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VOL . 20 NO. 26 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 • P.O. BOX 623 • SUGAR LAND, TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017-699 25 Cents

Four killed in car crash; Alleged drunk driver in custody

By SESHADRI KUMAR Tragedy struck three devout families Sunday night, minutes away from their temple in Southwest Houston.

While returning after worship at the Swaminarayan Temple of International Swaminarayan Satsang Organization on Synott Road, an alleged drunk driver ran a red light and crashed into their car at the Beechnut intersection, killing four and injuring one around 10 p.m. on June 22.

Devndraprasad Patel, who was driving the car, with his wife Kokila Patel, sister Anusuya Patel and friend Jayanthilal Bhatt, died on the scene, while Bhatt’s wife Shanumati Bhatt, survived, with injuries.

Million Zeghergis, 31, an immigrant from Eritrea and a licensed cab driver, was intoxicated when he ran the red light and struck the car, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Zeghergis was not injured and he was being held in lieu of a $400,000 bond. He faces four counts of involuntary manslaughter.

The congregation at the Swaminarayan Temple was shocked and saddened with the sudden loss of four of their fellow members.

At a prayer meeting in the temple on Monday night, Divyaprakash Swami of the ISSO fondly remembered the services of Patel and Bhatt.

Representatives of various community organizations including the Gujarati Samaj of Houston, the India Culture Center, Hindus of Greater Houston and Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America attended the meeting and offered condolences.

Jayendra Bhatt Devendra Patel, 61, and Kokila Patel are survived by daughter Dipali and son Ravi and grand children Aryan and Nandini.

Patel was running an auto body shop in Northwest Houston.

Devendrabhai Patel was an active member of ISSO Swaminarayan Mandir since its inception.

Patel served as the temple president from 2002 to 2007. During that period he represented the Houston Satsang community at the ISSO’s national board.

He was always supportive of youth activities and he regularly played volleyball with the youth at the Mandir.

In recent years he served as the head of the Mandir’s Kitchen, supported by his wife Kokilaben and sister Anusuyaben.

“All three displayed the ideals of true sevaks showing selfless labor of love for all of the mandir’s satangis. His motto was “My Bhagwan’s Mandir First,” according to Swami Divyaprakash.

See TRAGEDY,Page 7

Kokila and Devendraprasad Patel at the temple, in a file picture.

Anusuyaben Patel

DURGABARI PRIEST FELICITATED. Priest Mayuram Chakrapani Bhattar, left, of the Woodlands Hindu Temple felicitates Dr. Bishnupada Goswami, priest of Houston Durgbari Temple, at an event on Sunday, June 22. Goswami, who was recently honored with the title of Mahamahopdhyay, is flanked by Consul-General P. Harish, left, and U.S. Congressman Pete Olson, right. See Page 3.

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PAGE 2 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 • PAGE 3

COMMUNITY NEWS Durga Bari priest Dr Bishnupada Goswami felicitated for Mahamahopadhyay award

Dr. Gouri and Amrit Achari with Dr Bushnupada Goswami and Archana Goswami Nearly 400 Indo Americans gathered to felicitate Houston Durga Bari Dr. Bishnupada Goswami’s contribution to society and scholastic achievements which led to his being accorded the title of Mahamahopadhyay by the Indian Institute of Oriental Heritage in Kolkata recently. The event was held at the Texas Safari Ranch on Sunday, June 22.

Indian Institute of Oriental Heritage is the pioneer institution in organizing and honoring religious scholars. On March 7, 2014, at its 37th annual conference, held in Delhi, an emissary of President Pranab Mukherjee honored Dr. Goswami with the Mahamahopadhyay award. These prestigious awards are traditionally given as honorary awards by IIOH annually to distinguished people for their services to the society, education, and knowledge. The awards ceremony was attended by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati ji as well.

Dr. Bishnupada Goswami was born to Pandit Hrishikesh Goswami and Kamala Devi in Rajahati, West Bengal. Dr Goswami has a PhD in Sanskrit from Lal Bahadur Shastri University where he also taught

Sugar Land Councilman Himesh Gandhi, left, Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, Consul-General P. Harish, Dr. Bishnupada Goswami, Congressman Pete Olson, State Rep. Ed Thompson and Mrs. Thompson, Fort Bend GOP Chairman Mike Gibson and Tina Gibson. the lnguage. He later earned the title of Kavya Vyakaran Smriti Tirtha from the Sanskrit Shisha Parishad. Dr. Goswami serve as the head priest of the Kali Mandir Society in New Delhi and has been the chief priest at Houston Durga Bari since 2003.

Earlier, Houston Durgabari Society and its executive board congratulated Pandit Goswami by giving him plaque and gifts.

Consul-general Parvathaneni Harish, described Dr. Goswami as a “down-to-earth person, deeply religious and spiritual.” The story of Durgabari is similar to the growth of Indian community

in Houston, Harish said.

Dr. Goswami long ago took shelter in a jungle-like environment and slowly built the temple amid a lot of hardship. The community has grown and the temple has grown and he has continued his service, he said.

Dr. Goswami deserved the title of Mahamahopadyaya which recognizes his scholarly abilities and prusiut, Harish said.

Congressman Pete Olson said the felicitation to Dr. Goswami was indeed a celebration of a man of faith. “He loves people. He is a great Indo-American, great Indian and a credit to all mankind,” Ol-

son said. Pearland Mayor Tom Reid praised Dr. Goswami as “a touch above the rest.”

Sugar Land Councilman Himesh Gandhi alluded to the inspiration and guidance that Dr. Goswami gave to people like him. Gauranga Mookerjee welcomed these guests and coordinated the speeches while Mridula and Vinay Karna led the presentation of Dr. Goswami’s life events. Pandit Shanti Lal Shah along with his son Anuraag and nephew Jason, performed Tabla jugalbandi. Singer Rajnita Bandyopadhyay was the star performer of the event.

PAGE 4 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

VOICES Encourage Hindi, Carefully In its first few weeks, the BJP government appears to have needled federal equations with its emphasis on Hindi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointedly spoke in Hindi to the SAARC leaders invited for his swearing-in, and on his first foreign visit. While that may be a matter of personal preference, the government has also told officials to prioritise Hindi on social media. The Union home ministry, noting that the department of official languages had not been adequately promoting Hindi, called for special committees to encourage Hindi in all 640 Indian districts. Predictably, Tamil Nadu’s J. Jayalalithaa and M. Karunanidhi, have bristled at this seeming imposition of Hindi. Despite Rajnath Singh’s clarification that all Indian languages should be promoted, the impression is that his government is pushing Hindi as first among equals, disturbing decades of official consensus on living with linguistic diversity and choosing English as a link across India.

From a party whose forebears used Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan as a rallying cry, this attempt to elevate Hindi above other regional languages is bound to reawaken tensions that have long receded. The language wars of the 1960s that erupted with the decision to make Hindi the official language of India and phase out English, ended only when the policy was tacitly rolled back. English continues to be the language of parliamentary texts, court proceedings and administrative business, along with Hindi for official documents in Hindi-speaking states. For decades, there has been an equilibrium between English, Hindi and other regional languages, and by now, language has ceased to be an inflaming question of identity — even Hindi chauvinists agree that English provides educational and employment opportunities, and Tamil speakers have softened in their opposition to Hindi. In such a context, it is the BJP’s prescriptive tone on the use of Hindi that has now scratched open the old grievances. The home ministry must proactively assuage concerns about the Hindi-domination project. The mother tongue is the medium of early instruction, and English remains the most accepted and globally popular language. Hindi is often learnt to transact with others, to work, read, watch films, converse, but only as a free choice, not a diktat from Delhi. — Indian Express

The NGOs’Accountability The Union Government’s decision to closely monitor foreign funds received by non-Government organizations is an important step towards ushering India’s civil society into an age of transparency and accountability. While much of the recent focus has been on Greenpeace India, whose foreign funds coming in from two of its primary donors, Greenpeace International and Climate Works Foundation, have been on hold until each transaction is individually cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the ongoing tightening of laws is expected to put under the scanner 40,000 other similar non-profits as well. For far too long, the non-profit sector has evaded any serious public scrutiny. This has created a putrid environment of corruption and nepotism that, needless to say, has had an adverse impact on the rightful role that NGOs must play. NGOs challenge the status quo, they add new ideas to the conversation and also act as a watchdog. Indeed, an alert and vibrant civil society, much like a free Press, is one of the most crucial pillars of a democratic society. And this is why the functioning of NGOs should be above board at all times. Unfortunately, the figures tell a different story. For instance, last December, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had reported that NGOs in India received an estimated Rs. 12,500 crore from abroad in 2013 alone but only two per cent of the 20 lakh registered outfits reported their foreign donations. It had also warned that the sector was vulnerable to the risks of “money laundering and terrorist financing”. In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the CBI observed that several NGOs do not submit details of receipt of grants (foreign and domestic) and their spending to income tax authorities. And then there is the Intelligence Bureau’s damning report to the Prime Minister’s Office on foreign-funded NGOs and their alleged ‘anti-development’ agenda.

Greenpeace India, which has opposed several Government initiatives from genetically modified crops to coal mining to nuclear energy, received from its foreign donors Rs. 10 crore, almost half of its estimated operating budget, in the 2012-2013 fiscal, according to data disclosed by law under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2011.

There is a legitimate concern that, through organizations such as Greenpeace India, foreign institutional donors with deep pockets can have a disproportionate impact on the larger debate of what constitutes sustainable development. — The Pioneer

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TOPIC OF THE WEEK

The lost moral of Islam’s divide

By Shajahan Madampat With the exception of the Quran, there are no religious or historical references that the Sunnis and Shias agree on The Sunni-Shia divide is increasingly engulfing Muslim societies in many parts of the world in spasms of internecine violence.

The latest developments in Iraq with the Islamic State of Iraq and [Greater] Syria (ISIS) making rapid advances towards Baghdad are an ominous reflection of the deepening of sectarian animosities within contemporary Islam.

The potential impact of the current turbulence will be felt far beyond West Asia and North Africa.

The developments also indicate — especially in light of the marginalization of the Muslim Brotherhood and other mainstream Islamist outfits in Egypt, Syria and to a limited extent in Tunisia — that political Islam or Islamism will now be championed with much more lethal effect by groups that profess allegiance to radical Salafism, such as the ISIS. Islamism, defined broadly, is an ideological construct based on a political reading of Islam in both its history and textuality.

It argues that the primary duty of a Muslim is to strive for the establishment of an Islamic state, without which Islam will remain a ‘house half-built.’ Salafism (or Wahhabism) is a theologically puritanical approach that argues for a literal reading of the scriptures, shunning all accretions in matters of faith and life.

What is common between the two, however, is that they both operate on a binary notion of the world.

The coming together of Salafism and Islamism is nothing new as al-Qaeda perfectly represented the merger of the otherwise irreconcilable worldviews of the two radical streams. In fact, Osama bin Laden and Ayman AlZawahiri personified this coming together of radical Salafism and uncompromising Islamism.

The former’s worldview can be traced to the atavistic theology of the 18th century Saudi theologianactivist Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdul Wahhab, while the latter inherited the nihilistic fanaticism of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood icon Syed Qutub.

But it is with the outbreak of civil war in Syria that we saw the ‘coming out’ of this dangerous concoction from its hideouts in Afghanistan, Yemen and North Africa. The giant strides they are now making in Iraq are indicative of the changing contours of Islamism on the one hand and the new-found role that this brand of Islamism invented for itself against the portentous backdrop of the Sunni-Shia divide.

ORIGIN OF THE DIVIDE

The origin of this divide — the principal fault line within Islam — goes back 14 centuries to the very beginning of Islam. Interestingly, there was nothing religious about it at the beginning as it was a purely political dispute over which

an entire theological and jurisprudential edifice was superimposed later on in order to canonise and perpetuate it into a distinctive clerical order.

At the core of the dispute was an impassioned argument over whether the principle of succession in the nascent Muslim state should be dynastic or meritorious.

The majority of Muslims in the early years of the faith chose merit over dynasty and argued that the prophet’s temporal and spiritual successors should be selected on the basis of their competence, seniority, knowledge and experience.

A minority disagreed and said the basis of succession should be familial rather than meritorious.

They believed the temporal and spiritual leadership of Muslim society should remain confined to the descendants of the prophet forever.

They thought Ali — the younger cousin and son-in-law of the prophet — deserved the honour, as he was not only a staunch companion of the prophet but also his closest family member by virtue of birth and marriage.

Shia is an abbreviation for Shia’t Ali, the party of Ali, and is built around the victimhood of the prophet’s family following his death.

The Sunnis do not dispute the importance of Ali and do not disparage him in any way; they consider him one of the greatest companions of the prophet along with the others, including the three other caliphs who preceded Ali in the seat of power.

In a way, the difference between Sunni and Shia approaches to Ali is comparable to the difference between Islamic and Christian approaches to Jesus Christ.

While both the religions converge on the greatness of Jesus as a man of God, they diverge on questions of his divinity and deification.

Just as no Muslim will ever disparage Jesus, no Sunni will ever speak ill of Ali. Like in the case of the two Semitic religions, it was the differences and not the commonalities that were given accent throughout history, resulting in an entrenched culture of desacralisation and demonisation of the other on both sides.

The fact that the two sects chose to follow totally different references in their respective ap-

proaches to jurisprudence and theology widened the gulf further over the centuries.

