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Friday, June 15, 2018 • Vol. 37, No. 23

Indo American News READ US ONLINE at www.indoamerican-news.com | Published weekly from Houston, Texas. USA 7457 Harwin Dr, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036 • PH: 713 789 6397 • Fax: 713 789 6399 • indoamericannews@yahoo.com

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Happy Father’s Day

Eid Mubarak Padma Bhushan Prof. Ved Prakash Nanda, keynote speaker of the event.

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June 15, 2018

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COMMUNITY

June 15, 2018

Touching Lives

Closeup Antakshari . She has anchored shows on TV channels including Zee TV and Star Plus. It costs approximately $287 per

BY SHIBANI GUPTA

HOUSTON: Over 70 people at-

tended a musical evening by Shobana Chandramohan at Ashiana Restaurant on May 28, Memorial Day 2018, to support the inauguration of Access Life America’s (ALA) Houston chapter by Sharda Prasad and Prasad Narayan. The realization that some people affected by cancer encounter unimaginable obstacles inspires action that creates change. Besides funding cancer research and treatment, one can also alleviate the daily mental, physical, and emotional fight faced by caregivers and patients through empathy and local support. ALA is a charitable non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a proven track record of helping families impacted by cancer, in India, since 2014. ALA’s dedicated teams of

volunteers work tirelessly to provide a home-like environment at their five locations in Mumbai for the parents and caregivers of underprivileged children undergoing cancer treatment. ALA also provides these families with nutritious food, support services, educational resources and recreational programs. Access Life Foundation has supported 253 families so far. Of these, 210 families have completed their treatment and there are currently 43 families staying at their centers. The ability to empathize and provide logistical support for those fighting cancer at a grass roots level is what drew Sharda to ALA. She was introduced to the cause by a common friend of one of the founders, Girish Nair, who started ALA in Atlanta to help fund Access Life Assistance Foundation in Mumbai. Sharda and her hus-

Shobana Chandramohan

band Prasad began supporting the cause through donations and now believe that the empathy of sponsors and supporters in Houston can bring value to the cause. Shobana Chandramohan, a wellknown singer, talented performer, and emcee with over 5,000 shows to her credit in several countries, flew in from Dubai to support the event. Her exquisitely crooning voice took everyone on a journey of melodies with nostalgic tunes of the 60’s to the latest popular Bollywood dance numbers. Shobana has participated in several TV programs including TVS SaReGaMa,

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month to support 1 child and family including boarding, lodging, and transportation. This inaugural event has already collected more than $6,000 for ALA. Sharda and Prasad said, “We are encouraged by the response to this first event and hope to improve the awareness about ALA in greater Houston and get more sponsors to support the ALA families. We would like to organize a bigger event in the near future.” Please visit Access Life America (https://accesslifeamerica.org/) for more details about volunteering and donating to the cause.


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COMMUNITY

June 15, 2018

IMAGH’s Iftar at Indian Consulate Hailed as a New Tradition BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA

HOUSTON: The staged part of

the iftar was purposely kept short so that people could break their Ramadan fast exactly on time at 8:23pm. Ever mindful of this, the eight speakers kept their speeches short, jestingly making reference to the time limit, the Indian Consul General Anupam Ray even quipping that though he usually speaks for 30 to 45 minutes, he was squeezed in last for only 9 minutes! “But all the previous speakers have already said nice things about me,” he jested, “so I don’t have much to add!” This was the third year the iftar dinner has been organized by the Indian Muslim Association of Greater Houston in collaboration with the Indian Consulate. The concept was started by Ray, first at his home off Woodway on the westside in 2016 and since last year at the large hall that the Consulate has converted in the past two years to hold similar receptions. Over 100 people attended the iftar on Monday, June 11 at the Consulate, with many non-Muslim friends and community activists mingling with those breaking their fast. The only problem with the Consulate venue is the very tight street parking in the area which recently was posted with “No Parking”

signs that resulted in most frustrated and irate drivers unfamiliar with the change finding $40 parking tickets stuck on their windshields. The other option is valet parking which results in long waits for people as they depart. The Consulate would be well-advised to arrange for event parking at a nearby garage for such large events and otherwise for visitors who cannot now park on the street. IMAGH iftar organizer Latafath Hussain began by relating how President Trump’s Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders had called him to say that Trump would not hold an iftar as he was upstaged by the ‘great party that Ray holds’. The next thing he remembers he smiled “is my wife of 34 years Zaibie shaking me to get up, demanding “Who’s Sarah?!” Hussain thanked Ray for helping start what it is hoped will be a tradition long after he is transferred to another post. The audience then heard from eight speakers with very similar messages emphasizing unity, diversity, tolerance and universal brotherhood. Most have become ardent supporters of IMAGH as it has shaped itself over the past decade. Indian Deputy Consul Surendra Adhana said the “Indo American community makes us proud of their successes and staying con-

The speakers at the IMAGH’s iftar at the Indian Consulate, from left, Ken Mathew, Murad Ajani, Arshad Matin, the Indian Consul General Anupam Ray, Sunny Sharma, Sri Preston Kulkarni, Abeezar Tyebji and organizer Latafath Hussain. Indian Deputy Consul Surendra Adhana is not pictured.

IMAGH iftar organizer Latafath Hussain emceed the event.

nected with India.” Abeezar Tyebji, CEO of Shipcom Wireless recalled how Syedna Yusuf left Yemen in 1539 to settle in India where a tolerant society allowed the Dawoodi Bohra community to flourish.

Arshad Matin, CEO of Paradigm said Muslims as a minority in India actually gave them the skills to succeed as Indo American Muslims. Sunny Sharma, former Rotary Club President celebrated the diversity in Houston that shows that all human beings have the same needs. Ken Mathew, the longest serving Indo-American politician (14 years) and Councilman from Stafford lauded the act of breaking bread together regardless of religion. Murad Ajani, Partner in CSoft and a key figure in the Ismaili community talked about the Aga Khan’s vision that “cultural legacies can become a powerful force for change.” Indian Consul Gen-

eral Anupam Ray emphasized that “India is a government of all faiths and belongs to no one faith. We are free to practice our faith and if we fail then we will fail as a country.” He allowed part of his time for “one of the best of Indians and Americans”, Sri Preston Kulkarni, the Democratic Party contender for the 22nd Congressional District. “Iftar is one the best traditions that India and America can offer,” Kulkarni said. The delicious iftar dinner dishes were once again made by the housekeeping staff of the Consul General, and they outdid themselves, as they have in many events in the past.

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COMMUNITY

June 15, 2018

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All Five Vishala Owners Welcome Patrons with Dhamaal @ VISHALA 5 GRAND OPENING!

W

EBSTER: The sleepy watercentric town of Webster was awaken with loud Bollywood Music and chatter of hundreds of patrons cuing up early for the 10 am Grand Opening of Vishala 5!! Patrons filled the moderate sized store to the brim buying Indian vegetables for an unheard of $0.49 a pound, and loading up carts with below cost prices on the staples of every household, dals – most at $2.49, atta ridiculously as low as $1.99, vegetable oil staring at $16.99. Vishala celebrated the grand opening of its 5th location with Masala Radio in a short promotion of only 10 days. Vimal Vohra, and his sister Manisha, said “we were so pleased with the turnout and support from the local community, and look forward to serving the community with the freshest groceries and fresh mades snakcs from our Vishala To-Go Kitchen.” They flew down from New Jersery, Actor Patel also known as Jagdish Patel with his wife dressed in vibrant multicolored Gujrati kediu and chunia choli. Vishala 1, Hwy 6 flagship owners Virendra & Yogina Thakkar, and Vishala 3 Westheimer owners Sanjay & Deepa Patel happily gave away grand opening gifts to the “First Customers”: first 50 - Silver Coin, second 50 - 1 gram saffron, and third 50 deluxe Deep Foods gift bags, and fourth 50 customers free Swad Chaki Atta 20 lbs and Free Swad Snacks. Vishala 2 Katy owner Vyomesh Patel, and Vishala 4 Missouri City owner Jagrut Thakker

were busy making sure all sale items were in stock and providing their usual excellent Vishala customer service. Vishala 5 served a series of chatpatta snacks in five 20’ tents including pani puri, fresh fried samosas, chai, and the oh-so-tasty misal. Every 15 minutes the young adult kids of all Vishala owners, sporting the same branded yellow polos as their parents, passed out cases of cold water and other cold drinks. DJ Nish kept the crowd dancing with Bollywood hits amid showers of confetti. Purvi Shah of Clear Lake said, “I have never seen so much dhamaal in this side of town. Nothing makes

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Clear Lake residents dance in the heat but somehow the Masala Radio team did!” Hemant Dave sang “O Meri Zohra Jabeen” while Actor Patel in full kedhiu twirled with his wife Rangeeli dressed in an equally colorful chunia choli. All five Vishala owners –the PANCH PANDAVS – were present for the auspicious time of the ribbon cutting ceremony by League City Mayor Pat Hallisey. Mayor Hallisey said, “It was important to me to be here today to welcome this new business to the area, especially one that promotes eating healthy food by stocking fresh fruits and vegetables. After losing a leg due to past not healthy eating habits, I try to promote this as much as possible. We value our Indian community who have contributed so much to our city development!” Vishala thanks their family and friends for their support, their suppliers for their generous giveaways - Raja Foods, House of Spices, Kailash Foods, Surti Sweets & Snacks, Krishna

