Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
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Friday, December 03 2010 | Vol. 29, No. 49
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In ‘Ishq’tyle Wives take notice! Husbands discard this ... Indian Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt bought a Rolls Royce Ghost model car for his wife Manyata Dutt after she gave birth to twins. The car is estimated to be valued at $400,000. Now that is welcoming the babies to Earth in ishqtyle (in style and in love) and makes him the #1 Best Dad/Husband.
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Houston’s sikh community celebrates Guru nanak’s 541st Birth Anniversary
THIS WEEK ASQ Distinguished Service Medal for Dr. Manu Vora
By Dr. TejenDra S. Gill HOUSTON: The annual celebrations on the occasion of the 541st birth anniversary of the Founder of Sikhism, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, were held on November 27 at the Jones Plaza in downtown Houston. This year, the event was sponsored by the Sikh Association of Gurdwaras in Texas (SAGT), a newly constituted state-level body comprising of representatives of Sikh Gurdwaras in Texas. There are about 15 Sikh Gurdwaras in Texas, which offer religious services following Sikh traditions or rehat maryada prescribed by the Akal Takht, the highest seat of Sikh religion, located across from the sanctum sanctorum of Sikhs, the Golden Temple, at Amritsar, India. The founder of Sikhism, the first of the ten Gurus of Sikhs, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, was born on October 20, 1469, in Talwandi, Sheikhupura (now in Pakistan and called Nankana Sahib).
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An Eye Opening Session at Houston Food Bank for YLDP Students
UK Indian Teacher Hima Patel Jailed for Having Sex with Her Students
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Panj Pyaras carried the Sikh flags at the head of the parade downtown.
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Code Share Agreement Signed between Jet Airways and Alitalia
India to Start Electric Power Link with Sri Lanka by 2014
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Anuradha Koirala Pg 28 Fighting Sex Slavery Named CNN Hero of 2010
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India in Top 4 Among B-school destinations
By anahiTa Ta Mukherji Ta MUMBAI (TNN): That the US and the UK are the most popular destinations for management studies is not big news. But the findings of a survey conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which conducts GMAT, a B-school entrance test used globally, have thrown up some surprises. Number 4 on the list of the Top 10 preferred desdes tinations for B-school aspirants is India, with Canada at No. 3. Israel and Spain are the other surprise entrants. According to experts, India’s foray into the elite league has a lot to do with the emergence of instiinsti tutions such as the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, which was ranked No. 12 globally in the Financial Times ( London) Global MBA rankings earlier this year.
The IIMs, which use GMAT as an entrance test for their executive MBA programmes, are also responsible for India’s popularity. ‘’B-school aspirants are looking at a return on their inin vestment, and with the investinvest ment being lower for managemanage ment ed-
uca-tion in India when compared t o the US and the UK, the returns are higher,’’ said an expert. Many feel that India can soon emerge as a hub for management studies amongst Asian countries such as Singapore and the Philippines as the country will be a far
less expensive destination than western giants. Although making it to the US has, for long, been the great Indian dream, it is not the only North American country that’s attracting desi students. Many are now making a beeline for Canada, which not only has a robust economy and liberal visa policies but also promises good job prospects. ‘’In testing year 2010, India was the top foreign country that sent score reports to Canadian graduate management programmes,’’ reveals GMAC’s survey. According to the report, 78% of full-time MBA programmes in Canada received the largest number of foreign applications from Indians. Not surprisingly, all Canadian management programmes that recruited foreigners targeted India, as did 44% of European programmes that undertook special recruitment efforts to attract overseas candidates.
12 & 13
Guzaarish:
A Box office disaster?
There are times when a film touches the classical arenas of world cinema and yet remains unsuccessful at the box office. Even the most adored Hollywood classics like ‘Shawshank Redemption’ didn’t spin profits for the producers, but was later recognized as a masterpiece. It looks like Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Guzaarish’ seems to have joined the same league now. Released on last Friday, the film witnessed a lukewarm opening in many centres. Particularly, it didn’t do well with the single screens as the audiences couldn’t associate with the film due to unfathomed reasons.
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Anjali’s Anniversary celebrated with the Colors of Life
By kalyani Giri HOUSTON: The Anjali Center for Performing Arts celebrated its 35th Anniversary with the premiere of Navarasa, The Colors of Life, at the Kaplan Theater, Jewish Community Center on November 20, 2010. The dance production, conceptualized and choreographed by Anjali’s Founder/Artistic Director Dr. Rathna Kumar, featured performances by Anjali students and faculty, interspersed with recitals by several guest artistes. The program was funded by an Individual Artist Fellowship Grant that was awarded to Dr. Kumar by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. Navarasa, or the nine human moods/emotions formed the bedrock of the performance; each mood was exclusively and vividly described through a series of dances replete with abhinaya or facial expression. Guest artiste Dr. Latha Ramchand took the role of the sutradharini or narrator interpreting sequences as they unfolded. Beginning with Sringaram (love), young artistes emoted zealously and impressively as they showed wonder, disgust, compassion, laughter, fear, courage, anger, and finally, peace. The Anjali ensemble included the sterling talents of Aishwarya Seetharam, Anoosha Moturu, Dipika Gawande, Divya Koyyalagunta, Jujie Vyas, Krithika Ganapathy, Meera Devarajan, Natasha Kumar, Neha Reddy, Rukmini Das, Sai Aparna Konde, Sarika, Menon, Sinthuja Devarajan, Srividvatha Sridhar, Swathi Ariyapadi, Tejaswi Veerati, Yarlini Vipulanandan, and Johnnie Jackson. Guest artistes, each brilliant in her style of dance, included Anisha Rajesh (Mohini Attam), Archana Sharma (Bharathanatyam), Dr. Sandhya Harpavat (Bharathanatyam), Shipra Avantica Mehrotra (Odissi), Amogha Romo, Ananya Sengupta, Veena Devarajan, Piyal Sengupta, Gunjen Mittal, Preeti Ramchand, and Sunaina
Rao (Kathak). For more information about the Anjali Center for Performing
Arts, visit www.anjalicenter.org or contact Dr. Rathna Kumar at rathnanil@gmail.com.
Navarasa, the nine moods, depicted through several styles of Indian classical dance at the Anjali 35th Anniversary celebration. Photos: Navin Mediwala
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Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 03 , 2010 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
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Sri Venkateswara Kalyanam Celebrated with Devotion at Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple HOUSTON: Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple (JET USA Houston Chapter) performed Sri Venkateswara Kalyanam on November 20, 2010 as a fundraising event. Temple priests Hanuman Swamy and Anil Kumar Swamy performed the Kalyanam. At the same time, individual sponsors seated in the temple hall also performed the kalyanam with Srinivasa, Sridevi, and Bhudevi vigrahas that were provided. The puja procedure was done per Vedic tradition as taught by His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanujacharya Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, the founding acharya of Jeeyar Educational Trust and Ashtalakshmi Temple. Swamiji’s blessings were conveyed to all participants. The generous sponsorships allowed the temple to raise more than $60,000 that day. The proceeds will go toward temple construction, namely building a cultural hall and a new kitchen. The vision of Sri Astalakshmi Temple is to promote the mission of the Swamiji. Swamiji wishes to spread the knowledge of the Vedas to present and future generations. The practical teachings of Swamiji allow many to incorporate the essence of the Vedic wisdom into
their busy modern lives. This takes place through worship and service. In fact, Swamiji’s two mottos are: “Serve all beings as service to God” and “Worship your own. Respect all.” Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple is the embodiment of these two mottos. It is both a place of worship and Vedic learning. Classes for children and adults are conducted every Sunday. The traditions and their meanings as well as the highest philosophies of our scriptures are taught. Swamiji teaches the importance of worship to the archa
murthi, the vigraha form, and also to the antarayami form, that is the Lord, residing within each being. Hence, the teachings emphasize divinizing every aspect of life so that one truly serves the Lord at all times and promotes the well being of all of the Lord’s creation. Daily aradhana takes place to the archa murthis of Lakshmi and Srimannarayana in the Bala Alayam (temple in youth stage). Plans are for a full scale temple in Lotus shape to be built on the land immediately behind the present Bala Alayam. The Jeeyar Educational Trust
also undertakes various social Darbha organized the event with services to serve the commu- help of many volunteers. Donanity both here and in India. tions are still requested to keep up However, the ceremonies are with growth of the Temple to betalso done as a service. Kalyan- ter serve the community. The organizers encourage all to am itself means well being and the puja performed is for uni- visit the temple located at 10098 versal well being. Every year, Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX. the Kalyanam is performed at Also, the Vedic learning and serthe Astalakshmi Temple for vice activities of Swamiji are seen good health, wealth and spiri- on the website www.chinnajeeyar. tual upliftment of all devotees. org. Many useful tools for learnEvery Saturday morning the ing philosophy and puja proceAbhishekam of Lord Ven- dures are given on the website. The priests perform many puja kateswara takes place in the temple as well as the Homam services including kalyanam and for Sudarshana and Lakshmi homams in devotees homes and Narasimha Swamy. On Friday workplaces as well. Patrons are evening, Abhishekam of Lak- requested to call 281-498-2344 for shmi Devi takes place. Everyday puja services and for more inforVishnu Sahasranama is chanted mation visit www.ashtalakshmi. org. and archana performed. Hundreds of devotees participated with devotion and enthusiasm in this event so that the temple Writers are requested to limit their words may progress to 500 The deadline for advertising and further. Chaiarticles is 5 pm onTuesday of each week. For nulu Chamore information,Call 713-789-6397 oremail vali, Krishna us at: indoamericannews@yahoo.com Chokkarapu and Murthy
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r charit ram c s satsang s seminar style Presented in Houston s
By uSha ha Mehra HOUSTON: If reading Ramayan, participating in 24 hour Ramayan recitals or Sunderkaand recitals is on your interests list, you will certainly want to attend an upcoming –Ram Charit Manthan Seminar- on Saturday, December 4th at the Hindu Wor-
ship Society Temple. No Registration fees or expectations for donations--- simply a half day commitment from 9 am through 2 pm on Saturday December 4th. Manthan Seminar will begin with a short invocation prayer followed with presentation by about twelve or so speakers. Each speaker has
been requested to provide their thoughts and analysis in about 15 to 20 minutes. Event will conclude with a brief question and answers session and Aarti. Refreshments and lunch will be served. The seminar is a humble effort to better understand and appreciate Lord Ram and Tulsi Ram Charit Manas. Ram is one of the ten Vishnu avatars --incarnations – worshipped widely in Hindu homes and temples. Tulsi Ramayan is the Ram Charit text written in hindi (avadhi to be precise which is the local language in parts of Utter-Pradesh in India) and widely recited particularly in north and central India. Reading and singing Ram Charit by itself is a divine experience for many. Morari Bapu is well known for precipitating a very special ambiance and divine experiences through the Ram Kathas for millions all over the world. In past years, Houston community has been blessed with Bapu’s Ram Katha as well as discourses on Ram Charit from scholars of international fame. International Ramayan Conference was held in 1996 under auspices of Shri Lallan Prasad Vyas. The seminar this Saturday, is an attempt to create a local forum in Houston for analysis and better understanding of Shri Ram and the conducts of those associated with his life for
enhancement of personal wisdom and spirituality. The event is a vision of many Ram devotees of Houston brought to fruition by Professor Dr. Om Gupta and family. Details on the event can be obtained from contacting Om Gupta at om@ramacharit.org or phone 713-471-7822 or website www.ramacharit.org/manthan.
