here are six tips for making spending decisions, without allowing your emotions to take over.

pay your health insurance and car insurance before booking a shortterm vacation.

rein them in when necessary. Unfortunately, this is not easy for everyone.

• Make a list before shopping.

Whether shopping for groceries, household items or gifts, creating a list -- and sticking to it -- will help you avoid impulse buys and save money.

However, working with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional to manage your spending can help you stay focused on achieving your long-term financial goals.

• Shop for major holidays throughout the year. Set a budget for annual gifts early in the year and take the time to comparison shop to find the best prices and take advantage of discounts when you find them.

• Get an accurate picture of what it costs to maintain your lifestyle and fund your goals.

Knowing your fixed and variable expenses and being able to quantify your goals in terms of dollars and timeframes will help you understand what you can afford to spend in the near term.

life and you can pay for it right away without touching funds that are earmarked for other important goals, then go for it.

• Ask yourself if you want some-

• Pause and think twice before buy-

Hosting houseguests? For happier guests and hosts alike, you’ll want to be sure you’re equipped to accommodate all your overnighters.

Here are a few pointers:

Thanks to the latest updates in air mattress technology, that’s easier than ever these days.

deciding to buy and making the actual purchase.

This not only helps to spread out giving expenses, it also ensures you do not pay a premium for lastminute purchases.

Prioritize your expenditures by categorizing them in terms of cost and effect. For example, you should

• Experts say financially savvy people know their emotional triggers for spending, and are able to

Made from a Microcell contour top designed to insulate in cold weather and absorb moisture on warm nights, it even contains a USB port for charging and built-in storage for cords and small personal items.

room help avoid last-minute trips to the store, it will make guests feel comfortable and welcome upon arrival.

To find a CFP professional near you who can help you look at your life through a financial lens and avoid the cost of emotionally driven decisions, visit www.letsmakeaplan. org.

Remember that your financial priorities should almost always be focused on your long-term goals.

A bit of planning and some outside help can go a long way toward better spending decisions.

(StatePoint)

Tips For Hosting Houseguests

Special Considerations

Before the holidays, get equipped with compact, high-quality air

You’ll likely know of any special considerations you will need to make for individual guests, but if you aren’t sure, ask in advance.

For older guests, be sure the floor is free of tripping hazards and that walkways are well-lit.

Having a few additional items on hand -- disposable razors, cotton swabs, combs, toothbrushes and toothpaste -- is a nice touch. For many reasons, guests often arrive

Maybe they forgot an item at home. Maybe TSA made them toss something in the trash. Whatever the reason, you’ll want to prepare for this common occurrence.

A full house does not need to be overwhelming. With a few considerations, you can create a joyful experience for you and your houseguests.

(StatePoint)

CHILDREN ARTICLES

For families, offer a room away from noise so small children can sleep undisturbed at their regular bedtimes.

Anticipating and accommodating allergies, dietary restrictions and mobility issues can help keep guests healthy, happy and safe during their stay with you.

You’ll always want to provide a set of linens for each guest, as well as shampoo, conditioner and soap.

without certain essentials.

Better Bedding

mattresses -- which are a musthave for travelers who need to pack a car compactly, as well as hosts who want to store guest bedding between uses.

Whether you are hosting one guest or many, it’s important to ensure that everyone under your roof has a comfortable place to sleep.

One such option is the Intex PremAire ThermaLux airbed with Fiber-Tech interior construction, which inflates in 4-5 minutes.

Other models from Intex -- which come in various sizes and supports -- offer such luxuries as headboards, raised bed heights and plush air pillowtop systems.

A Stocked Bathroom Not only will a well-stocked bath-

Children Email Us Your Articles To See It In Print

info@austinsouthasian.com FREE CLASSIFIED info@AustinSouthAsian.com

21

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Harry And Meghan: Sussex Royal ‘Nothing Can Destroy Strong Trademark Bid Challenged India-Afghan Ties’

Plans by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to trademark their Sussex Royal brand could face an official challenge.

A “notice of threatened opposition” was filed with the Intellectual

marks in the UK, show that a notice of threatened opposition was filed on 21 January.

