Friday, July 15 2016 | Vol. 35, No. 29
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The 4th Annual Greater Houston Rath Yatra 2016. Festival of India at Discovery Green on Saturday, July 9.
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The Orissa Culture Center, in collaboration with the Sri Sita Ram Foundation and many other cultural and religious organizations, celebrated its 9th Annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannatha of Puri Dham at India House, on Saturday, July 9.
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July 15, 2016
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India Festival: Greater Houston Rath Yatra 2016
BY IAN CORRESPONDENT
HOUSTON: Amid
a swelling crowd of over five thousand, cries of “Jai Jagannath!” and “Hare Krishna!” rang through the streets of Downtown Houston during the 4th Annual Greater Houston Rath Yatra 2016. Star Plus presented Festival of India at Discovery Green on a warm, breezy summer evening Saturday July 9, 6-10 PM, along with Tara Energy and Mercedes Benz of Sugar Land. “Every year, increasing numbers of mainstream Houstonians enjoy this annual tradition commemorating Lord Jagannath’s summer vacation with elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra from the main Jagannath Temple in Puri, India to nearby Gundicha Mandir.” beamed key organizer and SKAI Foundation foudner Dr. Surya Sahoo. Sahoo, had a vision to bring this festival to Houston four years ago when he and his wife, Kabita, experienced a miracle. Kabita suffered from right-sided paralysis, but was determined to visit the original ancient Puri Rath Yatra. As they approached the chariots in the procession, magically Kabita was able to climb one of the chariots – by herself – and felt the feeling return to her right side. Almost immediately her paralysis was cured and she was able to walk and function normally again! “We wanted to recreate the festival here in downtown Houston and offer everyone to experience the Lord of the Universe’s divine blessing,” said Kabita. ISKCON’s Guru Bhakti Ma, Saranga Thakor Das, and Temple President Sham Sundar Prabhu led the Devotional aspects of the event, while Hindus of Greater Houston and India Cultural contributed to the cultural performances. SKAI’s Parth Mohanty worked tirelessly to guide Masala Radio and Masala Entertainment to a flawless event execution. Masala Radio’s lead Radio Jockey Sunil Thakkar hyped the crowd throughout the rocking entertainment along with co-emcee Krishna Kripa Prabhu. This year’s chief honoree was Advaita Chandra Das, the only registered Hindu Chaplain in the State of Texas. Three huge decorated chariots made the nearly 2 mile journey
from Discovery Green to the Toyota Center and back with swarms of crowding singing Kirtans and dancing in the streets. Priests gently threw Prasad (blessed whole fruits) to humble devotees, and crowds vied for the divine opportunity to pull the ropes of the chariots along. The journey ended with the Raths next to Discovery main stage with the Maha Aarti “Jagannath Ashtakam” sung by ISKCON youths. The cultural program included dances by Odissi Dance by Avantica Orrisi Dance School, University of Houston’s Roarin Raas, and Jasmeet representing Radha. While a majority of attendees participated in the parade from 7-8 PM, Isha Foundation captured ar-
riving guests with deft Yoga Demostrations. Next came the unique “Tablatronics” session - a fusion of traditional, electronic music by DJ Masti mixed with Tablas beats by maestro Rishabh Nayak Jasmeeta Singh & Jaz Creationz presented the spell-binding Fashions of India, followed by rocking Devotional Concert by Namrock. TK Plummer, Namrock bandleader, presents several of his collection of 200 rock songs on Krishna, Ram, and other Hindu deities. Star Plus gave away misting fans and over 4000 water bottles, while Tara Energy took free photos with the Masala Rickshaw and disturbed high demand light sticks. Lines were at times a bit long for ISKCON’s chole & pulav
“Prasad.” Mercedes Benz featured a stategside display of their latest customizable vans, and all sponsors, including New York Life Agent Amirali Dodhiya, My Tax Flier, an Trison International Inc. led the Maha Arti. Plentiful Indian street foods provided by Hyderabad House, Mirch Masala and Hare Krishna Temple. The cooling breezes, Indian food, music, dancing, and Deities and Raths contributed to a divine experience. Photos by Chris Hernadez, Rhyne Acuff, and Tejas Prabhu. For more event photos and videos visit HoustonIndiaFestival. com or GreaterHoustonRathYatra.org.
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5 Embrace the Lord with Odiya Devotion, Art and Culture
COMMUNITY
July 15, 2016
HOUSTON: It was a day-long af-
fair that started very early – by 7am for many and lasted till past midnight for the organizers - as the small but energetic community from Orissa celebrated its most cherished tradition of Rath Yatra this past Saturday, July 9 with a multitude of programs which made up the festival. The Orissa Culture Center, in collaboration with the Sri Sita Ram Foundation and many other cultural and religious organizations, celebrated its 9th Annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannatha of Puri Dham at India House, on West Bellfort. An estimated 2,000 people attended the events which focused on the mission of the OCC to spread the philosophy of universal brotherhood and propagate the traditional art and culture of Orrisa through dance, music and literature. The event started auspiciously in the main hall with a traditional Vedic Havan or fire worship officiated by the head priest Pandit Bibhudutta Mishra and the President of the OCC, Dr. Debananda Pati with the main yajamana being Dr. Arun Verma and his wife Vini of the Sri Sita Ram Foundation. Different groups participated in the poojas and chanting throughout the morning and into the afternoon. The main ritual of the deities started with Naba Jaubana Darshana around noon time in which the deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra are adorned with gorgeous attire and then revealed decorated in all their splendor and beauty to their beloved devotees. In the early afternoon, the worship rituals included the Chappana Bhoga or the offering of fifty-six types of delicious food for the Gods and a devotional session by devotees of OCC and other organizations. Prominent among them was the Namadwara of Pearland headed by Sri Sriram Ji in which devotees sang the glories of Lord Jagannatha in the form of Gita Govindam, Dasavataram and continuous chanting of the name of the Lord. During the same time, from morning till noon, a free Health Fair was being conducted by volunteer doctors and staff who were able to see about 200 people who continuously streamed through for check-ups. During a brief interlude, the seating arrangements were made to transform the main hall from a religious altar to a setting for a Nrityanjali or theatre and cultural portion from 4 till 8pm. The program of the
evening consisted of several classical and folk dances presented by Houston based dance schools such as the Anjali School of Performing Arts, Kalangana School of Odissi, Abhinaya School of Performing Arts and Natya Upasana Dance Academy. In the
past few years, the festival has featured some well-known performers like Padma Bhusana Pandit Jasraj last year and devotional song artist Anuradha Paudwal in 2014. This year was no less impressive, with performances by the
visiting dance troupe of seven talented teenage girls from the Adruta Children Home in Bhuvaneswar, Orissa. It left the audience mesmerized through their skills in classical as well as folk dance. Adruta fosters and nurtures orphaned, abandoned and neglected
children and is a unit of Rawa Academy, whose founder Dr. Aditya Mohanty was on hand to give a brief introduction to their performance. The last dance item by the visiting troupe Ananta using only colorful lighting and smoke to portray ancient Vedic philosophy through the stories of Creation and was a treat for the Soul. And finally, for the moment that many had waited for came around 8pm, when the crowds swelled to the most to see the deities carried from the altar with much commotion and sounding of horns and drums to their chariot that waited in the parking lot outside the building. Once seated in the colorful chariot, devotees vied to get on the ropes to pull it (called Pahandi) along through the main gates and down the side street and back after which dinner and Prasad were offered to all who were there. The magazine Nandighosha, a yearly publication of the Rath Yatra, which covers many aspects of Jagannatha philosophy was distributed and also highlighted the wonders of Odissi art and literature. The Rath Yatra festival was made possible by the help of many supporting organizations and the Houston City Art Alliance which supported and sponsored bringing in the Adruta Dance Academy. For details about the Orissa Culture Center, visit www.orissaculturecenter.org; for details about the chariot festivals, visit www.houstonrathyatra.org and visit the Facebook page at HoustonRathYatra.
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 INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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COMMUNITY
Happy, Harmonious, Stress Free Living Using Relationship Management Tools Seminar
HOUSTON: The fourth seminar on ‘Happy, harmonious, stress free living’- using relationship management tools seminars were conducted by the South Central Chapter of ‘Holistic Science Charitable Research Foundation’ on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July, 8, 9 and 10 respectively which was very well attended by a cross section of many different professions. Experienced, self-realized, Holistic Inner Science practitioners and interactive expert Deepakanandji Mistry and Rajnikant Patel, retired professional and Children’s books author were the speakers. Seminar sessions were ‘What is Holistic Science and how it can benefit me in daily life, Effective Relational Management, Workshop and problem solving’. Salient features: Holistic Inner science Holistic Inner Science is the science of our own life and living including mind, speech, body intellect, reflective consciousness and ego. It is science to understand the Inner processes which are going on along with the outer circumstances and situations animate, inanimate and the natural regulatory system. It is the science of Me, Me, and Me. The secret is that whatever action of mind, body and speech we use to make others happy is going to make us happy first. Two golden keys to effectively deal with CONTINUED ON PAGE
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July 15, 2016
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July 15, 2016
Prayers for the Victims at Vigil at B’desh Center
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Shah Haleem, the President of the Bangladesh Association, Houston addressed the audience at the vigil held on July 9 for the victims of the terrorist attack in Dhaka on July 1.
