Indo-American News: April 14, 2023

From left, Avnie Malani, Atman Shukla, Jugal Malani Nikita Shukla, Raj Malani, Pankaj Malani at the birthday party at home. Inset

photo: Jugal and Raj in front of the tall, multi-tiered cake depicting Jugal’s life journey. See Page 2

An Outsized Birthday Celebration Portrays Jugal Malani’s Love of People!

By JawaHar MalHotra

Houston: In the center of the main ballroom, there were life-size black and white cutouts of photos of a young, handsome Jugal with a far away look, standing next to his sweetheart, the demure Raj. Even back then his taste in fashion came through – the bell bottoms, a slim fit shirt, a few buttons open at the chest. His fashion sense has stayed a constant even today, as many of us admire his attire - mostly the formals – and would like to take a peek at his wardrobe closet!!

Even greater than his love of clothes is Jugal Malani’s love of causes and people, both of which he has spared no expense in investing in. Over the past two decades, Malani has become legendary for being the first to donate for a cause that benefits the South Asian community, be it India House, Hurricane relief efforts or the Howdy Modi! event in September 2019 which was the epitome of his generosity.

Malani’s gregariousness has been passed along to the next generation, his two children, Pankaj Malani and Nikita Shukla, who support their own causes. Pankaj has taken over part of the family business – Unique Industrial Products - and shares his passion for investing in the people who work there and the workplace.

So, it was only natural for Raj, the Malani offspring and their spouses Avnie Malani and Atman Shukla to plan a 70th birthday bash for their dad, the likes of which most of the people had never seen before. Held last Saturday, April 8, at the Hilton Americas downtown next to the Convention Center, the party drew an estimated 800 people to the main ballroom which was converted into a huge nightclub.

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Seating was limited to hightops, tables and sofas scattered over the floor, with the main attraction the dazzling shiny dance floor in the center and a huge backdrop digital screen. Fabulous DJ Yogi, Pankaj’s childhood friend, played his best mix-ups and pumped up the crowd that stood mesmerized at the dance floor edge. Jugglers on stilt legs, walking mannequins in LED strands and dancers whisked across the ball room.

And standing on a table at the back was a nine-layered, pyramid peaked birthday cake; each layer telling the story of Jugal’s life journey till now: from his childhood home, getting married, having Pankaj, moving to the US, working at Star Pipe Products, starting Unique Industrial Products, the marriage of both his kids and having 5 grand kids.

Apart from the two full center bars, six more were scattered

across the ballroom as well as food stalls featuring different cuisines and desserts. There was no assigned seating, no name tags, you just entered from the lobby to the Malani’s Club!! A close family friend, Naresh Mittal took charge of the entire food arrangements and Nikita took charge of the entertainment program, even convincing her mom, Raj who naturally shies away from publicity, to speak in public, but called him “her soulmate”. Jugal calls Raj “his wonder woman” for helping him launch his business with her secret savings of $300,000!

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On this huge, milestone 70th birthday, Jugal Malani was surrounded by his extended family: his sister Kiran and her husband Ramesh Bhutada, founder of Star Pipe Products, who gave

Jugal his start in business in the US. Jugal’s elder brother Shivrathan and wife Prema; younger brother Bhagwan and wife Kanta and younger sister Indu and husband Sharad all flew in from India. Also attending were nephew Sachin with Shruti and their two

daughters Aarna and Raisa; and his aunt Geeta Pallod and the Vijay Pallod family. For a legendary man, Jugal Malani sure packed a legendary milestone party that will be talked out for years to some.

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The tall, multi-tiered cake depicting Jugal’s successful life journey from Bidar to Houston.

Shivratan Malani (left), Jugal Malani, Kiran Bhutada, Prema Malani , Raj Malani, Kanta Malani, Indu Nawandar, Bhagwan Malani, Sharad Nawandar.