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COMMUNITY

June 15, 2018

Turning Your Family Vacation into an Educational Experience

T

here’s nothing better than a summer vacation – quality time spent as a family and the opportunity for children to explore, travel, and learn all at the same time. Planning an educational family getaway is a win-win for everyone. Best in Class Education Center offered up some different ideas for you to consider when planning your family vacation this summer. Historic Destinations Choose a destination enriched with our nation’s history such as Washington D.C, Colonial Williamsburg, or Boston. Explore our nation’s capital and tour the national monuments, or walk the freedom trail as a family in Boston. Ahead of the trip, you can spend time as a family doing research about the destination and show your child the value in planning for a trip. Historical books are also great for your child to read ahead of the trip to be well prepared. Create a checklist beforehand for all of the different sites you’re going to visit as a family. During each visit, take pictures of your child in front of the different monuments or along the freedom trail; these pictures will come in handy for show-and-tell or fall book reports and make for great family keepsakes. National Parks & Landmarks Exploring national parks as a family is beautiful and also educational. Whether you decide to travel by plane or travel crosscountry in a vehicle, some of the most popular sites include the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Zion National Park, and many more. Choosing to travel to a national park as a family is a great opportunity for your child to take in nature’s beauty while also learning about science and our earth’s composition. Before the trip, give your child a geography lesson and create a checklist of different plants and animals you might see while exploring the national parks. At many national parks, rangers offer educational talks and guided hikes during which you and your child can learn about the park’s ecology, geology, and history. Resorts with Child Camps If you’re looking for a more relaxed, laidback vacation, many resorts around the U.S. have great child camps with different fun and educational activities for children of all ages. As a family, plan fun day trips at your destination of choice, whether it be visiting a local art exhibit, trying a different cuisine, or admiring a local monument. Don’t forget to check out the different kids’ camp offerings at your resort of choice. Whether you travel near or far, there are an abundance of different learning activities for your child from start to finish. Involve your child in planning the trip from the getgo. This will be a great learning experience for all and will keep them very engaged during the trip and keep them on their toes. Best in Class Education Centers offer a variety of summer camp programs to engage children in learning and staying sharp over the summer while having fun. The summer program combines various areas of focus from math, English, health & nutrition, arts & crafts, science, social studies, games, drama & theatre, and other activities.

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June 15, 2018

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COMMUNITY

June 15, 2018

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First Servitors of Lord Jagannatha, Puri Gajapati Maharaja and Maharani, Visit Houston BY ARATI PATI

HOUSTON: This was the first

visit to Houston of Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb and Maharani Leelabati Pattamahadei of Puri Jagannatha Dham over the May 19-20 weekend. Their trip to the US was hosted by Dr. Niranjan and Swati Tripathy of the DFW Hindu Temple Society in Irving. The Thakura Raja Gajapati Maharaja is the king of 43 million people of Odisha, and represents the first and foremost Servitor of Lord Jagannatha as chairman of the Shri Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee. Gajapati ascended the throne at the age of 17 in 1970 after the demise of his father, Gajapati Birakishore Deb. He belongs to the dynasty of Ganga Kings of Odisha who founded the Shri Jagannatha Temple at the start of the 12th century. Following tradition, every year he sweeps the entrusted area of rath during the famous Srigundicha Rath Yatra or Cart Festival in Puri. Gajapati has led an ordinary life, going to public schools, getting his LLM at Chicago’s Northwestern University and then practiced law in Delhi at the high court and Supreme Court for some years. A down-to-earth king, the handsome and dignified Raja is soft spoken, maintains a very simple lifestyle

Gajapati and Maharani Leelabati make a devotional offering to the deities at a reception at India House on May 20.

The Royal Couple and community organizers at the home of devoted supporters Dr. Arun and Vinni Verma. Photos: Debiprasad Rath

and has a keen interest in photography and reading. The sweet, soft-spoken and lovely Maharani Leelabati is from the royal family of Jammu and is fluent in Odia, Hindi, and English. The couple has four daughters. On Saturday, May 19, Gajapati and Maharani Saheba paid obeisance to Daru Bramha Jagannatha and His Family at their abode at 2728 East Glen Haven in Houston. In 2015, during “Nabakalebara” or “New Embodiment”, these deities were carved from the same neem (Margosa) tree as the original Jagannatha Deities in Puri Dham and were brought to Houston, in a first and rare occasion for Daru Brahmas to travel outside of India. Over 100 members of the small

Odia community in Houston anxiously awaited the royal couple on Saturday evening and gave them with a grand welcome and an informal but lively discussion with Gajapati and Maharani at the deities abode, followed by a “Chhapan Bhoga” dinner prepared by the ladies of the community. Dr. Arun Verma and Vinni Verma, founders of Shri Sitaram Foundation, along with Orissa Culture Center and members of the Houston Odia community led by Jyoti Kar, Sarmistha Nanda and Dr. Gopal Mohapatra organized a reception for the couple at India House on Sunday, May 20 where Gajapati gave a multimedia preCONTINUED ON PAGE 13

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10 June 15, 2018

COMMUNITY

Free Seminar on Loss of a Spouse – The Life After

Panelists at the Oct. 29 “Loss of a Spouse” seminar included CPA and IACCGH President Swapan Dhairyawan (left), IACAN President Kumari Susarla, Andrew Hardwick with the Social Security Administration, and SOS Founder Ranvir “Biki” Mohindra.

HOUSTON: India House, in a strategic

partnership with Share Our Secrets (SOS) ,will be joining hands with Indian American Cancer Network (IACAN), and Indo-

American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) to organize a free community outreach program: “The Loss of a Spouse: The Life After ” on Sunday, July 8, 2018 from 3.30 to 5.30 p.m. at India House. This seminar is a follow-up to the first such seminar held on Oct 29, 2017. India House graciously hosted the program. India House Executive Director Col. Vipin Kumar welcomed the attendees and Dr. Rathna Kumar served as the emcee. The speakers touched upon several aspects of life of a surviving spouse from emotional issues to financial matters covering the period starting immediately after the death of the spouse to long-term life. The program proved to be a huge success. Feedback was very positive, suggesting that such a program was much needed in the community, and requested similar and related follow-up programs. The organizers now believe that this topic should have multigenerational relevance and that the separation from a spouse can occur upon death or incapacitation due to agerelated ailments. Being prepared for such an eventuality is important for couples and will greatly help the survivor/caregiver face the situation. So, the program is not meant only for widows and widowers, but also to help senior citizen couples to plan and live rest of their lives happily to the fullest extent possible. Younger generation may also find the seminar useful as it helps them to understand the issues facing their parents, or if an accidental death separates the family. The July 8th seminar will address topics such as key actions to be taken when one of the spouses passes away, the stages of shock, denial and emotions of losing a longterm companion or a bread winner. The panelists will comment on communications to friends and relatives, funeral arrangements, documents to be gathered, accessing various benefits such as social security, pension, life insurance, and handling various challenges involved with financial issues, including wills, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and retirement accounts. A representative from Social Security Administration will discuss survivor benefits and recent changes to SS benefits. Our community leaders, who are the panelists, will discuss all the other topics. The first segment of the program will include comments from the four panelists, and the second segment will be a moderated Q & A session, in which the panelists will address questions from the audience. Please register for the seminar using the following link: www.indiahouseinc.org/ loss-of-spouse/. For further information, please contact: Share Our Secrets (SOS): atma.ram1@gmail.com; India House: vipin@indiahouseinc.org, 713-929-1900; IACAN: iacannetwork@gmail.com, 713370-3489; IACCGH: iaccgh@iaccgh.com, 713-624-7131.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM


COMMUNITY

June 15, 2018

Yoga for Humanity & Peace, 4th International Day of Yoga!

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HOUSTON:

The Consulate General of India, Houston in partnership with several supporting organizations is gearing up to celebrate the transformative power of yoga through several events scheduled across Texas. June 21, 2018 will mark the Fourth International Day of Yoga (IDY) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and celebrated simultaneously in 155 countries around the world. Coordinator of Houston’s yoga program and a longtime yoga practitioner himself, Sharad Amin stated that the focus of the 4th IDY is to encourage yoga among mainstream Houstonians through the Midtown Park main event on June 21st as well as over 15 yoga sessions organized at different locations spread over the month of June. These events could be an introduction to yoga for some and a continuation of practice for others. Yoga, he added, has a ripple effect because “when one person benefits, the whole community benefits.” IDY will be celebrated in Houston on Thursday, June 21 at the Midtown Park (2811, Travis St, Houston Texas 77006). The event will begin at 6:00 pm with a demonstration of some of the more difficult yoga postures (asanas). After brief remarks from the Consul General, Dr. Anupam Ray, the guided group yoga will commence at 6:25 led by Director of SVYASA Houston, Vishwarupa Nanjundappa and Yoga teacher Olivia

Houston Yoga Teachers

Keller. This will be followed by a Relaxation and Pranayama session by Roger Rippy and initiator of Pralay Yoga Robert Boustany respectively. The event will conclude by 7:30 pm with a color powder dance party or Holi as it is known in India led by Lindsey Law. (RSVP at yogadayoftexas2018.eventbrite.com) The excellent response to the previous years’ IDY has encouraged the Hindu Temple of the Woodlands to host the event again on June 23, Saturday at 7:00am. . The young volunteers of their Vision to Reality project and Community Outreach Program by the Education Youth Service (EYS), are organizing the event in Town Green Park (2099 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands, Texas 77780). Retired Vascular Surgeon, renowned Yoga Therapist & Ayurveda practitioner Dr. Dilip Sarkar will be the Chief Guest. Local Yoga Studios are also involved in the event with many offering free yoga classes. There will be booths with information about yoga, yoga books for sale, and an Indian-style breakfast and lunch by Hyderabad House. Temple President Mukesh Mittal and Chairman Jagan Allam encourage all community members to join this global yoga movement. A Continued Medical Education, (CME) meeting at Memorial Hermann of The Woodlands has also been organized. The Indian Consulate of Houston has planned a series of events spread over a week in Austin,

