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VOL. 25 • NO. 5 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 • P.O. BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017699 • 25 cents

Yoga at Sugar Land Town Square Yoga enthusiasts gathered at Sugar Land Town Square on January 26 to participate in the annual “Health for Humanity Yogathon. Cold weather and the intermittent rain did not deter the participants — elementary kids, teens, youth and the young at heart senior citizens who continued to stretch and bend with full enthusiasm. Fort Bend County Judge K.P. George and Sewa International executive member Dinesh Shah inaugurated the event with a lamp lighting ceremony. The event, organized by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, USA, Houston Chapter, was a part of a 16-day Yogathon from January 12 to January 27, aimed at creating awareness about Yoga and its advantages in achieving a healthy mind, body, and spirit. See YOGA, Page 6

FIS joins MLK parade On a chilly morning of January 21, 2019, Foundation for India Studies (FIS) participated in the 25th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Grande parade for the eighth consecutive year. Volunteers from FIS carried a banner featuring pictures of Gandhi and MLK and a message saluting both the apostles of non-violence. Marching in solidarity with FIS were over Foundation for India Studies (FIS) walking in solidarity with the MLK Grande Parade

World Hindi Day

thirty students, community members, and volunteers from across Houston. This year, new participants marching together with FIS included international students from the Houston Community College (HCC) and student volunteers from the Youth Leadership Development Program (YLDP). Martin Luther King Jr.’s See PARADE, Page 8

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Deputy Consul general of India in Houston Surendra Adhana presents a certificate of appreciation to Dr. Kavita Vachaknavee and Vineeta Arora on the occasion of World Hindi Day celebrated at the Arya Samaj of Greater Houston on Jan 20 and at the Indian Consulate on Jan. 16. (At left, Hindi writer Ved Ratna Harish Chandra.) Dr. Kavita Vachaknavee, director of DAV Sanskriti School and Hindi author and poet coordinated the event.The World Hindi Divas commemorates the first World Hindi Conference held at Nagpur on 10th January, 1975. All Indian Missions abroad conduct programs to bring together Hindi loving people. See story on Page 10.

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PAGE 2 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

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COMMUNITY Pratham and J-PAL awarded Co-Impact grant for African initiative Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) Africa, a joint venture between Pratham and MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), has been named one of five recipients of an $80 million commitment from the global philanthropic collaborative Co-Impact. Selected from a pool of more than 250 projects, the grant was awarded to change-makers with proven strategies in education, health and economic opportunity. Despite progress worldwide in school enrollment, millions of children are not acquiring basic foundational skills. Pioneered by Pratham, the TaRL methodology significantly raises children’s basic learning levels in a short period of time. The approach uses a simple tool to assess children’s ability to read and do arithmetic, grouping them by level rather than grade and advancing them to the next learning group as they progress and continue to grow. Six randomized control trials conducted in India by J-PAL-affiliated researchers over the past two decades have shown that the approach, whether delivered by Pratham staff or trained teachers in government-run schools, has led to some of the largest, most costeffective learning gains of any

primary education program evaluated. “Using Teaching at the Right Level,” explains Dr. Rukmini Banerji, CEO of Pratham, “we have helped millions of children to read and to do basic math in India. Together with J-PAL, we are excited to have the opportunity to work in Africa with many partners. Foundational skills can transform a child’s life and unlock their potential to do so much more in education and in life. We are grateful for Co-Impact’s support for this partnership.” The multi-year grant from Co-Impact will support Pratham and J-PAL in building the capacity of governments and other partners in multiple countries across Africa, including Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Zambia, to design and scale TaRL-like approaches that will help three million primary school children learn to read and do basic arithmetic. “This grant is a true validation of Pratham’s efforts in pioneering innovative, cost-effective learning solutions,” asserts Pratham USA Chairman Deepak Raj. “While our focus remains on addressing India’s education crisis, we are proud to see Pratham’s methodology replicated in other countries, where it will have a lasting impact on

A teacher works with a student in a Teaching at the Right Level classroom in Zambia - J-PAL/Pratham millions of children.” Shifting the focus from school enrollment to learning outcomes in Africa will require critical support at all levels. This includes adjusting the approach to local contexts, training and assisting on-site mentors and continually assessing progress while empowering government officials and teachers to act on the evidence generated. According to Iqbal Dhaliwal, Executive Director of JPAL, “This grant represents the critical importance of using evidence from rigorous impact evaluations to drive decision-

making. Our partnership with Pratham is based on innovation, learning, and a unifying vision—shared with Co-Impact—of creating systems-level change. Through investing in rigorous research and evidence-backed approaches, we can disrupt the status quo and transform lives. We have a lot of work ahead of us and are putting together an outstanding team to lead and execute this exciting initiative.” Co-Impact, the global philanthropic collaborative formed in 2017 by Olivia Leland with commitments from Richard Chandler, Bill and Melinda

Gates, Jeff Skoll, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Rohini and Nandan Nilekani, aims to drive social change through investment in proven solutions that are ready to be scaled even further. “We know that investing in the lives of the poorest families and children around the world is probably the highest return on investment we can make,” says Rockefeller Foundation President Rajiv Shah. “We’ve designed a project where as philanthropists, we’re standing on each others’ shoulders to scale the hardest and highest walls in philanthropy.”

Something to ponder... take care of our aging parents in their old age, but are we following it? Let us pause here for a moment and reflect upon it. I could not even imagine how low some children have stooped till I saw the last episode of KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati) with Amitabh Bachchan and a social worker who picked up old people from the streets and give them a place to stay as their children had abandoned them. The children had taken the money, property and belongings and left them on trains and By Chandni Kamnani India is our motherland, the country where we were born, raised, learned our language, received an education, lived with our parents and grandparents, raised our head high with pride and still have our ties in the form of family and friends. Let us all be thankful for our first home and with all respect love it and feel proud of it. Let us salute our Tiranga (Flag) and say Bharat Mata ki Jai!! The other greatest title in the world is that of Parents. Parents are the biggest blessings in our lives. They are our first key to the heart. A rhythm that connects directly, love and understanding

for each other, a source of advice and contentment that we need not worry when they are around. They are proud of our success and will always be our guiding light for our pathways, giving us strength and inspiration. However much we think of them is not enough, so I will let my readers feel that pride for their parents just as I am feeling right now. Do most of us have the same feelings for our parents who are aging and need our help and support? Do we contact them frequently or are we so busy in our lives and day to day schedule that we have no time for them? Our culture teaches us to

roads to die. Sick parents were not even given medicine or food. Some children had left their parents in old age homes and never visited or cared if they were alive or dead. Old age home, really? Is this the place to leave them while you live in mansions and you have no place for them in your house? How sad is that. Is this what they deserve? Don’t we see the tears in their eyes or are we deliberately turning a blind eye to a relationship that is the purest amongst all. This is a bitter truth but very heart touching.

We must love our parents and treat them with care because we will only realize their worth and value when we see their empty chair. Remember we will also get old one day and if we are unable to take care of ourselves, we would not want our children to abandon us and leave us out to die. For what goes around comes around. Friends, let’s not waste time. We have the opportunity now. Let’s do it before it is too late. Namaste and Jai Hind!! For comments, please email at ckamnani@hotmail.com

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PAGE 4 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

VIEWS

Religious bigotry is un-American

Religion News Services published an artcile titled “Tulsi Gabbard’s 2020 bid raises questions about Hindu political ties.” Following are excerpts from the artcile: “Mike Figueredo in his progressive podcast and YouTube show, The Humanist Report told his 200,000 listeners that Gabbard’s connection to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “just weird.” Admitting he knows little about Indian politics, Figueredo finds Gabbard’s closeness to those involved in the Hindu nationalist cause difficult to grasp. “Clarification about this issue from Tulsi would be really appreciated,” Figueredo told Religion News Service in an interview. “As Gabbard readies to launch her presidential race in early February, her links to Indian Hindu politicians and other leaders, and the more than $1 million in campaign contributions she has taken from Hindu nationalist donors, are already turning into one of her biggest obstacles. Indeed, Gabbard’s relationships with various Hindu groups such as the Hindu American Foundation, a nonpartisan group that voices Hindu concerns and educates Americans about Hinduism, and the Overseas Friends of the BJP, the international body of India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party, have largely come since her election to Congress in 2012. These and other U.S. Hindu organizations often serve as resources for politicians looking to understand the Hindu community, or for direction in developing positions on India. “While Gabbard is hardly the first politician to cozy up to Modi despite his connection to Hindutva — memes abound of President Obama’s “bromance” with the Indian leader, for example — Gabbard has extended herself to India’s prime minister. Sikh24.com, a website had another artcile: “Analyst Alleges Hindu Nationalists Created Tulsi Gabbard’s Congressional Career” Tulsi Gabbard wrote an op-ed in Religious News Service, rebutting her critics under the title “Religious bigotry is un-American.”

