India Herald 020718

India Herald

Web: www.india-herald.com • Editor@india-herald.com • Tel: 281-980-6746

20 Pages

VOL. 24 • NO. 6 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 • P.O. BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017699 • 25 cents

Pama Vibhushan Padma VibhushanIlayaraja Ilyaraja live in concert

Mahatma Gandhi’s 70th death anniversary commemorated

Mahatma Gandhi Library and Unity of Houston jointly observed Shraddhanjali, Memorial Service, to commemorate the 70th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Saturday, Feb. 3. at Noted South Indian music composer Ilayaraja was honored Unity of Houston. Above, Arya Samaj children sing a devotional song at the memorial meeting. with Padma Vibhushan by the President of India on the eve of HOUSTON Interfaith Ministries for relative truth while adhering to India’s Republic Day. Mahatma Gandhi Library Greater Houston, the Ismaili non-violence.

The other two recipients of Padma Vibushan were: Hindustani Mahatma Gandhi who classical musician Ghulam Mustafa Khan and Shri Parameswaran (MGL), and Unity of Houston Jamatkhana Center, Houston jointly observed Shraddhanjali, Non-violent communications, spread the message of truth, for literature and education.

Houston, non-violence, and global No other composer could be having such a glorious track a Memorial Service to Compassionate record. In a career spanning over four decades, he scored music commemorate the 70th death Rothko Chapel and Baha’I peace, died on January 30, of Mahatma Faith.

1948. for over 1,000 feature films. Altogether, 6,500 to 7,000 songs have anniversary Gandhi on Saturday, February It was quite a thing to behold!

He said “I shall conquer been composed by him so far. He bagged five National Awards.

Soon after being told that he was graced with Padma Vibhushan, 3rd, 2018. The service was So many different faiths untruth by truth. And in Ilayaraja told presspersons: “The award shows that Modi held at Unity of Houston with paid tribute to the Gandhian resisting untruth, I shall put Arya Samaj Greater Houston, philosophy of practicing one’s See GANDHI, Page 5 government respects Tamil Nadu and Tamil people a lot.”

A joint Secretary level official from the Information and Broadcasting ministry had telephoned to inform him about the award, Illaiyaraja said in his brief media interaction.

Ilayaraaja, 74, is credited with integrating folk and western musical sensibilities into the South Indian musical mainstream.

He was conferred with Padma Bhushan by the government in 2010.

It was his mentor Dhanraj Master who gave Ilayaraja the name ‘Raja’. He added ‘ilaaya’ as a prefix to avoid confusion with composer M.Rajah.

Rajender of Star Promotions is bringing Ilayaraja to Houston.

‘RAAJA - THE ONE MAN” will be held on March 10, 8:30 p.m. at the Smart Financial center in Sugar Land.

Raja will be accompanied by singers Chitra, Mano, Haricharan, Rahul Nambiar, Sharath, Santosh and other Bollywood singers and 60-member Budapest symphony orchestra.

For information & sponsorship call Rajender at 281-222-4500.

ABLE MORTGAGE

IN TEXAS

REFINANCE, PURCHASE & CASH OUT Over $400 Million Mortgage Financed A low cost broker – Since 2001 Email: james@ablehomeloans.com

We will pay your closing costs Up to 3% of your New Home Price With combined Real Estate and Mortgage Services

Web: www.ablemortgage.co

TX Real Estate Lic. #397210

TX, NY, NJ, CA, CO & FL - call for State License updates California Finance Lenders Law Lic. #603J747 NMLS Mortgage Company ID: 264912 MLO James Joseph Oolut – NMLS ID: 307384

NATIONAL REALTY 281-242-4005

Office: 281-242-8500, Cell: 281-733-4242

Need Mortgage Loan Officers in all licensed states Pre-approve your mortgage in minutes over phone or email - No experience needed 13401 S. W. Freeway #201, Sugar Land, TX 77478 - Attractive compensation.

CALL

Ramesh Cherivirala, MS, Ph.D, LUTCF Financial Adviser For all your insurance & financial services

AUTO • HOME • LIFE • BUSINESS • HEALTH

RONNIE PATEL, MBA, CPA, LUTCF CFP

TM

INSURANCE AGENCY Tel: 281-752-8000 12603 Southwest FreewayTXSte 100 5901 Hillcroft Ste D4 • Houston, 77036 16126 SW Frwy Ste77477 120 • Sugar Land, TX 77479 Fax: 281-752-8008 Stafford, TX

Life Insurance Long term care insurance Disability Insurance* 13135 Dairy Ashford Rd.,#550 Fixed# and Variable AnnuiƟes Sugar Land, TX 77478.

Health Insurance* Email: rcherivirala@ Managed Accounts # ft.newyorklife.com.

IRA, 401k, 403b, 529 plans## Bus: (281) 295-2726 Roll over of 401k, 403b, TRS, TSA Cell: (713) 875-4336 Dened Benet Plans

Planning Services: Estate Planning ReƟrement Planning EducaƟon Planning Life Insurance Planning Business Planning Investment Planning Net worth Analysis

# Financial Adviser offers advisory services through Eagle Strategies LLC, A Registered Investment Adviser; ## Registered representative offers securities through NYLIFE Securities, LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC);

Member 2005, 16 & 17 - Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT): Premier associaƟon of nancial professionals, recognized globally as the standard of excellence in life insurance sales performance in insurance and nancial services industry.

Visit his website at www.RCherryFinancial.com

A licensed insurance agency Agent, New York Life Insurance company, 3200 Southwest Freeway, # 1900 Houston, TX 77027; 713-961-4545. *Products offered through one or more carriers not affiliated with New York Life insurance company, dependent on carrier authorization and product availability in your state and locality.

PAGE 2 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

NEWS

FIS hosts meeting on Indo-Israeli relations

The Foundation for India Studies (FIS), a registered nonprofit organization is hosting a Distinguished Lecture by Gilad Katz and Dr. Anupam Ray, - Consuls General of Israel and India to the Southwest United States.

The Consul Generals will highlight the “INDOISRAELI RELATIONS IN THE CURRENT GEOPOLITICAL CLIMATE.” The event will be held on Sunday, February 18th, 2018 at India House (8888 West Belfort Ave, Houston, TX 77031) and will start with the social hour at 2pm, followed by the lecture at 2:30 pm and conclude with a Q & A. As Consul General, Dr. Ray manages the relationship between India and the American Southwest.

Dr. Ray was a neurosurgery resident before he joined the prestigious

Gilad Katz Indian Foreign Service in 1994.

As a diplomat, he has held positions in Germany, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, managed India’s bid for Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral out of London, and was a senior member of India’s team on the UN Security Council in New York.

Dr. Ray was the first em-

ployee of India’s Development Partnership Administration, and later, as Joint Secretary in the Government of India, kick started India’s Nalanda University.

Dr. Ray has served as the Chief of Staff to Ministers, Director of the Foreign Office and Deputy Coordinator of the 2012 BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

Dr. Ray has been a Fellow at the Centre of Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C., and was a visiting Professor at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky. In addition to his medical degree, Dr. Ray has an M.A. in Public Administration.

As Consul General, Gilad Katz manages the relationship between the state of Israel and the American Southwest. Before becoming Consul General,

Anupam Ray Mr. Katz was an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Hebrew Correspondence Department, and the Public Affairs Department.

Prior to joining the Prime Minister’s team, he served as a correspondent for Makor Rishon Newspaper, where he garnered praise as a political and diplomat-

ic correspondent, and was a public representative in the Directorate of the Education Corporation for the local council of Shoham, Israel, where he was a tireless advocate of education and policy.

Mr. Katz has also been a member of the elite Israeli paratrooper unit, “Zanahim,” and served in Israel’s reserve paratrooper unit from 1985 until 2010.

Mr. Katz completed both his graduate and undergraduate studies at BarIlan University, where he holds Master’s degrees in Political Science and Communications, and Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science, Communications and History.

The lecture and parking is free. For more information, contact: Nischay Bhan at 832-474-8561 or Krishna Vavilala at 713795-5169.

Open A New Account Online Don’t miss out on our limited time, high-yield CD! 2.02% APY*

24 Months CD

Visit us at www.sbical.com to open your account in just 5-10 minutes! *Minimum deposit $10,000.00. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is current as of 01/25/2018 and is subject to change without notice.. Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal.

New money only.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 • PAGE 3

NEWS Start yoga early, but it is never too late to start, says veteran yoga teacher

By MANU SHAH After waving her younger child off to college, Daksha Shah, then 40, took a decision that would change her “perspective on life” and give it a purpose.

With husband Dinesh Shah’s whole hearted encouragement, she went to India and enrolled in a 6 month rigorous yoga course at the SVYASA Institute in Bengaluru in 2002.

The course proved to be a life defining one for Daksha.

Apart from the welcome benefit of losing weight, she says she found her passion, felt mentally and physically stronger, was calmer and most important felt a “deeper connect with God.” When Daksha returned to Houston after completing the course, she converted her living room into a yoga class for an hour.

Her first students were her neighbors, Ashok and Praveena Danda and well known Houstonian Jugal Malani.

Word quickly spread about her classes and today Daksha teaches 6-7 classes a day at various centers including children as young as 3 year olds at the DAV Montessori School.

Jugal Malani who continues to practice yoga with Daksha says “teaching Yoga itself is great Karma Yoga and Daksha ben is a prime example of this.

Her daily morning Yoga class

brings fitness of body, calmness in mind and awareness in Raj’s and my life.”

Born in Gabat, Gujarat, Daksha moved to Ahmedabad for her graduation where she majored in English.

Shortly after, she married Dinesh Shah, an engineer, and located to Houston as a young 19 year old bride. Her two children, Seema and Samit are clearly proud of their mother’s accomplishment and consider her inspirational.

Daksha’s voice is loaded with conviction when she talks about the benefits of yoga. Apart from the mental and physical benefits, she says an intuitive awareness about eating healthy also evolves. Her own diet includes plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, lentils, and grains.

She’s 57 and says she’s never been to a doctor other than her routine checkups and doesn’t take any medications either.

Her advice to people is to start yoga early. She emphasizes the importance of slow and deep breathing through the nose in yoga as it helps the body relax and an example that figures often in her classes is one of the turtle who breathes slowly and lives for 200-300 years while a dog lives for only 17-18 years.

Speaking of starting young, once a week, the children at the DAV Montessori School enter their yoga room in single

Daksha Shah, far right, teaches yoga to children. Photo PARESH SHAH file with a cheery chorus of “Namaste Ms. Daksha.”

The class begins with the chanting of OM and a prayer followed by Pranayama (breathing exercises), walking on toes, stretches and surya namaskars.

When attention strays, Daksha gently brings the awareness of the room back to the breath.

Principal Arathi Khanna notes how Daksha “takes the time to patiently go over to each child to help fix the pose until they get it right.”

With the younger children, animal imagery is very popular and the children enjoy asanas such as the Cobra pose, Tiger

breathing, Down Dog and Butterfly. Daksha makes a strong case of how Yoga helps children focus better and improves their attention span in school - a fact that clearly resonates with parents who have often lauded the school for instituting this class in their regimen. Even Daksha’s two and half year old granddaughter, Maren loves doing yoga with her “Ba” on Facetime.

When she’s not teaching yoga, Daksha prefers to spend her time in prayer and the study of religious scriptures.

She hosted a Yog Milan on her 50th birthday which was graced

with her teacher’s presence Raghuramji who came from India, students and friends.

Reflecting on the best part of her job, Daksha believes it is the satisfaction she gets when she sees her students improve their health. She still cherishes a card sent by a grateful mother whose son chanted OM as taught by Daksha to calm himself when he was agitated. Daksha’s goal in the coming years is to make the community healthy and help as many people as she can appreciate the power of yoga.

For more information, visit her website Positive Life Yoga.

Indian Music Society of Houston presents

Mrs. Srivani Jade , Disciple of Pandit Parameshwar Hegde, accompanied by Ravi Albright on Tabla and Mandar Phadke on Harmonium

Mandar Phadke

Ravi Albirght

Buy tickets on line at

DATE: Sunday, March17,

2017 TIME: 5 P.M. VENUE: Cullen Hall Uinversity of St. Thomas

www.Tickets2events.com Srivani Jade

For Information, Call Govind Shetty @ 713-922-2501

PAGE 4 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

17130 McLean Road, Pearland,

TX

Invites you to participate in

77584

With Special Exhibit of Pradosham

2018 February 13th Tuesday 6:30 PM

Main Event: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Sankalpam, Vigneshwara Puja, Punyahavachanam, Kalasa Puja, Ashtothra Satha (108) Sanku Puja, Homam & Rudhra Japam, Purnahuthi, simultaneous Abhishekams for Nandhi & Sundareswarar, Visesha Alankaram, Special Gold Bilva Archana, Deeparadhana and Upacharam, Arthi, Pradhosa Moorthy procession in Rishaba vahanam around Temple

9:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Aathmalinga Puja

with abhishekam by devotees Chaturkala Puja - 12:00 Midnight, 1:30 AM, 3:00 AM & 4:30AM

For more information please contact Temple at 281-489-0358 Ext 100 or 110

M.K. Sriram: sriramsheila@gmail.com Muthukumar: muthu_rmk@hotmail.com Pandu N: pandu.narayanasamy@gmail.com

Sanku Puja $21 Gold Bilva Archana $31

All are welcome to participate in Bhajans throughout the evening and night

Light refreshments will be available Please note that Pradosham also falls on 13th February, and starts at 6.30PM

Om Trayamkam yajamahe, Sugandhim pusti Vardhanam | Urvarukmiv Bardhanat, Mirtyurmokshaya Mamratat.||

THE GAURI SIDDHIVINAYAK TEMPLE OF HOUSTON 5645 Hillcroft Ave, Suit # 701 , Houston, TX 77036 We cordially seek your gracious presence on the auspicious occasion of MahaShivratri celebration on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 Maha Pooja Starts at 5 PMMaha Arti 6:30 PM Maha Pooja Starts at 7 PM Maha Arti 8:30 PM Maha Pooja Starts at 9 PM Maha Arti 10:30 PM Maha Pooja Starts at 11 PM Maha Arti 12:30 PM

Enjoy Thandai Prasad in The Temple. Maha mrutyunjaya Japa Yajna will continue for the whole day. Milk for Abhishek & Prasad is welcomed. Devotees who desire to sit in Pooja may give their names to Priest Shri Pradip Pandya @ 832-466-9868.

Please see our website at SiddhivinayakHouston.com Or visit us at www.facebook.com/GauriSiddhiVinayakTemple/.

E-mail:- siddhivinayakhouston@gmail.com The Gauri Siddhivinayak Mandir of Houston is a Non-Profit 501(C) organization, All Donations are tax Deductible.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 • PAGE 5

Gandhi

From Page 1 resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering.” He was never afraid of death.

Currently, the world is encountering several challenges including intolerance, impatience, and terrorism. It is essential to follow the ideas and principles of Mahatma Gandhi, especially truth and nonviolence, not only to achieve international peace and prosperity, but to achieve the same within one’s own heart.

MGL is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the universal values of truth, non-violence, love and service.

The Mahatma Gandhi Library was founded in 2004 through the vision of Atul Kothari and today 14 years later, the non-profit continues to make an impact in the Houston community because of many dedicated volunteers.

