Austin South Asian. September 2018

Monthly Community Paper | www.austinsouthasian.com | 512-828-6709 | Vol. 11 No. 09

IACT Hosts Civic Leadership Forum

By Sumaiya Malik

On Saturday, August 25, the Indian American Coalition of Texas (IACT), a non-partisan organization in Central Texas, organized a

HC4A

Contributors: Vaishali Tendolkar, /Pragya Sen, Harish Kotecha Photo Credits: Justin Braden, Devinder Singh, Ashok Kumar Hindu Charities for America (HC4A) and Shalom Austin (Jewish Community) raised over $27,000 for school supplies for

homeless children in Austin area school districts at the April 2018 Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt Event. .

(Continued On Page 04)

Civic Leadership Forum at Asian American Resource Center to introduce the Asian community to all the candidates standing in the upcoming November 2018 Elections.

Representatives standing in the elections for the Mayor of Austin, for Districts 9, 8, 5, 3 and 1 as well as the candidates for elections to the Texas State House of Representative and Texas State Senate were present on the occasion. Some AISD candidates were also present.

(Continued On Page 25)

BAPS PROVIDE 300,000 TREES

Democrat Mike Collier For Lieutenant Governor Of Texas

By Sumaiya Malik

When Vandana Agarwal and Mukul Sharma exchanged notes about their political views of the upcoming elections, they seemed to agree on two things.

SHIKSHA GEARS UP FOR ANOTHER EXCITING SCHOOL YEAR

They

were

both complaining about things happening in the Republican Party and they both liked what Democrat Mike Collier was suggesting he would do if he were elected as Lieutenant Governor in the upcoming elections in November 2018. (Continued On Page 18)

The Big, Fat Indian Wedding Austin, Texas- (September 6-9, 2018)-

SHIKSHA, the Indian Cultural School which is held at the most serene environment of Radha Madha Dham (RMD), is all set to re-open on August 26th for the Fall Semester.

(Continued On Page 05)

HC4A Provides.............04 Shiksha Gears Up.........05 Arun’s Scribblings.........06 EKAL SUR AUSTIN TAAL.6 Make A Difference........07 Maliks Page....07,08,18,25 Healthy Habits.............09 5 Life Insurance Myths.09 Top Ways Air Travel......10

October 2018

Home Special

512-828-6709

By Pranoti Kale

By Ashish Patel BAPS Charitiescelebrates a three-year partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) through itsWalk Green initiative,a series of walkathons hosted by BAPS Charities across North America. (Continued On Page 16)

inside

September 2018

The world premiere of “The Big Fat Indian Wedding” — the first site-specific Bollywood production in the South Asian diaspora — debuts at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 6th and runs through Sunday, September 9th at Mueller Lake Park. Producers Agni Entertainment and Banskota Productions invite you to the festive bonanza this fall! Immerse yourself, literally, in a hilarious comedy of errors as you traverse the venue to follow the story of Annabelle Abigail Taylor and Arjun Shah.

(Continued On Page 26)

Taking Pictures.............11 “Ekal” Targeting $10.....15 Create And Spread.......15 BAPS Charities.............16 Childrens Page.........17,21 Predictions...................19 SAIVA.........................19 Community Calendar....21 TEA Recognizes AISD Overall Performance.....23 Build Relationships.......24 Global Hackathon.........24 Entertainment.........26,27

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Austin South Asian | September 2018

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Austin South Asian | September 2018

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Austin South Asian | September 2018

HC4A Provides Over 1,600 School Supplies!

(Continued from page 1)

With the generous contributions from our sponsors, donor families at the 6th Annual Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt (BMBB) fundraiser event held on April 2018, HC4A was successfully able to generate the funds for this school supplies pledge.

This was the 6th year for this event. Additionally, backpacks will also be donated to Asian Family Services Support Services of

Austin.

The attendees’ ages ranged from 3 years to over 80 years – each enjoying few hours of

The donations continue to grow each year as the work of the organization is spreading.

School Supplies for over 1,600 homeless children were procured.

The Annual School Supplies packing event was held on Sunday, August 12, 2018 at the Del Jewish Community Campus.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all HC4A Foundation Board, supporters, sponsors and all who attended our BMBB and the 7th Annual School Supplies packing event!!!

An overwhelming response of over 200 volunteers was astonishing. Kids, adults & seniors alike gathered to pack the school supplies for over 1,600 homeless children.

Representatives from schools in Austin, Manor, Pflugerville and Del Vale and children of veterans appreciated the effort by HC4A and the Jewish community!

Here is what some of the attendees expressedx

volunteer service.

HC4A works with Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO) to determine the count of homeless children and then approaches the schools for their specific needs.

Now accepting new patients!

Call (512) 793-9325 2121 W Parmer Lane Austin, TX 78727 (Same parking lot as Anand Bazaar, Chutney & Poke-Jo’s BBQ) www.parmerlaneortho.com

HC4A is reported to be only South Asian charity involved in the Austin area.

HC4A awarded $75,000 in vocational scholarships this year to economically disadvantaged students.

BMBB was attended by over 400 people.

This event featured World Dance Showdown and Indian food and Jewish desserts.

Braces & Invisalign

HC4A’s other project is awards of vocational training scholarship to those living below poverty line.

Once the needs have been determined, competitive quotes for supplies are sent to vendors and the best cost/service vendor is selected.

This also helps us estimate how much funds should to be raised.

Once this is decided, a target is set for Bollywood Meet’s Borscht.

It was $27,000 for his year, generally we have been able to raise these funds through your generosity!

This is an example of communities working together and get involved to help bridge income disparity in Austin area through education.

Shayam Sadarangani (visiting from Mumbai, India): “So much of Philanthropy! When I go back to Mumbai I will move this idea to my friends to start something like this!”

Gene Stamp (Texas Homeless Education Office): “Stuff the backpack for students in homeless situation in several independent school district!

Very well organized and an example of giving back locally to community where you live. Very proud of our partnership” Tejashree Joshi-Kyle (Supporter) “Love what the community has built!”

Volunteering Kids: “Fun way to give back by helping pack school supplies for kids who can’t afford them”

FREE CLASSIFIED info@AustinSouthAsian.com

5

Shiksha Gears Up For Another Exciting School Year

(Continued From Page 01) A grand Open House event took place on August 19th at RMD, where parents and kids got a chance to meet with the teachers and know more about the school and classes.

SHIKSHA is held every Saturday and Sunday mornings between 8am and 1pm.

On Sundays, all students attend an interactive assembly session, where they engage in various fun activities along with learning about India’s rich cultural heritage.

Families expose their children to Indian culture through a variety of classes, including language classes for Hindi, Kannada and Marathi; the Indian dance forms of Bharatanatyam and Kathak, and music classes for Carnatic and Hindustani violin/ vocal.

For children who are enthusiastic about music, SHIKSHA offers a vibrant Musical Ensemble class where they can learn a multitude of musical instruments while enhancing their vocal talents.

Apart from this, there are several enrichment classes like the Toastmaster class, Lego (Robotics), Yoga, Table Tennis and Hands on Science and Art. All these classes are offered by extremely talented teachers, who are very eager to devote their time and pass on their expertise to the next generation.

While the kids are engrossed in learning, parents can spend time taking walks to Govardhan Hill and discussing and learning interesting topics presented by specially invited SME- Subject Matter Experts from different walks of life and occupations. Parents

can also stretch their bodies (and minds) by attending adult yoga class.

SHIKSHA offers several school wide activities throughout the year like a Diwali stage performance, bi-annual sports day, Earth day celebrations, field trips, etc.

These extracurricular activities encourage kids of all classes and ages to come together and participate in common activities in a group setting.

Thus, they are made to feel like part of a community which is bigger than their individual class setting.

Interestingly, though the parents come to SHIKSHA to get their kids involved and immersed in the Indian culture, they end up enjoying the school environs themselves.

“It feels like a mini India to me”, says one parent. “We feel lucky to be part of this very welcoming but close-knit community.

There is nothing greater than watching your child show their learning through a stage performance”.

Indeed, the performance day, held at the end of every school year is a proud moment for students and teachers alike.

It also fills the kids with a sense of awe to see their peers perform on stage, what else could be more motivating!

Registrations are still open. SHISKHA school team encourages you to visit their website www.SHIKSHAUSA.ORG and FB page for more details regarding classes, teachers and schedules.

CHILDREN ARTICLES Children Email Us Your Articles

info@AustinSouth Asian.com

Austin South Asian | September 2018

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Austin South Asian | September 2018

Swami Swaroopananda

By Jyotsna Kartha Swami Swaroopananda, Global Head of Chinmaya Mission, delivered a 3-day talk series on the

mantra from the ancient Hindu texts, the Vedas, at Chinmaya Mission Austin (CMA).

most subtle messages captured by the Mantra.

CMA is part of the larger Chinmaya Mission organization, whose purpose is to bring the timeless wisdom of Vedanta - the core of Hindu philosophy - to people of all ages.

Swamiji held the attention of the

CMA offers weekly spiritual and culture classes for children and adults at it’s Burnet Road campus, which includes a full-fledged temple.

More details can be found on the CMA website at http://www.chinmayaaustin.org/.

Gayatri Mantra - a highly revered

audience with his lucid explana-

Scribblings By Arun

PLEASE PARDON Your purpose to awaken us unfulfilled still remain, For undeserved us, you shed your blood that shouldn’t go in vain.

The congregation wants to grip some group well established, For marital rituals and for the funeral to dead.

The proclaimed followers show no concern for downtrodden, For those suffering, seldom prepared to throw comforts own.

To enjoy life, all is fine, what’s sin, they ask to define.

Jesus, your faith to set us right still undone, please pardon.

tion, profound insights and humor-

ous anecdotes as he expounded the

EKAL SUR AUSTIN TAAL

By Kishore Gagrani (512.608.8495) and Milan Patel (512.238.8440) Ekal Vidyalaya’s Austin Chapter brings you a show that mirrors last year’s “Ekal Sur Ekal Taal 2017 Thank You Tour”.

gic, patriotic, and regional songs and dances including foot tapping Bollywood hits followed with dinner.

The event will be held on September 30, 2018 from 3 pm to 6 pm at the East View High School in Georgetown.

We are honored to have UT Austin Professor Raj Raghunathan as our Keynote presenter.

Tickets are available at https:// www.ekal.org/events.

This year the “Sur” is that of Rekha

Professor Raghunathan is an ac-

Raval, one of the famous Sajda Sisters who were finalists for X-Factor India , along with her orchestra all the way from India.

claimed author and speaker.

Special ticket arrangements have been made for those who submit

Austin South Asian

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

info@austinsouthasian.com I ©All rights reserved.

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

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

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

The “Taal” is that of our very own dancers from various Austin dance schools, and hence the name “Ekal Sur Austin Taal”.

We will take you on a journey across India with songs and dances from various states and regions.

Get ready for an evening of nostal-

His book, titled “If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy” has received rave reviews and has been published in 12 languages.

His work has been published in New York Times, Forbes and Fortune magazines, among many others.

He has been a featured TED Talks speaker and is a joy to listen to.

their annual donations by Sept 15th.

Sponsors who would like to promote their business and brand at the event to an expected audience of more than 300 should contact our team as soon as possible.

For more information please e-mail ekal.austin@yahoo.com, connect with us on Facebook https://www. facebook.com/ekalvidyalaya.austin, or call us.

7

Austin South Asian | September 2018

More Than A Meal: Austin ISD Encourages All Make a Difference – Passion Has No Boundaries Families To Complete Meal Benefit Applications

Completing a meal benefits application is about more than just meals. The information collected on these forms helps determine the funding needs at each school and throughout Austin ISD. Just by completing a meal benefits application, families can help ensure schools receive more of the funds they need to support students. It also helps address the $30 million budget deficit facing the school district.

More than a Meal is a districtwide campaign to promote the importance of completing a free- and reduced-price meal application for all AISD families.

“Ensuring that all student have access to healthy, tasty school meals is our top priority,” said AISD Nutrition & Food Services Director Anneliese Tanner.

“We encourage all families to submit an application. Applying for free or reduced-price meals is about more than just meals, it directly impacts your school’s educa-

tion funding, your community and your family.”

