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Friday, April 28, 2017 | Vol. 36, No. 17

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7 Annual Hindu Youth Awards th

Cheif Guest Pujya Kaivalyamurti Swami

Board of Directors of Hindus of Greater Houston, from left: Vijay Pallod, Sharad Amin, Girish Naik (back) Partha Krishnaswamy (President), Bhagwan Bhutada, Vinod Mantri, Swapan Dhairyawan,Tupil Narasiman, Sanjay Jain (Treasurer), Sanjay Jajoo, Thara Narasimhan (Secretary), Bhawna Luthra and Richa Dixit (Secretary).

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April 28, 2017 3 COMMUNITY Take You for a Walk Down the Runway at Jaz Creationz BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA

HOUSTON: A few years back,

during the Vaisakhi program at the Cullen Auditorium that she had coordinated for the Punjabi Society of Houston, Jasmeeta Singh created quite a stir by producing one of the best choreographed fashion shows the desi community had ever seen. It was set to a blend of music and dance – each model not only walked the stage but also performed dance steps – and was ahead of the crowd in theatrics and entertainment. Jasmeeta ended the show with a group performance, with herself as the lead dancer. That was five years ago, and Jasmeeta had been organizing the annual Vaisakhi program and other functions for her Sikh community for a long time. In addition, she had volunteered for events as a director of the India Culture Center and she has been was the sole Sikh participant in the International Hindi Association’s Houston Chapter. And as a past director of the Interfaith Ministries of Houston, along with her husband, businessman Bobby Singh, she helped produce its annual Tapestry Ball and interfaith dialogues on Sikhism. Nearly two years ago, the beautiful dynamo ventured into the world of haute couture fashion, with a glittering inaugural fashion and dance event and since then has had many more fashion shows, joining hands with ethnic groups across the Bayou City. She now conducts classes every Saturday at her spacious studio at 9703 Richmond at S. Gessner for those who are interested in pursuing a career in modeling. Her company, Jaz Creationz, is a unique modeling agency and dancing school that wants to create diversity in the modeling world by merging dance of different cultures together to form a common ground to build bridges between communities as well as learning poise and public speaking skills. And she still has time for the other passion in her life: to work within the community and help maintain its cultural heritage. A trained Kathak classical dancer who also choreographs the free flowing style of Bollywood dancing, Jasmeeta is known

Most of the attendees at the sneh milan on Friday, April 21.

Photos: Quaid Tinwala

Dr. K.D. Upadhaya, President of the IHA Houston Chapter with Jasmeeta Singh and Sangeeta Pasrija (right) felicitated Parul Fernandez on her birthday

The ICC Board presented Jasmeeta with a token of their gratitude

among the desi community for her focus on working with kids and perfectionism when it comes to undertaking a project, and has been active in other non-profit groups for many years. But what many may not realize is that Jasmeeta is also very fluent in Hindi and has been a part of the IHA’s activities for the past three years, often contributing to their poetry events and karaoke nights. She managed to merge the two in the sneh milan night (held each quarter) at her studio by hosting the get-together this past Friday, April 21 and most of the membership showed up for the mixer, karaoke night and dinner. And since most of the same people are also associated with the ICC, Jasmeeta was able to put together an evening which included all of her passions!

Jasmeeta Singh, founder of Jaz Creationz in her studio on Richmond Ave at S. Gessner.

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COMMUNITY

April 28, 2017

Hindus of Greater Houston Present Awards to Seven Inspirational Youth

HGH President, Partha Krishnaswamy

Hindu youth awards 2017 winners were, from left: Mukund Nair, Harsh Mehta, Siddhant Ahuja, Govinda Ramirez, Shail Gajjar, Nikita Zamwar and Haripriya Sundaramurthy.

Keynote speaker, Suhag Shukla

Ashwin Dave BAPS Mandir representative passed on the baton to host the HGH Youth Awards function next year to ISKCON Mandir’s Gaura Klein and Dr. Hansa Madley.

BY PRAMOD KULKARNI

HOUSTON:

When you leave your motherland and make a life in an alien country, your cultural identity can become divided. The situation is even more challenging for the second-generation youth, who must balance the culture at home with the mainstream culture in school and at work. To recognize youth who’ve retained their Vedic culture and achieved success in academic and professional life, the Hindus of Greater Houston (HGH) instituted its annual youth award series seven years ago. This year’s HGH 7th Annual Hindu

Youth Awards function and fund raising event was hosted by the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on Saturday, April 22 evening. The HGH Youth Awards recognize youth between the ages of 16-30, who demonstrate academic excellence, community service, inspire social change and serve as role models. The seven award winners were selected this year out of nominations from 13 different organizations (see box). The event featured two prominent speeches. Throughout the event, several bhajans and BAPS videos were inCONTINUED ON PAGE

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Diya lighting ceremony was performed by Rishi Bhutada (left), Jugal Malani, Vishnu Ramnarine, Gurinder Luthra, Ranjana Narasiman, Suhag Shukla, Manjulaben Patel, Beth Kulkarni, Dr. Hansa Raval and Thara Narasimhan.

Seven Award Winners with Exceptional Values

Each of the award winners made an acceptance speech, where they affirmed their religious beliefs and cultural values. Haripriya Sundaramurthy (Sri Meenaskhi Temple Society), emphasized that “religion is just an introduction to God and only through service can we realize God. Shail Gajjar (BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir), who proudly wears a tilak on his forehead every single day, resolved “an internal conflict” through the tenets of Hinduism. Govinda Ramirez (ISKCON), who first came into contact with Hinduism in Mexico, underscored the fact that Vedic culture is a complete philosophy and way of life and this “treasure” is for everyone. Mukund Nair (Global Organization of Divinity) perceived that “humanity is inseparable from divinity” and this dawning realization gave his life a sense of clarity and purpose. Nikita Zamwar (Ekal Vidyalaya) observed that belonging to a Hindu organization, such as the HSS, helped her “defend” her religion, taught her discipline and inculcated core values, including seva bhav. Siddhant Ahuja (Arya Samaj of Greater Houston) stressed the importance of staying true to the core values of Vedic life “wherever we are”. Harsh Mehta (Jain Society of Houston) spoke about the struggles of following Jain ideals, but how he was determined to spread its beliefs and create “ripples of change”.

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COMMUNITY

April 28, 2017

ASIE Recognizes New Missouri City Public Works Director, Indian Media HOUSTON: The American Society of

Indian Engineers and Architects (ASIE), a Houston-based organization for engineers, architects, designers, and engineering technicians, held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 19 at the HESS Club. This was the third monthly meeting with over 100 guests in attendance, a new record for ASIE. The meeting featured a technical seminar on subsurface detention and honored special guests, including Shashi Kumar, recently appointed Missouri City Public Works Director and City Engineer, and members of the local Indian news media. Also recognized were special guests, Rashmi Desai, president of archiCON Construction, and Col. Vipin Kumar, retired Indian Army engineer and currently the Executive Director of India House. ASIE President Dinesh D. Shah welcomed the audience and special guests. Then, Program Committee Chair Archana Sharma informed the audience that for the first time this year ASIE had booked twelve monthly technical seminars for the entire year, with additional five programs and several field trips. Membership Chair Chaitanya Gampa, reported record membership additions, surpassing the last year’s membership, and doubling from January to March, including the 38 corporate members. Then, Sirish Madichetti and Tej Kour, respectively, gave their report for the ASIE Website Update and Public Relations. While honoring the local media, Dinesh Shah said, “The local media plays an important role in publicizing ASIE activities.

Shashi Kumar with ASIE Board Members

Shashi Kumar addressing the ASIE audience. From left: ASIE Board Member Madhu Kilambi, Manisha Gandhi - TV Asia, Koshy Thomas - Voice of Asia, Jay Malhotra - Indo-American News and ASIE President Dinesh D. Shah.