Atman Shukla Radhika Lohiya , Nikita Malani , Avnie, Malani Yash Shukla , Aavya, Shukla Kiaan Malani , Karina,

Pankaj Malani made an emotional speech about his dad, Jugal.

Houston Collaborative Efforts for Flood Victims in Pakistan

Houston: Gifts of Medical Equipment’s & BrandNew Medical Supplies were sent by Houstonians to Floods Ravaged Pakistan through the partnership of Alliance For Disaster Relief (AFDR), Houston Karachi Sister City Association (HKSCA), Medical Bridges (MB), and Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD):

To continue efforts to support victims of the devastation caused by the Super Floods of Summer 2022 and to help people suffering from waterborne and other diseases as an aftermath of said floods. Gifts of Medical Equipment’s & brandnew medical supplies sent by Houstonians to Floods Ravaged Pakistan through the partnership of Alliance For Disaster Relief (AFDR), Houston Karachi Sister City Association (HKSCA), Medical Bridges (MB), and Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD):

This was the first official event of the new Consul General of Pakistan in Houston Mr. Mohammad Aftab Chaudhry just a few days after his arrival into Houston. Present at the occasion were Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Businessman, Philanthropist & Chief Patron AFDR Syed Javaid

Anwar, Coordinator AFDR Muhammad Saeed Sheikh & Director Dr. Yakoob Shaikh, President Walter Ulrich of Medical Bridges, Ilyas Hasan Choudry and Saad Ansari representatives of HHRD, as well as local and international media.

Occasion was to send two 40ft containers of brand-new medical supplies worth about half a million dollars, after two earlier containers of relief items were sent worth another half a million dollars. Speaking on the occasion was Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee who visited the flooded

areas in Pakistan last year with a Congressional Delegation. She stressed the needs of more help from the United States Government and pledged to continue her efforts.

Newly appointed Consul General Mohammad Aftab Choudhry spoke as well on the needs of the victims and pledging to continue collaborative efforts to provide aid. Chief Patron Syed Javaid Anwar praised the collaborating partners’ efforts and saluted their hard work in serving humanity in need.

The AFDR coalition has also raised $1 million of cash assis-

Pakistanis Abroad Send $2.5 B in Aid

IslaMaBad: Pakistanis living abroad have sent $2.5 billion home in March, responding to the cashstrapped government’s appeal for more hard currency remittances, the country’s central bank said Monday.

The sum represents a 27.4% increase compared to February and is the highest in seven past months, according to a tweet by the State Bank of Pakistan. The announcement offered some hope for improving Pakistan‘s ailing economy, officials said. The remittances came mainly from Pakistanis living in the United States, Britain and the Middle East.

tance through HHRD, where more than 50,000 people have been helped through relief goods, 35 homes made, and now another 155 homes are getting built.

The medical supplies in these two containers are in addition to the two containers of daily necessities items sent earlier marked to achieve the goal of in-kind donation of 1 million dollars.

Others who participated were Dr. Naveed Zafar, President, APPNA - STC, Siraj Narsi & Mehmood Ahmed- AFDR, Shahzaib Sheikh, Bina Shaikh, and Media.

Pakistan is grappling with one of its worst economic crises, exacerbated by last summer’s devastating floods that killed 1,739 people, destroyed 2 million homes and caused $30 billion in damages.

Pakistan is in the final phase of talks with the International Monetary Fund to secure a crucial installment of $1.1 billion loan from a $6 billion bailout package. The tranche has been on hold since December over Pakistan’s failure to meet the terms of a previous deal, signed in 2019 by then-Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Economists fear a failure to get the IMF loan would spark a surge in inflation. About 21% of Pakistan’s 220 million people live in poverty. -- Washington Times

EDUCATION

Indian-origin Teenager on a Mission to Spread Education in India

denton: Alisha Madhuvarshi, a 16-year-old student born in New Delhi, is currently attending the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science in Denton after studying at Seven Lakes High School in Katy for two years. Despite living most of her life in the United States, Madhuvarshi remains connected to her roots through various charitable endeavors.

