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VOL . 21 NO. 16 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 • P.O. BOX 623 • SUGAR LAND, TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017-699 25 Cents
Padmakant Khambhati passes away
Khambhati Padmakant Khambhati, a veteran volunteer of Houston’s Hindu community, passed away on Monday, April 20. Khambhati, who was on the board of several Hindu organizations, started the first radio program dedicated to the voice of Hindus in Houston and ran it for over 20 years. He was 77 years old. In 1986, he also took the lead in setting up Sanatan Hindu Center to arrange cremation services of Hindus by negotiating lower prices with the funeral homes. Funeral Services will be
held on Saturday, April 25, at Garden Oaks Funeral Home, 13430 Bellaire Blvd (77083). In lieu of flowers, the family has requested any donations be made to donate to Sanatan Hindu Center. For information, contact Kanti Patel 832-3610625 or Email kanti_51@ hotmail.com “We are very proud of his accomplishments and his fervent support for Hindu Dharma. We will all miss a great friend, philosopher and guide of the community,” said Thara Narasimhan, who worked closely with Khambhati on the weekly radio program, Voice of Sanatan Hinduism. Khambhati (1937-2015) hailed from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, graduated as a Mechanical Engineer as a top ranking gold medalist. He came to the US and lived in New Jersey for a short while and then ventured into motel ownership in North Carolina. He moved to Houston in 1981 and joined City of Houston’s Public Works and Engineering
The newly laid permanent walkway at Sri Meenakshi Temple was inaugurated with ribbon cutting on Sunday, April 19 by Honorary Trustee Dr. S.G. Appan and Rajam Appan, MTS Chairman Dr. P. Vaduganathan, Honorary President of MTS Sam Kannappan and Meena Kannppan. Also, in the picture are Anantha Aiyer and Tupil Narasimhan, at right. Photo – Bhargavi Golla. Story on Page 12.
‘Justice served’ in self-styled godman’s case
By SESHADRI KUMAR “I would say that the general feeling of the people I know who have interacted with Mr. Annamalai over the years is that justice has finally been served,” said an Atlanta-based See KHAMBHATI, Page 14 attorney who was familiar with Commander Selvam. “Frankly, in my opinion, the ABLE MORTGAGE sentence does seem excessive REFINANCE, PURCHASE & CASH OUT IN TEXAS in comparison with other Ponzi Over $400 Million Mortgage Financed We will pay your closing scheme convictions or financial A low cost broker – Since 2001 costs Up to 3% of your New fraud, but I think the court was TX, NY, NJ, CA, CO & FL - call for State License updates Home Price With combined California Finance Lenders Law Lic. #603J747 struck by Mr. Annamalai’s Real Estate Email: james@ablehomeloans.com and Mortgage Services apparently complete lack of NMLS Mortgage Company ID: 264912 NATIONAL REALTY MLO James Joseph Oolut – NMLS ID: 307384 remorse and his refusal to 281-242-4005 Web: www.ablemortgage.co TX Real Estate Lic. #397210 accept any responsibility for Office: 281-242-8500, Cell: 281-733-4242 Need Mortgage Loan Offi- his actions,” the attorney told cers in all licensed states Pre-approve your mortgage in minutes over phone or email - No experience needed India Herald. 13401 S. W. Freeway #201, Sugar Land, TX 77478 - Attractive compensation. See JUSTICE, Page 13
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Citizens Medical Center, Victoria, Texas, three cardiologists and the U.S. Attorney General’s office have agreed to settle a lawsuit for $23.55 million. The countyowned hospital agreed to pay the federal government $21.75 million, of which the U.S. will then pay $5.98 million to the three doctors - DaksheshKumar Parikh, Harish Chandna and Ajay Gaalla. The hospital agreed to also pay the doctors’ attorneys $1.8 million within 10 days. Story on Page 7
An artist’s sketch of Annamalai Annamalai during his trial at the U.S. Federal Court in Atlanta, commissioned by the local Fox TV channel. The FOX 5 I-Team was the first to raise questions about the supposed Hindu spiritual leader who preferred to call himself by the colorful title: Dr. Commander.
Classical Arts Society’s Spring Music Festival The Classical Arts Society of Houston will present the 38th Annual Spring Music Festival on April 25 and 26 at the Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland. This festival presents a series of musical offerings anchored by two concerts that would be top draws in Carnatic music anywhere in the world, Sri Sanjay Subrahmanyan and his entourage on Saturday, April 25, and the Malladi Brothers and party on Sunday, April 26. Sanjay represents the epitome of classicism
presenting the timeless compositions in their most authentic interpretations. Even so, he has been rummaging the almirahs of composers of yore, unearthing rare pieces and presenting them in his own inimitable style. Sanjay is accompanied by Sri. V. Varadharajan on the violin and by Sri Neyveli B. Venkatesh on the mridangam. On Sunday, April 26th, the society presents Malladi Brothers See MUSIC, Page 11
PAGE 2 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
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COMMUNITY NEWS Padma Vibhushan for Aga Khan New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee presented His Highness the Aga Khan with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian decoration, for his contributions to social development in India. The award was bestowed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi as part of the commemoration of India’s 66th Republic Day. Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards recognize individual achievements in a wide range of disciplines as well as a recipient’s commitment to public service. The Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) have a long and historic relationship with India, dating back 100 years to the first Aga Khan School in Mundra, Gujarat, which was established by the Aga Khan’s grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, in 1905. Today, AKDN institutions work in close partnership with governments and communities to address a broad spectrum of development priorities in the country, including cultural revitalisation, education, health care, drinking water and sanitation, rural development and access to finance for poor communities. These initiatives include rural support programmes in over 2,500 villages, the creation of 6,600 community institutions, urban and rural education programs working with over 400 schools, a comprehensive sanitation initiative in six states, the Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad, and a 161-bed multi-specialty acute care hospital in Mumbai. On April 7, the Aga Khan and Minister for Culture Mahesh Sharma presided over the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the new Site Museum at the Humayun Tomb complex in Delhi. The Site Museum is part of over a decade of pioneering cultural revitalization projects undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture at Humayun’s Tomb and, more recently, at the Qutub Shahi Heritage Park in Hyderabad.
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Classical Arts Society of Houston Presents Its Annual Spring Music Festival –- 38th Year! Festival Theme: “Music & Wellness” (“Sangeethamum Arogyamum”)
Saturday Apr 25 and Sunday Apr 26, 2015. Meenakshi Temple Kalyana Mandapam 17130 McLean Rd, Pearland, TX 77584.
Sat, Apr 25, 2015 – 3:30 PM to 9 PM
3:30 PM - Panel Session - Music & Wellness - Coordinated by Dr. Arun Mukhopadhyay. 4:30 PM – Orchestra by Manjula Rao & Party. 6:00 PM – Carnatic Music Concert (Ticketed Event)
Sanjay Subrahmanyan - Vocal 1.
S. Varadarajan – Violin Neyveli Venkatesh - Mridangam.
Sun, Apr 26, 2015 2:00 PM to 9 PM 2:00 PM – Dance Program - Coordinated by Dr. Madhuri Vasudevan 3:30 PM – Group Songs on the Festival theme coordinated by teachers:
Rajarajeshwari Bhat, Chitra Dharmarajan & Anuradha Subramanian .
6:00 PM - Carnatic Music Concert (Ticketed Event)
The Malladi Brothers - Vocal
Embar Kannan – Violin Neyveli Narayanan - Mridangam
6 PM Concerts are ticketed. Rest of the Festival is free and open to the public. Tickets at www.Tickets2Events.com $20 until Apr 24. Tickets $25 at the door. Check website www.CllassicalArrtsHo ouston.org for all details. Please call 281-242-4914 or email PrabhaBala@Yahoo.com for any questions.
PAGE 4 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
VOICES Tired Pantomime Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s renewed emphasis on being a soldier of the poor, champion of loan waivers and protector of the kisan from what he called a pro-capitalist and pro-industrialist government, is of a piece with this older image of a mai-baap sarkar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a robust defence of the changes to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition. But fears of the rank and file of his party are palpable. The problem with the political discourse on farmers and the land bill is that it comes from a moribund school of thought that basically imagines the poor and the rich as hermetically-sealed binaries, forever locked in opposition to each other. Farmers, in particular, are holy cows in this world view, built on the idea of a permanent poverty-stricken agricultural hinterland. Never mind that India is changing, that a new middle class consisting of millions who pulled themselves out of poverty is thriving and that many farmers may want to leave unproductive agricultural land-holdings. Never mind that at least 60% Indians are still stuck in farming, which produces only 13.9% of the nation’s GDP. Let’s not delude ourselves. As long as India doesn’t have a plan for reducing enormous numbers of people engaged in farming, agricultural crises and farmer suicides will continue. Measures such as farm loan waivers or raising minimum support prices are palliative at best while having undesirable side-effects. India doesn’t need doles and can’t afford them beyond a point. What it does need are jobs for its burgeoning youth population. — The Times of India
A Rejuvinated Rahul The huge rally in Delhi on Sunday against the land acquisition legislation seems to have primed the Congress for the role of a more active opposition. Although farmers’ groups and civil society organisations gave the protest its initial momentum, the Congress is now firmly at the centre of it all, piling up pressure on the Narendra Modi government to drop some of the more contentious clauses in the legislation. What the government initially tried to sell as a more rational and practical version of the legislation originally conceived by the previous Congress-led UPA government, is now being branded as an “antifarmer” and “anti-poor” piece of work designed to please corporate houses. If Rahul Gandhi hogged the limelight at the rally, it was on account of his having just returned from a long “leave of absence” from the political arena. Party president Sonia Gandhi was very much at the heart of the rally, letting the government know that the party would stand with the farmers on this issue. With a frontal attack on Modi, Rahul Gandhi made it clear that the hiatus was not in any sense a running away from the scene of the battle, but truly an attempt at reflection and reassessment of his and his party’s standing. If the Congress is to retrieve lost ground, then it must continue to take up livelihood issues such as the land legislation. Without a vigilant opposition, the government might never get a chance to rectify its mistakes. The Modi government’s land legislation might end up as a big boost for the Congress in the opposition space, and for Rahul Gandhi within the Congress. — The Hindu
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TOPIC OF THE WEEK Western media’s false conclusions on Indian criminality By Kavita Pallod Ideal reportage is the portrayal of reality as it exists. By manipulating the essence of truth in its stories, however, Western mainstream media conveniently projects crimes in India as appropriate representations of Indian culture. From gang rapes to encounter killings, and from foeticide to pollution, mainstream media’s coverage of India is a pradarshan of the perverse. The exotic, erotic India that abounds in Western stereotyped images, is now a harrowing India. We have seen the faces of the criminals that make it such: Radha Devi killing her children, Mukesh Singh, the Delhi bus rapist, and many more. Their actions deserve unequivocal punishment, and one hopes that a creaky justice system will deliver a harsh verdict. But as a clinical psychology doctoral candidate, observing from afar, I am struck by the asymmetry in how the media defines the understanding of what may underlie the mayhem. On March 17, the New York Times’ Ellen Barry covered a grisly story, but one not altogether unfamiliar: a poor Indian woman, Radha Devi, strangled her three daughters before attempting to hang herself. While the setting was unfamiliar and the details of the event were different, the story was reminiscent of accounts of Andrea Yates, Susan Smith and many others. These stories have all drawn out the horror and despair that any account of mental illness perverting the sacred bond between mother and child should. But examine the Times story on Radha Devi, it is tinged with something even darker. Instead of taking the opportunity to bring light to the dearth of mental health services in India and the impact that the stigma associated with seeking psychiatric help can bring, the piece blamed Indian culture. Rather than a story on a mentally ill woman listening to the voices in her head, we were treated to a commentary on the depravities of a culture ostensibly devaluing the girl child. There was an opportunity for the Times to raise awareness on a real issue that is negatively impacting millions of Indians, instead, the writer chose to add to a calculated narrative that has been weaved through this and the coverage of other events – like India’s Daughter. Far too many Western writers, of late, have taken these opportunities to bring to light different issues by taking over the discourse on women’s rights in India and demonising Indian men. I’ve seen the deleterious effects of a lack of mental health awareness in clinical cases involving Indian-Americans, and also through vignettes by family in India. This is a story that, indeed, needs to be told. While depression and anxiety and their causes and manifestations are not quite understood, psychosis is misunderstood completely. A psychotic person is more likely to be treated with a variety
of superstitious rituals than with medication or therapy they so desperately need. It is this lack of awareness which too often leads many in India to ascribe any explanation except mental illness to abnormal behaviours. The New York Times would have done much better to explore that reality. Instead, the coverage of Devi’s story juxtaposed against Andrea Yates’ shows exactly how the opportunity was lost. In the case of Yates, mental health issues were clearly highlighted. The first piece on the story was only two sentences long, but even in that small amount of space, Yate’s depression was highlighted, and one left the piece thinking that mental health issues were the rationale behind the heinous action. In her case, the narrow definition of insanity in Texas, the court rejecting her insanity defence, and the subsequent retrial and “not guilty by reason of insanity” verdict sparked a nationwide debate about mental illness in the United States. Yates’ postpartum depression diagnosis was always front and centre. In covering Devi’s case though, the Times coverage was that Devi “was mortified over having no sons, which have traditionally been prized above daughters in India, in part because girls’ parents must provide a dowry, whereas boys are seen as future earners.” This social commentary is a bit gratuitous given that the story itself highlights that Devi was once in a state of catatonic depression, and that she heard voices that dragged her to the forest where she killed her girls (clear psychosis). There are a lot of questions to be asked about why Radha Devi was given the medications she was, given the symptoms described, and the economic and social limitations that precluded a psychologist for psychotherapy given her symptoms. No diagnosis can be arrived at, of course, given the sparse details of her suffering and behaviour in the piece, but in lieu of a treatment history, we’re given her neighbour’s quips of Devi wanting a son as explanation for her heinous actions. Given the lack of education about mental illness among the masses in India, and especially in the low income area in which Radha Devi lived, these explanations should only have been used as an example of the huge problem, instead of as the explanation for Radha Devi’s actions. If nothing else, Devi’s husband’s actions, as described in the piece, should make it clear that societal pressure for a son was not pushing Devi to murder her three daughters. While one may be wary of anyone’s words, the husband’s contentions aligned with his words. He was struggling financially, clearly, but took his wife to see a psychiatrist as often as he could. If he was so insistent on having a son, wouldn’t he have spent his time, energy, and money in that direction, in-