The World Trademark Review website said it was filed in the name of a doctor living in Victoria,

with which it might be confused, or because they object to the description - since the couple are no longer senior royals.

NEW DELHI: India was the first country with which we signed a strategic partnership.

But unlike a full objection, filing a notice of threatened objection re-

But beyond that, there is a personto-person relationship, culture and shared values.

This relationship is very strong and goes back thousands of years

Property Office, giving the complainant a month to lodge a formal objection.

That is now being rescinded, after an Australian doctor named in the filing said his details had been used without permission.

But since then, three more notices have been filed.

It is not yet clear on what basis the complainants might want to oppose the Sussex Royal trademark.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s foundation applied to trademark the term - used on their website and social media - in June last year.

The application covered products such as clothing and stationery, as well as campaigning and charitable fundraising.

Their plans attracted further attention after the couple announced their intention to “step back” from royal duties and become “financially independent”.

Records at the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), which governs trade-

Australia.

But the IPO said it was rescinding this notice after it had been “advised by an individual that their personal details have been used without their permission to submit a ‘Notice of threatened opposition’ to the Sussex Royal trade mark”.

Since the objection was first publicised, three similar notices also appear to have been filed on 24 January.

The notices mean the “opposition period”, during which detailed objections can be made, is extended to 20 March.

Battle of the brands Ben Evans, senior associate and chartered trademark attorney at Blake Morgan, said the IPO had considered the Sussexes’ application for an unusually long time before publishing the trademark, perhaps because of rules over the term “royal”.

He said someone might formally oppose a trademark registration because they have a competing brand

quires no fee and no evidence, he said.

“You could just do it to be difficult,” said Mr Evans.

“It looks like the IPO might be quite busy on this one.”

It is not the first time the Sussexes have found themselves in a battle over their preferred brand.

The Sussex Royal name on Instagram was originally taken by driving instructor Kevin Keiley, who lives in West Sussex and supports Reading FC - nicknamed the Royals.

Instagram handed the name to the duke and duchess, leaving Mr Keiley as @_sussexroyal_ instead.

and nothing can destroy it, said the Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan who was in the country last week to open Afghanistan’s second consulate in Hyderabad.

Afghanistan has not yet obtained the final result of its elections, which adds to the political uncertainty and has a great influence on the peace process.

India has insisted that the peace process must be owned by Afghans and led by Afghans.

Esar said the September 2019 elections were the fourth, but the first Afghan-owned.

We introduced a biometric system this time. I see it as a very successful electoral process with two million Afghans voting despite secu-

rity challenges, he told TOI. The idea is to further expand the relationship between the two countries. We want to further expand our presence.

We have a diaspora in Hyderabad, as well as some 3,000 Afghan students.

Hyderabad is one of the main centers for trade between India and Afghanistan.

We are trying to move from a nation dependent on aid to a commercial, he added.

A key part of the peace process has been the concern that women, after 18 years, should not reverse the achievements they have seen.

When I was a child, I saw an Indian movie called ‘Phoolan Devi’.

There was a prayer (in it) that talked about freedom and rights, Esar said.

The actress said: ‘I have experienced freedom and my rights. I will never come back, Esar said.

(Courtesy: TimesOfIndia)

We Welcome Articles From Readers And The Community.

Info@Austinsouthasian.Com

22

Austin South Asian | February 2020 THEME: BE MY VALENTINE ACROSS 1. *Abélard to Héloïse 6. C.E.O.’s degree 9. a.k.a Snowmobile 13. Make amends 14. Over, poetically 15. Garlic unit 16. ____ lazuli 17. New, prefix 18. Bumpkin 19. *St. Valentine’s Day Massacre city 21. James Bond’s drink of choice 23. Building annex 24. Galsworthy’s “The Forsyte ____” 25. MD, familiarly 28. Land of Nod, in relation to Eden 30. Hire for work 35. Part of an eye 37. Feudal laborer 39. Request from Amazon 40. Waterproofed canvas 41. Bunch of bees 43. Black cat, e.g.

