India Herald 052015

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India Herald

VOL . 21 NO. 20 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • P.O. BOX 623 • SUGAR LAND, TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017-699 25 Cents

India House elects new committee

Unanimously elected during the elections on April 18, India House welcomes its new Executive Committee led by President Dr. Manish Rungta.

Sitting Left to Right: Annie Aggarwal, Secretary; Dr. Manish Rungta, President; Jiten Agarwal, Vice-President Finance; Nagraj Eleswarapu, Vice-President Operations.

Standing Left to Right: Jugal Malani, Immediate Past President; Ravi Goel, Joint Secretary; Mohit Agarwal, Treasurer;Vikie Agrawal, Joint Treasurer; Not in picture: Sam Merchant, Council Chair.

Story on Page 3.

Local Tamil drama troupe felicitated

Dr. Kas Saranathan, center, founder of Meenakshi Theaters, was felicitated by noted Tamil film actor Mohan, third from right, after the successful staging of the Tamil play“Mama Vijayam,” the group’s 30th production at Thurgood Marshall High School Auditorium in Missouri City on May 3. With the actors in the play, are Tupil Narasiman, left, vice-president and Sridhar Srinivasan, president of Bharathi Kalai Manram of Houston. See Story on Page 22.

Sewa International’s Kaushiki Tewary, Youth volunteer of the year award recipient. Story on Page 14.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • PAGE 3

COMMUNITY NEWS Nandagiri, Kommineni on AWWA-India advisory board The American Water Works Association (AWWA) announced recently that it will establish its first International Community AWWAINDIA, when it opens an office this spring in India. A national committee of volunteers has been established and two local engineers, Showri Nandagiri and Sunil Kommineni, have been selected by AWWA to be part of the Advisory Committee.

Established in 1881, AWWA is the largest nonprofit, scientific and educational association dedicated to managing and treating water, the world’s most important resource. With approximately 50,000 members, AWWA provides solutions to improve public health, protect the environment, strengthen the economy and enhance our quality of drinking water.

Showri Nandagiri, a native of Hyderabad, is a long time resident of Greater Houston area who retired from the City of Houston as Deputy Director and City Engineer in Public Works and currently working with the North Harris County Regional Water Authority. He has been very active in various professional organizations and served as vice president of AWWA southeast chapter in Houston, as well as vice president of American Society of Indian Engineers in Houston. He is a registered professional engineer in Texas.

Sunil Kommineni, also a native of Hyderabad, is a long time resident of Houston and has worked in many consulting firms. Currently he is working with KIT Professionals Inc. a consulting firm providing design and construction services. Kommineni has a doctorate degree in Civil Engineering and is considered an expert in water treatment and distribution. In comments made during the Indian Water Works Association’s Annual Convention in Kolkata, AWWA CEO David LaFrance said that the newly created AWWA-India is an important step in achieving the association’s vision of a “better world through better water.”

“AWWA and the water professionals of India have had a long and proud working relationship, and AWWA is excited about developing its first International Community there,” LaFrance said. “We want to be part of the local community rather than a partner from afar.”

AWWA anticipates introducing AWWA-India’s first executive manager in the coming months. In addition to opening an office, the executive manager’s

New executive committee at India House After serving two notable tenures at India House, the executive committee led by Jugal Malani, President; Kul Bhushan Uppal, VP-Operations; Brij Agrawal, VP-Finance; Jiten Agarwal, Treasurer; Devi Prasad Rungta, Joint Treasurer; Sewa Singh Legha, Secretary; Rakesh Agrawal, Joint Secretary; Ashok Dhingra, Immediate Past President; Sam Merchant, Council Chairman is making way for the new, sanguine and enthusiastic next generation, an India House press release said.

India House has grown tremendously under Jugal Malani’s team. Having invested in the depth and breadth of community development, educational programs, healthcare services, mind and wellness programs as well as social events including sports, arts, cultural and entertainment, the outgoing committee has laid an impressive and strong foundation by showcasing India House at the fore-front of community-building.

The new Executive Committee, unanimously elected during the elections held at India House on April 18, is led by Dr. Manish Rungta, President; Nagraj Eleswarapu, VP Operations; Jiten Agarwal, VP Finance; Mohit Agarwal, Treasurer; Annie Aggarwal, Secretary; Vikie Agrawal, Joint Treasurer; Ravi Goel, Joint Secretary; Jugal Malani, Immediate Past President and Sam Merchant, Council Chair.

The new Executive Committee with highly qualified individuals bring in a new energy to India House. As an accomplished physician, Rungta brings in his proactive and productive professional skills to the committee, along with Eleswarapu’s effective project management skills, Jiten Agarwal’s tech and market savvy, and Annie Aggarwal’s legal expertise.

Together they form a great team. Bringing in their business acumen, planning and financial strategy Mohit Agarwal, Vikie Agarwal and Ravi Goel form the perfect support system for the committee.

Malani’s experience and advice will be the guiding light for the new elected committee.

Sam Merchant’s public relations expertise will be of great help too. For more information on India House and its programs and activities, visit www. indiahouseinc.org

initial focus will be on building a community of water professionals who collaborate to support public health, environmentalprotection and best management practices.

AWWAIndia will also develop training for operators and managersThe Advisory Committee for AWWA/India consists of a team of five members and will be closely assisting the India Water Works Association (IWWA) in their efforts to create standards and training programs.

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PAGE 4 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

TOPIC OF THE WEEK Kejriwal humiliates bureaucracy While there are many issues that have complicated the stand-off between the Delhi Government led by Arvind Kejriwal on the one side and the Union Government, the Lt Governor, Najeeb Jung, and the bureaucracy on the other, what is shocking is the Chief Minister's character assassination of a senior IAS officer in full public view, based purely on personal prejudice.

Kejriwal remarked at a public meeting on Sunday that he would be personally keeping tabs on his Power Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin because he suspected her proximity with power distribution companies in the State, and because she had tried to “trick” the Government in its early days into signing papers that would have favored certain companies. This statement was uncalled for.

The Hindu

But Kejriwal has never understood, or tried to understand, the nuances of governance. He only understands dramatic confrontations and soaks in the publicity that it fetches. If the Chief Minister had such strong reservations against a senior IAS officer, he should have initiated a probe against her, or at the very least moved to shift her from the power department the day he realised she was playing games.

The truth is that her alleged indiscretion has not bothered him; what troubled him is that, being the senior-most officer in the Delhi bureaucracy in the absence of the Chief Secretary who is out of the country on personal leave, she was the automatic choice for the acting Chief Secretary’s post.

She, therefore, came in the way of Kejriwal's candidate, who, according to media reports, was an officer who is under the scanner in connection with the Commonwealth Games scam.

Incidentally, the nasty controversy has made that officer withdraw from the race on the ground that Ms Gamlin was senior to him.

Kejriwal carried his determination to deny the lady IAS officer the position for even less than a fortnight to such an extent that he denounced her credentials in public; one Minister supposedly told her to ‘withdraw' from the race or face an inquiry; and when nothing worked, the Chief Minister and his loyalists converted the issue into one about the Centre's intolerance to a State Government elected with a massive mandate.

They also dragged the Lt Governor into disrepute, calling him an agent of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and transported the dispute to the President's doorsteps. Kejriwal even took to task a State bureaucrat who notified the Lt Governor's order appointing Ms Gamlin as the acting Chief Secretary. This is absurd.

While it is not the first time that Kejriwal has resorted to dramatics, his current conduct is dangerous because it divided the bureaucracy.

He has openly begun playing favourites. This is not done even by Chief Ministers of full-fledged States. Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of a ‘semi-State' where many powers of governance rest with the Lt Governor.

He can neither appoint nor sack bureaucrats without the concurrence of the Lt Governor. And, while the Lt Governor needs to consult the State Government in matters of removal or appointment (which he did in the Gamlin case), he has the final word. If Kejriwal has a problem with these, he should build support to change Delhi's semi-State status. He cannot trample upon the existing rules and the Constitution.

— The Pioneer

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Fight a day: Arvind Kejriwal

By Ashali Varma It all started within his own party. First he took on Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav and after days of intriguing details we heard both were sacked. For good measure he also sacked his own choice for ombudsman, Admiral Ramdas, the retired Navy Chief.

He did not even have the decency to talk to him about why he was being summarily removed—Just a curt note to say his services were no longer required! He took on the police next and various bureaucrats.

Then he took on the media and said the media was conspiring to destroy him. He threatened to expose the media but as is his habit, he actually had nothing to expose.

His choice of words were curious and quite absurd—straight from Bollywood, he said the media had taken out a pagri against him.

Now he is going for the Lt. Governor, Najeeb Jung, citing yet another conspiracy, over the appointment of a chief secretary for just 10 days while the current chief secretary is away! Why make an issue of someone who is taking up an assignment for 10 days!

The people of Delhi gave him a second chance and elected his party with a massive mandate but it seems he is still the rabble rouser he was when he left after 49 days in power.

His hissy fits, his arrogance and behavior bordering on manic is a far cry from someone who has his act together to gover.

So far, all that he has really done is given an order to reduce water bills, which he will have to pay from the Delhi budget and brought down power rates for people who use less than 400 KW a month. Again this will be paid for by increasing the rate of electricity by 10 percent on taxpayers and the Delhi budget. It begs the question: Why did he not use this money to build pipelines for colonies that get no water and work on leakages and theft in water and electricity? This would have been far more productive and served the citizens better.

Playing to just one section of people is not governance it is vote bank politics. His vision is limited and I fear he will take Delhi down with him. He will let down the very, forgiving voters who gave him a second chance. At this rate Delhi will not only be bankrupt but will fall into unmanageable chaos.

To govern in any democracy you need to be more forwardthinking and less autocratic. A chief minister has to make friends not enemies. Does Kejriwal even stop to think what he has done to the auto rickshaws drivers in Delhi. By allowing them to be above the law they refuse to use meters and are plaguing the citizens by charging astronomical rates. Where in the world is public/private transport allowed to charge as much as they want and go only to the destinations they want?

There are urgent problems the chief minister has to address: Such as getting more buses for Delhi;

reducing pollution by passing some stringent laws; connecting colonies to water and sewage; getting Delhi 24/7 power for all; paving roads and attending to desilting drains before the rains; cleaning up the debris and dirt all around; getting land for new landfills and most of all keeping his promises in making this city a world class capital.

These are just some of the problems he has to attend to instead of screaming about conspiracy theories and deflecting the issues at hand. He seems to be taking a page out of Mamata Banerjee’s book.

Everyone I have spoken to who voted for him seem to be

Najeeb Jung (left) and Kejriwal

disappointed. Even the slum dwellers want more action, as do the un-regularized colonies. Many of them have open drains and dirty mud -filled lanes. There are no building codes and if an earthquake happens as in Nepal, thousands will perish, yet Kejriwal takes up one establishment a day and goes on with his rabble rousing.

I am sure his voters who are hard- working citizens want dedicated action on the problems mentioned above and as chief minister he really needs to get rid of his adrenalin-charged-threats and start working. Or I fear he will implode and take the city with him.

— The Times of India

The Jekyll and Hyde Parliament During the Sixties, it was popular in Britain to use the phrase ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ politics to describe how the same party said one thing in opposition and its contrary in office.

The idea was that parties behaved like reasonable angels in power and villainous devils in opposition. Or, if you like, the other way around.

The point was that political parties were unprincipled in their parliamentary behavior. The view also was that there was little difference between the parties but still they had to pretend that the differences were vast and irreconcilable.

That is very much the logjam in which the BJP/NDA government is caught. It has been caught by surprise that an opposition which had been thought to be decimated with the Congress having won fewer than 10 per cent of the Lok Sabha seats should be so effective at delaying and denying its proposed legislation. The BJP itself had tried similar tactics during the UPA days but rarely so successfully. The problem then was the indecisiveness on the UPA’s part rather than any effective delay by the opposition. It got both the Telangana Bill and the Lok Pal Bill when it finally got round to introducing them.

The BJP has not been so lucky. It got the insurance and the mining Bills through in the Winter Session but since then its land Bill has foundered. This, however, should have been anticipated.

