India Herald 091918

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India Herald

VOL. 24 • NO. 38 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 • P.O. BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017699 • 25 cents

Indian American Cancer Network gala: Empowering mind and body

Protest ‘morphed’ into violence at the World Hindu Congress

The Indian American Cancer Network (IACAN) celebrated its biennial gala with the theme of “Empowering Mind and Body” on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at the Red Oak Ballroom-City Centre. IACAN also recognized three bone marrow donors, Ayesha Khan, Zain Kassam, and Fouzia Mohammad. The awards were presented by Gayatri Kapoor, Advisory Board Two girls are on the ground, surrounded by an intimidating crowd menacingly looking at them Member of IACAN, who is actively involved in the recruitment and shouting slogans, even as other volunteers are seen pushing the crowd away from the of bone marrow donors. Story on Page 3. girls lest anyone should harm them at the World Hindu Congress in Chicago on Sept. 7. The “peaceful” protestors said they were “beaten up, choked, kicked, assaulted” and someone spat on their face, suggesting that the “Hindutva” crowd was violent and even more than what the protestors had experienced in rallies against President Donald Trump. Contrary to the claim of the two girls, their own videos and pictures clearly show the girls on the ground, though surrounded by an intimidating crowd shouting slogans, other volunteers are seen pushing the crowd away to prevent any physical fight.

See STORY on Page 4

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PAGE 2 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

COMMUNITY Audience revels in electrifying concert

Singers Mano, left, Haricharan, Javed Ali, Neeti Mohan, Linda Lind and Jonita Gandhi

By SESHADRI KUMAR More than 6,000 fans reveled in an electrifying live concert by the legendary A. R. Rahman at the Smart Financial Center in Sugar Land on Sept. 15.

The music maestro, who became an international celebrity with his Oscar winning number in the film “Slum Dog Millionaire” literally rocked the state of the art auditorium with the drums and metals rolling out thunderous tones to the commanding voices of the reputed singers.

Added to the audio fest were the giant 3-D visuals, taking the audience to hypnotic heights of Cloud Nine.

No wonder Rajender Singh of Star Promotions was also on Cloud Nine after a very successful show of the highest caliber.

This joins his growing list of one hundred shows and consolidates a well-deserved pride of place in the entertainment world.

The team of singers accompanying Rahman included Neeti Mohan, Jonita Gandhi, Linda Lind, Mano, Udit Narayan, Javed Ali and Haricharan.

Rahman’s hits from Roja, Dil Se, Taal, Laagan, Rang de Bas-

anti, Jodha Akbar, Vinnai Thaandi Varuvayya, Thirduda Thiruda, and Kaadhalan were melodiously rendered.

“Chinna Chinna Asai” in Roja was rendered in Telugu, along with hits like “Humma, Humma,” and Urvasi, Urvasi.”

Some of the famous numbers presented were “Jashn-EBahaara” “Jiya Jale” “Agar Tum Saath Ho”; “O Mitwa,” Yeh Ajnabi Tu Bhi Kabhie” and “Taal Se Taal Mila each one drawing a standing ovation and thunderous applause.

A special treat from A. R. Rahman was the Sufi segment, where the composer-singer with fellow singers presented soulful Urdu poetry.

The concert included romantic, rock and soulful songs satisfying different tastes of the audience.

Rahman acknowledged that the audience in the U.S. were more generous and understanding because they appreciated songs in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and so on, irrespective of the language.

Unlike in India, the audience here enjoyed the music, in any language and that made his job easy, he said.

Like in classical concerts, Rah-

man, the pianist and Asad Khan, the sitarist, played a jugalbandhi.

A preview of “99 Songs,” a film written and produced by Rahman and directed by Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy, was briefly shown along with a trailer of 2.0, starring Rajnikanth and Akshay Kumar.

“99 Songs” is set to be released in Tamil and Hindi later this year.

Before the celebratory mood of A R Rahman dissolves, Rajender is preparing for the mega show “Mogul e Azam”, a potential show stopper.

Above, A. R. Rahman. Below, SHOW SPONSORS. A.R.Rahman and Pria Trehan Haider, Mehboob Haider, Kazim Kazi, Anil Damani, A. R. Rahman, Rajender Singh, Bhavana Anand, Vishal Anand, Mumtaz Alli, Torez Alli, Swapnil Agarwal, Amirali Dodhia and Satish Rao.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 3

NEWS Indian American Cancer Network highlights community outreach

Anasuya Kabad, left, IACAN board members Monalisa Chandra, Raju Nandagiri, Arlene Thomas, Vibhuti Shah, Sarvesh Bhavaraju, Kanchan Kabad, Dipika Varia, Ashma KhananiMoosa, and Jagannatha Sastry.

The Indian American Cancer ity. The emcee, Anasuya Kabad, derinsured South Asian women.

The evening continued with Network (IACAN) celebrated its eloquently set the stage for a biennial gala with the theme of beautiful evening. The program reflections from Vibhuti Shah, “Empowering Mind and Body” began with remarks from Gala a cancer survivor and currently on Saturday, September 8, 2018 Chair, Kanchan Kabad about serving as a Board Member of at the Red Oak Ballroom-City her personal connection to IA- IACAN. This was followed by Raji Sabhapathy’s narration of Centre. The gala was attended CAN’s mission.

Anasuya Kaband, Arlene her experience as a caregiver, by over 375 guests who praised the event as well organized, in- Thomas, President of IACAN, which was heartwarming.

The Keynote Address by Dr. highlighted the accomplishspiring, and fun.

The evening began with a so- ments for the past two years in Patrick Hwu, Head of the Divicial hour while guests mingled conducting community outreach sion of Cancer Medicine at MD with one another, browsed bal- programs, survivor activities, Anderson Cancer Center, was loon pop prizes, and enjoyed ap- and bone marrow registration an informative talk explaining drives. She also reported on in simple terms how immunopetizers.

After the guests were ushered IACAN’s past and forthcoming therapy, the most recent revoluinto their seats in the ballroom, collaborative health studies, and tion in cancer care is being used the program began with the aus- closed with a request to stay en- by him and others in the clinic. picious lighting of the lamp cer- gaged with IACAN and its com- He explained how a patient’s emony followed by Mani Sas- munity service activities. The own T cells, a major architect of try’s melodious invocation song audience was inspired by IA- the immune system, are trained that transformed the ambiance CAN’s work in providing mam- and used to destroy cancer cells. into one of peace and tranquil- mograms to uninsured and un- Because each patient‘s cancer is

unique, empowering his or her own cells to eliminate cancer cells is the novelty and superiority for personalized cancer care.

Kalaangan School of Odissi presented Raktabeeja Badh, an Indian classical dance drama.

The unique composition represented the daily struggle of cancer patients and their care givers, through the story of the demon Raktabeeja. The dance drew a parallel between the evil of cancer and the character of Raktabeeja, and stressed on management strategies through the portrayal of the collaboration of the two goddesses, Durga and Kali, who annihilated the demon through strategic coalition. The team of dancers that included Supradipta Datta, Madhuri Vasudevan, Diksha Rath, Trisha Chatterjee, Maumita Sadhukhan, Anushri Gupta and Krisha Rath mesmerized the audience with their presentation.

The next part of the evening showcased the honorees of the evening. Dr. Jagan Sastry, Board Member of IACAN, in-

troduced and highlighted the work of the Lifetime of Service awardees, Dr. James Allison, who pioneered the cancer immunotherapy approach, and Dr. Sewa Legha, a longtime member of the IACAN’s medical advisory board, who provides constant and unwavering support.

IACAN also recognized three bone marrow donors, Ayesha Khan, Zain Kassam, and Fouzia Mohammad. The awards were presented by Gayatri Kapoor, Advisory Board Member of IACAN, who is actively involved in the recruitment of bone marrow donors. Fouzia Mohammad spoke about her experience as a donor.

The evening’s program ended with a big laugh! Chaplain Stephen M. Findley facilitated a laughing yoga session that had the room reverberating with laughter and joy.

IACAN is grateful for the support of its volunteers, donors, and the community. For more information about IACAN, please visit www.iacannetwork.org.

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PAGE 4 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

POINT OF VIEW

Protestors against Hindu groups test limits of ‘free speech”

By SESHADRI KUMAR Any factual news coverage of the three-day World Hindu Congress held in Chicago from Sept.

7 to Sept. 9 would have highlighted the speakers at the opening session and the concluding session, summarized the discussions in parallel sessions on politics, economics, education, women, youth media, temples and the media and mention the brief protest as part of the report.

Or, a reporter could file an additional crime report, including the background of the protestors, how they illegally entered the venue, if there was any “violence” and give an accurate account of the charges filed against the accused.

But, the protesting leftist group hijacked the narrative and painted a picture of two “peaceful” protestors being “beaten up, choked, kicked, assaulted” and someone spiting on their face, suggesting that the “Hindutva” crowd was violent and even more than what the protestors had experienced in rallies against President Donald Trump.

Seated a few rows ahead from where the protestors were sitting, I was an eye witness to the incident.

Contrary to the claim of the two girls, their own videos and pictures clearly show the girls on the ground surrounded by an intimidating crowd menacingly looking at them and shouting slogans, even as other volunteers are seen pushing the crowd away from the girls lest anyone should harm them.

Someone could have touched the girls while pulling the banner away from them and pushing them to the ground. That was the extent of alleged violence by the trespassers. Of course, one person spat on them, while the police were handcuffing the girls.

Nothing happened to a man who was with these two girls and three other protestors on the other side of the hall.

The man who spat on the face of the girl was also arrested. The police obviously acted in a fair and equal manner and were not prejudiced against one group or the other.

A total of six activists members of Chicago South Asians for Justice, sneaked into the hall. That group is part of a coalition of South Asian-American organizations called the Alliance for Justice and Accountability, which coordinated several actions in addition to the disruption.

The girls would not say how they entered the venue. According to the organizers they used fake media passes to enter.