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Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
Houston Celebrates Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Birthday with Hearts full of Happiness HOUSTON: Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s 85th birthday was celebrated at Durga Bari on Friday, November 26th with grandeur in an environment charged with devotion. Highlights of the evening program included a human values procession, inspiring songs and dances, a children’s play, a multimedia presentation on Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s life and message, and group devotional singing. A Large, beautiful picture of Baba welcomed all in the entrance of the Sur Auditorium. Inside the auditorium, a colorful altar, flanked by full-sized standing pictures of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba and Sri Sathya Sai Baba, decorated with gorgeous flowers, adorned the base of the center stage. It was a well attended celebration with the presence of over 500 women and men. With Baba’s emphasizes on the human values of Truth, Right-Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence as the central theme, the program commenced with a procession walk by young adults holding human values banners. To further set the tone of the evening, the processional walk was followed by a performance by the youngest children who danced to a melodious song, With a Heart Full of Happiness, commemorating love, giving, and cheer. The life story of Sai Baba was enacted by the SSE children of Houston Sai centers children in a musical dance drama ‘Sai’s Ideal Life’. The glimpses of the previous Shirdi Sai Avatar, present avatar’s divine descent, birth, humble beginnings and the teachings were portrayed in the play. Swami’s supreme divinity, Swami’s boundless compassion and Swami’s unfathomable love, displayed time and again, in incident after incident, overwhelmed the audience with happiness, bliss and yearning. The colorful costumes, grand backdrops, stage settings, dances, songs, beautiful lighting, clear audio contributed to a fine show. A beautiful, moving video presentation on Swami’s service projects came next. True to His declaration, “My Life is My Message”, the video montage highlighted how Baba has inspired and continues to inspire millions of His devotees worldwide by His personal example to live the ideal that “service to man is service to God.” His numerous service projects, be it free hospitals, free schools and colleges, free drinking water supply projects, or free housing projects bear testimony to Sathya Sai Baba’s cen-
tral teaching to “Love All Serve All – Help Ever Hurt Never”. All of these projects were performed and are being performed without any solicitation of funds, private or public, and comprise countless volunteer hours from people of different nationalities, ethnic and religious backgrounds from around the world. The presentation documents how the Houston Sai centers, while modestly following Baba’s example, have taken up multiple service projects such as Salvation Army Lunch, Women’s shelter and Nursing Home visits, Sandwich Meal distribution etc., for the needy and less privileged. The day’s program closed with devotional
group singing, prayers for peace in our universe, and an offering of the birthday cake by children and dinner for all. Sathya Sai Baba’s birthday celebration exhorts us to light the lamp of love in our hearts to remove the darkness of hatred, envy, desire, and greed and to replace them with Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love, and Nonviolence. When interviewed, Kathy Nathan, a first timer to the celebration exclaimed how uplifting and blissful the evening was for her. Likewise, another first timer, Sulochana Jadev commented that everything about the evening was tranquil, beautiful and wonderfull, topped off with soul-stirring bhajans. The whole program was run by volunteers from beginning till end which displays the common thread of love for Baba that they all share. Devotees here in Houston meet at two locations in North and South parts of the town on Sundays from 3.00-5:30pm and have weekly activities such as Sai Spiritual Education classes for children, Meditation, Study Circle, Devotional Singing and Service Activities for all. For more information, please call Vinod Patel (281-578-0424) or Raghu Amara (832-418-3842).
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“sangam: sangam: The confluence” at Houston maharashtra mandal s
HOUSTON: In celebration of Deepavali 2010, Houston Maharashtra Mandal hosted a music and dance extravaganza “Sangam: The Confluence” on Saturday November 20 at the Arya Samaj Hall of greater Houston. Sangam was conceptualised and directed by Anita Kulkarni and was presented by her and 14 other Houston based artists. The fabric of Indian music is spiritual in essence, with an uplifting aesthetic dimension. Sangam is a multimedia multi disciplinary presentation and an audiovisual delight which celebrates the beautiful classical performing arts of India including Hindustani raag-sangeet and classical dances. Along with elegant and appealing
Vaidehi Mankar and Payal Sandhane in the fusion - ‘Vihaar’
entertainment, sangam has a holistic message of music therapy and rasa-samay siddhant. In Sangam, the elements from Indian classical arts are interpreted for contemporary sensitivity. Artistic trends from East and West blend fusion style in modules ‘Vihaar’ and ‘Solphian Sargam’. The show unfolds as a confluence of rang, rasa, taal, soor, laya and naad – a splendor of color and emotion flourishing with music and dance. In place of a continuing storyline, the drama is depicted through six individual pieces developing within their own melodic magic. Four of the modules including Nilavanti, Raajanjali, Vihaar and Sangam are based on the beautiful Indian raag’s. The opening module ‘Nila-
vanti’ presents two dancers in the Kathak and Bharat Natyam style portraying the festivity of Deepavali through the joyous Raag Hansadhwani. ‘Solphian Sargam’ is an experiment that weaves the Do-Re-Mi in the Indian Sargam. Mozart’s symphony 40 makes the footing for this melodious experiment. Another module is dedicated to group dances which develop with high energy live songs on the theme of rain. Live dance improvising with recorded as well as live music from different genres is a special feature of Sangam. Seven dancers, all with training in different dance styles, present poised, well articulated and beautifully choreo-
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Icc celebrates c diwali and children’s c day HOUSTON: India Culture Center Houston celebrated its annual Diwali celebrations on November 14th , 2010 Sunday at the Houston Durga Bari (Sur Auditorium). This
Swapan Dhairyawan. In his message he highlighted the role of our children who are tomorrow’s youth. He admired the young talent who are the future artists from
& solo talent kid participants were awesome. The program was witnessed by over 800 Houstonians. The program was well coordinated and
year the celebrations were combined with the Children’s Day (Bal Divas) since it was the actual Birth Anniversary day celebrations of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. ICC is an organization of over 37 years that has been promoting India’s culture and traditions through events like India Fair and India Fest, two signature events celebrating India’s spirit of freedom, independence & democratic setup. Other events the organization observes independently or in collaboration with partnering organizations are: Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, Diwali, Holi and other festivities. This years’ event was a cultural treat for the Houston community. The event was a free event & showcased local talent. The program commenced with the welcome speech by the ICC President
our community and thanked the Diwali Committee for putting up an exciting show at a very short notice. The vocal segment was coordinated by ICC Director Surender Talwar. The music took back the audience in the melodious memories of the past. The singers in this segment were Jasmeeta Singh, Jamuna Murali, Pashupati, DJ Saz & Surender Talwar. They were accompanied on the tabla by Shyamal Bhattacharya. There were other 2 children who showed their talent by singing classical song & playing tabla. The talent & dance segment was coordinated by ICC Directors Nimmi Vale & Veena Ponnaganti. The high energy & full of enthusiasm talented children participated in this segment. The amazing talent displayed by the group dances
synchronized to the delight of the audience. At the venue there were lots of children’s activities like moonwalk, slide, face painting, mehendi & Diya coloring. The Diya coloring was a big hit with the little kids & was a novel concept. In her vote of thanks, the Event Chair ICC Director Yamuna Srinidhi thanked all the sponsors, vendors, media & the participants for supporting this event. The sponsors for the event were Metlife, MD & Associates LLP, New York Life, Hindus of Greater Houston, Raj Bhalla, Abhiruchi, Nemisons & Udipi Café. This was the last major event for 2010 which ICC Houston organized for the community at large. For more information about future events, visit www.icchouston. org
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AsQ As sQ distinguished service s medal for dr. manu Vora m The American Society for Quality (ASQ) Board of Directors has elected to award Dr. Manu Vora the Distinguished Service Medal – the highest ASQ medal awarded for service – in recognition of his lifetime contributions to ASQ and the quality movement. The ASQ Distinguished Service Medal will be presented to Dr. Vora at the ASQ’s World Conference on Quality and Improvement (WCQI) in May, 16-18, 2011, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Dr. Vora is a past recipient of ASQ Grant Medal for his quality management training contributions and ASQ Lancaster Medal for his contributions to the International quality community.