The government showed its lack of experienced parliamentarians in that case. No one seems to have read the small print of parliamentary procedure carefully and blithely assumed that if the Rajya Sabha objects, a joint session of the two Houses would be the way out. The other side has had more experience and knew that it could stall but not vote down the introduction of the Bill itself in the Rajya Sabha.

The bigger surprise is the GST Bill. In the case of the land Bill, one could say that the BJP had signed up to the 2013 Bill. Of course the BJP in power is a different party from the one in opposition then. Even so, the changes are (quite rightly in my view) real in the new Bill. The GST Bill should have been allowed to pass in the Rajya Sabha by the Congress. Its opposition in that case is contrary to what is after all a genuinely consultative process which went into arriving at the Bill.

But with the born-again Rahul Gandhi needing to revive his career, Congress need to bare their teeth more often. It is a loss for the nation and not much gain for the Opposition.

The unanimous support for the Bangladesh boundary Bill showed that it is possible to take the Opposition along by giving them their due credit and making the outcome an all-party achievement. Sushma Swaraj is one of the few genuinely good parliamentarians the BJP has, Arun Jaitley being another. By mollifying Congress egos, Swaraj won and brought credit to the government.

Even so, the anomaly of the Upper House blocking the majority in the popularly elected Lower House should not be lost. In the UK, the Upper House being unelected, we know our limits. The Rajya Sabha is indirectly elected, representing the federal element. But the cycle of election to the two Houses is out of joint. Thus those who represent state election mandates of the distant rather than recent past can block the wish of the most recently elected Lok Sabha. Whether anything will be done to synchronise the timing of elections to the Upper House as compared to the Lower House is anyone’s guess.

The larger issue is that urbanisation is growing both in absolute terms and as percentage of the total. Urban areas get under-represented. Yet it pays the politicians to pretend that the rural areas are the majority. That is politics. There is nothing else but hard climb up the learning curve for the BJP. — Meghnad Desai in Indian Express

COMMUNITY NEWS BAPS Charities donates $55,000 for Nepal relief PISCATAWAY, NJ: Direct Relief and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF have been selected by BAPS Charities as the recipients of $25,000 and $30,000 respectively in support of disaster relief aid in the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal. BAPS Charities is in communication with these organizations, as well as the Nepal Embassy and One Heart Worldwide, to determine greatest needs for further funding designation.

“Safety and livelihood are primary concerns in the face of devastation from mega-earthquakes,” said Nilkanth Patel, President of BAPS Charities. “Health and education are two focus areas that significantly impact a community’s ability to rebuild, and so we felt the need to address those challenges in Nepal.”

Since news of the earthquake reached the United States early Saturday morning on April 25th, BAPS Charities has been raising funds to support the response efforts on the ground. BAPS Charities has a long history of relief aid in South Asia, particularly in 2001 following the earthquake in Gujarat, India, where volunteers reached Kutch within minutes.

BAPS Charities has supported Direct Relief with the procurement of portable X-ray machines and ventilators, materials specifically requested from the organization by the Ministry of Health Partners in Nepal. Approximately 178,000 lbs of requested medical materials including IV solutions, antibiotics, gloves, IV tubing, and other sup-

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • PAGE 5

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With support from BAPS Charities, UNICEF recently transported six emergency health kits that will help cover the needs of 180,000 people in affected districts for one month.

Over 14,000 classrooms were destroyed, and more than 9,000 have been damaged as a result of the earthquake. Provisional estimates indicate that approximately 948,000 children will not have access to education unless the government and partners are able to provide alternative learning spaces. UNICEF is working to secure child friendly spaces and temporary learning space, as well as provide humanitarian health aid to children at risk. UNICEF is also

executing an emergency immunization campaign to vaccinate over half a million children amongst the growing concerns of measles outbreaks.

Direct Relief has maintained a presence in Nepal for over several years, working with local health partners to meet the needs of patients across the country. “In response to the tragic quake in Nepal, Direct Relief was able to immediately mobilize resources based on the needs of its longstanding partners in the region,” said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief.

“One of the greatest needs for the Nepali people right now is X-ray machines to treat surviving victims and thanks to BAPS Charities this See Page 6

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BAPS Charities donates a check of $30,000 to UNICEF. Seen here (from left) Leslie Goldman, Vice President of Community Development of UNICEF; Rachel Sternberg, Associate Direct - Civil Partnerships – UNICEF; BAPS Charities Director, Praful Patel, and BAPS Charities volunteer, Yogi Trivedi

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Indian Music Society of Houston Presents Violin masetro of Seni- Maihar Gharana

Pandit Indradeep Ghosh One of the top ranking Violinists of India and a torch-bearer of Seni-Maihar gharana, Indradeep was initiated in the art of playing violin at age of six under the able guidance of Sri Anamitra Mustafi. He has also received occasional talim from other maestros of Indian Classical Music like Pt. V.G. Jog and Pt. Kumar Bose.

His style of playing is a blend of ‘gayaki’ and ‘tantrakari’ ang. His fortes are ‘taan’ and ‘jhala.’ Indradeep has participated in several music festivals and concerts of India and abroad He has to his credit many Classical and Fusion Music albums few major among them are available digitally worldwide in iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Spotify, Deezer and lot more.

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PAGE 6 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

COMMUNITY NEWS FIS interview with Dilip and Sukti Dutta

Niranjan Banik interviews Dilip and Sukti Dutta for FIS’s Indo-American Oral History Project

HOUSTON: Foundation for India Studies reaches out to interview all language and ethnic groups of India for its Oral History project. It is estimated that there are about 2000 immigrant families whose mother tongue is Bengali living in the Greater Houston area.

Among them are Dilip Dutta and his wife Sukti, residents of Richmond, Texas, who have resided in the Houston area for 38 years. They were the first Bengali couple to be interviewed for the Indo American Oral history project.

The West Bengal state in Eastern India is the fourth most populous state in India. During India’s Independence struggle, Bengal produced national leaders like

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and is known for its rich cultural traditions with literary giants like Rabrindranath Tagore, Sarath Chandra Chatterji and Nazrul Islam. For Bengalis Politics and Poetry and are a passion and it was also said, what Bengal thinks today, rest of India thinks tomorrow.

The life story of Dilip K Dutta represents the diverse tapestry of a typical Indo-American immigrant experience.

Born in 1937 in Bengal, Dutta holds a Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering Degree from Jadavpur University in Kolkata and a Masters of Industrial Engineering from Penn State University. Dutta worked at Braithwaite and Co. in Kolkata - previously

known as Calcutta, before immigrating to the United States in 1970. There he started his engineering career in Philadelphia at Morris Wheeler. He then moved to Houston 1977 and started a long, successful career with Kellogg where he retired in 2011.

During his time at Kellogg he spent several years working across globe in places like Indonesia, Venezuela, and Mexico. He married his wife Sukti in 1974. They have two sons, a daughter in law and two grandchildren all of whom reside in the Houston area.

Both Dutta and his wife Sukti have a deep passion for Bengali culture. This passion has driven them to work tirelessly in the development of a strong Bengali community in Houston. Dutta

enjoys music and art and has instilled this passion in his sons.

In this interview conducted by Niranjan Banik, Dutta describes his journey from India to America before deciding upon Houston as his home. Through hard work, perseverance, and some good fortune Dutta built a successful engineering career while raising a family with his wife Sukti. Dutta talks about the demand for engineers in America driven by nuclear projects and the subsequent wave of Indian immigration to the US. He speaks about the challenges of balancing cultures when raising children.

Dutta spends time discussing the establishment of Indian American cultural organizations in Philadelphia and Houston. He was involved in the creation of two Bengali cultural organizations, Pragati in Philadelphia and the Houston Durgabari Society. He touches on the new generation of Indian immigrants as they begin to take leadership roles in local Indian American organizations. He talks about the contrast between the recent Indian immigrants and the Second Generation Indian Americans.

Dutta speaks affectionately of the opportunities provided to him by America and Houston. The depiction of his life is both unique and quintessentially American.

The interviewer Niranjan Banik is a family friend of Dilip and Sukti Dutta. He has a PhD in physics from Purdue University and has worked in the oil industry as an application geophysicist for 35 years.

The Indo-American Oral History project is a signature project of the Foundation for India Studies (FIS), a 501(c3) a non-profit organization registered in 2005 in Houston, Texas. Recorded video interviews of the first generation Indian immigrants will be transcribed and archived in the Indo-American Oral History collection of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center administered by the Houston Public Library. For information and participation in the project, please contact Veena Ponnaganti @281-323-9515 or Krishna Vavilala @ 713-7955169. Interviews will be conducted on a first come first served basis.

BAPS donates to Nepal quake relief From Page 3 need is being met.” The earthquake has posed a serious threat to the existing educational infrastructure. “Working with BAPS Charities gives us the opportunity to partner with an organization that not only affects change around the world through its humanitarian and social activities, but does so through a set of ideals that are important to us here at UNICEF,” said Rachel Steinberg, Assistant Director of Civil Society Partnerships at U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “Through our long-term partnership with BAPS Charities, we have come to realize that value-based education and the overall development of children is something they take very seriously.”

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • PAGE 7

COMMUNITY NEWS Rabindranath Tagore’s birthday celebrated at Durga Bari

Since the installation of Rabindranath Tagore’s statue in Tagore Grove at the Ray Miller Park two years back, it has become but natural to begin Tagore’s birthday celebrations at the hallowed ground every year. This year was no exception.

The afternoon of May 10 was cloudy and breezy, but Tagore admirers were able to complete the garlanding ceremony just in time before the rain set in. A couple of Rabindra Sangeet and recitation of poems, “Thou hast made me endless,� and “This is my delight� set the tone for the rest of the evening and made it memorable and reverential.

The celebrations of Tagore's 154th birthday continued into the evening at the HDBS Sur auditorium where the audience was treated to enjoyable music programs, dances, and recitations.

Ruma Acharya, president of TSH (Tagore Society of Houston) welcomed the audience and recited a Tagore poem. Young emcees Vikram Banga and Rini Roy took over. They were adorable and were the subjects of the crowd's adulation.

The opening dance by a group of four very young dancers in their pristine white tutus truly reflected the spirit of the song Momo chitte.

Nahid Sultan very soulfully sang 2 Rabindra Sangeet. Shalini Das danced beautifully in the Odissi style to Mor bhabanare, set in the Dhrupad style of Rabindra raag.

The Bangladesh-American Society of Greater Houston (BASGH) then took the stage and their children’s choir did an excellent job with 3 very catchy playful and fun Rabindra Sangeet — Hriday Aamar Nachere, Phagun Haway Haway, Aj Dhaner Khete.

What was extremely commendable was the perfect pronunciation and diction of the language by second generation Bengalis. All credit goes to teacher Rupa Ghosh, who led the choir. She was ably supported by Modhumita and Mukul who presented a small song-recitation-dance combination. The medley of dances Poush Toder and Aaji Dokhino Duar Khola performed by 6 beautiful young dancers and the solo dance

by Simmy Ahmed were very well received by the audience.

Aishani Saha was very graceful and poised in her dance, Jhoro jhoro borishe baari dhaara. Tareeq Mahammed presented a very powerful recitation of the Tagore poem, Aami.

Esho he Baishakh the presentation by Kamalpriya Roy and group was a select combination of solo and chorus songs from Tagore’s summer prakriti songs of the Gitabitan. The four solos by Shamik, Shyama, Madhumita and Kheya were presented solemnly with deep sincerity.

All the group songs and duet songs by Tushar, Sraboni, Nandini, Anjali, Aniruddha, Gargee Dona and Balaka were also nice. The script written by Kheya and narrated by Jaya and Aniruddha did justice to the overall presentation.

Accompaniment by Raja on the tabla and Aloke on the mandira

added the right amount of musicality to make the presentation effective.

Last, but not the least was a very energetic dance by Monali Biswas to Mor bhabona re in a contemporary style.

Shingara, ghugni and cha were all sold out and Choity sarees had sarees and jewelry that appealed to the womenfolk. Everyone was all praise and complimentary about the organization and quality of the program on their way out.