Now, let me provide excerpts from the police report 201800038923 with the Lombard Police Department, filed by Officer Michael Vasquez and corroborated by Lt. Paul Nevera.

On September 7, 2018 at 2017 hours I, Officer Michael Vazquez of the Lombard Police Department#828, 2L2, along

with Lieutenant Malatia, Officer Martino, Officer Pries, Officer Bendicsen, Officer Herrera, and Officer Stern were called by Sergeant M. Chudzinski to 70 Yorktown Shopping CTR, Westin Hotel, for a fight in progress during the World Hindu Conference.

Sergeant M. Chudzinski notified DuComm about a fight at the ballroom inside of the Westin Hotel. While Officers were responding to the fight, Sergeant M. Chudzinski requested all available units.

Upon arrival Detective Sergeant Ranallo, Detective Camuy, and Lieutenant Nevara had separated three suspects away from a crowd of over 50 individuals near the main entrance to the Westin Hotel.

I spoke with Lieutenant Nevara who related the following to me in summary and not verbatim: While working at the World Hindu Conference, he heard several people running out of the ballroom screaming “there’s a fight inside.”

Tara Raghuveer and Anar Parikh were both charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.

Vinendra Gupta was charged with two counts of battery: causes bodily harm and makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature.

According to Lt. Paul Nevara: “On 09/07/2018 at about 2017 hrs, I (Lt. Nevara #41) was working a detail at the Westin Hotel during the World Hindu Conference. I was near the lobby when several people came out of the ballroom and yelled for security and advised a fight was in progress.

I entered the ballroom and observed a large crowd had encircled two female protesters. The crowd was irate and looked to harm the two women. I worked my way through the crowd. I assisted in getting the two women to the exit. I observed one of the crowd members kick one of the women in the back. At the exit, I blocked the door and prevented anyone else from exiting.

I observed several members of the crowd had made their way to the west exit and were heading toward where the two women were. I immediately headed their direction catching up to them near the front lobby doors as they exited. Every registered guest must possess a lanyard and pass with their picture to attend the conference. I observed A (accused)/Raghveer and A/Parikh did not have one and must have entered through an unauthorized method.

Sgt. Ranallo and Sgt. M. Chudzinski were speaking with A/Raghveer and A/Parikh and advised them they were under arrest for trespassing. I assisted Sgt. Ranallo with placing A/ Raghveer into handcuffs.

As A/Raghveer was handcuffed, A/Gupta walked up with in five feet of A/Raghveer and spit in her face. Hotel Security manager Mike Rusnik and

I placed A/Gupta into custody.”

If they were kicked and choked, they should have told the police about it and had a medical examination to prove their case. But, that was not to be.

All the three accused were released shortly afterwards. It is up to the District Attorney to pursue the charges against the accused or not. At press time, we have no information on this aspect.

Sympathizers of the protesting group say that the girls were exercising their right to free speech peacefully.

That argument is incorrect.

What the two girls did was exactly the opposite of “free speech.”

In classic court rulings in the U.S. it has been held that someone shouting “fire, fire” in a cinema hall when there is no fire, cannot claim the free speech defense, but should be charged with disorderly conduct and disturbance of peace.

There was heavy security in and around the conference venue and no one could enter the venue without a valid photo identity badge issued by the organizers.

Since the hotel was a private property, there were no protests in the vicinity of the hotel either.

However, Avaaz, an online activist network, paid for an ad in the Chicago Tribune against the event ($26,000) and had a mobile advertisement van which read “Boycott World Hindu Congress” that drove around the hotel.

A Facebook posting on the AJA page, applauded the protestors.

“It truly showed the true nature of Hindutva - and this was just a sliver compared to the violence that Dalit, Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist, Ravidassia and other minorities in India experience and live under threat of #Hindutva on the daily. We salute these activists who stood bravely against #Hindutva and risked much to stand in solidarity with #DalitBahujans resisting #Hindutva and #Brahminism.

“This is the first direct action in the United States against #CasteApartheid and #hindufascism and we thank their courage to stand with #truth against power. Standing together for justice, accountability, and human rights in India and the U.S. Another posting called for a Twitter campaign. “Join us for our twitterstorm and callathon tomorrow as we hold public officials and corporate brands accountable tomorrow for trying to normalize #Hindutva onto the global stage. #StopHinduFascism “Hindu Congress taking place September 7–9 (2018) in Chicago, at which you are scheduled to present.

“While this event is framed as a faith gathering, on closer inspection this event is meant to normalize violent Hindu nationalism and bring it to the global stage. We strongly believe no

American elected official should be participating in such an event and are joining constituents in his District who are demanding Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 8th congressional district, recuse himself immediately.

“All of the remaining Democratic speakers who were connected to this event have dropped out including Tulsi Gabbard, Ash Kalra, and Jay Chaudhari.

“With their departure Raj Krishnamoorthi now only shares the platform with Republican legislators including Ohio state representative Niraj Antani and Connecticut state representative, Prasad Srinivasan, former Iowa Senate member Swati Dandekar.”

Contrary to the campaign by the leftists, speaker after speaker reinforced the Hindu core principles of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family), and ‘Nara Seva, Narayana Seva’ (serving humanity is serving divinity).

Scores of accomplished women speakers, elected officials, men and women from around the world, religious leaders with a following of millions of Hindus, businessmen, and diplomats did not represent the RSS or VHP. Yet, they are now clubbed together and labeled as Hindu extremists.

Entrepreneur and Grammy nominated artist Chandrika Tandon shared her insights at the women’s conference. A short term goal was to conduct value based workshops, seminars and symposiums for young girls.

Long term goals were an Angel Investor group for women entrepreneurs and a global Hindu Women Business directory.

Representative Ngodup Tsering, Office of Tibet, participated in an expert panel discussion of Hindu Political Conference and World Hindu Democratic Forum. He drew the attention of the panel towards the environmental exploitation and excessive damming on Tibetan rivers.

He warned that the health of Tibetan plateau can impact the whole of Asia and west as well.

Prem Kaidi from Nepal appealed for help to save Hindu culture from Christian conversions and Islamic crusades.

A representative from Sri Lanka highlighted the atrocities suffered by Tamils in Sri Lanka, though the civil war is over.

An elected South African Hindu member of the National Assembly spoke on how there is a reverse racism and called for an international Hindu organization to lend political support to minority Hindus around the world facing adverse political environment.

The political session also noted the importance of empowering the next generation of Hindu political leaders, through internship programs on running electoral campaigns.

There are more than 100 Hindu elected officials in 20 coun-

tries, outside India.

In an investigative report, “A house of Cards — Coalition Against Genocide and Politics of Deception” Abhimanyu Arjun names three primary forces aligned against Hindus. A) Radical Indian Leftists aligned with the Communist and Maoist parties and movements of India; B) Islamic Advocacy Groups who view the Hindu majority in India as a perpetual threat to Islam and Muslims; and C) Aggressive Christian Evangelicals who view India as an unconquered frontier of heathen idol worshipers.

On September 27, 2013, the Council for a Parliament of World Religions withdrew its participation from an event organized by Hindus in Chicago to commemorate Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary. This decision was heavily influenced by an incarnation of this nexus, called the Coalition Against Genocide.

CAG was the main force behind the 2005 US decision to deny a visa to Narendra Modi, the current Prime Minister of India. CAG alleged that Mr. Modi had a hand in the 2002 Godhra Riots and the “genocide” of minorities, specifically Muslims, in Gujarat. These allegations were never proven, and in 2014, Mr. Modi was cleared by none other than the Supreme Court of India; since then, he won a landslide, historic victory to become the Prime Minister of the largest democracy in the world.

Campaign to Stop Funding Hate, an initiative of Forum of Inquilab Leftists, is famous for attacks on the Indian American Charity, India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) as well as the American youth organization Hindu Students Council (HSC).

South Asian Americans Leading Together Executive Director Suman Raghunathan, said “We are concerned about the increasing connections between the US anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim movements and those same ideas being manifested with the voices involved with the World Hindu Congress.”

So many in the Indian diaspora community in the US are antiTrump and against what he does, but in the same breath, they’re pro-Modi and think that the BJP have a different set of ideals. In reality, we need to hold a mirror to ourselves and see that they [Modi and Trump] are cut from the same cloth.”

The Chicago protesters said: “The response to the ascendant and oppressive powers must include an organized global left.

The concurrent rise of white nationalism in the United States and Hindu nationalism in India are not coincidental, but rather co-conspirators in the rise of global fascism.”

This is a figment of Leftists’ imagination. Hindu right wing groups and Christian groups are not co-conspirators. They are opposed to each other on the issue of Hindu conversions.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 5

COMMUNITY Indo American Forum hosts Navaratri celebration at Stafford Centre It’s that time of the year! It’s time to rock at the Navaratri celebration.

For over 10 years Indo American Forum of Fort Bend (IAF) celebrates Navaratri Rass Garba festival in Fort Bend County.

Like before, this year the Navaratri Celebration is scheduled on eve of Saturday, September 29th at Stafford Centre, Stafford, Texas – a convenient and safe venue offering complimentary parking.

Renowned singer group from the state of Gujarat, Bhanubhai Vora & Company will perform at this event.

Over the years, Bhanubhai Vora has attained phenomenal track record in Dandiya Raas and Garba performances.

There are special prizes for Best Dressed and Best Dancing performers.

The Saturday, September 29th evening is going to be scintillating and enthralling Navaratri affair at a proven venue. Tickets are only $15 for adult and can be secured from www.sulekha.com The traditional dances of Navaratri, known as garba and dandiya raas, are performed in concentric circles with dancers dressed up in colorful clothes.

Jain Society of Houston Jain Society of Houston cel-

ebrated Paryushana Mahaparv in many colorful and spiritual events in the past week from Sept. 6 to 13 at 3905 Arc Street Houston Texas 77063.

Nearly 1200 people attended the Bhagwan Mahavir Janm Vanchan and related events under the auspices of the Jain Scholar - Pandit Dr. Tej Sahebji.

