India Herald 080719

Page 1

India Herald

Web: www.india-herald.com • Editor@india-herald.com • Tel: 281-799-9459

20 Pages

VOL. 25 • NO. 32 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 • P.O. BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017699 • 25 cents

J&K loses its special status; ‘Political surgery’ to cure ailment

Ending Jammu & Kashmir’s special status in the Indian Union, the government of India extended all provisions of the Constitution to the State in one go, downsized the State into two Union Territories and allowed all citizens to buy property and vote in the State. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah piloted two special resolutions and a Bill creating the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh through the Rajya Sabha on Monday. While the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature, the one in Ladakh will not. The first resolution informed the House that the President had used his powers under Article 370 to fundamentally alter the provision, extending all Central laws, instruments and treaties to Kashmir. However, the drastically

altered Article 370 will remain on the statute books. The government’s surgical strike on the State’s autonomy came as telephone and Internet services in the Valley were suspended, former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti remained under arrest and thousands of additional Central security personnel were deployed in the area. Shah said that if the Union Territory model worked well, the government would also consider giving Jammu and Kashmir the status of a State again and “no constitutional amendment would be required.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present during the proceedings. Shah said the Resolution for Repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution of India “would pass every legal scrutiny” and he was aware that an “NGO

Kashmiris abroad welcome the move

The Indo-American Kashmir Forum hailed the government’s move with a great sense of relief. “Imagine if the constitution of Texas did not allow residents of any other state in the U.S. to move into Texas and buy a home, and the federal government allowed this?” said one Kashmiri activist in Houston “This was the ludicrous situation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir until now.” The Indo-American Kashmir Forum, working with Hindu American Foundation to advocate for the rights of the minority population of Kashmiri Hindus (Pandits) who have been under forced exile from their homeland, expressed hope that the human rights situation that has prevented normalcy from returning to the state of Jammu & Kashmir can finally start improving. “By creating a special situation for Kashmiris such that they were never fully integrated into India, corruption and special interests of leaders of Kashmir has been the result, leading to the poor economic conditions existing in the state.” The only people to lose from this decision are those special interests and corrupt political, community, and religious leaders whose only aim has been to hold onto power over their constituencies. IAKF was established in 1991 to inform the world community of the oppression against Kashmiri Pandits that led to their forced exile from Kashmir due to the influx of fundamentalist Islamic terrorism. IAKF wishes to raise awareness of the human rights violations suffered by the Pandit community, many of whom are still living in makeshift ‘refugee’ camps in Jammu, India. The organization seeks the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Kashmir valley with guaranteed security and freedom to exercise their religious faith and cultural way of life without fear or intrusion. For more information, please visit www.iakf.org.

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brigade” supported by some parties would challenge it. Slamming the Congress, Shah said, “It was your policy that has killed so many people, more than 41,000, since 1988. Why aren’t youth in Rajasthan, Gujarat or Odisha misguided? Because there is no Article 370 in these States.” Dismissing concerns that there would be “bloodshed” in the Valley, Shah said this was a “new experiment” and everyone should support it. “Terrorism cannot end in the State till Article 370 or 35A continue. They are an obstacle to development. We want to embrace the Kashmiri youth. The move will bring development, tourism and industries to the State. These opportunities till now were controlled by only three families,” he said. Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday night reviewed See KASHMIR, Page 3

Show promoter recognized

On Friday July 26, MB Entertainment by Mousumi Banerjee presented Richa Sharma’s Sajda tour at the Stafford Center. Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella, left, presents a proclamation congratulating Mousumi Banerjee for bringing the acclaimed concert tour to Stafford. Right, Karl Kalra, national promoter for the show. More on Page 5.

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PAGE 2 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019

Texas India Forum presents A Community Summit in Honor of The Prime Minister of India

SHRI NARENDRA MODI

# NRG STADIUM, HOUSTON, TX SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 Program: 10 am to 1 pm (Doors open at 7:30 am)

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 • PAGE 3

NEWS

Over 25,000 sign up for Modi event

For more information, please visit www.howdymodi.org. The Texas India Forum, Inc. (TIF) is a not-for-profit organization that encourages cooperation between the United States and India, advancing the shared values of democracy, inclu-

sive economic development, and mutual respect. TIF brings together Indian-American organizations and institutions to encourage collaboration within the region and expand opportunities for engagement with India.

Kashmir

India and Rs 14,255 per person in J&K. In 2017-18 Centre spent ₹8,227 per person in rest of India whereas in J&K it spent ₹27,258 per person. Even then there was no development in the State because of corruption. 370 stopped anti corruption bodies to function in the State. A monopoly was there,” Mr. Shah said. Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad described the move as murder of the Constitution and the democracy by the BJPled government, stating that the accession of J&K to India had happened through Article 370. He said in the past 70 years, lakhs of people, many leaders and workers of the mainstream parties had made sacrifices, thousands of police and security personnel lost their lives in the State. Responding to Mr. Azad, Mr. Shah said the State was assimilated into India through the Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh on October 27, 1947, and Article 370 came later. He said the Congress government had also amended Article 370 through the same process in 1952 and 1962.

From Page 1

Representatives of the Partner organizations attend a planning meeting for Modi’s visit. Over 25,000 attendees have signed up in the first week alone, and there are more than 1000 volunteers and 650 Welcome Partner organizations, a spokesman for the Texas India Forum said, highlighting the excitement and enthusiasm prevailing in Houston over the impending visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A projected crowd of 50,000 is expected to listen to his speech on a resurgent India and a strong US-India partnership at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Sept. 22. The event “Howdy, Modi!”, hosted by the Texas India Forum, will include a vibrant cultural program that puts a spotlight on Indian-American contributions to the United States before the much-awaited address by the Prime Minister. Planning meetings are going on in full swing across various organizational areas, with

communication and publicity ramped up to reach every section of the community and beyond. There has been a spontaneous outpouring of support across the community, with many organizations coming forward to contribute in various ways. Organizers are planning to mobilize over 300 buses to transport attendees from locations around the greater Houston area. “The community’s excitement about this event has been palpable, with a very diverse set of volunteers signing up to help and a number of organizations stepping up to host meetings at their facilities. We are pleased to have such widespread involvement from the community as we get prepared for this major event,” said Jugal Malani, convener of the “Howdy, Modi!” organizing commit-

tee. The event, with the tagline ‘Shared Dreams, Bright Futures’, will shine light on the tremendous contribution of Indian-Americans in United States and the strong and lasting partnership between United States and India. The cultural program preceding the Prime Minister’s address, showcasing Indian American artists from Texas and elsewhere, will portray how the community is woven into the larger tapestry of American life. It will involve broad-based community participation across the United States. Registration for the event is open to members of Welcome Partner organizations until August 12. On August 12, registration will open to the general public. Everyone can register for free at www.howdymodi.org.

the security situation with top officials in Jammu and emphasised the need for constant vigil to deal with any eventuality. The Army’s Northern Command chief Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh met the Governor and briefed him about the security situation. Reacting to the developments, U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said, “We call on all parties to maintain peace and stability along the LoC.” The provisions of Article 370 will cease to exist from the date the President of India issues a notification after the Lok Sabha passes the resolution on Tuesday. He termed Article 370 discriminatory on the basis of gender, class, caste and place of origin, adding it was “temporary in the first place and it has to go in the larger interest of the people of the State.” He said that from 2004 to 2019, the Centre sent over ₹2,77,000 crore to the State, but it did not percolate to the masses. “In 2011-12, Centre spent ₹3683 per person in rest of

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PAGE 4 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019

COMMUNITY OFBJP-USA hails Modi government’s move in Kashmir

NRIs celebrate the monumental decision in Edison, NJ

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• Overseas Friends of BJP, USA is elated at the bold and historic decision of PM Narendra Modi’s government of scrapping Article 370 and bifurcating the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian American community has been circulating congratulatory messages since early morning and started celebrations across the nation. President Krishna Reddy said, “It is a historic day as the Modi government delivered a long-awaited decision of scrapping Article 370 and corrected the historic blunder made by the Nehru government”. “This would be the Modi government’s best gift to the nation on the occasion of the 73rd Independence Day of India”, he added. He said that OFBJP and other Indian Diaspora organizations are organizing celebratory events in the next two weeks. Dr. Adapa Prasad, Vice President said, “ This is a golden letter day for India as we are witnessing history in the making and crores of Indians across the globe are elated to learn that their Vedic land, Kashmir is freed from the grip of duplicitous and antiquated laws that destroyed the soul of this very beautiful state in India.” Dr. Vasudev Patel, organizing Secretary, praised the decision and said this bold and courageous move made by the Modi government will go a long way in restoring all-round development of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the Ladakh region. As India’s Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the resolution to correct the seven-decade long blunder, the Indian American community went into raptures and started congratulating each other. As the Rajya Sabha passed the bill, the Indian diaspora is looking forward to the prospects of all-round development of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. The Indian Diaspora has also condemned the behavior of the Congress party and its allies who opposed the bill. People are asking if the Congress, Communist, and other regional parties have any patriotism left in them or just thrive in their vote bank politics perpetually. They lost the leadership qualities and became hate-mongering entities. Home Minister Amit Shah said, Jammu and Kashmir has suffered due to Article 370 where corruption, poverty, and illiteracy are prevalent.” While elaborating on corruption, Amit Shah said, “The government incurred a per capita expenditure of R.s 8,200 in the rest of the country. But in J&K, the corresponding figure was over Rs. 27,000 and the kind of poverty you have in the Kashmir Valley brings tears to one’s eyes,” The Indian Diaspora has appreciated the opposition parties that lent their support in abrogating this ill-conceived Article 370 in Kashmir. It is also planning festivities during the next couple of weekends.

India Herald

Established in 1995 by Rajeev Gadgil, Seshadri Kumar & Salim Sindhi India Herald (USPS Periodical 017-699) is published every Wednesday by India Herald, Inc. for a subscription rate of $25 per year. Periodical postage paid at Houston and Sugar Land, Texas. POST MASTER: Send address changes to India Herald, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Texas 77487 Publisher & Editor: Seshadri Kumar www.india-herald.com; email:editor@india-herald.com India Herald assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on information included herein. ©India Herald. All rights reserved.


INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 • PAGE 5

COMMUNITY Sufi Queen Richa Sharma enthrals Houstonians with soul-stirring live performance

Omar Saeed, left, Mousumi Banerjee, Richa Sharma, Karl Karla, and Anand and Dr. Ashima Chauhan, at the meet and greet event. Right, Richa Sharma compliments local promoter Mousumi Banerjee at the concert. Photos by Murli Santhana.

