India Herald 071217

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24 Pages

India Herald

VOL. 24 • NO. 28 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 • P.O. BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017699 • 25 cents

Indian humanist Babu Gogineni exposes ‘eclipse of reason’ and superstitions

By SESHADRI KUMAR People invoke gods for various boons, pray to the rain god, fire god, Goddess of education and a plethora of other gods. Conducting marriages among frogs to invoke rain is a ritual in many parts of India.

According to reports, famous Indian actress, Aishwarya Rai, reportedly married a banyan tree, before marrying her

current husband. Since the lady knowingly married the tree despite it being harmful, a lawsuit was filed to protect the tree.

In an illuminating and thought provoking address, Keynote Speaker Babu Gogineni narrated a series of tales on superstition. He was the invited speaker at a See REASON, Page 10

Foundation for India Studies founder Krishna Vavilala, left, presents a memento to Babu Gogineni, third from left. Others in the picture are FIS board directors Vishal Merchant, second from left, Dr. Sreeram Arepalli and Raghu Nednur. Directors not pictured are Sanjay Gakhar and Pramod Kulkarni.

BAPS Mandir in Atlanta celebrates 10th anniversary. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, joined devotees and well-wishers in celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta, GA on July 1, 2017. Right, a panoramic view of the gathering in front of the temple. Story on Page 16.

Islamic terrorists attacked Amarnath pilrims from Gujarat on July 10 in Anantnag, killed seven devotees and injured 15 others. A prayer meeting will be held Thursday, July 13, at India House in Houston from 6 p.m. to 7.15 p.m. See Page 11.

Chennai doctor releases popular medical book in U.S.

By SESHADRI KUMAR Dr. S. Amuthakumar, a renowned practicing physician from Chennai, India, was in Houston on a brief visit recently.

At an informal meeting at the Pearland library, Pearland Mayor Tom Reid and Branch Librarian Andrew Fearn unveiled and received a copy of his recently released book “Body and food” written in Tamil. (Udalum, Unavum).

This is the sixth book penned by him.

Dr. Amuthakumar also presented his other books, including one in English, titled

“Benefits of walking” for possible inclusion in the library collection.

The doctor, well known in Tamil Nadu as the personal physician for VVIPs, was hosted by Rajan Radha Krishnan of Madras Pavilion.

Sam Kannappan, a Pearland resident and community activist, introduced Dr. Amuthakumar.

In his address, Mayor Tom Reid stated that he was honored to meet the good doctor and thanked him for bringing “something of value.” He lauded the doctor-turned author See BOOK, Page 3

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PAGE 2 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

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Rajam and S.G. Appan, flanked by their daughters Sheila, left, and Mangala, right.

By SESHADRI KUMAR Family, friends and community members gathered to celebrate the 80th birthday of long-time Houstonian and noted Indian American community member S. G. Appan at Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland on July 2.

Appan and his wife Rajam celebrated the day with a religious ceremony with close family and relatives in the morning. In the evening, they hosted a grand reception which was attended by about 400 people eager to greet the couple who’ve made Houston their home for the last 50 years.

The Appans’ daughters, Mangala and Sheila, welcomed the gathering for the celebration. Former President of Sri Meenakshi Temple Society Dr. P. Vaduganathan conducted the proceedings on behalf of Appan’s Houston’s friends.

Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, long-time associate and fellow Indian American Sam Kannappan, NASA scientist Dr. Kamlesh Lulla of Clear Lake and Chairman of the Sri Meenakshi Temple Society S. Narayanan

delivered congratulatory messages.

Three organizations Bharathi Kalai Manram, Tamil Nadu Foundation and Hindus of Greater Houston specially felicitated Appan for his continued and generous ďŹ nancial support to the organizations.

The grand children of the Appans’ and their nephews and nieces re-enacted their own version of how their grandparents would have ďŹ rst met and courted in idyllic Kerala, while sailing on a boat surrounded by lush greenery and coconut trees.

Another highlight of the evening’s celebration was a modiďŹ ed version of the “Lungi danceâ€? with the grownups and children of the Appans’ extended family dancing to the tune, with totally new lyrics narrating Appan’s lifestyle.

The climax, if one may say so, was a skit that realistically portrayed Appan, the philanthropist. The play was directed

by Rajan Radhakrishnan and produced by Vaduganathan.

Even Indra, in Devalok, was See Page 7

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Sri Meenakshi Temple Society board members, led by Chairman S. Narayanan, second from right, present a plaque congratulating the Appans.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 • PAGE 3

NEWS Book

BOOK RELEASE. Pearland Library Manager Andrew Fearn, left, Dr. Amuthakumar, Mayor Tom Reid and Sam Kannappan.

From Page 1 by remarking that “talk goes away with the wind but written words remain for posterity” and underscored the fact that this is a “nation of immigrants and I relish the fact that we are so diverse and a special community.”

Following the book’s presentation, Kannappan expressed the community’s willingness to sponsor Indian language books to the library.

He followed this with an email to the Branch Librarian stating that “You mentioned that Indian language books are available in the Westside library. Indo-Americans would be happy to sponsor books from Indian languages such as Hindi, Tamil, and Gujarati etc.

You may discuss this proposal with the Library committee and library patrons. Some of us would be happy to meet with you to discuss this further.”

Dr. Amuthakumar displayed

a flair for writing since his college days. As a medical student from Kilpauk Medical College in the late 1970s, he used to write popular medical articles. He began writing articles on health related topics and medicine in Tamil for the common man and the articles were published in the daily Tamil newspaper Daily Thanthi.

Having written hundreds of articles over the past several years, Dr. Amuthakumar compiled them in a book form and has published six books so far. Interestingly, one of his books was released by former President of India Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam and another by noted actor Kamal Haasan.

One of his well-known books is titled “Important medical news you can use.”

Despite his acclaim as a doctor and newspaper columnist, Dr. Amuthakumar continues to serve his patients with humbleness and humility.

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Dr. Amuthakumar, left, felicitates Rajan Radhakrishnan, as Paerland Mayor Tom Reid looks on.

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.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2017 • PAGE 7

COMMUNITY From Page 2 surprised to see a person like Appan crowned the king of charity. Of course, Sage Narada brings Indra to earth to witness Appan’s generosity.

M.K. Sriram as Appan, stole the show with his impersonation of Appan, while Padma Anatha played the role of Appan’s wife Rajam. Dr. Vaduganathan was Indra and Kumar Bashyam played Narada. Others who participated in the skit included Govindan Somaskandan, Tupil Narasimhan, Mala Gopal and Meera Srikanth.

Appan has emerged as an exceptional community member and his accomplishment as a successful farmer in the U.S. is perhaps unique, even though by profession and education Real Appan applauds M.K. Sriram (in yellow shirt) for perfectly playing the role of Appan in a humorous skit, with other participants he was an environmental sci- in the play. entist. After working for about 10 years in the oil industry, Appan ventured into his passion of growing herbs and then Indian vegetables. His farm became a major supplier to grocery chains like HEB and Fiesta.

While Appan was busy gardening and farming, Rajam was working in a hospital as a dietary supervisor. Today, Appan’s older daughter Mangala and her husband are running the family business full-time.

Dr. Appan and his wife Rajam were interviewed by Padmaja Parthasarathy in 2013 for the Oral History Project of the Foundation for India Studies, which reveals Appan’s personality, in his own words.

“But I was not too happy in my career, because I like to be with nature and with plants, and turned out that all I was doing was computer modeling of ecosystems, massaging data to produce modeling results.

It was exciting, but I had this itch to be a farmer.”

He continued to state “And plus, USA is the most advanced farming technology country in the world. It’s amazing; one man can produce or can manage 1,000 acres of wheat with machinery. And technology in this country is amazing.

So it has been my dream to be a successful farmer in this country. Luckily, I had a wife who said, go for it. That was a big, big risk we were taking, leaving a research career and becoming farmers, with very little knowhow. I knew how to grow plants, but I had no business experience of how to run a business. That’s where I needed help. So we took the plunge in ’82.”

“Fresh herbs became popular as health food. There was tremendous explosion of demand for fresh herbs. So we switched over into 100% fresh herb growing and we were really able to capitalize on that.”

“My dad, like I mentioned, was a coconut farmer, he was all for it, but he passed away before I became successful in farming. And my mom, bless

See Page 9

PAGE 8 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 • PAGE 9

COMMUNITY

Children imagine how their grandparents Appan and Rajan would have dated in those days in Kerala and re-enact the romantic scene where the couple happily sail in a boat like in the old Tamil movies.

From Page 7 her soul, she didn’t like me going into farming, because in India you go from the farm to a desk job; that is called advancement. Now here I was going from a secured research desk job back to farming, so she didn’t like that at all. But I had very good support from my family. Even though they didn’t like it, my mom supported me wholeheartedly. So my grandfather was a farmer also. He migrated from Tamil Nadu to Kerala some 150 years ago in search of better farming areas. So farming is in my blood, and I am so glad my dreams came true and I was able to support my family and be a successful farmer in this country.”

“I would like to point out that in this country, the opportunities and the freedom to do anything you want is amazing. So you just have to find the niche in anything you do.

Like cardiology, one out of six cardiologists in this country are Indians, and they are some of the best in this country. And like Patels and Motels, they are dominating that. So you just have to be innovative, that’s the key.”

“About 15 years ago when you went to a party and introduced yourself and said you are a farmer, you saw people drifting away from you. It was not a glamorous profession to be in, and that was a problem we had to endure for a long time.”

In Appan’s words - “I think the combination, the best of both worlds, the best of being a Hindu helped, the best of values of the Hindu religion, which has taught me, and the best that this country has to offer. Now, in my case I may have 70% of Indian heritage and 30% of this beautiful country, but my kids have 70% of the best things offered in this country, but still have a foundation of the values we have taught them. So I can see that my kids, plus all the younger generation growing here would have a great future, because they have the best of both worlds and a message to the young generation,

go after your dreams. This is the best country in the world to reach any heights. You can dream of stars and reach there.”

The grand celebration of Appan’s 80th birthday culminated in a sumptuous dinner catered by Madras Pavilion and the elaborate spread of half-a-dozen desserts lured everyone to enjoy the sweet.

