Friday, July 01 2016 | Vol. 35, No. 27
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Indo American News
www.indoamerican-news.com Published weekly from Houston, TX
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21 Charities Funded by IACF We Live Here, We Give Here
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July 01, 2016
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COMMUNITY
July 01, 2016
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The Star Promoter Brushes with Fame @ IIFA-2016 BY VANSHIKA VIPIN
HOUSTON: Rajender Singh, a
notable bigwig amongst the Bollywood fraternity is also a household name in Houston. What started with a humble beginning in Rajasthan, India, catapulted him to the position of a reputable magnate in the entertainment industry. As the President of Star Promotions Inc., Rajender considers himself fortunate to have brought over 95 local major shows and 10 international shows to cities across North America. This head honcho has several accolades by his side, the ‘Unforgettable’ show that teamed up the Bachchan family, the memorable ‘SLAM’ with King Khan, the Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta starring ‘Mera Who Matlab Nahi Tha’, that ended amidst thunderous applause and this years Vishal-Shekhar show and the captivating historical hit ‘Chanakya’, amongst several others. Rajender has a success story in enthralling audiences with the spellbinding magic of Indian cinema. His success stories coupled with his strong charismatic presence in Bollywood has helped him represent Houston at the IIFA Awards. The 17th International Indian Film Academy Awards, honoring both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in Bollywood, was held in Madrid, the political, economic and cultural centre of Spain, from 23-26 June. Most of the Bollywood biggies who walked through the green carpet were elated to be welcomed by Rajender. Rajender, who has been like family to many of these stars, greeted and conversed with them, sharing some happy moments and laugh riots between him and few of the celebs. But on meeting his old friend Sanjay Dutt, Rajender did get a bit emotional. Apparently Sanjay Dutt has been a huge support to Rajender and it was heart warming to hear about what came across as a union of two long lost brothers. In a conversation with Rajender, he couldn’t contain his excitement while sharing his experience of IIFA. He was overwhelmed with the love and affection he got from everyone, including the force behind IIFA, the Founder-Director, Andre Timmins. He was accorded special privileges with an ‘All Ac-
cess’ pass, which was only granted to five people. Through the shows, Andre ensured that Rajender was seated next to him and the stars. The super stars rocked through the night and Rajender was floored with the thrilling performance of Salman Khan and Deepika Padukone. The energy levels of Tiger
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Shroff almost tempted him to put his dancing shoes on. Rajender then met Karan Johar and Parineeti Chopra and briefly discussed about their upcoming show Dream Team, to be held in August, Houston being the first city of the tour. The much-anticipated tour, the big enchilada, the ‘Dream Team’ is a mega star studded event which promises to bring an evening full of music and entertainment featuring many of Bollywood’s aces and superstars. Katrina Kaif, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, Karan Johar, Aditya Kapoor, Badshah, and Parineeti Chopra are sure to mesmerize and stun you with their performances to be held on August 12, at Toyota Centre, Houston. For sponsorship details of forthcoming shows call Rajender Singh at 281-222-4500 or log on to www.StarPromotionInc.com
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July 01, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
July 01, 2016
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IACF Funds 21 Charities Serving Local Houston Community BY VANSHIKA VIPIN
SUGAR LAND: For the past three
decades the Indo-American Charity Foundation (IACF) has been receiving generous support from the philanthropic community in Houston, in the genres of Education, Family, General needy and Healthcare. IACF’s motto, ‘We live here We give here’, is being justified in true sense, where they foster the local community by not only taking care of their basic needs but also ensuring they lead enriched lives. Thursday, June 23, witnessed one such milestone when IACF organized the annual IACF-2016 Funds Distribution Event at the Madras Pavilion. The event started at 7 pm with a networking session where delicious appetizers were served. It followed with the welcome address by Dr. Vanitha Pothuri, President Elect, IACF, welcoming the coalition. Shortly thereafter, Nanda Vura, President, IACF, embraced the event. In his address speech he mentioned that this year IACF has funded 21 charities from the four genres that have been their focus, Education, Family, General needy and Healthcare. A few of these were new and emerging charity foundations. Nanda seemed ecstatic when he mentioned that this event truly demonstrated the essence of IACF’s vision, ‘We Live Here We Give Here’. The gathering itself was infact a huge compliment to this vision and went on to support its underlying motto. People were glad to know about the new and expanded vision of IACF. This vision epitomized on giving more to the charities they support by making available the services of the newly constituted auxiliary committee that includes volunteers, technical experts amongst several others. Nanda earnestly requested the charities to involve IACF in their programs and give them an opportunity to serve and support. Nanda also took this opportunity to thank their charity partners, valuable donors, community and corporate leaders for making IACF- 2016 Funds Distribution Event a Grand Success. The presentation of grants was then initiated, with Dr. Vanitha inviting the representatives from each of the recipient organizations. The community and corporate leaders oh Houston presented checks to these organizations. In her vote of thanks, Dr. Vanitha recited a poem, called Compassion, which exemplified the main cause behind this event.
Nanda Vura
Photos: Roy Photography
As delectable meal was being savored at dinner, people also rejoiced to the enchanting melodies by Mahalaxmi and Krishna, who thoroughly entertained everyone with their amusing performance. It was truly an awe-inspiring evening; an evening to Learn, Get Inspired & Motivated with the remarkable work that IACF has been doing. Such a stupendous evening it was that it left everyone in high spirits and so looking forward to the next event- the ‘IACF-2016 Gala, After the Monsoon when charity Blossoms’, which will be hosted at the Stafford Center on September 30, 2016. Ramesh Cherivirala with Rajesh Dikonda(right)
Krishna and Mahalaxmi
IACF’s Charity Partners: Indian American Cancer Network, Literacy Advance, Indian Doctors Charity Clinic, PEACE - (Parent Engagement for Active Child Enrichment), KNOW Autism Foundation, Indian Senior Citizens Association, AVANCE
Dr. Vanitha Pothuri
Houston Inc, YLDP Houston Youth Leadership Development Program, iEducate USA, SEARCH (in kind), Asians Against Domestic Abuse, Richmond State School, REACH Unlimited, Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Turning Point Center, Fort Bend Women’s Center, Daya, Friends Helping Friends, Naomi House, Ovarcome, PAIR (Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees.
For photo collage, see page 15
Indo American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly every Friday (for a subscription of $40 per year) by IndoAmerican News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036., tel: 713-789-6397, fax:713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Indo American News,7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036
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COMMUNITY
July 01, 2016
A Skit and Slides Tells the Story of Bitter Migration, Lest Others Forget BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA
HOUSTON: Around the time the
United States was struggling with the practice of slavery that brought about the Civil War in 1860, a new form of slavery – indentured labor – had established itself in British Guyana in South America. The abolition of slavery and emancipation on May 5, 1838 in the British West Indies, saw the beginning of the indentured labor system, under which many illiterate laborers were brought in from another part of the vast British Empire – India. At that time, the British were at the zenith of their Empire, stretching all across the globe which led to the phrase “the Sun never sets on the British Empire”, but they needed hardworking people who could tolerate the harsh conditions under which many of the crops in the Colonies were grown. Between 1835 and 1918, 341,600 indentured laborers from India were imported into British Guyana. Although there were also Chinese migrants in Guyana, the British considered them not suitable for working in plantations and so the preference was towards the Indian workers. During roughly the same period, from 1879 to 1916, 60,965 laborers on 42 ships in 87 voyages left from Calcutta and Madras for Fiji; 143,939 came to Trinidad; in Ja-
The Sanathan Dharam Mandir located off South Post Oak on Players Road
The President of SDM, Vishal Chattor with the Public Relations Officer Ram Sharma (left).