CELEBRATE INDIA’S 73RD INDEPENDENCE DAY AT INDIA HOUSE

Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Flag Hoisting at 10:30 am We invite you with your family & friends to come and celebrate the joy & happiness of free India at O. P. Jindal Center, India House, 8888 West Bellfort Ave., Houston, TX 77031

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On Friday July 26, MB Entertainment by Mousumi Banerjee presented Richa Sharma’s Sajda tour in Houston, Texas at the Stafford Center. The show which was sold out left the audience mesmerized by the soulful voice of Sufi Queen Richa Sharma. Local Promoter Mousumi Banerjee, CEO of MB Entertainment, noted that she was inspired to bring this show in Houston due to the support of the local community. After the success of the Javed Ali show on May 3rd, the local community had been messaging and calling her inquiring about her next show. She stated, “I feel blessed and honored to get such feedbacks and to be supported by the community”. Karl Kalra, national promoter for the show, stated that he was not sure whether this show would be possible in a short time but was very grateful to MB entertainment for making the show possible and a grand success within 5 weeks. Prior to the concert, MB Entertainment hosted the Meet and Greet with the singer on Thursday, July 25th at the Hilton Houston Galleria Area where Richa Sharma mingled with the guests. Abiya Malhotra emceed the show. When asked about the most challenging song she had recorded, Sharma, replied that for a singer every song is a challenge until it is sung and recorded. However, she did mention “Maahi Ve” from the film Kaante, which won her the best playback singer award in 2003. While recording for the song, Richa Sharma was running a high temperature but she did not mention this to the music director and continued to record. The song was a big hit, maybe her “shivering due to the fever” added to the musical tone. On her recent entry as a judge on Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa talent show, Sharma said she avoided appearing in such shows because she did not like the staged drama. She agreed to be a judge on the condition that no cheap tricks would be included in the show. On remixes, she believes the original music should be preserved and respected. On the day of the concert, the show was again anchored by Abiya Olivia Malhotra who is a singer/ actress and Pragya Sen a former beauty queen. The enthralling opening performance was by Paras Mann, a well-known singer from Punjab, and he captivated the hearts of the audience with his melodious voice. Richa Sharma sang a few duos with Paras Maan such as her award winning “Sajda” from the movie “My Name is Khan.” She also sang “Dil mile bina hi toot gaye” from “Om Shanti Om,” “Baghon ke Har Phool Ko Apna Samjhe Baghban” from the film Baghban, “Maahi Ve” from the film Kaante, and the ghazal “Aaj Jaane ki Zid na karo” touched the hearts of the audience. Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella presented Banerjee with a Proclamation of Recognition for her work and recognition for the City of Stafford. Thanking the audience, Mousumi said, “I am grateful to you all and it is my promise that I will bring more entertainment in the coming years. Thank you so much for your love and support”. She thanked Grand sponsors: Dr. Ashima and Anand Chauhan, Omar Saeed of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management, Ritu Selects LLC - India inspired Couture for styling. Dina Patel who is currently the Fundraising Manager for Texas, Souvik Datta and Shridhar Udyavar. Udipi Cafe Houston, and Savoy Restaurant and Karl Karla the National Sponsor of Sajda.

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PAGE 6 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019

NEWS Indian-American appointed to key counterterrorism position in White House Prominent Indian-American lawyer Kashyap Pramod Patel, an ardent supporter of US President Donald Trump, has been appointed to a key counterterrorism position in the White House, according to a media report. Patel, 38, who previously

served as Senior Counsel for Counterterrorism at the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence till early this year, has now been appointed as Senior Director of Counterterrorism Directorate of the National Security Council (NSC) in the White

House, the Daily Beast reported. The White House refused to comment on the news report. After leaving the Hill, Patel, popularly known as Kash Patel, had joined the NSC’s Directorate of International Organizations and Alliances. Now he has been pro-

moted to this counterterrorism position, the news website reported. New York-born Patel has his roots in Gujarat. However, his parents are from East Africa mother from Tanzania and father from Uganda. They came to the US from Canada in 1970.

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“We are Gujarati,” he had told PTI in an earlier interview before he joined the White House. His family moved to Queens in New York which is often called as Little India - in late 70s. It is here that Patel was born and brought up. Patel’s parents spend their time in both the US and Gujarat. After his schooling in New York and college in Richmond, Virginia, and law school in New York, Patel went to Florida where he was a state public defender for four years and then federal public defender for another four years. “So, lots of trials, lots of international investigations, lots of time in court, understanding the federal system and trying cases and learning how to run investigations,” he said. From Florida, he moved to Washington DC as a terrorism prosecutor at the Department of Justice. Here, he was an international terrorism prosecutor for about three and a half years. During this period, he worked on cases all over the world. While, still employed by the Department of Justice, he went as a civilian to join Special Operations Command at the Department of Defense. At the Pentagon, he sat as the Department of Justice’s lawyer with Special Forces people and worked interagency collaborative targeting operations around the world. “So basically, bringing in all aspects of American enforcement military, FBI and CIA all put in all place and targeting terrorists abroad and here, collecting information in one spot and figuring out what the best option for the US,” he said. After a year in this sensitive position, Congressman Davin Nunes, Chairman of the House Permanent Select on Intelligence Committee pulled him as senior counsel on counterterrorism. After the elections, since April 2017, he spearheaded the Russia investigation of the House Intelligence Committee. It was here when he attracted the media attention, as he played a key role in drafting of a Republicans memo, which according to President trump has exposed the Opposition Democratic party and its leadership in the Russian investigation. The New York Times described it as a “Kash Memo”. Patel said it was a “great team effort”.


INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 • PAGE 7

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 • PAGE 8

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 • PAGE 9

VIEWS

Revocation of Article 370 sends ‘Political, civilizational message’ By AADIT KAPADIA August 5, 2019 will be remembered by a generation of Indians for a long time to come. It has been a long wait for Indian citizens and more so for the Kashmiri Pandits. Forced to leave their land with Islamists ruling the valley and an apathetic administration that fled to London, the Pandits waited for three decades and the moment finally arrived. Yesterday the Home Minister of India moved the Rajya Sabha to revoked Article 370 and also introduced a bill to declare J&K and Ladakh as two separate union territories. A long standing demand of the ruling party and more so of the founder of BJS, Dr Shyama Prasad Mookherjee, Article 370 finally was revoked by the Indian State. I am not going to go in to details of what 370 was and the damage it caused to J&K. This piece does that wonderfully. The story of the day today isn’t the abrogation as much as the political will and spine showed by PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit shah to get this through the house. For years the politicians in the valley had tried to create some sort of a panic mode that if 370 is revoked then Kashmir will go into chaos and that Kashmiris don’t want this and so forth. In the process the Kashmiri politicians – a smattering of failed dynasts, separatists and ex separatists were only echoing what a part of the Sunni majority wanted. They were not speaking up for the Kashmiri Hindus, people living in Jammu or Ladakh. With the valley going in chaos because of their sheer incompetence and Article 370 preventing Kashmir of many investments and other opportunities’, it suffered. The Indian citizen on the other hand would not get the same privileges in Kashmir as the citizens of Kashmir in other parts of India because of Article 370. It was discriminatory, halting the progress of Kashmir and undoubtedly had to go. Many parties privately agreed to it with the BJP consistently opposing it since its inception. So what changed today? Why the sudden move to scrape it? First of all, the government finally had the numbers in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha that it could ensure the smooth passage of the bill. The groundwork for this was laid out by Arun Jaitely in March itself. And with a home minister who could enforce it, and a PM with a political will to back it through in spite of the backlash from sections of the opposition the die was cast. The speculation with the activities last week or either a trifurcation or 35A going but PM Modi went for the jugularrevoked Article 370 and proposed (and now passed) a bill

to bifurcate the state into two union territories. Now the CM of J&K has the same powers as an Arvind Kejriwal or V Narayanaswamy. The constituent assembly’s powers too are significantly curtailed and it gives the Indian state to enforce the same laws as they do in other parts of the country. How the changes will take place and what happens next needs a deeper analysis which needs to be done after conversations with various stakeholders. But for now the unthinkable has happened and PM Modi has managed to do something that many Kashmir analysts and political watchers like me thought would never happen. What this has ensured is that the valley will be opened up for other citizens and Jammu which kept getting a raw deal from the state government will

have its interests looked after too. The separation of Ladakh as a UT too is a welcome sentiment and one only had to look at the ground situation today to see how different it is from the Valley. Whereas the valley was under curfew, it was normal service in Ladakh and this move too was welcomed by the Ladakh MP. But the bill didn’t go without hiccups from the opposition. From not letting the HM speak, to adopting an odd line the Congress tried to do everything they could to stop it. The Congress has to decide how it plans to remain relevant in the future. Does it want to be Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Congress which apologized for Afzal Guru to get one extra vote of Engineer Rashid to ensure Mr. Azad’s election? Or does it want to look at the

larger national interest and stop listening to left wing NGOs which will ensure the party’s defeat? This is what led to the Congress’s demise in Gujarat. The overdependence on NGOs and activists defining their politics. Ironically it was the same CMHM duo that is now the PMHM that defeated them then and continue to defeat them now. Apart from the Congress though the other UPA constituents too opposed it. The surprise came from parties like BSP, ADMK, BJD, YSRCP, and TDP all of whom supported the revocation of article 370. And ultimately all the bills introduced today passed with a 2/3rd majority. So much for the panic created by parties decades ago about how this would fail. Ultimately the political will that was shown by PM Modi

prevailed and ensured this. Which brings me to the beginning of the piece. Why did I start the piece with the Pandit exodus and not the politics of it? Because the revocation of article 370 is more than a political message for all Indians- it is also a civilizational message. The civilizational connect that has been around for thousands of years is what joins all Indians today in celebrating this landmark day. It politically integrates the land of Sharada Peeth with India stronger than ever before. It sends a message to all our brothers and sisters who had lost their homes and weren’t sure if they could go back. It tells them, your home awaits you. (Aadit Kapadia Co-Founder of www.myind.net, is an engineer and columnist based out of Houston, Texas.)


PAGE 10 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019

PERSPECTIVE

Piecing together Kashmir’s audacious road map

By AMITABH MATTOO In 1948, the tallest leader of Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Abdullah, greeted Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at Lal Chowk, Srinagar, with a couplet from the Sufi poet, Amir Khusro: “Mun tu shudam tu mun shudi,mun tun shudam tu jaan shudi; Taakas na guyad baad azeen, mun deegaram tu deegari (I have become you, and you me, I am the body, you soul; So that no one can say hereafter, that you are someone, and me someone else”). Five years later, Abdullah was dismissed from office and interned on the instructions of Nehru. Since then the body of Kashmir and the soul of the rest of the country have cohabited restlessly. On Monday, August 5, 2019, the Narendra Modi government made arguably the most audacious decision of its tenure and probably the boldest decision made by any government on Kashmir since Indira Gandhi arrived at a modus vivendi with Sheikh Abdullah in 1975. By moving to revoke the ‘special status’ granted to the State under Article 370, and by reorganising the State into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh —it demonstrated unprecedented chutzpah, but it may have unleashed a chain of events difficult to predict or contain. For one, while even the founding fathers recognised that Article 370 was a transitional or temporary provision, there was a clear subtext; that its revocation would only happen once the acquiescence of the people of the State was obtained. There is no doubt that the move will be legally challenged on grounds of procedural infirmities and, more substantively, that it undermines the basic feature of the compact between Delhi and Srinagar that was agreed upon in 1947. But beyond the legality, the real test will be on the streets of Srinagar, Jammu and Delhi once the security cordon is lifted from the State. What was unbecoming is the unwillingness to enter into consultation with the mainstream political leaders; in no other State would former Chief Ministers have been dealt with so cavalierly. Similarly, the impression that the move on Article 35A is designed to engineer demographic change rather than to protect the rights of women and other marginal groups of the State, will need to be corrected. A mirror to geopolitics The move is clearly embedded in the larger geopolitics of the region and the manner in which regional alliances are marginalising Indian interests in the heartland of the region. With the United States seeking a quick exit from, and willing to let the Inter-Services Intel-