They take our message and broadcast it to the entire community, including engineers and architects. One of the reasons ASIE has made a tremendous progress is due to the positive perception created by the media. This has resulted in increase of our membership and also our monthly seminar attendance.” Certificates of Appreciation and ASIE Coffee Mug Plaques were presented to Koshy Thomas of Voice of Asia, Jay Malhotra of Indo-American News, and Manisha Gandhi of TV Asia. Seshadri Kumar of India Herald and Dr. Nik Nikam of All India Radio could not attend but they were recognized. Also, Voice of Asia Chief Editor Shobana Muratee, and Vanshika Vipin Varma and Pramod Kulkarni of Indo-American News were not present, but Shah recognized them and extended his appreciation for their support. ASIE Vice President Chetan Vyas introduced Shashi Kumar, who holds an MS in engineering from Lamar University, MBA from the University of Houston - Victoria, and a BS in engineering from the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering in Bangalore, India. Prior to joining Missouri City, he worked with City of Sugar Land for 13-years, as a Senior Engineer, Drainage Engineer, and Program Manager. The Missouri City Pubic Works department has approximately 40 employees and an annual operating budget of $6.5 million. In addition, the department manages capital improvements projects averaging $18 million, annually. In his acceptance remarks, Shashi Kumar talked about the demographics, growth, diversity and vision of Missouri City. The technical seminar on Subsurface De-

ADS Seminar Presenter Nelson Stone with ASIE Board Member Sirish Madichetti and TV Asia Representative Manisha Gandhi

tention Systems was presented by Nelson Stone, representative of ADS. Board Member Madhu Kilambi introduced the speaker. Special guest Rashmi Desai appreciated the event, “It indeed was pleasure to meet lots of friends…. The event was well organized and dinner was excellent…. The speech by Shashi Kumar was enlightening.” The other invited guest Col. Vipin Kumar, Executive Director – India House said, “The event was very well conducted and the presentation was very informative. I met many engineers who I had not seen before and made some friends, too.” The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by ASIE Treasurer Poolkeshi Patel.

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COMMUNITY

April 28, 2017

When Houston Rocked for Charity -

A Fantastic Evening of Classic Rock for a Great Cause BY PARTHA CHATTERJEE

HOUSTON:

Prometheus Foundation, in partnership with IIT Alumni of Greater Houston (IITAGH), organized the second Rock for Charity event on April 23 at Cullen Theater of Wortham Center in Houston, Texas. It was a memorable evening of super classic rock for a great cause – children, autism and education. It supported two great charities – The Arc of Fort Bend and Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation. The event was graced by Dr. Anupam Ray, Consulate General of India in Houston, and James Patterson, Fort Bend County Commissioner. They handed checks to the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation and the Arc of Fort Bend office-bearers - Laura Lavigne, Margo Pasko, Prakash Shah and Pankaj Desai. It was a phenomenal evening of classic rock and east-west fusion by the Horizon Fusion Band. The crowd was awestruck and the energy throughout the show was captivating. The audience loved the show, bursting into applause after every set. From Dire Straits to Beck to Santana to the seventy-minute long rendition of Pink

Photos: Devdeep Ghosh and Jit Biswas.

Floyd, it was a super treat for any classic rock lover. The audience also included a healthy representation from Houston’s acclaimed Medical Center, who supported the event enthusiastically.

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Dr. Subrata Ghosh, the founder and CEO of Prometheus Foundation, said: “I believe in the concept of enjoying quality classic rock, providing platform for budCONTINUED ON PAGE

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April 28, 2017

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Attendees and Chamber members with Chief Acevedo.

BY MANU SHAH

HOUSTON: On April 11, Hous-

ton’s top cop Art Acevedo delivered a strong message about “relational policing” and his efforts to build a rapport of trust with the community. As Keynote Speaker at the IACCGH Distinguished Lecture Series, Chief Acevedo’s impassioned address about his aim to serve and make Houston safe for everyone came across as genuinely caring, sincere and determined in working with the community to make a difference. The event which was sponsored by Shell was hosted at the Indian consulate and attended by representatives from several economic development agencies, IACCGH members and guests. Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia welcomed the gathering and described the Chamber as an “inclusive Chamber representing the community.” Diversity, he emphasized, is what “Houston is all about and what the Chamber is all about.” He also thanked the Consulate for hosting the event. Deputy Consul General of India in Houston, Surendra Adhana lauded the contributions of the Indo American community and promised the Consulate’s support to the community and the HPD in all their endeavors. Greeting the gathering with a cheerful “Namaste,” Chief Acevedo opened up about the police department’s struggles and challenges in ensuring public safety with a taskforce of only 5100 police officers. He compared this

figure with Chicago’s taskforce of 13000 officers despite the city being geographically smaller than Houston. A shrinking department is the reason, he clarified, why calls to 911 don’t always get a quick response. The response time for an emergency is under 5 minutes but could be longer for less serious situations. The necessity of deploying the limited resources in an effective way and the prioritization of going after violent crime rather than minor misdemeanors, he added, called for such measures. Chief Acevedo also reflected that deeper engagement with the community starts with the police chief which is why he is focused on reaching out to community members at every opportunity he gets and being on crime scenes or patrol beats whenever possible to “send the message” that Houston’s police department is there to serve. Alluding to the “ugly political rhetoric” about undocumented workers in the country, he highlighted their contributions to the economy and called on the gathering to speak out against this stance. An unfortunate outcome of this rhetoric, he observed, has resulted in a glaring drop in the reporting of rape by undocumented workers for fear of being deported. Chief Acevedo also highlighted the proposed pension reforms and stressed the importance of providing a pension plan for “all the men and women who put their lives on the line” for public safety day after day. Concluding his address, he stated that he was “here to do his job, not

Photos: Bijay Dixit

keep it” and held out the guarantee that the day he leaves, the department would “be in better shape” than when he came. Shell VP Fred Whipple thanked Chief Acevedo for his leadership and expressed his gratitude for the sacrifices “you and your families make to keep Houston safe.” Jagdip Ahluwalia did note that that the Chamber has had a long term relationship with the HPD and their main contact over the years, till he retired, was Assistant Chief John Chen. The retired Chief had addressed the community at several IACCGH events in the Hillcroft/Harwin area and has been extremely responsive regarding any safety and security issues. The Chamber was pleased to welcome and introduce his successor Assistant Police Chief Henry Gaw who will henceforth be the point of contact for the community.

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COMMUNITY

Hindus of Greater Houston Present Awards to Seven Inspirational Youth CONTINUED FROM PAGE

terspersed. One of the videos introduced His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the present guru and spiritual successor of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The first speech was by the chief guest, Pujya Kaivalyamurti Swami, a BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Swami, who took diksha (path of renunciation) after completing his high school in Dallas, Texas in 1992. The swamiji’s younger brother has also taken diksha. Kaivalyamurti Swami set the tone

for the evening with an inspiring message for the Hindu youth of today. Acknowledging the many challenges that youngsters face in terms of “trying to be cool and blending in” he warned that, in the process of doing this, it is easy to forget our ethics and values and end up as “people pleasers.” He encouraged the gathering to overcome this identity crisis, follow their dharma, embrace their culture, practice purity of diet, and be a proud practicing Hindu. Swamiji

also shared a relevant piece of advice for students: join social events but do not be “pressurized to be part of a culture that is not yours.” He further added that when one sticks to their beliefs, whether it’s saying no to alcohol or meat, people will respect them, their true friends will respect them for it. Swamiji gave the example of a young man, Nisarg Shah, and two young women, who observed Hindu values even after joining the U.S. Marines. One of the sisters was

