Austin South Asian. November 2018

Monthly Community Paper | www.austinsouthasian.com | 512-828-6709 | Vol. 11 No. 11

ELECTIONS

AUSTIN, TX – The Network of Asian American Organizations (NAAO), in partnership with Asian Pacific Islander American Public

Affairs (APAPA), the Indian American Coalition of Texas (IACT), Civic Leadership of America, Aus-

4th Annual HC4A Gala Contributors: Ashok Kumar Photo Credits: Justin Braden, Ak-

shay Mhatre , Srivas Venkatesh.

Hindu Charities for America (HC4A) organized its 4th Annual HC4A Gala on October 20, 2018 at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Austin, TX. The event raised over $70,000 thanks to the contributions from table sponsors and their guests, (Continued On Page 12)

tin Chinese American Network, Korean American Association of Greater Austin, Cambodian Foundation, Light and Salt Services, REAL International, Austin S o u t h A s i a n and Texas Capitol News, hosted a candidate forum on S u n d a y, August 25, 2018 that was attended by members of the Asian American community.

(Continued On Page 20)

Officials Continue Water Response Efforts, Urge Residents To Follow Emergency Usage Restrictions A boil water notice and emergency conservation are in place for a sixth day for all Austin Water customers.

The Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center remains activated and continues to work with staff from Austin Water, the Lower Colorado River Authority, and the State of Texas to monitor water conditions and the situation at the Highland Lakes.

Austin Water and its wholesale customers continue to test and

Nehru Diwali

Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was a freedom fighter, the first Prime Minister of India and a central figure in Indian politics before and after independence.

He emerged as an eminent leader of the Indian independence movement under the tutelage of Mahatma Gandhi and served India as Prime Minister from its establishment as an independent nation in 1947 until his death in 1964.

(Continued On Page 21)

Diwali, Deepavali or Dipavali is the Hindu festival of lights, which

monitor water conditions while working closely with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

to follow the proper water quality testing procedures.

Residents will be notified as soon as all testing is complete and the boil water notice is no longer in place. Until then, all residents should continue to boil water intended for cooking or drinking.

Emergency conservation will be in place even after the boil water notice is lifted.

(Continued On Page 23)

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving, which occurs on the fourth Thursday in November, is based on the colonial Pilgrims’

is celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere).

One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolises the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance”.

(Continued On Page 23)

1621 harvest meal. The holiday continues to be a day for Americans to gather for a day of feasting, football and family.

inside

November 2018

Job-Seeking Veteren.....04 Streamline Morning......05 Arun’s Scribblings.........06 Kids Learn Best............07 Celebrating Halloween..07 Work-Life Balance........08 Chores To Loans...........08 Car Shopping Tips........09 Money Grow Faster.......10

December 2018 Christmas

Special

512-828-6709 Ekal Vidyalaya..............11 Snippets......................11 Maliks Page........12,13,14 Newton High School.....15 Childrens Page....18,21,22 Special Needs Pets.......19 Kids Holiday Gift..........20 Community Calendar....21 Tips For Damaged Hair.25 Elections.................20,24 COPD..........................25 Entertainment.........26,27

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Austin South Asian | November 2018

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Austin South Asian | November 2018

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Austin South Asian | November 2018

Are You A Job-Seeking Veteran? What To Know

With the veteran unemployment rate at a record low, many who have served in the military are now in the driver’s seat when it comes to civilian job hunting.

served.

tions to the workplace.

In fact, eligible team members called to active duty receive military leave benefits and

“Start by asking the hiring manager or human resources contact what benefits and programming are offered,” suggests Quinn.

“You’ll quickly get a feel for the company culture.”

This is in part because employers understand that veterans bring a wealth of translatable skills and experience to the workforce, including leadership, teamwork and attention to detail.

“For veterans, the right employer is one who values the leadership, discipline and service record of military members and veterans,” says Jerry Quinn, Wells Fargo Military Affairs Program manager.

To help get the conversation started, Quinn suggests the following topics of discussion:

“They seek an employer that goes above and beyond to empower them to succeed in and out of the workplace.”

• Growth opportunities.

Wells Fargo, which established its Military Affairs Program in 2012, is an example of an employer committed to hiring and retaining veteran team members.

other programming designed to mitigate the burden on their families.

Is this position one on track for promotions and raises?

A variety of job options, confidential resources, educational information and career guidance tools are available to those who

Are you a job-seeking veteran? Before accepting an offer, find out whether your potential employer values veterans’ contribu-

Does this company offer resources and support to employees looking to grow? Discover what your future at this company could look like.

• Development programs.

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and camaraderie to employees. Find out if the company has a similar group for veterans.

• Diversity.

Is this a company that values diversity, particularly when it comes to veteran status and disabilities?

Will the employer accept your veteran status and value it as an asset?

• Benefits.

Beyond military leave, are benefits available that provide supplemental pay and continued healthcare when individuals are called to active duty?

Research whether the company offers additional fringe benefits to ease the burden of being away on active duty.

For example, some employers provide lawn mowing and snow removal to those away from home on military orders.

More information about career transition services and the type of workplace benefits offered to veterans are available at wellsfargojobs.com/military.

From apprenticeships and internships to transition services and leadership programming, ask about opportunities that will offer a chance to make new contacts, find a mentor, develop professional skills and learn how to translate existing skills to a new position.

Remember, military skills and experience is an asset to employers.

• Employee resource groups (ERGs).

(StatePoint)

Hold out for a position that will value what you bring to the table through tangible workplace benefits and programming.

ERGs can provide resources, opportunities

CHILDREN ARTICLES Children Email Us Your

Articles

info@AustinSouth Asian.com

5

Simple Tips To Streamline Your Morning Routine

Let’s face it, most people are so used to their morning routine, they may not even be aware of how it’s slowing them down.

Here are three ways to save some valuable time every morning.

Disable Snooze Did you know that on many smartphones, it’s possible to disable the snooze button?

Bagels, serving artisan, small-batch roasted coffee and blended drinks alongside breakfast items like 12 different fresh-cracked egg bagel sandwiches with 18 choices of bagels.

For those who need an afternoon coffee fix, this can be a one-stop shop for lunch or a mid-afternoon snack, too.

Prepping for a morning meeting?

Transform your morning with a few swipes of the thumb and become the kind of person

Feed the team with the Caribou Coffee Canteen and Einstein Bros. Bagels Baker’s Dozen Box.

who gets out of bed at the scheduled hour.

Prep Ahead

You’ll give yourself more time to get every task on your morning to-do list complete and be less rushed in the process.

The rush to get out the door can make anyone forgetful, even a morning person.

One-Stop Breakfast If you’re like many people, you are particular about your coffee as well as the first meal of the day.

Luckily, it’s easy to ditch the habit of picking up your morning brew at one specialty store and your breakfast at another.

Save substantial time each morning by seeking out one location that specializes in both.

For example, Caribou Coffeehouse is now inside all Einstein Bros.

Take a few minutes in the evening (and earn yourself a bit more shuteye) to prep your bag so you can just grab and go in the morning.

Check the forecast and your calendar the night before and lay out a weather- and event- appropriate outfit head to toe, so that it’s completely ready to be worn -- matching socks to their companion, pressing anything that needs it and selecting accessories.

With a few streamlining strategies and proactive steps that help you stick to the program, mornings will be a cinch.

(StatePoint)

To Advertise In ASA 512-828-6709

Austin South Asian | November 2018

6

Austin South Asian | November 2018

New To Parenthood? Smart Tech Can Help Scribblings By Arun

Being a new mom or dad can be tough.

But smart tech is revolutionizing

and proper feeding.

Harris Poll in April 2018.

Eighty percent of American adults use or would use smart products to

The poll investigated what parents are anxious about and how smart tech can make their job a little easier.

Why are smart home products so popular?

From the bathtub to the nursery, smart technology can help parents keep their babies safer and provide peace of mind.

the way parents care for their little ones, alleviating common parenting worries, such as sickness, the baby sleeping through the night

help care for a new baby, according to a recent survey commissioned by leading faucet manufacturer, Moen and conducted online by

With smart tech to the rescue, you too can enhance your parenting skills while spending more time enjoying your newborn.

(StatePoint)

Make A Difference – Save Trees

By Saving On Paper Towels

By Vidya Kumar In my office while using the washroom many a times I have seen people using several paper towels to dry their hands.

Is it really necessary that we use so many paper towels just to dry our hands? What if we allow our hands to air dry by waiting it out?

I am sure in Texas weather which is hot most of the time a few minutes of letting the hands dry out on its own should not pose any health problem.

But it would definitely be awkward in office since we have to sit at our desk and work on the computer/key board or on the phone or whatever one does at office.

The ideal situation would be once we wash our hands to shake it ten times or more so that the excess water is dripped off to the washstand and then use just one paper towel instead of multiple towels to dry our hands.

Even at home using the hand towel or kitchen towel rather than the paper towel will definitely reduce the use of paper towels.

One would need to consciously make a decision and stick to it so that we do not use excessive paper towels.

This also is economical and at the same time one would be helping the environment.

The Coat

Darned here and there, the black coat he wore, which clearly exposed, that he was poor.

Whatever climate, he bothered not, never came to class, sans the old coat.

Since last few years, postponing to meet, I determined to fulfill that, this year at least .

I wished to make him greatly surprised, Gifting a coat he not expected.

Wisdom wise, he was extremely rich, with sincerity, he strived to teach.

He had a voice with a soothing pitch, for his affection there was no match.

It made me too sad and broke my heart, Not that he refused my precious gift, But he was not there to receive it.

To God’ s abode had already left.

Me to come up in life he guided, fond of him, my future who moulded.

Craved my heart , out of money I earned, That he should be suitably honoured.

He left teaching me one more lesson, “Wait not for opportune to do good, Do it before, you lose your beloved.”

(arunsunderraj@gmail.com)

Boil Water Notice, Emergency Water Conservation Required Boil Water Notice Remains in Effect. There is an urgent need for customers to reduce water use. Austin water treatment plants can currently produce approximately 105 million gallons of water per day.

Current customer use is about 120 million gallons per day. Water reservoir levels are reaching minimal levels. Immediate action is needed to avoid running out of water.

All residents are asked to reduce your personal consumption by 15 – 20 percent. Avoid all outdoor water use and minimize indoor use immediately. This is an emergency situation.

CHILDREN ARTICLES

Children Email Us Your Articles

info@AustinSouthAsian.com

7

Austin South Asian | November 2018

Kids Learn Best When Having Fun A child’s education begins the moment he or she is born.

for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, consider the following:

Little ones have a lot to learn, but

Change Scenes

you can help them to reach all their important milestones by making learning fun.

To encourage and enhance learning

A change of scenery can trigger critical thinking skills.

So, keep your little ones active, engaged and occupied by taking them

places that will inspire curiosity, such as the library, children’s museums, musical performances, the park, zoo and more.

animals and art skills, it is carried just like a backpack and includes games and music, a drawing board and interactive LCD screen.

Take the time to point out letters, shapes, animals and whatever else you see, to help build vocabulary.

Squeeze in Learning

Be Prepared

Whether it’s bath time or dinnertime, there are always opportunities for fun and learning at home.

Take advantage of downtime when you are moving from place to place.

During these daily activities, tell stories and jokes, sing songs and practice counting.

Make sure your car and day bag are packed with fun and educational distractions for kids: crayons, construction paper and books, as well as toys designed specifically for on-the-go learning, such as LeapFrog’s Go-with-Me ABC Backpack.

Plus, there are plenty of waterproof books and toys that can withstand bathtub and highchair playtime.

Giving kids a fun way to explore letters, spelling, phonics, writing,

Transition Wisely Select versatile learning toys that will transition as your child learns, grows and reaches milestones.

For example, the Safari Learning

Station is a fun activity center that transforms from the sitting stage to the crawling stage to standing, allowing children to explore first words, numbers, shapes, colors, animals and music.

Likewise, Scout’s Get Up & Go Walker transforms from a baby gym to a detachable floor play panel to a walker.

With three play modes for listening to music, playing learning games and getting active, it’s a great way to introduce colors, shapes, letters and numbers and encourages children to reach out, sit up and stand.

For more early education ideas, visit leapfrog.com/learningtoys.

There’s an entire world kids will want to explore when you make learning fun.

(StatePoint)

Celebrating Halloween Safely With Dogs Over half of pet parents plan to dress up their dogs for Halloween, according to a Wag! survey.

Is your pup getting in on the Halloween fun?

The experts at Wag!, on on-demand dog walking company, say that it’s important to keep Halloween activities safe and comfortable for dogs.

A Halloween dog costume should never cover eyes, ears or noses or be a choking hazard.

