To be Updated
िवहारा
Message from the President: Dear Friends, Namaste! On behalf of the MIBIHAR 2015-2016 Executive and Working Committee, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to this year’s Vasantotsav festivities. Today’s event is a much awaited annual celebration of the vibrant and colorful festival of Holi and Basant with family and friends. May the bright colors of Holi add happiness in your lives, may there be peace and prosperity for all. This joyous occasion gives us a chance to stay connected to our roots and also gives us an opportunity to pass on the traditions, culture to our younger generation. We are hoping that you all enjoy the company, food, cultural program, DJ dance, and more! We have had a very busy year so far and not to mention a very fulfilling one. We concluded the year 2015 with the Dussehra - Diwali celebration at the Costick Center, Farmington Hills. We had our initial doubts of hosting our Diwali event on the Halloween day, October 31st, fearing that many guests might not attend due to Halloween related commitments. However, we were pleasantly surprised that Dussehra Diwali Dhoom event turned out to be one of the best attended events so far. All thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of the entire team and because of the support of guests like you! MIBIHAR team not only created a beautiful ambience in celebration of Dussehra and Diwali, but also decorated the hall with trick or treat delights. After the colorful cultural program, the children dressed up in their favorite characters joined the Halloween parade on the auditorium stage. All the children were excited to get candies, goodies, play dress-up and dance to their favorite DJ music! It was great to see the children involvement from beginning to the end of the program. We had a perfect celebration of both eastern and western culture at our last event! On July 9th, I would like to invite you to our annual summer Picnic. This year’s picnic is at the Hertiage Park in Farmington Hills. Please join us for barbeque, outdoor games and fun activities in a more relaxed and informal setting. The weather will be sunny and warm, making our picnic event also a much awaited event of the year. MIBIHAR is known for its commitment towards our community. We strive to stay connected, stay relevant and stay involved in the community. Through our various social, cultural and volunteer activities we try to make a difference and also, try to
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…continued teach our children the value of seva. We joined hands with the India League of America to raise funds for the victims of the Chennai Floods in India. We also joined in solidarity for the unity march organized by the Michigan Tamil Sangam in memory of the victim in the Somerset Apartment tragedy. We are proud of our partnership with all organizations across the Metro Detroit area and beyond. On June 26th, join us as we prepare and serve Prasad to the devotees of the Bharatiya Temple of Troy. Another activity in summer is our participation in the India Day Parade celebrations organized by the India League of America at the Suburban Collection in Novi. This year MIBIHAR team has its customized T-Shirts, if interested in having one, please contact any MIBIHAR volunteer. Do stay connected to our website www.mibihar.com for all latest updates and announcements from us. Tonight marks the culmination of months of planning and preparation on the part of the MIBIHAR team. Their goal was to do everything to make tonight a memorable festival experience for all the guests. I thank the team and its many volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event possible. I would also thank the sponsors of this event whose financial support is crucial for an event of this magnitude. The participants of the cultural program are the jewels of our program, their dedication and motivation inspires us to bring events like these back to the community. I am incredibly proud of how our community is growing and also actively making close bonds with all members of the community. I thank you for your continuous support to MICHIGAN BIHAR – Friends of Bihar and Jharkhand in Michigan (MIBIHAR). Hoping that you will enjoy tonight’s event!
Aap Sab Ko Holi Ki Hardik Shubhkamnaye! Holi Hai! With Best Wishes, Saurabh Kumar president@mibihar.com (248) 835-2399
MIBIHAR Committee for 2015-16 Rachna Kumar - Advisory Board Saurabh Kumar
President
Sanjeev Sinha
Vice President
Payal Singh
Secretary
Dr. Dhananjay Kumar
Treasurer
Shilpi Raman
Food
Rimjhim Modi
Cultural
Amitabh Verma
Publication
Anshoo Singh
Cultural
Swati Sinha
Publication
Namita Prasad
Decoration
Shailesh Raman
AV/Photography
Madhupriya
Decoration
Kanish Mohan
AV/Photography
Abhishek Vimal
Event Coordinator
Amit Ranjan
Community Outreach
MIBIHAR thanks all the volunteers who dedicate numerous hours to make all our events successful!!
