Indo-American News: November 18, 2022

Friday, November 18, 2022 | Vol. 41, No. 45

November 18, 2022

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Indo American News

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Published weekly from Houston, TX

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Special Reports Community Briefs Local Politics South Asians in the News

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Intriguing Drama ‘Blind Justice’ for Udavum Karangal

Indian Students in US: +19%

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Akshaya Patra Fund Raiser

The play was brought to the Houston audience by Rajan Radhakrishnan, who conceived and directed it. The Houston enactment was staged on behalf of Udavum Karangal (Helping Hands), a charity organization in Chennai founded in the 1980s in NSK Nagar and run by Steven Vidyaakar.

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2 November 18, 2022 COMMUNITY ‘Blind Justice’ Play: Successful Fund Raiser for Udavum Karangal

By Jawahar Malhotra Pearland: As the curtain opened, the first set came into view: an Indian court with the high bench for the judge and dockets for the accused and the witnesses on either side.

Two Indian flags and the national tri-lion emblem attached on the wall above the judge completed the scene in all its austerity, but appealing in the stage lights.

As the curtains opened up further, the two other sets – a doctor’s exam room on the left and an attorney’s conference room on the right – came into view to complete the framework within which the story of a corrupt political system that does not allow the truth to come through but throws an innocent doctor into jail for 6 years for well-intentioned deeds that at first appear to be malicious crimes. Though the advocates have proof of his innocence, the politicians taints the witnesses testimony for his own purpose and for their personal enrichment.

Set concept and Design was by Alpa Shah (another co-owner of Indian Summer), and the Set and Ambiance was by Nalini Kannan of Decor One. Lighting, sound and stage management by Partha Krishnaswamy and Vishy; Sound engineered

by Joe; front office management by V.K. Dorai, G.V. Krishnan and Malathi Sundhar. Promotional artwork was by Kasiverman in Chennai and promotions concept by Ganesh Raghunandhan. Music and Live Rerecording by well-known Guru violinist, Mahesh Iyer.

Written by the famous playwright Sujatha, the play was serialized as the popular drama Dr. Narendiranin’s Vinodha Vazhakku in Tamil about the life of a doctor. The play was translated into English by Dr. Saranathan, who plays the doctor’s role on stage, for the purpose of this enactment to reach a larger audience.

The play was brought to the Houston audience by Rajan Radhakrishnan, who conceived and directed it.

Rajan, as he is universally known, is a co-owner of the Indian a Summer restaurant but he is well regraded for

his flair and sense of the theatre. He come from a family of theatrical and film background, as his mother was an actress and dad a choreographer.

Rajan himself acted in more than 15 south Indian films as a hero and is well versed with every aspect of technology of filmmaking.

The play was produced by Dr. Padmini Ranganathan, an oncologist by profession and well known community leader who has headed various organizations like the Meenakshi Temple Society, Bharathi Kalai Mandram, Tamil Nadu Foundation USA, Daya,and others.

The Houston enactment was staged on behalf of Udavum Karangal (Helping Hands), a charity organization in Chennai founded in the 1980s in NSK Nagar and run by Steven Vidyaakar, Mangalore, universally known by his affectionate name Pappa Vidyakar. The drama publicized two days in advance and brought in a full house of 500 people. Over $100,000 was raised to support UK in Chennai.

Guests of honor were well-known immigration attorney George Willy who spoke glowingly about the outstanding work that UK does to save young girls and other poor people in Chennai and Sanjay Rambadaran, the Board Chairman of METRO, who described how his family has been involved with UK for over 35 years and how he strongly he roots are for supporting the charity.

All the actors are well-known thespians in the Houston community known for their passion in the theatre, and rehearsed their parts for several months. Actors were Dr. Saranathan as Dr. Naren; Sesh Bala as Judge; Sundy Srinivasan as Sr. Advocate Ganesh; Alpa Shah as the Public Prosecutor; Ganesh Raghhunandhan as Junior Advocate Vasanth; Krishnaswamy Parthasarathy (Partha) as Dr. Bala; Rathna Kumar as grandmother; Uma Nagarseth as Mrs. Iyer; Mahesh Shah as Ramlal, the Politician; Sanchali Basu as Nurse Leela; Gayatri Rao as Miss.