With the exception of the Quran, which in any case has been susceptible to multiple and often contradictory interpretations, there are no religious or historical references that the Sunnis and Shias agree on.

POINTOFAGREEMENT

What is most interesting in this context is that both the sects agree on the need for an Islamic political system on earth. While the Islamists on both sides argue for the primacy of an Islamic state, the others express minor disagreements on questions of prioritising an Islamic state over those of building an Islamic society.

No known mainstream religious organisation among both the sects rejects the idea of an Islamic majoritarian state as a desired eventuality.

There is total consensus among all that justice will flourish only in such a state where the Sharia would replace all other sources and methods of legislation. What about justice for those who belong to other faiths or no faiths is a minor detail glossed over by self-righteous rhetoric.

This brings us to one of the most exasperating paradoxes in Islamic history.

While the only consensus that ever existed across the sects in Islam has been on the desirability of (an immediate or eventual) Islamic state governed according to the Sharia, the principal divide of all times in Muslim society happened because there was no clear concept of a state or political system in Islam.

It goes without saying that the method of electing the ruler is the most basic part of any political system, the absence of clarity on which triggered the first and foremost split among the Muslims. The festering wounds of that split continue to bleed the community to this day.

The Quran and the Prophet’s rich traditions left the choice of political systems or the nature of the state to the wisdom of the people and their circumstances.

The prophet’s followers, however, persisted with their delusional search for a theocratic utopia, denuding a faith of its humane core See Page 8

THE LIGHTER SIDE

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 • PAGE 5

COMMUNITY NEWS AAPI creates endowment for medical research WASHINGTON: The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), one of the most influential professional bodies in the US, has set up a fund to encourage young medical researchers of Indian origin with an endowment created by a Texas plastic surgeon, Dr. Rajaram Bala.

The income from perpetual endowment will be used for research award for the best research presentation at the AAPI convention, in San Antonio, Texas, from June 25-29, the association president Jayesh Shah announced.

Thanking Bala on behalf of the executive committee and the AAPI family, Shah citing Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said, “I believe in innovation and that the way you get innovation is you fund research and you learn the basic facts.”

He also urged other physicians of Indian origin to consider an endowment to AAPI, the largest ethnic medical organization in the US with 130 local chapters, specialty societies and alumni organizations, to encourage young investigators to pursue the academic pathway.

“Philanthropy and charity differ,” said Bala who was born in Mayiladuthurai, in Tamil Nadu.

“Charity relieves the pains of social problems, whereas philanthropy attempts to solve those problems at their root causes.”

Bala’s endowment is aimed at encouraging the application of the scientific method, a harnessing of curiosity, encouraging young phy-

sicians to engage in scientific research.

Bala, whose father was a farmer with high school education and mother a homemaker was the first in his family to go to college and the first physician.

After finishing high school in Mayavaram and medical school in Stanley Medical College, he did his post-graduation in surgery in India and came to the US in the 1960s.

Starting frome Westchester College, Valhalla, he trained at the Johns Hopkins University Medical School in Baltimore from 1968 to 71.

He has been chief of plastic surgery at the Christus Santa Rosa Medical centre for over 35 years and has focused on plastic surgery for children.

At AAPI’s Texas annual convention, winners from among 42 researchers who have submitted abstracts will be given citations and monetary awards, Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, President-Elect of AAPI, announced.

Over 1,500 physicians and their families are expected to gather and deliberate on ways to enhance their own professional growth and identify ways to network and stay united and offer a unified voice to protect their rights as well as explore possibilities to give back to the society.

In addition to 11 hours CMEs (continuing medical education), the convention will be packed with entertainment, networking and delicious Indian cuisine.

Nina Davuluri, the first Indian American to be crowned Miss America, will lead AAPI Women’s Forum Session and the “Be Fit Be Cool’ Walkathon during the convention.

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Indian Music Society of Houston Presents A 501 ©(3) Organization Promoting Hindustani Classical Music

India’s Finest Sitarist — Ustad Shahid Pervez Khan

Gouri Sankar Karmakar on Tabla

Saturday, July 19 @ 4 p.m.

Jones Hall, Univ of St. Thomas

Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan comes from six generations of sitarists. He is one of the leading exponents of the Etawah Gharana. He was trained by his father and guru, Ustad Aziz Khan.

He is one of India’s most celebrated musicians, praised especially for the vocalistic phrasing of his raga improvisations.

Ticket: $25 3901 YOAKUM Blvd

For tickets: Govind 713-922-2501 • Suresh 281-935-4653 or online www.tickets2events.com

IMS Programs are partially funded by a grant from Houston Arts Alliance.

Programs are subject to change for reasons beyond the control of Indian Music Society of Houston.

PAGE 6 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

INDIANS ABROAD Man pleads guilty to $200 mln banking fraud NEW YORK: An Indian businessman, involved in one of the largest credit card fraud schemes ever prosecuted by US federal authorities, has admitted to his role in the conspiracy and now faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a US$ 1 million fine.

The banking fraud amounted to US$ 200 million in losses to businesses and financial institutions.

The guilty, Vinod Dadlani (51) of New Jersey, is scheduled for sentencing in September.

Dadlani, who owns a jewelry store, pleaded guilty before US District Judge Anne Thompson in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

He used his business to further one of the largest credit card fraud schemes ever charged by the Justice Department, and is the 17th conspirator to plead guilty in the case, New Jersey US Attorney Paul Fishman said in a statement.

Dadlani was indicted in October 2013 as part of a conspiracy to fabricate more than 7,000 false identities to obtain tens of thousands of credit cards.

His associates doctored credit reports to pump up the spending and borrowing power associated with the cards. They then borrowed or spent as much as they could, based on the phony credit history, but did not repay the debts.

These debts were incurred at Dadlani’s jewelry store, among many other locations, where he

Aloft Downtown Atlanta

would allow fraudulently obtained credit cards to be swiped in phony transactions.

The scheme involved a three-step process in which the defendants would make up a false identity by creating fraudulent identification documents and credit profile with the major credit bureaus.

They would pump up the credit of the false identity by providing incorrect information about that identity’s creditworthiness to those credit bureaus and then run up large charges.

The scope of the criminal fraud enterprise required Dadlani’s conspirators to construct an elaborate network of false identities.

Across the country, the conspirators maintained more than 1,800 “drop addresses,” including houses, apartments, and post office boxes, which they used as the mailing addresses for the false identities.

Dadlani admitted he worked with other conspirators, who came to his store and allowed them to swipe cards he knew did not legitimately belong to them. Dadlani would then split the proceeds of the phony transactions with the conspirators.

Man fakes death for insurance money LONDON: An Indian-origin British businessman has been jailed for two-and-a-half years by a UK court for faking his own death to claim over 1 million pounds in insurance payout.

Sanjay Kumar pleaded guilty at Southwark crown court in London to six counts of insurance fraud. His wife, Anju Kumar, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud. While Sanjay was jailed for 2-1/2 years, his wife received a five-month sentence, suspended for two years.

The court heard this week how the 45-year-old businessman from Hertfordshire flew to India in November 2011 and emailed his wife to say that he was hospitalized. She later received a further email detailing his death from “brain fever”.

A fake death and cremation certificate was presented to Aviva, Scottish Provident and Legal & General insurance firms in the UK in order to secure a total pay-out of 1,155,789.38 pounds.

Investigations by the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) found no evidence of Kumar having been admitted to hospital, no cause of death certificate and no evidence that the crematorium existed. Kumar returned to England in August 2012 under an assumed name and was arrested the following month along with his wife. The couple, who have sons aged 19 and 20 and a daughter aged 17, had planned to start afresh in India as Anju claimed they were forced into the hoax by Afghan gangsters holding them to “ransom”.

Banyan Investment Group executives Andy Chopra, Chief Investment Officer (2nd from left) and Rakesh Chauhan, President and CEO (2nd from right), cut the ribbon to officially open the Aloft Downtown Atlanta on June 23.

The property became the first Aloft Hotel in Georgia and the largest Aloft Hotel in the southeast U.S. Joining in the grand opening are Michael Weems, Vice President of DeBartolo Development (left) which owns the hotel, and Arik Kono, Vice President North America — Development and Acquisition for Starwood Hotels & Resorts (right), the hotel franchisor.

The 254-room, 10-floor property is managed by Atlanta-based Banyan Investment Group, which owns and operates a portfolio of almost 20 hotels under the leadership of second-generation Asian-American hoteliers that include Rakesh Chauhan, Andy Chopra; Manoj Chauhan, Chief Development Officer; and Vick Chauhan, Chief Legal Counsel.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 • PAGE 7

COMMUNITY NEWS where. He always gave respect to each Satsangi regardless of age. He assisted the Swami during every festival.

Jayantibhai is survived by his wife and son Vishnubhai.

Funeral services were scheduled to be held on Thursday and Friday for all the four.

Scene of the accident

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Anusuyaben, left, with brother Devendraprasad at the Swaminarayan Temple.

Tragedy From Page 1 Patel seems to have portended his demise as Swami Divyaparaksh recalled his recent conversation. They were discussing about an upcoming festival and Patel told the Swami that he was not sure if he would be participating in the festival.

One of his friends said he and Patel always went together to buy whole peanuts from an Indian grocery story for the temple.

On the fateful night, Patel asked his friend not to forget the peanuts and said buy it from the store and take it to the temple. Did he know he will not be there the next day to go to the store, the friend bemoaned.

For Kokilaben Patel, no Seva was too small for her, whether it was cooking or washing pots and pans. Always a jovial and happy character, she was rady to help in any mandir activity.

She always stayed late till the end to make sure the kitchen is completely clean each Sunday.

Anusuyaben Patel was survived by husband Arvindbhai Patel, son Dixit Patel, daughter -in-law Geetaben and grandson Jayant, daughter Rashmi Patel, son-in law Vishwanath Patel, grandsons Jay and Dhruv, daughter-in law Kajal Patel and grandson Smarth Patel Anusuyaben was always dedicated to the Satsang Community, especially after losing her son a few years ago. If there was anything to be done in the mandir, she was first in the line to help. She showed up early afternoon every Sunday with her brother Devendrabhai and Sister in law Kokilaben Patel to helpin cutting vegetables and making Rasoi.

Jayantibhai Bhatt, 81, served as Mandir’s Gor Maharaj for many years. He pleased so many people by conducting Poojas on numerous occasions whether in the mandir or else-

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PAGE 8 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Bhagavath Saptah June 25-July6 First anniversary celebration of Govindaji Gaudiya Math temple, 16628 Keith Harrow Blvd.

Bhagavat Katha by Sripad B.V. Tirth Maharaj from June 25 to July 1. Anniversary celebration on July 4 and 5. For info, call 832-4644686 or www.sggm.org

Bhagwat Katha by Acharya Mridul July 18 - 25 Acharya Mridul Krishna Goswami ji of Vrindavan, India, will narrate Shrimad Bhagwat Katha att Shrinath Ji Haveli, 11715 Bellfort Village Dr. Katha will start at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 18, with Kalash Yatra. From 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. Dinner prasad daily after Katha. Sponsored by Banke Bihari Pariwar of Houston. For info, call 281-491-5814 or email bankebihariji@yahoo.com

I-Fest 2014 Sat., Aug 16 @ 2 p.m.

ICC Houston celebrates India Fest 2014- India’s 68th Independence Day at the Stafford Center, Cash Rd. from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free event, free parking & musical concert. For info call Event Chair 281-217-7330.

IA Chamber gala Sat., Sept 27 @ 6 p.m.

Fifteenth annual gala of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston. At Hilton Americas Hotel, 1600 Lamar St. U.S. Senator John Cornyn is the keynote speaker. For info, call 713-624731 or info@iaccgh.com

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 281-7593286. Free Yoga classes on Sat. Sanskrit & Upanishad classes Tue. 6-8 p.m. At 14375 Schiller Rd. (bet Westpark & Bellaire off Hwy 6).

281-752-0100.

Sahaj Marg Meditation

Chinmaya Mission Summer schedule One Session from 6/15 to 8/24; No classes in July. Sunday satsanga for adults and Bala Vihar (PreK to Grade 11) from 10:50 AM to 12:30 PM at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX77498. Enrolling for new Bala Vihar year. New members visit welcome desk 10:15-10:45 a.m. Visit www.chinmayahous ton.org or call Bharati Sutaria 281933-0233

Vedanta Society Vedanta Society of Greater Houston, 14809 Lindita Drive (77083) has classes every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, 1st & 3rd Sunday; Bhagavad Gita, 2nd Sunday; on works of Swami Vivekananda, 4th Sunday; Holy Mother Sarada’s Gospel, 5th Sunday. Swamis of Ramakrishna Order visit to conduct retreats and talks. www.houstonvedanta.org or 281-584-0488.

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

Puja services - Priest Bishnupada Goswami 281-597-8100 Temple is located at 13944 Schiller Rd (off Hwy 6 bet. Bellaire & Westpark).

Call Ganesh Mandal at 713-7979057 / 832-423-8541.

Telugu Fellowship

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Classes now ongoing Visit www.chandrakantha.com

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(713) 665-4665

Telugu Christian Fellowship meets every third Saturday of the month at Triumph Church, 10555 W. Airport Blvd., Stafford TX 77477 at 6:30 p.m. Join us for a time of praise, worship and fellowship. Worship is in English. Call Chris Gantela 281-344-0707, or Rev. V. Gurrala 281-997-0757.