A skit was performed showing how the Indians were tricked into going across the waters and later, after their arrival, mistreated by British agents
maica 36,412; Grenada 3,033; St. Vincent 2,472; St. Lucia 4,354; and St. Kitts 337. Of the French colonies (now Overseas Depart-
ments) Martinique received 25, 509; Guadeloupe 45, 844 and French Guiana 19, 276. Suriname, while under Dutch rule, imported
a total of 35, 501 immigrants. And many more went to all over Africa, South Africa, the islands of Mauritius, Maldives and Reunion
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
and those in the South Pacific. Altogether, more than 2 to 3 million CONTINUED ON PAGE
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July 01, 2016
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COMMUNITY
July 01, 2016
Greater Houston Rath Yatra at Discovery Green, July 9
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Celebrate the Greater Houston Rath Yatra, with a fabulous Parade of Indian Chariots, Cultural Dances, Music, Bazaar and Street Foods at Discovery Green on July 9, from 6-10 PM. Rath Yatra which originated thousands of years ago in Puri, India, will be celebrated on a grand scale in this 4th annual parade of three giant chariots through several blocks between Discovery Green and the Toyota Center, along with refreshing Indian Grand Bazaar, Vegetarian Street Foods, Cultural Dances and Music. The event is free and open to the public. Over five thousand Houstonians will participate, including many Hindu Devotees who believe that by pulling the chariots by hand, they will receive the blessings of Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Lord of the Universe. Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Subhadra will be in their chariots drawn through the streets of Downtown Houston. The Rath Yatra is traditionally held in the city of Puri in the state of Orissa on the second day of the ‘Shukla paksh’ or the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashad translating loosely to early July. In Ancient times, only the higher castes could even enter the temple to see the deities. But once a year on this auspicious day, the statues of the three deities were taken out of the Puri temple and led in a procession to the Gundichamata’s temple where all people could experience the Holy Appearance or “Darshan.” Traditionally, the deities stay for about nine days, and another return Bahuda Rath Yatra ensues. Over five thousand devotees will sing and dance through the streets of Houston
The SKAI (Surya Kabita Amlan Ishan) Foundation established in 2007 has been instrumental in bringing this piece of Hindu tradition to the city of Houston for now this Fourth Annual Greater Houston Rath Yatra. SKAI has commissioned construction and shipment of huge chariots and grand deities, and annually underwrites the full event production which is managed by Masala Radio and Masala Entertainment. ISKCON of Houston directs the religious and cultural aspects of the event, from the poojari’s (priests leading the prayers), kirtans (devotional singing and dancing) groups for the parade, prasad (food first offered to the Lord), and the Maha Aarti. This year, SKAI Foundation has broken ground on their CHAR DHAM HINDU TEMPLE in the Woodlands. Visit www.GreaterHoustonRathYatra.org for their insights on the historical significance of the Rath Yatra, pictures and videos of the previous year’s festivals, and details about the upcoming one-of-its-kind temple. Festival of India is presented by STAR PLUS, India’s leading Hindi Entertainment Channel, along with Tara Energy and Mercedes Benz of Sugar Land. The event starts at 6.00 PM with opening prayers and stage entertainment. Parade will run from 7PM to 8PM, ending with a Maha Arti at the Main Stage. Cultural Show will run non-stop until 10 PM emceed by Iskcon’s Krishna Krupa Das and Masala Radio’s Sunil Thakkar; live concert by NamRock, and music by DJ Zee. For more information about the Festival of India at Discovery Green, please visit houstonindiafestival.com and greaterhoustonrathyatra.org. To sponsor, volunteer, or participate contact events@masalaradio. com or call 281-277-MUSIC.
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COMMUNITY
July 01, 2016
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2-Day Celebrations in Houston for the 2nd International Yoga Day
HOUSTON:
Houston recognized by its iconic NASA and Johnson Space Center representing the finest of human endeavor was the first choice venue for the Second International Yoga Day celebrations for the incoming Consul General of India in Houston , Anupam Ray whose vison was to connect the timeless science of Yoga from India with the best of modern-science and technology. However, Discovery Green was chosen for the celebrations that took place on June 21. It was a well-attended multiracial and colorful celebrations at the Discovery green park at downtown Houston on the actual International Yoga Day (21 June). Renowned yogi Robert Boustany from Pralaya Yoga Creator was joined by Vishwarupa, Director, VYASA Houston and Lindsey Law, yoga teacher and disciple of Boustany, who conducted the Yoga session. On Sunday, June 26, several hundred Yoga enthusiasts and practitioners rolled out their colorful mats early morning, to work on their inner engineering for calmness, clarity and health as part of the second International Yoga Day celebrations at NASA. Shekhar Agrawal, President of Patanjali Yoga Peeth US, addressed the gathering and shared his observation that Yoga takes care of our hardware – the body
Representatives from various organizations at Discovery Green on Tuesday, June 21. From left: Shekhar Agrawal (Master of Ceremony / Patanjali Yoga Peeth), Robert Boustany (Pralay Yoga & Main Instructor), Vipin Kumar (India House), Murad Ajani (Agakhan Council), Thara Narsimhan (Sanatan Hindu Center), Rajiv Bhavsar (India Culture Center), Saheen Vora ( Indian Muslim of Greater Houston), Gita Bhatia (Art of Living), Jennifer Buergermeister (Texas Yoga ), Jugal Malani (Patanjali Yoga Peeth), Swatantra Jain (JVB Preksha Meditation), Anupam Ray ( Consulate General of India, Houston), Pankaj Desai (Ekal Vidyalay Foundation), Durga Agrawal (Agrawal Association), Anuja Deshpande (Sewa International USA), Lakshmi Narayana Kruella (Hindu Swayam Sewak Sangh), Madhukar Adi (VYASA), Partha Krishnaswamy ( Hindus of Greater Houston), Arvind (ISHA), and Suresh Patel (Gujarati Samaj of Houston). Photos: DroneforceStudios
and our software – the mind and makes it virus free. Consulate General of India, Houston, Anupam Ray, a practicing yogi himself welcomed all and thanked the 15 plus organizations and volunteers who “worked so hard to make the event successful without expecting anything in return.” Brother Mark , from the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center in Houston who has been practicing
yoga for 25 years led the gathering in a brief meditation practice “to harness the power of the mind” and set it in a powerful consciousness so as to get the maximum benefit from the day’s yoga practice. The Director of SVYASA, USA Sri. Vishwarupa along with four other yoga instructors directed the Yoga sessions which included several asanas such as tadaasana, vrikshasan, padahastasana, ardhachakrasana and suryanamaskar.