Dallas and San Antonio. IDY will be observed in front of the stately State Capitol building in Austin on Saturday June 16 at 5:45 pm (1100 Congress Ave. Austin, Texas 78701), in Dallas on 17th June, Sunday at 7:30 am at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Plaza (1201 Hidden Ridge Dr., Irving, Texas, 75038) and in San Antonio on 9th June, Saturday at 8:00 am at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center (900, E. Market St., San Antonio, TX, 78205). The events are free and open to all. Bring your yoga mats and plan to arrive 20 minutes ahead to find a comfortable spot. Please visit these links for more information: Website: http://yogadayoftexas.org

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COMMUNITY

Houston Natya-Mahotsav Thrills Audience

BY DAN MAYUR

HOUSTON:

Thanks to the Houston Marathi Mandal team (fondly known as He’ Maze’ Mandal) under the very able leadership of Jyotsna Phadke, the local Maharashtrian community was treated to a most enjoyable day-long cultural event, a Natya-Mahotsav (Festival of Plays) at the EVJCC’s Kaplan Theater. Maharashtra is at

the forefront of Indian culture for its literature and performing arts. On June 9, theater aficionados were regaled with two immensely enjoyable plays – Nau Koti Sattavan Lakh, a two-act farcical play directed by the inimitable Vijay Kenkre and HasvaFasvi, Dilip Prabhavalkar’s all-time classic, most ably enacted by Pushkar Shrotri. “Nau Koti Sattavan Lakh” is a story of an incredible emotional ride in the life of Dilip Deokule, a simpleton, leading a routine life of a middle-class professional. In a freak happening, lady luck smiles on him as two identical bags get exchanged and he becomes the owner of a fortune worth nau koti sattavan lakh rupees. This unexpected windfall tempts Dilip to plan an exit out of the country with his wife Anju to start a new life in the USA. As luck would have it, a bumbling private detective and a dutiful police officer land on Dilip’s doorstep. Now the chaos begins with an endless comedy of errors; white lies; and names, identity and relationship changes. As the plot thickens, the audience is constantly on edge wondering if Dilip can hold on to his fortune. A farcical play thrives on exaggeration and parody to create humor. The success of the play depends upon the director in

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

stringing the pieces together and the performance of the actors. This drama wins big due to the stellar performances of its cast. In particular, Sulekha Talwalkar as Anju and Anand Ingle as Dilip, steal the show with their energetic performances. Apart from the humor, the underlying currents of middleclass dreams, fears, values, relationships and conflicts depicted in the play resonate well with

the audience. The second play of the NatyaMahotsav, HasvaFasvi, is a triumph of individual excellence in acting. It starts with the preparation for the felicitation of a veteran singer and actor, Krishnarao Herambakar. The process unleashes a riot of laughter that follows when Herambakar is delayed in his arrival, and various characters come into the picture as Chimanrao, an unabashed admirer; Prince Wangchoo, a Chinese gentleman; Bobby Modvikar, a young “ultra cool” college student; a fascinating NRI female Purvi; Nana Punje, the poultry farmer; and Herambakar — all played by Shrotri displaying the extra-ordinary range of his acting skills. His body language, gestures, demeanor, accent, manner of speaking and costumes are perfect for each character. Shrotri’s makeup-man has done a most remarkable job. The audience is left spell-bound by the transformation and the speed of transition. The highlight of the show is undoubtedly Shrotri’s recital of “Priye Paha..... “ in the simulated shivering voice of an eighty-seven year old. The play ends with a powerful message about the sacrifices the elderly have made in their lives and our responsibility to take care of them in their sunset years.


COMMUNITY

June 15, 2018

Komal Luthra, An Inspiring Intern for Hindus of Greater Houston

HOUSTON:

Komal Luthra

Fundraising Gala and is currently serving as an intern for Hindus of Greater Houston. She also participated in many communitarian efforts through Sewa International Houston and Rice University Volunteers Around the World. As an intern for Sewa Interna-

tional Houston, she worked closely with the refugee community, served as a tutor in the ASPIRE tutorials program, and assisted in planning toy drives and free health clinics. As a member for Volunteers Around the World, she participated in a medical outreach trip in Panama to set up mobile clinics in rural communities that lacked access to healthcare facilities. These experiences have made her passionate about working with underserved communities and empowering others to become productive members of the society. As an HGH intern, she formed the Hindu Youth Council to increase youth engagement in Hindu community events, provide leadership experience, and promote the values of selfless service through leadership retreats, social activities, discussions forums, and cultural events. She will serve as founder and chair. If you are interested in getting involved in the Hindu community, please contact Komal Luthra at 281-904-4085 or kluthra95@ gmail.com. She is looking forward to working with dedicated young individuals between 18 - 35 years to help her unite the Hindu youth across the Greater Houston area.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 sentation on The Glory of Lord Jagannatha to an audience of over 200. After a devotional offering to Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra, Lord Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshana, with the queen by his side, Gajapati gave a 90-minute lecture, with slides of the remarkable artwork depicting the legends and history of the famous Jagannatha Temple of Odisha and the origin of Lord Jagannatha. He explained the deep connection of Jagannatha culture to Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity and Islam and the significance of Basudheiba Utumbakam or “Unity in Diversity. That afternoon, Gajapati vis-

MADRAS N PAVILIO & DAAWAT G CATERIN

Rao’s Satish CAF E

Indo-American News

Komal Luthra graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas in December 2017. She majored in Kinesiology-Sports Medicine with a minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and will be attending medical school in the Fall of 2018. Komal is keen to diversify her experiences through involvement in different activities. She served as the Internal Vice President for Rice’s student government in 2016-2017 and oversaw about 60 students in the standing committees, student initiatives, and New Student Representative Program in this capacity. In addition, she oversaw the Undergraduate/Graduate Mentorship Program where she worked with students to improve their undergraduate experience. She also initiated the creation of the Health Professions Task Force which evaluated the pre-health professions advising and opportunities available at Rice University and found ways to better support pre-health professions students. She was the Co-President of Healthy Grad, an organization that seeks to improve student wellbeing through events and education on physical activity and nutrition. She was the youth coordinator for the 2018 Hindu Youth Awards

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ited the OC’s 10-acre property located at 3101 Fuqua near the Texas Medical Center, which is the site for the future Jagannatha Temple for Daru Bramha Jagannatha and His Family. Gajapati excitedly discussed the plans with Professor Debananda Pati and Dr. Aditya Samal of the OCC. That evening, the Royal Couple further discussed these plans over dinner at the home of devoted supporters Dr. Arun and Vinni Verma. The Orissa Culture Center, in association with Sri Sitaram Foundation, will celebrate the 11th Annual Ratha Yatra on July 14 at India House. On June 24, it will celebrate its Annual Deva Snana Purnima (Celestial Bathing) and Lord Jagannatha’s Birthday at 3101 Fuqua.

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14 June 15, 2018

T

he nation’s first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. However, it was not until 1972–58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official–that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States. Father’s Day 2018 occurs on Sunday, June 17. Mother’s Day: Inspiration for Father’s Day The “Mother’s Day” we celebrate today has its origins in the peace-and-reconciliation campaigns of the post-Civil War era. During the 1860s, at the urging of activist Ann Reeves Jarvis, one divided West Virginia town celebrated “Mother’s Work Days” that brought together the mothers of Confederate and Union soldiers.

However, Mother’s Day did not become a commercial holiday until 1908, when–inspired by Jarvis’s daughter, Anna Jarvis, who wanted to honor her own mother by making Mother’s Day a national holiday–the John Wanamaker department store in Philadelphia sponsored a service dedicated to mothers in its auditorium. Thanks in large part to this association with retailers, who saw great potential for profit in the holiday, Mother’s Day caught on right away. In 1909, 45 states observed the day, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson approved a resolution that made the second Sunday in May a holiday in honor of “that tender, gentle army, the mothers of America.” Origins of Father’s Day The campaign to celebrate the nation’s fathers did not meet with the same enthusiasm–perhaps because, as one florist explained, “fathers haven’t the same sentimental appeal that mothers have.” On July 5, 1908, a West Virginia church sponsored the nation’s first event explicitly in honor of fathers, a Sunday sermon in memory of the 362 men who had died in the previous December’s explosions at the Fairmont Coal Company mines in Monongah, but it was a one-time commemoration and not an annual holiday.