MIBIHAR thanks its life and annual members for their patronage Abhishek & Aditi Jha
Abhishek Vimal & Madhu Priya
Abhishek Choudhary
Amitabh and Gunjan Verma
Abhishek and Monica Chauhan
Anand (Dr.) & Arabella Prasad
Ashish & Payal Singh
Amit Ranjan
Bala (Dr.) & Niru Prasad
Dhananjay (Dr.) & Shalini Kumar
Brijesh and Sangita Verma
Durga Nand & Abhilasha Jha
Jaldhar & Pushpa Prasad
Himanshu and Shalini Singh
Kuntal & Anita Kumar
Kanish & Namita Mohan
Prem & Punam Mishra
Kamal and Neeta Verma
Rajesh & Rekha Singh
Madhukar (Dr.) & Anshu Prasad
Sanjay & Chetna Prasad
Rajeev & Seema Grover
Saurabh & Rachna Kumar
Rakesh & Rimjhim Modi
Shailesh & Shilpi Raman
Ramesh & Vandana Mishra
Shashank & Sunita Gupta
Sanjeev & Swati Sinha
Shashi Bhushan and Shilpa Singh
Suman & Kavita Tetarbe
Sundeep & Kavita Misra
Subir & Pallawi Kumar
Taj (Dr.) & Sophia Anjum
Vijay (Dr.) & Ruby Kumar
MIBihar in Action
MIBihar in Action
Dhananajay Kumar, M.D.
Infinity Primary Care is an independent group of family, internal and pediatric medicine physicians, representing an invaluable source of future members of our medical community. Infinity Primary Care provides care for patients within the accredited Patient Centered Medical Home model; including increased access to care; 24hour access to communication with a primary care physician; ensuring patients receive appropriate preventative care services; and supporting patients in the management of their chronic diseases. Infinity is proud of our resident and faculty members and their contributions to quality patient care.
IPC-Livonia Internal Medicine Address 37595 Seven Mile Road, Suite 240 Livonia, MI 48152 Phone 734-432-7713 Fax 734-432-7774 www.ipcmd.com
Services Offered: Physical Exams Chronic Medical Care Preoperative Evaluations Lab Tests EKG Immunizations/ Medication Injections Pulmonary Function Testing Ear Cleaning Dermatologic Procedures Bone Mineral Density (DEXA) Travel Medicine Counseling
Neerja
By: Stuti Sinha Have you ever wondered who Neerja Bhannot was? I was in India in month of February to attend few marriages in family. I watched inspirational movie about Neerja which inspired me write about her story. I want to spread knowledge about her bravery and courage to everybody. Neerja Movie is based on real time incident happened with Neerja in 1986. Well, she was a flight attendant of Pan Am airline. It all stared happy when Neerja went to a party and was playing and dancing and having fun while the terrorist group was getting ready for the air plane. When Neerja was on the airplane they had a stop to the Karachi airport. But the terrorist got on the airplane. Neerja signaled to the pilot that plane was hijacked and pilot escaped through the cockpit. Later in the story, terrorist wanted to kill the people who were from America. At the end of story, terrorists were mad and wanted to kill everyone. But then Neerja told crew to open the exit gate and then people escaped except some people were not able to escape. When Neerja was trying to save the kids, terrorist shot Neerja and she died. Neerja was one of the bravest women in the world. We should always keep her in our hearts and remember what she did. She was just 23 when saved 360 lives. India government awarded her highest bravery award during peacetime called ‘Ashoka Chakra’. USA government has also awarded her. Story of Neerja made me think people sacrifice for other people and humanity. On my free time, I love to draw & paint and dance while listening to music and in the summer I love to ride my bike. There’s nothing more fun for me than taking pictures when I go somewhere or travel. I hope you enjoy this astonishing event & my article. Enjoy…….!!! I am Stuti Sinha in 4 th grade of Morse Elementary, Troy.