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: The terrorist attack that took place in Dhaka on the night of July 1 resonated among the Bangladeshi community in the Bayou City as they came together to pay homage to the victims. It is a scene that is sadly being played out repeatedly and frequently almost every week to commemorate those who have died and been injured in acts of senseless violence. For the Bangladeshis here who have been in Houston for decades, this deadly attack which came on the heels of the machete slashings of religious figures and the mass arrests by security forces only underscored how their Motherland had changed and become a dangerous place. They gathered together under a tent to protect them from the blazing heat, on the
lawn of the Bangladeshi-American Center on 13415 Renn Road on the city’s southwest side on Saturday, July 9 and a few hundred more attended the vigil held in the late morning. The backdrop to the podium was decorated by the flags of the countries of the victims of the attack and on a small table draped in black, 36 candles in glass were arrayed for the dignitaries to light. Among those who attended and spoke were elected officials from the City of Houston and religious leaders from the many communities in the Houston diaspora. Shah Haleem Executive Director of the BAC opened up the proceedings by telling the crowd “no act of hate can divide us. The next target is any moment, anywhere.” He added, “United we must stand against terrorists of all shapes and colors.” Among the dignitaries was Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner who called for a common front in the face of global terror. “We have been summoned here by events throughout the world,” he said and called for a common front to face global terror. He then turned to his much-vaunted theme of diversity in the Houston Metroplex as a connection to the rest of the world, adding “If someone in Bangladesh hurts, we hurt.” Other local politicians who attended were to speak and to light a candle in memory of the victims were Houston City Comptroller Chris Brown; Congressman Al Green; Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee; State Representative Gene Wu and former Sheriff Adrian Garcia as well as religious leaders from other communities. A frequent visitor to many South Asian events, Al Green added “These are the times that try the souls of nations. These are times that will test the world.”
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Many local politicians and religious leaders came together to speak and to light a candle in memory of the victims. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner; Comptroller Chris Brown; Congressman Al Green and former Sheriff Adrian Garcia gathered to light a candle. INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
July 15, 2016
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July 15, 2016
Maheshwari Mahasabha of North America: International Maheshwari Rajasthani Convention 2016
GAURI SIDDHIVINAYAK TEMPLE
For Any Ceremony Contact Pradip Pandya 832 466 9868 Email: pradippandya2000@yahoo.com
Front row, from left: Prince Bhojwani, Technology Chair; Nita Bhojwani, Ray-Jays Ambassador. Middle row, from left: Sarika Malani, Events Chair; Priya Malani Manchanda, President; Roli Mandhana, Vice-President. Back row, from left: Mohit Moondra, Community Chair; Pavan Malani, Ray-Jays Ambassador; Sarish Kasat, Public Relations Chair.
BY SARISH KASAT
STAMFORD,
CT: Milestone. It’s a word that signifies a benchmark achievement, a truly momentous occasion that should be recognized and celebrated. RAYS (The Rajasthanis Abroad Youth Samaj -- the youth centric organization of Maheshwari Mahasabha of North America, MMNA) celebrated one such milestone at the biennial International Maheshwari Rajasthani Convention (IMRC) in Stamford, CT over July 4th weekend. The convention brought together over 650 attendees of all ages from around the world, but the youth stood out this year. “I couldn’t believe how many other Marwaris my age showed up to all of the RAYS events.” said Ben Rathi, a Marwari consultant in Michigan. From humble beginnings of 30 people at the first RAYS Marwari Youth Reunion event in 2011, RAYS surpassed the 100 member attendee mark for the first time in history, overwhelming, in a positive way of course, both attendees and the RAYS Executive Board alike. “We were pleasantly
shocked with the number of youth who not only attended convention this year, but also actively engaged in our RAYS events! After months of hard work and planning, this weekend definitely exceeded our expectations,” said Priya Malani Manchanda, President of RAYS. Throughout the weekend, RAYS members (youth ages 21-35) participated in a variety of events including personal and professional networking, cultural discussions through a game of Family Feud, and a simulation that made RAYS members “step in someone else’s shoes” and experience life in a different light. The simulation allowed participants to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the struggles of low income populations that have limited access to crucial resources. “Without generalizing too much, the Maheshwari community tends to be pretty well off. It was an eye opening experience to go through the simulation and understand on a fundamental level the struggles that some people deal with every day from the moment they wake up”, said Vivek Maheshwari, a Healthcare Strategy Analyst from San Francisco. Recognizing
this privilege, RAYS members discussed how our privileged position could impact our own lives as well as how it could be used to benefit others. In recent years, RAYS has placed a significant amount of effort in organizing events for even younger youth ages 13-20, a group that has affectionately been named “RAY-Jays”. As the future of RAYS, these youth crave the ability to become more intertwined in the community as they navigate high school and eventually college. Much of the foundation for the weekend was laid by RAYSdirected events with help from key youth coordinators from the RAY-Jays group. Events included panel discussions, networking opportunities with RAYS members, and a stimulating discussion about growing up “Marwari American” catapulted by an (edited for content of course) episode of the hit Netflix series Master of None. “It was refreshing to hear that so many of my peers had similar experiences growing up in a Marwari household,” said Pavan Malani, a rising junior at the University of Texas at Dallas. “Trying to balance that life with my life at school is tough, but it’s nothing compared to the struggle and sacrifices our
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COMMUNITY
International Day of Yoga Celebration by SEWA in Los Arcos, San Marcos
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national Yoga Day, Sewa Houston hosted free yoga sessions on Saturday, July 9 and Sunday July 10 for the residents of the San Marcos and Los Arcos apartment complexes. The San Marcos and Los Arcos apartments house Latino immigrants, and refugees, mostly from Bhutan. People that live in underserved areas tend to have health problems that are not recognized early on due to lack of resources or knowledge. It’s been proven that yoga helps improve health conditions such as high blood pressure, high sugar, depression, and breathing difficulties. Thus, Sewa Houston hosted
the free yoga sessions for the residents in order to introduce them to a cost effective way of developing a healthier lifestyle. The yoga sessions were conducted with the support of Yoga therapists (Roshmi, Madhukar Adi and Hasita) and volunteers (College and High school SEWA interns). People were fascinated by the idea, and kids at the San Marcos complex enjoyed the short yoga practice. Sewa will continue its community outreach to make the residents aware of benefits of
yoga and a healthier lifestyle. Sewa Houston is one of thirtyeight Sewa branches located within the United States. 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”. For more information and volunteer opportunities email us at: houston@sewausa.org
Maheshwari Mahasabha of North America: CONTINUED FROM PAGE
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Parag Bajaj getting an award from Sushma Pallod and Consul General of India in New York, Riva Ganguly Das.
parents made to get us to where we are today. The episode really highlighted that. The discussion that followed -- these shared experiences with the rest of RAY-Jays and all of our parents really bring us closer together.” Rooted in this sentiment of a shared culture of Maheshwaris in the United States, the bonds that instantly formed between the youth of RAYS and RAY-Jays are evidence of a successful convention! To learn more INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
about RAYS, please visit http:// rays.mmna.org/. MMNA, a non-profit organization, has been in operation for more than 30 years. With nine chapters across North America, it caters to the needs of Maheshwari /Rajasthani individuals and families in North America. It maintains links between similar organizations in India and Europe. Its major charitable contributions are towards education and social work.