stead of responding to his wife’s threats to his daughters with a cry for help? The tragedy here is not that Devi felt such pressure that she felt compelled to strangle her daughters, but that even with her husband’s best efforts, this unfortunate man could not get Devi sufficient help to prevent this horror. The conclusion that should have been offered was that the impact of Devi’s depression or the unresponsive nature of psychosis led to a horrific tragedy. Beyond missing an opportunity to highlight an issue that does not receive enough coverage, it was deplorable for the Times to turn the story into another commentary on the state of women’s rights in India with little evidence. The debacle around the documentary India’s Daughter further illustrates the point. Leslee Udwin may have been well-intentioned as she headed to India to make a film on Jyoti Singh, the brave woman that fought off attackers on a moving bus until she was overwhelmed, raped and killed. But little that has happened in the time since the release of the documentary has brought any safety to women in India or has prevented rape in any fashion. Instead, due to the misguided move by the Government of India to ban the film, the documentary has gone viral, and the discourse of late has revolved around censorship and freedom of speech instead of several problematic features of the film. Most viewers have been exposed to the headline – “Indian rapist blames victim” – and several horrifying quotes from the perpetrator and his foolish lawyer. The narrative has been of the opinion that the criminal and his lawyer are a reflection of the larger Indian male mentality. When criminals are examined in American media, even as recently as in the case of the German pilot who downed his plane, there is a narrative of “what went wrong?” and a desperate search for mental illness or any explanation that makes it clear that the perpetrator is an anomaly, and not a representative of any wide group. Rapists, murderers on death row, the Boston bomber – all were studied exhaustively in the media to explicate their actions. Mental illness is often elicited and contextualised within a complex family history or social environment to understand what motivates such deviancy. But even as one may make a cogent virtual diagnosis that Singh presents facets of an antisocial personality disorder, we must remember that mental illness is not a prerequisite for criminality, and we should never stigmatise those with mental illness. So let us assume that Singh does not suffer from a diagnosable mental illness to explicate his horrific behaviour. One could still argue that the media treatment Singh received is very different from that of other criminals in the Western context. Instead of examining Singh, and contextualising his personal experiences, encounters and childhood that may have shaped his twisted mindset, the tone of the See Page 8
COMMUNITY NEWS Annual Hindi Kavi Sammelan on May 9 For the past seven years India Culture Center Houston (ICC) and International Hindi Association (IHA) have brought refreshing, enriching and fun-filled entertainment to the residents of Greater Houston. Celebrity poets from India are invited to perform in different cities of USA once a year. The program has also been a great success with community support and the audience are enthralled by such performances. This year on the evening of Saturday, May 9, at India House, 8888 West Bellfort, the Kavi Sammelan will feature Arun Gemini, a famous maestro of humor. He is a Haryanvi and one of the most popular humorists in India. He has toured the globe and is a recipient of various National awards. Ved Prakash Ved hails from Delhi. He is a leading satirist of eminence, a highly celebrated “Hasya vyang” poet and who has performed widely. He also is a recipient of numerous National Awards and will be visiting Houston for the first time. The third artist this time is the well know poetess Ritu Goel. She writes on human relations and Bhav (emotions). She is a journalist by profession and has been associated with leading TV channels. She has won many prestigious awards. These artists are going to remind the audience of India’s political, social and cultural ethos with rip-roaring humor, biting satire and
INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 • PAGE 5
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Arun Gemini, Ved Prakash Ved and Ritu Goel
some heartwarming patriotism, woven with intellect and a little idiocy resulting in delightful and clean jokes. These poets have performed extensively all over India, on radio and TV and conducted programs like Kavi Sammelans and Mushairas in many South Asian and Middle Eastern countries. They have published books, poems and articles in magazines. The program will start at India House at 5 p.m. on May 9 and after the social hour and opening remarks the program will be with the accomplished poets for the next 3 hours. The audience can
buy books and CDs of the poets at the event as well. The program is made possible by the combined efforts of ICC & IHA core committee members. This program has been sponsored by Wallis State Bank, Paradise Gifts, Deep Foods, MD & Associates, Madras Pavilion, Hindu Worship Society and Anand & Dr Ashima Chauhan. For an enchanting experience attend the event on May 9 at India House at 5 p.m. For tickets (Reserved/Premium $50 or Regular/ Open seating $25 each including snacks), call Manisha Gandhi at 832-876-2142 or Swapan Dhairyawan at 281-382-0348.
App for emotional support during divorce Practicing psychologists Dr. Gitu Bhatia and Dr. Linda Bortell have just released DivorceWorks, an app which provides psychological advice and resources for people who are getting divorced or separated. This app is designed specifically for people who are hesitant to visit a therapist or cannot afford to consult one. At a one time fee of $4.99, this app is cheaper than self-help books and other services offered by mental health professionals. Contained in the app are the main sections of: Journaling, Emotional Tracking, Keep on Track, and Knowledge. Within these areas are a secured writing area, checklists, weekly reminders, an emotional rating system, self-help quizzes, cooling and comforting tips, and a reading list. For more information, visit: http://divorceworksmedia.com
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Indian Music Society of Houston Presents A Concert of Morning Ragas By
Pandit Sanjeev Abhyankar Disciple of Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj
Ajinkya Joshi on Tabla
Disciple of Pt Shantilal Shah
Milind Kulkarni on Harmonium Disciple of Pt. Pramod Marathe
Sat, April 25 @ 9 a.m. Jones Hall, Univ of St. Thomas 3901 Yoakum Blvd
Pandit Sanjeev Abhyankar, the maestro from the Mewati Gharana, is an artist of international acclaim in the field of Hindustani Classical and Devotional Music. An extremely popular artist, he is the inspiration for the young generation. With his magical singing, he has attracted the young generation towards the Indian Classical music. In a career spanning more than 25 years, he has assumed the mantle of a role model of dedication, hard work, patience and perseverance. He has proven his versatility and expertise in different genres of music and has won the coveted National
• Ticket: $25
Award 1998 as the best male playback singer for the Hindi film “Godmother.” He has several albums by reputed music companies like Times Music, EMI Music, Sony Music, Navaras Records U.K., Music Today, HMV, etc. which have been highly acclaimed all over the world. His talent as a classical composer is obvious in the numerous classical and devotional compositions that he has set tune to. Many of them are available for free download on this website for music lovers to enjoy.
For tickets - $25 per person Govind 713-922-2501 Suresh 281-935-4653 or www.tickets2events.com
PAGE 6 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
INDIANS ABROAD “Self-Restraint- key to fulfill life” - JVB conducts 15th annual family camp
By Seema Jain Under the spiritual guidance and presence of Samani Parimal Pragyaji and Samani Maryada Pragyaji, JVB Preksha Meditation Center, Houston conducted its 15th annual 3-day Family Retreat Camp at 66-acre facility of Camp Woodmen in Bellville, TX from April 3 to 5. Over 85 participants from the Greater Houston area, San Antonio and Austin came along to enjoy the calm and scenic surroundings while nurturing their soul through powerful discourses, yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques. This year’s special guest was Kamlesh Shah, Chairman of JVB Orlando. Swatantra Jain, Chairman of JVB Houston, delivered the welcome note. New attendees intro-
duced themselves and shared their anxiety to experience this special camp. The emcees of the evening, Shashank and Mukta Jain kept the audience engaged with their wit. A parallel session for kid’s meet and greet from ages 4 to 14 was also held under the supervision of Samani Maryada Pragyaji and Seema Jain. Samani Parimal Pragyaji initiated the programs with an ever interesting topic of “Self Restraint-key to fulfill life.” Saturday morning session conducted by Jeetendra Tannaji aimed at recharging everyone’s battery through various laughing exercises followed by a yoga class held by certified yoga instructor, Upma Chauhan. Parimal Pragyaji and Maryada Pragyaji led various interactive and learning sessions throughout the day which included multiple lec-
tures/presentations on meaningful topics such as “Words create the world”, “Live in nature, live with nature” and “Talk show”. Samanijis used everyday examples gave tips that can be used to transform one’s habits. The audience appreciated situational examples that they could relate to their daily lives; which led to thought provoking discussions and ideas to overcome them. Participants relaxed and meditated during various meditation sessions during the course of the day with focus on relaxation. The retreat had concurrent kids programs, where they focused on learning, Yoga, Pranayam, and other creative activities conducted by Samini Maryada Pragyaji, Shashi Jain, and Seema Jain. All attendees participated in a
cultural evening on Saturday, where they expressed and shared their views on Jainism in today’s world through presentation slides. For the adults, 10 different teams were formed to make a 4-minute silent skit (mime) on pre-assigned topics given to each team. Creativity peaked in each of the team skits, and the audience enjoyed the fun presentations. Nitesh Jain played the perfect host for the evening. Families also enjoyed the excellent recreational facilities like paddle boats and canoe in the beautiful spring weather. Seema Govil from TV Asia Austin covered the event. Audio, Video & pictures were done by Ashok Jain & Jigar Dedhia. All participants appreciated the great bouquet of programs. Food arrangements, which were handled by Anju Bengani, Ritu Jain, Anusha Jain, Bimla Jain and Meena Shah were also highly talked about. The camp concluded with a one-hour interactive session with Samanijis. Rajat Khater and Mukta Jain joined in and moderated a feedback session, and JVB President, Nikhil Jain, expressed his thanks to Samanijis, all attendees and volunteers. Samaniji brought the event to a close by reciting mangal paath, with everybody taking the resolve of implementing things learned during the camp and to come back next year. JVB Preksha Meditation Center is home to a specially designed Preksha Dhyan ‘pyramid’ meditation hall at 14102 Schiller Rd, Houston, TX 77082. For more information and for current and upcoming programs please visit www.JVBHouston.org or call 281.596.9642.
US seeks extradition of high-frequency trader LONDON: Navinder Singh Sarao, the high-frequency futures trader from West London who stands accused of contributing to the stock market "flash crash" in May 2010 told a London court Wednesday, April 22, that he did not consent to extradition to the U.S. The U.S. Justice Department has charged Sarao, 36, with wire fraud, commodities fraud and manipulation, and one count of "spoofing" -- when a trader places a bid or offer with the intent of cancelling it before execution. Sarao was arrested on Tuesday in the U.K. U.S. authorities have requested Sarao's extradition to stand trial in America, following claims that his actions helped cause the stock market crash which saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummet 1,000 points on May 6, 2010. However, Sarao told Westminster Magistrates' Court Wednesday that he did not agree to the extradition. A full extradition hearing will likely take place in August.
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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 • PAGE 7
COMMUNITY NEWS
Victoria county hospital settles lawsuit, agrees to pay $23 million Citizens Medical Center, three cardiologists and the U.S. Attorney General’s office agreed to settle a lawsuit Monday, now five years in the making, for $23.55 million, The Victoria Advocate reported. The county-owned hospital agreed to pay the federal government $21.75 million, of which the U.S. will then pay $5.98 million to the three doctors - Dakshesh-Kumar Parikh, Harish Chandna and Ajay Gaalla, according to the published report The hospital agreed to also pay the doctors’ attorneys $1.8 million within 10 days. With the current lawsuit and one settled in 2012, the doctors will have netted almost $14 million from the hospital. The cardiologists’ attorney said his clients declined to comment at this time. Although Citizens Medical Center is a county-owned hospital and does receive public funds, it does not collect property taxes. The funds to pay for the settlement will be transferred from hospital revenues and investments. Kevin Cullen, the county’s attorney, said the settlement was not based on any formula, but rather on negotiations and government demands. “We went back and forth in negotiations and reached that number,” Cullen said. The agreement does not outline what the U.S. Department of Justice will do with its portion of the settlement, totaling $15.76 million, related to the alleged violation of the Ethics in Patient Referrals Act, commonly known as Stark Law, in the hospital’s emergency room and chest pain center from as early as 2005 under former CEO David Brown. “I do believe this was in the best interest of the hospital,” he said. Cullen estimated it would have cost several million dollars to fight the lawsuit, and if there was a trial, both sides would have appealed, thus prolonging the process while racking up hundreds of thousands in attorneys fees, he said. “The risk of a loss would jeopardize the financial stability of the hospital,” Cullen said. “That’s a risk we cannot take.” The decision was a studied business decision that involved advice of the lawyers at King & Spalding in Houston, the board of directors, administrators and himself, Cullen said. The hospital board met in a special meeting Monday morning to approve the terms. The Victoria County Commissioners Court approved the settlement during its Monday morning meeting. “The hospital does not take paying this money lightly,” Cullen said. “When you weighed the costs and the risks, the settlement was the right business decision.”