Classes in Houston, Mission Bend, & Sugar Land

Sahaj Marg (Natural Path) Meditation and Spirituality (www. sahajmarg.org) A natural, simple system of Raja Yoga meditation and spiritual practice. Weekly satsangs held in the Houston area.

Email Radheshyam Miryala, MD at meditate_ houston@yahoo. com or meditate.galveston @gmail. com.

Heritage Classes Ashirwad’s Heritage Classes in Katy, Cypress and Sugar Land for kids 4 to 18 yrs - meditation, Yoga, slokas, stories from scriptures, Vishnu Sahasranam, bhajans, competitions and fun activities. Adult meditation classes. Register at www.ashirwad ablessing.org or Sri Ravula 281-995-0930.

Hare Krishna Dham Houston’s original Vedic temple, ISKCON of Houston. At 1320 W 34th St. (77018). Daily Darshan & Arati Times: 4.30am, 7am, 8.30am, 12noon, 4.30pm, 7pm, 9pm. Sunday Festival: 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm. Weekly Gita classes for adults; call 281-433-1635 or harekrishnadham@gmail.com

Gandhi Library 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 man’s autobiography – The Story of My Experiments with Truth.

Call Manish Wani 713-829-6979.

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 5:00 - 8:00 PM Saturday and Sunday: 8:30-2:00 PM and 5:00 - 8:00 PM. Contact Bharti Sutaria 281568-1690 or Jay Deshmukh 832541-0059 or visit www.saum yakasi.org.

Veerashaiva Samaja VSNA Houston is a group of

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families who believe in Veera-shaiva dharma (Basava dharma).

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

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.

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 “Gopa Kuteeram” children’s heritage classes and Srimad Bhagavatam classes. Call 281-402-6585; visit www.godivinity.org (Global Organization for Divinity).

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 281-261-4603.

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: 713-729-8994 email: temple@ guruvayur.us

Arsha Vidya Bharati Sanskrit classes and special worship sessions for all ages. At 2918 Renoir, Sugar Land, TX 77479.Call 281-606-5607 or AVB.Houston@gmail.com. Web-site: https://sites.google.com/site/ avbtexas/classes

Preksha Meditation New facilities of JVB Preksha Meditation Center. Classes for Yoga and Meditation under guidance by Samani jis and discourses. Located at 14102 Schiller Road (off Hwy 6 bet Bellaire and Westpark - 77082).

Tel 281-596-9642.

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. Web: www.pyptusa.org and www.DivyaProducts.com.

Sathya Sai centers Sunday program held at two locations (North Houston: 12127 Louetta Rd, Houston, TX 77070, South Houston: 246 Fluor Daniel Drive, Sugarland, TX, 77479) from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Sai Spiritual Education classes for children; study circle for adults. Service programs - food distribution & food drives; nursing home visits, tutoring at schools etc. Contact Sanjay Gupta (North) 832-687-6766 or Sondip Mathur (South) 832-215-8675 www.sairegion10.org.

Sadhu Vaswani Center Sadhu Vaswani Center of Houston holds regular Satsang on 3rd Thursday of the month and daily Arti at 7.30 p.m. Call 281 463 0379 or e.mail ramolaj@ aol.com

The Shia-Sunni divide From Page 4 in the process.

The Quran stressed on persuasion in matters of faith while the Islamists saw coercion (with the state being its ultimate and most legitimate instrument) as the only method for preservation of the faith.

Iran will do all it can to stop the ISIS warriors in their tracks.

ISIS will be happy to eradicate the Islamic Republic of Iran. But both will marshal the same set of arguments for the establishment and perpetuation of an Islamic state as well as for the disempowerment of each other in their respective spheres of influence.

In Iraq, for instance, Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and his cohorts will be perfectly happy to replicate the Iranian Vilayat-e-Faqih model of state in Iraq and disenfranchise the Sunni minority. The ISIS will be delighted to establish their model of Islamic state and disenfranchise the Shia majority.

Both parties will advance the same arguments to justify and Islamise their brutalities. Creation of a hell here in the name of the hereafter is the fundamental objective of all varieties of Islamism, despite their invocation of justice and divine will in every other sentence they write or speak. — The Hindu (Shajahan Madampat is a cultural critic and commentator.)

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 • PAGE 9

INDIA Rajnath: All options open to evacuate Indians Indian Shia Muslims ready NEW DELHI: The Government said it was looking into all options for safe evacuation of stranded Indians from strife-torn Iraq. “We are looking into all options. All suggestions are on the table,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters here.

Singh was replying to a question whether India is planning “mass evacuation” of stranded Indians from Iraq. We are trying our best for the safety of every Indian in Iraq,” he said.

India has evacuated 17 more of its nationals from the conflict zone of Iraq with the help of local authorities taking the total number of those rescued so far to 34 and also advised its citizens to leave on voluntary basis by commercial means in view of the “fragile” security situation.

A Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson had yesterday said that government was also in constant touch with the 46 nurses who were in a hospital in Tikrit, another violence-affected city which also fell to the Sunni militant group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).

The Spokesperson also said the Indian Embassy in Baghdad will

shortly open camp offices in Najaf, Karbala and Basra for the convenience of Indians nationals in Iraq. Punjabi youths working in strife-torn Iraq are having difficulty in trying to return to India as many are without a valid visa.

Many of them had visitor visas for Dubai and entered Iraq illegally to seek jobs.

Visas of at least 121 men from Jalandhar and Fatehgarh Sahib expired at least two months ago forcing them to stay back in Karbala, about 100 km from Baghdad.

Surviving on minimal food and water for nearly a week, these youths have been locked in a basement by the construction company that illegally employed them.

Humanitarian groups like Punjab Welfare Society of Kuwait allege that the construction company is forcibly detaining the workers as it will have to pay a fine of $500 per person if the government finds out that they have employed migrant labour illegally.

The company is asking the workers to cough up the money for the fine if they want to leave.

“The only solution is to seek exemption. We have sent two emails to the authorities,” said

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Officials of the society will be in Iraq on Monday to help the workers return. Officials of Kuwaiti embassy in Iraq have also been approached to consider the option of providing an escape route through Kuwait.

The youths have been making frantic calls to their families back home, asking them to approach the Indian embassy to arrange for transportation for their safe evacuation from their company premises. Efforts are on to bring back 90 youths from different parts of Punjab who have valid documents. Money for tickets has been sent to nearly 70 men. Hopes are high that they could be flying back soon. The agent who had arranged for workers from Punjab for the construction company in Karbala had been holding on to the passports, forcing the workers to stay back.

Threat to Pak diplomats NEW DELHI: A nondescript Hindu outfit, which calls itself Shri Hanuman Sena, has threatened to physically harm top Pakistani diplomats in the country.

Pakistan on Tuesday officially raised the issue with the ministry of external affairs seeking a foolproof security cover for its officials. The threat was received by the high commission in the form of a letter.

In their response, Indian officials assured Pakistan that no effort will be spared in ensuring the safety and security of all diplomats in India. “Indian officials also recalled that when on an earlier occasion a reference was made by Pakistani diplomats about security issues, a safety review had been conducted with representatives of Pakistan High Commission and Indian authorities,’’ said a source.

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to fight in Iraq

Visas uncertain, but Shia volunteers want to give their all to protect holy sites. A group of Shias in Delhi, with their passports on June 24.

A Shia organization in Delhi claims to have registered more than 1 lakh youths to travel to Iraq to protect Shia shrines “by all means legal, just and moral,” the Indian Express reported. The volunteers — including builders, businessmen, and executives with banks and telecom companies — speak passionately about “thousands” being killed in Iraq where a Sunni insurgency is raging, but appear mostly unclear about who is responsible for the “mass murders”.

The Anjuman-e-Haideri, headquartered at the Dargah Shah-eMardan in Jorbagh in south Delhi, has distributed registration forms, and claims over a lakh have already signed up to protect the shrines.

While it is unlikely that these volunteers will be given visas to travel to Iraq, the Anjuman has, on its part, registered only those who have valid passports.

A volunteer who gave his name as Zeeshan Haider said, “Iraq needs our help because Shias are being tortured there. It is not possible to give a name to the torturers, because I do not know who they are. I do not know what the ISIS, is but Bhai knows everything. I am going there because it is my religious duty.”

The “Bhai” Zeeshan was referring to, a man called Hassan who said he had a building materials business, said, “The ISIS are terrorists who are also called ISIL. They are like the Taliban in Afghanistan.

They are an offshoot of Al-Qaeda.”

The ISIS, or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, also translated as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or ISIL, is a jihadi miltant group currently active in Syria and Iraq, but claiming a much larger area of the Levant. The ISIS is known for its brutal violence targeting mainly Shias, a reputation that led the Al-Qaeda to formally cut ties with the group, calling them “too extreme”.

Several of those who have signed up in Delhi spoke about “terrorists” and their “torture” of Shias. Hifazat Ali, who said he works for a major telecom company, said that he and his comrades wanted to “purge Iraq and humanity of terrorists”.

Ali Mirza, the chief patron of Anjuman-e-Haideri, said: “We started registrations about 10-15 days back just as tension broke out in Iraq.

More than one lakh people have registered but our target is 10 lakh, which should not be difficult to get, given the commitment of the country’s 5-6 crore Shia population. We will go to Iraq under the leadership of Maulana Kalbe Jawad. He is travelling right now, but the moment he comes back we will get in touch with the Iraqi ambassador and apply for visas. Every person will pay for his own trip, they are going there because we cannot let terrorism destroy our sacred shrines.”

Maulana Kalbe Jawad, a prominent Lucknow-based Shia cleric and scholar, is currently in Iran, and could not be reached for a comment. He was expected to return in a day or two.

The ISIS, now in control of all of western and northern Iraq barring Kurd-controlled Kirkuk and Erbil, is bearing down on Baghdad and vowed to take its campaign to the Shia holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in the south. Shia Iran has announced it will defend the two holy cities, home to the Imam Ali mosque and the shrine of Imam Hussain.

Ali Mirza conceded that all volunteers who sign up may not get visas to travel to Iraq. The volunteers will “sacrifice their everything to uphold Indian laws and to crack down on terrorism,” he said.

While signing up, the volunteers declare that they are going to Iraq of their own free will, after having understood the dangers involved, and that nobody, including the Anjuman, should be held responsible for the consequences. “The decision to travel to Iraq for defending the sanctity and honour of holy shrines in that country is solely my own. In fact I was contemplating going there on my own and I am grateful to Anjuman-e-Haideri for facilitating this journey for myself and innumerable other individuals like myself,” says the form that the volunteers sign.

Twenty-five-year-old Zia Abbas, who has a Master of Computer Applications degree and works for a major bank, said he had volunteered for the mission “for the sake of humanity”.

“This is all that I can do to prevent a third world war breaking out.

Karbala is the symbol of the victory of humanity, which is now under threat from terrorists,” he said. Haji Mirza Qasim Raza, a builder, said: “I am ready to go the day Maulana Kalbe Jawad arrives. I am waiting for him to come back. There is nothing that I will not do to protect Karbala and the holy shrines in Iraq, including laying down my life.”

PAGE 10 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

INDIANS ABROAD

Jagannath Rath Yatra at Discovery Green Jagannath Rath Yatra or “Festival of Chariots,” which originated thousands of years ago in Puri, India, will be celebrated at Discovery Green beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 28.

The festival begins with bhajans, classical Indian dance performances by various renowned artists from Odisha and dance schools in the Greater Houston area, followed by a traditional East Indian chariot parade and multicultural entertainment.

Co-sponsored by Char Dham Hindu Temple of the Woodlands, ISKCON and organized by Masala Radio, the parade will spotlight three authentic hand-pulled wooden chariots that were crafted in India under the direction of Dr. Surya Sahoo of SKAI Foundation.

After the grand success of the event last year, the festival will again be celebrated on a grand scale in Houston as it is traditionally done in India with three chariots.

Festival-goers can help pull the chariots, get henna designs, enjoy cultural programs, vegetarian food and participate in open air Dandia Raas. The event is free and open to the public.

Schedule •Stage Program starts @ 6:00 pm •Chariots Parade - 7 to 8 pm Stage Program resumes until - 10:00 pm Highlights •FREE EVENT •Chariot Procession - we welcome everyone to pull the chariots by hand •Cultural Program including bhajans by Karnamrita Devi Dasi, Odissi dance by renowned artist from Odisha, performance by Nishi Munshi •Open Air Dandia Raas •Dhol and Bollywood Music by DJ Nish •Indian Bazaar and Food Booths •Activities for Kids For more information, please visit http://www.greaterhoustonrathyatra.org/

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Visit www.Indiaherald.com Sign up for News via email.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 • PAGE 11

INDIANS ABROAD Need Extra Resources on Hinduism? These Books Are Just a Start

By MURALI BALAJI Since the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) began its Hinduism 101 initiative last year, I have been fielded with requests from teachers and administrators across the country on what supplemental resources would be good for their schools.

As I’ve written before, most textbooks on Hinduism are woefully outdated and inaccurate, meaning that teachers are unable to give their students the best resources when it comes to learning about Hinduism. HAF’s teacher training has helped to fill the void, but here are some age appropriate resources that might also help educators.