even stationed in Fallujah, Iraq. HGH Board of Director Thara Narasimham did the honors of introducing the second keynote speaker of the evening – Suhag Shukla, Executive Director and Legal Counsel and a co-founder of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). Shukla has consistently spoken out for the rights of religious minorities and educates Hindu American communities on religious liberty. Suhag Shukla lauded HGH’s endeavors in bringing the Hindu community together. In her address, she highlighted the three core principles of Dharma - ahimsa (nonviolence), brahmacharya (living in moderation), and satya (truth) and asserted that they can serve as a valuable guide in making the right decisions. She mentioned several ethical dilemmas (dharma sankats), i.e. calling out a fellow student, who is cheating. She said these dilemmas have to be resolved by each individual by following Vedic values. She also reflected on her initial struggles to understand Dharma but gradually came to the realization that she can be “a proud Hindu and a proud American.” The youth, she continued, will be taking life changing decisions and these are “important opportunities” to make the right choices. She concluded by stating that they could “simply live a life or live a higher life” and hoped they would choose the latter of the two. In a brief address, HGH President Partha Krishnaswamy outlined the ways in which HGH strives to bring Hindus together: through the celebration of Hindu festivals, a bi-annual Hindu Leaders Meet, honoring the youth and collaborating with and supporting other organizations. Komal Luthra, a Senior at Rice University has been attending every award ceremony and according to her, events like this teach us to “stand up for what we believe in and not give into outside forces such as peer pressure” while Anwar Raja, another attendee, found it “a heartwarming experience to listen to young Hindu Americans who are showing the way to all of us.” Emcees Jignesh Patel, Ekta Thakkar and Richa Dixit kept things moving briskly through the evening, which was interspersed with beautifully sung bhajans by the students of Swaminarayan Sanstha. In his vote of thanks, Event Chair Vinod Mantri thanked BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir for their unstinting “support in planning, hosting and guidance in organizing this event.” Board of Director Vijay Pallod invited ISKCON leaders Dr. Hansa Medley and Gaura Klein to take up the baton in hosting the 2018 Hindu Youth Awards. He noted that Gaura Klein was a 2011 Hindu Youth Awardee and will now take the lead role in organizing the Hindu Youth Awards next year. The evening concluded with a vegetarian dinner catered by BAPS’ own Shayona staff, featuring aam ras (mango). -includes contributions from Correspondent Manu Shah.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

April 28, 2017

BAPS Women’s Conference Inspires and Empowers Women STAFFORD:

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Houston, TX held its annual Women’s Conference themed Resolutions: Bonds that Liberate. The conference centered on positive resolutions that transform lives by transforming habits, accepting ownership, performing hard work, and making sacrifices. Distinguished speakers discussed how one’s resolve to take ownership, perform hard work, and make sacrifices can strengthen character and develop grit. Asha Dhume, Vice President of Pratham – Houston was invited to serve as the keynote speaker for the conference. Through her personal experiences and lessons in sacrifice, hard work and responsibility, she set the tone for the conference. Asha shared the sentiment that while people refer to bonds as something that bind, when we correctly utilize resolutions, they can be the very thing that can lead to a more meaningful life. The Women’s Conference was organized by local youth and women volunteers of BAPS. They dedicated weeks of their time leading up to the conference to organize a professional forum where women could share their strengths and empower one another. The diversity of speakers invited to present at the conference appealed to a wide variety of interests among audience members. Their per-

Speaker Ketki Desai shares with the audience her perspectives on the resolution of sacriﬁce and its subsequent impact on society.

The conference commences with the lighting of the divo by the keynote speaker and special guests. From left: Jyotsna Patel, Dr. Nita Gandhi, Asha Dhume (Keynote Speaker), Dr. Heena Thakkar, Sushma Pallod, Sushila Agrawal.

Speaking on the resolution of hard work, Bijal Jadav shares her insights on diligence and perseverance.

sonal experiences and adherence to cultural values inspired young women to strive for success while imbibing spirituality into their CONTINUED ON PAGE

Dr. Parin Patel and Khyati Patel, spoke on the importance of responsibility and ownership in different aspects of life.

Keynote speaker, Asha Dhume, Vice-president of PrathamHouston, addresses the audience and sets the tone for the conference.

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COMMUNITY When Houston Rocked for Charity A Fantastic Evening of Classic Rock for a Great Cause CONTINUED FROM PAGE

ding artists and contributing to charity.” Prometheus Foundation partnered with IITAGH for hosting the event. The show featured the rare musical prodigy Ritwik Bhattacharya, who enthralled the audience with his God-gifted talent on the guitar and piano. The audience was treated to super percussion, guitar and energy by Rajesh Bose, super drums and vocals by Dr. Subrata Ghosh himself, fantastic vocals and modulation by Shyama Mishra, awesome creativity on the keyboard and vocals by Mukul Singhee, amaz-

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ing work on the guitar by the good ole Texan bassist Jeff Stocki, guitar and percussion by Powell Simbulan, and finally, great vocals by the young high-school singers Srisha Chakraborty and Abbie Parker. Partha Chatterjee, the Program Coordinator of the Rock for Charity event, Shamanth Shankar, President of IITAGH, Dhruba Ghose and Melvin Thambi helped execute the event. The show also featured a silent auction of an Oil and Pastel painting ”Tide in Knots” by Shalini Das, a junior at Clements High School from her trip to the great tiger and nature reserve “The Sunderbans” in India. This concert demonstrated that

as a community we always do not have to rely on celebrities to raise money for charity, and when we give back in small ways, we are aware that we have so much more to learn, and we start to live life. The musical magic by Dr. Ghosh’s Horizon Fusion Band and the Rock for Charity event transported us to the realization that classic rock and east-west fusion is an excellent platform to bring people together across nations and cultures. It also reflected the goal of successful Indian Americans of giving back to the community while having fun at enjoyable events.

BAPS Women’s Conference Inspires and Empowers Women CONTINUED FROM PAGE

daily lives. “Each year we hope to organize a conference that appeals to a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Our goal is for each attendee to be able to relate in some way or another to the topics discussed and walk away feeling inspired or encouraged.” said Akshita Amin, a local volunteer and conference lead from the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, “I believe the theme this year allowed for good dialogue and unique perspective from the speakers.” The first speech of the conference, led jointly by Dr. Parin Patel and Khyati Patel, focused on how individuals can cultivate personal accountability within family, community, and spiritual growth without feeling burdened. Reaffirming that hard work requires drive, dedication, and a commitment to

finding the solution without giving up, Bijal Jadav, JD shared with the audience her personal experience with the topic. To bring the theme full circle, the third speech by Ketki Patel focused on the value of sacrifice, and how putting the needs of others first, is actually empowering. Each speaker brought their distinct viewpoints and personal experiences to provide practical ways in which the resolutions of responsibility, hard work, and sacrifice could be applied in everyone’s day to day lives. Sippy Varma, a fashion designer and owner of Designs by Sippy, shared after the conference, “This was my first time attending and it was phenomenal. Very inspirational and something that each one of us can connect to from day to day.” Another first-time attendee, College freshman, Roshni Trivedi attended the conference with her

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

mom. “I am glad that I chose to attend. The program today was interesting and I can see how I can apply the topics that were discussed today to my life, how I can resolve to be better.” After the conference, audience members were able to network with the speakers and other professional women who attended the event. The Women’s Conference program connected with members of the audience to bring them together and inspire them. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj encouraged events as such to strengthen and support women to, in turn, support the backbone of our society. Today, his beliefs are persevered by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj who encourages all to lead a life infused with spirituality and integrity. For more details, please visit www.baps.org.