Here is the article: I am proud to be the first Hindu American to have been elected to Congress and now the first Hindu American to run for president. While the headlines covering my announcement could have celebrated this historic first, and maybe even informed Americans about the world’s third largest religion, some have instead fomented suspicion, fear and religious bigotry about not only me but also my supporters. That Hindus — alongside countless Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, agnostics and atheists — support me should not be newsworthy. But some media outlets have chosen to craft a false narrative of intrigue by profiling and targeting all of my donors who have names of Hindu origin and accusing them of being “Hindu nationalists.” Today it’s the profiling and targeting of Hindu Americans and ascribing to them motives without any basis. Tomorrow will it be Muslim or Jewish Americans? Japanese, Hispanic or African Americans? I too have been accused of being a “Hindu nationalist.” My meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s democratically elected leader, have been highlighted as “proof” of this and portrayed as somehow being out of the ordinary or somehow suspect, even though President Obama, Secretary Clinton, President Trump and many of my colleagues in Congress have met with and worked with him. India is one of America’s closest allies in Asia and is a country of growing importance in a critical region of the world. The strategic partnership between our two countries has been a priority for several decades now. To question my commitment to my country, while not questioning nonHindu leaders, creates a double standard that can be rooted in only one thing: religious bigotry. I am Hindu and they are not. When I deployed to Iraq with my fellow soldiers, putting our lives on the line for our country, no one questioned our patriotism because of our religion. No one asked whether we could be trusted because we

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Established in 1995 by Rajeev Gadgil, Seshadri Kumar & Salim Sindhi India Herald (USPS Periodical 017-699) is published every Wednesday by India Herald, Inc. for a subscription rate of $25 per year. Periodical postage paid at Houston and Sugar Land, Texas. POST MASTER: Send address changes to India Herald, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Texas 77487 Publisher & Editor: Seshadri Kumar www.india-herald.com; email:editor@india-herald.com India Herald assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on information included herein. ©India Herald. All rights reserved.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California administers the House oath of office to Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, during the opening session of the 116th Congress. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) were Jewish, Catholic, Muslim or atheist. We all took an oath to serve our country and defend the freedoms enshrined in our Constitution. My military service has shaped who I am today. While in the Middle East, I saw how quickly religious sectarianism and bigotry can lead to the disintegration of a country — how leaders manipulate people to fear others who are different, who look different or who have different beliefs. I also experienced how we as people of the world have more in common than we think. Beneath our various beliefs and appearances is our common humanity. This commitment to equality and justice for all is the ideal that our country was founded upon and that we continue to aspire to as people. We cannot be complacent and must vigilantly affirm this again and again, as bigotry and hatred have an insidious way of seeping into our society. Religious bigotry and attempts to foment fear of Hindus and other minority religions persist. During my 2012 and 2014 elections, my Republican opponent stated publicly that a Hindu should not be allowed to serve in the U.S. Congress and that Hinduism is incompatible with the U.S. Constitution. In the 2016 race for Congress, my Republican opponent said repeatedly that a vote for me was a vote for the devil because of my religion. Republicans like Ben Carson said in 2016 that a Muslim American would be unqualified to serve as president. Democratic Senators have recently grilled and opposed Republican judicial nominees because of their connection to Catholicism. These actions and attitudes not only undermine our Constitution but also incite fear and force people into the shadows because of their religion. Our Constitution clearly states that there shall be no religious test for any who seek to serve in

public office. After my 2012 election, I made a personal decision to take my congressional oath of office on the supreme yoga/ Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna’s teachings have provided wisdom and spiritual solace to me throughout my life, including when I was serving our country in the Middle East during the Iraq war. After doing so, I was amazed and surprised to hear from thousands of Hindus from across the United States, and even around the world, many conveying how they finally felt free. They felt they no longer had to hide who they are. I will never forget looking into the eyes of a young girl from Texas who shared with me how she’d always been embarrassed to be Hindu, especially among her non-Hindu friends. Like so many other Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, atheists and “others,” she felt she had to hide or change her religious identification to be accepted in America. “Now,” she said, “I no longer feel that way.” She no longer felt she had to hide her beliefs, faith or identity, and she could be herself and pursue whatever goals she wants to in life. The heartbreaking atrocity in Pittsburgh last year, in which 11 people were murdered while worshipping in their synagogue, is a reminder of the potential consequences of unchecked prejudice and hatred. The shooting at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis., and at the mosque in New York, the killing of a young Indian student — the list sadly goes on and on. At what point do we as a society see the connection between these incidents and the religious bigotry being fomented in our society? We must all stand for religious freedom and call out this bigotry whenever it raises its ugly head. Enshrined in our Constitu-

tion is the separation of state and religion, which means that people’s religion should play no part in their qualification to serve our country in any capacity. When John F. Kennedy ran for president, his political opponents attacked him for being Catholic, insinuating that he would be loyal to the pope and the Catholic Church rather than to our Constitution. He said: “For while this year it may be a Catholic against whom the finger of suspicion is pointed, on other years it has been, and may someday be again, a Jew, or a Quaker or a Unitarian or a Baptist…. Today I may be the victim, but tomorrow it may be you until the whole fabric of our harmonious society is ripped at a time of great national peril.” He was right. Yet sadly, so many decades later, our country struggles with the same issue — judging people based on their religion, the color of their skin or where they are from. Our country was established on the basis of freedom of religion, and the Constitution states there would never be any religious test for any public office. It is a freedom enshrined in our Constitution, and one that every member of Congress takes an oath to protect — a freedom that many heroes have given their lives to defend. Nothing is more important to our democracy than this freedom. Those who are trying to foment anti-Hindu sentiment expose the dark underbelly of religious bigotry in politics and must be called out. To advocate voting for or against someone based on religion, race or gender is simply un-American. (Tulsi Gabbard is a U.S. representative serving Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily represent those of Religion News Service.)

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 219 • PAGE 5

NEWS

Renu Gupta is awarded the She The Change Nari Udhyami Award

By MANU SHAH On January 23, Renu Gupta received the She The Change - Nari Udhyami Sanman 2019 for her lifelong eorts in bringing about a positive change in the lives of people in India and the US. The award, conferred by the Beti & Shiksha Foundation in Varanasi, India was presented by Tara Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi and Baby Rani Maurya, Governor of Uttarkhand. While happy at the honor, Renu downplays her achievements and says there are many people who are doing as much work as she is and she just “happened to be luckyâ€? that she was recognized. This is typical of the friendly no nonsense awardee who doesn’t believe in doing “anything that doesn’t make sense to her,â€? but will do whatever it takes to help someone in need. Renu, 61, spent her growing years in Rajasthan where she completed her studies in Sanskrit and English. Marriage to Dr. Arun Gupta, a scientist, brought her to the US where she plunged into a job, studies and community activities. She credits two strong inuences in her life. Her maternal grandmother who instilled the values of Hindu dharma and her paternal grandfather from whom she absorbed the spirit of seless service. The appeal of Hindu Dharma, observes Renu, is its “universality, logic and its step by step direction for self-realization.â€? She is “very comfortable being a Hindu in the USâ€? and accepts other religious traditions with the same openness. A member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad America for the last 36 years and now serving as VP of Seva in VHPA, Renu spearheaded a group of 15 likeminded women for “Seva, Shakti and Sadhana.â€? All activities are geared towards this mission such as organizing spiritual retreats, workshops and serving the community. In 2008, she received a call from a Catholic Service coordinator who asked for help in rehabilitating 50 refugee Bhutanese and Nepali families. Over the course of 10 years, the VHPA group worked with the refugees to set up their homes, taught them to clean houses and drive so they could ďŹ nd employment, ďŹ le taxes and helped their children enroll in school. Five years ago she took up the “Support A Childâ€? project – a VHPA initiative that was languishing for want of attention. The initiative raises funds for the education and boarding of under privileged children in India and her eorts helped the support grow from 700 children to 2500 children.

Renu makes it a point to visit the Ekal schools and the SAC hostels every year to supervise its operations personally. Plans for the future include increasing the number of children in the program from 2500 to 5000. One of the original volunteers of Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA, Renu was elected as the ďŹ rst woman to become the chairperson of the Board. Renu’s husband Dr. Arun Gupta, is equally engaged in Ekal and serves as a Board Director. Renu also spends time teaching Hindi and Hindu culture to children in Cincinnati, Ohio where she is based. Role models, for our children, she inserts, must be characters like Mirabai, Shivaji, Maharana Pratap and Laxmi Bai. Playing

teach them values of Hindu dharma.� Growing up, Renu was often buried in books thanks to a friend’s father who owned a bookstore. Writing came naturally and she has several books to her credit. Her experiences and observations in America served as fodder for her books. Close to her heart is “Mrityorma Ma Amritam Gamay� and deals with a friend’s battle with cancer while her latest book “Sansari Sanyasi� is a biography of Hanuman Prasad Poddar, a saintly personality who played a key role in her spiritual journey. Renu Gupta, second from right, receives the award from Tara Renu, along with her husGandhi, grand daughter of Mahatma Gandhi, seated, and Baby band and son is also actively Rani Maurya, Governor of Uttarkhand, third from right. engaged in running the dozen on the word “Hindi medium� parents to “raise their children franchisees of Great Clips – the she enjoins Indian American through the Hindu medium and hair salon chain they own.

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PAGE 6 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

NEWS

Fort Bend County Judge KP George, right, with Dinesh Shah of Sewa International and Shyam Popuri of HSS, lights the lamp to inaugurate the Yogathon.