India Unveiled by Robert Arnett. Already in its sixth edition, Arnett’s book is a timeless pictorial journey through India, offering rich visuals and highlighting the country’s thousands of years of spirituality. While Arnett’s book is more about India and its diversity (shown in vivid images of landscapes and religious shrines across the country) than religion, Hinduism - particularly its philosophical ethos - is centrally featured. In fact, Arnett, a historian and art expert who took many of the photos for the book, writes with the same intellectual curiosity of an anthropologist and the empathy of an expatriate. He was also aided ably by Smita Turakhia, an Indian-American who took over 50 photos, edited, and helped design the book.

The book has become one of the most sought after resources on India, with the Los Angeles Unified School District recently ordering more than 100 copies of the book for its libraries.

Another Arnett book, Finders Keepers?, is an award-winning title for children focused on the Hindu values of respect, honesty, devotion, and dharma as lived through the people of India. Illustrated by Turakhia, the book has been drawn international critical acclaim.

The History of Hindu India by the editors of Hinduism Today and Shiva Bajpai. Written as a textbook for grades 6-12, the history of Hindu India provides a detailed evolution of Hinduism’s development in parallel and convergence with Indian history. Bajpai, a professor emeritus of history at California State University Northridge and one of the scholars who helped debunk the controversial Aryan Invasion Theory, worked with the Himalayan Academy and respected professors of religion such as Anantanand Rambachan, Jeffery Long, T.S. Rukamani, and Klaus Klostermeier to develop content that would explain the expanse of Hinduism’s intellectual and cultural evolution over thousands of years. What makes the book valuable is that it’s

one of the only resources that sketches Hinduism from its early period to its contemporary forms across the world.

The Hindu Mind: Fundamentals of Hindu Religion and Philosophy for All Ages

by Bansi Pandit. This popular book by Pandit is written with a logical and scientific explanation of Hinduism and its philosophies. What makes the book so valuable is that Pandit takes complex Hindu ideas and makes them straightforward for novices. Moreover, this book has been a template for many second- and third-generation Hindu parents in the United States to better explain the religion to their own kids.

Hinduism for Dummies by Amrutur K. Srinivasan. Srinivasan explains Hinduism in a

way that most middle school students would be able to grasp without getting caught up in theological debates. This is an ideal “primer” book for public schools because of its readability and its sensitivity to separation and church and state.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Hinduism by Linda Johnsen.

Like Srinivasan, Johnsen takes a straightforward approach to explaining Hinduism, making philosophical and practical concepts within reach for most students. She writes with creativity and enough humor to keep the reader engaged for a basic understanding of the religion.

In sum, these books provide great context to better understanding Hinduism. They allow educators to have enough

context to be able to confidently teach about Hinduism in the same manner they would about any other faith traditions. Moreover, with the success of these books, more grade and age appropriate works are sure to follow.

As interest in Hinduism grows, so will the number of resources on the religion.— The Huffington Post (Balaji IS Director of Education and Curriculum Reformat the Hindu American Foundation.)

PAGE 12 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

COMMUNITY NEWS

Shalini Das displays grace and dedication in Rangapravesh June 14th was an evening to remember, where Shalini Das, daughter of Tapan and Mou Das and disciple of Smt. Supradipta Datta performed her Odissi Ranga Pravesh. It was the sheer repertoire of top class dance presented after nine years of training that impressed the audience to no end. Shalini is only fourteen, yet her performance was befitting of much older exponents.

Shalini started with Ganesh Vandana, where she offered salutations to Lord Ganesha, seeking His blessings. Then, she moved onto Mangalacharan. Here she exhibited a wide array of complex footwork pattern in Odissi style. In Aravi Pallavi, she demonstrated her agility through complex patterns of diverse and intense rhythmic variations. Her expressions in Srita Kamala along with her finely balanced poses and lyrical dancing in Nritya Bilas left the audience speechless. It was a fascinating combination of sculpturesque postures with swift and precise footwork resulting in a spectacular feast for the eyes. She followed it with Mahavidya – incarnations of Shakti, in which she stunned the audience by transforming from a girl to the powerful goddess Kali.

Shalini then reverted to the famous Tagore song “Mor Bhabonare” which describes

the longing of a lonely heart, swayed to a delightful thrill by dark dense clouds. What an energetic presentation by Shalini, electrifying the crowd!

Next, Shalini performed Dasavatar – ten incranations of the Lord Vishnu. Her graceful blend from one avatar to the next along with her unwavering balance in poses made for an enthralling composition. In Mokshya Mangalam, Shalini performed this lively and fitting finale to her performance – a dance abounding in various intricate patterns of foot movements and hand gestures.

There were many honorable guests who attended the performance and were greatly impressed by Shalini’s dance.

Among them were Dr. Rathna Kumar, Pt. Suman Ghosh, and Smt. Indrani Parthasarathi. Dr. Kumar spoke at the ceremony highly of her poise, natural grace, and sublime expressions.

Guru Supradipta Datta showcased the superlative quality of a dance teacher of the absolute top grade. Smt. Datta, one of Smt. Aloka Kanungo’s senior most students, herself earned the rare distinction of completing her Sangeet Kriya Visharad in both Oddisi and Bharatnatyam with top honors. Beyond this she has won many awards and is the founder of the first Odissi dance school in Hous-

ton, Kalaangan. Her patience, her guidance and her words of encouragement have no doubt brought the best out of Shalini.

The transformation she has helped engineer was highlighted for everyone to see.

What really shone throughout the evening was the dedication and commitment Shalini had and the outstanding talent she nurtured, at such a young age. Shalini’s performance and most importantly, the years of training behind the performance exemplified the fantastic human being she is. Each of her dances were breath-taking; her expressions very emotive; her footwork nimble and synchronized with the music and finally, each of the dance forms and subtlest of traits was classic.

The evening’s performance was emceed by Rukmini Das with much grace and poise.

Shalini serves as a beacon of light for other Indian-American children to follow – where they not only learn the Indian arts and culture but most importantly, they become global citizens, tethered to strong moral values and tradition while growing up in America.

Through her performance that evening, Shalini made not only her family and Guru, but also the whole community very proud.

—By Partha S Chatterjee

Shalini Das

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 • PAGE 13

INDIANS ABROAD

“Raise, Rise, Rule!” – A three-city conference tour for South Asian Women Entrepreneurs South Asian Young Women Entrepreneurs (SAY WE), a national network of businessminded executives in the fields of technology, finance, entertainment, and fashion, built on its 2013 six city-tour of financial education panels, “Making Dollars & Sense,” by hosting a full-day conferences aimed to educate women business owners about finance, marketing, public relations and social media.

Called “Raise, Rise, Rule!,” the conference, sponsored by Founding Partner Wells Fargo, took place on Saturday, June 14 at the Sugar Creek Country Club.

Sugar Land city councilman Himesh Gandhi welcomed the group of women entrepreneurs by stressing the importance of small businesses to the local economy and applauding SAY WE for its regional efforts.

“We are so grateful for the support of Wells Fargo,” said SAY WE founder Reema Rasool.

“Without their sponsorship of this type of financial education for small business owners, we would not be able to offer these conferences completely free of charge. Our goal is create a space for South Asian women to learn, grow and be inspired by each other.”

Subject-matter experts and entrepreneurs discussed topics including: building your business credit, reinvesting in your business, protecting your credit score, creating relationships with business bankers, marketing your new business, reaching out to the media and implementing a social media strategy.

The first of these conferences took place in New York City in May, also known as Small Business Appreciation Month.

The next conference will take place in the Bay Area on August 9th. Registration is completely FREE for women entrepreneurs, and participants can secure their spot by visiting http://jingomedia.us7.listmanage.com/track/click?u=21 931ab67c492afa7b976fa3e&id =97a889e747&e=2b97bfee90.

SAY WE is a registered nonprofit organization aimed to cultivate and foster strong relationships among South Asian women who have entrepreneurial interests.

South Asian women are making great strides in the world of business, fashion, media, and the arts, and SAY WE recognizes these achievements to inspire and ensure future generations of ambitious and savvy South Asian women.

SAY WE creates a positive and collegial forum in which South Asian women, regardless of political and religious affiliations, can network, support each other, and applaud one another’s major accomplish-

ments.

SAY WE also aspires to raise awareness and funds for causes and organizations that work toward the advancement of women in South Asia, as well as South Asian women in the United States. For more information, please visit http://jingomedia.us7.list-manage.com “Making Dollars & Sense” Panelists (from L to R): Katrina Lava - Wells Fargo; Ruby Bhandari - Silk Threads Designs; Anisa Chandavong - Wells Fargo; Chef Kiran Verma - Kiran’s Restaurant; Nancy Wong - Wells Fargo; Apurva Sanghavi - START Houston; Tanaz Choudhury - TanChes & MABY; Reema Rasool - SAY WE Founder

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PAGE 14 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

COMMUNTIY NEWS

Tamil drama is kicking and alive with perennial patronage

By SESHADRI KUMAR In an age of digital entertainment, streaming videos, Youtube, and television shows, where does the Tamil drama stand?

The medium of drama is thriving well, and there is a vibrant audience for Tamil plays, says a veteran Tamil stage artist.

His association with Tamil stage began in 1975 and he simultaneously became popular as a Tamil television news reader and later Tamil TV serial actor so much so his initials have become “TV”.

TV Varadharajen, now visiting Houston, is a consummate artist who breathes Tamil drama every moment of his life with an incredible passion, love and commitment.

He has an uncanny ability to turn the trivia upside down and make it sound something immensely important.

There are 35 drama troupes in Chennai, says Varadharajen who is the secretary of the Tamil stage Drama Producers Association.

Are Tamil plays viable?

May not be viable in terms of making money, but it is a passionate vocation, according to Varadharajen.

“Drama is not dead. Patronage is still alive and kicking.

Dramas are staged every month in the local cultural organizations. There is a very good reception for stage plays,” he says.

It is a staple middle class entertainment. The television has

not killed the fine art of live drama.

What better testimony could there be if the “House Full” board is displayed for some of the shows.

Advertisement and marketing are needed to promote plays and an average ticket costs Rs. 100, Varadharajen says.

Recognizing the value of Tamil plays Karthik Fine Arts Society in Chennai conducts annual awards ceremony for best plays after a competition.

Also, various clubs sponsored a play each month for the membership.

People tired of family chores, workplace and traffic, want to relax with entertainment provided by plays which have an undercurrent of humor and satire.

Real estate problems faced by middle class families in building homes, the travails of parents of NRIs and the credit card culture, depicted as Plastic God are some of the examples of successful themes used in producing humorous plays.

He plans to do another drama based on the social theme of divorce, which is increasing in the Indian society.

Varadharajen has pioneered a new trend in the world of Tamil plays.

Instead of bringing a bevy of artists from India at a huge expense, he brings his own skill and talent, and stages the same Tamil plays with local artists.

In 2006, he did a brilliant show called Megaserial with the local troupe Meenakshi

Murali Santhanam, left, Lalitha Bala, Kas Saranathan, TV Varadharajen and Ganesh Raghu in “Ithu Namma Nadu” staged at Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland on June 22.

Theaters of Houston, headed

by Dr. Kas Saranthan.

This month he repeated a similar feat with the staging of the play “Ithu Namma Veedu” in Houston under the auspices of Bharathi Kalai Manram. The play was so popular that it was repeated on Sunday, June 22, at Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland.

Dr. Saranthan, who could not participate because of ill-health during the first show had another opportunity to demonstrate his histrionic talents along with Varadharajen at the June 22 performance.

This is yet another proof of the success for the Tamil stage among Houston Tamil audi-

ence.

“We need good writers. I am happy to see budding writers in Houston. We need them,” Varadharajen says.

He has already introduced a Houston writer’s script (Chandramouli) to an organization in Mumbai who will stage a Tamil play based on his script.

It is quite a feat and honor for the Tamil talent residing abroad.

Ithu Namma Veedu is the 16th production of United Visuals troupe established by Varadharajen in 1994.

Varadharajen also received accolades by performing one of Cho Ramaswamy’s play in 2012. It ran 80 shows. That the

script, a scathing satire on Indian politics in 1960s, has value even today was evident.

Vardharajen’s caliber is such that the legendary K Balachander wanted to direct Ithu Namma Veedu after reading the script.

During his current visit to Houston, he will take the show to Dallas this Friday, along with the Meenakshi Theater artists.

Later he plans to stage the play in other Texas cities and in San Jose/San Francisco area as well.

(See Idhu Namma Naadu, a rib-tickling political satire; India Herald, June 11, 2014.

Visit india-herald.com)

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 • PAGE 15

Preity gets no help from co-stars

Bollywood’s refusal to take a stand on the Preity Zinta-Ness Wadia case has left many wondering if all the talk about unity in the industry is mere hogwash.

Two of the industry’s biggies, Salman and Shah Rukh Khan, also one-time friends of Preity, refused point blank to comment on the issue.

When asked Salman was clearly irritated and snubbed the reporter who asked the question. “You are at the wrong place. (And) you are asking the wrong question. When the reporter persisted, Salman asked the organizers to “take the mic away from her”.

Even Shah Rukh Khan, ad-

dressing reporters at an event to mark Father’s Day, simply skirted the issue. “It’s a very personal thing, yaar. I think we should keep it to that. It’s an issue that she’s brought up and it will be dealt with legally, I assume,” he said.

Saif Ali Khan, who has worked with Preity in a number of films, was perhaps the only star who said something more substantial.

“I am friends with both (Preity and Ness). I went to school with Ness and from what I know of him he is a wonderful gentleman.