The next year, a Spokane, Washington, woman named Sonora Smart Dodd, one of six children raised by a widower, tried to establish an official equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents. She went to local churches, the YMCA, shopkeepers and government officials to drum up support for her idea, and she was successful: Washington State celebrated the nation’s first statewide Father’s Day on June 19, 1910. Slowly, the holiday spread. In 1916, President Wilson honored the day by using telegraph signals to unfurl a flag in Spokane when he pressed a button in Washington, D.C. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge urged state governments to observe Father’s Day. Today, the day honoring fathers is celebrated in the United States on the third Sunday of June: Father’s Day 2017 occurs on June 18; the following year, Father’s Day 2018 falls on June 17. In other countries–especially in Europe and Latin America–fathers are honored on St. Joseph’s Day, a traditional Catholic holiday that falls on March 19. -history.com

CELEBRATIONS

International Yoga Day

Prime Minister of India, Naren-

dra Modi asked the world leaders to adopt an International Yoga Day, saying that by changing lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well being,” he said, adding “By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Yoga is a 5,000-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice Having its origin in India, Which Aims to transform both body and mind. On December 11 in 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21st as the International Day of Yoga. The declaration came after the call for the adoption of June 21st as International Day of Yoga by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during his address to UN General Assembly on September 27,

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

2014 wherein he stated: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition . It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. “ In Suggesting June 21, which is the Summer Solstice, as the International Day of Yoga, Narendra Modi had said that, “the date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world. “Yogi and mystic, Sadhguru notes the importance of this day in the yogic tradition: “On the day of the summer solstice, Adiyogi [the first yogi] turned south and first set his eyes on the Saptarishis or Seven Sages, who were his first disciples to carry the science of yoga to many parts of the world. It is wonderful that June 21 marks this momentous event in the history of humanity.” The idea to celebrate World Yoga Day has Been Proposed by many. Amongst them is a call by Significant international Humanitarian and meditation and Yoga Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in December two thousand and eleven. -iyd.yoga & idayofyoga.org


June 15, 2018

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

15


16 June 15, 2018

LIFE OF MAHATMA GANDHI

The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi - Part 1

B

orn more than 130 years ago, the life and times of the man who would grow up to be universally known as The Mahatma, still resonates until today. Mohandas Gandhi had an ordinary childhood in Porbandar, on the coast of Kathiawad in the western state of Gujarat, a loved and pampered son of very ordinary parents. He grew up to inspire legions of people globally by his fearless ideology that uprooted an empire, to bring freedom to the land of his birth. With his message of non-violence, he roused the nation and earned the title of Great Soul. For the next several weeks, Indo American News will bring you his life story, and of how he continues to be an inspiration to the world and mostly to millions of oppressed people everywhere. Born on October 2, 1869, to Karamchand Gandhi and his wife Putlibai. Young Mohandas hailed from a family highly regarded for the moral ethics and strength of character. His grandfather Uttamchand belonged to a humble family of merchants, but rose in the ranks to become the Dewan of Porbander. His son Karamchand, who had very little education, succeeded him but was a fine administrator. Putlibai, Karamchand Gandhi’s wife, was a deeply religious woman and strong-willed woman. She was widely respected for her wisdom and good sense. People often sought her advice on various matters. Mohandas was the youngest of the six children of Karamchand and Putlibai Gandhi. He was the favorite child of the family and was called Moniya by his parents and their friends. Moniya adored his mother. He loved his father too, but he was a little afraid of him. As a child, Moniya seldom liked to stay at home. He would go home for his meals and then run away again to play outside. Moniya was just seven years old when his father left Porbandar to become the Dewan of Rajkot, taking the family along. At Rajkot he was sent to a primary school. He was shy and did not mix easily with the other children. Every morning he went to school in time, and ran back home as soon as school was over. His books were his sole companions and he spent all his free time alone reading. He had one friend, however; a boy named Uka. Uka was a sweeper boy and an untouchable. One day Moniya was given some sweets. He ran at once to Uka to share them with him. But Uka told Moniya not to go near him as he was an untouchable. It was the first time that Mohandas encountered India’s cataclysmic social divide. Stunned by the revelation that in India one was identified by one’s caste, he took hold of Uka’s hands and filled them with sweets. His mother, watching from a win-

dow, ordered Moniya in the house. She told him that high caste Hindus did not touch “untouchables”. When her son questioned her, she responded that Hindu customs forbid it. When Moniya disagreed, his mother had no answer but was angry with him. Karamchand Gandhi loved all his sons, but he was especially fond of the youngest. He often advised him to study well and take up a profession. Moniya worked hard, and did his lessons carefully. But he did not enjoy memorizing and was therefore weak in Sanskrit. Geometry was his favorite subject because it involved reasoning. Moniya had a friend named Sheikh. He was tall and strong. Sheik was a meat-eater and he often told Mohandas that if he ate meat he would also grow tall and strong. There was also at that time a reform movement for a change in the orthodox beliefs and practices of Hindus. Mohandas himself had heard that many well todo people had started eating meat, so he, too, tried meat. He did not like the taste of meat but as time went on, he started to like meat curries. Whenever Mohandas had a meat meal outside, he had to give his mother some excuse for

not eating his dinner. He knew that his parents would not forgive him. This feeling was gnawing at his heart and finally he decided not to touch meat again. Mohandas had also taken to smoking with Sheik, his brother, and another relative. He had to pilfer small amounts of money to buy cigarettes. One day, in order to pay off a debt which his brother had incurred, Mohandas stole a piece of gold jewelry. Stealing was a great sin. He knew that he had committed a great crime. He resolved never in his life to steal again. He wrote down a confession of his crime and handed the paper to his ailing father. Karamchand Gandhi read the confession. He tore up the paper without saying a word. The bits of paper fell to the floor. He sank back on his bed with a sigh. Mohandas left the room, tears streaming down his face. From that day on, Mohandas loved his father more and more. Every day he hurried home from school to wait on him. His father’s condition grew worse and at length he died. The house was filled with sorrow. Mohandas was only sixteen when his father died. To be Continued Next week...

Mahatma Gandhi Library, Inc. Essay

CITY-WIDE CONTESTS

Poster

Coloring

iTribute

Speech

The contest are open to all children in the greater Houston Area. The winners of these contests will be recognized at the 1000 Lights for Peace, a celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday, on Sunday, October 14, 2017. For more information and registration visit www.gandhilibrary.org

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM


TRAVEL

Job Posting:

June 15, 2018

Multi Media Journalist

Are you a Rockstar Producer ready to take on a next level challenge? We are lKTRKTV the ABC Owned station in Houston, TX is looking for a hard-working, selfsufficient MMJ with a passion for unique story-telling. You will be researching, shooting, writing, and editing for TV and/or digital on a daily basis. You must be comfortable covering hard breaking news as well as fun-filled feature stories. Resume reels should include examples of packages and live shots that are innovative, creative and memorable. On most days, you will be working independently but on some days you will be assigned a photographer, in particular for live shots. You must have a knack for quickly cultivating contacts in the community and must know how to dig for unique, exclusive content on the big and little stories alike. We want a respected, knowledgeable, ethical station representative and promoter with a strong presence on social media. Candidates need at least 4 years of on-air experience and must be open to working any shift on any day of the week. Background check clearance and clean driving record will be required. To be considered all interested candidates must apply online at www.disneycareers. com, Ref job # 563086BR... Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references. In addition, please mail writing samples to: Human Resources, KTRKTV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005 and include the job reference number. No Telephone Calls Please. KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Job Posting:

17

News Producer

Are you a Rockstar Producer ready to take on a next level challenge? We are looking for an aggressive, proven, passionate, cool-under-pressure News Producer who knows what it takes to put together a fast-paced, creative, highly-showcased newscast. Houston is a major market that is a magnet for stories that often make national headlines. KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned Television station in Houston, TX wants a vocal and confident producer who knows how to handle the big stories, dig for informative, interesting content, knows how to meet the needs of the ‘new’ news audience, and knows when it’s time to abandon everything for breaking news, weather, or traffic. You must have excellent news judgement and the ability to come up with and pitch unique story ideas every day. You will be required to command the control room and manage an ever-evolving rundown during live newscasts. Candidates must also have complete understanding of how to promote and utilize digital content, including live streaming. Knowledge of ENPS and desktop editing a plus. Will need to show examples of newscasts, and submit tease and headline writing samples. This is a high profile position that requires a high level of skill. Candidates must have at least three years line-producing experience in a medium or major market. To be considered all interested candidates must apply online at www. disneycareers.com, Ref job # 563087BR. Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references. In addition, please mail writing samples to: Human Resources, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005 and include the job reference number. No Telephone Calls Please. KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

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Call: 713-789-6397 INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM


18 June 15, 2018

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY

The Cost of Violence

13 Annoying Things NRIs Do

BY WIRAL GYAN

Violence cost the Indian economy a whopping $1.19 trillion (over Rs 80 lakh crore) in 2017 in constant purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, according to a report prepared by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) based on an analysis of 163 countries and territories. The amount sums up to roughly $595.4 per person. Given that India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) currently stands at $2.264 trillion, it can be implied that the impact of violence caused India to miss the landmark of becoming a $3.5 trillion economy. The condition in India is not an aberration though. The report says global economic impact of violence increased by 2.1 per cent from 2016 to 2017. Since 2012, it has increased 16% - with the 2017 bill of violence totaling $14.76 trillion. The highest impact in absolute terms was in the US, at $2.67 trillion. However, India’s ranking is pretty much in the pits at 136 among 163 countries, below Iran. The 2017 ranking is a notch higher than that of 2016, when India was pegged at 137. IEP in its report, has defined the impact of violence as the expenditure and economic effect related to “containing, preventing and dealing with the consequences of violence”. The report makes it clear that investors love peace. In the last 70 years, per capita GDP growth has been three times higher in highly peaceful countries in comparison to the lesser peaceful nations. Since 1980, on an average, the most peaceful countries received 2 per cent of their GDP in FDI inflows + , compared to 0.84 per cent in the least peaceful countries. On the other hand, less peaceful countries have experienced economic stagnation. Their annual per capita GDP has, on average, grown by just 1 per cent over the last seven decades. The report stated that the fall in peacefulness over the last decade was caused by a wide range of factors, including increased terrorist activity, the intensification of conflicts in the Middle East, rising regional tensions in Eastern Europe and northeast Asia, and increasing numbers of refugees and heightened political tensions in Europe and the US. -- Times of India

NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) represent our country at a global stage and have done well for themselves in other countries. They are generally a nice, world wise and genuine lot. Well, most of them. There are a few who get on your nerves. They leave India with some baggage and come back to the country with some baggage of the douchey kind. And these 13 things are the most annoying of the lot. 1. They acquire a foreign accent I always find it amusing how a U.S return can carry a Brit accent. Seriously? 2. The really corny ones start using American slang. Even though they’ve come back from South Africa. “Yo! Sup dawg?” Wait, what? Don’t you dare call me dawg. You are a dawg.