Yoga From Page 1 Yoga teachers from various institutions participated and conducted yoga sessions during this event. Dr. Archana Purushotham, MD, PhD, a neurologist at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, shared her perspective on the benefits of the Sun Salutations. She observed that Surya

Namaskar integrates simple Yoga postures in 10-steps that, along with easy breathing techniques, provide immense health benefits to both the body and the mind. She also advised that everyone must know their body limits, respect it and avoid over stretching during yoga sessions. Akshata Malusare, Certified Yoga Teacher from VYASA Yoga, conducted the warm up sessions and energized participants for the Surya Namaskar while Shyam Popuri and Richa Dixit, from

Participants relax after performing a total of 2600 salutations to the sun. Houston HSS, guided participants elected officials across the nation encouraging feedback. According through the 10-step Surya Namas- have appreciated this initiative and to Nicole, “It was cold and drizkar process explaining each pos- encouraged people to participate zling but lots of fun doing Yoga and gain the benefits of an overall at Town Square. I have learnt the ture and its benefit. Daksha Shah, of Om Yoga, con- healthy life style. He mentioned benefits of doing Surya namaskar ducted a relaxation session where that the event reaches out to the so- and will like to get connected for participants experienced how ciety, without any barrier of race, regular practice. Jennifer, Ashley breath can be used as a tool to re- nationality or personal faith and and Edith said it was their first lax in today’s fast paced life and urged the participants to incorpo- yoga session and they “learnt a unlock the unlimited potential of rate the Surya Namaskar Yoga in lot and the relaxation session was their daily routine. the body and mind. very nice”. Satya and Sundar deOne of the highlights of the scribed their experience as “enerThe participants energized themselves and collectively com- event was the demonstration of gized body and mind” pleted 3000 Surya Namaskars. The the Sun salutation by a 4-yearHindu Swayamsevak Sangh is session concluded with pranayama old and senior citizens over 70 a US based, non-profit, social and by Unna Ramanathan, Certified years. These young at heart defied cultural organization. It aims to Yoga Teacher and a prayer for the odds and inspired many with promote community spirit and ideeveryone’s health, happiness and their strength, determination and als among Hindus residing in the positivity. The YMCA of Greater United States. HSS initiated this peace. Virendra Vyas, Houston HSS Houston had a booth for promot- health awareness project in 2006. chapter coordinator of the SNY ing Yoga and Healthy Lifestyle. Since its inception, participants HSS youth member Shruti Po- from 40 states have participated event, spoke briefly spoke HSS and this health awareness project. puri interacted with participants and collectively performed over 4 Community leaders and many who had plenty of positive and million Surya Namaskars.

“49 “44Years Years Visit www. India-herald.com.

and Counting, Providing Services Email: 1970-2019 1970 - 2014 To Generations editor@india-herald.com of Businesses and Professionals Around The World”

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 • PAGE 7

NEWS

The Dalai Lama supports local Gandhi museum

HOUSTON - His Holiness The Dalai Lama, revered world leader of Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan people, has endorsed plans by the Houstonarea Mahatma Gandhi Library and its partners to build and operate the privately funded Eternal Gandhi Museum in Houston. The multi-media museum, a tribute to the inuential life and just causes of Mahatma Gandhi, is set for completion in 2020. “Methods for generating compassionate peace of mind are essential today,â€? The Dalai Lama wrote in a letter dated Jan. 19, 2019. “We need to understand what gives rise to inner peace and what destroys it in order to bring about a non-violent world. The (Houston) museum provides an opportunity to highlight the ancient Indian traditions that have produced an exemplary ďŹ gure like Mahatma Gandhi. I wish this endeavor all success.â€? Mayor Sylvester Turner visited Rajghat, the Gandhi Memorial in New Delhi, during the Greater Houston Partnership trade mission he led to India in November. (See photo above). The mayor related the Eternal Gandhi Museum project in Houston to his visit to Gandhi’s living quarters and the garden where Gandhi, an inuential force for non-violent social change and India’s independence, was assassinated on Jan. 30, 1948. “The Dalai Lama’s support for the Eternal Gandhi Museum in Houston is a huge boost to this exciting project, with the potential to give it the global attention it deserves, even before its doors open,â€? Mayor Turner said. “The kind words in his letter will also help us show that here in the nation’s most diverse city, we live the values of tolerance, inclusion and pluralism,

which were among Gandhi’s most important teachings. We are a welcoming city, where one of every four residents is foreign-born and where we build relationships rather than walls.� The Houston project has raised $2.25 million toward its goal of $8.5 million. “Mahatma Gandhi Library sincerely appreciates His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s blessings!� said Atul Kothari, library founder and trustee. “As stated eloquently in His Holiness’s letter, we will strive to combine modern education and technological prowess with ancient knowledge of the mind that shaped the individuals like Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi for visitors of the museum. With help and support of all Houstonians, Eternal Gandhi Museum is going to be the best gift not only to the City of Houston, but to the whole U.S.�

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PAGE 8 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

NEWS Parade From Page 1 birthday is especially significant this year because of the yearlong observance of Mahatma Gandhi’s sesquicentennial birthday. FIS’s participation in the parade was coordinated by FIS event-chair, Nischay Bhan and Assistant Event Chairs, Vinisha Vasan and Divya Yadavalli of YLDP, and ably supported by FIS directors Sahil Verma and Raghu Nednur. In a pre-event VIP/Honors Reception held at the Mercer HiRise on January 19th, FIS and its founder, Krishna Vavilala, were honored by the 25th MLK Grande Parade organization. Some prominent Houstonians were also among the Honorees: Texas A&M University System Regent and trial lawyer Tony Buzbee; Houston businessman Bill King, who sponsored the event; and two-time Emmy Award winner Kim Gagne, a former Supervising Producer of the Steve Harvey Show. Both Tony Buzbee and Bill King have announced their candidacy for Houston Mayor in the 2019 elections. The event was hosted by Radio personality Amanda Sapp and Dr. Richard Johnson, III. Krishna Vavilala, Chairman of FIS, and Event Chair Nischay Bhan thanked the organizers for the recognitions and recalled the earlier MLK Parade Grand Marshall Award bestowed on FIS in 2015. In his speech, Vavilala

discussed the important connection between Dr. King and Gandhi. He explained that, though it is well known that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence and passive resistance, not many are aware that Dr. King and his wife, Loretta Scott King, had in fact visited India in 1959, four years before Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech, made at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Aug. 28, 1963. During his 5 weeklong tour of India, Dr. King even slept in Gandhi’s Bombay (renamed “Mumbai”) residence. Dr. King wrote in the guest book that “to have the opportunity of sleeping in the house where Gandhi slept is really an experience I will never forget”. At the beginning of his tour, upon landing at Delhi’s Palam airport on February 10th, 1969, Dr. King told a group of reporters that “To other countries I may go as a tourist, but to India I come as a pilgrim.” Dr. King also visited Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, from where Gandhi began his 1930 Salt March to the sea to protest against British taxation on salt which is essential for a poor man’s food. The Gandhi statue in Herman Park, sculpted by famous sculptor Ram Sutar illustrates that historic moment. On the eve of his departure from India, Dr. King reflected on his trip in a radio address: “Since being in India, I am more convinced than ever before

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FIS chairman Krishna Vavilala, left with Charles Stamp, Chairman and CEO of 2019 MLK Grande Parade and FIS board members Nischay Bhan, and Sahil Verma,. that the method of non-violent of this universe, and these participation in the MLK resistance is the most potent principles are as inescapable as Grande Parade is to celebrate this connection between weapon available to oppressed the laws of gravitation.” Vavilala finally suggested India and America’s two people in their struggle for justice and human dignity. In that people should go and visit important civil rights leaders. a real sense, Mahatma Gandhi Herman Park where Dr. King’s FIS remains committed to embodied, in his life, certain statue was installed very close exploring both men’s message of peaceful resistance and nonuniversal principles that are to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue. Fundamentally, FIS’s violent struggle for wellbeing. inherent in the moral structure

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 • PAGE 9

COMMUNITY

India’s Republic Day celebrated at India House

India House after-school program children perform a dance. Photos by NAVIN MEDIWALA. Datta Subbrao, 70, presents Bharata Natyam India House in Houston celebrated the 70th Republic Day of India on Jan. 26. The event started with the flag-hoisting ceremony as community members cheered the hoisting of the U.S, Indian, Texan and India House flags. In a brief formal program that followed, India House President Jugal Malani welcomed the gathering. In his remarks, Jugal Malani quoted President of India Ram Nath Kovind highlighting the theme of partnership and urged the community to support India House in the same spirit. Kovind said: “The human experience is built on partnerships. Partnerships at home build a family. Partnerships at work build a business. Partnerships of different stakeholders build society. Partnerships of the government and the people build our nation. And partnerships of nations build a better world. In this manner partnerships are the thread knitting together family, nation and world - and leading to the treatment of the World as a Family: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.” India House trustee Dr. Virendra Mathur then read excerpts from the speech of the President of India delivered on the occasion of the Republic Day. India House Executive Director Col. Vipin Kumar (Retd.) in his remarks said the mission of India House is to unite the cultures of India and the U.S. and expose Indian culture to the Houston community. Demonstrating that goal, children from India House afterschool program presented an Indian dance number. Serene Kaggal sang the American and Indian national anthem and an Indian patriotic song as well. Another item of interest was a Bharata Natyam dance by Datta Subba Rao, 70.