It was a day when Jains came to the temple from all around. On its last day, marked as the day of the Samvatsari, the Day of Forgiveness, many people came to do the annual Pratikraman. Jain Society of Houston invites Jain scholars all year round.

The invited Scholar JSH, Dr. Tej Sahebhji gave excellent lectures that raised the spirituality of the attendees. Tej Saheb covered all key tenets of Jainism such as: Non-violence - Ahimsa, Philanthropy with multicity in views – Anekantvad, No possessiveness - Aparigrah, Right Knowledge -- Samyak Gyan, Right Path – Samyak Darshan, Right Conduct – Samyak Charitrya. On the day of the Samvatsari his lecture focused on the need to forgive each other and make ourselves lighter in heart. The knowledge was delivered in very easy lectures that everyone liked. Tej Sahebji’s panditai or knowledge “showed” as the audience grew larger every day. His lectures continued till Sept, 14, the day of parnas of Tapasvies fasting during the Paryushana. Please come to the Jain Center during the upcoming Das Lakshana events and raise your spirituality during the events planned.

Small, decorated sticks called dandiyas are used in the dandiya raas.

The most flamboyant and renowned Navaratri celebrations can be seen in western India, throughout the state of Gujarat, Rajasthan and in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Different parts of India celebrate Navaratri in different

styles; the thing common is its grandeur and auspiciousness.

The Indo American Forum of Fort Bend (IAF) focuses its efforts on supporting the underprivileged, underserved and needy by contributing to the charitable organizations in the local area providing assistance through education, shelter, food, healthcare and familial

and substance abuse.

As a representative of the Indo American community, over the years IAF has supported many charities and engaged in direct support for needy causes.

During the course of year Indo American Forum (IAF) raises funds thru celebration like Navaratri and other to

make a difference in society.

Sponsorship opportunities are available starting at $1,000.

Also, as an individual you may choose to sponsor an Aarati for $101 that offer four free tickets.

Please contact IAF Navaratri Event Chair Shefali Jhaveri at 832-455-8624 or email shefujhaveri@gmail.com for further information.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 6

COMMUNITY

Carnatic ‘Rock Star’ comes to town

By RADHIKA HARIHARAN The Classical Arts Society of Houston presented the much anticipated Carnatic vocalist Sri TM Krishna and his troupe at The Match, on Sept. 8, as its annual Fall Recital.

If there was any doubt to Sri Krishna’s stardom, one had only to look at the adoring eyes of the youngsters on stage and the impressive audience turnout, despite being a day filled with vying local events.

The concert was in part, a tribute to noted vocalist Sri Ramnad Krishnan, whose birth centenary is being celebrated worldwide this year. Sri Ramnad Krishnan passed away in 1973.

The event began with speeches, first a personal fond homage by seasoned local musician Smt. Anuradha Subramanian who had part of her musical training under the great singer.

She was then followed by TM Krishna who while praising the giant’s inimical style, urged a more dispassionate look at the experiences of the gifted singer who was never truly embraced by the public during his life-

time.

TM Krishna began his concert with the beautiful composition ‘O Rangasayee’ in Raga Kambhodhi by Sri Tyagaraja.

Known for his unorthodox style and presentation, the song started the concert with a slow tempo that built up gradually to showcase the majesty of his voice and sensitivity of his rendering.

The second song in Tamil, ‘Jaadhi mada bedhangal Mooda vazhakkangal’- a nod to the singer’s passion for a casteless society- was in Raga Kaanada and written by Bharathidasan.

While the singing was rendered with touching nuance and melody, a lot of the latter lyrics could not be heard clearly and the message left incomplete.

The rest of the concert continued with an expansive RTP (Ragam, tanam, pallavi). The Behag Raga Tanam was laced with several nuances reminiscent of Sri Ramnad Krishnan and delivered with impeccable technique.

The viruttam ‘Kala beda kola beda’ in Ragamalika -Todi, Sahana, Begada and SriRanjani

R.K. Shriram, left, on the violin, T.M. Krishna and Arun Prakash, on the mridangam.

Rear, Abhishek Balakrishnan and Vikram Raghavan, on tampura.

—Photo by S. BALAKRISHNAN. -again evoked the phrasings of Sri Ramnad Krishnan.

This was followed by a brisk and delightful ‘Bhuvini Dhasudane’ by Sri Tyagaraja.

The rare Raga Ramakali was

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beautifully handled next in a song by Dikshitar followed by a very touching ‘ChinnanchiruKiliye Kannanmma’ rendered in Sri Krishna’s inimitable style.

Just when it felt like the audience was beginning to settle in, it was already time for the last few short pieces and the concert ended with an audience request, a Jaavali, ‘Jaanaro’ in Khamas Raga followed by Dikshitar’s notuswara kirithi, ‘Santhatham Pahimam’ as mangalam.

Accompanying artists Shri R K Shriram on the violin and Arun Prakash on the mridungam, both musical stalwarts in their own right, were superb in consolidating the mood and effect of the evening’s performance and even at times helping to pull the pieces together.

It was fun to see the artists obviously enjoying themselves while challenging each other.

The long pauses in Sri Krishna’s alapanas gave ample opportunity for instrumental expression.

Intermittently, Sri Krishna’s disciple on the tampura was also asked to accompany his vocals and though couldn’t be heard was obviously honored to be there. Abhishek Balakrishnan and Vikram Raghavan were on tampura.

The evening ended almost as quickly as it began leaving the audience wanting so much more.

In attendance at the concert were invited guests Mrs. Nancy Allen of Asia Society Texas Center and Dr. Bradley Bailey, Curator of Asian Arts at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Also present were area dance and music teachers Pandit Suman Ghosh, Pandit Shantilal Shah, Smt Rajarajeshwary Bhatt, Smt Rathna Kumar and Smt Padmini Chari among others.

This concert marked Sri TM Krishna’s first stop on his current USA tour marked by controversy over his personal opinions and philosophical differences in the Carnatic music arena.

While promoting awareness and interest in Carnatic music to other communities, he has been a blistering critic of the brahmin community’s cultural influence on the genre. Ironically, his main audience is the very community he disparages.

TMK’s opinions and social commentary notwithstanding, his music remains pure and exquisite, transcending all manner of differences. Houston was, indeed privileged to have hosted him.

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

COMMUNITY

Southwestern National Bank averts merger; hires new CEO

The Board of Directors of Southwestern National Bank, a bank subsidiary of SWNB Bancorp, Inc., last week announced the appointment of George Lee as Chief Executive OďŹƒcer and Mohammed Younus as President.

Lee also will serve as the President and CEO of the Bank’s holding company. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are pleased to have Mr. Lee as the new CEO of Southwestern National Bank,�

Chairman C.K. Lee said. “He brings an array of skills and experience that will be a vital asset to the overall growth and success of our bank. We look forward to seeing him play a major role not only in the bank, but in the community as well.�

Prior to his vast business executive experience at mainstream U.S. companies, Lee served as the Chief Executive OďŹƒcer and President of MetroCorp Bancshares Inc. since July 26, 2004 and has been its Co-chairman since February 2013. He served as a Senior Advisor of East West Bancorp, Inc. since January 2014.

Lee holds a Bachelors of Science in Econometrics from the University of Wisconsin and MBA in Finance from University of Minnesota. “I have always respected and admired SWNB over the years as a fellow banker...stable and well operated under its board and management team...I was honored when I was invited to join the team,� said Lee. “Given the fact that I have been very familiar with the community and the common base of clients I could sense that the opportunity for growth for SWNB is immense. “As Metro Bank was about 4 times the size of SWNB in terms of assets, we believe that with the solid organization base already in place, with some tweaking and additions our upside opportunity is optimistic.�

Lee added, “In addition to that, during the past four years my understanding and network with the main stream market has also expanded. Over time, we will develop strategies to take advantage of some segments of the market. In short, without elaborating anymore, I am excited.�

Chairman Lee further said, “Today, we are also pleased to announce that Mr. Younus has been appointed the President of Southwestern National Bank. “Mr. Younus has been a valuable asset to Southwestern National Bank. He will take on the added role of leading the Bank and work closely with Mr. Lee to make SWNB one of the best banks in Texas.�

Younus has been in banking for 32 years of which about 25 years in the U.S. Prior to joining the SWNB team, he was with two other Asian banks.

He has held positions of Chief Lending oďŹƒcer, Vice Chairman of the board, CEO and Regional President. Younus came to US at the age of 17 and earned his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas.

In addition he used to hold positions with non-proďŹ t organizations serving the Asian communities.

He was the Chair of DFW Asian American Chamber of Commerce 2008. He was also elected as President of Pakistan Society of North Texas in 2007.

He is married and has two children and a beautiful granddaughter.

Failed Merger Chairman C.K. Lee said, “As you are aware, on May 18, 2018, SWNB entered into a business combination transaction with Hanmi Financial Corporation which contemplated SWNB merging with and into Hanmi if certain conditions set forth in the Agreement and Plan of Merger were met. “One of those conditions is the approval of the Transaction Agreement by SWNB stockholders. Because the proposal failed to receive the requisite aďŹƒrmative votes for approval, the proposal was not approved. “As a result, the Merger with Hanmi will not take place, SWNB and its whollyowned subsidiary, Southwestern National Bank, will remain independent and each of you will remain as stockholders of SWNB.â€?

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Southwestern National Bank, a bank subsidiary of

George Lee, left, CEO, C.K. Lee, chairman, Mohammed Younus, President, Sam Hoang, director, Hasu Patel, director and Betsy Reese, Sr. Vice president and CFO. SWNB Bancorp, Inc. has been serving the Asian communities in Houston, Sugar Land, Austin, Plano, Richardson and Southern California since 1997. Bank employees are uent in many languages includ

ing Chinese, Taiwanese and Cantonese as well as English.

The Bank strives to stay in touch with the local Asian community by participating in charity events and events that celebrate the cultural heritage

of the area.