3. Sports for them is now all about NBA and baseball. And as soon as there’s a India v/s Pakistan cricket match, they forget everything and go “Sachin! Sachin!” 4. They now find everything to be “too spicy.” All Indian cuisine is way too spicy for them now. Curry or no curry. 5. They drink only and only, bottled water. And sometimes they demand sparkling water too. Whatever that is. 6. They crib about the pollution in India. You should be glad we’re not China. And if you’ve come back from China, you need to S.T.F.U. 7. They have a thing for “labels” now. Even if they can’t pronounce Gucci and Versace. 8. They need tissues -- all the

time. Hehehe. We know what’s going on here. 9. They now need industrial strength mosquito repellant. Okay, we get it, we have mosquitoes. But you knew that already right? And it’s not like you’ve never been bitten by one, right? 10. Stray animals are scary for them now. “O.M.G! A dog in the middle of the street. Is this a zoo?” 11. It’s always “too much noise” for them. Everywhere. “Why are you talking to each other? It’s too much noise ya!” 12. Everything is dirty. “Chee! I can’t have this Pani Puri. It’s so dirty!” 13. Every sentence starts with a “back in the states...” Back when you were sane, you weren’t such a huge pain in the ass.

13 Annoying Behaviors of Indian People BY SHALU SHARMA 1. Urination on the side of the road Although, things are changing rapidly in the metros, it’s still widespread in smaller towns and villages. 2. Burping In India, it’s “almost” acceptable. It depends on individual custom, where they are coming from and how they have been brought up. 3. Staring at tourists and women We Indians love to stare at one another and the funny thing is we don’t even know we are doing it. Indian women are used to being watched. 4. Indians have no sense of time (we are always late) Guilty as charged; been there done that. We Indians have no sense of time. Many Indians will never arrive on time. In addition, we always have classic excuses up our sleeve such that they could not sleep well, baby was asleep, was stuck in traffic etc. 5. Throwing litter on the road Guess what we do with the household rubbish – you got it right, we dump on the side of the road. In addition, Indians do not take their

litter home or throw it in a dustbin (because there aren’t any); we throw it on the road. 6. Spitting in public Many Indians like to eat the “paan” that generates “red-spit” that is spat on the road. The habit is so rampant that the authorities have put images of gods and goddesses on the walls of government buildings. 7. Indians talk too much They will start talking to you even if they don’t know you. They will come up to you and start chatting your brains out. On trains, expect to start a conversation or at least engage in loud conversation even if you don’t want to. If you are on the train, expect to be asked things like; where you are from, where are you going. 8. Can’t wait at queues Indians cannot wait at queues. You will notice this when getting on trains. You won’t necessarily be pushed, but certainly shoved a little to make way for the person at the back. 9. Not being direct in saying “no” Not saying “No, I don’t know where it is.”, “No, I am not gonna do that.”, “No, I don’t understand, what do you mean? You meant it like that or this?”

Indo American News FOUNDER: DR. K.L. SINDWANI PUBLISHER: JAWAHAR MALHOTRA EDITOR: PRAMOD KULKARNI BUSINESS & PRODUCTION MANAGER: VANSHIKA VIPIN VARMA OFFICE MANAGER: MANSI THAKKAR GRAPHICS: PIYAL SEN GUPTA WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: NEHA PATEL CORRESPONDENTS

INDIA: ASEEM KULKARNI ®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 4 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: 713-789-6397 email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: www.indoamerican-news.com

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

This makes the communicaton much more unclear and difficult. 10. No discipline in driving People don’t know what it is to drive following the rules. Jumping the red lights (and I’ve seen public buses doing so!), overtaking from the wrong side, making a illegal U turn, driving rashly putting other motorists in danger, pedestrians and animals jaywalking. 11. Get easily offended We get so easily offended over anything and everything. I think, we are the most easily offended nationality in the world. Most of us have no sense of humor. 12. Absolute apathy regarding national monuments Look at our beloved monuments where you can find numerous etchings and carvings about failed love stories: “X loves Y” etc. What better way to profess your love than writing on a national monuments, right? 13. Nagging behavior Indians don’t take no for an answer. One classic example is street vendors selling goods. Some of them will follow you around and keep nagging you to buy their merchandise. -- Additional content from Quora


LIFESTYLE

June 15, 2018

19

Indoor Pollution What causes it and how to reduce it

BY DANIELA GINTA

Most people think of their home as

their oasis, a protected space to relax in after a long day. Yet depending on the activities we perform while at home, the air inside could be less clean than we think. Health hazards According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 4.3 million people die every year from exposure to indoor air pollution as a result of cooking with solid fuels. While that might not be a problem in Canada, air pollution—indoors and outdoors—increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory problems in children and adults. There are many activities that we perform on a daily basis—and products that we own—that increase the number and concentration of indoor pollutants, such as • carbon monoxide from tobacco smoke and fireplaces • formaldehyde from new carpets and furniture • nitrogen dioxide from cooking on gas stoves • particulate matter from fireplace soot or aerosol cans • toxic metals such as lead from metal-core candle wicks • flame retardants in couches and televisions • bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics and plastic water pipes Whether we realize it or not, we spend most of our time indoors. Young children can spend as much as

90 percent of their time indoors, being constantly exposed to pollutants that can increase their risk of allergies and asthma. Cooking Cooking oil fumes may contain a mixture of carcinogenic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, and formaldehyde, which can cause DNA and lipid damage . These chemicals can also irritate the airway mucosa (mucous membrane). Don’t stop cooking though! Home cooking is preferable to eating out, but choose healthy options such as poaching, steaming, or eating foods raw instead of frying, sautéing, or broiling food at high temperatures. Solution Cook with your windows open or, if you use a gas stove, invest in a venting range hood. Avoid frying foods at high temperatures. Instead, steam your veggies in a pan, then drizzle with organic olive oil before serving. Add fresh herbs for a zesty taste. Burning candles They add a nice glow to the room, making it look festive or romantic, but unless candles are made of pure beeswax or soy, they also give off benzene, toluene, and other light aromatic hydrocarbons. If using fragranced candles or perfumed air fresheners, there is an added burden of endocrine-disrupting phthalates too. Solution If you love burning candles, stick to beeswax or soy. They may be slightly more costly, but they have notable benefits: they burn clean and

last longer, smell nice naturally, and are made from renewable resources. Burning wood Small particulate matter is one of the biggest health threats when it comes to indoor air, and is caused by burning wood, smoking, cooking, and sweeping which suspends dust particles in the air. Particulate matter is also generated outdoors. Think pollen, pesticide residue, and vehicle exhaust. The small size of particulate matter allows it to penetrate airways and go further into the cells, causing an inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress. Solution Open windows as often as possible. If you have pets and allergy-prone family members, consider installing an air purifier with a HEPA filter and removing carpets. If you have a wood-burning stove or fireplace, make sure your chimney is cleaned regularly and your heat source is functioning properly to reduce indoor smoke exposure. At the office At the office, new furniture and carpets come at a cost, literally and otherwise. Pressed wood furniture; paper products; office equipment including printers, photocopiers, and computers; paints and varnishes all increase the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene in the working space. In many newly designed buildings, windows cannot be opened, which can result in poor ventilation and a lack of fresh air. Years of research conducted at NASA showed that plants can be effective chemical removers and they seem to work best in areas where there is little open-window ventilation. Solution Go green. Fill the space with aircleaning plants to help reduce the concentration of toxic substances, such as spider plants, bamboo palm, rubber plants, and Dracaena. When outfitting an office, look for green furniture and less polluting electronic devices, and reduce the use of plastic, a major source of off-gassing, as much as possible. Dust busters • Controlling house dust is one of the best ways to prevent and manage respiratory disease. • Clean often using a HEPA filterequipped vacuum cleaner. • Open the windows often, especially when you cook, clean, or have TV or computers on. • Wash bedding once a week in hot water to kill dust mites. • Remove dust using a damp cloth at least once every few days. • De-clutter your home to reduce surface areas that attract dust. -Alive.com

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20 June 15, 2018

COMMUNITY

E

Recipe: Sheer Khurma, An Eid Speciality

id-al-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr, Eid ulFitr, Id-Ul-Fitr, Eid) is the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal. It marks the end of Ramadan, which is a month of fasting and prayer. Many Muslims attend communal prayers, listen to a khutba (sermon) and give zakat al-fitr (charity in the form of food) during Eid al-Fitr. What Do People Do? Many Muslims attend communal prayers and listen to a khutba or sermon on the first day of the month of Shawwal. These prayers are held outside or in large venues, such as sports arenas, in some places. Many Muslims may travel far to participate in these activities. Some communities organize different festivities, such as communal meals or events for children, on this day. If a Muslim has not given zakat al-fitr during Ramadan, he or she can give this on Eid-al-Fitr. Zakat al-fitr is a form of charity consisting of a quantity of food, such as barley, dates, raisins or wheat flour, or its monetary equivalent given to the poor. Many Muslims may also prepare festive meals to share, wear new clothes, visit relatives and give presents or candy to children. Cards can also be sent, often featuring the words “Eid Mubbarak” (blessed Eid). Public Life Eid al-Fitr is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States. However, many Islamic businesses and organizations may have altered opening hours. There may

also be some congestion around mosques during the day. Background It is not possible to predict the date of Eid-al-Fitr according to the Gregorian calendar accurately. This is because the month of Shawwal begins, and hence the month of Ramadan ends, after a confirmed sighting of the new moon, either in Saudi Arabia or locally. The new moon may be sighted earlier or later in specific locations. Hence, many Muslims in different communities, for example on the east and west coasts of the USA and Canada, may begin the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations on different dates. -timeanddate.com

May this Eid be a special one for you and your family, may it bring you many happy moments to cherish forever!