While all those sweet treats are exiting for kids – and even some adults -- it’s important to stash such trick-ortreating loot safely away from pets, as common candy ingredients can be toxic to dogs.

You can help ensure a spooktacular Halloween for the entire family, including pets, by taking precautions to keep the celebration hazardfree. (StatePoint)

8

Austin South Asian | November 2018

How Parents Can Achieve Work-Life Balance In the pursuit of having more time to spend with their families, an increasing number of working parents are requesting flexible working options from their employers, suggests new research.

Often referred to as “co-working,” a flexible workspace offers individuals and employees a productive and collaborative environment to work.

that extra time?

According to the Regus survey, the number one activity parents would spend their time on, instead of commuting, is being with family (71 percent), followed by having “me-time,” like taking a long bath or meeting friends (38 percent).

ents say that they would work for an employer that provides flexible working as part of a benefits package and 74 percent say they are willing to take on a different job if it offered a range of working locations. Looking to make the switch?

Regus is sharing top tips to incorporate flexible working into your

Co-working has risen in popularity over the past decade and new research from flexible workspace provider, Regus, found that 85 percent of working parents would forfeit other benefits to take up flexible working, with 81 percent surveyed believing the top benefit is a better work-life balance.

The growth of flexible workspace means that people increasingly have access to these locations no matter where they are, offering users the potential to skip a long commute and work closer to home.

So, what would parents do with

If this option is not yet offered by your employer, negotiate. See if you can swap one benefit you may not use. For example, 85 percent of working parents reported that they are willing to work through their lunchbreak, and 85 percent would forfeit other benefits, like a company gym membership, to take up flexible working.

throw the schedule out the window and focus on delivering results.

• Think creatively about location:

“Parents especially struggle to ensure their careers and personal lives exist in harmony,” says Michael Berretta, vice president of Network Development for IWG, the parent company of Regus.

Commuting isn’t only about the time spent traveling from your front door to the office. It may be better for you to be near your child’s school or daycare, or near a client, rather than your main office.

Flexible working can make this shift possible.

• Banish the 9 to 5:

Employers should take note, as flexible working options are a top priority for employed parents.

Ninety-six percent of working par-

current employment situation: • Negotiate:

For many parents, a 9 to 5 schedule doesn’t match that of their child. To get the most of flexible working, see if you can adapt your schedule with a late start and late finish, or early start and early finish. Or,

• Flex your flexible working: If you can’t make the switch to full-time flexible working, see if you can have this option available in emergencies, such as a gap in childcare or a tight schedule.

“Using flexible workspace can allow for a schedule that better fits around personal commitments, and employers can expect more working parents to ask for this option.”To learn more visit, www. regus.com. Working parents have a lot to juggle and finding the right balance can be a challenge, but there are more opportunities than ever to add flexibility to their schedules. (StatePoint)

From Chores To Student Loans: Teaching Kids Money Basics For kids, October is a big month because it includes the one night where costumes are encouraged and begging for candy is expected.

But it’s also National Financial Awareness Month, and amazingly, many teenagers will graduate high school this year with little knowledge about how finances work, flying blind into a hurricane-sized storm of potential debt, bad loans, bankruptcy, and no savings or retirement. As a parent, you can head this off. To help, the makers of BusyKid, an app that tracks kids’ chores and allowance, are offering families tips and financial basics for getting started.

It’s estimated that less than 10 percent of the world’s currency is actually paper or coins. This means your child needs to know how to manage invisible money, including paying bills and tracking credit and debit card spending.

• Savings.

Thirty-nine percent of Americans

to save a portion of money they receive from birthdays, holidays, babysitting, mowing grass, etc. A good rule of thumb for kids: 50 percent savings, 40 percent spending and 10 percent sharing.

• Sharing.

Contributing to non-profits not only feels good but helps others

• Investing.

If your child ever wants to retire, he or she will need to invest money along the way, and practice makes perfect. Luckily, there are resources available to teach them how, including some fantasy investing games, as well as apps like BusyKid, which provides a place to buy real shares of stock for as little as $10.

• Compound Interest.

• Chores.

Introduce chores early and treat them as if it’s your child’s first job.

By changing the mindset around chores, kids can develop a good work ethic that can carry over to a real job.

• Modern Money.

enough to be filing.

admit to having no money in a savings account. Teach children

in need. It could also provide a tax benefit when your child is old

Compound interest is when a bank pays interest on both the principal (the original amount of money) and the interest an account has already earned. As an example, if you put $1000 in the bank with compound interest of 10 percent, in 20 years you’ll have more than $7,000. Without compound interest, it would be $3,000. Let your money make money!

• Credit Cards.

This is not free money! Have one card for emergencies or travel, but make sure the annual percentage rate is low and is paid off monthly.

Your kids will be flooded with offers as soon as they’re old enough, so teach them to say no, even when promised gifts for signing up.

• Student Loans.

The U.S. student loan debt is currently $1.45 trillion (an average of $37,000 per student) and nearly 7 million loans are in default. Follow this simple rule -- don’t borrow more than your child will earn in his or her first year out of school.

For more money management knowledge and practice, enroll your family in BusyKid. Visit www.busykid.com for more information.

This National Financial Awareness Month, take steps to prepare your child for a successful future.

(StatePoint)

9

Austin South Asian | November 2018

Car-Shopping Tips For Students And Grads

College is a time when many young people buy their first cars.

But with the rising cost of a de-

a good value on vehicle purchases.

Here are some great ways to get more bang for your buck:

need is to sink time and money into regularly fixing a clunker.

Rather than purchase a standard used car with an unknown history, consider a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle.

CPOs are often a safer bet, as they come with a warranty and have gone through a multipoint inspection to ensure quality.

Some contracts even include 24/7 roadside assistance.

Seek Special Deals

gree, students and their families will want to ensure they are getting

Go Certified Pre-Owned The last thing busy college students

You’ll want to get around campus or commute to your first job in style, so look out for special deals and programs offered to students that can help you find a fun, modern car with all the latest safety and technology features at an affordable price.

For example, MINI USA is offering the 2019 MINI Oxford Edition exclusively to college students and recent graduates.

This includes current full- and part-time students of any two- or four-year accredited college or university, any recent college graduates within 12 months of their graduation, as well as students enrolled in post-bachelor’s degree programs, such as graduate school, law school or medical school.

For no additional cost, this edition offers $6,900 worth of optional equipment as standard, including a connected infotainment system, rear-view camera, park distance control, a dual-pane panoramic moonroof and heated seats.

Factor in Other Costs

Remember, the cost of maintaining a car also includes auto insurance.

Take this into consideration when determining what you can afford.

You can stretch your budget with a bit of comparison shopping and by looking into discounts that suit your lifestyle.

For example, some policies offer breaks for safe driving, good grades, low mileage, community service participation and more.

Buying a car while paying for college or settling into a first job may sound overwhelming, but by doing a little research and keeping your options open, there are many ways to affordably secure and maintain a great car.

(StatePoint)

3 Reasons Women Should Consider A Career In Small Business Talented, dedicated and ambitious women’s entrepreneurial spirits increasingly are driving the nation forward.

Women have steadily increased their presence in the world of small-business ownership over the past 10 years.

Aflac’s survey that indicate women are finding happy, fulfilling careers at small businesses.

1. A supportive, close-knit working environment.

One of the clear benefits small

family as the best part of working for a small business.

2. The benefits of greater flexibility.

While working for a small business often comes with many perks,

In fact, the number of womenowned firms has grown 68 percent since 2007, compared with 47 percent for all businesses, and women-owned businesses support more than 7.9 million jobs, according to a survey commissioned by American Express.

Here are three key findings from

However, 31 percent of female employees said the top challenge of working for a small business over a large one is salary and benefits.

Adding voluntary benefits like dental, vision, accident and critical illness insurance is a proven way to not only help employees manage out-of-pocket medical costs, but also improve employee benefits satisfaction and job retention.

3. Progress and commitment to-

Women have many reasons to love working for a small business, according to Aflac’s 2018 Small Business Happiness Survey, which surveyed 1,000 U.S. employees at organizations with three to 49 employees.

Eighty-seven percent of all employees said it is more fun working at a small business, and that number was even higher among women.

These benefits help explain how a whopping 91 percent of all employees feel satisfied working at a small business.

businesses have over their counterparts is the ability to more easily create company cultures that make all employees feel like they belong.

In fact, in this year’s survey, women employees ranked feeling like a

women listed flexible scheduling as the biggest perceived benefit (29 percent).

This was closely followed by feeling more appreciated and feeling like their input matters.

ward pay equality.

Seventy-eight percent of female small-business employees believe they are compensated equally with their coworkers, and 73 percent think the small-business industry achieves success when it comes to equal pay.

Still, 48 percent of male and female respondents acknowledge that there remains room for improvement.

All together, these strides indicate the small-business community is on the right path forward.

(StatePoint)

Austin South Asian Invites Contributions From Readers And Community

10

Austin South Asian | November 2018

Could Saving With An Online Bank Help Your Money Grow Faster?

While there’s no doubt that putting money aside with each paycheck is an essential component to

But did you know that the top online banks have interest rates 20 times higher than the national av-

which won the title of Best Online Bank in the GOBankingRates Best Banks ranking from 2015-2018.

What’s more, online banks can offer greater convenience and flexibility, since consumers can bank from anywhere on computers and mobile devices, and there’s no waiting in line or waiting for the bank to open.

a healthy financial future, it’s important to keep in mind that not all savings accounts are going to give you the same pay back or benefits.

It’s estimated that American consumers are missing out on over $50 billion dollars of interest they could be earning every year.

The average interest rate on savings accounts is 0.08 percent, according to the FDIC, with many of the largest financial institutions paying as little as 0.01 percent.

erage, according to rates published by the FDIC? Because they have no physical branches, they are often able to pass on that savings to customers through consistently competitive rates.

“A traditional bank savings account is certainly a safe vessel in which to deposit money, but it won’t necessarily help that money grow,” says Diane Morais, president, Consumer & Commercial Banking Products for Ally Bank, Member FDIC,

The most common services and transactions (i.e. monthly account maintenance fees, standard or expedited ACH transfers, domestic and international incoming wires, cashier’s checks and personal checks) are free at many online banks.

And most online banks are FDIC insured, so a customer’s deposits are equally as protected as they would be at a traditional bank.

To increase your savings, Morais recommends the following: • Pay yourself first.

When you save, you are paying yourself, so be sure your monthly budget includes a line item for savings.

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

You can make it easier to commit to this great habit by setting up automatic transfers to your savings account.

• Do a little re-

search.

Find a bank that will pay you a more competitive interest rate on your savings.

online banks, it would earn almost $90 of interest.

To learn more about saving with an online bank, visit www.ally.com.

You may have to do a bit of comparison shopping, but the extra money coming your way will make the effort worthwhile.

It is estimated that consumers have about $3 trillion in bank accounts earning a relatively low interest rate.

According to the FDIC, the median balance in U.S. savings accounts is around $5,000.

If a portion of that figure belongs to you, consider making your money work harder by moving it to an account with greater interest earning potential.

At 0.01 percent interest, that equals 50 cents in interest for the year, however if that money was in a savings account at one of the top

(StatePoint)

Austin South Asian

Editor: Bala Kumar Marketing: Jayachitra Vijay -512-828-6709 Production: Jyothi Mariswaran Admin: Sharada Dayanidhi Publisher: Vidya Kumar Circulation: Vasooda Kumar

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

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11

Austin South Asian | November 2018

Phenomenal Success Of “Ekal Vidyalaya” Galas

By Prakash Waghmare The week of October 6 -13, 2018, has a special significance in the 30-year history of “Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation (EVF)”. In this week, ‘Ekal’ (as it is popularly known), hosted three fund-raising glittering Galas at three strategic places in USA and raised record $5.5 Million in pledges. This was in addition to $7.5 Million it had already realized through its annual 50+ fund-raising concerts across USA. On Oct. 6 Ekal-Houston, TX hosted a Gala where generous donors collectively gave $1.5 Million. In similar fashion, on Oct.12, Ekal-Washington hosted a Gala in Bethesda, MD and raised $1.1 Million. A year earlier (2017) New York (NY) region had successfully initiated Gala for high net-worth philanthropic donors, and so all eyes were on magnificent ‘Cipriani-Wall Street’ banquet Hall in NY as the grand finale of this galaphase and NY did not disappoint anyone.

It raised $3 Million. This crowning achievement pushed Ekal’s donation total for Yr 2018, way beyond $10 Million it had initially hoped for. In addition, what was remarkable was all three Galas were completely sold-out affairs.