ligence-sponsored Taliban to control Afghanistan (and China deeply embedded in the power play), the heartland of central Asia has rarely been as adverse to Indian interests since 1989, when the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan. Kashmir could, in these circumstances, become even more vulnerable to external elements than it was in the 1990s. On top of it, the new camaraderie between U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and the repeated ‘offer’ by Mr. Trump to meditate in Kashmir may have precipitated the decision, which would, however, have in any case taken months of preparation. A decision to cancel the Amarnath yatra and take hard decisions, with both domestic and international ramifications, suggests that the government believed that a settlement in Jammu and Kashmir and its ‘pacification’ was vital for India’s national security. This was, of course, a marked departure from recent history. The Gupkar model Internally, for nearly 70 years, New Delhi managed Jammu and Kashmir (or more precisely the Kashmir Valley) through Srinagar’s Gupkar Road. Gupkar Road became a metaphor for the Centre’s approach, historically, towards Kashmir. New Delhi’s follies and its firmness; its cleverness and its calculations; its vacillating largesse and its ubiquitous Leviathan-like presence, were part of Gupkar’s landscape and legacy. Gupkar Road is the meandering gateway to the vistas of the Dal Lake, which runs from the desolate offices of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan at Sonwar to the fading charms of erstwhile royal palaces on the banks of the lake. It is here that security agencies are nested in close comfort with the political and business elite, and where interrogation centres have morphed into “haunted” guest houses. As a model, Gupkar Road reflected itself in a series of policies that had become predictable; a network of patronage and power that had been gamed by friends and adversaries alike. It sustained a politics of entitlement; be it politicians or newspaper editors or bureaucrats who were kept in good humour on the basis of some chimera-like national interest. The Gupkar model, it was obvious, had become redundant and counter-productive and had incentivised bad politics and the attendant rent seeking and other despicable forms of corruption. Now, shorn of its ideological fervour, what is seemingly being put in place is a new audacious plan beyond the constitutional interventions. As a start,

the Modi plan is fundamentally about directly reaching out to the people without the mediation of either separatist groups or mainstream politicians. Grass-root reach Reaching out to the people is seen as being best done by empowering local democracy to its fullest. In the past, the devolution of powers to the panchayats and urban local bodies carried little popular appeal with elected members of the Legislative Assembly, who saw this as directly eroding their authority and had a vested interest in centralising power. One of the key factors, it may be recalled, behind the Centre’s disconnection with the Mehbooba Mufti government was its continued unwillingness to hold elections to local bodies. Since the imposition of Governor’s (and now President’s) Rule, the State Administrative Council has acted with remarkable alacrity to devolve powers to panchayati raj institutions in the State. Implementation of important schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Mid-Day Meal scheme, Integrated Child Development Services and social forestry projects has been devolved to the panchayats. The monitoring and supervision of schools and health institutions has also been passed on to the panchayati raj institutions. In addition, panchayats shall also be conducting a quarterly social audit of works and programmes in their area. Almost in parallel is the Savonarola-like campaign against corruption where no one — powerful or influential — is ‘untouchable’ or beyond the scope of investigation by law enforcement agencies, but directed at the power elite of the State. Graft crackdown Corruption is thus being addressed not just at the fringes; but the very core of a rotten system is now being targeted where a few families are seen to have usurped power and economic benefits — not just in Kashmir but in Jammu as well. Indeed, almost every popular survey in Jammu and Kashmir reveals that one of the leading causes of youth angst and alienation was nepotism and corruption among the ruling elite. This anti-corruption drive is accompanied by attempts to fast track development to create institutions of academic and extra-curricular excellence and to generate skilled employment in a manner that the youth are gainfully employed and weaned away from radical thought. This, of course, is easier said than done. In the interim, the new doctrine will have to persuade the majority of the people of Jam-

mu and Kashmir that greater integration with India will provide them with more opportunities, provide more freedom and space, and strengthen their rights much more than the alternatives proposed by other mainstream parties or separatists. Will the Modi plan lead to greater harmony between New Delhi and Srinagar, bringing enduring peace to the body and

the soul? If it does, it will have performed an extraordinary national service and resolved one of New Delhi’s greatest challenges. For the moment, however, we have to live with the uncertainty that is germane to all high-risk, almost adventurous undertakings. (Amitabh Mattoo is Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi)

China hits out at India on Ladakh, urges India, Pak. to exercise restraint

“China is seriously concerned about the current situation in Kashmir,” says foreign ministry spokesperson China has slammed India for according Ladakh the Union Territory staus and urged New Delhi and Islamabad to exercise restraint following cross-border shelling and India’s decision to revoke special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Asked to comment on reports that India had announced the establishment of “Ladakh central territory,” which covers territory of the western section of India’s border with China, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chuying said in Beijing: “China has always opposed the Indian side’s entry of the Chinese territory in the western section of the Sino-Indian border into the administrative jurisdiction of India.” She stated: “This position is firm and consistent and has never changed. Recently, the Indian side has continued to damage China’s territorial sovereignty by unilaterally modifying the form of domestic law. This practice is unacceptable and will not have any effect.” The foreign ministry urged India “to be cautious on the border issue, strictly abide by the relevant agreements reached between the two sides, and avoid taking actions that further complicate the border issue.” On cross-border shelling by Indian and Pakistani forces as well as India’s decision to end special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Ms. Hua counselled the “parties concerned” to “exercise restraint and act with caution, especially to avoid actions that unilaterally change the status quo and exacerbate the tension”. She said, “China is seriously concerned about the current situation in Kashmir.” The foreign ministry stuck to its position that the Kashmir issue “is a legacy of history between India and Pakistan, which is also the consensus of the international community”. Ms. Hua called upon “the two sides to peacefully resolve relevant disputes through dialogue and consultation and safeguard regional peace and stability”.

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NEWS

Passage of JK bill momentous occasion, new dawn awaits: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the passage of bills on Jammu and Kashmir in Parliament as a "momentous occasion" in parliamentary democracy and said a new dawn awaits the state which is now free from the "shackles" of vested interest groups. "Together we are, together we shall rise and together we will fulfil the dreams of 130 crore Indians! A momentous occasion in our Parliamentary democracy, where landmark bills pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir have been passed with overwhelming support!" he said in a series of tweets soon after the Lok Sabha passed the bills. Parliament has given its nod to abolish the special status granted to the state under Article 370 and also to bifurcate it into two union territories. "For years, vested interest groups who believed in emotional blackmail, never cared for people's empowerment. J&K is now free from their shackles. A new dawn, better tomorrow awaits!" the prime minister said. "Saluting sisters and brothers of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh for their courage and resilience," he said, adding that the bills will ensure integration and empowerment of these regions. These steps will bring the youth into the mainstream and give them innumerable opportunities to showcase their skills and talents, he said, adding that local infrastructure will significantly improve.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 • PAGE 11

Article 370: Voices of dissent within Congress A number of Congress leaders across the country have gone against the party’s stand in Parliament on abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir by supporting the Centre’s move and a bill to bifurcate the state. The Congress has strongly opposed the move and the bill to bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories. Going against the party’s stand, senior Congress leaders Janardan Dwivedi, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Deepender Hooda have voiced support to the move. Dwivedi welcomed the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, saying even though it came late, a historical mistake had been corrected. Scindia said he supported the move on Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and the state’s full integration into the Union of India, adding that it was in the interest of the country. “I support the move on #JammuAndKashmir & #Ladakh and its full integration into union of India. “Would have been better if constitutional process had been followed. No questions could have been raised then. Nevertheless, this is in our country’s interest and I support this,” he said on Twitter. Hooda contended that the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir “is in the interest of national integrity”. Mumbai Congress chief Milind Deora said it was “very unfortunate” that Article 370 was

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being converted into a “liberal vs conservative debate”. “Parties should put aside ideological fixations & debate what’s best for India’s sovereignty and federalism, peace in J&K, jobs for Kashmiri youth and justice for Kashmiri Pandits,” he said in a tweet. “Abolishing Article 370 of the Indian Constitution could well be dubbed Modi Sarkar 2.0’s demonetisation moment. “For the sake of peace and development in Jammu & Kashmir, I hope this decision plays out more favourably than demonetisation did,” Deora noted. Dwivedi said it was a matter of national satisfaction that a “mistake” made at the time of Independence was corrected. He added that after Independence, many freedom fighters did not want Article 370 to remain in place and cited the example of Ram Manohar Lohia, under whom he had his political

training and who was against Article 370. “This is a matter of satisfaction for the nation. This historical mistake that happened at the time of Independence has been rectified today, even though late, and is welcomed,” Dwivedi told PTI, while clarifying that his opinion was personal and he was not putting forward his party’s view. Congress’s chief whip in the Rajya Sabha Bhubaneshwar Kalita quit his membership in the Upper House of Parliament over the issue after the party asked him to issue a whip to all members for opposing the bill. Hooda said, “I have always maintained that Article 370 should be scrapped. It has no place in the 21st century. Abrogation of this Article is in the interest of national integrity and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. However, the onus of peaceful implementation of this transition in a trustworthy

environment lies on the incumbent government.” Congress MLA from Rae Bareli Aditi Singh also said on Twitter, “United we stand! Jai Hind. #Article370.” When someone reminded her that she was a Congress leader, Singh replied back, saying, “Main ek Hindustani hoon (I am an Indian).” She termed it a historic decision and urged people not to politicise it. Singh’s Assembly segment -- Rae Bareli Sadar -- is a part of UPA chairperson and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency. Meanwhile, sources said the top Congress leadership was learnt to be peeved at the comments of the party’s leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, questioning whether Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter as it was being monitored by the United Nations.

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PAGE 12 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019

NEWS

India’s hyperloop plans were all talk—until now

On July 31, the Maharashtra government gave the final nod for constructing a hyperloop between India’s financial capital Mumbai and Pune, which is 200 kilometres away. The authorities have tagged it a “public infrastructure” project much like roads, bridges, and railways, setting it up to be the first hyperloop project in the world, the makers claim. A hyperloop is an ultra-highspeed ground transportation system akin to bullet trains. The Mumbai-Pune hyperloop is expected to slash the 3.5 hour travel time between the two cities to 35 minutes, according to the press release. “This is history in the making. The race is on to host the first hyperloop transportation system in the world, and today’s announcement puts India firmly in the lead,” said Jay Walder, CEO of the American transport tech firm Virgin Hyperloop One, which will be constructing the route between Mumbai and Pune. “This is a significant milestone and the first of many important steps toward bringing hyperloop to the masses.” Already, there are around 75 million passenger journeys between Mumbai and Pune annually. By 2026, this figure is expected to skyrocket to 130 million. The transport system

aims to undertake 150 million passenger-trips annually, along with ferrying lightweight cargo units between Mumbai port and Pune. The hyperloop, brought into the limelight by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in a 60-page letter five years ago, involves a magneticallypropelled capsule that carries passengers or cargo through a low-pressure tube at over 1,000 kilometres per hour. Virgin Hyperloop One, backed by British investor and founder of the Virgin group, Richard Branson, was the first company to test the technology in May 2016. The announcement makes way for the formation of a consortium of Virgin Hyperloop One and DP World FZE—a global trade leader and a major ports and logistics operator in India which is set to invest $500 million in private capital to complete the first phase of the project—as proponents of the original project. Although this isn’t the only hyperloop project in the race— US-based research company Hyperloop Transportation Technology announced plans to connect Vijayawada and Amaravati in the southeastern coastal state of Andhra Pradesh—it’s the only one that’s gone beyond the memo-

randum stage in India. India may be the frontrunner but elsewhere, UAE’s hyperloop project is also making strides with its first 10 kilometre stretch set to open by 2020; the US is working on a number of routes; and projects are underway in China, parts of Europe and a handful of other regions too. The hyperloop system will be a real energy- and timesaver. A US department of transportation (DoT) feasibility analysis estimates that Hyperloop routes could be up to six times more energy-efficient than air travel on short routes, and over three times faster than

the world’s fastest high-speed rail system. Though experts have questioned how sustainable Musk’s claim of zero direct emissions really is, the high-pods would be more eco-friendly than road vehicles, reducing air and noise pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, congestion, and even road accidents, research shows. Aside from alleviating transportation woes, the hyperloop will also be a boon for the economy. The project will “generate hundreds of thousands of new high-tech jobs, create over $36 billion in wider socio-economic benefits, and

create new hyperloop component and manufacturing opportunities to export to India and the rest of the world,” the July 31 press release added. However, hyperloop’s success in India heavily depends on the regulatory framework. Land acquisition troubles, wonky safety standards, and a tough customs regime often plague infrastructure projects in the nation. To top it off, it is still a theoretical transportation system with only a handful of small-scale, lower-speed tests, which have never been tested with human passengers.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 • PAGE 13