County Judge Ben Zeller called the amount “staggering.” Considering similar cases have been settled in the hundreds of millions, Zeller said Monday’s decision will ensure the hospital stays open and operational. In July 2014, Community Health Systems, the parent of DeTar Healthcare System, settled seven whistleblower False Claims Act lawsuits on behalf of all its hospitals for $98.15 million. Citizens board chairman Donald Day said negotiations for the cardiologists’ lawsuit have been slow. The doctors claimed Citizens Medical Center violated the False Claims Act, the AntiKickback Act and the Stark Act by paying bonuses and abovemarket salaries to emergency room physicians in exchange
for patient referrals, among other things, according to court documents. There were 19 physicians mentioned by name in the settlement, but the allegations are that the hospital violated the acts as a result of a portion of the payments made to these doctors. The hospital did not admit any wrongdoing, and there was no finding that a patient received unnecessary or improper care. Brown said he’s glad the lawsuit is over and the cardiologists’ claims were unsubstantiated. “The irony of the whole thing is that none of the things they are criticizing us for were per se illegal; they were just good business: making relationships with our physicians that benefit-
ed care to our patients,” Brown said. “The government thinks everybody is a crook, so they don’t want you to have beneficial working relationships.” The settlement referenced possible criminal action, but Cullen said to his knowledge, “there is no criminal investigation at all” and “there’s not going to be any.” The settlement will not affect current operations or credit ratings and is not being paid for by taxpayers, the county judge said. “It could have been the entire reserve fund,” Zeller said. “I agree with the hospital board that it is in the best interest to put this threat behind us.” The settlement marks an end to a five-year legal battle over two lawsuits. The initial lawsuit was filed in 2010 and settled in
2012 for $8 million to the same three cardiologists. In the case of the 2012 settlement, the doctors claimed racketeering, conspiracy and discrimination after their privileges at the hospital were revoked. The hospital settled on the discrimination claim The three doctors filed the second lawsuit that was settled Monday in 2010, but it was sealed until late February 2013. During the 10-year period in question, the hospital provided more than $400 million in uncompensated healthcare to patients, according to a news release. We just thought the best thing would be to settle this, get it behind us and move on,” said Day, the hospital board chairman.
PAGE 8 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
COMMUNITYCALENDAR CALENDAR COMMUNITY Sri Meenakshi Temple April 24 to May 3: Chittirai Mahotsavam with ten day festival April 25: Meenakshi Pattabhishekam (Coronation of mother Meenakshi) at 6 p.m. May 3: Meenakshi Kalyanam (Devine wedding of Lord Siva and Goddess Meenakshi) at 9:30 a.m.
5K Walkathon Sat., May 9 Chinmaya Mission Houston invites all to join in 5K community walkathon in celebrating birth centenary of Pujya Swami Chinmayanda. For online registration, visit www.chinmayahouston.org/walkathon. Must register before April 6. Registration fee $5 includes T-shirt, food, water, lots of games and fun for all ages. For more information, call Jay Deshmukh 832-541- 0059 or Jaya Chitale 832-437-0236.
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 281-759-3286. Free Yoga classes on Sat. Sanskrit & Upanishad classes Tue. 6-8 p.m. At 14375 Schiller Rd. (bet Westpark & Bellaire off Hwy 6). 281-752-0100.
Chinmaya Mission Sunday satsangs for adults, youth, and children. A unique Bala Vihar program for each grade, from PreK to Grade 12. Satsangs in two sessions between 8:35 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. - 1 p.m. Bala Vihar students can take shloka, bhajan and orchestra classes or language classes for Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, and Gujarati. Located at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77498. New members may visit the welcome desk between 8 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. or 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Visit www.chin mayahouston.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 Sarada’s Gospel, 5th Sunday. Swamis of Ramakrishna Order visit to conduct retreats and lectures. www.houstonvedanta. org or 281-584-0488.
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. Puja services - Priest Bishnupada Goswami 281-597-8100 Temple is located at 13944 Schiller Rd (off Hwy 6 bet. Bellaire & Westpark). Call Ganesh Mandal at 713-797-
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Informative programs with doctors, lawyers, politicians and other newsmakers. Call 713-784-1480 Hosts: Dinkar Chheda, Jagat Kamdar & Subodh Bhuchar
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Bhagavatam classes. Call 281-402-6585; visit www.godivinity.org (Global Organization for Divinity).
Shiv Shakti Mandir
Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir, 6640 Harwin. Open daily 7 a.m. Darshan from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. All major festivals as well as to 8 p.m. All major festivals, as well birthdays, naam karan, engagement and other ceremonies. Call Pandit as birthdays, naam karan, engage- Pradip Pandya 832-466-9868 for puja and other ceremonies. At 5645 ment and other ceremonies. Call Hillcroft Ste 701, Houston, TX 77036. Pandit Virat Mehta 713-278-9099 or Hardik Raval 361-243-6539 for Mar Thoma Church puja or other ceremonies. 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 ‘The Universe Within’ & 3rd Sunday. Adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m. English service at 10:30 Sahaj Marg is a natural and a.m. on 2nd & 4th Sunday. Call 713-991-1557 or 281-261-4603. simple system of heart-centered Sri Guruvayurappan Temple meditation and spiritual practice that helps one realize the utimate Hours: Mon to Fri 6 a.m. -8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Weekpotential within oneself. The medi- ends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bhajans tation is available to anyone who Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Special poojas wishes to practice. Weekly medi- (weekends and holidays) Choroon (Annaprasam) for kids, tation sessions held throughout the Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Nirapara. Temple is located at 11620 Houston area. Ormandy St (77035) Tel: 713-729-8994 email: temple@ guruvayur.us www.sahajmarg.org Email: meditate_ houston@yahoo.com. Preksha Meditation New facilities of JVB Preksha Meditation Center. Classes for Yoga and Meditation under guidance by Samani jis and discourses. At 14102 Heritage Classes Ashirwad’s Heritage Classes in Schiller Road (off Hwy 6 bet Bellaire and Westpark - 77082). Tel Katy, Cypress and Sugar Land for 281-596-9642. kids 4 to 18 yrs - meditation, Yoga, Patanjali Yogpeeth slokas, stories from scriptures, Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun at Arya Samaj from 8 am to 9:30 Vishnu Sahasranam, bhajans, competitions and fun activities. Adult a.m. Call Anil 281-579-9433. For other free classes, call Indra 281meditation classes. Register at 537-0018. For Yoga/Herbal products, call Shekhar 281-242-5000. Web: www.ashirwada-blessing.org or www.pyptusa.org and www.DivyaProducts.com. Sri Ravula 281-995-0930. Hare Krishna Dham Houston’s original Vedic temple, ISKCON of Houston. At 1320 W 34th St. (77018). Daily Darshan & Arati Times: 4.30am, 7am, 8.30am, 12noon, 4.30pm, 7pm, 9pm. Sunday Festival: 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm. Weekly Gita classes for adults; call 281-433-1635 or harekrishnadham @gmail.com
Gandhi Library
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 281-463-0379 or e.mail ramolaj@aol.com
Sathya Sai centers Sunday program held at two locations (North Houston: 12127 Louetta Rd, Houston; South Houston: 246 Fluor Daniel Dr, Sugarland, TX, 77479) from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Sai Spiritual Education classes for children; study circle for adults. Service programs - food distribution & food drives; nursing home visits, tutoring at schools etc. Contact Sanjay Gupta (North) 832-687-6766 or Sondip Mathur (South) 832-215-8675 www.sairegion10.org.
Mahatma Gandhi Library Book Club: Meets 2nd Sunday of each month; 12:30 PM at Arya Samaj Greater Houston, 13475 Schiller From Page 4 Rd. Join the discussion of the great Udwin documentary is that Singh is not an individual who needs an man’s autobiography – The Story explanation- instead, he represents every Indian male. To understand of My Experiments with Truth. why Singh behaved as he did, Udwin amplified his disgusting views. Call Manish Wani 713-829-6979. Did Udwin travel to his poverty-stricken village, examine his childand understand the pressures of rapid urbanisation clashing with Saumyakasi Sivalaya hood traditional conservative mores? Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is loNot outright sympathy perhaps, but here in the United States, narcated at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 ratives of discrimination, poverty, or the sexual abuse the criminal may Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX have faced are invoked in the mainstream media to absolve the 77478. Temple timings: Monday to perpetrator’s race or heritage. An African American criminal does Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon and not reflect upon his entire race, nor should we generalise that Muslims 5:00 - 8:00 PM Saturday and Sun- are wont to commit terror. A mental health professional would argue day: 8:30-2:00 PM and 5:00 - 8:00 that Singh, like every criminal, is an individual, and that crime is as PM. Call Bharti Sutaria 281-568- anomalous as its perpetrator. Singh should never put up as a represen1690 or Jay Deshmukh 832-541- tation of the perverse Indian male mind, but Udwin did just that. 0059 or visit www.saum This subtlety entirely eludes the documentary. Instead of enlightenyakasi.org. ing a population, the film has created new stereotypes about Indian men. Scores of people across the globe are now under the impression Veerashaiva Samaja that the average Indian male believes that women who dress a certain VSNA Houston is a group of way or travel at night are fair targets. Worse still, there is an implicafamilies who believe in tion that Indian culture itself leads to this depravity. The stereotyping effects of the documentary were immediately Veerashaiva dharma (Basava dharma). Monthly Mahamane pro- apparent, as a German professor rejected an Indian male applicant on gram for prayer and discussion on the basis of this film and India’s purported “rape culture”. Millions of Vachana Sahitya followed by Indian men are being told that they embody an inherently misogynist Prasada. Contact: vsnahous culture -that they should be ashamed of themselves simply for being ton@gmail.com or Jagadeesh Indian men. Also, millions of Indian women are being told that their plight is one to be pitied and that it’ll take outside action to bring them Halyal 832-744-4166. the justice they deserve – hardly an empowering message. Houston Namadwaar Asymmetric Western media coverage, false stereotypes and A prayer house where the Hare demonization must go. Let us begin an honest discussion in the Indian Rama Hare Krishna Maha-man- community as to how much we neglect and stigmatise mental health tra is continuously chanted. Week- services, and how that must change. If our society is ill, we can conends: 8-11 AM & 4-7 PM, Week- sign ourselves to quarantine and self-hate. The alternative is to make days: 7-8 AM & 6-7 PM. Weekly a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. I choose the latter. — Swarajya — Kavita Pallod is a candidate for PhD in clinical psychology “Gopa Kuteeram” children’s heriat Rutgers University tage classes and Srimad
Western media’s bias
INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 • PAGE 9
INDIA Modi visit reboots India-Canada nuclear ties
Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Stephen Harper
OTTAWA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s whirlwind visit to Canada last week – the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister in 42 years – saw the completion of several memoranda of understanding in a range of areas, including civil aviation, rail regulation, space co-operation, education and health. And while the three-day visit to Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver resulted in a number of key initiatives and agreements between our two countries, none was as significant as the sale of uranium and the closing of a chapter of suspicion and mistrust be-
tween Canada and India over the uses of nuclear technology. Saskatchewan-based Cameco signed a $350-million agreement last week to provide 7.1 million pounds of uranium to fuel nuclear reactors in India over a five-year period. The sale is the first substantial trade outcome from the Canada-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. The Cameco deal effectively reboots Canada-India civil nuclear energy co-operation, which ended more than 40 years ago when India tested a nuclear weapon built using Canadian nuclear technology. It also positions Canada
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ahead of Australia – our fierce competitor – for access to the growing Indian market. Beyond the pages of the Cameco deal, the bilateral visit produced a number of positive outcomes that will help CanadaIndia civil nuclear energy collaboration achieve its potential. Modi’s visit highlighted specific opportunities for Canada-India civil nuclear co-operation beyond the commercial exchange of reactor fuel. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission finalized a formal agreement with its Indian counterpart for collaboration in the field of nuclear and radiation safety regulation. Second, the bilateral discussions set a tone of trust and respect. The joint statement issued by the prime ministers emphasized that Canada and India would collaborate as equal partners in nuclear energy technology and services. Third, many Canadian and other foreign companies have been unwilling to supply nuclear technology and services to India because Indian laws leave suppliers open to financial liability for damages to third parties in the case of a nuclear accident. During last week’s visit, the prime ministers made progress on this front, discussing the framework necessary to facilitate Canada-India nuclear technology and services trade, including the Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool as a mechanism for managing liability issues. Finally, elevating the nuclear discussion to the prime ministerial level is a strong indication to government, scientific and corporate communities that a new era of collaboration and trust is in place. Canadian and Indian scientists and businesses are once again free to work together.