A new meal benefits application must be submitted each school year.

While applications are accepted year-round, to ensure benefits go uninterrupted, applications should be submitted by Oct. 1 to receive free- or reduced-price meals for the 2018-19 school year.

English and Spanish meal benefit applications will be provided to each campus.

Applications are also available upon request from Food Services in Vietnamese, Arabic, Burmese and Korean.

In an effort to provide a more efficient way to access all food service needs, families are encouraged to access SchoolCafé-a website and app that provides access to meal applications, daily school menus and make prepayments.

Families can create an account and apply for free- or reduced-price

meals at www.SchoolCafe.com.

The mobile app can be downloaded through the App Store, Google Play or Microsoft Apps.

To expedite the approval process of a new meal application, online applications are highly recommended.

Mobile applications are available in English and Spanish.

Income eligibility guidelines are used to determine eligibility for free- and reduced-price meals administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Families who receive assistance through programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families are eligible for free school meals without submitting a free- or reduced-price meal application.

For more information, parents may call Austin ISD Nutrition and Food Services at 512-414-0251.

Recently I watched a video where our great cricket player (guess who?) was driving in the night and saw a group of construction workers playing cricket.

He then proceeded to stop his car, got out and then started playing with them right there on the construction field in the middle of the late night.

boundaries and absolutely no ego.

I asked myself – ‘What would you have done’? Definitely, not played with strangers. That shows there is no passion in me for cricket.

What does actually mean to have passion? When one has passion, then one would not think it as a chore.

Of course, I am referring to the greatest cricket player – Sachin Tendulkar who was seen playing with the construction workers in the middle of the night.

Also every minute that one spends doing what they love is joyful. To them when every minute is enjoyable then where is the question of what does it bring for them?

Here is the greatest player when he saw cricket being played he did not hesitate to join them be it in the middle of the night and with people he does not even know.

Also since you are dedicating so much of your time and being joyful in what you are doing your attitude is totally different.

When I watched that video clip immediately realized this is what is called passion.

It has no limits, does not know any

You become this bubbly, energetic, joyful creature and spend every minute in what you like to do and thus one would become a master and achieve the heights of success which ordinary people cannot even imagine.

Global Hackathon On September 8 And 9 Between Austin & Pune

But honestly, does it matter to them? They are in their world and continue to do what they love to do without regard to success or failure since they enjoy doing it.

By Amil Malik

How many of us can rightfully say they enjoy every minute of what they are doing?

The city of Austin economic development GBE division is partnering with UT Blackstone Launchpad, Pune Fashion Week and Austin Pune Sister City Initiative to host a global hackathon focused on smart city solutions.

Teams from Austin and Pune will have 24 hours to create the best solution to their chosen problem.

Problems being addressed at this historic hackathon include working on a communication platform for children of rural areas to be able to contact tutors, a GPS system that can better route garbage collection vehicles to areas that are not offered service, and creating a user friendly map that displays statistics such as neighborhood crime rates and unemployment rates.

The winning team will be able to apply for the US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund and set up bilateral business in India and USA. Additional awards will be given in the form of gift cards. As for how teams are singing up — the event has been promoted in a bootstrapped fashion through social media and individual network communication.

(Continued On Page 24)

I think this is what Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita must have meant – when he said – ‘KarmanyeVadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kada Chana’ - ‘You have the right to work but not to its fruits or I translate it as ‘do your duty and leave the fruits to me’.

When what we are doing is joyful then where is the expectation of the fruits? I think that is passion.

For AD’s Contact 512-828-6709

8

Austin South Asian | September 2018

7 Conferences At WHC

By Manu Shah In a little over a week from now, the windy city of Chicago will welcome some of the most influential global voices for the 2nd World Hindu Congress (WHC) – a three day conference from Sept. 7-9, to connect, confer and deliberate how Hindus around the world can raise their profile, find their voice and create a consequential positive impact on the world stage.

The globally focused event will draw 250 thought leaders and 2200 delegates from over 50 countries.

A brainchild of IITian Swami Vigyananand, the landmark event is considered the “largest gathering of Hindu leaders to date.” Registrations were closed two months ago due to the phenomenal response.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a message in the inaugural session. The three day event will feature Plenary and Valedictory sessions and seven parallel conferences on Economy, Education, Media, Women participation, Hindu organizations, Youth and Politics. The end goal is to understand the challenges facing Hindus globally and collaborate on possible solutions.

Economic Conference: C- Suite business leaders, economists, successful entrepreneurs, and innovators will come together to inspire and encourage greater wealth

creation and wealth surplus – the only way, as Program Coordinator Mukesh Aghi puts it, to empower people and overcome problems such as poverty, malnutrition and illiteracy.

Eminent speakers like CEO Emerson Electric Ed Monser, CMO FedEx Raj Subramaniam, VP Walmart Dan Bryant and Columbia University Professor Arvind Panagariya, will hold forth on India’s economic trajectory, business potential in India and entrepreneurship.

Sessions will also showcase top tier corporate leaders and encourage interaction with them to ignite ideas, innovation and knowledge growth. Delegates can discuss policy and trade issues and how these can be resolved by the business community.

Youth Conference: Strengthening Hindu identity, encouraging young Hindu entrepreneurship, addressing professions where Hindus are underrepresented, changing media narratives about Hindu Dharma and Hindu Human Rights and Po-

litical Representation are the five core issues that will form the crux of the Youth conference.

Coordinators Parth Parihar and Amruta Houde believe this conference has tremendous opportunities for global engagement between young Hindus and the opportunity to reflect on the perspectives of renowned Hindus around the world, perspectives that people “would not normally have access to.” Prominent speakers include Trinidad Archery champion Prashaanta Singh, Member of Parliament of Norway Himanshu Gulati, founder and CEO of 3one4Capital Siddarth Pai and founder and CEO of Biomenta Research Nisha Holla.

Womens’ Conference: “Increasing the Role of Women in Hindu Resurgence and Renaissance” is the stated goal of this conference.

Inspiring case studies, the Role of Women in Shaping Society, Entrepreneurship and Micro Savings, Breaking the Glass Ceiling, Value based Education and Policy Making, Redefining the Role of Hindu Women, Socio Cultural issues and Contemporary Challenges are some of the topics that will take center stage.

Baqais To Host Julie Oliver Running For Congress District 25

By Sumaiya Malik On September 8 at 4 p.m. longtime Pakistani Austinites Imran

and Maheen Baqai will host Julie Oliver who is running for Congress District 25 in the November 2018 elections so Oliver can meet members of the South Asian Community. On their event page Maheen Baqai wrote, “What better way to get to know the candidate than to meet her in person?”

Oliver will be available to answer your questions and concerns and you’ll hear about her beliefs and what she stands for. The Baqais will be raising money for her campaign. No amount is too little, they say. They too are opening doors to help their friends make an

informed choice.

Julie Oliver is “fighting for Texas’ future.” On her page Oliver2018. com Oliver says, “I’m the only candidate with extensive experience crafting complex legislation.

In 2003 I co-wrote the Texas Motor Fuels tax, which brings millions of dollars into our state, much of it for roads and infrastructure, but a portion of which is set aside for Texas’ badly underfunded public education. Later that year I was hired by my current employer, where I’ve worked as a lawyer and accountant in healthcare finance ever since.”

For those who are interested in attending, please contact Maheen Baqai at 512-294-3955.

Accelerating the conversation are prominent women speakers like Chandrika Tandon, Dr. Anuradha Gokhale, Dr. Meena Chandavarkar, Dr. Vindya Vasini, Prof. Madhu Kishwar, Ms. Alaka Inamdhar, Dr. Uma Vaidya, and Padmshri Shital Mahajan.

Coordinators Manju Tiwari and Rama Rathna anticipate that the conference will broaden the network of Hindu women across the globe and help start a dialogue about the way forward.

Political Conference: The Political Conference will provide a connecting platform for the global Hindu diaspora that is politically active and allow political aspirants among the younger generation to interface with seniors leaders and in the process find mentors. Panelists will spearhead discussions on: Reasserting a strong Hindu Political Voice, Expanding and Cultivating Political Leadership, Collective Strategies to Address Adverse and Complex Political Environments, Strategy for Protecting Hindu Human Rights and Empowering the Next Generation of Political Leaders. Notable panelists include Vice President of Suriname Ashwin Adhin, National Federation Party of Fiji member Biman Prasad and Member National Assembly SA Santosh Kalyan.

Media Conference: The power of the pen will be discussed by journalists, bloggers, authors, media executives and faculty. Various aspects of the media landscape from print to social media’s unprecedented reach, accurate presentation about Hindus, media analysis, its responsibilities and technology will also be highlighted. According to Coordinators Vikas Deshpande and Sushil Pandit, this is vital as the “Hindu community gets branded because of how we are portrayed in the media either intentionally or unintentionally.”

Key speakers include noted actor Anupam Kher, Editor, Columnist, Anchor Rohit Sardana, Founder of Shaktitva Project Neha Srivastava and writer and columnist Sunanda Vashisht.

Educational conference: Organized by the Hindu Education Board and

Coordinator Nachiketa Tiwari, the fundamental goal is to bring together educationists, academicians, publishers, students and policy makers to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the field of education including access to quality, innovative, affordable education, the academic study of Hindu Dharma, society and dharmic values based education. Speakers include USCD Neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran, Chancellor VIT University G. Viswanathan, Swami Mitrananda from Chinmaya University and Ram Subramanian from IIT Mumbai.

Hindu Organizational Conference: Conducted by the Hindu Organizations, Temples and Associations (HOTA) Forum, the goal, according to Coordinators Guna Magesan, Ami Patel and Sanjay Tripathi, is to bring together a vast array of Hindu organizations, temples, associations, and institutions serving Hindu societies to share best practices, experiences, and forge a strong, united and organized Hindu society for the benefit of humanity in general, and Hindu society in particular.

Prominent speakers include Bharat Seva Ashram Sangh President Swami Purnatmananda, Art of Living Foundation Head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Chinmaya Mission Worldwide Head Swami Swaroopananda and All World Gayatri Pariwar Head Dr. Pranav Pandya.

Poster Presentations: A new element is the Hindu GPS (Global Poster Session) which will display over 55 Poster Presentations during the conference. The posters, Coordinators Dr. Jai Bansal and Dr. Chandra Reddy explain, will feature inspirational stories, Hindu organizations, ancient connections between India and other Asian societies and social service opportunities in India and in the communities we live in. These can be viewed by the delegates between sessions along with an opportunity to interact on a one on one level with the presenters for additional information.

To learn more about the 2018 World Hindu Congress, visit http:// whc.2018worldhinducongress.org

9

Austin South Asian | September 2018

Is Your Child’s School Promoting Healthy Habits Or Junk Food?

Fast food coupons used as prizes, candy sale fundraisers, vending machine exteriors -- these are just a few examples of the kinds of junk food marketing that regularly takes place in U.S. schools, and such advertising is taking a toll on children’s health, say experts.

“Fortunately, significant progress has been made nationwide to provide nutritious meals and snacks in cafeterias, vending machines and school stores.

However, continued marketing of junk food at school can undermine these improvements. Over time, those messages being marketed shape children’s food preferences, purchase requests, diets and overall health,” says Cheryl Anderson, PhD, nutrition chair, American Heart Association.

To help make the schools in your community a place where children

can thrive, consider these suggestions from The Voices for Healthy Kids Action Center, a project of the American Heart Association.

don’t involve the sale of junk food.

Instead, focus on selling fruit, plants, jewelry or gift items. You could even help organize an event

Some schools have classroom units on nutrition and critical thinking.

Talk to your school’s administration about implementing educational programming to help students identify junk food marketing in their own school and community and discuss how it impacts them.

• Advertising Audit: Despite its prevalence, commercial advertising is usually not a substantial source of revenue for schools.

• Healthier Fundraising: Is your child’s school hosting a fundraiser? Get involved and help organize fundraising efforts that

like a walk-a-thon or dance-a-thon that raises money while getting the community moving.

• Learning Life Skills:

Ninety percent of school officials note that school programs and activities would not be reduced if advertisements of unhealthy food ceased, according to Voices for Healthy Kids.

