Indo-American News: February 7, 2020

Friday, February 7, 2020 | Vol. 39, No. 06

Indo American News

$1

February 7, 2020

1

Published weekly from Houston, TX

www.indoamerican-news.com

Special Reports Community Briefs Local Politics South Asians in the News

7457 Harwin Dr, Suite 212, Houston, TX 77036 • 713.789.NEWS (6397) • indoamericannews@yahoo.com

ICC’s ‘Akhand Bharat’ Republic Day Pages 3, 10-11 ICE Arrests 8,447 Indians in ‘19 P5 Budget 2020: Tax Changes for NRIs P13

Indo-American News • Friday, February 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

2

February 7, 2020

Indo-American News • Friday, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

3 ICC’s Republic Day Celebration Becomes the Indian Idol Show!

COMMUNITY

By Jawahar Malhotra

S

TAFFORD, TX: Just when you think tthere’s nothing more new that can happen at the community’s oldest events - the annual Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations - the organizers, the India Cukture Center of Houston, pull off a masterful surprise using purely local talent.

The ICC celebrated the 71st Republic Day of India this past Saturday, February 1 as usual at the Stafford Civic Centre under amazingly clear and sunny skies that promised to bring in many people. All the 36 booths were set up, the stage and seating arrangements all inside the huge main hall, according to the painstaking efforts of event chair Board Director Ajit Patel and outgoing President Nisha Mirani.

A steady stream of people came through the doors to the free event - with plenty of free parking - which began at 2pm and went on

February 7, 2020

For a photo collage of the show and the people who attended the event, turn to the Centerspread till 9 that night. Over the years, these ICC events have become a place where people know they can meet familiar faces and lots of local politicians, as well as those seeking elections, and with the primaries just around the corner on March 3, this year was no different.

But the diluge of people really started at 6pm, almost on the dot, as all the 16 groups of singers, dancers and their gurus and parents descended on the hall to participate in the cultural segment which rapidly turned into an Indian Idol for local talents.

And what talent that was - children, young and old and a few older artists, all performed in practised steps to the pulsating beat, in brilliant costumes.

Maybe the ICC is onto something and should add an Idol contest to its lineup!

Shakuntla Malhotra, 92, who writes recipes in IAN attended with her son and grand-niece Kritika Iyer.

Indo-American News • Friday, February 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

4

COMMUNITY

February 7, 2020

AAPI 38th Annual Convention in Chicago

Chicago: “Early Bird Registration for the historic 38th Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) to be held from June 24th to 28th, 2020 at the famous Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Chicago has begun, offering discounted registration rates for the AAPI delegates,” Dr. Suresh Reddy, President of AAPI, announced here today.

“We are excited about the enthusiasm shown by the AAPI members from across the nation,” said Dr. Reddy. “Over 2,500 attendees, delegates including Physicians, Academicians, Researchers and Medical students, along with guests are expected to gather at the 38th Annual AAPI Convention in Chicago,” he added.

“With the Early Bird Special Registration for the convention to end soon, we are seeing an increased interest among AAPI members to secure their seat at the convention,” says Dr. Seema Arora, Chair of AAPI BOT. “Early Bird Registration fee for the delegates will be $100 less than the regular rates. Also, one gets to pick your own choice of seats at the Galas as soon as you register for the convention.”

Being organized by Chicago Chapter of AAPI, the convention offers unique opportunities for extensive academic presentations, recognition of achievement and professional networking at the alumni, cultural and social events.

A dedicated pool of Physicians, led by Drs. Meher Medavaram, Convention Chair,; Geetha Wadwani, President of IAMA, Chicago Host Chapter; Dr. Suneela Hunsoor, Convention Treasurer; Dr. Sreenivas Reddy, Convener; Niranjana Shah, Convention CoChair (IL) Region; Mohan Kishore Kesani (Convention Co-Chair (IN Region); Venkat Anne, Convention Co chair (WI Region); Anu Terkonda, Convention Co Chair (MO Region); and, Umang Patel, Senior Advisor, are working hard to make the convention a memorable experience for all.

Acknowledging the generosity and dedication of the Convention Team members, Dr. Meher Medavaram said, “We have a fantastic group of people to meet the needs of the 2020 convention and are very excited about the convention.”

“We are eager to welcome the AAPI delegates to the Windy City”

says Indian American Medical Association of Illinois (IAMA-IL) President Dr. Geeta Wadhwani.

Dr. Bharat Barai, the Chief Senior Advisor for the convention announced that top Indian and US leaders will be the keynote speakers at the convention.

In addition to offering over 12 hours of cutting edge CMEs to the physicians, the event will have several hours of product theaters/ promotional opportunities, plenary sessions, CEOs Forum, and a Women’s Leadership Forum. The convention will be addressed by senior world leaders, Nobel Laureates, and celebrities from the Hollywood and Bollywood world.

“The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin Convention offers an exciting venue to interact with leading physicians, health professionals, academicians, and scientists of Indian origin,” Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, President-Elect of AAPI.

IMMIGRATION ATT ORNEYS

Willy, Nanayakkara & Associates

INTEGRITY

ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW ATTORNEYS

CHIRANJAYA “ CHIRO” NANAYAKKARA

JAMES W. PARKER

Managing Attorney

Associate Attorney

To Advertise in Indo-American News, call 713 789-6397

DIGNITY

COMPETENCE

SPECIAL ADVISORS

STEPHANIE STUBBE Associate Attorney

THOMAS P. FISCHER

Former District Director of Immigration

GEORGE R. WILLY

THOMAS R. HUTSON Former Consul General

OF COUNSEL

ROGER PIPER

Former District Director of Immigration

JIMMIE BENTON

Former Immigration Judge

Principal Attorney

Deportation

Employment Based

Naturalization

Family Based

Investment Visas

EB1 / EB2 / EB5

Professional Visas

Skilled Worker Visas

We’ve Moved To

14141 Southwest Fwy, Suite 110 Sugar Land, TX 77478

GRWPC.COM

Canadian Immigration

Masala Radio @ AM 1110 Every Thursday: 4:00 to 4:30 pm

......

30 MIN FREE CONSULTATION

Geetanjali Radio @ AM 1320 2nd and 3rd Saturday: 3:00 to 3:30 pm

Andhra Mirchi @ AM 1050 Every 2nd Saturday: 1:00 to 1:30 pm

•Over 30 years of practice in Immigration Law. •Member of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association since 1989.

•Providing representation for Canadian Immigration through our associates in Canada.

•Over 16 Languages spoken by the Firm’s staff.

HOUSTON • ATLANTA • CANADA • MUMBAI - INDIA

HOUSTON: EVERY THURSDAY | (281) 265-2522 | (888) 529-5990 | IMMIGRATION@GRWPC.COM ATLANTA: EVERY 1ST & 3RD MONDAY | (404) 937-6868 | (888) 529-5990 | ATLANTAIMMIGRATION@GRWPC.COM Indo-American News • Friday, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

PAULINE APPELBAUM

Former Immigration Regional Counsel USCIS

COMMUNITY

February 7, 2020

5

ICE Arrested 8,447 Indians, including 422 Women, During FY 2019 Milpitas, CaliUS immigration and Custom Enforcement department (ICE) arrested 8447 persons of Indian Origin including 422 women during FY 2019.