The annual Shraddhanjali program started at 3:00 pm with a gracious welcome by Rev. Mindy Lawrence, Associate Minister at Unity of Houston.

Sanjay Jain was a brilliant Master of Ceremony for the program, which commenced with an Invocation from Anisa and Alma Roshan-Zamir from the Baha’I Interfaith Devotional group.

This was followed by garlanding Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait and lighting of the lamp. Next was a beautiful rendition of the bhajan Aye Malik Tere Bandey Hum, by the melodious voices of DAV Sanskriti Sunday School students from Arya Samaj Greater Houston led by their inspiring teacher, Ms. Smriti Srivastava.

Anusha Sathya from Seven Lakes High School, 2nd place winner of the annual MGL speech contest, delighted the audience with her speech, “Peace is the goal, non-violence is the way”.

Laura Arango and Hannah Lindley on behalf of the Powell Lindsay Suitcase Theatre of the Baha’I faith shared with the audience a song based on the words revealed by Bahauallah.

Unity of Houston was recognized with a plaque of appreciation given to Rev Mindy Lawrence by Atul Kothari, trustee of MGL, for their gracious hospitality and years of collaboration and support of the Mahatma Gandhi Library.

Karen Starz. President of Houston Nonviolent Communications, gave a stimulating perspective on authenticity as exemplified by Mahatma Gandhi and the importance of this value.

The audience was then treated to a wonderful dance

by Arya Samaj DAVSS, choreographed by Ms. Dolly to the National Song of Bharat, Vande Mataram, using the vivid colors of Bharat’s flag.

The keynote speaker for the program was Mr. David Leslie, Executive Director of Rothko Chapel.

See Page 6

INDIAN MUSIC SOCIETY OF HOUSTON A 501 © (3) Organization Promoting Indian Classical Music and Arts www.imshouston.net; 713-922-2501 2018 PARTIAL LIST OF CONCERTS

February 17 (Sat)

Laya Taal Sadhana By IMS Tabla School- U of H Student Center 11 AM to 2 PM and 4.30 PM to 7 PM

March 11 (Sun)

Annual Ghar Baithak for Paid Members and their families to showcase their musical talents.

First Colony Community Center, 3232 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land; 1 to 6 PM

March 17 (Sat)

2018 Season Opening Concert of Hindustani Vocal By: Smt Srivani Jade – Disciple of Pt. Parameshwar Hegde. Accompanied by: Ravi Albright on Tabla; Mandar Phadke on Harmonium CULLEN HALL, UST 5 PM

April 15 (Sunday)

Hindustani Vocal By Pt. Shounak Abhisheki (Son of Late Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki) Harshad Kanetkar on Tabla; Uday Kulkarni on Harmonium SRI ASHTALAXMI TEMPLE AUDITORIUM, 10098 Synott Road 5 PM

April 28 (Sat)

Santor Recital By Rahul Sharma (Son of The Legend Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma) Aditya Kalyanpur on Tabla; VENUE TBD 5 PM

May 5 (Sat)

Bhairav Se Bhairavi Tak By. Pt. Rajan Sajan Mishra Two Sessions of Morning from 9.30 to 12 PM and Evening from 4.30 to 8 PM Shantilal Shah on Tabla; Sumit Mishra on Harmonium VENUE TBD

June 16 (Sat)

Hindustani Vocal By Pt. Parameshwar Hegde (Disciple of Late Pt. Basavaraj Rajguru) Satish Hampiholi on Tabla; Surya Upadhyaya on Harmonium JONES HALL, UST 7 PM

July 14 (Sat)

Triveni Sangam (Jointly Sponsored by IMS and Tagore Society of Houston)– Flute, Sarod and Tabla By: Pt. Ronu Majhumdar on Flute, Pt. Tony Bose on Sarod and Pt. Abhijit Banerjee on Tabla JONES HALL, UST 5 PM

August 25 (Sat)

Hindustani Vocal By: Mrs. Rachna Bodas – Disciple of Late Veena Sahasrabudhe Shantilal Shah on Tabla; Mandar Phadke on Harmonium. VENUE TBD

September 8 (Sat)

Hindustani Vocal By: Smt. Manjiri Asnare Kelkar Sanjay Deshpande on Tabla; Suyog Kundalkar on Harmonium. VENUE TBD

October 6 (Sat)

Sitar Recital By The Young and upcoming Sitarist: Mr. Sweekar Katti- Etawah/Imdad Khani Gharana; Son of Dr. Sunil Katti – sitar and santor player and Dr. Vandana Katti of Jaipur Gharanna with-Mr. Yashwant Vaishnav on Tabla– Disciple of PT Yogesh Samsi

PAGE 6 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018

People from many different faiths paid tribute to Gandhian Philosophy of practicing one’s truth while adhering to non-violence

HARDIK VYAS

Youngest Astrologer in North America Vaastu & Gem Stone Consultant; Hindu Priest for all Pujas & Marriages Languages spoken: English, Hindi, Gujarati & Marathi Astrologer Hardik Vyas, a famous young face in Vedic Astrology from India is in Houston. Call for guidance on Health, Wealth, Education, Career, Business, Property, Love & Passion, Marriage & Compatibility, Horoscope-Making, Child Problem, Luck & Fortune, Peace & Prosperity, Karma & Economic success.

Vaastu Shastra is an ancient science. Fix an appointment for personal visit to your home, plot, business/office, shop, factory, or hotel. Gain peace of mind and prosperity by doing little changes as per Vaastu Shastra. Simple, Easy, Scientific & Affordable solutions/remedies to overcome problems in your Horoscope and Vaastu.

Astrology & Vaastu Shastra are Science of Nature, and are not related with any religion, caste, or community. It is an Occult Science and gift of nature for the welfare of the people.

Listen to Hardik Vyas live on 1320 AM Shoba Joshi’s Geetanajali Radio

E-mail: askfuture@hotmail.com Ph: 832-298-9950 www.toaskfuture.com

His stimulating speech reminded us pluralism and diversity can be portals to unite us all.

Mr. Kamal Haji then conducted the Ismaili Jamatkhana choir in their beautiful rendition praising Allah bringing tears of joy in the eyes of many in the audience.

Mr. Ajit Paralkar, chairman of the Gandhi Sesquicentennial committee, spoke about the upcoming yearlong celebration of Gandhi’s 150th year birth anniversary, to be held from October 2018 to October 2019. Organizations and academic institutions are invited to host events celebrating Gandhi’s message of truth, nonviolence, love and peace. Visit www.gandhi150. us for more information.

High school student Arnav Sood

presented his awe-inspiring 1st place winning entry in iTribute multimedia presentation entitled “A Force More Powerful, my perspective.”

Mr. Bob Fleming, chairman of the board at Compassion Houston, gave his personal insights on Gandhiji’s 11 vows and what it means to live a life of spiritual growth.

The program continued with the adorable children from DAV Sanskirti School of Arya Samaj Houston led by Smriti Srivastava, as they proudly sang Vande Mataram.

Dr. Manish Wani, on behalf of the MGL board of trustees, gave a brief presentation of Eternal Gandhi Multimedia Museum Houston being built by MGL. The exhibits of this museum are being donated by the Birla group from India. The land has been purchased and architectural renderings are ready. Everyone in the community is invited to do their share to keep the flame alive of the world hero, Mahatma Gandhi. To take a virtual tour of the museum please visit https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=iPgucmGS16U&t=24s The audience was then treated to the amazing voices of the Unity of Houston choir, singing “The world needs all the good I can do, Amazing Grace and the Peace Song.

The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Sanjay Jain.

Visit www.gandhilibrary.org

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, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 • PAGE 7

Kirti Jewelers & K.V. Diamonds

Exquisite Gold and Diamond Jewelry for all festive occasions

Sweetheart Sale

Buy with confidence. Check out our superb collection of fine jewelry.

Because your sweetheart deserves only the best!

Custom-made diamond engagement and wedding rings Your Designs! Our Workmanship!!

Pamper yourself with the most well-crafted, traditional, modern or fashion jewelry in eye-catching designs...

A truly charmed collection that will enhance your personality!

6655 Harwin Drive Ste A101 • Houston, TX 77036

Tel: 713-789-GOLD (4653)

All Diamond Jewelry

5065% Off

Sale ends 2-14-2018 The largest and most pleasing selection of gold and diamond necklaces, 6655ear Harwin Dr. Suite A much, 101, Houston TX 77036 rings, bangles, rings, bracelets and much more.

713-789-GOLD (4653)

PAGE 8 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY 7,2018

Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya ( Temple Hours 8:00 am to Midnight )

Come, celebrate and receive Lord Siva’s grace and blessings Tuesday, Feb 13th 2018 9:00 am - 9:45 pm Ksirabhiseka to Utsava Murti of Lord Siva 9:00 am - 11:30 am Mahanyasa purvaka Rudrabhiseka

Morning Seva sponsorships * 1 MukhyaYajaman $3001

* SarvaAlankara Seva

$251

* Panchamruta Seva

* Rudrabhiseka Seva

$21

$251

For more details on Seva sponsorships please visit - www.saumyakasi.org

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Laghunyasa purvaka Ekadasa Rudrabhiseka 10:00 pm - 10:30 pm Arati & Prasada 10:30 pm - 11:45 pm Meditation followed by midnight Arati

Evening Seva sponsorships * 11 Yajamans

$1001

* SarvaAlankara Seva $251

* Panchamruta Seva

$251

* Rudrabhiseka Seva

$21

Saturday, Feb 17th 2018

Maha Mrtyunjaya Homa 9:30 am - 11:00 am ( In Chinmaya Smrti Building - Homa sponsorship: $21 ) Chinmaya Mission Houston 10353 Synott Road Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-568-1690

www.saumyakasi.org

Contact: Jay Deshmukh 832-541-0059 Bharati Sutaria 281-933-0233

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 • PAGE 9

IMMIGRATION LAW OFFICES OF

DAKSHINI R. SEN, P.C. Attorneys at Law Texas Location: 6200 Savoy Dr, Ste. #270 Houston, TX 77036 Tel: 713-278-1677 / Fax: 713-278-1656 New York Location: 1123 Broadway, Ste. #909 New York, NY 10010 Tel: 212-242-1677 / Fax: 212-

Dakshini R. Senanayake, B.S., LL.M. Licensed by the Supreme Court of New York

242-1688

H-1B, L1, P3, TN, O1, R1, E1/E2 and other nonimmigrant visas Employment & Family based Green Cards, PERM / I-140, I-130/I-485 & Citizenship

Web: www.dakshinisen.com

Email: dakshini@dakshinisen.com

devesh pathak cpa OL AD 11-2-15.pdf

4

11/2/15

12:07 PM

On Thursday, January 25, members of the American Society of Indian Engineers and Architects (ASIE) held the farewell to the 2017 Outgoing President Dinesh D. Shah and Board and Recognition and Induction of their new Board for 2018 at India House. Above, Incoming 2018 ASIE President Sai Gautami

Asam presents a plaque to outgoing 2017 ASIE President Dinesh D. Shah. See story on Page 7.

Photo by NAVIN MEDIWALA

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Congratulations & Welcome 2018 ASIE Board

Sai Gowthami Asam – President

Showri Nandagiri ‐VP

Archana Sharma

Sirish Madichetti ‐ Tr.

Avinash Patel

Chaitanya Gampa ‐ Sec

Tej Kour

Sekhar Ambadapudi

Apoorv Kumar

ASIE Facts •Founded in 1994 •25th anniversary celebration in 2019 •Serving Greater Houston •Eng. & Arch. Membership •285 members •40 Corp. Members •Promoting Young Members •Mentoring Students •Business Networking •Professional Unity •Recognize Member’s achievements •Technical Monthly Seminars •Enhance Legal and Ethical Skills •Arch & Eng. Field Trip •PDH Credits •Eng. & Arch. Student Scholarship Program •U of H student scholarship •Young Engineer Award •ASIE Class of the Year Award to Senior Prof.

•MathCounts Vol. •Science & Eng Fair Vol. •Job Board •www.asiehouston.org

Thank you 2017 ASIE Board

Dinesh D. Shah ‐ President

Chetan Vyas ‐ VP

Gaju Patel ‐ Sec

Poolkeshi Patel – Tr.

Madhu Kilambi

Archana Sharma

Sirish Madichetti

Chaitanya Gampa

Tej Kour

PAGE 10 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

NEWS

American Society of Indian Engineers inducts new officers

HOUSTON – On Thursday, January 25, members of the American Society of Indian Engineers and Architects (ASIE) held the farewell to the 2017 Outgoing President Dinesh D. Shah and Board and Recognition and Induction of their new Board for 2018 at India House. It was almost a packed hall with nearly a one hundred attendants that included ASIE members, engineers and architects – students and young aspiring engineers, ASIE founders, Corporate Members, past presidents and supporters. Emcee and Past President Vishal Merchant briefly shared ASIE’s history and the tradition of this ceremonial event. He also listed many record breaking accomplishments made by the 2017 Board, under the leadership of President Dinesh.

To justify ASIE mission’s of building the future of Architecture and engineering students, he recognized 3rd year Architecture student at U of H, Tanmay Thakkar. He was mentored by Dinesh D. Shah and given an opportunity to earn and learn in his commercial real estate development business. Vishal added, “Tanmay, a student member of ASIE, made ASIE proud. He was selected as the first prize winner of the completion for affordable single family housing sponsored by the organization known as Seeds of Sharstown, in agreement with Gerald D. Hines college of Architecture and Design at University of Houston.”

Outgoing president Dinesh D. Shah humbly expressed his sincere thanks to his board members and supporters for making 2017 a successful year filled with fourteen technical seminars, architectural field trip, two ethics seminars, 40 corporate members, 285 total members, and passed on a surplus fund for the year 2018. He recognized the outgoing board members Chetan Vyas, Madhu Kilambi, Gaju Patel, and Poolkeshi Patel for their dedicated contribution by presenting a plaque. He also presented a certificate of appreciation to continuing second year term board members – Chaitanya Gampa, Sirish Madichetti, Archana Sharma, and Tej Kour.

The Emcee next introduced Honorable Guest Dr. Daniel Wong who currently serves as President and CEO of Tolunay-Wong Engineers, Inc. in Houston, Texas. Dr. Wong is serving as a Chairman for the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE) since 2012 and was elected and served as

an At-Large City Councilman in the City of Sugar Land from 2002-2008. He is a trustee of the Fort Bend Economic Development Council and a member of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized as the Young Engineer of the Year by the Sam Houston Chapter of Texas Society of Professional Engineers in 1993.

Vishal next introduced incoming 2018 President Sai Gowthami Asam. Sai has been an active member of ASIE since 2012. She served on the ASIE Board as IT Chair and in the Gala Reception Committee in 2014, as Secretary in 2015 and as Treasurer in 2016.