Dr. P. Vaduganathan as Indra and Kumar Bhashyam as Narada plan a trip to earth to find the King of philanthropy S.G. Appan.

PAGE 10 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

COMMUNITY

A section of the audience at the FIS meeting.

Reason

From Page 1 meeting organized by the Foundation for India Studies in Houston. The event was attended by FIS members, guests and members of the Houston Humanists Association.

In his welcome remarks, FIS founder Krishna Vavilala stated that the FIS provides a platform to present ideas and free thinking.

Babu Gogineni is an Indian Humanist, rationalist, and human rights activist, who served as Executive Director of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. He is also the founder of the South Asian Humanist Association and Indian Humanists. In his activism, Gogineni campaigns against established privilege and abuse of rights done in the name of religion.

Gogineni’s activism to rescue blasphemy death penalty convict Dr. Younis Shaikh in Pakistan, to defend the rights of Taslima Nasrin in Bangladesh, his campaign to stop the Dalai Lama recruiting little boys and girls as reincarnation of dead Lamas, his work to expose the deadly superstitions of Banamati witchcraft, as well as his challenges to astrologers, Vaastu pundits and other purveyors of superstitions have brought many social issues to the public eye. He organized two World Conferences on Untouchability - in London and Kathmandu, and has spoken at the UN Human Rights Commission and Council. He has also lectured in over 30 countries and hosted a multilanguage TV series called The Big Question with Babu Gogineni oering a Humanist perspective on science and civilization.

Superstition is not unique to India and is prevalent all over the world, he stated, and cited the examples of a temple dedicated to obtaining visas for foreign travel and the Chilkur Balaji temple which entertains the prayers of prospective H1-B applicants for employment in the U.S. He also recounted the case of a woman in the United Kingdom who married a dog before marrying her husband to protect her husband.

The West African nation of Ghana is widely known for their ‘witch camps’, which houses old women who are

accused of occult crimes and subsequently banished from their communities. They seek refuge in these ‘camps’ to avoid being killed by their family and community members. Un, the northern region of Ghana has a care center for vulnerable children. According to the managers of the orphanage, at least half the children were abandoned due to witchcraft accusation. In Northern Ghana, belief in witchcraft and magic is very strong and Witchcraft accusation and persecution is widespread.

Gogineni pointed out that there was a time when India had discovered “humanism� and “non-religious morality� and had “reason�. Today, India’s tragedy is the dangers posed by superstition and the immeasurable harm it causes people.

Using a burning camphor in the palm or the oating of a young boy in air are tricks exposed by rationalists like Gogineni. It is very common among men and women to have colored threads tied to their wrist and special rings made with magic stones. There are many advertisements promoting a spelling change in one’s name to bring good luck.

In many villages, men and women who practiced witchcraft are lynched to death. In July 2015, a family of six was hacked to death for practicing witchcraft. In the last 15 years, at least 2,500 have been killed due to witchcraft or superstition.

Gogineni and other rationalists continue to debunk the so-called miracles. Mixing phosphorus in cow dung can spontaneously catch ďŹ re. The father of a chemistry student was selling ‘tantric’ services to villagers who were bewildered by their huts catching ďŹ re due to ‘evil spirits’.

Speaking on ‘eclipse of reason,’ Gogineni sought to dispel the superstition that exposure to an eclipse caused harm to pregnant women and children or that one should not eat during the eclipse. He created a movement to disprove the superstition by openly eating in public places during eclipses.

Rationalists have been challenging astrologers for over 50 years in India. A case has been registered with the

Human Rights Commission against a noted astrologer whose predictions failed 100% for false advertising and misleading the public.

According to Gogineni, one of the most successful campaigns by Humanists, Rationalists and Human Rights Babu Gogineni activists in India and Nepal Hyderabad, but had to retreat in powers. He also disallowed has been the ďŹ ght against an elaborate reincarnation fraud in the face of the campaign against the plea that the parents could provide the child private tuition this fraud.

South India, enacted with the and rejected the claim that the A petition was ďŹ led with the connivance of the Dalai Lama. child does not like to go to Human Rights Commission It involves Buddhist and Hindu school. against the child’s guardians superstitions about rebirth, Gogineni concluded and others for gross, public criminal intentions of parents his address by stating that and unrestrained abuse of to exploit their children for “Superstition is the child of the child Sambhavi, seeking business as well as real estate ignorance and the mother of urgent intervention to save her business and spiritual fraud and misery,â€? and Education is the from further mental abuse as an international conspiracy to exploit a child for political and well as to stop the religious key and children should be and political exploitation of a taught how to think. Knowledge religious purposes.

Gogineni cited the instance vulnerable child. The campaign and facts should be the content slogan was ’Should she be in a of truth and the basis of our of Sambhavi, a 6-year old beliefs. temple or in a school.’ girl child, who in 2009, was He also emphasized that the On June 14th, 2010, the identiďŹ ed by the Dalai Lama ďŹ ght was not against religion but judge delivered his orders: in as the reincarnation of a dead ignorance and infringement on summary the child has to go to monk. He participated in human rights and emphasized a recognized school and cannot religious rituals along with the the need and the will to stop be presented as a goddess and child in his Indian headquarters such frauds, identify and expose that the child should not be of Dharamshala. them. made to believe she has divine The media was heavily involved in this circus as claims were made that the child Summer Camp at India House travels to Tibet in a trance, communicates Monday to Friday | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm with the $ 75 Per Participant Per Week | All material included Dalai Lama by telepathy, New Activity Every Week spoke Telugu and Tamil automatically Canvas Painting | Clay Art | Mural Art | Quilling | Drawing | Painting languages she had never earlier been exposed to. She was installed as a goddess in a temple, received devotees who prostrated before her and foretold the future.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 • PAGE 11

NEWS

Attack on Amarnath Yatra Pilgrims “Unconscionable”: HAF WASHINGTON, D.C. The terrorist attack on a bus in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, on July 10 which killed seven Hindu pilgrims returning to Gujarat from the annual Amarnath Yatra in the Kashmir Valley and reportedly injured at least twelve more, is the latest indication of the worsening violence in the region.

The Pakistan-sponsored terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen is suspected of carrying out this latest attack.

“This was an unconscionable attack on innocent pilgrims exercising their most fundamental and basic rights to freedom of religion,” said Rajiv Pandit, MD, HAF Board Member and a native of Kashmir.

“We urge the Trump Administration to designate Hizbul Mujahideen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and clamp down on Pakistan for its continued support of Hizbul and other terrorist groups carrying out attacks in India.”

The attack comes after the route from Jammu to the cave shrine at Amarnath, high in the Himalayas, was closed for a time during the one year anniversary of the death of former Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

In 2016 there was a surge in violence in the aftermath of Wani’s killing by Indian security forces, including mob attacks on transition camps in the Valley set up for returning Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus indigenous to

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Kashmir who were ethnically cleansed from the Valley in 1990).

Just two weeks ago, prior to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, the State Department declared Hizbul Mujahideen commander Syed Salahuddin as a global terrorist.

“Hindu pilgrims continue

to remain at extreme risk of violence in Kashmir,” said Samir Kalra, Esq., HAF Senior Director.

“The Jammu and Kashmir state government and security forces must take all necessary precautions to protect pilgrims and ensure that the Amarnath Yatra continues safely and without further incident.”

The attack has drawn

widespread condemnation from political leaders in India, including Prime Minister Modi, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, among others.

The Amarnath Yatra— during which hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims from around the world trek to a cave shrine containing a

naturally formed ice lingam each July and August—has been threatened with violence in recent years, as noted in the Foundation’s latest human rights report.

In 2016, several routes to the pilgrimage were closedfor a time to ensure the safety of those people undertaking the arduous act of devotion.

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NEWS

Amarnath yatra : Terrorists were directed to eliminate 100 to 150 pilgrims, says intelligence report Seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed and 12 injured when terrorists opened fire at a vehicle on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway on Monday night.

A police official said the attack took place at Anantnag’s Batengo area around 8.30 p.m.

The attack took place when quick response teams of the Army had withdrawn from the highway around sunset, making the vehicle vulnerable.

Here are the latest updates: “We were fired at from all sides but our driver took us to safety” Sheikh, the driver of the bus belonging to Om Travels from south Gujarat’s Valsad town which was carrying 51 pilgrims, showed grit and determination, as he kept driving the vehicle in pitch darkness last night unfazed by the hail of bullets fired at the bus. The driver applied brakes to the bus only after reaching a military camp, some two km away from the site where they were ambushed, saving many pilgrims who were in the bus, said an injured male survivor, lying on a stretcher.

An intelligence report that was circulated to the Jammu and Kashmir police, military and paramilitary units two weeks ago indicates security officials were expecting an attack. The memo, marked “top secret,” warned that a “sensational attack by terrorist outfits cannot be ruled out” in the region. The intelligence report, dated June 25, and verified as authentic by The Associated Press, said, “terrorists have been directed to eliminate 100 to 150 pilgrims and about 100 police.”

Denouncing the “dastardly and inhuman” attack, Left parties said on Tuesday that it was aimed at deepening the communal divide and demanded that the culprits be brought to book.

The people of Kashmir have always viewed the pilgrimage as part of its “syncretic heritage”, the parties said and pitched for ensuring peace and communal harmony in the State. “The CPI(M) politburo denounces the dastardly attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir,” the party said in a statement.

“It is important this provocation does not succeed. This can be accomplished by ensuring that peace and communal harmony prevail in Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country,” it said. CPI national secretary D. Raja asked the government to ensure that the culprits of the “heinous and inhuman” attack do not go scotfree. “As the yatra is held every year, the government should strengthen intelligence and security measures,” he noted.

Eighteen Opposition parties, which met at Parliament Library on Tuesday, asked the Central government to introspect on its ‘’failure’’ to prevent the “cowardly and ghastly” terror attack despite advance intelligence inputs.

President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday strongly condemned attack. He asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure that those behind the attack were brought to justice.

“Such senseless acts of terrorism must be met with determination and collective action”, he said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called a high level meeting to review the situation after the attack.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, top officials of the Home Ministry, intelligence agencies and central paramilitary forces attended the meeting.

Mr. Singh saluted the people of Jammu and Kashmir who had condemned the attack on Amarnath pilgrims and kept the spirit of Kashmiriyat alive.