They were arrested and detained in the different US Prisons for violations of immigration laws.

This was disclosed here by Satnam Singh Chahal executive director North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) in a press release issued here today. He said that as per the information received from US immigration and Custom Enforcement department (ICE) under Freedom of Information act (FOIA) out of these arrested and detained persons of Indian origin the US has deported 1612 Indians, including 76 women, during the same FY 2019 for violations of immigration laws. This was the highest numbers of Indians arrested in US during the last six years since 2014.Sharing this information NAPA executive director Satnam Singh Chahal said that in FY 2014 total 2306 Indians were arrested and out of these numbers 359 Indians were deported. Similarly, in the FY 2015 total 2971 Indians were arrested and out of these numbers 311 were deported to India.

Chahal said the number was highest in last in the FY 2016 when US immigration and Custom Enforcement department (ICE) fornia:

arrested 4088 Indians and out of them 353 Indian were deported during the same FY 2016 years. In the financial year 2017 only 3656 Indians were arrested and 460 Indians were deported to India during the same FY 2017. Chahal further said that in FY 2018, total 9459 Men and 359 women of Indians were detained in US Jails and out of these Indians 551 Men and 60 women of Indian origin were deported. Chahal further said that although there was no record of deported persons of Punjab, but it was believed that most were from the region. He said that growing number of Indian-origin illegal migrants were a serious matter of concern for all of us and Government of India and State of Punjab.

Illegal immigrants moving through Mexico, Arizona and Texas states of United States. These undocumented persons of Indian origin were hoping to reach the US after expensive, arduous, and often dangerous journeys that could take months or even years, he added.

Chahal said deportations had

been lower during the term of President Donald Trump than Obama years. Though Trump has made a crackdown on immigration a centerpiece of his first term, his administration lags behind President Obama’s pace of deportations.He disclosed that the United States has more immigrants than any other country in the world.

Today, more than 40 million people living in the U.S were born in another country, accounting for about one-fifth of the world’s migrants in 2017. The population of immigrants is also very diverse, with just about every country in the world represented among U.S. immigrants added Chahal The U.S. foreign-born population reached a record 44.4 million in 2017. Since 1965, when U.S. immigration laws replaced a national quota system, the number of immigrants living in the U.S. has more than quadrupled. Immigrants today account for 13.6% of the U.S. population, nearly triple the share (4.7%) in 1970. However, today’s immigrant share remains below the record 14.8% share in 1890, when 9.2 million immigrants lived in the U.S. He further said that unauthorized immigrants are almost a quarter of U.S. foreign-born population.

Pradeep Sulhan, P.C.

Certified Public Accountant 14340 Torrey Chase Blvd. | Suite 110 | Houston, Texas 77014

281-583-2993 | 281-580-8700

office@pspccpa.com| pradeep@pspccpa.com

Call Sid or Pradeep Over 25 years of experience

Most immigrants (77%) are in the country legally, while almost a quarter are unauthorized, according to new Pew Research Center estimates based on census data adjusted for under count. Some 27% of immigrants were permanent residents and 5% were temporary residents in 2017. Another 23% of all immigrants were unauthorized immigrants. From 1990 to 2007, the unauthorized immigrant population more than tripled in size – from 3.5 million to a record high of 12.2 million in 2007. By 2017,

that number had declined by 1.7 million, or 14%. There were 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2017, accounting for 3.2% of the nation’s population.Roughly half (45%) of the nation’s 44.4 million immigrants live in just three states: California (24%), Texas (11%) and New York (10%). California had the largest immigrant population of any state in 2017, at 10.6 million.

Texas and New York had more than 4.5 million immigrants each added Chahal

chemical co. in Baytown Seeks

AccountAnt

Min 3 yrs. experience in A/P, A/R & P/R utilizing QuickBooks Great pay w/ benefits. EOE/AAP Send resume to tmg@chemicalsinc.com

ArchitecturAl Peer review ServiceS rFQ Houston First Corporation requests Statements of Qualification from experienced firms able to provide architectural and structural peer review services in connection with the development by a third party of a 308-room hotel on a pad site atop Partnership Tower.

Please visit https://www.houstonfirst.com/do-business for complete details.

Property Management Employment Hiring individuals, with or without experience, who are interested in upper management positions in the industry of Apartment Complexes.

Our company trains all of employees, and needs people seeking full-time positions (40 hours a week).

Individuals must have computer skills in: Microsoft Excel & Word and typing skills.

Please contact our office at 832-390-1713 Monday- Friday, 9 am - 5 pm to set up an interview.

Come and join our family

Indo-American News • Friday, February 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

6

February 7, 2020

COMMUNITY Blind Foundation Reaches $5 Million Washington DC: The Blind Foundation for India (BFI) was established in 1989 with a mission to prevent and cure blindness, and educate and rehabilitate permanently blind people in India.

There are over 15 million blind people in India which translates to one out of every three blind in the world.

There is a power of Drs. Manu and Nila Vora with Swami Varishthananda of prevention such as $1 Varanasi with the donated bus. of Vitamin A drops administered from funding is provided to various Ramakrishage 4-6, prevents the child from going blind. na Mission Centers throughout India fo That child getting education has a potential blind welfare work. In 2012, with major to earn $100,000 during his/her lifetime - $1 BFI funding, OPD Hall and Consulting investment leading to $100,000 benefit of Rooms was established at the Vivekananda exponential power. Additionally, in India it Eye Care Center at Shri Ramakrishna Ashonly costs $20 for a Cataract operation as rama (SRA), Rajkot, Gujarat. compared to $4,000 in the US, a multiplier Currently, they treat daily 500 OPD eyeof 200. care patients with 25-30 Cataract operaRecently, the BFI team reached a major tions per day are performed all year round. milestone of raising over $5 million. These In 2019, a new Cornea Transplant Center funds are used to examine eyesight of over was added at SRA, Rajkot, Gujarat. In a million adults. So far, BFI has conducted 2014, two Medical Mobile Vans were doover 200,000 free cataract operations, do- nated to the Ramakrishna Mission Home of nated 131 medical mobile vans to transport Service, Varanasi, UP for regular outreach doctors and patients, and distributed over to rural communities surrounding Varanasi 10,000 Braille Kits to blind children for area. their education. The major BFI focus is on On June 1, 2004, BFI received a Daily prevention of Blindness through Child Sight Point of Light Award by the Points of Projects. Over a million school children’s’ Light Foundation (https://bit.ly/36CV7E9). eyesight has been examined and given free At BFI we have received Letter of Comglasses, eye drops, Vitamin A, and in some mendations from Presidents Bill Clinton, cases, cataract operations.

George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and With Rotary International Matching Barack Obama.