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graphed dances. Along with quality music, Sangam also presents a rich visual experience through stage composition and costumes. Viju Bhadkamker delivered the linking narrations in Marathi with her well researched and rich references. Among the Sangam artists four are very talented Houston high-schoolers on tabla, keyboard, vocal music and dance. Nitish Kulkarni, 17, with his gift for music has codirected Sangam with
Anita Kulkarni. ‘Sangam: The Confluence’ was received very well by the audience, which appreciated the show for being ‘very classy’, with a novel concept and good architecture. Viewers also appreciated the harmonious work by the 15 artists, and admired their beautiful sense of coordination and timing.
Madhura Swadi performing ‘Nilavanti’ dance
Sangam artists were Anjali Pandit, Veena Watve, Anita Kulkarni, Shalaka Joshi, Amit Bhagwat, Nitish Kulkarni, Rugwed Damle, Vivek Koshti, Madhura Swadi, Payal Sandhane, Meenal Mohile, Leena Sawant, and Archana Kelavkar
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e opening eye o session for yL s yLd LdP students s at the Houston Food Bank Facility Tour
By Malavika ChanDer, neerja aGGarwal & Sai Goolla HOUSTON: On November 20, our YLDP class had an enriching experience in the Houston Food Bank. As we toured the area, we learned about the history of the Houston Food Bank, the science and management behind its success, and its unique ability to distribute millions of pounds of food to needy each day. The CEO/ President of the Houston Food Bank, Brian Greene, highlighted several key points in his presentation. He emphasized that leaders aren’t perfect and everyone needs to build themselves refining their character on a daily basis in order to mold into a better person. Also, leaders in philanthropic organizations must have high ethical standards and a clear cut mission that can function as a goal. The need for such organizations is inherent, so as long as leaders are inspired, people are motivated, and such organizations will continue to be extant. During Greene’s presentation, we understood the clear-cut division between the profit and the non-profit and, the producer and consumer worlds. As consumers we are very particular, if not picky, about the fruits and vegetables we choose to buy at the super market. Even when it comes to the cereal boxes and canned food, we are repulsed by the dents and depressions that imperfect boxes carry. As we choose the products based upon first impressions, what happens to all of the unconsumed and residual products that remain sitting in grocery stores? During the tour, Greene shed light on this economic phenomenon; the remainder of food left is shipped to the Houston Food Bank where workers and volunteers work to separate apples from oranges and chicken from beef. To see thousands of volunteers working in their individual compartments, bagging and distributing various products was truly inspiring. It is the invisible hand of economics that maintains and allows supply to naturally meet the demand. The tons of dented cereal boxes, dimpled oranges, and chipped plastic covering of the chicken meat that
Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
YLDP students have enriching experience at Houston Food Bank.
are deemed imperfect and left behind every day, allows the Houston Food Bank to deliver over forty million pounds of food to people who are in need. The Houston Food Bank has thrived because of the high ethical standard which according to Greene is the strong foundation for the growth and prosperity of any institution. After the tour and question answer session, we gathered into respective teams and discussed various topics on the meaning of philanthropy and how institutions like the Houston Food Bank help the people that they serve everyday. Some of the key points of the discussion included why we need such organizations and how motivation thrives in the non-profit world. We presented our thoughts on the questions that we were given to us. For example one question was-“What are five ways to encourage and interest youngsters to support various charitable or philanthropic organizations- local, national, or global?” Satisfaction is a primary form of encouragement for youngsters to support organizations. The next form of encouragement may be ambition. Perhaps one is truly interested in a cause and wishes to become an integral part of the organization? Some youngsters may be looking towards a possible career option by joining a philanthropic organization. Thirdly, a form of encouragement may be connections. By joining an organization, one gets experience as well as newer ideas and gets to learn about other opportunities in helping society as a leader. Because each organization is the root to a plant, as one helps society more, the plant will grow higher. There is a reward of making new connections with people,
whether it is making more friends or meeting scholarly associates. Every step one takes is significant, for it opens doors to many more opportunities. Competition and peer pressure prove to be an important way for youngsters to support such organizations. Sometimes, people join organizations mainly because of their friends. Although this may not be an ideal reason to join a cause, it is still a great way for people to get to know one another and to work together for the betterment of society. When friends assemble together for a cause, it becomes a sort of social event. This kind of layout is appealing to youngsters, which will get them to join the cause as well. This healthy peer pressure results in a healthy environment for each student and brings out the best in each individual. Lastly, a source of encouragement, (although more on the negative side), is the common need for volunteer hours for college applications. However, we should realize that a shallow reason is not something that one should support an organization for; rather, it should be because of a desire to bring and share happiness. As future leaders, it is our responsibility to increase awareness among the youngsters to support honorable causes for the right reasons. Aspects such as motivation, enthusiasm, desire, and success are catalyst causes that leads us youth to strive in today’s society. All in all, it was an enriching and an eye-opening experience for us. It was not only educational, but a great session to understand the meaning behind philanthropy and giving back to the community in honest and fulfilling ways.
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india
nr Give mixed nrIs m response to Voting rights r r Given to Them by the Government of India
LONDON (MO): India’s move to allow millions of NRIs to exercise their voting rights has evoked mixed reaction from the community, with some of them describing it as a step in the right direction which will help them better connect to the country, while others calling it an incomplete measure. Welcoming the recent issuance of a notification by the Indian government which for the first time allows the expatriates to vote, leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul here said that “it is a step in the right direction.” Though “I am not personally affected, I am glad that Government has taken such a welcome move. It will help Indian passport holders to have better integration with people in India,” he said. D L Kalhan, President of the Indian Overseas Congress in the UK who had campaigned for the measure, said the voting rights for NRIs was long overdue. “I am happy that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Law Minister Veerappa Moily have fulfilled their promises. It will help a vast number of NRIs to actively participate in Indian elections,” he said. Thomas Abraham, Founder President and Chairman Emeritus of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) in the US, welcomed the Indian government’s move. “GOPIO has been campaigning on this issue
for the last 21 years ... However, this is not enough. It would be very difficult for 11 million NRIs who are Indian citizens to travel to India during election time to exercise their vote. “Postal ballots or with the new technology, NRIs should be provided the opportunity to vote
online. Alternately, there should be a few constituencies for NRIs in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies,” he said. NRIs in the Gulf also gave a mixed response to the Indian government’s announcement of voting rights for them. Sudesh Aggarwal, Chairman of India Trade and Exhibition Centre (ITEC), said “this will not make any major difference. I think this
is just a game political parties are playing.” “The reason is you have to be physically present in the country to vote. What is the big deal about that? ... If they want to help NRIs, they should reserve four seats for NRIs and let NRIs vote for NRIs worldover. “Since population decides the number of seats, that criteria should be implemented here as well. If Anglo-Indians can have two parliament seats, why cant NRIs be accommodated by extending the number of seats in the Parliament,” he said. S a n d e e p Tirthwani, Business Educator at Free Enterprises said it is really exciting to learn that NRIs would be able to exercise their voting rights. “NRIs are mostly peer class with high level of education and understanding. Having an additional 11 million people to vote would lead to better candidates selected to lead the country. It would give NRIs opportunity to do something for the country. It would also help the NRI community connect to India emotionally and ultimately motivate them to return to India.”
