Indo-American News: November 3, 2023

Friday, Novermber 3, 2023 | Vol. 42, No. 44

November 3, 2023

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Published weekly from Houston, TX

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Akshardham Grand Opening

Celebrating Opening of Sonal Bhuchar Elementary in Fort Bend ISD

P5 Disha Grand Diwali Reception

P2 Dr. Subodh Bhuchar (front, far right) with school and FBISD officials, friends and wellwishers during the naming ceremony in October.

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WEDDINGS, SPECIAL EVENTS, TENTED EVENTS, OUTDOOR COURTYARD

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November 3, 2023

COMMUNITY

Bhuchar Family Celebrates School Naming with Friends at Alings

Sonal Bhuchar, a former FBISD trustee, was a tireless servant with a long history of community leadership. She served as the FBISD Board President for two years.

Sonal’s husband, Dr. Subodh Bhuchar (center), with FBISD and Sonal Bhuchar school officials.

Dr. Bhuchar (center, kneeling) with one of several groups of friends and wellwishers who attended the reception at Alings restaurant.

By Pramod Kulkarni Sugar Land: The Bhuchar family paid tribute to the memory of Sonal Bhuchar and celebrated the naming of a new school in FBISD in her honor with an evening reception at Alings restaurant on Thursday, October 26.

The dedication of the new school as Sonal Bhuchar Elementary had taken place earlier on Sunday, October 15.

The Bhuchar Elementary School is located at 5503 Thompson Ferry Road in Missouri City, Texas 77459.

The school mascot is the Royal Bengal tiger. Above the foyer at the school is displayed Sonal Bhuchar’s portrait and a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

Sonal Bhuchar’s life exemplified Gandhi’s quote about service. According to the FBISD statement, “Sonal Bhucgar was a trailblazer in Fort Bend County and a leader in the field of education. After her long association with the Fort Bend Education Foundation, Bhuchar was elected to the FBISD Board of Trustees for six years and served as the Board President for two years.

Bhuchar was appointed to the One Star National Service Commission Board by Governor Greg Abbott in 2015. Up until her passing, she was actively involved as a board member with the Child Advocates of Fort Bend and Parks, Art, Recreation, Culture, and Streetscapes (PARCS). She was a board member for the Literacy Council of Fort Bend, ACCESS Health, Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation, Sugar Land Heritage, the Indo-American Charity Foundation and the Texas Medical Association Alliance.

During her tenure with the District, Bhuchar spearheaded many efforts including chairing the WATCH program (a healthy lifestyle education program for elementary school students), developing the concept for the Fort Bend Education Foundation’s annual International Festival to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the District, the Student Leadership Program and the Legislative Advocacy Program.

“It has been a long journey for the campaign to name the school after Sonal,”said Dr. Bhuchar. “Now her legacy will stay on forever and young kids will learn about her work.” A number of Sonal’s friends, colleagues and wellwishers recalled their association, including Jim Rice, Shefali Jhaveri, Chad Patel, and Binal Kancherla.

Even Alings owner Gary Aling talked about how Sonal used to visit him to learn how to prepare dishes that her family particularly enjoyed at Alings.

The evening reception took place at Alings patio.

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November 3, 2023

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AKSHARDHAM SPECIAL

November 3, 2023

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AKSHARDHAM SPECIAL

November 3, 2023 November 3, 2023

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BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham

Aksharbrahma Shri Gunatitanand Swami

Bhagwan Shri Krishna, Shri Radhaji

Parabrahma Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan

Bhagwan Shri Shiv, Shri Parvatiji, Shri Kartikeyaji, Shri Ganeshji

Bhagwan Shri Ram, Shri Sitaji, Shri Lakshmanji, Shri Hanumanji

Bhagwan Shri Venkateshwara, Shri Padmavatiji

Mahamandir Interior

Nestled in the heart of NJ, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham is a haven of tranquility and spiritual reflection. Inside the Mahamandir you will see the Parabrahma Mandapam, a sacred space that emanates the grandeur of

the Divine, referred to within Hinduism as Parabrahma. It is one of the largest elliptical domes in stone architecture. In Hindu architecture, a single keystone is typically used to secure a circular dome. However, in this

case, multiple keystones have been employed to secure this exceptional dome in position.