He emphasized the importance of synchronizing breath with the body movements and fusing insights about the instant benefits of yoga. Vishwarupa ji concluded the 45 minute session with some pranayama practices. The event ended with the recitation of a mantra from the Upanishad which sought blessings for happiness and peace and freedom from illness and suffering. “It is our pleasure to bring to-
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
gether a large number of diverse Houstonians and institutions for celebrating the second International Day of Yoga in a befitting manner,” said Anupam Ray, Consul General of India in Houston. Being a Yoga practitioner myself, I encourage all Houstonians to perform Yoga and actively participate in these events with interactive Yoga sessions to spread the CONTINUED ON PAGE
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COMMUNITY
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July 01, 2016
JVB Center & Sewa USA Jointly Organize High School Course Selection Workshop
GAURI SIDDHIVINAYAK TEMPLE
For Any Ceremony Contact Pradip Pandya 832 466 9868 Email: pradippandya2000@yahoo.com
HOUSTON: As part of commu-
nity outreach and their vision of serving the local community, two prominent organizations, Sewa International & JVB Preksha Center, on June 18th jointly organized a workshop called “Navigating the High School- Course Selection & Beyond”. The workshop was organized to help middle and junior high school students and their parents. The objective of this 1-hour workshop was to give insight into 4 years of high school course selection process and help maximize their options to better prepare for college and future career pathways. JVB’s Pyramid Hall, where the workshop was held,
was packed with over 125 parents and students. Anuradha Nigam was the distinguished speaker. She is the Department Head and Lead Guidance Counselor at Clements High School in Sugarland, TX. She brings with her 18+ years of rich experience in guiding students in graduation requirements and counseling them for social, educational and psychological needs. JVB President, Seema Jain was the Emcee of the program. She welcomed the community members with a short speech and gave the overview of the workshop. On behalf of her entire EC Team, she also welcomed and introduced the members of Sewa International, Sachin
Dabir, Kavita Tiwari, Rajeshri Jaiswal, and Anuradha Nigam. Sachin Dabir gave a brief presentation of the inspiring work done by Sewa International in different fields and encouraged people to attend and participate in these events. Rajeshri Jaiswal invited Nigam on the podium. Nigam opened up the session with a visual presentation on how the high school course selection system works. She covered various aspects such as the extra activities to focus on in different grades in their high school career, grading system, GPA, choosing the right levels, AP VS Dual credit, endorsements, Graduation program overview, and college entrance exams etc. Her presentation included an informational timeline for students and parents highlighting how to maximize student’s potential to receive scholarships, grants and other forms of merit-aid; Importance of PSAT & PACT tests and how colleges value them; and what the more selective colleges really want to see on a student’s application. She highlighted that making the right choice from the start results in more positive outcomes for students and financial savings for parents.
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12 July 01, 2016 “IT HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA”
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A Skit and Slides Tells the Story of Bitter Migration, Lest Others Forget CONTINUED FROM PAGE
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Cell: 832-878-4338 Tel: 713-545-4749 shobajoshi999@gmail.com The simple temple has a large collection of idols depicting many gods and goddesses.
Indians were taken overseas as indentured laborers and then their later generations settled in and became a significant part of the fabric of the country. For many of these people – especially in Fiji, Guyana, Suriname and the West Indies - May 5 commemorates the anniversary of arrival of the first immigrants to the countries and is called Girmit Day after the term the illiterate peasants used for the English word “agreement” under which they came. Many were recruited under false pretenses from among the poor countryside of modern day Uttar Pradesh and Bihar by Indian and sometimes British agents who promised them an easy life “sifting sugar”. Once on board the ships, many of them died due to sickness and overcrowding – many had never seen the ocean before – and often by committing suicide by jumping overboard. After three months on ship, they landed and were given a number and an easy to pronounce English name. It was just this story of being duped to sign up and go across the Black Waters (kala pani) that the amateur actors at the Sanatan Dharam Mandir portrayed (as Tara Chatarpal narrated) for a room full of people, mostly from Guyana, and their children at the Indian Arrival Day program held this past Sunday, June 26 at the temple on Players Road in South Houston. There were also other dances and activities in the main hall, one side of which also doubles as the temple altar with idols arranged in three rows. The event started in early morning and ended at noon with prasad (religious offerings) and lunch. Organized by the temple, the program featured early morning puja; breakfast; a devotional hour; INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
followed by a Song of Indenture by Shomie Ramprasad, Ram Sharma and Jasodra Sharma; dances by three young kids and presentation of awards. In between, SDM President Vishal Chattor dressed in a white kurta, dhoti and Gandhi cap spoke about the significance of the day and Public Relations Officer Ram Sharma in a kurta-pajama and loosely wrapped white turban emceed the event. Dr. Prahalad Ramcharan, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Chiropractic College gave a slide presentation on the origin of Girmit Day and the horrors and travails the laborers had to endure. Vipin Kumar, the Executive Director of India House, was an honored guest who spoke about what he had learnt at the program and invited the audience to visit his facility on West Bellfort. Pandit Sase made the closing remarks. And through the slideshow and skit, the sadness and despair of their forefathers who lived it came through for the people and children who sat on the carpet and listened. It brought out how clueless the poor, illiterate people who endured the terrible voyage by ship only to find brutal conditions in the fields where they had to work for endless hours for a shilling (about $2) a day, 6 days a week. “It was nothing short of slavery,” said one Guyanese man at lunch. Alone, angry and frustrated, these people were tortured but one thing they nurtured was their religion, finding solace in the Gita and Ramayana. It is their Hinduism that endured through the centuries and held them together in temples, just like at the SDM and another temple in Katy mostly frequented by Fijian Hindus.
COMMUNITY
July 01, 2016
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Nrityanjali: A Unique Offering of Indian Classical Dances (Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra – 2016)
HOUSTON:
Orissa Culture Center (OCC) in collaboration with Sri Sitaram Foundation is all set for celebrating the ninth chariot festival in Houston on July 9, at the India House, 8888 W Bellfort Blvd., Houston, TX 77031. Dance as an art form has been an integral part of temple worships and rituals in India for thousands of years. Nowhere is it more pronounced than the temple of Lord Jagannath in Puri, Orissa. The Mahari dance tradition in Puri temple dates back to over a thousand year. The Maharis or the temple dancers were also called the “Devadasis” or the servants of the Lord Jagannath. The classical dance form of Odissi finds its root in this Devadasi tradition. Similar is the case with many other classical dance forms from other parts of India. One of the main objectives of OCC is to promote the classical dance and music from India. OCC has been presenting eminent artists of dance and music from here in Houston and India for last eight years during the annual Chariot Festival. This year OCC is proud to present “Nrityanjali”, an offering of Indian classical dances, presented by dance schools in Odisha and Houston. The classical dances include Bharat Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Odissi from differ-
ent schools in Houston. Most notable among these presentations are the two Odissi dance troupes from Odisha called “Adruta” and “Ananta”. “Adruta” is a unit of the RAWA (Art for Service and Blessedness) and has the sole objective of nurturing deserted and deprived children to gain excellence in the art of dance. Prominent among the dance schools participating are the Anjali School of dance (Founding Director Dr. Rathna Kumar), Natya Upasana Dance Academy (Founding Director Uma Nagarseth), Abhinaya School of Performing Arts (Founding Director Indrani Parthasarathy) and Kalangan School of Dance (Founding Director Supradipta Dutta). The dance presentations include Kathak, Bharat Natyam, Odissi and Dhunuchi Naach from Bengal. The program details of the afternoon and evening hours are outlined below. 1. 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm : Odissi Dance Presentations by Adruta and Ananta, two eminent dance schools from Odisha, India 2. 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm : Chariot Pulling and Samuhika Maha Arati of Lord Jagannath 3. 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm : Nrityanjali, presentation of Indian classical dances by various dance schools of Houston followed by
free dinner for all assembled devotees. Indian traditional belief system surrounding fine arts such as classical dance and music is based on the foundation of devotion through rigorous practice towards perfecting ones’ own skills. The presentation of such fine arts after years of practice or “Sadhana” is synonymous to pleasing one’s own God. Please join the festival of Rath Yatra – 2016 and experience the mastery of skills presented by the artists of specific art forms. Celebration of this festival is possible by generous support and sponsorship of participating organizations and individuals. For sponsorship and other details please visit www.houstonrathyatra.org. The event is partially funded by a grant from Houston City Arts Alliance. Please stay tuned for further details to be published soon. For information, please visit www.houstonrathyatra.org or call 832-225-2376 or e-mail at info@houstonrathyatra.org. You may connect on https://www.facebook.com/HoustonRathYatra
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The entire presentation was extremely informational, educational, and inspirational and audience was very engaged and interested throughout. JVB Board member, Pramod Bengani also gave a brief presentation and highlighted the mission and vision of JVB Preksha Center towards Houston Community. The session ended with an interactive round of Q & A with curious students as well as parents from all corners. After her presentation, Nigam stayed past her time to discuss and answer specific
questions from audience and even did a one- on- one consulting with individual families. In closing, Seema Jain did the vote of thanks. She appreciated the time and efforts of all the attendees. She also recognized Sewa International’s Vice President, Arun Kankani for his guidance in organizing this workshop. If you would like to receive a copy of the presentation, please email Anuradha Nigam @ nigam. anuradha@gmail.com or Sachin Dabir @ dabirsa@gmail.com INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
14 July 01, 2016
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July 01, 2016
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See article on page 5 INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
16 July 01, 2016 Desi Media at the Houston Press Club Awards
COMMUNITY
2nd International Yoga Day CONTINUED FROM PAGE
Members of the Indian media from the Houston area were on hand for the 2016 Houston Press Club awards at Rice University on Saturday, June 25.