2015 – 2016 Voice of Democracy Contest “My Vision for America” by Pragya Thakur
Young African American men being violently targeted by law enforcement, women being paid less than their male counterparts for the same tasks, and gay couples being denied marriage licenses are all examples of rampant inequality, something that the United States of America still faces. Inequality of opportunity and unequal treatment are unfortunate realities that exist and must be overcome by individuals confronted with them. However, my vision for this county is one where discrimination is not a commonplace, but rather an aberration. I know that this vision is an extraordinarily feasible one because of America’s history promoting equality for all and the commitment of everyday Americans to the cause. From July 4, 1776, when the United States declared its independence from the most powerful nation on Earth, it pledged that “all men are created equal” and that their “unalienable rights” to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” will be protected. America’s ideals have always promoted equality, but in practice, have not always applied to all. The Declaration of Independence firmly defined a uniquely American vision and it defines mine. Our philosophy of equality only applied to a select group of white, AngloSaxon, Protestant men for a significant period of time. This definition would soon expand to become more inclusive though. Slavery bitterly divided America since its conception, and it posed a challenge to whom equality ought to apply. The Civil War was a bloody and heart-wrenching conflict for the noble goal of equality. African Americans were no longer considered inhuman monsters in need of the institution of slavery. African American men were recognized as citizens in the eyes of the law, but they did not gain full-fledged equal rights until much later, though. America’s fight for its vision of equality continued to the battle for women’s suffrage, the civil rights movement, the feminist movement, and the gay rights movement. Gradually, new groups of people became included in America’s vision for equality. Gradually, America applied its principles to all, but that task is not yet finished. Inequality still exists and it is my vision to continue America’s vision, and it centurieslong struggle. My vision involves applying our laws equally to all Americans and expanding them to properly ensure the equality of all Americans. Race, gender, sexual orientation, or income should not distinguish Americans as inferior or superior to one another. My personal experiences that inform my vision of eradicating inequality involve interacting with people who share the same enthusiasm. In order for change to happen,
ordinary people must take action. America’s history of change in the direction of equality has proved that the actions of people do matter. My most impactful memory of these actions was viewing protests by the people of Detroit to prevent an emergency manager from being instituted. Certain protesters viewed the state government’s actions as wrongfully infringing upon their voting rights, creating a situation of inherent inequality compared to other Michigan residents. Their collective action truly inspired me, despite my own personal opinions about the matter. I was shown that I can affect real change in the world myself. That protest imparted a sense of optimism within me and began my passion for change. The same protest brought me to consider matters of inequality and sparked my interest in them. As I have become more informed about the plight of others, I have become outraged about how far America still has to go when it concerns matters of inequality. It is my vision for this magnificent nation to eventually fully apply and more widely expand its definition of equality. I want opportunity to be extended to all Americans and make inequality a distant memory, not a harsh truth. Pragya Thakur, a junior at the Utica Academy for International Studies, recently won a scholarship for writing and delivering a speech for the VFW association. Her speech was entitled "My Vision for America" and she described how she would use constitutional principles to correct the inequality we see today.
A trip to the Circus
by Kashvi Mohan, a kindergartner at Morse Elementary Last fall, the moment dad said we all are planning to go to the circus, and watch the animals play, I got very excited! It was my first trip to the circus. I saw lions jump through the hoops, they were following the instructions from the ring master. It was amazing to see acrobats riding horses and elephants. They used ropes to climb up on very high poles. They were performing various activities but the most dangerous stunt was performed by eight bikers. They were all riding their motorbike inside a globe of death together. It was fun watching little dogs jump and twirl. It was very funny to watch clowns ride tricycle and unicycle. I went to the circus with my little brother Kavish. We were joined by two other families. We all kids clapped and used a light up “magic� toy to encourage the animals, acrobats and clowns. I would love to go to the circus again!!!