Find out if the junk food marketing taking place in your school district

directly contributes to educational programming. If so, ask for healthier food and beverage products to be marketed instead.

• Speaking Out: Get involved by calling school board members and school administrators, or by organizing other members of your community. Tips, resources and information for getting started can be found at voicesforhealthykids.org.

“Often companies that sell junk food spend millions of dollars marketing to children because it works.

Children are likely to ask for things that are advertised to them,” says Dr. Anderson.

“Be an advocate for school environments that help the next generation lead healthy lives.”

(StatePoint)

5 Life Insurance Myths Busted Life insurance. It’s something that most people need but a topic that no one wants to discuss, leading to many misconceptions.

To help you make sense of it all, here are five common myths debunked -- just in time for National Life Insurance Awareness Month in September: 1. I’m single; I don’t need life insurance. Most people think life insurance is more necessary for married people than for singles, according to the 2017 Insurance Barometer Study by Life Happens and LIMRA.

a charity, life insurance can help ensure your wishes are carried out.

Erie Insurance, for example.

enough.

2. It’s too expensive. Cost is one of the top reasons people don’t purchase life insurance.

That’s less than 50 cents a day.

Millennials can get an even bigger break by purchasing while they’re still young.

Sixty-six percent of participants in the Insurance Barometer Study said it’s too expensive.

Premiums are typically less expensive since they’re generally healthier and have fewer assets.

“A typical group life benefit is two times your annual salary, but you may need more like six to eight times your salary just to break even,” says Louis Colaizzo, senior vice president for Life at Erie Insurance.

The same consumers overestimated the price by more than three times the actual cost.

3. My employer provides life insurance; I don’t need my own.

4. I’m a stay-at-home parent. If you’re not the breadwinner in your household, you may think your family doesn’t depend on your income.

But even if you’re single and don’t have children, you may still leave behind loved ones who would have to pay your debts.

However, think about the value of all the unpaid services that would need to be replaced, such as childcare, household cleaning, transportation and cooking.

For example, if you have a cosigner on a loan, he or she would be responsible to pay it back.

Life insurance can provide peace of mind by potentially paying off any remaining debt.

Or, if you want to leave money to

What’s more, if you take another job, your policy may not be transferable.

A stay-at-home parent in 2018 contributes a salary of $162,581 annually, according to research by Salary.com.

It can cost as little as $14.24 per month for a $250,000 policy at

While it’s great to have coverage through an employer, it often isn’t

5. I don’t have the time to research this or sign up. An insurance agent

can quickly walk you through the process to identify what you need and your options, as well as explain the terms.

Think of your agent as a trusted partner who will keep an eye on how your policy is keeping up with your life.

Plus, the application at such providers as Erie Insurance only takes about 15 minutes, doesn’t include complicated forms and may not require doctor’s visits.

Bottom line: most people could benefit from life insurance, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario.

The amount needed really depends on individual circumstances.

To protect those who matter most, check with your insurance agent to make sure you get the right coverage.

(StatePoint)

10

Austin South Asian | September 2018

Top Ways Air Travel Is Changing For Passengers

At any given time, up to 5,000 aircraft are in American skies.

Ten million passenger flights took place in 2016.

these trends may be headed your way:

The “Golden Age” of air travel may feel like it’s long gone in a time of heightened security and since the advent of mass affordable flight, but experts say that consumers can expect flying to be more comfortable and convenient in the coming years -- even when you’re riding coach.

Ergonomically constructed seatframes, climate-controlled seat-

• Better seating:

dom to control their immediate surroundings through lighting. Thanks to developments in LED technology, many airlines are phasing out cold-looking lighting installations to feature a rainbow range of colors customized to suit the time of

becomes faster and cheaper.

• Luxury amenities:

In-seat power supplies will keep mobile devices running during long flights, giving passengers opportunities to work, keep in touch with those on the ground and more.

In first-class cabins of the “goldstandard” airlines, the luxury-level accommodations, amenities and in-flight service standards keep getting better.

• More accessibility:

Passengers can rely on conciergetype support to handle personal arrangements before, during and after flights, and there is limo service for ground transfers to and from airports.

Airlines are making air travel more accessible to those with special needs.

Recent advances include aisle-size wheelchairs, seat-armrests that can be raised, extra grab bars and handrails, in-flight literature in braille, special meals for an increased range of dietary restrictions, privacy curtains for use around lavatory doors and baby-changing facilities.

“To survive and thrive, airlines are focused on product innovations and comfort upgrades to ensure repeat business from customers,” says Jennifer Coutts Clay, who has over 40 years of experience in the operational management and marketing of airlines, including time with British Airways and Pan Am.

• Improved experience:

She is the author of “Jetliner Cabins: Evolution and Innovation,” a new eBook app featuring a historical record and futuristic look at the commercial flying experience, with over 6,000 images and interviews with airline experts.

cover fabrics and lumbar-supporting contoured seat-foam inserts are just a few of the cabin upgrades being made to ensure more comfortable travel.

day, the specific area of the aircraft or to simulate the soothing gradual process of sunrise and sunset.

• Mood lighting:

Are you a frequent flier? Clay says

Passengers are given more free-

In-flight entertainment, streaming content options and connectivity are expanding as onboard Wi-Fi

• Connectivity:

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Flights are getting longer and more crowded. In response, airlines are aiming to tackle the problems of stressed-out passengers, with more personalization, humanization and options for how time can be used onboard, including opportunities to move around the aircraft.

In the future, passengers might be able to expect onboard salon-style spas and even gyms if they are willing to pay a premium.

More about the air travel experience is available by downloading Clay’s app at jetlinercabins.com.

“Preparing jetliners to accommodate airline passengers is both an art and a science,” she says.

“As passenger expectations evolve and grow, you can expect significant improvements in cabin comfort and hospitality standards.”

(StatePoint)

KALARIPAYAT (Indian Martial Arts) - Body Conditioning for all levels.

Want to increase your flexibility, strength, balance & endurance?

Join us on Sundays, 9am-10am. Contact below. https://bit.ly/KalariATX anandiwellness@gmail.com

11

Austin South Asian | September 2018

Mrs. Pooja Madupathi

By Jinesh Patel Pageants are a pastime that many

ing for their chance to be crowned Mrs. India Earth, including Mrs. Pooja Madupathi.

“Serving society helping other is my motto in my life.� says Madupathi, recounting her long list of charitable work.

She does a lot of volunteer work in her spare time, tallying up over 250 hours numerous non-profit organizations like Fairy God Mother, Texas Food Bank, and the Samisti Organization.

She even plants trees in the fall, so she can help the environment and help to ensure the future for the world.

people still adore watching to this every day.

She is a computer engineer and loves classical dancing.

One of these pageants is the Mrs. India Earth pageant, a Pageant made for married women to compete..

New things are a passion for her, and she says that she will

Many potential queens are compet-

always try anything new once. You never know you like something until you try it out for yourself.

Her love for society and helping others is a trait she says she inherited from her parents.

Her father as in the Army while she

in life.

She loves to help the underdog, wherever they may be.

ensure that everyone is smiling.

She dislikes seeing anyone get hurt, and as a result fights to protect anyone who may be downtrodden in life.

The Mrs. India Earth Pageant is coming up on Sep 5th in New Delhi India, and many finalists are competing for the goal.

Seeing someone smile always fills her with joy, so she tries hard to

So put in your votes for the person you believe should be the winner.

Taking Pictures For A Good Cause August 19 is World Photo Day, and an ideal opportunity for communityminded photography-lovers to use their art to support a good cause.

Coinciding with World Humanitarian Day, photographers from around the globe are invited to take photos that can inspire positive change, and this year, the event is supporting the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

says her mother taught her to be a kind and humble person.

You can participate by sharing your favorite photographs on social media, officially entering the competition, purchasing a World Photo Day book or donating online at WorldPhotoDay.com.

He truly loves her parents, and says that they are her biggest inspiration

A picture is worth a 1,000 words. Consider using photography to share your concerns and ideas with a global audience. (SPM Wire)

12

Austin South Asian | September 2018

Saturday, November 12

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13

Austin South Asian | September 2018

Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi is the Hindu festival that reveres god Ganesha. A ten-day festival, it starts on the fourth day of Hindu luni-solar calendar month Bhadrapada, which typically falls in the months of August or September of the Gregorian calendar.

a nearby body of water such as a river or ocean. In Mumbai alone, around 150,000 statues are immersed annually. thereafter the

clay idol dissolves and Ganesha is believed to return to Mount Kailash to Parvati and Shiva.

The festival celebrates Lord Ganesha as the God of New Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles as well as the god of wisdom and intelligence and is observed throughout India, especially in the states such as Maharashtra, Goa, Telangana, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh, and is usually celebrated privately at home in states such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The festival is marked with the installation of Ganesha clay idols privately in homes, or publicly on elaborate pandals (temporary stages). Observations include chanting of Vedic hymns and Hindu texts such as Ganapati Upanishad, prayers and vrata (fasting).

Offerings and prasadam from the daily prayers, that is distributed from the pandal to the community, include sweets such as modaka believed to be a favorite of the elephant-headed deity. The festival ends on the tenth day after start, wherein the idol is carried in a public procession with music and group chanting, then immersed in

Ganesh Chaturthi is also observed in Nepal and by the Hindu diaspora elsewhere such as in the Trinidad, Suriname, Fiji, Mauritius, United States and in Europe.

synonymous with Ganesh festival amongst the Goans and the Konkani diaspora.

The primary sweet dish during the festival is modak (modak in Marathi and Konkani, modakam or kudumu in Telugu, modaka or kadubu in Kannada, kozhakatta or modakkam in Malayalam and kozhukattai or modagam in Tamil).

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana modak, laddu, vundrallu (steamed, coarsely ground rice-flour balls), panakam (a jaggery-, black pepperand cardamom-flavored drink), vadapappu (soaked moong lentils) and chalividi (a cooked rice flour and jaggery mixture) are offered to Ganesha. These offerings are known as naivedya, and a plate of modak traditionally holds 21 pieces of the sweet. In Goa, modak and a Goan version of idli (sanna) is popular.

A modak is a dumpling made from rice or wheat flour, stuffed with grated coconut, jaggery, dried fruits and other condiments and steamed or fried. Another popular sweet dish is the karanji (karjikai in Kannada), similar to modak in composition and taste but in a semicircular shape. This sweet meal is called Nevri in Goa and is

Panchakajjaya is an offering made to Lord Ganesha during this festival in parts of Karnataka. It is a mixture of desiccated coconut, roasted Bengal gram powder, sugar, ghee and sesame. Different versions of panchakajjaya are made.

Roasted Bengal gram, green gram, roasted chana dal (putani) or aval can be used.

At public venues, along with the reading of texts and group feasting, athletic and martial arts competitions are also held.

Krishna Janmashtami Krishna Janmashtami also known simply as Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.

and September of the Gregorian calendar.

It is observed according to Hindu luni-solar calendar, on the eighth

Dance-drama enactments of the life of Krishna according to the

day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the month of Bhadrapada of the Hindu Calendar, which overlaps with August

Bhagavata Purana (such as Rasa lila or Krishna Lila), devotional singing through the midnight when Krishna is believed to have been

It is an important festival particularly to the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism.

born, fasting (upavasa), a night vigil (jagarana), and a festival (mahotsava) on the following day are a part of the Janmashtami celebrations.

It is celebrated particularly in Mathura and Brindavan, along with major Vaishnava and non-sectarian communities found in Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and other regions.

Krishna Janmashtami is followed by

the festival Nandotsav, which celebrates the occasion when Nanda Baba distributed gifts to the com-

munity in honour of the birth.

14

Austin South Asian | September 2018

15

Austin South Asian | September 2018

“Ekal” Targeting $10 Million With Dazzling Galas

By Prakash Waghmare After last year’s phenomenal success of magnificent fund-raising gala - ‘Future of India’ - “Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation (EVF)”, this year, is launching the most ambitious plan to host three Galas, at three strategic locations in USA.

ropolitan centers across USA, by bringing famous ‘Bollywood Artistes’ for concerts.

Earlier this year, Ekal had invited two groups of talented performers

dancers Aditi Bhagwat & Kunal Tavri and another group was headed by Kaushik & Pranita Deshpande.