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA
HOUSTON: A small but signifi-
cant number of the Indian media in the Bayou City came out to show their presence at the 2016 Houston Press Club Lone Star Awards at Rice University’s Grand Hall in the Student Union Center this past Saturday, June 25. Though theirs was more of an observer status, the group of a dozen Indian-
Americans who have an interest in the media – both radio and print – mingled with the crowd at the reception and dinner, which culminated in a large number of awards in all categories for stories written by statewide journalists. The Indo American Press Club is a recently formed organization whose aim is to become a common voice to help shape the world we live in. The current 16-member
board of the IAPC is mainly from the Malayalee Keralite community, and coordinator Easo Jacob worked hard to bring other community members to the event, among them this reporter of Indo American News; Seshadri Kumar of India Herald and the Ft. Bend Independent; Shoba Joshi and her son Hiren of Geetanjali Radio show and Nik Nikam of NNN online radio. For its next event, the IAPC intends to hold a debate on the US Presidential Election on September 11 at the Old Stafford Civic Center on Constitution Avenue.
09
message of Yoga for peace and harmony,” he said. Victoria Garcia was drawn to yoga after she lost her son in a tragic road accident but observed that as a staunch Christian “yoga did not clash with her faith and in fact enhanced it. Several reasons were expressed for following Yoga. Some follow Yoga for the flexibility that it offers, some found it the best way to start the day and clear the mind while for some it just made the person “less grumpy.” Yoga is my passion and I think everyone should adopt Yoga as a lifestyle said Shaheen Vora, the joint Secretary of Indian Muslim Association of Greater Houston. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, USA’s Communications Director Sharad Amin and a key coordinator of the event recalled the week-
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
ly meetings at the CG’s office to coordinate the event and insisted that this practice will continue regardless of which Government is in power in India Sewa International, USA provided free fruits, Ekal Vidhyalaya Foundation provided water and India House provided free shirts. Art of Living, Aga Khan Council, Brahma Kumaris, Ekal Vidyalaya, Gujarati Samaj of Houston , Hindus of Greater Houston, Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh, India Culture Center, India House, ISHA Foundation , Patanjali Yog Peeth , Sanatan Hindu Center, Sewa Intl USA , VYASA , Indian Muslim Association of Greater Houston, Pralaya yoga, Texas Yoga Conference etc. were some of the organizations who joined in these celebrations Led by the Consulate of India in Houston.
COMMUNITY
The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi - Part 5
The story thus far…In South Africa, Gandhi saw how the Indians were treated as inferiors, only allowed to work the soil but not permitted to own land. Under the law enacted in the Orange Free State in 1888, Indians had been deprived of their rights. In Transvaal, they had to pay a poll tax of 3 pounds if they wanted to stay in that state. Gandhi gathered the community together and drew their awareness to the deficiencies in their statuses and advised them unite for justice. The Indians, as advised by Gandhi, now realized what was at stake but they were at a loss at to what to do. They requested Gandhi to postpone his departure and help them. He agreed to stay on for another month and organize resistance to the new bill. Late that night the Indians held a meeting at Abdulla Seth’s house under the stewardship of Seth Haji Muhammad, the most influential Indian merchant there. They resolved to oppose the Franchise Bill with all their might. Telegrams were sent to the Speaker of the Assembly and the Premier of Natal requesting them to postpone further discussion on the bill. The Speaker promptly replied that the discussion would be put off for two days. The Natal Indians then drew up a petition to the Legislative Assembly pleading against the bill. They followed up with another petition to Lord Ripon, the then Secretary of State for the Colonies. More than ten thousand Indians signed the bill. Copies of the petition were circulated in South Africa, England, and India. There was much sympathy for the Natal Indians’ plight, but the campaign had started too late to stop the bill becoming law. However, the campaign did some good. For the first time, the people of India came to know of the conditions in Natal. An even more important result was the new spirit that was now awakened with the Indians in South Africa. The Natal Indians pressed Gandhi to remain and guide them for a little longer. Gandhi told them that he was prepared to stay on if the Indian community would provide him with sufficient legal work. They gladly agreed to do this. Twenty merchants turned over all their legal business to him. When Gandhi applied for enrolment as an attorney to argue his caseload in court, the entire bar, composed of white lawyers, strongly opposed him. The Supreme Court of Natal overruled the objection, and he was allowed to practice. Soon Gandhi became one of the busiest lawyers in Durban; but to him law was a subordinate occupation. His main interest was his public work. He felt that merely sending in petitions and protests would not help
the Indians much. He felt the need to organize a sustained agitation. So he proposed the formation of a permanent organization to safeguard the interests of Indians. A meeting was called to discuss this matter. The spacious hall in Dada Abdulla’s house was packed. It was there, on that occasion that the Natal Indian Congress was formed. In 1894 the Natal Government sought to impose an annual poll tax on the indentured Indians. These were laborers who had been recruited from India on a five-year contract, but on a pittance. Under the contract they could not leave their employer. They were treated practically as slaves. These men had been taken to South Africa to help the white colonizers in agricultural work. The Indians did more than had been expected of them. They worked hard, purchased land, and started cultivating their own fields. Their enterprise did not end there. They soon built houses and raised themselves far above the status of laborers. The white people did not like this. They wanted the Indian workers to return to India at the end of the contract period. To make things much harder for them, the Government now imposed an annual poll-tax of £25. The Natal Indian Congress started a strong agitation against this. Later, at the intervention of Lord Elgin, the then Viceroy of India, the tax was reduced to £3. Still Gandhi considered it an atrocious tax, unknown anywhere else in the world. The Natal Indian Congress continued its agitation, but it was 20 years before the poll-tax was finally withdrawn. In three years in South Africa, Gandhi had become a well-known figure. And his practice was well established. He realized that he was in for a long stay. He knew that the people there wanted him with them, so in 1896 he asked their permission to go home and bring his wife and children to South Africa. Besides, a visit to India would be useful in gaining more support for the Indians in South Africa. He had arranged his work so well that he could look forward to six months’ leave. In the middle of 1896 Gandhi sailed for India, and after 24 days
July 01, 2016 landed at Calcutta. From there he went to Rajkot. It was a happy family reunion when Kasturbai welcomed him with their two sons. But the plight of the Indians in South Africa was so much on his mind that he could not be content to enjoy domestic bliss in peace. He therefore launched a campaign to acquaint the people of India with the real condition of the Indians in South Africa. He met the editors of influential newspapers and important Indian leaders, including Lokamanya B. G. Tilak, the hero of Maharashtra, and Gopal Krishna Gokhale who, like Gandhi, was already famous at the age of 27. Wherever Gandhi went, he tried to make the people aware of the lot of their compatriots in South Africa. Many newspapers published his views and strongly condemned the South African government. Summaries of these newspaper reports and comments reached South Africa long before Gandhi returned there. Meanwhile, plague broke out in Bombay and threatened to spread to neighboring areas. In Rajkot Gandhi volunteered to join a group who tried to educate the people about the need for sanitation and other measures to prevent the spread of the disease. At the end of November, however, Gandhi received an urgent message from Natal asking him to return immediately. There were some developments which required his presence there. So Gandhi set sail for South Africa once more, this time taking with him Kasturbai and their two sons and the only son of his widowed sister. However, a message reached Gandhi advising him not to land with the others but to wait until evening, as there was an angry mob of whites at the dock. Kasturbai and the children were sent to the house of Gandhi’s Parsee friend, Rustomji. Later, accompanied by Jason Laughton, the legal adviser of Dada, Abdulla & Co., Gandhi went ashore. The scene looked peaceful, but some youths recognized him and shouted, “Look, there goes Gandhi.” Soon there was a rush and much shouting. As Gandhi and his friends proceeded, the crowd began to swell until it was impossible to go any further. Suddenly Laughton was pushed aside and the mob set upon Gandhi. They pelted him with stones, sticks, bricks, and rotten eggs. Someone snatched away his turban, others kicked him until the frail figure collapsed. He clung to the railing of a house. The fury of the white mob was unabated and they continued to beat him and kick him. “Stop, you cowards,” cried a feminine voice. “Stop attacking the poor man.” It was the wife of the Superintendent of police. She came up and opened her parasol and held it between Gandhi and the crowd. This checked the mob. Soon the police arrived and dispersed the crowd. To be cntinued next week...