The attack was a “cowardly act of terror” but it was heartening to see the whole nation stood united against terrorism, he said.

“I am pained at the loss of lives of Amarnath pilgrims.

But I salute the people of Kashmir as all sections of society have condemned the attack.

It shows the spirit of Kashmiriyat is very much alive,” he told reporters.

Kashmir civil society groups to protest killings Human rights activist Khurram Parvez said in a Facebook post that a protest was being organised to show solidarity with those killed and demand a credible investigation into the deadly attack.

“Let us unambiguously and emphatically show solidarity towards those killed and demand a credible investigation against this and all other crimes perpetrated in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

The sit-in will be organised at at Pratap Park in Lal Chowk area of the city.

Give bravery award for driver: Gujarat CM Rupani The bodies of theose killed were brought to the Surat airport along with the injured and their family members in an IAF plane.

While recieving the bodies of those killed, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said he would recommend to the Centre to honour the bus driver with a bravery award.

According to information provided by Jammu and Kashmir police to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the driver drove through the bullets and didn’t

stop. The bus, carrying yatris from Amarnath, was attacked twice by terrorists within a distance of 75 metres, the police said.

The Gujarat government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of each of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh each to the injured.

Pilgrims leave Jammu for Valley despite attack A batch of 3,289 Amarnath pilgrims left Jammu for the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday despite the previous day terror attack.

“A fresh batch of 3,289 yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in an escorted convoy of 185 vehicles around 3 a.m., on Tuesday for the Valley”, officials said. So far, nearly 1.40 lakh pilgrims have reached the cave shrine located at 3,888 metres above sea level.

U.S. deplores attack The United States on Tuesday deplored the attack, saying it condemned all acts of terrorism. It also extended its “deepest” condolences to the families of the deceased and “all those affected“.

“We deplore the attack on #Amarnath pilgrims & condemn all acts of terrorism.

Deepest condolences to the families & all those affected,” the US ambassador’s official Twitter post said.

Condemnation from international community Condemnation of the attack poured in from the international community. Germany said it “resolutely stands” by India in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a letter sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. said: “I am deeply shocked to learn about the dastardly terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims to Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir that killed several pilgrims, including women, and injuring many others on Monday.”

Nepal’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, in a release, also strongly condemned the terror act.

Lashkar-e-Taiba denies involvement in attack As Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muneer Khan blamed the Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attack, the militant outfit denied its involvement, reports Peerzada Ashiq from Srinagar.

“Islam does not allow violence against any faith. We strongly condemn such acts.

Kashmiris have never targeted any pilgrim. India wants to sabotage the freedom struggle of Kashmiris. Therefore, it uses such attacks to fulfil its nefarious agenda,” said a Lashkar spokesman. Through such

“dastardly acts”, India wanted to succeed inits its anti-Kashmir policies, he added.

Crime against humanity: Vice President Ansari In a message, Vice President Hamid Ansari condoled the families of the deceased. He said perpetrators of such “wanton” acts of violence should be punished for the “crime against humanity“. India remained united in the face of such attacks.

“I’m shocked to learn of the dastardly terrorist attack on Amarnath yatra in Jammu and Kashmir that has resulted in loss of lives and injuries to pilgrims. Such wanton acts of violence can have no justification. The perpetrators and those who support and shelter them should be punished for this crime against humanity,” he said.

Crush terrorists: DMK’s Stalin DMK working president M K Stalin on Tuesday condemned the attack on Amarnath pilgrims and urged the government to crush terrorists.

“Dastardly #AmarnathTerrorAttack on pilgrims despicable. Cowardice to attack innocent pilgrims. Crush the heartless terrorists with all might,” he said in a tweet.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik strongly condemned the attack.

Senior BJD leader and Lok Sabha member Baijayant Panda also condemned the attack.

He termed the incident “despicable beyond words“.

Attack an unacceptable security lapse: Rahul Gandhi Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi hit out at the government on the attack, terming it a “grave and unacceptable security lapse” and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accept the responsibility.

India, he said, would never be intimidated by terrorists.

Targeting the government, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala said the attack was a matter of serious security lapse on the part of the government and security forces.

Adityanath orders tight security Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a high-level meeting to take stock of the security situation and directed officials to spruce up intelligence network.

Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar and Director General of Police Sulkhan Singh have been asked to monitor the situation personally and oversee security arrangements.

Vigil has been stepped up for the ongoing Kanwar yatra as it involves hundreds of

thousands of devotees in open areas.

Head of every Kashmiri hangs in shame over attack: Mehbooba Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has said the terror attack is a “blot on all Muslims and Kashmiris“.

While visiting the injured in a hospital in Anantnag on Monday, she said the head of every Kashmiri hangs in shame over the incident.

“Pilgrims come to Kashmir every year for the yatra despite all difficulties. And seven people died today. I have no words to condemn it. I hope the security forces and the Jammu and Kashmir police arrest the perpetrators forthwith and take stern action against them,” she told reporters.

J&K govt announced Rs 6 lakh compensation for kin of each Amarnath pilgrim killed in militant attack and Rs. 2 lakh for those injured.

India will never be bogged down by evil designs of hate: Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday night strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack and asserted that India would never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks and evil designs of hate.

He said he spoke to Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and assured all possible assistance to them.

Bandh in Jammu Several political organisations, including the VHP, JKNPP, the NC and the Congress called for a bandh on Tuesday to condemn the terror attack.

“We have called for a Jammu bandh on Tuesday against the death of seven Amarnath pilgrims in a terror attack at Anantnag,” VHP spokesman Rajesh Kumar said on Monday.

Six of the seven killed were from Gujarat’s Valsad district.

According to sources, there were 60 passengers in the bus and were all mostly from Surat, Valsad and Daman. The bus belonged to Om travels in Valsad in South Gujarat. The bus left Gujarat on 2nd July. Darshan was completed on Sunday.

Undeterred by the attack on Amarnath pilgrims, hundreds of devotees today set off for the cave shrine amid stepped up security measures.

Chanting ‘Bam Bam Bhole’, the pilgrims set for the arduous trek from both the traditional Pahalgam and shorter Baltal routes early this morning, an official of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) said.

“The yatra is progressing smoothly and the terror attack has not dampened the spirits of the pilgrims,” the official said.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 • PAGE 13

COMMUNITY

Only way out for terrorists, ‘death’, says Indian police oďŹƒcer

By MANU SHAH Additional Director General of Police, Dr. Ramesh spent a good portion of his career cracking down on militants, leading anti-terrorist attacks, ushing out inďŹ ltrators and most importantly instituting rehabilitation programs that helped the Government “get to the youth before the terrorists got to them.â€?

At an event cohosted by the Indian Consulate and IACCGH, Dr. Ramesh opened up about his postings in hard core, volatile places like Kashmir and West Bengal and encounters with terrorists and militants in a career that spans almost 30 years.

He had been invited as Keynote speaker at the India Global Conference in Denver and is visiting several cities including Houston to connect with the Indian diaspora here.

Expressing his admiration and esteem for Dr. Ramesh, Consul General Dr. Anupam Ray noted that “India has survived terrorism and emerged stronger for it and this is because of seless and bold oďŹƒcers like Dr. Ramesh.â€?

A native of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Ramesh is a 1988 batch West Bengal cadre IPS oďŹƒcer. While in the police force, he chalked up an MBA from IIM Kolkata, two PhD’s and is presently working on his third Doctorate. He almost lost his life in a counter insurgency encounter when a bomb exploded inches away from him but despite the heavy bleeding, continued to lead. He was awarded the Parakaram Award for his grit and bravery and such is his iron will and endurance that he can run nonstop for 25 kilometers.

Inspired by his freedom ďŹ ghter grandfather and a mother who fostered a spirit of public service, Dr. Ramesh joined the Indian Police Service and in his own way, says, he converted it to “Indian People Service.â€?

Presently, he heads the investigative wing of the Human Rights Commission in W. Bengal or as he describes it “helps the common man stand up to the might of the Government.�

Dr. Anupam Ray and visiting IPS oďŹƒcer Dr. Ramesh (with a plaque) at the consul-general’s residence along with community members.

In his postings in Kashmir and W. Bengal, Dr. Ramesh has seen and dealt with Terrorism, he stated, “ebbs and owsâ€? and is dependent on good governance of the area and change in governments in neighboring countries. He explained that the borders primarily see “low intensity conictâ€? and despite reports to the contrary there is nothing to be alarmed about.â€?

Having interrogated terrorists, Dr. Ramesh pinned extreme poverty as the cause that drove the youth to terrorism especially in areas like Multan.

He also studied their psychology and realized that the majority of them are victims of depression and lack a sense of self-worth. Such individuals were targeted by terrorist recruiters and there was no going back for them as their families were threatened with dire consequences.

The only way out for a terrorist, according to Dr. Ramesh, was “death� – either by security forces or in a jihadi (religious) attack.

One particular experience that stuck with him was of an 11 year old Kashmiri boy who was paid to throw a hand grenade at a CRPF camp.

The boy was tracked down and sent to a juvenile home but Dr. Ramesh sidestepped the judgement and sent him to a neighboring school “so he wouldn’t become a terrorist.�

Sharma Tilal Senanayake, CPA Certified Public Accountant

several rehabilitative steps such as recruitment programs by the Police Department, a Patrolling without Petrol for Peace Walk and job creation programs.

Dr. Ramesh who considers freedom ďŹ ghter Chandrashekhar Azad as “the greatest of all patriotsâ€? is no less one himself.

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PAGE 14 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

INDIANS ABROAD

GOPIO, Connecticut chaper honors outstanding achievers The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)Connecticut Chapter honored outstanding achievers of the Indian American community in Connecticut and those provide service to the community or the society at large at its Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, July 8th at the Stamford Hilton Hotel, Stamford, CT. Chief guest at the program is Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das, Consul General of India in New York.

GOPIO CT AWARDEES 2017 Ila Paliwal, Performing Arts Ila Paliwal is a classically trained Indian vocalist, songwriter and producer based in New York. She released her album NAVARATNA in 2015 at the Carnegie Hall to a sold-out audience.