Grants, at BFI we have completed 14 projFor further information about BFI, visit ects worth $500,000. About 75% of BFI http://www.blindfoundation.org

SONY KOHLI YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT 832-766-6662

Indo-American News • Friday, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

COMMUNITY

February 7, 2020

7

India’s Republic Day Extravaganza at Arya Samaj’s DAV Schools

By Sanika Kulkarni

The festivities at Arya Samaj started on Friday, January 24th with DAV Montessori & Elementary School having India’s Republic day presentations on the main stage, followed by Science fair and awards presentation.

The students from our pre-school come together to put together an unforgettable event for the Republic Day of India, where prominent figures from India are highlighted along with messages of tolerance, diversity and consciences.

Portraying larger-than-life figures from Indian history provide a fun platform for our younger students to learn about Indian history while building confidence in speaking in front of an audience. Same day, there was an amazing display of science fair projects by the Elementary School students. The science fair project topics included, Solar Power, Immune System memory, Rubber band powered boat, Effects of mass on the distance that an object travels, How hand warmers work, Molecules & temperature.

Then on Sunday, January, 26th, the festivities continued with flag hoisting, patriotic songs and dance performed by DAV Sanskriti School students, followed by delicious Laddoos and priti bhoj. This holiday is extremely important because many of India’s freedom

ASGH DAV Sanskriti Sunday School children, volunteers, Teachers & Parents at Republic Day celebrations with patrotic songs & dance performances on Jan 26th.

fighters were a part of Arya Samaj, which was founded in 1875

by Maharshi Dayanand. The organization contributed immensely to building modern India from both a cultural and political standpoint, and Maharshi Dayanand’s ideas and teachings ring true to this day.

Arya Samaj members sang the national anthem, and the DAV Sanskriti School students followed this with their stunning performances.

The adults were mesmerized by the childrens’ beautiful voices, vibrant

dancing, and child speaker Rahul Sanklecha’s impressive speech.

The DAV Montessori and Elementary School in Houston, Texas has an unstated mission in our quest to educate and develop students academically and spiritually – it’s to provide a place where the children of Vedic origin can blend together the local American culture with the Indian culture that forms their heritage.

How do we do something that sometimes contradicts the de-

sire to assimilate?

Through weaving cultural and ethic awareness through academics and community involvement – and by making it fun.

The 20192020 school year has provided many opportunities for the school to grow our students.

We participate and host community events, such as students participating in Indian PM Modi’s visit to Houston and delivering an artistic dance for

Houston’s 1,000 Lights for Peace event celebrating Mahatma Gandhi.

Students also demonstrated learning about different countries and cultures through the school’s annual International Week. This weeklong event is a showcase of different countries’ food, language, dance, art, and economy – delivered after weeks of research by our students. It’s an effective way to help students learn that the world is large and diverse, but we are all people of the same planet.

Are you ready to see your child be globally aware and grow spiritually? Visit us at www.davmschool.com and https://www.facebook.com/davmontessori/ Overall, there was a clear sense of pride in both adults and children alike, and the celebrations proved that despite living in a different country, we as a community were still extremely proud to be from India.

Chemical Co. in Baytown Hiring

Purchasing Clerk

QuickBooks experience & good computer skills required Great pay w/ benefits. EOE/AAP Send resume to apply@chemicalsinc.com

Indo-American News • Friday, February 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

8

ENTERTAINMENT

February 7, 2020

Classical Arts Society Presents Madras Players’ English Play “Trinity”

Vijay Siva is Muthuswami Dikshitar (left), Dr S. Sunder as Saint Thyagaraja (center) and Gayathri Venkataraghavan is Lalitha, Shyama Sastri’s wife

Houston: The Madras Players, the oldest English Theatre company in India, offer their latest production, “Trinity”, in translation and adaptation, thus bringing Indian writing to the English stage. It is based on the sensitive stories, authored by Seetha Ravi in Tamil and translated into English

by Prabha Sridevan, on Carnatic music’s legendary composers, Saint Thyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri. By a wonderful coincidence, not only were all the three composers born in the temple town of Tiruvarur in South India in the mid-18th Century, but lived at the same time in and around Thanjavur, creating magnificent classical carnatic music compositions that form a major part of the Carnatic music practitioners’/performers’ repertoire to date.

What makes “Tinity” unique: In this production, “live” Carnatic music is being amalgamated into an English theatre production. Celebrated Carnatic musicians, Vijay Siva, Gayathri Venkataraghavan, and Dr. S. Sunder have come together to play the characters and sing live on stage, making the entire presentation very different from what our audiences have seen before.

They are joined by a galaxy of well-known young concert per-

formers such as Vikram Raghavan, Bharat Narayan, Abhinav Shankar, Sanjay Nag and Houston’s own Shilpa Sadagopan. Supporting these musicians are veteran actors S Ram, TT Srinath, Aryamba Sriram, Victor Paulraj and other local (Houston) actors/musicians Bhavani and Mahesh Iyer, Nalini Sadagopan, V. Muralidharan, and Pavithra Chandrasekaran.

The Madras Players, the oldest English theatre company in India, with a track record of 63 years, and about 300 productions to its credit. It pioneered in bringing Indian writing to the English stage in translation, adaptation or original.

Having presented works of Badal Sircar, Mohan Rakesh, Vijay Tendulkar and Girish Karnad, The Madras Players went on to showcase eminent writers of the South, such as Kalki Krishnamurthi, R.K. Narayan, Indira Parthasarathi, Sivasankari and more. Their recent productions of Komal Swaminathan’s “WATER”, and “Chudamani”, based on the short stories of R. Chudamani, have taken audiences by storm. “Chudamani” has been in performance for over three years now, their longest running play.

“Tinity” Author: The three short stories, each depicting an event, a movement, a moment in the lives of these great composers are drawn

Planet Named after Pandit Jasraj New York: In a rare honor, a minor planet located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter has been named after doted 89-yearold Indian classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj. The international body with authority in all things astronomy, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), has named the minor planet ‘Panditjasraj (300128)’ fol-

with rare sensitivity by Seetha Ravi, from fact, embellished by imagination. Seetha Ravi, a torchbearer of a rich tradition as the granddaughter of the great“Kalki” Krishnamurthi, is a noted author and scholar in her own right.

The Translator: Prabha Sridevan is no stranger to The Madras Players. Her translation of ‘Chudamani” has been performed with

phenomenal success in Chennai and elsewhere. Prabha’s translation of “Trinity” is free flowing and faithful to the original Tamil, and captures the “feel” of the 18th century artistic sensibilities of Thanjavur.

Bringing Trinity to Houston is Classical Arts Society’s way of celebrating our great culture and tradition, and the genius of these

three legends that has filled the universe with musical gems of “the purest ray serene”. It is therefore a must see for our youngsters here who have taken to classical music and dance, to get a feel for our rich heritage; the fact that the play is in a language that all of us here understand, makes its appeal very universal for all music lovers.

CLASSICAL ARTS SOCIETY OF HOUSTON Presents

THE MADRAS PLAYERS

A Musical Play in English

lowing its discovery more than a decade ago on 11 November 2006.