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NEWS

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DAV Sanskriti School, the Sunday School of Arya Samaj Houston celebrated World Hindi Divas twice in quick succession – ďŹ rst in the Consulate General of India, Houston on 16th January and then during its school hours the following Sunday. The World Hindi Divas commemorates the ďŹ rst World Hindi Conference held at Nagpur on 10th January, 1975. All Indian Missions abroad conduct programs to bring together Hindi loving people. CGI Houston did so for the ďŹ rst time and entrusted Acharya (Dr.) Kavita Vachaknavee (director of the Sanskriti School and eminent Hindi author/poet) to coordinate the event. Deputy Consul General Surendra Adhana was present at both the events. He encouraged the young school children to learn Hindi as in so doing, they will not only learn a rich language but also the great Indian cultural values. Hindi is an empowering asset. He suggested understanding how dierent languages derive words from one another. Hindi has a tremendous potential to strengthen itself and contribute to the global world, becoming more diversiďŹ ed and multicultural. Known among the Indian diaspora as a champion of Hindi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement was read out on the occasion. Besides sharing their own personal journey of learning Hindi, short speeches by children Stawya Agrawal, Saumil Goyal and Kashish Kalita reected the following points: 1. Hindi is easy to speak and understand. 2. It is scientiďŹ c without the need to memorize the pronunciation of each word because it is read as written. 3. It is the third most spoken language in the world with 544 million speakers, after Mandarin 1100 and English 983 million, by a rough estimate. 4. Indian culture revers every mother tongue as God’s gift to a little baby. The event at CGI began with the rendition of the song “Vaishnav Jan Peer Parayi ‌â€? by classical vocalist Vinita Arora, also volunteer-teacher at the Sanskriti School. Dr. Kavita took the opportunity to showcase the talents of the Sanskriti School as well as that of DAV Montessori School, the regular elementary school of Arya Samaj Houston. The group of 15 under-six children recited several short poems, followed by solo recitals of well-known poems such as Jhansi-ki-Rani by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan and Pushp-ki-Abhilasha by Makhan Lal Chaturvedi. The dance performance was greatly appreciated, presented by Dolly Goyal’s dance group Steps for Dancing â€œâ€ŚHindi, Bharat Mata ke Mathe par Bindiâ€?. Dy Consul General was extremely happy to see the children’s performance and expressed his interest in seeing the larger version at the Sanskriti School on the following Sunday. Sanskriti School insists that all its 150 children, age 4 to 13 must appear on stage. All-time favorites were sung like Dadi amma, Mera rang de basanti, Nanhe munne bachche, Jahan daal daal par, and Mere desh ki dharati sona ugale, creating a patriotic fervor and enthusiastic environment. Kids were bursting with energy and made this show a “Talk of the Townâ€?. Even insiders wondered how and when the music team led by Vinita Arora found time to practice as the school runs for only two hours a week and nobody ever saw the children practice the songs! Another aspect that struck everyone was the awless discipline and the eďŹƒcient manner the outgoing group was replaced by the incoming group on the stage without losing a second. Also noteworthy was the makeshift use of the Sanskriti School lobby which doubled as the stage and seating space for 150 children, 100 volunteers, teachers, parents and special guests. It was a remarkably successful exercise in space management! Dr. Kavita expressed her pride in Sanskriti School children learning Indian heritage and values and in her team of volunteers promoting cultural values and Hindi language. She can be reached at 832.874.3376 and davss@aryasamajhouston.org. More about Sanskriti School can be known fromwww.davss.aryasamajhouston.org.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 • PAGE 11

Hari Venkatachalam Hindu Students Association, Board of Directors

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PRESS RELEASE

rid of staffi ngAssociaproblems and spend more April 6, 2017Get – AUSTIN, TX –your The Hindu Students tion (HSA) would like to regretfully announce that Numbers it will be Good = Good Decisions cancelling its annual Gateway Retreat for the 2017 year. HSA prides itself in building a strong network of young Hindu Americans, and it looks forward to organizing other events in the future that will link students from its various branches. HSA has been reorienting itself in recent months to doing more grassroots work. “We have been focusing more on accomplishing work on the local and branch level,” said Mrinalini Vijalapuram, National President of the Hindu Students Association. “We have been doing this through many different activities including interfaith events with other religious organizations, building community partnerships, and expanding into other campuses that don’t already have HSA branches.” While the cancellation of Gateway may come as a disappointment for many prospective attendees, HSA hopes to get feedback from students on other projects and events that interest its branch members. Currently, several projects, including developing HSA’s podcast series and releasing monthly articles that highlight the accomplishments of members from the various campuses have been the focus of the organization’s efforts. HSA welcomes student and community members to get involved in these activities to help further the goals of the organization. “It is important that we meet the needs of the campuses and communities we serve,” reiterated Ms. Vijalapuram. “We want to make sure that we are putting our attention on projects that will truly benefit them.” -***-

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PAGE 12 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 • PAGE 13

PERSPECTIVE

Pratham: Is it time for reinventing?

By BHAMY V. SHENOY Pratham is one of the largest and most successful NGOs in India. Indo Americans in Houston led by Vijay Goradia have played a significant role in this remarkable achievement. Pratham’s mission has been “Every child in school and learning well”. While the first objective has been more or less met, India is far away from the second objective. Since 2005, Pratham has been publishing the Annual Survey of Education Report (ASER). This has become the “bible” for any educationist interested in India. No article on India’s education sector is complete without quoting some data from ASER. Pratham has just published its 13th ASER in January. Alarming findings of poor learning revealed by the latest report have not been any different from the first report. In some areas specially in hardware there is some improvement - more access to toilets, better availability of drinking water, serving of mid-day meals with better nutrition etc. However improvement in software which involves learning levels has been dismal. ASER has tons of data, a gold mine for any researcher. This year ASER was developed by collecting data from 596 districts by surveying 546,527 students from 354,944 homes. Let me offer some illustrative statistics. My aim is to show that India should have been shocked to learn about these findings and felt an urgent need to bring about reforms on a war footing. Unfortunately there has not been any such reaction like “Race to the top” or “No child left behind” in the US. More than half of Class VIII students cannot correctly solve a simple division problem and more than a quarter of them cannot read a primary-level text. In 2008, 84.8% of Class VIII students could read a text meant for Class II; by 2014, only 74.6% could do so, and by 2018, that percentage had fallen further to 72.8%. There are similar dismal and distressing numbers for Class V, Class III, etc. There is no need to drown the readers by quoting even more alarming statistics to convey the main idea that we have an education crisis in India and key stakeholders are not concerned. This is where Indian Americans in Houston can play a significant role like we did in 1998 by welcoming Pratham to the US and supporting its flagship program of providing pre schooling (balwadis) in Dharavi to begin with. Today Pratham has a presence in just about every state of India and is concentrating its efforts in the “Read India” program reaching millions of children. While Pratham’s contribution has been sizable, we must consider the need for course correction after analyzing ASER results. It is true that thanks to Pratham’s intervention, pre schooling has spread to poorer sections through

the government’s anganwadi project. But such an intervention has not been satisfactory. Pre Schooling should have been made part of government schools as it is in private schools by this time. But it has not happened on the pretext that there are anganwadis to provide pre schooling. When successive ASERs have been showing that India’s future generation has not been getting quality education, key stakeholders have failed to demand fundamental reforms. The Indian Media has been giving extensive coverage to ASER results. Earlier there were discussions on what the country should do to improve basic learning skill levels. However in recent years, the release of ASER has become a ritual. Drowned in oceans of data, newspaper articles have missed the forest for the trees. Most of the articles have highlighted what the authors think is important. They are: improvement in % of children not in school, falling dropout rates, increasing preference for private schools, absenteeism of children and teachers in government schools, improving availability of toilets and drinking water facilities, X % of students not being able to read at second grade level in grade eight, Y % of children in grade eight not being able to do simple division problem, skill deficit, more girls in schools but boys better at maths, etc. But no one has questioned the real objectives of education. From newspaper headlines, it appears that if 100% of our students can perform at 2nd grade level, the nation should be happy. Certainly for an economy which wants to provide knowledge workers not only to India, but also to the world, basic reading and maths skills cannot be the only minimum aspirational goals. Can our children think critically and ask questions? Do they have the ability to carry out world

A class room in a school located in the heart of Mysore. One teacher is handling 27 students who belong to grade one to seven. class research? Are they imbibing proper values based on India’s civilizations (Epics like Ramayana, Mahabharat are hardly read)? Will they inculcate values to be socially responsible citizens of India? Unfortunately, none of the stakeholders have found it necessary to raise these inconvenient questions. Is it because we as a nation feel that these goals are beyond our capabilities to achieve in the foreseeable future? Or is it because we want to aim higher once we reach the more achievable goals? Or is there a hidden agenda to prevent our future generation from getting quality education lest the properly educated voters will throw the current crop of corrupt leaders? In the background of the latest publication of ASER, we should make the best use of the public in-

terest created by the news media about the education crisis to push for needed reforms (see the proposed six strategies) and it is here that Indo Americans in Houston and specially those involved with Pratham can play a critical role by promoting fundamental reform to bring about systemic changes. I know that such intervention is not likely to be welcomed. However since Pratham has established considerable credibility through earlier intervention, it may have a better chance. Proposed six strategies to solve India’s education crisis. 1. Total decentralization of education system. Each taluk/big city to have independent school board rather than one board for the entire state. 2. Getting rid of public examinations like SSLC and PUC and

replacing them with objective type examinations to test analytical abilities rather than rote learning (Scholastic Aptitude Tests). 3. No transfer of government school teachers. 4. Developing a system to hold teachers and administrators accountable based on the performance of the students. 5. At least in education sector, we need to start dismantling the edifice of recruitment of teachers based on caste based reservation. Dr. Ambedkar would have welcomed such a pro poor policy. 6. Closing down of ‘small’ schools and integrating them into larger and integrated schools like Kendriya Vidyalayas with library and laboratory facilities. Children residing away from schools can be transported by bus like the children going to private schools.