Moving ahead is the Paramhansa Mandapam. Around the perimeter, 70 sacred images (carved from single stone slabs, each stand-

ing 7-8 feet tall) of revered Swamis from the time of Bhagwan Swaminarayan (commonly known as Paramhansas) whose pure lives and profound teachings serve as inspiration and guidance for those on the spiritual path.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • News FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2023 • ONLINE WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM Indo-American • Friday, november 3, 2023 •EDITION: www.indoamerican-news

AKSHARDHAM 4 November 3, 2023 SPECIAL

November 3, 2023

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PEOPLE OF AKSHARDHAM

Over 12,500 people volunteered in the creation of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham. Students, parents, professionals, and more, dedicated

their time and effort—for two weeks, six months, two years, or even more than a decade—to make Akshardham a reality.

The volunteers came to help build the

mandir but discovered transformative experiences. Following are a few stories highlighting the devotion and sacrifice of the volunteers excerpted from the book,

People of Akshardham: Stories Beyond the Stones. You can order a copy of this exceptional book at us.baps.store.

“Every stone we place, every stone we dip, is an offering to God.”

“One of the things we gain from serving is spurts of inspiration from those around us that help us grow.”

Taking a year’s sabbatical from his work as a manager at Accenture Federal Services and subsequently extending his leave for nine more months, Nilkanth has weatherproofed, cut, clamped, placed, and repaired stones throughout the Akshardham campus. He is pictured here touching up a stone on Akshardham’s base layer. Nilkanth’s volunteering has taught him to imbue all of his actions with spirituality. “With the right sentiments, there is no real difference between physical service on site and devotion we offer in the mandir. Every stone we place, every stone we dip, is an offering to God.”

Yesha Shah, 27, of Skokie, Illinois, manually bends a 3/8” rebar by pulling it around metal breaks to create an L shape. Yesha took 1.5 years off from pharmacy school to volunteer at Akshardham, where she served as co-lead of the rebar team. Inspired by the virtues of her teammates, Yesha strove to serve humbly, accept criticism positively, and develop patience. Reflecting on the impact of her time volunteering, Yesha said, “I used to get very easily hurt if someone pointed out my mistakes. Over the last year, I stopped dwelling so much on the external factors I can’t change and chose to focus on things that I can change in myself. This has helped me feel more at peace with myself.”

GUEST OPINIONS

“This is a good model for the United States and Americans to see. It’s not about being indoctrinated one way or another. It’s about learning how to work together, be yourself, connect to the universe, and understand the Divine... ” - Dr. David Frawley American Author

“What I see today is mind blowing. The intricacies of the temple and the energy you feel here – you’re in the presence of greatness” - Ndileka Mandela Granddaughter of Nelson Mandela

“This will stay with you for generations... In life if you ever feel like you have darkness around you, just come to the temple, you’ll see the lights come on to you, you’ll see the light you have been missing.”

- Arthur Kapoor HealthEC, President & CEO

“When people have faith, when people understand that diversity is important, that inclusiveness is important, those are the kind of people you want to be around.”

- Pete Sessions US Congressman

“I was at a loss for words. Today was really special, not just for me but (also) for mom and seeing the smile on my grandparents’ face is just really awesome. Having a place like Akshardham is so important” - Swayam Bhatia Actress

“These kinds of structures are symbols of inspiration for other communities … in every corner, in every step that you are taking on this campus, you understand that this place is about embracing people.”

- Reyhan Özgür Consul General of Türkiye in New York

“Kindness, Humility, Gratefulness. I think that represents, in many ways, the whole concept and place here very well. The one thing that impresses me greatly is the dedication and the purity of the spirituality within the people.”

- Maxi Kleber Dallas Mavericks, NBA

“Brilliant, it’s outstanding, but even video doesn’t do justice to what it actually is.