Having participated in math competitions since the age of nine, Madhuvarshi decided to make productive use of her time during quarantine by tutoring competitive math to younger students in her neighborhood. After her first session, Madhuvarshi asked her students’ parents for donations, with which she raised nearly $1,000. All this money went to buying sports equipment, clothing, backpacks, and other supplies for the children at an orphanage in Telangana.

Then, in December 2021, Madhuvarsh established a library with around 300 books for the children at the Sabki Pathshala run by Nitu Singh in New Delhi. Now, nearly 40 students use this library. Madhuvarshi continued her work in 2022, donating ten chairs and almost 300 books to the Vedic Inter College in Dibiyapur, with which they opened another library. Throughout this period, Madhuvarshi taught over one hundred students and even published two Number Sense Workbooks (number sense is a type of math competition) on Amazon to guide her students. She sold nearly 100

832-766-6662

books and donated all profits to opening more libraries.

These projects materialized after Madhuvarshi connected with Deputy Commandant Rakesh Nikhaj of CISF. “Alisha contacted me after going through my social media post on a mission to educate children. Since she can’t be in India on a regular basis, she buys books from her earnings, and I donate them to those children who don’t have access to good books,” said Nikhaj.

Santosh Kumar Shukla, the principal of the Inter College – the home to the second library – expressed gratitude to Nikhaj and Madhuvarshi for their efforts toward educating children, saying, “The books which they donated are not only used by our school students but also by other underprivileged kids who wish to prepare for competitive exams. After school hours, the library is open to everyone between 3-5 pm.”

Capitalizing on the success of these ventures, Madhuvarshi recently founded her own nonprofit, Toolbox (ourtoolbox.org), which aims to provide education to disadvantaged areas and institutions in India. Under Toolbox, she launched The Library Project, an ambitious initiative to open 100 libraries in India. To date, two libraries have been established, and over $7,000 has been raised out of the $50,000 target. Madhuvarshi is enthusiastic about this initiative and aspires to impact as many lives as possible through Toolbox.

Kerala Hindus Celebrating Vishu

By BIJu PIllaI

Houston: Kerala Hindus of North America (KHNA), established in 2001, is set to celebrate Vishu with traditional fervor on Saturday, April 15th from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm at Sri Meenakshi temple auditorium, Pearland. This event is co-sponsored by the Board of Sri Meenakshi Temple Devasthanam, one of the oldest and famous traditional South Indian temples of greater Houston.

Vishu is the spring harvest festival of Kerala that falls on the first day of Malayalam month, Medam. The festival is believed to bring enlightenment and prosperity to the community. Vishu is renowned for its ceremonies, traditions, and delicacies. KHNA Houston celebrates Vishu with Vishu Kani, Vishukaineettam, cultural programs and traditional sadya. The celebrations begin by waking up and viewing the Vishu Kani which is basically a ceremonial placing of auspicious articles such as special yellow flowers (Kani Konna, Cassia fistula), fresh fruits and gold ornaments. The traditional metal lamp called Nilavilakku is also lighted and placed beside the Vishukani and

Lord Krishna idol.

Followed by Vishukani darshanam (viewing), elders offer cash (coin) to younger members in a ceremony called Vishukaineettam giving. A sumptuous feast “Vishu Sadya’ will be a major attraction for this event. The traditional feast is made up of more than 15 items typically served on plantain leaves. Sharkaraveratti, Banana chips, Injipuli, Pappadam, Thoran, Kaulan, Olan, Avial, Sambar, and Dal with Ghee, Moru (butter milk), Erisheri, Pulleseri, Kichadi, and Pachadi, along with popular desserts such as unniappam, ada pradhaman, palpayasam are the traditional items in this feast. Unnisadya (ceremonial feast) is being organized for children under the age of 11.