Manjula; Padma Iyer as Dr. Sharadha; Varsha Vasu as an adopted Daughter; Master Balaram as young boy Ravi.

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COMMUNITY

November 18, 2022

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IMMIGRATION

November 18, 2022

Indian Student Enrollment in US: +19% New Delhi: The number of Indian students studying in the United States increased 19 per cent over last year to nearly two lakh compared with a 13% drop in the previous year, according to an annual Open Doors report released by the Institution of International Education on Monday.

China and India represent the majority (52%) of all international students in the United States. China remains the top sending country in 2021/22, with 290,086 students on U.S. campuses (-9% year-over-year).

India, the second top-sending country, sent 199,182 international students in 2021/22, an increase of 19% year-over-year.

Even though China sent the most students in 2021, the numbers decreased nearly 9 percent from the 2020-2021 academic year.

At the same time, the number of students from India increased nearly 19 percent, to almost 200,000.

Quarantine norms and travel restrictions made it harder for Chinese students to acquire visas.

The 19% increase in Indian students studying in America was largely driven by graduate students.

Math, computer sciences, engineering and business management were the three most popular fields of study among international students.

As in previous years, over half (54 percent) of all international students studied in STEM fields in 2021/22. This year, math and computer science surpassed engineering as the leading field of study.

Just over 200,000 international students

studied math and computer science (21 percent) and over 188,000 studied engineering (20 percent). Other popular fields include business and management (16 percent), social sciences (8 percent), physical and life sciences (8 percent) and the fine and applied arts (5 percent).

New international student enrolment in the US shot up by 80% in 2021-22. welve of the top 25 places of origin increased the number of international students enrolled in the United States by double digits in the 2021/22 academic year.

In addition, other places of origin, including India, Canada, Mexico, and Nigeria, returned to pre-pandemic international student numbers. Notably, Nigeria saw its largest increase (+12% year-over-year) in international students studying in the U.S. since the 1980s In 2022 so far, India has reportedly emerged as the top recipient of US student visas this year.

A record number of 82,000 student visas have been issued to Indian students this year beginning from May to August, according to data shared by the US Consulate of India. Last year, too, the United States had issued a record student 62,000 visas as travel opened up after the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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COMMUNITY

November 18, 2022

Where is My Community? (Update)

By Kul Bhushan Uppal When was the last time you asked yourself this question - why can’t we do this event as a community?

Overall, the community at large never stood behind any organization in achieving all goals towards unifying the community. Even living in USA, we as a community always struggle, in giving up our old ways of fighting with each other and undermining all efforts by others.

Our community has never learned to come together even politically. This fact was confirmed by one of the senior Senator from Texas at one of the Indian functions. The Senator said that Indian origin people donate lots of money to the various campaigns, but have never asked for any kind of favors in return. In general, the community members are happy to get their pictures taken with the politicians as mementos for their donations.

This is not helping us unite for a common cause as a community.

After all what is community?

The word, “community” is derived from the old French word comunete – which in turn is derived from the Latin communitas (from Latin communis – things held in common), a broad term for fellowship or organized community. A community is a unit of large number of people that shares com-

mon values. In any typical communities – intent, belief, preferences, needs, risks, resources and number of other conditions may be present, affecting the identity of the participants and their degree of cohesiveness.

One Indian organization started raising funds for a new community center but soon realized that not every member of the community at large was committed to this goal. It was also around this time that Indian Consulate opened their doors in Houston under the direction of our first Consul General Mr. Swash Pawan Singh. After being in the city for few months, Mr. Swash Pawan Singh called (Early 1996) the committee handling the details of new community center that he would like to get involved in establishing the basic parameters around establishing details of the community center. By the way Mr. Swash Pawan Singh was responsible in coming up with the name, “India House”, for this community center. The committee had a list of 6 different names but he was instrumental in steering the committee in the direction of the current name for this building. It was indeed a pleasure to be working so closely with our Consul General as he was totally committed to the concept of community center.