You’ve got to come and see to believe it.

What volunteers and everyone have done for this temple, and every time you come here, always a different kind of energy.”

- Parthiv Patel Former Cricketer

See many more volunteer & guest feedback @akshardhamusa INDO-AMERICAN NEWSNews • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2023 3, • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM Indo-American • Friday, november 2023• www.indoamerican-news.com

November3,3,2023 2023 8 5 November

AKSHARDHAM SPECIAL The Grand Dedication Ceremony

Scan to see YouTube Video

The grand dedication ceremony of

the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, held on October 8, celebrated Akshardham as a beacon of tradition, inspiring harmony, service, devotion, and as the abode of God. Scan the QR code to relive this momentous event.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj The Visionary of Akshardham

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham was envisioned by HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

He was the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the inspirer of millions. He envisioned a majestic spiritual campus in the United States that would consolidate thousands of years of inspiring Hindu art, architecture and culture.

Mahant Swami Maharaj The Inspirer of Akshardham

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the current spiritual head of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and the sixth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. It was solely due to his inspiration that, thousands of volunteers from different walks of life and across the globe came together to build the Akshardham. Addressing the grand dedication ceremony assembly he said, “It was Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s divine wish to construct an Akshardham in North America, where people can come and visit, irrespective of race, creed or religion. The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, is a symbol of unity, spirituality, and cultural appreciation, reflecting the shared values that bind people from diverse backgrounds.”

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Open to visitors every day except Tuesday.

For the latest visiting hours and details, please visit usa.akshardham.org

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SCAN TO VISIT

usa.akshardham.org

November 3, 2023

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COMMUNITY

Disha USA Celebrates 2nd Annual Diwali Gala with Over 500 Attendees

Houston: Disha USA (www. dishausa.org) organized its 2nd annual Diwali gala on Friday, Oct 27, which had over 500 attendees including community members of ~20 Hindu organizations across Greater Houston area. The event was also attended by over 100 dignitaries including Consul Adesh Sudhir (Indian Consulate Houston), elected officials with family members from both Democratic and Republican parties, and many interfaith community members.

Mary Millben (www.marymillben.com), the award winning international singer, captivated the audience with her amazing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, National Anthem of Bharat, and first time live performance of Hindi song “Om Jai Jagdish Hare”.

The audience was spell-bounded and gave Mary a standing ovation.

Joseph Emmett, a native Houstonian, and founder of Vedanta Institute Houston (www.vedantahouston.org), delivered a profound keynote address that brought together the principles of Hindu scriptures (Vedas, Shrimad Bhagvad Gita) and their applicability for all of us. He reinforced the need for righteous action and the fact that civic engagement is

very much a part of our Dharma.

Ashish Agrawal, co-founder and Chair of DISHA USA, then proceeded to share the highlights of last 12 months of engagement

by DISHA USA. He also made the case for urgent need for Hindu

Leaders to step up and drive civic engagement across the Hindu community. He wrapped up with a call for action for all Hindus to Vote (in every single election), Engage (in various civic activities), and Contribute (financially

to civic causes).

The evening was wrapped up by the beautiful Ramleela (history of Diwali and Lord Rama) performance by over 30 members of Kalakriti Performing Arts in association with Kusum Sharma’s Shri

Natraj School of Dance.

Our very own local young professionals, Ms. Supriya Aggarwal and Mr. Atman Shukla did an amazing job as the Emcees of the event by sharing their personal stories growing up here in the Greater Houston area, and ensured the event ran smoothly. Disha USA thanks the 20+ High School and Middle School volunteers who were critical in making the event successful.

Disha USA was honored to receive certificates of recognitions from the Texas State House of Representatives (Rep Gene Wu, Rep Suleman Lalani) as well as one from the US House Representative Al Green.

The mission of DISHA USA is to “Empower Hindu (dharmic) civic engagement” and the event provided an opportunity for the community to interact with elected officials and candidates from across the Greater Houston area.