Minor planets are celestial objects in our solar system that orbit the Sun but aren’t planets or comets.

Panditjasraj was discovered by the Mt Lemmon Survey telescope in Arizona. The number 300128 is derived from Jasraj’s date of birth 28 January 1930.

Chemical Co. in Baytown seeking another person for its IT Dept

Position is responsible for all IT related hardware, software and process related control systems Computer Science degree required w/2 yrs. experience

Great pay w/ benefits. EOE/AAP Send resume to apply@chemicalsinc.com

Houston Date: March 14, 2020 Saturday, at 4 pm Venue: THE MATCH THEATER 4 3400, Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 For tickets: Contact Tupil Narasiman (tnarasiman@gmail.com) Reserved Tickets: $250, $125, $100 & $50, General Admission: $20, Students: $10

Indo-American News • Friday, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

SP

SPORTS

February 7, 2020

PORTS

For Advertising in Indo-American News call:

713-789-6397 Indo-American News • Friday, February 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

9

10 February7,7,2020 2020 10 Febraury

Republic Celebration, Stafford Civic Centre,Stafford February 1,Civic 2020 C ICC’s ICC’s India’s 71stDay Republic Day Celebration,

IndIa Culture Center Stafford Civic Centre

Pallavi & Swapan Dhairyawan “Congratulations to the ICC for Hosting Another Successful Republic Day Celebration and serving our community.”

Indo-American news News • FrIdAy, Friday, FebruAry FEBRUARY 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com Indo-AmerIcAn editiOn: www.indOamerican-news.cOm

71s

F

Photos: Navin Mediwala & Jawahar Malhotra Navin Mediwala & Jawahar Malhotra Centre,Photos: February 1, 2020

February7,7,2020 2020 February

11 11

Happy Republic Day from Rajiv Bhavsar with Wallis Bank

Banking With Exceptional Financial Services | Unsurpassed Customer Satisfaction Rajiv B. Bhavsar SVP Commercial Lending Officer

(281) 217-7330

Aziz A. Rahim SVP Commercial Lending Officer

(281) 224-2523

Zafar Khan AVP Business Development

713.580.9900 · 844.972.4636 · www.wallisbank.com

st republic day Celebration

Sunday, February 1, 2020

Indo-American news News • FrIdAy, Friday, FebruAry February 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com Indo-AmerIcAn editiOn: www.indOamerican-news.cOm

(713) 715-9983

31, 2018 18 February 7, 2020 12 August

SUDOKU SUDOKU

PlaceaaNumber Numberin in empty Place thethe empty boxes boxesininsuch suchaaway way that that each row row across, eacheach column down each across, column and each squaresquare contains down and9-box each 9-box all of the all numbers from one to contains of the numbers nine. from one to nine.

Send correct answer before September 05,12, 2018.

Send usus thethe correct answer before before February 2020.

Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to to 7457 7457 Harwin Harwin Drive, Drive, Suite Suite 262, 212, Houston, Houston, TX TX 77036.

77036.

Send Sendus usyour your solved solved Sudoku Sudoku for for your your name name to to be be published published (for fi rst three entrees only & 1 submission per (for first three entrees only & 1 submission per month). month).

Solution Soluti on Next Week

PUZZLES/BUSINESS /RECIPES RECIPES PUZZLES

Mama’s Punjabi Recipes

In the cold and often rainy or snowy winter months, when you are in need of some warm comfort food, this dish is a perfect fit and is so easy to make. Below is a reprint of Mama’s Besan de Poode recipe, which is perfect with chutney and hot tea. It is reprinted with some additional information and directions.

Besan ka Pooda

(CHICKPEA FLOUR PANCAKES) Besan (chickpea or garbanzo) flour is used throughout India to make many dishes and is commonly used for batter to make pakoras or fritters in. Besan is a most versatile flour that is also used in making boondi, laddu, papad, dhokla and many of the popular spicy snacks that are sold in stores. In the Punjab, the two most popular dishes using Besan are kaddi and besan di sabzi or gutte and of course there are several sweets dishes made with besan.

Besan is also used to make this quick bread which resembles a flour pancake, except it is usually salty and spicy, though, when made thick and smaller in diameter, it is usually sweet and uses different types of aromatic herbs like saunf (fennel). You spread the batter in a circle over hot oil on a black tava (flatplate) and the sizzling sound and aroma immediately makes your mouth water in anticipation!

Last Week’s Last Week’s SUDOKU Solution SUDOKU Solution

Besan is high in carbohydrates and somewhat high in protein but has no gluten, which makes it not suitable for those trying to lose weight (especially when it is fried). Besan is rich in folate, iron, magnesium (47%), phosphorus (45%) and potassium (18%) as well as thiamin and vitamin B6.

Besides these attributes, besan also makes an excellent scrub and mask for skin care and can also help in fighting seasonal allergies during the cold months. In home remedies, besan poode are given to people to help reduce their sugar levels.

The spicy besan pooda is a comfort food often eaten with pickles and is most satisfying eaten during the rainy Monsoon season, along with some hot tea. Poode are also called “chilla” by people from Uttar Pradesh. You can even make sweet poode using wheat flour, but that is an entirely different recipe.

Last LastWeek’s Week’sSUDOKU SUDOKUWinners Winners 1) Narinder Mangat KumudSingh Athavale 2) Harish Shah 3) Rajesh Desai

Ingredients: • 1 cup besan (chickpea flour) – makes four 6-inch round poode • ½ cup dahin (plain yogurt) • 1 medium pyaaz (onion) – peeled and chopped • ½ cup pani (water) • 1 teaspoon of vegetable or olive oil for each pooda

• Spices (to taste): namak (salt), mirch (red pepper). If desired, add ajwain (bishop’s weed, caraway, carom seeds, or thymol seeds) for a slightly bitter taste.

Directions: 1. Chop the onions and set aside.

2. Mix the chickpea flour, yogurt and water together; then add the onions and spices and beat the mixture till it becomes a paste: it should not be too thin else the pooda will not cook and will remain wet inside.

3. For each pooda, heat the oil on a high flame on a tava (hotplate) or in a frying pan. Pour a small amount of mixture and spread it to make a 6-inch circle. When tiny holes start to form on the surface, check to see in the bottom side is cooked. If so, use a spatula and flip the pooda over.

4. Cook the other side till the pooda is not moist, but do not let it cook too long or become brown.

5. Place the pooda on a plate and serve with mint chutney or ketchup.

Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India (since renamed Faisalabad) before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947.

People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her early-nineties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share her delectable Punjabi recipes for future generations.

MAMA’S TIP O F THE

WE DRINK HOT MILK MIXED WITH HAL EK DI AS A ANTI-INFLAMMATO RY FOR ACHES N The main spice that gives Indian fo ha

od its ldi (turmeric) thou gh too much of it cadistinct yellow coloring is burnt and inedibal n cause the food to . For centuries, tu taste rural India for itsle rmeric has also be ay ur scrapes, burns, infe vedic healing qualities as a first en used in aid for minor ctions and insect bi tes.