COMMUNITY

April 28, 2017

Padma Shri Aruna Mohanty to Perform in Houston

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BY RATHNA KUMAR

HOUSTON: Padma Shri Aruna Mohanty,

Odissi dancer par excellence, will be performing in Houston May 6. Initially trained by eminent Guru Padma Shri Gangadhar Pradhan, Aruna further refined her art under such stalwarts as Guru Pankaj Charan Das, legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sanjukta Panigrahi and Sonal Mansingh. Her devotion, perseverance and commitment have established Aruna among the world’s most prominent Odissi dancers. Aruna’s exquisite Abhinaya (facial expression) and her brilliant group choreography, are her greatest assets. Extensive research, her Gurus’ valuable, and her own innovative thinking, all these elements combined make her productions a most aesthetic and memorable Odissi experience for audiences all over the world. Some of her choreographic gems are ‘Shrusti O Pralay’, ‘Sravana Kumar’, ‘Kharavela’ , ‘Jatra Baramasi’, ‘Gatha Odishi’, ‘Swargadapi Gariyasi’, ‘Pratinayak’, ‘Krishna Sharanam’, Astapadis from Geeta Govinda and ‘Siddhartha’, based on Hermann Hesse’s novel. Aruna has performed in Houston several times, but her brilliant production of “Gatha Odissi: The Story of Odissi”, presented by Samskriti at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in 2013, is the most unforgettable of them all. For her contribution to Indian Performing Arts, Aruna was recently honored with the highest civilian award, “Padma Shri”, by the President of India. Odissi Academy, a Houston based year old non-profit organization, was established with the mission of bringing quality Odissi education to North America, with Guru Aruna Mohanty as its director. Students will receive additional training in this unique traditional style of Odissi from established visiting gurus from India. The academy is proud to present the first Konark Festival in Houston, bringing together different forms of Indian Classical Dance on one stage, and the highlight will be Guru Aruna Mohanty’s Odissi performance. The festival will take place on Saturday, May 6, 3:30p.m at the John B. Pershing Middle School, 3838 Bluebonnet Blvd, Houston, TX 77025. ADMISSION IS FREE!!! Anjali Center for Performing Arts will be presenting a workshop by Aruna Mohanty on Thursday, May 11, 6-8 pm and Friday, May 12, 7-9 pm. For more information email rathnanil@gmail.com.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

18 April 28, 2017

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Reinventing India’s Middle Class

Pushing the US on H1B When it comes to immigration stories, the United States

government’s decision to raise the salary requirements of H-1B visa workers have received the most attention among Indians. Contemporaneously, Australia and New Zealand have also announced plans to slash the number of visas available to high-skilled temporary workers. Similar policy moves are being considered or are being carried out by many other countries, largely in the developed world. None of this should come as a surprise. High-skilled worker migration has generally been a phenomenon of advanced economies – and most of these are suffering from anaemic growth, weak job creation and stagnant middleclass incomes. As has happened before, poor economics undermines political support for this particularly category of visas. The parameters by which H-1B visas been issued have kept shifting over nearly three decades, depending on the political economy of the US at the time. There are demands that New Delhi should treat this as a litmus test of the bilateral relationship and make H-1B visas a point of contention with the Trump administration. This would be a mistake. A country’s immigration policy, in effect its control of its own borders, is among the most sovereign-based decisions of any government. Washington will rightly reject any attempt to be told to who and whom it can issue a visa to – as would New Delhi if it was in a similar position. The larger geopolitical and economic drivers in the Indo-US relationship are much more important than the US’s decision to raise the cost of a visa. In fact, the preservation of the steady flow of legal Indian migration to the US, a human bridge which has benefited both countries, is of greater importance than the H-1B niche. Having said this, there can be no doubt that such visas have a larger-than-life profile with the Indian public because of their association with the successful software services sector. But the so-called Mode 4 model that drove the H-1B visa is slowly dying thanks to automation and an increasing preference in Silicon Valley for in-house software expertise. The Indian software industry is within its rights to lobby the US Congress for to save the H-1B visa, but the Indian government should be wary of investing too much diplomatic capital in what is likely to a quixotic campaign. There are much more important issues to be worked out with the Trump administration. New Delhi could have fixed skilled worker visas with some of these countries as part a free trade agreement – as other countries have done. But since India is allergic to such agreements, that was never a serious option. Migration is a door that slams shut when even a small breeze blows. Right now, a gale is blowing and India must wait for it to wane. -- Hindustan Times

BY RAJESH MAHAPATRA

his has been an uneasy week for the “great Indian middle class” — especially for those who think that history is full of lessons and irony. When the Soviet Union dissolved in the winter of 1991, a pronounced ideological shock wave ripped through India’s then incipient middle class. Their assured world of the mixed economy, the pre-eminence of government jobs, the commanding heights of the public sector and the boring world of Doordarshan news began to wobble. But after a few years of social and psychological disorientation, there was a surging return. By the late 1990s, the Indian middle class acquired a new story based on marketled growth, jobs for the asking in the private sector, the fresh youthful economic energies unleashed by digital technologies and, above all, the rise and rise of aspirational thinking. Children were not only expected to be ﬁnancially better off than their parent’s generation but the outlook was going to be global rather than local. In all these changes, the United States and Americanism acquired the full force of a powerful winning imagination. The US, for the Indian middle class, beckoned not simply as a place to go to, but became the desired future itself. More so, the manner in which Indian students vigorously and ambitiously sought educational prospects in American universities. Interest in clearing the SAT and TOFEL easily surpassed the previous middle class enthusiasm for the UPSC, more popularly called the IAS exam. From the early 2000s, for many, getting a loan, admitting oneself into an American university and then taking up a job in the US was a neat hop,skip and jump formula for landing the coveted Green Card. From about 65,000 in 1995, the number of Indians leaving for the US had gone past 100,000 by 2014, riding primarily on the H-1B visa programme. Americanism acted as a psychological and ideological frontier for the Indian middle class – providing a mix of hope, opportunity, aspiration and the idea of a better

future. But last week, globalisation was dealt an unceremonious set of legal twists. While Brexit and Trump had already raised anxieties, the ﬁnal blow was delivered with the executive decision to tweak the H-1B rules This was, as if on cue, followed by the Australians scrapping the 457 visa programme and New Zealand’s decision to institute the “Kiwi ﬁrst” programme. Indians account for nearly a third of the visa holders under Australia’s 457 category of visas for foreign skilled workers, while 85% of the H-1B visas issued in the information technology sector in the US goes to Indians. Earlier, the UK, where about 60% of visas for foreign skilled workers are held by Indians, has also tightened its entry rules by raising the salary thresholds for employing outsiders. It had already begun the process of making it impossible for Indian students to exceed their stay through jobs. Singapore, another popular destination for the upwardly mobile Indian middle class, has ordered its companies to advertise any vacancy for two weeks before seeking employment passes for jobseekers from overseas. While shrinking job prospects in the advanced West have been making headlines, few have paid attention to what is happening in the oil-producing Gulf region that has been a preferred destination for many unskilled or semi-skilled Indian workers from

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relatively lower economic strata. Jobs for Indians in the Gulf region fell sharply by 33% in 2016. For many Indians, the petrodollar dream is fast drying up. Remittances, according to World Bank estimates, saw an 8.9% drop in 2016, recording a contraction for the second straight year. The great Indian middle class must now reconcile to the fact that ‘globalisation as we know it’ is dead. It needs a fresh and hopeful script for its growth story. But while it reworks its ideas about the neo-liberal moment, there is one house fire that needs to be immediately doused ─ higher education. Many students will be returning from universities abroad with unpayable loans and many will be unable to find the quality within India that they so critically desire to create new futures. It is no secret that higher education in India is in a mess and the private sector is in no way anywhere close to closing the gap between expectation, education and employment. If the recent tumult in Panjab University over a steep hike in fees is any indication, the rising costs of education and the lack of jobs to cover loans is potentially the most dangerous political challenge that stares at this government and the ruling political class. We will be ignoring it, if we choose to, at our own peril. Rajesh Mahapatra is chief content officer, Hindustan Times.