COMMUNITY
July 15, 2016
Mani Iyer, Appointed to New Foreign Direct Investment Advisory Council
HOUSTON: U.S. Secretary of
Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the appointment of Mani Iyer, President & CEO of Mahindra North America among 19 private and public sector leaders to the Commerce Department’s newly established U.S. Investment Advisory Council (IAC). IAC members, representing U.S. companies, entities, and organizations with missions or activities that include the promotion or facilitation of foreign direct investment (FDI), will serve as a key conduit for stakeholder input on how best to support U.S. economic growth through the attraction and retention of FDI. “U.S. affiliates of foreign companies directly employ 6.1 million people across our nation and pay higher than average wages which positively impacts nearly every facet of our economy,” said Secretary Pritzker. “Attracting more job-creating foreign investment has always been a priority for the Obama Administration. I look forward to working closely with the U.S. Investment Advisory Council to implement policies and strategies to ensure the United States remains the top destination for foreign investment.” “It is an honor to participate on this council to drive economic growth in the U.S. Driving positive change is a pillar of Mahindra’s Rise philosophy; it is a privilege to have an opportunity to influence programs and policies that will make a difference in our communities,” said Iyer. “Mahindra North America’s rapid growth generates business nationwide through increased direct and indirect employment opportunities, expansion of facilities, a growing dealer network, and increased business directed to partner and supplier companies. Established in April 2016, the IAC will advise the Secretary of Commerce on U.S. government policies and programs that affect FDI; identify and recommend programs and policies to help the United States attract and retain FDI; and recommend ways to support the United States in remaining the world’s preeminent destination for FDI. Specific priorities and recommendations will be determined by IAC members, all of whom are appointed for two-year terms. The diverse appointees of the inaugural U.S. Investment Advisory Council are: • Mani Iyer – President and CEO, Mahindra North America • Mark Beariault – General Counsel and Head of Legal Affairs, Kudelski Group • David Burrows – Vice President, Fuyao Glass America Inc. • Chris Camacho – President and CEO, Greater Phoenix Economic Council
Mani Iyer, President & CEO, Mahindra North America
• Nikia Clarke – Executive Director, World Trade Center San Diego • Jeffrey A. Finkle – President, International Economic Development Council • Jane Garvey – Chair, Meridiam North America and Board Director, LaGuardia Gateway Partners (IAC Chair) • Peter Lowy – Co-CEO, Westfield • Elie W. Maalouf – CEO, The Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group • Kenny McDonald – President and Chief Economic Officer, Columbus 2020 • Ying McGuire – Vice President of Operations and Business Development, Technology Integration Group • Nancy McLernon – President and CEO, Organization for International Investment • Jan Rogers – CEO, Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho • Catherine Smith – Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (IAC Vice Chair) • Irene Spanos – Director of Economic Development & Community Affairs, Oakland County, Mich. • Eric Spiegel – President and CEO, Siemens USA • Mark Weinberger – Global Chairman and CEO, Ernst & Young Global Limited • Jeffrey Wilson – President and CEO, Gestamp North America and Gestamp Asia Pacific Corporation • Charlton Whipple – Chairman of the Southern Economic Development Council As a relatively new program within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, SelectUSA has already made an impact by helping facilitate more than $19 billion worth of FDI. The United States is the leading recipient of foreign investment worldwide with a total stock of FDI valued at $2.9 trillion (or 18 percent of GDP). About Mahindra North America : Mahindra North America (MNA) is part of the US $16.9 billion Mahindra Group’s Automotive and Farm Sector - the number one selling tractor company in the
world, based on volumes and the only tractor manufacturer in the world to win the industry’s top two quality awards – the Deming Application Prize and the Japan Quality Medal, care of Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers. Houston, Texas, based Mahindra North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and began selling tractors in the USA in 1994. MNA has since grown rapidly due to high customer satisfaction levels (97%) and strong customer referrals (98%). Mahindra NA now has five distribution points in North America to help meet the needs of its customers and the growing demand for its products. Mahindra’s professional-grade tractors range from 22 HP – 105HP with over 40 model offerings – and include the revolutionary Max and eMax series tractors. The Mahindra Max 24 leads the way in the sub-compact market and feature true tractor performance and capabilities. The Mahindra Max 24 is joined by the industry’s first midcompact tractor, the Mahindra Max 26 XL, which has compact tractor performance and versatility in a near compact tractor size. All Mahindra Tractors are built with heavy-duty components that allow them to outperform other tractors in their class and are designed to provide consumers with the ability to push more, pull more and lift more, so they can do more, in less time. Combine the superior performance of a Mahindra and the peace of mind of a STANDARD 5 year limited powertrain warranty and you have a rugged workhorse at your disposal. To learn more about Mahindra North America, please visit http:// www.mahindrausa.com. To learn more about the Mahindra mPACT® XTVs, please visit http://www.mahindraxtv.com
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Job Posting:
Non-Linear News Editor (Part Time)
KTRK-TV, and ABC owned station in Houston, TX has an opening for a part time Non-Linear News Editor. Candidates should have experience in editing on non-linear systems as well as knowledge of the Digital Newsroom and understanding of the digital workflow for broadcast news, in a deadline intensive environment. Serious candidates should also have a working knowledge of a server based digital media workflow. Candidates should be able to edit in deadline situations, be creative, precise and be able to work fast. You must be able to take direction, and be a “Team Player” who is not afraid of an intense news environment. Hours will vary depending on the needs of the department, so flexibility to work a varied schedule is required. To be considered, candidates must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Please Reference Job ID: 384484BR on all materials submitted.
Job Posting:
WEB PRODUCER
Are you a Digital Content Guru? Someone obsessed with major news and top trending stories of the day? Do you have a knack for producing creative digital content that generates high engagement? KTRK TV, the ABC owned station located in Houston, Texas is looking for a Fulltime Digital Producer to be part of the station team leading the charge to take our digital efforts to the next level. Ideal candidate must have: ¬ÊGift for Recognizing and Creating Impactful, Innovative and Distinctive Digital Content ¬ÊExtensive Newsroom Digital Background (Supervisory Skills a Plus) Unerring News Judgement ¬ÊKnack for Writing Powerful and Accurate copy and headlines ¬ÊAbility to manage multiple projects at one time, while utilizing resources from multiple departments to produce the best product ¬ÊProven Social Media Expertise in both content creation and strategic optimizing ¬ Working knowledge of Digital enhancement and publishing tools ¬Ê Working knowledge of Digital Analytics and how to use them to optimize station’s brand recognition ¬ÊAbility to Excel in fast-paced news station environment and willing to work under deadlines ¬ÊFlexibility with Work Schedule depending on station needs and projects ¬ÊStrong Leadership, Organizational and Communication skills To be considered, candidates must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Please Reference Job ID: 384483BR on all materials submitted.
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KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
July 15, 2016
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16 July 15, 2016 Happy, Harmonious, Stress Free Living CONTINUED FROM PAGE
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all situations is Adjust Everywhere and Avoid clashes. One who manages Relations very well is considered Man of Perfection, and a successful person. And Your Perfection is measured by how well you heartily accept and handle imperfections of others! What are GOOD Relations? When, I don’t hurt anybody’s EGO, I don’t hurt anybody’s RELIGION, I don’t hurt any SPIRITUAL LEADER or MONKS or NUNS, I don’t have DISLIKE or HATRED towards anyone, I don’t hurt anyone through my SPEECH, I am never DISHONEST to my SPOUSE, I eat wholesome balanced DIET, I don’t hurt any LIVING or DEAD, I LIVE with total HUMILITY & DISCRIMINATION free with EVERYONE. Then I am LIVING PERFECTLY…Not to hurt anyone with mind – speech – body! Problems always arise INSIDE first then it results OUTSIDE. I become Happy or Unhappy because of my inner understanding ONLY. Holistic science says that other Person, cause of my suffering is just a delivery person. I suffered so, I am at fault! I need to feel sorry and correct myself so the Relation Improves!!
What is the Goal of my life? Immediate Goal is to learn to Handle all Relations Positively through Adjust Everywhere an Avoid Clashes and free myself from their obligations. Final Goal is to Know “Who Am I?” The secret Science of accomplishing Goal is to decide firmly every day and it will happen! This is the Secret of Happening! Some of the workshop queries on clashes and not being able to adjust that were solved were: spouse do not listen, children keeps asking for more and more materialistic things making home atmosphere unhappy, spouse nagging, I want results now, there is lack of communication within the family due to the fast paced busy life, Clashes happen when I do not get my way, too many disagreements with the spouse, other person being possessive, differences in handling the children, nobody understands me and my view points, my expectations are very high, too much stress, very high ego, lack of time etc. The seminars were lively and successful. One comment from the Sunday host was that all throughout there were positive vibrations. All seminars were conducted with eco-friendly consumables, “Go Green”.
COMMUNITY Eid Celebrations at Hawa Masjid HOUSTON: On July 6, hundreds
of people celebrated Eid at Hawa Masjid. Over 100 kids attended Eid Prayers. Imam Hafiz Abduir Rahman led the Eid prayers and Taqbeerat was by Imam Hafiz Ibad Ur Rahman. Rahman Moton of Hawa Masjid welcomed everyone and distributed Toys, Goodie Bags and gave cash money for Eidi to all Kids (Refugees). All kids ended up very happy on Eid Day.