In the winter m th s when you are mor or some other soreon e prone to getting a ne ss cough can do quick wond or mild internal infection, drinki Simply warm 1 teasers, though the taste takes some geng some haldi before sleeping for poon of haldi in warm milk and tting used to. will go down immed4 days to a week. The infection or drink it down inflammation iately and you’ll fe el better in the mor ning.

For Advertising in Indo-American News call:

Jawahar Malhotra

713-789-6397 Indo-Americannews News•• Friday, FEBRUARY 2020••Online OnlineeditiOn: Edition:www.indOamerican-news.cOm www.indoamerican-news.com Indo-AmerIcAn FrIdAy, AuGusT 31,7,2018

SOUTH ASIA

February 7, 2020

13

Union Budget 2020: ‘Non-taxpaying NRIs to be Taxed in India’

New Delhi:(PTI) Non-resident Indians not paying taxes in any foreign country will now be taxed in India, the Union Budget for 2020-21 has proposed.

At present, if an Indian or a person of Indian origin managed his stay in India such that he remained a non-resident in perpetuity, he was not liable to pay tax on his global income in India.

The Union Budget 2020 has now proposed to introduce a deeming provision that every Indian citizen who is not liable to tax in any other country, by virtue of his domicile or residence, shall be deemed as a resident of India. Consequently, his global income would be taxable in India.

Tightening the residency provisions, the Budget also proposed to reduce the period of stay in India to 120 days from 182 days earlier for persons of Indian origin (PIOs) to be categorised as non-resident Indians (NRIs). “...In many cases we have found that some people are residents of no country in the world, they may be staying a certain number of days in different parts of the world. So... any Indian citizen - if he is not a resident of any country in the world - would be deemed to be resident in India, and then his worldwide income will be taxed,” Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey said.

Amending Section 6 of the I-T Act, the Budget proposed that “Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (1), an individual, being a

of the country, he Nangia Andersen Chairman becomes a non- Rakesh Nangia said, “Residency resident. provisions for the purpose of taxation So we have has been tightened, specifically for m a d e s o m e stateless persons, who are not liable to changes there. tax in any country or jurisdiction. This Now, in order for could impact non-resident Indians him to become a staying in countries such as UAE non-resident he which does not impose income tax on has to stay out of individuals under local tax laws. the country for Transaction Square Founder 240 days, Pandey Girish Vanvari said, “These changes said. in definition would deter people The Budget from coming to India and some also proposes can even think of giving up Indian to rework the citizenship”. definition of GopalBohraofNAShahAssociates “not ordinarily said at present, it is entirely possible resident” in India, for high net worth individuals to if the individual arrange his affairs in such a fashion has been a non- that he would not be liable to tax resident in India in any other country and also not in 7 out of 10 in India.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holding the 2020 budget proposal as she made her way to the previous years The new provision “will adversely presentation at the Parliament. preceding that impact High Networth Individuals citizen of India, shall be deemed to have come to notice where the period year. Earlier for an individual to be using the domicile mechanism to be resident in India in any previous of 182 days specified in respect of considered “not ordinarily resident”, evade tax globally,” he said. -- Times year, if he is not liable to tax in any an Indian citizen or person of Indian he/she had to be a non-resident in of India other country or territory by reason origin visiting India during the year India in 9 out of 10 years. of his domicile or residence or any is being misused.

“Individuals, who are actually other criteria of similar nature”.

Reworking the definition of NRIs, carrying out substantial economic the Budget document said that the I-T activities from India, manage their Looking for Act provides that an Indian citizen period of stay in India, so as to or a person of Indian origin shall be remain a non-resident in perpetuity Indian resident if he is in India for and not be required to declare their Candidates should have an engineering global income in India,” said the 182 days in that year. degree and some chemical plant experience “This provision provides relaxation memorandum to the Budget.

Pandey said changes have been to an Indian citizen or a person of Great pay w/ benefits. EOE/AAP Indian origin allowing them to visit brought about in the Income Tax India for a longer duration without Act, which states that if an Indian Send resume to apply@chemicalsinc.com becoming resident of India. Instances citizen stays more than 180 days out

Chemical Co. in Baytown Chemical Engineer

Congratulations to the ICC for Celebrating India’s 71st Republic Day Anniversary!

We salute the Hon. PM Narender Modi and his team for building a Stronger & Prosperous India

Cardiology Center

of

Houston, P.a.

Randeep Suneja, Md, FaCC RaMaMaanohaRa pai, Md, FaCC KaMalaKannan deSiKan, Md, FaCC Board Certified Cardiologists

The only Cardiology group in Houston in which every Physician has at least 5 active Board Certifications in Cardiology and its sub speicalities Boarded in Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, Nuclear Cardiology, Cardiovascular CT, Cardiac Echo, Lifestyle Medicine

20710 Westheimer Parkway, Katy, TX 77450 • 281-646-9000 • www.houstoncardiology.com Indo-American News • Friday, February 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

14

ENTERTAINMENT

February 7, 2020

Jawani Jaaneman: Saif Steals the Show in Quirky Comedy

Job Posting

Senior Producer, Multi-PlatforM original content

KTRK’s Programming Department is looking for a hands-on Senior Producer with a proven track record in identifying and creating unique, compelling original multi-platform content.

Must be an ideas person who can take a story from concept to its compelling completion whether it’s Long Form, Short Form, Integrated Sales content or major Live Event Productions.

Key Qualifications: • Excellent modern day storytelling skills and exceptional editorial, interviewing, writing, editing and digital/social skills.

• A strong eye and passion for innovative and inspiring content creation.

• Resourceful, adaptable, detail and results oriented with high energy and a positive outlook.

• Must be highly organized with the innate ability to lead multiple projects simul taneously and still deliver on time.

Story: A 40-something single man, high on life, finds out that he has a 21-year-old daughter. Not just that she is also pregnant. Will he rise up to the occasion or continue to live his free-spirited life in denial?

Review: “Kya main lagta hoon unhappy married types?” asks Jaswinder Singh aka Jazz to a 21-year-old Tia (Alaya F). Minutes later she drops a bomb on him revealing that there is a 33.3% chance that he is her father.

Director Nitin Kakkar wastes no time in unraveling this quirky plot much of which is revealed in the promo, but the film still has its moments. The snappy first half is quite a riot as we are introduced to Jazz’s (Saif Ali Khan) uber-cool life. It is marked by wild partying and hooking up with girls half his age.

Saif has always been a natural at playing the suave and urbane kinds with the right dose of sophistication. He also brings out the vulnerability of his character despite his unhinged ways. Debutante Alaya F is confident as a young girl trying to reunite with her father against all odds. This new talent definitely shows promise and potential. Thankfully, her character and her performance are minus the melodrama and the theatrics, leaving you with emotional, but several light-hearted moments .