COMMUNITY Stage, Lights and Action

April 28, 2017

SHIBU PHILIP, MTax, CPA TAX & ACCOUNTING

Individual, LLC, S corp & C corp returns Trusts, Estates & Gifts tax returns Bookkeeping and Financial Statements Business entity selection and formation FBAR Report & Medicare Cost Reports BY VARSHA HALABE

OUSTON: Growing up, going to see a Marathi play meant wearing a traditional outfit with a jasmine “gajra” in my hair and entering the famous Balgandharva Rangmandir in Pune, India, amidst wafting aromas of perfumes, jasmine flowers and mouth-watering “batatawadaas”. Yesterday was such a day; except I was across the globe in Houston, Texas, at the state-of-the art Berry Center where The Houston Maharashtra Mandal hosted two Marathi plays in one day; a Natyamahotsav as it was called. There was a slight nip in the air, despite the bright sunshine, as attendees entered the Berry Center as early as 9:45 a.m. on a Sunday morning. The Mandal’s Committee greeted us pleasantly in their red and white colored coded outfits; an amalgam of sarees, churidars, palazzos, shirts and kurtas. The first play was a comedy written by the veteran of Marathi literature, Acharya P.K. Atre, entitled “Moruchi Mavshi” made eternally famous by the likes of Vijay Chavan. It was based on an original English play, “Charles’s Aunt” written by Brandon Thomas in 1893. There was trepidation as to whether Natyagandhar, the acting group from Detroit, would be able to do justice; given the fact that comedies are anyway hard to carry off. However, the audience was very, very pleasantly surprised at the professionalism and the flawless acting by everyone. Abhijit Paradkar, in the role of “Moruchi Mavshi” left an indelible mark in everyone’s mind. The whole team was brilliant with

their timing of dialogues, acting, singing (a special mention of Yashodhan Joshi’s “navri natali aga bai supari phutali”), costumes and characterization. Current affair references were seamlessly blended into the original age-old script, which seemed to come alive as if in its youth. The audience was in ﬁts of laughter as Abhijit ﬂaunted on stage batting his eyelids and fortifying his statements with an accented, “I swear!” More surprising was the fact that the team had last put up a show in 2014 and then enacted it before us with just a month in hand! This play was a perfect example of how good things can be when a group of like-minded, passionate people come together. Natyagandhar was formed by Abhijit Paradkar and he is their Producer too. This was their 8th show of “Moruchi Mavshi” in the USA and their 50th acting performance. “Moruchi Mavshi” was directed remotely by Connecticut based Chaitanya Puranik over Skype! This group has put together 22 plays so far! Last year, they did a play called “Prayanotsav” for which all elements were indigenous to Natyagandhar; writing, direction, production, costumes, sets, everything. The afternoon became sluggish with a luncheon buffet provided by Natura on Hillcroft Street owned by Mrs. Nabar. Dishes were adorned with Chhole, Puris, Raita, Kothimbir (Cilantro) Wadi, Masale Bhaat (rice) and luscious looking Orange Sheera. Lunch was served in the Banquet Room called Wild Cats, a slight exaggeration after a heavy Maharashtrian meal. There was, of course, tea to help get rid of the inevitable siesta tempta-

tion. But, there were more important things to take care of! Those interested in getting good seats immediately stood in line for the second play. Volunteers and the Mandal’s Committee members were busy helping set the stage for the second play by a professional group visiting from India. Local Houstonites had built the set from scratch and had been working hard at it for over a month. The chatter in the queue died down as the doors to the auditorium opened for “Teen Payanchi Sharyat”; the title of the second play written by Abhijit Guru. This was based on an English play, “The Business of Murder” by Richard Harris. The ambience, with dim lighting and cool air, was perfect for a suspense-thriller directed by none other than Vijay Kenkare. The cast, too, comprised well-known names such as Sanjay Narvekar, Lokesh Gupte, and Sharvari Lohokare. Expectations were very high and the audience waited with bated breath for the curtain to open. The script unfolded, taciturn in parts, loud at times, and somewhat predictably. The cast portrayed very good acting and the sound system in the auditorium did justice to the pensive moments. The evening ended on a well-deserved thank-you note. Once again, The Houston Maharashtra Mandal successfully put together another culturally rich day for all the passionate enthusiasts who attended. There was still broad daylight outside as cars started pulling out of the Berry Center parking lot, making Sunday just a tad bit longer before the work week started, yes, all over again.

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20 April 28, 2017

TRAVEL

Hop Through Hoops to Close an Account in an Indian Bank

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA

EW DELHI: My father never trusted Indian banks or in putting his money in just one of them because the government banks were so difficult to deal with. So papaji opened up accounts in the banks within walking distance of our house in Rajouri Garden in West Delhi - all seven of them - when they first opened! He had account number 98 in in one of them and 128 in another! In late retirement, in his 80s, it was a game of chess for him checking his investments all day when he shuttled between one bank and another! I think it was also his way to leave the house and feel connected to a network of other people! Papaji had a good memory and a quick mind for numbers and often looked for better fixed deposit rates and better opportunities to invest, but he also kept a keen eye on the passbooks as banks were prone to making accounting errors, especially in the era before computers. By the time he passed away in 2003 at the age of 83, he had done remarkably well, but his portfolios in all the banks were hard to untangle. Three weeks ago, mama and I finally closed out accounts in two banks and the differences in the process and the attitude and attention of the bank staff were startling. They just don’t make managers anymore like Virendra Kalra at the Canara Bank. Though bound to a wheelchair (with polio afflicted problems as a young boy, I guessed) and with limited use of his hands, he sits bespectacled and smiling at his desk for 8 hours a day and has total recall of his customers who crowd his small cubicle for his personal attention because they know he can deliver. He remembers mama and me from over the years and quickly went through the request for closure and had our draft ready in a day. The State Bank of India on Najafgarh Road near the Rajouri Garden Metro Station was another story altogether. For them, the KYC - Know Your Customer program implemented for the RBI a few years ago - is just another form, it does not mean “build a relationship of trust and confidence with your customer”. Seldom have I come across a bank I so despise for the surliness of the customer service reps. The assistant manager asked for a handwritten application from mama to close the account, her proof of residency through an electric or gas utility bill, a copy of mama’s PAN card, a signed photo and for her to be there in person. When I told him we lived 18 kms away and that she was 88 years old and a little infirm on her feet, he shook his head and said “Those are the rules. She has to come. Koyi baat nahin (no problem), I can walk to the parking area to the car she comes in”! Then he told me the account could only be closed in the branch she opened it in. In this day of computerization, that didn’t make

Mama waits patiently in the SBI lobby and then leaves ﬁnally after the account is closed

Virendra Kalra, Sr. Manager of Canara Bank in Rajouri Garden

much sense at all. On my third trip (and after spending Rs 800 ($12) in Ola cabs), when I took her with me and mama carefully walked through the doors, the service manager came to her to ask her name, make sure it was really her and if she wanted to close the account. Several counter notations and signatures from three separate bank people later - each step which I shepherded along - mama received her cash, minus Rs 575 ($9) closure fee (which Canara Bank, on the other hand, did not levy) with nary a word of regret at the closure or parting good bye from the portly, middle –aged bank rep who didn’t even look up when we took the cash.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

The documents being handled in State Bank of India

The SBI just implemented fees for all sorts of activities that most people would have to do to maintain an account, like Rs 50 for account balances and passbook entries, etc. It is the second largest bank in India and has just announced that it will merge 5 of its sister banks and lay off or give early retirement to hundreds of employees. About time too! Having dealt with them for years, I found them to be bloated with bureaucratic red tape, not customer friendly and badly operated. But then, that is true of every government operated bank in India that I have had to deal with! Too bad most of them don’t have managers like Mr. Kalra!

COMMUNITY

April 28, 2017

Kalakriti Hosts Raas All Stars IX in Dallas

DALLAS:HoustonbasedKalakriti

Performing Arts partnered with Raas All Stars (RAS) to hold the national competition of Garba / RaaS at Eisemann Centre in Richardson, TX on April 15. RaasAll-StarsistheNationalChampionship for competitive Garba/Raas wherein teams from colleges and universities around the United States takes part. Over 50 teams compete via Bid Competitions throughout each school year in order to earn points toward RAS, and the top eight teams with the most points at the end of the season receive invitations to compete on the RAAS All Stars stage. RAS mission is to build a community of students through a mutual love of dance, to keep in touch with our traditional culture, and to promote exercise as a supplement to our academic studies. With support from Kalakriti Performing Arts, Raas All-Stars IX was a huge success this year at the Eisemann Center. The winner of this year championship is University of Florida GATORAAS and runner up is University of Houston ROARIN’ RAAS. RAS has already started planning for the 10th anniversary show for April 2018. RAS board of directors thanks all our amazing sponsors who provide us with funds, goods, or services in exchange for marketing outreach to the South Asian youth in the US today. You can ﬁnd out more about Raas All-Stars through our website (www.raasallstars.com), our

Kusum Sharma

social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), and our email (hello@raasallstars.com). Kalakriti Performing Arts is nonproﬁt organization with mission to support Indian culture and heritage through artistic and visual dance forms. Over the years Kalakriti has worked with several other Houston non-proﬁt organizations to support their fundraiser. Ramleela a signature event of Kalakriti held annually at VPSS Haveli. In a conversation with the founder of KALAKRITI, Kusum Sharma, said “I love the energy that RAS team brings to the

event and seeing 200+ of our youth perform in our ethnic costumes to the traditional dance form keeping our culture alive here in North America is the exact reason why KALAKRITI

was formed. We are very proud of the entire RAS team”. For more information and for future event details please visit www.kalakritiusa.org or www.facebook.com/kalakritiusa

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

Kalakriti & RAS look forward for your support next year and seeing each of you again at Raas All-Stars X!