The response to these concerts was so overwhelming that the events were sold-out at most of the places in advance.

this task of national concern, but also, to encourage every sphere, every strata of Indian diaspora to invest itself in India’s future.

They each were the star-attractions

Over the years, Ekal’s progress has been consistently exponential. Now with three forthcoming Ekal galas planned for high networth supporters, Ramesh Shah, the Chairman of EVF-USA has no doubt that Ekal in 2018, is going to hit $10 Million magical mark for the first time.

Three eagerly-awaited galas, are all taking place in October - Houston, TX on October 6; Bethesda MD on October 12 and in New York City NY on October 13.

In sold-out Yr.2017 Gala at majestic art-deco ‘Cipriani-Wall Street” banquet hall, ‘Ekal’ raised $2 Million for its Literacy, Healthcare and Integral-Development projects for rural India.

As of now, Ekal has 72,000 schools under its wings, grooming 1.92 Million children annually – more than half of which are girls.

It was Ekal’s first ever attempt at gathering generous individuals for its nation-building cause.

According to EVF-USA President, Suresh Iyer, this unprecedented show of support from philanthropists brought the year-end tally of donations to $8 Million.

Every year, Ekal’s hosts over 50 fund-raising events in major met-

for this purpose.

One group was headed by Kathak

in 23 and 30 concert-events, respectively.

Hon. PM Modi, in his clarion call to eradicate illiteracy from every small corner of the nation, wants Ekal to establish 100,000 schools by year Yr. 2022 – 75th anniversary of India’s independence.

The primary objective of glittering galas is not only to raised funds for

How To Create And Spread Hope In Your Daily Life With seemingly constant negative news reports telling of school shootings, suicides and more, you may feel like there is little to feel hopeful about these days, but experts say that having hope can be a powerful tool in good times and bad.

“Whether you’ve lost a job or a loved one, or you’re experiencing general feelings of despair, hope can give you strength and renew your potential and purpose,” says Dr. Rosalind Tompkins, founder of the National Month of Hope.

“Finding hope in everyday challenges is the first step to creating a solution.”

To help you find hope in your life, as well as spread hope to others, Dr. Tompkins, a recognized “Hopeologist” and life coach offers the following advice.

• Take a Hope Break.

Schedule five minute “hope breaks” into your normal routine.

Find a quiet place, take five to 10 deep breaths and think about good things happening, instead of the

Spread hope to your community by giving time, food and money to those in need. Whether you clean

the conversation with something like, “I care about you and wanted to check in with you to see how things are going.” Ask them to share what they are going through and be prepared to listen. Let them know that you are there for them and reinforce feelings of hope.

• Get Involved.

In the spirit of spreading positivity, Dr. Tompkins has a goal of seeing 10,000 “Hope Connections” take place throughout 2018.

worst-case scenario. Make an affirmation and speak it out loud. Repeat as often as needed.

• Take Action.

Set goals and move forward, focusing on results. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and your progress.

• Volunteer.

up a local park, read to children in schools or volunteer in a food pantry, you’ll be spreading hope to those who need it, which can help you feel more hopeful too.

• Have a Chat.

Is there someone in your life who needs hope? Prepare yourself for a conversation with that person by turning on your own belief that things can get better. Start

After talking about hope with a loved one, you can share your story by joining the conversation online using #HopeChallenge. To learn more about the movement to make 2018 the Year of Hope, visit makeahopeconnection.com.

While despairing often comes naturally in times of personal and public crisis, consider empowering yourself to move forward by adopting a hopeful attitude.

(StatePoint)

For details of venue, tickets and sponsorship kindly tap into <http:// www.nycgala.ekal.org/> OR <www.ekal.org>.

The distinguished speaker at all three galas will be Media Moghul Dr Subhash Chandra (Chairman, Essel Gr of Companies that includes ZEE-TV).

In addition, at NYC gala iconic former CEO of Pepsi and Apple, John Sculley, is going to grace the evening as a Chief guest speaker.

This NYC gathering will also be entertained by ‘Indian Idol’ competition winner – ‘Sreeramchandra’.

In Houston, along with Dr Subhash Chandra, another highlight of the evening is going to be renowned motivational speaker, Shiv Khera.

As the largest grass-root educational movement undertaken by Indians and NRIs, Ekal is socially conscientious, wherever it operates.

Last year during ‘Hurricane Harvey’, Ekal volunteers not only worked along side ‘Sewa International’ in rescue and rehabilitation efforts in Houston region but also raised money for the victims.

As the catastrophic destruction is currently unfolding in Kerala due to torrential rain and floods, ‘EkalIndia’ is actively involved there too with “Sewa Bharati”.

Bajrang Bagra, CEO of ‘Ekal-India’ says,” the whole Ekal movement is all about giving dignity and self-esteem to rural-tribal folks of India”.

16

Austin South Asian | September 2018

BAPS Charities Supports The Environment By Providing 300,000 Trees

(Continued from page 1) Beginning in 2016, BAPS Charities coordinated efforts with TNC to raise funds for the Plant a Billion Trees initiative, and on August 24, 2018, presented the final gift of $166,000 to TNC executives and program leadership inChino Hills, California.

marked, “BAPS Charities volunteers have engaged the next generation of children and young

world.

In addition to targeted conservation

“BAPS Charities activities reinforce the importance of serving others, raising awareness about important causes,and this year, protecting the planet through practice is important to my family and me,” said Katha Patel, a participant in the day’s activities.

BAPS Charities volunteers and donors provided a total of 300,000 trees to TNC, made possible by $431,000 in total funds raised over three years by 23,000 walkers at 76 cities across the nation.

TNC staff and leaders attended several of these walks, educating walkers about the importance of environmental protection and the urgent need for all people to become active stewards of the environment.

BAPS Charities volunteers and Board members presented The Nature Conservancy’s ChrisTopik, Director of Plant a Billion Trees; Maria Fisher, Donor Stewardship Officer; and Erin Daly, Donor Relations Manager with the check which wasfollowedby a tree-planting ceremony.

“Tree planting and reforestation are the most rewarding ways to improve wildlife habitats and cities, foster clean and abundant waters, and mitigate carbon emissions that cause climate change,” Chris noted during his visit to Chino Hills, “Thanks to the contribution of BAPS Charities volunteers we’ve been able to replant longleaf pine trees in the southern U.S., which have a natural resilience to catastrophic storms, but only 3% of this once common forest-type remains.

Your support also planted thousands of shortleaf pine trees in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley where the land has witnessed mass deforestation due to agricultural overdevelopment.

These newly planted trees create opportunities for carbon sequestration and improve lives.”

Erin Daly participated in the event for her third year in a row and re-

BAPS Charities is only natural.

BAPS Charities’ mission supports five programmatic areas: environmental protection, health, education, youth development, and disaster relief.

people in passionate ownership of environmental stewardship, unlike any other organization I have seen.”

efforts, The Nature Conservancy also invests in research related to conservationand climate change to drive their international efforts.

Over the last six months, BAPS Charities hosted their annual walk-

“Participating in the BAPS Charities Walkathon is a tradition for my

BAPS Charities leverages community walks as opportunities to instill a spirit of service and commitment to preservation and environmental responsibility in community members.

Through participation in events and fundraising activities like Walkathons, participants are actively engaged in conversations and action around sustainability and conservation, becoming owners rather than bystanders.

More widely in its operations, BAPS Charities participates in energy efficiency planning through prioritizing the use of solar power, efficient fiber optics and lighting fixtures, drought-resistant trees and plants, as well asthe use of AstroTurf to limit water use.

This culture of environmental responsibility isat the coreof BAPS Charities’ work and cultureinpromoting natural harmony.

About BAPS Charities BAPS Charities is a global charity active in nine countries across five continents.

Volunteers drive its efforts, dedicating a portion of their lives in selfless service of others, both in their local neighborhoods as well as globally.

Working in five key areas, BAPS Charities aims to express a spirit of selfless service through Health Awareness, Educational Services, Humanitarian Relief, Environmental Protection & Preservation and Community Empowerment.

From organizing Walkathons that raise funds for local and global needs, to supporting humanitarian relief in times of urgent need; from hosting community health fairs to sustaining hospitals and schools in developing countries, BAPS Charities provides an opportunity for individuals wishing to serve locally and globally.

CONTACT: BAPS Charities Phone: 732-777-1414 ex 140Email: m e d i a @ n a . b a p s c h a r i t i e s . o rg SOURCE: BAPS Charities

Stand With Kerala Kerala Flood Relief athons across North America.

This year’s national partner and beneficiary, the Nature Conservancy, continues a partnership between BAPS Charities and the Conservancy from 2016.

Walkers from all age groups joined together in the spirit of service and community support to make each walk a great success.

The Nature Conservancy’s efforts focus on protecting habitats and preserving biodiversity across the

family, Walk Green is a focused effort to make a measurable impact in the world.

Every year we come together and use the opportunity to support the causes that BAPS Charities carefully selects,” said19-yearoldRucha Modi.

With a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, the continued partnership between The Nature Conservancy and

Kerala is in the midst of an unprecedented flood havoc. The calamity has caused immeasurable misery and devastation. Many lives were lost. Hundreds of homes were totally destroyed and many more were damaged.

For the first time in history, 27 dams in the State had to be opened. Never before had the State witnessed a calamity of this scale. In the fight against the flood, we have braved the odds.

Now it is our duty to help the affected rebuild their lives. The path to recovery can be long & arduous, but you can make a difference by joining the rebuilding efforts. Contribute generously to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

For Donation, Please visit https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/

17

Charminar

The Charminar (“Four Minarets”), constructed in 1591, is a monument and mosque located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The landmark

has become a global icon of Hyderabad, listed among the most recognized structures of India.

Charminar has been a historical place with mosque on the top floor for over 400 years and also known for its surrounding markets. It is one of the tourist attractions in Hyderabad. It is where many local festivals are celebrated, such as Ramzaan. The Charminar is situated on the east bank of Musi river.

To the west lies the Laad Bazaar, and to the southwest lies the richly ornamented granite Makkah Masjid. It is listed as an archaeological and architectural treasure on the official “List of Monuments” prepared by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The English name is a translation and combination of the Urdu words Chār and Minar or meenar, translating to “Four Pillars”; the eponymous towers are ornate minarets attached and supported by four grand arches. The fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, built the Charminar in 1591 after shifting his capital from Golkonda to the newly formed city of Hyderabad.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the current caretaker of the structure, mentions in its records, “There are various theories regarding the purpose for which Charminar was constructed.

However, it is widely accepted that Charminar was built at the center

of the city, to commemorate the eradication of Cholera”, a deadly disease which was wide spread at that time. Muhammad Quli Qutb

Shah had prayed for the end of the plague that was ravaging his city and vowed to build a Mosque at the very place where he prayed.

According to Jean de Thévenot, a French traveller of the 17th century whose narration was complemented with the available Persian texts, the Charminar was constructed in the year 1591 CE, to commemorate the beginning of the second Islamic millennium year (1000 AH).

The event was celebrated far and wide in the Islamic world, thus Qutb Shah founded the city of Hyderabad to celebrate the event and commemorate it with the construction of this building.Due to its architecture it is also called as Arc de Triomphe of the east.

The Charminar was constructed at the intersection of the historical trade route that connects the markets of Golkonda with the port city of Machilipatnam. The Old City of Hyderabad was designed with Charminar as its centerpiece. The city was spread around the Charminar in four different quadrants and chambers, segregated according to the established settlements. Towards the north of Charminar is the Char Kaman, or four gateways, constructed in the cardinal direction. Additional eminent architects from Persia were also invited to develop the city plan. The structure itself was intended to serve as a Mosque and Madraasa. It is of Indo-Islamic architecture style, incorporating Persian architectural

elements.

Historian Masud Hussain Khan says that the construction of Charminar was completed in the year 1592, and that it is the city of Hyderabad which was actually founded in the year 1591. According to the book “Days of the Beloved”, Qutb shah constructed the Charminar in the year 1589, on the very spot where he first glimpsed his future queen Bhagmati, and after her conversion to Islam, Qutb Shah renamed the city as “Hyderabad”. Though the story was rejected by the historians and scholars, it became popular folklore among the locals.