Disha USA is open for everyone and receptive to ideas for increasing Hindu civic engagement. Visit www.dishausa.org for more information. Pictures and videos of the event will be available on our Facebook Page (bit.ly/DishaFacebook).

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November 3, 2023 13

COMMUNITY

HWS Celebrates Navratri with Mata Chowki, Karva Chauth

Have you been to Hindu Worship Society Temple lately? If not, you are missing out!

With festival season in full swing, HWS recently celebrated Navratri with it’s annual Mata Chowki held on October 21st. We had over 350 devotees come together to worship Mata Rani. Our amazing devotee Mrs. Prem Goyal coordinated the prashad for the evening with her kitchen volunteers. As always, they provided the best prashad for all those in attendance!

Karwachauth was also celebrated on October 31st with three puja options for fasting ladies to attend and to hear the katha before they broke their fasts. Everyone looked beautiful for the celebrations.

And let’s not forget our HWS Youth Council! Through the summer, we held Speaker Series for our members. Our devotees from various professional backgrounds came to our temple to share their career experiences, their work requirements, and what it takes to get there with our youths. They were all enlightening sessions!

Our HWS Youth Council also spent another Sunday volunteering at the HWS Food Bank! We were able to help so many local families with all the effort our volunteers put in!

You will next see HWS at the 12th Annual International Diwali-

Photos from Mata Chowki, Karva Chauth and HWS Youth Council providing volunteer service at the Houston Food Bank.

Dussehra Festival where we will be representing Nav Durga. Come see our amazing devotees as the 9 ladies represent the 9 Durgas, along with a Bhairav Ji. The ladies represent the 9 forms of Durga during stages of war with Mahishasura. The celebration of victory is known as Vijayadashami.

HWS will also hold our annual

Ram Charit Manas recital on November 18-19 weekend with the Sita Ram Foundation. Stay tuned for more details! If you would like to sponsor or become a donor, please contact us.

We have more events coming soon! Please be sure to join HWS in these upcoming events.

For more information, please visit

www.hwstemple.org or find HWS on Facebook @hwst\emple. You can also reach out via email at hws.temple@gmail.com or call the temple at 713-957-4608.

We now also have a WhatsApp group! Please can the QR Code to join our group and stay up to date with temple news and upcoming events!

Indarvadan Trivedi (Masterji) Awards Young Family and Youth

By Girish Naik Houston: The festival of Navaratri brings lots of young youth to celebrate and dance to the music and bit of the drums as the singers sing the glory of our goddesses for nine nights followed by the celebration of Sharad Purnima.

VPSS Haveli organized the Sharad Purnima garba on Oct 28, 2023, at the VPSS haveli temple on October 28, 2023 from 6:30 PM onwards. The musical group of famous singer and Dario Maestro Bhanubhai Vora and Kinnari Group graced the occasion with their wonderful songs.

As the time stuck 6:30, people started coming and in a little time the hall was filled with lots of enthusiasm from younger to older devotees.

Indarvadan Tridevi loving known as Masterji for teaching the art of classical dancing and drama to his students for more than 30 years. He has also directed a bunch of dramas and acted in a few movies. His goal is to promote the art of Indian dances and cultural values by encouraging the youth by awarding them with the SMD Masterji Sharad Purnima awards for Best Indian Dressing, Best Dance Moves and for families that encourage and bring their small kids to our festivals.

Masterji quoted that “This is the first year of giving the Sanathan Manav Darshan (SMD) awards

M

Masterji, Ila Joshi and Rasesh Dalal with the family of Mr. Mrugesh.

Masterji and Ila Joshi with first Masterji and Ila Joshi with Special Prize Winner Meghna Raja prize winner Ms. Nikita.

Indo-American News • Friday, november 3, 2023• www.indoamerican-news.com

and I want to continue giving these awards in many other cities in the United States in the coming years.

We have a very rich heritage and culture, and it is our duty to pass this on to our next generation”.