22 April 28, 2017

PUZZLES / RECIPES

SUDOKU

Mama’s Punjabi Recipes

Place a Number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine. Send us the correct answer before May 03, 2017. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036. Send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published (for ﬁrst three entrees only & 1 submission per month).

Suji da Halva (Semolina Halva)

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y popular demand from many readers, below is a reprint of Mama’s Suji da Halva recipe. It is a dessert that is also made on auspicious occasions to celebrate an achievement or special moment. It is reprinted with some additional information and directions. There are many types and of halvas and many ways to prepare them. In the Punjab, the karah or karda is a wheat flour halva that is often served at religious functions and is always served at the langars (communal meals) after services in Sikh Gurudwaras. Although this sweet dish is considered mostly a Northern Indian confection, and is associated with Punjabi cuisine, it is also quite popular in South India. Suji halva is often made to commemorate special occasions, like a birthday or the start of a new venture or phase of life like a taking exams or starting a new job. Among Hindus, a small offering of the halva is made to the deities in the home temple and then given to the concerned person first as a blessing for good luck and then to the other family members. Suji (semolina) is the coarse, purified middlings of durum wheat that is also used to make pasta and couscous. It is high in carbohydrates, vitamins B1, B3 and B9 as well as magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. Different varieties are also used to make porridge, the South Indian dishes rava dosas, upma and is sometimes used to coat dishes before they are baked to prevent sticking. Suji halva is quite simple to make and while it is cooking, the kitchen fills with a pleasant aroma. It is best when eaten warm, right after it is prepared when it is still soft, as it thickens as it cools down. For more

authentic taste, most Punjabis eat it with some nuts – usually blanched almonds – and the dish is great for cold wintery days. Ingredients: • • • • •

1 cup ghee (or olive oil for a healthier option) 1 cup suji (semolina, medium grain for best results) 1 cup chinni (white sugar) – or choose brown sugar or gur (jaggery) 3 cups pani (water) ½ cup dried fruit (raisins, broken pieces of almonds)

Directions: 1. In a saucepan mix the sugar and 3 cups of water and bring to a boil over high heat. If the suji is a large grain, then use four cups of water. If you prefer a sweeter halva, use 1.5 cups of sugar. Make sure the sugar is dissolved well, take off the heat and set the syrup aside.

2. In a karahi (wok) warm the oil over medium heat and add the suji. Stir till the grain becomes slightly brown. 3. Reduce the heat then and slowly pour the syrup in while continuously stirring. 4. Reduce the heat to a minimum and if the mixture starts to bubble from the edges then turn off the heat. 5. Add the dry fruit and stir in. If you prefer, you can add the dry fruit while the suji is being roasted. 6. For best results, boil whole almonds to peel the skin and then slice the blanched nuts in slivers. Use these in the mixture and sprinkle over the halva for presentation. 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.

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MAMA’S TIP OF THE WEE MAKE SOME EASY K LA SSI TO

COOL OFF ON A SU Lassi (buttermilk) is MMER DAY! a popular drink in In dia, either sweeten available in many fl ed or salty, and is avors, especially in the sweet varieties. it has the ability to On a hot summer da cool you off quick y, ly and also help wi constipation and oth th a bloated stoma er digestion problem ch, s. Usually, in rural grew up, lassi was India, and where I the residual water fro m the process of ma considered ourselve king butter and we s lucky to be there was it was being ma drink the lassi in a de so that we could tall, large, conical sh aped brass glass. For those who don’t have that opportunit y, what is usually ca days is a yogurt dr ink made by cuttin lled lassi these g some yogurt by some flavor to it. Bu adding water and the t before you just dil n ute the yogurt, be spoonful of it and be sure to take a large at it till it is nicely ble nd ed . won’t get little lum Then, when you ad d the water, you ps of yogurt sticking to the glass or floatin g in the water.

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April 28, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS

Noor Movie: Sonakshi Sinha, Your Journalist Needs a Fact Check

Noor the ﬁlm is as mixed up as

its female protagonist of the same name: it gets some things right and the others horribly wrong. First, the good stuff. What a delight to see a woman fronting a ﬁlm, even if Noor’s (Sonaks h i Sinha) c h a racter is somewhat of a young Bridget Jones template: s h e

peers at a bag of chips as if were an enemy (right, she’s got weight issues); she hangs out with a guy (Kanan Gill) she’s known for ever, back-slapping him (of course, the realization that he’s something more will dawn at an appropriately late stage); she has no compunction about making moves on an attractive available male (Purab Kohli) even as she voices anxieties about the state of her love life, or the lack thereof; and so on. There has been a sudden flurry of female characters in Bollywood, who are pleasingly fleshed out, and who are allowed to have thoughts in their head. But because it’s so difficult to get such films out there, it still feels like a victory to have a Noor as a full-fledged, owning-thescreen character, muddling along

in the best chick-ﬂick based on chick-lit tradition (Noor is adapted from the mostly sparkly ‘Karachi You’re Killing Me’), looking for The One. The big problem with Noor is not when she is facing up to the good-looking men in her life, which includes her dad, played with wry humour by M K Raina. It is when she is being a professional: as a journalist, which she purports to be, Noor is a disaster. It isn’t really Sonakshi Sinha’s fault that Noor Roy Choudhary comes off as a complete klutz as a crusading journo. She is simply practising the movie’ s notion of journalism, which is as fuzzy and unrealistic as it can get: not only does she get into improbable slanging matches with her editor, the latter is equally

a ﬁgment of someone’s misguided imagination of what bosses in the newsroom can be like. And don’t even get me started on the lectures he delivers on the ethics of journalism: they would make a real journalist gnash their teeth. Did anyone fact-check these lines? And while we are on the subject, can we please stay away from lines such these which are clunky transliterations from the originalin-English. These are characters who anyway speak in a natural mix of English-and-Hindi, why not just have them say these lines in English? The actors all do their job, though. Especially Sonakshi who brings a vulnerability to her looking-for-herself persona. There’s a delicious passage between her and

the one-who-might-be-the-one, where the back-and-forth dialogue is pitch-perfect and beautifully timed, both the girl and guy clearly revelling in the zone: questing, probing, and waking up, to the possibilities of love. -indianexpress. com

Sonata Movie: Shabana Azmi Can Sing and it’s the Only Takeaway from Sonata

Three women, freed from the preen-

ing-pouting shackles of mainstream cinema. These are women of a certain age, who have grown into their skin, comfortable being themselves. Such women are almost never seen on our screens, unless they are appendages — a principal character’s mother or aunt or `saas’ or `bhabhi’. Here, the trio is lubricated by a great deal of red wine. And surrounded by a beautifully appointed living room. Surprisingly, and disappointingly, not as much I wanted to. Neither the performances from these strong ac-

tors who have been known to raise the rafters, nor the conversation whorls within this chamber piece, based on a Mahesh Elkunchwar play, lift off the screen. It is hard to ﬁlm a play, but some of the best ﬁlmed theatre does manage to open up a third dimension, situating the characters in spaces which invite you to go deeper.