Charminar, along with the Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad: the Golconda Fort, and the Qutb Shahi Tombs, were included in the “tentative list” of UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Monument was submitted by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO on September 10, 2010.

A Hindu temple named Bhagyalakshmi Temple is located at the base of Charminar. A Hindu trust manages the temple dedicated to the Goddess Lakshmi. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which manages the Charminar has declared the temple structure as an unauthorised construction. Hyderabad High Court has stopped any further expansion of the temple.

While the origin of the temple is currently disputed, the current structure that houses the idol was erected in the 1960s. In 2012, The Hindu newspaper published an old photograph showing that the temple structure never existed. The Hindu also released a note asserting the authenticity of the photographs, and clearly stated that there was no temple structure in photos taken in 1957 and 1962. Additionally, it showed photos that provide evidence that the temple is a recent structure - a temple structure can be seen in photos taken in 1990 and 1994. Also, a temple is seen in a photograph taken in 1986 which is kept in the Aga Khan Visual Archive, MIT Libraries’ collections, United States, but not in the earlier ones.

Austin South Asian | September 2018

Birbal Denies A Rumour

One day, a man met Birbal in the street. He began telling Birbal his sob story.

The man said, “I’ve walked twenty kilometres just to see you. All along my way people said that you were the country’s most generous man.”

ing the same way?”

Birbal thought to himself, “This man is going to ask me for money.”

you want?”

Birbal said as he walked away, “Please deny the rumour of my generosity.”

Birbal asked him, “Are you return-

The man replied, “Yes.” Birbal said, “Will you do something for me?”

The man said,”Of course. What do

How Akbar Met Birbal

Akbar used to love going out on hunting expeditions. Once, when Akbar was out on one such expedition, he and some of his courtiers lost their way somehow.

his anger n check and asked the young man again, “What do you mean?”

At last, they came to a junction of three roads. Akbar was very happy as he thought that now he could reach his capital, Agra through one of these roads. He was not sure as to which of the three roads led to Agra. No courtier was able to tell which road went to the Emperor’s capital.

travel, not roads. Do they?” The Emperor’s anger vanished on hearing this clever reply. He laughed and said, “Yes, you are right. Tell me, what is your name?” The man said, “My name is Mahesh Das, sir!

Now tell me about yourself. Who are you and what is your name?”

Just then, they saw a young man coming towards them on one of the three roads. Akbar called out, “Wait up young man!” and asked him, “Could you tell us which road goes to Agra?”

The man smiled and said, “Sir, none of these roads go to Agra.”

Everybody was shocked at the young man’s audacity. Akbar kept

The man said once more, “People

Akbar said, “You are talking to Emperor Akbar, the King of Hindustan! I need fearless and witty people like you in my court.” He took off his ring, gifted it to the young man and said, “If you want to be a part of my royal court, come to meet me with this ring and I will recognise you immediately. Now, show us the way to reach Agra.

All of us are exhausted and need to reach Agra before the sun sets.”

18

Austin South Asian | September 2018

Democrat Mike Collier Talk To The South Asian Community About His Plans If He Becomes Lieutenant Governor Of Texas (Continued From Page 01) The two friends decided to do something about it.

Entrepreneur and now a professor at UT Mukul Sharma had known Mike Collier since 2008 when Collier was the CFO of Sharma’s company Layline Petroleum that was eventually bought out. “Mike is by far the most qualified candidate in the state of Texas.

I’d like to encourage all readers to vote for him. He’s an incredibly sharp and smart individual. He’s gifted.,” said Sharma to Vandana Agarwal.

He could have retired after the sale, but he opted for public service, Sharma added. The two friends wanted to hear Collier and share his views with their community so Agarwal, who is always generous in her hospitality agreed to host a meet and greet for Collier.

The two knew that incumbent Republican incumbent Dan Patrick’s ratings were stuck at 36% even though he had spent 10 million trying to raise it up. They reasoned

that if the word got out in the right circles, Collier had a chance to win. They invited Mike Collier to a meet and greet at the Agarwal home on August.

Vandana was quickly able to gather about thirty friends each one an entrepreneur in their own profession. Amid the crowd was a PreK

School teacher from Austin ISD, people from the tech industry including one who is an advisor to Mayor Steve Adler in the Technology Commission, people from the media world, physicians, engineers, home makers, community workers, students, and an investment banker.

Dressed smartly in khakhi pants and a gold buttoned navy blazer with a starched white shirt and tie, topped with a head of silver white hair, Mike Collier stood tall and patiently talked about what his campaign is all about and supported his ideas with the numbers and research.

He is no doubt prepared to take the incumbent Dan Patrick on.

So much so that he said, “What-

ever Dan Patrick assembles, I can disassemble,” said Collier to the amusement of the audience. Collier’s Texan sense of humor was obvious.

Collier spoke about an 8-year plan.

He mostly talked about what he would do in the first four years, but he reasoned that some things take longer than four years and so he would have to build upon some things as an incumbent in the next four years that would follow. Here is a list: 1. Tax policy standpoint - Close property tax loophole that enables businesses to pay less in property tax. Closing loophole would raise 15 million which he wants to use to help public schools 2. Restructure state auditor. Last auditor resigned in 2015.

3. Healthcare - Cost of healthcare increased 7% per year for a long time, twice the rate of the economy. This resulted in neglect of mental health and lead to fewer

Austin Celebrates PTI And Imran Khan Victory In Pakistan Through A Rally At Tempura Two days after national elections in Pakistan on July 25, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) supporters in Austin, celebrated in a big way in the parking lot of Tempura Restaurant on North Lamar.

The group was celebrating the victory of Imran Khan, the leader of PTI. They were excited that Imran Khan would soon become the prime minister of Pakistan.

The word got out to their followers through PTI Austin’s official Facebook page. About a hundred people attended the celebration even though the word got out at the last minute.

Mr. Tariq Majeed set up PTI Austin Chapter in 2011. Since then he and the volunteers of PTI have arranged annual fundraisers to support the efforts of the party.

They were thrilled with the PTI victory and Imran Khan making plans for Naya Pakistan (New Pakistan). “Former cricketer Imran Khan promises a new Pakistan” (the Guardian)

The gathering outside Tempura restaurant was organized by PTI volunteers through permission from the City of Austin to use the lot to gather.

There were songs, dances, dhol wali, food stalls and people from all walks of life sharing news of the election results and possibility of a “Naya Pakistan”.

One would think, if the new Pakistan would be any different from the old Pakistan.

Seema Shah, a long time resident of Austin TX (about 23 years) and a avid PTI supporter has liked the Facebook Page of PTI Austin to get updates.

She said, “One night before [the celebration], we found out about it from PTI official Facebook Page.

She decided to go with her family. ”I am a big supporter of PTI. Since I wasn’t in Pakistan I thought I would support the party in this way,” explained Shah and they were greeted by free samosas and chai.

Shah is originally from the Khyber Pakhunkhwa province of Pakistan.

She has noticed PTIs performance in the province for 5 years where the party governed in the previous

government. said that PTI has done well in KPK at least in the present and past: 1. They built a Cancer Hospital in Peshawar.

2. Nathiagali, a well-known tourist spot in Pakistan, is kept very clean.

She went at 7 a.m. for breakfast and found it was clean and touristy.

3. Roads around KPK have been paved.

4. Police is reorganized, independent and not under pressure anymore.

5. Hospitals are doing better said the locals at Nathiagali. Earlier, the doctors were not always present. Now there are four doctors in every ER. Shah hopes that Imran Khan focuses education system in government schools in Pakistan to fix them.

She said that Imran Khan has said that new teachers will be selected on merit and every teacher will have to pass an exam.

Seema is happy about that as she is also a supporter of TCF, an organization that raises funs for education for schools in the underprivileged areas of Pakistan.

The Austin South Asian wishes ‘Naya Pakistan’ of Imran Khan success, and Seema Shah continued good news from the new changes in Pakistan.

beds in psychiatric hospitals. Collier wants to expand Medicare. 33 states have expanded it and technically it’s being subsidized by all the states including those who haven’t expanded. He said would be a net positive for Texas to expand Medicare, focus on mental health as well.

4. Use technology to reduce medical costs everywhere e.g. using pipe cutting technology for knee surgery. That would be more accurate and can reduce chance of post-op infection 5. Collier would like transparency in healthcare costs and bills. It is hard for us to make economic decisions in the blind.

6. Water problems need to be resolved, says Collier. Water management needs is needed as there is not enough rain.

7. He said that Gerrymandering is destroying democracy. He would like the citizens draw the districts so that right politicians are elected.

8. He would like to bring back compassion in public politics Attendees asked questions: Sumit Das Gupta, from for Technology and Telecommunications Commission asked Would Mike Collier undo the policies of Dan Patric that tie rhe hands of cities to solve problems related to the access of wireless?

Collier was all for technology for all and finding innovative means to connect all.

Punam Rana, PreK teacher of Cook Elementary Public school asked if teacher’s pay would be increased.

Collier sympathized with her and said that he is all for lower class size and know sthat teachers don’ t have social security benefits and no survivor benefits and he wants to change that.

Would there be a debate with the incumbent?

Colleir does not think so as the incumbent Dan Patrick has consistently raised taxes every year although he had promised not to.

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Austin South Asian | September 2018

Predictions - September 2018 ARIES (March 21 to April 20): You will plan something adventurous with children.

Mind will be at ease. You will be on the move and may have to spend most time outside office. Legal matters will keep taking positive shape and the final victory is not too far now. You will spend money on buying some unique gifts. An old friend will pay a surprise visit.

TAURUS (April 21 to May 20): Efforts will not go in vein, rather you will make good use of the weak opportunity and turn it into a very profitable deal. Strong Sun in first will make you more popular in social circle. You would not mind showing off an expensive item you purchased recently to your friends.

Things will keep getting more relaxed in career.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Strong Venus will improve things around suddenly and you will start to enjoy life more and will stay cheerful.

Favorable planets bring financial relief in a big way.

You will make final payments on

several bills, commitments made around November of last year.

You will also receive valuable advice about career from a matured person.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22): Hard work and patience shown in the past will pay off in big way and the investment will be lot less than anticipated. This could be a turning point in your career. You may suddenly develop taste for red meat or hot and spicy food. Planet in eleventh helps you make big chunk of money through stocks. Trip will be entertaining.

ARIES (March 21 to April 20): You will plan something adventurous with children.

Mind will be at ease. You will be on the move and may have to spend most time outside office. Legal matters will keep taking positive shape and the final victory is not too far now. You will spend money on buying some unique gifts. An old friend will pay a surprise visit.

TAURUS (April 21 to May 20): Efforts will not go in vein, rather you will make good use of the weak opportunity and turn it into

a very profitable deal. Strong Sun in first will make you more popular in social circle.

You would not mind showing off an expensive item you purchased recently to your friends. Things will keep getting more relaxed in career.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Strong Venus will improve things around suddenly and you will start to enjoy life more and will stay cheerful.

Favorable planets bring financial relief in a big way.

You will make final payments on several bills, commitments made around November of last year.

You will also receive valuable advice about career from a matured person.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22): Hard work and patience shown in the past will pay off in big way and the investment will be lot less than anticipated.

This could be a turning point in your career. You may suddenly develop taste for red meat or hot and spicy food. Planet in eleventh helps you make big chunk of money through stocks.

Trip will be entertaining.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 to December 22): Health concerns bothering you for past several months will go away.

Chance of addition in the family for prospective couples become strong suddenly. You will really enjoy the company of a new friend.

Very favorable month for people looking for a change in career.

Some of you will be getting ready for an upcoming move also.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19): Wait will be over and you will start hearing from other side. Negotiations will take some more time but will ultimately materialize. Pay attention to an health issue that flares up from time to time. You will make few useful friends at the gathering. Letters you write will get response quickly and in positive only.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18): Opportunities to make money will keep coming one after another.

Soon a big family reunion will take

place and you will be slowly working towards it. Business trip will be fruitful and the results will be far bigger than anticipated. You may develop a taste for sweets.

Idea of legal action to prove your point is not bad.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20): You will be offered a dream opportunity but without too much financial gains.