Thanks to the joint effort of all

3 Bengali associations in town, the Tagore Society of Houston, the Houston Durgabari Society and the Bangladesh-American Soci-

ety of Greater Houston, the national poet of Bengal, Tagore's birthday was genuinely celebrated wholeheartedly. — Sanchali Basu

Tagore’s birthday celebration began with the garlanding of Tagore’s statue at Ray Miller Park. Photo: Pradip Roy

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PAGE 8 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

COMMUNITYCALENDAR CALENDAR COMMUNITY Swami Madhavananda Sat., May 23 @ 4 p.m.

Swami Madhavananda (Dr. Madhav Nagarkar) will visit Houston on his 2015 USA tour. At Vedanta Society of Greater Houston, 14809 Lindita Dr (Off Hwy 6 near Beechnut). Discourse on the Bhagavad Gita, accompanied by singers Shreyas Bedekar, Dr. Ashwin Rode, Atul Dixit and Tejashri Dixit, Nitish Kulkarni (tabla) and Ashutosh Patwardhan (manjira).

Program of discourse and bhajans on Sunday, May 24, from 3:305:30 p.m. at the Rode residence, 3418 Stoney Mist Dr., Sugar Land.

Tel: 281-795-8934.

Over-50 Club meeting Over Fifty Entertainment Club quarterly meeting at Shri Radha Krishna Temple on Saturday, May 30, from 4 p.m. onwards. Anyone over 50 is welcome.

For further information please call temple at 281-933-8100 or visit www.SRKT.Org. Temple is located 11625 Beechnut Street.

Movie on Swami Chinmayananda May 30 and June 7 On a Quest, a full-length movie made on the life and vision of Swami Chinmayananda. It is a story about transformation and the quest for truth. The movie will be screened in Houston, at AMC Dunvale, on Saturday, May 30 & Sunday, June 7. Tickets online at www.chinmayahouston.org/onaquest Ticket are limited. For more information call Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059

Arya Samaj Satsang Weekly Havan Satsang every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

DAV Sanskriti School Sundays 10 a.m. to 12 noon. - Havan, Hindi and Naitik Shiksha classes. DAV Montessori School for ages 2 to 7 years. Call Arti Khanna 281-759-3286. Free Yoga classes on Sat. Sanskrit & Upanishad classes Tue. 6-8 p.m. At 14375 Schiller Rd. (bet Westpark & Bellaire off Hwy 6). 281-752-0100.

Chinmaya Mission Sunday satsangs for adults, youth, and children. A unique Bala Vihar program for each grade, from PreK to Grade 12. Satsangs in two sessions between 8:35 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. - 1 p.m. Bala Vihar students can take shloka, bhajan and orchestra classes or language classes for Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, and Gujarati. Located at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77498. New members may visit the welcome desk between 8 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. or 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Visit www.chin mayahouston.org or call Bharati Sutaria 281.933.0233.

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

Durga Bari Temple Durga Bari temple is open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Mon. thru Sat. Sandhya aarti at 6:30 p.m. Temple closes at 7 p.m. Sunday special from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Puja services - Priest Bishnupada Goswami 281-597-8100 Temple is located at 13944 Schiller Rd (off

Open Forum Radio Program Where Your Opinion Counts

KGOL 1480 AM • Saturdays 4 to 6 p.m.

Informative programs with doctors, lawyers, politicians and other newsmakers.

Call 713-784-1480 Hosts: Dinkar Chheda, Jagat Kamdar & Subodh Bhuchar

Chandra & David Courtney Tabla and Vocal

Classes now ongoing

(713) 665-4665

Shiv Shakti Mandir

Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple

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.

Darshan from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. All major festivals as well as birthdays, naam karan, engagement and other ceremonies. Call Pandit Pradip Pandya 832-466-9868 for puja and other ceremonies. At 5645 Hillcroft Ste 701, Houston, TX 77036.

‘The Universe Within’ Sahaj Marg is a natural and simple system of heart-centered meditation and spiritual practice that helps one realize the utimate potential within oneself. The meditation is available to anyone who wishes to practice. Weekly meditation sessions held throughout the Houston area. www.sahajmarg.org Email: meditate_ houston@yahoo.com.

Classes in Houston, Mission Bend, & Sugar Land

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

Preksha Meditation

New facilities of JVB Preksha Meditation Center. Classes for Yoga and Meditation under guidance by Samani jis and discourses. At 14102 Schiller Road (off Hwy 6 bet Bellaire and Westpark - 77082). Tel Heritage Classes Ashirwad’s Heritage Classes in 281-596-9642.

Katy, Cypress and Sugar Land for Patanjali Yogpeeth kids 4 to 18 yrs - meditation, Yoga, Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun at Arya Samaj from 8 am to 9:30 slokas, stories from scriptures, Vishnu Sahasranam, bhajans, com- a.m. Call Anil 281-579-9433. For other free classes, call Indra 281petitions and fun activities. Adult 537-0018. For Yoga/Herbal products, call Shekhar 281-242-5000. Web: meditation classes. Register at www.pyptusa.org and www.DivyaProducts.com. www.ashirwada-blessing.org or Sadhu Vaswani Center Sri Ravula 281-995-0930.

Sadhu Vaswani Center of Houston holds regular Satsang on 3rd Hare Krishna Dham Thursday of the month and daily Arti at 7.30 p.m. Call 281-463-0379 Houston’s original Vedic temple, or e.mail ramolaj@aol.com ISKCON of Houston. At 1320 W 34th St. (77018). Daily Darshan Sathya Sai centers & Arati Times: 4.30am, 7am, Sunday program held at two locations (North Houston: 12127 8.30am, 12noon, 4.30pm, 7pm, Louetta Rd, Houston; South Houston: 246 Fluor Daniel Dr, Sugarland, 9pm. Sunday Festival: 5.30 pm to TX, 77479) from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Sai Spiritual Education classes 7.30 pm. Weekly Gita classes for for children; study circle for adults. Service programs - food distribuadults; call 281-433-1635 or tion & food drives; nursing home visits, tutoring at schools etc. Conharekrishnadham @gmail.com tact Sanjay Gupta (North) 832-687-6766 or Sondip Mathur (South) 832-215-8675 www.sairegion10.org.

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. Call Bharti Sutaria 281-5681690 or Jay Deshmukh 832-5410059 or visit www.saum yakasi.org.

Veerashaiva Samaja VSNA Houston is a group of families who believe in Veerashaiva dharma (Basava dharma). Monthly Mahamane program for prayer and discussion on Vachana Sahitya followed by Prasada. Contact: vsnahous ton@gmail.com or Jagadeesh Halyal 832-744-4166.

Houston Namadwaar

Visit www.chandrakantha.com

or call for info.

Hwy 6 bet. Bellaire & Westpark). “Gopa Kuteeram” children’s heritage classes and Srimad Bhagavatam Call Ganesh Mandal at 713-797- classes. Call 281-402-6585; visit www.godivinity.org (Global Organi9057 / 832-423-8541. zation for Divinity).

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

Some words of caution

By Sam Kannappan P.E. As a person who started living in Texas for about 50 years ago, I would like to write down the following suggestions so that others may benefit from my experience.

When an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is on the side of the road, slow down or move down one lane away.

Reduce speed on I-45 thirty miles south of Dallas where four towns (Wilmer, Ferris, Palmer and Rice) are among the Texas’s highest in writing speeding tickets. Large percentage of their revenue come from speeding ticket fines on I-45.

Do not argue when given a speeding ticket. You may later challenge it in court. By arguing, confrontation may escalate and the drive may be arrested.

Road rage is dangerous. Do not make unacceptable hand gestures to other drivers. Do not hank if another driver cuts in front of you. A lady driver was shot near I-45 and Airtex when she hanked.

Other driver in a pick up driver pulled up and shot her.

Even though you want to help a stranded driver, do not stop to assist on narrow shoulders, bridges etc. Three weeks ago, an IndoAmerican good samaritan stopped to assist with a crash on the Grand Parkway northbound on the Brazos River bridge. Nehra was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver.

Do not respond or reply to tempting emails. These may be traps or sting operation. Any sex related crime is very serious.

Do not provide any personal information on the phone even though the caller may be convincing. Agencies such as IRS request information only by US mail not on the phone.

Do not drive in to flood waters even though you think that it is not deep. Recently an Indo-American and his car were swept away near Hwy 3 and Clear Lake Blvd.

Do not leave small children alone in a car even for a few minutes. Do not spank children. Teachers report to authorities if they find out from the child that parents punished them.

Talking on the cell phone while driving is not a good idea even though it may save time for you.

Do not drink and drive. Criminal record stays on file for a long time. Check your credit rating periodically and monitor major changes.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • PAGE 9

INDIA

Modi’s historic visit to China yields several bilateral agreements

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Great Hall of People, in Beijing on May 15.

Prime Minister Narendra Modiannounced a slew of bilateral agreements with China — ranging from finding a political solution to the border issue, to strengthening cultural ties.

The Prime Minister, whose packed schedule in China began on Thursday, May 14, at the historic city of Xian and ended at the modern Shanghai on May 16, said his visit would set a “new mile-

stone” for Asian relations.

Using the historical backdrop of Xian and the shared link of Buddhism between their countries, Modi and President Xi Jinping discussed on Thursday how to build better cooperation and trust between India and China.

Difficult issues dominated the discourse between the two leaders, including the boundary row and balance of trade.

Sharma Tilal Senanayake, CPA Certified Public Accountant

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Briefing the media after the 90minute meeting held at the Governor’s Guest house in Shaanxi province, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said the leaders discussed maintaining “peace and tranquillity” at the boundary and cooperation on tackling terrorism.

The attack on a guest house in Kabul on Thursday that left four Indians among 14 people dead, and the gunning down of 43 minority members on board a bus in Karachi on Wednesday were also discussed.

Modi also spoke to Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani about the attack in Kabul. Modi and Xi also talked about other issues in the subcontinent, most notably coordinating relief for the Nepal earthquake victims, and sending water supplies to Maldives last December.

Officials, however, did not reveal much on the progress made in the talks on the resolution of the India-China border dispute, saying that the leaders spoke of the need for “strengthening trust” so as to have “peace and tranquillity” at the boundary, and discussed the issue of trans-boundary rivers.

No mention was made of China’s Silk Road initiative and the economic corridor in Pakistan which will run through Pakistanoccupied Kashmir.

Meanwhile, a storm of criticism on social media networks followed state-broadcaster CCTV’s broadcasting of a map of India that cut both Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh out of it.

India and China on Friday signed a record 24 agreements in key sectors, including in railways and education.

Protocol for setting up Consu-

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Strategic partnerships with Korea SEOUL: India and South Korea on Monday signed seven bilateral agreements and agreed to upgrade ties to special strategic partnership. "Our relationship started with a strong economic emphasis. But, it has also now become strategic in content," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, May 18.

"The decision to upgrade bilateral ties reflect how seriously we take the new framework of our relationship. Republic of Korea is the second country with which India will have a diplomatic and security dialogue in 2+2 format," PM Modi said while addressing a joint press conference with South Korean President Park Geun-hye in Seoul.

PM Modi said that "we consider South Korea a crucial partner in India's economic modernization".

India and South Korea also agreed to expand cooperation between our armed forces. "We intend to deepen our cooperation in defence technology and manufacture of defence equipment in India. This sector offers huge opportunities in India. I have requested President Park to support the participation of Korean companies in the defence sector in India. Her response has been positive," the PM said.

Besides defence equipment, the PM invited Korean investments in areas like ship building, including LNG tankers. PM Modi welcomed South Korea's diplomatic efforts to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The Prime Minister said that India and South Korea have common views on maritime security in this region.

"We discussed our engagement in the East Asia Summit and with ASEAN. We have a shared interest in an open, balanced and inclusive regional architecture. We have common views on maritime security in this region," PM Modi said.

Jung-Kejriwal row heats up

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lates-General at Chengdu and Chennai besides a MoU on consultative mechanism for cooperation in trade negotiations were among the 24 agreements signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang in Beijing.

An action plan between the Indian Railways and China National Railways on enhancing cooperation in the railway sector was also signed.

“Today, we have signed over 20 agreements, covering diverse areas of cooperation. This shows the depth and maturity of our relationship and the positive direction of our partnership,” Modi said.

“Our decision to open consulates in Chengdu and Chennai reflects growing mutual confidence and shared commitment to expand relations,” he added.