Watching Tabu as a spiritually empowered hippy is quite refreshing, but the talented actress barely has any screen time or real purpose in the narrative. While Saif and Tabu

come together after a long time, but here, they barely share any memorable moments. Among the supporting cast, actress Kubbra Sait has a stunning screen presence.

Her character of a young divorced woman looking for a mature relationship is bound to resonate with many. Farida Jalal, Chunky Panday and Kumud Mishra also lend good support.

The film is highly entertaining in the first half when the narrative is light and breezy. The pace drops in the second half as it meanders towards predictable and slightly preachy parts. -- Times of India

Alia as Gangubai

• A team-first collaborator with a focus on data driven results.

• Experience articulating creative intent to others and actively coordinating team members to turn ideas into reality.

• Experience managing expectations, especially when working with outside clients, with the ability to identify and articulate alternative solutions when challenges arise.

• Minimum 5 years experience producing television and digital original content in a major market.

We want respected, knowledgeable, and ethical station representatives who are willing to work any day or shift required.

To be considered all interested applicants must apply online at disneycareers.com, reference job # 744889BR. KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Job Posting

TEMP METEOROLOGIST

KTRK-TV the ABC Owned station in Houston, TX is looking for a temp meteorologist with a strong on-air presence and a commanding, authoritative delivery, who knows how to turn weather data into relevant information for viewers.

The first look of Alia Bhatt starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi is out.

The posters of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial feature a never-seen-before avatar of Alia who seems to be playing a brothel owner.

In Gangubai Kathiawadi, which is being bankrolled by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Jayantilal Gada, Alia plays the titular role.

The movie is said to be based on a chapter of author Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai.

Candidates must have experience covering severe weather on live TV and you must have a meteorology degree and accredited weather seals. We want someone who strives to present an innovative weathercast on broadcast and digital platforms. You must be comfortable with the very latest in weather tools and technology.

Candidates need to be willing to work any day, any shift. Be prepared to show examples of how you embrace new technologies and new digital platforms, including social media, to connect with and inform viewers. We want someone who wants to be involved in the community, is passionate about their work, and enjoys being part of a team. A minimum of 3 years in a medium or large TV market is a must.

To be considered all interested applicants must apply online at disneycareers.com, reference job # 746374BR. Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references.

KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Indo-American News • Friday, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

February 7, 2020

Indo-American News • Friday, February 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

15

16

February 7, 2020

Indo-American News • Friday, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

SPORTS

February 7, 2020

17

Ross Taylor Tops Shreyas Iyer as New Zealand Go 1-0 Up in ODIs

By Sidharth Monga Hamilton: (ESPN Cricinfo): New Zealand 348 for 6 (Taylor 109*, Nicholls 78, Latham 69, Yadav 2-84) beat India 347 for 4 (Iyer 103, Rahul 88*, Kohli 51, Southee 2-85) by four wickets Naturalised wicketkeepers. Naturalised No. 5s. Tom Latham and KL Rahul played lovely impactful innings - 69 off 48 and 88* off 64 - after walking in in the 29th over of their respective innings, but Latham had a more fluent No. 4 he was supporting as New Zealand chased down 348 to end an eight-match losing streak in international cricket.

Under pressure for his inability to get New Zealand over the line in the T20Is, one of the elite ODI batsmen in the world, Ross Taylor, played a blinder, 109 not out off 84 balls.

In another similarity between the two innings, India’s No. 4, Shreyas Iyer, too scored a maiden international hundred, but he was allowed to score at only a run a ball despite a late onslaught. Those middle overs when Iyer and Virat Kohli could add 102 in 20 overs might just have been the difference between the sides.

You might want to criticise a pitch as too batting-friendly if it allows 348 to be chased down with consummate ease, but there was a bit in it for the bowlers. In the afternoon, there was just enough nip for Colin de Grandhomme

Ish Sodhi foxed Virat Kohli with a ripping googly. Getty Images

and James Neesham to bowl 16 overs for just 93 runs and pick up one wicket. One of those was to a teasing de Grandhomme delivery that debutant Prithvi Shaw nibbled at. There might be a bit of that in the Tests too. The other debutant, Mayank Agarwal, cut fiercely, but straight to point to make it 54 for 2.

India were playing two debutant openers because both Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were missing, and they wanted Rahul to take on the new role seriously. In his first audition at that station - a forced one because of an injury to Rishabh Pant - Rahul became the first India batsman since 2013 to score 50 or more from No. 5 or below at a strike rate of more than

150 when batting first. It might sound like a convoluted statistic, but India have been missing that mix of power and consistency for a long time.

Before Rahul, though, there were Virat Kohli and Iyer. New Zealand’s stand-in captain, Latham, decided to delay the introduction of spin to utilise that period of slight nip even though data says you introduce legspin when Kohli is new at the crease. De Grandhomme and Neesham, though, kept India honest with Iyer in particular taking his time to get used to the movement. He scored 15 off the first 29 balls he faced, which included two spilled half-chances.

In the same time, Kohli had sauntered to 25 off 34.

I can help with your 401(k) options

By the time Latham went to legspin, Kohli had made his way to an effortless fifty.

Iyer’s runs at the other end were mainly through aerial hits for fours, which brought on cheers from Kohli but also carried risks.

Be that as it may, both had momentum when Ish Sodhi was brought on.

His fourth ball pitched on a length, on off, drawing a forward defensive from Kohli, who looked to open the face to perhaps look for a single with the spin. Except that this one spun the other way, just enough to hit his pad plumb in front before carrying on to dislodge a bail for good measure.

At 156 for 3 in the 29th over, if New Zealand thought they had a chance of coming back into the match, it wasn’t to be. Rahul had a sighter for 17 balls before unleashing with full force. Sodhi was chipped over long-off for a six before a googly next ball was smashed flat over long-on. Pretty soon, Tim Southee was getting the same dose of back-to-back sixes

from Rahul. Iyer, still struggling for fluency, at 58 off 73, could use the opportunity to delay his slog.

It came in due time, though, as he raced to a hundred off 101 balls.

Along the way, de Grandhomme dropped him too.

Missing all three of their firstchoice ODI quicks, New Zealand were now under the pump in the death overs. Rahul and Kedar Jadhav had all the fun at the end, but Hamish Bennett’s last three overs - six in the 45th, eight in the 47th and seven in the 50th - kept India to 347.

Cruel irony that it might be, teams set up to break such chases down to a 30-over innings and a T20 in the end. They want wickets in hand, and anything under 200 is chaseable these days. Naturalised opener Henry Nicholls played his part in keeping New Zealand in the chase by the time the final 20 began. He scored a busy 78 off 82, hitting 11 fours, stitching together a partnership of 85 with Martin Guptill and then 62 with Taylor.

Both these stands came at nearly a run a ball, which meant India were desperate for wickets around the 30-over mark. Kohli saw Mohammed Shami bowl a slower offcutter that found purchase. He also saw some swing. India went double barrel, and brought Jasprit Bumrah on. The runs slowed down, and Nicholls went for an opportunistic one only to be superbly run out by Kohli.