People in business will experience better sales and will be motivated to spend little more on advertising. Spouse will complain about aches and pains in joint and may need to rest more.

You will also make final payment on couple of credit cards..

Pandit Parashar parashar@parashar.com www.parashar.com 510-886-4370

SAIVA - South Asian’s International Volunteer Association

By Megha

information.

a participant can be viewed below.

for the community?

Please follow @SAIVA0 on Face-

Last month, SAIVA hosted a Fair Housing Conversation.

We hope to hear from you on your experience.

• Transportation through public transport (bus or train) or a ridesharing app such as Uber

book for updates or email saivacommunications@gmail.com for

The focus group was an intergenerational discussion conducted by a research group to gain feedback of our community.

A few points that was gathered by

• How would the houses in the fair housing community be built?

• Like in New Jersey, 2 family homes that could house the same extended family in one building • Another option is to have an extension built into the house so seniors can have their own spaces separate from the rest of the family • What are essential items needed

 Uber code for discounted rides for frequent users in the community  Another option is to have a nonprofit ridesharing app for transport quickly • If someone has an emergency and needs to be transported to the hospital, but it is not a 911 emergency, this would benefit the seniors

 This would mean that the community would need to be built on the bus or train route • A grocery store, doctor’s office, or community center that they would not need to have transport to go to (as they have to for SAIVA activities at the Asian American Resource Center)  Preferably walking distance • Multigenerational housing for seniors, their children, and grandchildren all in the same community

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Austin South Asian | September 2018

How To Cut Years Off Of The Mortgage Of Your Home, Sweet, Home Whether you’ve just moved into your dream home and are experiencing the elation of making it your own or you are a few years into paying off your mortgage, if you are like most homebuyers, chances are you have the standard 30-year mortgage and may feel daunted as you anticipate decades of payments.

Titsworth, a regional manager for mortgages.

Titsworth offers strategies to help

tax refund or year-end bonus and apply it to the principal of your mortgage. It’s simple to do on a yearly basis, plus you are not part-

As an example, with $200,000 borrowed at a 4.5 percent fixed rate, making one extra payment of $1,013 annually can take 4.25 years off the loan and save more than $2,500 in interest.

What if there were a simple way to cut years off that mortgage and potentially save yourself thousands of dollars in interest? By making just one extra payment a year to your mortgage or by spreading that one payment over 12 months, you can do just that, say experts.

“If you have a nest egg and are in a good place financially, put a little extra money to work to cut the mortgage term and add equity faster, suggests PNC Bank’s Staci

Another strategy is to add a little extra to each month’s mortgage payment and apply to the principal.

That way it doesn’t hurt quite so much.

Double that extra payment and you could shorten the term by seven and a half years and save more than $9,600 in interest.

make the extra payments easier to handle.

“A good rule of thumb is to take a

ing with a large portion of your regular paycheck to fund that extra payment,” she says.

In the early years of a 30-year mortgage, the bulk of the payment goes toward interest and the interest is calculated on the outstanding principal balance, so every extra dollar that you can put toward that balance is going to take cost off the

back end of the mortgage.

“We talk to our customers about their complete financial picture, from their loans to savings to retirement. We know that most people want to retire in a financially sound position, and typically their biggest debt is a mortgage,” says Titsworth.

“Consider meeting with a financial advisor who can take a look at your complete picture and calculate the benefits of paying off your mortgage faster while also managing your long-term goals.”

More tips and resources can be found at www.pnc.com.

With a comprehensive approach, you can make paying for your home a little sweeter.

(StatePoint)

How Ready Is Your Child For The New School Year?

Backpack and supplies -- check!

So, what’s left to do before going back to school?

Use the Readiness Check to see how prepared your child is for their new grade.

grade-level skills at home. To access this tool and other resources, visit bealearninghero.org.

How about finding out how well your child has learned foundational skills that they need to succeed in the next grade?

Designed by leading experts in reading and math, the Readiness

Other ways to assess how ready your child is for the new grade in-

Ninety percent of K-8 parents believe their child performs at or above grade-level in reading and math, according to Learning Heroes’ research.

To get a better feel for how prepared your child is for the next grade and how to support their learning at home, check out these tips from Learning Heroes’ “Super 5 Back-to-School Power Moves.”

1. Get a gut check:

Help the teacher get to know your child by sharing their interests and strengths as well. You can also share what you learned from the Readiness Check.

3. Make learning fun: You are the expert on your child and can make learning exciting.

Read together, choosing topics that interest your child. Find math in everyday life and turn it into a game. These small learning moments add up to a lot.

However, the National Assessment of Educational Progress finds that only a little more than a third of students are achieving at that level.

What’s more, the “summer slide” puts students at risk of losing up to two months of reading skills and two and a half months of math skills over a single summer.

your child’s state test results and ask what they mean for this year.

Find out what’s expected of your child and how you can provide support at home.

4. Celebrate effort: Check instantly provides important information about your child’s grade-level progress with reading and math skills after your child answers just three to five questions in each of the two subject areas.

The free tool, which is available in both English and Spanish, also connects you to information, videos and activities to help build

clude paying attention to how easy or hard it is for them to do gradelevel tasks and looking at their annual state test results from last year.

If you haven’t received the results yet, ask your child’s teacher.

2. Partner up: At your first teacher meeting, bring

Help your child see that hard work is what leads to success. Focus on effort and what your child is learning. This will help your child feel less nervous about new tasks or

subjects.

5. Support life skills: Strengths such as communication, problem-solving, and confidence will help your child in school and life.

Talk openly with your child about how they feel and handle situations, especially tough ones.

“Learning happens everywhere -- at home, in the community and in the classroom,” says Bibb Hubbard, founder and president of Learning Heroes.

“The Super 5 Back-to-School Power Moves can help you use the summer and beginning of the school year to get a more complete picture of where your child is on track, and where more attention and focus may be needed.”

(StatePoint)

FREE CLASSIFIED info@AustinSouthAsian.com

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Austin South Asian | September 2018

September 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: September 08, Saturday - September 09, Sunday, Indian Designer Saree and Dress Trunk Show is at SpringHill Suites Austin North/Parmer Lane, 12520 North Interstate 35

Austin, TX 78753. This event is organised by Panache DESI Creations Team.

Ask quetions on the North Austin show by live chat in facebook page, or call at 312-698-8857 for questions. NO FEE for ENTRY!!!

September 09, Sunday, 04:30 PM,

06:00 PM,

04:00 PM,

Sound of Strings (Indian Classical concert) is at Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main Street, Round Rock, TX 78664.

India Catholic Association of Central Texas organises “Taste of India 2018” at St Thomas More Parish Activity Center, 10205 Lake Boulevard Texas, Austin, TX 78703.

Film Desi Theaters presents Amit Tandon Live Comedy Show at Westlake High School (Texas), 4100 Westbank Dr Texas, West Lake Hills, TX 78746.

September 22, Saturday,

September 24, Monday,

How Accurate Is Your Weather Forecast?

The weather is not just an idle topic for chit chat. It matters. Particularly when you have a vested business interest in the outcome, or you simply want to make plans for the next few hours or days.

more localized weather reports, with smartphone apps able to provide weather predictions based on a user’s exact GPS location.

Despite improved capabilities and

of it all, say experts.

All weather apps are not equal. In the case of AccuWeather, a leading provider of weather forecasts and warnings globally, leveraging

These days, there are innumerable sources for weather forecasts widely available. Unfortunately, these sources don’t always say the same thing.

It also provides MinuteCast precipitation forecasts, updated minute

So, how do you know which weather forecasting service or app is offering dependable information you can trust?

According to AccuWeather founder, president and chairman Dr. Joel Myers, choosing the most accurate source of weather forecasts and warnings will go a long way to help keep people and their families safe and help to protect businesses’ property and assets as well as minimize liability.

“The greater the accuracy of weather forecasts and warnings, the better the decisions people and businesses can make in the face of hazardous weather events, the more lives are saved, the more property is protected, and the more losses are reduced,” said Myers.

The good news is that weather forecasts are becoming more accurate, thanks to improved data-gathering technology, computers powerful enough to analyze it faster than ever before and better algorithms.

Personal technology has also made it possible for individuals to get

ning AccuWeather app, can be a good resource before you leave home for the day, connecting to desktop computers and TVs, as well as when you’re on-the-go and using a smartphone or other mobile device, offering push notifications and 24/7 access to weather data and other weather-related tips and resources.

by minute, up to two hours ahead.

When it comes to weather forecasts, the powerful combination of accuracy and detail -- both in location and time -- as well as a strong emphasis on how predicted weather conditions will impact users, provides an added layer of insurance for better planning and better living.

(StatePoint)

How To Help Military, Overseas Citizens Vote In Midterm Elections For Service members and their families stationed away and U.S. citizens living abroad, family and friends are vital connections to life back home.

During the 2018 midterm elections, you can be an important source of voting information, especially for 18-24-year-olds voting absentee for the first time. technologies, many weather providers continue to regularly cough up inaccurate or misleading forecasts to consumers and businesses relying on them.

Why? Sometimes it’s due to a flawed algorithm. Other times, it’s a lack of high-quality data, the systemic pessimism or optimism of a particular provider for fear of getting it wrong, or a unilateral system for analysis that relies on computer modeling alone to generate a forecast.

While artificial intelligence and supercomputers can perform certain aspects of forecasting, human meteorologists play a vital role in helping average people make sense

“consensus forecasting,” has proven beneficial, whereby humans and computer models make accurate predictions, and then human meteorologists interpret and communicate the impact.

Indeed, a recent report conducted by independent industry tracker ForecastWatch, analyzing the accuracy of six top global weather forecast providers, reconfirmed that AccuWeather was the clear winner in forecast accuracy and had the highest margin of statistical forecast accuracy in each of three areas it verified: high temperature, precipitation and wind speed.

Available for free on all Android and iOS devices, the award-win-

An easy way to help loved ones in the military or abroad to vote absentee is by referring them to the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), which provides tools and resources to ensure that American citizens who want to vote can do so from anywhere in the world.

Voters can visit FVAP.gov to find state-by-state official registration and ballot request deadlines, as well as information on completing a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which is the registration and ballot request form, or the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), the backup ballot. Both forms are available at FVAP.gov and can be filled out with the online assistant or by hand.

For additional information, visit FVAP.gov, email Vote@FVAP.gov or call 1-800-438-VOTE (8683).

The sooner voters register and request their ballots, the greater the likelihood they can successfully vote. That’s because ballots must be sent back before individual state deadlines, which vary by state.

(StatePoint)

22

Austin South Asian | September 2018 THEME: THE 1930s ACROSS 1. Imposing house 1. Stopped from sleeping 6. Emergency responders 9. Much ado 13. Carl Jung’s inner self 14. Old French coin 15. Approximately 16. Castrated bull 17. “Swan Lake” step 18. Relating to pond scum 19. *Great Depression state 21. *”The Maltese Falcon” author 23. *____ Row 24. ____-de-camp 25. Churchill’s “so few” 28. *Subject of “Reefer Madness” 30. Herpes ____, a.k.a. shingles 35. Cain’s victim 37. *Johnny Vander Meer and Ernie Lombardi 39. Go “Boo!” 40. Shower with affection 41. *Now demoted planet identified in 1930 43. Antioxidant-rich berry 44. Insect, post-metamorphosis 46. Slang for heroin 47. College cadet program 48. Elongated shape 50. Shining armor 52. Fifth note 53. One less traveled 55. Loudness knob 57. *First FIFA World Cup location 61. *FDR’s brainchild 65. Linoleums, for short 66. Hole-in-one 68. Mr. Simpson to Marge 69. *Seabiscuit sound 70. QB exclamation 71. Imitating 72. *Johnny Hodges and Jimmy Dorsey played it 73. Group of exercises 74. In the Queen of Hearts’ oven?