NAVARATNA celebrates India’s secular and festive spirit and is executive produced by legendary music composer AR Rahman. In 2015, She also released a video, HOLI celebrating the Indian ancient phrase Vasudev Kutumbakam. Through her music, Ila focuses to spread the message of Unity in Diversity. Ila along with her family supports several philanthropic organizations through their Family’s Charitable Foundation.

Dr. Draupathi Nambudiri, Medicine and Health Care Dr. Draupathi Nambudiri currently serves as the Chair of the

Ila Paliwal,, left, Draupathi Nambudiri, Rupendra Paliwal, Alpa Ladani and Nitesh Banta Department of Psychiatry at Stamford Hospital and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College.

She completed her fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry from New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell University and has been practicing psychiatry for over 30 years. She has been an active clinician, leader, mentor, and educator over the course of her career.

In addition to being Board Certified in Geriatric Psychiatry, Dr. Nambudiri also holds Board Certifications in Addiction Psychiatry, General Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine. She and her family have been active members of the local Indian community for more than 3 decades.

Dr. Rupendra Paliwal, Education Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D. currently serves as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Sacred Heart University. Be-

fore taking on the role of provost, Paliwal served as vice president for strategic planning, special assistant to the president for strategic planning, associate dean of the Jack Welch College of Business (WCOB), interim dean of the WCOB, associate dean for Academic Affairs and associate professor of finance. Prior to coming to Sacred Heart, he was a senior officer of the National Stock Exchange of India. Dr. Paliwal holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics and telecommunication engineering from Rani Durgawati University in Jabalpur, India; a post-graduate diploma in business administration and chartered financial analyst from the ICFAI Business School in India; and a doctorate in finance from the University of Connecticut. Paliwals reside in Woodbridge, CT Captain Alpa Ladani, Service to the Nation Captain Alpa Ladani, a dis-

tinguished 20-year Veteran of the Connecticut Army National Guard, was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Germany and Bahrain in a number of different capacities. Most recently, Captain Ladani served as the Executive Officer for Forward Support Base, Headquarters Resolute Support in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her awards and decorations include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, and Iraq Campaign medal with 2 Campaign Stars, amongst a host of other honors accrued over her lengthy time in service. Captain Ladani currently resides in Boston, MA and works as the Senior Program Manager of Emergency Planning for the Boston Public Health Commission’s Office of Public Health Preparedness.

Nitesh Banta – President’s Award for Young Professional Achiever Nitesh Banta born and raised

in Stamford CT is a 2008 Harvard University Alumni was selected for the well-known Forbes 30 Under 30 List in the New Venture Category. He is an active angel investor and is the CEO and co-founder of B12 which has been recognized as the hottest emerging startup by Nasdaq at the Founders Forum.

Nitesh is a participant in the AI Xprize. In October 2016, Nitesh won the Rising Star Award for B-12. Previously, Nitesh was at a Venture Capital Firm General Catalyst Partners. where he focused on investments in early-stage technology businesses. Nitesh loves supporting first-time entrepreneurs. In 2012, Nitesh co-founded Rough Draft Ventures, a studentrun venture initiative where each student entrepreneurs can receive up to $25k to fund their new startup. At Harvard, Nitesh was a John Harvard Scholar and he graduated with High Honors.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 • PAGE 15

NEWS Shastri appointed India head coach till 2019 ICC World Cup

Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri Former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri was on Tuesday named the Indian cricket team’s new head coach till the 2019 ICC World Cup. The decision was announced by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising former captains Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and veteran batting star V.V.S. Laxman on Tuesday, after the BCCI’s Committee of Administrators (CoA) directed it to consult skipper Virat Kohli and announce the name of the coach at the earliest.

A veteran of 80 Tests and 150 One-Day Internationals (ODI), the 55-year-old Shastri had earlier served as the Team Director for India’s tour of England in 2014 to the 2016 World T20, where India lost to the eventual champions West Indies.

Shastri was overlooked last year as the CAC went ahead and picked Anil Kumble for a one-year term, that ended on a controversial note after the recently-concluded ICC Champions Trophy, last month.

Shastri’s first assignment with the team will be the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, featuring three Tests, five ODIs and a one-off T20 International, starting July 26.

Shastri had initially not applied for the top post but when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) extended the deadline for acceptance of applications till July 9, the former allrounder jumped into the fray and suddenly became the hot favourite, given his cordial relations with Kohli.

Besides Shastri, the CAC had on Monday interviewed four other candidates -- Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, Richard Pybus and Lalchand Rajput. Former West Indies coach Phil Simmons wasn’t available for the interview process.

Liquor sale on highways The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed applications of private bars and hotels associations to modify/clarify the ban on sale of liquor alongside state and national highways.

A Special Bench led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar said such requests for modification and clarification of Supreme Court judgments is ‘unprecedented’ and not maintainable.

However, the Supreme Court said it intends to dismiss a petition filed by NGO Arrive Safe Society against a recent Punjab and Haryana High Court order allowing the Chandigarh administration to reclassify highways within city limits, thus allowing bars and hotels functioning within city limits to re-open.

The dismissal would open a way for other States to reclassify stretches of highways within their city limits and revive hotels and bars that were forced to shut down following the court ban.

Also Read “Our thought was very clear in the judgment. So long as the highways remained highways, sale of liquor within 500 metres was banned. But now they have ceased to be highways,” Chief Justice Khehar observed.

The Supreme Court said their judgment was based on the intelligible differentia that highways with high speed traffic should be liquor free zones, but traffic is slow within city limits. It said law passed by the legislature or the executive can take away the basis of a judgment but cannot undo or de-legitimise a judgment, the court observed.

The court made it clear that it would not entertain any applications from private parties and has restricted itself to interlocutory applications filed by Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh.

Madras HC order staying slaughter ban to cover entire country: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the interim direction of the Madras High Court staying the Centre’s notification banning sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter will remain in force and would cover the entire country.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the statement of the Central government that it was reconsidering the notification by taking into account various objections and suggestions of stakeholders and would come up with an amended notification.

“Needless to say that the interim direction issued by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court shall continue and extend to the entire country,”

the bench said.

The bench then disposed of the plea filed by the All India Jamiatul Quresh Action Committee challenging the constitutional validity of the May 23 notification.

Additional Solicitor General P S Narasimha, appearing for the Centre said, the recent notification, in any case, will not be effective unless the state governments earmark local markets as stipulated under it where cattle sale takes place.

“Moreover, the Ministry of Environment and Forests and others authorities concerned are looking into various suggestions and objections to the notification and a fresh amended one will be re-notified,” the ASG said, adding the Central government as of now is not

seeking a stay on the Madras HC order and apprising the court about the present status.

The apex court considered the submissions of the Centre and asked it to give “sufficient time” so as to enable aggrieved persons to approach the court again with their grievance if any.

The Centre had on May 23 issued the notification banning sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, a move that is expected to hit export and trade of meat and leather.

The Environment Ministry had notified the stringent ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017’ under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Ex-royalty against scrutiny of Kerala temple vault The legal process in the Supreme Court pertaining to the famous Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala is set to get further complicated as the erstwhile royal family of Travancore, once the custodian of the shrine, is determined to oppose any move to open and examine the second of the six temple cellars that hold invaluable treasures.

Members of the former royal family are saying that they will not allow the opening of Cellar B, second of the six vaults at the temple, perhaps the richest Hindu shrine in the world. According to them such a step is against the will of the deity of the centuries-old shrine. They also term as wrong the argument that Cellar B had been opened many times in the past.

“We are unhappy about this.

We won’t allow the opening of the vault. It cannot be opened without the permission of the royalty,” Aswathy Thirunnal Gauri Lakshmi Bayi, one of the senior-most members of the erstwhile royal family told the media. She said the communities of priests and scholars were also against the move to open the cellar.

SC had last week said that Cellar B of the temple should be opened after consultations with the royal family for assessing and documenting the treasures.

It had observed that this would

not hurt anybody’s sentiments though the royalty’s counsel objected to the idea of opening the vault saying that it would be against belief.

A committee appointed by the apex court had examined the other five vaults at the temple in 2011 and Cellar A, said to be as important to the shrine as Cellar B, was found to hold gold, silver, precious stones, ancient coins, etc whose material value alone could come to over Rs 125,000 crore.

Cellar B could not be opened and its contents could not be assessed and documented at that time due to the objections raised by the members of the former royal family. The family’s objections to the vault’s opening is not based on any issues related to temple rituals but they are saying that such a step could make the deity unhappy and lead to undesirable developments.

A Devaprasnam, astrological examination, held at the temple in August, 2011 in connection with this had concluded that death and destruction could visit upon anybody who tried to open Cellar B and his relatives.

It also predicted that those who touched Cellar B could die of poison consumption or snake bite.

“The royal family will not be responsible at all for any unfortunate developments ensuing from the opening of the vault,”

said Aswathy Thirunnal. On former CAG Vinod Rai’s finding that the cellar had been opened seven times in the past, she said it was not the cellar but its antechamber that had been opened and the ante-chamber could have been mistaken for the vault.

The erstwhile royal family’s main argument against the opening of the underground cellar, which is situated at a crucial part of the temple and, according to rumours, had gold and silver blocks kept in dozens of giant steel vaults, could affect the divinity and sacredness of the shrine’s idol and sanctum sanctorum.

According to temple administration sources, Cellar B has two levels and had been sealed with doors made out of rocks. They say that there is no known way to open these rock doors. An effort had been made to open the cellar on June 30, 2011 but it had to be abandoned. The apex court had then said the vault should not be opened till further orders.

“The royal family should cite the actual reason for their objections to the opening of the vault instead of citing matters of belief and stories about snakes,” said historian MG Sasibhooshan.

“They should cite reasons that are logical and convincing. Otherwise it would further strengthen the suspicions some people already have about them,” he told the media.

PAGE 16 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

INDIANS ABROAD Grand 10th Anniversary Celebration of BAPS Mandir in Atlanta His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, joined devotees and well-wishers in celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta, GA on July 1, 2017. The Mandir was inaugurated by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 2007 and has helped enrich the local community through the development of family and youth programs, community outreach, and spiritual assemblies. A true labor of love, the Mandir offers weekly services and year-round programs organized by volunteers and Swamis within the BAPS community.