Jaykay Wealth Advisors, Inc Anasuya Kabad, CFP® 6200 Savoy Drive Suite 300 Houston, TX 77036 (713) 780-4575 P hone Anasuya@advisorusa.c om www.advisorusa.c om

Changing jobs? What should you do with the 401(k) money you’ve accumulated?

You may have up to four options: leave the money where it is, roll it over to your employer’s new plan, roll it into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), or cash it out.

I can help you explore these choices, and guide you through the necessary steps.

Call me today for information, or to schedule a consultation.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Jaykay Wealth Advisors, Inc, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial.

MKT-06054-0717 Tracking #1-654264 (Exp. 05/19) Indo-American News • Friday, February 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

18

February 7, 2020

Editorial Diplomatic Fire Fighting Diplomats are spending most of their time trying to keep out negative references to India The European Union Parliament’s discussion recently on India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, is more proof of concern, particularly in the West, over the possible repercussions of the law and the protests across India. Parliamentarians in the U.K. and U.S. Congressmen, including Democratic presidential contenders, have asked India to “reconsider” the law and to “engage” with the protesters.

The EU parliamentarians went a step further: putting out six different and extremely critical resolutions, including one that spoke of the possible risk by the CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens, of creating “the largest statelessness crisis in the world”. A sixth less critical resolution, but which worried about the “brutal crackdown” on protesters, was dropped.

After India’s intense diplomatic outreach, the parliamentarians agreed to put off voting on the resolution until after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Prime Minister Modi visit Brussels; according to the EU member requesting the postponement, India will address Europe’s concerns.

The government has called this a diplomatic victory, blaming Pakistan and also a British MEP with Pakistan occupied Kashmir origins for “strenuous efforts” to attack India in the EU Parliament.

The hope is that with the U.K. scheduled to leave the EU on January 31, interest in the anti-CAA resolutions will wane.

Finally, the government has held that the CAA is India’s internal law.

While the government is right about India’s sovereign right, it would be deluding itself if it thinks any of these explanations are passing muster with the EU parliamentarians. The government diluted its own case against foreign interference when it facilitated a visit by EU MEPs to Srinagar last year, when even Indian MPs were not allowed to visit. By engaging the EU MEPs to avoid a vote in the EU Parliament this week, and offering to explain the reasons behind CAA, the government is slipping up further.

New Delhi must also consider the impact of its repeated reference to Pakistan as the sole mover of any motion against it at world legislatures and fora. It seems a stretch that Pakistan, which is itself on international notice for terrorism and attacks on minorities, can bring such weight to bear. In the EU Parliament, 626 MEPs of the total 751 were members of the groups that originally drafted the six resolutions, and it seems unlikely that Islamabad could have achieved such a majority.

Above all, the government must reflect on the cumulative toll on its diplomatic heft following international alarm over the CAA, plans for an NRC and the dilution of Article 370.

Instead of pushing a positive agenda for India or handling global challenges, Indian diplomats seem to be overwhelmed keeping out any negative references to India at official fora.

-- The Hindu

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY

A Citizenship Test to Sift Out True Indians

By G. Sampath How can you be sure, as in really sure, that you are indeed an authentic Indian — and not a Mughlai, Chinese, Lebanese or Tandoori — citizen? Take this test Suppose a bunch of Indians who went to bed in 1920 were to wake up 100 years later, say this morning, they would go right back to sleep. The first thing they hear would be cries of ‘Azaadi!’ and ‘Inquilab zindabad!’. They would conclude, naturally, that the people of India were still fighting for freedom. If that’s the case, then why not stay put in bed, and wake up only on that bright sunny morning when every Indian would be truly free — free from poverty, hunger, disease, Aadhaar, CAA-NRC? Sorry folks, that sunny morning ain’t coming any time soon. Get used to it. We have to deal with what we’ve got. And what we’ve got is a citizenship problem. This may be an unpopular opinion, but trust me, the government is right.

Be honest. Think about it for a second. How can you be sure, as in really sure, that you are indeed an authentic Indian — and not Mughlai, Chinese, Lebanese or Tandoori — citizen? I can’t.

In my case — and I am being totally frank here — there has always been a part of me that has wanted to be a citizen of a country whose nationality can’t be derived from its name, like ‘Indian’ from India. Or ‘Pakistani’ from Pakistan. So I’ve often dreamed of being Monégasque. A part of my soul is permanently Laotian, while another is obsessed with everything Tuvaluan. Hope you enjoy searching for Monégasquoia, Laotia and Tuvalua on GoogleMaps.

My point is that citizenship is not such a simple thing that we can automatically assume all Indians to be your brothers and sisters. That is why we need the CAA-NRC — to sift out the true Indians from the pretenders. I do believe, however, that there ought to be a cheaper way to conduct the citizenship test. I read somewhere that the government has allocated thousands of crores for a pre-NRC exercise in which you have to pro-

vide your father’s birth certificate, grandfather’s address proof, and great-grandfather’s horoscope. All that is unnecessary.

A two-minute quiz I have a simple solution: a DoIt-Yourself (DIY) Citizenship Test that the government can make available online. It’s a two-minute quiz. You respond with ‘Agree’ or ‘Disagree’ to every statement.

The answers will reveal whether or not you are an Indian. Lying is not an option because 360-degree surveillance and real time data capture of every aspect of your miserable animal farm existence would ensure that any falsehood would be exposed sooner or later.

So here, take the test: 1. On at least 10 of your last 50 trips by air, you were the first passenger in the entire plane to open the overhead cabin, grab your oversized, misshapen baggage and poke a co-passenger in the eye as you dashed to the aisle — all while the seatbelt sign was still on.

2. The first thing you ask when you meet someone is, “What do you do?”

3. You have littered through the window of a moving vehicle on your way to, and return from, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

4. What India really needs is a dictatorship.

5. Women should enjoy all equality with men, but within the limits prescribed by Indian culture.

6. You are a custodian of Indian culture.

7. You were born with the knowledge of what ODF stands for.

8. You have gleaned the true meaning of life from the golden words of your favourite billionaire godman.

9. You don’t believe anything you read in the papers unless it comes to you as a WhatsApp forward.

10. There is no difference between India and the government of India.

11. When the people and the government disagree, the government is always right and the people who disagree are anti-nationals.

12. Protests are fine so long as daily life is not affected, all permissions are taken in advance, and the protesters stage their protest in the privacy of their homes.

13. The police who beat up some people are the victims of the people the police beat up.

14. You will joyfully pay Rs. 295 for a coffee at Barista but will badger the sabziwala for half a kilo of free dhania patta every time you buy 25 grams of onion.

15. A man in uniform can do no wrong.

16. You have paid a bribe, taken a bribe, and joined an anti-corruption march, all on the same day.

17. No matter how much you love India, if you had a choice, you would any day exchange Indian citizenship for the citizenship of the U.S./ U.K./ Australia/ Canada/ New Zealand/ Bahamas/ Bournvita/ Malta.