I am sad this has happened. I hope things are sorted out between them.”

So why is Bollywood being indifferent?

Is it because Preity is a fading star in the industry? Remember, her last film, Ishkq In Paris, (2013) was a terrible dud. Her last big hit was Kal Ho Na Ho in 2003, and a bit role in The Last Lear in 2007.

In her post on Facebook, Preity Zinta stated, “It saddens me that no one at work or around ever stood up for me in the past when I was abused and insulted publicly.

This time I was left with no option but to take this stern step as this incident happened in front of way too many people.”

Imtiaz Ali’s favorite leading ladies

Was Salman drunk?

Ranbir: My life is like a reality show

Two witnesses in the Salman Khan hit-and-run case of 2002 deposed on Monday. Nine witnesses have recorded their statements so far in the fresh trial that began in December 2013.

Ramashray Pandey, one of the prosecution witnesses, said, “I heard a loud sound at around 2:45 am which woke me up and I could hear people screaming.

People were running from A-One Bakery to American express laundry. When I reached near American express laundry, I saw a white car was rammed inside the shutter of American Express.

“I saw Salman coming out from the right side (driver’s side) of the car, another police personnel was also present there whose name was Patil,” he added.

Another witness, Rizwan, manager of Rain Bar, said, “The group which Salman was a part of, had ordered cocktails and snacks. The group was standing at the service counter.”

Rizwan said that he is not sure about the kind of drink Salman was consuming.

Ranbir Kapoor has moved out of his parents’ home due to renovation work and if reports are to believed, the Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani actor has moved in with his rumored girlfriend Katrina Kaif.

As always, Ranbir was bombarded with questions about his relationship with Katrina at the unRanbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif veiling of scooter in Mumbai. But the actor preferred to keep quiet.

On being asked if he has moved in with Katrina Kaif, Ranbir responded, “The house that I live in with my parents is undergoing redevelopment, so when you go into redevelopment people staying in that house have to move out so that the house can get renovated. Who I am moving in with and who I am staying with, who I’m not staying with I would like to keep it personal because I’m unmarried. The day I get married I will openly speak about it.”

Ranbir and Katrina have been spotted together on more than a couple of occasions catching late night movie shows, cosy dinners and enjoying parties together. However, both Ranbir and Katrina have remained tight-lipped on their relationship status.

Ranbir Kapoor rues that rumors about his personal life have turned his life into a “reality show”. He says he feels “bad” for his parents, who have to face the embarrassment as a result of loose talk.

“There were so many stories, so many conjectures that I’m leaving my parents and my father has said this that ‘Get out of the house’. So, I feel really bad that your life has become like a reality show and my parents are old now. I don’t want them to read such stuff because it’s embarrassing for them and all of that. But yes we have to move out of the house because it’s going for redevelopment.”

Ranbir Kapoor also told the reporters that he wished them to ask him questions about his films and his work rather than his personal life.

Ranbir has finished shooting for Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet.

He is currently shooting for Jagga Jasoos with Katrina.

Scripts penned by filmmaker Imtiaz Ali have featured strong female leads in the past — cases in point, Deepika Padukone’s turn as a spunky girl in Cocktail (2012) and Alia Bhatt’s recent gritty portrayal in Highway. And the director minces no words in praising his favourite leading ladies.

Ask Imtiaz about this and he says, “Deepika is a very coming-of-age heroine. And Alia, considering her age, is extremely talented.”

Recently, the fimmaker was quoted saying that since day one, he had Alia on his mind for the film. And as far as Deepika is concerned, the duo will be working together once again in an upcoming film, for which she will begin shooting in Europe soon.

Aamir Khan breaks his own rule

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PAGE 16 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

REVIEW/PREVIEW Humshakals is revolting

There are bad movies, and then there’s Humshakals. This is the worst film of 2014 so far. You have Ashok (Saif Ali Khan), a Londonbased billionaire, living in a mansion and hobnobbing with Prince Charles.

His passion is stand-up comedy, even as he tries to amuse local Londoners with jokes in Hindi. That’s how the film is. Characters talk to foreigners in Hindi, and all key people, from doctors to wardens to nightclub owners are Indian.

When he meets the consistently mini-skirted Shanaya (Tamannah), he replies with a “You are so Churchgate”, when she exclaims, “You are so witty”. (Gettit? Doesn’t matter....)

Anyhow, his uncle (Ram Kapoor) has his eyes on the moolah, now that Ashok’s father is in coma. He takes a sneering doctor’s help and turns Ashok and his sidekick Kumar (Riteish Deshmukh) into dogs.

Meaning with the help of MAD (mind altering drug), he has them behaving like dogs for a few hours.

So you have a scene where the two actors ham it up, giving the most insulting representation to canine behavior imaginable. They’re locked up in a mental asylum as per the Uncle’s devious plan. But as coincidences, or developments in Sajid Khan’s films go, there are inmates with actual mental disorders, who are exact humshakals of Ashok and Kumar. And guess what?? They’re named Ashok and Kumar too.

They’re 30 years old (hah!), but have the mind of a five-year-old.

Again, their exasperating behavior (coupled with seriously bad acting) is an offensive representation of how children behave.

No wait, there’s more. Their uncle (Kapoor) has a humshakal too, and finally towards the end, we don’t have double, but triple versions of these characters. Then, there’s a Hitler-worshipping warden called Bijlani (he has a thing for electric shocks), a pretty assistant (Bipasha Basu), and an asylum doc (Esha Gupta) stumbling around in heels.

Now madcap comedies can be super-fun, but they still have to be well thought-out! A comedy has to make you laugh in the first place, not go looking for a headache pill.

Sajid Khan has totally lost the plot here (pun intended). He mistakes unbearable crudity for humour, and assumes jokes that school kids would find beneath them, good enough to entertain an audience.

The actors mistake pulling faces for acting (for Saif, this film is a huge comedown). The female actors are made to display miles of leg in clothes that become shorter and tighter as the film progresses.

The characters scream, “It’s all so confusing”, mirroring exactly the viewer’s thoughts. But by then you’re jaded, waiting for the film to end. You know, it’ll stay with you though; such torture is not easily shrugged off. You didn’t sign up for a horror film but you’ll see images that could haunt you for days. Watch it if you can tolerate Saif (dressed as a waitress, revolting) getting sexy with Riteish, and Riteish (in a skirt) seducing Saif’s clone. You have been warned!

Machchli Jal ki Rani Hai Cast: Swara Bhaskar, Bhanu Uday, Murli Sharma. Direction: Debaloy Dey A housewife experiences paranormal activities in her new house.

Are those occurrences just her imagination or are they real?

Ayesha (Swara Bhaskar) and Uday (Bhanu Uday) relocate to Jabalpur from Mumbai after Uday takes up a job there. They are put up at a spacious guest house in a deserted location. In no time, Ayesha senses a mysterious presence in the house. Nightmares, hallucinations, creepy noises and shadows start plaguing her. She pleads with her husband to vacate the house but he blames it on her mind games.

Not much novelty can be expected in horror, given the nature of the genre. But if the cliched scenes manage to scare you, the job is done.

Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai has a formulaic premise too - a woman alone in a haunted house, doors shutting by themselves, mysterious gory deaths, 'I-believe-in-ghosts' maid and an exorcism in the climax.

While the film has all the elements, it struggles to maintain tension.

The focus diverts from ghost and possession to the couple hosting dinner parties for friends. Inclusion of other insignificant characters adds to the length. Sound effects are strictly average.

While Swara Bhaskar is impressive in her first horror film, her performance fails to compensate the director's disjointed execution. Bhanu Uday is decent too. If you get spooked easily, you may not mind this one. If you like horror, watch Insidious (2010) or Bhoot (2003) again.

MUSINGS

By Gadfly Learn the difference between dissent & offense Hardly had the ink dried on my last column (IH-June 11 - Modi should guard against ‘gruha shatrus’), his ‘gruha shatrus’ stuck again (after the killing of a young Muslim techie in Pune) @ the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple in California. It started with Shubha Mudgal, previously Shubha Gupta, who according to Wikipidia (because until now I had never heard of her) is a singer of Hindustani classical music - khayal, thumri, dadra and Indian pop - born in Allahabad. Having decided on a classical music as her career, Allahabad’s Pandit Ramshreya Jha was her guru. After moving to New Delhi, enrolling in Delhi University, she continued her musical education under Pandit Vinaya Chandra Mudgalya. She married his son Mukul Mudgal, a promising lawyer. She later divorced him and married Aneesh Pradhan.

Now here are two accounts of what happened on June 1 in California - one subtly in a pseudosecularist tone in India Abroad and the other in India West without any bias.

Under the headline “Shubha Mudgal ‘threatened’ @ Sunnyvale….for anti-Modi stance”, Ritu Jha (India Abroad) reports that Mudgal was threatened for her political views (note the use of the word ‘threaten’ leaving it open to the most dire interpretation until you read the item to its end.) A Californiabased (another pseudo-secularist) organization, Alliance of South Asians Taking Actions ASATA has started a petition demanding that a Sunnyvale Hindu Temple board member publicly apologize to Ms. Mudgal for threatening her during a concert. The petition says Mudgal was threatened (repeated use of the word ‘threat’ smacks of Goebbels) for her political views just before her concert @ the temple June 1. (Two long sentences into the report, we are left to our – worst possible scenario/ imagination - if the threat was by knife, by gun, a punch in the nose or something else.) Two individuals - Preeti Mangala Shekhar an ASATA member, who initiated the petition and Ashima Yadav, close associate of Mudgal - were quoted as being shocked, angry, ‘a major problem with Hindutva censorship’, ‘such acts will not be tolerated’, ‘never heard such a thing happening to an artist’. (Apparently they were referring to the small area of Bay Area. Otherwise, I’m sure they’ve heard of Salman Rushdie, Taslima Nasreen.)

Six small paragraphs later trickles the information (as told by Mudgal herself). Raj Bhanot, reportedly a co-founder of the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple confronted Mudgal saying that he would not tolerate her antiNarendra Modi and anti-Hindu stand and also (reportedly) demanded an apology from her. The report goes on to say Mudgal, according to Bhanot, was rude and insulting people. The report puts Bhanot in negative light saying things like ‘Some people from the

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (shades of RSS?) wanted to protest against her @ the concert for her views against Modi (implying the ‘Modi’ connection) and started a petition asking Mudgal to apologize to the Hindu community etc.

He refused to divulge who had initiated the petition against Mudgal.

That leaves a bad taste against Raj Bhanot, Hindu groups (read Hindutva groups), BJP, Modi etc. etc., doesn’t it? Mission accomplished. All because some overenthusiastic Hindus decided to raise ‘hell’, reflecting zealotry supposedly spurred by BJP’s victory in India. These are the Gruha Shatrus (the ‘threatening’ ones) I wrote about in my last column. A few such shenanigans per year by these ‘Hindu’ zealots duly publicized by the pseudo-media both in India and Indians abroad (those writing to the Guardian, the UN, and the US Congress) multiplied by five years, may be enough to shame the majority Hindus in India about the Hindutva noise and decide to vote out the Modi government, thanks to some over-zealous Hindus.

Now let us turn to the no-slant reporting by India West. Reported

by Sunita Sohrabji, its headline sets the tone: “Singer Shubha Mudgal Reportedly Verbally Attacked @ Temple.” No ambiguous ‘threatened’, no direct mention of ‘antiModi stance’ to grab your goat BEFORE you read the full report.

And it begins without innuendo: “Acclaimed Hindustani classical singer Shubha Mudgal claims she was verbally attacked for her stance against India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi….” Notice the ‘verbally attacked’, not ‘threatened’. And it’s all clear in the first sentence, adding (Mudgal) ‘claims’. The report quotes Ms. Mudgal directly from her media missive. It doesn’t mention the SATA or ‘a major problem with Hindutva censorship’, ‘such acts will not be tolerated’, ‘never heard such a thing happening to an artist’ as in the India Abroad report.

I am mentioning these things in detail because the average reader doesn’t notice these subliminal attempts to influence the reader’s mind to plant the seed of guilty until proven innocent (see Narendra Modi and 2002 riots).

Coming to the nut cases on both sides of the divide, there are more anti-Hindu/ Hinduism Hindus than anti-Christianity Christians, antiIslam Muslims combined. This is the curse that secular (not pseudosecular) Hindus have carried for centuries. Besides, unlike Arundhati Roy being a daughter of a Bengali Hindu and Malayali Syrian Christian, there is no religious background information on Ms. Mudgal’s parents to shed any light on why she is anti-Hindu (if that is really the case), though an anti-Hindu Hindu is neither a surprise nor rare. Being anti-Modi is understandable. Ask Mira Nair of the pogrom fame. Those are political views. Besides there are many anti-Modi Hindus all over the world. It should not and does not give anyone - Hindus or Hindu

groups - the right to confront Ms. Mudgal about her views. The right to disagree is a given. Her being anti-Hindu or anti-Hinduism makes me wonder if the origin of such anti-Hindu/Hinduism (too much of a generalization) is being a Dalit (another generalization), because many of my Dalit friends put all Hindus and Hinduism in one basket of undesirable being/s.

However the origin of such bias is irrelevant. Every person has the right to a bias, a prejudice. No one has the right to confront them, whether in America/Western world, the land of too much freedom and too much free speech or in India, where free speech comes with a lot more responsibility.