Poems by Ishani and Atharva 4th Grade
Spring
4th grade is fun, 4th grade is cool, Now why don’t you step into the 4th grade rule! Science, math, and social studies too, Don’t forget recess, Woo-Hoo!
Spring is coming, Spring is near, There is nothing to fear, This is the time to clap and cheer! Bring out the bikes, Watch the birds in flight, See the sun so bright, What a light!
Let the fun begin, When the summer ends, And you remember, That September is here! Grab your backpack, Wrap your funpack, Get ready for the next level to come, In the 5th grade rule, Because it seems cool!
Ready for fun, In the bright sun, The snow is all done, This the time to run for fun! Watch the rain drip and drop, As flowers begin to pop, The Easter bunny comes with a hop, Spring is the season that comes on top!.
Acrostic Poems By Atharva Modi Cars
Come in different colors Always moving fast Rocking on the roads So many brands!
Hi! My name is Ishani Modi and am in 4th grade at the school Brookfield Academy. I am 10 and love to dance, draw, and paint. I also like to travel with my family and hang out with my friends. Happy Holi!
Hero
He or she Eating healthy Rocks like a rock star or stays under cover.
Hi, My name is Atharva Modi and I am 6years old and go to Brookfield Academy in Kindergarten. I love to swim and play with Legos. Happy Holi!
HARD WORK ALWAYS PAYS OFF By: Amishu Singh When I was in second grade, I had exams (tests that decide if you can move on to the next grade or not), and I always thought that I would get a b/c or any other bad grade on my exams , because the exams were REALLY HARD.*. It made me very jittery because exams are about every single topic we learnt, in each subject throughout the year in particular Grade with detailed answer of every question, in 2-3 sentences. If you would get just, one, tiny detail wrong, you could get that whole question wrong!! When I got to know that the exams were in 2 weeks I got really nervous, because I never appeared for such exam before, I had just heard of them and from what I had heard, they are not easy. So, from then on, whenever I went home after school, every day I studied for 2 hours ,practicing every topics and I would never go to play. Two weeks later, I was super anxious, my hands were sweaty, my face was red, and I was feeling very hot! I was on pins and needles, but I told myself,” Amishu , “YOU CAME PREPARED, don’t be nervous! The exams were 2 hours long and was very difficult and challenging though!! After a week, results were out!! The very same day, my teacher called me ,privately to her desk and handed me an envelope enclosed with note to take it home. When I went home, I read the note with my family and it said that I had gotten a 105% on my exam including extra credit, it also said that there was gonna be a prize giving ceremony after 3 days and I was invited because I was going to get an award to be the only person in my whole GRADE to pass the exam.Yay!!! Later, got a certificate even better news…..since I was invited to the prize giving ceremony, I would get another prize.! At the ceremony, when they called my name…..they gave me a HUGE glass trophy(as my "another prize")! OMG! My parents were so proud of me that we went out and celebrated by having my favorite “Huge Sundae Icecream”. This was my first time , when I got a trophy and that was also in SECOND GRADE.I was so young! & my parents also bought me a mini IPad ,for all my hard work. That’s how I know ,that hard work always pays off! From then on, I always remembered this life lesson so whenever I had a challenge with anything, I would remember: HARD WORK PAYS OFF. So, I always worked hard in my life….. I am Amishu Singh in grade 5 th. I love book reading , canvas painting and sketching. I moved Michigan in 2014 and many friends. I used in live in Shanghai, China before I moved here. I am very excited to share my artwork for MIBIHAR Diwali art display corner.