As a central place of Hindu worship, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir opened to the community on August 26, 2007 and was made possible by the spiritual support, guidance, and inspiration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Today, Mahant Swami Maharaj carries forward this work and legacy as the current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Through his leadership and guidance, Mahant Swami Maharaj invites people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds to visit and explore the mandir, its architecture, and its Hindu teachings.

Heer Patel from Memphis, Tennessee was relatively new to the BAPS community during the inaugural ceremonies in 2007 and recalled the event with great enthusiasm, “[Pramukh Swami] was truly someone special that was able to attract thousands of people from different backgrounds and bring them together for one purpose. I was not never really interested in spirituality, but after the memorable interactions with Pramukh Swami Maharaj when he inaugurated the temple in 2007, I became more and more connected with the temple.” Patel was a volunteer at the 10 year celebrations. “It has been such an amazing experience to have just as amazing interactions with Mahant Swami Maharaj as we celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the mandir”.

Since Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s visit, participation within the local community and beyond has grown, and hundreds of individuals regularly attend celebrations of Hindu festivals throughout the year.

Continued on opposite page

INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ PAGE 17

COMMUNITY

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The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta is the ďŹ rst of its kind in the region, and community volunteers welcomed the ten-year anniversary celebrations in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj with the same zeal and excitement they experienced back in 2007.

The anniversary celebrations were primarily created and led by the youth of BAPS who have been preparing for the arrival of Mahant Swami Maharaj for several months. Yash Soni from Parkland, FL says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;By participating in various performances during the 10th anniversary celebration, I have felt a deep connection with my guru and developed a greater understanding of samp (unity) and teamwork. These are two values that he has stressed to youths of my age.â&#x20AC;?

Over the past ten years, the mandir has welcomed people from all walks of life, leaving a lasting impression in their lives.

Community members join in weekly events to practice spirituality and personal development while fostering a sense of unity and teamwork. Music, language, and spiritual enrichment classes actively instill Hindu values and culture in future generations of young people who will grow to lead in their communities.

Regular programs and events at the mandir provide an opportunity for community members to explore and practice Hindu traditions and faith. The mandir is also the site of various charitable initiatives that include health fairs, blood drives, and community walkathons for people of all ages â&#x20AC;&#x201C; merging the spirit of service with volunteerism.

The BAPS Mandir in Atlanta unites families in spirituality, setting the tone for the anniversary events. Highlights from the program included video footage of the inaugural ceremonies and colorful cultural dances. Guests relived the past ten years of the mandirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history, the development of youth activities, and the installation of the sacred image of Nilkanth Varni. Devotees shared stories of reaching milestones in their spirituality, growing closer to one another, and practicing peaceful living â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all inspired and guided by the role of mandir in their lives.

The event was attended by several community and government oďŹ&#x192;cials who recalled fond moments with Pramukh Swami Maharaj and shared heartfelt reďŹ&#x201A;ections on their ďŹ rst meeting with Mahant Swami Maharaj during his current travels.

The mayor of Lilburn, Mayor Johnny Crist, presented Mahant Swami Maharaj with a key to the city while saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most cities in the state of Georgia want to be a place where you live, work, and play. But may I oďŹ&#x20AC;er another alternative, or add to it, and that is we need to be a city where that is a place to live, to work, to play, and to pray.â&#x20AC;? Mayor Crist also brought a proclamation designating July 1, 2017 as Mahant Swami Maharaj Day in the city of Lilburn. In addition to Lilburn there are a total of six cities recognizing July 1, 2017 as Mahant Swami Maharaj Day including Matthews, NC; Boynton Beach, FL; Montgomery, AL; Knox County, TN; and Anderson, SC. The celebrations concluded with blessings from Mahant Swami Maharaj who encouraged all to uphold unity, maintain faith, and further develop oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spirituality in strengthening the mandir as a community place of worship.

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.

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PAGE 18 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

HEALTH

Magnetism and the Human Body Q&A with Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev Do magnets have any special impact or healing properties for the human body?

Sadhguru answers a question about how magnets impact the human body, if magnets have healing properties and speaks on aligning the body with the magnet that we all live on – the Earth itself.

Sadhguru: If you wear a magnet on your body, it may bring some changes in your physiological parameters, but that does not really mean anything. This is too simplistic an approach. Human physiology is far more complex than that. Even if you stand next to an electrical transmitter, you can measure changes in your body. Even if you stand next to a tree, there will be measurable changes in your physiological system.

It is quite ridiculous that when the very planet we live on is a magnet, some commercial enterprises are selling little magnets which are supposed to change your life! If you live on a magnet, why do you need another one? This planet is a big enough magnet. And the very body that you carry is a part of this magnet.

Aligning With the Earth The planet has substantial influence upon the human body.

For example, the physiological

parameters of your body function in different ways depending on whether you stand up or lie down on the earth. And the direction and impact of the planet’s magnetic forces on your body are the reason why we say you should not sleep with the head to the north (in the northern hemisphere), because that would not be good for you.

There are certain practices through which we could align you to the place you live in. But that only worked well in times when people did not move more than maybe ten miles from where they lived. When people only moved within a small radius around their habitation, their bodies naturally got aligned to that particular place on the planet. If, let’s say, we strongly align you to one place, and then you travel to different places, you would need the necessary knowledge and capability to re-align your body to those places. Otherwise, your body would freak out, one way or the other.

But in a more general sense, there are ways of getting more involved with the big magnet all of us live on and are made of, which would bring much more benefit than wearing small magnets on your wrist.

If you have a garden and some privacy, what you could do is, in the morning after you fin-

ish your sadhana, dig a hole in your backyard, about two feet deep. Put your feet inside, close the hole up to just above your ankles, and sit there for thirty to forty minutes, simply stuck in the earth.

Your system will align itself very well to the larger magnet, and you will not have to carry magnets anywhere on your body! There are many benefits to this practice. In terms of health you will see that if you attune yourself to the ways of the planet, allergies will vanish. Fundamentally, allergies indicate that something within you is not in rapport with the life-making material of this planet – you are becoming a bit of an alien.

Supernatural!

You may have heard of yogis being buried right up to the neck, as a sadhana. You need not go that far, but being in touch with the earth is very beneficial in terms of health, wellbeing, and certain types of spiritual practices. When people acquire certain capabilities – let’s say they make their bodies like thin air, walk upon water, or do other kinds of things that are considered “supernatural” – in a way, it is all about the ability to align one’s physical existence with the celestial bodies.

There are nine celestial bod-

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev ies that play a significant role options, but the feet would be in making things happen for the easiest thing to do. human beings. Out of these nine, the Earth, Moon, and Sun are the most important Sadhguru is a yogi, a mystic, ones. If your system is aligned a humanitarian, and an interto at least these three, and you nationally renowned speaker are consciously sensitive to addressing issues as diverse as the changing relationship of socioeconomic development, the Earth with the Moon and leadership, and spirituality. the Sun on any given day, and Named one of India’s 50 most you know how to adjust your influential people, Sadhguru’s system, then you will be com- work has touched the lives of over 7 million people worldpetent in tantra.

This competence and ca- wide through his transformapability arises simply from tional program called “Inner the alignment with the forces Engineering.” Sadhguru has a that have shaped your physi- unique ability to make the ancal body, and that have de- cient yogic sciences relevant termined its nature and form. to contemporary minds, acting You could start with burying as a bridge to the deeper dijust the feet, and if it works for mensions of life. His approach you, go up to your neck! An- does not ascribe to any belief other more cosmetic approach system, but offers methods for would be having a mud bath. self-transformation that are You could try any one of these both proven and powerful.

“44 Years Years “47 Visit www. India-herald.com.

and Counting, Providing Services Email: 1970-2017 1970 - 2014 To Generations editor@india-herald.com of Businesses and Professionals Around The World”

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 • PAGE 19

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PAGE 20 â&#x20AC;˘ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Art Museum Kannappan Art Museum will be open for public Tuesdays 5:30PM to 7:30 PM, Thursdays 9 AM to 2 PM, Sundays 12 noon to 4 PM or by appointment by calling 713 518 8417 or emailing heidilodc@ sbcglobal.net. Address: 2341 N. Galveston Ave, Pearland, TX 77581.

Shrimad Bhagwat Saptah Maha Gyan Yagna

by Acharya Mridul Krishna Goswami from Aug. 6 to 12, 2017, at Shri Swaminarayan (ISSO) Temple, 10080 Synott Road, Sugar Land,77498. For more information, call 281491-5894 or 832-293-1617.

Sri Meenakshi Temple Society MAIN EVENTS FOR JULY 26-Jul Wed 6:30 PM Thiru Aadi Pooram Meenakshi and Andal Abhishekam 28-Jul Fri 7:00 PM Sri Bhagavathi Seva Durga Bari Temple Durga Bari temple is open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Mon. thru Sat. Sandhya aarti at 6:30 p.m. Temple closes at 7 p.m. Sunday special from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Temple is located at 13944 Schiller Rd (oďŹ&#x20AC; Hwy 6 bet. Bellaire & Westpark). Call Ganesh Mandal at 713-797-9057 / 832-423-8541.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Register for Houston area Vipassana Meditation course as taught by S. N. Goenka. July 8 to 19,2017, November 4 to 15,2017.

All courses are FREE. Donations are accepted from those who upon completing the training wish to contribute for future students. Instruction in Vipassana meditation is given in ten-day retreats Visit www.siri.dhamma.org Arya Samaj Satsang Weekly Havan Satsang every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

DAV Sanskriti School Sundays 10 a.m. to 12 noon. - Havan, Hindi and Naitik Shiksha classes. DAV Montessori School for ages 2 to 7 years. Call Arti Khanna 281759-3286. Free Yoga classes on Sat. Sanskrit & Upanishad classes Tue. 6-8 p.m. At 14375 Schiller Rd. (bet Westpark & Bellaire oďŹ&#x20AC; Hwy 6). 281-752-0100.

Brahma Kumaris The Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation Center is open 7 days a week. The center oďŹ&#x20AC;ers free Raja Yoga Meditation classes: MonFri @ 6:00-6:45am and 7:008:00pm, Sat-Sun @ 7:00-8:30am, 10:00am-2:00pm. Visiting hours are Sat-Sun @ 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Contact us at (832) 379-8888, houston@bktexas.com, or bktexas.com to sign-up for classes. All Raja Yoga Meditation teachers at

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the Houston center are samarpit and have 15+ years of teaching experience.