People who attack disagreements should be shouted down by the Hindu groups first. Unfortunately, Hindus are the most passive (laziest?) people in the word when it comes to matters of protecting Hinduism. Doing nothing requires nothing. It’s the easiest way out.

They don’t see the consequences of keeping quiet. They have never heard of the saying ‘silence is consent’ nor ‘the easiest way for evil to triumph is for good men/ women to do nothing’. If as Ms. Mudgal claims she WAS verbally threatened (and I have no reason to doubt her words), Hindutva is going to get the bad rap and so Hindu groups and BJP should lead the outrage against people who verbally threatened Ms. Mudgal.

She has the right to be wrong by generalizing Hindus and Hinduism. Right and wrong are subjective any way. Now that NaMo and BJP are heading the Indian government, such zealots could sprout anywhere. In the interest of saving itself from embarrassment and to make sure nobody takes advantage in their name, it would help keep BJP its own image clean if such zealots are handled swiftly and effectively.

The election results were a political wave, not a religious one.

People who indulge in such threats – verbal or physical – do more harm than good to the cause of true secularism of Hinduism. Inaction allows the good work of Hindu social workers be undone by some zealots. We must know the difference between protection of tolerance and defense of intolerance. Doing nothing about threats to dissent would be tolerating intolerance. Defending zealots of any religion is defending intolerance thereby falling in the hands of those pointing fingers at an easy target – Hinduism.

I don’t, for the life of me, know where Ms. Mudgal’s anti-Hindu/ Hinduism views (if that is the case) came from and I don’t care. She has every right to hold, nurture and carry those views. The zealots of every religion must learn to differentiate between dissent and offense. Every one of us has the right to dissent. No one has the right to offend or infringe on dissent or to verbally threaten dissenters. That right belongs to a dictator. And in democracy, there can’t be any pockets of dictatorship. — Send responses to editor@india-herald.com

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 • PAGE 17

CHEF’S CORNER

The Story of Mahatma Gandhi - II

Gandhi returns home after passing bar exam After passing his high school examination, Mohandas’s eldest brother and a family friend suggested that Mohandas should go to England to study and become a barrister.

But his mother did not want her youngest son to stay away from her. There was also the problem of money and she feared that Mohandas would lose his caste if he crossed the ocean (an age-old taboo against overseas travel among the high caste Hindus).

She feared he will eat meat, drink alcohol and fall into bad company. But Mohandas urged her to let him to go, and he took a vow not to eat meat, not to drink, and not to touch a woman. Now read on: Putlibai at last gave in and allowed him to go to England.

Mohandas was sorrowful when he left Rajkot for Bombay, because he had to leave behind his mother, his wife, and son Harilal, who was only a few months old.

On September 4, 1888, Mohandas left Bombay to set sail for England.

Dressed in western style, he stood on the deck as the ship slowly steamed out of the harbor.

Mohandas never forgot his first morning on board. He felt most uncomfortable in his black suit, a white shirt, a stiff collar and a necktie. The stiff collar pinched him. It was quite a job to knot his tie properly.

The tight, short coat also made him ill at ease. He thought that Indian attire was much more comfortable. Yet a glance in the mirror made him feel proud of himself. He thought he looked very impressive. Mohandas was shy.

He rarely left his cabin. He even ate by himself.

He was not sure of all those unknown foods served on the ship.

He thought they might contain meat and did not wish to break his vow to his mother never to eat meat. So he lived mainly on the snacks and sweets he had brought from home.

On landing at Southampton he looked around and saw that all the people were in dark clothes, wearing bowler hats and carrying overcoats flung over their arms.

Mohandas was embarrassed to find that he was the only one wearing white flannels.

In London, he stayed at first at the Victoria Hotel. Dr. P. J. Mehta, a friend of the Gandhi family, was the first to meet him. Mohandas was impressed with Dr. Mehta’s silk top hat. Out of curiosity, he passed his hand over it and disturbed the pile of the silk.

Dr. Mehta then gave him his first lesson in European manners.

“Do not touch other people’s things,” he said.

“Do not ask questions as we do in India when we meet someone for the first time. Do not talk loudly. Never address people as “sir” while speaking to them, as we do in India. Only servants and subordinates address their masters in that way.”

Young Gandhi found everything around him strange. He was homesick.

Mohandas Gandhi as a young Barrister in England

Gandhi Jayanti 2014 Gandhi Jayanti, celebrated as 1000 Lights For Peace. Saturday, October 4, 2014 at Jones Plaza Downtown – Free Parking* Educate your children about Gandhi ji by having them participate in Speech, Essay, Poster or Multi-media contests. To register for these contests and more information visit www.gandhilib rary.org He almost starved until he discovered a vegetarian restaurant.

Struggling to learn western manners and customs, he rented a suite of rooms. He bought welltailored clothes and a top hat. He spent a lot of time before the mirror, parting his straight hair and fixing his tie.

He took lessons in dancing, but soon gave it up as he had no sense of rhythm. He tried his hand at playing the violin, but failed. He took lessons in French and elocution, but went to sleep. His attempt to be an Englishman lasted about three months. Then he gave up the idea. He converted himself into a serious student.

“I have changed my way of life,” he told a friend. “All this foolishness is at an end. I am living in one room and cooking my own food. Hereafter I shall devote all my time to study.”

His meals were simple. He avoided expenditure on transport and went on foot everywhere in London. He started to keep an account of every penny he spent.

Mohandas joined the London Vegetarian Society and soon found himself in its executive council. He wrote articles for the magazine Vegetarian.

The bar examination did not require much study and Gandhi had ample time to spare. Oxford or Cambridge was out of the question because it meant a long course and much expense.

He therefore decided to appear for the London matriculation examination. It meant hard work, but he liked hard work. He passed in French, English, and chemistry but failed in Latin. He tried again, and this time passed in Latin too.

Meanwhile, he progressed in his study of law and in November 1888 was admitted to the Inner

Temple. It was the tradition of the Inns of Court for the students to dine together at least six times each year.

The first time Gandhi dined with his fellow students, he was nervous. He was sure the boys would rib him for refusing meat and alcohol.

When wine was offered, he said, “No, thank you.” The boy sitting next to him said, “I say, Gandhi, don’t you want your share? As a law student in London you pay for it, you know!”

When Gandhi replied that he never touched wine, the boy shouted to his friends, ‘By Jove, fellows, we are in luck to have this chap sitting with us. That gives us an extra half bottle.”

“You can have my share of roast, too,” Gandhi told them, looking quite content with his bread, boiled potatoes and cabbage.

He was pleasantly surprised to find that his strange habits did not make him unpopular. The next time he went for the dinner, he had a pile of law books with him. He was taking the books to his room to study.

“Gandhi,” said a student, “you are not really going through this stuff, are you?”

He snatched up one of the fat volumes. “Look, you chaps,” he cried, “he is actually reading Roman law in Latin!”

The students laughed. One of them said, “Let me tell you, Gandhi, I passed the last examination in Roman law by spending two weeks on a printed summary. Why do you slave at it like this?”

Gandhi explained to his lighthearted friends that he worked so hard for sheer interest in the subject, and that he wanted to acquire knowledge for its own sake. After a short trip to France, he prepared for the final law examination. The results were soon declared. He had passed with high marks.

On June 10, 1891, Gandhi was called to the bar. He was admitted as a barrister and the next day was formally enrolled in the High Court. The following day, June 12, he sailed for India.

Gandhi’s three-year stay in England was eventful. Those were days of great intellectual activity, and there was tolerance for every school of thought.

The country as a whole was a living university. As Gandhi sailed for home on the S.S. Assam, he felt that, next to India, he would rather live in England than any other place in the world.

— To be continued

Potato & Broccoli Croquettes Ingredients: 2 cups small broccoli florets; 5 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, unpeeled; 3-1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs, 3 large eggs, separated; 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 tsp ground white pepper, 6 tbsp vegetable oil.

Method: Cook broccoli in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer broccoli to bowl. Return water to boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender, about 35 minutes. Drain. Let potatoes stand until cool enough to handle.

Peel.

Place in large bowl and mash. Finely chop broccoli. Mix broccoli, 1 cup breadcrumbs, egg yolks, Parmesan, salt, and white pepper into potatoes. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gently fold whites into potato mixture. Form mixture into sixteen 2-inch-diameter, 3/4-inch-thick patties. Coat with breadcrumbs; place on baking sheet. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add half of croquettes and cook until golden, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to baking sheet. Repeat. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Chill until cold, then cover and keep chilled.

Uncover and reheat in 400°F oven 10 minutes.)

Stuffed Potatoes with Kale & Red Pepper Ingredients: 2 med. potatoes, 1 med. bunch kale or 1 med. spinach, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 red bell pepper, chopped; 1/2 med. onion, chopped; 2 or 3 tbsp milk, salt and pepper, 4 tbsp cheddar cheese, grated.

Method: Preheat oven to 375°F Scrub potatoes, and place in hot oven. Bake until done - about 45 minutes. Wash kale, remove ribs, and chop coarsely. Place in covered, microwave-safe dish, and microwave until wilted, and crisp-tender. About 3 minutes. Set aside to cool. Heat oil in medium skillet. Saute onions and bell pepper until tender. Place in medium bowl. Squeeze as much moisture from the kale as you can with your hands. Chop and add to bowl with onions and peppers, stir to combine. When potatoes are done, remove from oven. Carefully cut in half, and scoop the insides into the bowl with the vegetables, leaving a 1/4" shell. Place shells on a baking sheet, cut side up. Mash the potatoes and vegetables together.

Add milk to moisten mixture - it should not be creamy like mashed potatoes, but retain some texture. Spoon the mixture back into the shells. Sprinkle each with a tablespoon of cheese. Return to oven until heated through, and the cheese is mlst ed, about 10 mts. Serve.

Sangria Ice Ingredients: 1 cup 100% Concord grape juice, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tsp finely grated orange rind; 1 tsp finely grated lemon rind, 1-3/4 cups fruity red wine.

Method: Combine juice and sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Stir in rinds; cool completely. Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard solids. Stir in wine. Pour into an 11x7 inch baking dish. Cover and freeze for about 45 minutes; scrape with a fork. Freeze. Scrape mixture every 45 minutes until completely frozen (about 5 hours). Remove mixture from freezer; scrape entire mixture with a fork until fluffy.

Grilled Serrano Salsa Verde Make this zesty sauce fresh. It’s a great topper for tofu, tacos, rice bowls, and more.

Ingredients: 1 bunch fresh cilantro, 3/4 cup olive oil, 2 grilled or roasted serrano chile, 1 tbsp champagne vinegar, 2 small or 1 large grilled garlic cloves. — Combine all ingredients in bowl of food processor with 1/4 cup water. Blend until smooth.

Vegetarian Dipping Sauce Ingredients: 1/4 cup superfine sugar, 3/4 cup boiling water, 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, 3 tbsp light soy sauce.

Method: Dissolve the sugar in the boiling water, then allow to cool.

Once cooled, add lemon juice and soy sauce and mix well to combine.

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PAGE 18 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

RELIGION / SPIRITUALITY

The mysterious cosmic factor

By Sri Sri Anandamurthy Whatever we do not know, in order to conceal our limitations or hide our imperfections, we either say that it is non-existent, or we will say it is an abstract.

In the universe, whatever comes within the scope of our senses or within the periphery of our perception, we say, “It is,” and whatever is beyond the arena of the senses or jurisdiction of perception, we cannot say anything.

Hence, our world functions within the limitations of our senses and perceptions.

We know in the realm of cosmic introvert or extrovert, in the first (extrovert) phase,“subtle” is transmuted into “crude”, and in the returning phase of introvert, “crude” is metamorphosed into “subtle”.

In this progress, a semicircular approach, there may be subtler objects in the scope of matter – many objects subtler than electrons or protons, [neutrons] or positrons – but we find no alternative but to say that they are either electron or proton or positron or neutron.

And similarly, in the psychic sphere there may be entities subtler than ectoplasm or its extrapsychic coverage, endoplasm.

There are entities which come within the realm of both physicality and psychic expressions which are smaller or subtler than atoms, electrons or protons, and in the psychic realm may be subtler than ectoplasm.

For such objects or entities I use the term “microvitum”.

Microvitum is the mysterious emanation of cosmic factor.

This microvitum, or in plural microvita, are not of protoplasmic order, and as such they have got little to do with carbon molecules or carbon atoms, which are treated as the initial points or initial stage of life in the universe.

In pyhscial terms, the position of microvita is just between ectoplasm and electron, but they are neither ectoplasm nor electron.

Due to our lack of knowing, we may say microvita is mysterious.

Hence it is the mysterious emanation of cosmic factor.

They are not of protoplasmic order, and hence the question of their protozoic or metazoic structure does not arise. It’s a mystery.

Microvita are not of the same density or subtlety.

Some of them may come within the range of a highly developed microscope; others, by their actional expression, faculty or vibrations, they may come

within the scope of our perception.

They are of subtler order.

There may be still more subtle forms of microvita which may not come directly within the scope of our perception but may come within the scope of a special type of perception which is actually the reflection of conception within the range of perception in a limited sphere.

So microvita may be broadly divided into three categories – those coming within the scope of a microscope; those coming within the scope of perception as a re-

The world as divine playground

sult of their expression or actional vibration; and those coming within the scope of a special type of perception which is actually the reflection of conception within the periphery of perception.

Special perception may be felt or realised by persons having highly developed, spiritual minds.