Sheer Khurma is a rich dessert originally from Central Asia, made on the occasion of Eid alFitr. Although there are different variations of Sheer Khurma, the most important ingredients are milk, vermicelli, dried dates and sugar. This rich, creamy dessert has a lot of dry fruits and coconut as well. Sheer Khurma is associated with Eid just as much as any other dish. It is a must-have on this joyous day and adds a sugSheer Khurma is an authentic version of vermicelli pudding ary delight to the celebration.

specially prepared for Eid festivities. ‘Sheer’ is Persian for The term for this delicious desmilk and ‘khurma’ is another word for dates. This Eid recipe sert originates from the Persian is a traditional delicacy which is made differently in different language. ‘Sheer’ literally means households. milk, whereas ‘Khurma’ transIngredients: • 5 Cups Milk, full cream • 50 Gram Vermicelli (broken into small pieces), roasted • 50 Gram Coconut (dried), grated • 1/2 Cup Sugar • 2 Green cardamoms • 2 Tbsp Dates, chopped • 10-12 Raisins • 1/4 Cup Almonds (cut into pieces), blanched • 1/2 tsp Khus (vetiver) • 2-3 Vark leaves (silver foil commonly found on barfis)

Directions: In a wide pan simmer the milk till it thickens to the consistency of cream. Add the vermicelli, coconut, sugar, cardamom, dates and half of the raisins and almond. Bring to boil and then simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the vetiver. Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with the silver leaves and the rest of the almonds and raisins. Serve hot or cold. -food.ndtv.com

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

lates to dates. This dessert is vastly popular in Hyderabad, where it is the first meal had on Eid morning. It counters the spiciness of the Hyderabadi biryani with its smooth, creamy sweetness. This dish is a definite Eid essential, and various Muslim households often add their own variations to the khurma. -NDTV.com


June 15, 2018

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

21


22 June 15, 2018

PUZZLES / RECIPES

SUDOKU Place a Number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Send us the correct answer before June 20, 2018. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036. Send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published (for first three entrees only & 1 submission per month).

Solution Next Week

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Mama’s Punjabi Recipes Dudh da Custard (Milk Custard)

India has been a destination for

foreigners for many centuries, and especially Northwestern India which has been the place of many battles with invading hoards from ancient empires like the Greeks, Persians and Mongols and later by the Europeans: the British, French, Portuguese and Dutch. Each foreign culture left its mark on Indian cuisine, and they remain popular even today in India. So, it is not surprising that some of the foods – and tastes – of the last colonizers, the British, has found a comfortable corner in the Indian hearts and stomachs. Among these is the favorite British sweet custard, a milk based pudding that North Indians have adopted as their own, adding blanched, slivered almonds, crunched cardamom and pistachios on the top crust, and even soaked raisins. It is a sweetdish that my family grew to love when we were living in London in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s as it had become a standard item at many a weekend party. My two young boys enjoyed it immensely, especially when it was a little thick and had a nice, soft but thick congealed layer on top which they would fight for. The popular brand of custard powder then was Bird’s, invented by Alfred Bird in 1837 and still going strong now 138 years later. There are many other English manufacturers now and many Indian ones too which make a fine product like Laziza, Golden Caramel, Harnik and Pruthvi’s. Custard is nothing more than a cooked mixture of milk or cream and egg yolk. When it is thin, it becomes a sauce called crème anglaise and if it’s a thicker cream (crème patissiere), it is used to fill eclairs. Most common custards use sugar and vanilla and sometimes flour, corn starch or gelatin. Though it’s not as popular in India as it once was, it is still a crowd pleaser, especially after adding the nuts, which no Indian can resist! Ingredients:

L��� W���’� SUDOKU W������ 1) Sampath Vasudevan 2) Kumud Athavale 3) Taranjit Singh

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• ½ gal - doodh (whole milk) • ½ cup chinni (sugar) • 1 pouch custard powder (about 2 tbsp)

• Toppings: cut slivers of apples, bananas, blanched almonds, pistachios, cardamom, raisins (to your taste) Directions: 1. Take a half cup of the milk. Pour in the custard powder, mix well and put it to the side. 2. Bring the rest of the milk to a gentle boil over low heat. 3. After it has come to a boil, mix in the sugar and let the milk continue to boil. 4. Pour in the custard mixture into the boiling milk and stir well. Turn the heat down to low and let the milk thicken up, stirring often so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom and burn. 5. When thick (per your taste), turn the heat off 6. Pour into a serving bowl and mix in the bananas, grapes and apples

and raisins or simply sprinkle the top with the slivered almonds, crumbled pistachios and powdered cardamom and place in a the fridge to chill for 2 or 3 hours. 7. bowls.

Serve chilled in small

Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the oldfashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India (since renamed Faisalabad) before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her late-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share her delectable Punjabi recipes for future generations.

MAMA’S TIP O F THE

WEE

K HOW TO BROWN ONIONS QUICKLY FOR FAST COOK ING

Piyaaz or onions of all sorts are as essent is to pasta, for very ial to Indian cookin few dishes are mad g as sauce e without them. Th varieties of onions ere are three (other than green on markets: yellow, w hite and red, and ea es) normally available in the ch has its own taste they add to the dish and the color . In North India, the mos although these are not as large as the on t available are the red onions, es found in the US. Now, you can easil y find cut, browne d, fried onions in a supermarket, but if you prefer to make bag in the your own, there is a to quickly saute the simple trick onions till they are golden brown. Just pinch of salt and to take ss it will get brown faste on the onions while they are in the pa a good n and they r.

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June 15, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS

Kaala: Witness Rajinikanth – The Actor in this Layered Pa Ranjith Revolution

K

aala isn’t a Rajinikanth film — it is a Pa Ranjith film starring actor Rajinikanth; not the superstar, mind you. Ranjith makes this absolutely clear right from the word go by giving Rajini his simplest introduction on celluloid after ages. Kaala is seen playing cricket with young kids in the slum. You might be expecting him to hit a six. It is a Rajini film after all. Instead, Kaala gets his middle stump knocked out. Kaala calls to Valliappan (Samuthirakani), the umpire, and appeals for a no ball. But Valliappan gives a wide. An involuntary smile slowly spreads on my lips throughout this sequence. I knew immediately that we weren’t going to witness the superstar Rajinikanth, but rather the Rajini from the 80s, an actor with charisma and screen presence like no one else. This doesn’t mean the absence of big moments — the slow-motion walks, the 360-degree shots, the close-ups — that every Rajini fan craves for. But, Ranjith has endearingly humanised the on-screen Rajinikanth. Unlike the usual star vehicle where the lead character becomes the Banyan tree that dwarfs the plants around, Kaala’s characters hold their own. They hit back, retort and even playfully mock Rajini.

This is significant because it reiterates how human these connections are. Rajini’s age shows, especially in the action sequences; but the cameras swoop in and out, masking it. After watching Rajini play a demi-god on screen for ages, it feels good to watch him play a human on screen. In a refreshing change to the meek, submissive women we see in Rajini films, the women of Kaala are exciting. I would have loved to see more of the KarikaalanSelvi (Easwari Rao) track which is just lovely. A happily-married Karikaalan’s heart still skips a beat when he sees his ex-lover Zarina (Huma Qureshi). But he knows enough to not wallow in the what-ifs. And, Selvi understands and accepts her husband as he is, including the tattoo he has of his ex-lover. Rajini and Easwari (an extremely flavoursome performance) share a chemistry that is adorable. Ranjith has proved a point — you don’t need younger actors (read heroines) to show romance on screen. However, the women aren’t there just as dramatic relief. Both Selvi and Zareena have strong voices, integral roles to play in Karikaalan’s

story. Moreover, Ranjith places several easter-egg moments that deal with gender equality. The film’s most powerful moment for me was when a woman protestor’s pants are removed by the police in an attempt to shame her. Between her soiled churidar and a lathi, she picks up the lathi and charges straight at the men. She is claiming her right to occupy a space in a protest and not let anyone use her gender against her wishes. The moment speaks volumes. Kaala is filled with revolutionary moments like these that carry you through the few inorganic cuts and the story

loopholes that appear on the horizon. Kaala is loaded with symbolism. The frames are painted with blue (Ambedkar’s colour), black (the colour of protest) and red (the colour of revolution); so is Rajini who is predominantly dressed in these colours (Watch out for the climax sequence). Kaala’s mythological references are also too obvious to miss. Ranijith’s play with Rama and Ravana, white and black reminded me of the book Asura: The Tale of the vanquished by Anand Neelakanta. His juxtaposition of mythological references to the growing dominance of the wealthy and the saffron isn’t without social relevance. A riot gets ‘infiltrated’, social media uprisings — the moments are real and it is tough to imagine that Ranjith had written this way before it happened in real life. Irony plays a tough hand as it is tough to ignore the contrast between real life and reel life. Despite limited screen time, Nana Patekar makes a formidable antagonist with his performance. The music Nana Patekar gets in this film is why Santhosh Narayanan