On behalf of ASIE, Sai volunteered for MathCounts, served as Special Award Judge for SEFH and “Future City” competitions several times. Sai was awarded as 2016 YEOY by ASIE. She is currently working as Senior Structural Engineer at Versabar Inc. She has gained over 10 years of work experience in offshore structural engineering of riser and umbilical pull-ins and decommissioning heavy equipment lift systems utilizing hydraulic winches, chain jacks. She performed lift analysis on various projects for Versabar’s Bottom Feeder and VB10K Systems. She designed multi-level permanent Chemical Injection Skid Packages and developed material handling solutions for equipment handling on offshore structures. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from JNTU Kakinada, India; and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology (University of Missouri-Rolla). With this impressive bio, Vishal welcomed Sai, the newly elected 2018 President with a big round of applause. She invited the board members of her team with a brief introduction.

Dr. Wong conducted the swearing-in ceremony for the entire 2018 Board and congratulated them. Addressing the audience of mostly Professional Engineers, he praised ASIE and members for the active role they play in the engineering and architectural field.

He also congratulated ASIE Architecture Student Member, Tanmay Thakkar for his achievement. He also admired ASIE that offers a forum to assist its engineers and architects members in career advancement by providing networking through continuing educational seminars, workshops and field trips. He briefly talked about

Visit Google Playstore or Apple store and download the free India Herald App today.

Chief Guest Dr. Daniel Wong, left, TBPE Chairman and Former Sugar Land Councilman Conducted the Swearing-in Ceremony for the ASIE 2018 Board Members - (L-R) Sekhar Ambadapudi, Avinash Patel, Archana Sharma, Tej Kour, Apoorv Kumar, Chaitanya Gampa (Sec), Sirish Madichetti (Tr), Showri Nandagiri (VP) and Sai Gowthami Asam (Pr).

TBPE and added that TBPE is also working on policy matters with the Architecture Board.

As a token of gratitude, Outgoing President Dinesh Shah presented a Certificate of Appreciation and ASIE Coffee Mug to Dr. Wong.

Newly inducted ASIE president, Sai Gowthami Asam presided and thanked Past President Shah and his board for carrying out a successful year.

She assured the members that she will keep the momentum and take ASIE to the next level during her one year term. Presenting her vision as a young engineer she said, “Our 2018 mission is to develop management and leadership skills for young engineers, architects,

technicians, and designers of Indian origin in the Greater Houston Area. We will continue to increase the corporate and annual membership as we will be celebrating ASIE’s 25 years.” She added, “This year we will continue providing technical knowledge enhancement to all members through continuing educational seminars, workshops, field trips and networking.” She also added the program details for the month of February. Just like every year, the month of February will be busy month for ASIE. ASIE supports engineering and science education by volunteering in Mathcounts competition, Engineers EWeek, Young Engineer of

The Year event, volunteering as judges during the Science & Engineering Fair of Houston and giving out Awards to students in Junior, Ninth & Senior Divisions based on their projects.” She recognized the 2018 ASIE Advisory Council members and presented plaques to the retiring Advisory Council Members Vishal Merchant and Naresh Kolli. She presented a plaque to Dinesh Shah as a token of appreciation. To Dinesh Shah’s pleasant surprise, she unveiled the new banner of Past President with his name added in the history of ASIE. After the vote of thanks, the program concluded with a delicious dinner provided by Hyderabadi House.

1994 – 2017 Past Presidents

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Hasmukh Doshi Kirti Sanghani Kirti Sanghani Krishna Vavilala Ravi Arora Ben Bansal Chad Patel Vivek Menon Sanjay Ram Sandeep Patil Sanjay Ram Abraham Joseph

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Albert Joseph Ram Gupta Manjula Krishnamurthy Tanu Hiremath Rajesah Tanwani Ashish Bagga Srinivas Chintalapati Vishal Merchant Sekhar Ambadapudi Raj Basavaraju Naresh Kolli Dinesh D. Shah

1994 – 2017 Past Presidents

PAGE 10 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018

NEWS COMMUNITY

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 • PAGE 11

Unless we are united, we will never Arya Samaj of Greater Houston’s USISPF appoints industry leaders U.S and India succeedfrom as a community youth participate in iLead MLK onBy: theKul Board.

He acquired chairman andothers newwho board and thisthere can WASHINGTON, D.C. Bhushan Uppal low ences; to accept do India, Finally, let believes me say that Youth Day Service New members in- cost airlinemessage SpiceJet for in 2004 members, USISPF be never achieved by business The US-India Strategic Part- of A short our not share our beliefs, isouradding val- can be success, unity and or

nership Forum (USISPF) anclude senior manBy Sanikathe Kulkarni nounced addition& ofKanika a third Talwar On Chairman, January 15th, Interfaith Ministries (IM) for Greater agement from CISVice two2018, new board Houston held a Youth Day of Service on Dr. Martin Luther King, members and one board adviCO, Spice Jet and Jr. Day. The event brought over 100 youth from various faith desor on Jan. 29. nominations and churches together for dialogue, collaboration Mr. Shantanu Narayen, CEO Adobe Systems and service in honor of Dr.PresiKing. of Adobe Systems and Shantanu Narayen, Director of Interfaith Relations dent of the Adobe Founda- Gregory Han and President and CEO Martin Cominsky welcomed the youthwas and Adobe Systems, tion, of hasIM been a member of thewarmly outlined IM’s mission of bringing them together to build relationUSISPF board and has recently recently selected as ships perform meaningful service projects together. beenand selected to lead as a Vice Arya Samaj of Greater AKM youth group of 27 Chairman of Chairman of the Board. Houston’s Mr. a Vice strong volunteers participated in a variety of refugee service projNarayen has worked closely on the Board and David ects.

Religion is oftenfor something the global strategy Adobe that is not discussed outside of one’s own religious Interfaith Ministries ofas Greater Petraeus the HousNew and expanding thegroups. company’s ton has made an effort for people of all faiths and backgrounds to business into India.

Board Advisor talkOf to each other about their respective religions. the recent appointment, Before beginning their service Mr. Narayen said, “Strong stra- projects, youth from diverse Chairman anda Managing Difaiths intermingled, sat down in a circle and had questions and tegic ties between the U.S. and rector of Spice Jet Limited answer dialogue regarding India have never been each moreother’s religion and beliefs. They along with John Kern, Senior explained what they valued religion and became more important than they are about to- their Vice President of Supply Chain open to communicating with one another.

It allowed everyone to day. USISPF has emerged as Operations at Cisco Ltd. speak to each other in a friendly and welcoming environment. a powerful force in the U.S.With the addition theprotwo Interfaith Ministries supports 2000 refugees of and India strategic partnership and almost new members, the number vides mealstoto be Senior daily in the greater Houstonof it is a4500 privilege askedcitizens to the board welcome memberssigns has for inarea. youth set up children’s bicycles, serveAKM as Vice Chairman.

I look creased to 31. refugees, prepared breakfast bags, made phone calls to refugees forward to working with busiUSISPF to attract and created English vocabulary cards continues for refugees.

The ness and government leaders in flash high caliber board members, tasks seemed very simple, but taught the gathering how impactful both countries to promote our who refugees serve astoboth small gestures could be. Projects feel prominent welcome shared goals of improved eco- allow business leaders and global ininnomic a newgrowth, and foreign country, and gives basic resources to those innovation, and fluencers with an ability to imwho need them most. Arya Samaj of Greater Houston can be entrepreneurship.” reached Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AryaSamaNew on business leaders re- pact international relations and jOfGreaterHouston/ cently inducted into the Wash- corporate affairs worldwide.

Mr. Singh brings a wealth ington-based advocacy group’s of experience to his position board include Ajay Singh,

and helped revive company community in thethe Houston after financial losses in 2015, area. later becoming and Unless we areChairman united, we Managing Director.as a comwill never succeed Mr. Singh said, “India is at munity. a Ifpivotal time in this arelationwe can envision world ship, we withsupport the United States where each other recognizing as find “a leading and help eachIndia other their power” in the Indo-Pacificsoreplace in this ever-changing gion then and beyond.

I’m thrilled ciety, we can become the to join we the want US-India Strategic change to see.

JealPartnership Forum and at such ousy, envy, criticism, judg-a relevant time in for this insecure relationment are excuses ship, and I look forward to people. promoting thisothers powerful partAs we help become nership through my work self-assured, we create an with enthe forum.”in which everyone vironment Kern joined is aMr. guardian for eachCisco other-in 2003 and of hasgender, workedreligion, in variregardless ous supply race, color. chain positions before becoming President Unless we areVice united, we of not Supply are in a Chain positionOperations. to be an He possesses great example of unity forexperience others or in global operations and spoke achieve success. about country’swepotential, If we the are divided, cannot saying, “Indiaofisunity an incredible be a principle for othcountry for Cisco, representers. ing with Letanusemerging learn toeconomy accept each a great growth each opportunity, other, appreciate other world-class talent, and an inteand accept each other’s differgral part of our global supply chain. I look forward to building the U.S.-India relationship through my work at Cisco and in my work at USISPF.” In addition to the new vice

General David Petraeus (U.S. ues, and our culture.

Army, as to an be Advisor Let usRet.) strive univer-to the embracing Board. sal, all people for Petraeus People is the the General sake of humanity.

Chairman the KKR Global who value of “love, joy, peace, Institute.kindness, He was generosity, previously patience, the Director gentleness, of the CIA and and faithfulness, commander are of the self-control” oneInternationpeople. alUnity Security Assistance and love must beForce fos(ISAF) U.S. tered notand just Commander, within ourselves Forces (USFORbut with Afghanistan the larger community A), includes as well the as Commander that youth, the ag-of U.S. ing andCentral the aged.Command and Commander of thetoMultinaWe cannot afford be intional Force inand Iraq exclusive. during the ward-looking surge developments. will We must reach out andHeshare assist forum with others its asour lovethe ideologies sessment geopolitical develbeyond ourofconfines. opments and counter-terrorism We must reach out to those ofefforts. different inclinations, culRegarding his We newneed leadertures and races. to ship role inties thewith forum, General strengthen them.

God Petraeus loves us allsaid, and “I weam areaallstrong His supporter of the relationship children. between and India, It wouldthebe U.S. appropriate to and each look other forward toanothbeing invite to one partcelebrations. of the important work er’s Another areaof inUSISPF.” which we can build unity is While promoting tradeprojis an to work together on social important part for of the ects, especially the organizapoor. tion’s work, it focuses on promoting job creation, inclusion, start-ups, innovation, and education. USISPF works to create the most powerful strategic relationship between U.S. and

government coming together peace unless there is mutual reto create meaningful spect, appreciation and opportusupport the power ofnities each that other.have We must harmo-to change lives of citizens. nize ourthe beliefs and cultures to welcome and “We take are partexcited in charity. these three important To achieve this goal leaders of unity,to ourmeboard,” said, Dr.these Mukesh let conclude with faAghi,words President USISPF. mous from of Swami Vi“They will add up great vekananda - Take one value idea thecommunity. work that the USISPF - toour Make that board staff already one ideaand your lifeis- think of doit, ing with to trade, supdream of regards it, live on that idea. plythechain and Let brain,management, muscles, nerves, defense every partwork.” of your body, be full As champions of leave the U.S.of that idea, and just evIndia commercial andThis strategic ery other idea alone. way partnership, we can bringwe thebelieve entirethere com-is an unprecedented opportunity munity together under one roof for abusiness communities and future powerhouse to bein both countries play a point larger reckoned with. to Another in the next chapter of the this torole remember: always end important bilateral-partnerday with a positive thought. ship.

No matter how hard things are, USISPF aisfresh uniquely suited tomorrow’s opportunity workit together totomake better. with leaders inLet’s the U.S. and India achieve change the to way we our shared goals. think, and let’s change the way we Headquartered treat each other in in Washingthe New ton D.C., USISPF offices Year.

We are all bornhas winners in matter New York, Valley, no where Silicon we are from.

Mumbai and New Delhi.

For more details, please visit http://usispf.org/. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Hari Venkatachalam Hindu Students Association, Board of Directors

Succeed In Your Business

PRESS RELEASE

April 6, 2017Get – AUSTIN, TX –your The Hindu Students rid of staffi ngAssociaproblems and spend more time on sales. tion (HSA) would like to regretfully announce that it will be Good = Good Decisions cancelling its annual Gateway Retreat for the 2017 Numbers year. HSA prides itself in building a strong network of young Hindu Americans, and it looks forward to organizing other events in the future that will link students from its various branches.

HSA has been reorienting itself in recent months to doing more grassroots work. “We have been focusing more on accomplishing work on the local and branch level,” said Mrinalini Vijalapuram, National President of the Hindu Students Association. “We have been doing this through many differMashruwala, ent CPA activities including interfaith events with other religious organizations, building community partnerships, and expanding into other campuses that don’t already have HSA branches.”

While the cancellation of Gateway may come as a disappointment for many prospective attendees, HSA hopes to get feedback from students on other projects and events that interest its branch members. Currently, several projects, including developing HSA’s podcast series and releasing monthly articles that highlight the accomplishments of members from the various campuses have been the focus of the organization’s efforts. HSA welcomes student and community members to get involved in these activities to help further the goals of the organization. “It is important that we meet the needs of the campuses and communities we serve,” reiterated Ms. Vijalapuram. “We want to make sure that we are putting our attention Just dump your Get on projects that will truly benefit them.”

We HAND read every single It all lands on our paper on to the -***Organized page, then name it, code it, secure servers

Implement The “Three D” Principle Delegate • Dirty • Details

Rimple

Comprehensive Paperless Bookkeeping. How It Works:

fax or scanner

Now

MEADOWGLEN RICHMOND

S. GESSNER

BELTWAY 8

WESTHEIMER

index and store the page.

We provide Turn-key Services including: • Payroll • Accounts Payable • Accounts Receivable • Inventory • Job Costing • Financial Planning • Tax Preparation & Planning • Loan Packages • Traditional Bookkeeping

Visit us at www.comprehensivepaperless.com or

PAGE 12 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7,2018

OPINION Indian PM Narendra Modi renominated for JFK Profile in Courage Award

By Bhamy V. Shenoy and Mallik Putcha The JFK Foundation has been giving awards since 1990 to celebrate individuals who choose the interests of the public over partisanship, who do what is right rather than what is expedient.

In 2017, we had nominated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this award for his bold step of Demonetization (DeMo).

But judges selected President Barack Obama for his courageous actions during his tenure as President.

We decided to nominate him again especially after what happened since DeMo and also because of continuous criticism of DeMo mostly from those who are not charitable to him. It may be useful to revisit what we wrote to support our nomination last year and also to look at the price Modi has paid for his bold step in reducing corruption.

“India’s Prime Minister Honorable Narendra Modi took an unexpected and audacious step on November 8, 2016, to combat widespread corruption in India, the largest democracy in the world, by implementing the demonetization of high-denomination paper currency. Demonetization was a simple strategy to bring 86% of the wealth stored in currency into the banking sector. By banning the use of these higher-valued notes, those politicians and government officials who have accepted cash bribes and business people who have freely dealt on a cash basis only, without paying taxes or providing receipts for their illegal transactions, were put in the position of losing their illgotten gains stored in currency (“black” money). Terrorists with fake currency also had to curtail their activities.”

At the first anniversary of DeMo, the three stated objectives of DeMo have not been met. Only Rs. 41 crores worth of counterfeit currencies have been detected. There is not enough proof to show that there is appreciable decrease in terrorist activity. Of the Rs. 15.44 trillion currencies scrapped, Rs. 15.28 trillion (99%) have been deposited. In other words there has been very little black money detected.