DOWN 1. Yellowjacket 2. Cognizant of 3. Capital on the Dnieper 4. Mideast V.I.P. 5. Limited in scope 6. Sports award 7. Bygone bird 8. Uncooked seafood 9. *”The Mummy” or “City Lights” 10. Egg on 11. *Cab Calloway’s improvised singing 12. *Gandhi’s ____ March 15. Brooches with low relief carving 20. Pipsqueak 22. Wood-shaping tool 24. Cited as evidence 25. *Dominant mass media in the 1930s 26. Mushroom cloud maker 27. Prenatal 29. Snaky swimmers 31. Melee memento 32. Fiesta fare 33. One of the Muses 34. *Third ____ 36. Building block 38. Just for men 42. Nose of a missile 45. Military offensive 49. India’s smallest state 51. Disinterested response 54. Nursemaids in India 56. Parkinson’s disease drug 57. Arm bone 58. Cambodian currency 59. ____ of measurement 60. 1960s boots 61. Remaining after deductions 62. Another spelling for #4 Down 63. *”It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It ____ Got That Swing)” 64. *Colbert showed them in “It Happened One Night” 67. Pool shark’s weapon

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 October 2018 issue.

To Advertise In ASA Call 512-828-6709

23

Austin South Asian | September 2018

TEA Recognizes AISD Overall Performance As A “B” Indicating Recognized Performance In State Accountability System

According to the Texas Education Agency’s preliminary ratings released today, Austin ISD earned an overall performance rating of B, which is the recognized rating, with 61 schools earning academic distinction designations.

“We’re proud to earn a Recognized rating from the Texas Education Agency.

We believe this shows AISD is not

staff for all the hard work they have done in student achievement and closing the gaps thus far, and I acknowledge there is still work to do.”

Austin ISD district level ratings are in the high “B” range, indicating Recognized Performance: Districts received a scaled score and a letter grade for overall performance and in each of five per-

al grading scale: School Results The following schools received at least one distinction: High Schools: Akins, Anderson, Austin, Bowie, Crockett, Lanier, LASA, LBJ, McCallum, Reagan, Ann Richards Young Women’s Leadership Academy and Travis Middle Schools: Bedichek, Covington, Fulmore, Gorzycki, Kealing, Martin and O. Henry

merely passing, but is an indication we are on the way to reinventing the urban school experience,” said Superintendent Paul Cruz.

“I am proud of our students and

formance areas: student achievement, school progress, academic growth, relative performance and closing the gaps.

The scores are based on a tradition-

Elementary Schools:

Barton Hills, Becker, Blackshear, Blanton, Blazier, Boone, Brentwood, Brooke, Casey, Casis, Clayton, Cowan, Cunningham, Dawson, Doss, Govalle, Graham, Guerrero-Thompson, Gullett, Highland Park, Houston, Kiker, Langford, Mathews, Mills, Norman, Oak Hill, Ortega, Pecan Springs, Pleasant Hill, Reilly, St. Elmo, Sims, Sunset Valley, T.A. Brown, Travis Heights, Webb Primary, Williams, Winn, Wooten, Zavala and Zilker For the fourth consecutive year, all AISD comprehensive high schools received a rating of Met Standard.

Three AISD schools-Govalle Elementary School, Burnet and Martin middle schoolswere rated Improvement Required in 2017, but met state standards this year.

“We value the growth of each student and see success in

the gains these schools have made,” said Chief Officer for School Leadership Michelle Cavazos.

“We applaud the individualized attention teachers have given these students and will continue to monitor progress to ensure we are meeting their needs as they arise.”

Mendez received an IR rating and the school will operate under a partnership with the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Coalition beginning this school year.

This year, five Austin ISD schoolsWiden Elementary School, Bertha Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Mendez Middle School, the Rosedale School and Graduation Preparatory Academy at Travis-will receive preliminary ratings of improvement required.

The IR rating at Widen Elementary School and Sadler Means YWLA are the result of a recent change in the (Continued On Page 24)

August 2018 Sudoku Answer Mrs. Prema Raghavan

Mr. Guas Ibrahim Sindgi

Mr.Rajnish

Mrs.Swarna Changal

Mr. Pratyush Aduri

Mr. V/ishnu Ranganath

Mr. Yudhveer Bagga

24

Austin South Asian | September 2018

How To Build Better Relationships To Advance Your Career

Looking to get ahead in your career? Whether your goal is to raise your own level of performance, enhance customer engagement, or become a more effective leader, it all starts with bringing out the best in your co-workers, and in yourself, too.

rigor and order. They’re deliberate decision makers apt to stick with status quo.

• “Integrators” who value connection and draw teams together. They’re attuned to nu-

It’s all about learning how to best interact with each of the four major “Business Chemistry” types to help generate the best results and raise your level of performance -- and your value to your employer.

One of the primary keys to success is learning to identify the fundamental characteristics of your co-workers, and developing strategies to work with each type of boss, co-worker or client you come across, says Kim Christfort, national managing director of Deloitte’s US Greenhouse Experience and co-author of the new book, “Business Chemistry: Practical Magic for Crafting Powerful Work Relationships.”

• “Drivers” who value challenge and generate momentum. They’re direct in their approach to people and problems.

• “Guardians” who value stability and bring

• Tap into the diversity of your co-workers by determining whose needs are being met and whose aren’t, and then revamp your team’s normal processes so that everyone can perform at his or her best.

“Among members of a team, there will often be key differences in working styles and in what each individual needs to thrive,” says Christfort.

“An effective leader and co-worker can manage and motivate different types of people by learning what kinds of interactions and working conditions enhance everyone’s performance.”

Co-written with Suzanne Vickberg, lead researcher of Business Chemistry at the Deloitte Greenhouse Experience, “Business Chemistry” identifies the four most common types of people you will work with in your career: • “Pioneers” who value possibilities and spark energy and imagination. They’re creative thinkers who believe big risks can bring great things.

and interactions can motivate your team, and which kinds may kill their potential. Then you can manage situations to help your team thrive.

For more tips and insights on how Business Chemistry can help you – and your team – perform at your best, visit deloitte.com/us/ practicalmagic. ance, seeing shades of grey rather than black and white.

Here are several ways to apply that knowledge and become more effective at your job:

Once you identify the traits that make your co-workers and team tick, you can use this knowledge to become a more effective leader or team player, stress Deloitte’s Christfort and Vickberg.

• Recognize the key differences in how people work, so you can build empathy and stronger relationships with them -- and flex your own style accordingly.

• Learn which kinds of working conditions

By spending some time learning what drives your co-workers, bosses and employees, you can discover how to create a more productive team atmosphere that allows everyone to thrive and succeed, including yourself.

(StatePoint)

TEA Recognizes AISD Overall Performance As A “B” Indicating Global Hackathon On September 8 And 9 Between Austin & Pune Recognized Performance In State Accountability System (Continued From Page 07) (Continued From Page 23) accountability system-any campus that receives an IR rating in three of four performance areas automatically receives an overall rating of IR regardless of their overall score.

Beyond the grade Beyond the STAAR test, AISD continues to achieve as an urban school district: • AISD’s graduation rate remains above 90 percent.

• AISD is recognized as the largest No Place for Hate district by the Anti-Defamation League.

• The National Association for Music Merchants Foundation designated AISD as one of the Best Communities for Music Educa-

tion for its outstanding commitment to music education.

• This year, 220 Austin ISD seniors earned recognition for outstanding academic performance from the U.S. Presidential Scholars, National Merit Finalists, National Merit Semifinalists, National Merit Commended Scholars and College Board National Hispanic Scholars programs.

• AISD students’ SAT and ACT scores continue to exceed state and national averages.

“We continuously look for opportunities to best serve our students,” said Associate Superintendent of Academics and Social and Emotional Learning Lisa Goodnow.

“Austin ISD’s success goes beyond any of these measures, including developing the social and emotional wellbeing of a child.”

For more information, please visit https:// txschools.org.

Why Pune? According to the International Program Coordinator at Global Business Expansion Division for the City of Austin, David Kurtenbach, Pune has a “booming creative sector in music and the arts, along with a rising tech focus,” making it somewhat similar to Austin.

After a delegation to the city in January 2018, the idea of Austin and Pune forming a deeper bond by coming Sister Cities arose.

“The idea for a Hackathon was put into place as a means to capitalize on the fact that both cities are officially recognized Smart Cities and have local talent that drive innovative tech solutions” said Kurtenbach.

The Hackathon is scheduled to start September 8, 2018 at 8:00 AM and will end the next day on the 9th September at 8:00 AM, followed by an award ceremony at 9:00 AM. To sign up visit the events section at ATXbound.us where there is a link to register. For more information about APSCI visit Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/austinpune) or email austinpunesistercity@gmail.com.

25

Austin South Asian | September 2018

IACT Hosts Civic Leadership Forum At AARC With Mayor Adler In Attendance – Part 1 (Continued From Page 01) “IACT wants people to make an informed decision,” said Ashwin Ghatalia, the president of IACT. “They need to know who their candidates are, be objective and then decide who is the best to represent them,” added Ghatalia who has continuously tried to increase civic engagement.

The event spanned from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with breakfast and lunch breaks organized by iACT and its volunteers. A well-timed efficiently run Saturday remained upbeat with at least a hundred attendees at its peak with a full house at all times.

Most of the candidates stayed a long time to answer questions even after their turn at the podium was up.

It was great to see enthusiasm in the community and involvement at all age levels.

Student community volunteers to senior citizens were present.

IACT has worked hard over the years to involve key leaders in the community to keep their friends and colleagues informed and involved.

The Mayoral candidates came first to the podium in alphabetical order. Mayor Adler said that last he was here four years ago when he talked about immigration, increasing funding, getting involved… so many things that he just wanted to increase perspective. “I am really proud we worked on all these,” he said.

This community means al lot. It is the fastest goring community in Austin. “I asked to be judged on what I have done,” said Mayor Adler and added, “As the population increases, I’d like to see more interaction with what is happening in the city and would like the community to get more involved.”

Travis Duncan, a Dallas native, who formerly worked at the solar division of Tesla came next and emphasized, “I am here to simply tell you the truth.”

He also would like to bring in the mentality of ‘absolute maximum that will come from the people’. At another point he added that “the city does not listen deeply” and he will open communication ground up.

Laura Morrison, former council member from 2008 to 2014 was a part of the opening ceremony of AARC. “As your mayor, I will keep a keen eye on

serving the Austin Community,” she said and added that she was concerned that too many people thought that ‘their voice would not be heard.’ She assured that was not going to happen in her time.

An interesting idea came from O’Neil who suggested Baltimore style of demolition of houses built before 1978 to ensure that only a radius of 65 feet is affected in the process.

District 8 represents SW Austin.

The last mayoral candidate Alex Strenger came in fancy black attire with a brass-studded belt.

Candidates Rich DePalma whose wife is of Indian descent, and Bobby Levinski were present. DePalma addressed work force issues and refugee issues. Bobby Levinski is an environmental attorney who worked for 3 council members.

He praised the audience and said that the Asian community has been a true success in “science, math, technology and small businesses”.

His aim is to pay attention to the rising rent and property taxes as well as traffic. He a Pedi cab driver in downtown and would like the developers to pay their share of taxes.

He worked on initial land framework for AARC. They were asked that the 7% Asian population of Austin is underrepresented in

housing.

James Valadez is a graduate of a public school in Austin and UT Austin alum. He is currently on the board and adjustments in the city. Valadez, is a real estate has little online campaign presence, but attributed his fundraising to a grassroots network of friends and family.

District 1: Vince Harding is a lawyer and former Chair of Travis County Democratic party (vinceharding.com).

He talked about all hands on the deck. Natasha Harper-Madison said, “People of color should represent all people of color.”

Mariana Salazar talked about inclusion, property tax, rent, working mothers, juggling jobs, immigrant issues. Lewis Conway also talked about inclusion.

Richard Jung, the able moderator, asked the candidates how they plan to address the transportation issue in Austin and how the Asian community’s needs are not left out.

Each candidate gave his or her own view touching upon the 720 million bond, the 360, Anderson Mill, North Lamar and MLK corridor to light rail and Metro Rapid. Strenger talked about high occupancy vehicles in the left lane on highways.

Discussion of Travis County Candidates: District Clerk Velva Price, Commissioner Precinct 2 Brigid Shae, Commissioner Precinct 4 Margaret Gomez and those from ACC ( Dr. Barbara Mink (Place 7), Mitch Fuller (7), Douglas Gibbins (8), and Stephanie Gharakhanian) and AISD board (Arati Singh) will follow in the October issue.