PAGE 14 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

NEWS Centre seeks Supreme Court permission to restore acquired ‘superfluous’ land in Ayodhya to its rightful owners The Central government on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to allow it to restore the acquired “superfluous” excess land adjacent to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid area to its rightful owners in Ayodhya after carving out the exact extent of land necessary to access the disputed area. The 67.703-acre land, mainly belonging to Hindus, is vested with the Centre as its custodian under the Acquisition of Certain Area in Ayodhya Act of 1993. The government is asking the court to modify its March 2003 decision in the case of Mohd Aslam alias Bhure, who had filed a writ petition challenging some aspects of the acquisition. It was also in the Bhure case, in an interim order on March 14, 2002, the court made it clear that “no religious activity of any kind by anyone either symbolic or actual including bhumipuja or shila puja, shall be permitted or allowed to take place” in 67.7 acres of the land. In 2003, the court ordered

status quo on the land acquisition. Justice Rajendra Babu, in a judgment, concluded that the disputed Babri Masjid area of 0.313 acre and the acquired adjacent land of over 67 acres were both intrinsic to each other. The court held that the future use of the acquired land would depend on the outcome of the then pending title dispute in the Allahabad High Court. The acquisition of 67.7 acres was incidental to the outcome of the title dispute. Pronouncing its judgment in the title suits in September 2010, the High Court ordered a three-way division of the disputed area. Subsequently, both the Hindu and Muslim side appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court judgment. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has now formed a Constitution Bench to hear the title suit appeals after a hiatus of over seven years. Now, in this modification application, the Centre has drawn the court’s attention to the fact that Ram Janam Bhoomi Nyas, which rightfully owns the ma-

jority of the acquired land adjacent to the 0.313 acres of the disputed area, wants its land back. The Centre said the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas has filed an application claiming its land measuring approximately 42 acres (out of the 67.703 acre acquired) is superfluous. To facilitate this, the government asked the court to allow it to “restore/revert/hand over back superfluous/excess/vacant land (other than the land admeasuring 0.313 acres) to owners/occupiers from whom the land was acquired under the Act of 1993.” The government wanted the court to “modify the order of March 31, 2003 so as to enable the Central Government to determine the exact extent of land required from out of superfluous excess land to ensure that the successful party in the dispute pending regarding the disputed land can have property access to and enjoyment of rights in the disputed land.” The government sought the modification of the 2003 Bhure

verdict on the basis of the apex court’s direction in its March 2002 Ismail Farooqui judgment. The government argued that the Farooqui judgment gave enough room for return of the acquired “excess” land. It said that “at a later stage when the exact area acquired which is needed for achieving the professed purpose of acquisition can be determined, it would not merely be permissible but also desirable that the superfluous excess area is released from acquisition and reverted to its earlier owner”. The validity of the 1993 Act had in been challenged in the Ismail Farooqui case. The Centre made the land acquisition in 1993 after it found it “necessary to maintain communal harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst the people of India.” The preamble to the Ayodhya Act of 1993 said “it was considered necessary to acquire the site of the disputed structure and suitable adjacent land for setting up a complex

which could be developed in a planned manner wherein a Ram temple, a mosque, amenities for pilgrims, a library, museum and other suitable facilities can be set up.” In Ismail Farooqui verdict, the court agreed with the government that the acquisition of the adjacent land was necessary to “ensure that the final outcome of adjudication should not be rendered meaningless by the existence of properties belonging to Hindus in the vicinity of the disputed structure in case the Muslims are found entitled to the disputed site.” The court explained that the acquisition was done to prevent a scenario in which the Muslim community succeeded in the title dispute and their access to the disputed site was “thwarted by denial of proper access to and enjoyment of rights in the disputed area by exercise of rights of ownership of Hindu owners of the adjacent properties.” The court, in the Ismail Farooqui verdict, said that though at first blush the acquisition “may appear to be a slant against Hindus, yet on closer scrutiny it is not so since it is for the larger national purpose of maintaining and promoting communal harmony and in consonance with the creed of secularism.” Now this modification application points to the court’s own words in the Ismail Farooqui judgment that it is the duty of the Centre to restore superfluous land acquired to its owners.

First Hindu woman judge in Pakistan Suman Kumari has become the first Hindu woman to be appointed as a civil judge in Pakistan. Ms. Kumari, who hails from Qambar-Shahdadkot in Sindh province, will serve in her native district. She passed her LLB examination from Hyderabad and did her Masters in Law from Karachi’s Szabist University. “I have entered the field of law because I know that in the backward areas of Sindh, poor people need a lot of advice and assistance in legal matters,” she said. “My father and my family supported me a lot, as in our community it is not easy for women to enter such fields,” she said. Ms. Kumari’s father, Dr. Pawan Kumar Bodan, an eye specialist, wants his daughter to provide free legal assistance to the poor people, especially from the Hindu community. “Suman has opted for a challenging profession, but I am sure she will go places through hard work and honesty,” he said. Ms. Kumari said it was important for the Hindu community to realise that it needs to educate its children.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 • PAGE 15

NEWS

George Fernandes: the ‘giant-killer’ who straddled multiple identities Former Defence Minister George Fernandes passed away on Tuesday in New Delhi, according to family members. He was 88. George Fernandes (88), the man who had set out to be a priest but instead became a trade union leader, a Socialist, and finally the Defence Minister of India, breathed his last in New Delhi on Tuesday morning. In his long career in public life, Fernandes was the oldschool Buccaneer politician, taking risks, changing sides, but retaining his charisma, a maverick who won friends easily, but left them perplexed with some of his choices. Early years Born in Mangaluru in Karnataka in June 1930, Fernandes was sent to Mumbai in 1946 to train to be a Catholic priest. But he founded trade unions, finding his mettle in organising the disadvantaged, instead.

George Fernandes His influences include Placid De’Mello — the trade union leader known as the “King of the Dockyards” — and Ram Manohar Lohia. His big moment came when, as a Samyukat Socialist Party (SSP) candidate, he defeated the all powerful S.K. Patil of the Congress in the 1967 Lok Sabha elections from South Mumbai, earning the sobriquet “giantkiller” after that poll. His trade unionism made him a natural for the anti-Congress politics that was firming up across the country and Fernandes organised, till date, the biggest strike of railwaymen in 1974, before being arrested for the Baroda Dynamite case in

Court summons Priya Ramani in defamation case by M.J. Akbar

A Delhi court on Tuesday summoned senior journalist Priya Ramani on February 25 in a criminal defamation case filed by former Union Minister M.J. Akbar accusing her of defaming him by alleging that he sexually assaulted several women journalists. Summoning Ms. Ramani, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal said, “All that is necessary to take a prima facie view that the offence of defamation has been committed against the complainant by the respondent Ms. Priya Ramani exists on record, and therefore there are sufficient grounds to proceed against her. Accordingly Ms. Priya Ramani is summoned for commission of offence of defamation under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code.” “The allegations of the respondent [Ms. Ramani] are prima facie defamatory and refers to complainant Mr. M.J. Akbar, therefore he is an aggrieved person within the meaning of Section 199 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to file this complainant,” the 23-page order said. “He has denied the allegations made against him by the respondent as false and imaginary. These defamatory statements have been published, widely read and particularly by the witnesses examined who deposed that the reputation of the complainant was lowered in their estimation. The inquiry as contemplated under Section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been duly conducted by examining the complainant and his witnesses to arrive at the conclusion for this stage of this case,” the order said. “These witnesses also proved that the reputation of the complainant was lowered in their estimation, which again is an essential requirement of the offence of defamation. A person cannot be defamed in his own eyes. A man’s reputation is the estimate in which others holds him, not the good opinion which he has of himself. There has to be other reasonable, prudent and right thinking members of society, who says that the reputation of a person aggrieved is lowered in their estimation,’’ the order further said. Ms. Ramani had allegedly accused Mr. Akbar of sexually assaulting women journalists. Mr. Akbar has sought Ms. Ramani’s prosecution for “wilfully, deliberately, intentionally and maliciously defaming” him. In his complaint, Mr. Akbar cited an open letter by Ms. Ramani published in Vogue magazine last October and her tweets naming him. He sought her prosecution under Section 499 (defamation) and punishable under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. The offence attracts a simple imprisonment of two years or fine or both.