However it is too early to say that DeMo has failed. If the government succeeds in finding the sources of money deposited, it may ultimately lead to detecting black money. The Finance ministry has already found that a whopping Rs. 5.03 trillion has been deposited by just 147,000 individuals. This works out to Rs. 3.4 crores per person. Why would anyone keep such a huge amount under their bed? Will investigative agencies have the capacity to unearth the black money now?

Will there be political will on the part of NDA without showing any partiality to enforce the

rule of law?

Some other benefits of DeMo are as follows: Cash to GDP ratio has fallen from 11.3% to 9.7% which will result in reduced black market transactions and higher tax collections. Similar results will take place as a result of increasing digital payments which have gone up by 41%.

9.1 million new taxpayers have been added after DeMo. 1.8 million notices have been sent to assesses to explain their sources of Rs. 3.2 to 4 trillion. Cash deposits worth Rs. 17,000 crore were made and later withdrawn by 35,000 companies which are deregistered. Scrutiny of these companies should lead to detecting illegal transactions. In the end, all these efforts will lead to exposure of black money.

In other words, when Modi took the DeMo decision, there was no certainty of success. Yet he took the gamble. While the objective of fighting corruption was noble, risks of failure were great. Despite the immense popularity of Modi in his home state, tremendous development of Gujarat, and an opposition party led by what was universally perceived as an incompetent leader Rahul Gandhi, BJP barely won the state election.

Thus Modi paid a heavy political penalty because of DeMo. It is true that BJP did win in the state elections which took place soon after DeMo in UP, Uttarakhand and Goa. But by any standard it was a courageous step on the part of Modi as seen in the background of extensive criticism and some of the goals being unmet.

We had some doubts while submitting the nomination this year. There is general perception that Modi has not been able to control fundamentalist Hindutva elements in his party.

This in turn has affected India’s civilizational values of secular culture and inclusiveness which have been held in high esteem from time immemorial. For this reason, despite his bold step of DeMo, we feel our efforts may not bear any chance this year also.

Depending on whether one is charitable to Modi or not, his perceived failure to rein in Hindutva can be considered as his failure or not. Given the complexity of Indian society, it is to the credit of Modi that he has been able to control extreme Hindutva elements. Even in a mature democracy like the

US, the political system has not been able to control racism or religious fundamentalism.

It is a small miracle that India has been able to maintain a relatively peaceful environment and avoid civic unrest.

Just take a look at Pakistan next door. While Modi could have definitely done more to uphold secular principles, given the difficult circumstances he has managed well. For this reason we thought the judges will overlook his doubtful secular credentials and honor him like they have overlooked several drawbacks of Obama’s presidency. Even at the risk of paying a heavy political penalty, his was a bold decision to fight corruption, the first such serious attempt since India got independence.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 • PAGE 13

NEWS Maldives’ former President Nasheed seeks Agni-I missile with nuclear Indian military intervention weapon carrying capability flight-tested successfully

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed. | Exiled former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed has sought Indian military intervention to release jailed dissidents in the capital.

In a tweet on Tuesday morning: Mr. Nasheed said: “On behalf of Maldivian people we humbly request: ​ 1. India to send envoy, backed by its military, to release judges & pol. detainees inc. Prez. Gayoom. We request a physical presence. 2. The US to stop all financial transactions of Maldives regime leaders going through US banks.”

His tweet comes a day after President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency in the Maldives, after defying a recent Supreme Court ruling that ordered the release of nine opposition leaders,​ including Mr. Nasheed, and the reinstatement of 12 expelled MPs. ​The Opposition alliance on Monday signed a resolution urging international actors to pressure the Yameen administration to comply with the order. ​ In a press release, The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India was disturbed by the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Maldives following the refusal of the Maldivian government to abide by the unanimous ruling of the full bench of the Supreme Court on 1 February. The Constitutional rights of the people of the Maldives have also been suspended.

The MEA said that the arrest of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and political figures are reasons for concern, and that the government is carefully monitoring the situation.

The 15-metre-long Agni-I weighing 12 tonne can carry payloads up to 1,000 kg. File photo.

It has a specialised navigation system, which ensures it reaches the target with a high degree of accuracy and precision India on Tuesday flight-tested the indigenously developed Agni-I ballistic missile that can carry a nuclear payload as part of a user trial by the Army from a test range off the Odisha coast.

The Strategic Forces Command of the Army conducted the user trial of the 700 km range missile from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Abdul Kalam Island in Balasore.

It was 18th version of Agni-I, which could achieve all parameters within the stipulated time period, said defence sources.

The missile was inducted into service in 2004, the sources pointed out.

The surface-to-surface, single stage missile, powered by solid propellants, was launched as part of a regular training exercise by the armed forces, said the sources. The trial reconfirmed the Army’s readiness to fire it at short notice.

The missile has a specialised navigation system, which ensures it reaches the target with a high degree of accuracy and precision. It has proved its excellent performance in terms of range and accuracy.

The 15-metre-long Agni-I, weighing 12 tonnes, can carry payloads up to 1,000 kg.

The last trial was successfully conducted on November 22, 2016 from the same base.

“44 Years Years “48

1970-2018 1970 - 2014

and Counting, Providing Services To Generations of Businesses and Professionals Around The World”

PAGE 14 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

GRAND OPENING CEREMONY PRANA PRATISTHA & MAHA KUMBHABHISHEKA MAHOTSAV

March 8 – 11, 2018 March 8th Thursday 6 PM TO 9 PM

March 9th Friday 9 AM to 9 PM

March 11th Sunday 6 AM to 12 pm

March 10th Saturday 9 AM to 10 PM

CULTURAL PROGRAM WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY (MARCH 10TH) FROM 6 PM to 8 PM FREE LUNCH AND DINNER PRASADAM WILL BE SERVED AFTER PUJA !

Contact:

Srikiran Narayanam, Head Priest Char Dham Hindu Temple

8044 College Park Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77384

Phone: (832)299-5172 OR (832)668-8799 WEBSITE: http://chardhamhindutemple.org

SPONSORSHIP DETAILS DEITY SPONSORSHIP Please contact Head priest ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

SRI JAGANNATH PARIVAR SRI GANESHA SRI MAHALAKSHMI SRI SUDHARSANA SRI DWARIKANATH SRI RADHAKRISHANA SRI SATHYANARAYANA & LAXMI SRI SAIBABA SRI BADRINARAYANA SRI DURGA SRI SARASWATHI SRI VIKHANASA MAHA MUNI SRI SHIVALINGAM SRI VENKATESWARA SRI RAMA PARIVAR SRI AYYAPPA NAVAGRAHA DEVATA VIMALA DEVI DWARAPALAKA PANCHAMUKHI HANUMAN GARUDA NANDI -----------------------------------------------

• Sponsor gets lifelong special pooja for sponsored deity • Participate in all poojas during khumbabishekam • Participate in all (40 days) mandalapooja • Yajamana sankalpam • Gold plated silver kalasam, silk dhoti , silk saree, silver coin, navarathan set, cotton dhoti, bag, prasadam.

• Yearly once pooja as per wish at your home • Lifelong daily free archana at temple • Free abhishekam for all deities for life • 1 year Annadanam in your family’s name

Diamond Sponsor $15,000 • Sponsor can participate in all poojas during kumbhabishekam • Participate in all (40 days) mandalapooja • Yajamana sankalpam • Silver kalasam • Silk dhoti, silk saree • Shawl, silver coin, navaratan set, cotton dhoti, bag, prasadam.

• Daily free archana for all deitys one year • Free abhishekam for all deities for one year • Annadanam for all 40 days during the kumbhabishekam in your families name

DHAM SPONSORSHIP Please contact Head priest

KITCHEN AND DINNING HALL SPONSORSHIP Please contact Head priest

JAGANNATH DHAM PANCHAMUKHI HANUMAN SPONSORSHIP Please contact Head priest RAMESWARAM DHAM

DWARKANATH DHAM

Silver Sponsor $1,001

BADRINATH DHAM

Platinum Sponsor $10,000 • Sponsor can participate in all poojas during kumbhabishekam • Participate in all (40 days) mandalapooja • Yajamana sankalpam • Small silver kalasam • Silk dhoti, silk saree, shawl, bag, prasadam • Navarathan set • Free abhishekam one deities for one year • Daily free archana at temple for one year

Gold Sponsor $2,500 • Sponsor can participate in all poojas during kumbhabishekam • Yajamana sankalpam • Silver coated Copper kalasam • Cotton dhoti, cotton saree • Shawl, Silver coin, Bag • Prasadam • Navarathan set • Yearly once abhishekam & archana (on desired date)

• Sponsor can participate in all poojas during kumbhabishekam • Copper kalasam • Shawl, Silver coin, • Navarathan set • Bag and Prasadam

Anna Dan Sponsor $1,001 • Participate in gopura kalasa abhishekam during kumbabhishekam • Copper kalasam • Shawl • Bag • Prasadam • Annadaanam one day during the kumbhabishekam in your families name

Kalasa Sponsor $501 • Participate in gopura kalasa abhishekam during kumbabhishekam • Copper kalasam • Shaw and Bag • Prasadam Char Dham Hindu Temple is constructed and operated by SKAI Foundation.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2017 • PAGE 21 INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 • PAGE 15

From left to right, Madhuri Vasudevan, Subhashree Gokul, Meera Srikanth, Kirthika Kumrouth, Shyamala Ramalingam, Sarika Krishnan, Lavanya Prabu, Indrani Rao Beedu, Chitra Sivasankaran, Veena Nagarajan, Arthi Subramani, Rinku Desai, Annapoorani Arunachalam.

PAGE 16 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

NEWS

Rajasthan teen Gaurvi sets new swimming record off Mumbai

Gaurvi Singhvi, a 14-year old schoolgirl from Rajasthan’s Udaipur, on Tuesday created a new national record by swimming 48 km in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai.

Gaurvi jumped into the waters near Khar-Danda around 3.30 a.m. and completed the tiring swim to Gateway of India on the southern tip of Mumbai around 12.40 p.m., in a little over 9hrs.

“The swim was smooth and uneventful though tiring, but she made it successfully after battling the deep water currents,” said a family member as Gaurvi, shivering a little, stepped out of the chilly sea waters.

This was the first and longest open sea swimming challenge attempted by any Indian swimmer and now, she has set targets on swimming the English Channel in the near future besides other major swimming challenges globally, said a spokesperson.

A Class 9 student of Delhi Public School, Udaipur, Gaurvi had begun her preparations for this challenge over two months ago by rigorous 25 kms swimming training in the Fatehsagar Lake in her home town guided by her coach Mahesh Paliwal.

Earlier, she has notched successes like becoming the first person to swim 36 kms from the Rajiv Gandhi Bandra Worli Sea Link to Gateway of India in 6 hours, 35 minutes, and the fastest and youngest girl to swim 17 kms from Raj Bhavan to Gateway of India in 3 hours, 58 minutes, both in March 2017.

In her home state, she has broken the record of 1,500 metre free style swimming in the Rajasthan Junior and Sub-Junion Swimming Championships last year.

Ranked 11th in the 400 m category Group 2 national rankings

by School Games Federation of India, Gaurvi has 14 golds, eight silvers and three bronzes under her belt at the state-level, besides many more medals and honours at other levels across the country.

We are not garbage collectors, Supreme Court tells Centre

The Supreme Court Tuesday came down heavily on the Centre for filing an 845-page affidavit containing incomplete information about solid waste management across the country and said the apex court is not a “garbage collector”.

The top court declined to take the affidavit on record and said the government cannot dump “junk” before it.

“What are you trying to do? Are you trying to impress us? We are not impressed. You are trying to dump everything on us. We are not going to accept it,” a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said.

“Don’t do this. Whatever junk you have, you dump it before us.

We are not garbage collectors. Be absolutely clear about this,” the bench said.

The bench directed the Centre to file a chart within three weeks indicating whether the states and union territories have constituted state-level advisory boards in accordance with the provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules 2016.It also directed the government to state in its chart the date the advisory boards were constituted in the states and UTs, names of members of the boards and also details of any meetings conducted by them.

At the outset, the counsel appearing for the Centre said they would file an 845-page affidavit in the matter during the course of the day. However, when the bench posed certain queries, the counsel was unable to answer them properly.

The counsel informed the court that they have received information from 22 states about constitution of state-level advisory boards and have compiled data received from the respective states.

“There is no point in filing affidavits if they contain nothing. We are not taking this affidavit on record... You have not seen it and you want us to see this affidavit,” the bench observed.

The court had on December 12 last year asked the Centre to follow up on the matter of solid waste management with all states and UTs and furnish details before it.

SEBI gets teeth to act against exchanges, new market outfits

Power to punish: With the public investing in hybrid funds, investor protection is now needed, says Pranav Jain.

Punitive action possible now; only warnings allowed earlier As part of the proposed amendments in the Finance Bill 2018, the government has given more power to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to impose monetary penalties on important market intermediaries such as stock exchanges and clearing corporations and also act against newer categories of participants likes investment advisers, research analysts, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).

The proposed amendments to the SEBI Act and the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act now allow the capital markets regulator to impose a monetary penalty of at least ₹5 crore on stock exchanges, clearing corporations and depositories for non-compliance with regulatory norms.

The penalty can go up to ₹25 crore or three times the amount of gains made out of such failure or non-compliance. Hitherto, SEBI only had the power to censure or warn against any form of failure.

Incidentally, the new powers come at a time when the National Stock Exchange is under the SEBI scanner in the colocation matter, with regard to which it has been alleged that a certain set of brokers were given preferential access allowing

them to make undue gains.

The amendments also allow SEBI to act against entities that furnish false or incomplete information to the regulator.

Earlier, it could act only if the entity did not furnish any information.

The whole-time members of SEBI have also been given additional powers to act against wrongdoers. “[Powers to] punish for filing of false, incorrect or incomplete information, return, report, books or other documents was very much needed for SEBI,” said Sumit Agrawal, a regulatory lawyer and an ex-SEBI official.

Quality of disclosure “It will increase the quality of disclosure rather than just tick-the-box approach. Twinfold penalty powers with the wholetime member and adjudicating officer (AO) is welcome for efficient use of human resources. Minimum penalty of ₹5 crore proposed on market intermediaries such as stock exchanges, clearing corporations and depositories [has emerged] for the first time and is likely to be used rarely,” he added. This is not the first time that the government has used the Union Budget to empower the capital market regulator.

While presenting the Budget for 2015-16, finance minister Arun Jaitley proposed the merger of the then commodity market regulator Forward Markets Commission with SEBI. This followed the ₹5,600 crore settlement scam at the National Spot Exchange Ltd., which

came out in the open in July 2013.

“Since things are more electronic now, it is becoming easier for regulators to keep track of happenings in the market, more so [to track] non-compliance,” said Pranav Jain, partner, MDP & Partners, a law firm.

“India is giving exposure to a lot of hybrid funds such as AIF, InvIT and REITs. Though there were applicable laws for their incorporation, management and functioning, there was a need felt to impose deterrents. In the long run, it is expected that more investors will be investing in such funds and will have investment exposure.

Hence such a deterrent is necessary,” he explained. ₹1 lakh per day penalty Incidentally, REITs and InvITs along with research analysts and investment advisers, will have to be more careful now as the Finance Bill allows SEBI to impose a penalty of up to ₹1 lakh per day for the period of non-compliance.