India House (Community center) was a dream of the first few Indian

American immigrants to Houston which started taking shape in June 2000, when a parcel of little over 10-acre land was purchased by India Culture Center in Southwest Houston. After a few challenges, it became obvious that a separate entity will have to take charge if we were to succeed in building a true community center to serve our own Indian American community as well as the mainstream community. That is when India House Inc. was born in 2003 and the entire community got behind the project. Here are the basic goals of this community center.

India House provides the “facility and infrastructure to support the broad needs of the Indian community” and the disconnected organizations providing services to this community. Recognizing these facts and to provide most essential services and participate with the American community at large, it was the desire of the IndoAmerican community to build a facility to receive and share values among all who wish to participate.

The new facility is located in the Southwest part of Houston at 8888 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77031. As of now the following programs and services catering to the needs of the community are being offered.

Free Food Distribution Virendra Mathur Medical Clinic Family and Immigration Law Consultation Relationship Clinic Parai Music Classes Sareen Harris Health Clinic Yoga BollyX Fitness Programming Classes for Beginners Art & Craft Classes Soccer Classes Personality Development Classes Technology Classes English Learning Shabdh Yog Sanskrit Classes Dance Classes Table Tennis Taped Ball Cricket at India House Cricket Ground Youth Taped Ball Cricket Clinic India House Library In order to provide these programs and services, India House decided to build these facilities in phases.

Phase - I India House Addresses immediate need for a facility providing assistance to seniors, families, adults, recent im-

migrant populations and medical clinic. Phase 1 was completed in 2008 and the building has been in full usage serving the needs of the community. I would like to urge every person within our community at large to get involved with India House activities and make full use of this facility. As a community, we need a cultural change within our thinking to come together as a community and be responsive to our surroundings.

In order to achieve this goal, let me conclude with these famous words from Swami Vivekananda - Take up one idea - our community. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to bring the entire community together under one roof and a future power house to be reckoned with. One more thing, always end the day with a positive thought.

No matter how hard things were, tomorrows a fresh opportunity to make it better.

Phase - 2 India House planned for a future date consists of the construction of a Cultural Center to conduct additional community activities. This will provide adequate additional space to host all community events by all organizations with well-planned infrastructure to match the needs.

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EDUCATION

November 18, 2022

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Teach for America Alumnus Spearheads Health Science and Career Exploration Houston: When Nabeel Ahmad, of Houston, taught at Sharpstown High School as a Teach For America (TFA) Houston corps member, he was surprised by the lack of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related opportunities available to his students.

As a corps member with TFA Houston, Nabeel was dedicated to spending two years teaching in a low-income community, an experience that opened his eyes to the reality of educational inequity in public schools.

Now an alumnus of TFA Houston and a third-year medical student at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine (formerly the University College of Medicine), Nabeel is watching a program he spearheaded change the trajectory for high school students interested in pursuing careers in the health sciences.

In 2021, with the help of several other TFA Houston alums, he successfully launched a medical school-high school partnership with Jack Yates High School, a new chapter of the Health Career Collaborative, a national pathway to health career program. In this initiative, medical students serve as year-long mentors to a cohort of 10th graders interested in pursuing the health sciences as a career.

The 10th graders then matriculate into the 11th and then 12th-grade programming.

volved. It’s been gratifying on so many levels,” said Nabeel.

The program consists of handson learning opportunities, a public health learning module, and even creating a health fair where students have the chance to become health advocates and health leaders in their communities.

Earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Healthier Texas Summit invited Nabeel to give an oral presentation on how other healthcare academic institutions can launch

similar initiatives with local high schools.

“We are incredibly proud of Nabeel for being a true catalyst for change and transforming the lives of students through the Health Career Collaborative,” said Tiffany Cuellar Needham, executive director of TFA Houston.

Nabeel looks forward to seeing the program grow and continue to provide guidance to more students interested in health and science careers.

“The Health Career Collabora-

Nabeel remembers fondly during the first year of the Collaborative, letting some of the students borrow his white lab coat.