17
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18 July 01, 2016 Brexit Opportunity for India India’s markets seem to have, for now, shrugged off the impact of Britain’s vote to exit the European Union. The Sensex and the rupee, no doubt, fell sharply during intra-day trades on Friday, when the “Brexit” results came. Both have since recovered from those lows, so much so that the rupee has cumulatively shed only some 70 paise (one per cent) against the dollar and the Sensex about 600 points (2.2 per cent) since their Thursday close levels. That’s not so steep a drop, compared to the “Taper Tantrum” period of July-August 2013, when the rupee was the target of speculative attacks and foreign portfolio investors pulled out over $13 billion from the country’s equity and debt markets. Even yields on the benchmark 10-year government of India bonds have been stable at well below 7.5 per cent. All these reflect vastly-improved domestic macroeconomic stability between then and now. Between 2012-13 and 201516, India’s current account deficit has come down from $88.16 billion to $22.15 billion, even as average consumer price inflation has halved to 5-5.5% and there has been a return to the path of fiscal responsibility, especially under the present government. Macro-stability apart, India is also one of the few major economies still growing — by at least 5-6%, if not 7.5-8%— amidst a global slowdown. Brexit and the resultant convulsions in the EU may well impact India, both by further hurting its exports and also through lower fund flows in an overall “risk-on” global investment environment. But it could also mean an extended period of low international oil prices and the US Federal Reserve putting off a decision to hike interest rates. These, along with a further widening of the differential between India’s growth vis-à-vis those of other economies, can actually turn out to be the unintended positive consequences of Brexit. But what happens outside, for good or for bad, is something beyond any country’s control. The policymakers here should, rather, focus on getting their domestic acts right. This would require, first and foremost, sticking to fiscal prudence. There is a strong case for lowering of interest rates today, but any such policy of monetary accommodation will have to be accompanied by a credible commitment to not letting down guard on inflation. This is where the role of an independent central bank matters: The Modi government should move fast in choosing the next RBI governor, who carries the same credibility with the markets as the present one. And yes, the ruling party needs to do something to control elements from within working overtime to undermine those at the helm of both Mint Street and North Block. Countenancing such anarchy can prove costly, particularly in these troubled times. Indian Express
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Udta Punjab’s Shadow on Elections
BY NILANJAN MUKHOPADHYAY Udta Punjab will continue to hover over Punjab in the run-up to the elections early next year for two reasons. First, because of issues related to censorship prior to its judiciary-mandated release. The affair is not restricted to another episode involving a scissors-happy censor board chief. Of late, politicians in Punjab have blocked movies exploring how the state and Sikhs in general were scarred in the 1980s. Dilli 1984, depicting the true story of a ‘riot widow’, Kaum De Heere, eulogising Indira Gandhi’s assassins, and Sadda Haq, a film on a hockey player sucked into 1980s militancy, all ran into trouble with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) because one politician or another had problems with them. Second, Udta Punjab will impact the polls because its plot depicts the nexus between drug cartels, police and politicians. Many of those coming out of cinemas after watching the film will soon be voting, and they will wonder if their only choice at the hustings is between ‘fuddu’ and ‘lallu’, the proverbial devil and the deep sea. Last summer, the popularity of the Akalis had visibly dipped after allegations of a politiciancriminal-crony capital nexus and a growing farm crisis. Ironically, this was seen as a ‘welcome development’ since it provided an opportunity for the return of ‘secular’ politics in a state where religion and politics are inseparable. That was, however, short-lived due to incidents of desecration of gurdwaras. Apolitically bipolar state since 1966, Punjab saw a third entrant in the fray when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) notched up a stunning performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls despite a ‘Modi wave’ across the country. The AAP won four seats and secured almost 25%
of the vote share. It was no longer a given that power would alternate between the Akali Dal and the Congress. But right now, all three parties seem to be floundering in winning the confidence of the people. The Akalis have taken no corrective steps. Instead, they have focused on strengthening ‘extra-
Udta Punjab will impact the polls because its plot depicts the nexus between drug cartels, police and politicians. electoral’ systems that enabled them in the past to hustle voters to booths. They remain too dependent on a split in the anti-Akali vote. The Akali Dal’s core vote share of 25% should remain loyal. The party will aim to gather the rest by ‘customised means’ and from the BJP vote bank. Because of a triangular contest, the required vote share for a majority is likely to be less than it was in the past when a tally of around 40% sufficed. Till the AAP’s emergence, the Congress was the natural claimant for the anti-incumbency vote. But the party has made several wrong moves even after resolving its leadership crisis
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and installing Amarinder Singh. Singh’s image as a feudal chieftain alienates him from many people as well as from the cadre. Worse, the party’s flip-flop on Kamal Nath demonstrated indecision and fault lines in the party. If the decision had been a brazen attempt to secure the Hindu vote and leave Singh to shore up the Sikh vote, the party should have stuck to it. By backtracking, the party has risked both Sikh and Hindu votes. The fact of the matter: in today’s Punjab, ‘1984’ is not the great polariser it was. People are grappling with new issues, drug abuse being one of them. The AAP in Punjab was also afflicted by an internal crisis, with the result of an offshoot forming. This breakaway faction, however, isn’t much of a threat since there is no local face yet to lead this ‘rebel’ group’s campaign. A believer in keeping political power centralized, Arvind Kejriwal is expected to opt for the ‘Modi model’. If victorious in Punjab, he would appoint a proxy chief minister à la Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Kejriwal being a Haryanvi could also be a major put-off in Punjab. Moreover, the fact that the AAP turned out to be no different from other political parties has already stripped much of its veneer of ‘alternate politics’ as it goes into polls. Its flirtation with panthic elements is also worrisome. A decade of Akali rule has deepened multiple crises in Punjab that began with Amarinder Singh’s tenure as chief minister between 2002 and 2007. With little hope of a real alternative, voters may well have to make do by humming the haunting lines of poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi, poignantly used in Udta Punjab: Ikk kudi jihda naam mohabbat/ gum hai, gum hai, gum hai. (A girl whose name is love/ is missing, is missing, is missing. Economic Times
COMMUNITY
July 01, 2016
Sewa ASPIRE: Lego Drive
HOUSTON:SewaInternationalheldaLEGO
Drive at the Texas Robotics Invitational on Saturday, June 25, held at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory High School. Abhishek Routray, a mechanical engineering student at U.T. Austin and Sewa intern, set up a booth at the robotics competition to collect LEGO toys for the children Sewa works with. Routray was able to collect several thousand pieces worth of LEGOs that ranged from full sets to spare parts. The toys collected will be used to introduce the refugee and immigrant children that Sewa works with to robotics and coding concepts. The Sewa interns have dedicated their summer to planning and executing an interactive and educative math and science curriculum. The lesson plans include experiments the children can assemble in class, competitions, and videos. As one of the summer curriculum coordinators, Routray decided that using LEGOs in class would be an ingenious way of awakening an interest in science, “Based off of the science experiments we have already done, I know they will really enjoy all the activities we have planned for them; and I can’t wait to see what their imaginations make of the LEGO sets.” Besides implementing a new STEM curriculum at Sewa, the interns are also helping the children improve their English speaking skills, and creating a mentorship program for them. The mentors are immigrant and refugee professionals who talk to the kids about their experiences upon their arrival to the U.S. and how they have succeeded. ASPIRE tutorials is Sewa International’s flagship afterschool program that runs in Los Arcos and San Marcos apartments in South West Houston. The program is supported by the Harris county department of education,State Fram NeighbourhoodAssist Grant, San Marcos owners,Subhash Sreeram and Shonali Majumdar, Brays Oaks Management District director Richard Rodriguez and Council Man Larry Green of District K Sewa Houston is one of thirty-eight Sewa branches located within the United States. For over ten years Sewa Houston has been part of a larger international movement which aims to serve humanity irrespective of religion, gender or nationality. Sewa Houston aims to help those most disadvantaged within its local community with programs focused on refugee empowerment, public health outreach, and improving the education of immigrant and refugee students. Sewa is dedicated to the ideal of “Service above Self”.