Interestingly, the government has also allowed the regulator to pursue cases against the legal representatives of defaulters if in case a defaulter passes away during the course of regulatory proceedings.

“Provided that, in case of any penalty payable under this Act, a legal representative shall be liable only in case the penalty has been imposed before the death of the deceased person,” the Finance Bill states.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 • PAGE 17

MUSINGS by Gadfly

Samudramanthan – Dil Ki Dhadkanein Aur Tez Chalegi

In his Republic Day speech, India’s President Ram Nath Kovind reportedly called for a civic minded-society where one can disagree without “mocking” the other’s dignity, a social contract where neighbours respect each other’s “space, privacy and rights.” In other words, collective civic consciousness & conscience (Musings-IH-Jan.24).

Musings couldn’t have planned the synchronicity better.

The three parties involved in the protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmavat(i) were representative of the mindset of majority of Indians in India & abroad (threats against Ajit Pai). They – Bhansali, protesters & the media – showed plenty lack of ‘civic-minded’ ness. The protests, covered badly by Indian media looking for the ‘the usual suspects’, came from Rajputs in Rajasthan & other states. Padmavat’s trailer & posters seem to insinuate the Rajput icon Rani Padmini & her husbands ‘captor’ Alauddin Khilji being closer than appropriate, when in reality they never met.

According to one account, when Alauddin learned about the existence of beautiful Pad-

mini on the island of Singhal, he set out on an expedition to Singhal. He gathered his soldiers, and besieged Chittor. He deceitfully captured Rani Pamdini’s husband, King Ratan Sen, after having caught a glimpse of Padmini. That ‘glimpse’ was Padmini’s reflection in the palace mirror that Khilji ‘caught’. End of story. The two never met.

However in the movie trailer, Musings found enough evidence for ‘suspicion’ of their implied closeness - Padukone as Rani Padmini seen sewing Ranveer Singh ‘Khilji’’s headgear. Mr. Bhansali, in a sensationalistic swoop, perhaps, sprayed more than tone-deafness; a gratuitous trailer with a misfired intent. (Historian Rana Safvi criticized the film and said, “Bhansali was faithful to neither history, geography nor the epic [Padmavat] on which he based his film.)

What is a Rajput to conclude from that trailer?

A film’s trailer is meant to be a preview of its strengths to attract audiences, not insinuate something that is neither in the film nor in fact. Rani Padmini is a Rajput legend & an icon.

Mr. Bhansali couldn’t have escaped that little detail. To

Sharma Tilal Senanayake, CPA Certified Public Accountant

Off: 713-984-4852 • Cell: 832-283-1677 • Fax: 713-278-1656

Email: Email:Sharmasenanayake@yahoo.com sharma@sharma-cpa.com Web:sharma-cpa.com Sharma-cpa.com Web: 6200 Savoy #425Blvd Ste 230-7 7100 RegencyDr., Square Houston, Texas 77036 • Houston, TX 77036

Sharma Tilal Senanayake CPA, MA, FCA

* Business & Personal Tax Preparation * Maintain Books of Accounts for Businesses * Project Evaluations and Feasibility Studies * Payroll, Payroll Taxes and Statutory Filing

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

SAT PSAT

GRADUATE ADMISSIONS

ACT SAT Subject

GMAT GRE

PRIVATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

ISEE HSPT

LSAT TOEFL

PROF. ENGINEERING LICENSING

OLSAT

FE-CBT

PE

Higher Scores Guaranteed

Most Perfect Scorers and National Merits Annually!

Different Learning Options Available

Classroom

Online

1-on-1

K-12 Math through Calculus, English, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Government and most AP Exams

281-276-7777

www.testmasters.com

facebook.com/testmasters youtube.com/testmasters @testmasters

expect aam Rajputs to accept the nuances of fact & fiction as opposed to fact & legend is to live in a fools’ paradise, in this case, Bhansali’s paradise walking all the way to the bank.

Now Bhansali is ‘shocked, shocked that this kind of thing (violence & threats) is happening in India…. “The thinkers, intellectuals, the artists in every (freedom loving) country are important. Whether we agree with them or not, opinions can be & should be debated, discussed. But in place of debate, we have now fallen on days when those with opposing views are shot dead.” That hollow sound you hear is of ‘cry wolf’ with a ‘wink’ to himself.

Once Mr. Bhansali’s trailer created that allegedly unintended insinuation, unintended consequences - the second party, protesters - followed and so did mob mentality, never a monopoly of any particular community, religion or nationality. With mob mentality came threats to cut off Ms. Padukone’s nose to spite their own faces.

Enter the third guilty party in this competition for lack of ‘civic-minded’ness – the Indian media that couldn’t wait to wave a “J’accuse...!” finger.

They couldn’t call them Rajput activists. Who wants the wrath of Rajputs. ‘Hindu activists’ are easy pickings. Enough Hindus are ready to feel embarrassed at the drop of a hat. But this was about Rajput pride, The most harm to India & the Indian democracy came from India’s media ever-eager & ever-willing to blame ‘Hindu activists’. When Indian media says it, the world media picks it up esp. when it is anti-India or anti-Hindu. From CNN to Huffington Post, from Washington Post to New York Times, I’m surprised there was no. BREAKING NEWS! – HARD RIGHT ON RAMPAGE IN INDIA. Tying BJP, Hindu activists & their supporters with guilt by implication and perceived association, harms the democracy because repeated mis-representation of facts will make the media ineffective & get exactly what they are resisting. More BJP victories. Expressing outrage too often makes some horribly abhorrent, abnormal events acceptable.

Politically, Musings’ loyalties are on shifting (evolving) grounds & will always be. With apologies to Winston Churchill, Musings doesn’t believe in permanent friends or permanent enemies; only permanent basic principles/inter-

ests, for a mostly democratic, non-theocratic state with appeasement of none. So a saffron-colour Indian passport cover is unacceptable. A Hindu theocratic state in India is even more unacceptable. Musings may not be able to vote but column or not, the voice will always be there.

Artistic freedom must come with artistic responsibility. Bhansali doesn’t ‘seem’ to know that artistic freedom is not an entitlement; that it comes with responsibility. Otherwise it’s not artistic freedom.

It’s artistic license available only for fiction not historical insinuation. Yes, there is no art that does not make a statement, be it films, paintings, literature (Salman Rushdie?). A certain MF Husain comes to mind for his nude portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses. He was making statements after statements after statements about Hindu gods & goddesses…in the nude. Not him, them.

All art is license to interpret, to create fiction but not license to create ‘alternate facts’ or revise history. K. Asif’s Mughale-Azam was a statement on historical legends, staying within basic fact/s but that statement was made without insulting the real historical characters or insulting the viewers. Bhansali is no Mehboob Khan or K. Asif.

A movie that most likely would have been ignored & a flop will probably be a hit. Everyone is talking about artistic freedom, not whether the movie is worth the price of the ticket. Threats including cutting off Deepika Padukone’s nose were mob mentality of un-civic people/organizations walking into Bhansali’s ‘trap’. After seeing the movie, now a protester confessed there is nothing objectionable in the movie. It’s too late. Bhansali’s purpose in making that kind of trailer & posters was to create buzzword for his film. He succeeded.

He is getting enough press to make statements about artistic freedom, freedom of speech etc. etc. giving interview/s in the name of… you guessed it (don’t laugh) ‘art’.

There are a lot of questions here. The main one is how could Mr. Bhansali not know about the status of Rani Padmavati among the Rajputs when he made that trailer?

Another question is can things change faster in India with so much tone-deafness of the un-civic kind in educated & artistic circles & the uncivil kind in (politically?) uneducated circles.

Two of the three parties men-

tioned in the context of Padmavat – Bhansali & the media – did not want to give benefit of doubt to the protesters. And the trailer & posters didn’t leave much room for the third party – the Rajput protesters - to give benefit of doubt to Bhansali.

None of them won. And India ended up looking bad.

The question is if Bhansali ever made a film based on Ramayan (God forbid), would be take the artistic ‘freedom’ to show Sita in captivity sewing Ravana’s headgear? This is why President Kovind talked about ‘not mocking other’s dignity’?

The question is how much we value each other’s dignity.

The easiest way for artistic ‘license’ to triumph is for good people to resort to violence, threatening to cut off noses & spite themselves.

The question is whether we become part of the problem or part of the solution.

The question is when will majority of Indians feel proud of being Indians. Again, it has to be BEFORE there is something to be proud of. Without that, there is no ‘AFTER there is something to be proud of.

When you’re proud of being an Indian, you don’t make insinuating trailers, you don’t threaten to cut off noses. And you certainly don’t rush to accuse Hindu activists every time some writer is murdered.

While writing Amrutmanthan (IH-Jan.24) and now this Samudramanthan, there was no thought of wading into these troubled Padmavat(i) waters but in a vibrant democracy like India & America, one can be waylaid into many troubled waters. Good or bad, a vibrant (not fractious) democracy is already something to be proud of. Churchill said it won’t last in India.)

Take heart from young Indians who won the 2018 Under-19 World (Cricket) Cup recently held in New Zealand.

Before the semi-final, none of the players on either side knew what it is to play in an India & Pakistan match, thanks to political tensions between the two countries.

Before the India-Pak semifinal, India’s Aryan Juval, when asked about special adrenaline in such a match, said, “As soon as the national anthem begins, ‘Dil Ki Dhadkanein Aur Tez Chalegi (the heart will beat faster). That sounds like a proud Indian; and music to anyone believing in India & Indians.

Send responses to gadfly7_7@yahoo.com;

Download Indiaherald App from the Apple store or Google Playstore.

PAGE 18 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

on works of Swami Vivekananda, families who believe in Veeras- Saturday and Sunday Museum 759-3286. JULY Free 1, Yoga PAGE 8Art • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, 2015classes on 4th Sunday; Holy Mother Sarada’s haiva dharma (Basava dharma). 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM Kannappan Art Museum will be Sat. Sanskrit & Upanishad classes PAGE 8 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015 PAGE 8 • INDIA HERALD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016 open for public Tuesday 5.30 •PM Tue. 6-8 p.m.

At 14375 Schiller Gospel, 5th Sunday. Swamis of Monthly Mahamane program for Aarti at 12:00 PM to 7.30 PM, Saturday 10AM to Rd. (bet Westpark & Bellaire off Ramakrishna Order visit to con- prayer and discussion on Vachana 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM duct retreats and lectures. www. Sahitya followed by Prasada. Con- Aarti @ 7:30 PM; 2 PM, Sunday 12 noon to 4 PM. Hwy 6). 281-752-0100. kids 4 to 18 yrs - meditation, Arya Samaj Satsang on Field MarshalorSam Manekshaw houstonvedanta. org or Yoga, 281-584- Book tact: vsnahous ton@gmail.com Contact 832-585--0001 Address: 2341 N. Galveston Ave, Brahma Kumaris kids 4 to 18 yrs meditation, Yoga, slokas, stories from scriptures, Arya Samaj Satsang ery Sunday at 5810 Almeda GeBook on Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw 361-243-6539 for puja or other Telugu Fellowship Sri Meenakshi Temple Kumaris Weekly every Sunday from 10Kumaris a.m. to 12 noon.

0488.

Friday, July 10 @ 6:30 p.m.

Jagadeesh Halyal 832-744-4166. or temple@myhtw.net Pearland, TXHavan 77581.Satsang The Brahma Brahma Raja Yoga Vishnu slokas,Sahasranam, stories from scriptures, bhajans, com- noa Rd. Sunday School at 9:15 ceremonies.

Telugu Fellowship Weekly Havan Satsang every10Sunday 10 a.m. noon.

8Apr FriSchool 7:00 p.m UgaBrahma is 12pleased Friday, July 10 @ 6:30Christian p.m.

DAV Sanskriti Sundays a.m. tofrom 12Kumaris noon.

- Havan, Jain Society MarAssociation Thoma Church Sai centers Sri Meenakshi Temple Meditation Center is to open 7Hindi days a petitions Zoroastrian of9:30 Houston will every Sathya Vishnu Sahasranam, bhajans, com- a.m. and fun activities.

Adult Malayalam service at meets third Saturday DAV Sanskriti School Sundays 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Havan, Hindi dhi Telugu and Kannada New to announce a new location in and Naitik Shiksha classes.

DAV Montessori School for ages 2 to 7 Jain Society of Houston (JSH) loTrinity Mar Thoma Church every Sunday program held atoftwo locaHeartfulness Meditation 4-Feb Sun 10:00 AM week. The center offers free Raja meditation Zoroastrian Association of Houston will his petitions andclasses. fun activities.

Adult Register at present a.m. onBrigadier 1st & 3rdBehram Sunday.Panthaki Adult and the month at Triumph Church, and Naitik Shiksha classes.

DAV Montessori School for ages 2 to 7 Year Houston at 14333 Pavilion Point years.

Call Arti Khanna 281-759-3286.

Free Yoga classes on Sat. cated at 3905 Arc Register Street is Houston Heartfulness Meditation aat wife Sunday at9:30 5810 Thai Poosam Celebration Yoga Meditation classes: Mon- www.ashirwada-blessing.org present Brigadier Behram Panthaki and histions (North Houston: 12127 MalZenobia authors ofGenoa the10555 much meditation classes. or Bible class atPanthaki, a.m.Almeda English W. Airport Blvd., Stafyears.

Call Arti 7:00 Khanna 281-759-3286.

FreeAtYoga classes onHwy Sat. practical 14- Apr Thu p.m Tamil (77083)(near Beechnut and Sanskrit & Upanishad classes Tue. 6-8 p.m.

14375 Schiller Rd. Texas 77063 is open M-Fin-orfrom of tuning School at 9:15 a.m. comson Road, Houston; South wifeRd. Zenobia Panthaki, authors of the much Paalkudam & Kavadi Fri @p.m.

6:00-6:45am and 7-8Rd. pm, www.ashirwada-blessing.org acclaimed book: “Field Marshal Sam Ravulatechnique 281-995-0930. service atSunday 10:30 a.m. on 2nd & ford TX 77477 at 6:30 p.m.

Join Sanskrit classes Tue.6).

6-8 14375 New year& Upanishad 6).

Daily At Raja YogaSchiller Meditation Sri (bet Westpark & Bellaire off Hwy 281-752-0100. toAM experience our and higher to 12 Noon 4 to Manekshaw: 7acclaimed “Field Sam Malayalam service at Marshal 9:30 a.m.

Fluor Daniel Drive, The Man and His Times”, 9-Feb Fri 7:00 PM Sri7:30 Ravula 281-995-0930.

Sat-Sun @ 7:00-8:30am, am-2 wards 4th Sunday.book: Call 713-991-1557 us for Houston: a time of 246 praise, worship (bet Bellaire Hwy 6).

281-752-0100.

14-Westpark Apr Thu&8:30 a.m off Vishu classes are offered to the10comHare Krishna Dham selves.

Meditation with someone PM, and Sat, and Sun from 8 AM Manekshaw: TheSunday.

Man and HisBible Times”,Sugar Land) from 3:00 to 5:30 pm) at the Heritage and Cultural onZoroastrian 1st & 3rd Adult Thai Sukravara Deepa Puja Visiting are Sat-Sun or 281-261-4603. and fellowship. Worship is in Kani Darshanam munity free ofhours charge.