At the NYC Ekal-GALA, the presence of John Sculley, former CEO of ‘Apple & Pepsi’ and veteran film actor Anupam Kher as two keynote speakers was the highlight of the evening. These two Iconic personalities, not only freely mingled with the crowd during initial social hour but also patiently took time to interact with their fans. Sandeep Chakravorty, Consul General of India was the Chief Guest of this event. Mohan Wanchoo’s opening remarks, after national anthems of USA & India, set the tone for the evening.

As the Chairman of the GALA, he touched on aspirations of village folks and what could be done to bring them into the mainstream.

Chirag Patel, as the co-chair of the event emphasized urgency to transform villages so that India

could tackle challenges of the future. Ranjani Saigal’s presentation of ‘EKAL’ (with montage of slides, pictures in the background) was a

on supporting a variety of projects in the field of education, health and skill development. Inspired by a matching donation from ‘Sarva

the eye initiative of Ekal which he personally promised to support in partnership with ‘Irada’, a foundation started by his family.

As of this moment Ekal has 77,000 Ekal-schools across India grooming 2 Million Children - more than half of them girls. PM Modi has given Ekal a goal to establish 100,000 schools by YR 2022 (75th Anniversary of India’s Independence).

defining moment. She gave several real-life examples of ecliptic rise of some of the Ekal alumnus in 1012 minutes.

This made the first-timers to Ekal, including ‘Key-note speakers’, fairly knowledgeable about crucial aspects of Ekal movement. John Sculley and Anupam Kher were simply amazing as keynote speakers. John Sculley commended innovativeness of Indians and lauded Ekal’s dedication to bring changes in rural life by empowering women and boasting self-esteem of rural folks, in general.

Anupam Kher drew parallels between his life and the life of poor village-folks and elaborated on how he overcame obstacles in his own life by believing in himself.

Laminated letters of Ekal-school children at each placement on every guest tables were quite soultouching.

This immediately connected the attendees with the village-based children in India. On this occasion, Ekal India Team – Bajarang Bagra and Naresh Jain – was also felicitated. Honoring them, Mohan Wanchoo said,” we in USA only raise funds for rural folks but the real hard work is done by ‘EkalIndia’.

The pledging process was focused

Mangal Family Trust’ to bring ‘tablets’ to Ekal schools, $150,000 was raised, instantaneously so that it could turn into $300,000 and equip 600 schools for hand-held ‘Tablets’. Chintu Patel, Co-Founder and CEO of Amneal Pharmaceuticals gave a passionate speech on the importance of supporting

By Sumaiya Malik

The highest bid - $500,000 – came from an anonymous donor who wanted to support the expansion of the schools specifically to reach this target. The overwhelming support that Ekal witnessed in ‘Galas’, it is very likely that Ekal will reach PM Modi’s target 100,000 schools

by Yr. 2020 (way ahead of time).

This unprecedented support from patrons has also given confidence to Ekal to revise and aggressively pursue its developmental agenda. Yr 2018 saw the highest ever growth in Ekal’s 30-year history. New schools were opened in 18,000 villages. E-Shiksha - tu-

toring by ‘Tablets’ – was initiated in 180 schools, as a pilot project.

For digital literacy, 10 ‘Ekal-onwheels’ mobile digital labs have been added.

Each van can educate 5,000 youths, each year, in basic computer skills.

Four ‘Gramotthan Ctrs’ that directly benefit 400,000 farmers (indirectly up to 4 Million) have been planned along with ‘Satellite Skill Ctrs’. First ‘Tele-Medicine’ project, with support from ‘John Hopkins Univ’ was undertaken in Odisha to bring expert Medical advice to the doorsteps of remote Villagers.

As Bajrang Bagra, CEO of EkalIndia said, “the primary objective of this all-round integrated development is to give dignity and selfesteem to rural-tribal folks of India.

For the first time, Ekal went ‘live’ on Facebook and Twitter for this event. This memorable evening concluded with concert by ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ contest singing superstars, ‘Bishakh Jyoti & Suchetana Sinha’.

SNIPPETS

Four different events on four different dates, each one equally interesting and worth participating in: Pakistani folk and sufi singer Sanam Marvi will perform in Austin in support of Pakistan’s 3rd Shaukat Khanam Cancer Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. The fund raiser is at the Crowne Plaza on IH-35 on Sunday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m. For details please call Mr. Tariq Majeed at 512-784-4473 or Mr. Liaqat Ali Syed 512-832-8365 or Mr. M. Ashraf at 512-784-4229.

Aga Khan Foundation will host their annual black tie gala at Austin Central Library on November 17.

It will be an evening of ‘mocktails and a four course meal, Ethics in Action, silent auction, and fusion music.’ Aga Khan Foundation makes long-term investments, from early childhood education to infrastructure. They build hospitals and schools. They work with people to serve their community and build their local economy. Their work impacts tens of millions in over 30 countries every year. For more information please go to Aga Khan Foundation Austin Gala on Facebook.

Don’t miss out on Khamoshi Adalat Jari Hay, a play directed

by RungaMuncha at Hyde Park Theater from Nov 3 to Nov 17 weekends. “Khamosh! Adaalat Jaari Hai” is a Hindi adaptation of playwright Vijay Tendulkar’s iconic Marathi play “Shantata!

Court Chalu Aahe” (Silence! The Court Is In Session) written in 1963. The play has since been translated into 16 languages and performed in India and abroad. Muslim Space will host A Night of Remembrance on November 20 at Ladybird Johnson Wild Flower Center from 5 to 8 p.m. celebrating the life of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

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Austin South Asian | November 2018

4th Annual HC4A Gala Raises $70K 2019 Scholarships

(Continued From Page 01) “Dancing with the Stars” partici-

pants and their guests, Gala guests and Silent Auction.

100% of funds raised will be used for vocational scholarships and grants for deserving candidates with an economic need in Austin metropolitan area, in the spirit of “Live Here, Give Here!”

Sponsors contributed to the cost the cost of the event.

The Gala is the signature event of HC4A. All the Gala tickets were pledged by early October.

The two Masters of Ceremony for the event were Sujata Ajmera and Sameer Shah. Over 450 Guests attended the gala.

The Guests of Honor included Dr. Richard

Rhodes, CEO/President of Austin Community college and the Honorable Steve Adler, Mayor of the City of Austin.

Dr. Rhodes presented his speech and thanked Hindu Charities for the work it has been doing to bridge income disparity through education by providing vocational scholarships to economically disadvantaged students.

Mayor Adler provided his felicitations and encouraged the guests to generously donate and make an impact to those deserving students in the Austin area.

Guests mingled, networked and socialized as part of the pre-event gathering.

Harish Kotecha, founder and President of HC4A, kicked off the event. A video highlighting the impact of scholarships in our area was shared. HC4A recognized these individuals for their “Their Passion,

Unconditional Commitment & Support” toward HC4A mission: Bhanu & Ashwin Ghatalia, Greater Round Rock Community Foundation, Srivas Venkatesh, Lakshmi & Subba Kondubhatla, Texas Homeless Education Office & Jennifer Bloom Greenberg.

schools choreographed our Stars Vijay Mohan Anantula, Anita & Satyajeet Dodia, Ashok & Anita Kumar, Manjima Kundu, Nagavalli Medicharla, Sharmila with Bianca & Anushka Mehta, Jyoti Mistry, Smita Parikh, Malin Pathak & Nupur Sharma.

After the speeches, Fundraising Segment was lead by HC4A, Shruti Anand, HC4A Executive Board member and Vijay Mohan Anantula, HC4A Foundation Board member. Scholarship recipient, Stephanie Mbulu, chronicled the impact that the scholarship had on her.

Silent auction was held throughout the event, items included signed picture of sports personalities and Presidents and gift certificate and jewelry.

She will soon receive her Nursing Diploma. Harish Kotecha, Founder of H4A, was presented with HC4A Award “In recognition for His Vision & Leadership for HC4A” This was followed by an awesome choreographers’ dance showcase – Agni Dance Company, Monsoon Dance, NrityaVarsha Academy and Sargam Dance. These dance

Fundraising was followed by a 3 course dinner that included entrees and multiple dessert options served in a scrumptious buffet style dinner, catered by Taj Restaurant.

The entire event was professionally video graphed and photographed by a dedicated media team. TV Asia covered the event, thanks to Seema Govil.

Celebrate A Birthday By Giving Back To A Community Other Than Your Own

By Sumaiya Malik On my father’s 81st birthday, my friend Yasmeen, and I decided to volunteer at Casa De Luz, a local non-profit on Toomey Road with the philosophy of how to live a great life.

After his death this year, I have been grabbing every opportunity that comes my way that would give my dad the gift of sadaqa e jariyah, but for his birthday, I wanted to use my time and tie it with the values that Abuji had taught me.

community, but to also be visible outside the community… in groups unaffiliated with our own kind to be an ambassador of our group and set a good example through our actions and deeds.

outside familiar surroundings.

Hopefully, my actions of volunteering with the intent to benefit others would bring a reward to my dad in his afterlife as well…

That very day I made the plan, I ran into Yasmeen who loved Abuji too.

Amid other spaces, Casa De Luz houses a restaurant, which serves healthy vegan meals to encourage a holistic approach to life.

She decided to volunteer with me when she heard what I was planning.

The non-profit also encourages community members to volunteer and lend a much-needed helping hand to keep their restaurant as affordable as possible.

We signed up to volunteer today as it’s Abuji’s actual birthday, at Casa De Luz – the 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. shift.

Our job was to help the staff prepare the daily lunch.

I had been thinking for days to figure out what I needed to do on Abuji’s birthday (I called my dad Abuji). It would be the first after he had passed away.

Our chores included washing and chopping the vegetables, wiping the counters and sweeping. Occasionally, we were sent to the adjacent fresh vegetables storage room to fetch a needed ingredient.

I knew I would be sad, but I also knew I was thankful that he was such a daily part of my life.

Abuji had taught me to think beyond the walls of my home to make a difference in society.

He would push me to not just work for the betterment of my family and

I figured, if a child’s deeds have any bearing on a departed parent in his afterlife, Casa De Luz would be the perfect opportunity.

Casa De Luz, was also completely

We worked hard and enjoyed ourselves too, sometimes singing, sometimes silently praying, and of-

ten chatting with the other women in the commercial kitchen.

We learned new recipes and ways to cook and shared our recipes too.

At the end of our shift we sat and ate in the restaurant where some of our friends and colleagues who knew of our plan, joined us…

Whoever came to the restaurant that day, enjoyed a meal that we had participated in cooking.

We were overwhelmed… had no idea when we started that we would feel so happy inside.

Here are some local non-profits that have a set volunteering program: Keep Austin Beautiful, Inside Book Project, Assistance League of Austin, Austin Animal Center, Austin Parks Foundation, Ballet Austin, Boys and Girls Club, The Contemporary Austin, Drive a Senior – West Austin and Livestrong.

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Austin South Asian | November 2018

South Asian Fashion On The Runway At Fashion X A Result Of ATX-PAK Initiative By City Of Austin

By Sumaiya Malik Fashion entrepreneur Matt Swinney, founder of Fashion Week and Fashion X, showcased fashion from South Asia on the runway in Austin, Houston and Dallas this October, as a result of collaborations between the City of Austin’s ATX-PAK (an initiative funded through a grant from the State Department).

Austin’s growing fashion ecosystem and Pakistan’s strength in producing high quality textiles and ac-

would just be a similar experience with South Asian Focus.

South Asia, a cultural hotbed, is one of the most underrated fashion regions of the world.

Seven stunning designers from Pakistan and India wowed the audience with their jaw dropping cultural masterpieces, including world-famed designer Varun Bahl whose collection was showcased

by Ruby Bhandari, Erum Khan, Nava by Ayesha Qasim, Jaya Shukla and Rana Noman.

All this in the hope to establish business exchanges between the fashion-scenes in Pakistan with the budding fashion scene in Austin and beyond.

Fashion protegé Maryam Khizer showcased her ostrich feathers line and received accolades for her fresh outlook on American attire.

Some background: In 2016, The City of Austin Economic Development Department Global Business Recruitment and Expansion Division received a grant from the U.S. Embassy, Islamabad, Pakistan to facilitate a two-year entrepreneur exchange program between Austin and Pakistan.

This resulted in the setting up of ATX-PAK, which focuses on facilitating commercial trade, business opportunities, and cultural collaboration centered around the innovation and creative industries in Austin and Pakistan.

In the first phase, four cohorts of Pakistani startups travelled to Austin for training, exposure and mentorship over a two-year period.

The City of Austin also took a small group investors to Pakistan at the end of 2016, and hosted a Creative Collaboration Summit in Austin in 2017.

What is happening now?

This is phase two where ATX-PAK is creating the launch pad for a business exchange through fashion collaboration.