NEWS

Pulwama-like attacks can happen after revocation of Article 370: Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday expressed apprehension that Pulwama-like attacks can follow the revocation of the special status for Jammu and Kashmir, which could trigger a conventional war between Pakistan and India. “This will be a war that no one will win and the implications will be global,” he warned while addressing a rare joint sitting of Parliament that was convened to discuss the Kashmir situation, a day after the Indian government revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. India maintains that Jammu and Kashmir is its integral part and it includes Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Prime Minister Khan explained how the war-like scenario could erupt in the middle of the current tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. He said Kashmiris would protest and India would launch a crackdown on them. Khan said with this approach, “attacks like Pulwama are bound to happen again. I can already predict this will happen. They will attempt to place the blame on us again. They may strike us again, and we will strike back.” “What will happen then?... Who will win that war? No one will win it and it will have grievous consequences for the entire world. This is not nuclear blackmail,” Khan told the

lawmakers. He urged the international community to take notice of the situation in Kashmir. “What they did in Kashmir is in accordance with their ideology…They have a racist ideology,” Khan alleged. “Theirs is the ideology which killed Mahatma Gandhi. If the world does not act and does not uphold its own laws then we will not be responsible.” Khan said that his government would approach the world leaders and apprise them of situation in Kashmir. “We will fight it at every forum including the UN Security Council,” he said, adding that Pakistan also plans to take the matter to the International

Divided regions, will they divide hearts too, asks Farooq Abdullah

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah asserted on Tuesday that he was put under house arrest and in an emotional outburst asked if the government after dividing Jammu and Kashmir, “will divide hearts too”. In his first remarks since the government on Monday revoked provisions of Article 370 to take away state’s special status, and proposed that the state be bifurcated into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, Abdullah said a “dictatorial” authority has been invoked and not a “democratic” one. Talking to TV channels in Srinagar, Abdullah contested Home Minister Amit Shah’s assertion in Parliament that he was neither under detention nor arrest and was at his home of his own will. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said he “broke the door” to come out and speak to the media. “I heard the statement of the home minister of India that Farooq Abdullah is free and is staying in the house out of his own will. I thought how can he be lying when a DSP has been placed outside my house and no one can come in and no one can go out,” he told Times Now TV channel. Responding to NCP’s Supriya Sule in Lok Sabha, Union Home minister Amit Shah said,”he (Abdullah) is neither under deten-

Gandhi’s way...Why was this done? What was the need,” he said. “If it (the developments in J&K) is going according to the Constitution why the home minister could not wait when the matter is with the Supreme Court of India. Article 370 is not a presidential order, it is a constitutional guarantee,” Abdullah said.

tion nor under arrest. He is at his home on his own will.” When Sule wondered whether the National conference leader was unwell, Shah said it was up to the doctors to say. “I can’t carry out the treatment, it was up to doctors,” he said. Abdullah broke down while speaking to NDTV about the government’s decision and said,”they divided regions, will they divide hearts too? Will they divide Hindus and Muslims? I thought my India was for all, everyone who believes in secular, unity.” “For 70 years we have fought the battle and today we are supposed to be the culprits,” he said. The Articles 370 and 35A were guaranteed by the government of India, he asserted. “Dictatorial authority has been invoked and not a democratic authority that we thought they will invoke. I don’t know how many have been arrested. Nobody is allowed to come in or go out, we are under house arrest,” he said. Abdullah, 81, said he knows only of his son Omar Abdullah and another former CM Mehbooba Mufti’s arrest that too through the media. “There is no written order but we have been placed under house arrest. We believe in law, we are not stone pelters or killers. We have never used the path of gun. We have always used Mahatma

Court of Justice. Khan said that he tried to improve ties and all neighbours, including India, but New Delhi refused to respond to his overtures. “When I first reached out to India, they expressed concerns that there were militant outfits operating from Pakistan. I told (Narendra) Modi that after the grave and painful tragedy of the Army Public School massacre, all our political parties had resolved to never let the territory of Pakistan be used for terrorist activities. “But I got the feeling that the Indian side was not serious about talks. When we went to Bishkek (for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit), my suspicions regarding their unwillingness to speak was strengthened,” Khan said. He said that India “took our overtures for peace as weakness, so we stopped extending offers to hold talks”. Responding to criticism by Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif, who said that the government should give tough response to India, Khan asked, “What opposition leader wants? Should I order an attack on India?” Shehbaz earlier said

that Khan should use his leadership to lead the case of Kashmir at this critical juncture. “We have two options: either we hide or we take decisive action. Hiding is not an option, we must take decisive action,” he said. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of Pakistan Peoples Party also urged for strong action to counter the Indian move. Earlier, the joint sitting was marred due to differences between treasury and opposition over language of resolution against India. After the start of the meeting, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Khan Swati presented the resolution, condemning “violation” of the Line of Control (LoC) by India, but it did not mention the revocation of Article 370. Opposition lawmakers staged protest at the omission and threatened to boycott which prompted National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar to adjourn the session with the promise to reconvene shortly after amending the resolution. The session was convened after four hours when Prime Minister Khan agreed give a policy statement.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 • PAGE 15


PAGE 16 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019

NEWS What criminalization of instant divorce means for India’s Muslims By DANISH RAZA On Tuesday, India’s Parliament passed a bill to criminalize the practice of instant divorce. A man who imposes an instant divorce on his wife faces up to three years in prison as per the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill of 2019. The bill awaits presidential assent, which it is expected to get. Women’s-rights activists, Islamic groups, and political parties are divided on the contentious issue. Many Muslim women’s groups have demanded the change, saying that the tradition of instant divorce is detrimental to them. (The custom is banned in more than 20 Muslim countries, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.) More conservative Islamic organizations say that the government has no business getting involved in what is, in effect, a religious practice. Other activists acknowledge that the change is needed, but say that it comes at a time when Hindu nationalism is the dominant political movement in India and as religious minorities, especially Muslims, are becoming more and more marginalized in the country. Instant divorce is far from universal among Indian Muslims. There is no mention of it in the Koran, which says that a couple chooses separation once they have made all possible efforts to resolve their differences. The custom is attributed to the hadith—the record of the traditions and sayings of Prophet Muhammad, which is held in high regard by Muslims. Indeed, in practice, some Muslim sects believe that a marriage can continue if the husband decides to reconcile within three months of him conveying talaq. A wife cannot obtain instant divorce. Instead, divorce initiated by a wife is called khula—and is obtained through arbitration in Muslim courts. After the bill’s passage, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Parliament abolishes Triple Talaq and corrects a historic wrong done to Muslim women.”

The clamor around instant divorce has been building for the past decade. In that time, there have been reported cases of Muslim men, such as Rehman’s husband, carrying out instant divorce through letters, text messages, emails, and WhatsApp messages—without providing alimony or financial support. The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), a women’s-rights group, spearheaded the campaign for the ban. The BMMA raises awareness on the issue and provides legal aid to women who report misuse of divorce provisions. Rehman was exploring options to make her husband accountable when she was introduced to BMMA members. She and others who were divorced in a similar manner filed a lawsuit that made its way to India’s Supreme Court. In 2017, the court declared instant divorce illegal and unconstitutional. In effect, the judgment meant that such divorce could not end a marriage. The Bharatiya Janata Party– led government’s stance is that it enacted the law this week to reinforce the court ruling. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the upper house of Parliament that more than 300 cases have come to light since the court’s judgment. The government maintains that Muslim women are vulnerable both socially and financially because of an absence of reforms in the Muslim community. There is no official data on the prevalence of instant divorce in India. But the passage of the law also raises questions about whether the government should involve itself in what is essentially Muslim personal law. At issue is the practice of religion in India. To account for a diverse population of different faiths, the framers of India’s constitution, which was adopted in 1950, allowed every religious group to formulate personal laws. So, a Hindu would be allowed to follow Hindu rules for marriage; ditto Christians and those of other faiths. (Couples also can—and do—choose to marry under the secular Special Marriage Act.)

as human-rights advocates, have condemned the practice of instant divorce, but they also accuse the BJP of demonizing Muslims. They say the ban feeds into the perceived marginalization of Muslims who feel threatened by recent attacks by Hindu vigilantes. Additionally, they say, Indian Muslims face more pressing issues: Various surveys have highlighted their poor economic and social conditions. Read: How Hinduism became a political weapon in India The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), an NGO that supervises the implementation of Muslim personal law in the country, says the Indian government should abstain from matters of faith, citing the Indian constitution. The AIMPLB and some Islamic scholars in India say they believe that the legislation is a step toward replacing personal laws with a uniform civil code that would encompass all Indian citizens, irrespective of faith. This idea, which they oppose, is supported by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, an influential Hindu nationalist group that is the BJP’s ideological parent. Additionally, says Ziya Us Salam, a New Delhi–based journalist and the author of Till Talaq Do Us Part, “The Koran gives a squabbling couple two chances for reconciliation.”