Visit the@ who Hare Krishna Dham Chinmayapm.

Mission theJain capacity ofof yogic Houston’s original Vedic temple, at the Zoroastrian Heritage and Cultural to 6has PM. Society Houston Center, 8787 W Airport Blvd., Houston, TX - Sai class at 9:30 a.m.

English service Education 13-Feb Tue 6:00 PM 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Contact us at (832) English.

Call Spiritual Chris Gantela 281- (SSE) Sri Guruvayurappan 15Apr Fri 7:00 p.m Sri center for a tour every SaturChinmaya Mission Sunday satsangs for adults, youth, 379-8888, and children.

There are no weekly ISKCON Houston’s original Vedic temple, transmission can help you exof Houston.

At 1320 W Center, 8787 W Airport Blvd., Houston, TXclasses for children; Study Circle 77071.

Starts at 6:30 with social hour. invites Jain scholars all year round. at 10:30 a.m. on 2nd & 4th SunMaha Sivarathiri houston@bktexas.com, 344-0707, or Rev. V. Gurrala Rama Navami day or children Sunday anytime between Temple Sunday satsangsand for Sunday adults, youth, andfor children.

There are no weekly Balavihar classes satsang during the sum- 34th ISKCON of Houston.

1320 the(77018).

Heartfulness practice St. DailyAt Darshan Starts 6:30was withIndia’s social hour.

Sam Manekshaw Fieldfor adults & Devotional singing Please call Urvashi Jain 713W78977071. day.Mon Calltoat713-991-1557 orfirst 281Durga Bari Temple or bktexas.com to The sign-up for plore 281-997-0757.

15-Apr Fri 6:00 pm 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. center Hours: Fri 6 a.m.

-8 a.m.

Balavihar classes and Sunday satsang for children during the summer. Regular weekly classes will resume on Sept. 13. Located at & 34th St. (77018).

Daily Darshan more deeply.

There are no chargArati Times: 4.30am, 7am, Sam Manekshaw was India’s first Field Marshal and a distinguished war hero.

Hisfor 2338. Visit www.jainsocietyhous261-4603. all. Service programs - food Durga temple is10353 open from 9 Road, classes.

Raja Yoga MeditaGaudiya Math Dwajarohanam, Mahotsavam is open 7on All days a TX week.

Contact and 5:00 p.m. todistinguished 8:30 p.m.

Weekmer.Bari Regular weekly classes will resume Sept.

13.77498.

Located at 8.30am, Chinmaya Prabha, Synott Sugar Land, New &ton.org Arati Times: 4.30am, 7am, es for this, and we invite you to 12noon, 4.30pm, 7pm, Marshal and a war hero.

Hisdistribution, canned food drives, courage, his character, and the dedication for calendar of events and Telugu Christian Fellowship to 1st 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.

Mon. tion teachers at the Houston center Sri Govindaji Gaudiya Matha day us at (832) 379-8888, houston@ ends &troops Holidays: 6country a.m.and toare noon Chinmayamay Prabha, Synott desk Road,between Sugar Land, TX 77498.

New members visit 10353 the welcome 8 a.m.

- 8:45 a.m. or 9pm.

8.30am, 12noon, 4.30pm, 7pm, experience theFestival: unique benefits of Sunday 5.30 pm to to courage, his character, thelegendary. dedication his and other detailed information.

Telugu Christian Fellowship nursing home visits, tutoring at at 16628 Kieth Harrow Blvd., thru Sat. Sandhya aarti at 6:30 are samarpit and have 15+ years of 16-Apr Sat 6:00 p.m Poo bktexas.com, or bktexas.com to 5:00 p.m. and to 8:30 p.m. are Bha-legendary. members may visit welcome desk between 8 a.m. or - 8:45 a.m. or 7.30 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m.the Visit www.chin mayahouston.org call Bharati 9pm.

Sunday Festival: 5.30 pmfor this transmission.

Workshops onto and pm.

Weekly Gita classes to country Thehis lifetroops of every this distinguished soldier is portrayed by etc. two distinguished Shiv Shakti Mandir Houston 77084.

Satsang Sundays meets third Saturday of the schools, Contact Venkat Rao Pallakku, Meenakshi Pattasign-up for classes and tours.

All p.m.

Temple closes at 7 p.m.

Sun teaching experience. jans Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Visit www.chin mayahouston.org or call Bharati adults; Sutaria 281.933.0233.

7.30 pm.call Weekly Gita classes for Heartfulness relaxation and med281-433-1635 or authors The lifewho of this distinguished soldier isto portrayed by twoof distinguished worked closely with him and shared many the historicor Ranji Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir, 6640 5 7 pm.

Mantra meditation, bbhishekam Raja Yoga Meditation teachers month at Triumph Church, 10555 (North) 602-503-2249 day special from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Chinmaya Mission Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Special Sutaria 281.933.0233. adults;arecall itation held281-433-1635 weekly through-or events harekrishnadham @gmail.com who workedthe closely with him and shared many of theThrough historic that changed geo-political landscape of the region.

Sanatan Dharma Harwin. dailySaturdays 7 a.m. to poojas 8authors 24-Apr Sunat9:30 a.mSchilMa- atSunday the Houston each have W. (weekends Airport Blvd., Stafford kirtan, TX Raghavan (South)classes.

281-451-8238. and holidays) Temple is located 13944 satsangscenter for adults, youth, out harekrishnadham @gmail.com Houston, Open including Vedanta Society 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 classfinal 6day, 15+ years of teaching experience. majorHouse. festivals,Web: as well Choroon (Annaprasam) for kids, Visit www.sairegion10.org 77477 at p.m.

Join for a acumen, lerhotsavan Rd (off Hwy bet. Meenakshi Bellaire & and children.

A unique Bala Vihar p.m.

11 amAll at India Vedanta Society anecdotes by Behram and Zenobia Panthaki we get anoon unique insight intorelated the6:30 man’s ideals, hisus military his mannerisms, and Vedanta Society of Greater Houston, 14809 Lindita Drive (77083) at Houston Namadwaar es for kids.

Gita classes Chinmaya Mission Kalyanam as birthdays, naam karan, engageThulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Sadhu Vaswani Center timeinto of the praise, worship and fel- acumen, Westpark).

Call Ganesh Mandal at program forLindita each grade, from PreK www.heartfulness.org; Email: insight man’s ideals, his military his mannerisms, and his sense of humor.

Vedanta Society of Greater Houston, 14809 Drive (77083) has classes every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Gospel of Houston Namadwaar 1:30 pm Wed. Hanuman Chalisa Sunday satsangs for adults, 30-Apr Sat 9:00 a.m Sita A prayer house where the Hare Nirapara.

Temple is located at ment and other ceremonies. Call Sadhu Vaswani of Houslowship.

Worship is in boasts English.

713-797-9057 / 832-423-8541. toBhagavad Grade 12.

Satsangs in twoon ses- houston.heartfulness@gmail. hisBrigadier sense of humor.

Panthaki himself a distinguished 30-yearCenter military hasRamakrishna, classes every Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Gospel of Sri 1st & 3rdfrom Sunday; Gita, 2ndon Sunday; A prayer house where the Hare 11620 and Ramcharit Manas on Tue. on 3rd youth, and children.

Located at Rama Hare Krishna Maha-manOrmandy St. (77035) Tel: Rama Kalyanam Pandit Virat Mehta 713-278-9099 ton holds regular Satsang For information call Chris Gantela com.

Cell: 713-929-0040 Vipassana Meditation sions between 8:35 a.m.

10:15 Brigadier Panthaki boasts a distinguished 30-year accommilitary career that earned him himself 12 military honors.

Zenobia Sri Ramakrishna, 1st & 3rd Sunday; Bhagavad Gita,Mother 2nd Sunday; on Rama works of Swami Vivekananda, 4thChinmaya Sunday; Holy Sarada’s Hare Krishna Maha-man7:30–8:30 p.m. Panthaki info@sggm.org Prabha, 10353 Synott is continuously chanted.

Week- for 713-729-8994 email: temple@ or Hardik Raval 361-243-6539 (Ragini Prakash Miryala MD) Thursday of the month and daily 281-344-0707, or Rev. Vijay Gur“Register for Houston area Vipasand 11:20 a.m.

-to1p.m.

Bala tra career that earned him 12 military honors.

Zenobia Panthaki accompanied her husband on his postings to many small cantonment townworks of Vivekananda, 4tha.m.

Sunday; Holy Mother Sarada’s Gospel, 5thSwami Sunday.

Swamis of Ramakrishna Order visit conduct trapuja is Heritage continuously chanted.

Week- guruvayur.us or 281-499-3347.

Road, Sugar Land, TX 77498. ends: 8-11 AM & 4-7 PM, WeekClasses or other ceremonies.

Arti at 7.30 p.m.

Call 281-463rala 281-997-0757.

Sri Radha Krishna sana Meditation course as taught Vihar students can take shloka, panied her husband on his postings to many small cantonment townships all over India and became involved with running welfare proGospel, 5th Sunday.

Swamis of Ramakrishna Order visit to conduct retreats and lectures. www.houstonvedanta. org or 281-584-0488. ends:7-8 8-11 AM 4-7PM. PM,Weekly WeekNew members may visit the days: AM &&6-7 Hindu Temple of Preksha Meditation Ashirwad’s Heritage Classes in grams Heartfulness Meditation 0379 or e.mail ramolaj@aol.com Sri Guruvayurappan Temple ships all over India and became involved with running welfare proby retreats S. N. Goenka.

Julywww.houstonvedanta.

6 to 18, bhajan and orchestra classes or for soldiers’ wives and children; she has run the Army School, andTemple lectures. org or 281-584-0488. days: 7-8 AM &and 6-7 PM. Weekly welcome desk between 8 a.m. “Gopa Kuteeram” children’s heri-is New facilities of JVB the Woodlands Katy, Cypress Sugar Land Heartfulness Meditation agrams for soldiers’ wives and she has run the Armyin School, Gaudiya Math Hours: Mon to World Fri 6Preksha a.m.

-8fora.m. and worked for the Bankchildren; 28 years until retirement 2012.

2018, Oct.auspicious 19 to 31,Durga 2018, Dec. classes for Hindi, Telugu, tage On the occasion of language Bari “Gopa Kuteeram” children’s heri- Meditation - Temple 8:45 a.m. or 10:15 a.m.-11:30 classes and Srimad Center.

Classes for 7601 S. Forest Gate Dr, Gaudiya for kids 4 to 18 yrs meditation, practical technique of tuning inand worked for the World Bank for 28 years until retirement in 2012. Matha The book has received over 60 positive reviews.

To quote: “From Shri Govindji and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WeekRatri, the Temple will have 7 Nav to Durga 19, 2018.

All courses are Durga Bari Temple Marathi, and Gujarati.

Chinmaya tage slokas, classes andfrom Srimad Bari temple is open from 9a.m. to 11Visit a.m.www.chin and 4 to 7 p.m.

Mon. Bhagavatam mayahousclasses.

Call 281- Yoga and Meditation under guid- The Woodlands, TX 77382 Yoga, stories scripThe book has received over 60 positive reviews.

To quote: “From wards to experience our higher beginning to end this delightful narrative simply races along, providing Mata Ji Ki Chauki & Akhand is a Hindu Vaishnava temple of ends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon FREE. Donations are accepted Mission is located at Chinmaya Bari temple to 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Mon. 402-6585; Bhagavatam classes.

Call bha281- ance by Samani jis and discours- Temple Hours thruDurga Sat. Sandhya aartiisatopen 6:30from p.m.9ton.org Temple closes 7top.m.

Sunday or callat4Bharati Sutaria visit www.godivinity.org tures, Vishnu Sahasranam, beginning to end this delightful narrative simply races along, providing an intimate, witty and scintillating story of a superhero “ Sam’s huselves.

Meditation with someone Ramayan Path.

Mata Ji Ki ChauSanatan Dharam and worshipping and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Bhafrom those who upon completPrabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar thru Sat. Sandhya aarti at 6:30 p.m.

Temple closes at 7 p.m.

Sunday 402-6585; visit www.godivinity.org special from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Puja services - Priest Bishnupada (Global 281.933.0233.

Organization forfun Divinity). es.

14102 witty Schiller Road (off Weekdays: jans, competitions and activian At intimate, and scintillating story ofcolorful a superhero “ Sam’s humanism, his notations on official files, hisplace language and his by training Mahant Ravi Shanker Puri. Puja who has the capacity of yogic of Shri Shri Radha Krishna, jans Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; ingki the wish to contribute Land, TX 77498.

New members special from 9 a.m. to Temple 7 p.m. services - Priest Bishnupada (Global Organization for Divinity).

Goswami 281-597-8100 is located at 13944 Schiller Rd (off ties.

Vedanta Society Hwy 6 bet Bellaire and Westpark 7:30 his AMcolorful - 9:30 AM Adult meditation classes. manism, his notations on official files, language and his Dardoodling”. on Friday April 08, 2016 starttransmission can help you explore Shri Gaur Nitai & Shri Ram Goswami 281-597-8100 Temple located at 13944 Rd (off Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Special forHwy future students.

Instruction in isCall may visit the welcome desk be- Register 6 bet.

Bellaire & Westpark).

Ganesh Mandal at 713-797Vedanta Society ofSchiller Greater Hous77082). Tel 281-596-9642.

5:30 PMis -dedicated 8.30 PM to the men in at www.ashirwada- - doodling”.

Saumyakasi book, with over and 200 photographs, ing onwards.

Akhand the HeartfulnessSivalaya practice more This Hwy07:30PM bet.

Bellaire & Westpark).

Ganesh Mandal at 713-797bar.

Mandir is open daily from poojas (weekends holidays) 9057 /6832-423-8541.

Vipassana meditation is given in Call ton, 14809 Lindita (77083) tween 8 a.m.

- 8:45Drive a.m. or 10:15 blessing.org Patanjali Yogpeeth Aarti @ 7:30 PM Saumyakasi Sivalaya or Sri Ravula 281This book, withlaid over 200 their photographs, is dedicated to the men in Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is lo- foruniform who have down lives defending their country and to Ramayan Path starting Saturday a.m.-11:30 9057 /retreats.

832-423-8541. deeply.

There are no charges has classesa.m. every Sunday 5.30 AM until 8.30 PM. We urge Choroon (Annaprasam) for kids, ten-day Visit www.siri.

Please visitfrom www. 995-0930.

Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun Saturday and The Sunday 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. book will be on April 09, 2016 at 5:00PM onthis, and we invite you to experi10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on you to make a special effort to Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Nidhamma.org at Arya Samaj from 8 am to 9:30 chinmayahouston.org or contact 8:30autographed - 1:30 PM Hare Krishna Dham Shiv Mandir cated atRoad, Chinmaya Prabha, theiratwidows who have also soAM much.

The will be on Sugar Land,10353 TX sale the discounted price ofsacrificed $35, and bybook the authors.

A wards until Sunday AprilShakti 10, Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, 1stfor Synott ence the unique benefits of this a.m.

Call Anil 281-579-9433. join our Sunday services regularly rapara.