To initiate this Matt Swinney accompanied a delegation from the City of Austin to Lahore Pakistan where he met Textile developers and fashion designers.

est of the mainstream fashion lovers.

Boutiques, buyers, fashion followers and local community attended the glamorous showcase at LZR. Ruby Bhandari, a designer/fashion curator from Dallas participated in Moda X South Asia at the LZR. She said that the response was surprisingly overwhelming. cessories could benefit each other.

“We’re hoping to establish direct textile imports into Austin to support fashion designers and the Fashion Incubator,” said Alicia Dean of the City of Austin.

“As of right now most designers have to source their materials elsewhere, … Pakistani textile companies… will help bridge that gap,” added Dean.

Last November, Matt Swinney went to Lahore, Pakistan as a guest of the ATX-PAK initiative to meet textile developers and fashion designers.

He was able to understand how the fashion world works in Pakistan.

He was quite impressed by the quality of work and professionalism and agreed to host MODA X South Asia.

He had already hosted a successful MODA X Mexico in 2017 and this

Moda X South Asia in Austin, attended by over 200 guests amid glitz and glamor at the LZR on W 4th Street on October 12..

It was a soldout event and it is much expected to return next year.

Commenting on the crowd there, Matt Swinney said, “My normal fasjon x audience.”

He thinks this fashion is so global that he is not surprised with the inter-

She received orders from a cross section of Austin from all cultures who attended the event.

The hope is that boutique owners or buyers will be able to place orders.

In phase 2 of the plan, a team of local designers will head to Pakistan to showcase what is the fashion scene in the US for a similar understanding.

Initiatives like these are difficult to materialize unless the governments come together to arrange for visas and make travel easier as has happened in this case.

Matt Swinney was not worried about heading to Pakistan as he was a guest of the City of Austin.

These are opportunities to make use of and the business community in Austin especially related to fashion need to pay attention.

For more information please contact Fashion X at hello@fashionx. co and Alicia Dean at the City of Austin.

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Austin South Asian | November 2018

David Labuguen Of ARIZONA Band Takes A Break From ACL Fest To Visit AARC

By Sumaiya Malik On October 8, David Labuguen (27), one of the three band members of famous rock and electropop band A R I Z O N A (spelled and written as is), visited Asian American Resource Center on Cameron Road for an interview with the Austin South Asian.

ing the paper in the Zen Garden at AARC when Labuguen accompanied by his road manager strolled in for an interview.

Labuguen whose parents immigrated to the US from Philippines was especially keen on connecting with the Asian community in Austin because while growing up in the US there were hardly any people in the limelight who looked like him and that is why he said, “I am trying to be so visible.”

This was the week of the Austin City Limits Festival when the most famous bands and highest names in the music world as big as Paul McCartney had descended to Austin.

Fans had thronged the Zilker Park to enjoy the whole day scene going on for 3 days for 2 weekends each.

Labuguen could, like most other stars, have remained at the epicenter of all this.

Instead he chose to visit a quiet venue in the morning at a time when AARC hosts Mahjong, Ping Pong and Yoga classes for Asian senior citizens. Some were read-

met in Boston while attending Berklee College of Music and Emerson College.[2][9] During college, the three of them began working separately as songwriters and producers, before eventually moving back to their home state of New Jersey.

They began making music together in 2015 and were discovered by now-manager, Jake Posner, on Reddit.

With all the fame that came their way, the band members have remained grounded and like the personal connection with their followers and with each other. Labuguen especially is proud of his Asian identity.

A R I Z O N A band is famous for songs like Summer Days, Freaking Out, and I was Wrong (16 million hits by 2016 - Wikipedia).

The young band’s debut album was released in 2017. At that time Labuguen had graduated from college and was working in an advertising agency with a steady job.

Band members Zachary Charles,[8] Nate Esquite, and David Labuguen

Labuguen’s parents immigrated to the US from Philippines, “I knew that I looked different than other kids at school,” said Labuguen and continued, “I knew that the lunch I brought smelled different and tasted different than [what] the other kids at school [had].“ It was in middle school that Labuguen started holding on to his identity because it made him stand out and be special.

He felt unique and said, “The traditions of being Filipino has helped shape who I am as an individual that that is really why it means so much to me.” His heritage has shaped his individuality and music.

It is important to him to say, “Hey, I am Filipino for all other young folk and kids that they can see somebody who looks like them that knows the culture they grew up in who understand the cultural intricacies of their heritage.”

Labuguen “just wants to be visible to show that this is a possibility for you.”

that they are not alone.

Labuguen also talked about the Austin vibe. The band has been here during SXSW and has also played at the Stubbs before coming back for ACL, “I think we fell in love… Austin is a mix of new and old.

Its really cool which is nice because when you see gentrification happen in areas the city seems to lose its soul, but in Austin it seems to be very authentic which is really cool.”

Not just Filipino Americans, Labuguen’s words resonate with any Asian or for that matter anyone with a heritage that makes him different from the rest. He added, “Literally seeing someone who looks like you in a position you want to reach makes it more attainable.”

Austin South Asian is refreshed by the grounded attitude of this young band member who is mature beyond his years and who has at the start of his fame held on to reaching out to Americans at large that there are many faces of fame and that level is very achievable, you just don’t lose focus of your dreams or your identity.

Conversation drifted to the band’s famous song Freaking Out, which has touched the chord of mental health.

We are especially thankful to Sona Shah and Rani Arni for making the visit to AARC possible at such a short notice.

The song has been well received by A R I Z O N A’s followers. Labuguen especially talked about every individual at some point in life experiencing pressure and tension.

He wanted his followers to know

We wish the band many returns to Austin and to the Asian American Resource Center. Find the band at www.thisarizonamusic.com. David Labuguen Instagram @dlabuguen

TCF-USA Austin Chapter Fall Gala On Nov 3

By Sumaiya Malik The Citizens Foundation Austin will host an evening to raise funds for educating underprivileged children of Pakistan on November 3 at the Norris Center on Anderson Lane.

According to their website goal of the Austin Chapter and the Austin community is to support TCF’s mission of providing quality education to the underprivileged children of Pakistan. They have done this since 2011.

Following this goal, Austin donors have built two schools, Austin Campus of Knowledge, a primary

school in GagarPhatak, Karachi Sindh and Diyar-e Roshan in Kemari, Karachi. The community has also supported the operations of TCF schools in each of the four provinces.

After completing the goal of building and providing lifetime support to the Austin Campus of Knowledge, the Austin Community is providing operational support for TCF’s government school project.

Aisha Farooqui, the Counsul General of Pakistan in Houston, will also be present to share her insights on the education crisis growing in Pakistan.

The Austin team has invited Mohammad Noman, a TCF Alumnus who is studying Graphic Design in the Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida.

For tickets, please contact Erum Qureshi, Maheen Baqai, Seema Azam, Athar Sattar and Ayesha Khurram. Visit the website at: www.tcfusa.org

He will be sharing his story. Ms.

Ali Pervez Mehdi, trained under the legendary ghazal singer Ustad Pervez Mehdi, will provide the evening entertainment and Mezban Resturant will be serving a delectable buffet dinner!

15

Austin South Asian | November 2018

Exchange Students And Teachers Of Newtown High School With Sadhvi Rithambara

By Manu Shah Shradha Sahani, a 2016 graduate from the University of Maryland was looking to spend her summer volunteering before starting her PhD program. She spent weeks researching different organizations around the world but one name jumped out at her -Vatsalya Gram.

Dr. Eradi asked Didi Maa if she would like the school to raise funds for her foundation, her response was characteristically parental.

She told him her countrymen could support her institution financially but she wanted her children to have “what the children here have… exposure, aspirations, confidence and

After touching down in New Delhi, a chartered bus took the group to Vatsalya Gram where they were welcomed by the residents with both curiosity and warmth. The seven children were each assigned a family to stay with.

The premises has 3 schools. Samvid is a private English medium

The institution’s unique concept of creating families by grouping abandoned children with destitute women, providing housing, food supplies and other necessities to live as a unit piqued her interest.

Three months later, it was a full circle moment for Newtown High School. Didi Maa was welcomed for the second time at the Newtown Municipal Center by school and city officials and members of the community.

Vatsalya Gram which means a Village of Maternal Love is a sprawling, 50 acre foundation in Vrindavan, two hours from New Delhi.

The Gram houses three schools, a hospital for the poor, a prosthetic center and a dairy and vegetable farm. Several families live on its premises. Each family has 5 children, a mother, an aunt and a grandmother all biologically unrelated. The children receive a mother’s love and care while the women find refuge and a purpose in life.

When the Superintendent of Newtown High School, Dr. Eradi learned about Shradha’s experience at Vatsalya Gram and its innovative configuration of families, he was intrigued enough to extend an invitation to Sadhvi Ritambhara or Didi Maa as she is affectionately called, to visit the school. Months later, Reena Sahani, Shradha’s mother picked Didi Maa from the airport and says she was “struck by the love and compassion she radiated.”

Didi Maa met school officials who gave her a tour of the school. When

To everyone’s surprise, there was no language barrier and as Didi Maa put it “pyar ki koi bhasha nahi hoti” – love has no language. There was perfect communication even with the resident women who were not all conversant with English.

It was a tearful farewell on both sides when the time came to leave.

The children vowed to keep in touch through WhatsApp which they still do.

Shradha’s cousin Shaanti accompanied her to Vatsalya Gram where the girls spent two weeks in service or sewa. It was “a life changing experience” for both.

It was started under the Param Shakti Peeth Trust by Sadhvi Ritambhara when she found an abandoned baby on the front steps of the ashram where she was staying.

doesn’t have to be born into a family to create a family.

opportunities.”

The answer made a powerful impression on school authorities and prompted them to work on a possible collaboration.

CBSE accredited school which was attended by the Vatsalya Gram children, Vishistam – a special needs school and KBRM – a Hindi medium school.

Since this wasn’t a regular student program, four teachers from Newtown High School visited Vatsalya Gram in September 2017 to explore the possibility of a long term association.

The Newtown children attended all three schools, participated in the classes, held discussions, exchanged viewpoints, shared chores, recited mantras, ate vegetarian meals, and bonded like they’d known each other for years.

Highly impressed, they decided to institute a program where Newtown High School students would come to Vatsalya Gram and interact with students there.

The impact of this 10 day interface in the Vatsalya Gram children was rewarding: the positive reinforcement and interaction sparked ambition, dreams and goals.

Several meetings and presentations later, it all fell in place. A remarkable administrator and head of Biology Susan McConnell and Reena accompanied seven children to Vatsalya Gram in April 2018.

Children who were initially hesitant began to verbalize their aspirations and voice their opinions.

“Success is self-defined” was clearly being imbibed.

The core purpose of the visit was a cultural exchange between Newtown High School and the children of Vatsalyagram, with a targeted project theme - Success is selfdefined!

It was an equally transformative experience for the Newtown children. The visit fostered an appreciation of family, nurturing relationships, compassionate love, willingness to do something for others based on non-expectation, and the recognition that one

As a measure of their affection, the seven children and Susan came dressed in saris and salwar suits – her parting gift to them.

In her address, Didi Maa spoke about Vatsalya Gram and her vision for the children. She paralleled the role of a woman to a central pivot, as she is a “lullaby (lorie) for a child and a walking stick for a grandmother.”

She urged action instead of fault finding and in a beautiful reference to Shradha and Shaanti, the first two girls to visit Vatsalya Gram: she remarked that “jo cheez Shradha se shuru hui hai, woh shaanti hee layegee” (what is started with faith will always bring peace.)

Highlighting the cross cultural collaboration between Newtown and Vatsalya Gram, she added that this purab aur paschim ka mel (East meeting the West), would be an enriching experience for both sides.

Every one of the 7 children also shared their experiences and it distilled down to one line: “Our lives have changed forever.”

SAIVA - South Asians’ International Volunteer Association SAIVA has had a wonderful fall season with volunteering, civic engagement, and intergenerational activities.

One of our major events entailed a lovely event at the AARC with Dell’s Asians in Action group. SAIVA’s volunteers organized this intergenerational activity filled with volunteer and cultural exchange. Everyone is in great spirits and thank you to A!A for the lovely meal and enjoying time with us.

The day was filled with beautiful moments of team work, community, and singing.

SAIVA has partnered with SAFE Place for this month for our donation to the therapy doll program, which all the volunteers completed along with fleece blankets and port pillows. The end of the day was a beautiful cultural exchange that was done with Rangoli on canvas and will be displayed around to represent the importance of intergenerational activities and the Indian culture and arts.

On behalf of SAIVA, we hope everyone is enjoying the festival season!