Chinmaya Mission Summer schedule Both BalaVihar and adult classes will remain closed during the summer time from May 22nd - September 9th. Classes will resume on Sunday, September 10th. For more information: Visit www.chinmayahouston.org or call Bharati Sutaria 281.933.0233 Vedanta Society Vedanta Society of Greater Houston, 14809 Lindita Drive (77083) has classes every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, 1st & 3rd Sunday; Bhagavad Gita, 2nd Sunday; on works of Swami Vivekananda, 4th Sunday; Holy Mother Saradaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gospel, 5th Sunday.

Swamis of Ramakrishna Order visit to conduct retreats and lectures. www.houstonvedanta. org or 281-584-0488.

Jain Society Jain Society of Houston (JSH) located at 3905 Arc Street Houston Texas 77063 is open M-F from 7:30 AM to 12 Noon and 4 to 7 PM, and Sat, and Sun from 8 AM to 6 PM. Jain Society of Houston invites Jain scholars all year round. Please call Urvashi Jain 713 789 2338. Visit www.jainsocietyhouston.org for calendar of events and other detailed information.

Shiv Shakti Mandir Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir, 6640 Harwin. Open daily 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All major festivals, as well as birthdays, naam karan, engagement and other ceremonies. Call Pandit Virat Mehta 713-278-9099 or Hardik Raval 361-243-6539 for puja or other ceremonies.

Heartfulness Meditation Heartfulness Meditation is a practical technique of tuning inwards to experience our higher selves. Meditation with someone who has the capacity of yogic transmission can help you explore the Heartfulness practice more deeply. There are no charges for this, and we invite you to experience the unique beneďŹ ts of this transmission. Workshops on Heartfulness relaxation and meditation are held weekly throughout Houston, including Saturdays at 11 am at India House. Web: www.heartfulness.org; Email: houston.heartfulness@gmail. com. Cell: 713-929-0040.

Hare Krishna Dham Houstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original Vedic temple, ISKCON of Houston. At 1320 W 34th St. (77018). Daily Darshan & Arati Times: 4.30 a.m, 7 a.m, 8.30 a.m, 12 noon, 4.30 p.m, 7 p.m, 9 p.m. Sunday Festival: 5.30 pm to 7.30 p.m. Weekly Gita classes for adults; call 281-433-1635 or harekrishnadham @gmail.com Houston Namadwaar A prayer house where the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is continuously chanted. Weekends: 8-11 AM & 4-7 PM, Weekdays: 7-8 AM & 6-7 PM. Weekly â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gopa Kuteeramâ&#x20AC;? childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heritage classes and Srimad Bhagavatam classes. Call 281-402-6585; visit www.godivinity.org (Global Organization for Divinity).

Saumyakasi Sivalaya Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is located at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478. Temple timings: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon and 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. For more information Contact 281568-1690 or Jay Deshmukh at 832-541-0059 or visit www.saumyakasi.org Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple Darshan from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. All major festivals as well as birthdays, naam karan, engagement and other ceremonies. Call Pandit Pradip Pandya 832-4669868 for puja and other ceremonies. At 5645 Hillcroft Ste 701, Houston, TX 77036.

Veerashaiva Samaja VSNA Houston is a group of families who believe in Veerashaiva dharma (Basava dharma).

Monthly Mahamane program for prayer and discussion on Vachana Sahitya followed by Prasada.

Contact: vsnahous ton@gmail. com or Jagadeesh Halyal 832744-4166.

Mar Thoma Church Trinity Mar Thoma Church every Sunday at 5810 Almeda Genoa Rd. Sunday School at 9:15 a.m.

Malayalam service at 9:30 a.m. on 1st & 3rd Sunday. Adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m. English service at 10:30 a.m. on 2nd & 4th Sunday. Call 713-991-1557 or 281261-4603.

Telugu Christian Fellowship Telugu Christian Fellowship meets every third Saturday of the month at Triumph Church, 10555 W. Airport Blvd., StaďŹ&#x20AC;ord TX 77477 at 6:30 p.m. Join us for a time of praise, worship and fellowship. Worship is in English.

For information call Chris Gantela 281-344-0707, or Rev. Vijay Gurrala 281-997-0757.

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Hours: Mon to Fri 6 a.m. -8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Weekends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bhajans Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Special poojas (weekends and holidays) Choroon (Annaprasam) for kids, Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Nirapara. Temple is located at 11620 Ormandy St. (77035) Tel: 713729-8994 email: temple@ guruvayur.us Preksha Meditation JVB Preksha Meditation Center conducts weekly Meditation, Yoga and Swadhyay sessions inside its unique Pyramid hall under the auspicious guidance of Samani Kanchan Pragyaji and Samani Pranav Pragyaji who are stationed at Houston Center this year. It also runs special events and programs like I-Choose, Meditation Camps and Gyanshala program for children ages 4-14 yrs. JVB is located at 14102 Schiller Rd. Houston 77082. Every Tuesday, 9:30am-11:30am, Samaniji has pravachan for all adults interested in learning about Jainism. Every Wednesday there is Swadhyay class from 7-8pm and meditation from 8-9pm. Every Thursday from 9:30-11am there is special Yoga class for Ladies only. Every Saturday, there is Yoga Class from 9-10am and Meditation from 10-10.30am. Ist & 3rd Sundays, there is Gyanshala Classes for Kids ages 4-14yrs. from 10-12:15pm followed by Lunch. Visit www.jvbhouston.

org or send email at info@jvbhouston.org for more details.

Patanjali Yogpeeth Free 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 281-537-0018. For Yoga/Herbal products, call Shekhar 281-2425000. Web: www.pyptusa.org and www.DivyaProducts.com.

Hindu Temple of The Woodlands 7601 S. Forest Gate Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77382 Temple Hours, Weekdays: 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM 5:30 PM - 8.30 PM Aarti @ 7:30 PM Saturday and Sunday 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM Aarti at 12:00 PM 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Aarti @ 7:30 PM; Contact 832-585--0001 or temple@myhtw.net Sathya Sai centers Sunday program held at two locations (North Houston: 12127 Malcomson Road, Houston; South Houston: 246 Fluor Daniel Drive, Sugar Land) from 3:00 to 5:30 pm) - Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) classes for children; Study Circle for adults & Devotional singing for all. Service programs - food distribution, canned food drives, nursing home visits, tutoring at schools, etc. Contact Venkat Rao (North) - 602-503-2249 or Ranji Raghavan (South) 281-4518238. Visit www.sairegion10.org Sadhu Vaswani Center Sadhu Vaswani Center of Houston holds regular Satsang on 3rd Thursday of the month and daily Arti at 7.30 p.m. Call 281-4630379 or e.mail ramolaj@aol.com Gaudiya Math Sri Govindaji Gaudiya Matha at 16628 Kieth Harrow Blvd., Houston 77084. Satsang Sundays 5 to 7 pm. Mantra meditation, kirtan, Sanatan Dharma classes. info@ sggm.org or 281-499-3347.

Swaminarayan Temple Hindu Satsang at Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, under Shree NarNarayan Dev Gadi kalupur.

Opens daily from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Daily aarti at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Saturday sabha from 5p.m to 7 p.m. followed by aarti at 7 p.m. and Maha-Prasad (free dinner). www.issotx.org. (281) 530-2565.

Sanatan Dharm Maha Sabha West Indian Religious Organization called Sanatan Dharm Maha Sabha Branch # 377 is located at 26100 Tina Lane, Katy, TX 77494. Durga Mata Pooja is held every Friday from 7 pm to 9.30 pm. Contact Ram Sharma @ 713412-9985.

Gandhi Library Mahatma Gandhi Library Book Club: Meets 2nd Sunday of each month; 12:30 PM at Arya Samaj Greater Houston, 13475 Schiller Rd. Join the discussion of the great manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s autobiography â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Story of My Experiments with Truth.

Call Manish Wani 713-829-6979.

Sant Nirankari Mission Sant Nirankari Mission holds its weekly spiritual congregation on every Sunday at India House 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by community meals. All are welcome. For further information, call Raj Bhala at (281) 980-2825.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 • PAGE 21

NEWS

Rs 10 lakh damages for ‘human shield’ The Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission today condemned the forces’ use of a human shield against stonethrowers in April, saying such action “cannot be accepted by a civilised society”.

It directed the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh within six weeks to Farooq Ahmad Dar, 26, who was strapped to an army jeep during the April 9 parliamentary byelection in Srinagar and paraded across villages.

The panel indicated it was “handicapped” by laws in commenting directly on the army role.

So, “the commission clarifies that any observation made in this order should not be taken as an expression of any opinion regarding the alleged involvement of officers of the Indian Army”, the commission chairperson, Justice Bilal Nazki, said. “This commission chose not to issue any notice to the government or the armed forces, but the fact remains that the protection of life and liberty of the people is basic responsibility of the state regime,” the judgment said, explaining why it had asked the state to compensate Dar. The recommendation is not binding on the state government.

The Centre today opposed any compensation for Dar, saying there should be no sympathy for stone-throwers.

Dar, an embroidery artisan, denies being a stone-thrower, although the army says he was the ringleader.

“Farooq Ahmad was subjected to torture and humiliation besides (being) wrongly confined. It is medically also established that Farooq did not suffer only humiliation publicly but also suffered trauma that resulted in psychiatric stress which may remain with him for the rest of his life,” the panel said.

“For the humiliation, physical (and) psychological torture, stress, wrongful restraint and confinement, the commission thinks it appropriate to direct the state government to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the victim.

“The report of the police accepts that he was tied to (the) bonnet of (a) vehicle and used as (a) human shield. But the police maintain that this was done by the army “There cannot be any debate as to whether the treatment given to Farooq was violation of human rights or not. There are laws in the country and international laws, which prohibit such treatment even (of) a convict. Such treatment (of a) human being cannot be accepted by a civilised society.

“How can one approve (of) making an innocent person a human shield and parading him in chains tied to a jeep for hours?”