District 9 had all ladies! Mayor Pro Tem and Council Member Kathy Tovo will be up for reelection. Before being elected to the Council Tovo taught writing and interdisciplinary studies at the college level and worked at Humanities Texas.

That will also include the discussion about the Texas State House of Representatives Sheryl Cold (Dist 46), Vikki Goodwin (Dist 47), Paul Workman (Dist 47) and Gina Hinojosa (Dist 49). Discussion of Texas Senate Dist 25 Steve Kling will also follow then.

Tovo has a long history of neighborhood advocacy and served on many city and school district boards and task forces.

She was the advocate of the commercial kitchen at AARC. Daniel Skidmore is a special needs parent and transgender woman standing against Tovo and others. She said, “It’s important for ordinary people to fight for our values.”

She would like Austin to become more inclusive. Linda O’Neil is an immigrant from Vietnam who came to the US in 1975. She teaches at Akins High School. She would like greater accountability.

When the candidates were asked if they support reusable energy in Austin and how they would involve the Asian community in this regard, the candidates touched upon water issues, lead contamination in school water, demolition and how they would use the Asian community as a resource to be a part of the thinking process.

the city. How do they plan to fix that. Both candidates pledged to open door and make time.

District 5: Ann Kitchen who will stand unopposed was present to take questions. She said, “I have been honored to represent South Austin for four years Ann is an attorney and health care consultant, with an expertise inimproving access to health care services for women and families. She said, “I will hold City Manager accountable for hiring and training so our work force is represented.”

District 3: Susana Almanza is a native East Austinite. She is an educator, mother and grandmother who overcame poverty and segregation.

She has served on numerous boards and advocates for low income and affordable housing and small business and cultural assets. Jessica Cohen is a transgender Jewish candidate who will advocate for affordable

IACT is especially thankful to its sponsors: Indian American Coalition of Texas, Asian and Pacific Islander American Public Affairs, Network of Asian American Organizations, Civic Leadership USA, Austin Chinese American Network, Korean American Association of Greater Austin, Cambodian Foundation, Light and salt services, REAL International, Austin South Asian, Texas capitol news Ashwin Ghatalia also thanked the volunteers who made this event possible by name: Alice Yi, Gopal Guthikonda, Richard Jung Moderator, Zain Khataw, Schiller Liao, Jyotsna Paul, Farida Vendal, Sung Kang, Savy Buoy, Sumit DasGupta, and student interns.

The candidate forum was organized by non-profit, non-partisan organizations for community awareness and familiarization.

Boxed lunches from Central Market were provided to registered guests.

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Austin South Asian | September 2018

Kareena Kapoor Khan On Kapoor family Selling Iconic RK Studio Bollywood’s iconic Kapoor family has collectively decided to sell the sprawling landmark RK Studio.

Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan said she has fond memories of the studio, built by her late legendary grandfather Raj Kapoor.

father in the last four or five days...

But of course, we have all grown up walking around in those corridors.”

“I think it’s probably something that the family has decided, so it’s upto my fathers, his brothers and up to them...

If that’s what they have decided, so be it,” added the actress at an event.

The Kapoor family has taken the tough decision of selling the two acre RK Studio 70 years after it was established as it was established as it was not economically viable to rebuild it after it was gutted down in a fire last year.

Kareena, who has been under the weather for a few days, said , “I don’t know how far what is actually happening.

In fact, I have been quite under the weather and I haven’t even met my

Rishi Kapoor, in an interview, on behalf of the family, said they were initially juggling with the idea of renovating the place with state-ofthe-art technology, but the investment rebuilding the studio would just not have yielded sufficient rev-

‘Gold’ Box-Office Collection Day 10: The Akshay Kumar’s Sports Flick Earns Rs. 1.75 Crore Akshay Kumar’s ‘Gold’ gained Rs 1.75 crore on the 10th day since its release making the total col-

lection of the film, Rs 89.85 crore, according to BoxOfficeIndia.com’s report.

Reportedly, the film has been scoring good in metro cities.

The film made an impressive opening and raked in Rs 25.25 crore on it’s release date.

The film is based on the sto ry of free India’s first Olympic Gold medal win in Hockey in the year 1948.

enue to keep it going. He called it a “level headed decision”.

In September last year, a major fire broke out on the sets of a dance reality show, leaving a section of the studio gutted.

R.K. Studio, the headquarters of the film production company R.K. Films, was founded and named after the Great Showman, Raj Kapoor, in 1948.

Its inaugural banner film ‘Aag’ that year crashed at the box office, but the next year proved to be a good omen when its production ‘Barsaat’ (1949), starring Raj KapoorNargis was a superhit.

In fact, the company’s logo was designed to reflect the poster of a scene from ‘Barsaat’ and after that, the studio never looked back.

It had a string of successful blackand-white releases like ‘Awaara’ (1951), ‘Boot Polish’ (1954), ‘Shri 420’ (1955), ‘Jaagte Raho’ (1956).

Later, the studio was the venue for several other big ticket films like ‘Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hain’ (1960), ‘Mera Naam Joker’ (1970), ‘Bobby’ (1973), the debut film for Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia, ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’ (1978), ‘Prem Rog’ (1982), ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ (1985), which was the founder-actor’s last film before his death in June 1988.

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You’re Invited to “The Big, Fat Indian Wedding!”

(Conitnued From Page 01) The Big Fat Indian Wedding promises to make you laugh, sing and dance as Indian and Texan cultures come together in this Bollywoodstyle theatrical production.

This high-energy show makes audiences part of an interactive wedding experience that celebrates contemporary Bollywood films, “Desi” weddings, and Broadway — all in one theatrical performance.

Prakash Mohandas, director of “The Big Fat Indian Wedding” says, “We wanted to create a multicultural theatrical piece that connects people of diverse backgrounds through music, dance, and pop culture — something we can all relate to. Audiences will leave our show feeling like they lived the experience rather than just watched a show.”

Kirtana Banskota, producer and writer of “The Big Fat Indian Wedding,” says, “The majority of weddings we attend today are intercultural or fusion weddings; we have people from all over the globe coming together.

Indian weddings are vibrant, colorful, and musical, and it’s about time we shared that energy with everyone. Sarah Greufe, my cowriter, and I had a blast writing the script.

ciplinary dancers and actors from the Austin area. Audience members will also enjoy a lively postevent celebration with local food, Bollywood DJ, and merch vendors.

“The Big Fat Indian Wedding” is a sponsored project of the Austin Creative Alliance and funded in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin.

Tickets are on sale now and range from $25-$53. Tickets, sponsorship and more information are available here.

Agni Entertainment’s prime focus is the production, promotion and distribution of independent film and theatre projects. For more information, visit www.agnientertainment.com.

Director and Producer Prakash Mohandas is a dancer, instructor, actor, musician, filmmaker, philanthropist and a successful entrepreneur.

He is the founder of Agni Dance, the first Bollywood dance company and academy in Austin, an instructor at Ballet Austin, and the founder of Austin Bollywood Day. As filmmaker, his work as been featured at many film festivals and his feature film “Food for Thought” is available on Amazon Prime.

As Prakash and I envisioned the show, we needed a space with character and Mueller Park was a perfect fit.”

Recently, he was recognized by Roshni Media as one of the top hundred emerging South Asian Leaders under the futurists’ category in their book “Global and Emerging Leaders.”

Agni Entertainment is known to the Austin community for their large-scale Bollywood productions including 2013’s “Om Shanti-Once Upon A Time in Bollywood.”

Producer and co-writer Kirtana Banskota, a founder of Banskota Productions, is a filmmaker, dancer, actor, and philanthropist.

Banskota Productions is a new production house based in Austin that produces events, theater, and film with a focus on the South Asian community.

“The Big Fat Indian Wedding” is a family-friendly production that features a diverse cast of multi-dis-

She’s the co-founder of Nepal America Film Society, a non-profit organization whose mission is to bridge the world of arts and culture through cinema, and the co- founder of Nepal America International Film Festival.

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Austin South Asian | September 2018

Vishwaroopam 2 A prequel as well as sequel to the events that transpired in Vishwaroopam (2013), this film continues the story of Indian spy Wisam (Kamal Hassan) and his crusade against Al Qaeda terrorist Omar (Rahul Bose).

This time, Omar and his henchmen are out to exact revenge from Wisam and his friends, while planning bomb threats in London and Delhi.

Complex, non-linear narratives are always a tricky proposition in cinema.

Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam 2, adopts a unique screenplay that tries to tell a story that presents both, before and after scenarios of the original Vishwaroopam movie.

So, the sequel presents a continuation of the original story, as well as plot points that explain the first film’s scenes. The result of this approach is

a long-drawn film that doesn’t always feel coherent. Not only is the film indulgent, it’s also a bit too tedious, despite it’s slick execution.

Vishwaroopam 2 is a spy thriller and it serves up some good genre aspects. The combat scenes, the stunts and the props all look like they belong to a big-ticket Hollywood film. But for all it’s frills, the film feels too stretched. A lot of the dialogue-heavy scenes featuring Shekhar Kapur and Anant Mahadevan don’t really make the cut.

There are several flashbacks that go back, to the first film’s premise of Rahul Bose as the terrorist leader in Afghanistan. These scenes look great with the American army and the desert combat sequences, but they don’t really add any weight to the story at hand.

As you would expect from a mainstream masala movie, there’s dollops of action with good amounts of comedy, romance and dra-

ma thrown in too. But each new subplot just adds to the confusion. It also doesn’t help that the film goes a little too over-the-top with the an underwater action sequence, as well as the climactic, gravity-defying fight.

Kamal Haasan as the lead man is in top form.

He’s great in the dialogue driven scenes, but moments that feature a lot of action and stunts, just don’t look all that convincing. Pooja Kumar and Andrea Jeremiah as the film’s heroines have good roles and the two actresses perform really well. But the same can’t be said of the antagonists Rahul Bose and Jaideep Ahlawat, who end up being caricatures of evil terrorists.

Vishwaroopam 2 is a classic example of overkill. This multi-lingual film has been shot in both Tamil and Hindi. And despite having some genuinely good moments, the film tries to put forth a little too much, a little too quickly.

Rajinikanth-Akshay Kumar’s ‘2.0’ Teaser Will Be Unveiled On This Auspicious Date New Delhi: Megastar Rajinikanth and Khiladi Akshay Kumar’s ambitious project ‘2.0’ is high on the buzzword. The release date has

been pushed ahead a couple of times, making viewers eager about the venture.

Abhishek Bachchan who was recently in Amritsar to promote his film Manmarziyaan , paid a quick visit to the Golden Temple while

film’s writer Kanika Dhillon, after celebrati ng Raksha Bandhan in Mumbai.

Now, speculation is rife that the teaser date of ‘2.0’ has been locked.

According to Bollywoodlife.com,

in 3D. ‘2.0’ is a sequel to superhit 2010 Tamil film ‘Enthiran’ which had Rajinikanth and Aishwarya

maestro AR Rahman has composed music for the film. Reportedly, ‘2.0’ happens to be the most

the makers are planning to unveil the teaser on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi which is on September 13, 2018.

Rai Bachchan in the lead.

expensive Indian film being made to date.

Abhishek Bachchan Visits The Golden Temple To Promote ‘Manmarziyaan’

in the city. The star travelled with producer Aanand L Rai and the

Abhishek promoted Manmarziyaan in Nagpur and flew back to Mumbai to celebrate the festival. Later that day ,he took the afternoon flight to Amritsar, where he started the promotions on an auspicious note by visiting the temple.

The team later also visited Ahuja Lassi Shop and Kesar Da Dhaba, given that both Abhishek & Aanand Rai are foodies and wanted to try the local cuisine of Amritsar.

However, no official word has been out regarding the teaser release date as yet.

‘2.0’ is written and directed by S Shankar. This happens to be the first Indian film that is directly shot

The sci-fi drama will see Rajinikanth reprising the roles of Dr Vaseegaran and Chitti, alongside Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson.

The film is being shot simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi respectively.

Academy award winning music

Looks like the fans of megastar Rajinikanth and National Award winning actor Akshay Kumar can expect the winters to be a thrilling ride!

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Austin South Asian | September 2018