“For the first time, many of these students began to recognize their true potential and visualize themselves as doctors, scientists, and researchers,” he said. “The program has been transformative for both the students and the mentors in-

Indo-American News • Friday, november 18, 2022 • www.indoamerican-news.com

tive has taught me, the other mentors, and the students who participate that the sky is the limit, and anything is possible,” said Nabeel.

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FINE ARTS

November 18, 2022

Nepalese Artist Lain Singh Bangdel Paintings on Exhibit at Asia Society

Houston: Asia Society Texas (AST) announces its newest exhibition, Lain Singh Bangdel: Moon Over Kathmandu, featuring the abstract modernist work of polymath, novelist, art historian, preservationist, academician, and painter, Lain Singh Bangdel. Made up of approximately 20 works, the exhibition is the first solo show by a Nepali artist at any Asia Society site, and highlights Bangdel’s pioneering pursuit of abstraction that would help define a modern Nepal – shaping the history of art in South Asia. Lain Singh Bangdel: Moon Over Kathmandu is FREE and open to the public beginning Wednesday, November 30th through Sunday, April 30, 2023.

Born on a tea plantation in Darjeeling, India, into a community of Nepali migrant workers, Bangdel remained culturally connected to his homeland of Nepal until his first visit in 1961.

The collection of works on view explores how his signature vocabulary of abstraction crystallized upon his homecoming to Nepal at the behest of King Mahendra and B.P. Koirala, the country’s first democratically elected prime minister.

Informed by the architecture of South Asian cities like Kolkata and Kathmandu, as well as the exalted peaks of the everpresent Himalayas, Bangdel’s abstract paintings like Moon over Kathmandu (1962) and Abstract II (1969) advanced his belief in the sublime and rugged majesty of the world’s tallest mountain range.

As such, the barrier that once separated Bangdel from Nepal became the subject that most connected him to his homeland, nourishing his artistic sensibility.

In the years leading up to his triumphant return to Nepal, Bangdel lived a remarkable life, embedding himself with intellectual circles in Independence-era Kolkata, London, and Paris. In 1939, he left the tea fields of Darjeeling to enroll in Kolkata’s noted Government College of Art & Craft. Here, Bangdel studied with Zainul Abedin, who would become one of Bangladesh’s foremost modern artists and an important documentarian of the Bengal Famine (1943-45), a cataclysmic event that would affect Bangdel’s art and writing for decades. After graduating, Bangdel found work as a commercial artist at the Kolkata-based firm D.J. Keymer, where he formed a lifelong friendship with acclaimed Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray. During this period, Bangdel produced

paintings of everyday life in Bengal, including Kolkata’s impoverished suburbs, and focused his attention on writing in Nepali, publishing several novels, and founding the literary journal Prabhat (Dawn).

In 1952, Bangdel left Kolkata to further his education and training in London and Paris.

In connecting with the Asian diaspora’s artistic community, he hosted dinners in his Paris flat, where he engaged with the noted Indian modernists M.F. Husain, F.N. Souza, and Paritosh Sen. Eager to study the work of European modernists and old masters alike, Bangdel traveled extensively throughout Europe while publishing Nepali-language books and travelogues for audiences in his homeland. His experiments in abstract painting began in Europe, as seen in the exhibition’s cubist-inflected Transformation (1956), as well as Himalaya (1954), an ethereal imagining of Bangdel’s homeland. In 1961, after a formal request from King Mahendra, Bangdel and his wife left London for Nepal. The experience cemented his desire to, as Koirala implored him in a 1957 letter, “organize [Nepal’s] aesthetic movement.” This call to action would ultimately lead to his 1962 solo exhibition in Nepal, his first in the country.

Moon over Kathmandu thus brings to life the many notable contributions of Bangdel to the global history of modern art.

Lain Singh Bangdel: Moon Over Kathmandu Fast Facts: • Dates: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 – Sunday, April 30, 2023 • Admission: FREE • Hours: We d n e s d a y – Friday, 11 a.m.