My Dadi By Adishree Verma My Dadi was an amazing person. She was very nice and would always give to the poor. She was a very religious lady and used to do lot of Pujas. She loved me and my family very much and always wanted the best for us. In January of 2012 she was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Even when she knew she was very sick, she stayed the same and did not lose hope till the end. She passed away on January 16th of 2016 after battling for four years. Although she is not with us, I know she can see us and I can see her everyday. “Dadi we Love You�
Neelam Verma (13 Nov 1952- 16 Jan 2016)
Tribute to Jaldhar Prasad Jaldhar Prasad (1930-2016) is a beloved member of the community and among the first few Indians to settle in Southeast Michigan. Devoted son of Dr. Saryu Prasad and Lal Kumari Devi, beloved husband of Pushpa Prasad, and father of Vibhay Prasad (Donna Prasad), Shally Prasad, and Simmi Prasad. He was the older brother and father figure to his siblings and members of the community, and uncle and grandfather to many. He has been an inspiration and role model for his large extended family and the local Indian community. His life story reflects his legacy of unity of family and community, service to humanity and devotion to God Jaldhar Prasad courageously left India in October 1957 on the Queen Mary and arrived in New York City in January 1958. He attended the University of Detroit on a missionary cooperative program and graduated in 1962 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he returned to India for his marriage in 1964 and brought his beloved Pushpa to America. He was married to Pushpa Prasad for 52 years. Jaldhar Prasad comes from a highly educated family in India with flair for community service. Son of a famous surgeon in Motihari and related to the extended family of Mahatama Gandhi, Jaldhar learned very early in his life the importance of community service. Gandhi has been known to stay in his home in Champaran when he began his national freedom movement from Bihar. Infused with the strong foundation of justice and fairness, Jaldhar participated in the youth movement under the leadership of Jai Prakash Narayan. His early exposure to community service and social equality led to a lifetime of contributions for the betterment of society. After he migrated to the United States, Jaldhar become a productive and conscientious citizen of his community. He played prominent professional roles as the CEO of Prasad & Associates, Engineering Professional at Campbell Group and many others. Later, he joined the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department as a Senior Civil Engineer where he worked for several years. Jaldhar’s early exposure to community service in India inspired him to actively participate and assume leadership positions in his new home in Michigan. “JP”, as he was affectionately known, served as President of the International Rotary Club, Director of the Michigan Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and President of the Rouge Valley Chapter of Michigan Society of Professional Engineers.
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…continued Jaldhar ji was also a member of the International Toastmaster Club, Director of the International Institute of Detroit, and Founding Member of the India League of America. Dedicated to his profession, JP made numerous contributions as a valuable member of the American Concrete Institute and the American Arbitration Association. Jaldhar is a registered professional engineer in Michigan, other Midwestern states and Arizona. One of Jaldhar’s greatest legacies is his role as a founding member of Bharatiya Hindu Temple in Troy, and Bharatiya Family Services. Both will be around for our future generations to enjoy. A true professional and ideal citizen, Jaldhar Prasad is also a very loving family man. Married to Pushpa Prasad for over 50 years, Jaldhar has three very successful children. Dr. Vibhay Prasad, MD who is married to Donna, an entrepreneur in California. Shally Prasad, a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. government in Washington DC and Simmi Prasad, an attorney and a dancer in New York City. Although Jaldhar left his family in Motihari to come to the U.S., he desired to have his family close. He insisted all of his family members come to the U.S. and sponsored anyone who desired to migrate. He brought his family together with his love and strength. He loved his younger siblings as his children and had a special affection for his younger sisters. With so much to remember about his long life, Jaldhar’s most memorable quality was that he enjoyed life. The things he loved, he loved fully; God, people, music, food and sweets. He had a strong will to live and was full of life. Jovial, always happy and relaxed, he exemplified devotion to God. Jaldhar Prasad enjoyed life and this is the biggest lesson he taught to those who knew him. His life is a story of persistence, hard work, unity of family, and service to humanity. His exemplary qualities of compassion, sincerity and service are a shining example for all. A true son of Bihar, Jaldhar Prasad is the epitome of success in both personal and professional life. May our memories of him and his bright smile always bring us joy.