For advertising contact: Vanshika Vipin at 713.789.6397
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY T
July 15, 2016
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The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi - Part 7
he story thus far… Gandhi realizes that he could be more effective at supporting the cause of the Indians in South Africa if he returned to India. Once in Calcutta, he drew attention to the plight of the South African Indians to the Indian government and media, where there was widespread support. But he was soon recalled to South Africa as the Lord Chamberlain was visiting South Africa. In 1906, an ordinance introduced by the Transvaal government required all Indian men, women, and children, to register themselves and obtain a personal certificate bearing their name and thumb impressions. It was demeaning and humiliating to Indians, who refused to submit to the terms of the ordinance. They resolved to fight it. Gandhi saw the need for passive resistance or satyagraha. He explained to the people his concept of satyagraha. First, he said, they must be prepared to observe absolute nonviolence. The authorities would take all measures to put down the agitation. They might use violence, arrest people and send them to jail, but all this must be faced without resistance, Gandhi told them. “Merely disobeying the government’s laws will not be enough,” Gandhi told them. “You must have no hatred in your hearts and you must cast away all fear.” The Government ignored all Indian protests against the ordinance and it came fully into force. The Indians decided to disobey the provisions of the ‘Black Act.’ Hundreds of Indians were arrested, tried, and jailed. They all pleaded guilty and went to jail without putting up any defense. Gandhi too was imprisoned. Then one day he was taken out of prison and sent to Pretoria to see General Jan Smuts. “This movement you have started,” Smuts said, “must stop at once. It is not in me to dislike Indians, but they must obey the law”. “I would rather die than submit to this law,” Gandhi replied. “It is meant to humiliate the Indians.” After some argument, however, they reached a compromise. Gandhi promised to end the satyagraha if the act was repealed and the prisoners released. Smuts agreed to do this provided the Indians would register of their own accord. On this agreement, they parted. Back in Johannesburg, Gandhi called a meeting of the Indians. “We must now register voluntarily to show that we do not intend to bring a single Indian to the Transvaal by fraud,” he said. “If we show our goodwill by prompt registration, General Smuts will see to it that the “Black Act” is repealed,” added Gandhi. Many Indians agreed with Gandhi, but a man named Mir Alam
disagreed, saying it was Gandhi who had earlier preached that only criminals get finger-printed. He wanted to know why Gandhi had changed his mind. Early the next morning Gandhi, with his fellow satyagrahis, set out for the registration office. But on the way Mir Alam attacked him with a heavy stick. Gandhi fell down unconscious. Mir Alam and his associates went on beating him until he was rescued. When Gandhi recovered consciousness, he found himself on a couch in the house of an Englishman whom he hardly knew. Struggling to sit up, Gandhi requested that Mir Alam not be judged too harshly for not understanding Gandhi’s stance about the registration. Then he insisted that a clerk from the registration office should come to take his thumb impression and make out his certificate. In this way Gandhi was duly registered. Many Indians followed Gandhi by registering voluntarily. But General Smuts, reneged on the deal and did not repeal the “Black Act.” The Indians, disappointed at the Government’s attitude, demanded a return of their applications for voluntary registration. The Transvaal government did not budge. Gandhi, who had by then recovered from his injuries, gave the government a very firm ultimatum: If the Black Act is not repealed before a fixed date, the certificates collected by the Indians will be burnt. When the Government ignored this threat, Gandhi started another satyagraha movement. A big bonfire was lit and more than two thousand certificates were burnt. Many Indians openly crossed the border into the Transvaal, where their presence was illegal. Gandhi and many of his compatriots were imprisoned several times in the course of the agitation. When Gandhi came out of jail for the third time, the Indians held a meeting and decided to send a deputation to England to acquaint the British Government with the real situation in South
Africa. Gandhi and Seth Haji Habib were asked to go to London and present the grievances of the Indians. Accordingly they went, but accomplished nothing as the British government favored the British domiciled in South Africa. They returned with grim determination to fight to the bitter end. Gandhi then made a big decision. He gave up his practice as a lawyer. He felt it was a conflict of interest earning his living by law while defying it. Hermann Kallenbach, a white farmer, was so impressed with the peaceful way of life at Phoenix that he offered Gandhi his own big farm near Johannesburg to start another colony. He suggested that all those who had lost their jobs and homes by their participation in the satyagraha could settle there. The new colony was established in 1910 and named “Tolstoy Farm” after the Russian writer whom Gandhi much admired. Here people who were different in nationality, religion, and color lived together like one family. They worked hard and shared the fruits of their labor. Gandhi spent much of his time at Tolstoy Farm. He was engaged in teaching the children and in other constructive activities. Gandhi’s efforts to persuade General Smuts to change the attitude of the Government towards the Indians had failed. Meanwhile, the struggle continued against the Black Act and the poll-tax. And now hundreds of Indian women, including Kasturbai, joined the movement. Meanwhile a recent court decision in South Africa holding that the law did not recognize Indian marriages, drew much unhappiness amongst the Indian women who could not stand this attack on family ties. They openly broke the law and were imprisoned in large numbers. In the coalmines at Newcastle, in Natal, Indian workers went on strike protesting against the repression. News of the arrests, the deportation of passive resisters, and the untold sufferings of Indian families angered the people of India. A large amount of money was collected for the relief of the victims. Many satyagrahis were beaten and flogged, and some lost their lives. Gandhi, who felt intensely the humiliation his people suffered, took a triple vow of self-suffering. He decided to dress like a poor laborer, to walk barefoot, and to have only one meal a day, till the poll-tax and other injustices were abolished. But Gandhi found the Government relentless. There was no solution in sight. He knew he had to take further drastic measures for any chance of change benefitting the Indians and people of color in South Africa.
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18 July 15, 2016 Let’s Reduce Excessive Force
The numbers convey their own story about the tragedy unfolding in Kashmir. At least 30 civilians have been shot dead by security forces and over 1,400 others injured in clashes after the killing of the popular militant Burhan Wani. Many civilians have been shot by live ammunition and the use of ‘non-lethal’ pellets has been devastating. Nearly a hundred eye-surgeries have been performed – most victims will be blinded for life. The Valley is seething and the authorities, unsure what to expect, have imposed strict curfew conditions. The Centre is persisting with its firm approach to the unrest. Minister of state for home Jitendra Singh conveyed the Prime Minister’s appeal for “calm and peace” after a high level meeting on Tuesday but the government’s messaging has had a pronounced stern tenor. Union minister Venkaiah Naidu said “Kashmir issue has been there for long” but reiterated terrorism will not be tolerated — the Centre is effectively basing its narrative on the necessity to eliminate Wani, rather than focusing on the bloody aftermath. This approach will find a measure of support among middle classes in other parts of India but will do little to pacify Kashmir which is coping with grief in recent days. The road ahead remains unclear. There is a view in Delhi that this situation, like the crises during 2008-10, will pass; that the Kashmiris will get exhausted with prolonged curfews and resume their everyday lives — and that all the security forces need to do is enforce calm for an extended period. The government should not be framing policy based on such cynical calculations. There are at least two outcomes to be mindful of. There is a new generation of angry Kashmiris who were born after 1990 who have lived their lives in a heavily militarised environment and are deeply alienated by New Delhi’s policies and security practices. Few can anticipate what fatalism at scale can do to the political stability of societies over time. Two, the authority of the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP government is being irreparably weakened each day. The chief minister and her party leaders have been holed up in their homes, nonplussed and unable to face or reassure their constituents. With the state government seen as the hapless instrument of the Centre, the State has hardly any option to reach out to Kashmiris, particularly since all palliatives like probes and inquiries have been tried before, in vain. The nub of the current crisis lies in the use of excessive force by security forces. Right now the biggest priority is to ensure there are no further casualties. How we handle protests is also intimately linked to the kind of democracy we want to be. Hindustan Times
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Will You Believe Nobel Laureates?