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Farmer’s suicide at AAP rally
Aam Aadmi Party volunteers try to rescue a farmer who committed suicide at an anti-Land Bill rally in New Delhi.
NEW DELHI: A farmer from Dausa in Rajasthan committed suicide at the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) farmers' rally at Jantar Mantar here on Wedensday, April 22. Gajendra Singh was among five-odd protesters who had climbed atop a tree overlooking the dais at the said rally. A suicide note was recovered from his possession, which stated that he was taking the extreme step because he had been turned out of his house by his father due to a destroyed harvest this year. Singh hung himself in public view from a tree branch even as those below requested him not to take the plunge. Disregarding their requests, he jumped with a noose around his neck before it gave way and sent him plummeting to the ground below. In the same note, Singh had mentioned that he was a father of three children. The police said he was rushed to the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital where he was declared brought dead. AAP volunteers allege the man had climbed the tree at least an hour before he took the extreme step and it was brought to the knowledge of the policemen who were on duty at the venue of the rally but they failed to act. Party volunteers also said the man was unconscious and barely breathing when three party activists climbed the tree and brought him down after people saw him hanging at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said man who attempted suicide was from Rajasthan. "We and the (Delhi) government are with the family of the farmer," said Sisodia. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was present when the incident took place at the rally, which was attended by thousands at Jantar Mantar in the heart of the national capital. Senior AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Kumar Vishwas blamed the police for Singh's suicide pointing out that no one from the force moved even a muscle to come to his aid.
Shiv Sena forces cancellation of Atif Alam’s concert
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PUNE: The Shiv Sena has once again forced the cancellation of a concert by Pakistani singer Atif Aslam that was scheduled to be held at Hadapsar in Pune on April 25. The Sena has threatened to disrupt the event if it proceeded as per schedule. Confirming the cancellation of the April 25 event, the Anjaneya Sathe Group, which was due to host the event at the Amanora Park Town in Hadapsar, termed it “exceedingly unfortunate.” It said it has refunded over 800 tickets sold for the concert. The organisers claimed relentless pressure from the Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s coalition partner in the Maharashtra government. The Sena, that has been most successful in preventing IndoPak matches in Maharashtra for the last 15 years, claimed “full credit” for scuppering the event. “Our party’s stand on such issues is eminently clear. As long as Pakistan infiltrates terrorists in our country, we [the Sena] will not allow any Pakistani artiste to perform in our country and certainly not in Maharashtra,” said Vinayak Nimhan, the Shiv Sena’s Pune unit president. Nimhan claimed that Sena activists had even met the Deputy Commissioner of Police and requested that no permission be given to events featuring Pakistani artistes. Last year, the Sena had successfully managed to disrupt a performance by the Sufi rock concert band Meekal Hasan (MHB) at the Press Club in Mumbai. However, it failed to cause nuisance at ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali’s concert in Ahmedabad and interestingly, at Aslam’s concert in the same city.
PAGE 10 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
COMMUNITY NEWS
Bhajan festival dedicated to Anil Kumar Samarpan - a Bhajan festival, held on March 28, featured about 90 chosen disciples of Pandit Suman Ghosh in 70 solo and 2 group performances making it perhaps, the first of its kind in this field. The festival, conceptualized and directed by Pandit Ghosh under the banner of the Center for Indian Classical Music of Houston (CICMH), was dedicated to the late Anil Kumar, founder and executive director of Samskriti, and was graced by his wife, Dr. Rathna Kumar, the celebrated dance maestro. Every aspect of the event bore the stamp of the impeccable organizing skills of CICMH and the Gurukul- Saadhana Pariwar. The stage for the performers, an altar for the musical Grand-Gurus of the performers, and another altar dedicated to Anil Kumar, created a befitting devotional mood for the event. The MCs, Sucheta Roy and Shri Ram Seetharam, introduced the performers, 5 to 65 years of age, who presented bhajans in various ragas and emotions, with the blessings and support from by their own Guru on the Harmonium. The common thread of spiritually surrendering oneself to the higher form of God, Guru and Music, “Samarpan”, held the mu-
sic connoisseurs and the casual listeners alike in silent contemplation throughout the afternoon. During the break, Pandit Ghosh shared his thoughts behind the concept of the event and invited Dr. Rathna Kumar to say a few words. Rathna-ji was deeply touched by the respectful gesture by Pandit Ghosh and the Saadhana Pariwar, of dedicating the event as a tribute to her late husband. She also said that it was one of the best decisions of Anil Kumar and herself to bring Pandit Ghosh to Houston. Smt. Archna Tripati, a director of CICMH, expressed gratitude on behalf of all disciples for countless hours of Guruji’s Taalim and unconditional support. The evening ended with a scrumptious dinner from Madras Pavilion. The first quarter of 2015 has seen Pandit Ghosh offering exemplary musical treats on three different occasions. The Bhajan Festival comes right on the heels of two scintillating performances by Pandit Ghosh. Basant Utsav, a concert of Springtime Ragas on Feb 28, 2015 at the Ashtalakshmi Temple had witnessed a fascinating portrayal of complex and delicate springtime ragas like Basant, Khamaj Bahar, Basant Bahar, Bhairav Bahar and others.
In the season opener for Indian Music Society of Houston on March 14, 2015, he captivated the audience, yet again, with his own compositions in the rare raag, Rasik Priya in the beginning and transcending into the lovely Tilak Kamod, Hamsadhwani, Kaunsi Kanada and Kirwani. The knock-out performance, further enriched by Pandit Shantilal Shah’s superb accompaniment on the Tabla and Sammer Kotasthane’s soulful harmonium-playing, left the audience yearning for more. On Saturday, April 11, Panditji was also featured in the popular radio program, Open Forum, in a 2-hourlong talk show. Houston is blessed to have a versatile and accomplished vocalist and a Guru, a rare combination, rolled into one person, as Pandit Suman Ghosh — committed and devoted to the growth of his disciples and enrichment of the community through unique efforts, commendable vision and amazing all-round musicianship. — SasiRaghavan
INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 • PAGE 11
COMMUNITY NEWS Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple
Music
From Page 1
Bhakta Mahila Mandal of Houston held its monthly Sant Kabir bhajan and pooja at Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple last week. The pooja was conducted by Pandit Pradip Pandya and was attended by nearly 100 people. The temple is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm and everyday aarti is performed at 7.30 p.m. The Gauri Siddhivinayak temple is a non-profit 501(C) 3 organization and all donations are tax exempt. The temple is located at 5645 Hillcroft Avenue, Suite 701, Houston, TX 77036. For further information or to participate in pooja, sponsorship call Pradip Pandaya at 832-466-9868.
and party. The Malladi Brothers, who have stamped the Carnatic music scene with their vibrant voices, are known for their stoutly classical yet immensely popular interpretations of the known and unknown items from the vast reservoir of Carnatic music. The Malladi Brothers will be accompanied by Sri Embar Kannan on the violin, and Sri Neyveli S. Narayanan on the
mridangam. This year’s edition of the music festival is organized around the theme of health and wellness as described and experienced in Carnatic music. Accordingly, in addition to the two anchor concerts, we present a panel discussion planned by Dr. Arun Mukhopadhyay of experts in the field of medicine and music. In addition, the presentations include an orchestra led by Smt Manjula Rao and several vocal group performances led by prominent teachers of Carnatic music, Smt.
1970 - 2015
Rajarajeshwary Bhat, Smt. Chitra Dharmarajan, and Smt. Anuradha Subramanian, organized around the theme of Music and wellness. A classical dance segment organized by Dr. Madhuri Vasudevan program will complement the music programs. Additional information about the Spring Music Festival is at www.ClassicalArtsHouston. org or call Prabha Bala at 281242-4914. —By Partha Krishnamurthy
“45 Years and Counting, Providing Services To Generations of Businesses and Professionals Around The World”
PAGE 12 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
COMMUNITY NEWS Walkathon, Basketball court inauguration and Golden group meeting
Coach Duane Berry, MTS volunteers and board members join in the inauguration of the basket ball court.
After two weeks of heavy showers it was a glorious Sunday at Sri Meenakshi Temple. The day started with stretches and Surya Namasakar directed by Dr. Alagappan. After an aarthi at Ganesh temple, the newly laid permanent walkway was inaugurated by Honorary President of MTS Sam Kannappan, Meena Kannppan and Honorary Trustee Dr. S.G. Appan and Rajam Appan. About 150 children and adults enthusiastically participated in the 5k Third annual walkathon. The permanent walkway construction was coordinated by Padma Golla, Vinod Kaila and Dr. Alagappan. The walkathon was successfully organized by Saro and Alagappan. The team raised $12,000 which is half the cost of the permanent walkways. The temple is very proud to support this annual health awareness event with the newly inaugurated walking trail which is sure to benefit the devotees and the temple staff. The new Basket Ball court was also inaugurated today by Coach Duane Berry. Kids and adults were excited to start shooting the ball down the hoop. Mahesh Iyer and Srikanth coordinated this porject and raised $12,000 which fully covers the cost the court. In his inaugural address, coach Berry reiterated the importance of team spirit, in the sustained growth of our young adults. Coach Berry then threw a perfect 3-pointer and declared the court open. This was followed by a friendly match between parents and children; the children won. The basketball court is part of a fitness initiative at the temple, which encourages physical well-being along with spiritual well-being. After a hot breakfast, the Golden group’s second meeting coordinated by Ramsunder was held with a discourse on Bhakthi Yoga by. Dr. Arun Mukhopadyay. During special lunch Kumbakonam degree coffee was authentically served by Sheila and Sriram with help of many ladies. After lunch the first Book club was initiated. The highlights of the Pulitzer award winning book “The Emperor of all Maladies” by Dr. P. Vaduganathan was discussed. It was a power packed Sunday and kids and adults had some activity to participate. The Chairman Dr. Vaduganathan thanked all the donors, MTS staff, Board members and volunteers for making all of these happen and above all thanked Goddess Meenakshi for blessing and for bringing everyone together to enjoy this wonderful day. (Al Alagappan, Mahesh Iyer and P. Vaduganathan) Photo by – Bhargavi Golla
COMMUNITY NEWS Throughout this three-day Justice sentencing hearing judge BatFrom Page 1 Usually, defendants refrain from testifying during criminal trials, but Annamalai chose to testify in his own defense, but that did not help him. Judge Timothy Batten, Sr. while sentencing Annamalai, 49, called him a “heartless” and “ruthless” man who seemed to enjoy preying on the weak. Annamalai’s final comments during the hearing lasted nearly an hour. He cried as he begged the judge for mercy. He said he made mistakes but became “addicted to God.” He told the judge, “My god will come to court. My god will send me back to India. That god is you your honor.” At one point he asked for the death penalty and said he would rather die than live in prison, according to published reports. The judge also ordered Annamalai to serve the time in a special facility with limited outside communication. Prosecutors said Annamalai continued to run his religious money-making scheme even from behind bars, by abusing phone privileges using other inmates’ access codes. In court, Annamalai said he would spend hours on the phone each day talking to his followers. Prosecutors said he funneled the money they paid to his family. “I never thought I would see this day when he is actually going to be slammed behind bars for quite some time,” said Valmiki Raghunathan, who told Channel 2 Action News he was one of Annamalai’s first victims in Georgia. “He abused the concept of religion and Hinduism. It’s really not what he talks about,” Raghunathan said. “It’s a tremendous feeling of relief,” Raghunathan was quoted as saying. Prosecutors say Annamalai used the money to support a lavish lifestyle, including funneling money into bank accounts in India. They say he also concealed assets as he filed for bankruptcy for the Hindu Temple of Georgia in 2009. In all, officials say Annamalai stole more than $2 million from his followers and the Government. Annamalai’s spouse was also convicted in the case and has already served time and been deported to India. Annamalai could also face deportation after serving his sentence. He may not live to ever see India again. If he serves his entire sentence he’ll be 77 years old when he walks out of prison. But, Annamalai can appeal his sentence. Despite a 34-count conviction on bankruptcy fraud and money laundering, Dr. Commander refused to admit any crime during his sentencing — blaming his troubles first on a 2008 FOX 5 hidden camera investigation.
ten patiently allowed Dr. Commander to ramble through his version of media conspiracies and government plots, designed he says to steal his Temple. But when the defendant was slow to respond to prosecutors during cross examination, the judge had enough — telling Dr. Commander to “answer the damn question.” The judge called Dr. Commander “heartless and worthless,” a “pathological manipulating liar and the worst case of obstruction of justice I’ve ever seen.” “He was sociopath,” said Raghunathan told Fox 5. “That’s what I always believed. If you look up the dictionary definition of sociopath, that fits this man to a T.” Acting US Attorney John Horn said “Annamalai perverted the sacred institution of re-
INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 • PAGE 13
ligious by using it as a vehicle for greed and personal profit.” The IRS Criminal Investigation unit spent years developing the case. Dr. Commander was also ordered to be housed at a special prison where he won’t be able to use a phone to perpetuate his spiritual scam on new victims. Even after his arrest, Annamali continued the publication of “Karma” magazine. The bankruptcy court is still continuing the legal battle to seize some of his properties. . It is not clear how Annamalai will pay the court ordered restitution of $540,000. The government has seized or is trying to seize a number of real estate assets, including the Baytown property, owned by entities allegedly associated with Annamalai. Some of those assets appear to be subject to third party liens or other interests. And in some
instances the entities that actually own the property are contesting the governments’ forfeiture efforts. Annamalai has a daughter studying at Texas A & M and a son, who is a commercial pilot. Their visas are said to be dependent on Annamalai’s visa. Annamalai first began his operations in California, then moved to Georgia, Ohio and ended up in Texas. While Annamalai as “Selvam Siddhar” continued his “spiritual counseling,” his nemesis began when he sued Sri and Geetha Ravula for refusing to provide him a booth at their Annual Vedic Fair. Annamalai contended he incurred a huge business loss because he could not participate in the exhibition. The Ravulas succeeded not only in getting the lawsuit dismissed, but the court declared him a “Vexatious litigant.”