Southwestern National Bank also provides monthly seminars to the community, free of charge, on a variety of valuable information.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 9

COMMENTARY Meenakshi Temple Society hosts banquet, “Vivaah”

Above, gala guests enjoy a traditional feast Left, Congressman Pete Olson, MTS Chair Padmini Ranganathan, Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, Treasurer Kamala Raghavan and Secretary Ramchandra Reddy.

By VIJAY NATHAN On Saturday, Sept. 8, the Meenakshi Temple Kalyana Mandapam was transformed into a grand venue, richly decorated in red and gold. A fabulous stage with extended runway centered the room and guests were able to take pictures with an elaborative, decorative backdrop.

To emphasize the theme of “wedding,” an array of gifts graced the entryway, included authentic South Indian sweets and savories.

The complete decor to give an ambience of a grand wedding hall was creatively designed by Nalini Kannan.

Along with this, was a long line of numerous donated silent auction items of saris, framed art, silver pots, jewelry, and a full set of dolls.

Guests dressed in grand festive wear were received with traditional kumkum, chandan, and jasmine flowers with an opportunity to decorate their hands with artistic mehendi, while being treated to unique snacks.

The main focus of the night was to introduce a new initiative by the MTS Board to welcome youth donors with a handmade Kalpakavriksham [Wishing] Tree. Donors were able to hang their names on the gold tree and will be honored with their names on MTS Youth Wall upon the completion of the Kalyana Mandapam Renovation.

Guest of honor Congressman Pete Olson presented a Congressional proclamation and spoke on the importance of instilling family values and community in our youth.

Pearland Mayor Tom Reid presented a certificate in celebration of the event and endorsed the need to renovate the Kalyana Mandapam to continue to be a center of family, community, and religious gatherings in Pearland.

Consul Amit Khanna represented the Indian Consulate on Houston and spoke of the authenticity and warm feeling of visiting Meenakshi Temple.

The guests also presented 2018 MTS Scholarships.

The MTS Scholarship recipients included:

See Page 10

PAGE 10 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

NEWS Vivah From Page 9 Keshav Srivaths, Shreya Thipireddy, Layaa Raja Amrithalingam, Varsha Vasu, Divya Ramamurthy, Tejna Dasari, Adith V. Ram, Advait Prakash, Sathwik Iyer, Tejas Medapalli, Vishaal Vidyaprakash, Supritha Venkatesh.

During the evening, guests were entertained to Sangeeth, a melodious vocal & instrumental ensemble by youth co-ordinated by Mahalakshmi Krishnan of Sreekruthi School of Music. A lighthearted comedy skit entitled “Love is Forever” by local talent scripted

by Dr Vaduganathan was enjoyed by all and took us back in time. The grand finale was “Mangalayam Thadhunanena,” a showcase of traditional wedding outfits from each region of India, co-ordinated & narrated by Vidvatha Sridhar.

The evening culminated in a multi-course, wedding-style grand feast catered by Madras Pavilion served on banana leaves by temple staff & smiling volunteers. Guests left the event with favor bags for ladies and beeda pan handmade by volunteers.

Vivaah was an event to remember, honoring the historic legacy of our Temple by recognizing its historic past, invigorating our active youth in the present, and looking ahead to the future we will build together.

Showcase of traditional wedding outfits from each region of India, coordinated & narrated by Vidvatha Sridhar.

Students of Mahalakshmi Krishnan’s Sreekruthi School of Music presented a music recital.

Hari Venkatachalam Hindu Students Association, Board of Directors

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

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

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

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INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ PAGE 11

NEWS Changing immigration policies and its impact on survivors of abuse On a Thursday evening, September 13, 2018 Daya held an event focusing on immigration policies and domestic violence at India House.

Beyond the Headlines, Examining Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Immigration Landscape brought to attention that domestic violence survivors from immigrant communities face intersectional trauma from their abuser and the immigration system.

Dayaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive director, Rachna Khare welcomed the attendees by providing the background on the impact domestic violence has on the individual and society. She reiterated that domestic violence is not a private matter but a public health issue.

Irfana Hussain, Director of Outreach at Daya provided a quick introduction to immigration abuse, showing how abusers manipulate immigration policies to keep their victims from seeking help.

Jessica Howton, a managing attorney from Tahirih Justice Center, gave an informative understanding of the limitations and remedies available for survivors of domestic violence such as the Violence Against Women Act. The most powerful segment of the evening was the survivor story.

A former Daya client told her story of abuse and courage to ďŹ ght back and reclaim her life for herself and her children.

The client knew she could not go back to her home country after her husband went back as she feared for her life. He had threatened to kill her. She worked with Daya and Tahirih Justice Center to seek asylum.

The client emphasized the lengthy process for seeking asylum and later in obtaining permanent residency for herself and her children.

Due to recent travel bans and changes in immigration policies, she could not travel outside of the United States to visit her sick mother because she was afraid she would not be able to return. Her incredible, emotional story brought the audience to tears and a standing ovation for her courage to speak out.

The event concluded on a positive note by highlighting the work diďŹ&#x20AC;erent organizations and coalitions are doing to address the systemic barriers and driving the community to take action.

The take action panel of speakers provided speciďŹ c ways individuals can make positive change through civic and political engagement.

Nabila Mansoor, former Executive Director of Emgage, spoke passionately about the upcoming 2020 Census and the importance of it for Asian Americans and all immigrants

to participate.

Accurate counting will beneďŹ t minority communities and help them wield political power. Debbie Chen, an immigrant attorney and activist with OCA Greater Houston, provided statistics to show that Asian Americans tend to have low political and civic engagement despite the growing population.

She encouraged all to vote, help others to register to vote, and change the culture.

Andrea Guttin, Legal Director of Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, focused on collaboration and how individuals can support immigrants by volunteering with and giving to organizations working for social change.

The event also featured a voter registration table organized

by Hindu American Foundation. Attendees left with a program that featured resources on how to take action to help support their communities and survivors of abuse.

Now in its twenty-ďŹ rst year, Daya empowers south Asian survivors who are trying to break the cycle of domestic and sexual violence and reclaim their lives. Daya empowers survivors by oďŹ&#x20AC;ering counseling and advocacy, promoting community awareness and by advocating at the policy level.

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PAGE 12 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY,SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

NEWS

Bhagwan Shantinath Lectureship established at California State University of Fullerton

The Jain community in Southern California reached another milestone – Three families donated to start Bhagwan Shantinath Lectureship at California State University of Fullerton (CSUF).

Signing ceremony took place on Sunday, August 26, 2018 at Jain Center of Southern California.

Drs. Meera and Jasvant Modi, Mrs. Rita and Dr. Narendra Parson and Mrs. Usha and Mr. Mahesh Wadher committed $ 30,000 per year for Five years for the Lectureship.

Dr Nitin Shah, emcee, welcomed all and asked Dr. Meera Modi, Ramila Shah, Kinna Gandhi, Geeta Khona and Bina Shah to recite the traditional prayer ‘Namokar Mantra’ for the auspicious occasion.

Shah then explained the significance of the ‘Mantra’. “It is the most significant prayer in Jain Religion. This is the first prayer recited by the Jains while meditating.

While reciting this mantra, the devotee bows with respect to the Panch Parameshti or the Supreme Five.

This mantra simply serves as a gesture of deep respect towards beings whom they believe are spiritually evolved, as well as to remind the people of their ultimate goal which is liberation of the soul from cycle of birth and death.

He then went on to explain the purpose of Lamp Lighting.

In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit before the altar of the Lord, furthermore, most auspicious functions commence with the lighting of the lamp.

Light symbolizes knowledge and darkness – ignorance!

Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness.

Shah gave example of many religions about how do they utilize lamp lighting including Islam, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Christians.

This was followed by Flameless lamp lighting employing battery-operated lamps by CSUF officials Dean Sheryl Fontaine, Associate Dean and Professor of Religious Studies,

Dr. Paul Levesque and Senior Director of Development Ms. Alina Mircea-Trotz along with donors Drs. Meera and Jasvant Modi, Dr. Narendra Parson and his grandsons Rohan, 10 years and Deven, 7 years old!

Lamp lighting was followed by speeches. The first one invited to speak was Dr. Sulekh Jain – Grand Father of Jain Academic Education in North America as per Dr. Nitin Shah.

He had flown in from Las Vegas just for this ceremony. He said “what is Samovasaran – enlightened soul gives sermons from it to all not only human beings but also to animals and birds and Jains need to open such Samovasarans in many universities. We want to give Jain vision glasses like other religions for students to look through.”

Dr. Jasvant Modi said “This is his dream come true. We want to develop such educational opportunities into as many universities as possible and he was inspired by his nephew Bhavin who asked him to look into CSUF as it is so close from Jain Center and he emailed Alina to explore and that brought us here today. This is our 7th Tirthankar naming in an academic institution.”

Dr. Parson said that “He was inspired by Dr. Jasvant Modi who has been relentless and front runner to create such opportunities in as many places as possible and also Nitin’s nagging contributed to my involvement. Jains see world with open eyes.”

Dean Fontaine said, “We are very grateful for what you are offering and this will change students’ lives. You will be working with one of the largest Universities in the State of California and probably the country. CSUF was started 60 years ago and will go a long way in helping students learn values that Jain Religion offers.”

Professor Levesque said, “He is glad that this lectureship will add a very important religion in the department for students to learn.

He gave an outline that

Dean Sheryl Fontaine, Associate Dean and Professor of Religious Studies, Dr. Paul Levesque and Senior Director of Development Ms. Alina Mircea-Trotz along with donors Jasvant Modi, Dr. Narendra Parson and his grandsons Rohan, 10 years and Deven, 7 years old, light the flameless lamp.

Drs. Meera and Jasvant Modi, Dr. Narendra Parson with Dean Sheryl Fontaine, Associate Dean Dr. Paul Levesque

CSUF will hire a Lecturer who will teach a class of under graduates Jain Studies for one semester and organize a symposium related to Jain Principles in second semester. Students will be given scholarship also from the funds to study Jain Religion locally as well as abroad!”