Quantico Episode Controversy: Priyanka Chopra Issues Apology, Says ‘I am a Proud Indian and that will Never Change’ The episode ‘The Blood of Romeo’, Quantico actor Priyanka Chopra Indian audiences after the episode has issued an apology post the controversy around the recent episode from the American series that showed Indians planning a terrorist attack. The actor took to Twitter and wrote, “I’m extremely saddened and sorry that some sentiments have been hurt by a recent episode of Quantico. That was not and would never be my intention. I sincerely apologise.” She added, “I’m a proud Indian and that will never change.” The apology came after a statement issued by the US television studio ABC against the outrage from

titled ‘The Blood of Romeo’ aired on the television. “The episode has stirred a lot of emotion, much of which is unfairly aimed at Priyanka Chopra, who didn’t create the show, nor does she write or direct it,” the Walt Disneyowned company said. “The show has featured antagonists of many different ethnicities and backgrounds, but in this case, we inadvertently and regrettably stepped into a complex political issue. It was certainly not our intention to offend anyone,” the statement further read.

sparked outrage among Indians for its storyline on Indians planning a terrorist attack in Manhattan and blaming Pakistan, days before a summit on Kashmir, reported news agency PTI. Indians have targeted the creators for showing India in a negative light and commenting on the India-Pakistan controversy without much understanding. Chopra, who plays FBI agent Alex Parrish on the show, has been at the centre of all the backlash, with people blaming her for agreeing to the role. -indianexpress.com

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

is a name to watch out for — the background score has the sounds of devotional music presented in dark flavour. I had earlier said that the composer’s album will make much sense with the film and it does. The songs and their usage reinforce Ranjith’s idea of art being political. Kaala isn’t a film about a gangster but a film about revolution. And Ranjith stays true to his objective. The traces of what we saw in Kabali have been fleshed out and beautifully embellished. Just the mere fact that I have mentioned Ranjith more than Rajinikanth in this review is an indication of the voice he has as a filmmaker. And it is also equally appreciable that Rajinikanth has let the young filmmaker holler through him. At the audio launch, Rajini had said that Kabali was more of a Ranjith film while Kaala was a Rajini-Ranjith film. Kabali was Ranjith trying to make a Rajinikanth film. Kaala is Rajinikanth starring in a Ranjith film. -indianexpress.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Mithun Chakraborty June 16, 1952

Imtiaz Ali

June 16, 1971

Lisa Haydon June 17, 1986


24 June 15, 2018 Asia Cup: Bangla Women Beat India for Maiden Title ANNESHA GHOSH

each of the next three overs. Mediumpacer Alam bowled Deepti, offspinner Khadija Tul Kubra removed Raj, while Anuja Patil became the second Indian female player - and the first in T20Is - to be out obstructing the field as she changed her course en route to making her ground at the non-striker’s end. By then, India had slumped to 32 for 4, before top-scorer Harmanpreet added 30 runs with Veda Krishnamurthy. An ill-judged sweep sent Krishnamurthy back for 11, before legspinner Rumana’s double-strike in the 15th took out wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia and Shikha Pandey for single-digit scores.

K

UALA LUMPUR (ESPN Cricinfo); Bangladesh 113 for 7 (Sultana 27, Rumana 23, Poonam 4-9, Harmanpreet 2-19) beat India 112 for 9 (Harmanpreet 56*, Rumana 2-22, Tul Kubra 2-23) by three wickets A maiden Asia Cup final. Nine runs required off the last over. Two wickets go down on the fourth and fifth balls and the match spills onto the final ball, with Bangladesh women needing two to win. A thriller. A heartbreak for six-time champions India. A perfect ending for Bangladesh, as No. 8 Jahanara Alam dived at the striker’s end to seal a three-wicket victory and give Bangladesh their maiden Asia Cup title. Deepti Sharma’s throw from midwicket to push the final into a Super Over proved as bereft of vigour as was India’s performance with the bat that saw them post 112 for 8; half of the tally courtesy captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s 42-ball 56. That they were still able to drag the game to the final over was down to legspinner Poonam Yadav’s career-best 4 for 9. With Bangladesh requiring 23 off 18 and a set Rumana Ahmed batting on 13, Harmanpreet, who hadn’t bowled in India’s last two league matches, brought herself on to bowl the 18th and 20th overs. She drew a top-edge off her first delivery that flew over the wicketkeeper for four. The rest of the over continued to be eventful, featuring two singles and two twos, before ending with a missed run-out opportunity due to an erroneous throw from Smriti Mandhana. India missed a second run-out opportunity in the 19th over when Deepti, the bowler, decided against throwing the ball at the non-striker Sanjida Islam’s end after collecting a return drive. Islam survived and added 14 vital runs off 13 balls for the sixth wicket with Rumana. Deepti, however, gave away just four runs, leaving India with nine to defend in the final over. By then, however, all of India’s four frontline spinners had bowled out, their spearhead Jhulan Goswami had leaked 20 in two overs, and their only other fast bowler - Shikha Pandey left the field with a knee injury - in

Bangladesh women wheel away after winning the Asia Cup, India v Bangladesh, women’s Asia Cup final. Kuala Lumpur.

the second over of the chase - having bowled only four balls. It was in that context that Harmanpreet, who had memorably bowled the final over in India’s 2016 Asia Cup victory, came on to bowl the 20th. But Rumana, who had singlehandedly routed India in their sevenwicket league-stage win, struck an inside-out four off the second ball as Bangladesh shaved off six runs off the first three balls. Islam then slogged Veda Krishnamurthy to longon as more drama ensued. Deepti and Harmanpreet then combined to have Rumana run out off the penultimate ball of the innings. With two required off the final ball, Harmanpreet pitched on a fullishlength, and it was met with a slog from Alam towards the deep. With that, India were denied a seventh straight title and Bangladesh had their fifth win in six matches to end a momentous Asia Cup campaign. But Bangladesh took their first steps towards history much earlier in the game, when they strangled India in the Powerplay, thanks to left-arm spinner Nahida Akter, whose three overs cost just six runs. Salma Khatun, the Bangladesh captain, complemented that effort with some disciplined offspin bowling that kept India’s openers on a leash. The pressure eventually got to the batsmen, when Mandhana’s bid to steal a third run in the fourth over was ended by a direct hit from

Akter. An out-of-form Mithali Raj and Deepti then laboured to 9 off 15 balls 3 off nine balls respectively in the Powerplay. It was enough to inject nerves into India’s innings and led to a wicket in

Harmanpreet fought on to notch up her highest score in 20 innings across limited-overs formats since her unbeaten 171 in the World Cup semi-final last year. Her resistance ended in the last ball of the innings when she found Alam in a bid to clear deep square leg.

Sarfraz OK Despite Hammering H : Pakistan captain Sar- their 174, which featured a third fifty EADLINGLY

fraz Ahmed insisted he was proud of his youthful side even after an innings and 55-run defeat at Headingley denied them a Test-series victory in England. That overwhelming loss, completed inside three days on Sunday, meant the two-match campaign ended all square at 1-1 following what Sarfraz said was Pakistan’s “perfect” nine-wicket victory in the first Test at Lord’s. Defeat left Pakistan still looking for their first Test series success in England since 1996, when fast-bowling greats Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were in the side. Despite skittling England out for just 184 in their first innings at Lord’s, Sarfraz elected to bat after winning the toss in Leeds. While the Headingley pitch provided a typically good surface, overhead conditions quickly became humid and cloudy, creating a swing-friendly environment that made batting difficult. Even so, Pakistan would still have expected to have made more than

in as many Tests from teenage legspinner Shadab Khan. That total meant they were always chasing the game and, were just one individual effort away from conceding a large first-innings lead. Having fielded brilliantly as a side at Lord’s, Pakistan saw Hasan Ali drop a routine catch when Jos Buttler was on four. The dashing Buttler punished Pakistan with an unbeaten 80 in an England reply of 363. Pakistan, 189 behind on first innings, then slumped to 134 all out in 46 overs second time around as their top order again failed to fire. But having also overseen a victory over Test debutants Ireland in Dublin during this tour, Sarfraz was pleased with Pakistan’s progress. “When we came here people thought we will not win one game but the way we played at Lord’s everything was perfect, our fast bowling was perfect, our batting and fielding were perfect,” Sarfraz told reporters. Pakistan next play a T20 series in Scotland, June 12 and 13.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

SPORTS

Chhetri’s Brace Helps India Score vs Kenya

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UMBAI: Inspirational Indian captain Sunil Chhetri scored a brace to put himself on par with Lionel Messi and lead the home side to Intercontinental Cup title triumph with a 2-0 win over Kenya in the summit clash here on Sunday. Playing in his 102nd international match, Chhetri struck in the eighth and 29th minutes to hand a dominant India the trophy to the wild celebration of the home fans at the Mumbai Football Arena here. The 33-year-old Chhetri’s double strike capped a brilliant tournament which saw him score eight out of India’s 11 goals and put him on par with Argentine superstar Messi with 64 strikes for the country to be the joint second highest international goal scorer among active players. He had scored three against Chinese Taipei, two each against Kenya in the league game and the final today and one against New Zealand. Chhetri gave India the lead off a set-piece, assisted by Anirudh Thapa. Kenyan defender Bernard Oginga gave away a silly free-kick to India for a high-boot on Chhetri after throw in by Pritam Kotal. The 20-year-old Thapa took the free-kick just outside the box and Chhetri connected the ball into the left-corner of the net. The talismanic Indian captain doubled the lead just before the half-hour mark. Anas Edathodika lofted the ball to Chhetri who controlled the ball nicely on his chest between Kenyan defenders Jockins Atudo and Micheal Kibwage before firing in a low left-footer from inside the box which gave absolutely no chance to keeper Patrick Matasi. Chhetri had a chance to make it 3-0 and score another hat-trick but he shot over the bar off a free-kick in the 43rd minute. At the half-way stage, India were 2-0 ahead. The star for India in the second half was keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who ensured a clean sheet with some of his diving and breath-taking saves.