44. Apollo of “Rocky” 46. Roofed colonnade 47. X in a letter 48. Medicinal herb 50. Tangerine-grapefruit hybrid 52. Tennis barrier 53. Hold as a conviction 55. End of a fuse?

57. *____ Valentine, a.k.a. humorous Valentine 61. *One of star-crossed lovers 65. Beyond’s occasional partner 66. E.T. transporter 68. Wombs 69. Hansen’s disease patient 70. Young canine 71. *Flirt 72. *They used to be each other’s Valentines 73. Attempt 74. Passover meal

DOWN 1. Barber’s supply 2. Arizona’s neighbor 3. Serengeti antelope 4. *Like a bottle of champagne 5. “Goodwill Industries” business 6. *Unfortunate consequence of kissing?

7. Busy as a what?

8. *Pleasant bouquet smell 9. Vegas bandit 10. Mischievous Norse deity 11. ____-tempered 12. Sub station 15. *Roxane’s pen pal 20. “Heart of ____,” Blondie’s hit 22. Well-kept secret, for some 24. Strata, sing.

25. *Go ____, or split the cost of a date 26. Estrogen maker 27. The smallest dwarf planet 29. Uses a Singer 31. Get the picture 32. Short for administrator 33. Goslings, when they grow up 34. *German artist or Young’s partner 36. “Singes” in “La Planète des Singes” 38. *Mr. Right, pre-kiss 42. Tiny European republic 45. Jackie Robinson, e.g.

49. Princess tester 51. “My two cents,” pl.

54. Do like Vesuvius 56. *Héloïse to Abélard 57. Wide river valley 58. Wild goat 59. Uh-uh 60. “The Three Faces of ____,” pl.

61. Printer button 62. Old paint hazard 63. Gaelic tongue 64. *Wedding cake layer 67. “___ Elise”

SUDOKU Sudoku

Please email your sudoku answers to info@austinsouthasian.com.

Name and photo of the inviduvidual with first correct answer will be published in March 2020 issue.

To Advertise In ASA Call 512-828-6709

23

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Anxious About the Economy? New Survey Reveals Your Next Steps

Economic analysts increasingly predict that the U.S. will soon experience a recession, and a recent survey by CFP Board/Morning Consult shows many Americans agree: 55 percent of respondents believe a recession will occur in the next year.

through a down market.

A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional can help you bring all of the pieces of your fi-

Trained to give you a “big picture” view of financial solutions and develop a plan that is tailored to your specific goals and interests, a CFP professional will help you set

Partnering with a financial advisor

Americans are notoriously sleep-deprived, which can have unpleasant and even dangerous effects. And while a nap can alleviate fatigue, increase alertness and improve mood, for years napping was considered to be a pastime more appropriate for little children and the sick than healthy adults.

Experts agree that developing and sticking with a prudent, long-term financial plan is key to protecting yourself against market swings, and the survey findings underscored the value of partnering with a financial advisor before and during a recession.

In addition, 77 percent of people working with an advisor said they are confident their advisor would successfully manage their finances

To find a CFP professional near you, visit www.letsmakeaplan.org.

may be one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from feeling the effects of a dramatic market decline.

(StatePoint)

Go Ahead - Take A Nap!

Roughly three quarters of respondents said an economic downturn would affect their household, with more than a third projecting it would have a major impact.

Sixty-seven percent of respondents who are working with a financial advisor said they would feel prepared if a recession began in the next 12 months, compared to 38 percent of those not working with an advisor.

tions.

But the tides are changing. National Sleep Foundation encourages napping, citing improvements in alertness, performance and mood as benefits. So here are a few tips on getting the most out of your daytime snooze:

nancial life together and provide confidence that your finances can withstand the pressures of an economic downturn.

Of the survey respondents who work with a CFP professional, 73 percent reported feeling more prepared for a potential recession now than they did in 2008, during the Great Recession.

long- and short-term goals and will periodically review and adjust your financial plan as needed to ensure you stay on track to reach those goals.

A CFP professional will also help you understand the implications of your financial choices, providing competent and ethical advice that supports sound financial decisionmaking and avoids impulsive ac-

Find a comfortable spot. A bed is the best, but is not always available. If napping in a chair or on a couch, make sure your neck is well-supported to avoid sore muscles.