Mahesh and Usha Wadher could not be present; however,

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Donors and CSUF officials signed the agreement and Drs. Meera and Jasvant Modi and Dr. Parson delivered checks to Dean Fontaine. Around 70 members of the community were present to witness another historic moment. The signing ceremony ended with young Rohan and Deven Parsons reciting the Namokar Mantra.

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Dr. Nitin Shah read their comments. Mahesh said, “The world needs to understand the Jain way of life and Jain principles. Today’s global society has become more complex and the world around us has become extremely volatile.

There are many barriers such as political, religious, race, gender that keeps the world divided. At a time like this it is very important for us to come together and focus on the core values of humility, respect,

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 13

COMMUNITY India House /SOS Continues the Life After Seminar Series: Demystifying Probate, Wills, Trusts & Other Planning Instruments HOUSTON India House and Share Our Secrets Organization (SOS. ORG), plan to conduct a free seminar on one of the most vexing issues faced by the retired and elderly.

The Seminar is scheduled to be held on Sunday, October 7, 2018 from 3 – 5.30 PM at the India House, 8888 Belfort Avenue, Houston, TX. During the two seminars conducted in 4th Quarter 2017 and 3rd Quarter 2018, on the topic of “Loss of a Spouse”, the attendees identified several topics of foremost concern and interest to our senior community.

As a result of the feedback, SOS and India House are pleased to offer the next educational seminar on the broad topic of Estate Planning including some specific issues raised by our seniors.

Two attorneys well versed in this area will present and participate in a panel discussion along with Mr. Biki Mohindra, who will cover legacy aspects relating to properties owned outside USA, particularly in India.

Experts will discuss importance of probate, how the process works, how to streamline this process by having clear and purpose-oriented wills, and other related documents. Inheritance and beneficiary aspects of probate and non-probate assets will be discussed with

the background of community property state such as Texas.

Common types of wills and trusts will be briefly covered.

The talks will also cover the need for Power of Attorney and Medical Directives to minimize family crisis when the need arises.

As in our past seminars, the event will conclude with a panel discussion allowing the attendees to raise questions.

Organizers encourage both spouses to attend the seminar and come prepared to gain maximum benefit from the seminar.

The overall objective of SOS is to provide the attendees with a basic understanding of the benefits of estate planning, and the consequences to the family by a failure to plan, as well as a general idea of how Wills, Trusts, and related planning instruments work during life, disability, and beyond.

The information presented is for educational and informational purposes only.

The information presented should enable the individuals to review their respective situation with their family and develop the most suitable set of documents with the aid of a professional or other resources that may be available.

Share Our Secrets (SOS) is an educational organization, which conducts gamut of programs for educated young people and teach them skills that

are not taught in college cur- information, please contact one houseinc.og 713- 929-1900 To Register: https://www. riculums, and enabling them to of the following— SOS: sosoutreachteam@gmail.com indiahouseinc.org/life-aftersucceed in their careers.

India House: vipin@india- session-3/ SOS also conducts various community outreach events, on topics of interest to HoustoINDIA HOUSE CHARITY MEDICAL CLINIC nians, and speSaturday | 9:00 am - 12:30 pm By appointments only cifically for seFREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS niors that could Twice a month. Starting Tuesday, September 25, 2018 benefit them 9:00 am - 12:00 pm in their retired FREE YOGA CLASSES lives.

Tuesday & Thursday | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Saturday | 10:00 am - 11:00 am India House is a community FREE MEDITATION CLASSES center which Saturday | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm provides a FREE HINDI LANGUAGE CLASSES myriad of serSaturday | 10:00 am to 11:00 am vices & activiFREE VEDANTA STUDY GROUP ties, either free Saturday | 11:15 am - 12:15 pm or at a highly FREE SANSKRIT LANGUAGE CLASSES discounted Saturday | 9:00 am - 10:00 am price, includFREE TECHNOLOGY CLASSES FOR SENIORS ing Charity Sunday | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Registration Required Clinic, Sareen FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION By appointments only Clinic, Yoga, Family Law | Tuesday 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Meditation, Immigration | 1st & 3rd Wednesday 12:30 pm - 2:00pm After School, FREE LINE DANCE CLASSES Te c h n o l o g y Friday | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Classes for SeTABLE TENNIS GROUP niors, Vedanta Every Friday | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (Starting October 12th) Study, Hindi Language, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM Monday to Friday 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm EVENT HALL Sanskrit Language, Legal RENTALS CRICKET- TAPED BALL Saturday & Sunday Full Day Consultations, Banquet Halls Dance Classes, Conference Rooms SAREEN HARRIS HEALTH CLINIC Cricket and inMonday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Class Rooms Saturday 9:00 am - 11:00 am formative/ educational semiFor more information and appointments contact: 713-929-1900 | Vipin@indiahouseinc.org | www.indiahouseinc.org nars.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 14

Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple of Houston, INC 5645 Hillcroft Ave,Suit # 701,Houston Tx 77036 A Hearty Invitation to all the Devotees of Gauri siddhivinayak Mandir of Houston For The Maha Siddhivinayak Utsav Starting Wednesday, Sept. 12th

to Saturday, Sept. 22nd, 2018.

Every day Maha Pooja for Bhadra Maas.

Maha Pooja Starts 5:30 PM Maha Aarti at 7:30 PM Prasad Will be Served After Aarti At Gauri Siddhivinayak Mandir of Houston,Inc. Devotees willing to participate in Maha Pooja may contact Pandit Pradip Pandya 832-466-9868.

Please visit SiddhivinayakHouston.com Or visit us at www.facebook.com/GauriSiddhiVinayakTemple/ E-mail:- siddhivinayakhouston@gmail.com, www.siddhivinayakhouston.0rg The Gauri Siddhivinayak Mandir of Houston is a Non-Profit 501(C) organization; All Donations are tax deductible.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 15

SANATAN SHIV SHAKTI MANDIR of HOUSTON

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Ganesh Utsav 2018

Ganesh Sthapna: Wednesday, September 12th, 2018 - 5:00 PM ĂŝůLJ 'ĂŶĞƐŚ WŽŽũĂ͗ ϱ͗ϬϬ WD ƚŽ ϲ͗ϬϬ WD ͮ ĂŝůLJ ĂƌƟ &ŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ WƌĂƐĂĚ͗ ϳ͗ϬϬ WD ZĂĂƐ 'ĂƌďĂ͗ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ϭϰ͕ ϮϬϭϴ Θ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ͕ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ϭϱ͕ ϮϬϭϴ Ͳ ϴ͗ϯϬ WD ƚŽ ϭϭ͗ϬϬ WD

Ganesh Visarjan: Saturday, September 22nd, 2018: WƌŽĐĞƐƐŝŽŶ Ͳ ĂŶĐŝŶŐ ŽŶ ,ĂƌǁŝŶ ĂŶĚ ,ŝůůĐƌŽŌ ͗ ϱ͗ϬϬ WD ƵůƚƵƌĂů WƌŽŐƌĂŵ ďLJ <ĂůĂŬƌŝƟ ͗ ϲ͗ϬϬ WD ͮ DĂŚĂ ĂƌƟ ͗ ϳ͗ϬϬ WD ͮ DĂŚĂ WƌĂƐĂĚ͗ ϳ͗ϯϬ WD (Snacks and Drinks Provided)

Special Thanks to our Sponsors SHRI SITA RAM FOUNDATION USA Ɖ

Bhakta Samaj

Patel Samaj SHIV SAGAR Vegetarian Restaurant

^ĂŶĂƚĂŶ ^Śŝǀ ^ŚĂŬƚŝ DĂŶĚŝƌ ŽĨ ,ŽƵƐƚŽŶ Ͳ ϲϲϰϬ ,ĂƌǁŝŶ ƌ͕ ,ŽƵƐƚŽŶ͕ dy ϳϳϬϯϲ For Daily Prasad & Pooja Sponsorship, please call the temple @ 713-278-9099 or call Hardik Raval @ 361-243-6539

PAGE 16 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

NEWS

U.S. has highest share of foreign-born since 1910; More coming from Asia WASHINGTON — The foreign-born population in the United States has reached its highest share since 1910, according to government data released Thursday, and the new arrivals are more likely to come from Asia and to have college degrees than those who arrived in past decades.

The Census Bureau’s figures for 2017 confirm a major shift in who is coming to the United States. For years newcomers tended to be from Latin America, but a Brookings Institution analysis of that data shows that 41 percent of the people who said they arrived since 2010 came from Asia. Just 39 percent were from Latin America.

About 45 percent were college educated, the analysis found, compared with about 30 percent of those who came between 2000 and 2009.

“This is quite different from what we had thought,” said William H. Frey, the senior demographer at the Brookings Institution who conducted the analysis. “We think of immigrants as being low-skilled workers from Latin America, but for recent arrivals that’s much less the case. People from Asia have overtaken people from Latin America.”

The new data was released as the nation’s changing demography has become a flash point in American politics. President Trump, and many Republicans, have sounded alarms about immigration and suggested the government needs to restrict both the number and types of people coming into the country.

The foreign-born population stood at 13.7 percent in 2017, or 44.5 million people, according to the data, compared with 13.5 percent in 2016.

The last historic peak in immigration to the United States came at the end of the 19th century, when large numbers of Europeans fled poverty and violence in their home countries. Some of the largest numbers came from Germany, Italy and Poland. That wave peaked around the turn of the century, when the total foreign-born population stood at nearly 15 percent. But after the passage of strict racial quotas in the 1920s, the foreign-born population fell sharply for decades in the middle of the 20th century. By 1970, the population was below 5 percent.

The passage of a more liberal immigration law in 1965, which ended ethnic quotas and prioritized family reunification,

ushered in new demographics.

And the changes have only accelerated in recent years.

For many years, Mexico was the single largest contributor of immigrants. But since 2010, the number of immigrants arriving from Mexico has declined, while those from China and India have surged. Since 2010, the increase in the number of people from Asia — 2.6 million — was more than double the 1.2 million who came from Latin America, Mr. Frey found.