Simultaneously, Annamalai began filing lawsuits against Dish TV for refusing to accept his advertisements and a host of other clients in different part s of the U.S. There were a few victims in the Houston area as well. In 2013, As Annamalai continued the his frivolous lawsuits, federal authorities investigating his Georgia bankruptcy were closing in on him. India Herald first published a story after he sued the Ravulas. and published an interview on May 1. 2013. The article was titled “A conversation with “Siddhar” Selvam. Subsequently, Annamalai claimed that this reporter never interviewed him and the report was a fabrication. He threatened to file a libel lawsuit. But the threat remained only on paper.
Sri Meenakshi Temple Society
Cordially invites you with family and friends to celebrate the grand 10 day festival
Chittirai Mahotsavam
From Friday April 24th till Sunday May 3rd, 2015 with Special Homam, Abhishekam and puja followed by Procession of the deities everyday
Saturday, April 25th starting at 6 PM Sri Meenakshi Pattabhishekam
(the Coronation of Goddess Sri Meenakshi)
with procession in Poo Pallakku (floral palanquin) followed by Dinner Sponsorship $51 Grand finale on Sunday, May 3rd starting at 9:30 AM Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thirukalyana Utsavam (divine wedding of Lord Siva and Goddess Meenakshi) Followed by Rathotsavam (Magnificent procession with all the deities in their respective Vahanam) And Sit-down Lunch
Sponsorship: Kalyanam $31, Kanyadhanam $51, both $81 Grand Mahotsavam Sponsor $251 Donations for Annadhanam most welcome For further information and sponsorship please contact S. Narayanan at socn1@hotmail.com or P. Vaduganathan at pvnathan2008@gmail.com or Dhani Kannan at dhanikannan@yahoo.com or Sasi Pillai at nsasipillai@aol.com or Sriram at mksriram.mts@gmail.com or the Temple Office at 281-489-0358 You may also call the temple at (281) 489-0358, Ext 100 or 101 Cultural Events daily: For details contact Mala Gopal gopal.mala@gmail.com
PAGE 14 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
COMMUNITY NEWS
Padmakant Khambhati while hosting the Voice of Sanatan Hinduism radio program.
Khambhati
From Page 1 parents followed Sri Vaishnavism and he along with his father received initiation from the noted Shri Tatacharya of Srirangam. Khambhati was well known in Ahmedabad for his pravachan on “Thiruppavai” on the 30 verses of “Sri Andal” in Gujarati. Khambhati had the courage of his convictions and worked for the Hindu cause all through his life. Undeterred by any challenges that came his way he became a role model for many upholding Hindu Dharma in its truest form and spirit. He made friends with all in the community, extending good will and camaraderie. His seeking of pure knowledge of Hinduism made him associate with many Hindu religious leaders, including Sri Satguru Bodhianatha Velayanswami of Hinduism Today, Sri Sri Chinna
Jeeyar Swami of JETUSA, Sri Velukkudi Krishnan, Acharya David Frawley and many others. He was a founder member of Hindus of Greater Houston along with Raj Syal and Prabhat Sharma. Khambhati took the first initiative to make George R. Brown Convention Center as the venue for the celebration of the community-wide Janmashtami festival. He served in the committee of Vedic Education at Arya Samaj Houston. He was an active participant in the initial setting up of Hindu Swayamsewak Sangh in Houston. He pioneered Hindu participation in Interfaith Ministry meetings and participated at one of their seminars that was conducted at Rice University. Khambhati was an active member of Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America and volunteered in many of its summer youth camps. He conducted classes in Sanskrit and Bhagavad Geeta at Keshav Smirthi. His contribution to the Hindu community is noteworthy in establishing Santan Hindu Center that not only conducted weekly bhajans but played a very important role of providing anthim sanskar (last rites) in traditional Hindu way. He established contact with the funeral homes that provided not only subsidized rates but also took care of the Hindu ritual needs. With one phone call he was able to arrange thi service and help families in distress. In 1993, he established Voice of Sanatan Hinduism radio program, the first and only radio program centered on Hinduism. He endeavored to present Vedic Dharma with accuracy, with knowledge gained through intensive research and providing opportunity to dwell on the invaluable Hindu philosophies. Mantras and Vedic hymns were taken from scriptural authorities and broadcast with an explanation of their meaning. Open discussion on spiritual, divine and religious scriptures and texts and interpretations of the Vedas and Vedanta, are conducted on the show regularly. Voice of Sanatan Hinduism, the three-hour-long commercialfree program aired every Sunday from 9 a.m to 12:00 noon was very close to his heart. One Sunday, March 29, 2015 he was admitted to the hospital after he finished broadcasting the program. The program was made possible solely through donations and has continued all these years by the generous support of wellwishes and listeners. With all the interaction and his service to the community Khambhati had a very loving family. His wife, Rama Khambhati, was a pillar of support and would extend gracious hospitality to all at their home. Padmakant Khambhati is survived by son Dushyant and Anita, Kalpavalli and Jitendra Patel, and grandchildren Jay Khambhati, Beejal Khambhati,Devanshi Patel and Shivani Patel.
INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 • PAGE 15
CHEF’S CORNER Italian chopped salad in shells
HARDIK VYAS
Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) package jumbo pasta shells, 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce, 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, 1 cup coarsely chopped cooked chicken, 1 cup chopped tomatoes, 3/4 cup chopped cucumber, 3 ounces italian hard salami, chopped; 1/3 cup roasted garlic vinaigrette dressing. Method: Cook pasta shells as directed on the package. Drain and cool. Place remaining ingredients except vinaigrette in a medium bowl. Pour vinaigrette over the salad, toss to coat. Stuff the shells with the salad. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours before serving.
Youngest Astrologer in North America Vaastu & Gem Stone Consultant; Hindu Priest for all Pujas & Marriages Languages spoken: English, Hindi, Gujarati & Marathi Astrologer Hardik Vyas, a famous young face in Vedic Astrology from India is in Houston. Call for guidance on Health, Wealth, Education, Career, Business, Property, Love & Passion, Marriage & Compatibility, Horoscope-Making, Child Problem, Luck & Fortune, Peace & Prosperity, Karma & Economic success. Vaastu Shastra is an ancient science. Fix an appointment for personal visit to your home, plot, business/office, shop, factory, or hotel. Gain peace of mind and prosperity by doing little changes as per Vaastu Shastra. Simple, Easy, Scientific & Affordable solutions/remedies to overcome problems in your Horoscope and Vaastu.
Eggplant Parmesan with Creamed Spinach
Astrology & Vaastu Shastra are Science of Nature, and are not related with any religion, caste, or community. It is an Occult Science and gift of nature for the welfare of the people.
Listen to Hardik Vyas live on 1320 AM Shoba Joshi’s Geetanajali Radio
E-mail: askfuture@hotmail.com Ph: 832-298-9950 www.toaskfuture.com Spinach adds a modern note to this classic Italian dish. Ingredients: Half cup all-purpose flour, 12 cup breadcrumbs, divided; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 large egg, four 3/4inch-thick center-cut eggplant slices, one 9-oz. bag frozen spinach; 1 oz cream cheese, 3/4 cup prepared refrigerated thick marinara sauce, such as Buitoni, 1/2 cup packed coarsely grated mozzarella or fontina cheese. Method: Position rack in center of oven, and preheat to 375°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Place flour in pie dish or soup plate. Add bread crumbs and Parmesan to second pie dish or soup plate; whisk to blend. Reserve 2 Tbs. panko mixture. Add egg to third pie dish or soup plate; whisk to blend. Season eggplant with salt and pepper, if desired. Coat slices with flour, then egg, then panko mixture; press to adhere. Coat slices on both sides with cooking spray, and arrange on baking sheet. Bake eggplant 12 minutes, or until bottoms are brown and crisp. Loosen slices from sheet, and flip over. Bake 12 to 13 minutes longer, or until both sides are brown and crisp, and eggplant is tender. Meanwhile, coat large skillet with cooking spray; add spinach. Toss over medium-high heat 2 to 3 minutes, or until wilted. Scrape into towel-lined sieve, and firmly press out excess liquid. Transfer spinach to work surface, and chopfine. Recoat skillet with cooking spray. Add spinach, cream cheese, and 1 Tbs. reserved panko mixture. Cook over medium-high heat 3 to 4 minutes, or until mixture is very thick, adding remaining 1 Tbs. reserved panko (if necessary) to thicken. Spread marinara sauce atop eggplant on baking sheet. Spoon or spread spinach over top, leaving border of sauce visible. Sprinkle with mozzarella, and bake 4 to 5 minutes, or until topping is heated through.
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PAGE 16 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
ENTERTAINMENT Court: A delicious slice-of-life film
The multiple-award winning film (including the recent National award for Best Feature) is aptly titled, to begin with. It's less about the characters of the story, and more about what they do when they are in (and out of) court. The court the most important character in the film, the background against which the story is set, and the fulcrum of everything. For those who have peeked inside an Indian courtroom, you will appreciate the authenticity of the film that much more.
There are unintentional humorous bits like a a group of collegegoers presented in court, in the middle of a serious case, for travelling in the handicapped compartment of a local train; and the judge refusing to even hear a case because the lady is wearing a sleeveless top. Writer-director Chaitanya Tamhane finds comedy in everyday situations. But the biggest tragicomedy is in the court case the film focuses on. A 65-yearold folk singer is arrested on the
Margarita With a Straw
We watch as our protagonist Laila (Kalki Koechlin) is being hauled up the stairs by complaining, loud-mouthed staff at the university. The lift isn't working, and that renders wheelchair-bound Laila, suffering from Cerebral Palsy, helpless. She has a pained expression-a kind of embarrassment that envelops when you have to depend on others for the most basic things. Laila prefers that others are as nonchalant about her disability as she is. Protected by a loving family, she is happy, writes lyrics for her college music band, and is surrounded by friends. She is also the kind of person who shows her middle finger to a judge, who says her college band won a musical competition on sympathy since a disabled writer had come up with the lyrics. Naturally, you like her immediately. Thing is, she's at that age, and eager to explore. She falls in love quickly, and when not reciprocated, cries like any girl her age. But that doesn't stop her from experimenting with sex. She takes charge of the situation and finds someone to make out with. We are introduced to the more morally ambiguous sides to her personality, when she moves on from this person to another crush. The film breaks several norms. It's interesting how layered the character is, as films are usually prone to showing disabled folks as having hearts of gold. Here, Laila displays all the trappings of a non-disabled person from lust, to greed, opportunism, and even infidelity. While she isn't too bothered about her physical condition, what gets her goat is her confused sexuality. "I am scared," she says when she realizes that she is bisexual. Her lover Khanum (Sayani Gupta), whom she meets in New York, encourages the relationship and was the one to seduce her in the first place. Their lovemaking is portrayed with sensitivity, as are Laila's other sexual adventures. The film portrays her amorous adventures in a fairytale manner, devoid of awkwardness or hesitation and always ending satisfactorily. Still, you want to salute Laila and Khanum's spirit and their determination to thrive, not just survive. The remarkable character comes alive thanks to Kalki Koechlin’s masterfully rendered performance. Koechlin is dependably good, but here she outdoes herself. Revathy is wonderful as Laila's mother. Sayani Gupta as Khanum brings out the character’s strength, dignity and love for fun. Shonali Bose gives us a film that delights in its uniqueness, breaking of norms, and a self-assured storytelling style. A dash of reality would have given Laila’s journey that much more gravitas and credibility. And the film does go a bit off-focus in the second half. Still, not often in Bollywood do you see a differently-abled bisexual heroine, one who gets to have her own share of flaws, her romantic adventures, and her journey towards self-actualization.
charges of abetment of suicide. The cop, who has arrested the man, claims he has two witnesses that heard him sing a song that encouraged sewer workers to end their lives, and that the deceased sewage worker was influenced by the song and killed himself We see the two lawyers from the opposite parties battling it out. The activist/lawyer (Vivek Gomber, also the producer) representing the folk singer presents logic and the obvious truth; the opposing lawyer (Geetanjali Kulkarni) presents long-drawn, outdated (but still existing) laws. We all know that the Indian legal system makes sure that court cases are tiresome and messy, with dates being thrown around. Who can forget Sunny Deol screaming "tareekh pe tareekh" in Damini. And that is exactly what happens here. The jaded judge doesn’t go beyond call of duty, and in the absence of witnesses, shoddy investigation, loopholes of the law and assorted absurd reasons the case is deferred to another date, till years roll by. The film hints that the reason for arresting the firebrand folk singer may have been more sinister than what meets the eye. Since the court represents justice, the film touches upon several issues like mistreatment of daily wage earners like sewer workers, classism, religious discrimination, and sexism among others. This is explored through the outof-court lives of our opposing advocates. One goes home to alcohol and passes out on the couch; while the other travels back in a local train, picks up kid from a creche, shops for groceries, cooks, does house work, and prepares for the next day's case. This is a delicious slice-of-life film that puts forth various issues, and celebrates the unintended and often dark humour that we see all around us. Indians often say that one should keep away from the 'chakkar' of courts and hospitals as far as possible. The film shows us why. And it's sad, sad indeed.