The Global IT revolution, India's Big Boom! Satyam Sinha Recently, I had a project in my Humanity class about IT revolution in India. My father is IT professional but I never thought he was also part IT revolution. His journey to USA is because of IT revolution in India. Here is what I submitted as project for IT revolution in India. India has a long history that goes way back. There are the Himalayas up north and there are many rivers, but the famous ones are Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Yamuna. There has been a long history for Hindus and Muslims in India. The Muslims came in the 700's and they established an empire that is now known as the Mughal empire. India's history of Hindus is very old. They used to be called Aryans at that time. They were Indo-Iranian people who made Hinduism and lived in the Vedic period which was 3000 BCE. The Europeans also recognized India as a country with many gold and riches. In 1492 Christopher Columbus found America but his goal was to go to India for riches and wealth. The Portuguese and British colonized India in 1505 and 1612 respectively. In 1947, India gained its independence and became a country. India is a great leader in the IT (Information Technology) revolution. The comparative advantage they have are low wages, good English skills, and an educated workforce. In Humanities, we first learned about low wages. The USA also outsources jobs in India. Labor costs in India are among the lowest in the world. This gives a comparative advantage for them to attract IT jobs. American companies can cut their wage costs in half by shifting some of their work to India. Second, we learned about good English speakers. There skill in English is a second factor that drives India to success in the IT industry. People in India speak 22 official languages, 720 different dialects. But almost all educated people in India speak English. India can provide IT services in English more effectively than other countries where little English is spoken. Because of India's colonial past, they speak English greatly and they also teach it in school. Third is an Educated Workforce. Millions of Indians see education as a ticket to a good job. In 1951, Indian Institute of technology was founded. There are a lot of people graduating from colleges and even more are getting jobs in the IT business. That might be because of the big population. The population today right now at 2:59:00 PM April 9 is 1,308,674,093. Because of this they have a comparative advantage. The time zones create a difference because India is 10 hours and 30 minutes ahead of the USA. So when you call a call center here at night, most likely a person from India will pick up. This way we don't have to get night shift workers.
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‌continued The IT revolution has really affected people in Bangalore because there was a big boom when technology came. In humanities we studied about 3 people who were affected by the IT boom but the whole city was affected. We "Internet Searched" them. Those 3 people were, Meena Kumar, Naresh Patel and Varun Joshi. Meena Kumar was a woman whoose life changed when the IT came. Meena works for a call center for a major U.S. Airline company. Her life had changed because her job is really nice. The IT affected her because now she has her own boyfriend which is a bold move in India. Her salary is $6,000 per year. That may seem less but in India that is 398,705 RS (Rupees). That is why $6,000 is enough for her. Nareesh Patel is an Auto-Rickshaw driver but he calls it a Tuk-Tuk. He is one of the few drivers that can also speak English this gives him an advantage. He earns $600 per year which is actually 39,870.57 RS. That is a lot. He also said the IT buildings have pools, stores and gyms. This is the change! This is India and IT!
I am Satyam Sinha and I am in grade 6 at Baker Middle School, Troy. I love Soccer and I am a black belt in Taekawondo. I really like Greek and Hindu mythology.Math and Science are my favorite subject. I am learning Spanish in school and I am known as Oscar in my Spanish class.
MIRAGE
By Gunjan Verma
Everyone is a mirage If you get closer you will know No cool flowing water To quench your thirst No they are not Just blazing desert light To burn you away Each mirage Has a name/Has a game Each mirage Will burn you/In its own way Each mirage/Will also have its own say The day you learn/About illusions About hallucinations/About twisted ties And barren lies/That day you will know That everyone is a MIRAGE.
Gunjan Verma was born in Patna and has graduated from Miranda House, Delhi University. She is married to Amitabh Verma and mother of 2 handsome boys, Vishesh and Siddharth.