“The bill takes away a chance at any reconciliation,” he told me. “Any man jailed because of the wife’s complaint will never opt for reconciliation. The bill leaves women penniless, children practically orphaned. If the man [is] imprisoned, how will he provide maintenance to his wife? The bill amounts to a state coercion.” (Under Islamic law, a woman is entitled to seek a subsistence allowance from her husband for herself and her dependent children.) Salam and many Muslim groups in India question the need for legislation when the Supreme Court, in multiple hearings, has struck down instant divorce. “According to the court, the marriage is intact after triple talaq. Where is the crime?” he asked. But for Rehman and other women who pushed for the change, the bill’s passage is historic. “We cannot change whatever happened to me,” she told the Indian Express newspaper. “But we now have a way to stop this practice which has been going on for centuries.” Danish Raza is a New Delhibased journalist with the Hindustan Times where he writes on social justice, culture, and the intersection of technology and society. He is an Alfred Friendly Press Partners fellow. —The Atlantic

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For Muslims, who constitute 14 percent of India’s 1.3 billion population, family matters, including marriage, divorce, and inheritance, come under the purview of Muslim personal law. An analysis of Indian census data conducted by Abusaleh Shariff, an economist at the U.S.-India Policy Institute, based in Washington, D.C., and Syed Khalid, a research associate at the Centre for Research and Debates in Development Policy, showed that the number of separated and abandoned women in India, at 2.3 million, is twice the number of divorced women. If the government were serious about women’s rights, the researchers said, it would introduce reforms across communities, rather than focusing on one religious practice pertaining to Muslims. The BMMA calls that argument irrational. Just “because there is no law against terrible spouses in other religions, a law specifically meant to punish Muslim men, when the complaint is initiated by the aggrieved wife or her family, [isn’t] discriminatory,” Mariya Salim, a researcher and BMMA member, told me. She said that rather than being a victory for the BJP, the bill’s passage is “the triumph of Muslim women fighting against the unconstitutional and non-Islamic practice.” Opposition parties, as well

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019• PAGE 17

FEATURE

37-year-old former school teacher is India’s newest billionaire

Employees work at the Think and Learn office in Bengaluru, India. Byju Raveendran joined the rarefied club after his Think & Learn Pvt scored $150 million in funding earlier this month. That deal conferred a value of $5.7 billion on the company in which the founder owns more than 21%, people familiar with the matter said. Its closing coincided with the announcement that the company’s Byju’s app -- named after the founder -will team up with Walt Disney Co. and take its service to American shores by early 2020. The 37-year-old entrepreneur -- who has said he wants to do for Indian education what the Mouse House did for entertainment -- is taking his biggest step yet geographically and creatively. In his new app, Disney staples from The Lion King’s Simba to Frozen’s Anna teach math and English to students from grades one through three. The same characters star in animated videos, games, stories and interactive quizzes. “Kids everywhere relate to Disney’s Simba or Moana, who grip kids’ attention before we take them through the loop of learning,” said Raveendran, also chief executive officer. India is going through a dramatic period of wealth creation -- and destruction. A new breed of self-made entrepreneurs is joining the ranks of the wellheeled, helping the country’s ultra-rich population grow at the world’s fastest pace. Raveendran, at least on paper, assumes his place among those parvenus thanks to his effort in internet education. The BYJU’S learning app is demonstrated on a tablet. Online learning is booming, perhaps nowhere more so than on Byju’s home turf, where internet usage is exploding because of the ubiquity of cheap smartphones and cut-price wireless plans. India’s online

learning market is expected to more than double to $5.7 billion by 2020, according to the government-backed India Brand Equity Foundation. Education technology for kindergarten through 12th grade is one of the fastestgrowing segments of the country’s internet market, said Anil Kumar, chief executive officer of Redseer Management Consulting Pvt. “Indian education startups are well set to seize the global opportunity given that they already cater to a large English-speaking base and have created unique education content,” he said. Byju’s own fortunes have climbed alongside the market. Its revenues are expected to more than double to 30 billion rupees ($435 million) in the year ending March 2020, Raveendran said. That pace of growth has already caught the eye of some of the industry’s biggest investors from Naspers Ventures and Tencent Holdings Ltd. to Sequoia Capital and Facebook-founder Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan. Those big-name backers buy Raveendran’s vision. The Byju’s founder grew up in a village on India’s southern coast where his parents were school-teachers. He was a reluctant pupil, playing hooky to frequent the football field, then learning on his own at home. He became an engineer and then began helping friends crack entry exams to top Indian engineering and management schools. The classes swelled till he finally began teaching thousands in sports stadiums, becoming a celebrity tutor who commuted between multiple cities during weekends. He set up Think & Learn in 2011, offering online lessons before launching his main app in 2015. The business has

signed up more than 35 million of whom about 2.4 million pay an annual fee of 10,000 to 12,000 rupees, helping it became profitable in the year ending March 2019. That’s when Raveendran began courting long-term investors such as pension funds and sovereign wealth funds -- his latest backer is the Qatar Investment Authority. In Byju’s latest funding round, the entrepreneur bought shares to maintain his equity level. Along with his wife and brother, the Raveendran clan now holds a total stake of about 35%, said the people familiar, asking not to be quoted as the matter is private. Byju’s approach is simple -captivate kids by transforming the content to fit short attention spans. Raveendran has always harbored ambitions to crack English-speaking countries, and has flown in YouTube stars to feature in his videos. In Disney, he may have found a ready-made audience. All the lessons on the new service with Disney are set in the context of the entertainment giant’s classics and stay true to the narrative. To explain temperature, the app sets up a scene where Frozen’s Elsa falls ill because she constantly plays with snow. Anna gets out the thermometer to gauge her fever and a little story is then built around heat and cold. Or, to learn shapes, young learners dive into the story of Cars where they have to sort items like tires, traffic cones and billboards into buckets to learn about round, triangular and rectangular shapes. “We are customizing Disney Byju’s to the American and British school curriculum,” Raveendran said. “The characters have universal appeal.” (www.bloomberg.com)

Ayodhya daily hearing from Aug 6 as mediation fails

The Supreme Court on Friday said it will hold day-to-day hearing from August 6 to decide the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya as the efforts to arrive at an amicable settlement through mediation have failed. The apex court took note of the report of the three member mediation panel, headed by former apex court judge FMI Kalifulla, that the mediation proceedings which went on for about four months have not resulted in any final settlement and it has to decide the matter pending before it. “We have received the report submitted by Justice (Retd) FMI Kalifulla, the chairman of the Mediation Committee. We have perused the same. The mediation proceedings have not resulted in any final settlement. We, therefore, have to proceed with the hearing of the cases/appeals, which will commence on and from August 6,” said a 5-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. “The hearing which will be on day-to-day basis until the arguments are concluded will start with the appeals arising out of the two suits. The learned counsel(s)...In the appeals arising out of the aforesaid suits may, for the convenience of the court, indicate the pleadings and the evidence on which they propose to rely, so that the officials of the Registry can keep the said documents ready for perusal of the court,” the Bench said in its order. The Bench, also comprising Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and SA Nazeer, had on July 18, asked the three-member mediation panel to inform the court about the outcome of their proceedings as on July 31. The panel was asked to place the report by August 1 to enable it to proceed further in the matter. The mediation panel, also comprising spiritual guru and founder of the Art of Living foundation Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate and renowned mediator Sriram Panchu, had said in its report submitted on Thursday that the Hindu and the Muslim parties have not been able to find a solution to the vexatious dispute. The apex court, which on March 8 referred the matter for mediation, had asked for in-camera proceedings to be completed within eight weeks, but later granted time till August 15 after the panel’s earlier report said that the mediators were “optimistic” about an amicable solution. The top court had fixed the seat for mediation process in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, around 7 km from Ayodhya, and said adequate arrangements including the venue of the mediation, place of stay of the mediators, their security, travel should be forthwith arranged by the State Government. After the Bench on Friday passed the order, senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for a Muslim party, raised several technical issues and said he will need 20 days to argue the various issues arising in the matter in detail and there should not be any curtailment on the hearing. While he was raising different aspects of the matter and how the appeals have to be heard, the bench told him “don’t remind us what we have to do”. “We know there are many aspects and we will deal with all these aspects. Let the hearing start,” it said. Dhavan also raised the issue of pending writ petition filed by senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and the application filed by a Muslim body. The court which had perused a report about the progress of mediation process till July 18, had said that its contents will remain confidential as per its earlier order. Fourteen appeals have been filed in the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land in Ayodhya be partitioned equally among the three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. On December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid, constructed at the disputed site in the 16th century by Shia Muslim Mir Baqi, was demolished. The Central Government on January 29 this year moved the apex court seeking its nod to return the 67-acre undisputed acquired land around the disputed site to original owners. The 0.313 acre plot, on which the disputed structure stood before it was demolished by ‘kar sevaks’ on December 6, 1992, was within the 2.77-acre disputed premises., the plea said. The Government had then acquired 67.703 acres, including the 2.77-acre plot, through a legislation in 1993. The Ram Janambhoomi Nyas (RJN) is the owner of as much as 42 acres of the acquired non-disputed land. The Centre’s plea said that the RJN (a trust to promote construction of Ram Temple) had also sought return of excess land acquired to original owners. The Centre claimed that only 0.313 acre of land was disputed on which the structure stood before it was demolished by ‘kar sevaks’ on December 6, 1992. A week later, another petition was filed challenging the constitutional validity of 1993 Central law on land acquisition in Ayodhya near the disputed site, contending that Parliament has no legislative competence to acquire land belonging to the State.


PAGE 8 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015 PAGE INDIAHERALD HERALD• •WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,MARCH AUGUST 2019 PAGE 18 8 • •INDIA 30,7,2016

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Sandhya aarti at 6:30 BUY For further SELL are welcome. inforp.m.OLD Temple closesNEW at 7 p.m. Heritage Classes mation, call Raj BhalaHeritage at (281) Sunday special from 9 a.m. to Classes Ashirwad’s Heritage Classes& in Katy, Cypress and Sugar Land for7 RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL 980-2825. p.m. Puja services Priest BishAshirwad’s Heritage Classes in Katy, Cypress and Sugar Land for Arya Samaj Satsang nupadaCell Goswami Phone 281-597-8100 SANJEEV KUMAR Weekly Havan Satsang every Temple is located at 13944 Schil832-689-1819 Sunday 10 a.m. to 12 noon. ler Rd Your from realtor for life. (off Hwy 6 bet. Bellaire & Email: sksrealtor@hotmail.com DAV Sanskriti School Sundays Westpark). Call Ganesh Mandal 10 a.m. to noon. Havan, at 713-797-9057 / 832-423-8541. Lot for12Sale off- of Kalyani Hwy in Sodhpur, WE DEAL IN WE DEAL IN Houses, Hindi and Naitik Shiksha classes. Shiv Shakti Mandir Lot for Sale off of Kalyani Hwy in Sodhpur, West Bengal. 1Motels bhiga or 20Sanatan KathasShiv with 2300 Sq. Houses, Gas DAV Montessori School for ages Gas Stations, Shakti Mandir, West Bengal. 1 bhiga or 20 Kathas with 2300 Sq. ft. bungalow built.6640 Architectural plans 2 Stations, to 7 years. Call Artihalf Khanna Harwin. Open daily 7 and Farm &Motels Ranch. ft. bungalow half built. Architectural 281-759-3286. Freeavailable. Yoga classes Office: 281-497-7000 a.m. to 8713-722-8870 p.m. All plans major festiRs. 90 lakhs. Ranch Apartment Complex onand Sat. Farm Sanskrit & & Upanishad vals, as well as birthdays, naam available. Rs. 90 lakhs. Fax: 713-779-4656 281-497-7007 Please contact Saha at classes Tue. 6-8 p.m. At 14375 Shilpi properties Available!! Call Now karan, engagement and other cerPlease contact Shilpi Saha at Shilpi@yourblvd.com or 832-647-9433 Schiller Rd. (bet Westpark & Bel- emonies. Call Pandit Virat Mehta Shilpi@yourblvd.com or 832-647-9433 laire off Hwy 6). 281-752-0100. 713-278-9099 or Hardik Raval