Sonata, unfortunately, stays determinedly on the surface. Each of these women, who went to college together, is given interesting contours. Dolon (Shabana Azmi) is a Rabindra Sangeet-singing-banker who shares the apartment with Aruna (Aparna Sen), a professor and author, struggling with pending chapters: the third, Subhi

aka Subhadra is a journalist, with a complicated personal life. As they talk through the evening, waiting for a fourth friend, we expect the layers to be shed, and we hope to start seeing the women for who they really are. But that doesn’t happen. That crucial device, an uncovering of the past to understand the present, of laying bare dark secrets, And the way it ends, dragging in a horriﬁc recent catastrophe without any real impact, seals it. My best takeaway from Sonata? Azmi’s singing voice. It’s lovely. -indianexpress.com

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Sharman Joshi April 28, 1979

Anushka Sharma May 1, 1988

24 April 28, 2017 IPL 2017: Embarrassing Hat-tricks and Untouched Bat Bits

BCB to Investigate Over of 92 Runs off Four Balls

PORT OF SPAIN: The BCB has

BY SRINATH SRIPATH

MUMBAI: (ESPN Cricinfo): The

best, the worst and everything in between from the past ten days of the IPL’s tenth season: No T20 for old-school men? Time to think again, say Kane Williamson and Hashim Amla. Two batsmen whose technical correctness and textbook perfection invoke more than a tinge of nostalgia, set the IPL alight last week, proving once again that there is a place for finesse and elegance in the game’s shortest format. After seeing Williamson’s matchwinning 89 and Amla’s masterclass against Lasith Malinga, their captains have been served a reminder not to drop them again anytime soon. Pacemen turn on the heat Another set of cricketers who have not had too much limelight in the IPL - fast bowlers - took centre stage once again. After Andrew Tye’s knuckleballs did the (hat-)trick in Rajkot, swing, pace and bounce troubled batsmen across venues last week. Bhuvneshwar Kumar turned the game around against Kings XI Punjab with his accuracy and nip, Mitchell McClenaghan dismantled Delhi’s brittle top order and Nathan Coulter-Nile got rid of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in a dream spell on a rainy Kolkata night. Chris Gayle is arguably T20 cricket’s foremost superstar, and among the few greats the format has seen in its short history. Last week, en route to his 38-ball 77, his first significant performance this season, Gayle crossed 10,000 runs in his 285th T20 innings. Some of the numbers he has racked up, such as his 18 hundreds (11 more than anyone else), prove why there is broad daylight between him and the rest of the pack. The Super Kings roar again Times certainly have changed for Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni since their halcyon years donning the yellow jersey in the IPL. Both of them have been through shaky periods of late, in their own, different ways. Raina has lost out on his BCCI contract, while Dhoni has faced public criticism from Harsh Goenka, brother of his side’s owner, Sanjiv. Raina and Dhoni made a statement of their own with match-winning knocks for

SPORTS

Rishabh Pant has found the going tough in the last two games (left). Sachin Tendulkar celebrated his 44th birthday in front of a doting Wankhede crowd.

their sides, reminding everyone why they are so feted as T20 stars. Harsh Goenka was reduced to tweeting praise of the former India captain, while Raina’s destructive knocks have been one of his side’s few shining lights so far. A golden duck and a Bombay duck Rishabh Pant’s knock in Delhi’s opening game, in the aftermath of his father’s death, was one of the major storylines of the first week. Since then, his form with the bat has been patchy at best. Things have gone downhill since his quickfire 16-ball 38 against Kolkata Knight Riders at home. In Daredevils’ last two away games, Pant has failed to get off the mark, first with a slog sweep down long-on’s throat in Hyderabad, then fishing outside off stump to a Jasprit Bumrah jaffa in Mumbai. In the week when India are set to announce their squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy, these are twin setbacks he could have done without. The s#&t question Legspinners have dismissed Glenn Maxwell 11 times in the IPL, of which Amit Mishra accounts for four dismissals. So, after Mishra picked him up once again during Kings XI’s defeat to Delhi, it was not entirely surprising that there was a question in the

post-match press conference about his fragility against spin. “That’s a shocking question”, Maxwell retorted, citing his recent six-hitting form against spin, before sliding down on the political correctness scale, calling it a “s#&t question”. It has been that kind of tournament so far, where commentators have been under attack for the wrong reasons, and valid questions are being met with scornful responses from players. Tendulkar pierces the gaps… on his birthday cake It is IPL 10, and also the tenth time Sachin Tendulkar celebrated his birthday during the course of the tournament. Matthew Hayden, who is part of the commentary team, baked him a cricket field-themed cake with a bat and ball as the icing, and interviewed Tendulkar by the Mumbai Indians dugout. Tendulkar, though, refused to cause damage to a cricket bat out of respect, even on a cake. He then cut through the green cricket field portion, quipping about “finding the gaps on the field”. The hat trick that wasn’t Wearing a floppy hat for a floodlit cricket match is akin to wearing sunglasses in your bedroom. While there is no need for it, it is harmless most of the time. Not for Brendon McCullum, though, as his acrobatic

effort by the boundary to get rid of Chris Gayle, was undone by the brim of his hat grazing the skirtings. It only made him wear the hat more: he turned up to open the batting in the next match without a helmet. Lancashire v Durham, Round 2 Jos Buttler had smashed Ben Stokes for two sixes when Mumbai Indians met Rising Pune Supergiant earlier this season. This time, though, a night after his father Ged threw him a surprise by landing in India, Stokes foxed his England team-mate with a slower one. Buttler ended up scooping one gently into long-on’s hands, and Stokes was so pumped he went on to bowl a maiden over. Ben Stokes, King of the North, ﬁrst of his name. Commentary gem of the week This was long before Royal Challengers had sunk to the IPL’s lowest total. “It’s just a mobile number at the moment,” Ravi Shastri said about the scorecard, while the collapse was on. RCB’s ten batsmen were dismissed for what ended up reading 7018982020. It was a unique occurrence in IPL history, and it strangely came on the same day they had put up the highest T20 score, four years before. Srinath Sripath is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

formed a three-member committee to investigate the second division Dhaka League match between Lalmatia Club and Axiom Cricketers at the City Club ground, where a bowler conceded 92 runs off just four legal deliveries on April 11. Sujon Mahmud, playing for Lalmatia, gave away 65 wides and 15 no-balls in an over as a form of protest against biased umpiring. BCB president Nazmul Hassan said the incident was “harmful” for Bangladesh cricket and that the board’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) had looked into it. In addition, BCB directors Jalal Yunus, Akram Khan and Sheikh Sohel would speak to all parties involved in the incident - the captains, coaches and the umpires - and deliver a report by the end of the week. “The BCB’s ACSU looked into the matter of the 4-ball 92 game, and will present their report soon,” Hassan said. “We have also formed a threemember umpires’ committee consisting of Sohel, Akram Khan and Jalal Yunus who will report to us in three days about the same incident.” The umpiring standards were also criticised during last year’s Dhaka Premier League, the premier tournament in the Dhaka league system. In response, the board set up three cameras at each venue in this season’s competition. Hassan said the next two tiers - the first and second division - would also have cameras from next season. “We said last year that we would do something about the umpiring problem, so this year we fitted three cameras in every Dhaka Premier League venue,” Hassan said. “I haven’t heard any complaints about umpiring so far this year. From next season, we will do a similar thing in the first and second divisions too. We will assess the umpires.” Hassan also said the umpires were scared of board directors, many of whom are directly related to several Dhaka clubs participating in the fourtier league. “We have to strengthen our umpires. We won’t reach a right decision if we keep sacking umpires based on complaints. They are, in any case, afraid of the board directors.”