Short summary of Mahabharata By Vishesh Verma
The Mahabharata is one of the two greatest epics of India. It is written by Sage Vyasa and the entire story is composed in 100,000 verses and it is divided between 18 parvas or sections. It is a story of power, love, hate, dharma, greed and jealousy deriving since the incident with King Shantanu all the way to the battle of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. The Mahabharata tells you the meaning of life. The seeds of battle were first shown when the Pandavas returned from the forest and the Kauravas were misbehaving with them badly when they were kids. Then they went to Sage Dronacharya’s hermitage and continued to do so, and then when they returned from the hermitage and their hatred had grown for the Pandavas. Finally, the Pandavas were then sent for a 13-year exile and when they returned war was certain. The Mahabharata war was fought on the battle field of Kuruksetra. It was 18 days long. The Pandavas had won the war, all the Kauravas had died from the war and so were a lot of people from the war in both the armies. It’s so hard to believe that a few mistakes started a war that killed millions and millions of people, at the end everyone was disappointed. The war had influenced many people of Hastinapur and even the whole country, it took a while to balance things out. Hello, I am Vishesh Verma. I am 10 years old and in 5th Grade in Schroeder Elementary School. I love Science, Math and Robotics. I love to play piano and play with my cute little brother.
Indians in America
By Prem Kumar Mishra There lives a child, an artist, and an author in everyone. Some are lucky to let that out and some aren’t. I had tried earlier in my own humble way and played that author out but due to some personal reasons I decided against bringing that article to the targeted audience. Today I am deciding to try playing that author again and I hope the resulting piece does not play bad to any ears. The topic that I wish to broach upon today is the life of Indians in America, which has lately been puzzling me a lot. Like all of you I also like how we, the Indians, have kept our culture alive in America. Most of us usually cook Indian food at home, listen to Indian news and music, watch Indian movies and television shows, watch cricket, follow Indian politics, go to temples, live in Indian neighborhood, socialize with Indian friends and families, celebrate Indian festivals, and so on and so forth. We work hard and have established ourselves very well in all areas of business and profession. We have built several large size temples in the country, donate generously there, and participate actively in temple activities. We speak native languages and encourage our children also to do so. We send our kids to special classes to learn Indian music, dance, customs and values. Ladies wear saris during special occasions. We call our families in India almost daily, stay connected with them in their joys and sorrows, and spend tons of our hard earned money in supporting and visiting them. We invite our close family to US for sightseeing and spend a fortune in doing so. We support our kids, financially and otherwise, as much and as long as possible. The bottom-line is that we try to carry Indian family values and customs in our lives as much as we can and we are all very much proud of that. We have however not embraced American culture and values as much, not even after some of us have lived here for several decades. We try hard to first get the Visa for US, then the Green Card and finally the citizenship – all of it is to make better living in America. This country offers us so much but what do we do to it in return? I bet, a vast majority of us do not even know the national anthem of US, let alone anything else about this country. Not knowing the national anthem after having settled here for years and generations is the ultimate insult any citizen can inflict on the nation. We do not also celebrate national festivals. I have been to several Memorial Day parades in the city I live in. I saw thousands of people of all ages seated on both sides of the road and cheering the passing parade. I did not see any Indian family and friends there though. The national holiday seems nothing more than just a time off from work when we can get together with friends or do our own work. We haven’t mingled well with local communities and we do not participate in their customs and traditions either. We do not participate in our local welfare activities.