1976. His photograph, lifting his handcuffed fist in defiance while being led away by the police, became the most powerful image of the Emergency movement. Current Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, who was a law student then, volunteered her services to fight the case. His plunge into national politics was complete when he won the 1977 Lok Sabha poll from Muzzaffarpur in Bihar (in absentia) and went on to represent that seat multiple times in future. In fact, the only time he fought polls from Karnataka, Bangalore North in 1984, he lost by a margin of 40,000 votes. From Socialist to BJP ally Fernandes was made the Industry Minister in the Moraji Desai-led Janata Party government, but was famously known for banning Coca Cola in India. After the short run of the Janata government, he managed to retain his Muzzafapur seat in 1980 and remained important in the various avatars of the Janata Party through the 1980s in the opposition. In 1989, Fernandes was the Muzzaffarpur candidate of newly-formed Janata Dal and made the Railway Minister in the V.P. Singh government. His biggest achievement there was the Konkan Railway project connecting the Konkan and

Malabar coastline. Unable to bear being sidelined by newly-emerged Mandal leader Lalu Prasad, Fernandes and current Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar broke away from the Janata Dal in 1995 to form the Samata Party. Political marginalisation was sought to be alleviated with a tactical alliance with the BJP, the other big force in Bihar. “In his life, George Fernandes did not compromise with his ideology, the circumstances dictated that we ally with the BJP, and we kept our ideology intact through that,” said Janata Dal (United) Bihar president Bashishtha Narayan Singh, on the issue. But it does not detract from the fact that his endorsement of the National Democratic Alliance, and leading it as its convener, did more to mainstream the Sangh Parivar than any other move. Those unable to reconcile a socialist George Fernandes, the man who broke the mould when it came to region, religion and even personal narrative, with the ‘’troubleshooter-inchief’’ of the Vajpayee government, say it may have been a new form of anti-Congressism. For himself, Fernandes never explained nor held back from his friends or enemies. He not only embraced the BJP, but also, despite his stance against

nuclearisation, became the Defence Minister under whom India conducted the Pokhran II tests. His ability to straddle various identities, that helped a Mangalorean Catholic win multiple times in caste politics ridden Bihar was evident in these leaps. Later years Fernandes’ years as Defence Minister saw him visit the highest battlefield in the world, Siachen, a record 18 times, sometimes carrying Christmas cakes, sometime just to be among the soldiers. But it also saw him embroiled in the coffin scam and the Tehelka expose. After the fall of the Vajpayee government in 2004, Fernandes found himself on the margins of the JD(U), under the shadow of a new star, Nitish Kumar. His ill health was cited as a reason why he was denied a ticket in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, and a stroke after that left him mostly home bound till his death. His care was fought over by his estranged wife Leila Kabir and his son Sean on one side, with his long time partner Jaya Jaitly on the other. His death on a cold January morning brings to a close a turbulent chapter in Indian history, and the man whose handcuffed image defined it.

Plea challenges ‘Hindu prayers’ in Kendriya Vidyalaya schools The Supreme Court on Monday referred to a Constitution Bench a plea questioning a revised education code followed by the Central government-run, 1,125-strong Kendriya Vidyalaya schools, which compels students to recite Sanskrit and Hindi verses with folded palms and closed eyes during morning assemblies or face public humiliation in front of the entire school. Important issue A Bench led by Justice Rohinton Nariman found that the petition raises an important issue where a secular state, which is supposed to have no religion, is compelling students drawn from diverse faiths, beliefs, minority communities and many who may be coming from agnostic, sceptisist and rationalist family backgrounds, to recite a prayer which is “based on Hindu religion”, under threat of punishment. The Supreme Court had issued notice to the Centre on the petition filed by Veenayak Shah, who is represented by advocates Satya Mitra and Pallavi Sharma, in January last year. The petition said the revised education code of the Kendriya Vidyalayas violates Articles 19 (right to freedom of speech and expression) and Article 28(1), which prohibits the state from providing any religious instruction in an educational institution run on public funds. The petition said the common prayer amounted to “religious instruction”. Kendriya Vidyalayas function under the aegis of the Ministry Of Human Resource Developmemnt. The Union Minister is the Chairman. The schools, which have been in existence for over 50 years, constitute one of world’s largest chain of educational institutions spread over regions with diverse languages, culture and traditions. The petition pointed to Article 92 of the revised code, which mandates that “all students irrespective of their faith and belief, have to compulsorily attend the morning assembly and recite the prayer. All the teachers share the collective responsibility of supervising the assembly and making sure that every student folds his/her hands, closes his/her eyes and recites the prayer without fail. Any student failing to do so is punished and humiliated in front of the entire school”. The petition said it is constitutionally impermissible to impose the prayer on students of other faiths and beliefs. Students have a fundamental right to pray according to the practices of their religion or not pray at all. Besides, the practice is an obstacle to fostering a scientific temperament among the students as the “whole idea of God and religious faith is given immense priority and the same is instilled as a thought process among the students”. The practice would encourage students to take refuge in supernatural rather than developing a practical resolve to overcome the hurdles of everyday life,

the petition said.

PAGE 16 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

NEWS U.P. CM Yogi Adityanath, team take dip at Sangam Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath takes a holy dip in the water of River Ganga at Sangam during the ongoing Kumbh Mela. In a first, Cabinet meeting held at the Kumbh; slew of decisions to appease Hindu sentiments Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a Cabinet meeting at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj (Allahabad) on Tuesday, with most of the Ministers also taking a holy dip at the Sangam ahead of the meeting. In a first such government

meeting to be held at the Kumbh Mela, Mr. Adityanath announced a number of decisions, including some aimed at appeasing Hindu cultural sentiments as well as at instilling a feeling of “nationalism.” Ganga Expressway The Cabinet gave its consent in principle to the “Ganga Expressway”, to connect Allahabad/Prayagraj to western U.P. Around 600 km long, the proposed link will be the “world’s longest expressway,” Mr. Adityanath said. The fourlane road, upgradable to six lanes, would pass through Meerut, Amroha, Bulandshahr, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Farukkhabad, Hardoi, Kannauj, Unnao, Rae Bareli and Pratapgarh districts. It would cost ₹36,000 crore and require acquiring of 6,556 hectares of land. The previous BSP government under Mayawati had announced a similar project connecting the eastern parts of the State to the western region, around 1,000 km in length. However, the project was stalled by the Allahabad High Court in 2009 on an issue over environment clearance. The Adityanath Cabinet decided to waive State GST on recently released he Bollywood film Uri, based on the “surgical strikes” conducted by the Army in 2016. Mr. Adityanath said the film would “instill a feeling of patriotism and nationalism” among the common people, especially the youth. Briefing the media after the meeting at the the Kumbh media centre, Mr. Adityanath announced that the Bharadwaj Ashram in Allahabad would be beautified, as would the Valmiki Ashram, located on the way to Chitrakoot. In addition, a statue of sage Valmiki and a Ramayan research institute would be built at the site. University of yore Speaking of Maharishi Bharadwaj, Mr. Adityanath said the sage was the likely creator of the “Pushpak Viman” and also hailed him for starting a “university” in Prayagraj (Allahabad) in the Treta Yug. Apart from this, the BJP government also announced that it would beautify Shringverpur, a site near Allahabad revered by Nishads, a riverine mostbackward caste, and build a park dedicated to their icon Nishadraj.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 • PAGE 17

NEWS cial Work — Haryana

List of Padma awardees — 2019 Padma Awards — one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz. art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year. This year the President of India has approved conferment of 112 Padma Awards including one duo case (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one) as per list below. The list comprises 4 Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri Awards. 21 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 11 persons from the category of foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI, 3 posthumous awardees and 1 transgender person. Bharat Ratna (3) 1. Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumous) 2. Dr. Bhupen Hazarika (posthumous) 3. Pranab Mukherjee Padma Vibhushan (4) 1. Ms. Teejan Bai — Art-Vocals-Folk — Chhattisgarh 2. Shri Ismail Omar Guelleh (Foreigner) — Public Affairs — Djibouti 3. Shri Anilkumar Manibhai Naik — Trade & Industry-Infrastructure — Maharashtra 4. Shri Balwant Moreshwar Purandare — Art-Acting-Theatre — Maharashtra Padma Bhushan (14) 1. Shri John Chambers (Foreigner) — Trade & IndustryTechnology — USA 2. Shri Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa — Public Affairs — Punjab 3. Shri Pravin Gordhan (Foreigner) — Public Affairs — South Africa 4. Shri Mahashay Dharam Pal Gulati — Trade & IndustryFood Processing — Delhi 5. Shri Darshan Lal Jain — So-

6. Shri Ashok Laxmanrao Kukade — Medicine-Affordable Healthcare — Maharashtra

18. Shri Prabhu Deva — ArtDance — Karnataka 19. Ms. Rajkumari Devi — Others-Agriculture — Bihar

45. Ms. Bombayla Devi Laishram — Sports-Archery — Manipur

71. Ms. Milena Salvini (Foreigner) — Art-Dance-Kathakali — France

7. Shri Kariya Munda — Public Affairs — Jharkhand

20. Ms. Bhagirathi Devi — Public Affairs — Bihar

46. Shri Kailash Madbaiya — Literature & Education — Madhya Pradesh

72. Shri Nagindas Sanghavi — Literature & Education-Journalism — Maharashtra

8. Shri Budhaditya Mukherjee — Art-Music-Sitar — West Bengal

21. Shri Baldev Singh Dhillon — Science & EngineeringAgriculture — Punjab

47. Shri Ramesh Babaji Maharaj — Social Work-Animal Welfare — Uttar Pradesh

73. Shri Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry — Art-Lyrics — Telangana

9. Shri Mohanlal Viswanathan Nair — Art-Acting-Film — Kerala

22. Ms. Harika Dronavalli — Sports-Chess — Andhra Pradesh

48. Shri Vallabhbhai Vasrambhai Marvaniya — Others-Agriculture — Gujarat

74. Shri Shabbir Sayyad — Social Work-Animal Welfare — Maharashtra

10. Shri S Nambi Narayan — Science & Engineering-Space — Kerala

23. Shri Joravarsinh Jadav — Art - Dance (folk) — Gujarat

49. Ms. Gita Mehta (Foreigner) — Literature & Education — USA

75. Shri Mahesh Sharma — Social Work-Tribal Welfare — Madhya Pradesh

50. Shri Shadab Mohammad — Medicine-Dentistry — Uttar Pradesh

76. Shri Mohammad Hanif Khan Shastri — Literature & Education — Delhi

51. Shri K K Muhammed — Others-Archaeology — Kerala

77. Shri Brijesh Kumar Shukla — Literature & Education — Uttar Pradesh

11. Shri Kuldip Nayar (Posthumous) — Literature & Education (Journalism) — Delhi 12. Ms. Bachendri Pal — Sports-Mountaineering — Uttarakhand 13. Shri V K Shunglu — Civil Service — Delhi 14. Shri Hukumdev Narayan Yadav — Public Affairs — Bihar Padma Shri (94)