An Aspire Students at San Marcos ASPIRE center, learning all about growing plants
The Sewa Houston Summer 2016 interns
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20 July 01, 2016
COMMUNITY
T.N.Krishnan: A Legendary Musician Spanning Two Generations BY VATSA KUMAR
HOUSTON:As a young boy I have
listened to Shri. Krishnan when he was just appearing in the Bangalore music scene as an accompanying artist to stalwarts such as Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Alathur Brothers and the like. That was also the time when Sri M.S. Goplakrishnan, Sri. Lalgudi Jayaraman and Sri. T. Chowdaiah were recognized as established artists. Over a period of time, I had the good fortune of meeting many of these great artists in concerts, but it took me almost six decades to meet Shri Krishnan and more interestingly listen to his live concert right here in Houston. The wait was well worth it because his daughter Viji Krishnan Natarajan and son Sriram Krishnan, who are also the senior most students of Prof. Krishnan were accompanying their guru and father in the concert. This was an unexpected joy to me and my prayers answered after decades of prayers and waiting. The legendary trio performed at the Stafford Center on June 12, under the banner of Classical Arts Society Houston, a torch bearer that brings exceptional quality of music concerts to the music lovers of Houston. Pouring down rain and winds sweeping across the town did not deter the music enthusiastic audience who attended this concert. While I do not want to list every one of the items presented by
the artists, I would just like to confine myself to share my personal experience of this concert. Starting the concert in a traditional parampara of invocation to Lord Ganesha in raga Chakravaka, Sri Krishan carefully picked every composition that he presented. Sri Tyagaraja’s Nada Thanu mani Sham in Chitta Ranjani and Sadashiva Bramhendrar’s Manasa sanchara re in raga Sama, descended like a meandering gentle river, and in contrast Raghu Vamsha Sudha in Kadana Kuthuhala, came down like a high velocity train. This was an item where one could notice the nimble fingers of the artists fluently run with great ease, speed and accuracy. It was also noticeable that every kalpana swaram by Viji Krishnan or Sriram Krishnan was picked up
by Sri Krishan who would then return it embellished and improvised. I could not help observe that he would carefully watch that his students are strictly adhering to his tradition and maintain the pristine quality of music he is known to deliver. Muthu Swamy Deekshithar’s ‘Meenakshi ‘mey mudam dehi’ in raga Poorvi Kalyani was an apt inclusion at this concert, paying rich tribute to Sri Meenakshi, presiding deity at the Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland. Ragam, thanam and pallavi with Shanmukhapriya as the anchor ragam, brought out yet another facet of Sri Krishan’s extraordinary quality of music. Bowing technic during the thanam presentation was captivating. Starting the raga in the thara stayi is rarely adopted in concerts but that was the uniqueness of Krishnan’s
concert. Several ragas such as kapi, sindhubhairavi, shahana and others added richness to this segment of the concert. This high energy, mufti faced concert gently slowed down with a thillana in rag jonepuri followed by a short piece in madhyamavathi. Sri. Nanda Kumar on the mridangam and Sri. Chandrasekara Sharma on the ghatam helped in keeping the concert in check. It was nice to see artists from two generations coming together to provide this well blended concert. It is said that Sri Krishnan is one of the few instrumentalists who can provide an unique experience to listeners and create in their minds nostalgic memories of a bygone era. Truly this was also my own experience. Born in Kerala, Sri. Krishnan was a Professor of Music at a music col-
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
lege in Chennai and later, Dean of the School of Music and Fine Arts at the University of Delhi. T N Krishnan’s sister N Rajam is a famous violin player in Hindustani tradition. Krishnan was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1974 and became a fellow of the academy in 2006. He received the Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1980. Krishnan was awarded the Padma Shri in 1973 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992 by the Government of India. He received the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award for the year 1999 given by The Indian Fine arts Society, Chennai. We wish Sri. Krishnan long life and good health so he can continue to enrich the world of music with his charming violin playing for many more years.
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Mama’s Punjabi Recipes
Gajar Da Murabba (Carrot Preserves) C
arrots are one of the few vegetables that can be cooked in many ways: as a pickle, pulped as a juice, as a spicy dish with peas or methi (fenugreek) or sweet as a pudding or halwa and even as murabba or preserves. Although it is often served as halwa in most Indian restaurants, few people in the US know the taste of carrots as a pickle or as murabba. Gajar da murabba can be served sweet (as in this recipe) or sweet and sour like a pickle or condiment to any dish. In North India, carrots can be found in many colors and shapes, mostly black, red, orange and white, each of which have their own taste and cooking methods. The gajar da murabba is usually made with red or orange ones. Of course, as we all know, carrots are good for you. They contain almost no starch but have 7 per cent free sugars and get their bright orange color from beta-carotene which is partly metabolized into Vitamin A which is essential for good vision. Carrots are also thought to have anti-aging and cancer prevention properties. But due to their high sugar content, carrots - and certainly not this recipe are not recommended for people with elevated sugar levels or diabetics!
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Ingredients: • 2 lbs or 1 kilo lal gajar (red car rots) • 1/2 gallon or 2 liters pani (water) • 8 cups or 1 kilo chinni (sugar) • 1 tsp illachi dana (cardamom seeds)
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Directions: 1. Peel the carrots, rinse in cold water and then cut them in half and slice lengthwise into 2 or 3 inch pieces. 2. Place in a large pot of water, cover with a lid and let it boil over high heat for 10 minutes. 3. Take the pot off the heat and remove the carrots, but keep the water. Let the carrots cool off on a plate. When they are cool, prick each piece with a fork to allow the syrup to soak in later. 4. Add the sugar into the water and place the pot back on stove over high heat and bring to a boil to make the syrup. 5. Add the carrots and the illachi dana to the syrup and reduce the heat to medium. When the syrup turns thicker and stringy, turn the heat off and let the contents cool off.