This year three awards were given out after judging them from dressing style to dancing movements. The three awardees were, First Price for Best Dressing and Dancing – Ms. Nikita Second Price was given to Ms. Kusum for Best Costume Third price was given to Mr. Murgesh and Family for involve the entire family with wearing traditional kathiyawadi dressing.

At the last moment a special award was also given to Megana Raja for her ethnic wear, energy and wonderful garba dance movements.

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COMMUNITY

Family, Community Hold Vigil for Doctor Stabbed to Death in Conroe

By Shannon Ryan

Conroe, Texas (KTRK) -- A man has been charged with murder in connection to the death of a beloved Conroe pediatrician and mother. On Saturday, at 12:30 p.m., law enforcement officials believe 24-year-old Miles Joseph Fridrich fatally stabbed 52-yearold Dr. Talat Jehan Khan multiple times in the common area of her apartment complex.

ABC13 spoke with Khan’s family, who said she moved to the Alys apartments on Mansion View Drive in July with her 14-year-old daughter. Khan was working at Texas Children’s Pediatrics Conroe.

“Everything in her life revolved around those two things - her kids, her son and daughter, and her kids she looked after as a pediatrician,” Khan’s brother, Wajahat Nyaz, said. During his interview with ABC13, Nyaz referred to his sister as a “kind soul.”

Khan’s neighbors told ABC13 that multiple people witnessed the attack, including several children.

Among them was Matthew Amador.

Amador recalled to Eyewitness News that he grabbed his Katana

sword when he realized what was happening and ran after Fridrich, the suspect.

“I said, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ And just kind of spooked him,” he said. “(It) didn’t look like he was there, or was a person, blank face, real dark, you know, evil look in his eyes. He had gone and left three times before I even got there, and when I got there, he was checking her pulse to make sure she was alive and then stabbed her three more times,” Amador said.

Amador works as a firefighter but is currently home battling cancer. He said he had never seen Fridrich before the attack.

According to a delivery driver who spoke to ABC13, the suspect reportedly lives under an overpass about three miles from the apartment complex.

He said Fridrich often became upset when his store declined to give him food.

“He acted like something was going on with him, like maybe he was doing stuff he shouldn’t have been doing,” he said. As of now, officials have not named a motive.

The Council on American Islamic, who said they are investigating

the crime, released a statement regarding the Khan’s death. “Assalamu Alaikum. Regarding the doctor stabbed in Conroe yesterday: We at CAIR Texas pass along our sincerest condolences to the children and family Dr. Talat Khan leaves behind. Inna Lilah Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’oon. Allah grant her Jannah Firdaous, Amn. While the police have not released a motive for the killing, we want to assure everyone that we are in conversation with law enforcement agencies. We are unsure at this moment if this was a hate crime; however, given the tragic circumstances, we are paying very close attention to

the investigation. We will continue to monitor the situation while we launch our own investigation and continue established dialogue with law enforcement. For the time being, we encourage the community to be vigilant and to keep the family in your Du’aa during this difficult time. May Allah make it easy for them. Amn.” Mohammad Ayubi, Associate Director of the Al Ansaar Masjid, explained to ABC13 that Khan had been attending the mosque for a few months and was a “nice person.”

Khan’s niece, Mahnoor Mangrio, said her aunt was “strong in her faith.” Ayubi said he had received several calls about the attack. “The community’s anxious. They want to know what happened. The police are investigating. We have to trust them, and we don’t know if it was a hate crime or if it was some crazy person doing something,” Ayubi said. “We hope there’s some clarity and things come back to normal. We have 300 to 400 families. They’re grieving.”

Ayubi said the masjid increased security after the attack, including additional patrols from the Conroe Police Department.

Ayubi, while wearing a T-shirt

Indo-American News • Friday, november 3, 2023 • www.indoamerican-news

with an American flag, explained, “We have to stand up as Americans. We are all Americans. This is our place of worship. I find myself an American Muslim and proud.”