Use a sleep mask and earplugs. Sometimes disconnecting from your surroundings can be difficult, even when you’re tired. Cutting out noise and light can help.

Use a nap as a caffeine substitute. If you find yourself reaching for coffee because you can’t stay awake, consider taking a nap instead. Close your eyes and get some shut-eye -- it will help relieve tiredness instead of postponing it until the caffeine wears off. But remember to keep your naps to a maximum of 20 to 30 minutes, lest they interfere with a much-needed good night’s rest! (StatePoint)

JANUARY 2020 Sudoku Answer Mr.Yudhveer Bagga

Ms. Ketika Tyagi

24

Austin South Asian | February 2020

How To Turn Your Home Into The Ultimate Staycation ‘Destination’ While vacations sound like the best chance to unwind, planning a trip out of town -- and getting there – can sometimes be more hassle than it’s worth.

Dimmer switches, waterproof speakers and a waterfall showerhead with different spray settings are just a few updates offering you

Show your backyard some love with a little landscaping and a few touches that replicate that vacation feel.

An outdoor bar and kitchen can give you a dedicated place to wine and dine without having to constantly go in and out of the house. Install a hammock for long afternoons spent with a book.

Here’s how to turn your home into a staycation “destination” that can be enjoyed any time you feel like it: • Upgrade Bedding: Give your bedroom a five-star hotel-grade makeover so you can enjoy that quality of rest found only on vacation.

Shop for percale linens and high-quality pillows and invest in window treatments that block out sound and light, so you can awaken when you choose to, not when the sun or neighbors intervene.

• Create a Spa-Like Bathroom: Find your bliss by creating a spa-like retreat in your bathroom. Start by clearing unsightly clutter and using coordinating dispensers for bath products.

Paint the walls in a hue that promotes relaxation -- think earthy tones, blues and greens, then add plants or fresh flowers for a pop of vibrant color.

flexibility to create different moods, all which can connect to a smart home device that remembers your preferences.

For that warm, cozy feeling right out of the bath or shower, add in-floor heating and a towel warming drawer.

• Add Backyard Touches:

Dance Yourself To A Better You! Dance is a great way for people of all ages, shapes and sizes to improve muscle tone, cardio health and coordination, as well as reduce stress and socialize.

It gives our brains a workout too, since remembering steps to a routine, or even just deciding on the next move requires a cognitive effort.

Whether you had dance training in your past or refused to step on the dance floor, even for a “chicken dance” at your best friend’s wedding, these days days there are plenty of opportunities to trip the light fantastic to better health: • Take a class.

Dancing is such a popular form of exercise that most gyms and fitness centers offer classes.

However, if you want to master a particular style, from hip hop to tango to tap, joining a dance studio or a class offered by a profes-

sional instructor is a way to go.

• Freestyle.

You do not need a choreographed routine to burn calories.

Freestyle dancing will provide a whole-body workout and improve your mood, no matter if you do it in your living room or at a local club, by yourself or with a partner.

(SPM Wire)

To Advertise In ASA call

512-828-6709

• Explore Financing Options: When it comes to transforming your home into the ultimate destination, you won’t want to cut corners on what matters most to you, whether that’s opting for the superior flat screen TV or getting just the right coffee table to complete the look of your living room.

To that end, check out easy and convenient financing options that offer buying empowerment and flexibility, such as the Synchrony HOME Credit Card.

Using the card, you can shop for home goods at over a million home-related retail locations nationwide, earning 2 percent back on purchases under $299, or 6 months promotional financing on purchases of $299 or more everywhere the card is accepted.

In some cases, you can take advantage of even longer-term promotional financing offers, ranging from 12 to 60 months.

Being able to pay off home purchases with convenient monthly payments can make life easier, helping you manage cash flow and compartmentalize spending on all things home. To learn more, visit mysynchrony. com/welcomehome.

Make “getting away from it all” as simple as taking a bath or enjoying a blockbuster from the comfort of home.

With smart renovation strategies, you can be sure you’re getting exactly what you want and need to truly relax.