Sholay in Pakistan Cult Bollywood classic Sholay, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Hema Malini , hit theatres in Pakistan for the first time on April 17, 40 years after its India release. Considered as an all-time blockbuster of Indian cinema, Sholay was released across Pakistan by Geo films and Mandviwalla Entertainment with a grand premiere in Karachi which was attended by several celebrities. Sholay has its legion of fans in Pakistan including that generation which grew old watching Indian movies on VCRs when it was illegal to screen them in Pakistan. Nadeem Mandviwalla, the distributor of the film in Pakistan, said he was expecting Sholay to generate good business. “We have some top releases on May 1 including, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” but Sholay will continue to draw its audiences because of its evergreen effect,” he said.
O Kadhal Kanmani: Mani is back!
After the forgettable Kadhal, some people had begun to write off Mani Ratnam's film career. With O Kadhal Kanmani, Mani Ratnam has made sure the effort was premature. The comeback is sweet. Most importantly, he is looking fresh again. After a long time, the filmmaker has made a film for Tamil audiences, without worrying about sketching characters that are relevant to panIndian cine-goers. It is a story of two couples: one young, who seem to have escaped their conservative dens are living far away from home and two, older couple, who seem to have preserved their values even while living in a cultural melting pot like Mumbai. For most Tamil audiences, Mumbai has been a city where HinduMuslim riots happen frequently; a city which is still in the grips of the underworld; a city that is constantly under a threat of terrorism and a city that houses the richest of the rich. In O Kadhal Kanmani, however, Mumbai is featured as a city that brings the couple together. The love story has been beautifully shot. In a city where the world 'overcrowded' loses its meaning, the intimacy between the couple has been captured despite the city being known for its over population. While the film doesn't feature Mumbai's landscape extensively, its spirit permeates the film. In a way, the film explores, in a light hearted way, what modern India thinks about the all-compromising life-event called marriage. The plot revolves around a young couple, Adi (Dulquer Salmaan) and Thara (Nithya Menen), who are both independent, free spirited and uncompromising when it comes to their career goals. They meet at a friend's wedding, they go for coffee, they date, and decide to live-in together. Can such a couple settle down into a routine called a marriage? Their story unfolds in tandem with that of Ganapathy (Prakash Raj) and Bhavani (Leela Samson), an ageing couple — one of whom is a former superstar Carnatic musician suffering from Alzheimer's, and are running a PG accommodation where the young couple live. By placing both these love stories in context, the film explores what is worth keeping from the past and what is not. The funny moments in the film are when the narrative turns satirical: where conservative values are seen through the progressive lens, redrawing terms of engagement. The theme of 'new' ideas transforming the old (and vice versa) runs through the film. The narrative seems to suggest that the problem does not lie, in fact it never did, with the institution of marriage but with its terms: it is acceptable as long as it is not about making many compromises on all sides but about ensuring personal freedom and preserving ambitions. It is one of those films in which everything seems to have come together: music, acting, editing and the cinematography. The biggest take-away is that Mani Ratnam, a filmmaker who was compared to an ageing boxer, has regained his sting. That's good news.
Mika Singh booked for assault NEW DELHI: Singer Mika was booked for allegedly slapping a doctor at a live concert in south west Delhi. Delhi Police have registered a case of causing hurt and wrongful restraint against him at Inderpuri police station even as a video of the alleged incident appeared on some websites. The victim, Shrikant, an ophthalmologist posted at Ambedkar Hospital, has suffered some internal injury inside his left ear. The incident took place on April 12 at a concert organized by the Delhi Ophthalmological Society (DOS) as part of their three-day conference being held at the Delhi Pusa Institute Mela Ground in Inderpuri. "While performing, Mika called some fans from the audience on stage for a skit. During the skit, something done by the doctor
irked Mika who then slapped him and handed him to the bouncers," said a police official. Soon after the incident, victim's colleagues created a ruckus at the venue but police immediately intervened and promised action against Mika following which an FIR was filed against the singer.
INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 • PAGE 17
RELIGION / SPIRITUALITY Sita Rama Kalyanam at Sri Meenakshi Temple What is the nature of the Soul?
Sita Rama Kalyanam celebration, an annual event at the Meenakshi Temple Society of Pearland, felt even more auspicious this year as the date coincided with Sri Rama Navami on Saturday, March 28. The stage was decorated so beautifully with the Rama parivar (Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman) that it brought in the celestial ambience. The blissful wedding took place with every step of the way being carefully explained by the knowledgeable priests (Sri Pavan Kumar, Sri Sridharan and Sriman Narayana Charyulu) at the altar. Right from the bedecked bride and groom, to the décor, to the spread of sweets made by devotees, the spectators were blessed to be part of this holy matrimony. The highlight in the sweet display was the paruppu thengai, a cone shaped delicacy made specifically for wedding s in the Southern India. Rituals included tying the kankanam, kanya dhanam (offering of the bride to the groom), mangalya dharanam (tying the knot), and homam ; the entire ceremony took place colorfully and
sequentially. The Houston devotees proved to be ardent supporters of the Sita Rama wedding and had flocked fervently to take make it a huge success. There was enthusiastic participation from the board members at the event and rava laddu specially made by the committee was offered as prasadam to the attendees. Following the wedding, the celestial couple was carried around the temple premises in the silver chariot in a procession. Other notable activities were the rendering of Raguveeragadhyam by priest Sridharan, Nama Ramayanam and Bhajans by devotees during the festival and a sumptuous lunch. MTS volunteers and board members, especially the event coordinators – Bhargavi Golla, Swaroopa Reddy and Kumari Mikkilieni, worked tirelessly to bring a great event to the community in an effort to keep our rich Vedic and value-based traditions alive. PANGUNI UTHIRAM Panguni Uthiram, the divine wedding of Lord Subramanya and
Deivanai, was celebrated on April 5. The Nakshatram (Star) of Uthiram in the month of Panguni is so auspicious that it is believed it was the wedding day for Parvathy and Parameswara as well as for Aandal and Ranganatha. Lord Ayyappan’s Jayanthi falls on this day too. Varuna Baghavan (rain) greeted the devotees gathered in the morning for the start of the Seervarisai at the Ganesh temple. Despite the damp atmosphere the ambience throughout the day was radiant. This wedding was conducted with great detail and every step of the process as laid down in the shastras is followed. Starting with the Seer Varisai, the wedding function included Sankalpam, Vighneshwara Puja, Punyahavachanam, Rakshabandhanam, Pravaram, Kanyadanam, Agnipradakshinam, Mangalya Puja, Mangalya Dharanam, Homam, Lajaa homam, Purnahuthi. The Murugan Thirukalyanam was conducted beautifully by MTS priests Sri. Manicka Bhattar and Kalyana Sundara Gurukkal in the Kalyana Mandapam. About 150 people witnessed the blissful event. Thirupugazh was recited by the devotees during the event. After the thirukalyanam, Murugan, Valli and Deivanai were taken in a procession on Silver Mayil (Peacock) Vahanam and it was a beautiful sight. A very nice lunch was served after the event. This is a day to celebrate the glory of grahasta dharma. Married couples rededicate themselves to each other and their families, so that their own lives and homes are filled with peace, joy and bhakti to God. — Nalini Sadagopan
Human effort can triumph over destiny By Vijay Srinath Kanchi We often feel confounded at the play of destiny in our lives. At times we feel quite paralysed by its power and so surrender ourselves. But are we really so powerless? The Yoga Vasishta has some answers to this question. Prince Rama, at the tender age of 16, is disturbed at the transient nature of the world and suffers a deep sense of vairagya (resignation). Sage Vishwamitra requests Sage Vashishtha to enlighten Rama about the true nature of the powers at work. Vashishtha’s chat with Rama forms the body of the text of the Yoga Vashishtha that runs into 32,000 shlokas. The Yoga Vashishtha says that there is nothing in this world which
is not attainable by human effort if one adheres to the standard path prescribed in the relevant scriptures. Human effort is of two kinds -- one that is done at an earlier time or in previous births and the other that is undertaken at the present moment. Vashishtha assures Rama that past karma can surely be outwitted by present action. He who has strong will is everenthusiastic; he can even ingest the insurmountable Meru. In fact, it is maintained that our past actions only make up what we understand as destiny or fate and there is nothing apart from our previous actions which impede or catalyse our progress. Our past karma and present action are exemplified as two rams fighting
each other where the stronger triumphs over the weaker. He who does not rely on directly perceivable human effort, but banks on ‘fate’ -- which can only be inferred and not directly perceived -- is like one who runs helter-skelter, full of self-doubt. If there is any suffering in this world on account of either poverty or lack of right knowledge, it is all due to the lassitude prevailing in the human psyche. If a person fails in his endeavors, he should know that his past samskaras are dominant and persist in his efforts till he overpowers them. Such a person is sure to succeed in his efforts. Just as past mistakes can be rectified by appropriate rectification measures taken today, similarly all residues
Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir Rudrabhishek every Monday followed by Aarti and mahaprasad. Everyone is invited to join the puja. Our prayer hall is large enough to accommodate up to 125 guests for your celebrations — birthdays, babyshowers, engagement or any other ceremony. Plenty of free parking
By Ashok Vohra In the Jaina text Bhagvatisutra, Gautama, puzzled by the nature of the soul, asks Lord Mahavira, “What is the nature of the soul?” Mahavira replies, “The nature of the soul is equanimity.” Upon which Gautama further asks, What is the ultimate goal of the soul?” To this question, too, Mahavira replies, “The ultimate goal of the soul is also equanimity.” Equanimity — treating everyone as equal — is the foundation of Jaina philosophy and ethics. This view is also supported by Acharya Kundkunda in his text Samyasara. So much so that he uses the term samaya or samyasara for the soul or atman. His rationale for using the term ‘samyasara’ for atman is that in Prakrit language the term ‘samaya’ is equivalent to the Sanskrit words samah and yah, meaning one who has the quality of equanimity, that is, samatva. Etymologically that which has the quality of samatva as its essential nature is called samyasara. Hence, ‘samyasara’ or equanimity is the synonym for soul. The two are identical. The pristine nature of the soul is sullied and its inh”erent equanimity disturbed when it comes in contact with the body. The contact between body and soul allows the inflow of karmic matter. Karmic matter, by obscuring right knowledge, right perception, right faith and right conduct obscures the bliss-nature of soul. Consequently, its quality of equanimity is masked. In the lived world, misery and unhappiness arise because the soul loses its equanimity. The Sutrakrtanga says that ‘Misery is produced by one’s own deeds (karma), not by those of somebody else (fate or Creator).’ Karmas inevitably produce their effects. No one can escape the effects of one’s deeds. To escape existential suffering, soul has to be brought back to its original unspoiled state of equanimity. To recover the true nature of soul Jainism does not appeal to a god or super power. Like existentialists, Jainsim argues that human effort alone can help us to regain the true nature of soul and thus of human beings. None else but the individual himself can help himself get out of misery. Even the tirthankaras can only guide us and show us; we alone have to tread the path. Uttaradhyayana Sutra, 6.3 says, ‘Mother, father, daughter-in-law, brother, wife and sons will not be able to help me, when I suffer from my own deeds’. My right ethical conduct, austere living and respecting the equality of all beings alone can restore the true nature of soul which helps me escape the cycle of birth and death. It finally leads to kaivalya, liberation. Everyone, irrespective of his birth or class, has to retrieve the true nature of his soul by his action and deeds alone. There is no place for unmerited grace in Jainism. Nor do the Jainas advocate performance of ritual ablutions and other rituals to enable one to get back to one’s original state. The only way to regain the pure state is through selfrestraint and self-purification. In doing so, Jainism endorses the dignity of human personality and human effort. The Acaranga Sutra states, :Man, thou are thy own friend, why wishest thou for a friend beyond thyself?” Jaina path stresses selfreliance in the quest for salvation. An individual needs to improve himself by patient training of the will and purification of feelings. This leads to inward illumination, the innate character of the soul. The author teaches philosophy at Delhi University. of our past karmas can be effectively cleansed by determined effort. Our samskaras can drive us in the right or wrong direction. If our mind is steadily taught to tread the right path, it gains enough strength to overcome all forces that decelerate our progress. Yudishtira also was enlightened of this simple yet profound truth by Bhishma the patriarch when, upon the advice of Krishna, Yudhistira approached him to understand rajadharma. Greatly pained at the loss of human lives in the Mahabharata war, Yudhistira was inclined to the path of inaction -- leaving everything to destiny and leading the life of an as-
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cetic, thinking that such a path would absolve him of the sins of war. Bhishma enlightens him of the power of karma over destiny and impels him to accept the throne. You can untangle yourself from your past karma only with a stronger positive karma and not with akarma or inaction! The same precious advice was received by Arjuna from Krishna in the Bhagwad Gita. It is we who carry false notions and unnecessarily burden ourselves and indulge in blame games. The day we take our lives into our own hands, everything will fall into place.