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) released the following statement on the murder of Dr. Talat Jehan Khan, a Pakistani and Muslim American pediatrician, in Conroe, Texas: “I am heartbroken by the brutal murder of Dr. Talat Jehan Khan, a beloved pediatrician who had recently moved to the greater Houston area. It is critical that our law enforcement officials conduct a thorough investigation into her killing. While we do not yet know the motive for this attack, we do know that Islamophobia and acts of violence against Muslim Americans are on the rise across our country. No person in the United States should experience—or have to worry about experiencing— hatred because of how they pray, what they believe, or who they are. My thoughts are with Dr. Khan’s family, the staff and patients at Texas Children’s Pediatrics, and the Pakistani and Muslim American communities in our district and across the country at this difficult time.”

COMMUNITY

Outstanding Philathropist Award for Pakistani-American S. Javaid Anwar

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President George W. Bush presenting S. Javaid Anwar (center) “Outstanding International Philanthropist Award” of the World Affairs Council at the Presidential Reception of 25th Annual Jesse H. Jones Awards Luncheon. WAC officials CEO Maryanne Maldonado, Chairman Vivek Chidambaram (far left) and CDO Sandija Bayot (far right) were also present on the occasion.

Houston: Prominent Pakistani American S. Javaid Anwar received “Outstanding International Philanthropist Award” from the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, at their 25th Annual Jesse H. Jones Award Luncheon.

Former President George W. Bush presented the award at a special ceremony held at the Presidential Reception. He was nominated for this prestigious recognition on his international impact, exceptional leadership, and outstanding contributions to Houston’s international spirit for over 25 years.

While announcing the award, World Affairs Council CEO Maryanne Maldonado paid huge tribute to Mr. Anwar. In a statement the World Affairs Council called S. Javaid Anwar, a testament to the relationship between diplomacy and philanthropy, he represents a life-long mission of dedication and service. In Texas, his contributions have touched on a variety of initiatives such as education, through his support of the University of Texas and serving as a board member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

After Hurricane Harvey, Mr. Anwar generously contributed to the Greater Houston community in its efforts to rebuild. Several of his philanthropic works speak about his ground-breaking efforts in improving the community.

President Bush also praised Mr.

Anwar’s generosity, which he demonstrates as an incredible example of citizenship & leadership, and said that’s why he has painted and featured him in his book “Out of Many, One”.

The largest ever this year’s Annual Event also featured President, Geoge W. Bush Talk; International Citizen of the Year Linda DuCharme-President of Exxon Mobil; Global Education, and Institutional Leadership Honoree Renu Khator- President of the University of Houston System; and 25 Global Leaders of Influence Honorees.

The grand Luncheon was attended by over 900 prominent leaders in Business, Education, Finance, World Affairs, City Officials with Mayor Sylvester Turne, several Consul General’s including Muhammad Aftab Choudhry of Pakistan, Shafi Alotaibi of Saudi Arabia, Saeed Almheiri of UAE, Tamador Al Thani of Qatar, Ryan Anwar, Attorney Nomi Husain, Dr. Shahid Aziz, Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, President of Houston Karachi Sister City Association, Jamal Bafagih, and several corporate leaders and Government officials.

At the Luncheon all attendees received a copy of the Book “Out of Many, One” signed by President George W. Bush and gifted

by S. Javaid Anwar.

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OBITUARY

Vidya Wati Uppal 1916-2023

Chicago: Vidya Wati Uppal was born on Aug 20, 2016, in the city of Sargodha in pre-partition India. She got married to our father Dr. Amir Chand Uppal in 1937 and together they raised their five children.

The partition of India in 1947 forced them from their home after which they settled in Rohtak, India. They lived together for 67 years. A devout Hindu and a follower of the teachings of Swami Dayanand, Vidya practiced her faith diligently throughout her life. She was a strict disciplinarian and instilled these dharmic values in her children and grandchildren. Upon the death of her husband in 2004, Mataji moved to the

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US in 2005 and stayed in Houston through 2016. In August 2017 she was moved to a nursing home Bria of Westmont (Chicago area).