An MoU on education exchange program and ‘Space Cooperation Outline’ were also signed. Other key agreements are on developing China India think-tanks, maritime cooperation and ocean sciences.

Four agreements were signed on sister-state and sister-city relations between Karnataka and Sichuan province; Chennai and Chongqing; Hyderabad and Qingdao; and Aurangabad and Dunhuang.

Addressing CEOs at the India-China Business Forum here, Modi said both India and China have potential of growth and problems of poverty “which we can tackle together. I am personally committed to take the cooperative process forward.”

Highlighting the significance of a sound relationship between two of Asia’s major economies, he said: “Harmonious partnership between India and China is essential for economic development and political stability of the continent. This industrial partnership of China and India can bring about greater investment, employment and satisfaction of our people.”

As many as 21 agreements were signed between Indian and Chinese firms worth $22 billion at the India-China Business Forum. Asking Chinese companies to take the “historic opportunity” to invest in India, Modi said: “We have committed ourselves to creating and improving the business environment. I can assure you that once you decide to be in India, we are confident to make you more and more comfortable.”

Dakshini R. Senanayake, B.S., LL.M. Licensed by the Supreme Court of New York Not Licensed in Texas nor certified by any Board of Legal Specialization

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NEW DELHI: Escalating his confrontation with the Aam Aadmi Party government, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday, May 20, cancelled all appointments made by it in the last four days, asserting he was the sole authority in matters of ordering transfer and posting of bureaucrats.

In a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Lt Governor challenged AAP government’s order to bureaucrats not to follow his directives without securing approval from the CM or any other minister, maintaining he has the power to decide on transfers and postings.

Jung also contested AAP government’s instructions to the officials to not route files through his office, saying he has been vested with power to decide on major policy issues.

In the letter, Jung explained constitutional provisions and norms laid down in Government of NCT of Delhi Act and Transaction of Business rules of the Delhi Government, and asked the AAP government to follow the rules and procedures.

Jung said orders pertaining to transfers and postings by AAP govt in the last four days were not valid as they did not have his approval.

In a directive on Monday, Kejriwal had asked the bureaucrats including the Chief Secretary to first consult him and other Ministers before acting on directions from the LG.

PAGE 10 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

COMMUNITY NEWS Grand music concert marks Krishna Gana Sudha Music Academy’s annual day

By Dr. Lakshmi Srivaths Vibrant musical presentations by the vivacious young students of Krishna Gana Sudha Music Academy (KGSMA) and the splendid carnatic music concert by Vidushi Dr. S. Sowmya and party. marked the annual day celebrations of the academy at the Stafford Civic center on May 2.

More than hundred children receiving tutelage from Vidushi Raja Rajeshwary Bhat presented a glimpse of their musical erudition as four group performances.

The unique introduction by talented children of KGSMA by means of human puppetry, set the stage for the children’s performances.

Entitled “Hemavathi” (denoting those just initiated into music), “Dharmavathi” (indicating those who need to practice music regularly with discipline), “Senavathi” (implying those who need to strive harder to accomplish in music) , and “Kalavathi” (referring to those inducted into the art of music as a result of their of persistent efforts), the four groups presented songs of several legendary composers including Sri Purandara Dasa, Saint Thyagaraja, Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar, Sri Shyama Shasthri, Maharaja Sri Swathi Thirunal, Sri Patnam Subramanya Iyer, Sri Thachur Singarachar, Mahakavi Sri Subramanya Bharathiyar, and contemporary composers namely Dr. Balamurali Krishna and their music teacher’s esteemed guru Sri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman.

The tireless efforts and able guidance of their beloved carnatic music guru Raja Rajeshwary Bhat was evident in the near flawless performances by the tiny tots and the refined and classy presentations embellished with manodharma by the advanced level students.

The group performances were ably accompanied on the violin by Maya Iyer, Kruthi Bhat and Deepa Ramachandran and on the mridangam

by Karun Salvady and Charan Rajan. The members of Hous-

ton Youth Music Association were the emcees for the annual recital, who complimented the students’ earnest efforts and thanked the Guru for honing the skills of all her students, age no bar.

At the end of each presentation, it was a visual treat to see the young and old students of KGSMA presented with a trophy for their musical achievement. KGSMA expressed their sincere thanks by felicitating Darshak Thakkar of Krishna Sounds for his skilful handling of the sound system throughout the event.

As the audience savored the musical nectar presented by the children, the evening’s crowning event followed next. What an honor and privilege it was for Houston’s young learners and yearning audience to be treated with a classic carnatic concert by none other than the music virtuoso Vidushi Dr. S. Sowmya.

She was accompanied by master musicians, Vidwan Sri Embar S. Kannan on the violin, Vidwan Neyveli R. Narayanan on the mridangam and Vidwan G. Chandrasekara Sharma on the ghatam.

The concert opened with the melodious Sahana varnam. An accomplished guru herself, it was enlightening to listen to the educational pearls in the songs that ensued by Sowmya, when she explained the deceptively simple, yet complex to handle ragam Gurjari in the Tyagaraja krithi, the “DhanammaL BaaNi” of handling ragam Saveri in the alapana that preceded the krithi “Etunamminaa O Manasaa”.

It was equally enriching to learn about the significance of her song choices: “Gnaana Sabayil Thillai Gaanam Thanil Nindraadum” in Saranga set to Misra chapu coincided with the “Kumbabishekam” in Chidambaram; “Narasimha Aagacha Parabrahma” in Mohanam and Misra chapu was sung as the day marked Narasimha Jayanthi.

The mellifluous and mesmerizing Raagam Thaanam Pav-

Hemavathi

Dharmavathi

Senavathi

Kalavathi

vali in Reeti Gowlai was followed by the invigorating thani avarthanam on the mridangam and ghatam, a percussionist conversation that enthralled the audience.

Embar Kannan’s violin spoke a million melodic words that reverberated in the listeners’ ears and hearts well after the concert.

The concluding phase was adorned by the Swathi Thirunal Bhajan “Sundari Bhaje” in Desh, Sadasiva Brahmendra’s “Bhajare Yadhu Naatham”

in ragam Pilu, the lilting Kavadi Sindhu “Villinai Oththa Puruvam” by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar and the pleasing Arunagirinathar’s Thiruppugazh “ThuLLuvadhu Vaettai” in Hamsanandhi.

As the audience sat completely spellbound in the concert, an inevitable thought crossed one’s mind: did Goddess Saraswathi herself descend on earth with her ensemble to treat the Houstonians with a divine musical experience?

These thoughts were aptly brought forth in the emcee’s introductory statements and Mrs. Janaki’s congratulatory interlude when the latter also acknowledged and applauded the efforts of the KGSMA students and their beloved teacher. The event concluded with a thank you note from a KGSMA senior student; but the passion to learn, listen to and indulge in classical carnatic music continued to bur fully ablaze in the hearts of one and all!

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • PAGE 11

Saturday, June 6, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple 10080 Synott Road Sugar Land, TX 77498

281-530-2565

PAGE 12 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

COMMUNITY NEWS

TNF honors mothers with lively music and feast; raises funds for schools

Revathy Thiagarajan, left, Kalyani Govindan, Rajam Appam, Dr. Nalini Balachandran and Ponni Sivaraman, far right, presented the Mother of the Year awards to Mala Gopal, Malar Narayanan, Dr. Nalinakshi Rangala and Dhanam Thiagarajan. Nalini Mukhopadhyay, one of the recipients of the Mother of the Year award, is seated third from left, in the group picture below.

By SESHADRI KUMAR Recognition of five deserving mothers, following a limo ride, a visual treat with a befitting skit that showcased different dimensions of a woman, followed by an extraordinary feast to the ears with music that literally lifted the audience to different world (of Gandharvas), concluding with a sit-down dinner for all mothers, it was a Mother’s Day celebration like none other.

And the credit goes to the Tamil Nadu Foundation, Houston chapter, which held its fundraiser coinciding with Mother’s Day on May 10 at Sri Meenakshi Temple and turned it into a memorable Mother’s Day. May we say, Mother of all Mother’s Day? Five special mothers from the Tamil community of Houston were selected to receive the Mother of the year 2015 award for their outstanding contribution to children’s education, healthcare, art, community service and volunteering.

The recipients of inaugural awards were Dhanam Thiagarajan, Nalini Mukhopadhyay, Dr. Nalinakshi Rangala, Mala Gopal and Malar Narayanan.

TNF, Houston has decided to make the Mother of the Year awards a regular, annual feature.

The Mothers of the Year were

transported in style in a limousine to the event location at Meenakshi Kalyana Mandapam from Madras Pavilion in Sugar Land. The mothers were welcomed with the traditional garlands and music and then escorted to their special seats.

They were presented with special plaque for their accomplishments

by Rajam Appan, Ponni Sivaraman, Nalini Balachandran, Revathy Thiagarajan, and Kalyani Govindan, respectively.

Special plaques were also awarded to the chief guest Dr. Somasundaram of TNF, Dr. Padmini Ranganathan, Rajan Radhakrishnan of Madras Pavilion, sponsors of the event, and Subhasree Thanikachalam in recognition of their support and service to TNF. Local talents of Houston under the direction of Mala Gopal presented a special musical skit “Pennin Parimaanangal” – a continuing journey of a woman, through generations from birth to becoming a grandmother, as a tribute to mothers. Rajan Radhakrishnan conducted this program.

The musical program “Ilayaraja Salutes Thyagaraja” a tribute to the two masters presented by Subhasree’s Ragamalika team from India was simply superb and the audience thoroughly enjoyed it.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • PAGE 13

COMMUNITY NEWS singers Laxmi Madhavan and Niranjan Krishna along with Tamil Cinema playback singers and instrumental musicians, Padmanabhan Kumar , Anush Shandilya (Key board), Sriram Ramesh (Drums and Mirudhangam), Selva Ganesh (Flute), and Harini (Violin), lead by Subhasree herself engaged the audience with a musical quiz and the interaction added a another dimension. Subhasree Thanikachalam with her fluent compering provided historical anecdotes behind some of the film tunes.

Music has no language and its pleasing impact on the listeners is beyond any doubt.

The artists demonstrated their amazing mastery over music, of both the genre. It was a sheer pleasure that was beyond the grasp of mere words.

The connoisseurs of Carnatic music and the aficionados of film music left their pedestals and reveled in the sheer musical extravaganza. Not that Saint Thyagaraja needed any introduction or marketing, but the juxtaposition of Ilayaraja’s compositions made film buffs comfortable in the company of the doyen of classical music, Thyagaraja.

Dr. R. Sivaraman, President of TNF Houston Chapter, opened the celebration event with a welcome address and a Texas style welcome to all mothers and TNF donors, members and other guests. He also gave a detailed presentation about the TNF/ TNF

Houston Chapter, its accomplishments and the goals for 2015.

Dr. Sivaraman launched a new youth wing of TNF Houston and introduced the coordinators of Youth wing: Mr. Perry Alagappan and Ms. Abinaya Govindan.

The event raised about $20,000 at the end of the day from the generous support of the TNF Donors, and event ticket sales.

TNF Houston Chapter raising the targeted amount which will go directly to sponsor the needy projects of five Government High Schools in Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu.

The five government schools (for Boys and Girls) are located

The Ragamalika team with Subhasree Thanikachalam in concert. in Thiruthuraipoondi, Pondi, Alathampadi and Manali. The selected schools are in immediate need of special coaching

and soft skills training among slow learners and in providing nutritious meals. It will improve their skills and motivate

them to stay in school and help us reach our goal which is “No kids left behind in education.”

Participants in the musical skit paying tribute to mother on the occasion of Mother’s Day.

PAGE 14 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

INDIA Volunteer Houston honors Kaushiki Tewary

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • PAGE 15

DOCUMENTARY Houston awaits screening of On a Quest Film on the life and work of a visionary

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

By Padmashree Rao There is eager anticipation in the air as May 30th, the date for the premiere of “On a Quest” in Houston, approaches. The much-acclaimed biopic of Swami Chinmayananda, who is revered as Pujya Gurudev by Chinmaya Mission worldwide, promises to be an inspiring, introspective journey. It will be a nostalgic reminder for those who met and interacted with the spiritual Master. And, it promises to capture the minds and hearts of a great majority of people who know of His teachings only through the published vast legacy of his books, recordings, and video lectures.