Some of the largest gains were in states with the smallest immigrant populations, suggesting that immigrants were spreading out in the country. New York and California, states with large immigrant populations, both had increases of less than six percent since 2010. But foreign-born populations rose by 20 percent in Tennessee, 13 percent in Ohio, 12 percent in South Carolina and 20 percent in Kentucky over the same period.

Emmanuel D’Souza, a nurse practitioner in Dayton, Ohio, who emigrated from India in 2004, said he has noticed a growing and thriving Indian population in his area.

“Now when you go to the grocery store at 5 or 6 in the evening, you see a lot of Indian people, buying vegetables after work,” said Mr. D’Souza.

He said he saw fewer Indian people when he bought his house in 2009 than he does today. Now he counted at least four temples and two mosques, and said there are two Indian specialty grocery stores. Mr. D’Souza, 41, who is Catholic, also sees Indians in church on Sundays.

The data also suggests a political pattern among states with large percentages of foreign-born residents. Of the 15 states with the highest concentration of immigrants, all but three — Florida, Texas and Arizona — voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race. Many of the states with low and moderate concentrations of foreign-born people voted for Mr. Trump, Mr. Frey found.

In those low-concentration states, foreign-born populations tended to be more educated than the native-born. In Ohio, for example, 43 percent of the foreign-born population is college educated, compared with just 27 percent of American-born Ohioans. About 43 percent of the foreign-born population is from Asia, far

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more than the 20 percent from Latin America.

The same can be true in states with large immigrant populations. About 15 percent of the population of Maryland last year was foreign-born. Of those people, 42 percent had college degrees, compared with 39 percent of Americanborn Marylanders.

Chao Wu, a data scientist in Columbia, Maryland, who came from China in 2003, said he had long known about Asian graduate students in the United States, because he had been one. But it wasn’t until he started running for a seat on his county’s board of education that he noticed the richness and variation in the population.

“I increased my outreach and I realized there was a big Asian-American business community, with restaurants and grocery stores,” he said.

He said he recently helped or-

ganize a ceremony in his town with a sister city in China. A portion of Route 40 was renamed Korean Way. But the rising levels of education are not lifting everyone.

Asian-Americans are now the most economically divided racial or ethnic group in the country, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. Income inequality among AsianAmericans nearly doubled from 1970 to 2016.

While people from Asia make up the largest share of recent newcomers, a majority of the country’s total foreignborn population is still from Latin America — 50 percent, compared to 31 percent from Asia.

North Dakota had the single largest percentage increase in foreign-born residents since 2010, Mr. Frey said, with the number going up by 87 percent. Dr. Fadel E. Nammour, a gastroenterologist in Fargo,

N.D., who moved to the United States from Lebanon in 1996, said he has noticed more immigrant-owned restaurants since he moved to North Dakota in 2002. In recent years, the state has settled refugees from countries including Iraq, Somalia and Congo. In all, foreign-born people in North Dakota rose to 31,000 in 2017 from just 16,600 in 2010, Mr. Frey found.

“There is more diversity now,” Dr. Nammour said.

“You can tell by food. There are Indian places that opened up. We have an African place now. Little things that are a little bit different.”

A version of this article appears in print on Sept. 12, 2018, on Page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: Growing Share Of U.S. Is Born On Foreign Soil.

Visit www. India-herald.com. email: editor@india-herald.com

Call Ashok Vasan at 281-265-7745, Jay Malhotra at 713-962-5555 or Leela Krishnamurthy at 281-494-9768

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 17

NEWS Pentagon diverts military aid to Pakistan The United States Military has announced plans to reallocate $300 million in assistance to Pakistan, adding to the earlier suspension of US funding for security assistance in January. The reasoning behind the reallocation of the $300 million is Islamabad’s lack of “decisive actions,” according to the Pentagon.

For the past several years the United States has accused Pakistan of harboring terrorism and creating safe havens for some terrorist groups. From these safe havens, the Pentagon argues, terrorist groups are able to launch operations from the Pakistan-Afghan border and into Afghanistan. The Pentagon hopes that this final push to halt funding to Pakistan will be cause for more cooperation on

Pakistan’s part, and end supposed safe havens areas.

Americans have long been wary of the aid given to Pakistan because of their past connections with the Taliban and the Haqqani Network, the group responsible for September 11, 2001. This lack of trust and little to no discernible outcomes resulted in the Obama Administration ending $800 million in aid to Pakistan in 2011 and another $350 million in 2016.

“The Pentagon had submitted the [reprogramming] request to Congress in June or July and is currently waiting for an answer,” according to Lieutenant Colonel Kone Faulkner, the Defense Press Officer for the Secretary of Defense.

Missionaries of Jesus booked for releasing photo of survivor in support of bishop Kerala police Friday registered a complaint against the Mission-

aries of Jesus hours after the congregation released a photograph of the nun, who has accused a bishop of the religious order of rape, seated with her alleged tormentor in violation of the anti-rape law.

The picture shows the victim participating in a function along with the bishop, which the congregation claimed was intended as proof to shoot down the allegation of rape.

The inquiry report states that the complainant and the bishop had participated in several functions together even during the period between 2014 and 2016, when she was allegedly raped by the latter multiple times. The report concludes that had the allegation been true, the complainant would not have chosen to attend a function with her alleged perpetrator on her own volition.

The picture was released with the statement that MJ Congregation was not responsible if it was published in a way that revealed the face and identity of the survivor.

However, High Court lawyer Rajesh R. Pillai said this was a punishable offence according to Section 228A of the IPC. A case was registered by the Kuravilangadu police station in Kottayam district on the complaint filed by the alleged victim’s brother, officials said. The convent is located within the Kuravilangadu police station limits.

The nun’s brother approached Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash, who heads the special investigation team, with the complaint, they said.

Meanwhile, Kerala Police, under tremendous pressure to arrest Bishop Mulakkaal, has been given a breather by the Kerala High Court on Thursday. The court expressed its prima facie satisfaction over the ongoing investigation.

A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy noted this when two Public Interest Litigations (PIL), one demanding arrest of the bishop and another for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe came up for hearing.

Meanwhile, Bishop Franco Mulakkal, head of the Jalandhar diocese of the Catholic Church, approached the Kerala High Court on Tuesday seeking anticipatory bail in the case in which he is accused of raping a nun.

In her complaint filed before the Kuravilangad police station in Kottayam, Kerala, the nun had alleged that she has been raped and sexually exploited 14-times by the bishop since May 2014. The police have issued a notice to the bishop asking him to appear for interrogation on September 19.

According to the bishop’s petition, the allegations levelled by the nun were “wholly concocted and cooked up only to wreak vengeance for the action taken against the nun on the basis of various complaints against her. She was removed from the post of Mother Superior and Kerala in charge on a complaint from her cousin and another nun. Therefore, she was inimical towards him as she was under the firm belief that he was the one who had taken action against her.”

The bishop said he was falsely implicated in the case. The complaint of the nun was “nothing but a fictional story” and “ part of a vicious programme to bring down the Applicant who is holding a very high post in the congregation”. The bishop’s petition said the nun, in her first statement given to the police, did not have a case that there was forceful sexual intercourse. Her conspicuous silence of more than four years on the incident was yet another indicator of the false nature of the allegation.

Week after Delhi 2+2 Dialogue, Ajit Doval meets top officials in US India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday held “broad-based” talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and US National Security Advisor John Bolton during which they discussed the “future direction” of the strategic Indo-US ties.

Mr Doval’s meeting with the top three officials of the Trump administration came a week after the “highly successful” India-US 2+2 Dialogue between the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries.

Mr Doval had met Mike Pompeo and James Mattis last week in New Delhi too, but this was his first meeting with his counterpart John Bolton, the new National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump.

“During the three back-toback meetings, Mr Doval had a good chance to review the entire bilateral relationship after the 2+2 talks. They build upon the discussion in New Delhi last week,” informed sources told news agency PTI. India’s ambassador to the United States, Navtej Singh Sarna, accompanied Mr Doval in these meetings.

Describing it “as a very broad-based discussion”, the sources said that Mr Doval and the three top Trump administration officials talked about the “future direction” of the

strategic relationship and identified areas of co-operation.

Regional issues and global developments too figured in the talks, they said, without going into specifics.

The US Ambassador to India, Ken Juster in a tweet said that last week’s 2+2 dialogue “set the course for even closer ties” between the two countries. He also said that the India-US partnership are on an upward trajectory.

“We’ve seen positive momentum regarding the US-India relationship these past few weeks with 2+2 dialogue and the progress continues with (Ajit) Doval’s visit to the US,” said the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF).

India and the US signed the landmark Communications, Compatibility, Security Agreement (COMCASA) after the 2+2 talks External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had with their counterparts Mike Pompeo and James Mattis on September 6.

The COMCASA will allow India to receive high-end military communications equipment from the US and will also help get real-time encrypted information from the US. During the the 2+2 talks, India and the US also expressed commitment to work together and in concert with other part-

ners toward advancing a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

Early this week, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells told a Washington audience that the 2+2 significance was that it reaffirmed the strength of the India-US relationship.

“It reaffirmed the alignment of our interests and our values in promoting an open and free Indo-Pacific. It also underscored our interest in amplifying what it means to have a major defence partner in India, and really provided the building blocks, not for the next six months or a year, but for decades, of how we move forward carefully in building what is a very special relationship,” she said.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence David F Helvey said the biggest thing that has come out of the 2+2 talks is that it puts the USIndia relationship and the defence relationship in particular on a higher trajectory.

“We look forward to deepening the cooperation as two strategic partners as we work together to have a, realise a safe, secure and free Indo-Pacific region, or as Prime Minister Modi has said, a place where nations, small and large, can prosper free and fearless in our choices,” he said.