Mataji is survived by her daughters, Santosh (late Jiwan Lal) Markan, Prem (late Surendra) Arya, and Nirmal (Harbans) Bajaj as well as sons Kul Bhushan (Suman) Uppal and Jug Mohan (Madhu) Uppal. She also leaves behind 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren as well as a large extended family.

Mataji’s entire family is indebted to Bria of Westmont and its outstanding staff for taking excellent and loving care of her in the last six years of her life.

Indo American News Founder: Dr. K.L. Sindwani Publisher: Jawahar Malhotra Editor: Pramod Kulkarni Correspondent: Sanchali Basu ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. Deadline for advertising and articles is 4 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 212, Houston, Texas 77036.Tel:713-789-6397, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: www.indoamerican-news.com

Indo-American News • Friday, november 3, 2023• www.indoamerican-news.com

18 November 3, 2023

FASHION

Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the 6th largest jewellery retailer globally with over 335 showrooms across 11 countries, has announced their much-awaited festive season offers. Adding more sparkle to the numerous celebrations in the season, customers can get assured gold coins with their gold & diamond jewellery purchases. Malabar Gold & Diamonds has also unveiled a stunning array of festive jewellery collections in gold, diamond and precious gems, designed to be an alluring attraction to customers. The limited period offer can be availed across all Malabar Gold & Diamonds outlets in the Middle east, Far east, the USA & the UK till the 13th November, 2023.

For every diamond or precious gem jewellery purchase worth USD 1,500 customers will get free 1gm Gold Coin and for diamond and precious gem jewellery purchase worth USD 1,000 they will be eligible for ½ gm Gold Coin.

Embracing the spirit of the season, the festive jewellery collection that the brand has unveiled consists of exquisite and unique designs in gold, diamonds & precious gem jewellery that have been carefully curated by considering the varying jewellery preferences that exists amongst their vast customer bases. The special designs have been made available across a wide range of sub-brands such as Mine, Era, Precia, Viraaz, Ethnix and Divine. Elegant designs crafted in contemporary fashion have also been introduced in the 18K gold category as well. As part of the offer, customers have the opportunity to exchange their old 916 gold jewellery for the latest designs without any loss. Additionally, the brand will also be setting up Special Buy counters at their showrooms, offering incredible discounts on selected jewellery designs.

“The offers that we unveil during the festive season are always looked forward to by our customers. By giving away free gold coins with their festive jewellery purchase, we are ensuring that our vast plethora of customers gets to indulge in their festivities with all the pomp & and vigour they can muster. The attractive offers and the exquisite array of designs that have been made available in our festive jewellery collection is our way of reiterating that Malabar Gold & Diamonds stands by our customers in all their celebrations”, commented Mr. Shamlal Ahamed, MD - International Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds.

In light of the gold rate fluctuations, customers can take advantage of the Gold Rate Protection offer provided by Malabar Gold & Diamonds, wherein customers can block the prevailing gold rates by paying just a 10% as advance,

the independent and the modern woman through its designs and collections.

ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) has been the primary commitment of the group since its inception. The key ESG focus area of Malabar Group are Health, Housing, Hunger Free World, Education, Environment and Women empowerment. Integrating the principles of responsibility and sustainability into its core business, Malabar Group periodically strengthens its ESG goals to remain a socially conscious and responsible organization. The group contributes 5% of its profit to such initiatives in the same country of operation.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds Ushers in the Festive Season with Exciting Offers – Assured Gold Coins on Jewellery Purchase valid till the 12th of November. If the gold rate goes up during this period, customers can purchase at the blocked rate and if the rate happens to go down, customers can draw mileage from the lower rate. The Gold Rate Protection offer can be availed by visiting any of Malabar Gold & Diamonds outlet, or online through their mobile app.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds was established in 1993 and is the flagship company of Malabar Group, a leading diversified Indian business conglomerate.