BY MANU JOSEPH Would you believe 110 Nobel laureates if all of them say the same thing? In a letter to the world they say that the propaganda against genetically modified organisms (GMO) is a “crime against humanity”. If you are suspicious of the kind of people who win the peace, literature or economics Nobel, let me assure you that only 10 among the laureates are recipients of those political awards. It is significant though that even that many have come out in support of biotechnology because the writers, activists and compassionate economists whom Scandinavian distributors of acclaim admire usually do not rate science over breast-beating. The rest 100 on the list of laureates who signed the letter are from the precise sciences — medicine, chemistry and physics. They constitute one-third the number of Nobel winners who are alive, and probably half the number of living science laureates. A few days ago they signed a brief note addressed to the governments of the world, United Nations and Greenpeace, that amusing NGO which does not let facts ruin a perfect lament. The note stated that the only way to feed the world’s poor in the future, and feed them nutritious food, is through biotechnology, which includes a procedure that genetically alters an organism to create a new organism that is more nutritious or more resistant to pests or withstands the onslaught of nature better or has a higher yield, or all these. For years activists have scared most of us into believing that such procedures are dangerous. For years, thousands of reputed scientists have claimed that such fears either have no basis in science or are wild exaggerations, and that man has been genetically modifying plants for centuries. In fact, nothing we eat is wild, which is the activist definition of “natural”. Everything we and the activists eat has been genetically modified by farmers. When genetic modification is done by scientists in a lab it does not create poison. Lab-
oratory plant genetics, the Nobel laureates have said in their letter, is as safe as or safer than conventional methods of food production. They have a particular interest in ‘Golden Rice’, a form of genetically modified rice that actually does not exist but soon would. Golden Rice is extremely significant for India. If you have seen the typical meal of the poor, it is likely that you would have noticed a mountain of rice and very little of anything else. Vegetables, meat and eggs, which contain crucial nutrients, are expensive. Rice is cheap. But rice is a lousy food. It fills the belly with what should have been glue in a post office. Now, you don’t have to argue with me about the glory of rice. I am from the South. In fact, once a Tamil restaurant in Kochi tried to dissuade me from entering the place because of the amount of rice I could consume. Among the things the rice grain does not contain is beta-carotene, a hydrocarbon that is a progenitor of Vitamin-A. Millions of Indians, because of their poor and almost entirely grain diet, are deficient in Vitamin-A, hence at risk of acquiring fatal diseases and night blindness. Golden Rice is produced by inserting two genes into conventional rice, which cause the accumulation of beta-carotene in the grain. Greenpeace has responded to the letter with their usual set of spurious arguments including the claim that GMOs would contaminate the environment. Disgusted by the quackery of activists the Nobel laureates “call upon governments of the world…to do everything in their power to oppose Greenpeace’s actions and accelerate the access of farmers to all the tools of modern biology, especially seeds improved through biotechnology. Opposition based on emotion and dogma contradicted by data must be stopped. How many poor people in the world must die before we consider this a ‘crime against humanity?’” The letter of the Nobel winners is extraordinary. It is a portent of an intense moral war to come. Scientists are finally attempting to take back
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the reins of morality from fraudulent and delusional activists whose craft is in manufacturing fear. The Indian media largely ignored the news of the letter. While it is true that the liberals of Indian journalism have been trained for years to be suspicious of lab genetics, the miss was not deliberate. Sometimes very significant science news slip through the cracks. The language of scientists, even when they write for lay people, is often precise. When they imply that the propaganda against GMOs is a “crime against humanity” they are not employing drama. Activists who have successfully vilified a science are indeed responsible for the malnutrition of millions and the worsening poverty of a majority of world’s farmers, who are small land-holders and would have benefitted from biotechnology. Activism often begins as a valiant humanitarian resistance against a rogue capitalist or scientific idea. In response, and in self-interest, capitalism and science work hard to become safer. But activism does not end because the activists who received acclaim for their initial resistance do not want their glory and vocation to end. Without their activism they are nothing. They succeed in influencing the general population for a number of reasons. People resent the rich, the bright and the successful and are willing to believe the worst about them. Also, most people are not trained to absorb science, as a result they are dependent on captivating capsules provided by activists whose appeal very few scientists can match because most scientists are not trained in communication. Influential columnists and television anchors do not have the time to invest in understanding a contentious science, or they do not find the courage to go against the conventions of their friends and constituencies. The most painful consequence of questioning an entrenched ethical belief is the loss of friends and goodwill. As a result, some children would continue to eat a mountain of starch. HT
COMMUNITY What is OM?
HOUSTON: Excerpted from the enlighten-
ing talks by revered master Anandmurti Gurumaa, this article sheds light on the essential meaning of the Mahamantra OM. What is the root of all mantras? Rishi says OM is the fundamental starting point of all mantras. Three alphabets conjoin to form OM. OM emerges from a fusion of three distinctive sounds. Without sounds, there can be no words, no alphabets. So, we can say that OM emerged from the confluence of three sounds ‘A’, ‘U’ and‘M’. In Sanskrit this is a symbol, known as a mahamātrā, representing that which is transcendental to every sound, every alphabet. This means that it is beyond the mind. OM is a symbolic and phonetic representation of Brahman. And the most interesting thing is that these three sounds of OM produce a tremendous impact on our body and mind. But then it is also true that just as an arrow is ineffective if the string is not stretched appropriately, likewise if the string of your mind is not ‘stretched’ (i.e. focussed) then you will not experience the effect of OM.
July 15, 2016
Indo American Forum of Fort Bend Plans a Busy Fall Season to Share, Care and Support! SUGAR LAND: Even as the dead heat of the summer grinds on, the Indo American Forum of Fort Bend is busy at work planning its two signature events, the grand Navratri Garba, always a highly popular event, playing to a packed house, scheduled for September 24 at the Stafford Center. This will be followed by the Spirit of the Holidays Gala, on Friday, November 11, at Safari Texas, which will highlight the diverse holidays celebrated in Fort Bend and honor a wide spectrum of charitable organizations with donations of support. Both events help the Indo American Forum of Fort Bend raise funds to extend support to a variety of non profit organizations in Fort Bend which provide education, shelter, food and resources to those in need. In fact, in response to the recent severe flooding disaster, IAF responded promptly to the urgent need of so many displaced families in
From left: IAF board members, Naren Patel, Subodh Bhuchar, Sarah White of Second Mile Ministries, and Harish Jajoo.
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need, by making a donation to the Second Mile Ministries, who were the coordinating agency of the relief effort. While the opportunity to distribute free water at the Memorial Day service was cancelled because of the river flooding, Indo American Forum of Fort Bend donated the water to the ARC of Fort Bend to use for its Special Olympics. IAF also invites its membership and families to a Back to School Hawaiian Luau and General Body Meeting set for Sunday, August 28, details of which will be sent to the membership. Indo American Forum of Fort Bend invites the community to participate in and enjoy these events and thus make significant contributions to important causes, as a unified body.
Say if you were to go in the middle of a busy road and shout ‘Stop!’, will the vehicles listen to you? People will think you are a lunatic and drive past. But, if a traffic policeman waves his hand to stop the traffic, the vehicles will halt immediately. This is because the policeman has the power, the necessary authority and you don’t. Similarly, the effect of baikhari depends upon who is chanting, and how is he chanting. So, the first step is that the string of mind needs to be stretched i.e. the mind needs to be integrated, focused.And secondly, you should be familiar with the sound and vibrations of OM. See, sound is a type of energy. Vibrations travel through air (or other mediums) and are heard as sound when they reach our ears. So when you produce the sound ‘A’, ‘U’ and ‘M’ you should be able to clearly perceive the vibrations, especially in the navel, chest and throat region respectively. Now, this will be possible only when your mind is focused on those areas and does not wander anywhere else. On the other hand, if the mind is scattered, thinking about past or future, it will be unavailable to perceive the vibrations. Anandmurti Gurumaa will be in Houston On 28,29,30 and 31 July. For more information call 713 834 2397. INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 15 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
20 July 15, 2016
COMMUNITY
Milestone Event at the House of Lords for Indian Diaspora Poets BY DR. DEBJANI CHATTERJEE, MBE
L
ONDON: On the eve of the momentous Brexit referendum, June 22, the House of Lords saw another colorful and history making occasion for English language poets of the Indian diaspora. The evening was hosted by Lord Bhikhu Parekh, a distinguished Indian diaspora non-fiction writer and a patron of the non-profit Word Masala Foundation and poet Yogesh Patel, the founder-Director of WMF. The ambitious event was Patel’s brainchild and was tightly packed with speeches, book launches, poetry readings, award ceremonies, slide presentation and networking. It attracted some sixty people, including well-established and rising poets, poetry publishers and journalists. In his welcome address, Patel stated his intention of bringing together and honoring eminent Indian diaspora poets from Britain and the US, as well as British publishers who support diaspora poetry. He announced a few exciting publishing initiatives, among these, talks with the prestigious ‘Poems on the Underground’
Zata Banks, keynote speaker on poetry and film
From left: Usha Akella, Yogesh Patel and Debjani Chatterjee outside Parliament.
project, who were seriously considering contributions picked up from the Word Masala Award Winners 2015 anthology launched at the event and published by Patel’s Skylark Publications website. Patel was particularly proud of a publishing contract for Isle of Man-based Usha Kishore whose next poetry collection will be brought out by Eyewear Publishing, announced with great flair by Dr. Todd Swift, the publisher. Patel, who omitted himself from the readings, is known for his literary activism and publishing, and is also a fine trilingual poet and translator. Just a month ago he received an ‘International Accolade for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry and for Promoting Poetry’ at Vatayan’s annual award ceremony. Zata Banks treated the gathering to an inspirational keynote speech on the ‘creative opportunities at the intersections of poetry and film’. Banks is the founder of Poetry Film, an influential research art project that was launched in 2002 and has an archive collection of over
1000 films. Lord Parekh and Baroness Usha Prashar presented awards, first to the American poets: Meena Alexander, Usha Akella (based in Austin, Texas), and, in absentia, Saleem Peeradina and Pramila Venkateswaran; and then to British poets: Shanta Acharya, Siddhartha Bose, Kavita Jindal, Daljit Nagra, Usha Kishore, Reginald Massey and Debjani Chatterjee. Word Masala’s first Crowd-Funding Award was given to Mona Dash to support the publication of her next poetry collection. All the award-winning poets read briefly from their work, accompanied by a slide-show highlighting their achievements and poetry. Parekh and Prashar commented on the excellence of the readings and the high quality of the poetry. Parekh spoke of the ‘immense pool of talent’ that is contemporary Indian diaspora poets, and called for a mutually beneficial meeting of two great literatures: English literature and Indian diaspora literature in English, which itself is enriched by its heritage of multilingual Indian literature. He encouraged diaspora writers to capitalise more on their experience of migration and of dual cultural heritage. He urged British publishers to consider publishing and publicising diaspora writers’ poetry and suggested opportunities for cooperation with Indian publishers. Word Masala awards were given to seven
Lord Parekh (center) with Yogesh Patel (right) and Baroness Prashar.