Temple is located at 11620 Bharati Sutaria 281.933.0233 Aarti at 12:00 PM Shiv Shakti Mandir Houston’s original Vedic temple, SynottTemple Road, Sugar Land, TX sale at portion the discounted of $35, anddonated autographed the authors.

Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir, Open daily 7 a.m.Gita, to 8 77478. timings: Monday to major of the price royalty will be to thebyWar WoundedA 2016 7:00 PM. Prasad Will6640&Harwin.

3rdinformation.

Sunday; Bhagavad transmission.

Workshops For other free classes, call Indra with your family friends. The Ormandy St. (77035) Tel: 713Arya Samaj Satsang 5:30 PM -Welfare 8:30 PM ISKCON of AM Houston.

AtMonday 1320and Wto on Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir, Harwin.

Open daily 7 engagea.m. to 8 Friday: 77478.

Temple timings: major portion of the royalty will be donated to the War Wounded p.m.

Allafter major festivals, as well as more birthdays, naam karan, 9:00 12:00 Noon Foundation of India and the War Widows Assn. of&India. served Ramayan Path.

For6640 2nd Sunday; on works of Swami 34th 281-537-0018.

For Yoga/Herbal Heartfulness relaxation and mediservices are held from 729-8994 email: temple@ guruAarti @ 7:30 PM; Weekly Havan Satsang every Vedanta Society St. (77018).

Daily Darshan p.m. and Allinformation major festivals, asCall well as birthdays, naam karan, engageFriday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon and Foundation of India and the War Widows Welfare Assn. of India.5.30PM ment other ceremonies.

Virat Mehta 713-278-9099 or 5:00 - 8:00 PM Saturday and Sunfurther please callPandit Vivekananda, 4th Sunday; Holy call Shekhar 281-242- Contactto832-585--0001 tation are held weekly throughout 7.30PM followed by delicious vayur.us & Arati Times: 4.30 a.m, 7 a.m, Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Vedanta Society of Greater Housment and other ceremonies.

Pandit 713-278-9099 or day: 5:008:30-2:00 - 8:00 PMPM Saturday and- 8:00 Sun- products, Hardik Raval 361-243-6539 for puja or Virat other Mehta ceremonies. and 5:00 temple at 281-933-8100 or Call visit families who believe in Veerashaiva dharma (Basava dharma).

Monthly Mother Sarada’s Gospel, 5th 5000.

Web: www.pyptusa.org Houston, including Saturdays at 11 or temple@myhtw.net 8.30 a.m, 12 noon, 4.30 p.m, 7 prashad.

Daily Aarti times Preksha Meditation DAV Sanskriti School Sundays 10 ton, 14809 Lindita Drive (77083) Hardik Raval 361-243-6539 for puja or other ceremonies. day:Call 8:30-2:00 and 5:00 - 8:00 Mahamane BhartiPM Sutaria 281-568families whoprogram believe infor Veerashaiva (Basava www.SRKT.Org. Temple is lo- Sunday. Swamis of Ramakrishna PM. prayer anddharma discussion on dharma).

Vachana Monthly Sahitya : Manand JVB www.DivyaProducts.com. am at India House.

Web: www. p.m, 9 p.m.

Sunday Festival: gala Aarti5:30 am.

Bhog Aarti Preksha Meditation Center a.m. to 12 noon.

Havan, Hindi has classes every Sunday from Swaminarayan Temple PM. Call Bharti Sutaria 281-568or Jay Deshmukh 832-541- followed ‘The Universe Within’ Mahamane programContact: for prayer and discussion on Vachana Sahitya cated 11625 Beechnut Street.

by Prasada. vsnahous ton@gmail.com or Jagadeesh Order visit to conduct retreats 1690 Sathya Sai centers 5.30 pm to Deshmukh 7.30 p.m.

Weekly heartfulness.org; Email: houston.

12:30 pm.

Evening Aarti - 7:00 conducts weekly Meditation, Yoga Hindu Satsang at Shree Swami1690 or Jay 832-541and Naitik Shiksha classes.

DAV ‘The Universe Within’ 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Gospel 0059 or visit www.saum followed by Prasada.

Contact: vsnahous ton@gmail.com or Jagadeesh Halyal 832-744-4166.

Sahaj Nirankari Marg is a natural and simpleand system of heart-centered mediSant Mission lectures. www.houstonveSunday program held at two inside lo- narayan Gita classes for adults; call 281heartfulness@gmail.com.

Cell: Hindu Temple, under 0059 or visit www.saum pm.

Enroll your child in Sri Goand Swadhyay sessions its Montessori School for ages 2 to yakasi.org. of Sri Ramakrishna, 1st & 3rd SunHalyal 832-744-4166.

Sahaj is a practice natural and simple system meditation andMarg spiritual thatits helpsdanta. one realize the utimate potential Sant Nirankari Mission holds orgoforheart-centered 281-584-0488.

(North Houston: 12127 Shree NarNarayan Dev Gadi ka433-1635 or harekrishnadham @ cations 713-929-0040. yakasi.org. vindaji Vedic School.

We offer unique Pyramid hall under the 7 weekly years.

Call Arti Khanna 281day; Bhagavad Gita, 2nd Sunday; tation and spiritual practice that helps one realize the utimate potential Mar Thoma Church within oneself.

The congregation meditation is available to anyone wishes to spiritual Durga Bariwho Temple Louetta Rd, Houston; South lupur.

Opensclasses daily from a.m. Sri GoHare Krishna Dham Gandhi Library Hindi for all7Genoa ages. auspicious guidance ofDr, Samani Mar Thoma Church within meditation is available to anyone wishes to gmail.com practice.

Weekly meditation sessions heldBari throughout theopen Houston on everyoneself.

SundayThe at India House Trinity Mar Thoma Church every Sunday at 5810 Almeda Durga templewho is from Houston: 246 Fluor Daniel Houston Namadwaar to 12:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m.

Gandhi Library Houston’s original Vedic temple, vindaji Gaudiya Matha is located Kanchan Pragyaji and Samani practice.

Weekly meditation sessions held throughout the Houston area. www.sahajmarg.org Email: meditate_ houston@yahoo.com.

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. folMahatma Gandhi Library Book Mar Thoma Church every Sunday at 5810 Almeda Rd.Trinity Sunday School at3:00 9:15 a.m.toMalayalam service at 9:30 a.m. Genoa on 1st 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7NEW p.m. Mon. A prayer house where the Hare Suga Land, from pm BUY OLD SELL to 8:30inp.m.

Daily aarti at 7on a.m.

ISKCON of Houston.

At 1320 W area. www.sahajmarg.org Email: houston@yahoo.com.

Northwest Houston at 16628 Pranav Pragyaji who are stationed Mahatma Gandhi Library Book lowed by community meals.

All meditate_ Club: Meets 2nd Sunday of each Rd. Sunday School at 9:15 a.m.

Malayalam service at 9:30 a.m.

1st & 3rdpm.

Sunday.

Adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m. English service at 10:30 thru Sat. Sandhya aarti at 6:30 Rama Hare Krishna Maha- 5:30 Sai Spiritual Education and 7a.m. p.m.English Saturday sabha from 34th St. (77018).

Daily Darshan & Club: Meets 2nd Sunday of each are welcome. For further inforKieth Harrow Blvd Houston TX at Houston Center this year.

It month; 12:30 PM at Arya Samaj & 3rd Sunday.

Adult Bible class at 9:30 service at 10:30 a.m. on 2nd & 4th Sunday.

Call 713-991-1557 or 281-261-4603. p.m.

Temple closes at 7 p.m.

Heritage RESIDENTIAL &Classes COMMERCIAL mantra is continuously chanted. classes for children; study circle 5p.m to 7 p.m. followed by aarti Arati Times: 4.30 a.m, 7 a.m, 8.30 month; 12:30 PM at Arya Samaj mation, call Raj BhalaHeritage at (281) Sunday Greater Houston, 13475 Schiller a.m. on 2nd & 4th Sunday.

Call 713-991-1557 or 281-261-4603.

77084.

For more information, call also runs special events and prospecial from 9 a.m. to 7 Classes 8-11 AM & 4-7 PM, for adults. Service programs - at 7 p.m. and Maha-Prasad (free Ashirwad’s Heritage Classes in Katy, Cypress and Sugar Land for Weekends: Greater Houston, 13475 Schiller Sri &Guruvayurappan Temple or visit our web980-2825. a.m, noon, 4.30 p.m, 7 p.m, 9 distribution Rd. Join12 the discussion of the great like I-Choose, Meditation at 832-464-4686 Phone p.m. Cypress PujaCell services - Priest Bishfood drives; Ashirwad’s Heritage Classes in Katy, and Sugar Land for Weekdays: 7-8 AM & 6-7 PM. foodgrams SANJEEV KUMAR dinner). Temple Website www.issotx.

Sri Guruvayurappan Rd. Join the discussion the great Arya Samaj Satsang autobiography –of The Story p.m.

Sunday Festival: 5.30 pm to nupada Goswami 281-597-8100 man’s Hours: Mon to Fri 6 a.m.

-8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Weeksite: http://sggm.org.

Camps and Gyanshala program nursing home visits, tutoring 832-689-1819 Weekly “Gopa Kuteeram” chilorg, phone (281) 530-2565.

Your realtor life. every Email: man’s autobiography – The Story Weekly Havan for Satsang of My Experiments with Truth.

Hours: Mon to Fri 6 a.m.

-8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Week7.30 heritage p.m. Weekly Gita classes Temple is located at 13944 Schil- dren’s ends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Bhajans Swaminarayan Temple for children ages 4-14 yrs.

JVB at schools etc.

Contact Sanjay sksrealtor@hotmail.com classes and SriSanatan Dharm offor My Experiments with Truth. or Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. ler Rd (off Hwy 6 bet. Bellaire & 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 adults; call 281-433-1635 Gupta (North) 832-687-6766 or Hindu Satsang at Shree Swaminais located at 14102 Schiller Rd. mad Bhagavatam classes. Call Manish Wani 713-829-6979.

DAV Sanskriti School Sundays Westpark). Call Ganesh Mandal Call Maha Sabha Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 Every p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m. to 1Hindu a.m.

Special (weekends and holidays) Choroon (Annaprasam) for poojas kids, harekrishnadham @gmail.com Sondip Mathur (South) 832-215rayan Temple, under Shree Houston 77082.

Tuesday, WE DEAL IN 281-402-6585; visit www.godiDEAL IN Houses, 10WE a.m. noon.

Havan, West Indian Religious Organiza(weekends and holidays) Choroon (Annaprasam) for kids,kalupur. at 713-797-9057 / 832-423-8541. vinity.org Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Nirapara.

Temple is located at Gadi 11620 8675 www.sairegion10.org.

Houston Namadwaar Lot tofor12Sale off- of Kalyani Hwy in Sodhpur, Gauri Siddhivinayak NarNarayan Dev 9:30am-11:30am, Samaniji has (Global Organization Houses, Gas Hindi and Naitik Shiksha classes. tion email: called Sanatan Dharm GasLot Stations, Motels Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Nirapara.

Temple is located at7 Maha 11620 Shiv Mandir Ormandy StVaswani (77035) 713-729-8994 temple@ guruvayur.us for Sale of Kalyani HwyShakti in Sodhpur, ADivinity). prayerSiddhivinayak house where the Hare Sadhu Center forGauri Opens daily from a.m. to 12:30 pravachan for allTel: adults interested West Bengal.

1off bhiga or 20Sanatan Kathas with 2300 Sq. DAV Montessori School for ages Sabha Branch # 377 is located Temple Ormandy St (77035) Tel: 713-729-8994 email: temple@ guruvayur.us Shiv Shakti Mandir, Stations, Motels and Farm & Ranch.

Sadhu Vaswani Center of Hous- Every p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Rama Hare Krishna Maha-mantra Saumyakasi Sivalaya in learning about Jainism.

West Bengal.

1 bhiga or 20 Kathas with 2300 Sq. bungalow built.Office: Architectural plans Temple 2 to ft.

7 years.

Call Artihalf Khanna at 26100 Tina Lane, Katy, TX 6640 Harwin.

Open daily 7 Sriis 713-722-8870 Darshan from 7Sivalaya a.m. to 8isp.m.

Preksha 281-497-7000 ton holds regular Satsang 3rdMeditation Saumyakasi locontinuously chanted.

Weekaarti atPooja 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Wednesday there isonSwadhyay and & Ranch ft. Farm bungalow half built.

Architectural plans Apartment Complex 281-759-3286.

Free Yoga classes 77494.Daily Durga Mata held a.m. to713-779-4656 8 281-497-7007 p.m. All major festi- daily.

Darshan from 7Prabha, a.m. toPM, 8 well p.m.

Preksha Meditation major festivals as available. Rs.Fax: 90 lakhs.

New facilities of JVB Preksha Meditation Center.

Classes forisYoga Thursday of the 7-8pm month and daily cated atAll Chinmaya 10353 ends: 8-11 AM & 4-7 WeekSaturday sabha from 5 p.m to 7 class from and meditation onproperties Sat. Sanskrit Call & Upanishad every jis Friday from 7 pmAt to14102 9.30 vals, well asatbirthdays, naam as daily.

All major festivals as well available.

Rs. 90 as lakhs. birthdays, naam karan, engageAvailable!!

Now facilities ofCall JVB Preksha Center.

Classes for Yoga andNew Meditation under guidance

by Meditation Samani and discourses.

Arti at 7.30 p.m.

281-463Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX Please contact Shilpi Saha days: 7-8 AM & 6-7 PM. Weekly p.m. followed by aarti at 7 p.m. from 8-9pm.

Every Thursday from classes Tue. 6-8 p.m. At 14375 karan, engagement and other cer- ment pm. and Contact Ram- Sharma @ as birthdays, naam karan,Monday engageand other ceremonies.

Call 0379 and9:30-11am Meditation under guidance Samani jis and discourses.

At (free 14102 Schiller Road ramolaj@aol.com (off Hwy 6special bet by Bellaire Westpark 77082).

Tel or e.mail Please contact Shilpi Saha at 77478.

Temple timings: “Gopa Kuteeram” children’s heriand Maha-Prasad dinner). there is Yoga Shilpi@yourblvd.com or 832-647-9433 Schiller Rd. (bet Westpark & Bel- emonies. Call Pandit Virat Mehta Pandit 713-412-9985 ment and ceremonies.

Call Pradip Pandya 832-466Schiller Road (off Hwy 6 bet Bellaire and Westpark - 77082). Tel to Friday: 9other a.m.12 Noon and 5 281-596-9642. tage classes and Srimad BhagaShilpi@yourblvd.com or 832-647-9433 www.issotx.org.

(281) 530-2565. class for Ladies only.

Every Satlaire off Hwy 6). 281-752-0100.

713-278-9099 or Hardik Raval 9868 Pandit Pandya 832-466puja Saturday and otherand ceremop.m.

-for 8Pradip p.m.

Sun- 281-596-9642. vatam classes.

Call 281-402-6585; urday, there is Yoga Class from Sanatan Dharm Maha Sabha 9868 for puja and other ceremonies.

At 5645 Hillcroft Ste 701, day: 8:30www.godivinity.org a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Patanjali Yogpeeth visit (Global Exciting Camp OrganizaWest Indian Religious 9-10am and Meditation from Yogpeeth 10- Summer At Call 5645 Hillcroft Ste281701, Houston, TX 77036.