(StatePoint)

A Replacement For Exercise?

(Continued From Page 17) “Flies can usually run around four to six hours at this point and the normal flies’ abilities improved over that period,” says Lee. “The flies without Sestrin did not improve with exercise.”

What’s more, when they overexpressed Sestrin in the muscles of normal flies, essentially maxing out their Sestrin levels, they found those flies had abilities above and beyond the trained flies, even without exercise.

In fact, flies with overexpressed Sestrin didn’t develop more endurance when exercised.

The beneficial effects of Sestrin include more than just improved endurance. Mice without Sestrin lacked the improved aerobic capacity, improved respiration and fat burning typically associated with exercise.

“We propose that Sestrin can coordinate these biological activities by turning on or

off different metabolic pathways,” says Lee. “This kind of combined effect is important for producing exercise’s effects.”

Lee also helped another collaborator, Pura Muñoz-Cánoves, Ph.D., of Pompeu Fabra University in Spain, to demonstrate that muscle-specific Sestrin can also help prevent atrophy in a muscle that’s immobilized, such as the type that occurs when a limb is in a cast for a long period of time.

“This independent study again highlights that Sestrin alone is sufficient to produce many benefits of physical movement and exercise,” says Lee. Could Sestrin supplements be on the horizon? Not quite, says Lee. “Sestrins are not small molecules, but we are working to find small molecule modulators of Sestrin.”

Additionally, adds Kim, scientists still don’t know how exercise produces Sestrin in the body. “This is very critical for future study and could lead to a treatment for people who cannot exercise.”

25

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Amer Fort

Amer Fort or Amber Fort is a fort located in Amer, Rajasthan, India. Amer is a town with an area of 4 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi) located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.

Shila Devi, a goddess of the Chaitanya cult,

Located high on a hill, it is the principal tourist attraction in Jaipur. The town of Amer was originally built by Meenas, and later it was ruled by Raja Man Singh I. Amer Fort is known for its artistic style elements.

With its large ramparts and series of gates and cobbled paths, the fort overlooks Maota Lake, which is the main source of water for the Amer Palace.

Mughal architecture greatly influenced the architectural style of several buildings of the fort. Constructed of red sandstone and marble, the attractive, opulent palace is laid out on four levels, each with a courtyard.

It consists of the Diwan-e-Aam, or “Hall of Public Audience”, the Diwan-e-Khas, or “Hall of Private Audience”, the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace), or Jai Mandir, and the Sukh Niwas where a cool climate is artificially created by winds that blow over a water cascade within the palace.

Hence, the Amer Fort is also popularly known as the Amer Palace. The palace was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families.

At the entrance to the palace near the fort’s Ganesh Gate, there is a temple dedicated to

which was given to Raja Man Singh when he defeated the Raja of Jessore, Bengal in 1604.

(Jessore is now in Bangladesh).

Raja Man Singh had 12 queens so he made 12 rooms, one for each Queen. Each room had a staircase connected to the King’s room but the Queens were not to go upstairs. Raja Jai Singh had only one queen so he built one room equal to three old queen’s rooms.

This palace, along with Jaigarh Fort, is located immediately above on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) of the same Aravalli range of hills. The palace and Jaigarh Fort are considered one complex, as the two are connected by a subterranean passage.

This passage was meant as an escape route in times of war to enable the royal family members and others in the Amer Fort to shift to the more redoubtable Jaigarh Fort.

Annual tourist visitation to the Amer Palace was reported by the Superintendent of the Department of Archaeology and Museums as 5000 visitors a day, with 1.4 million visitors during 2007.

At the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2013, Amer Fort, along with five other forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

The settlement at Amer was founded by Raja Alan Singh, a ruler from the Chanda clan of Meenas in 967 CE. The Amer Fort, as it stands now, was built over the remnants of this earlier structure during the reign of Raja Man Singh, the Kachwaha King of Amer.

The structure was fully expanded by his descendant, Jai Singh I. Even later, Amer Fort underwent improvements and additions by successive rulers over the next 150 years, until the Kachwahas shifted their capital to Jaipur during the time of Sawai Jai Singh II, in 1727.