British poetry presses: Arc Publications, Emma Press, Eyewear Publishing, Faber & Faber, Limehouse Books, Nine Arches Press and Valley Press. Three poetry books were launched at the event: Glass Scissors, a debut collection by writer-publisher Bobby Nayyar of Limehouse Books; Saleem Peeradina’s collection Final Cut, from Valley Press; and the anthology, Word Masala Award Winners 2015, edited by Yogesh Patel and published by his Skylark Publications. The event was a milestone for Indian diaspora poets as it represents a pioneering attempt by WMF at trans-Atlantic connections. While there have been some exceptional achievements in publication and major prizes by poets, significant gaps and omissions still remain. And there is a need for more such global cooperation that will certainly benefit Indian diaspora poets and the wider world of poetry. Dr. Debjani Chatterjee has had over sixty books published in various countries and won many prizes for poetry, literary translation and writing for children. She is Word Masala’s Consultant Editor, Pratibha India’s Associate Editor, Gitanjali and Beyond’s Advisory Editor, Survivors Poetry’s Patron, The Healing Word’s Founder, and Associate Royal Literary Fellow.
Indian Muslims to Celebrate 7th Annual Eid Milan BY HAFEEZA SHAIK
HOUSTON: Indian Muslim Association of
Greater Houston (IMAGH), will be celebrating Eid Milan this Saturday, July 16. This will be the 7th annual Eid Milan serving the Houston community. This event is held every year to celebrate Eid – ul –Fitr, a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Congressman Al Green is the Chief Guest and Indo American Political Action Committee (IPAC) is the Guest Organization. The new Consul General of India, Anupam Ray will be the Guest of Honor (if he comes back from Washington in time). Dr. Fatima Mawji, a noted Community leader is the Event Chair. Munir Ibrahim and Dr. Yunus Langha are the Organizing Committee Co- Chairs for this year’s Eid Milan. The event will hold a Cultural Fashion Show by Jasmeeta Singh and also include a short skit
about unity of all religions by Fatehali Chatur. As every year, there will be a live performance by a well- known musician and this year, Vishwakarma Raj will entertain with his rendition of Mohammed Rafi’s songs. The Eid Milan event promotes the message of peace, unity, tolerance, and continues to break the boundaries between communities, cultures, and religions. IMAGH is a non-profit, nonreligious, and non-political organization serving the South Asian community. IMAGH is the umbrella for two other organizations, Club 65 and South Asian Youth Alliance (SAYA). Club 65’s purpose is to provide activities for seniors and keep them educated, entertained, and active in the community. SAYA is a platform for the youth to explore their heritage, promoting South Asian identity, networking, and developing leadership. For more information about the event, call its President, Latafath Hussain, at 713-2696171 or at latafath@imagh.org.
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Mama’s Punjabi Recipes E
Aaloo da Parantha (Potato Stuffed Crispy Flatbread)
very cuisine in every corner of the world has its comfort food and if you ask a Punjabi, what their choice is, chances are pretty good that they’ll first say “paranthas (crispy flatbread)! Paranthas have become famous the world over and are found not just in Indian restaurants but also in the frozen food section of Indian grocery stores. Though the basic way to make paranthas is very similar but it’s the stuffing that differentiates them in the cooking methods and of course the taste … and even the way you eat them. So well is this idea ingrained in the minds of people that the art of cooking paranthas is celebrated in guidebooks like Michelin or Lonely Planet which lead tourists to a small busy restaurant in the old part of Delhi in Chandni Chowk to the Paranthe di Gulli (Parantha Alley) where there is usually a line to get in to eat 12 inch round paranthas of all types! A homemade Punjabi parantha is usually 8 to 10 inches round and nearly ¼ inch thick. It is made of twice-rolled dough, with a little dab of oil and then cooked on each side till there is a crispy, golden brown top layer, which can only happen when you coax the dough to actually puff up and NOT press down hard on it while cooking. Then the crispy side is coated with some butter or oil and served piping hot. The easiest – and most often made – stuffed parantha is the aaloo (potato) type probably because they are readily available everywhere and easy to cook and prepare. Many people make aloo paranthas that are limp and taste like soggy mashed potatoes which takes the joy out of them, while others use too much butter or oil which makes them too greasy. Made properly, they should be crispy and just firm enough to eat with plain yogurt.
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Ingredients: •500gm kanak (gehon) ka atta (wheat flour) •500gm aaloo (potatoes) – firm white, not Russet or baking kind •2 tbsp tael (olive oil or vegetable oil) •1 1/2 cups pani (water) •1 tsp dhaniya (coriander) •½ tsp lal mirch (red pepper) •1 tsp amchoor (mango powder) •½ tsp garam masala •½ tsp ajwain (fenugreek) •To taste: pinch of namak (salt) per parantha Directions: 1. Combine the spice ingredients in a small bowl and set off to the side. 2. Knead the atta into dough with water and set aside for 30 minutes. 3. Put the potatoes in a pot of water and bring to a boil. When they are soft but not mushy, turn the heat off and drain the water out. Let the potatoes cool off for 20 minutes. 4. Peel the potatoes and place them in a bowl. Smash them with a masher into small pieces. Add the spice mix-
ture and mix thoroughly. 5. Pinch off a piece of dough and make into 1½ inch round padde (balls). Roll each padda out into a 4 inch disc. 6. Spread the dough into the middle of the disc and place three tablespoons of the smashed potatoes into it. Throw in a bit of salt and then gather off the ends off the dough with a pinch and then roll into a ball again. 7. Carefully roll out the ball into an 8 to 10 inch disc ¼ inches thick, trying not to spill the mixture in a tear of the dough. 8. Put a small dab of oil on a hot tava (hotplate or skillet) and place the flattened disc on. When it puffs a bit and turn color, turn the pancake over. Turn the heat to medium low. Put another dab of oil on the tava and then turn it over again till it is fully cooked. 9. These paranthas are best served hot with butter, plain yogurt or lassi (buttermilk). 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. 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 some of her delectable recipes.
MAMA’S TIP OF THE WE EK
THE DOS AN OF MAKING GO D DON’TS OD PARANTHA S
Making tasty and crispy aaloo parant ha few tips can make the end results a m s can be tricky but a uch better. The first is not to put the sa lt into the mashed tip potat rest of the spices. This only makes th oes along with the e potatoes shed w and makes it difficu ater lt is important to turn to stuff and roll out the dough. Then , it the heat on high un der the tava and w the first parantha hen is turned for the fi rst time, turn the he medium low. Nex at to t, pl fore you place and ace a little oil on the tava each time be flip the parantha. Th Finally, do not pres is s down hard of th will make it crispy. e uncooked parant but wait till both sid ha es the parantha fluff up are slightly cooked, then try to mak e .
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July 15, 2016
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23
Salman Khan-starrer is Unstoppable, Earns Rs 142.62 cr
Sultan has proved to be a box of-
fice hurricane. With Rs 105.3 crore BO business in three days, the film earned Rs 37.10 cr. on Saturday (July 9) too, making the total collections of the film Rs 142.62 crore. Sultan is unstoppable and this Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma film is setting new benchmarks. Like all Salman’s Eid releases, Sultan was supposed to do a roaring business. Trade was left a tad bit worried when Eid was shifted from July 6 to 7 and Sultan leaked online a day before its release. However, Sultan’s box office business on first four days has proved that it is hard to stop the Salman bandwagon once it gets going. The film had almost 90 percent occupancy on Saturday and its business was expected to be around Rs 35-40 crore. If all goes right, the film’s business should be over Rs
160 crore in the first weekend. This means it could finally be one of the biggest grossers of Salman. The film made Rs 36.54 crore on opening day, Rs 37.3 crore on Eid and Rs 31.5 crore on Friday. The film is also Salman’s biggest opener till date. While Bajrangi Bhai-
jaan made Rs 102.6 crore in three days, his Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo could garner Rs 101.47 crore. Sultan has already helped the sluggish box office we saw in the first six months in Bollywood. The Salman Khan film is the third film which made to the Rs 100-crore club. The other two are Airlift and Housefull 3. Before Sultan, 5 films that made Salman Khan Bollywood’s biggest star If you look at Salman Khan’s soaring career graph today, it is hard to imagine a time when his career had nosedived and one heard his name mentioned more in terms of controversies than box office successes. Between 2005 and 2009, he gave a string of flops punctuated with a lone hit, Partner. The film industry’s Prem was in need of rescuing, and we mean both his image and demi-god of BO
status. With films like Maine Pyaar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Karan Arjun and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in his kitty, he was a superstar already but facing a tough time ahead. The reinvention of Salman Khan began with Prabhdeva’s directorial, Wanted (2009). And the Khan has not looked back since then. We bring you five films since 2009 that cemented Salman’s position and made him film industry’s biggest star at this moment. Wanted: The film made Salman a darling of single-screen theatres once again. With its whistle-a-minute dialogues, the film became a money spinner. It earned Rs 61 crore in 2009, which may not sound a lot today but was big money back then. Dabangg and Dabangg 2: At box office figures of Rs 141 and Rs 154 crore, these films ensured that multiplex audience was digging Bhai as
much as single-screen theatres. And he got a franchise all his own too! Ek Tha Tiger: Starring opposite Katrina Kaif, this Salman blockbuster made critics happy too. It also started his relationship with director Kabir Khan and together they will give the biggest hit of Salman’s career 2.0. Bajrangi Bhaijaan: With this film, Salman gave his image a muchneeded makeover and also earned a phenomenal Rs 321 crore. His role of Bajrangi also fetched him a string of awards. Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo: Sooraj Barjatya is to Salman’s career what Yashraj is to Shah Rukh’s. With PRDP, Salman’s Prem was back and that was something to cheer about. The film was panned by critics but still made Rs 213 crore at box office. -indianexpress.com
Pooja Hegde Perfect Choice for Mohenjo Daro: Ashutosh Gowarikar Happy Birthday Director Ashutosh Gowariker says picted grace, dignity and strength, but Gowariker immediately called Pooja Hegde is an apt choice as the lead actress in his upcoming film Mohenjo Daro. Pooja is gearing up to make her big Bollywood debut opposite Hrithik Roshan in Mohenjo Daro. “During scripting, I had envisioned a new face for the character of Chaani because I wanted someone without an image or perception attached to her. It had to be someone who de-
yet had a girl like naive innocence,” Gowariker said in a statement here. The Lagaan helmer revealed that it was his wife Sunita who was keen on having Pooja for Mohenjo Daro. “It was actually Sunita who first noticed Pooja in a TV commercial. She immediately felt that Pooja had a certain screen presence, which once I saw the commercial, even I felt,” he said.