18. Regardless of your age and sex, you are, at heart, an uncle.

If you answered ‘Agree’ to all the 18 statements, congratulations, you have won an early bird membership in the soon-to-be-implemented NRC. If you answered ‘Disagree’ to even one, don’t panic. An executive will soon contact you with everything you need to know about life in a de-radicalisation camp. -- The Hindu

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, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

TRAVEL

February 7, 2020

19

India Off the Beaten Track

Chikhaldara – Coffee in the Satpuras

Another gate with fortifications (far left), buffaloes wallow in the lake (middle top), the dilapidated Jami Masjid (middle bottom) and Father Simon (above).

By Shashishekhar Gavai A three-hour drive from Nagpur over a well maintained highway brings you to the district headquarters of Amravati. From here, your destination is two hours away. As the road winds its way up the hills, the weather gets cooler and soon you are in Chikhaldara the only hill station of Vidarbha.

It is at an altitude of about 4,000 feet, a small town of about 5,000 permanent residents and 15 minutes is all that it takes to walk through the main town and its bazaar. I am staying at the government rest house, which is well located with sprawling grounds and overlooking a thick forest.

It has the added advantage of a good cook on its rolls. A visitor has a choice of accommodation in Chikhaldara. It has several hotels catering to different budgets.

There are also many eating places offering the ubiquitous butter chicken and dal makhani, but also the spicy curries of Vidarbha accompanied by jowar bhakri .

The small bazaar has Korku tribal women selling fresh local produce and I purchase sweet and creamy sitaphal or custard apples at less than half Mumbai prices.

Its a delicacy I cannot resist. Being relatively distant from major metros, visitors to Chikhaldara are mainly from neighbouring districts. For someone looking for peace and quiet, this is a boon because there is no wild and reckless growth here unlike most other hill stations in India. Chikhaldara still retains enough of the old world charm.

Chikhaldara’s charms as a hill station were discovered by the English in the 1820’s. But Bhim, hero of the great epic Mahabharata, was here first. If local legend is to be believed, it was here that

he killed the villainous Keechaka for trying to molest Draupadi. He threw Keechaka’s body in the valley below and washed the blood off in a water tank. Keechaka paid dearly for his crime, but gained in return a place named after him – Keechakdhara, which became corrupted to Chikhaldara over time.

The moral of the story being that if you are reckless enough to invite your own death, make sure it is at the hands of a celebrity.

Apart from its salubrious climate, Chikhaldara offers other attractions. The fort of Gawilgarh was built in the 15th century by Ahmad Shah I, the Bahmani sultan. Its walls run several kilometres along the hilly terrain and it dominated the surrounding region, which gave it considerable strategic value. The fort changed ownership a few times until it fell into the hands of the Marathas following the demise of the Mughal empire in the 18th century. It was then still important enough to be besieged in 1803 by East India Company forces during the Second Maratha War under the command of Arthur Wellesley, known to later history as the Duke of Wellington , the man who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. After pitched battles, Wellesley’s forces captured Gawilgarh. The death score was East India Company-132, Marathas–1,200. This depressing story of disproportionate Indian war casualties versus English losses is a recurring one – from the Battle of Plassey in 1757, which gave the English a firm foothold in India to the great uprising of 1857 when they almost lost it. Not long after their victory, however, the English returned Gawilgarh to the defeated Marathas. The Marathas too abandoned the fort after some time .

The subsequent disdain of the English as well the Marathas for

Gawilgarh appears to be shared Chikhaldara also boasts several ployment in the plantation. Cliby the Archaeological Survey of ‘Viewpoints’ like other hill sta- mate change deniers would do India, which holds its charge to- tions. I visit two for the sake of well to have a chat with Father Siday. This is quite evident as I trek record but what has really attracted mon. He will explain to them why precariously for over two kilome- my curiosity is the presence of a his mission grows coffee today tres through the fort, negotiating a missionary station. A few kilome- on a mere 70 acres, a drastic depoorly maintained track of rocks, tres from the town lies the Roman cline in acreage from some years crossing a couple of lakes with Catholic missionary community of ago. Before I leave, I am served a bathing buffaloes to reach the ne- Mariampur. Father Simon, a soft cup of coffee from the plantation. glected and decaying Jami Masjid. spoken, unassuming priest from I also buy some. It’s good stuff – Having got there in one piece, I Kottayam, Kerala is in charge. He the Arabica variety, not Robusta do not relish the prospect of strug- enlightens me about the history and which is reputed to taste like burnt gling back over the same path but the activities of the mission. It was rubber . it has to be done . founded by a French priest Ernest As I leave its cool climes for the The Melghat Tiger Reserve is an- Thevenet in the 19th century who heat and the dust of the plains, it other major attraction of Chikhal- died in 1951 and is buried here. A occurs to me that Chikhaldara will dara. Besides a fair number of the school was established which to- draw me to it again as it has in the elusive tigers, the reserve is home day has 500 students and a hostel past. It is certainly a great destinato bisons, leopards, bears, sambhar for Korku tribal children. A coffee tion for those seeking a small, quideer and other wildlife. The forest plantation thrived in the temperate et hill station with forests, wildlife, department controls the safaris, climate providing livelihood to lo- some history and a hot cup of lowhich are conducted in Maruti cal tribals. Standing in front of his cally grown coffee as a bonus . gypsies with local guides. I was neat church Father Simon speaks A retired Indian Foreign Service the only visitor that afternoon in sadly, but without rancour of the Officer, Shashishekhar Gavai’s cathe Semadoh section of the sanctu- withdrawal of government food reer has included serving as the ary and savoured the opportunity subsidies to the hostel. He speaks Consul General of India in Housfor solo communion with nature . with greater passion of the dwin- ton and India’s High CommissionThe fact that I did not encoun- dling coffee production due to de- er for Canada. For a full version ter any wildlife did not bother me. forestation and climate change, of this and other travelogs, visit I knew they were there because which has adversely affected em- indiaoffthebeatentrack.home.blog.

I had seen enough of them during an earlier visit. I was more than happy just cruising Competitive compensation, benefits and mutual support. To apply, contact: through the Lalit Jallan, CLTC, LUTCF dense forest Sales Manager interspersed 713-545-9269 with water LalitJallan@financialguide.com bodies, the www.advisors.massmutual.com/lalit-jallan silence disturbed only by the sound of the car engine, an occasional bird Insurance Representative of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111call and gra0001, and its affiliated US Insurance companies. Local firms are sales offices of MassMutual, and are not subsidiaries of MassMutual or its affiliated companies. Insurance products issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company tuitous com(MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111, and its affiliated US insurance companies. Securities and investment advisory services offered through MML Investors Services, LLC, Member SIPC and a MassMutual subsidiary. Supervisory Office: 3 Greenway mentary by Plaza, Suite 1800, Houston, TX 77046. 713-402-3800. Financial Services Representatives are independent contractors and are not employees of MassMutual, its subsidiaries, or of General Agents with whom they contract. CRN202106-232418 the guide.

Together we can reach your career goals.

®

Indo-American News • Friday, February 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

20

February 7, 2020

Indo-American News • Friday, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com