As part of the global launch of the Chinmaya Birth Centenary Celebrations (2015-16), Chinmaya Mission Houston invites the greater Houston community for an unforgettable glimpse at the transformational journey of a revolutionary skeptic journalist who heralded a modern spiritual renaissance.

The movie is a beautiful and poignant depiction of a seeker who evolved through many different identities before he finally found himself; or, to be accurate, before he realized the Self. It is a story with many turning points in which a precocious Balakrishnan (PBK) Menon grows into a fierce and fashionable atheist youth drawn to literature and law, and becomes a passionate freedom-fighter in the struggle for India’s independence. Later, he emerges as a restless journalist, whose sharp mind and pen sets forth to expose “the bluff of the swamis.”

Arriving at Rishikesh, Himalayas, with relentless curiosity, PBK Menon is intrigued by the humble lifestyle of service and contemplation in the ashram of Swami Sivananda. Thereon begins a soul-stirring transformation which culminates in a memorable sanyasa deeksha, presenting to the world, Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati.

In search of the Highest Truth, Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda climbs higher and higher up the slope of Vedantic philosophy to learn from the great Master Swami Tapovanam, who lived in great austerity amid the splendor of the Himalayas.

One afternoon’s dream on the banks of Mother Ganga sets the revolutionary Swami Chinmayananda on yet another quest. Determined to reintroduce the wisdom of the Hindu scriptures to the anglicized educated people of free India, the energetic Swami undertakes a divine mission.

Using his mastery of the English language, his unbeatable logic of spirituality, and tongue-in-cheek humor, the unconventional Swami begins to travel across India and the world, breaking tradition and bringing the Holy Gita and Upanishads directly to the masses. From a handful to later tens of thousands, people flock to the commanding presence in flaming orange whose booming voice and animated explanations systematically dispels their doubts, opening doors for maximum people toward maximum happiness for decades to follow.

‘On a Quest’ is not about preaching religion and but about a daring pursuit for Truth that transformed an ordinary man into a towering modern Sage. So, prepare to embark ‘On a Quest’ – a shared insight that will inspire our own inward journey.

Chinmaya Mission invites all to the special screenings of a biopic about Swami Chinmayananada, “On a Quest,” on May 30th and June 7th at 3:15pm at the AMC Dunvale. The movie portrays the unconventional life journey and an unforgettable glimpse of a great Master, Buy your tickets online at www.chinmayahouston.org/onaquest .Ticket availability is limited, so we encourage you to purchase soon. For more information, please visit www.chinmayahouston.org or contact Jay Deshmukh 832-541-0059.

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PAGE 16 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT Bombay Velvet: Pretty film, fine performances 36 Vayadhinile: Worth a cheer

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Karan Johar, Satyadeep Mishra, Kay Kay Menon. Director: Anurag Kashyap This is one film you wanted to wholeheartedly recommend — technically marvelous with the painstakingly detailed production design, sizzling chemistry between the lead pair, and impressive performances. Bombay Velvet starts off well, even splendidly, only to get more convoluted.

Inspired by Gyan Prakash’s book Mumbai Fables, the film trails the life of street ruffian/ fighter Johnny Balraj (Ranbir Kapoor). Ambitious and aggressive, Johnny is in a hurry to become a "big shot".

He falls in love with jazz singer Rosie Nornonha (Anushka Sharma). Johnny's character, often bordering on the edge of sanity, is not that easy to warm up to.

He's a questionable lover and human being, and you loathe him while also sympathizing with his circumstances.

Meanwhile, media mogul Khambata (Karan Johar) smells Johnny's desperation and sets out to exploit his ambition. He takes Johnny under his wings, training him to do his dirty work. It's an interesting equation between the two, the dynamics of which keep changing.

Then in the backdrop of vintage Bombay, a world of mills, jazz singers and missing negatives, starts a tale of deception, betrayal, ambition and greed.

Apart from the lack of depth in the portrayal of story developments, one reason for the film's downward spiral towards the second half is its self-seriousness. Yes, the story is grim, but you yearn for some dark humor relief or even a cutting-edge remark that could make you smirk.

Anurag Kashyap is one of the most interesting storytellers of our times and you see those flashes of genius. However, it is snowed under a lack of consistent pace,

often jarring and simplistic dialogue, and cliched improbable developments (like the heroine held hostage and waiting for rescue).

The film leaves several questions unanswered. The reasons for Khambata's sly nurturing of Johnny isn't exactly convincing.

The gory finale, which you wish was a tad more restrained, doesn't move you the way it was intended.

The film is Kashyap's ode to Bombay of that era, and also a romanticized nod to gangster films of old Bollywood and even Hollywood classics. One wishes the

rest of the film was as clever as the intermittent snatches.

However, you marvel at the spell-binding atmospherics, while taking in Amit Trivedi's superb score.

The performances are laudable. Ranbir Kapoor is superb as the ambitious Johnny who is as ruthless as he is vulnerable. Only his street language sounds a bit affected at times.

Anushka Sharma is wonderful as the jazz singer who comes into her own, and looks immaculate.

The film focuses on the romance, and Ranbir-Anushka's crackling chemistry keeps us hooked to their story. Karan Johar, in his acting debut, proves to be quite a urprise with his interesting rendering of Khambata. Satyadeep Mishra is excellent as Johnny's friend, while Kay Kay Menon makes an impact despite a limited screen time.

If you can forgive the film's shortcomings, this period crime drama is worth a watch for its visual splendor and masterful performances.

— Sonia Chopra in Sify.com

Ishq Ke Parinday

Cast: Rishi Verma, Priyanka Mehta, Manjul Aazad, Yasir Iftikhar Khan. Director: Shakir Khan It's love at first sight for Lucknow boy Faiz (Rishi Verma), an aspiring lawyer who is drawn to Karachi girl Sheen (Priyanka Mehta).

Sheen too falls for Faiz but their relationship gets strained, when Sheen discovers that Faiz's brother is a criminal.

Set in Lucknow, Ishq Ke Parindey is a run-of-the-mill love story, which works to a certain extent for its innocence and old-school romance. In spite of being predictable, the film is a pleasant watch because of its promising lead pair. Newcomers Rishi Verma and Priyanka Mehta fit their roles perfectly and have a bright future. Their chemistry and earnest performances lend novelty to a conventional plot.

Coming back to the story, the couple's relationship suffers after Sheen witnesses a few goons killing a man at a restaurant. She soon discovers that they happen to be Faiz's brother's henchmen. Having lost half her family to gang wars, she decides to distance herself from Faiz as a way to condemn violence. Faiz tries to convince her that he is not like his brother. Can the two bury their differences and get together?

While the lead actors are decent, the supporting actors ham away to glory - villains in particular. Also, the climax seems a tad too simplistic and abrupt compared to the steady build-up. While the cinematography and dialogues are fine, the production values act as a deterrent.

This one has a Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak hangover. If you don't mind traditional love stories and do not find them outdated, you can watch one. — Times of India

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Cast: Jyotika, Rahman, Abirami. Director: Rosshan Andrews In Rosshan Andrrews’s 36 Vayadhinile, based on his Malayalam hit How Old Are You?, Jyotika plays an alien. The character, named Vasanthi, is 36. Her eyesight is no longer what it was. Her hair is turning silver. She has a teenaged daughter. She works in a government job and lives in a joint family. And to unwind, she watches Tamil soaps. She lip-syncs perfectly, and the film revolves around her. Surely this is not a Tamil-film heroine. I mean, there’s not even a duet. There’s no other explanation. She’s visiting from Venus. And she has brought with her an otherworldly wardrobe. Say what you will about the rest of the film, there will be those who line up just to see Vasanthi’s impeccable taste in saris.

You could say the same for English Vinglish, where another actress emerged from retirement in a series of dazzling saris.

But there’s more. Like English Vinglish, 36 Vayadhinile is a story of empowerment. It’s about a perennially slighted housewife discovering that her inner closet has a “You Go Girl!” T-shirt after all. In the film’s most touching moment, a friend looks at this subdued version of Vasanthi and asks her what happened to the firebrand she was in college. Vasanthi simply says, “Theriyale… thedanum.” The film is about this search.

The mere existence of this film, in this hero-driven industry of ours, is reason to celebrate. It’s produced by Suriya, and it feels like he’s atoning for the terrible movies he has made of late. But 36 Vayadhinile is not cinema. It is, at best, a glorified television soap, broadly written and staged and performed, and blaring its messages through a megaphone.

Take Susan (Abirami) who turns up in the second half as Vasanthi’s savior. She’s meeting Vasanthi for the first time after college, some 14 years later. You’d think they’ll do some catching up, have some fun.

But no. The next scene, she begins to lecture Vasanthi. And in the very next scene, Vasanthi changes, as if a switch were activated to modify years of ingrained behavior.

Another problem is the portrayal of Vasanthi’s husband Tamilselvan (Rahman). He’s a positively dreadful man. In English Vinglish, the husband was merely insensitive. The passive-aggressive Tamilselvan expects his wife to take the blame for an accident he’s caused. He vents all his frustrations on her and makes her feel miserable. When the time comes for him to move to Ireland, he doesn’t discuss it with her. He informs her at a restaurant. And once abroad, he expects her to join him because he cannot afford to hire someone to cook and clean. What a prize catch.

There’s not one caring moment between husband and wife, and the film’s biggest failure is making Vasanthi accept his (unstated) apology as if he merely forgot their anniversary.

But as I said, it’s not easy to dismiss 36 Vayadhinile. I wish Vasanthi’s emergence as her own woman had been done in a smaller way, instead of making her some sort of crusader.

The opening credits sequence is joyous. We hear the sprightly ‘Vaadi raasaathi’ over visuals of women, doctors and lawyers, auto drivers and flower sellers, young and old. Jyotika, too, is one of them, a woman juggling work and home, and even putting her career on hold because of kids, something a man would never have to do. Deservedly, she gets top billing. — Baradwaj Rangan in The Hindu

IIFA to screen Dil Dhadakne Do on June 6 Director Zoya Akhtar's multi-starrer dysfunctional family drama "Dil Dhadakne Do" will be screened at the upcoming 16th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Malaysia on June 6.

The film, which is releasing worldwide a day ahead of its screening in the South-East Asian country, has an ensemble cast of Anil Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Farhan Akhtar, Anushka Sharma and Shefali Shah.

"I am in Bollywood from last 38 years and there are very few films where everything goes right. And I am very lucky that in my upcoming film 'Dil Dhadakne Do' I got the opportunity to work with a wonderful producer, director, technician and background stars.

"Together we have created a gem and it will make us proud to be an Indian when it will have its screening. It will be the first screening of the film as we are not having any screening in Mumbai," Anil, a friend of IIFA, told reporters. IIFA is returning to Malaysia again after 2002. Stars expected to attend the festival are Shahid Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh and Priyanka Chopra.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • PAGE 17

STORY OF MAHATMA GANDHI - I SPIRITUALITY A carefree and happy childhood in Porbandar Time to graduate from nursery This is the story of a man born more than 130 years ago.

As a boy, he looked no different from the millions of other children born in India. Yet this was no ordinary child. He was to fight and overcome a great empire and, without taking to“arms, set his country free. He was to be called the Mahatma, the Great Soul.

Having led his people to freedom, he was to lay down his life for their sake. India Herald will bring over the next several weeks, the story of this remarkable man who is still an inspiration to millions of oppressed people around the world.

In a small, white-washed house in Porbandar, on the coast of Kathiawad in the western Indian state of Gujarat, Mohandas Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869. His father was Karamchand Gandhi and mother Putlibai.

Porbandar is an old seaport, a little“distance from the Barda Hills. Even in ancient days ships

Moniya was just seven years old when his father left Porbandar to become the Dewan of Rajkot.

Moniya missed Porbandar, and he missed the blue sea and the ships in the harbor. At Rajkot he was sent to a primary school. He was shy and did not mix easily with the other children. Every morning

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These contests are being organized to create higher awareness of the inspiring life and work of Mahatma Gandhi to promote universal values of Truth, Non-Violence, Love and Service. from far-off lands arrived there to“trade. It was the ancestral home“of the Gandhi family.