Pooja and auditioned her. “She was extremely quick on the uptake, took direction very well and was completely aligned with the character that I had in my mind,” he added. Mohenjo Daro, the epic adventureromance film produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Sunita Gowariker, is set to release on August 12. -indianexpress.com
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 15 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Priyanka Chopra July 18, 1982
24 July 15, 2016
What Does the Shastri-Ganguly Dust-Up Tell Us? BY GAURAV KALRA
MUMBAI (ESPN Cricinfo): Besides providing a day’s worth of juicy headlines and the opportunity for television channels to revel in the confrontation, the Sourav Ganguly-Ravi Shastri fracas isn’t really much of anything. Anil Kumble, by all accounts, made a compelling pitch to be India’s head coach, and frankly, once he showed the inclination for the job, you’d rather not look someplace else. However, while the BCCI deserves credit for setting up a robust process to find their next head coach, this farcical public spectacle created by two prominent individuals involved in that process has shown up the flaws in the final stages of its execution. Ganguly’s outburst on Wednesday, after a couple of days of snarky interviews in which Shastri made the point that Ganguly wasn’t present when he, Shastri, was being interviewed, but was instead chairing a meeting at the Cricket Association of Bengal, which he heads - wasn’t entirely unexpected. You don’t have to be a close friend to know Ganguly has a combative side to his personality, and while he has mellowed over the years, when confronted, the feisty fellow from within pipes up. “I have an advice [sic] for him also,” Ganguly said towards the end of his testy rant. “When the coach of India is selected - and it’s one of the most important jobs in cricket - he should be in front of the committee giving his presentation and not sit in Bangkok on holiday and make a presentation on camera, especially when someone who is one of the greatest cricketers of India [of] all time spoke for two hours nearly, Anil Kumble.” Ganguly is right. An applicant for a job as high-profile as India coach must show not just urgency but also desperation to convince those selecting him of his merit. For Shastri to make his case over a Skype line in the middle of a holiday doesn’t really send that message. Shastri was in Thailand, a short flight from Kolkata. He could
Had Ravi Shastri been appointed coach, would he still have considered Ganguly’s absence “disrespectful”?
have flown in, made his presentation and flown back to resume his holiday the same night. Why then did the BCCI not mandate that all candidates shortlisted for the interviews be present in person in Kolkata? If a prominent organisation were appointing a member of upper management, would those involved not insist on a face-to-face interaction with all those who aspire to the job? So while Ganguly is spot on about implying that Shastri didn’t appear to regard the interview process seriously, the BCCI is at fault as well. All it needed was an email to the candidates saying they needed to make themselves available in person. On the other hand, while Ganguly’s “advice” to Shastri about “being in front of the committee and not sit in Bangkok on holiday” is valid, one wonders if he applies the same standard to his co-selectors. He wasn’t the only one of the cricket advisory committee missing from the room when Shastri was being interviewed. Sachin
Tendulkar was also on a video call from wherever in the world he is holidaying at the moment. Only VVS Laxman and Sanjay Jagdale were in the room. While modern technology is a miracle, it hasn’t fully replaced human interaction yet. So if Ganguly expects - and rightly so - Shastri to have made the effort as a candidate, should he not, by the same token, have expected Tendulkar to do the same? Is the process well served if one of the four men entrusted with finding the right candidate is in another location, reliant on an internet connection, and as a result is presumably finding it hard to be part of the conversation? Should not both the interviewers and interviewee regard the process with the same rigour? For his part, Ganguly explained he had already notified the BCCI that he would need time away for a CAB working committee meeting. He explained that he left presuming the process would take a break while he was away, only to be asked if he was okay with letting
the others go on with the Shastri interview. To which he said fine. Could he not have been asked to reschedule, considering he was in the midst of conducting interviews for “one of the most important jobs” in cricket? While modern technology is a miracle, it hasn’t fully replaced human interaction yet. So if Ganguly expects Shastri to have made the effort as a candidate, should he not have expected Tendulkar to do the same? Shastri’s bombast, which set off this chain of events, also deserves calling out. It would be only natural for him to be cut up about being denied an extension. It is a high-profile, high-paying position, and Shastri by all accounts was a popular figure in the dressing room. However, by saying he was “miffed” at Ganguly’s absence and advising him to “next time be at a meeting when someone is being interviewed for a position as important as that”, he seems to be issuing a veiled warning. What, though, stopped Shastri from explaining to us whether he did raise this question as his interview began? Did he ask the others why Ganguly was absent? If so, what reply did he get? If he was unhappy with the reply, did he place any kind of protest on record? If he didn’t raise the issue of Ganguly’s absence at all during the interview, why bring it up now? Had he been appointed coach, would he still have considered Ganguly’s absence “disrespectful”? Would we have heard him say, “I am very thankful for this opportunity, though I do wish Sourav Ganguly would have been around when I was making my case.” Those invested in Indian cricket - players, fans, officials and media - will know this is a temporary storm. When Shastri and Ganguly next run into each other there will be the statutory photo ops and plenty of laughter and backslapping. If anything, their tussle should alert the authorities to one minor learning: next time, get everyone in the same room while making critical decisions. Gaurav Kalra is a senior editor at ESPNcricinfo.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 15 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
SPORTS
Pak Team United Under Wahab before Lords Test LONDON: Pakistan’s players are ready to close ranks around Mohammad Amir when he makes his long-awaited Test comeback at Lord’s this week - but they are also focused on shutting out the noise surrounding Amir’s return to the scene of his spot-fixing involvement six years ago and intend to let their efforts on the pitch do most of the talking. Wahab Riaz has already described Amir as the team’s “little brother” and he reiterated their support for the 24-year-old, who is likely to be under intense scrutiny in his first Test since 2010, after which he served time in a young offenders’ institute as well as a five-year ICC ban from all cricket for agreeing to bowl deliberate noballs. Despite the shadow cast over Pakistan’s last visit to Lord’s, Amir’s name remains on the honors board for his first-innings 6 for 84. Wahab said he hoped Amir would be able to repeat the feat this time around and that another five-wicket haul in sunnier circumstances would help to rehabilitate his reputation, as well as put Pakistan on their way to upsetting England in the first Test. “What has happened has gone now, it has gone a long way now so I think the best thing is that he can perform well,” Wahab said. “I want him to take five wickets in this Test match to get his name and to get his image back.”
Wahab said he hoped Amir would be able to repeat the feat this time around and that another five-wicket haul.
July 15, 2016
Air India Matches Rajdhani II A Fares on Four Routes I
n a big fares revision, Air India on Sunday matched Rajdhani II A fares on Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Bengaluru, Delhi-Kolkata and vice-versa sector within four hours of departure. According to reports, these lastminute fares will only be available for passengers, who had booked on Rajdhani Express but could not get a confirm ticket. The current Rajdhani II A fares are Delhi-Mumbai: Rs 2,870 DelhiChennai: Rs 3905 Delhi-Bengaluru:
India spokesperson said here. The spokesperson also said that the airline will also not charge any amount for the rescheduling of prebooked flights. The relaxed norms would be applicable for both domestic and international flights to and from Srinagar on tickets booked before July 9 for travel up to July 11. At present, all domestic airlines charge a heavy fee of up to Rs 2,000 from fliers for a ticket cancellation and rescheduling.