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Book on Marshal Sam Manekshaw Montessori for scriptures, ages Yoga, 2 to as birthdays, 77477 at 6:30 p.m. Join us for a naamField karan, engagekids 4 tostories 18School yrs for -from meditation, slokas, ery Sunday at 5810 Almeda GeBook on Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw 361-243-6539 puja or other Telugu Fellowship Friday, July 10 @ 6:30 p.m. 7Vishnu years. Call Arti Khanna 281time of praise, worship and felment and other ceremonies. Call slokas,Sahasranam, stories from scriptures, bhajans, com- noa Rd. Sunday School at 9:15 ceremonies. Telugu Fellowship Friday, July 10 @ 6:30Christian p.m. is in 759-3286. Free Yoga classes on lowship. Worship English. Pandit Virat Mehta 713-278-9099 Zoroastrian Association Houston will every third Saturday Vishnu Sahasranam, bhajans,Adult com- a.m. petitions and fun activities. Malayalam service atof9:30 meets of Sat. Sanskrit & Upanishad classes For information call Chris Ganor Hardik Raval 361-243-6539 Heartfulness Meditation Zoroastrian Association of Houston will Behram and his petitions andclasses. fun activities. Adult meditation Register at present a.m.puja onBrigadier 1stother & 3rd Sunday.Panthaki Adult the month at Triumph Church, Tue. 6-8 p.m. At 14375 Schiller tela 281-344-0707, or Rev. Vijay for or ceremonies. Heartfulness Meditation is or aat wife present Brigadier Behram Panthaki and his Zenobia of the10555 much meditation classes. Register www.ashirwada-blessing.org Bible class atPanthaki, 9:30 a.m.authors English W. Airport Blvd., StafRd. (bet Westpark & Bellaire off Gurrala 281-997-0757. Heartfulness Meditation practical technique of tuning inwife Zenobia Panthaki, authors of the much acclaimed book: “Field Marshal Sam www.ashirwada-blessing.org or Sri Ravula 281-995-0930. service at 10:30Meditation a.m. on 2nd & ford TX 77477 at 6:30 p.m. Join Hwy 6). 281-752-0100. Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Heartfulness is a wards to experience our higher Manekshaw: acclaimed book: “Field Marshal Sam The 713-991-1557 Man and His Times”, Sri Ravula 281-995-0930. 4th Sunday. Call us for a time of praise, worship Hare Krishna Dham Brahma Kumaris Hours: Mon to Fri 6 a.m. -8 a.m. practical technique of tuning inselves. Meditation with someone at Manekshaw: The Heritage Man andand HisCultural Times”, the Zoroastrian or 281-261-4603. and 5:00 fellowship. Worship is in Hare Dham The Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga wards and to 8:30 p.m. Weekexperience our higher who has Krishna theoriginal capacity of temple, yogic Houston’s Vedic at the to Zoroastrian Heritage and Cultural Center, 8787 W Airport Blvd., Houston, TX p.m. English. Call Chris Gantela 281Sri Guruvayurappan Meditation Center is open 7 days ends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon selves. Meditation with someHouston’s original Vedic temple, transmission can help exISKCON of Houston. Atyou 1320 W 77071. Center,Starts 8787 W Blvd., Houston, TX at Airport 6:30 with social hour. 344-0707, or Rev. V. Gurrala Temple a34th week. The center offers free and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bhaone who has the capacity of yoISKCON of Houston. 1320 W 77071. plore the(77018). Heartfulness practice St. DailyAtDarshan Starts at 6:30was withIndia’s socialfirst hour.Field Sam Manekshaw 281-997-0757. Hours: Mon Frican 6 a.m. -8 war a.m. Raja Yoga Meditation jans Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; transmission help youhero. 34th St. (77018). Daily Darshan more deeply. There are noclasses: charg& Arati Times: 4.30am, 7am, gic Sam Manekshaw was India’s first Field Marshal and to a distinguished His Gaudiya Math and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. WeekMon-Fri @ 6:00-6:45am and 7-8 Sundays explore the Heartfulness practice & for Arati Times: 4.30am, 7am, es this, and we4.30pm, invite you to courage, 8.30am, 12noon, 7pm, Marshal and a distinguished wardedication hero. His 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Special his character, and the Sri Govindaji Gaudiya Matha ends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon pm, Sat-Sun @ 7:00-8:30am, 10 poojas more deeply. There are no charg8.30am, 12noon, 4.30pm, 7pm, experience theFestival: unique benefits of 9pm. Sunday 5.30 pm to to courage, his character, andare thelegendary. dedication (weekends and holidays) his troops and country at 16628 Kieth HarrowforBlvd., and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bhaam-2 pm. Visiting hours are SatChoroon (Annaprasam) kids, es for this, and we invite you to 9pm. Sunday Festival: 5.30 pmfor this transmission. Workshops onto to 7.30 pm. Weekly Gita classes country are legendary. Thehis lifetroops of thisand distinguished soldier is portrayed by two distinguished Houston 77084. Satsang Sundays jans Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sun @ 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Niexperience the unique benefits of 7.30 pm.call Weekly Gita classes for Heartfulness relaxation and medadults; 281-433-1635 or authors The lifewho of this distinguished soldier isto portrayed by twoof distinguished worked closely with him and shared many the historic 5 7 pm. Mantra meditation, Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Special us at (832) 379-8888, houston@ rapara. Temple is located at 11620 this transmission. Workshops on adults;arecall itation held281-433-1635 weekly through-or events harekrishnadham @gmail.com authorsthat who workedthe closely with him and shared many of theThrough historic changed geo-political landscape of the region. kirtan, Sanatan Dharma classes. poojas (weekends and holidays) bktexas.com, or @gmail.com bktexas.com Ormandy St. (77035) Tel: 713relaxation and mediharekrishnadham out Houston, including Saturdays Heartfulness events that changed the geo-political landscape of the region. Through anecdotes related by Behram and Zenobia Panthakiand we Hindi get a unique Vedic Education classChoroon (Annaprasam) for kids, to sign-up for classes. All Raja 729-8994 email: temple@ gurutation are held weekly throughout at 11 am at India House. Web: insight anecdotes by ideals, Behram Zenobia Panthaki we get anoon unique intorelated the man’s hisand military acumen, his mannerisms, and Houston Namadwaar es for kids. Gita classes Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Yoga Meditation teachers Email: at the Houston. vayur.us Web: www.heartfulwww.heartfulness.org; insight into the man’s ideals, his military acumen, his mannerisms, and his sense of humor. Houston Namadwaar 1:30 pm Wed. Hanuman Chalisa A prayer house where the Hare Nirapara. Temple is located at Houston center are samarpit and Preksha Meditation ness.org; Email: houston.hearthouston.heartfulness@gmail. hisBrigadier sense of Panthaki humor. himself boastsand a distinguished 30-yearon military A15+ prayer house where theexpeHare fulness@gmail.com. Ramcharit Manas Tue. Rama Hare Krishna Maha-man11620 Ormandy St. (77035) Tel: have years of teaching JVB Preksha Meditation CenCell: 713com. Cell: 713-929-0040 Brigadier Panthaki himself boasts a distinguished 30-year military career that earned him 12 military honors. Zenobia Panthaki accomRama Hare Krishna Maha-man7:30–8:30 p.m. info@sggm.org tra is continuously chanted. Week713-729-8994 email: temple@ rience. ter conducts weekly Meditation, 929-0040. (Ragini Prakash Miryala MD) career that earned him 12 military Panthaki accom panied her husband on his postingshonors. to 281-499-3347. manyZenobia small cantonment towntra is Heritage continuously chanted. Week- guruvayur.us or ends: 8-11 AM & Mission 4-7 PM, WeekChinmaya Yoga and Swadhyay sessionstown inHare Krishna Dham Classes panied her husband on his postings to many small cantonment ships all over India and became involved with running welfare proends: 8-11 AM & 4-7 PM, Weekdays: 7-8 AM & 6-7 PM. Weekly Hindu Temple of Preksha Meditation Summer schedule side its unique Pyramid hall unHouston’s original Vedic temple, Ashirwad’s Heritage Classes in grams ships all Indiawives and became involved running welfare pro forover soldiers’ and children; she with has run the Army School, days:BalaVihar 7-8 AM &and 6-7 PM. classes Weekly “Gopa Kuteeram” children’s heri- ISKCON New facilities of JVB Preksha Both adult der the auspicious guidance of of Houston. At 1320 the Woodlands Katy, Cypress Sugar Land grams for soldiers’ wives and children; she has run the Army School and worked for the World Bank for 28 years until retirement in 2012. “Gopa Kuteeram” children’s heritage classes and Srimad Meditation Center. Classes for will remain closed from May 19th Samani Kanchan Pragyaji and W 34th St. (77018). Daily Dar7601 S.reviews. Forest Gate Dr, in“From for kids 4 to 18 yrs - meditation, and worked for the Worldover Bank 28 years until retirement 2012 The book has received 60for positive To quote: tage classes andfrom Srimad Bhagavatam classes. Call 281Yoga and Meditation undera.m, guidto September 7th. Classes will re- shan Samani Pranav Pragyaji who are & Arati Times: 4.30 7 The Woodlands, TX 77382 Yoga, slokas, stories scripThe book has received over 60 positive reviews. To quote: “From beginning to end this delightful narrative simply races along, providing Bhagavatam classes. Call 281402-6585; visit www.godivinity.org ance by Samani jis and discourssume on Sunday, September 8th. stationed at Houston Center this a.m, 8.30 a.m, 12 noon, 4.30 p.m, Temple tures, Vishnu Sahasranam, bha- an beginning end this narrative races along, providing intimate,towitty anddelightful scintillating storysimply ofHours a superhero “ Sam’s hu402-6585; visit www.godivinity.org (Global Organization forfun Divinity). At 14102 Schiller Road (off year. New member registration foractiviBala 7es. It also runs special events p.m, 9 p.m. Sunday Festival: Weekdays: jans, competitions and an intimate, witty and scintillating story of a superhero “ Sam’s hu manism, his notations on official files, his colorful language and his (Global Organization for in Divinity). Hwy 6 bettohis Bellaire and Westpark Vihar will be meditation conducted Chin- 5.30 and programs like I-Choose, pm 7.30 p.m. Weekly 7:30 AM 9:30 AM ties. Adult classes. manism, notations on official files, his colorful language and hi doodling”. - doodling”. 77082). Telfor 281-596-9642. maya SmrtiatHallwww.ashirwadaonSivalaya SUNDAY, Gita Meditation Camps and Gyanclasses adults; call 2815:30 PM 8.30 PM Register Saumyakasi This book, with over 200 photographs, is dedicated to the men in Patanjali Yogpeeth August 4 andor11Srifrom 9 AM to 433-1635 shala program for children agesto or harekrishnadham @ lives Aartidefending @ PM Saumyakasi Sivalaya blessing.org Ravula 281This book, with over 200 their photographs, is7:30 dedicated to the men in Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is louniform who have laid down their country and Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun noon. Detailed information will 4-14 yrs. JVB is located at 14102 gmail.com Saturday and Sunday 995-0930. Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is louniform who have laid down their lives defending their country and to cated at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 their widows who have also sacrificed so much. The book will be on attheir Arya Samaj Namadwaar fromhave 8 amalso to 9:30 be provided at the time of registraSchiller Rd. Houston 77082. EvHouston 8:30 AM 1:30 PM Hare Krishna Dham cated at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 widows who sacrificed so much. The book will be on Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX sale at the discounted price of $35, and autographed by the authors. A a.m. Anil where 281-579-9433. tion. NoTemple registrations will be done ery Tuesday, 9:30am-11:30am, prayer the Hare Aarti at 12:00 PM Houston’s original Vedic temple, Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX sale atCall thehouse discounted of $35, and autographed byWar the authors. 