Admission for the Vishu event

is free; however, RSVP is requested. Please call Vishu committee members or email to khnahouston2023@ gmail.com confirming your attendance. Those who have not responded yet, kindly send your RSVP and contact Dhanisha Sam (818-428-0314) or Madhu Cherickal (832-640-5400) to participate in the cultural program or the Vishu event.

KHNA president GK Pillai and Convention chair Dr. Ranjith Pillai cordially wish to inform you that elaborate arrangements are being made for the 12th Biennial Hindu Convention to be celebrated in the heart of Houston in November 2023.

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Hotel Products from Gujarat to Star at Special Expo in Dallas, Atlanta

dallas: The first-ever trade expos in the United States by Indiabased manufacturers of products for the hotel industry are being held in Dallas and in Atlanta. The events, featuring more than 100 suppliers, are scheduled for April 27 through 29 at the SLPS Event Center in Irving, Texas and May 4 through 6 at the Gas South Convention Center in Duluth, Georgia.

“People of Indian heritage are active throughout the U.S. hotel industry – as owners, as product specifiers, and as FF&E buyers,” said Harshal Bhagat, Chairman of the International Business Delegation for the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SGCCI), which is organizing and sponsoring the events.

“So it’s very appropriate that India’s leading manufacturers of hotel furnishings come here and demonstrate how they can help American hoteliers achieve their American dream.”

Admission to the trade shows is free, and booths will represent a wide variety of products, notably furniture, linens, fabrics, lighting, accessories, IT support, HVAC, and equipment for inroom technology and entertainment, for safety and security, and for fitness and spa.

Bhagat added, “This is a unique opportunity for American hoteliers to learn directly in face-toface conversations about the very significant savings they gain in costs and in timeline by ordering products from India compared to other off-shore sources.”

Specifically, Indian manufacturers offer a package of benefits that include much shorter lead times for production and shipping, together with duty charges about 20% lower and product costs that can be 20% to 35% lower, according to Bhagat.

“The very latest designs will be on display for hotel owners and developers, purchasing and procurement firms, architects, interior designers, and product specifiers at hotel brands,” according to Bhagat. “And many custom options are conveniently available.”

The SGCCI represents almost 10,000 individual members and about 140 associations. It has a rich history of organizing innovative trade shows such as Yarn Expo, Weaveknitt, Fiber 2 Fashion, Auto Expo, Energy International, and Food & Agritech Expo.

More information and “no cost” registration is available online at www.ifde.sgcci.in or by phone at 844-797-6111.

The Story Behind Cora’s Bridal Smart Tips

You’ve heard it before: Every story has a beginning. And the great ones typically have a lesson as well. The lesson behind this story is to never give up.

Cora’s Bridal Smart Tips gives hope to kids who suffer from conditions like microcephaly and autism. That’s the conclusion of the story. To find out how it started, we need to look back at the life of one military family in the Pacific Northwest.

Cora was born to this family on the naval base in Bremerton, Washington, in 1997. But she didn’t have an easy start in life. In fact, she was clinically dead at birth. But it wasn’t until her father was transferred to San Diego, California, that her parents learned the extent of Cora’s condition. At the Children’s Hospital in San Diego, they learned that Cora had been born with microcephaly, a condition in which the brain doesn’t develop properly or grow, resulting in a smaller head. The doctor also told the couple that Cora had a touch of cerebral palsy. In the days to come, this little family’s faith would be profoundly tested, and they would face overwhelming doubts, fears, and unexpected challenges.

Shortly after the initial diagnosis, an optometrist at the San Diego Naval Medical Center discovered that Cora also had poor eyesight. He said she was born with a cataract, and surgery should have been performed at birth to prevent

blindness. At this point, he said, there was very little chance of saving her eyesight. Miraculously, however, her sight was saved, and today she has an eye implant.