PAGE 18 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
INDIA Anger in Kashmir over police Land bill: Modi paying back rich donors, says Rahul NEW DELHI: With Rahul killing of youth Gandhi back from his nearly two-
Swami Agnivesh and Yaseen Malik were stopped when they tried to lead a march to Budgam.
SRINAGAR: Anger flared up against the fragile coalition government in Jammu & Kashmir on Saturday, April 18, after a 15-year-old boy was killed in police firing on pro-azadi protesters at Magam in Budgam district. Suhail Ahmed Sofi's killing is the first such case since the People's Democratic Party-BJP government came to power last month after PDP emerged as the single largest party in assembly polls on the back of promises to end impunity of security forces and rights abuses. Late Saturday, hours after authorities had ordered a probe into the firing, two cops were arrested in a bid to placate anger over the killing. The big concern was the situation could spin out of control like it did in 2010 summer stone-pelting agitation in which 120 people were killed in firings on demonstrators. The unprecedented arrests came after police acknowledged standard operating procedure (SOP) for crowd control was violated when protesters in Magam were fired upon and booked the cops for murder. "Preliminary inquiry conducted in the matter indicates that the forces deployed acted in violation of the laid down SOP," a police statement said and regretted "the unfortunate incident". Protests in Magam coincided with a bandh called against separatist Masarat Alam Bhat's arrest a day earlier for hoisiting a Pakistani flag at a rally and alleged extra-judicial killings of two youth in south Kashmir's Tral. Masarat Alam was rearrested on April 17. The boy's uncle claimed his nephew was first detained before he was shot point-blank in presence of dozens of other protesters. "The police officer took my nephew aside and then shot him point-blank as we watched," a news agency quoted the boy's uncle, Tariq Ahmed Sofi, as saying. Police promised to investigate the uncle's allegations. "If that is true it will come out," inspector general of police Javid Gillani told the agency. Later in the day, Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yaseen Malik and social activist Swami Agnivesh were detained when they tried to lead a march to Narbal to protest Sofi's killing. Agnivesh had earlier joined Malik for 30-hour hunger strike against the proposal to create separate settlements for displaced Kashmiri Pandits. "We will not allow these colonies at any cost. We have to live together and die together," he said. Malik said the Pandits should talk to the people of Kashmir rather than the government for their return. Agnivesh said Kashmir is known for its secular character and Kashmiriyat and the government should leave the issue of the return of the migrant Pandits to the people.
Court’s ire over abuse of power NEW DELHI: The arrest of a 66-year-old man and his incarceration for 91 days without bail for “raising his voice” at a court bailiff left the Supreme Court shocked at the manner in which a citizen can lose his freedom in the blink of an eye. Little did Bhanudas of Shevgaon district in Maharashtra know that he would spend over three months in prison for “shouting” at the court bailiff in exasperation. Bhanudas said he had been fighting in court for the property since 1991. His petition for bail in the Supreme Court records his exact words to the bailiff: “You cannot remove the wall as this place belongs to me”. He was arrested the same day, January 13, 2015 and charged under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code (criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty), which carries a maximum punishment of two years' imprisonment or fine. His bail application the next day was rejected by the Magistrate. A second application for bail before the Sessions Judge also failed as did a plea before the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court. Apex Court Justices Anil R. Dave and Kurian Joseph on April 17 grilled the Maharashtra counsel, asking “On what authority are you detaining a 66-year-old man for 91 days for raising his voice?” “Every day we are faced by this soul-searching question about the State detaining persons ... Tell us, how could you leave this man behind bars for 91 days?” Justice Joseph asked. Justice Dave slammed the State for being overzealous. Justice Joseph pointed out that Section 353 IPC, under which Bhanudas was charged, also gave an option of fine as punishment. “Don’t you know when there is an option of fine as punishment, the
month sabbatical, the Congress on April 19 declared an all-out war against the NDA government for its “anti-farmer and pro-industrialist policies” at a farmers’ rally organised in protest against the changes made to the 2013 Land Acquisition Bill by the BJP. The Congress vice-president trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of introducing the Land Acquisition Ordinance in order to pay back industrialists who had helped him to “win the Lok Sabha election.” Though the rally, attended by an estimated 80,000-strong crowd, was billed as a comeback for Gandhi, it did not remain a solo show as Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who spoke after him, delivered an equally sharp criticism of the Modi government. The farmers’ rally is the Congress’ first major show of strength as it bids to chart a comeback from a series of electoral defeats over the past year. It is also intended to send a strong message to the NDA government ahead of the second part of the budget session of Parliament that begins on Monday. He said farmers were now living in fear as they felt that the government had forgotten them and was working only for big industrialists. “Let me tell you how Modiji won the election. He took loans of thousands of crores from big industrialists for his marketing. How will he pay back those loans now? He will do it by giving your land to those top industrialists. He wants to weaken the farmers, then snatch their land and give it to his industrialist friends,” he said. In Parliament on Monday, the government tabled the controver-
Telangana MLAs to visit Israel HYDERABAD: The Telangana government has decided to send an eight-member team, including four MLAs of the ruling TRS with a tag of "progressive farmers", to attend an agriculture exhibition and field trips in Israel. The decision has kicked up a row with the opposition BJP questioning the move. The government order issued on Monday said the state government has given them nod to visit Israel for attending the 19th International Agriculture Exhibition Agritech 2015 in Tel Aviv from April 27 to 30, and also for visits to orchards green houses and open cultivation plots. "Four TRS MLAs cleared for a trip to Israel as 'progressive farmers' by TRS government. We want to know if chief minister KCR has not found any progressive farmers in entire Telangana for this state-sponsored trip?" asked Krishna Saagar Rao, spokesman of Telangana BJP. first choice should be to order payment of fine and not imprisonment... What have you done here?” Justice Joseph asked. The Bench then immediately ordered Bhanudas to be released on bail.
sial land ordinance it promulgated for passage in the Lok Sabha sparking off an intense debate on the impact of the proposed law on the farming community. Launching a direct attack on Modi, tRahul Gandhi said, “The farmer is neglected by the BJP government. The Prime Minister of this country must acknowledge that he upsetting 60 per cent of the country’s population and alienating the majority he said, speaking in chaste Hindi. Union Minister Vankaiah Naidu hit back saying, “You have words for the poor but deeds for the rich, which is why the people have brought you to the Opposition and us to power. Responding to the Congress’s criticism of BJP promulgating an ordinance to pass the land law, Further responding to the Congress’s criticism of BJP promulgating an ordinance to pass the land law, he gently reminded his Congress colleagues that when the government led by their party was in power, they had passed 462 ordinances. “After what you have done, now you are advising us?” he asked.
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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 • PAGE 19
INDIA Salman Khan hit-and-run case verdict on May 6 Jitan Manjhi: I unmasked Nitish
MUMBAI: “On May 6, at 11.15 am sharp,” announced Sessions Judge D W Deshpande to a packed court room at Bombay City and Civil Sessions court as he set the date and time for the final judgment in the 2002 hit-andrun case involving actor Salman Khan, who stands charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other offences. The trial, which began in 2003, saw some fresh arguments this month in the case, during which 27 prosecution witnesses were cross-examined. In comparison, only one defence witness has been
Salman Khan arrives at the Sessions Court with his lawyer
cross-examined. Both defence and the prosecution concluded their final arguments on April 20. The prosecution has sought to rest its case claiming that the actor was driving the car at the time of the accident and that he knew his act of drunk driving could cause an accident. Ravindra Patil, the actor’s deceased police bodyguard and the complainant in the case, had stated that Khan was drunk when he rammed his Toyota Land Cruiser
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into a bakery in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002, killing one and injuring four others. The prosecution also claimed that the actor did not possess a valid driving licence or a liquor permit. Khan’s “conduct” after the incident was also questioned by the prosecution, which claimed he ran away from the spot soon after the accident instead of helping the victims. The actor’s lawyer, Shrikant Shivade, has claimed that a “tyre burst” had caused the “unfortunate” accident. He also claimed that the fatality was caused after the accident, when the vehicle slipped off the crane lifting it. Shivade also argued that Khan’s blood samples were tampered with, which led to alcohol content being found in it. Khan’s driver Ashok Singh, the only defence witness, deposed in the case for the first time in over 12 years, claiming it was he, and not the actor, who was driving the car on the night of the accident. Singh has been employed as a driver with Khan’s father for 20 years. The court on Tuesday also disposed of contempt of court applications made by Khan against an inspector of Bandra police station for recreating the crime scene and two city newspapers for publishing those photographs. These papers gave an undertaking that they would not run reports on anything except factual court proceedings in the matter till the court delivered its judgment. The inspector too apologized in the court.
Cricketer dies in collision on field KOLKATA: A 20-year-old Indian cricket player died Monday, April 20, three days after he suffered a head injury in a match. Ankit Keshri was knocked unconscious when he collided with teammate Sourav Mondal while attempting to field a catch during the CK Nayudu national championship. Mondal’s knee hit the back of Keshri’s neck in what the player’s coach on the Bengal “A” side, Joydeep Mukherjee, told the Times of India “was one of the worst sights I have been witness to on a cricket field.” “To our horror, Ankit had lost consciousness,” Mukherjee said of Friday’s collision. “I could not feel any pulse. East Bengal player Anushtup Majumdar pumped his heart furiously while former Bengal left-arm spinner Shiv Sagar Singh applied mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to revive Ankit.” The life-saving intervention seemed to work at first, as Keshri initially regained consciousness and was taken to AMRI Hospital in Kolkata, where initial MRI and CT scans revealed no brain swelling or hemorrhaging. Doctors at AMRI eventually moved Keshri from the intensive-care unit to the general admission unit. Keshri’s family protested, however, noting the young player still had a fever and was experiencing nausea associated with severe head trauma. The family opted to transfer Keshri to Nightingale
PATNA: Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday, April 20, said he was a mere pro-Dalit “mask” of Nitish Kumar and “compromise choice in political instability” as were previous scheduled caste CMs Bhola Paswan Shastri and Ram Sunder Das. Manjhi also alleged that he was “made to sign his name” on files for the first three months of his tenure as CM till he realized that he should not be just a “yes man” to Nitish. Jitan Ram Manjhi Speaking at Garib Swabhiman Rally of his political front Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), Manjhi played pro-poor, pro-women and pro-youth card to the hilt and reminded how Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had been wrong in “reversing” his people-friendly decisions. “I would like to thank Nitish Kumar for conceding his mistake of making me CM. After all, he admitted that making a Dalit CM was a mistake. He took me as his pro-poor mask, but I ended up unmasking him,” said Manjhi, who was accompanied by all rebel JD (U) legislators. Former Gopalganj MP and brother-in-law of Lalu Prasad, Anirudh Prasad alias Sadhu Yadav, also attended the rally. Yadav had played role in mobilising support for Manjhi with an eye on contesting the Assembly polls later this year. Manjhi said: “Bihar’s political history has been a witness to the fact that an EBC or a scheduled caste man had been CM only when there had been political instability. Bhola Paswan Shastri became CM thrice, but he was hardly allowed to rule. The same happened with Karpoori Thakur and Ram Sunder Das who did not get full term. It can happen only to a Dalit”.
‘Indira’, ‘Rajiv’ dropped from award names NEW DELHI: The BJP-led NDA government has dropped the names of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi from two awards for propagating Hindi. The two awards have been discontinued by the Union Home Ministry, which instead launched two new schemes for doing outstanding work for promoting the progressive use of official language. According to a Home Ministry order, the ‘Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Puraskar’ and ‘Rajiv Gandhi Rashtriya Gyan-Vigyan Maulik Pustak Lekhan Puraskar,’ launched more than two decades ago, have given way to ‘Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar’ and ‘Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar’ “It is purely an administrative decision to make the awards more useful,” an official said. Earlier, there were four categories of Rajbhasha awards of which two were named after the two former Prime Ministers. The four awards were merged into two now.