6. When it is cool to touch, scoop the contents into glass containers. You can store this for a long time in the fridge and use like jam.
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 (since renamed Faisalabad), India 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 mid-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share some of her delectable Punjabi recipes.
MAMA’S TIP OF THE WE EK TIPS ON STOR ING AND USING
RAISINS Many Indian dish es use raisins, if th e chef wants to, su in biryanis and som ch as e da halwa (cream of snacks, and certainly in sweets like su ji wheat pudding) an d vermicelli). Indian s love them texture sewiyan (sweetened of raisins and the sw and sour flavoring ee it gives to food. O ften, during Diwali t Eid, raisins and ot and her dry foods are on sale as there is a hi demand for them. gh
But often people forget how to store raisins (and other fruits) once the ne dry ed closed container in is over. Always store them in a tight ly a cool place, prefer ably the fridge, so they stay fresh long that er. When you need to out for half an ho ur or, if they are ha use the raisins, take rdened, soak in w water for 10 minut arm es, towel before using. drain and then let them dry on a pape r
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Raman Raghav: Atomospheric but Hollow
BY SHUBRA GUPTA
That cops and crooks are basically two sides of the same coin is a familiar schtick played out in the movies. That’s what Raman Raghav 2.0, fashioned as a psychological thriller, sets out to do and leaves us with a film that becomes a tough trudge, not just because of its sheer bestiality, but because its road to perdition is rocky. Ramanna (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) hunts and kills. He uses a metal rod to bash his victims’ skull in, leaving behind mashed bones and blood. Is that graphic enough for you? The film doesn’t stint on these details, and you watch with mounting horror the relentless violencebeingunleashed on screen: What kind of man is capable of advancing upon a harmless innocent with murder in his heart? Raghavan (Vicky Kaushal) does the same. His awareness that he is a policeman entrusted with keeping crime and criminals at bay lies buried under the substance he uses and abuses. He comes across the same way with his girlfriend (Shobhita
Dhulipala): There is marked roughness and a lack of respect and a take-itor-leave-it attitude that colours their relationship. The film is based on the story of the notorious Raman Raghav who infested the streets of Bombay (now
Mumbai) in the mid-tolate 1960s. The serial killer who confessed to doing away with more than 40 people, was the subject of Sriram Raghavan’s film in 1991. Kashyap’s contemporary retread is a return to familiar dark territory — kinetic hand-held camerawork in the slushy slums and narrow alleys, which he has been using since Black Friday, whose unforgettable chase scene is replicated here too, but not with such acuity. And that’s the problem with this film, which doesn’t give its characters enough nuance to go on with. We submit to the unwatchable or to immense depravity in the hope that we will learn something about ourselves as a race. What turns us into ravening beasts? Or worse, because some beasts are truly gentle. We don’t get the layers which will lead us into an understanding. IE Director: Anurag Kashyap Star Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vicky Kaushal, Shobhita Dhulipala, Amruta Subhash, Vipin Sharma
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Rajnikant Visiting US for Medical Checkup CHENNAI: Superstar Rajinikanth is in United States for general health check up and will be back home ahead of release of his much-expected Tamil flick “Kabali,” a family member said on Monday. “He has gone for (medical) test to USA. He will be back before the release of the movie (Kabali) which has been scheduled for July 15,” elder brother of Rajinikanth, Sathyanarayana, told reporters in Thanjavur. Earlier, Sathyanarayana offered prayers at the Lord Shiva temple in Thanjavur, a UNESCO world heritage site, and said his family was indebted to the people for their love.
Irrfan Khan-Tom Hanks “Inferno” on Imax
LOS ANGELES: Internationally acclaimed Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan and Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks starrer upcoming mystery thriller film “Inferno” will be digitally remastered into the Imax format, Sony
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Pictures Entertainment, Imax Corporation and Imagine Entertainment have announced. Directed by Ron Howard, “Inferno” is the third instalment in the popular “The Da Vinci Code” franchise.
24 July 01, 2016 Coach Kumble Could be Perfect Foil to Captain Kohli BY SIDHARTH MONGA MUMBAI (ESPN Cricinfo): When Anil Kumble’s name came up, and was eventually finalized, the visual most used on TV was him bowling with a broken jaw in the West Indies. It’s an image which at once tells you why he is the right man to be involved with Indian cricket and at the same time raises a question or two. He was a brave cricketer who made the most of his self-admittedly limited talent; he played his cricket with aggression but also with respect and integrity; when his body began to give up on him he quietly retired, sparing the selectors the tough call and not for one moment coming in the way of a more deserving youngster. Yet the TV channels didn’t show any image of his coaching a cricket side because, well, by all public accounts, Kumble had never shown any intention to coach at such a high level, let alone actually coach a team. He didn’t fulfil the BCCI criterion of having “successfully coached a cricket team of any of the member countries of the ICC, at the first class or at the international level”. Kumble’s coaching experience is limited to mentoring Mumbai Indians, a job he resigned from to “pursue other interests around cricket”. The BCCI, for all its claims of new-found transparency, wouldn’t say why it felt - or why its advisory committee of Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman felt - that Kumble was the right man for the job, superseding others who were better qualified for the job. While the BCCI’s advertisement made it clear when a requirement was not mandatory - for instance, it clarified that speaking Indian languages was preferred but not necessary - the demand of prior coaching experience continued using the word “should”. By all accounts, Kumble’s application took the BCCI by surprise. There has been no denial of reports that Kumble’s name didn’t feature in the pruned list of 21 candidates forwarded to the advi-
What India need from Kumble is to be a manager, a tactician and a leader. To advise more on field placements than the position of the front foot.