April 28, 2017

Thailand is Premier Tourism Attraction for 12 Lakh Indians

India’s GDP to Grow at 7.5% in 2017-18: Jaitley Claims at G20 Meet WASHINGTON: Indian econo- deficit (CAD), talking about robust my will grow at a clip of 7.5% this fiscal, up from 7.1% in the previous year, and remains resilient with low inflation, fiscal prudence and low deficit, finance minister Arun Jaitley has said. Participating in G-20 finance ministers’ and central bank governors’ meeting, he said emerging economies have become increasingly important in driving global growth, accounting for more than 75 per cent of global expansion. Among emerging economies, “India has been a major driver of global economic growth with an expected growth of 7.5 per cent for 2017-18 against 7.1 per cent in 2016-17,” an official statement quoted him as saying. India’s growth, he said, remains resilient with low inflation, fiscal prudence and low current account

structural reform measures. Addressing the meeting, Jaitley said India is on course to introduce the goods and services tax (GST) from July this year. GST, he said, will eliminate the multiplicity of taxes and make India a single common market. As per IMF projections, India’s medium-term growth is poised to go above 8 per cent, Jaitley said. About demonetisation, the ﬁnance minister said the move will push the Indian economy to a less-cash trajectory, increase tax compliance and reduce threats from counterfeit currency, which acts as a source of terror funding. “These and many more multi-faceted reforms are expected to ensure India can withstand volatility of the global economy as well as ensure an upward growth trajectory,” he

MUMBAI: Thailand, the South

asserted. Jaitley is on an ofﬁcial tour to the US to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and other associated interactions. He is accompanied by RBI governor Urjit Patel, economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das and chief

economic adviser Arvind Subramanian. Jaitley said rich nations still have a big responsibility and obligation to use their resources to support multilateralism. Also, they need to make institutions like the World Bank strong to fund policies and programs for growth .

Why India is Creating an Oil and Gas Behemoth through Mergers $109 billion. If folded into one MUMBAI: Big plans are afoot almost company, that would rank seventh

for India’s sprawling hydrocarbons industry. Finance minister Arun Jaitley says the government aims to create an “integrated public sector oil major” to match the might of the international oil and gas giants. The big question is how that plan will unfold. Details are beginning to emerge. The government owns majority stakes in eight major listed oil and gas firms. Combining some or all would create a bigger corporation with clout to negotiate better deals, for instance, on crude oil purchases. India imports some 80% of its crude needs. A merged business would also be less vulnerable to the vagaries of oil prices, say, by combining producers (which benefit from higher prices) with refiners (which get a boost from lower prices). Their combined market value is

globally among oil and gas majors. (ExxonMobil is No. 1 at $345 billion). Such an entity would outstrip India’s private oil giant, Reliance Industries, whose market value is $71 billion. Six smaller unlisted jointventure oil and gas companies may also come into play. In August, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said his ministry was open to discussing a merger to create a larger, stronger national oil company and that the government was ﬁguring out the appropriate model for the combination. Jaitley then spoke in mostly general terms during his 2 February budget speech, about strengthening publicsector enterprises through consolidation, mergers and acquisitions. According to the Economic Times, the oil ministry, which administers

the industry and works independently of the ﬁnance ministry, held a meeting in March with the state-run oil companies and asked them to produce a road map for integration. So far, that road map appears to entail Oil & Natural Gas Corp. purchasing the government’s stake in either Hindustan Petroleum Corp., worth $4 billion, or Bharat Petroleum Corp., worth $7.7 billion. ONGC could just buy shares from the government and keep the reﬁner as

a separate subsidiary, obviating the need for an official merger. ONGC already has a refining subsidiary -adding HPCL or BPCL would create the nation’s third-largest refiner. tion investments aimed at boosting oil and gas output. The government attempted something similar at least once in the oil sector, during the mid2000s. Those efforts unraveled through opposition from some of the companies and employees.

Asian country mainly known for its tropical beaches and cuisine, is eyeing 12 lakh travellers from India this year. “We hosted 11.8 lakh tourists from India in 2016. This year looks promising and we are expecting to host 12 lakh travellers from India,” Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Asia and the South Pacific) Srisuda Wanapinyosak told PTI here. She said TAT is promoting Thailand as an affordable destination for families, women travellers, adventure and sports lovers and honeymooners. “There is no particular age group that we cater to. However, we cater to various segments which include families, destination weddings, women travellers, adventure and sports lovers, honeymooners, and also the luxury segment,” she said. “We want to promote Thailand as a ‘preferred destination’ and also as an ‘affordable luxury destination’,” she said. The travellers, of all age groups and backgrounds, can have a great journey across the country by joining in the traditional Thai practices or exploring the legacy of late King Rama IX, Wanapinyosak said. The direct connectivity between both the countries also helps in boosting tourism in Thailand, she said. “We have direct flights from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi. From Mumbai there 10 Thai Airways flights a week, seven flights each of Bangkok Airlines and Air India in a week and 21 JetAirways flights. Apart from this, the Garuda Indonesia is operating flights from Mumbai to Jakarta with a stopover in Bangkok. ” she said.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

26 April 28, 2017

COMMUNITY

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple (Sri Krishna Temple) Houston Celebrates Annual Festival BY BIJU PILLAI

HOUSTON: Prathishta Anniver-

sary Festival of Sri Guruvayurappan Temple is scheduled from April 30 through May 13, at 11620 Ormandy St., Houston. Visitors may notice that the rituals practiced in this temple are unique to the temples of Kerala and somewhat different from other Hindu Temples which follow Agama Shastra. This traditional temple has established rituals under the close supervision of Thanthri Brahmasri Divakaran Nambuthiri. The festival (Utsavam) formally will commence on May 4, evening with hoisting the ﬂag ceremony at 8 pm. The word ‘Utsava’ translates to remove of all sorrow and bring joy ( ‘Ut’ removal; ‘Sava’ means grief). Sri Guruvayurappan Temple at Houston has gained the reputation both as a prominent place of Sri Krishna worship and as a center where several ancient temple art forms are presented. One would ﬁnd that the annual utsavam (festival) incorporates several key elements of the traditions established at the ancient famous Guruvayoor Temple of Kerala, India. During the 10 days of Utsavam, several priests will come together to conduct the rituals under the supervision of the Thanthri, Brahmasri

Divakaran Nambuthiri. The devotees will get a chance to understand the signiﬁcance of key rituals performed during the festival. Devotees can also participate and sponsor special poojas

during Utsavam. Many attractions are included in this year’s festival. The outstanding percussionists of Pallavoor family (Sridharan and Sreekumar Marar)

will present varieties of chenda melam all through the event. The distinct styles of melams include Chembada, Panchari, Thayambaka, Edakka vadyam etc. will capture your attention. Rendition of Ashtapadi (Sanskrit Hymns from Gita Govinda, written in 12th century) as a tradition, especially in Sri Krishna Temple is melodious and enjoyable. You will experience the special divine ambience in this unique ediﬁce as you listen to this. Another special feature of this year’s celebrations is the presentation of Kathakali (Saturday, May 6 at 8pm), the highly developed art form that was born and nurtured by the temples of Kerala. Naturally, themes

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

of Kathakali are primarily extracted from Hindu mythology. Kathakali is globally acclaimed as one of the best art forms and it takes years of training to perform on stage. Mohini Attam (will be performed on Friday May 12 at 8pm) is another art form mostly focused on themes pertinent to devotion and philosophical thinking. The grand Carnatic music recital by Vidwan Sri Sankaran Nambuthiri will be one of the major attractions as a grand ﬁnale on Saturday, May 13 at 7pm. The auspicious ritual, Aarattu is on the ﬁnal day of the festival (evening of May 13). Every evening throughout the 10 days of festival, prominent art schools of Greater Houston will present their best. During the festival period, Consulate General of India, Houston in association with the Sri Guruvayurappan Temple of Houston would be organizing a one-day consular camp on Saturday, May 6 from 10 am to 4 pm. Special rituals include Kalashabhishekom, Sreebhoothabali, Udayasthamana pooja and Utsava Bali. Udayasthamana Pooja is one of the most popular offerings at the famous Guruvayoor Temple in India (sponsorship requires early booking). For more information please contact temple (713-729-8994) or Shanmughan Valluli (President, 832640-0614) / Vinod Vasudevan (festival coordinator, 832-528-6581). For further details visit: www. guruvayurappanhouston.org

April 28, 2017

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April 28, 2017

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