Tension in Aligarh over ‘conversion’ LUCKNOW: Tension prevailed at Mainath village in Aligarh district on Saturday, April 18, after a group of Muslim “preachers” were arrested for allegedly trying to “convert” villagers. The group was reportedly moving around the village preaching Islam, though the police said allegations of conversion were prima facie false. The village, incidentally, has no Muslims. Police said trouble began in the morning when some Muslim preachers stopped at the house of one Suraj Pal, who belongs to Kanjar community, for water. Suraj Pal offered them water. Since it was time for namaz, the group also offered prayers in the house. Suraj Pal told police that since it was time for namaz, they asked for his permission to offer namaz and he let them pray. Irked by this, some local residents gheroed Suraj Pal’s house and staged a protest claiming the preachers had come to convert the villagers. Hearing about the incident, district officials and police rushed to the spot and took the preachers and Suraj Pal to the police station.
51 arrested for torching train coach PURI: As many as 51 people were arrested on Sunday, April 19, for torching a coach of Puri-Barbil Express train and ransacking Delang railway station. GRP sources said the arrested belong to Gualipara village and nearby areas under Delang police station limits in Puri district. The arrest was made two days after a mob set on fire a coach of the train at Delang railway station and ransacked the station on April 17 following the death of a local boy who fell from a running train. The local people detained the train while it was returning from Puri on Friday morning and set on fire a general compartment. Though the coach was damaged badly, no passenger was hurt in the incident. Hospital on Sunday, where he later experienced a rapid decline. On Monday, the former captain of a Bengal Under-19 team died of cardiac arrest, leaving Keshri’s dad with questions about his son’s initial medical treatment. “I don’t know why he was transferred to a general bed from ICU,” Raj Keshri told the Associated Press after his son died. Doctors at AMRI defended their decisions, however, noting they weren’t given a chance to fully treat him.
PAGE 20 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
SRI LANKA / BANGLADESH Tension after Khaleda Zia’s convoy is attacked Bribery summons on Rajapaksa DHAKA: Bangladesh's opposition accused pro-government supporters Tuesday, April 21, of trying to kill their leader Khaleda Zia after her car was shot at and stoned by a mob while campaigning in Dhaka's mayoral election. Although Zia emerged unscathed from Monday evening's attack, which took place as she stopped to tour a shopping district, supporters voiced alarm at the lack of protection from the official security forces. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused her arch-rival of making an unnecessary "drama" out of the incident, which has fuelled tensions in the volatile capital before polling on April 28. Zia, a two-time former premier who leads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is hoping that a strong showing in next week's polls will add momentum to her long-running campaign to force new national elections. After recently ending a lengthy stint holed up in her headquarters, Zia has been campaigning hard in the election. Television footage showed how scores of people attacked Zia's convoy in the Karwan Bazaar district, smashing the windows of a number of vehicles with rocks, metal rods and staves. Fazle Elahi Akbar, a retired general who heads the BNP chief's private security team, said shots were fired at Zia's bulletproof car while she was inside, but stopped
BNP leader Khaleda Zia
short of calling it an assassination attempt. Several of her own security personnel were injured, although none seriously. "Her car was hit by a bullet fired from a pistol from a reasonably close range," Akbar told AFP, saying there were bullet marks on the vehicle. "If it penetrated it would obviously hit her. She survived because she was in a bulletproof car." The BNP filed a complaint on Tuesday at a Dhaka police station, accusing the ruling Awami League party and its student and youth wings of having "planned an attack to kill Khaleda Zia", said her spokesman Shimul Biswas. Police confirmed they were investigating reports of a shooting and acknowledged Zia had not been accorded close protection,
but said she had not requested any. "If she wants security, we'll ensure security for her," junior home minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters, while not commenting on the shooting. The BNP has previously accused the security forces of being behind attacks on its members. Moudud Ahmed, another of Zia's top lieutenants in the BNP, said Monday's attack was "planned and aimed to kill her". Hasina's camp responded derisively to the accusations. "Khaleda Zia is staging drama... She should stop such activities for the sake of a free, fair and transparent election," the prime minister was quoted as saying.
Compensation shortfall Victims of Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster are suffering a $6 million shortfall in a compensation fund two years after the tragedy that claimed more than 1,100 lives, fund organizers said Monday, April 20. Organisers of the trust fund estimated that $30 million in compensation was needed after the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory complex, where workers stitched clothes for Western retailers for poor pay. On the eve of the second anniversary of the disaster this Friday, organisers of the trust set up by the retailers and labour groups said $24 million had been paid or pledged to families of those killed.
COLOMBO: A protest staged by lawmakers backing former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa ran into a second day Tuesday, April 21, after the bribery commission summoned the ex-leader and his brothers to explain their actions while in power. The protesters said the summons was an affront to the brothers who were instrumental in ending Sri Lanka's 26-year civil war. Rajapaksa was asked to appear before the commission to explain why he gave a ministerial position last year to an opposition leader soon after he defected to support Rajapaksa's presidential re-election campaign. Rajapaksa's rivals say handing out the ministerial position was a bribe. His brothers, former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, were also summoned over allegations of financial irregularities. Lawmakers backing the Rajapaksas protested overnight in Parliament, and resumed the sitin after a brief break on Tuesday. Later the speaker adjourned the sittings until Monday. A bill scheduled to be debated Tuesday to clip the vast powers a president has and empower the Parliament and an independent judiciary and police was also postponed until Monday. All were pledged by Maithripala Sirisena ahead of January's presidential
election in which he defeated Rajapaksa. The minority government needs two-thirds of the votes in the 225-member Parliament to pass the amendment, and the dispute may prevent that. Sirisena, who was health minister in Rajapaksa's Cabinet, narrowly defeated Rajapaksa after he led a revolt in the party.
ICC withholds Sri Lanka’s share COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's cricket board Monday, April 20, accused the world governing body of "gravely" disrupting the sport in the island by withholding its share of proceeds from World Cup tournaments. The International Cricket Council (ICC) said last week it was withholding Sri Lanka's share from the 2014 T20 World Cup and 2015 World Cup after the Colombo government dispensed with elections and appointed a local governing body. Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake had sacked the previous board and appointed a ninemember panel headed by respected Test player Sidath Wettimuny to "clean up" corruption at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The new SLC management in a letter to David Richardson, the Chief Executive of ICC, said they were "shocked" by the ICC decision and expected monies due to them will be released without further delay.
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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 • PAGE 21
PAKISTAN Xi Jinping’s visit strengthens ties with China
The first visit by a Chinese President to Pakistan in nine years is being dubbed as a turning point in SinoPak relations
ISLAMABAD: A historic ceremony was organised at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday, April 20, where Pakistan and China signed 51 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) relating to diverse aspects of bilateral relations, including the Pakistan China Economic Corridor. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping and high-level officials from both sides. A few agreements were signed by dignitaries from both countries in front of media personnel, after which Nawaz Sharif and Xi Jinping shared their views on the historic gathering and bilateral relations. In his speech, Nawaz Sharif welcomed the Chinese leader and referred to China as an all-weather friend. “There have been critical changes in China and Pakistan, and major regional and international development, but our ties have remained robust. Four generations of our leaders and people have sustained them with passion and wisdom.” Talking about the Pakistan China Economic corridor, Nawaz said: “This corridor will benefit all provinces and areas in Pakistan, and transform our country into a regional hub and pivot for commerce and investment. It will also enable China to create a shorter and cheaper route for trade and investment in south, central and west Asia, and the Middle East and Africa. This corridor will become a symbol for peace and prosperity.” He said President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan was a watershed in the history of Pakistan-China relations. "Together with President Xi we have taken momentous decisions that will raise PakistanChina relations to new heights and have deep impacts for our common economic future, and peace and stability in the region.” He said the two sides had also discussed regional and international developments, and agreed to make coordinated efforts for peace and security in the region. President Xi Jinping in his address said China is prepared and willing to help strengthen Pakistan's capacity to fight terrorism. The building of the Pakistan China Economic Corridor has
an important bearing on national strategies and livelihoods of the two countries, he said. The two sides believe that the layout and construction of the corridor should take into account the interest of various regions of Pakistan so that the building of the corridor will benefit people, said Xi Jinping. “Of all the cooperation documents that Prime Minister Sharif and I signed, or witnessed the signing of, more than 30 of them concern the corridor,” he added. “They include the facilities of the Gwadar port, the second phase of the upgrading project for the Karakoram highway, the motorway project between Karachi and Lahore, the rail transportation Orange line project of Lahore and other major transportation infrastructure projects and a series of energy projects,” Xi said. "These projects span across the provinces and areas of Pakistan and the two sides have also made it clear that they will include the central and western lines of the corridor in the long and midterm plans, and I believe this will help the comprehensive balance and steady growth of the corridor building," said the Chinese president. The Chinese side continues to support Pakistan's economic and social development, he added. He said the two sides agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on Afghanistan in order to jointly push ahead the Afghan reconciliation process and play a constructive role to achieve peace and stability in the country and region. Xi read an old saying in Chinese that said, "When brothers are united in their purpose, they become strong enough to pierce through metals." He also reciprocated PM Nawaz Sharif's sentiments on Pakistan and China having strong historic ties, and said China is willing to work in close cooperation with Pakistan to benefit masses of the two countries. Pakistan and China have agreed to continue bilateral cooperation in civil nuclear energy under IAEA safeguards, in line with their respective bilateral and multilateral commitments. "China appreciates and supports steps taken by Pakistan towards its mainstreaming into the global non-proliferation regime," a
joint communiqué issued from foreign office said. The communiqué said China welcomes Pakistan’s engagement with the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Pakistan. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral nondiscriminatory arms control and non-proliferation endeavors.
Lakhvi acquitted in kidnapping case ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad on Tuesday acquitted Mumbai attacks mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi in a case pertaining to the abduction of an Afghan national. The Islamabad police had booked Lakhvi for the alleged kidnapping of the Afghan national after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had suspended his (Lakhvi’s) detention in the 2008 Mumbai attacks case on December 26, 2014. As per the FIR that the Islamabad police registered on December 29, 2014, Mohammad Daud complained that his brotherin-law Anwar Khan, an Afghan national, was kidnapped by Lakhvi over six years ago. During today's hearing, police lawyer Amir Nadeem Tabish presented his arguments, saying that Lakhvi had been directly nominated in the abduction case. He claimed that the plaintiff and the abducted person's brother were eyewitnesses in the kidnapping incident. Nadeem requested the court to summon Lakhvi and indict him in the kidnapping.
ANI chief dies in custody KARACHI: Anjuman Naujwanan-i-Islam (ANI) chief and member of Sunni Ittehad Council Tariq Mehboob died in custody on Saturday, April 18. It is not clear whether his death took place in Central Jail Karachi or Rangers' custody. While officials initially asserted that Mehboob died of a heart attack, his family suspects foul play and alleges that he was tortured. Last week, Mehboob and seven others were picked up by paramilitary force personnel near Yousuf Plaza in Block 16 of Federal B area, and shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation. The ANI chief was accused of providing refuge to target killers which is punishable under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. Two days earlier, Mehboob was produced in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) which remanded him in Rangers' custody for 90 days under the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO). However, a press release issued by the Rangers said the accused was sent for 90 days Preventive Detention by ATC in Central Jail on April 16 after completing all legal formalities for further investigation. The press release added that he did not die in Rangers' custody and that he died in Central Jail Karachi. After completion of legal formalities, his body was shifted to a hospital where a post mortem was conducted. The cause of his death was kept reserved. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Nadeem Nusrat demanded the formation of a judicial commission to probe the death of ANI chief Tariq Mehboob. The MQM leader said Mehbood was a citizen of Karachi and his death had grieved each and every worker of the MQM as well as the people of Karachi.
Dawn marketing director murdered KARACHI: Masood Hamid, Director of Marketing, Pakistan Herald Publications Private Limited (PHPL), was found murdered in his car in Defence Housing Authority’s phase-8 on Friday night, April 17, Dawn Media Group said in a statement. Hamid was killed by a single shot, and apparently died on the spot. The unknown gunmen also left the weapon used in the murder in his car before fleeing the scene. The SSP South, Tariq Dharejo, told Dawn that an Investigation Officer (IO) was being appointed immediately to probe into all aspects of the incident. Masood Hamid had been associated with PHPL for the past 28 years. He was a natural leader, and in his capacity as Director Marketing, he had built one of the finest teams of marketing people for Dawn and other publications of PHPL.
Bangladesh seal historic one-day series victory DHAKA: Tamim Iqbal smashed a second consecutive century to steer Bangladesh to their first ever one-day series win over Pakistan with a seven-wicket victory in the second match in Dhaka on Sunday, April 19. The left-handed opener hit an unbeaten run-a-ball 116 as the hosts, chasing Pakistan's 239 for six, cruised home in the 39th over to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The new-look Pakistan, with just four World Cuppers in their ranks and led for the first time in a series by Azhar Ali, needed a massive improvement after their 79-run defeat in Friday's opening match. But a top-order collapse pushed them in a corner and left the tourists seeking a consolation win in the third and final match at the same Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday. Pakistan's injury setbacks continued Tuesday as paceman Sohail Khan was ruled out of the Test series in Bangladesh and was replaced by another fast bowler Imran Khan, an official said. Sohail, 30, suffered back spasm two days before the team's departure and was initially ruled out of the ongoing three-match one-day series. On Tuesday the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced he would not recover in time for the two-match Test series. Imran, 27, played three Tests against Australia and New Zealand last year and took seven wickets.
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