By dint of our spiritual or physico-psycho-spiritual sadhana, our minds will develop in all strata, and the power of conception will also develop.

And we will know the secrets of these microvita.

The art of Karma management

By Hasmukh Adhia All of us are always busy doing something. But very few know the Art of karma.

Fascinated by idealism of complete renunciation, Arjuna wanted to give up his karma as a warrior, believing that it would be a sin to kill his opponents, many of whom were his revered relatives.

Should he give up his assigned karma? Krishna says 'no' and explains to him and to all of us the concept of why and how karma should be done.

Your chosen duty is described as 'swadharma' in the Bhagwad Gita. Everyone has to carry out their swadharma without carelessness and ego.

Also while performing one's chosen duty, our attention should be on the quality of action, rather than being attached only to the fruits of action.

There are two types of fruits we get out of any activity -- main fruit and subordinate fruit.

For instance in a game of sports, the main benefit we get is that of getting physical fitness and the subordinate fruit can be winning.

Even if we lose, the main fruit is not going waste. Both winner and loser get physical fitness.

In life, the main fruit of discharging our duty properly is purity of mind which comes, although we do not notice it until it is pointed out to us.

With purity of mind we get peace of mind, harmony and ability to enjoy what we have, independent of all other objects of socalled pleasure which we do not have.

Subordinate fruits are wealth, position, rank, name and fame.

Even if the latter does not come, the main fruit of purity of intellect is always obtained in any karma yoga.

Let us take the example of a driver who is engaged by a taxi company for a regular salary.

He may be getting tips from some clients, which is his extra income.

Suppose he starts thinking only about increasing his extra income, not even remembering that he is being paid fully for his job already, he would give best service only to those clients who give him tips, and neglect all others who do not.

In the process, he is risking his main salary also, because there is a possibility of some of his clients complaining to his boss for his negligence and he may lose his job.

Can he be happy this way?

We also forget, or do not notice, that God is giving us the main fruit of being happy and contended, even if other things are not coming in ample measures.

God has already given us so much by way of infrastructure of free oxygen, water and sunshine which is being made more and more comfortable by many of our predecessors.

Is that not good enough reason for us to feel grateful and in return give our own contribution to make this world a better place still? Can an ungrateful person be ever happy in life?

This does not mean that we only live on air and sunshine.

As per the the infallible theory of karma phala, one will definitely have good results for good work done.

That taxi driver can surely hope to get extra income if he continues to give good service to all, whether they give tips or not. But moment we try to be selfish and work only for money or position, we’re in trouble.

So the Gita’s message is: 'Do your best always, do not be utterly selfish and have no ego'. That indeed is the art of karma yoga.

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By Dadaji Amiya Roy Chowdhury The world is the Vrindavan Leela or divine playground of the Supreme. Nothing is to be shunned, for you are all the while in It (Mahanam). That you have forgotten this is the root cause of your misery. The world is real. We have come here to taste the blissful rapture of His Manifestation. By doing our duties which come from His will, we relish His love and bliss.

Brahmn is manifestation and Brahmnmayi is part of it; Creation began with them. Why not accept the saying, “God in His Supreme playfulness, by mere resolve, has been inclined to create the worlds and they were created forthwith.”

The world is not non-existent, for only on this earth human beings can savour Divinity. That being so, how can the world be illusory?

Whatever you may call it, Maya or Yogamaya, it also has an Existence It also is a manifestation of Supreme Energy. But, the strength to make progress on the path of emancipation, realisation and salvation out of the hold of this Maya, is also given by Him. The spiritual world is a reality and not a figment of imagination.

Substance is One. You talk about materialism and spiritualism. Try to change your vision. Then everything will be clear. Just imagine the origin of this universe, dive deep into the fundamental. This universe as we find it today is the result of a long process of steady evolution.

You proceed from the general to the particular. Realise that Absolute Truth. There is a stage even before sound. But ultimately, the general and the particular become identical.

There are so many worlds....same thing. All temporary, everything is temporary. All worlds are mutually exclusive. How can one go from one to another? All worlds are interrelated. So, if there be unrest in the earth, that will invade regions like the heavens also.

The world is an organic whole. The solar system can be penetrated in a moment’s thought. Science is able to create space vehicles and go to the moon. It can also go to the other planets. There is nothing new in this. It is Mahajnana (Supreme Knowledge) that flows along, encircling the countless worlds.

Manifestation of God is the universe. The world is an escapable reality. Space and time each have infinite dimensions. Every segment of space is present in every other segment.

Every split second also is present in every other second. So, space and time are both ubiquitous. In fact, time is a ceaseless duration and space an unfettered expanse.

Matter is One. Indistinguishable, it wears different looks on different occasions.

There is no dichotomy of matter and spirit. They are one Integer; that is the sole reality. The new year of the calendar is a human creation. In mind is the space-time complex, but He is beyond time and space. The mind gets fullness of right vision or enlightenment when, while being in this body, it becomes conscious of Him. Then, that moment is mind’s New Year, a new birth of light.

In that state, one loses the boastful i-sense in one’s activities and even if the senses and desires drive the mind, the bridle is held by the Lord Himself, or the Nam, so that one cannot go astray. But nobody feels grateful that He, All-merciful, continuously showers His Grace on beings. The one who can fully relish and utilise the present, without worrying about present, past and future, he really enjoys the state of Vraja, His Love.

This Life This life, which had been the tomb of his virtue and of his honour, is but a walking shadow; a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. — William Shakespeare Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor. — Sholom Aleichem Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. — Buddha Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, because hate in your heart will consume you too. — Will Smith Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it. — Satya Sai Baba My formula for living is simple. I get up in the morning; I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can. — Cary Grant

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 • PAGE 19

INDIA Government cracks the whip on foreign-funded charities NEW DELHI: India is cracking down on foreign-funded charities after receiving an internal report alleging they are costing the country up to 3 percent of its GDP by rallying communities against polluting industries.

The Intelligence Bureau’s report — a copy of which was obtained on June 19 by the Associated Press — also accuses the groups including Greenpeace, Amnesty International and Action Aid of providing reports “used to build a record against India and serve as tools for the strategic foreign policy interests of Western Governments.”

The Home Ministry said it would neither confirm nor deny the existence of the report, which has sparked a firestorm of debate in Indian newspapers and on TV news channels.

But in a earlier this month, the ministry ordered the Reserve Bank of India to hold all foreign contributions to India-based charities until they are cleared by the ministry, spokesman K.S. Dhatwalia said. He said Thursday the order would help the government control how much money was coming into India, and how it was being spent. The charities had previously reported annually on how they used their funding.

The report specifically criticized the charities for organizing public protests against nuclear power plants, uranium mines, coal-fired power plants, genetically modified crops and electronic waste.

“The negative impact on GDP growth is assessed to be 2-3 percent” each year, the report says, without elaborating on how that assessment was made. Organizations and activists named in the report called the allegations ludicrous.

“If indeed we are a threat to national security, one would assume the government would move to engage with us,” Greenpeace India’s executive director, Samit Aich, said in a written statement to AP. “This seems to be a slander campaign designed to pave the way for rash (project) clearances, high-handed action against civil society and corporate Raj.” The Intelligence Bureau submitted its report — titled “Concerted efforts by select foreign funded NGOs to ‘take down’ Indian development projects” — to the national government on June 3, just days after Modi’s government took over. Greenpeace, it says, was specifically campaigning against e-waste disposal “in order to undermine the image” of India’s IT firms. It says, however, that the campaign failed to achieve its goal of “eroding the earnings of the IT firms.”

Greenpeace called the allegations baseless, and said no one in the organization had been contacted by the report’s investigators. It says its Indian chapter receives 61 percent of its money from Indian donors and 39 percent from Greenpeace International.

“If they had taken us on board, they would have definitely come to a different conclusion. They did not take our view,” said the group’s communication director, Bharati Sinha. Greenpeace also said the government has refused to let the organization see a copy of the report.

“These tactics will not stop Greenpeace from speaking truth to power and continuing to raise issues that are essential for protecting the environment for current and future generations.”

Anti-nuclear activist S.P. Udayakumar, accused in the report of taking money from a U.S. group to organize 2011 resistance to a Russian-built nuclear power plant in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, also said the allegations were preposterous. His lawyer has notified the Home Ministry of plans to sue for defamation of Udayakumar’s character unless the ministry issues a retraction.

Rail fares hiked

Sibal rents Delhi home for Rs 1.6 mil

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government on Friday administered the first bitter pill it prescribed with the railways announcing a sharp hike of 14.2% in passenger fares and 6.5% in freight tariffs — the steepest single-shot increases in recent memory and perhaps the highest ever. For season tickets on suburban trains, the price has been doubled. However, under pressure from Shiv Sena and BJP mPs from Mumbai, the monthly Season Ticket of suburban trains across India was rolled back to a 14.2 per cent increase, much like the rest of the classes. There will be no increase for travel up to first 80 km in second class for nonpassholders.

The government justified the massive fare hike on two grounds.

One, the hike was absolutely necessary in order to bring the cashstrapped national transporter back on track, and second, the decision was actually taken by the UPA government on February 10, and left for the new government to implement. The new fares and freight rates are effective June 25. The decision on these hikes was taken on February 10 by the UPA government with the caveat that it would come into effect after the polls. The Railway Board notified the hikes on May 16 when the results of polls came in. However, just hours later, with his party suffering a rout, former railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge leaned on the Railway Board to withhold the hike. Back in March, 2012, Narendra Modi had criticized the UPA government for doing exactly the same.

“Just before Rail Budget UPA has suddenly increased railway freight rates bypassing Parliament.

Wrote to PM against this,” he tweeted from his verified account on March 7, 2012. The main points of the letter to Manmohan Singh were put up in the form of an article on Modi’s own website.

NEW DELHI: Former law and telecom minister Kapil Sibal, who recently lost his seat in the lower House of Parliament, will shortly move to a luxurious residence in leafy Lutyens’ Delhi, paying a princely rent of Rs 16 lakh a month.

The bungalow, built on a 1,250 square yard plot in Jor Bagh, overlooking the Safdarjung Tomb, is owned by Delhi-based businessman Siddharth Sareen, the brother-in law of Emaar MGF promoter Shravan Gupta. Both Sibal and Sareen confirmed that they had signed an agreement for the house, but refused to reveal the contracted rent. Persons closely associated with the deal said Sareen had demanded Rs 18 lakh for the bungalow, but settled for Rs 16 lakh.

Even at that price, this will be among the most expensive houses on rent in the city.

In November 2013, Mumbai entrepreneur Kamal Morarka, who was a minister in the Chandra Shekhar government, reportedly rented a bungalow on the same street for Rs 18 lakh a month. Sibal told ET he will vacate his government bungalow on Teen Murti Road and move to his new house just before the lease commences on August 1.

The new house will also have an office for his law practice. Sibal, one of India’s best known constitutional and corporate lawyers — he represented Birlas in the case versus Lodha, and big MNCs such as Pepsi — had stopped practicing after becoming a minister in the Manmohan Singh government a decade ago. Several top ministers of the previous government are among 265 Lok Sabha MPs who must vacate their government houses by the end of this month, after they lost the elections, to make way for 316 new MPs. Some of India’s leading businessmen — LN Mittal, KP Singh, Sunil Mittal, Shashi and Ravi Ruia, Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, Naveen Jindal, Atul Punj and Hari Bhartia — own houses in Lutyen’s Zone.

A night to forget on Rajdhani Express

Arrest warrant issued against Dhoni

Recounting the fear and shock after the derailment of the Rajdhani Express, passengers of the New Delhi-Dibrugarh train near Chapra in Bihar on Wednesday, June 25, said it was a “night to forget”.

Rita Nath of Guwahati, who suffered injured on her head and chest in the derailment, said, “All the passengers in the coach had dinner early and went to sleep. “I was sleeping on my berth when I suddenly felt the train tilting to one side. It tumbled over before I could get up. I lost consciousness after that,” Rita told reporters from her bed at the Patna Medical College and Hospital.

“I regained consciousness after some time. It was dark all around.

My limbs were numb and my head was paining. Some people pulled me out. I was thinking of death. This is one night I would like to forget in my life,” she said. Mauli Dhawan, 13, was also sleeping when the accident took place. She was travelling with her relative Pawan Kumar and bot have suffered head injuries. Four people died and eight were injured in the derailment.

Mauli said, “One uncle broke the window of my coach. He pressed my head, which was bleeding. Somebody wrapped a bandage and I was brought here.” Kavita Saikia of Tinsukia in Assam escaped unhurt, but her husband Achintya Saikia was not so lucky. He received head injuries and cuts on his legs.

HYDERABAD: A court in Andhra Pradesh Tuesday, June 24, issued an arrest warrant against Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.

A local court in Anantapur issued the arrest warrant as Dhoni did not appear in the court despite three summons served in the past.

It directed police to present Dhoni in the court July 16.

The case relates to a picture on the cover of a magazine.

Business Today in its April 2013 edition had carried the picture. Dhoni was portrayed as Hindu god Vishnu with a sub title “God of Big Deals” and holding products of several companies including a shoe in his hand.

Y Shyam Sunder, a local leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), had filed a petition in the court in February this year alleging that the cricketer hurt the sentiments of Hindus by denigrating a Hindu god. Similar petitions against Dhoni were filed in Delhi, Pune and other cities.