If you have any questions, comments, or would like to join as a volunteer or member, please email us at saivacommunications@gmail.com or check out saiva.org.

16

Austin South Asian | November 2018

DIY Halloween Tips To Save Money

Halloween may be the spookiest night of the year, but it’s the prices for costumes and decorations that are scarier than any vampire (and they’ll drain your wallet even faster).

If you’re planning a Halloween party, the cost of tables, chairs, decorations and music can really put your monthly budget in the

largest mobile marketplace, connects buyers and sellers securely.

Use the app to score eclectic dinnerware and serving dishes to

If you’re hosting, save yourself the cost of feeding everybody by having your guests bring their favorite spooky dish.

This year, Americans plan to spend $3.2 billion on Halloween costumes and $2.7 billion on decorations, with the average person spending nearly $87 on their costume alone, according the National Retail Federation.

• Clean out the ghosts of closets past.

There are easy ways to save money and still enjoy this season’s favorite holiday.

And you can even use Halloween as an opportunity to put some extra cash in your pocket. Consider the following tips: • Haunt your house for less.

From candied apples to mummified cake pops, there’s no shortage of great Halloween recipe ideas out there.

grave. Instead of scraping together décor from a party store, use a local marketplace app to seek out better deals and more interesting finds.

make your home feel like a haunted mansion. Plus, there’s plenty of gently used spooky decorations to be found.

For example, OfferUp, the nation’s

• Potluck your party.

If your closet or garage is packed with boxes full of items from years gone by, Halloween may be the perfect time to sell stuff locally to creative costume hunters near you -- either by having a garage sale or by using a local marketplace app.

Your pastel windbreaker from 1985 could just be the missing piece for someone’s jazzercise costume, and those old white ski pants could help outfit a Marshmallow Man.

• DIY costumes.

You can skip the full-priced Halloween stores and get creative with the items you or your neighbors already have around the house.

Search your closets and listings of nearby sellers to put together some fun, spooky costumes and give yourself the opportunity to let your imagination run wild.

With a little bit of planning and some crafty buying and selling in your neighborhood, you can go all out this Halloween without overspending.

Or, take all that extra cash you saved to buy the king-size candy bars for your trick-or-treaters and be the envy of the block.

(StatePoint)

Unhappy Gut? Some People Suffer For Years Before Seeing A Doctor Abdominal pain? Diarrhea? An estimated 16 million Americans live with a type of irritable bowel syndrome called IBS-D (the D stands for diarrhea), and it affects both men and women almost equally.

stomach pain and cramping, frequent diarrhea, gas, bloating and an urgency to use the bathroom.

Many people experience feeling frustrated, missing out on activities

• Abdominal pain at least one day a week during the last three months • More than 25 percent of bowel movements are loose or watery (diarrhea), and less than 25 percent

However, only 30 percent of individuals consult a physician about their symptoms.

The microbiota help digest and absorb food and work with the immune system as a barrier against other microorganisms that can cause disease.

Why is that?

“People who experience symptoms of IBS-D can feel like their symptoms are not severe enough to seek medical attention or that there isn’t anything doctors can do to help,” says Dr. Howard Franklin, vice president of medical affairs and strategy at Salix Pharmaceuticals.

“But doctors want to hear about everything you are feeling so they can determine the underlying cause of your discomfort and help you find a treatment plan that is right for you.”

A closer look at IBS-D Symptoms of IBS-D, which are different in everyone, include

While the exact cause of IBS-D is unknown, and people may have IBS for more than one reason, an imbalance in the usual numbers and proportions of normally healthy bacteria in the digestive system (the gut microbiota) has been found in many people with IBS-D.

“One study of 109 patients with IBS showed that 73 percent had an imbalance in their gut microbiota, compared with only 16 percent of healthy people,” says Dr. Franklin.

because of symptoms and avoiding situations where there is no bathroom nearby.

IBS-D can be diagnosed based on symptom history, including:

are hard or lumpy (constipation) • Symptoms started at least six months ago What could be the cause?

“Other potential reasons may include previous gastrointestinal infection or food poisoning, communication problems between the brain and digestive system, a family history of IBS and other causes.”

Treatment options There is currently no cure, but there are treatments that can help

with the symptoms of IBS-D. Lifestyle changes, such as eliminating certain foods and increasing exercise, could help.

“Studies have shown that between 50 and 70 percent of patients failed to respond to either fiber or antispasmodics as a treatment therapy,” says Dr. Franklin.

“There are different types of prescription treatments for IBS-D. If one isn’t working, it’s important that patients ask their healthcare professional about trying a different medicine to find what treatment is right for them.”

For more information, visit IBSDUpClose.com.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of IBS-D, don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about all of them.

This is the first step toward helping find a treatment plan and getting relief.

(StatePoint)

17

Austin South Asian | November 2018

Monuments At Mahabalipuram

The group of monuments at Mahabalipuram is a collection of 7thand 8th-century CE religious monuments in the coastal resort town of Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, about 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Chennai.

been managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.

be Mahabalipuram or Kanchipuram.

Although the ancient history of Mahabalipuram is unclear, numismatic and epigraphical evidence and its temples suggest that it was a significant location before the monuments were built.

In his Avantisundari Katha, the Sanskrit scholar Daṇḍin (who lived in Tamil Nadu and was associated with the Pallava court) praised artists for their repair of a Vishnu sculpture at Mamallapuram.

The site has 400 ancient monuments and Hindu temples, including one of the largest open-air rock reliefs in the world: the Descent of the Ganges or Arjuna’s Penance.

It is speculated that it is the seaport

However, Daṇḍin’s authorship of

The group contains several categories of monuments: ratha temples with monolithic processional chariots, built between 630 and 668; mandapa viharas (cave temples) with narratives from the Mahabharata and Shaivic, Shakti and Vaishna inscriptions in a number of Indian languages and scripts; rock reliefs (particularly bas-reliefs); stone-cut temples built between 695 and 722, and archaeological excavations dated to the 6th century and earlier.

The monuments were built during the Pallava dynasty.Known as the Seven Pagodas in many colonialera publications, they are also called the Mamallapuram temples or Mahabalipuram temples in contemporary literature.

The site, restored after 1960, has

did not visit) “Seven Pagodas” and the name became associated with the shore temples of Mahabalipuram in publications by European merchants centuries later.

It appeared in Abraham Cresques’ 1375 Catalan Atlas as “Setemelti” and “Santhome”, a crude map of Asia but accurate in the relative positions of the two ports; the former is Mamallapuram and the latter Mylapore.

Ve n e t i a n traveler Gasparo Balbi mentioned the “Seven Pagodas” and “Eight Pleasant Hillocks” in 1582, which Nagaswamy suggests refers to the monuments.

of Sopatma mentioned in the 1stcentury periplus of the Erythraean Sea or Ptolemy’s port of Melange in his 2nd-century Geographia.

Another theory posits that the port of Nirppeyarvu mentioned in the Perumpanarrupadai from the early centuries of the common era may

this text is disputed. The medieval Sanskrit text mentions the Mamallapuram monuments, an early tradition of repairs, and the significance of Vaishnavism.

When Marco Polo arrived in India on his way back to Venice from Southeast Asia, he mentioned (but

Wayde The Smartest

According to Schalk, Balbi called it the “Seven Pagodas of China” (a re-interpretation of Henry Yule’s reading of Balbi which considered Balbi unreliable, followed by a selective correction that it probably meant Mamallapuram).

seven towers, the name has inspired speculation and argument.

The December 2004 tsunami briefly exposed the beachfront near Saluvankuppam (now north of Mahabalipuram), revealing inscriptions and structures.

Badrinarayanan said in a BBC report that they dated to the 9th century and may have been destroyed by a 13th-century tsunami. The tsunami also revealed large structures on the seabed about a kilometer offshore, which archaeologists speculate may be the ancient Mahabalipuram.

According to a Science article, the tsunami exposed rocks with an “elaborately sculpted head of an elephant and a horse in flight”, “a small niche with a statue of a deity; another rock with a reclining lion”, and other Hindu religious iconography.

Marine archaeologists and underwater diving teams have explored a site east of the Shore Temple, one of the monuments, after the 2004 tsunami.

This has revealed ruins of fallen walls, a large number of rectangular blocks and other structures parallel to the shore, and the forty surviving monuments.

Since there are now fewer than

Abhiveer Annoji

18

Austin South Asian | November 2018

There Are Only 6 Tiger Subspecies Left In The World: Here’s Why They Are Going Extinct Six different sub-species of tigers exist today, scientists confirmed amid hopes the findings will boost efforts to save the fewer than 4,000 free-range big cats that remain in the world.

The six include the Bengal tiger, Amur tiger, South China tiger, Sumatran tiger, Indochinese tiger and Malayan tiger, said the report in the journal Current Biology.

Three other tiger subspecies have already gone extinct: the Caspian, Javan and Bali tigers.

Key threats to tigers’ survival across the globe Habitat loss Poaching Effects of climate loss Genomic evidence shows Breeding has also reduced drastically among different tiger populations.

How to best conserve the species and encourage both captive and wild breeding has been a matter of debate among scientists, in part because of divisions over how many tiger sub-species exist. Some say there are two types, and others be-

lieve there are five or six.

“The lack of consensus over the number of tiger subspecies has partially hindered the global effort to

recover the species from the brink of extinction,” said study author Shu-Jin Luo of Peking University in Beijing. The groundbreaking

research of tiger extinction Researchers who’ve analyzed the complete genomes of 32 representative tiger specimens confirm that

tigers fall into six genetically distinct groups.

The research helped scientists in coming to a conclusion that each subspecies has a unique evolutionary history.

The origin of the South China tiger remains unresolved since only one specimen from captivity was used in this study, the researchers note.

Tigers are not all alike Also, tigers are distinct unlike big cats jaguars, which are found commonly across the world.

“Tigers are not all alike,” Luo said, noting that key differences include body size and fur colour. “Tigers from Russia are evolutionarily distinct from those from India.

Even tigers from Malaysia and Indonesia are different.”

“Tigers from Russia are evolutionarily distinct from those from India. Even tigers from Malaysia and Indonesia are different.”

(Courtesy: Oneindia.com)

Kavin Raajavel. M

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email: info@austinsouthasian.com 512-828-6709

19

Austin South Asian | November 2018

Special Needs Pets: Can I Adopt A Heartworm-Positive Dog?

Every year, an estimated 3.3 million dogs enter U.S. animal shelters, with roughly half that number subsequently adopted by pet owners.

These include shelter dogs with special medical needs that can make them harder to place.

of the country where heartworm rates are already high -- can lead to increased numbers of heartwormpositive pets needing adoption when flooding and pet displacement drive up infection numbers.

The American Heartworm Society (AHS) advises prospective adopters to obtain important information from veterinarians and shelter personnel when considering this step.

• A dog with heartworm disease cannot directly infect another pet.

What is heartworm disease and how do dogs get it?

Nevertheless, an infected, untreated dog can become a source of infection to other pets if it is bitten by a mosquito, so prompt treatment is needed.

Heartworm disease is a serious disease spread by infected mosquitoes that is estimated to affect more than one million dogs, cats and ferrets in the U.S.

Meanwhile, natural disasters like hurricanes -- which occur in areas

• Dogs with heartworm disease can be successfully treated and go on to live normal lives.

However, treatment must be initiated as soon as possible to minimize permanent damage to the dog’s heart and arteries.

Dogs with heartworm infection are a common example.

The incidence of heartworm disease in shelter dogs is thought to be higher than in other dogs because stray and surrendered pets are less likely to have received prior veterinary care or to have been on routine heartworm prevention.

What to know when adopting a heartworm-positive dog:

Not every aspiring pet owner is equipped to provide the extra care a special-needs pet requires; however, with proper treatment, heartworm-positive pets can be excellent candidates for adoption.

• Heartworm treatment requires months of therapy and multiple medications administered under a veterinarian’s care.

Key points are understanding how heartworm infection is spread, how treatment works and what kind of care owners will be required to give dogs undergoing treatment.

Heartworm treatment can also be costly.

to do so.

Dogs undergoing treatment also need to be kept on cage rest to minimize treatment complications.

• Dogs can become re-infected if they’re not protected.

The AHS recommends year-round heartworm prevention to all pets, as well as annual testing.

Fortunately, heartworm prevention is affordable, effective and safe.

For more information on understanding heartworm disease in dogs, visit heartwormsociety. org.

While heartworm disease is a serious medical condition, compassionate owners who are willing to invest the necessary care and resources in treatment can enable heartworm-positive dogs to live full and happy lives.

Some shelters are able to cover all or some of these costs prior to adoption, while others can’t afford

(StatePoint)

It can be difficult to calm a baby from the front seat when traveling without another adult in the car.