In a big fares revision, Air India on Sunday matched Rajdhani II A fares on Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Bengaluru, Delhi-Kolkata and vice-versa sector within four hours of departure.
Rs 4020 Delhi-Kolkata: Rs 2890. The aviation company also said it will not charge any ticket cancellation or rescheduling fee for travel to and from Kashmir, which has been rocked by violence. Air India has decided to waive cancellation and no-show charges from the customers who had booked their flights to or from Srinagar due to the prevalent situation in Kashmir, an Air
Meanwhile, Jet Airways has also announced that it would re-book the tickets of its customers without any charges due to the current situation in the valley. “Due to the current unrest situation prevailing in Srinagar, we have been informed by DGCAto allow guests to rebook their tickets without charges,” Jet Airways spokesperson said. - indianexpress.com
25
India’s First Crowdfunded Electric Bike Project Unveiled Features of the Spero ● Three models with 30km/60km/100km range. ● 0-25 kmph in 10 seconds. ● Rechargeable battery: 20-80% charge in six hours. ● Battery can also be charged while pedalling. ● Includes a smartphone charger. ● Five gears in the electric mode. ● Electronic Display ● Cruise control (where one can lock the maximum speed). ● Weight: 24-30kg.
SHARAN POOVANNA BENGALURU: It’s zippy, has a maximum range of around 100km and travels from 0-25km/h in under 10 seconds at a cost of less than 10 paisa per kilometre under ideal conditions. Its makers say the Spero, a cross between a bicycle and an electric bike, can do 100km on around one unit of charge (at a maximum cost of Rs9). If you want a healthier option, just pedal it like a regular cycle, and in some settings, it will recharge the 48 volt Lithium ion detachable battery on the cycle. Milltex Engineers Pvt. Ltd, a Coimbatore-based textile machinery spares producer, launched the Spero—India’s first crowdfunded electric bike—in Bengaluru on Friday. The orange and black framed bike with features such as cruise control could well be the answer to urban planners seeking to promote faster and cleaner transportation in the overcrowded and polluted cities of the country. “Electric mobility will take more time to gain popularity. So, we needed to keep it simple and take
it to the next level. What better way than a cycle,” said S. Manikandan, cofounder and managing director of the six-member company that produces the Spero electric bicycle. While there is an attempt by the government to promote electric vehicles under the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020, the lack of support infrastructure like charging stations and high-cost of battery technology, among other hurdles, has stalled growth of the programme which aims to put around six million electric and hybrid vehicles in the country. There were only 22,000 units of electric vehicles, which include twoand four-wheelers, in the country till 31 March, according to industry lobby group Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV). “We were so bowled over by the concept and the affordability of this product that we not only provided the platform but we also helped Mani with design advice and product architecture,” said Ranganath Thota, founder and chief executive of FuelADream, a crowd-funding platform.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JULY 15 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Manikandan and his six-member team are hopeful that Spero, being environment-friendly and costeffective, will receive healthy demand. The company hopes to sell 150,000 units of the bike between August (when deliveries start) to March next year. The first fifty bikes in three models—e30, e60 and e100—will cost Rs55,500, Rs64,800 and Rs84,900 respectively, which will include cost of delivery. Though the bike is manufactured in Coimbatore, the battery is from Samsung and the motor and tyres are from Korea. The Milltex founders have infused around Rs60 lakh into the project so far and raised an additional Rs10 lakh to improve distribution and marketing through FuelADream. Supriya Paul, a member of team, says that the company would require about Rs1 crore to meet its immediate targets. Thota of FuelADream said that the global market size for crowdfunding was around $34 billion in 2015 and will go upto $90 billion by 2025. - livemint.com
26 July 15, 2016 Modi in Africa: India Extends $92 Million Line of Credit to Tanzania Seeking to enhance its ties with
resource-rich Tanzania, India today extended its full support to it to meet its development needs and signed five agreements, including one for providing a Line of Credit of $92 million in the water resources sector. Describing India as a trusted partner in meeting Tanzania’s development priorities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he along with President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli “agreed to deepen our overall defence and security partnership, especially in the maritime domain”. “Our in-depth discussions on regional and global issues reflected our considerable convergence on issues of common interest and concern,” he said. “India’s cooperation with Tanzania will always be as per your needs and priorities,” Modi said at a joint press interaction after his bilateral meeting with President Magufuli. The two sides signed an agreement under which India will provide a Line of Credit of $92 million for rehabilitation and improvement of Zanzibar’s water supply system. Other agreements signed include an MoU on water resource management and development, MoU for establishment of vocational training centre at Zanzibar, MoU on visa waiver for diplomatic/official passport holders and an agreement between National Small Industries Corporation of India and Small Industries Development Organisation Tanzania. Prime Minister said the two countries are also working on a number of other water projects for 17 cities in Tanzania. “For this India is willing to consider an additional $500 million line of concessional credit,” he said. Describing Public Health as another important area of bilateral en-
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, poses with Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli for a photo at State House in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Sunday July 10, 2016. Modi is on his third leg of Africa tour. (AP Photo/Khalfan Said)
gagement, Modi said India is ready to meet the healthcare priorities of the Tanzanian government, including of supply of medicines and equipment. “I am told that an Indian radiotherapy machine is being installed at Bugando medical centre to treat cancer patients,” he said. He said during his meeting with President Magufuli, they detailed discussions on the full spectrum of bilateral partnership. “Our focus was to shape an action oriented agenda of cooperation, so that we talk less of potential and more of achievements on the ground. We agreed that our common desire of economic prosperity for our societies is creating new opportunities for expanding our cooperation,” he said. To achieve this, the two nations agreed to deepen partnership in agriculture and food security, including through enhanced export of pulses from Tanzania to India.
They also decided to work together in development and use of natural gas. India agreed to partner Tanzania in building of industrial economy, capacities and institutions. The two leaders also decided to deepen bilateral trade and investment partnership by encouraging greater industry to industry ties. India is already a substantial economic partner of Tanzania. The whole range of our economic ties are healthy and on upswing. Two way annual trade stands at around $3 billion. Indian investments in Tanzania already total around $3 billion. “The Eastern coast of Africa, and Tanzania in particular have enjoyed strong links with the India. We are old maritime neighbours. Together, our leaders and our people have fought colonialism and racial oppression,” Modi said.
“Our merchants have traded since early nineteenth century. And, the vast stretch of Indian Ocean has kept our societies and our people connected. “President Magufuli has a vision for nation building, development and industrialisation – a vision that is my dream for India too,” he said. As a developing country, Modi said India understands the need and urgency to improve the lives of our people. “In this regard, the completion of 100 million dollar water supply augmentation project for Dar es Salaam is a good achievement,” he said. Education, vocational training and skill development are other areas of your priority and where India is willing to offer all possible assistance. “I also understand that the IT Resource Centre at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science & Technology, Arusha is close to completion,” he said. The two leader agreed to work closely, bilaterally, regionally and globally, to combat the twin threats of terrorism and climate change. On climate change, he said India had led the efforts to form an International Solar Alliance at climate conference in Paris. “In this Alliance, which has the support of over 120 countries, we welcome Tanzania as a crucial partner,” Modi said. He also invited President Magufuli to visit India at the earliest possible opportunity. Earlier, the Prime Minister was accorded a ceremonial welcome when he arrived at the State House in Dares-Salaam. He arrived here late last night on the third leg of his four-nation Africa tour. -indianexpress.com
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Russian Bahu on Dharna Against Indian Saas for Property Share S
HEMENDRA CHATURVEDI
aas-bahu sagas are nothing new. However, here is one with a twist. A Russian ‘bahu’ is sitting on dharna at the doorstep of her inlaws in Indrapuri locality of Agra, seeking her husband’s share from her mother-in-law’s property. Olga Efimenkova is so adamant not to end her protest till her husband is provided their share, that despite rainfall, she sat on dharna on Saturday. Olga had married Vikrant Singh Chandel in 2011 and they have a son. The couple had been residing in Goa, but after suffering losses in business, they returned to Agra.
However, when the couple reached their house, they were not allowed entry as Vikrant’s mother Nirmala Chandel had gifted the property to her daughter who runs a school there. Agitated over her husband being deprived of his share in the property, Olga went and sat on a dharna at the doorstep of her in-laws. She is being supported by her husband Vikrant. When asked, Olga said that she had informed New Agra police and Russian Embassy, but police did not register a case as they said it was a case of property dispute between family members. Olga’s mother-in-law Nirmala Chandel maintained that she is living in a single room and had gifted the house to her daughter who is estranged from her husband. “My daughter runs a school on the premises. I have already given Rs 11 lakh to Vikrant. Now I have nothing left with me to give to him,” she said, adding that her son and daughter-in-law gamble and consume liquor and have not cared about her. - hindustantimes.com
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