sory committee. The trepidation from the board’s side is apparent in how it has given Kumble just a one-year term, waiting to see how he performs before committing to him for a longer duration. Which is fair. It is unfair, however, on Kumble that the BCCI officials chose to not speak about his coaching prospects, relying instead on his legendary status as a player. For there can be a lot to recommend Kumble by. His commitment, as Sanjay Manjrekar tweeted, will be absolute. He won’t, as Aakash Chopra has said, settle for mediocrity. Harsha Bhogle has drawn on his experience of Kumble the player to say he is a born leader. India’s last two captain-coach pairs have seemingly failed to challenge each other. MS Dhoni and Duncan Fletcher were both similar in nature: pragmatic, relying on outlasting the opposition through defence. Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri were both gung-ho; they don’t just want to attack, they want to be seen as attacking. There have been many times when
you wondered just how different it would have been if Shastri had asked Dhoni not to give up on the bowlers as quickly as he used to with defensive fields; what might have been if there had been a Shastri in the dressing room asking him to declare earlier in Wellington, or reassuring him that they had nothing to lose going for the target in Dominica. Similarly you wondered if a more pragmatic voice might have helped India draw the Test in Adelaide when they continued to attack even when it was clear the only option left was to draw, notwithstanding that attacking had brought them close in the first place. That voice of experience might have challenged Kohli’s lust for a magic move on debut as Test captain in selecting a green legspinner in Karn Sharma with no real credentials in first-class cricket. Now, though, there could be a better mix. Kohli attacking, but only after having his moves and philosophies challenged by Kumble, who always showed a solid
and even temperament as a player. Disagreeing respectfully has always been a more fertile ground for ideas than leaders who always agree with each other. Kumble will be no yes-man. Kumble is also the idol of India’s biggest match-winner in Tests, R Ashwin. Taking Ashwin to the next level, perhaps in limitedovers cricket, where all fingerspinners are struggling, might just become Kumble’s personal project. Kumble’s presentation, reportedly, had plans for every series over the next three years as per the current FTP. Most importantly, though, perhaps the biggest discredit to Kumble is done by the coach advertisement itself. It is no secret that the role of a coach at the highest level has changed from the days of John Wright and Bob Woolmer. Teams have become richer, there is enough money to hire specialist coaches who will look after the biomechanics. India even have a specialist who travels with the team just to give the batsmen throwdowns in the nets. Experience and certificates are not what make a head coach nowadays. What India need Kumble to be is a manager, a tactician and a leader. Somebody who enables the players to give their best. The role of the coach now is more about giving the team a direction, not throwdowns. To advise more on field placements than the position of the front foot. To create and maintain an atmosphere in the dressing room that is conducive to achieving the best results. If Kumble has been given one year to prove himself, he should be given the freedom to choose his own specialist coaches and analysts. As Kumble said immediately after the appointment, he is only too aware of the pressure on the coach of being accountable for a team’s performance. No matter how he might have been appointed, Kumble won’t shy away from that accountability. Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
SPORTS
Indian Men’s Hockey Loses 0-4 to Germany
VALENCIA: Indian men’s hockey team witnessed a disappointing start to its campaign at the six-nation Invitational tournament, losing 0-4 to Germany in their opening match, here on Monday. In a first quarter blitz, Germany took the lead in the fifth minute via Mats Grambusch. Grambusch doubled Germany’s lead minutes later before Moritz Furste scored a third in the 14th minute to take a 3-0 lead into the first break. India came back stronger in the second quarter and soon started to make inroads into the German defence. The Indians soon started playing tactically compact hockey, denying Germany the ball in scoring areas. The two teams went into the half time break with Germany leading 3-0. The third quarter witnessed a tough battle as India, looking to get back into the game, started pushing forward in numbers. Germany, defending deep and working on the counter, soon lost players to fouls --- first Martin Zwicker and then Christopher Wesley penalised for fouls. But India couldn’t capitalise on the advantages. India came all out in the final quarter but it was Germany who capitalised by scoring their fourth goal in the 57th minute via a penalty corner conversion by Lukas Windfeder. Speaking after the match, India’s chief coach Roelant Oltmans said, “We’re not looking too hard at the result because several members of the team have been rotated. The performance though is something we will look at and analyse and better on in our subsequent games.”
July 01, 2016
Come Clean by Sept 30: Jaitley to Black Money Holders
NEW DELHI (Outlook India): Offering black money holders one last chance to come clean, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said information on assets disclosed during the one-time compliance window will not be shared with any other authority. Jaitley, who met industry chambers, CAs and tax professionals to clear any misgivings about the four-month compliance window provided to domestic black money holders to pay their taxes and escape harsher penalties, said there will be no extension of the scheme. “People who have (undisclosed) income and have stayed outside the income tax net, this is the last chance to declare them and sleep peacefully,” he told reporters after the meet. Black money holders who do not avail of the government’s offer and continue to hide wealth will be shown “consequences” of doing so, he said. “There is a... (new black money law) and whosoever comes within its purview will be told about consequences (of holding black money),” he said. The minister said any declaration made under the law will be protected. “That information is not to be shared with any other authority. It won’t be made public, it won’t be shared with anybody.” The Income Declaration Scheme or IDS, which opened on June 1, allows domestic black money holders to declare ill-gotten wealth, pay a total of 45 per cent in tax and penalty and escape prosecution. “The compliance will remain open from June 1 to September 30 and people who have such (undisclosed) income, which has not come under assessment they can disclose such incomes and legitimise by paying 45 per cent tax and
penalty,” he said. The meeting called to popularise the scheme and get best results, was also attended by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitender Singh. “This is not an immunity scheme. Immunity scheme is one where there is no penalty. In IDS there is penalty,” Jaitley said adding the Income Tax Department may come out with a third set of clarifications on the scheme in form of frequently asked questions (FAQ) based on inputs from today’s meeting. The trade bodies, he said, have suggested that the tax should be allowed to be paid in installments. “We will consider this and we will come out with FAQs.” “We have nothing to do with any investigation under any law but any declaration made under this law is protected. That information is not shared with any other authority. It won’t be made public, it won’t shared with anybody,” Jaitley said. “In such disclosures we do not ask for source of income and no enquiry takes place.” Today’s meeting was called by
the Revenue Department as well as the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) with industry chambers, trade bodies, CAs and tax professionals to discuss the income disclosure scheme. “We are taking this as a campaign, as a mission mode and the professional bodies and trade organisations, we have taken their suggestions. We will come out with a third FAQ. We expect that anyone who has such income they disclose it and legitimise their income and assets,” he said. Government ministers as well as CBDT officials will be travelling throughout the country to educate people about the scheme, so that maximum number of people avail of it, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier this week warned that the black money holders to take advantage of the scheme or face action. “It will be better that you take advantage of the window provided and save yourself from the difficulties that you can face after September 30,” he said. The four-pronged strategy prepared by the CBDT for the success of the scheme, includes single point contact to ensure confidentiality, setting up of facilitation
centres across the country, giving wide publicity and monitoring at the highest. Government has promised that there will be no inquiry into the source of the undisclosed income and assets if declaration is made voluntarily. In order to give wide publicity, the CBDT has also suggested putting up posters about the Income Declaration Scheme-2016, at places frequented by potential declarants, like club houses, posh markets, showrooms of high end products. Last year the government came up with a similar scheme for persons having unaccounted black money abroad. Disclosures during that window were charged with a total tax and penalty of 60 per cent. A total of Rs 4,147 crore of undisclosed wealth was declared during the 90-day foreign black money compliance window that ended September 30. At 60 per cent (30 per cent tax and 30 per cent penalty), the government got a net tax of Rs 2,500 crore from the declarations. Industry and trade bodies also demanded that information disclosed in the Income Disclosure Scheme (IDS) should not be shared with the indirect tax wing Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC). “The government has assured that the information would not be shared with any other authority so that there is no separate proceedings under Service Tax or VAT laws,” said Krishan Malhotra, Senior Partner, Dhruva Advisors. Various trade bodies suggested some leniency in payment of taxes and asked the government to extend the date for the scheme to address the cash flow problem around November.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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India Sets Own Record: 20 Satellites, 1 Launch
BENGALURU: Creating a record, India on Wednesday successfully launched 20 satellites including 17 foreign and its earth observation satellite in a single mission in 26 minutes from Sriharikota, in a crucial step to become a key player in the multi-billion dollar space launch market. In a precision launch, Indian Space Research Organisation workhorse Polar Satellite LaunchVehicle (PSLVC34) took off in clear skies from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, about 110 kilometre from Chennai, at 9.26 am and placed the new generation earth observation satellite( Cartosat-2 Series) and 19 others in the designated polar Sun Synchronous Orbit 26 minutes later. Thirteen of the satellites are from the United States including the 12 earth imaging Dove satellites from Planet Labs organisation, each of which weighs just 4.7 kg, and a 110-kg earth imaging satellite called SkySat Gen-2 made by a Googleowned company. There were two Canadian satellites and one each from Germany and Indonesia. Earlier, ISRO had sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission in 2008. The record for the most number of satellites launched in a single mission belongs to Russia, which sent up 37 satellites in 2014. The US space agency NASA launched 29.
26 July 01, 2016
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July 01, 2016
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