Sunil Chhetri matches Messi.


June 15, 2018

25

Demands Erode ICICI CEO Chanda Kochhar Faces Rs 25 Cr Fine if Found Guilty Govt ONGC’s Cash Chest far as making disclosures... ConM : The Securities and Exsidering that the CEO’s husband N D : India’s Oil and Natural change Board of India (Sebi) has UMBAI

powers to impose a penalty but not demand the resignation of ICICI Bank Ltd chief executive Chanda Kochhar if it finds she and the bank did not abide by fair disclosure norms in its ongoing probe. A maximum penalty of Rs 25 crore, or three times the ill-gotten gains, can be levied under Sebi rules, but in this case, the quantum of the penalty may be at the discretion of Sebi’s adjudicating officer, according to two executives familiar with the development. “Only a financial penalty can be levied as under the current notice, there is no provision for asking the CEO to step down,” said the first of the two executives, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity. On 24 May, Sebi sent a notice to ICICI Bank and Kochhar, seeking clarification with regard to disclosure

EW

ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar can also ask for a settlement by paying a fine and without admitting to any wrongdoing in the Videocon loan case. Photo: Abhijit Bhatlekar/Mint

of price-sensitive information from the bank and the CEO allegedly not abiding by the bank’s code of conduct. Emails sent to ICICI Bank and Sebi

seeking comment on Friday went unanswered. “The show cause to Chanda Kochhar alleges that she did not adhere to the bank’s code of conduct as

(Deepak Kochhar) had a partnership with a firm owned by the promoter (Venugopal Dhoot) of Videocon group, and some of the group’s companies in turn secured loans from the bank, these disclosures should have been made as part of Sebi’s rules on LODR (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements),” said the second executive. ICICI Bank managing director and CEO Kochhar can also ask for a settlement by paying a fine and without admitting to any wrongdoing, said the second executive. “The bank can always file for consent or a settlement without admitting to any wrongdoing,” this executive said. The Economic Times reported that ICICI Bank is looking to file a consent plea with Sebi. Still, even a settlement with Sebi may not be enough for CEO Kochhar to complete her current fiveyear term. -- Live Mint

New Infosys CEO Defers Plan to Expand US Workforce

CHENNAI: Infosys Ltd’s deci-

sion to defer its plan of adding 10,000 local employees to its US workforce by May 2019 underscores analysts’ observations on the incumbent chief executive Salil Parekh’s conservative approach. Analysts say Parekh believes in setting more realistic targets, unlike his predecessor Vishal Sikka. Sikka initially set the plan to add 10,000 local employees in the US in two years, starting May 2017. Now, Infosys suggests it will take more time to increase this number. “We announced 10,000 local US hires, of which in the last 12 months we have already achieved 4,000. We have hired 800 college graduates. We have a plan to hire 1,000 graduates per year in the coming fiscal and the fiscal after that,” Parekh said at a Morgan Stanley-sponsored analyst event in Mumbai on Wednesday. He, how-

Infosys CEO Salil Parekh. Photo: Mint

ever, did not share further details. But, according to two Infosys executives, the CEO’s suggestion indicates the IT firm will realistically not meet that number before April 2020. An Infosys spokesperson referred to the firm’s recent post-earnings press conference in April, wherein

its chief operating officer U.B. Pravin Rao had indicated that the company would meet its US hiring target only by April 2020. Analysts also believe that recent developments, including the target of 7-9% dollar revenue growth in the current fiscal year, show that the company is recovering from the

turbulence of August 2017, when Sikka and former chairman R. Seshasayee were forced to quit, and co-founder Nandan Nilekani was brought in to save the day. Interestingly, the US hiring decision was not the first time that Infosys re-evaluated its near- and long-term goals following Sikka’s departure. The company had also cut down on its $20 billion revenue target by 2020, as it had put additional pressure on the company’s top executives to meet aggressive near-term goals. It had also led to the exits of at least a dozen senior executives, who were reporting to Sikka. At least one foreign analyst said that Infosys, under the new CEO, is setting more realistic targets. “We come away from our meeting with leading industry participants a bit more confident that Infy can meet targets for FY19.” -- Live Mint

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

ELHI

Gas Corp. Ltd (ONGC), which once had $4.3 billion of funds, is now bleeding cash. The state-run company’s cash reserves have shrunk by more than 90% in the past year, after it was ordered to purchase the administration’s stake in a refiner and it paid a record dividend. ONGC’s reserves dropped to about Rs1,000 crore as on 31 March from nearly Rs13,000 crore a year earlier, according to data complied by Bloomberg. ONGC’s largest shareholder, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, has been tapping state-run companies including India’s biggest energy explorer to bridge its fiscal deficit. That’s left the company with depleting cash at a time when it has been ordered to boost investment to help cut the nation’s crude imports. ONGC paid Rs 42,600 crore last fiscal year as dividend to the government and to buy its stake in the refiner. “ONGC is heavily leveraged now,” Aloke Kumar Banerjee, the company’s former finance head, said in an interview. “It’s important for exploration companies to have sizable cash balance as buffer. It’s a high-risk business.” The energy explorer’s shares have fallen 17% from a January high. They dropped as much as 0.6% at 9:51 am in Mumbai, while the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex gained 0.4%. The company’s spokesman declined to comment on its falling cash levels.


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PM Modi, Pak President Mamnoon Hussain Shake Hands at SCO Summit

QINGDAO (China): Amid frosty

bilateral relationship, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain on Sunday exchanged pleasantries after a press conference by the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The two leaders shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at the end of the media briefing which was addressed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. China is the host and chair of the SCO. Modi and Hussain were among the leaders who attended the media briefing after culmination of the 18th SCO summit where India and Pakistan participated as full-fledged members. The relations between India and Pakistan had strained after an attack on an army camp in Uri by Pakistan-based terror organisations

in 2016. The ties took a severe hit post-sentencing of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav by a military court in April last year. India had also boycotted the 19th SAARC Summit after the Uri attack. The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet. The Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir has also witnessed escalation of hostilities. India has been raising the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in various multilateral forums with an aim to build pressure on Islamabad to dismantle the terror infrastructure operating from that country. Modi held nearly half a dozen bilateral meetings with leaders of other SCO countries. However, there was no bilateral meeting between Modi and Hussain. In his address at the summit, Modi,

while referring to situation in Afghanistan, talked about challenge of terrorism and its effects. In his address, President Hussain exuded confidence that the upcoming general elections in his country will further bolster economic stability in Pakistan.

He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has boosted Pakistan’s economy. India has been strongly opposing the CPEC as it goes through Pakistanoccupied Kashmir. -timesofindia.com

Nawaz, JI Deny Receiving Funds from ISI in 1990

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ister Nawaz Sharif and the Jamaat-iIslami denied on Saturday that they had received funds out of Rs140 million dished out by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in 1990 for creating the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad to prevent Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party from winning general elections. A reply filed on behalf of Mr Sharif stated that he had never received Rs3.5m from former director general of the ISI retired Lt Gen Asad Durrani or from any of his representatives as donation to spend on the election campaign in the 1990 elections. In 1996 Tehreek-i-Istiqlal leader Asghar Khan had filed a petition in the Supreme Court, requesting it to look into allegations that the ISI had financed many politicians in the 1990 elections by dishing out Rs140m. In response to the petition, Mr Durrani had submitted an affidavit giving details of the amount he had authorised on the alleged directive of former army chief Aslam Beg to be paid to a number of politicians. Mr

Sharif’s name also featured among the recipients of the funds. On June 6, a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had sought written replies from those who were named in the list of Mr Durrani for receiving funds. In response, Mr Sharif on Saturday filed the reply through his counsel Munawar Iqbal Duggal to deny that he had received Rs3.5m from the former ISI chief and Rs2.5m from Younus Habib, the former chief executive of the now defunct Mehran Bank. The reply stated that Mr Sharif had already got his statement recorded on Oct 14, 2015 before the inquiry committee constituted in the Federal Investigation Agency headquarters in Islamabad in compliance with the court’s earlier judgement. Likewise Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq in his reply rejected the allegation that his party had received donations during the 1990 elections. Mr Haq stated that he was ready to join any commission or investigation to be conducted on the instructions of the Supreme Court, the reply said. After the court proceedings, when retired Gen Aslam Beg was asked by Dawn whether he had attended any FIA inquiry, he replied in the negative but hastened to add that he would appear before any such inquiry whenever called. The former army chief chose not to respond when asked about Mr Sharif’s stand that he had not received any funds. -dawn.com

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

Stork with Bottleneck Around its Beak Spotted in Najafgarh

The birders had given up hope and today was supposed to be the last day of the search.

Since Friday morning, a search for

the “near-threatened” category bird has been on in Basai wetland, Najafgarh and Sultanpur area. At 5:55 pm, two birders in the Najafgarh area spotted the blacknecked stork that was photographed on Thursday evening with a bottleneck around its beak. Since Friday morning, a search for the “nearthreatened” category bird has been on in Basai wetland, Najafgarh and Sultanpur area. “We have informed Vivek Saxena who is the Chief conservator of forests, Haryana, as well as the District Forest officer. Their team is at the site and they are sitting 100 metres away from the bird,” said senior birder Pankaj Gupta. According to the two birders present at the site, “the bird tried to open its beak to eat something but dropped it…it’s been able to drink a little water. This mean it’s not as weak as we thought it would be. It can fly and that means, if we approach it, it might fly away.” The birders had given up hope and today was supposed to be the last day of the search. The rescue operation to remove the plastic bottleneck from the bird’s beak is still on, and in case the agencies don’t manage to rescue it today. the search for it will continue tomorrow. -indianexpress.com

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