Denial of passport affects fundamental rights, says Delhi High Court The Delhi High Court has held that the denial of a passport or its non-renewal affects the fun-

damental rights guaranteed under the Constitution while directing the government to renew immediately the passport of a man whose residential status in Canada was in jeopardy due to a delay in the process of renewal.

A Bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru gave the order on a plea of an Indian working as a truck driver in Canada on a work permit. Jasvinder Singh Chauhan applied for renewal of his passport at the Indian Consulate at Vancouver in 2016. While processing Mr. Chauhan’s application, it was found that another passport, which was valid from April 13, 2016, to April 12, 2026, had been issued by the Consulate General of India (CGI), Atlanta. The government’s inquiries revealed that one Jagdip Singh Dhillon, the brother-in-law of Mr. Chauhan, had manipulated the passport service subsystem of the CGI at Atlanta and had dishonestly obtained a passport by impersonating him.

While the said fake passport was immediately revoked, the government claimed that the matter is still being investigated. Mr. Chauhan’s plea contended that he had sought the status of a permanent resident of Canada. Grant of such status would permit his family to join him there. He said currently his application for the temporary resident status has been rejected.

“Denial of a passport clearly impinges on the fundamental rights of the petitioner [Chauhan],” the judge said.

Row over foreign aid to Kerala The Kerala government has asked the Centre to go by the 2016 National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) while taking a call on the UAE government’s offer of ₹700 crore in assistance or compensate the State for the loss of such a hefty sum.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had welcomed the UAE government making the ₹700 crore offer. It is only natural for nations to help each other. Moreover, the National Disaster Management Plan, brought out by the Central government in May 2016, does state clearly that any voluntary offer of assistance from other countries can be accepted,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told a news conference here on Wednesday.

While Mr. Vijayan said the the State would try to resolve the issue through discussions, if necessary with the Prime Minister himself, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac tweeted that the Centre must either accept the UAE’s offer or compensate the State.

The relevant section of the chapter on ‘International Cooperation’ of the NDMP reads: “As a matter of policy, the Government of India does not issue any appeal for foreign assistance in the wake of a disaster. However, if the national government of another country voluntarily offers assistance as a goodwill gesture in solidarity with the disaster victims, the Central Government may accept the offer. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, is required to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, which is primarily responsible for reviewing foreign offers of assistance and channelising the same. In consultation with the State Government concerned, the MHA will assess the response requirements that the foreign teams can provide.”

PAGE 18 â&#x20AC;˘ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Art Museum Kannappan Art Museum will be open for public Tuesday 5.30 PM to 7.30 PM, Saturday 10AM to 2 PM, Sunday 12 noon to 4 PM. Address: 2341 N. Galveston Ave, Pearland, TX 77581.

Ashirwad Classes for Kids in Katy Enrollments are open for Indian Heritage classes for Kids and Teens from 4 to 16 yrs. Class curriculum includes Yoga, Meditation, Sloka, Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagwad Githa, Sports Day, VEDIC Fair Presentations, Dance, Drama, Hindi & more. Contact : 281-995-0930 or AshirwadABlessing@gmail.com.

Durga Bari Temple Durga Bari temple is open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Mon. thru Sat. Sandhya aarti at 6:30 p.m. Temple closes at 7 p.m. Sunday special from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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

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 oďŹ&#x20AC; Hwy 6). 281-752-0100.

Brahma Kumaris The Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation Center is open 7 days a week. The center oďŹ&#x20AC;ers free Raja Yoga Meditation classes: Mon-Fri @ BUY

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6:00-6:45am and 7-8 pm, Sat-Sun @ 7:00-8:30am, 10 am-2 pm. Visiting hours are Sat-Sun @ 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Contact us at (832) 379-8888, houston@bktexas.com, or bktexas.com to sign-up for classes. All Raja Yoga Meditation teachers at the Houston center are samarpit and have 15+ years of teaching experience.

Chinmaya Mission Summer schedule Both BalaVihar and adult classes will remain closed from May 27th to September 8th. Classes will resume on Sunday, September 9th.

New member registration for Bala Vihar will be conducted in Chinmaya Smrti Hall on SUNDAY, August 12th from 2 PM to 5 PM and August 19th from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon. Detailed information will be provided at the time of registration. No registrations will be done for Bala Vihar during September 2018. For more information: Visit www.chinmayahouston.org or call Bharati Sutaria 281.933.0233 Jeeyar Educational Trust Translate knowledge into action classes every Sunday at 10:15 a.m to 12 p.m. at Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple, 10098 Synott Road, Sugar Land, Tx 77498. Call 785 550 3621 or 832-334-9163. Visit www. ashtalakshmi.org for registration.

Vedanta Society Vedanta Society of Greater Houston, VSGH (oďŹ&#x192;cial Branch Center of Ramakrishna Math, Belur), 14809 Lindita Dr. (77083), has lectures & talks on every Sunday 11 am - 12 pm, followed by Arati & Prasad; Bhagwad Gita Class on Tuesdays, 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm; and Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna on Thursdays, 11 am - 12 pm. Rev. OLD

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Classes in Houston, Mission Bend, & Sugar Land

Sw. Atmarupanandaji, the Resident Monk, gives all classes, lectures & talks. Ramnaam Sankirtan is on 1st Saturdays 6 pm - 7 pm.

Please visit www.houstonvedanta. org or call 281- 988-7211.

Jain Society Jain Society of Houston at 3905 Arc Street Houston 77063 is open M-F from 7:30 AM to 12 Noon and 4 to 7 PM with Aarti at 6 PM every weekday, and Sat, and Sun from 8 AM to 6 PM. For more details call Jain Center at 713 789 2338 or visit www.jainsocietyhouston.org.

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

Heartfulness Meditation Heartfulness Meditation is a practical technique of tuning inwards to experience our higher selves. Meditation with someone who has the capacity of yogic transmission can help you explore the Heartfulness practice more deeply. There are no charges for this, and we invite you to experience the unique beneďŹ ts of this transmission.

Workshops on Heartfulness relaxation and meditation are held weekly throughout Houston. Web: www.heartfulness. org; Email: houston.heartfulness@ gmail.com. Cell: 713-929-0040.

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

Saumyakasi Sivalaya Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is located at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478.

Temple timings: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon and 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. For more information Contact 281-568-1690 or Jay Deshmukh at 832-541-0059 or visit www.saumyakasi.org Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple Darshan from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. All major festivals as well as birthdays, naam karan, engagement and other ceremonies. Call Pandit Pradip Pandya 832-4669868 for puja and other ceremonies. At 5645 Hillcroft Ste 701, Houston, TX 77036.

Veerashaiva Samaja VSNA Houston is a group of families who believe in Veeras-

haiva dharma (Basava dharma).

Monthly Mahamane program for prayer and discussion on Vachana Sahitya followed by Prasada. Contact: vsnahous ton@gmail.com or Jagadeesh Halyal 832-744-4166.

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

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

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

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

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Hours: Mon to Fri 6 a.m. -8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Weekends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bhajans Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Special poojas (weekends and holidays) Choroon (Annaprasam) for kids, Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Nirapara. Temple is located at 11620 Ormandy St. (77035) Tel: 713729-8994 email: temple@ guruvayur.us Preksha Meditation JVB Preksha Meditation Center conducts weekly Meditation, Yoga and Swadhyay sessions inside its unique Pyramid hall under the auspicious guidance of Samani Kanchan Pragyaji and Samani Pranav Pragyaji who are stationed at Houston Center this year. It also runs special events and programs like I-Choose, Meditation Camps and Gyanshala program for children ages 4-14 yrs. JVB is located at 14102 Schiller Rd. Houston 77082. Every Tuesday, 9:30am11:30am, Samaniji has pravachan for all adults interested in learning about Jainism. Every Wednesday there is Swadhyay class from 7-8pm and meditation from 8-9pm.

Every Thursday from 9:30-11am there is special Yoga class for Ladies only. Every Saturday, there is Yoga Class from 9-10am and Meditation from 10-10.30am. Ist & 3rd Sundays, there is Gyanshala Classes for Kids ages 4-14yrs. from 10-12:15pm followed by Lunch.

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

Patanjali Yogpeeth Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun at Arya Samaj from 8 am to 9:30 a.m. Call Anil 281-579-9433. For other free classes, call Indra 281537-0018. For Yoga/Herbal products, call Shekhar 281-242-5000. www.pyptusa.org; www.DivyaProducts.com.

Hindu Temple of The Woodlands 7601 S. Forest Gate Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77382 Temple Hours, Weekdays: 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM 5:30 PM - 8.30 PM Aarti @ 7:30 PM Saturday and Sunday

8:30 AM - 1:30 PM Aarti at 12:00 PM 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Aarti @ 7:30 PM; Contact 832-585--0001 or temple@myhtw.net Sathya Sai centers Sunday program held at two locations (North Houston: 12127 Malcomson Road, Houston; South Houston: 246 Fluor Daniel Drive, Sugar Land) from 3:00 to 5:30 pm) - Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) classes for children; Study Circle for adults & Devotional singing for all. Service programs - food distribution, canned food drives, nursing home visits, tutoring at schools, etc. Contact Venkat Rao (North) - 602-503-2249 or Ranji Raghavan (South) 281-451-8238.

Visit www.sairegion10.org Sadhu Vaswani Center Sadhu Vaswani Center of Houston holds regular Satsang on 3rd Thursday of the month and daily Arti at 7.30 p.m. Call 281-4630379 or e.mail ramolaj@aol.com Gaudiya Math Shri Govindji Gaudiya Matha is a Hindu Vaishnava temple of Sanatan Dharam and worshipping place of Shri Shri Radha Krishna, Shri Gaur Nitai & Shri Ram Darbar. Mandir is open daily from 5.30 AM until 8.30 PM. We urge you to make a special eďŹ&#x20AC;ort to join our Sunday services regularly with your family & friends. The services are held from 5.30PM to 7.30PM followed by delicious prashad. Daily Aarti times : Mangala Aarti- 5:30 am. Bhog Aarti - 12:30 pm. Evening Aarti - 7:00 pm. Enroll your child in Sri Govindaji Vedic School. We oďŹ&#x20AC;er Hindi classes for all ages. Sri Govindaji Gaudiya Matha is located in Northwest Houston at 16628 Kieth Harrow Blvd Houston TX 77084. For more information, call at 832-464-4686 or visit our website: http://sggm.org.