With an annual turnover of $5.2 billion, the company currently ranks as the 6th largest jewellery retailer globally and today has a strong retail network of over 335 outlets spread across 11 countries in addition to multiple offices, design centers, wholesale units and factories spread across India, Middle East, Far East, USA & UK. The group, owned by more than 4,000 shareholders, has more than 21,000 professionals from over 26 countries working towards its continued success. Malabar Gold & Diamonds also features an online store www. malabargoldanddiamonds. com providing customers the opportunity to purchase their favorite jewelry at any time and on any day from the comfort of their homes.

The group also operates MGD – Lifestyle Jewellery, a retail concept offering trendy and light weight jewellery that represents Indo-American News • Friday, november 3, 2023 • www.indoamerican-news

November 3, 2023 19

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Tejas’: Aviation Drama is a Bumpy Ride

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 7, 2023.

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

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Recent Winners

Kumud Athavale, Krishna R. Vuddagiri, Sanchali Basu, Prabha Barvalia, Ramana Vadrevu, KB Amarnath, Pruthvi Seth, K.S.Balasubramanyam, Kanubhai Patel, Prabhu Narumanchi, Ramesh Shah, Sahiti Palle, Rekha Trivedi, Sunil Sharma

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Story: Sajini Shinde (Radhika Madan), a young physics teacher, goes missing after her explicit video is leaked online. The drama explores the events that occur before and after the fateful day.

Review: Story of a young physics teacher whose life takes a tragic turn when an explicit video of her dancing with half-naked men is leaked. She is simply just celebrating her birthday, but as the video becomes viral, she faces abject public humiliation and harsh scrutiny. The film takes a darker turn shortly after this event when she goes missing and is presumed dead.

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Sajini Shinde: Thriller

Local help with your Medicare questions.

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Tejas may appeal to fans of patriotic movies and defence dramas.

But a better story and a tighter screenplay would have made the movie more impactful. -- Times of India

and one wishes for a more cohesive screenplay. That being said, things turn thrilling once the main rescue operation begins, and the movie offers some high-octane action scenes. However, a parallel track of an impending terrorist attack proves to be distracting.

Director of Photography Hari K Vedantam presents a visually appealing fare and efficiently captures the airstrikes, flights, and fight sequences in the deserts.

The movie scores high in the action department, which Kangana Ranaut pulls off with elan. The actress looks every bit like a fighter pilot and performs action as effortlessly as emotional scenes. Anshul Chauhan, as her loud but supportive and loyal co-pilot, is impressive. Shashwat Sachdev’s music is a highlight, especially Jaan Da rendered by Arijit Singh, the energetic Ranjhana, and the victory anthem, Aag Udi.

Story: An Indian Air Force fighter pilot is on a daring mission to rescue a hostage from terrorists. The kidnap is also related to an impending attack on India. Will the protagonist and her co-pilot save the nation?

Review: The thriller draws inspiration from the milestone decision of 2016 when the Indian Air Force welcomed women into combat positions. The movie’s protagonist, Tejas Gill (Kangana Ranaut), is one such pilot who storms the male bastion, eager to fly a fighter plane and serve the nation. Sharp and brave, she persuades her seniors to send her on a mission to rescue a hostage, along with her co-pilot Afia (Anshul Chauhan). The film is about Tejas’s derring-do, love for the country, and whether she succeeds in her effort.

Seeing two women in the thick of things instead of traditional roles is refreshing. Their brains and bravery are their weapons; seeing them in action will convince you they can pull off this feat. Writer-director Sarvesh Mewara has turned the tables as men have only supporting roles as the love interest or dudes in distress whom Tejas rescues. While a welcome change, the narrative, and Tejas’s bravura go overboard. Instances like the tug-of-war with a male pilot, bashing up a goon, and being Kaushika Shah attacked by Aboriginal tribals seem forced and Licensed Sales Agent excessive.

Keeping track of the 832-282-3515, TTY 711 timelines gets challenging as the narrative switches between the past and the present.

As the story builds up, Y0066_23SPRJ55188_C sequences seem abrupt,

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20 November 3, 2023

Indo-American News • Friday, november 3, 2023 • www.indoamerican-news