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JOB POSTING IT / VIDEO ENGINEER KTRK Television, the ABC/Disney 0&0 in Houston, Texas has a tremendous opportunity for an IT/Broadcast Engineer with impeccable computer/networking skills and a strong working knowledge of the professional broadcast video realm. Ihe successful candidate will be responsible for installing , configuring, documenting and maintaining all broadcast related systems and equipment including but not limited to cameras , video switchers, video servers, non-linear editing systems, videotape recorders and any other broadcast related equipment. This position will involve set-up , operation, and maintenance of computer/video hardware as well as end user support. Examples of responsibilities include creating and integrating network file, print and database servers within the station, addressing network security, network traffic analysis, verifying/performing backups, troubleshooting and general maintenance, as well as installation of new equipment for use in a fast paced news environment, such as newsroom automation and production automation systems. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to understand instructions and underlying principles of the broadcast and IT industry maintenance of broadcast related computer/server systems key to supporting the operation and be comfortable working with accuracy and speed to complete the multiple duties required of this position. Qualified applicants should have extensive experience with local and wide-area networks,Microsoft Windows and Exchange systems, along with a strong understanding of TCPIIP, SQL and a basic knowledge of Unix/MAC. Systems-level video and audio troubleshooting skills are essential. Minimum 3 to 5 years experience as a television/radio broadcast engineer with a Bachelor degree in an engineering or related field is a plus. Must have demonstrated competence in complex technical broadcast operations and technical maintenance including computers, servers, networks and station automation systems . 24/7 operation, must be willing to work weekends and nights. Lucrative salary, relocation and benefits package for the right candidate . This is an excellent opportunity to join a first-class station and live in a fun and affordable city.Candidates must apply on-line at www.disneycareers .com by uploading a resume file and cover letter. Please Reference Job ID: 271458 on all materials submitted. No phone calls please. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D.
Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 03 , 2010 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
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Our Chicago Correspondent Nand Kapoor’s Second Career Cook County Recorder of Deeds By Jawahar Malhotra CHICAGO: Sitting in the sunlit Office Department and is now living room of his twelfth floor happy to volunteer at the Indian apartment just two blocks from the Senior Citizen’s Center on Devon upper end of Devon Street , Nand Street . But Kapoor was not satisfied Kapoor, 80, is reminiscing as he fondly shows his pictures from with the regular 9 to 5 and decided a very public life in the Windy City . He had retired from his government job in Agra , India at the relatively young age of 58 and migrated to the US , Nand Kapoor with his wife Sudaksha. switchPhoto: Jawahar Malhotra ing the hot plains of Uttar Pradesh for the to serve his countrymen in community projects and political work. bitter cold of the Midwest. “We had visited the US twice be- He eventually worked with News fore,” he said as his wife Sudaksha India when he first got settled in looked on, “and then in 1984, we Chicago and then later became a thought ‘Why not?’ and moved.” correspondent for Indo American Kapoor joined the Cook County News for the past 15 years. Kapoor Highway Department in a mana- looks forward to continuing on gerial position form which he will and has plans to get other younger be retiring at year’s end. Sudaksha journalists involved in sending in retired three years ago from the news from the Windy City .
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Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
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a community Gathers for a Massive celebration continued frpm page
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Guru Nanak traveled far and wide to spread the message of ‘trust in God’ and peaceful, honest and spiritual way of life. His teachings were propagated through the generations by nine Gurus who followed him until the last of the ten Gurus, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, bestowed upon “Sikhs” a unique identity, the “khalsa” in 1699. The “Sikh”, meaning a ‘disciple’, is traditionally known as “khalsa”, meaning ‘pure’. The tenets of Sikhism include, (i) faith in God, (ii) attendance at holy congregation and meditation, (iii) sharing the basic needs of life through common kitchen, and (iv) earning the livelihood honestly and donate part of earnings in service to mankind, which is dedicated to God in all humility. Sikhs are honest, progressive and hard working people who believe in tolerance and respect for other religions, peaceful coexistence, and equality of genders as well as social status. Sikhism is relatively ‘new’, yet in 500 or so years the Sikhs have been in existence, they have achieved excellence in several areas. There are about 25 million Sikhs world-wide inhabiting every conceivable country that offers prospects of decent, meaningful life. The Greater Houston is home to about 7000 Sikhs living mostly in the North Houston, Recent years have seen a spurt in the population of Sikh community in the metropolitan area, which is mainly due to the influx from other states like California and Michigan, as well as due to immigration from Punjab, India. The 2010 Sikh Day Parade held on a bright sunny day in downtown Houston was attended by more than 1000 people. Curious onlookers witnessed firsthand the Sikh culture and traditions on the occasion of the most important Sikh religious event. The SAGT delegates, including Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Hira S Chamdal, Coordinator, Dr.Kanwaljit Singh, Secretary, Dr.Tejendra S Gill, Catering Coordinator, Najjar Singh (Café India), and Parade Marshalls, Kulwant S Nagra and Naunihal S Brar, began planning the event well ahead of time. The venue had been set up for the Sikh community of Greater Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Beaumont, Baytown, and Galveston to gather and participate in the religious festivities. Soon after the ‘seating’ of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji on a palki on the center stage followed by Panj Pyaras (the five Sikhs dressed in traditional khalsa attire) escorted by five Sikh youths bearing the saffron colored Sikh flag, the recitations of ‘shabad kirtan’ by resident priests of local Gurdwaras began to fill the air in the Jones Plaza. By noon, the Plaza was crowded with participants who listened to the kirtan, while the others enjoyed hot tea and a wide variety of snacks. The stage secretary, Bhai Amar Singh (Sikh Center) and the organizing secretary, Dr. Gill, invited speakers to the podium to address the participants. The SAGT delegate, Dr. Gurdarshan S Brar (Dallas) spoke of the historical significance of the occasion and reminded the community members of their obligations to the ‘Guru’. Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 03 , 2010 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
Sikh Comm
541s Anniv o Guru
Saturday, N Jones Plaza Dow
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Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
munity Celebrates
st Birth versary of Nanak
November 27, 2010 wntown, Houston, Texas CLOCKwISE FROM TOP LEFT:
• SAGT Delegates Balwinder S. Dhillon, Dr. Gill, Hira S. Chamdal • SAGT Delegates; Hira Chamdal, Gurminder Singh, Dr. Gill, Darinderpal S. Sarkaria • the parade rounds out Jones Plaza • Dr. Gill, Dr. Azad, Harris County Sherrif Adrian Garcia, Dr. Aziz, Harjit Galhotra • the SAGT float • the San Antonio contingent; participants from San Antonio; the parade makes around round • Houston Highlanders Pipe Band in the lead Photos: Jaswant Singh (Jassi), Singh Audio & Video
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Another SAGT delegate from San Antonio, Balwinder S Dhillon, spoke at length explaining the purpose of constituting the SAGT, its goals and the benefits the Sikh community will derive from the SAGTsponsored programs for the youth and women of Texas. Upon arrival of the Harris County Sheriff, Adrian Garcia, accompanied by HPD Chief’s Command, Officer Muzaffar H Siddiqi and Dr. Aziz A Siddiqi (ISGH), the special invitees were welcomed by Dr.Gill, and requested to address the congregation. Sherriff Garcia appreciated the Sikh community’s culture and traditions, and complemented the organizers for making elaborate arrangements. Inspirational speeches were delivered by other prominent Sikhs and non-Sikhs, including Dr.Aziz A Siddiqi (Islamic Society of Greater Houston), Bobby Brar (Dallas), and Dr. Kanwaljit Singh (Sikh National Center), who informed the community that the SAGT is a viable statelevel organization, and it is functioning in compliance with county, state and federal laws. The parade route covered 10 city blocks, and was secured by HPD cars with flashing lights to block the traffic. With the Houston Highlanders Pipe Band in front, the parade was lead by Panj Pyaras escorted by five Sikh youths bearing the saf saffron colored Sikh flag, followed by elaborately decorated ‘float’, behind which the participants walked chanting religious shabads. The SAGT Adviser, Prof.Sampuran Singh (Sikh Center), Harjit S Galhotra (Sikh National Center), Dr.Paramjit S Dhillon (Canada) and Darinderpal S Sarkaria (GSSWH), along with SAGT delegate and Parade Marshall, Kulwant S Nagra (Beaumont) controlled the parade throughout its 90 minutes journey. Upon conclusion of the parade, SAGT delegate, Surinder S Gill (Dallas) spoke to emphasize the significance of Sikh ‘rehat maryada’ and ‘Sikhi swarup’. Dr. Hardam S Azad, spoke next and reflected upon the history of Sikhs, and highlighted the successful role of Sikhs in the American society. On behalf of the Sikh Youth of America, Santokh Singh (Dallas) exhorted the Sikh youth to firmly believe in and practice Sikhism. At the end, the Chairman of the local organizing committee and SAGT delegate, Hira S Chamdal, thanked the special invitees and participants for their presence, and the city and security officials, including Parmjit S Kang, Pam Powers, Greg Griffin, Diane Velasquez, Officer Chad Miller, Officer Mike Angel, and Officer John Anderson, and the members of the organizing committee for their time and efforts in organizing the event. Media coverage was provided by the Houston Chronicle, Punjab News, Amritsar Times, and the Jas Punjabi TV news correspondents. Professional audio and video recordings were made by Jaswant S ‘Jassi’ of the “Jaswant Audio and Videos by Jassi”. Throughout the 6-hr festivities, Najjar Singh (Exec.VP of GSSWH) and his team of immaculately dressed food service professionals offered snacks (samosas, pakoras, burfi, laddoos, and gol-gappas), hot tea and soft drinks to anyone who walked up to the serving tables Refreshment with hot tea energized people at the event. Dr. Tejendra Singh Gill is a member of the Coordination Committee, Sikh Association of Gurdwaras in Texas (SAGT. He can be contacted at esecretarysagt@ yahoo.com