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For Board positions (Directors and Trustees) please mail nomination form and a check in the amount of $25 to: Jawahar Malhotra Member, Election Committee 12207 Westmere Dr Houston, TX 77077 Phone-713-789-6397 Email – jawoche@yahoo.com

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November 18, 2022

World Population at 8 Billion, India to Pass China New York: The human population touched 8 billion on Tuesday (November 15), a milestone that heralds both opportunities and challenges — especially for India, which is set to become the world’s most populous country next year by surpassing China.

While the United Nations hailed the 8-billion figure as “a testament to humanity’s achievements”, it also sounded a note of caution.

“The growth of our population is a testament to humanity’s achievements, including reductions in poverty and gender inequality, advancements in health care, and expanded access to education. These have resulted in more women surviving childbirth, more children surviving their early years, and longer, healthier lifespans, decade after decade,” the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said.

However, in a report, Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said rapid population growth can make challenges of hunger and poverty steeper. “Rapid population growth makes eradicating poverty, combating hunger and malnutrition, and increasing the coverage of health and education systems more difficult,” the UN official said.

The UN population report said the global population is growing at its slowest rate since 1950, hav-

ing fallen under 1 per cent in 2020.

The world’s population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. It is projected to reach a peak of around 10.4 billion people during the 2080s and to remain at that level until 2100.

“More than half of the projected increase in the global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in eight countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania. Countries of sub-Saharan Africa are expected to contribute more than half of the increase anticipated through 2050,” the report said.

India is projected to overtake China as the world’s most populous country in 2023, “with prospects to reap the demographic dividend as the median age of an Indian this year was 28.7 years, compared to 38.4 for China and 48.6 for Japan against a global value of 30.3 years,” a PTI report said.

The population prospects report

had said that India’s population stands at 1.412 billion in 2022, compared to China’s 1.426 billion. India is projected to have a population of 1.668 billion in 2050, way ahead of China’s 1.317 billion people by the middle of the century.

According to UNFPA estimates, 68 per cent of India’s population is between 15-64 years old in 2022, while people aged 65 and above comprise seven per cent of the population.

As per UN estimates, over 27 per cent of the country’s population is between the ages of 15-29.

At 253 million, India is also home to the world’s largest adolescent population (10-19 years).

UNFPA has noted that India has its largest ever adolescent and youth population. According to UNFPA projections, India will continue to have one of the youngest populations in the world till 2030 and is currently experiencing a demographic window of opportunity, a “youth bulge” that will last till 2025. -- Indian Express

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Akshay Patra is a 501(c)(3) and a 7- time consecutive recipient of the goldshield award of excellence in Financial reporting. The gold standard in this sector internationally.

So when you donate to Akshay Patra you have the confidence and peace of mind knowing the majority of your donations go directly to the kids.

To learn more, donate, or to volunteer please visit us at: https://www.akshayapatrausa. org/chapters/texas-houston-chapter/

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832-282-3515, TTY 711

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Local help with your Medicare questions.

Licensed Sales Agent

It almost sounds too good to be true but by minimizing overhead, every dollar that is donated, on average $0.91 makes it directly into the child’s mouth. Akshay Patra prides themselves on absolute transparency.

SONY KOHLI YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT

COMMUNITY

Kaushika Shah

Sanjeev Yamdagni (left) and Mayur Shah at the Akshaya Patra Happy Hour

cognitive functions and the body during the most vital stage in a human’s development. These children are given the opportunity to have as many servings they want until full. As a result, the data indicates: • The children have improved retention and focus • Strength in Social development • Attendance and enrollment in school increases • Substantially Fewer Dropouts (especially in the female population) • Provides a more restorative sleep that helps cognitive abilities Akshaya Patra’s goal now is to feed at least 5 million school children everyday by 2025. With a donation of just $100, you can feed 5 children for a whole year.

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Akshaya Patra Hosts Fund Raising Happy Hour San Antonio: The Akshaya Patra Houston Chapter hosted a Happy Hour to help raise funds and awareness for the charity that is centered around ending child hunger for school children in India at The Great Heights Brewing Co. on November 11th, 2022. Many young professionals attended and donated generously while networking and enjoying some bites and beverages.