Amer Palace is situated on a forested hill promontory that juts into Maota Lake near the town of Amer, about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Jaipur city, the capital of Rajasthan.

The palace is near National Highway 11C to Delhi. A narrow 4WD road leads up to the

entrance gate, known as the Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) of the fort. It is now considered much more ethical for tourists to take jeep rides up to the fort, instead of riding the elephants.

The Palace is divided into six separate but main sections each with its own entry gate and courtyard. The main entry is through the Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) which leads to the first main courtyard.

This was the place where armies would hold victory parades with their war bounty on their return from battles, which were also witnessed by the Royal family’s womenfolk through the latticed windows. This gate was built exclusively[clarification needed] and was provided with guards as it was the main entry into the palace.

It faced east towards the rising sun, hence the name “”. Royal cavalcades and dignitaries entered the palace through this gate. Jaleb Chowk is an Arabic phrase meaning a place for soldiers to assemble.

This is one of the four courtyards of Amer Palace, which was built during Sawai Jai Singh’s reign (1693–1743 AD). Maharaja’s personal bodyguards held parades here under the command of the army commander or Fauj Bakshi. The Maharaja used to inspect the guards contingent. Adjacent to the courtyard were the horse stables, with the upperlevel rooms occupied by the guards.

AKBAR AND BIRBAL STORIES The Daring Culprit

There were demands for the maximum punishment for the culprit. Amidst all the noise, Birbal stayed silent.

“I have a problem to share and want a solution right away,” Akbar announced in his court one day.

“Don’t you have anything to say, Birbal?” asked Akbar.

“Last evening, someone dared pull a hair from my mustache.

“Jahanpanah. I recommend you to give the culprit some sweets.”

What punishment should the person be given?”

There was silence in the court. The courtiers were astounded by Birbal’s reply.

There was murmuring in the court.

“I am surprised, Birbal. How do you expect me to reward someone who dared to pull my mustache?” asked Akbar.

“He should be flogged!” came the reply from the prime minister.

“No, he should be banished from the kingdom!” exclaimed the treasury minister.

“Your majesty, the only person who can dare to touch your mustache is your grandson. I am pretty sure you will not mind giving him sweets,” replied Birbal with a smile.

26

Austin South Asian | February 2020

Dhanush’s ‘Local Boy’ To Release In February

Dhanush has always had a versatile style of his own. He nailed it in the role of a middle-class man in ‘Raghuvaran B.Tech’.

The Great’, ‘F2’ and ‘Entha Manchivaadavura’ actress Mehreen as the female lead. Sneha is the other

heroine.

Naveen Chandra, who aced with

his performance in ‘Aravindha Sametha’ and ‘Evaru’, has another key role in the movie.

Released for Sankranthi, the film became a big hit in Tamil.

He impressed everyone as a local don in ‘Maari’. He was awesome in a dual role in ‘Dharma Yogi’.

The Telugu version, titled ‘Local Boy’, is presented by Smt Jaganmohini on Vigneswara Entertainments.

Dhanush is always at the forefront of moulding himself as per the character he is playing.

Produced by Ch Satish Kumar, the film’s First Look, released recently, has received a great response.

This time, the talented actor is set to entertain the Telugu audience in a new kind of role.

The producer has said that ‘Local Boy’ will be released in the first week of February.

‘Pattas’ (Tamil), directed by RS Durai Senthilkumar, is a Tamillanguage martial arts film starring Dhanush as the lead man.

Talking about the movie, the producer said, “The film has a martial arts backdrop and is doing tremendously in Tamil.

Dhanush’s performance has been hailed critically. He took special training to gain grip on martial arts.

The film has familiar faces in its cast and so, you will see it as a straight Telugu movie.

‘Dharma Yogi’, the director’s movie, was a hit in Telugu. We are hoping that ‘Local Boy’ will be a bigger hit”.

To Advertise 512-828-6709

Produced by Senthil Thyagarajan and Arjun Thyagarajan, this one has the ‘Krishnagaadi Veera Prema Gaadha’, ‘Mahanubhavudu’, ‘Raja

Anil Kapoor Takes The Plank Challenge Over 2,471 people joined Anil Kapoor to create a new Guinness World Record by holding the abdominal plank position for 60 seconds.