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Indian American Hindu Group Stirs a Debate Over Yoga’s Soul By Paul Vitello NEW YORK (NYT) : Yoga is practiced by about 15 million people in the United States, for reasons almost as numerous — from the physical benefits mapped in brain scans to the less tangible rewards that New Age journals call spiritual centering. Religion, for the most part, has nothing to do with it. But a group of Indian-Americans has ignited a surprisingly fierce debate in the gentle world of yoga by mounting a campaign to acquaint Westerners with the faith that it says underlies every single yoga style followed in gyms, ashrams and spas: Hinduism. The campaign, labeled “Take Back Yoga,” does not ask yoga devotees to become Hindu, or instructors to teach more about Hinduism. The small but increasingly influential group behind it, the Hindu American Foundation, suggests only that people become more aware of yoga’s debt to the faith’s ancient traditions. That suggestion, modest though it may seem, has drawn a flurry of strong reactions from figures far apart on the religious spectrum. Dr. Deepak Chopra, the New Age writer, has dismissed the campaign as a jumble of faulty history and Hindu nationalism. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has said he agrees that yoga is Hindu — and cited that as evidence that the practice imperiled the souls of Christians who engage in it. The question at the core of the debate — who owns yoga? — has become an enduring topic of chatter in yoga Web forums, Hindu American newspapers and journals catering to the many consumers of what is now a multibillion-dollar yoga industry. In June, it even prompted the Indian government to begin making digital copies of ancient drawings showing the provenance of more than 4,000 yoga poses, to discourage further claims by entrepreneurs like Bikram Choudhury, an Indian-born yoga instructor to the stars who is based in Los Angeles. Mr. Choudhury nettled Indian officials in 2007 when he copyrighted his personal style of 26 yoga poses as “Bikram Yoga.” Organizers of the Take Back Yoga effort point out that the philosophy of yoga was first described in Hinduism’s seminal texts and remains at the core of Hindu teaching. Yet, because the religion has been stereotyped in the West as a polytheistic faith of “castes, cows and curry,” they say, most Americans prefer to see yoga as the legacy of a more timeless, spiritual “Indian wisdom.” “In a way,” said Dr. Aseem Shukla, the foundation’s co-founder, “our issue is that yoga has thrived, but Hinduism has lost control of the brand.” For many practitioners, including Debbie Desmond, 27, a yoga instructor in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the talk of branding and ownership is bewildering. “Nobody owns yoga,” she said, sitting cross-legged in her studio, Namaste Yoga, and tilting her head as if the notion sketched an impossible yoga position she had never seen.
A yoga class being held at Saraswathi Hall in Flushing, Queens, across the street from Hindu Temple Society of North America. Photo: Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times
“Yoga is not a religion. It is a way of life, a method of becoming. We were taught that the roots of yoga go back further than Hinduism itself.” Like Dr. Chopra and some religious historians, Ms. Desmond believes that yoga originated in the Vedic culture of Indo-Europeans who settled in India in the third millennium B.C., long before the tradition now called Hinduism emerged. Other historians trace the first written description of yoga to the Bhagavad Gita, the sacred Hindu scripture believed to have been written between the fifth and second centuries B.C. The effort to “take back” yoga began quietly enough, with a scholarly essay posted in January on the Web site of the Hindu American Foundation, a Minneapolis-based group that promotes human rights for Hindu minorities worldwide. The essay lamented a perceived snub in modern yoga culture, saying that yoga magazines and studios had assiduously decoupled the practice “from the Hinduism that gave forth this immense contribution to humanity.” Dr. Shukla put a sharper point on his case a few months later in a column on the On Faith blog of The Washington Post. Hinduism, he wrote, had become a victim of “overt intellectual property theft,” made possible by generations of Hindu yoga teachers who had “offered up a religion’s spiritual wealth at the altar of crass commercialism.” That drew the attention of Dr. Chopra, an Indian-American who has done much to popularize Indian traditions like alternative medicine and yoga. He posted a reply saying that Hinduism was too “tribal” and “self-enclosed” to claim ownership of yoga. The fight went viral — or as viral as things can get in a narrow Web corridor frequented by yoga enthusiasts, Hindu Americans and religion scholars. Loriliai Biernacki, a professor of Indian religions at the University of Colorado, said the debate had raised important issues about a spectrum of Hindu concepts permeating American culture, including meditation, belief in karma and reincarnation, and even cremation. “All these ideas are Hindu in origin, and they are spreading,” she said. “But they are doing it in a way that
leaves behind the proper name, the box that classifies them as ‘Hinduism.’ ” The debate has also secured the standing of the Hindu American Foundation as the pre-eminent voice for the country’s two million Hindus, said Diana L. Eck, a professor of comparative religion and Indian studies at Harvard. Other groups represent Indian-Americans’ interests in business and politics, but the foundation has emerged as “the first major national advocacy group looking at Hindu identity,” she said. Dr. Shukla said reaction to the yoga campaign had far exceeded his expectations. “We started this, really, for our kids,” said Dr. Shukla, a urologist and a second-generation Indian-American. “When our kids go to school and say they are Hindu, nobody says, ‘Oh, yeah, Hindus gave the world yoga.’ They say, ‘What caste are you?’ Or ‘Do you pray to a monkey god?’ Because that’s all Americans know about Hinduism.” With its tiny budget, the foundation has pressed its campaign largely by generating buzz through letters and Web postings to academic journals and yoga magazines. The September issue of Yoga Journal, which has the largest circulation in the field, alluded to the campaign, if fleetingly, in an article calling yoga’s “true history a mystery.” The effort has been received most favorably by Indian-American community leaders like Dr. Uma V. Mysorekar, the president of the Hindu Temple Society of North America, in Flushing,Queens,whichhelpsgroups across the country build temples. A naturalized immigrant, she said Take Back Yoga represented a coming-of-age for Indians in the United States. “My generation was too busy establishing itself in business and the professions,” she said. “Now, the second and third generation is looking around and finding its voice, saying, ‘Our civilization has made contributions to the world, and these should be acknowledged.’ ” In the basement of the society’s Ganesha Temple, an hourlong yoga class ended one recent Sunday morning with a long exhalation of the sacred syllable “om.” Via the lung power of 60 students, it sounded as deeply as a blast from the organ at St. Patrick’s
“Nobody owns yoga,” says Debbie Desmond, an instructor. photo: Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times
Cathedral. After the session, which began and concluded with Hindu prayers, many students said they were practicing Hindus and in complete sympathy with the yoga campaign. Not all were, though. Shweta Parmar, 35, a community organizer and
project director for a health and meditation group, said she had grown up in a Hindu household. “Yoga is part of the tradition I come from,” she said. But is yoga specifically Hindu? She paused to ponder. “My parents are Hindu,” she said. But in matters of yoga, “I don’t use that term.”
JOB POSTING WEB PRODUCER KTRK-TV, the ABC 0&0 located in Houston, TX, is looking for a Web Producer who can do it all for its Internet department. The ideal candidate will have three years experience working in major market television or print news Internet operation, Photoshop experience, and experience creating and editing video for distribution on multiple platforms. Experience in flash development a plus. Candidate must thrive on breaking news and have a ‘Do It Now’ mentality to excel in our fast-paced environment. Though the primary function of this position is the create news content for distribution on web and mobile platforms, the ideal candidate must be able to adapt to any changes deemed necessary for the benefit of the department. Absolutely no beginners. This position does involve evenings and weekends. All interested applicants must apply online at www.disneycareers. com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Please Reference Job 10: 271425 on all materials submitted. No phone calls please, and no third parties. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D.