77478. timings: Monday to Amajor portion of the price royalty will be donated to the WoundedA For other free classes, call Indra for Bala Vihar during September Samaniji has pravachan all Rama Hare Krishna Maha-mantra 5:30 PM 8:30 PM ISKCON of Houston. At 1320 W 77478. Temple timings: Monday to major portion of the royalty will be donated to the War Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon and Foundation of India and the War Widows Welfare Assn. Wounded offor India. 281-537-0018. For Yoga/Herbal 2019. For more information: Visit adults interested in learning about is continuously chanted. Week@ 7:30 PM; Assn. of India 34th (77018). Darshan Friday: 9:00 AM - Daily 12:00 Noon and Foundation of India and the WarAarti Widows Welfare 5:00 -St. 8:00 PM Saturday and Sunproducts, call Shekhar 281-242www.chinmayahouston.org or Jainism. Every Wednesday there ends: 8-11 AM & 4-7 PM, WeekContact 832-585--0001 & Arati Times: 4.30 a.m, 7 a.m, 5:00 8:00 PM Saturday and Sunday: 8:30-2:00 PM and 5:00 - 8:00 families who believe in Veerashaiva dharma (Basava dharma). Monthly 5000. Web: www.pyptusa.org call Bharati Sutaria 281.933.0233 is Swadhyay class from Monthly 7-8pm days: 7-8 AM & 6-7 PM. Weekly ordiscussion temple@myhtw.net 8.30 a.m,Bharti 12 noon, 4.30 p.m, 7 Mahamane day:Call 8:30-2:00 PM and 5:00 - 8:00 PM. Sutaria 281-568families whoprogram believe infor Veerashaiva dharma (Basava dharma). prayer and on Vachana Sahitya and www.DivyaProducts.com. Jeeyar Educational Trust and meditation from 8-9pm. Ev“Gopa Kuteeram” children’s herip.m, 9 Jay p.m. Sunday Festival: PM. Call Bharti Sutaria832-541281-568- followed 1690 or Deshmukh Mahamane programContact: for prayer andSwaminarayan discussion on Vachana Sahitya by Prasada. vsnahous ton@gmail.com orTemple Jagadeesh Sathya Sai centers Translate knowledge into action ery Thursday from 9:30-11am tage classes and Srimad Bhagava5.30 to Deshmukh 7.30 Weekly Halyal Hindu Satsang at Shree Swami1690pm oror Jay 832-5410059 visit p.m. www.saum followed by Prasada. Contact: vsnahous ton@gmail.com or Jagadeesh 832-744-4166. Sunday program held at two lo- there classes every Sunday at 10:15 is special Yoga class for Latam classes. Call 281-402-6585; Gita classes for adults; call 281narayan Hindu Temple, under 0059 or visit www.saum yakasi.org. Halyal 832-744-4166. cations (North Houston: 12127 a.m to 12 p.m. at Sri Ashtalakdies only. Every Saturday, there visit www.godivinity.org (Global 433-1635 Shree NarNarayan Dev Gadi kayakasi.org.or harekrishnadham @ Mar Thoma Church Louetta Rd,forHouston; South is shmi Temple, 10098 Synott Road, Organization YogaOpens Class daily from from 9-10am and Divinity). gmail.com lupur. 7 a.m. Gandhi Library Mar Thoma Church Trinity Mar Thoma Church every Sunday at 5810 Almeda Genoa Houston: 246 Fluor Daniel Dr, Sugar Land, Tx 77498. Call 785 Meditation from 10-10.30am. Ist Saumyakasi Sivalaya Houston Namadwaar to Sunday 12:30 p.m. andAlmeda from 4Genoa p.m. Gandhi Library Mahatma Gandhi Library Book Trinity Mar Thoma Church every at 5810 Rd. Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. Malayalam service at 9:30 a.m. on 1st Suga Land, from 3:00 pm to 550 3621 or 832-334-9163. Visit & 3rd Sundays, there is GyanshaSri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is loA prayer house where the Hare to 8:30 p.m. Daily aartia.m. at 7on a.m. Mahatma Library Book Club: MeetsGandhi 2nd Sunday ofregiseach cated Rd. Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. Malayalam service at 9:30 1st & 3rd Sunday. Adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m. English service at 10:30 5:30 pm. Sai Spiritual Education www.ashtalakshmi.org for la Classes for Kids ages 4-14yrs. at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Rama Hare Krishna Mahaand 7a.m. p.m.English Saturday sabha from Club: Meets 2nd Sunday of each month; 12:30 PM at Arya Samaj & 3rd Sunday. Adult Bible class at 9:30 service at 10:30 a.m. on Road, 2ndchildren; & 4th Sunday. or 281-261-4603. classes for study circle tration. from followed by Sugar Land,Call TX713-991-1557 mantra is continuously chanted. Synott 5p.m 10-12:15pm to 7 p.m. followed by aarti month; Vedanta 12:30 PM at Arya Samaj 77478. Greater Houston, 13475 Schiller a.m. on 2nd & 4th Sunday. Call 713-991-1557 or 281-261-4603. for adults. Service programs Society Lunch. Visit www.jvbhouston. Temple timings: Monday Weekends: 8-11 AM & 4-7 PM, at 7 p.m. Temple and Maha-Prasad (free Greater Houston, 13475 Schiller Guruvayurappan Rd. Join Society the discussion of the great to distribution Vedanta Greater send email at info@jvbFriday: 9:00Sri AM& - food 12:00drives; Noon org or Weekdays: 7-8 of AM & 6-7HousPM. food dinner). Website www.issotx. Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Rd. VSGH Join the(official discussion theCengreat and man’s autobiography –of The Story Hours: Mon to Fri 6 a.m. -8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. tomore 8:30details. p.m. Weeknursing home visits, tutoring ton, Branch houston.org for 5:30 PM 8:00 PM. SaturWeekly “Gopa Kuteeram” chilorg, phone (281) 530-2565. man’s autobiography – The Story day of My ExperimentsMath, with Truth. Hours: Mon to Fri 6 a.m. -8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Weekends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bhajans at schools etc. Contact Sanjay ter of Ramakrishna Belur), Patanjali Yogpeeth and Sunday: 9:00 AM 2:00 dren’s heritage classes and SriSanatan Dharm of My Experiments with Truth. Call Manish Wani 713-829-6979. ends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bhajans Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Special poojas Gupta (North) 832-687-6766 or 14809 Lindita Dr. (77083), has Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun PM and 5:00 PM 8:00 PM. For mad Bhagavatam classes. Call Call Manish Wani 713-829-6979. Maha Sabha Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Special (weekends and holidays) Choroon (Annaprasam) fortopoojas kids, Sondip Mathur (South) 832-215lectures & talks on Sunday more at Arya Samaj from 8 am 9:30 information Contact 281281-402-6585; visitevery www.godiWest Indian Religious Organiza(weekends and holidays) Choroon (Annaprasam) for kids Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Nirapara. Temple is located at 11620 8675 www.sairegion10.org. 11 am 12 pm, followed by Arati a.m. Call Anil 281-579-9433. For 568-1690 or Jay Deshmukh at Gauri Siddhivinayak vinity.org (Global Organization tion called Sanatan Dharm Maha Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Nirapara. Temple is located at 11620 Ormandy St (77035) Tel: 713-729-8994 email: temple@ guruvayur.us & Prasad; Bhagwad Gita Class other free classes, call Indra 281Gauri Siddhivinayak 832-541-0059 or visit www.sauSadhu Vaswani Center for Divinity). Sabha Branch # 377guruvayur.us is located Ormandy St (77035) Tel: email: temple@ on Saumyakasi Tuesdays,Temple 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm; myakasi.org For Yoga/Herbal prodSadhu Vaswani Center of713-729-8994 Hous- 537-0018. Sivalaya Temple at 26100 Tina Lane, Katy, TX Darshan from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Preksha Meditation and Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna on ucts, call Shekhar 281-242-5000. Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is lo- ton holds regular Satsang on 3rd 77494. Durga Mata Pooja is held Darshan from 7-Prabha, a.m.pm. toas 8Rev. p.m. Darshan Preksha Meditation daily. major well Thursdays, 11 amfestivals 12 www.pyptusa.org; www.Divyafrom a.m. toand 8 daily p.m. Meditation New facilities of JVB Preksha Center. Classes for Yoga Thursday of the7 month cated atAll Chinmaya 10353 every Friday from 7 pmAt to14102 9.30 daily. All major festivals as well as birthdays, naam karan, engageSw. Atmarupanandaji, the ResiProducts.com. New facilities of JVB Preksha Meditation Center. Classes for Yoga daily. All major festivals as well and Meditation under by Samani jis and discourses. at 7.30 p.m. Callguidance 281-463Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX Arti pm. Contact Ram Sharma @ as birthdays, naam engagement and other ceremonies. Call as dent Monk, gives allkaran, classes, lecHindu Temple ofAt 14102 and Meditation under guidance Samani jis and discourses. birthdays, naam karan, engageSchiller Road (off Hwy 6 bet by Bellaire and Westpark - 77082). Tel 0379 or e.mail ramolaj@aol.com 77478. Temple timings: Monday 713-412-9985 ment ceremonies. Call Pandit Pradip Pandya 832-466tures &and talks. Ramnaam SankirWoodlands Schiller Hwy 6 bet Westpark - 77082). Tel and Road other (off ceremonies. CallBellaire andThe 281-596-9642. to Friday: 9other a.m.12 Noon and 5 ment Pandit Pradip Pandya 832-4669868 for puja and other ceremotan is on 1st Saturdays 6 pm 7 7601 S. Forest Gate Dr, 281-596-9642. Pandit Pradip Pandya 832-466p.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday and Sun9868 for5645 puja and other ceremonies. At 701, 9868 for puja and other pm. Please visitHillcroft www.houstonveThe Woodlands, TX 77382 ceremo- Yogpeeth day: 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. andSte 5 p.m. Patanjali Exciting Summer Camp nies. At 5645 Hillcroft Ste 701, Houston, TX 77036. danta.org or call 281988-7211. Temple nies. At 5645 Hillcroft Ste 701, - 8 p.m. Call Bharti Sutaria 281Free Yoga ClassesPatanjali every Sat/SunYogpeeth at AryaHours, SamajWeekdays: from 8 am to 9:30 Houston, Jain TX 77036. Society 7:30 AM -classes, 9:30 AM TX 77036. 568-1690 or Jay Deshmukh 832- Houston, Classes every Sat/Sun at Arya from am to2819:30 a.m.Free CallYoga Anil 281-579-9433. For other freeSamaj call8Indra Veerashaiva Samaja Jain Society of Houston, JSH, is 5:30 PM 8.30 PMcall IndraWeb: Veerashaiva Samaja 541-0059 or visit www.saum 537-0018. a.m. Call Anil 281-579-9433. For other free classes, 281For Yoga/Herbal products, call Shekhar 281-242-5000. Veerashaiva Samaja located at 3905 Arc is Street Hous@ 7:30 PM Houston isand a group of Aarti VSNA Houston a group of VSNA 537-0018. For Yoga/Herbal products, call Shekhar 281-242-5000. Web: www.pyptusa.org www.DivyaProducts.com. yakasi.org. ton VSNA Texas Houston 77063. isKey tenetsof families Saturday and Sunday who believe in Veerasa group www.pyptusa.org and www.DivyaProducts.com. Siddhivinayak Temple - haiva dharma (Basava dharma). 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM of Gauri Jainism are: Non-violence Darshan from 7 a.m. to p.m. Monthly Mahamane WANT TO HOST for YOUR SUMMER Ahimsa, Philanthropy with8 mulAarti at 12:00CAMP? PM program daily. All major festivals as WITH US &onHOST YOUR SUMMER INDIA HOUSE ticity in views – Anekantvad,well No prayerPARTNER 5:30 PMCAMP - 8:30ATPM and discussion Vachaas birthdays, naam karan, enpossessiveness - Aparigrah, Right na Sahitya followed by Prasada. Aarti @ 7:30 PM; Instructors or agencies looking anclosing amazingsoon: space gagement ceremonies. TheseandTexas Lottery Commission Scratch-Off games willforbe Knowledge -- other Samyak Gyan, Contact 832-585--0001 Contact: vsnahous ton@gmail. 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INDIA HERALD • FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2004 • PAGE 29