The act, ordered by Major Leetul Gogoi of the 53 Rashtryia Rifles, had triggered outrage in the Valley, elsewhere in India, and abroad. But army chief Bipin Rawat had praised Gogoi’s “innovative” move and honoured him with a commendation card for “his sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations”.

Mohammad Ahsan Untoo, head of the International Forum for Justice and Human Rights and the petitioner before the commission, was dissatisfied with the judgment. He said Gogoi should have been punished. “I shall approach the high court seeking punishment for the accused army officer,” he said.

In New Delhi, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu said: “There is no question of giving compensation to people who throw stones.

I have no sympathy for such people.” He said Gogoi’s action had saved the lives of Election Commission officials and police personnel.

The Congress played it safe, spokesperson Manish Tewari saying the matter was between the rights panel and the person who had approached it. “Without perusing, I do not comment on court judgments,” he added. Justice Nazki had served in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and retired as chief justice of Orissa High Court in November 2009. He was chairperson of the Bihar Human Rights Commission for a while. Last year, the Mehbooba Mufti government appointed him to his current post.

Show-cause notices to 6,000 NGOs for not filing income records The Union Home Ministry has issued show cause notice to around 6,000 NGOs for not filing their annual income and expenditure records for five consecutive years. The show cause notices were issued on July 8 and the NGOs have time till July 23 to give their reply.

Failure to provide a convincing reply will result in the cancellation of the licenses granted to receive foreign donations.

“In spite of sufficient and adequate notice, it has been observed that 5,922 associations have not uploaded their annual returns for three or more than three years within the stipulated time given in the notice.

Such associations have now been issued show cause notice as to why their registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, (FCRA) may not be cancelled under Section

14 of FCRA, 2010 for failure to upload their Annual Returns from 2010-11 to 2014-15,” said the MHA’s circular issued on Monday.

Among the NGOs, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Indira Gandhi National Centre For the Arts, IGNOU, Delhi Technological University, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and Punjabi University, Patiala also got show cause from MHA for not submitting accounts.

In May this year, 18,523 NGOs were given a one-time opportunity by the home ministry to give details of their income and expenses by June 14. The home ministry said in a circular that as a onetime measure, all NGOs were given an opportunity for one month to file their missing annual returns

by June 14 without paying any

penalty. Email and SMS alerts were also sent to them regularly for one month beginning mid-May. According to the FCRA, the renewal of registration for receiving foreign funds cannot be granted unless the annual returns are uploaded on the FCRA website by the organisation. Over 20,000 NGOs are registered under the FCRA. In November 2016, the government had directed more than 11,000 NGOs to file applications for renewal of registration by February 28, 2017. Of the above, 3,500 NGOs filed applications for renewal till February 2017. Registration of more than 7,000 NGOs were deemed expired due to nonfiling of renewal applications.

Govt approves Amazon’s proposal for FDI in food

The Government has approved American e-commerce major Amazon’s proposed $500 million investment in retailing of food products in India, an official said.

The proposal was pending before the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) which has been abolished now.

Hence, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) gives the green signal to the proposal.

As per the proposal, the company will open a wholly- owned subsidiary in India to carry out the business. It will stock food products and sell online.

An Amazon spokesperson said: “Yes, we have received the government approval for food retail based on our application for the same”.

Currently, the government permits 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the food processing sector. As per norms, a foreign company can open a wholly-owned subsidiary in India to retail food products produced and or manufactured in the country by way of opening stores or online.

The Government had received investment proposals from three companies - Amazon, Grofers and Big Basket - worth $695 million for retail of food products.

While US-based retail giant Amazon is one of the major e-commerce players in India, Grofers and Big Basket are into online grocery space.

Amazon has proposed to invest around $ 500 million in retail of food products.

The government last year allowed 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) through approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured and produced in India. In 2016-17 (April-December), the food processing sector in the country received FDI of $663.23 million.

The Union Cabinet last month decided to wind up the 25- year-old FIPB, which had been vetting FDI proposals requiring Government approval, to expedite the clearance process.

Teesta to face trial for illegal exhumation of 28 bodies Trouble mounted for social activist Teesta Setalvad after the Supreme Court on Monday directed her to face trial in a case involving her role in the illegal exhumation of about 28 bodies, who were victims of the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

Teesta had approached the apex

court against the Gujarat High Court’s May 27 order refusing to quash the FIR related to the case.

The Gujarat Police had maintained status quo considering the pendency of the case before the apex court. On Monday, the bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy thought it fit to dispose the appeal filed by Teesta, granting her the liberty to approach the trial court where the charge-sheet was filed.

The apex bench said, “Why can’t you (Teesta) go and raise all these questions before the trial court where the charge sheet is pending.” Senior counsel Kapil Sibal who appeared for Teesta along with advocate Aparna Bhatt said that though the charge sheet has been filed, no offence has been made out against her in the case.

It was alleged that at Teesta’s instance, about 28 unidentified riot victims were illegally exhumed at a graveyard near river Panam. The bodies belonged to Pandarwada and surrounding villages of Khan-

pur taluka of Panchmahal district.

A criminal complaint was filed almost four years later when Rais Khan, a close associate of Teestarun NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), spilled the beans pointing fingers at Teesta for exhuming the bodies without seeking permission from the district or state administration.

Although the Gujarat High Court had initially stated further investigation into the case, the stay was lifted by a separate order passed by the HC, reviving the probe that led to issuance of arrest warrants against the social activist and other members of her NGO CJP. The Gujarat government maintained that Teesta actually planned and executed the digging of the graves without any permission in 2006. The government had alleged that the other accused have claimed innocence and blamed Setalvad for instigating them to carry out the exhumation, which is a penal offence.

PAGE 22 â&#x20AC;˘ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

STORY OF MAHATMA GANDHI Gandhi sets up ambulance corps to help British Gandhi was rescued from a bloodthirsty mob by the Durban police. He was escorted by the police to Rustomjiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house, where a doctor attended to his injuries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are sure to calm down when they realize their mistake,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Late in the evening, another mob of white people surrounded the house. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We must have Gandhi,â&#x20AC;? angry voices demanded.

The mob was getting more and more threatening. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Give us Gandhi or we will bum down the house,â&#x20AC;? they shouted.

Gandhi knew that they might carry out their threat. To save his friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house, he slipped out in disguise, eluding the crowd. Two days later a message came from London. Joseph Chamberlain, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, asked the Natal Government to prosecute every man guilty of attacking Gandhi. The Natal Government expressed its regret for the incident to Gandhi and assured him that the assailants would be punished.

When Gandhi was called upon to identify the offenders, however, he would not do so. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do not want to prosecute anyone,â&#x20AC;? he told the Natal Government. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do not hold the assailants to blame. They were misled by false reports about me and I am sure that when the truth becomes known they will be sorry for their conduct.â&#x20AC;?

Gandhiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statement suddenly changed the atmosphere in Durban. The press declared Gandhi innocent and condemned his assailants. The Durban incident raised Gandhiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prestige and won more sympathy abroad for the Indians in South Africa.

As the struggle in South Africa continued, a change was coming over Gandhi. He had begun with a life of ease and comfort, but this was short-lived. As he became more and more involved in public activities, his way of life became simpler. He started cutting down his expenses. He took to washing and ironing his own clothes, and he did it so badly at first that the other lawyers laughed at him. But soon he became quite an expert at this and his collars were no less stiff and shiny than theirs.

Gandhi once went to an English barber in Pretoria. The barber insolently refused to cut a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;blackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hair. Gandhi at once bought a pair of clippers and cut his own hair. He succeeded more or less in cutting the front part but spoilt the back. He looked very funny and his friends in the court laughed at him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrong with your hair, Gandhi? Have rats been gnawing at it?â&#x20AC;? they asked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No,â&#x20AC;? said Gandhi proudly, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have cut my hair myself.â&#x20AC;? Then Gandhi tried changes in his food.

He started taking uncooked food.

He believed that if a man lived on fresh fruits and nuts he could master his passions and acquire spiritual strength. He made many experiments with his diet. He even came to the conclusion that fasting increased oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will power.

While he was thus experiment-

Mahatma Gandhi Week will Mahatma Gandhi Library be celebrating 148th birthday in Houston of -Mahatma on2004.

Sunday, Sept. 27Gandhi to Oct 3, Oct. 1, 2017 at the Miller Outdoor Call 713-785-3900 or visit Theatre from 5 PM to 8 PM. www.mahatmagandhilibrary.org

As the struggle in South Africa continued, a change was coming over Gandhi. He had begun with a life of ease and comfort, but this was shortlived. As he became more and more involved in public activities, his way of life became simpler. He started cutting his expenses. He took to washing and ironing his own clothes, and he did it so badly at first that the other lawyers laughed at him. ing with himself, the Boer war broke out. The Boers were South Africans of Dutch origin. They were fighting the British.

Neither of these two white nations had treated the Indians well.

Gandhi did not want to support either of them, but his familiarity with the British made him organize an Indian ambulance corps to help them. To his puzzled followers, he said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;India can achieve complete emancipation only through development within the British Empire. Therefore we must help the British.â&#x20AC;?

The British won the war and the ambulance corps was disbanded. The newspapers in England praised the services rendered by the Indians. The relations between the Indians and the Europeans had now become more cordial, and the Indians believed that their grievances would soon be removed.

It was now 1901, six years after Gandhi had brought his family to Durban. Now he felt that his future activity lay not in South Africa but in India. Also, friends in India were pressing him to return home. When he announced his decision to his co-workers, however, they again pressed him to stay on.

After much discussion they agreed to let him go, but only if he would come back to South Africa if the Indians there needed his help. He agreed to this. There were farewell meetings and presentations of gifts. The gifts were so many and so valuable that Gandhi felt he should not accept them.

The people who had presented them would not take them back.

He then prepared a trust deed, and all the gifts were deposited with a bank to be used for the welfare

of the Indian community.

On his arrival in India, Gandhi went on a tour of the country. The annual meeting of the Indian National Congress was being held in Calcutta under the presidentship of Dinshaw Wacha. Gandhi attended the session. It was his first contact with the Congress which he was to lead so gloriously in the future.

The Indian National Congress was the only organization which gave the people of India a chance to express their political views. It was an influential body, as many important Indians were members, but its decisions had little affect on the Government.