JOB POSTING NEWS REPORTER KTRK-TV, an ABC 0&0 located in Houston, TX, has an immediate opening for a full time News Reporter. Candidates should have significant experience in general assignment reporting, including Live ENG and satellite work. Applicants must be able to develop contacts, enterprise good, hard news stories, and respond well to breaking and spot news. The ability to do features is important as well, although this is primarily a hard news position. Candidates must have outstanding writing skills and the ability to make good use of graphics and production equipment. This position includes mornings and or weekend mornings. All interested applicants must apply on-line at www.disneycareers. com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Interested applicants should also mail video tape sample of your news related work to: Human Resources, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005. Please Reference Job 10: 272239 on all materials submitted. No phone calls please, and no third parties. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DeCEMBER 03 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
Indian Wiki-leaks We Want Dear Wiki-people: You amaze us by pulling off stuff that your government isn’t too keen to let us, or anyone else, see. Our governments over the years have been much, much smarter at not letting us as much as get a whiff of things they’d rather lock up in that smart safe. I have a short wishlist of stuff I would like you to find us answers for – stuff I don’t think we’ll ever get to know about any other way. Here it goes: What was the internal communication within the Indian government when China invaded Tibet? What are the reports of Indian, British, Soviet and Japanese intelligence agencies on the final days of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose? Did someone, or did someone not, get paid Rs 64 crores for the Bofors gun deal? Who arranged for Warren Anderson to disappear from the country, post the Bhopal Gas Tragedy? Did VP Singh really decide to implement the Mandal Commission recommendations overnight as part of a political tussle, in order to thwart Devi Lal’s proposed show of strength? Did the leadership of the BJP present at Ayodhya on Dec 6 1992 know, or really not know, of the kar sewak’s plans to demolish the structure later that day? What do the minutes of the meeting in which the Vajpayee government okayed the release of Maulana Masood Azhar and his safe transport to Kandahar say? Who were the arms dropped at Purulia actually meant for? What would the Anand Margis possibly do with a million rounds of ammunition and thousands of AK-47s? How come Bollywood stars over the years kept on going to dance at events hosted by dons based out of Dubai but we never could build a case for their extradition or supposedly even identify where they were? Did statues of Ganesha actually drink milk during that frenzied 24 hour period on Sep 1, 1995? Do intelligence agencies really not know the locations of the Naxal leaders even when sundry reporters manage to reach them and conduct detailed interviews and photoshoots? What is the actual evidence, and against whom, when it comes to match-fixing in Indian cricket? How is it possible that all the investigative agencies in the government did not realize that there were huge amounts of money involved in the process and manner in which the Telecom ministry was handing out licences? If they did know, did they file reports? coalition dharma’? PS:Who is Rahul Gandhi dating? Anshul Chaturvedi in Times of India
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Nitish’s Bihar: All Eej Swell By Jug Suraiya Nitish Kumar has worked the miracle, and everyone’s talking about it. He has turned Bihar - which was on top of the ‘BIMARU’ sick list - into a model of progress and development with a cracking growth rate of 11 per cent, which is significantly higher than the 8.5 per cent growth projected for the country as a whole. How did CM Nitish do it? How did he turn Lalu Prasad’s benighted Bihar - a synonym for banditry and backwardness - into the bedazzling Bihar of double-digit growth and social progress? Nitish’s magic wand that transformed Bihar was vikas, development. But as several commentators have pointed out, he incorporated development - which is another word for good governance - into Bihar’s entrenched climate of corruption. Nitish did not banish graft from Bihar, a task that is perhaps beyond the capability of any administrator, no matter how well-intentioned and competent. What the CM did was to re-route corruption, and the criminality that accompanies it, into constructive channels. It is said that while Lalu ruled with the lathi, Nitish has ruled with the pen. Reflecting his rough-and-tumble political persona, Lalu’s Bihar was a breeding ground of violent crime, of kidnapping, murder and extortion. With a stroke of his chief ministerial pen, Nitish ‘decriminalised’ Bihar and restored the rule of law and order. And he did this not by abolishing corruption and criminality - an impossible task, as already noted - but by legalising it. Using the mantra of development - of sadak and bijli, roads and electricity - Nitish transformed Bihar’s criminals into contractors, who made their money not through force of arms but by the manipulated winning of government tenders to build roads and other public infrastructure. That has been Nitish’s not-so-secret formula: if you can’t beat corruption - and no one can - the best thing to do is to harness it and put it to productive use. It’s not that Bihar today is a corrup-
Lalu’s Bihar was a breeding ground of violent crime, of kidnapping, murder and extortion. With a stroke of his chief ministerial pen, Nitish ‘decriminalised’ Bihar and restored the rule of law and order. And he did this not by abolishing corruption and criminality - an impossible task - but by legalising it.
tion-free, or a crime-free, zone; it’s just that corruption and crime have been co-opted into the system for the sake of public benefit. If a mafia don can make as much money, if not more, by building a governmentfunded road, or putting up an electricity substation, as he did through violence and extortion it makes good business sense - forget moral sense for him to make a career change. The road or substation so built - to get the contract for which, bribes have been paid up and down the bureaucratic and political ladder - will almost certainly be substandard. But at least there will be a road, there will be a substation. And there will be one less violent law-breaker in Bihar. The Nitish model, adapted to local and regional conditions, could profitably be tried elsewhere in scamand corruption-ridden India. The key component of this model is a pragmatic attitude to graft which seems to have become endemic to the Indian soil, to the very air that we breathe. Ours is a corrupt polity, in both the public as well as the private sector. Corruption is here and it seems to be here to stay, with more and more scams coming to light with each passing day. So what are we going to do about it? We can vent our rage or despair by writing letters to the editor of the TOI, or to our MP or MLA. We can take out citizens’protest marches. We can call for an ethical revolution across the country, which may or
may not include the public lynching of graft-takers and graft-givers. We can shrug fatalistically and accept the irrevocable fact of corruption. Or, Nitish-like, we can try to decriminalise and legitimise corruption. We can institutionalise and industrialise it. A ministry of corruption could draw up a government-approved price list of graft: so much for securing a sarkari tender, so much for getting a file cleared. Bihar - where the ‘har’ of defeat has been turned into the ‘jeet’ of victory - has shown the way. Should the rest of India play follow-the-leader? Should we kill the ghoos that lays the golden eggs of graft? Or should we embrace it as our national emblem? Your call.
Code of Omerta
Does the media protect its own, even its blackest sheep? Do big movie stars create their own gangs so that they can manipulate the film industry and keep it under their absolute control? Do politicians have an unwritten rule that whatever they may say against each other in public, no one will ever cross the line and they can plunder the nation together? Do builders work together, even as they compete in the marketplace, to create an artificial pricing mechanism that ensures huge profits for them? Do gangsters carve out their own territories and ensure that no one enters another’s area to commit a crime or claim a share of the loot? Do pharma companies form secret cartels to further their business interests often at the cost of endangering public health and shamelessly profiteering? Do sporting heroes decide ahead of a match, in deals struck with bookmakers, who will win and who will lose? There was a time when I confidently said no, such things don’t happen as a rule but yes, there are occasional aberrations. Then came a time when I said yes, some people do it, others don’t. You can’t tar everyone with the same brush since the world is made up of both decent folk and crooks. Now I say I don’t really know but it looks probable. Pritish Nandy
IndoAmerican News Founder: Dr. K.L. Sindwani Editor: Pramod Kulkarni Business Manager: Jawahar Malhotra Marketing Manager: Krishna Giri Community Reporter: Kalyani Giri Community Editor: Manasi Gokhale Administrative Manager: Vanshika Vipin Marketing & Food Reporter: Jacob David Production Manager: Hussain Mandviwala correspondents Chicago: Nand Kapoor ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 5 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com
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society
Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
Telfair Community Celebrates Diwali
By Shankar Vaidyanathan SUGAR LAND: The rain stopped early morning but chill was in the air. The Telfair Diwali 2010 was the perfect setting to heat up the day and bring cheer to more than 900 patrons who gathered for the celebration at the Cornerstone Elementary School in Sugar Land on Saturday, November 13th, 2010. Diwali (commonly known as “Festival of Lights” in India) was organized by TELICA. The entire Indian American community turned up in great strength to participate in the fun filled festival. The event was sponsored by Telfair Life, LifeTime Fitness, MetLife, New York Life, Sky World Satellites, Entouch Systems, Kumon Learning, ABC Travels, ConnectOne Security and Tara Energy. The doors opened at 11am with several activities and contests like designing lamps using Playdoh, Toran (Door Hangings) and Thali (plates) decoration. Everyone was welcomed with “Tilak” on their forehead and traditional sweets. Guests enjoyed participating in Community Art project and experiencing activities like hand painting, face painting and henna designs. The TELICA president Ravi Ranjan kicked off the afternoon festivities by welcoming the guests. He invited distinguished guests Sugar Land Council Member Donald Olson, Sugar Land Police Chief Doug Brinkley, the Cornerstone Elementary School Assistant Principals Maria Barrington and Philip Ranford to inaugurate the festival by lighting lamp. Several Indian American community leaders and elders graced the occasion. Olson spoke about the significance of Diwali transcending regional, religion, cultural and continental barriers in uniting the community. He also mentioned the community’s need for a second elementary school and high school and shared that the Sugar Land City Council is trying to do the best to help the Telfair community. Chief Brinkley spoke on the occasion and greeted the community. Kids were excited to hear to Ms Barrington on a wonderful Saturday. What followed next was a well choreographed cultural show. The audience was captivated for almost three hours by a potpourri of vocal, instrumental and dance performances that ranged from classical, to fusion to contemporary Bollywood styles. The
TELICA Youth Volunteers with President, Ravi Ranjan
common thread for everyone on stage was high wattage and remarkable effort put in by the participants and parents towards the presentation. The Cornerstone School Choir performed the Michael Jackson song “We are the World” under the direction of Mrs. and Mr. Mosher. Raffle prizes provided by the platinum sponsors and TELICA were an added attraction. The festival concluded with Dandia Raas (style of Indian folk dance) where beginners to advanced level dancers got to show off their skills on the open dance floor. The highlight of this years’ event was active participation by large number of youth volunteers. They took lead in presenting on stage as well as managing several activities throughout the afternoon. Satya Narendrula was the overall lead coordinator. He left no stone unturned
to ensure the success of this event. Richa Saxena was the lead coordinator for the cultural show. With the aim of promoting talent in the community, she coordinated more than 200 performers to put together a dazzling show. Kinnera Koniki coordinated and worked relentlessly with key TELICA volunteers to present very entertaining non-cultural activities. Some of the very proud TELICA volunteers are Prakash Shah, Urvashi Shah, Sundar Moorti, Shankar Vaidyanathan, Sangeeta Bhutada, Bhagwan Bhtada, Aruna Gujarla, Prasad Garimella, Sushma Pallod, Siva Juturi, Sanjay Agarwal and Ambuj Bajpai. Additionally an army of volunteers contributed their valuable hours to make this event a grand success. Visit www.telica.org to get more details about the event and organization.