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PAGE 20 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

INDIA Soccer-crazy couple head for Brazil for World Cup KOLKATA: Their World Cup love affair began more than three decades ago in Spain.

Now 81-year-old Pannalal Chatterjee and his wife Chaitali, 72, are once more heading from cricketmad India to the ultimate football fiesta.

“This may be my last one, but I am so happy at getting the chance to watch a tournament in Brazil,” Pannalal said during a Chaitali and Pannalal Chatterjee display stopover in Singapore their their 2014 FIFA World Cup tickets on his way to what will before leaving for Brazil. be the couple’s ninth World Cup. “It’s always been my dream to watch the World Cup in Brazil. It’s the Mecca of football,” he told AFP by phone.

The Chatterjees, who live in the eastern city of Kolkata, are lifelong football fans and Pannalal has been involved as a volunteer administrator for the sport in eastern India since the early 1970s.

They got their first taste of top-level football in 1982 when a friend whom they were staying with in London got them tickets for the tournament in Spain, when a young Diego Maradona first garnered global attention. “Such was the excitement of the tournament that I decided from then on not to miss any World Cups in the future,” said Pannalal.

The couple, who have no children and live off Pannalal’s monthly pension of 7,500 rupees ($125) from his time as a shipping clerk, scrimp and save all year round to be able to afford their trips every four years.

“For the last four years, I have been holding back from eating my favourite fish and many days my stomach has been half-empty to make sure that we have enough money for this tournament in Brazil,” he said.

Chaitali also manages to make a bit of money by making sarees and the couple have a special World Cup fund which they top whenever they can can.

In order to make ends meet in Brazil, the couple have taken some of their own food, including packs of potato chips and packets of tea.

Impressed by their dedication, FIFA is providing them free accommodation in Brazil while a local television company is helping them with the tickets.

In all the years that the couple have been going to the finals, the Indian team has never even gotten close to qualification — not that the couple have allowed that to dampen their enthusiasm.

Air India joins Star Allliance From July 11, Air India will provide seamless transfers and wider choice of flights following its membership of Star Alliance, consisting of 26 international carriers.

The decision to admit Air India was taken at a meeting of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) in London on Monday. “Air India users will have a wider reach because Alliance members operate 21,900 flights daily to 195 countries,” noted Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju at a news conference here on Tuesday, which was also attended by Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Lavasa and Air India Chairman Rohit Nandan. Raju expects Air India’s revenue to increase by four to five per cent.

The formal induction will take place next month, most probably on July 11, with the unveiling of the Star Alliance logo and its livery on Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner and an Airbus A-320.

Teesta high on Dhaka’s agenda NEW DELHI: The “touchy issues” of the land border agreement and the Teesta river water settlement will be prominent on the agenda as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj lands in Dhaka on Wednesday for her first solo visit abroad after being sworn in.

Swaraj will be in Bangladesh for a threeday trip where she will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, who has said the visit will “open a new era” in IndiaSushma Swaraj Bangladesh ties.

No agreements are expected to be signed as the two sides hold talks as Swaraj is on a “goodwill visit.” Those familiar with the preparations said the trip would see “the first initial contacts between the two governments, and an occasion to convey their thoughts on the future of the relationship.”

Hasina was the notable absentee among SAARC leaders at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony as she was on a bilateral visit to Japan at the time. Bangladeshi officials made it clear in the run-up to the visit that they would like to speak about the possibility of signing the Teesta river water agreement.

Kidney, liver transplants on Pakistani boy NEW DELHI: Doctors at the Fortis Hospital, Noida, have been able to save the life of a nine-year-old boy from Lahore, Amaar Asif, who was suffering from end-stage kidney and liver disease through a successful medical intervention.

It required a battery of 10 surgeons, six anaesthetists and 30 nurses who were involved in a 10-hour-long operation which included simultaneous transplant of the kidney and liver in the child.

The child was brought in with primary hyperoxaluria (excessive urinary excretion of oxalate) and had to undergo a cleansing process (haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis) prior to the operation to reduce the oxalate levels in the blood.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Dr. Vivek Vij, Director, GI Surgery and Liver Transplant at the Hospital, said: “In this case the patient and the two donors are operated in tandem. The child has been in pain for the past five years and had become very weak when he came to us. The kidney was donated to the patient by his paternal uncle while the part liver donor was the patient’s maternal uncle.”

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 • PAGE 21

PAKISTAN Refugees protest food shortage

BANNU: Police and troops fired warning shots Tuesday, June 24, to break up a protest over food shortages by people who have fled a military operation against the Taliban.

The offensive has seen the northwestern tribal area of North Waziristan hit by more than a week of shelling and air raids, and more than 450,000 people have fled ahead of an impending ground assault, with many going to the nearby town of Bannu. The World Food Program (WFP) began distributing aid through a local aid group on Monday, but there was anger among refugees at long delays.

Anger at problems with food distribution spilled over on Tuesday, with people blocking the main road from Bannu to KhyberPakhtunkhwa provincial capital Peshawar.

An AFP reporter saw around 500 people blocking the road and pelting security forces with rocks in protest, prompting police and soldiers to fire warning shots in the air to disperse them.

Mohammad Nazir Khan, a lawmaker from the region, said many people who should be receiving aid were having problems with registration and documents. Local administration official Aurang Zeb said more food distribution points would be opened soon and the authorities would do all they could to help those in need.

Pakistan’s armed forces have used jet fighters, tanks and artillery in the offensive, killing around 300 people they have described as militants, though the toll and identity of the victims are impossible to verify.

Pak TV dramas for Indian viewers Finally, there’s some relief for Indian audiences from never-ending soaps — June 23 marks a new beginning in the history of Indian television. Come Monday, Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limited (Zeel) India launched their newest venture, Zindagi, featuring toplisted Pakistani dramas. Already, Indian metropolises are festooned with hoardings displaying the launch.

The largest television network of India had been meaning to bring about such a revolution in programming for quite some time now, reveals Shailaja Kejriwal, the Chief Creative Head of Special Projects at Zeel for Zindagi.

According to Shailaja, Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed, Imran Abbas, Saba Qamar, Hamza Ali Abbassi, Sanam Baloch, etc, are nothing less than heartthrobs for Indian youth.

Shailaja Kejriwal’s name is well-recognised in the Indian television industry after being associated with Star India Pvt Ltd (19982007) and NDTV Imagine (20082010). She has her finger very much on the pulse of Indian audiences.

For Kejriwal, content-based entertainment is her prime forte as a broadcaster and she has been interested in Pakistani dramas way back since the ’90s.

“I believe media, and especially television could play a huge role in bringing cultures and thus people closer,” she says.

“The proof is Bollywood. It has reached the Pakistani audiences

for years and a strong link between people on both sides has formed.

Talking about an attempt she made back in the ’90s, she reminisced that she had contacted Haseena Moin and Marina Khan and had started working on a family drama called Tanhayi.

Unfortunately, it fell victim to the political situation. “It takes someone to make the first move and this would not have materialised without the patronage of the MD and CEO of ZEEL, Punit Goenka, who calls the world his family,” she added.

It was during the ’80s, that PTV drama serials such as Tanhayian and Dhoop Kinarey left a deep imprint on drama buffs throughout India.

Shailaja Kejriwal remembers, “We used to get these dramas on VHS tapes then. But with time, the trend died out. Then I started watching Pakistani dramas on YouTube in early 2000.”

Mentioning her personal favourites, she names Umera Ahmed, Haseena Moin, Farhat Ishtiaq, Faiza Iftikhar and Samina Peerzada among veterans, and Sanam Saeed and Mahira among new talent.

Zindagi has procured approximately 200 dramas from local Pakistani channels and production houses — an extraordinary amount of airtime.

Even in the political corridors of Pakistan and India, Zindagi has been well-endorsed. On his recent visit to India, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was presented a

Musharraf’s name to remain on ECL ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistn on Monday, June 23, suspended the Sindh High Court’s earlier decision to strike off former military dictator Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf’s name from the Exit Control List, DawnNews reported.

A five-judge larger bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, accepted the government’s plea challenging the SHC’s ruling which ordered the removal of Pervez Musharraf’s name from the ECL. While issuing its order the SHC had said the operation of its judgment was suspended for 15 days enabling the federation to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.

Zarb-i-Azb is jihad!

ISLAMABAD: Over 100 ulema from various schools of thought declared Zarb-i-Azb, the military operation being carried out against terrorists and militants in North Waziristan Agency, as jihad.

The fatwa was issued after a meeting of religious scholars which was organized by the Sunni Ulema Board here on Sunday, June 22.

The fatwa referred Verse No 33 of Surah-i-Almaidah, which says: “Crushing of the attempts to disrupt peaceful atmosphere in a Muslim state is jihad.”

The fatwa said that the nation was bound to support the ongoing operation in North Waziristan Agency and according to Shariat the people opposing it were rebellious. It said that the state had the right to deal rebels with an iron hand as the militants had murdered hundreds of innocent people and targeted schools, shrines, hospitals, etc. Islam, it said, did not allow individual jihad.

Polio drive halted QUETTA: Polio vaccinators have discontinued their drive in Brahmani area of Lehri tehsil, Sibi distirct after receiving death threats.

District Health Officer Sibi, Dr Mian Manzoor Ahmed told the media on Tuesday that they had lodged a complaint with the Levies Force in Lehri about the suspect who threatened of attacking the polio team.

“The suspect hurled threats to a polio team as it reached Brahmani to administer vaccines to children,” Dr Manzoor said.

He said that it was the duty of the Levies Forces to arrest the man who threatened polio workers, including policemen. Deputy Com-missioner Sibi had also been informed about the incident, he said adding that the drive, however, continued in other areas of Sibi district. bouquet by Zeel Chairman Subhash Chandra to mark the launch of Zindagi.

According to Shailaja, the dramas that will be aired during the first spell include Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Aun Zara, Maat, Kash Mein Teri Beti Na Hoti, Yeh Shadi Nahin Ho Sakti, Durre Shehwar and Shehr-i-Zaat to name just a few.

PIA plane takes sniper fire PESHAWAR: Unidentified gunmen late on Tuesday night, June 24, opened fire on a passenger plane landing at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan airport, killing a woman and injuring two flight stewards on board.

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing PK-756, with 196 passengers on board, was arriving from Riyadh when it was fired upon. The firing injured three people including two flight stewards and a woman, who later succumbed to her wounds.

The plane was hit by six bullets, police said, killing the woman and narrowly missing the captain. At least one bullet struck the plane’s engine.

The woman’s daughter was sitting next to her when she was took a bullet to her head, PIA official Mohammad Kifayatullah Khan told Reuters. “When I went inside the plane, I saw the woman slumped in the seat and her nine-year-old daughter was crying,” said Khan. “All the passengers were panicked. Some of them wanted to get out as soon as possible because they were afraid of fire inside the plane.”

Police and security forces cordoned off the airport premises and launched a search operation to arrest the culprits behind the incident.

Injured flight stewards, identified as Majid and Ijaz Chaudhry were shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shah Farman told DawnNews that it was difficult to ascertain from which direction the aircraft was fired upon. He said that firing incidents like this are “a usual occurrence in the area”.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Najeebur Rehman said that 12 bullets were fired at the aircraft and they have launched a search operation in Pishtakara and the surrounding area. The security forces are also assisting the police in combing the area.

Security was put on a high alert around the area amidst Pakistani military’s ongoing operation Zarb-i-Azb against militants in North Waziristan Agency, one of the country’s seven semi-autonomous tribal agencies next to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of which Peshawar is the capital.

Qadri to meet like-minded parties LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Wednesday, June 25, called for a meeting of all the likeminded parties on June 26, DawnNews reported.

A meeting between chief of the Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, and Qadri was underway at the latter’s Lahore residence.

During the meetings consultations and discussions were held over the next plan of action to be taken regarding the formation of an anti-government grand alliance, which would be announced tomorrow on June 16.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), PML-Q and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) have agreed to Qadri’s invitation and will be attending the meeting.

The meeting headed by Dr Qadri will discuss a future joint action by all the parties.

Earlier, an anti-encroachment drive was conducted by a contingent of police personnel in order to remove the barrier outside PAT chief Tahirul Qadri’s Lahore residence.

Upon receiving resistance by Qadri’s supporters, police batoncharged and fired shots at the protesters who in turn began to hurl rocks at them.

A violent clash erupted be-

tween the police personnel and PAT supporters that killed at least seven people including women and injured over 80 others following which Dr Qadri returned to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif dismissed any idea of engaging with Qadri.

“I don’t know which Qadri you are talking about as there are tens of thousands of Qadris in the country,” the chief minister told a questioner while dispatching first consignment of relief goods from the Punjab for internally displaced persons of North Waziristan.

He would not talk further on the issue. He briefed the media that Chief Minister’s Relief Fund has been set up with a sum of Rs. 500 million for the Pakhtoon brothers and sisters displaced in the war against terrorism. The Punjab cabinet and assembly members, he said, would donate one month’s salary to the fund.

Back channel India-Pakistan talks revived WASHINGTON: Pakistan and India have revived back-channel talks following a meeting between their prime ministers in New Delhi last month, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani said on Tuesday. He said that Pakistan desired an uninterrupted peace process with India that would address the causes of all outstanding disputes and “not just symptoms”.

Jilani told a US think-tank in Washington, Pakistan also was keen on improving trade and economic relations with its larger neighbor as it believed that this could bring prosperity to the entire region.

PAGE 22 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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