At an event organised on Republic

initiative, Anil Kapoor joined the participants in holding the abdominal plank position for 60 seconds.

‘Congratulations to Bajaj Allianz Life and more than 2,471 participants of the #Plankathon #PlankForIndia initiative who have not only contributed to the training of the rising sports stars of India but helped set a new bar for fitness goals in the country,’ he added.

‘Extremely delighted to be a part of the Bajaj Allianz Life #Plankathon where we’ve just help set a new

MEN CAN COOK! CHILDREN ARTICLES Day in Mumbai, over 2,471 people came together at the MMRDA Grounds to create a new world record.

As part of the #PlankForIndia’s

Guinness World Record for most people holding the abdominal plank position,’ the actor shared on Instagram along with pics from the event.

Children Email Us Your Articles To See It In Print

info@austinsouthasian.com

Email your recipe with your photos and see yourself in print

Info@ AustinSouth Asian.com

27

Austin South Asian | February 2020

From Kartik Aaryan In ‘Love Aaj Kal’ To Deepika Padukone In ‘Chhapaak’

Bollywood actors leave no stone unturned when it comes to getting into the skin of the characters they are playing.

Here we give you a rundown of Bollywood actors who sported school uniforms in their movies.

Not only that, they have also very aptly adapted to the film’s narrative when it had shown their character going into a flashback right to their school or college days.

In such cases, actors have gracefully donned school uniforms.

Be it, the latest Kartik Aaryan in ‘Love Aaj Kal’ to Deepika Padukone in ‘Chhapaak’ to Ranbir Kapoor in ‘Jagga Jasoos’, celebs have taken the challenge head-on and nailed it.

Kartik Aaryan is all set to impress one and all in his upcoming Imtiaz Ali directorial, ‘Love Aaj Kal’ co-

starring Sara Ali Khan. If the trailer of the movie is anything to go by, then the actor is seen playing a school going boy in what looks like a blast from the past.

Kartik had also taken to his Instagram handle to share a boomerang video with his costar Arushi Sharma.

In the video, Kartik and Arushi are seen dressed in a school uniform. Donning a white shirt and beige coloured

pants, he looks dapper. His blue tie and black boots complete his schoolboy look. Deepika Padukone impressed one and all with her last release, ‘Chhapaak’. The actress, who played the role of an acid attack survivour in the movie, was also seen sporting school uniform in the movie.

Donning a navy blue coloured kurti with a white dupatta, Deepika looked nothing less than a schoolgoing kid in the picture. With her hair combed backward into a pony and her bag on her shoulder, she looks all set to go to school.

Bollywood’s megastar Amitabh Bachchan played the role of a 13-year-old boy who was suffering from Progeria. Big B is seen sport-

ing a uniformed look in the movie.

Dressed in a white shirt and an olive green tie along with matching sweater, Amitabh is seen looking nothing less than a kid.

His spectacles and school bag completed his overall schoolboy look.

Ranbir Kapoor starrer ‘Jagga Jasoos’ co-starring Katrina Kaif failed to impress the audience and critics. However, if there was anything people loved and remember even today, it is Ranbir’s schoolboy look.

Donning a white tee and green and red sweater with the logo of the school on the right side, Ranbir Kapoor looked dapper as ever. His spectacled look complemented his overall get-up.

Shah Rukh Khan’s Response To Young Rishi Kapoor And Deepika Padukone To Suhana’s ‘What’s Our Religion’ Question Co-Star In The Intern’s Hindi Remake: ‘Excited’ Shah Rukh Khan found a spot on and enquired about her “religion”.