24. Ms. Godawari Dutta — Art-Painting — Bihar 25. Shri Gautam Gambhir — Sports-Cricket — Delhi 26. Ms. Draupadi Ghimiray — Social Work-Divyang Welfare — Sikkim 27. Ms. Rohini Godbole — Science & Engineering-Nuclear — Karnataka 28. Shri Sandeep Guleria — Medicine-Surgery — Delhi

52. Shri Mukherjee Affordable Jharkhand

Shyama Prasad — MedicineHealthcare —

53. Shri Daitari Naik — Social Work — Odisha 54. Shri Shankar Mahadevan Narayan — Art-Vocals-Films — Maharashtra

78. Shri Narendra Singh — Others-Animal Husbandry — Haryana 79. Ms. Prashanti Singh — Sports-Basketball — Uttar Pradesh 80. Shri Sultan Singh — Others-Animal Husbandry — Haryana

1. Shri Rajeshwar Acharya — Art-Vocal-Hindustani — Uttar Pradesh

29. Shri Pratap Singh Hardia — Medicine-Ophthmology — Madhya Pradesh

2. Shri bangaru Adigalar — Others-spiritualism — Tamil Nadu

30. Shri Bulu Imam — Social Work-Culture — Jharkhand

55. Shri Shantanu Narayen (Foreigner) — Trade & Industry-Technology — USA

3. Shri Illias Ali — MedicineSurgery — Assam

31. Ms. Friederike Irina (Foreigner) — Social Work-Animal Welfare — Germany

56. Nartaki Natraj — ArtDance-Bharatnatyam — Tamil Nadu

4. Shri Manoj Bajpayee — ArtActing-Films — Maharashtra

32. Shri Joravarsinh Jadav — Art-Dance Folk — Gujarat

5. Shri Uddhab Kumar Bharali — Science & EngineeringGrassroots Innovation — Assam

33. Shri S Jaishankar — Civil Service — Delhi

57. Shri Tsering Norboo — Medicine-Surgery — Jammu & Kashmir

83. Ms. Sharada Srinivasan — Others-Archaeology — Karnataka

58. Shri Anup Ranjan Pandey — Art-Music — Chhattisgarh

84. Shri Devendra Swarup (Posthumous) — Literature & Education-Journalism — Uttar Pradesh

6. Shri Omesh Kumar Bharti — Medicine-Rabies — Himachal Pradesh 7. Shri Pritam Bhartwan — ArtVocals-Folk — Uttarakhand 8. Shri Jyoti Bhatt — ArtPainting — Gujarat

34. Shri Narsingh Dev Jamwal — Literature & Education — Jammu & Kashmir 35. Shri Fayaz Ahmad Jan — Art-Craft-Papier Mache — Jammu & Kashmir 36. Shri K G Jayan — Art-Music-Bhakti — Kerala

9. Shri Dilip Chakravarty — Others-Archaeology — Delhi

37. Shri Subhash Kak (Foreigner) — Science & Engineering-Technology — USA

10. Shri Mammen Chandy — Medicine-Hematology — West Bengal

38. Shri Sharath Kamal — Sports-Table Tennis — Tamil Nadu

11. Shri Swapan Chaudhuri — Art-Music-Tabla — West Bengal

39. Shri Rajani Kant — Social Work — Uttar Pradesh

12. Shri Kanwal Singh Chauhan — Others-Agriculture — Haryana

40. Shri Sudam Kate — Medicine-Sickle Cell — Maharashtra

13. Shri Sunil Chhetri — Sports-Football — Telangana

41. Shri Waman Kendre — Art-Acting-Theatre — Maharashtra

14. Shri Dinyar Contractor — Art-Acting-Theatre — Maharashtra

42. Shri Kader Khan (Posthumous-Foreigner) — Art-Acting-Films — Canada

15. Ms. Muktaben Pankajkumar Dagli — Social Work-Divyang Welfare — Gujarat

43. Shri Abdul Gafur Khatri — Art-Painting — Gujarat

16. Shri Babulal Dahiya — Others-Agriculture — Madhya Pradesh 17. Shri Thanga Darlong — Art-Music-Flute — Tripura

44. Shri Ravindra Kolhe (Duo)* — Medicine-Affordable Healthcare — Maharashtra Ms. Smita Kolhe (Duo)* — Medicine-Affordable Healthcare — Maharashtra

59. Shri Jagdish Prasad Parikh — Others-Agriculture — Rajasthan 60. Shri Ganpatbhai Patel (Foreigner) — Literature & Education — USA 61. Shri Bimal Patel — Others-Architecture — Gujarat 62. Shri Hukumchand Patidar — Others-Agriculture — Rajasthan 63. Ms. Madurai Chinna Pillai — Social Work-Microfinance — Tamil Nadu

81. Shri Jyoti Kumar Sinha — Social Work-Affordable Education — Bihar 82. Shri Anandan Sivamani — Art-Music — Tamil Nadu

85. Shri Ajay Thakur — SportsKabaddi — Himachal Pradesh 86. Shri Rajeev Tharanath — Art-Music-Sarod — Karnataka 87. Ms. Saalumarada Thimmakka — Social Work-Environment — Karnataka 88. Ms. Jamuna Tudu — Social Work-Environment — Jharkhand 89. Shri Bharat Bhushan Tyagi — Others-Agriculture — Uttar Pradesh

64. Ms. Tao Porchon-Lynch (Foreigner) — Others-Yoga — USA

90. Shri Ramaswami Venkataswami — Medicine-Surgery — Tamil Nadu

65. Ms. Kamala Pujhari — Others-Agriculture — Odisha

91. Shri Ram Saran Verma — Others-Agriculture — Uttar Pradesh

66. Shri Bajrang Punia — Sports-Wrestling — Haryana 67. Shri Jagat Ram — Medicine-Ophthalmology — Chandigarh 68. Shri R V Ramani — Medicine-Ophthalmology — Tamil Nadu 69. Shri Devarapalli Prakash Rao — Social Work-Affordable Education — Odisha 70. Shri Anup Sah — Art-Photography — Uttarakhand

92. Shri Swami Vishudhananda — Others-Spiritualism — Kerala 93. Shri Hiralal Yadav — ArtVocals-Folk — Uttar Pradesh 94. Shri Venkateswara Rao Yadlapalli — Others-Agriculture — Andhra Pradesh * indicates duo case. (counted as one award)

PAGE 18 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Art Museum Kannappan Art Museum will be open for public Tuesday 5.30 PM to 7.30 PM, Saturday 10AM to 2 PM, Sunday 12 noon to 4 PM. Address: 2341 N. Galveston Ave, Pearland, TX 77581. Ashirwad Classes for Kids in Katy Enrollments are open for Indian Heritage classes for Kids and Teens from 4 to 16 yrs. Class curriculum includes Yoga, Meditation, Sloka, Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagwad Githa, Sports Day, VEDIC Fair Presentations, Dance, Drama, Hindi & more. Contact : 281-995-0930 or AshirwadABlessing@gmail.com. Sri Meenalshi Temple 6-Feb Wednesday 7 p.m. Vasavi Agni Pravesam 8-Feb Friday 7 p.m. ThaiSukravara Deepa Puja 19-Feb Tuesday 7 p.m. Maasi Magam Durga Bari Temple Durga Bari temple is open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Mon. thru Sat. Sandhya aarti at 6:30 p.m. Temple closes at 7 p.m. Sunday special from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Temple is located at 13944 Schiller Rd (o Hwy 6 bet. Bellaire & Westpark). Call Ganesh Mandal at 713-797-9057 / 832-423-8541. Arya Samaj Satsang Weekly Havan Satsang every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. DAV Sanskriti School Sundays 10 a.m. to 12 noon. - Havan, Hindi and Naitik Shiksha classes. DAV Montessori School for ages 2 to 7 years. Call Arti Khanna 281-759-3286. Free Yoga classes on Sat. Sanskrit & Upanishad classes Tue. 6-8 p.m. At 14375 Schiller Rd. (bet Westpark & BUY