After Cora’s eye implant surgery, her parents decided to create Cora’s Bridal Smart Tips in 2002 in order to give hope to other kids with neurological conditions. With 20 years of military service coming to an end, they planned to return to the San Francisco Bay Area to start the magazine.

Just when it was beginning to look like the magazine would take off, Cora’s mother was hit by a series of tragedies. She lost her father, who had been her rock. A month later, she lost her oldest sister, who had been her mentor when she was growing up. And in

HWS Youth, Children’s Councils

between, she lost a child. Then two years later, she lost her mother, whom she was very close to and called every day. Cora’s mother sank into a deep depression, and the idea of the magazine was set aside for many years. But in 2017, after her son was diagnosed with autism, she renewed her determination to help special needs kids. That’s when she shook the dust off the magazine and vowed to not only continue to pursue her love of fashion, but her passion for helping kids like her own. Then headlights, camera, action! Supercars gave Cora’s Bridal Smart Tips its big break, and the magazine debuted in 2018. Soar high in its pages and enjoy cars by Lamborghini, Bugatti, W Motors, Aspark Owl, Bentley, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Mazzanti, and RollsRoyce. But remember, behind the supercars’ power is a personal story of triumph over tragedy. From its humble beginnings at the San Diego naval base to finally gracing the newsstands, the creators of Cora’s Bridal Smart Tips didn’t give up in the face of sorrow.

Cora’s Bridal Smart Tips is a unique bridal magazine, one that combines romantic fairy-tale gowns, myriad smart tips, afterthe-altar stories, and a brimming selection of supercar-inspired accessories--all wrapped up into one terrific package. It’s a bridal magazine that is unmatched.

The book available on Amazon

Houston: Hindu Worship Society

Temple, Houston’s oldest Hindu Temple is doing some great things! If you haven’t been recently, you have been missing out on quite a bit. In 2022, Hindu Worship Society inaugurated the Shiv Temple and Nav Grah. The beautiful addition to the temple is in dedication to Mr. Rajinder Soni, long-time devotee and Temple trustee.

While we are only in April of 2023, the Temple has already hosted Lohri Celebration, Shiv Ratri, Mata Chowki and a Ram Charit Manas Paath. We have many more exciting events coming up this year and more things to look forward to.

Most recently, Hindu Worship Society brought back the HWS Youth Council and added a HWS Children’s Council. The HWS Children’s Council will focus on teaching children ages 5 – 12 about Hinduism, Indian Culture and get them involved in temple activities. Volunteer Teachers will meet with the kids every other Sunday and provide a variety of activities and share cultural knowledge. The HWS Youth Council for teenagers and young adults will focus on

helping our younger generation grow with topics such as how to do your taxes, getting volunteer hours, how to apply to college and for scholarships and so much more.

The HWS Youth Council took on their first big activity by volunteering at the Houston Food Bank. The 25 volunteers, ages 6 and up, helped pack about 10,000 meals (12,000 lbs of food) in about 3 hours! The meals packaged will go out to senior citizens around Houston under a government sponsored initiative. The best part, everyone had a great time and bonded wonderfully with each other while doing so much good for our community!

HWS would like to recognize and thank temple devotees Rohit Khera, Jaspal Narang and Ashima Patel for organizing this event and leading the effort with the next generation!

If you would like to join the HWS Children’s Council or the HWS Youth Council, please drop an email to Ashima Patel at hws.temple@ gmail.com

To know what is going on at Hindu Worship Society, join the Temple Facebook page @hwstemple, or join the Temple WhatsApp Group by taking a WhatsApp picture of the QR Code.

VAISAKHI KHED MELA 2023

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To participate in games & for additional information, please contact:

Shamsher Singh 281-221-3596 | Karmjit S. Virdi 713-240-8635 | Mohan S. Grewal 832-270-5528

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Parupkar Singh 713-321-9781 | Baljeet S. Purewal 936 -520-8582

Email: Sikhnationalcenter@gmail.com