The event took place in the beautiful Barrel Room and was attended by dozens of supporters of the Akshaya Patra. The event was hosted by Janardan Thakkar, Mayur Shah, Sanjeev Yamdagni, Samrat Bera, Shridhar Negamanthan, Naveen Kochoth, and Ashok Shah.

Akshaya Patra is the world’s largest mid-day meal program that serves hot nutritional hygienic school lunches to over 2 million children, out of 65 kitchens, in approximately 20,000 schools, across 14 States and 2 Union Territories in India every school day.

These meals are area specific to the region with spice profiles and ingredients consistent with the children’s local cuisine.

These children come from lowincome families who typically make less than $2.00 per day and are unable to afford vegetables, grains, and milk – basically the bare necessities a child needs to grow.

Akshay Patra provides nutritional meals that are specifically engineered to be dense in vitamins and nutrients to support the brain

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November 18, 2022

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COMMUNITY

ENTERTAINMENT

November 18, 2022

‘Uunchai’: A Heartfelt Ode to Friendship

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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 November 22, 2022.

Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com. Please send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published.

Solution Next Week

By Shalini Langer This is as far as it gets from a Sooraj Barjatya film. It also avoids the melodrama that movies of this kind tend to lapse into, though it can’t resist the temptation to stretch the length to at least an hour more than it should be.

Still, how often do you get to see a road film about three old men and two old women, whose one lesson is about change being the only constant? Life is not a oneway street, is the surprising and refreshing message that the three friends Amit (Bachchan), Om (Kher) and Javed (Irani) learn on their bid to climb till the Everest base camp. You can learn every step of the way, very often looking backward but also sometimes looking forward.

Parents aren’t always in the right, children not often in the wrong, marriages can require distance, and love can often succumb to worldly comforts.

That’s some of the many life lessons packed into this road trip, from Delhi to Kathmandu, via Kanpur, Lucknow and Gorakhpur.

Neena Gupta as Javed’s wife Sabina and Sarika as Mala Trivedi who takes a ride with them complete this travelling company.

While Bachchan is the star, it’s not his doing this time, with the script thrusting him repeatedly forward when his own character is actually content being one among the many. As the loving couple Javed and Sabina, Irani and Gupta have the film’s choicest moments, while Kher as the grumpy friend has the most laughs. While they are on the road, the film is actually at its smoothest.

The Everest trek, however, is not dismissed as a by the way, with some effort having gone into making it genuine — down to the peeling skin and chapped lips, and the day-to-day itinerary involved.

There is a scene of real terror on a bridge across a stream that we

might remember from other Everest films, though it lasts a bit too long.

Given the boost Everest tourism might get should this film be a hit, a lot of emphasis is put on safety, being in the right medical health, and on warnings about all that could go wrong. But there are also surprising, warm and small touches regarding how it can be done, by people who are repeatedly told that life is basically over for them.

A bit fewer of several stretches towards the second half where the film meanders into more than one man-made crises, and this Uunchai would have been mission truly accomplished.

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Danny Denzongpa, Parineeti Chopra, Neena Gupta, Sarika Director: Sooraj Barjatya Rating: 3 stars -- Indian Express

Last Week’s Solution

‘Classically Yours with Jyoti’ in 2nd Year

Recent Winners

Kumud Athavale, Ramana Vadrevu, Krishna R. Vuddagiri, Sanchali Basu, Yudhveer Singh Bagga, Taranjit Singh

‘Classically Yours with Jyoti’ program celebrated its first year anniversary recently at the studio with wellwishers and patrons. You can catch the program every third Saturday 3 to 4 pm on Masala Radio FM 98.7 as part of Indo-American News Unplugged with Jyoti playing songs based on Classical Indian music with Sudhir Golikeri . You can listen on the Masala Radio app and catch the recorded shows on Spotify.

Indo-American News • Friday, november 18, 2022 • www.indoamerican-news.com

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November 18, 2022

Indo-American News • Friday, november 18, 2022 • www.indoamerican-news.com