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Bellaire o Hwy 6). 281-752-0100. Brahma Kumaris The Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation Center is open 7 days a week. The center oers free Raja Yoga Meditation classes: MonFri @ 6:00-6:45am and 7-8 pm, Sat-Sun @ 7:00-8:30am, 10 am-2 pm. Visiting hours are Sat-Sun @ 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact us at (832) 379-8888, houston@bktexas. com, or bktexas.com to sign-up for classes. All Raja Yoga Meditation teachers at the Houston center are samarpit and have 15+ years of teaching experience. Chinmaya Mission 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. - 1p.m. Bala Vihar students can take shloka, bhajan and orchestra classes or language classes for Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, and Gujarati. Chinmaya Mission is 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. Please visit www. chinmayahouston.org or contact Bharati Sutaria 281.933.0233 for more information. Jeeyar Educational Trust Translate knowledge into action classes every Sunday at 10:15 a.m to 12 p.m. at Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple, 10098 Synott Road, Sugar Land, Tx 77498. Call 785 550 3621 or 832-334-9163. Visit www. ashtalakshmi.org for registration. Vedanta Society Vedanta Society of Greater HousOLD

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ton, VSGH (oďŹƒcial Branch Center of Ramakrishna Math, Belur), 14809 Lindita Dr. (77083), has lectures & talks on every Sunday 11 am - 12 pm, followed by Arati & Prasad; Bhagwad Gita Class on Tuesdays, 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm; and Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna on Thursdays, 11 am - 12 pm. Rev. Sw. Atmarupanandaji, the Resident Monk, gives all classes, lectures & talks. Ramnaam Sankirtan is on 1st Saturdays 6 pm - 7 pm. Please visit www.houstonvedanta. org or call 281- 988-7211. Jain Society Jain Society of Houston, JSH, is located at 3905 Arc Street Houston Texas 77063. Key tenets of Jainism are: Non-violence - Ahimsa, Philanthropy with multicity in views – Anekantvad, No possessiveness - Aparigrah, Right Knowledge -- Samyak Gyan, Right Path – Samyak Darshan, and Right Conduct – Samyak Charitrya. JSH has Jain Pathshala Classed for students of all ages each Sunday starting at 10:15 AM. The center is open M-F from 7:30 AM to 12 Noon and 4 to 7 PM, and Sat, and Sun from 8 AM to 6 PM. Call Jain Center at 713 789 2338 or visit www.jainsocietyhouston.org for calendar of events and other detailed information. Shiv Shakti Mandir Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir, 6640 Harwin. Open daily 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All major festivals, as well as birthdays, naam karan, engagement and other ceremonies. Call Pandit Virat Mehta 713-278-9099 or Hardik Raval 361-243-6539 for puja or other ceremonies. Heartfulness Meditation Heartfulness Meditation is a practical technique of tuning inwards to experience our higher selves. Meditation with someone who has the capacity of yogic transmission can help you explore the Heartfulness practice more deeply. There are no charges for this, and we invite you to experience the unique beneďŹ ts of this transmission. Workshops on Heartfulness relaxation and meditation are held weekly throughout Houston. Web: www.heartfulness.org; Email: houston.heartfulness@gmail.com. Cell: 713-929-0040. Hare Krishna Dham Houston’s original Vedic temple, ISKCON of Houston. At 1320 W 34th St. (77018). Daily Darshan & Arati Times: 4.30 a.m, 7 a.m, 8.30 a.m, 12 noon, 4.30 p.m, 7 p.m, 9 p.m. Sunday Festival: 5.30 pm to 7.30 p.m. Weekly Gita classes for adults; call 281-433-1635 or harekrishnadham @gmail.com Houston Namadwaar A prayer house where the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is continuously chanted. Weekends: 8-11 AM & 4-7 PM, Weekdays: 7-8 AM & 6-7 PM. Weekly “Gopa Kuteeramâ€? children’s heritage classes and Srimad Bhagavatam classes. Call 281-402-6585; visit www.godivinity.org (Global Organization for Divinity). Saumyakasi Sivalaya Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is located at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478. Temple timings: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon and 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. For more in-

formation Contact 281-568-1690 or Jay Deshmukh at 832-541-0059 or visit www.saumyakasi.org Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple Darshan from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. All major festivals as well as birthdays, naam karan, engagement and other ceremonies. Call Pandit Pradip Pandya 832-4669868 for puja and other ceremonies. At 5645 Hillcroft Ste 701, Houston, TX 77036. Veerashaiva Samaja VSNA Houston is a group of families who believe in 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. Mar Thoma Church Trinity Mar Thoma Church every Sunday at 5810 Almeda Genoa Rd. Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. Malayalam service at 9:30 a.m. on 1st & 3rd Sunday. Adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m. English service at 10:30 a.m. on 2nd & 4th Sunday. Call 713-991-1557 or 281261-4603. Telugu Christian Fellowship Telugu Christian Fellowship meets every third Saturday of the month at Triumph Church, 10555 W. Airport Blvd., Staord TX 77477 at 6:30 p.m. Join us for a time of praise, worship and fellowship. Worship is in English. For information call Chris Gantela 281-344-0707, or Rev. Vijay Gurrala 281-997-0757. Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Hours: Mon to Fri 6 a.m. -8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Weekends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bhajans Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Special poojas (weekends and holidays) Choroon (Annaprasam) for kids, Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Nirapara. Temple is located at 11620 Ormandy St. (77035) Tel: 713-7298994 email: temple@ guruvayur.us Preksha Meditation JVB Preksha Meditation Center conducts weekly Meditation, Yoga and Swadhyay sessions inside its unique Pyramid hall under the auspicious guidance of Samani Kanchan Pragyaji and Samani Pranav Pragyaji who are stationed at Houston Center this year. It also runs special events and programs like I-Choose, Meditation Camps and Gyanshala program for children ages 4-14 yrs. JVB is located at 14102 Schiller Rd. Houston 77082. Every Tuesday, 9:30am11:30am, Samaniji has pravachan for all adults interested in learning about Jainism. Every Wednesday there is Swadhyay class from 7-8pm and meditation from 8-9pm. Every Thursday from 9:30-11am there is special Yoga class for Ladies only. Every Saturday, there is Yoga Class from 9-10am and Meditation from 10-10.30am. Ist & 3rd Sundays, there is Gyanshala Classes for Kids ages 4-14yrs. from 10-12:15pm followed by Lunch. Visit www.jvbhouston.org or send email at info@jvbhouston.org for more details. Patanjali Yogpeeth Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun at Arya Samaj from 8 am to 9:30 a.m. Call Anil 281-579-9433. For

other free classes, call Indra 281537-0018. For Yoga/Herbal products, call Shekhar 281-242-5000. www.pyptusa.org; www.DivyaProducts.com. Hindu Temple of The Woodlands 7601 S. Forest Gate Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77382 Temple Hours, Weekdays: 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM 5:30 PM - 8.30 PM Aarti @ 7:30 PM Saturday and Sunday 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM Aarti at 12:00 PM 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Aarti @ 7:30 PM; Contact 832-585--0001 or temple@myhtw.net Sathya Sai centers Sunday program held at two locations (North Houston: 12127 Malcomson Road, Houston; South Houston: 246 Fluor Daniel Drive, Sugar Land) from 3:00 to 5:30 pm) - Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) classes for children; Study Circle for adults & Devotional singing for all. Service programs - food distribution, canned food drives, nursing home visits, tutoring at schools, etc. Contact Venkat Rao (North) - 602-503-2249 or Ranji Raghavan (South) 281-451-8238. Visit www.sairegion10.org Sadhu Vaswani Center Sadhu Vaswani Center of Houston holds regular Satsang on 3rd Thursday of the month and daily Arti at 7.30 p.m. Call 281-4630379 or e.mail ramolaj@aol.com Gaudiya Math Shri Govindji Gaudiya Matha is a Hindu Vaishnava temple of Sanatan Dharam and worshipping place of Shri Shri Radha Krishna, Shri Gaur Nitai & Shri Ram Darbar. Mandir is open daily from 5.30 AM until 8.30 PM. The services are held from 5.30PM to 7.30PM followed by prashad. Daily Aarti times : Mangala Aarti- 5:30 am. Bhog Aarti - 12:30 pm. Evening Aarti - 7:00 pm. Enroll your child in Sri Govindaji Vedic School. We oer Hindi classes for all ages. Sri Govindaji Gaudiya Matha is located in Northwest Houston at 16628 Kieth Harrow Blvd Houston TX 77084. For more information, call at 832-464-4686 or visit our website: http://sggm.org. Swaminarayan Temple Hindu Satsang at Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, under Shree NarNarayan Dev Gadi kalupur. Opens daily from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Daily aarti at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday sabha from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. followed by aarti at 7 p.m. and Maha-Prasad (free dinner). www.issotx.org. (281) 530-2565. Sanatan Dharm Maha Sabha West Indian Religious Organization called Sanatan Dharm Maha Sabha Branch # 377 is located at 26100 Tina Lane, Katy, TX 77494. Durga Mata Pooja is held every Friday from 7 pm to 9.30 pm. Contact Ram Sharma @ 713-4129985. Gandhi Library Mahatma Gandhi Library Book Club: Meets 2nd Sunday of each month; 12:30 PM at Arya Samaj Greater Houston, 13475 Schiller Rd. Join the discussion of the great man’s autobiography – The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Call Manish Wani 713-829-6979.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 • PAGE 19

PAGE 20 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

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