Patanjali -nies.

8Organization p.m.

Bharti Sutaria Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun at Arya Samaj from 8 am toDharm 9:30 Maha for Divinity). tion called Sanatan 10.30am.

Ist & 3rd Sundays, there Houston, TX 77036.

568-1690 or Jay Deshmukh 832Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun at Arya Samaj from 8 am to 9:30 a.m.

Call Anil 281-579-9433.

For other free classes, call Indra 281Where Your Opinion Counts SaumyakasiSamaja Sivalaya is Gyanshala Classes for Kids Sabha Branch # 377 is located Veerashaiva 541-0059 or visit www.saum 537-0018. a.m.

Call Anil 281-579-9433.

For other free classes, call Indra 281For Yoga/Herbal products, call Shekhar 281-242-5000.

Web: Where Your Opinion Counts Sri Saumyakasi is located at 26100 Tina Lane,Web: Katy, TX ages 4-14yrs. from 10-12:15pm Veerashaiva VSNA HoustonSivalaya isSamaja a group of www.pyptusa.org 537-0018.

For Yoga/Herbal products, call Shekhar 281-242-5000.

KGOL 1480 AM • Saturdays 4 to 6 p.m. and www.DivyaProducts.com. yakasi.org. at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Syn77494.

Durga Mata Pooja is held followed by Lunch.

Visit www.

VSNA Houston is a group of www.pyptusa.org and www.DivyaProducts.com.

Listen to Open Forum on KGOL 1480 AMprograms • Saturdays to 6 p.m.

Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple Informative with4 doctors, ott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478. jvbhouston.org or send email every Friday from 7 pm to 9.30 in Houston.with doctors, Darshan 7 a.m.Monday to 8 p.m.

Informative programs WANT TO HOST YOUR CAMP? Templefrom timings: to Fri- at info@jvbhouston.org for pm. Contact Ram Sharma @ 713moreSUMMER lawyers, politicians and other daily.

All major festivals as well PARTNER WITH US & HOST YOUR SUMMER CAMP AT INDIA HOUSE Every Saturday 4.00 PMand to 6.00 PM. day: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon and details.

412-9985. lawyers, politicians other as 5:30 birthdays, naam en- and newsmakers.

PM - 8:00 PM.karan, Saturday Gandhispace Library Patanjali Yogpeethlooking for an amazing Studio line 800-444-1061 or agencies gagement and other ceremonies. newsmakers.

These Texas Lottery Commission Scratch-Off games will Mahatma be closing soon:Library Book Sunday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM and Instructors Gandhi Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun Call 713-784-1480 Call These Pandit Pradip Pandya 832to conduct their summer camp activities may Lottery Commission Scratch-Off games willClub: be closing soon: 5:00 PM -Texas 8:00 PM. For more in- at Arya Call 713-784-1480 Meets 2nd Sunday of each Samaj from 8 am to 9:30 Hosts: Dinkar Chheda, Jagat Kamdar & Subodh Bhuchar Official Close End Validations 466-9868 for puja and other cerGame # Game Name / Odds $ collaborate with us to provide fun, safe and formation Contact 281-568-1690 of Game Date month; 12:30 PM a.m.

Call Anil 281-579-9433.

For Hosts: Dinkar Chheda, Jagat Kamdar & Subodh Bhuchar emonies.

Official Close End Validationsat Arya Samaj Game At # 5645 Hillcroft Ste Game Name / Odds $ enriching experience the kids. offor Game Date or Jay Deshmukh at 832-541-0059 Greater Houston, other free classes, call Indra 281701, Houston, TXUltimate 77036.Crossword - Overall Odds are 1 in 3.27 1651 $10 7/12/15 1/8/16 13475 Schiller or visit Rd. Join the1/8/16 discussion of the great 537-0018.

Yoga/Herbal 1651www.saumyakasi.org Ultimate Crossword - Overall Odds are 1 For in 3.27 $10 prod-7/12/15 Veerashaiva Samaja 1690 Frenzy - Overall Odds are call 1 in 4.09 $5 7/30/15 1/26/16 Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple man’s autobiography – The Story ucts, Shekhar 281-242-5000.

VSNA Houston is Cash a group of TALENTED INSTRUCTOR? 1690 Frenzy Overall Odds are 1 ARE in 4.09YOU A www.Divya$5 7/30/15 1/26/16 Darshan from 7 Cash a.m. to 8 - p.m.

Tabla and Vocal of My Experiments with Truth. www.pyptusa.org; families who believe in Veeras1701 Blackjack - Overall Odds are 1JOIN in 4.75 8/26/15 2/22/16 INDIA HOUSE AS$1 A SUMMER CAMP COORDINATOR Tabla and Vocal daily.

All major festivals as well Call Manish Wani 713-829-6979.

Products.com. haiva dharma (Basava dharma).

1701 Blackjack - Overall Odds are 1 in 4.75 $1 8/26/15 2/22/16 Classes as birthdays, naam karan, engageMonthly program for - Overall Odds Sant Nirankari Temple of 1646Mahamane Hot ‘N Spicy Tripler areHindu 1 in 4.29 $2talented 8/26/15 2/22/16 We are looking for instructors, in art, Mission Classes ment and other ceremonies.

Call prayer and discussion on Vacha1646 Hot ‘N Spicy Tripler Overall Odds are 1 in 4.29 $2 8/26/15 2/22/16 Sant Nirankari Mission holds its The Woodlands now ongoing craft, dance, music, $2 theater, 8/26/15 henna, language arts, 1657 Pradip Red Tripler - Overall 7601 Odds are in 4.14 Gate 2/22/16 na Pandit Sahitya followed byChili Prasada.

Pandya 832-466weekly spiritual congregation S.1Forest Dr, now ongoing cooking, baking, robotics or8/26/15 any other activities 1657 vsnahousRed Chili Tripler - Overall Odds are 1 in 4.14 $2 2/22/16 Contact: ton@gmail.

Visit www.chandrakantha.com 9868 for puja and other TMceremoon every Sunday at India House The Woodlands, TX 77382 1648 Loteria - Overall Odds are 1 in 3.98 $3 8/26/15 2/22/16 that interest the kids.

Visit www.chandrakantha.com com or1648 Jagadeesh Halyal 832Classes in Houston, TM nies.

At 5645 Hillcroft Ste 701, Odds 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed Temple Hours, Weekdays: Loteria Overall are 1 in 3.98 $3 8/26/15 2/22/16 or call for info.

Classes in Houston, 744-4166.

Mission Bend, Houston, TX 77036. by community meals.

All are wel7:30 AM 9:30 AM or call for info.

For detailedThoma odds and game information, visit txlottery.org or call 1-800-375-6886. Must be 18 or older to purchase a Mar Church Mission Samaja (713) 665-4665 & Sugar Bend, Land come.

For further information, PM 8.30 PM ticket. TheVeerashaiva Texas Lottery supports Texas education and veterans. © 20155:30 Texas Lottery Commission.

AllVipin@indiahouseinc.org rights reserved.

713-929-1900 | For detailed and game information, visit txlottery.org or call 1-800-375-6886. Must be 18 or older to purchase a Marodds Thoma Church ev(713) 665-4665 & Sugar Land Trinity VSNA Houston group of© 2015Aarti ticket. The Texas Lottery supportsis Texas a education and veterans.

Texas Lottery All rights reserved.

8888 West Bellfort Ave., Houston, TX 77031 call Raj Bhala at (281) 980-2825. @ Commission.

7:30 PM

COMMUNITY CALENDAR COMMUNITY CALENDAR COMMUNITY CALENDAR COMMUNITY CALENDAR COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Property Property for for Sale Sale

Open OpenForum ForumRadio RadioProgram Program

106.1 FM

Chandra & David Courtney Chandra & David Courtney

OPPORTUNITIES!

LEGAL LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE

NEWS Now ‘Manikarnika’ faces allegations of distorting history

Controversy over films based on historical characters fails to die down in Rajasthan as yet another right wing fringe group Sarva Brahmin Mahasabha has demanded the state government to immediately stop the shooting of the Kangana Ranaut starrer ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’.

The film appears to be heading the “Padamaavat” way, as the group alleged the team of the period drama filming a love song in which Rani Laxmibai romances a British agent of the erstwhile East India Company, a claim which producer Kamal Jain denied.

“We have come to know that the filmmakers are shooting for a love song in which Rani Laxmibai is seen with a British agent of East India Company.

“We suspect that the producers are making the film based on the controversial book, Rani, written by Jaishree Misra,” state president of the group Suresh Mishra said.

He said the protest would escalate, if the administration failed to ensure that no historical facts are distorted in the epic biographical film.

Shooting would be allowed only after the film owners give an undertaking that no controversial scene would be shown in the movie, he said.

“We will meet the governor and home minister and if government does not react to our demands, protests will be escalated within three days,” he added.

Mishra said that he had written to Jain on January 9 asking him to share the profile of the writers and the historians the producers had consulted.

“In order to check that the issue doesn’t blow up like Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmaavat’, the government must ensure that nothing controversial is shown in the movie,” he said.

When asked about the accusations, producer Jain told PTI that there were “no romantic scene as claimed” by the group and the team had not received any letter as yet.

“There is nothing objectionable in the film. There is no romantic scene as claimed. We are making a story on a great leader like Rani Laxmibai, the story revolves around her and her journey.

“It hurts when people say things like this against a woman who fought for the country. We have nothing to hide, anyone can come and talk to us. We haven’t got any letter yet. We do not fear anything as we know what we are showing in the film,” he said.

The film is being shot at Malsisar town in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan.

The filmmakers had also shot some scenes at Amber Fort in Jaipur in October 2017 and at Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort in November last year.

After facing a lot of ire from the Rajput Karni Sena over “distorting history” and “wrongful portrayal of Rani Padmini”, Bhansali’s “Padmaavat” finally released on January 25.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 • PAGE 19

Twitter India registers over 1.4 million budget-related posts Twitter India recorded over 14 lakh budget-related conversations in the past week (January 26 to February 2), with healthcare being the most talked about topic followed by demonetisation, the company said on Friday.

“Conversations on Twitter lit up globally as politicians, well-known personalities and the public took to the platform to express their opinions regarding the Budget. Soon after the Budget speech concluded, the conversations on the platform peaked at February 1, 2.30 p.m. with over 83,000 tweets,” Twitter said in a statement.

Together with the Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia), Twitter enabled Indians to watch the #Budget2018 speech, follow a talkathon on Union Budget and also participate in the budget discussion through a live Q&A with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Key topics of discussion on Twitter in India included, healthcare, demonetisation, agriculture, personal income tax, infrastructure and Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The micro-blogging platfrom said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi emerged as the most mentioned personality on the platform during the budget conversations.

He was followed by Arun Jaitley, President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Amit Shah, Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram and Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser.

In January, Twitter garnered 240,000 budget-related tweets which was twice the volume than in December last year.

Twitter also made it easy for people who preferred a more data-friendly way to access the #Budget2018 conversation by bringing the discussions on Twitter Lite (mobile.twitter.com).

Meanwhile, in their race to monetise our attention, technology platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google are hijacking our minds and society, says a group of technologists who were early employees at some of these companies.

The cohort is creating a union of concerned experts called the Center for Humane Technology, The New York Times reported on Sunday.

The big technology platforms have produced amazing products that have benefited the world enormously, but with their use increasingly persuasive techniques to keep us glued, these companies are now adversely affecting our mental health, social relationship and democracy, according to the Center for Humane Technology.

Designed on the model of anti-smoking drives, the group, along with the nonprofit media watchdog group Common Sense Media, is also planning an anti-tech addiction lobbying effort and an ad campaign, titled The Truth About Tech, the report said.

Reflections on the ill effects of technology are now coming from different quarters at increasing frequency.

YOUR PERFECT SPACE FOR EVENTS

I’m not enemy of Hindus: Kamal Haasan

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan, known for his rationalistic views, says he is not an enemy of Hindu religion.

In his column in the Tamil weekly Ananda Vikatan, Kamal Haasan refuted charges that he was anti-Hindu.

He wondered how he can be anti-Hindu when people at his home were devout Hindus.

“It is their chosen path. I am not an enemy of Hinduism. I look at Islam and Christianity in a similar way. I am not anybody’s enemy and I follow the same policy with my welfare club,” the veteran actor said.

Kamal Haasan, who will start his tour of Tamil Nadu on February 21, said he will interact with people so that there is a two-way exchange of views.

Ballroom | Conference-Room | Classrooms Designed to captivate elegance, functionality & grandeur, our 3,780 sq ft banquet halls can accommodate functions of nearly any size. Special rental rates available for week days, repetative customers & non-profit organizations.

Holi

Easter

Diwali

Christmas

New Year

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: 713-929-1900|Vipin@indiahouseinc.org|www.indiahouseinc.org|8888 West Bellfort Ave., Houston, TX 77031

PAGE 24 20 • INDIA HERALD HERALD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 PAGE 2016 PAGE 24•• INDIA INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MARCH JULY 1, 30, 2015

Spring Branch Family Dentistry,P.A. 1111, Gessner, Suite B Houston, Texas 77055 (713) 461-8050 (713) 461-4747 WeWe Speak English, Hindi & Gujarati speak English & Gujarati CONVENIENT HOURS Monday: 9 am – 6 pm Tuesday: 9 am – 7 pm Wednesday: 9 am – 6 pm Thursday: 9 am – 7 pm Friday: 9 am – 4 pm Saturday: 9 am – 4 pm (Closed one Saturday a month) '

%

$ !# $

#/6/7 385 $+( '-+

::: 645/2-(5'2).*+27/675; )31

'

+1(+5 3,

('+-%, ,$(' !(* * +

"

% & ! $ " ! ! ! # " FLUORIDE TREATMENT (A $125 VALUE)

& # #

! !

$85 $ 65

65

$

!$ ! %&# ' ! $+ 39+ ./0*5+2 361+7/) $./7+2/2- !337. 3035+* /00/2-6 5'0 85-+5; +2785+6 '57/'06 32 685-/)'0 85-/)'0 75+'71+27 3, 81 /6+'6+ 5+9+27/9+ +27/675; 337 '2'0 53)+*85+ 3rd Molar (Wisdom Teeth) Extraction

$+ "6+ '8-./2- '6

Sanjeev Khosla, D.D.S

$ ! "

Exp. Exp. 09/30/2015 %

FEB 09/30/2011 .31, 28,2018 ([S Exp. May 2016

35 2+: 4'7/+276 320; 384326 237 -33* :/7. '2; 37.+5 3,,+5 35 40'26

Darshani Patel, D.D.S

$ ! "

Exp. May 31,2018 2016 Exp. 09/30/2011 Exp. Exp. FEB . 09/30/2015 28, ([S %

35 2+: 4'7/+276 320; 384326 237 -33* :/7. '2; 37.+5 3,,+5 35 40'26

% % % %

! ! # ! ! ! " ! ! !$ $ ! ! $

Exp. FEB.09/30/2011 28, Exp. March 31,2018 2016 Exp. 09/30/2015 Exp. ([S $ ! " & %

35 2+: 4'7/+276 320; 384326 237 -33* :/7. '2; 37.+5 3,,+5 35 40'26