The grandfather and father of“Mohandas were famous for their ability and for their upright character.

Grandfather Uttamchand Gandhi, who belonged to a humble family of merchants, became the Dewan of Porbandar.

He was succeeded by his son, Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Kaba Gandhi.

Karamchand had very little formal education, but his knowledge and experience of state affairs made him a good administrator. He was brave and generous. He had, however, onefault - a bad temper.

Putlibai, Karamchand Gandhi’s wife, was a deeply religious woman, lovable and strongwilled“woman. She was widely respected for her wisdom and good sense. People often sought her advice on various matters.

Mohandas was the youngest of the six children of Karamchand and Putlibai Gandhi. He was the favorite child of the family and was called ‘Moniya’ by his parents and their friends.

Moniya adored his mother. He loved his father too, but he was a little afraid of him. As a child, Moniya seldom liked to stay at home. He would go home for his meals and then run away again to play outside. If one of his brothers teased him or playfully pulled his ears, he would run home to complain to his mother.

“Why didn’t you hit him?” she would ask.

“How can you teach me to hit people, mother? Why should I hit my brother? Why should I hit anyone?” would be Moniya’s reply.

His mother wondered where her little son got such ideas.

he went to school in time, and ran back home as soon as school was over. His books were his sole companions and he spent all his free time alone reading. He had one friend, however; a boy named Uka, who was a sweeper boy and an untouchable.

One day Moniya was given some sweets. He ran at once to Uka to share them with him.

“Don’t come near me little master,” said Uka. “Why not?” asked Moniya, greatly surprised. Why can’t I come near you?”

“I am an untouchable, master,” Uka replied. Moniya took hold of Uka’s hands and filled them with sweets. His mother saw this from a window, and she ordered Moniya to come in at once.

“Don’t you know that a high caste Hindu should never touch“an untouchable?” she asked sternly.

“But why not, mother?” asked Moniya.

“Because our Hindu custom forbids it,” she said.

“I don’t agree with you, mother.

I find nothing wrong in touching Uka. He is not different from me, is he?”

His mother had no answer. She angrily told him to go take a bath and say his prayers.

Karamchand Gandhi loved all his sons, but he was specially fond

of the youngest. He often said to him: “You must go to high school and college and take up a profession.”

Moniya worked hard, and did his lessons carefully. But he did not like learning by heart and was therefore weak in Sanskrit. Geometry was his favorite subject because it involved reasoning.

Once Moniya happened to read the story of Shravana. Shravana’s parents were old and blind, and he always carried them with him in two baskets slung on a yoke.

Moniya was deeply touched by Shravana’s devotion to his old parents.

Moniya’s brother had a friend named Sheikh. He was tall and strong. Sheikh was a meat-eater and he often told Mohandas that if he ate meat he would also grow tall and strong. There was also at that time a reform movement for a change in the orthodox beliefs and practices of Hindus.

Mohandas himself had heard that many well-to-do people had started eating meat, so he, too, tried meat. He did not like the taste of meat but as time went on he started to like meat curries.

Whenever Mohandas had a meat meal outside, he had to give his mother some excuse for not eating his dinner. He knew that his parents would not forgive him if they knew he had eaten meat.

He was not against eating meat then, but he was against telling a lie to his mother.

This feeling was gnawing at his heart and finally he decided never to touch meat again. Mohandas had also taken to smoking with his brother, another relative and Sheikh. He had to pilfer small amounts of money here and there with which to buy cigarettes. One day, in order to pay off a debt which his brother had incurred, Mohandas stole a piece of gold jewelry. Stealing was a sin and he knew that he had committed a great crime. He resolved never in his life to steal again. He wrote down a confession of his crime and handed the paper to his ailing father.

Karamchand Gandhi read the confession. He tore up the paper without saying a word. The bits of paper fell to the floor. He sank back on his bed with a sigh.

Mohandas left the room, tears streaming down his face. From that day, Mohandas loved his father more and more. Every day he hurried home from school to wait on him. His father’s condition grew worse and at length he died. The house was filled with sorrow. Mohandas was only sixteen when his father died.

(To be continued)

By Swami Sukhbodhanand How to bring fullness to what we do?

Let your actions not beg for happiness. When you beg for happiness, you position happiness in the future. Life happens in the present.

Treat the present as a present (gift) and then you will be total in what you do. When you are total in what you do, then the ‘totality’ brings ‘fullness’ in what you are doing.

I consider the work situation as a field for learning and hence it is a school. One has to be alert that the school is not a nursery. The main difference is that the nursery is for little children, and the school is not.

In a nursery, the child is not fully expected to take care of himself, but in a school one has to take care of oneself. In a school the child is expected to have more responsibility, the teacher gives information, but the learning has to happen by the student. That is not the case in a nursery. So are you in a nursery or a school? Live like an adult, take charge of your life and be responsible for your physical, emotional, mental, financial and spiritual health.

We don’t learn from a problem because we don’t want to grow up.

We don’t want to behave like a grown up, and continue to behave like little kids. The attitude of not wanting to grow up explains the way we feel. A child cries when it wants something and expects others to fulfill what it wants. Emotionally, an adult cries for this or that at home or office and we start complaining. Learn to grow up and take responsibility. The art of growing up is akin to living in the school of life, where learning is focused, and taking responsibility for all dimensions of wellness.

Here’s a story: A man was frantically searching for a lost key under the street light. Looking at him, the people also started searching under the street light. A youngster passing that way asked one person what he was searching for. He said he has no knowledge, but started searching when he saw the other guys searching.

Slowly, the youngster came to the man who started the search and asked him, “What are you searching for”? “My house key”, he said.

“Where have you dropped it”, he asked. “I lost it in my house, and since there is no light in my house, I am searching for it under this street light”, he replied.

This is how we are foolishly living our life. We search for happiness where it is not, whereas happiness lies inside us. There is darkness, ignorance inside us and so we have not looked inside us. In deep sleep, we are happy without any objects, so where is this happiness coming from? Within us is it not? But when we are awake, the mind has this illusion that the world of objects gives us joy and we run after this and that pleasure.

We get trapped by pleasure which is not joy. Our running after objects is like running after a mirage hoping that there is water, but it is only a mirage. But we need to realise that happiness is not in the world of objects; it is in our attitude towards life -- in the way we look at life; in the way we bring fullness to what we do.

Points to Ponder Life is really simple, but we make it complicated... By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. — Confucius The essence of love and compassion is understanding, the ability to recognise the physical, material, and psychological suffering of others, to put ourselves "inside the skin" of the other. Shallow observation as an outsider is not enough. — Thich Nhat Hanh There is a tendency for people to get rigid and caught up in their beliefs of what is right and wrong, and they lose sight of humanity.

Being human has to come first before right or wrong. — Matisyahu No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit... Life is either a great adventure or nothing. — Helen Keller Reducing carbon emissions is important, but couple it with reducing the toxic emissions from our heart; and this is something that all thinking people, regardless of their beliefs, should practice. -- Radhanath Swami What is the key to spiritual growth? You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul. -- Swami Vivekananda What is true progress? The degree of freedom from unwanted thoughts and the degree of concentration on a single thought are the measures to gauge true progress.— Ramana Maharshi.

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PAGE 18 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

INDIA Kamath to head BRICS bank

NEW DELHI: Newly-appointed president of $100-billion BRICS Bank K V Kamath said he will relinquish his current responsibilities in the next few days and move to Shanghai, the headquarters of the New Development Bank (NDB).

"I have not yet left my posts. I am in the process of disengaging (and) in the next few days I hope to do that. Let me go to Shanghai and understand the situation better," he told reporters after meeting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley here.

The seasoned banker, who has been chosen to be the first head of the BRICS Bank or NDB, said, "I am honored and humbled, I look forward to nomination of BRICS Bank."

Earlier in the month, the government had announced appointment of Kamath as the first president of the NDB for a term of five

years. The bank is likely to become operational in one year.

Before joining the NDB, Kamath will have to relinquish his current responsibilities and board positions. He is at present nonexecutive chairman of two major entities, ICICI Bank, country's largest private sector bank, and Infosys, a software major.

Leaders of the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) had last year reached an agreement to establish the New Development Bank, with its headquarters in Shanghai. As per the agreement, India got the right to nominate the first president.

The BRICS nations account for nearly $16 trillion in GDP and 40 per cent of the world's population.

The bank will start with initial capital of $50 billion with each BRICS country contributing $10 billion, while its authorised capital is $100 billion.

Infosys may name board member R Seshasayee as interim non-executive chairman while it evaluates external and internal candidates to replace Kamath, according to two people aware of the development.

The process of evaluating candidates for the position of nonexecutive chairman is still at an early stage but a successor is expected to be finalised in 2-3 weeks, they said.

If Akbar can be called ‘great’, why not Maharana Pratap?

JAIPUR: While Mughal emperor Akbar was “great”, it was beyond understanding why someone would object to Rajput ruler Maharana Pratap being called the same, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in Pratapgarh, 400 km from here, on Sunday, May 17.

Singh, who was in Pratapgarh to unveil a massive eight-metal statue of Maharana Pratap, also said history taught in Indian school books had not adequately recognised Maharana Pratap’s contribution.

“Maharana Pratap became an icon for freedom fighters because his name evoked a strong feeling of love and sacrifice for motherland.

Even the Vietnamese were inspired by him and it helped them in defeating a powerful country like the US,” said Singh. The Home Minister said while he had no objection in calling Mughal emperor Akbar “great”, Maharana Pratap was in a different league.

Lauding Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje’s move of including Pratap’s story in the state school syllabus, Rajnath said he would request HRD minister Smriti Irani to include the same in the CBSE curriculum. Referring to V S Naipaul’s book India: A wounded civilization, Singh said “India (was) the only country in the world where history written by foreign historians is taught in textbooks. Indian historians should pay attention to eminent authors like Naipaul and take corrective measures”.

Singh also announced that the Centre, for the first time, had decided to celebrate Maharana Pratap’s 475th anniversary across the country. The NDA government had formed a committee to oversee the celebrations, he said. He further said the anniversary celebrations would also be held in other countries with Indian immigrants.

Last month, Rajasthan education minister Vasudev Devnani had said the state government would include tales of “local and national heroes” besides stories of Akbar the Great and other “foreign” figures like Pythagoras.

Bride asks for toilet instead of jewelry MUMBAI: A Maharashtra bride who preferred to receive a toilet to jewellery as wedding gift will now be given a reward of Rs. 10 lakh by Sulabh International.

“Five days after my marriage was fixed, I came to know that there is no toilet in my in-laws’ house,” Chaitali Galakhe from Akola district said. “I asked my father and uncle to provide a toilet, which they fulfilled. It is more useful than some items normally given in marriage,” she said.

Chaitali married Devendra Makode from a village in Yavatmal district. Marriage guests were surprised to see a different item on display, amid the other usual household articles given by parents and relatives. It was a prefabricated toilet with a water closet, a washbasin and mirror.

Comatose nurse dies 42 years after rape MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday, May 19, announced a decision to rename the Nursing Training School in Thane after Aruna Shanbaug, the KEM Hospital nurse who passed away Monday after 42 years in coma.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who returned to Mumbai on Tuesday from China, made the announcement on twitter ahead of the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The announcement came on a day the Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil ruled out the possibility of the government reopening Shanbaug’s police case unless a court issued such orders.

“If somebody goes to court asking for reopening of the case, the State government will do as per the court’s orders,” Patil told reporters.

Shanbaug was brutally raped on the night of November 27, 1973 by ward-boy cum sweeper Sohanlal Walmiki, who sodomised her and then strangulated her with a dog chain, sending her into a comatose state. As she remained in a permanently vegetative state, Shanbaug became the face of the euthanasia debate when author Pinki Virani approached the Supreme Court seeking euthanasia for her. The apex court rejected the plea in 2011, but allowed passive euthanasia for patients with permanently vegetative state and incurable medical condition.

Valmiki was convicted and served two concurrent seven-year sentences for assault and robbery, but was never prosecuted for rape, or alleged unnatural sex.

Meanwhile, the KEM nurses,

Google gives $500K for child safety work NEW DELHI: Internet giant Google on Monday threw its weight behind three NGOs in India, announcing support in the form of $500,000 in grants, to promote child safety in India.