Sing lullabies or even your favorite song of the moment to soothe your baby.

But the next best thing to seeing a parent’s face is hearing his or her

• Control the temperature:

The extension panel is included on nine models, seven of which accommodate children up to 50 pounds, rear-facing.

Tips For Keeping Baby Safe And Happy In The Car When it comes to car travel, families know that keeping baby safe and happy is essential, and understanding the latest expert recommendations is one of the best ways to help keep children as safe as possible.

seat.

Here are some helpful tips to keep children happily rear-facing and to make car rides fun and enjoyable for all:

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently updated its recommendation on how long children should ride in rear-facing car seats.

Before strapping your little one into his or her car seat, turn on the air conditioning to cool the back seat or the heat to warm it up so that the car reaches a comfortable temperature sooner.

The AAP removed the age guideline of 2 years old and now advises parents that all infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible until reaching the maximum rear-facing height or weight restrictions set by their car seat manufacturer, which for many children is well past the age of 2.

As children grow older and more curious, it can be trying at times to keep them rear-facing in their car

Your car’s temperature can truly make or break an outing with your baby.

• Find the right car seat: There are several car seats available to keep children riding rearfacing longer.

• Sing-along songs:

voice.

For example, Graco Extend2Fit car seats feature a built-in extension panel to provide extra legroom rear-facing.

To learn more about these car seats, visit gracobaby.com.

• Play a game: Car games, like “I Spy,” are easy to learn and perfect for keeping rearfacing toddlers entertained.

All passengers can play this interactive game and take turns picking out the mystery item for others to guess.

A smooth car ride is precious to parents, and, with these tips, you’ll be able to keep babies and toddlers safe and happy during every outing.

(StatePoint)

20

Austin South Asian | November 2018

Kids’ Holiday Gift Ideas That Build Social Skills For young children, social-emotional development is one of the most valuable aspects of school readiness.

Interactive Toys Those who want to help children learn important lessons might consider putting Zoonicorns at the top of their holiday gift lists.

This holiday season, focus on toys and gifts for preschoolers that will build children’s empathy, communication skills and the ability to resolve conflicts and navigate challenges.

Fun and engaging animated music videos, game apps, books and online activities capture children’s imaginations while offering parents and children an opportunity to work through and overcome obstacles together.

Here are a few gift ideas that do just that.

Experiential Gifts

Kids can watch inspiring music videos like “Yes, You Can!” on YouTube and play along with the soft and cuddly plush Zoonicorns, which are a combination of a unicorn and zebra.

A petting zoo can be a great place for kids to learn about compassion.

A puppet show may teach important lessons about making new friends or learning how to navigate challenges.

The new Wish Me Zoonicorns by Jay@Play have four touch points where children may interact with them.

The gift of an experience will be an exciting life-long memory and a great opportunity for you to spend time together while kids hone important skills.

(Continued From Page 01) Also in attendance were members of the Asian American Political Action Committee (AA PAC).

Candidates for various positions at the county level were interviewed at the event.

The sponsors of this event deeply appreciate that so many citizens who have declared their candidacy with the goal of working for the betterment of the city attended this event and suggested various solutions as part of the discussions.

Following the forum, AA PAC members met to evaluate the comments from the different candidates at the forum and decided on the following endorsements: City of Austin (CoA) Mayor: Mayor Steve Adler The AA PAC endorses Mayor Steve Adler, the current incumbent, for another 4-year term. Mr.

When kids kiss the Zoonicorn on the nose the horn glows and kids can make a wish.

ELECTIONS Adler has been a very successful mayor of the city of Austin caring for the needs of all citizens and showing particular empathy to those segments of society who have felt threatened by the current social and political climate.

He has an expansive vision for the city and has balanced the need for a strong economy with the need to protect the environment. He successfully led the effort in defining the 2016 Mobility Bond that the voters approved and which is expected to markedly reduce Austin’s transportation problems. Mayor Adler has also been very supportive of causes of importance to the Asian American community.

Through his support for and leadership in promoting different social and political causes, he has firmly planted Austin as a leading city in the country. For this and many other reasons, the AA PAC endorses Mayor Steve Adler for a second term of 4 years.

CoA District 1: Harding

Mr. Vincent

CoA District 3: Council Member Pio Renteria

While all the candidates for this seat are highly qualified, the AA PAC endorses Mr. Vincent Harding for this position. Mr. Harding brings additional skills and experience from his 2 previous positions, as chair of the Travis County Democratic Party and as a member of the CoA Board of Adjustments.

Council Member Pio Renteria has been a consistent voice for the needs of the entire city even as he has focused on his own district. He has taken a balanced view towards economic growth and environmental protection. He has been a consistent supporter of ethnic groups and their particular issues. The Asian American community appreciates the support he has shown to the community.

The former provides him with a wider view of the political landscape of the county and the latter a close-up view of the inner workings of Austin City Hall. His focus on bringing greater diversity in income levels and more affordable housing will be essential in the City Council as it tackles these two well-established issues in the city.

Mr. Harding also recognizes the need for all communities to work together and he has expressed his support for issues of importance to the Asian American community.

For this and other reasons, the AA PAC endorses Council Member Pio Renteria for a second term in the Austin City Council.

CoA District 5: Council Member Ann Kitchen The AA PAC endorses Council Member Ann Kitchen for a second term in the Austin City Council.

Ms. Kitchen has shown a willing-

The animated videos stories focus on tools children can use to identify and solve problems for themselves through the comforting animal characters of the Zooniverse.

Board Games Playing age-appropriate card games and board games is a great way for kids to learn to follow rules, take turns, cooperate and be a good sport. Card games such as Uno and Go Fish make great stocking stuffers.

As for board games, think classics like Candyland, checkers and Chutes and Ladders, or go for newer games designed specifically to familiarize kids with letters, shapes, numbers and colors.

This holiday season, consider how the gifts you give young children can help foster their social-emotional development.

(StatePoint)

ness to tackle some of the thorniest issues confronting the city and then working with her peers to define innovative solutions. She is focused on affordable housing and healthcare, and transportation all of which continue to be challenging issues that are derivatives of Austin’s relentless growth.

CoA District 8: Mr. Richard DePalma The AA PAC endorses Mr. Richard DePalma who brings many years of experience and knowledge in issues relating to transportation, environment, energy conservation and water resource management, all of which are keys issues facing the city. Mr. DePalma is also well connected with the Asian American community and is empathetic to and supportive of the issues that are important to this segment of the Austin electorate.

(Continued On Page 24)

21

Austin South Asian | November 2018

November 2018 Community Calendar

We have compiled this event listing based on the information available on the web site (where ever possible) of the community/organization as of third Friday. Please check with the organizers to confirm its accuracy. We request all South Asian organizations to email us (info@austinsouthasian.com) their community calendar on or before 20th of every month, for the events happening next month. We will carry listing of all South Asian non-profit organizations in Austin. If the Name, Contact info is not correct or has changed email us (info@ austinsouthasian.com) the changes you want to see. E&OE.

SCHEDULE:

November 03, Saturday, 09:00 AM - 09:00 PM, 2018 Austin Powwow and American Indian Heritage Festival is at Travis County Exposition Center, 7311 Decker Lane, Austin, TX 78724.

(Continued From Page 01) He is considered to be the architect of the modern Indian nation-state: a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic.

He was also known as Pandit Nehru due to his roots with the Kashmiri Pandit community while Indian children knew him as Chacha Nehru.

The son of Motilal Nehru, a prominent lawyer and nationalist statesman and Swaroop Rani, Nehru was a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge and the Inner Temple, where he trained to be a barrister.

Upon his return to India, he enrolled at the Allahabad High Court and took an interest in national politics, which eventually replaced his legal practice.

A committed nationalist since his teenage years, he became a rising figure in Indian politics during the upheavals of the 1910s.

He became the prominent leader of the left-wing factions of the Indian National Congress during the 1920s, and eventually of the entire Congress, with the tacit approval of his mentor, Gandhi.

As Congress President in 1929, Nehru called for complete independence from the British Raj and instigated the Congress’s decisive shift towards the left.

Nehru and the Congress dominated Indian politics during the 1930s as the country moved towards inde-

November 11, Sunday, 11:00 AM, Govardhan Pooja is at JKP Radha Madhav Dham, 400 Barsana Rd,

November 13, Tuesday, 07:00 PM, Live in Concert - Badshah - Sunidhi Chauhan Live in Concert Austin. This event is organized by Rehan Siddiqi.

November 17, Saturday, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM, FREE Bollywood Fitness Marathon - Diwali Special is at Patsy Sommer Elementary School, 16200 Avery Ranch Blvd, Austin, TX 78717. The event is organized

by AgniFIT.

pendence.

alise his vision of India.

party system.

elections in 1951, 1957, and 1962.

His idea of a secular nation-state was seemingly validated when the Congress, under his leadership, swept the 1937 provincial elections and formed the government in several provinces; on the other hand, the separatist Muslim League fared much poorer.

The Constitution of India was enacted in 1950, after which he embarked on an ambitious program of economic, social and political reforms.

In foreign policy, he took a leading role in the Non-Aligned Movement while projecting India as a regional hegemon in South Asia.

He remained popular with the people of India in spite of political troubles in his final years and failure of leadership during the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

November 10, Saturday, 10:00 PM, Tareefan - Bollywood Dance Party with DJ NOTORIOUS is at RIO nightclub, 601 Rio Grande Street, Austin, TX 78701. This event is organized by Desibytes and Claypit.

Ticket : $ 10 For VIP Tables, call/ Text 512-5767740.

Austin, TX 78737.

Nehru

But these achievements were severely compromised in the aftermath of the Quit India Movement in 1942, which saw the British effectively crush the Congress as a political organisation.

Nehru, who had reluctantly heeded Gandhi’s call for immediate independence, for he had desired to support the Allied war effort during World War II, came out of a lengthy prison term to a much altered political landscape.

The Muslim League under his old Congress colleague and now opponent, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had come to dominate Muslim politics in India.

Negotiations between Congress and Muslim League for power sharing failed and gave way to the independence and bloody partition of India in 1947.

Nehru was elected by the Congress to assume office as independent India’s first Prime Minister, although the question of leadership had been settled as far back as 1941, when Gandhi acknowledged Nehru as his political heir and successor.

As Prime Minister, he set out to re-

Chiefly, he oversaw India’s transition from a colony to a republic, while nurturing a plural, multi-

Under Nehru’s leadership, the Congress emerged as a catch-all party, dominating national and state-level politics and winning consecutive

In India, his birthday is celebrated as Bal Diwas (Children’s Day)

Revised Water Use Procedures For Food Enterprises On Boiled Water Alert, Effective 10/25/18 Austin’s unprecedented, prolonged boil water alert has placed significant burdens on local food establishments and the dining public.

Preferred Method Manual ware-washing and sanitizing of utensils and equipment using only approved sources of water.

In response, Austin Public Health staff has worked diligently with its restaurant partners to identify alternative approaches to hand washing and dish washing practices that are equally safe, but that are more time efficient, and require less bottled and boiled water.

Acceptable Method Commercial dishwashers providing a hot water rinse (165°F 180°F) or a chemical sanitizing cycle may be used. Machines must be properly maintained and operated as required by Texas Food Establishment Rules. Air-dry all wares after sanitizing.

These alternatives procedures are endorsed by the Austin Health Authority and are fully consistent with best practices advised by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

They also capitalize on technological advancements in dishwashing and sanitizing technology.

The new procedures are as follows: REVISED Water Use Procedures for Food Enterprises on Boiled Water Alert or During Emergency Interruption of Water Supply Ware-Washing (washing dishes, utensils, and equipment):

Hand-washing: Preferred Method Hand-washing using only approved sources of water that is dispensed using a container with a spigot, followed by the donning of single use (disposable) gloves. No bare-hand contact with ready-toeat foods is allowed.

Acceptable Method All food handlers handling or preparing foods are required to wash hands (using existing water sources) as required by the Texas Food Establishment Rules, then apply an

alcohol-based hand sanitizer, followed by the donning of single use (disposable) gloves. No bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods is allowed.

Food Preparation: Required Method All water that is intended for consumption, including food preparation, cooking, beverages, and ice, must be from approved sources of water. Establishments must cease bagging ice from unapproved water sources.

Approved Sources of Water: 1. Commercially bottled water.

2. Water that has been heated to a rolling boil for three minutes.

These water use procedures for food enterprises are effective immediately and until further notice.

After Boiled Water Notice has been lifted, flush lines before using water.