Freeport Superintendent Honored by NYC Long Island Arts Council Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kishore Kuncham was recently presented the Arts in Education award by the Long Island Arts Council. Dr. Kuncham views art as a crucial and an enriching component of an educational program and he is keenly aware of the correlations between student involvement in the arts and academic success. He was chosen as an honoree because of his efforts to inspire others to enjoy and support the arts. Over 150 guests attended the annual Arty Party in Celebration of the Beauty in Art which was held on November 1 at Westbury Manor. The Long Island Arts Council cultivates the professional development of artists and arts organizations on Long Island, and presents many op-
Dr. Kishore (Kish) Kuncham, Superintendent of the Freeport Public Schools, is the first Indian American School Superintendent in New York State.
portunities for the community to be involved in the arts.
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Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
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oPIn Ion
U Visa: Beyond Immigration Status A New Option for Victims of Crime
By aShima arora The U visa Category U nonimmigrant visa was created with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (including the Battered Immigrant Women’s Protection Act) in October 2000. The legislation was intended to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking of alien s and other crimes violating laws of United States while, at the same time, offer protection to victims of such crimes[1] who may by be here illegally and hesitant to report but for this protection. The ineligibility due to illegal entry or unauthorized employment or other violation of visa status are waived under U visa. Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status: The petition [2] for such status can be filed either inside or outside the United States. USCIS may grant no more than 10,000 U-1 nonimmigrant visas in any given fiscal year (October 1 through September 30). This does not apply to derivative family members such as spouses, children or other qualifying family members [3] who are accompanying or following to join the principal foreign national victim. If not admissible to enter the United States as a foreign national, an applicant for a U visa must obtain a waiver of inadmissibility through submission of a Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Non-Immigrant. This waiver is adjudicated by the Vermont Service Center of USCIS on a discretionary basis, allowing the petitioner to continue with the U nonimmigrant visa process. Application Process for U-1 NonImmigrant Visa: • Form I-918, Supplement A • I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status • I-918 Supplement A, Petition for • Qualifying Family Member of U--1 Recipient • I-918 Supplement B, U Nonimmigrant Status Certification • Police Report • Statement of Victim • Documents relating to the criminal activity • Documents related to the impact of criminal activity on the victim Duration U nonimmigrant status cannot exceed four years. However, exten-
sions are available upon certification by a certifying agency that the foreign national’s presence in the United States is required to assist in the investigation or prosecution of the qualifying criminal activity. And after three years on U visa principal applicant can file for a green card ceteris peribus. The qualifying family members of a U-1 nonimmigrant are also eligible for green card. Impact of Removal proceedings[4] Petitioners in pending immigration proceedings: An alien who is in removal proceedings under section
240 of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 1229a, or in exclusion or deportation proceedings initiated under former sections 236 or 242 of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 1226 and 1252 (as in effect prior to April 1, 1997), and who would like to apply for U nonimmigrant status must file a Form I-918 directly with USCIS. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) counsel may agree, as a matter of discretion, to file, at the request of the alien petitioner, a joint motion to terminate proceedings without prejudice with the immigration judge or Board of Immigration Appeals, whichever is appropriate, while a petition for U nonimmigrant status is being adjudicated by USCIS. Petitioners with final orders of removal, deportation, or exclusion: An alien who is the subject of a final order of removal, deportation, or exclusion is not precluded from filing a petition for U-1 nonimmigrant status directly with USCIS. The filing of a petition for U-1 nonimmigrant status has no effect on ICE’s authority to execute a final order, although the alien may file a request for a stay of removal pursuant to 8 CFR 241.6(a) and 8 CFR 1241.6(a). If the alien is in detention pending execution of the final order, the time during which a stay is in effect will extend the period of detention (under the standards of 8 CFR 241.4) reasonably necessary to bring about the petitioner’s removal. Application Process For Green card through U visa A person admitted and physically present on U visa for three years
can apply for adjustment of status to a green card holder. There is no numerical cap on U visa adjustment applications. The person should not have refused assistance to law enforcement agencies in the persecution or investigation. The principal applicant should petition on Form I-485, along with fees and supporting documentation. Immigrant petition can be filed for family member who have held U non immigrant status before. The family member who has never held U non-immigrant status has to be petitioned on Form I-929. An applicant has the burden of showing that favorable discretion should be exercised in his or her favor and hardship must be shown. There are other remedies and options which may be available to victims of crime like relief under VAWA, T visas. But for this article we are only discussing U visa. *Attorney Ashi Ashima Arora is licensed in Texas, California (inactive), Solicitor (non-practicing) in England & Wales. For questions email at ashiashi ma@ashimachocklaw.com or call at: 713.595.6657 or mail: P.O. Box 940543, Houston, TX 77094-7543 The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a general understanding of the law. [1] Qualifying Crimes – INA §101(a)(15)(U) (iii) [2] U Visa Requirements – § 101(a)(15)(U) [3] Qualifying family member means, in the case of an alien victim 21 years of age or older who is eligi eligible for U nonimmi nonimmigrant status as described in section 101(a)(15)(U) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(U), the spouse or child(ren) of such alien; and, in the case of an alien victim under the age of 21 who is eligible for U nonimmigrant status as described in section 101(a)(15)(U) of the Act, qualifying family member means the spouse, child(ren), parents, or unmarried siblings under the age of 18 of such an alien. [4] 8 CFR 214.14
Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
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Visit Visas Misused for Illegal Migration, Says Minister Ravi NEW DELHI (Manorama): Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi called for a check on the “misuse of visit visas”, citing it as one of the main reasons for illegal migration to Arab countries. “The agents fleece the workers, issuing them these visas and once the visa expires, they become more or less like indentured labourers. They get taken to the interiors of most Arab countries to work under unfavorable conditions. Therefore, there should be a check on the misuse of visit visas to prevent this misfortune,” Ravi said here. Appreciating the awareness programme by the ministry of overseas Indian affairs (MOIA), Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said: “A simple but important initiative recently taken by the ministry is to give wide publicity through the audio visual and print media to educate the people about the realities of working in these countries. The basic problem is about the lack of information, illiteracy and the role of the agents at the ground level.” Ravi also stressed on the need to employ lawyers for Indian prisoners overseas. “We should give them legal help and
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GSI finds Huge Coal Reserves in Tripura
Agartala: The Geological Survey of India has struck huge reserves of quality coal in at least two places in West Tripura and Dhalai districts. The sources said that a team of GSI scientists, headed by Director (Tripura Centre), T. Rajkumar, conducted surveys in the two districts and found huge reserves of anthracite coal, considered as black gold. Places where coals were found are Tulashikhar revenue block in West Tripura district, bordering Bangladesh and Dalucherra in Dhalai
district. The samples have been sent to Delhi for further ‘intensity’ test and the formal announcement would be made there, the sources said. Since the tribals in the areas had been extracting coal and bitumen, a common binder in road construction, for a long time and selling them to local brick kilns, the sources said, there was a possibility of finding more coal reserves in the two districts.