With this grant, Google aims to further the cause with smart applications of technology and help scale up initiatives aimed at child safety programs and campaigns.

Grants have been made through Google.Org to Childline India Foundation that provides a free phone service, 1098, for children in need of help or protection, Bachpan Bachao Andolan that protects and rescues children from slavery, trafficking, and forced labor, and Tulir which works to prevent and heal child sexual abuse across India.

“Technology can play a significant role in transforming lives, and we are delighted to provide support to three of India’s NGOs such as Childline India Foundation, Bachpan Bachao Andolan and Tulir which have been doing a phenomenal work,” Google India and South-East Asia Managing Director Rajan Anandan said.

Globally, Google has donated over $100 million in grants, $1 billion on technology resources, and 80,000 hours of Googler volunteering to NGOs in 2014 around the world.

Shanbaug’s principal caregivers for four decades, want the room in ward no.

4 to be preserved as a memorial for her.

Hospital dean Dr. Avinash Supe said no decision has been taken in this regard, though her photograph has been placed in the room, which remained out of bound for visitors.

Shanbaug’s demise has also spurred Madhya Pradesh government to institute an award in her memory. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced that his government would felicitate those who put up resilient fight against atrocities against women with Rs. 1 lakh prize every year. He made the announcement while addressing the second Mahila Panchayat organized at CM House in Bhopal.

Aruna Shanbaug suffered brain damage and was in a vegetative state after she was raped and strangled by a hospital worker in 1973.

The rapist, Sohanlal Bharta Valmiki, who throttled her with a dog chain.

The brutal assault cut off blood and oxygen supply to key parts of her brain leaving her blind, deaf and paralysed.

Pravin Bangar, medical superintendent at Mumbai's King Edward Memorial Hospital, said Shanbaug had been diagnosed with pneumonia and had been on a life support system for the past few days.

An appeal to take her off life support was rejected by the Supreme Court in 2011, but the debate spurred an important legislation on euthanasia in the country. The case was opposed by nurses at the hospital who took turns taking care of her for more than four decades after Shanbaug's family said they were unable to support her.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • PAGE 19

INDIA Fitting commemoration of Rajiv death anniversary

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by Tamil Tiger rebels on May 21, 1989 in Tamil Nadu.

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government has called for a “fitting” commemoration of the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, which is observed as anti-terrorism day.

“You are requested to organise appropriate programmes, including the pledge-taking ceremony, to observe the anti- terrorism day in a fitting manner,” Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry, Satpal Chouhan, wrote to the chief secretaries of all state governments and Union Territories as well as the secretaries of central ministries.

The ministry told the states that the objective behind observing the day was to wean youths away from terrorism and violence by highlighting the sufferings of the common people and showing how that is prejudicial to national interest.

It has asked the states and UTs to organise debates or discussions

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in schools, colleges, universities and hold symposiums and seminars on the danger of terrorism and violence.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by LTTE cadres in a suicide bombing attack at a rally at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.

This will be the first anti-terrorism day to be observed since the NDA government came to power last year. The observances were toned down in 2014 event with the new government being sworn-in only on May 26.

In the run up to its completing one year in office, the Modi government has been under attack from Congress both inside and outside Parliament with the party’s vice president Rahul Gandhi leading the charge against it on issues such as its alleged failure to carry out development work and “taking credit” for work done under the previous UPA rule.

In its letter regarding the May 21 observances, the Home Ministry said, “Anti-terrorism and antiviolence pledge to be taken in all government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions.”

The ministry called for a determined and sustained drive to bring about a mass awakening against terrorism and violence by making appropriate projections through the media on May 21.

The states and ministries have been told to highlight the ill-effects of violence and terrorism by involving “prominent sports, film and other prominent personalities and distribution of T-shirts with antiviolence and anti-terrorism slogans”.

Home Ministry has asked the states and central government ministries to involve voluntary organizations and social and cultural bodies to organize programs like lectures, talks, discussions, musical recitals and cultural functions.

3 die in heat wave Three persons have died due to severe heat wave conditions gripping Gujarat, officials said “Three persons have died due to heat-stroke in last ten days,” Dr Paresh Bodat, an officer of epidemic cell in the health department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), said.

Gujarat has been in the grip of high temperatures in towns including Ahmedabad shot up to 44 degree Celsius throwing life out of gear.

Terror case collapses after 45 witnesses refute police claims HUBLI: He was 23, had just qualified to become a doctor, and was the pride of his doting parents. Then, at around 4 p.m. on February 6, 2008, a knock on the door changed everything.

“I spent seven years in hell. They stole the best years of my life. I want to live now, I want my life back,” Allah Baksh Yadwad told The Sunday Express.

On April 30, Yadwad was acquitted by a Hubli court of all charges levelled by the Karnataka Police who claimed he was a member of a “SIMI module” and had participated “in conspiracy meetings aimed at establishing (an) Islamic government in India”.

But a copy of the judgment said it all: The prosecution, relying on Investigating Officer S S Khote, lined up 45 witnesses — including 24 medical students — to prove Yadwad’s guilt, but none of them supported the police version.

In the end, the judgment devoted 39 paragraphs to illustrate Yadwad’s innocence. ‘There was not a shred of evidence with police, they framed my son,” said Yadwad’s 57-year-old father Waliullah who had to undergo bypass surgery following a heart attack four months after the eldest of his six children was picked up that February afternoon.

As in the story of Bangalore-based software engineer Yahya Kammukutty, whose acquittal in the same case was reportedlast week Yadwad’s arrest was the result of events that started with the confiscation of a motorcycle without papers from two youths in Honnali.

One of the two, Mohammad Asif, was a student at Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubli. At the time, Yadwad was half-way through his one-year house-surgeoncy, following his MBBS degree, at KIMS. Police went on to link Yadwad to Asif, who they alleged had conducted mass prayers, violating rules, at the KIMS hostel. Yadwad alleges that after he was picked up from his home in Hubli, he was threatened, slapped and made to sign on eight blank sheets of paper by police.

Yadwad, say police, rented a number of properties in Hubli “for conducting secret meetings of SIMI”. They alleged he had “participated in mass namaz with other 15 Muslim MBBS students” in KIMS where Asif would exhort them to “get ready for jihad”.

Police also claimed to have recovered “incriminating material” from Yadwad’s home and the KIMS hostel, and identified places that he had rented to hold meetings.

But the charges against Yadwad crumbled over the next seven years – he was not even a resident of the hostel at the time, and the owners, tenants and a broker linked to properties that Yadwad allegedly rented denied the police version. One witness said police took him to a shop and a house in Hubli, did not tell him who they belonged to, and then made him sign on some papers.

Another said he was a “hawker in Hubli” and that police took him to a hospital, didn’t tell him why, then obtained his signatures on documents. The list goes on: a farmer denied having spotted Yadwad attending meetings in a dargah nearby; a houseowner denied having rented his property to the “sixth accused”; a chicken shop owner denied having seen Yadwad in the building; another houseowner denied renting his property to Yadwad to hold “secret meetings”.

As for the “incriminating material” recovered, Yadwad’s father said policemen came to their home and asked whether “we had any books”.

“They saw only medical books in Allah Baksh’s cupboard. Then they asked where we kept our Quran. They took two books: Minhajul Arabia, a guide to basic Arabic, and a book called ‘Towards Understanding Islam’,’” he said.

Woman, teased by bodyguard, smashes SP leader’s car AGRA: Allegedly teased by a gunner of a local Samajwadi Party leader at a traffic signal, a gutsy woman here decided not to take it lying down and jumped atop the leader’s Mercedes and smashed the windshield after tearing off the party flag on the bonnet.

The two-minute video of the woman’s act took social media by storm, with most people sharing the links online.

The incident took place on Sunday evening, May 17, when the woman identified as 23-year-old Sadhvi Pandey along with her sister was going to see a doctor on a scooty. When they were waiting at a crossing, the cavalcade of Abhinav Sharma stopped alongside and the gunner allegedly winked at her from inside the car.

Pandey stopped the car and as she was taking a photo of the gunner with her mobile, some of the guards in the cavalcade came running and allegedly broke her mobile phone.

This infuriated the woman further and she climbed on the bonnet of Sharma’s Mercedes car and tore off the party flag fixed on the bonnet and used it to break the windshield.

Reacting to the incident, SP’s Naresh Aggarwal said, “Abhinav Sharma is not a leader of SP. This is a fashion in Uttar Pradesh, people generally carry the flag of the ruling party”.

Sharma, whose car was damaged in the incident, said he has fired the gunman.

The woman, who is being lauded on social media, said, “There was no bravery in my act. Had they not broken my mobile and had taken action against the guard, we would not have gone so extreme”.

PAGE 20 â&#x20AC;˘ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

INDIA Dhaka to strengthen coast guard amid migrant crisis

An Indonesian volunteer cuts the hair of a Bangladeshi migrant who recently arrived in Indonesia by boat, as others wait for their turn, at a shelter in Kuala Langsa, in Indonesia's Aceh Province.

DHAKA: Bangladesh is to strengthen its coastguard operations in an effort to stop human trafficking and other illegal activities on its shores as a refugee crisis mounts in Asia.

An estimated 25,000 Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar boarded smugglers' boats in the first three months of this year, twice as many as in the same period of 2014, the U.N. refugee agency has said.

"We have undertaken a 4.6 billion taka ($59 million) project to strengthen the coastguards," Planning Minister Mustafa Kamal said

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on Tuesday, adding that the extra cash would help curb human trafficking, illegal fishing and smuggling in the seas.

The money will be spent on buying more modern equipment.

Earlier this month, a Bangladesh coastguard and navy team rescued more than 100 Malaysia-bound migrants, including several children, from a boat that had been abandoned by its crew in the Bay of Bengal.

Malaysia, one of Southeast Asia's wealthier economies, has long been a magnet for illegal immigrants.

Together with Indonesia, it is experiencing a surge in boat people from Bangladesh and Myanmar after Thailand, usually the destination of choice for people-smugglers, announced a crackdown on

trafficking.

Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand have turned back or towed overcrowded migrant boats away from their coastlines, in what the International Organization for Migration has described as "maritime ping-pong with human lives".

U.N. agencies urged all three countries on Tuesday to step up sea rescue operations and stop preventing the migrants from reaching land. Some 2,500 migrants have landed in Malaysia and Indonesia over the week, while around 5,000 remain stranded at sea in rickety boats with dwindling supplies of food and water.

Police urge ban on Islamist group DHAKA: Bangladesh police said Tuesday they have asked the government to ban an Islamist militant group they suspect of involvement in the murders of atheist bloggers.

Police have already charged members of the Ansarullah Bangla Team with the 2013 murder of blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider, and now suspect the same group was responsible for the deaths of three more bloggers this year. "Police have asked the home ministry to ban Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT)," police spokesman Jahangir Sarker told AFP. He said "primary assessments" had implicated ABT in the killings of bloggers including Ananta Bijoy Das, who was hacked to death by on his way to work.

Memorial ceremonies for victims of Tamil civil war MULLIVAIKKAL: Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil politicians, religious leaders and civilians gathered Monday, May 18, under heavy surveillance at memorial ceremonies on the battleground where thousands died in the final days of the civil war that ended in 2009.

Lawmakers and local leaders lit earthen lamps and offered flowers at a makeshift memorial in Mullivaikkal village in northeastern Sri Lanka where thousands of people were killed in fierce fighting between the army and Tamil Tiger rebels.

Civilians largely kept away at this event as several Sri Lankan intelligence agents and police were watching those attending the ceremony.

Even journalists covering the ceremony were followed and Sri Lankan security agents listened in as they interviewed civilians and politicians.

Police had obtained a court order prohibiting any memorial that might be perceived as glorifying the dead rebels who were fighting to create a separate state for Tamils in the island's northern and eastern regions.

Mullivaikkal was the site where the beleaguered Tamil Tiger rebels were caught in the final days with hundreds of thousands of civilians and mounted their last stand against the security forces.

In the last days, government troops killed rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and the entire Tamil rebel leadership along with scores of civilians. Tamil leaders appealed to the international community to do more to ensure justice for the people killed in the war.