At the Calcutta session in 1901 Gandhi had an opportunity to meet Congress leaders like Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, Lokamanya B. G. Tilak, G. K. Gokhale, and others.

He was not impressed with the way the Congress was functioning. He noticed a lack of unity among the delegates. Moreover, while they spoke English and affected the style of Westerners in their dress and talk, they did not seem to bother about essential things like good sanitary facilities in the camp. Gandhi wanted to teach them a lesson. On his own he quietly started cleaning the bathroom and urinals.

No one volunteered to join him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why do you undertake an untouchableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job?â&#x20AC;? they asked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because the caste people have made this an untouchable place,â&#x20AC;? replied Gandhi.

From Calcutta Gandhi travelled round India by train.

As he moved from place to place, he was shocked to see the life of the common people - the famished, ignorant, and neglected masses. His heart was filled with sadness and anger.

Gandhi settled down in Bombay and started practice as a lawyer. He did well, much better than he had expected. In December 1902, however, a cable reached him from South Africa requesting him to return as promised. Joseph Chamberlain, the Colonial Secretary, was arriving from London on a visit to Natal and the Transvaal, and the Natal Indian Congress wanted Gandhi to present their case to him. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; To be continued

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Mahatma Gandhi Library will be celebrating 148th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday, October 1, 2017 at the Miller Outdoor Theatre from 5 PM to 8 PM. Winners of the speech contest, for children age 10 under and children 11, and above will deliver their speeches and enthrall you. The winners of Speech, Creative Writing, Multi-Media and Poster contest will be awarded their prizes. Please visit www.gandhilibrary.org for more information.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 • PAGE 23

SOCIETY

Yogic practices give direct and tangible benefits tive disorders and many ailments of a chronic and constitutional nature, where modern medical science has failed.

Swami Mukundananda answers some interesting questions on benefits of yoga and explained its true essence in the context of Indian spirituality.

Question: The popularity of Yoga has skyrocketed around the world. What is the science behind the effectiveness of the Yogasans?

Swami Mukundananda: The art of healthy living must incorporate all aspects of the personality: the physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. While the central theme of Yog remains the highest goal of the spiritual path, physical yogic practices enshrined in it give direct and tangible benefits to everyone regardless of their spiritual aims.

Yogasans harmonize the body, mind and emotions. For example, at the physical level, organs, muscles and nerves may not be functioning properly. Asans bring the different bodily functions into perfect coordination so that they work for the good of the whole body.

At the mental level, people harbor poisonous thoughts and emotions within. Muscular knots can occur anywhere in the body – in the neck as cervical spondylitis, in the face as neuralgia, etc. Every mental knot has a corresponding physical, muscular knot and vice versa. For example, emotional tensions can affect the smooth functioning of the lungs, and breathing process, contributing to a very debilitating disease, which is asthma.

The aim of asans is to release these knots. For full benefit, these asans should be performed along with the meditation. Meditational exercises cleanse the mind, to bring a feeling of peace and contentment within.

Proper asans, Pranayam, subtle body relaxation, meditation, tackle these knots both at the physical and mental levels.

As a result of the release of dormant energy, the body becomes full of vitality and strength, the mind becomes light and creative, joyful and balanced.

Yogasans have succeeded as an alternative therapy in diseases such as asthma, diabetes, blood pressure, arthritis, diges-

Q: What is the difference between Yogasans and exercises?

SM: Exercises impose a beneficial stress on the body. Without them, the muscles waste, the bones become weak, the capacity to absorb oxygen decreases, and the ability to meet demands of sudden physical activity is lost.

However, exercises work only on the muscles. They cause catabolism, or break down of cells. Asans work on the organs, nerves and glands, and alter the electro-chemical activity in the nervous system. They increase the oxygen in the blood, lower the bodily temperature, and slow down metabolic rates.

Q: What is the best time to practice Yogasans?

SM: The best time for practicing Yogasans is brahm muhurt, or the morning hours before breakfast. At this time the activities of the stomach and the intestines have stopped, the mind has no deep impressions on the conscious level and it is empty of thoughts.

The muscles are stiffest in the morning, yet through the session of Yogasans, they get flexed. In the evening, two hours around sunset are also a favorable time. However, keep in mind that the Yogasans must be done at least three hours after a major meal, so that the stomach is not loaded.

Q: What is pran, and what is its role in maintaining good health?

SM: Pran is a life-giving energy which is subtler than oxygen and present everywhere.

It is also one of the major elements of the body, and other bodily elements remain worthless without pran. It is pran that gives motion to bodily parts, and everything that happens in the body is activated by pran.

It provides us with immunity to fight various diseases. It is also pran that gives energy to all the other sense organs.

Our lifestyle deeply affects the pranic forces. Our actions, sleep, diet, thought, senses, etc all have intense effects on our pran. An irregular and indiscriminate lifestyle depletes the pranic energy and eventually leads to pranic blockages.

This is the reason why people feel loss of energy from time to time. The depletion of pranic energy leads to various ailments in the organs and muscles. The different Pranayam practices largely contribute in the expansion of pranic energy and also in the balance of the five types of pran in the body.

Q: How does Pranayam benefit one?

SM: In physical terms, Pranayam is a systematic and organized exercise of breathing which makes the lungs stronger

and improves blood circulation, and alleviates many physical and mental diseases. Through a systematic exercise of breathing, the lungs become stronger, and thus, the blood circulation throughout the whole body is enhanced.

At a subtler level, Pranayam is more than a respiration technique of inhalation and exhalation. The word “Pranayam” has been derived from two words “pran” and “ayam”, which means “to expand the pranic energy.” Through Pranayam, the level of oxygen in the body definitely increases, but along with oxygen, we also take in vital pranic energy that pervades the atmosphere.

Most people use only twenty-five percent of the lungs’ capacity throughout the day, in what is called “shallow breathing.” Due to this, the pranic energy level in their body remains low, which results in the appearance of multifarious ailments, such as asthma, tuberculosis, etc. Regularly performing Pranayam expands the pranic energy supply to all the parts of the body, and prevents these maladies.

Pranayam makes us mentally healthier. One should not forget the fact that imbalances in breathing hinder the physiological functions which later become psychological. Pranayam is effective in treating psychic disturbances, like excitement, anxiety, fear, anger, disappointment and lasciviousness. In addition, its daily performance also results in good memory power.

Thus, Pranayam has innumerable benefits that help embellish our life with a hale and hearty body and psyche.

Q: Many people, who flock to Yoga studios around the world, yearn for something more substantial than the physical exercises of Yoga, which will satisfy their inner yearning for spirituality Indian style. Why does this feeling persist?

SM: The craze for Yoga has definitely spread around the world, but invariably in the name “Yoga” only physical exercises are taught, and people doing them feel they have become Yogis. Actually, the word “Yoga” does not exist in the Sanskrit language or in the Vedic scriptures. The proper word is “Yog”, which means “to

unite.” In this context, it means to unite the individual soul with the Supreme soul.

Sanyogo yog ityukto jeevatma paramatmanoh (Garud Puran) “The union of the individual soul with God is Yog.” This union is achieved by elevating, purifying and focusing the mind lovingly upon God. The Shreemad Bhagavatam states: Etavan yog adishto…

(Bhagavatam) “True Yog means removing the mind from all the material objects of attachment, and fixing it completely on God.” Most publications and Yog institutions in the modern world have not endeavored to highlight the mental and spiritual aspects of Yog, and teach sincere aspirants only physical exercises and incomplete meditation techniques in the name of “Yoga”. Without emphasis on the purification of the mind, the hunger of the soul remains unaddressed. Those people who have deeper spiritual sanskars yearn for a genuine Divine experience. That is the reason why their inner urge to understand and experience Indian spirituality remains unfulfilled.

Q: How is the system of Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog unique from the Yoga that is taught in the hundreds of Yoga studios?

SM: Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog (JKYog) incorporates both material and spiritual techniques, based upon the timeless sciences of the Vedic scriptures. It is a complete system of Yog which includes five Vedic disciplines for mind-management and exemplary physical health. These five disciplines are: 1. Radhey Shyam Yog Asans 2. Radhey Naam Pranayam 3. Subtle Body Relaxation 4. Roop-dhyan, or Meditation on the Form of God 5. Science of Proper Diet The techniques of JKYog have been practiced by true yogis in India for centuries. However, in their study and practice in the Western world, the role of the mind, which is the basis of elevation and degradation of a person, is not emphasized.

The scriptures state: Man ev manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoh (Panchadashi) “The mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation.” If

the mind is neglected, then any science for the nourishment and evolution of the personality will be incomplete and only partially effective.

JKYog is special because each of its five sciences is practiced with focus on purifying and elevating the mind through tools of spirituality. This gives a deep satisfaction and experience of Bliss at the level of the soul. If practiced sincerely, JKYog leads to the harmonization of the mind-body-soul, resulting in a feeling of wellbeing from within, and the attainment of true Yog, or union of the consciousness with God. Swami Mukundananda is a world-renowned teacher of spirituality, Yoga and Meditation. He is the founder of the unique Yogic system JKYog, also known as Yoga for the Body, Mind and Soul. He received His degrees in Engineering and Management from IIT (Delhi) and IIM (Kolkata).

Swamiji is the senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. He has inspired people all over the world, on the path of Spirituality, holistic health, yoga, meditation, service to society and God-realization.

He has been invited to speak at various Fortune 500 companies like Google, Oracle etc. For the youth, Swamiji has conducted programs at prestigious universities such as Stanford, Princeton, MIT, Kellogg and Duke University.

Swami Mukundananda will have a week-long program in Houston in India House at 8888 W Bellfort Ave, Houston, TX 77031 from August 19th to August 25th, 2014.

Each day’s program will include Yoga, Meditation, Lecture program and Devotional chanting. The topic of the discourse is “7 Mindsets to Success in Life and beyond”. On the concluding day Swamiji is conducting 2 workshops which are uniquely designed

by Swamiji, keeping in view the challenges an individual faces to balance the physical, mental and spiritual health.

Admission is free and Prasadam will we served after discourses. Please register for the event at jkyog.org/events or call 281-630-5982 / 832377-6070.

PAGE 24 â&#x20AC;¢ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;¢ WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

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