The people of Tripura and Dhalai will get coal excavating jobs that will boost the Indian economy
Visit visas are being misused on a large scale, says Vayalar Ravi, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister. causing illegal migration to Arab countries and delays for workers who get held back and are forced into labor while waiting to get their releases sanctioned. Measures to educate our citizens are needed to prevent this
employ lawyers, there are prisoners continuing to be in jail despite completing the term. We should use the money from the welfare fund... nobody should suffer from lack of money,” Ravi said. He said the sponsor-arranged visasystem for workers is being done through unauthorized agents, and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council - which include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates - are considering abolishing them.
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UK Indian Teacher Jailed for Having Sex with Her Students
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LONDON (Daily Mail): A teaching assistant who had sex with two of her male pupils was jailed for 16 months today. Hina Patel, 37, invited the 15-year-olds back to her home where she had sex with one of the boys and the other a few hours later. Patel, who worked as a classroom assistant and swimming teacher at Birkdale High School near Southport, Merseyside, was supposed to be supervising the ‘disruptive’ youngsters but quickly started flirting with them, Liverpool Crown Court was told. The single mother-of-two from Hightown, Southport, admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child at North Sefton Magistrates last month. At her sentencing today, Martin Decker, prosecuting, said Patel had met the two Year 11 boys in February this year. She was employed to provide support and supervision for pupils who had been disruptive in class, but during one-toone supervision she exchanged mobile phone numbers with the boys. Describing an exchange of text messages between Patel and one of the boys, Decker said: ‘Initially she was being friendly and saying he was a ‘good lad’ but after about four days the content Hina Patel, 37, had sex with two of the male became sexual.’ At the same time the other boy was pupils she had been supervising in her role as a teaching assistant. also exchanging text messages with the They seized her mobile phone which conteacher, Decker said. ‘The boy described the texts as being normal tained text messages from the boys which at first and then “weird”,’ the barrister told the included, ‘the police know everything’, and ‘don’t tell people’. court. Both boys had a poor disciplinary record at ‘After about a week she invited the boys to school and one of them had juvenile convicher house.’ Patel collected one boy in a hire car as the tions, Decker told the court. Patrick Williamson, defending, said Patel was other made his own way to her home where they ‘feeling shame and remorse’. watched DVDs, Decker told the court. He described her as a good mother of two boys One of the boys - both of whom can not be named - decided to go to the toilet and when he and a hard worker. As well as her jobs at the school and golf club, finished he met Patel on the stairs from where she was also studying for two post-graduate she led him to the bedroom, the barrister said. Birkdale High School: Patel worked as a sup- qualifications, Mr Williamson said. ‘However, she has little self esteem and little ply teacher at the all boys’ school. She met the two 15-year-old pupils at her home in nearby sense of self worth,’ he told the court. Patel had suffered emotional problems after Hightown ‘In his police interview the boy said she started being separated from her parents when she was touching him and kissing him and this led to just a few months old and sent to live with her grandmother in India until she was six. sexual intercourse,’ Decker said. She had also split up with her husband and, ‘The boy was asked how he felt about this and following the collapse of another relationship, he replied that it felt “weird”.’ The youngster left the house about an hour she was diagnosed with depression by her GP. Williamson said: ‘She took decisions which later leaving Patel alone with the other boy. He told police he waited at the house while were completely inappropriate. ‘The contact she had with those boys should Patel went to her second job - working behind the bar at the nearby Formby Hall Golf Club not have led to what it did.’ Judge John Rogers said he accepted the - and when she returned they had sex and he defence’s argument that Patel’s behaviour was spent the night. The next morning she got up to go to work and ‘out of character’. But he added: ‘I have no hesitation whatgave the boy £5 to get the train home. The pair arranged to meet on a second oc- soever in coming to the conclusion that these casion but the boy changed his mind after offences were so serious only an immediate Patel picked him up and got out of her car, Mr custodial sentence can be justified.’ Patel, wearing a black suit, dabbed her nose Decker said. He told a friend he had sex with Patel and with a tissue as she was jailed for 16 months for the friend was later arrested after burgling the each of the two offences, to be served concurrently. teacher’s home. She was also made subject to a Sexual OfThat boy told Youth Justice officials about Patel’s relationship with her pupils and the police fences Prevention Order which bans her from working with children under the age of 16, beraided her house. Liverpool Crown Court: Patel exchanged ing alone in the company of children under the mobile phone numbers with the boys during age of 16 - apart from her own children - and supervision sessions and quickly began flirting bans her from using social networking sites to contact children. with them, the court heard
Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
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Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
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Code Share Agreement Signed between Jet Airways and Alitalia
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NEW DELHI (TDN): Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, announced that it will commence daily non-stop flights from Milano Malpensa to New Delhi from December 5th, 2010 in code share with Alitalia, making Milan the twentyfourth international destination on Jet Airways’ network. Naresh Goyal, Chairman, Jet Airways, said: “We consider Milan a strategic destination, being the business and commercial center of Italy. India, an emerging market with a booming economy is a youthful and vibrant market that holds great potential. Jet Airways and I take pride in bringing a taste of Modern India to Italy. Based on our experience in Europe, with a direct flight we expect the market to grow by 30%. In the very first month we already have 89% occupancy on the new flight from Milan. Our product and our service in the air and on ground are very special, warm and distinctive and we’re sure that the Italian market will appreciate this”. Rocco Sabelli, Managing Director of Alitalia, said: “We are really pleased to work with Jet Airways. This agreement represents a very important development for Alitalia. Connecting Italy with the main worldwide destinations. Alitalia is the first SkyTeam airline to have signed an agreement with Jet Airways”. “I am particularly pleased with the new daily direct flight to Milano Malpensa – New Delhi operated by the largest Indian airline. This link will help to strengthen the
relationships between our market, where only the North West recorded 50% of exports to India, and one of the major world powers with strong economic growth” – said Giuseppe Bonomi, Chairman, SEA Milan Airports – “Malpensa confirms its leadership in the relationship with East Asia thanks also to this new flight activated in a short time thanks our trade policy that has brought positive results: today Malpensa connects 168 destinations, reaching 86 cities outside Europe and 110 airlines”. Jet Airways’ new flight, the only one to offer a daily direct link between Italy and India will connect Milan, the fashion and design capital of the world, to historic New Delhi, the capital of India. The airline will be using its modern Airbus 330-200 aircraft configured in two classes, with 30 seats in Premiere (Business Class seats that can be converted to 180° lie-flat beds) and 190 seats in Economy (ergonomically designed seats for more space and comfort). Jet Airways’ and Alitalia’s guests will be able to experience the new state-of-the-art Terminal 3 of New Delhi Airport and reach over 42 destinations on Jet Airways network in India. New Delhi, thanks to its strategic geographical location between Italy and Asia, is an ideal gateway for guests from Italy to travel beyond India to other Jet Airways destinations such as Colombo, Bangkok, Kathmandu, and Dhaka.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 03 , 2010 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Indo American News • Friday, December 03 , 2010
online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
Tortillas Getting Some Serious Competition from Flatbreads HOUSTON: Watch your back, tortillas — you have some serious competition in the form of flatbread. Known the world over in many forms — naan, foccacia, saj, pita, chapatti — flatbreads or unleavened breads are staples in Middle Eastern, Italian and Indian cuisines. William Garza, owner of Guillermo's Downtown, explains it simply: “People love bread.” Garza has been making his Italian-style flatbread, focaccia, in-house since the inception of Guillermo's, 618 McCullough Ave., varying the recipe slightly through the years. The restaurant goes through about 25 pans or about 200 slices of focaccia a day. “There really is no set recipe for focaccia,” he says. He suggest at-home cooks try mixing up the spices used, be they basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, Parmesan cheese or a pesto. For Atiya Khan, owner and chef of Tandoor Pakistani BBQ and Cuisine, adding naan wasn't a question of when, but how. Naan, a thick and pillowy flatbread found in some form in most Indian and Middle Eastern establishments, requires special equipment. “I found a recipe that I liked right away, but I couldn't get the same crust and appearance,” Khan said. After trying several variations in her home kitchen, she realized what was wrong: She didn't own a tandoor oven. Khan opened the restaurant with her own tandoor, an industrial square clay oven purchased from a restaurant in Houston that was closing its doors. Now, with the help
Atiya Khan, owner of Tandoor Pakistani BBQ, makes naan at her restaurant
of two “naan ladies” — one in the morning and another in the evening — Khan can serve a fresh batch of naan in fewer than 10 minutes. For people curious about the naan-making process, Tandoor has set aside a corner of its kitchen where diners can take in the show. The naan dough starts off as patties that are flattened out onto a small 8-inch pillow. The naan-maker sticks the dough onto the side of the clay drum where it stays for a few minutes and is nudged off using two slender metal poles. The naan is brushed with olive oil and cut into four pieces, then placed in a small straw basket and served with every dish on Tandoor's menu, from the chicken boti barbecue plate to the aloo masala, potato curry. “It's an essential part of every meal,” Khan says.
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