Deepika Padukone and Rishi Kapoor have announced their next project together - The Intern, an Indian adaption of Nancy Meyers’ 2015 comedy-drama of the same name. Rishi Kapoor and Deepika will headline roles enacted by Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway in the 2015 film, which also features Rene Russo, Anders Holm, Andrew Rannells, Adam DeVine and Zack Pearlman in supporting roles. The Hindi adaption will be produced by Sunir Kheterpal and Deepika Padukone. Announcing the film on social media, Deepika wrote: “Thrilled to present my next! The Indian adaptation of The Intern. A 2021 release! Presented by Ka Productions, Warner Bros. India and AZURE Entertainment” while Rishi Kapoor tweeted: “Moving on to yet another journey with the Indian adaptation of The Intern with Deepika Padukone!

Produced by Sunir Kheterpal and Deepika Padukone...”

Nancy Meyers, known for delivering hits such as The Parent Trap, What Women Want, It’s Complicated and The Holiday, has produced, directed and written The Intern. The film showcases the story of 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (played by Robert De Niro)

who, after retirement, becomes a senior intern at a fashion start-up,

founded by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). While Deepika and Rishi Kapoor have not revealed much about the film, we are already excited to see the pair onscreen.

Though, we have to wait as the film will release in 2021.

Speaking about The Intern, Rishi Kapoor said in a statement that he is “excited” to work with Deepika Padukone: “The Intern is a very relevant film for the present-day Indian workplace milieu and it showcases human relationships beautifully. I am very excited to be working with Deepika and being a part of this heart-warming story,”

reported news agency PTI.

Deepika, on the other hand, described The Intern “an intimate, relationship-driven film, set in and around the workplace.” She was quoted as saying by PTI: “The Intern is an intimate, relationship-driven film, set in and around the workplace; a story that I believe is very relevant to the present-day social and cultural environment. I have been looking for a light, breezy comedydrama and this story fits in seamlessly. I cannot wait to begin this journey.”

For those who don’t know, Rishi Kapoor and Deepika Padukone have previously worked together in the 2009 film Love Aaj Kal, in which the Rishi Kapoor appeared in a supporting role. Deepika and Rishi Kapoor’s actor son Ranbir Kapoor even reportedly dated from early 2008 to 2009.

The Intern will be the third film that Deepika Padukone will produce. The first two being Chhapaak and ‘83, which stars her husband Ranveer Singh.

(Courtesy: https://www.ndtv.com/)

the trends’ list on Monday after a video of the 54-year-old actor

sharing his views on religion went crazy viral, courtesy fan-clubs. The video is from a recent episode of reality show Dance Plus 5, in which Shah Rukh was a guest. In the video, the actor says the only religion that his children - Suhana, Aryan and AbRam - have been taught to identify themselves with is a religion called ‘Hindustan’. Speaking to the audience and the judges on the show, Shah Rukh said: “...hum mein koi Hindu-Musalman ki baat hi nahi ki. Meri biwi jo hai Hindu hai, main Musalman hoon. Aur mere jo bacche hain, woh Hindustan hain. Genuine baat hai yeh (There is no such thing as HinduMuslim between is. My wife is Hindu and I am Muslim, my kids are Indian. It’s a genuine thing).”

Shah Rukh also recounted an incident from when Suhana was young

“Kai baar... jab woh school gaye toh school me wo bharna padhta hai ki religion kya hai. To jab meri beti chhoti thi, usne aa ke puchha bhi mujhse ek baar ki, ‘Papa, hum kaun se religion ke hain?’ Toh maine usme ye likha ki hum Indian hi hain yaar, koi religion nahi hai. Aur hona bhi nahi chahiye (When they went to school, we had to fill in the religion section. My daughter asked me once ‘Papa, what is our religion?’ and I wrote we are Indian, we have no religion and shouldn’t have one either),” said Shah Rukh. On his 50th birthday in 2015, Shah Rukh had told NDTV in an exclusive interview: “Religious intolerance, or intolerance of any kind, is the worst thing and will take us to the dark ages,” and added: “Religion cannot be defined by our meat-eating habits.” The actor was targeted by two BJP politicians at the time for his comments.

On the work front, Shah Rukh Khan was last seen in Zero and hasn’t announced a new project yet. Shah Rukh recently has been concentrating on his production ventures. After producing Netflix series Bard Of Blood, Shah Rukh is also making Bob Biswas, starring Abhishek Bachchan.

28

Austin South Asian | February 2020