For more information, visit austintexas.gov/boilh2o

22

Austin South Asian | November 2018 THEME: TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

DOWN

ACROSS

1. Clothe 2. Raja’s wife 3. “Hurry!” acronym 4. Like a ballerina 5. Hang out with 6. Wisecrack 7. *____Tube 8. Moldy-smelling 9. “Ant-Man” leading actor 10. Having the know-how 11. Swerve 12. Go wrong 15. Diced tomatoes packaging 20. African American civil rights org.

22. Octopus’ defense 24. Layered pastry of European descent 25. *Like modern mob 26. Fashion designer Karan 27. Off kilter 29. Float soda 31. 50 percent 32. Palate lobe 33. Birth-related 34. *Inanimate conversation partner 36. Short for Dorothea 38. Et alibi 42. Spaniard without “h” 45. Ruffles has them 49. Roman three 51. Aerie baby 54. South American domesticated animal 56. “____ You Were Sleeping” 57. “By ____, I think she’s got it!”

58. S-shaped molding 59. Women in habits 60. Boundary line 61. Related 62. *This team moved to Brooklyn in 2012 63. Relax, with “out” 65. *Deepwater Horizon, e.g.

67. Get the picture

1. “An American in Paris” song “____-____-la” 6. Fitness venue 9. Five-star review 13. Desert wanderer’s hope 14. Debtor’s letters 15. Sweet potato, e.g.

16. Annoying tiny biters 17. Greyhound, e.g.

18. Lazybones 19. *It runs on iOS 21. *Swipe right, swipe left app 23. *21st century of Common ____ 24. *Update an iPod 25. Public health org.

28. Diplomat’s forte 30. V.I.P. in Hawaii 35. *Hit TV show about plane crash survivors 37. Apple leftover 39. The N of U.S.N.A. 40. Egyptian hieroglyph for “life” 41. *Demoted planet 43. Mandolin’s cousin 44. Curl one’s lip 46. Sandler or Arkin 47. Seedy source of Omega-3s 48. *Kilauea Volcano location 50. River in Bohemia 52. In the manner of, French 53. Popular pickling herb 55. Sashimi-style 57. *Not Jong-un 60. *Duchess of Sussex 63. Wintour’s favorite publication?

64. Form of “to be” 66. *Friends’ approvals 68. Not odds 69. Cambridge university 70. High society 71. “Bee ____” 72. Bartender’s concern 73. Past or present

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 December 2018 issue.

To Advertise In ASA Call 512-828-6709

23

Officials Urge Residents To Follow Emergency Usage Restrictions

(Continued From Page 01) The public is still being asked to avoid water usage that is not completely necessary: Avoid all outdoor water use and minimize indoor use immediately.

Not use water for irrigation or testing of irrigation equipment Not wash vehicles, including at commercial car wash facilities Not wash pavement or other surfaces Not add water to a pool or spa Not conduct foundation watering Don’t operate an ornamental fountain or pond, other than aeration necessary to support aquatic life Any water used for drinking or cooking should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil for three minutes. In lieu of boiling water, residents may use bottled water.

Public water distribution sites will operate until the boil water notice is lifted. Sites operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and are located at: Walnut Creek Park (12138 N Lamar Blvd) City of Austin Warehouse, formerly Home Depot (7211 N IH 35 SVRD NB) Roy G. Guerrero Park (400 Grove Blvd) Onion Creek Soccer Complex

(5600 E William Cannon Dr) Dick Nichols Park (8011 Beckett Rd) Kelley Reeves Athletic Complex (10211 W. Parmer Ln) **closes 5 p.m. on Friday** Circuit of the Americas (9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd) With the increased use of bottles water, the City asks residents to recycle all single-use plastic bottles and jugs instead of throwing them in the trash. Those with limited, inconvenient or of lack of access to recycling can drop off plastic bottles, containers and film and the Recycle & Reuse Drop-Off Center located at 2514 Business Center Drive.

The following city facilities and parks remain closed: Bartholomew Pool Springwoods Pool Red Bud Isle and Red Bud Trail Butler/Liz Carpenter fountains Barton Springs Pool Walsh Boat Landing Boating concessions on Lady Bird Lake Water fountains throughout park system Barton Springs Pool will reopen on Sunday, October 28 during normal business hours.

DIWALI

Austin South Asian | November 2018

(Continued From Page 01)

pora from the Indian subcontinent.

tween wife and husband.

During the celebration, temples, homes, shops and office buildings are brightly illuminated.

The five day festival originated in the Indian subcontinent and is mentioned in early Sanskrit texts.

The preparations, and rituals, for the festival typically last five days, with the climax occurring on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika.

The names of the festive days of Diwali, as well as the rituals, vary by region.

Some Hindu communities mark the last day as Bhai Dooj, which is dedicated to the bond between sister and brother, while other Hindu and Sikh craftsmen communities mark this day as Vishwakarma Puja and observe it by performing maintenance in their work spaces and offering prayers.

In the Gregorian calendar, the festival generally falls between midOctober and mid-November.

In the lead up to Diwali, celebrants will prepare by cleaning, renovating and decorating their homes and offices.

During the climax, revellers adorn themselves in their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with diyas (lamps and candles), offer puja (prayers) to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, light fireworks, partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared.

Diwali is also a major cultural event for the Hindu and Jain dias-

Diwali is usually celebrated eighteen days after the Dussehra festival with Dhanteras, or the regional equivalent, marking the first day of the festival when celebrants prepare by cleaning their homes and laying floor decorations, such as rangoli.

The second day is Choti Diwali, or equivalent in north India, while for Hindus in the south of India it is Diwali proper.

Western, central, eastern and northern Indian communities observe Diwali on the third day and the darkest night of the traditional month.

In some parts of India, the day after Diwali is marked with the Goverdhan Puja and Diwali Padva, which is dedicated to the relationship be-

October 2018 Sudoku Answer Mrs. Prema Raghavan

Mr.Rajnish

Some other faiths in India also celebrate their respective festivals alongside Diwali.

The Jains observe their own Diwali, which marks the final liberation of Mahavira, the Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to mark the release of Guru Hargobind from a Mughal Empire prison, while Newar Buddhists, unlike other Buddhists, celebrate Diwali by worshiping Lakshmi.

The festival of Diwali is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Malaysia (except Sarawak), Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

MEN CAN COOK! Email your recipe with your photos and see

Mr. Guas Ibrahim Sindgi

Mr. Yudhveer Bagga

yourself in print

Info@ AustinSouth Asian.com

24

(Continued From Page 20)

Austin South Asian | November 2018

ELECTIONS

CoA District 9: Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo brings her vast experience to bear on her office, both as Mayor Pro Tem and council member from District 9. She has championed affordable housing, homelessness, health and safety for the entire city while simultaneously caring for her own district.

She has been a consistent friend to the Asian American community and, as a most recent example, it was at her suggestion that the next bond proposition increased the allocation of funds for AARC Phase 2 by $2M. The AA PAC is happy to endorse Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo for another term in the Austin City Council.

Travis County Judge: Judge Sarah Eckhardt The AA PAC endorses Judge Sarah Eckhardt for a second term as Travis County Judge.

Judge Eckhardt has dedicated her life in public service focusing on ways to enhance opportunities, and thus ensure greater equity, for families in Travis County.

Transportation and clean air are only two of her other priorities. In addition, she has reached out to all ethnic groups. She has in particular been sensitive to the needs of the Asian American community as well as other ethnic minorities.

There are many challenges facing the county in the next 4 years and it deserves a steady hand in guiding it. Judge Eckhardt is just the right person for the job.

Travis County District 2: Commissioner Brigid Shea The AA PAC endorses Commissioner Brigid Shea for reelection as Travis County District 2 Commissioner.

Ms. Shea is seeking her second term at this position on the strength of her continuing contributions in seeking long-term solutions in the areas of property tax reform, curbing wasteful spending, and creating communities that thrive.

Travis County District 4: Commissioner Margaret Gomez Commissioner Margaret Gomez, the longtime commissioner for District 4, is passionate about affordable housing, transportation

across the multiple counties around Austin, issues concerning the environment, getting working families help with tax relief, and ensuring the AAA bond rating for Travis County.

In light of her continuing commitment to the community she serves, the AA PAC endorses Commissioner Margaret Gomez for reelection as Travis County District 4 Commissioner.

Travis County District Clerk: Clerk Velva Price

District

District Clerk Velva Price has been a trailblazer and leader in the Austin legal community since her graduation from UT Law in 1983. Ms. Price was the first African American woman to be elected as President of the Austin Bar Association.

Her leadership roles have included stints as President of the Austin Black Lawyers Association and the Travis County Women Lawyers Association. Her wide ranging leadership includes chairing the City of Austin Minority Owned and Women Owned Business Enterprise and the Small Business Enterprise Procurement Program Advisory Committee.

She has also been deeply involved with community issues in Austin, from Volunteer Legal Services, Interfaith Action of Central Texas, City of Austin’s Ethics Review Commission and many more.

Ms. Price has had a very positive impact on the District Clerk’s office since her election and we endorse her to continue her good work and to continue to provide diverse leadership at the Travis County Courthouse.

The AA PAC endorses Ms. Velva Price for reelection as Travis County District Clerk.

AISD Board Place 9: Ms. Arati Singh The AA PAC endorses Ms. Arati Singh for the AISD Board Place 9. Ms. Singh brings 2 decades of experience as an educational consultant in Texas and in Washington DC. She has campaigned for good governance and greater transparency in the board’s decision-making process and, for providing a quality education independent of the zip code of the students. She is particularly empathetic to the needs of minority groups in Austin.

ACC Board Place 7: Mr. Mitch Fuller Mr. Mitch Fuller comes with a very well-

rounded resume. He is a past Cedar Park council member and Mayor Pro-Tem. He is an Iraq War veteran.

He has served on many local boards such as Lower Colorado River Authority Basin, Leander School District’s Bond Oversight Committee and KLRU Community Advisory Board. Mr. Fuller favors ACC’s “Guided Pathways” - a program for greater student success and in setting metrics for measuring this success. For all the above reasons, the AA PAC endorses Mr. Mitch Fuller for ACC Board Place 7.

ACC Board Place 7: bins

Mr. Douglas Gib-

The AA PAC endorses Mr. Douglas Gibbins for ACC Board Place 8, a candidate who is already very familiar with ACC since he serves as chairman of ACC’s Highland Campus Advisory Committee. He has served on the Texas Alpha Education Foundation of Phi Kappa Psi. He strongly advocates for increasing the goal to educate people with degree certificates.

Mr. Gibbins wants to keep college affordable. He advocates for free education for the underprivileged and overall reduction in fees ensuring that education is not the domain of the privileged.

State House District 46: Ms. Sheryl Cole Ms. Sheryl Cole brings her can-do attitude and strong advocacy skills into this campaign for election to State Representative for House District 46.

She has proven her mettle as a council member and mayor pro tem in the Austin City Council where she was a voice for equality, a champion for the hard-to-employ and a true believer that economic opportunity is the key to ensuring diversity and inclusivity.

For this and many other reasons, the AA PAC endorses Ms. Sheryl Cole for State House District 46.

State House District 47: Ms. Vikki Goodwin This decision was one of the most difficult ones, given the past relationship that Mr. Paul Workman has had with the Asian American community. But based on discussions that AA PAC members had subsequent to the candidate forum, the AA PAC now endorses Ms. Vikki Goodwin for State House District 47.

Ms. Goodwin is a strong proponent of quality public education, responsible gun legislation, affordable healthcare and clean environment, besides many other issues such as DACA, minority affairs and immigration affecting Austin and its surrounding counties.

All of these issues resonate with the Asian American community.

State House District 48: State Representative Donna Howard State Rep. Donna Howard has been a longtime advocate for education, starting from funding for public schools to higher education at colleges and universities in Texas.

Healthcare is another of Ms. Howard’s pivotal issues. Both of these topics very much resonate with the Asian American citizens of Austin and surrounding counties which is why the AA PAC endorses Ms. Donna Howard for reelection as a State Representative.

State House District 49: State Representative Gina Hinojosa The AA PAC endorses State Rep. Gina Hinojosa for reelection as the state representative for District 49. In the two years in her position, Ms. Hinojosa has come out firmly in support for a stronger education system.

She is an ardent supporter of clean environment and she has voted against the removal of “Sanctuary Cities.”

Ms. Hinojosa took a strong position against gun violence and was a catalyst in the “March for Our Lives” gathering at the state capitol in March, 2018. She is also very sensitive to the needs of ethnic minorities and works proactively to support them.

State House District 50: State Representative Celia Israel The AA PAC endorses State Rep. Celia Israel for reelection to the State House. Rep. Israel has established herself as the one of the leading voices in the Texas State House and despite being from the minority party, she has found ways to join with her colleagues across the aisle to make progress on her top issues,… education, coverage for mental healthcare and child protective services among others that she considers as key to our future.