STORY OF MAHATMA GANDHI First victory for the Satyagraha experiment

There had been a recent court decision in South Africa holding that Indian marriages were not recognized by law. The women could not brook this attack on family ties. They openly broke the law and were imprisoned in large numbers. In the coal mines at Newcastle, in Natal, Indian workers went on strike protesting against the repression. The arrests, the deportation of passive resisters, and the untold sufferings of Indian families angered the people of India. A large amount of money was collected for the relief of the victims. Now read on: Many satyagrahis were beaten and flogged, and some were even killed. Gandhi, who felt intensely the humiliation his people suffered, took a triple vow of self-suffering. He decided to dress like a poor laborer, to walk barefoot, and to have only one meal a day, till the poll-tax and other injustices were abolished. Gandhi found the Government relentless. There was no solution in sight. He had to take further measures. In October 1913, Gandhi organized a march of over 6,000 Indian workers from the Natal mining area into the Transvaal, although crossing into the Transvaal without a permit was not allowed by law. Gandhi said, “We are going to march peacefully together across the border into the Transvaal. The Government will arrest us and put us in prison. We are to remain peaceful. This is the nonviolent way of protesting against the polltax, against the Government’s decision not to recognize our marriages, and against all the laws that are made against us. We are fighting for just causes, we will not harm anyone.” He then cried out to the people, “Are you ready to face arrest and harsh treatment, remaining always nonviolent?” Roars of assent assured him of everyone’s support. They were ready to follow Gandhi anywhere. And so the march into the Transvaal began. Late in the evening Gandhi was roused from sleep by several uniformed men. “I know,” he said, “you have come to arrest me. I am ready.” Gandhi and many other Indians were jailed. The mines were cordoned off by barbed wire and converted into temporary jails. The satyagrahis were beaten and flogged to force them to go back to work, but without success. The authorities could not make them return to work. Gandhi had aroused in them the spirit of quiet, dignified resistance. Soon the movement of passive resistance, or satyagraha, spread all through Natal and the Transvaal. The Government did not know what to do, because none yielded to their cruel treatment. The prisons were overflowing. At last General Smuts was obliged to act. He appointed a Commission to study the situation. In December 1913 Gandhi was released, but he would not give up

the struggle. Gandhi threatened Smuts that he would start another march if his demands were not met. That march, however, never took place. The European employees of the railways in the Union went on strike, and this made the Government's position extremely difficult. Gandhi decided to drop the idea of the march at such a critical time as he did not wish to embarrass the Government further. Gandhi ordered every Indian to go back to work, at least for the time being. His decision cre-

Gandhi with Kasturbai in 1913

ated a good impression on the Government and even General Smuts recognized this courtesy. The Inquiry Commission reported in favor of all the essential reforms demanded by the Indian leaders. The Indians' Relief Bill was at last passed and signed by the Governor. It abolished the polltax on indentured workers, declared absolutely legal all Indian marriages, and removed penalties for crossing from one State to another. Gandhi had won. And so had the satyagraha movement. Gandhi had been active in South Africa for 21 years and had contributed much to the welfare of the Indians in South Africa. Gandhi now felt that his mission in South Africa was over and he wanted to return to India. At that time Gokhale was in England. He wanted Gandhi to meet him ill London before returning to India. Gandhi promised to do so. Gandhi announced his decision to Kasturbai. “You are going to London with me,” he said. “From England we will go back to India.” Gandhi, with Kasturbai and Hermann Kallenbach, the white South African farmer sailed for England on July 18, 1914. On August 4, two days before he reached London, the first World War was declared. On arrival in London, Gandhi heard that Gokhale had gone to Paris for reasons of health. Communications were cut off between London and Paris because of the war. Gandhi was disappointed. He did not want to return to India without seeing Gokhale, so he stayed on in London. The war was on. What could Gandhi do in England? At the suggestion of some Indian friends, a meeting was called of the Indians in England. Gandhi expressed the view that Indians residing in En-

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gland ought to do their bit in the war. English students had volunteered to serve in the army and Indians should do no less. There were objections to his views and many Indians were of the opinion that the war provided an opportunity to get freedom for India and that Indians should assert themselves and claim their rights. Gandhi felt that England’s difficulty should not be turned into India's opportunity. He insisted on rendering all possible help to England. He organized an ambulance corps which, in spite of many difficulties, helped the British in their time of need. After some time Gokhale returned to England. Gandhi and Kallenbach went to see him often and they talked together about the war and other matters. Then Gandhi had an attack of pleurisy and Gokhale and his friends were worried. Dr. Jivraj Mehta treated Gandhi but there was little relief. Gandhi was still ill when Gokhale returned to India. As the pleurisy still persisted, Gandhi was advised to go back to India as soon as possible. He accepted the advice and returned to India. Gandhi was back in India after 12 long years. A great reception awaited him in Bombay. Gandhi was overwhelmed by the great love shown to him by the people. Gokhale was in Poona and was in poor health, so Gandhi went to see him. Gandhi told Gokhale that his plan was to have an ashram where he could settle down with his Phoenix family. They had already reached India and were at Santiniketan. Gokhale approved of the idea and promised whatever help he could. Gandhi went to Rajkot and Porbandar to meet his relatives and then went on to Santiniketan. There Gandhi met poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore for the first time, as well as C. F. Andrews who was there too. During his short stay at Santiniketan Gandhi heard the sad news that Gokhale had passed away. He immediately left for Poona, C. F. Andrews accompanying him as far as Burdwan. — To be Continued

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019• PAGE 19

CHEF’S CORNER

Stewed Mangoes

Ingredients: 5 large firm ripe mangoes, 6 tbsp. sugar (less or more depending on sweetness of the fruit), 4 tbsp. water (per juiciness of the fruit), 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract, 3 cups vanilla ice-cream or whipped sweetened cream.

Method: Cut mangoes in four pieces and deseeded. Place in 10" diameter dish cut sides down. Place the pieces next to each other. Sprinkle sugar over all the pieces. Mix essence in water. Sprinkle this on mangoes. Microwave on high for 4 minutes. Keep aside. In individual bowls, place 2 pieces of mango, with a full scoop of vanilla ice-cream on top. Serve immediately.

Sooji Seera

Ingredients: 1/2 cup sooji / rawa; 1/2 cup milk, 6 tbsp sugar, 3 tbsp ghee, 1/4 tsp cardamom powder, a pinch of saffron. Method: Put the milk, sugar and 1-1/2 cups of water in a glass bowl and microwave on high for about 5 minutes, stirring once inbetween after 2-1/2 minutes. Keep aside. Put the ghee in another glass bowl and microwave on high for about 15 sec. Add the sooji, mix well and microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring in-between after every 1 minute or until the sooji is light pink in color. Add the parboiled sweetened milk mixture. Mix well and microwave on high for 1-1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 sec. Sprinkle cardamom powder on top.

Sesame (Til) Burfi

Ingredients: 1 cup white sesame seeds, 1 cup milk powder, 1/2 stick unsalted butter, 1 can condensed milk. Method: Dry roast the sesame seeds and grind coarsely in a grinder or blender. In a corning dish or glass dish add all the ingredients including the ground sesame seeds. Microwave for 3 minutes. Grease a thali with butter and set aside. Stir the mixture well and put it back in the micro-

wave for another 3 minutes. Keep an eye as it tends to bubble and overflow. When it turns nice and thick, spread on thali, cool and cut in squares. This is using a 900 watt microwave; your time may vary depending on the wattage.

Gol Papdi

Ingredients: 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, 1/3 cup jaggery (gur), grated; 1/2 tsp khus-khus, 1/4 tsp cardamom powder (elaichi), 4 tbsp ghee. Method: Sprinkle the poppy seeds on a 100 mm. (4") diameter greased thali. Keep aside. Combine the ghee and wheat flour in a glass bowl and microwave on high for 3-1/2 minutes, till it turns golden brown in color. Mix well. Remove from the microwave and add the jaggery and cardamom powder while the mixture is hot. Stir well till the jaggery melts. Pour the mixture into the greased thali with poppy seeds while still warm and spread it evenly with the help of the base of a small bowl. Cut into diamond shapes while still warm. Store in an air-tight container when cool.

Pumpkin Raita

Ingredients: 1/2 cup or a small wedge of pumpkin, cut into one inch pieces; 2 cups thick yogurt, well beaten; 1 onion, chopped fine; 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder, fistful of chopped cilantro, 1 tbsp oil, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp split urad dal, 2-3 dried red chillies, a few curry leaves, a pinch of hing, salt to taste. Method: Keep the pumpkin in a bowl and microwave for 3-4 minutes covered. Mash the cooked pumpkin well. After it cools add yogurt, salt, chilli powder, cut onions and mix well. Heat oil in a pan, add hing, mustard seeds, curry leaves and urad dal. When it turns slightly brown add to the yogurt-pumpkin mixture. Garnish with coriander and serve.

Stuffed Potatoes

Ingredients: 200gm small potatoes, 1/4 cup grated fresh coconut, 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, 2 tsp coriander-cumin (dhana-jira) powder, 2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp red chilli powder, a pinch of hing, salt. Method: Wash the potatoes. Make slits on them. If you want, remove the skin. Bake the potatoes on high for about 6 to 7 minutes. Mix all the other ingredients very well and stuff into the potatoes. Arrange in a shallow dish and sprinkle a little oil and 1 1/2 tbsp of water. Microwave on high for 4 to 5 minutes.

The Eternal Gandhi MuSubscription/Renewal Request seum is an initiative of the PleaseGandhi enter my subscription Mahatma Library � $20 for one year (52 issues) � $200 Lifetime Subscription of Houston. The Museum will be aName___________________________________________________ world-class cul- Gandhi Museum. The total where people will be able Address__________________________________________________ tural destination in Hous- cost of the initiative is $8.5 to experience these powton. City_______________________State____Zip code_______________ million. The first Eternal erful exhibits and learning The MGL has acquired Gandhi Museum opened opportunities first-hand. Tel:___________________Email_____________________________ land in southwest Houston in New Delhi in 2005, and Visit eternalgandhi.us and has launched a capital Houston will be the only for more information. Please make check or money order payable to India Herald campaign to fund the de- city in the United States 6610 Harwin Dr. Ste 120 • Houston, TX 77036 velopment of the Eternal


PAGE 24 20 • INDIA HERALD HERALD • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST30, 7, 2016 2019 PAGE PAGE 24•• INDIA INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MARCH JULY 1, 2015

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