"The Mullivaikkal incident left indelible marks on the collective human conscience of our people," C.V. Wigneswaran, the provincial chief minister of Tamil-majority north said.

The United Nations has estimated that 80,000 to 100,000 people died in the civil war, but the actual number is believed to be much higher. A U.N report later said up to 40,000 Tamils may have been killed in the final months of the war alone.

Both Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger rebels were accused of committing serious violations. The government was accused of deliberately shelling civilians and hospitals, denying food and medicine for the civilians and deliberately undercounting the number of civilians trapped in the fighting. The rebels were accused of holding civilians as human shields and recruiting child soldiers.

Lawmaker Suresh Premachandran expressed disappointment that the new Sri Lankan government had restricted the people's right to remember their dead loved ones. "Weeping for the dead is a basic need and this has been denied to us for so long," Rev. Jeyabalan Croos said during Mass. "What they did was wrong, not what we do."

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • PAGE 21

PAKISTAN Higher mango exports likely

KARACHI: Pakistan will start mango export from May 20, and exporters are hoping to cross the 100,000 tonnes target amid expectations of more orders at better prices.

Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association (PFVA) has forecast better revenue and enhanced volume of export after the ban on wooden crates for exporting the perishable item.

Chairman PFVA Resea-rch and Development Waheed Ahmed said mango exports would fetch $60 million as compared to $48m (94,000 tonnes) exported last year.

He said mango production is estimated at 1.8 million tonnes this year despite huge losses caused by climatic hazards in the upper Punjab.

The climatic change like rain, thunder storm, and prolonged winter season badly affected the crop in Punjab causing collectively 30-35 per cent decline in mango production from the province against its share of 64pc in the country.

Mango production in Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffar Garh and Multan is expected to face reduction by 25, 50 and 60pc, respectively, this year. Waheed said country can easily export mango worth $100 million during the next three years by applying internationally recognized standard of packaging of quality fruit produced through introduction of modern farming practices.

He expected 100 per cent increase in export to European countries

Safoora Goth massacre plotters held KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday said security authorities had apprehended masterminds of the Safoora Goth massacre that resulted in 45 people of the Ismaili community losing their lives.

While talking to mediapersons in Nawabshah, the Sindh chief minister said the alleged militants, who admitted to planning the bus attack, had been arrested from Karachi.

The arrested suspects also pointed out names and details of their accomplices, he added. Shah said statements of witnesses had been investigated and verified, adding that soon the actual attackers will be put behind bars as well.

At least 43 people were killed and 13 others wounded on May 14 when armed men opened fire inside a bus carrying members of the Ismaili community near Safoora Chowk in Karachi.

Sindh Police Inspector General Ghulam Haider Jamali said 60 people were on board the bus when six gunmen entered and executed 43 passengers.

He added that the armed men used 9mm pistols to take out bus passengers from close range. The attackers managed to flee after the attack.

Ahmed Marwat, a spokesman for Jundullah, which is a splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Islamabad airport gets facelift, blast-proof wall ISLAMABAD: Nine months and Rs. 450 million later, Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport has got its much-awaited facelift which includes what officials say is a "blast-proof wall", revamped business lounge and a new taxiway link.

A key component of the project was the construction of a 1,700 feet x 75 feet taxiway link, adjacent to the lone runway which will help to save over Rs 1 billion per annum by reducing waiting time for aircraft that are ready to land or take-off. It is estimate that the new feature will save Rs 120 million per month for airlines.

The concourse hall, where airline offices and food stalls left little space for passengers and those who came to see-off or receive them, has now been cleared of stalls and all airline offices have been centralised.

A blast-proof concrete wall has been built in front of the main terminal to separate it from the car park to make the airport more secure, while a 'fast-track section' has been constructed near the outer gate to allow passengers with light baggage to enter and leave the airport without hassle.

A new airport in the capital is due to be opened to the public next year. A senior official of the CAA said the existing airport will be used

by VVIP and domestic flights and the Pakistan Air Force while the new airport will be reserved for the general public.

this year with 10,000 tonnes as compared to 4,700 tonnes last year.

Around 29 hot water treatment plants had been arranged this year as compared to the three plants last year to export quality and healthy fruit to European markets.

These plants had the capacity to treat 2,000-2,500 tonnes of mango daily which would help export disease-free fruit this year.

He showed his concerns over the VHT plant which is yet to be installed. In the absence of this plant, Japanese market would remain closed for Pakistani mango.

Exporters are trying to tap other markets of Russia, China and Australia. A special delegation would visit to China to carry out survey of the Chinese market for Pakistani mango.

Zimbabwe begins tour of Pakistan HARARE: A Zimbabwe cricket team official on tour in Pakistan with his national team said players had volunteered for the 13-day tour.

Ozias Bvute, head of the delegation and a former Zimbabwe Cricket chief executive, on Tuesday said, “We are here to support Pakistan; we are here to play cricket and we will play cricket.

We are satisfied with the security arrangements and all players have come here voluntarily.”

It is the first tour of Pakistan by a Test-level team since seven Sri Lankan cricketers were wounded during a 2009 attack by militants in Lahore.

Zimbabwe are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan Tuesday and play two Twenty20 and three One-Day Internationals amid massive security at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Since the attack on the Sri Lankans, Pakistan have staged 'home' matches in the United Arab Emirates.

Views on the tour are mixed with Sri Lanka-born Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore upbeat. “I appreciate the significance of this tour to Pakistan and I am happy to go,” he told Zimbabwe radio.

But the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) said their security advisers were against the tour. A South African radio station quoted FICA chairman Tony Irish saying: “Tours to Pakistan remain an unacceptable risk and teams are advised against travelling there.”

Shias the ‘new target’ for radicals NEW DELHI: Saying Shias have overtaken Hindus and Christians as targets of sectarian killings, Fatima Bhutto has said that Pakistan has become a country of ghosts.

“They are everywhere, the victims and the perpetrators both,” she wrote in The Hindu on May 15.

Fatima Murtaza Bhutto is a Pakistani poet and writer. She is the granddaughter of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, niece of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and daughter of Murtaza Bhutto.

Fatima Bhutto Ismailis, she said, were a peaceful community of Muslims who shared a closeness with the country’s Shia minority and are thus victimised. “Seventy per cent of Pakistan’s Muslims are Sunni. And in this predominantly Muslim country, it is no longer Hindus or Christians who face the largest threat of violence from orthodox and radicalised groups but Shias,” Ms Bhutto said.

“We cannot look at the dead too long — only long enough to check that what ended their lives will not end our own. Fatal lists swing wildly from the specific to general. Are you Hazara? Are you Shia?

Are you an Ahmadi? Any of the above will get you killed.”

Implicitly slamming the murder of bloggers in Bangladesh, she said: “Soon, are you a liberal? Supporters of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf party, young Pakistanis living inside and outside the country, already troll the Internet attacking anyone vaguely critical of their values... Every journalist that criticises their party is a ‘lifafa journo’, implying the only reason to raise a bad word against them would be money, rather than common sense.

“Soon, like in Bangladesh, you will be asked: Are you a writer?

“There is violence everywhere here — in threats and in action. Everywhere.”

Every province that suffers the horrendous attacks suffers amnesia too. “Sindh’s phenomenally corrupt government mounted a defence against its sin of not protecting the 43 dead — terror happens all over the country, the chief minister said, it happens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab too.”

Bhutto noted that Pakistan had ended its moratorium on the death penalty in December. In the last six months, it has hanged over 100 people on death row. Of the 8,000 prisoners on death row in Pakistan, more than 1,000 have exhausted all their appeals.

“This was the response after the brutal Peshawar school attack: kill death row convicts and we will be safer. But since then, we have only had more blood.”

Police team attacked by seminary men ISLAMABAD: A police team was manhandled by men from a religious seminary after they were caught with a banner inscribed with slogans against a federal minister on Friday night, May 15.

The banners, targeting Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed, had been spotted at various points across the capital over the past week and called for his hanging, ostensibly over his remarks where he termed seminaries “centres of illiteracy”.

Police said patrol teams found the banners in Aabpara and Sector F-11/1 and removed them after informing their superiors.

Later on Friday night, an Aabpara police team spotted five motorcyclists near the F-6 Super Market carrying the same banners and intercepted them. They and their vehicles were then taken into custody. However, before police could take the men to lock-up, a couple of dozen men appeared at the spot and prevented the police party from leaving the scene. They threatened the police personnel and asked them to hand the five men over to them, saying that the policemen would be allowed to go on their way if they complied with the demand. When the officials tried to contact their control room, a number of men attacked them and beat up a number of officials, including a sub-inspector, who was repeatedly punched and kicked to the ground.

PAGE 22 â&#x20AC;˘ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

COMMUNITY

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mama Vijayamâ&#x20AC;? a mixed success

By SESHADRI KUMAR The 30th Tamil play by Meenakshi Theaters of Houston, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mama Vijayam,â&#x20AC;? staged under the auspices of Bharathi Kalai Manram on May 3 was a testament to the prowess of the local talent, be it in writing, acting, or direction.

The play tries to appeal to the Tamil audience in America, using contemporary issues faced by the Tamils in the U.S. A 60-year-old orthodox Tamil brahmin leaves for the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;land of opportunityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to make a fast buck. The story revolves around this crucial journey of the hero, even as his nephew in the U.S. is his anti-thesis. He plans to return to India seeking â&#x20AC;&#x153;peace of mind and happinessâ&#x20AC;? in life.

If the play has already taken a serious turn, it turns more serious with the addition of four more characters, two young men and two young women, each with different issues of their own.

Topics such as sexual harassment, abuse of power by a corporate executive, youth addicted to prescription drugs, a pharmaceutical executive promoting drugs, purely with a proďŹ t motive, a dancer grieving a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loss in the World Trade Center terror attack and a Muslim youth, with IT skills, working in an Indian grocery store, the list goes on.

If your mind reels under the complicated cob web of the plot, it is not your fault.

Playwright Chandramouliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambitious or idealistic

approach to convey a series of messages to the audience through the play somewhat overloaded the stage with morals pushing entertainment to the sidelines.

Billed as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;full length Tamil comedy,â&#x20AC;? the play lives up to half its advertising teaser, full length, but the comedy part was missing.

Not that comedy was totally absent, but the theme somewhat limited the scope for humor. The playwright has sprinkled humorous episodes, but Meenakhsi Theaters has, by its past performances, raised the audience expectations to such an extent that it was not good enough to balance the serious contents of the play.

It is neither a full tragedy, nor a complete comedy. The play cannot ďŹ t into the genre of tragicomedy either. So let us stick with the moniker given by the playwright himself â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dram-

edy,â&#x20AC;? whatever it means.

If only the play had two main characters, the uncle and the nephew, with others adding fun to the play, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mama Vijayamâ&#x20AC;? would have been a runaway success.

Not that other characters were redundant. Each one of them played their role with perfection.

The laid off IT worker in the kitchen played by Senthil Arcot was well executed with humor, though he is a good Muslim, with a serious purpose of exposing the terrorists.

Similarly, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;twitterâ&#x20AC;? crazy neighbor P.T. Satheesh glued himself to every scene whenever he came on stage.

Vishy Raman realistically portrayed the travel agent with his double speak and dubious ideas.

Murali Santhanam as the executive and Ganesh Raghu as the beleaguered Indian Ameri-

Murali Santhanam, left and Ganesh Raghu.

can acquitted their role admirably.

Surabi Veeraraghavan, as an ideal dancer and Priya Chandru as the pharmaceutical marketing executive, added sparkle to the stage by their lovely performance.

Mani Vaitheeswaran played a victim of misdiagnosis and over-medication. He convinc-

ingly tries to kill himself with an overdose of drugs.

Dr. Saranathan as Rangachary, the uncle, Lalitha Bala as his wife and Srimathi Gopalan as their daughter, stole the show with their good performance.

Govindan Somaskandan and S. Gopalan, though played minor roles, did justice.

Mani Vaitheeswaran, left, Priya Chandru, Ganesh Raghu and P.T. Satheesh.

Vishy Raman, left, Saranthan, and Lalitha Bala.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • PAGE 23

PAGE 24 â&#x20AC;¢ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;¢ WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

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