She has been close to all ethnic groups, in particular, the Asian American community from before she first ran for elected office.

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Austin South Asian | November 2018

Tips For Dealing With Damaged Hair

Heat tools, color processing and even the simple act of brushing, can cause hair to lose its strength. Indeed, eight out of 10 women in the U.S. experience some form of damaged hair, according to an IPSOS Brand Health Study. But there’s good news, say experts.

“You shouldn’t have to give up styling, coloring or all the things you love to do to your hair,” says Dr. Rocio Rivera, vice president and head of scientific communications at L’Oréal Paris. “You just need a solution that will repair and prevent the damage.”

least some of the time, that don’t pull. A gentler beauty regimen will mean healthier hair.

Restorative Products

“Flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers -these daily essentials that give women the short-term look they want, often lead to long-term effects that cause real damage to

To revive your locks and protect them for the future, consider the following:

The collection includes Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge Leave-in, which is made with almonds and protein to restore protein loss in hair, offer 450 degree heat protection and make hair 15 times stronger for 97 percent less breakage.

Also included is a rinse-out balm product that repairs up to one year of damage in one use, fighting the appearance of split ends, weakness, roughness, dullness and dehydration.

Treat Hair With Care Stick to the routines that leave you feeling beautiful. Just be sure to complete these tasks with care, gently shampooing and conditioning hair, avoiding unnecessary friction on the hair fiber by using a wide tooth comb (or whatever style brush or comb your stylist recommends for your hair type), avoiding tugging when combing and brushing, and considering wearing your hair in styles, at

Dr. Rivera recommends undoing the effects of heat styling as well as protecting hair from future damage with restorative products, such as those from the Elvive Total Repair 5 Collection.

the hair fiber,” notes Dr. Rivera. “Using a heat protectant before heat styling will prevent breakage and help hair remain strong.”

To complete your hair repair routine, use shampoos and conditioners tailored to your needs.

This collection’s shampoo and conditioner, for example, are made from a formula containing ceramide and protein to fight visible

signs of damaged hair.

Get a Regular Trim

Even if you are growing your hair long, it’s important to trim ends regularly to do away with split ends and keep hair looking healthy and shiny. Skipping regular trims can cause the split end to go up the hair shaft, resulting in extra damage and frizz.

Check Your Lifestyle Certain nutritional deficiencies, stress and lack of sleep are linked to hair damage and loss, so be sure your diet is well-rounded and contains all the components necessary for healthy hair. Likewise, get plenty of sleep and seek out ways to manage stress.

Love your styling routine but hate damaged hair? Don’t despair.

Whether it’s dryness, roughness or split ends, hair damage is normal, and simple steps and useful tools can help you protect and revive your locks.

(StatePoint)

What To Know Now About COPD

It claims a life every three to four minutes, making it one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

The culprit: COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Nationwide, more than 16 million people have been diagnosed with this debilitating lung disease, also known as emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

chemical fumes and dust—from both the environment and workplace—can be a risk factor, too. In some cases, genetics can play a role.

The good news is COPD is highly treatable and manageable.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), together with federal and nonfederal partners, has developed the COPD National Action Plan, the first-ever blueprint for collective action to reduce the burden of the disease.

Shortness of breath, chronic coughing, wheezing and excess mucus—all can make even the most mundane tasks difficult, yet many people think these are just normal symptoms of aging or being out of shape.

With a diagnosis and the proper treatment, people with COPD can learn to ably manage their condition.

For more information about COPD and resources, visit NHLBI’s COPD Learn More Breathe Better program at COPD.nhlbi.nih. gov.

So, what are the chances you have COPD? Smoking, research has long shown, is the main risk factor for the disease.

But long-term exposure to lung irritants such as secondhand smoke, air pollution, and

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COPD is almost twice as likely to affect people living in rural communities than in urban ones.

Because of this disparity, NHLBI is taking special steps to help rural residents get the advice it wants everyone to follow: learn the signs and symptoms of COPD, and if breathing issues are impacting even the most basic daily everyday tasks, see a health care professional, such as a primary care provider, nurse practitioner or other specialist.

But millions of others likely have COPD and don’t know it, as symptoms develop slowly and worsen over time.

Some 75 percent of people who have COPD smoke or once smoked.

areas, where the disease is especially prevalent.

The bad news is, due to the slow progression of the disease, Americans often delay seeking help until the problem is severe, which can lead to serious, long-term disability.

With the action plan as a guide, NHLBI is working across the country to encourage earlier recognition of the disease.

But it is giving particular attention to rural

Talk to a health care professional as soon as breathing problems occur.

(StatePoint)

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Austin South Asian | November 2018

This Is How Deepika Padukone Wants Her Sonam-Anand Celebrate Marriage With Ranveer Singh To Be Like Their First Karva Chauth

After keeping the media guessing about their nuptials for months, Deepika and Ranveer Sunday confirmed that they would tie the knot next month.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh put all speculations regarding their impending marriage to rest last Sunday when they official-

about their wedding venue.

However, in a joint interview along with her father, Prakash Padukone, with India Today, Deepika opened up about how she wants her married life with Ranveer to be like.

“Of course (I am excited), I think it’s the same way that I am excited about signing my next film.

Marriage is definitely something I have looked forward to in my life as would any other girl.

ly announced their wedding dates on social media.

After keeping the media guessing about their nuptials for months, the couple confirmed that they would tie the knot next month.

Though they didn’t divulge details

When it does happen, it will be exciting, it should be exciting.

I don’t see why my life should change at all (after marriage),” she said.

She continued: “I have seen my parents do it so well and so successfully and for me that’s the way

I would like my married life to be as well.

I think they have a beautiful relationship, the way they have managed their professional life and being together as a family and in every way they have set an amazing benchmark for me and my sister and I would love for it to be that way.”

To anyone who can sense the river of shyness and deceit that runs beneath his face, Rao may seem like a potential subject for deeper interrogation -- as Irrfan Khan demonstrated when he went after him with a stick, in Talvar.

did you, O Jeetu, in your early 50s, manage to hit the season of the rising sap?

Have you been hiding something:

We thank you for all the love you have showered upon us over the years and seek your blessings as we embark on this incredible journey of love, loyalty friendship and togetherness.”

Though Ranveer and Deepika never accepted their relationship publicly, they had given us enough hints about the same on social media over the last few months.

be?’

In effect, with that one revelation, Jeetender Kaushik goes from being a Ticket Examiner at Northern Railways to being a Male Love

It is a tribute to his cagey face perhaps that when Rao, as Jeetender Kaushik in Amit Sharma’s Badhaai Ho, reveals to people that he has got Priyamvada (Neena Gupta), his wife of 25 odd years, pregnant, the almost silent response he receives is: “How???”

It isn’t a ‘Technical How’ (Such as ‘How could you not use any contraceptive?’), but more of a ‘How

Anand took to his Instagram story to share a clip of the ‘Veere Di Wedding’ star applying henna.

To mark the special day, both Sonam and Anand applied mehendi on their palms - one of the important aspects of the festival.

an adorable snap on her account, in which both of them had hearts drawn on their palms. Sonam also wrote ‘AS’ along with it.

The Bollywood diva also shared

On Sunday evening, Ranveer and Deepika shared a joint statement on social media, which read: “With the blessings of our families, it gives us immense joy in sharing that our wedding is set to take place on the 14th and 15th November, 2018.

The Performance Of The Year Gajraj Rao is naturally blessed with a face that suggests he is hiding something: A bureaucratic lie, a family secret, a hemorrhoid.

One of the most lovable couples of the industry, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and Anand Ahuja are celebrating their first Karva Chauth after getting married.

Badhaai Ho Badhaai Ho’s distrust of liberalism and ‘progressiveness’, is, to a large extent, nullified by Sheeba Chaddha’s marvelous performance as the mother of Nakul’s girlfriend -- she is a lady who lets her husky partyvoice, her stiff neck, and her posing-for-the-chandeliers smile find their way into simple, everyday interactions. It is majorly owing to Chaddha’s intelligence as an actor that her character never turns into a caricature of an upper crust hag. Watch out for that scene where Nakul apologises to her for his misconduct and she simply sits there fiddling with her ring.

It is the kind of performance where even her silences, lend themselves to translations. Post her first meeting with Nakul, she breathes in and watches him drive away. You can literally read her thoughts: ‘The boy isn’t there yet. However, he has it in him to go high class.’

A personal brand of charm, may-

Object.

But how can poor Nakul make that jump so easily when there is a father like Jeetender Kaushik waiting for him at home?

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Austin South Asian | November 2018

His First Film Made Rs 175 Crores!

How does a film with a budget of Rs 24 crores (Rs 240 million) earn Rs 175 crores (Rs 1.75 billion) and counting?

In an era where movies are yanked out of theatres quicker than Trump’s tweets are refuted by the White House, Stree, which released on August 31, is still going strong in movie halls more than six weeks later.

Director Amar Kaushik, humble and down to earth, confesses, “We didn’t know it would do so well and connect with the audience so much.”

a lot. Nitesh Tiwari (who directed Dangal) told me, ‘When I go for screenings I don’t meet the director and sneak out quietly if I don’t like the film.

But I have waited to meet you because I wanted to tell you I really loved the film.’

Anil Kapoor told me he liked the film. There were lots of tweets about the film.

Rahul Dholakia (who directed

for a film to get negative feedback.

in part two.

Some said they did not like the songs, some said we are talking about feminism in the film and we have shot an item song Kamariya with Nora Fatehi.

Our writers Raj and DK (Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, also the film’s co-producers) had an idea that we could make the film in two or three parts.

Some people did not understand the end of the film. I kept the ending that way so we could make a sequel.

But till the time the first part was not released we did not want to talk about it.

We had planned that if people start talking about the film and its

We had decided that if the audience liked Stree, then after two or three years we would plan a sequel.

“12 years after I came to Mumbai I have delivered my first baby,” Amar tells Rediff.com’s Patcy N.

If it doesn’t work, I will be back at square one. I had nothing to lose, I had no baggage or fear.

My producers told me to make the film the way I wanted. I had already signed my second film so I wasn’t worried.

Most of the time that doesn’t happen. The balance is off.

The scripting was good, the shoot was one level up, the editing made it better.

The film looked entertaining, but we did not know it would do so well and connect with the audience so much. People unanimously loved it.

People from the industry loved it

I knew nobody knows me now, but if the film clicks everybody will know me.

When we mix two genres in a film, then the film is neither here nor there, like say rom-com. The balance has to be right.

Our motive was to make a good film. We wanted people to connect with the film.

So when the film was almost ready, we knew that whatever we have invested in the film that much we will reap.

When Raj and DK told me the gist of the story and asked if I would like to direct it, I agreed because it was different. For my debut feature film it had that uniqueness.

Raees) tweeted that there should be a special award for Stree.

People all over have liked it and its viewership increased by word of mouth.

Did you get negative feedback?

Yes, we did. I think it is necessary

climax, and if it connected with people, then there were reasons to make a sequel.

My film was ready, but I added the bus scene to create curiosity, a hint for a sequel.

We did not write a sequel, but we kept thinking what could be there

Therefore, people want to either make drama, horror or comedy.

They don’t want to mix genres because there is a worry it may not work.

Because of the kind of reaction we received for the film we have already started work on it (the sequel).

Horror comedy as a genre has not been explored in Bollywood films.

How did you think of making one?

Every genre has its day. Everybody was once making rom-coms.

Then my producers (Raj and DK) made zombie comedies. Two films were made in the genre. Nowadays everyone is making biopics. Now (after Stree’s success) people may start making horror comedies.

‘Social Media Offers Great Freedom For Victims To Speak Up’ A R Rahman believes India’s #MeToo movement has the power to make the entertainment industry cleaner and respectful of women.

The 51-year-old Oscar-winning composer, who shared his views on the campaign on Monday night via social media, said his aim has always been to create a safe working environment for everyone.

‘Been observing the #metoo movement ...Some of the names

have shocked me... both the victims and their best, evolve and succeed.’ their perpetrators...

‘Social media offers great freedom for victims I would love to see our industry become to speak up, however we should be careful in cleaner and respectful of women... creating a new Internet justice system, in case it’s misused.”

More power to all the victims coming forward!!’

Rahman’s statement comes weeks after his long-time collaborator Tamil lyricist Vaira‘In all my endeavors my team and I are com- muthu was accused of predatory behaviour by mitted to creating an environment where multiple women, including singer Chinmayi everyone finds a safe creative space to bring Sripaada.

READ AUSTIN SOUTH ASIAN

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Austin South Asian | November 2018