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

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

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

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

Sanatan Dharm Maha Sabha West Indian Religious Organization called Sanatan Dharm Maha Sabha Branch # 377 is located at 26100 Tina Lane, Katy, TX 77494.

Durga Mata Pooja is held every Friday from 7 pm to 9.30 pm.

Contact Ram Sharma @ 713-4129985.

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

Call Manish Wani 713-829-6979.

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

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 19

NEWS

In Supreme Court, Indian governemnt adds its voice against activists New Delhi: The Centre on Monday asked the Supreme Court to stop hearing the public interest plea against the arrests of five Left-leaning activists last month, cautioning it would have “serious consequences” in view of a countrywide Maoist threat.

Intervening on its own without any formal notice, the Centre further argued that the apex court’s decision to hear the plea would set “a dangerous precedent”, encouraging people to “directly come to this court in every other case”.

Away in Jammu, however, Union home minister Rajnath Singh aired a more nuanced stand saying it was difficult to assess the threat posed by “urban Naxals”, a term widely used since Maharashtra police arrested the activists in a fivestate swoop.

Asked how dangerous the “urban Naxal” threat was, Rajnath was quoted by PTI as saying: “You have asked a very difficult question... what will be its parameters and how it

could be measured.... As per the feedback, there are certain challenges and we will face these challenges.”

The apex court has granted Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonzalves, Arun Ferreira, Gautam Navlakha and Sudha Bharadwaj the relief of house arrest till it decides the petition moved by historian Romila Thapar and others challenging the legality of the arrests.

On Monday, the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud said it would first examine the material furnished by the Maharashtra government to establish the activists’ Maoist links and “sinister designs”.

“If we find the material is cooked up, we will order an SIT (special investigation team) or quash the case,” Justice Misra said.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners along with several other senior lawyers, had earlier claimed the entire case had been “cooked

up”.

Appearing for the Centre, additional solicitor-general Maninder Singh said the government wanted to intervene as it was opposed to the apex court taking up the matter.

“Naxalism... transcends the state (Maharashtra) and beyond... it’s a very serious problem. Your Lordships must look at the overall situation relating to Naxalism,” Singh said.

He argued the apex court should not have intervened in the matter in the absence of complaints against the trial court or the investigation process, and asked that the trial court be left to deal with the case.

“A competent court has to see to it, not that every matter should come to your Lordships,” Singh said.

Additional solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Maharashtra government, too argued that since some of the arrested activists had approached the high courts for bail, the apex court should de-

sist from dealing with the case.

Justice Misra suggested the top court might continue hearing the challenge to the arrests while asking the high courts of Bombay and Haryana to deal with the bail pleas moved by three of the activists.

But senior advocate Abhishekh Singhvi, appearing for the petitioners, urged the apex court to continue hearing the entire matter. He said the petitioners wanted either an SIT probe or monitoring of the current investigations by the top court.

The next hearing is on Wednesday.

Lawyers’ spat A spat broke out when senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for “one of the petitioners” whom he declined to name, took exception to Mehta “interrupting” him.

“Mr Mehta should be a commentator in local cricket matches. He can do that well, not here,” Dhavan complained to Justice Misra.

Dhavan continued: “Please

don’t convert everything into a stupid drama. He (Mehta) did this to me during the hearing of another important case. Let us have a hearing without these interruptions.”

Mehta retorted: “This type of language cannot be allowed in the court.... I don’t want to stoop to his (Dhavan’s) level.”

Mehta and Dhavan had had a similar exchange during the hearing of a batch of petitions relating to the Ayodhya land dispute. Dhavan was appearing for some of the Muslim claimants and Mehta was representing the Uttar Pradesh government.

Dhavan had quit his practice briefly in December last year after accusing Justice Misra, who was heading a five-judge constitution bench, of not giving him enough opportunity to be heard in a dispute between the Delhi government and the Centre relating to their administrative authority over Delhi.

He resumed his practice after a two-month gap.

India’s oil ministry in June told refiners to prepare for a “drastic reduction or zero” imports from Iran from November.

Indian refiners will cut their monthly crude loadings from Iran for September and October by nearly half from earlier this year as New Delhi works to win waivers on the oil export sanctions Washington plans to reimpose on Tehran in November.

India’s loadings from Iran for this month and next will drop to less than 12 million barrels each, after purchases over April-August had been boosted in anticipation of the reductions.

The United States is renewing sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from a nuclear deal forged in 2015 between Tehran and world powers.

Washington reimposed some of the financial sanctions from Aug. 6, while those affecting Iran’s petroleum sector will

come into force from Nov. 4.

India, Iran’s No.2 oil client behind top buyer China, does not recognise the reimposed U.S. sanctions, but winning a waiver from the restrictions is a must for New Delhi to protect its wider exposure to the U.S. financial system.

India’s oil ministry in June told refiners to prepare for a “drastic reduction or zero” imports from Iran from November.

“Some refiners have either already exhausted or frontloaded their term contract to a large extent, which allows them the flexibility to go to zero if required, or until clarity on the waivers emerge,” Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at Energy Aspect, told Reuters.

Washington will consider waivers for Iranian oil buyers such as India but they must eventually halt crude imports from Tehran, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week in New Delhi after a

meeting of high level officials.

The Indian government, already facing a backlash over a falling rupee and record high fuel prices, does not want to halt the oil imports from Iran as the Islamic republic offers a discount on oil sales to India.

Government sources said India made this point clear in last week’s meetings with U.S. officials and remains engaged with Washington to work out waivers on its oil purchases from Iran.

“We have a special relationship with both the U.S. and with Iran, and we are seeing how to balance this all, and also to balance out the interest of the refiners and end-consumers,” said one of the government officials.

But if Washington adopts a tough line, India would have no other choice than to end imports from Iran, they said.

India lifted about 658,000 barrel of oil per day (bpd) from Iran in April-August, accord-

ing to data obtained from trade sources by Reuters, and the cuts projected for September and October would drop the daily average over those two months by about 45 percent to 360,000-370,000 bpd.

Indian oil refiners have already given the October loading plans to the National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC), sources familiar with the loading schedule said.

Top refiner Indian Oil Corp wants to lift 6 million barrels each in September and October, while Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals would load 3 million barrels each for those two months, the sources said.

IOC would also lift 1 million barrel for its subsidiary Chennai Petroleum Corp in October, they said.

Bharat Petroleum Corp would lift 1 million barrels in September and skip purchases in October, a company source said on Tuesday.

Bharat Petroleum has already

drawn more than its fixed volumes - the amount it is obligated to purchase - that were contracted for 2018/19, its chairman said on Tuesday.

Nayara Energy, part owned

by Russian oil giant Rosneft , plans to lift 1 million barrels each in September and October, the sources said. But the refiner began reducing its oil imports from Iran in June and aims to completely halt purchases from November.

Hindustan Petroleum, Reliance Industries and HPCL Mittal Energy (HMEL) have no plans to buy from Iran in September and October, they said.

India refiners - excluding Reliance and HMEL, which do not have term contracts with Iran - will together lift about 73 percent of their fixed contract volumes from Iran by end-October, the loading data showed.

India’s Iran oil purchases to fade ahead of US sanctions

IOC, Nayara and MRPL did not respond to Reuters’ emails seeking comments.

Prime Minister exhorts people to fulfil Gandhi’s dream of a clean India Launching the “Swachhata Hi Seva” campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday all sections of society and every part of the country have joined the cleanliness drive as he noted few would have thought that 9 crore toilets would be built and 4.5 lakh villages declared open defecation free in four years.

The “cleanliness is service” campaign will continue till Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2, with Mr. Modi asking people to rededicate themselves to fulfilling the father of the nation’s dream of a clean India during an interac-

tive programme.

The Prime Minister spoke to groups of people from across the country besides several religious figures, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and personalities including Amitabh Bachchan and Ratan Tata through video-conference in which they shared details of their work for the campaign.

The sanitation coverage in India has increased to over 90 % from 40 % in four years, Mr. Modi said.

“Had anybody imagined that more than 450 districts would be open defecation-free [ODF] in four years or that 20 States

and Union Territories would be open defecation-free in four years,” he said, calling it a historic day today as he launched the fortnight-long campaign.

Mr. Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous and among the most poor States, would be OFD by October 2, 2018 as per a baseline survey of the clean India campaign.

He said that his government is working to ensure that every family has a toilet by October 2019.

His government had built over 1.36 crore toilets since it came to power last year and its

emphasis on cleanliness has led to a drastic fall in vectorborne diseases.

Mr. Modi lauded Mr. Adityanath for his government’s efforts.

The Prime Minister spoke to people in States such as Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana.

He also interacted with Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel involved in cleaning Pangong Lake and its surroundings in Leh, besides religious and spiritual figures like Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and Mata

Amritanandamayi.

He also interacted with Sikh religious figures from Patna Sahib gurudwara and Muslim custodians of Ajmer Sharif shrine among others.

Mr. Modi said those working for the cleanliness campaign would be remembered like freedom fighters in the times to come and would be known as true heirs to Gandhi.

Mr. Modi said his government is working for “waste to wealth” and sought contributions from everybody. The government alone cannot do it, he added.

PAGE 20 â&#x20AC;¢ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;¢ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Spring Branch Family Dentistry,P.A. 1111, Gessner, Suite B Houston, Texas 77055 (713) 461-8050 (713) 461-4747 WeWe Speak English, Hindi & Gujarati speak English & Gujarati CONVENIENT HOURS Monday: 9 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 pm Tuesday: 9 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7 pm Wednesday: 9 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 pm Thursday: 9 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7 pm Friday: 9 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 pm Saturday: 9 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 pm (Closed one Saturday a month) '

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