Continued…
…continued We stay aloof from all of it. That is the reason why we find that only a very few of us are involved in government and political activities. Majority of us are out of the main stream of life in USA. We have opened businesses that do not fully comply with basic standards Many of Indian grocery shops are selling food items made at homes in unregulated cooking environment, and pirated music CDs and movie DVDs. America is a land of immigrants and opportunities, its core values lay in the diversity of its people. We haven’t embraced that diversity fully well. Of the several dozen families and friends that I know here, hardly anyone invites people of other religion and ethnicity to his/her home, barring a few exceptions. Sure, Indians are in minority here but why can’t we still live here like we belong to this land. Why can’t we learn national anthem of America, actively participate in national holidays and festivals, mingle well with all communities, help the needy and poor, support local administration in welfare activities, join the local political system to bring social awareness and changes, and do whatever it takes to make America great again. Also, let us not divide ourselves in various groups, like how we have done in India. Let us not keep separate community groups for Biharis, Uttar Pradeshis, Jharkhandis, Telgus, Tamilians, Kannadas, Marathis, Gujaratis, Punjabis, Odias, Bengalis, and so on. Let us dissolve all of them to form one common group called “Indians”. If it is difficult to manage one large group of Indians, then let us break it into smaller groups based on cities and/or counties. Let us create a unified Indian community that understands and shares the values and customs of various groups within it. Let our unified group be an inspiration to all Indians living in India and to all Americans living in America which can help them to try emulating this model. It’s a wishful thinking for sure, but definitely not unachievable. I believe MIBIHAR can play a crucial role in bringing various communities and associations together. Let it not limit itself to organizing a few annual events. No organization has ever progressed well with this set of activity alone. It needs a bigger mission and lots of supporting goals. Let all of us support MIBIHAR in its future efforts in this direction. Good luck. Prem K Mishra is a lifetime member of MIBIHAR. He is originally from Hazaribagh, Bihar and currently resides in Novi with wife Punam and two handsome sons. PK enjoys writing and has recently written a book Hopelessly Resilient, now available on Amazon. PK is a multitalented person dedicated to his family and community
The Story of Holi - Neelam Kanodia Many, many years ago, there was a king named Hiranyakashyap. After doing rigorous penance, he obtained a boon for being immortal from Brahma. Inside or outside, up or down, by missile or handheld weapon, by man or beast he could not be killed. After receiving this boon, Hiranyakashyap began to consider himself God. Throughout his kingdom, he banned praying to God. Any citizen caught chanting the name of God or praying to God, was punished. After some time, Hiranyakashyap had a son who was named Prahlad. Prahlad not only believed in God, but he had complete faith in him. Hiranyakashyap forbid Prahlad from believing in God, first kindly and then angrily. But, Prahlad did not listen to his father. Hiranyakashyap punished Prahlad and when that did not work, he tried to kill him. He tried many times, but Prahlad was always saved. Eventually, Hiranyakashyap devised another method of murdering Prahlad. He had a sister named Holika who had also received a boon from Brahma that if she sat in a fire wearing a blanket, she would not be burned. The plan was that if Holika wore a blanket and took Prahlad into the fire, Prahlad would die but she wouldn’t.
उलझन
- �वनीता केशर� लो आया �फर होल� का त्योहार सोची क्य� ना �वहारा म� म� भी लाऊँ कुछ बहार पर �लखने के �लए जनाब मन म� हो कोई तो �वषय और कुछ तो �वचार क्या �लखूँ, कहां से शरू ु करूँ इस सोच म� ह� हफ्ते �नकल गए दो चार प�त परमेश्वर ने जब दे खा मझ ु े लाचार फरमाया दे खते दे खते ट�वी पर समाचार �लख डालो �कसी बॉल�वड ु �फ़ल्म का ह� सार या बता दो कैसे बनता है आँवले का आचार
Vinita Keshri was born at Ranchi and brought up at Bokaro Steel City. She is married to Jitendra Kumar and blessed with two lovely daughters Parnika and Pranavi. Parnika Kumar is a ninth grader at International Academy, Troy Miichigan.She has a very keen interest in art and enjoys painting. Pranavi is 7years old and goes to Morse Elementary. She has a passion for dancing. She loves Madhuri Dixit
राजनी�त पर �लखना था क�ठन ट्रम्प और �हल�र का �वषय था ज�टल मोद� जी पर तो सभी �लखते ह� केज�र बेचारे सवर्त्र �पटते ह� ब्यंजन �ब�धया अब �कताब� म� नह� गग ु ल और यव ु ट्यब ू पर ढूँढ� जाती है अब तो पस् ु तक� क� भी �डिजटल कॉपी ह� पढ़� जाती ह� मन म� कसमकस थी जार� ले�खका बनने का सौख पड़ रहा था भार� तभी �ब�टया रानी आयी प्यार� बोल� मम्मी, क्या म� मदद करूँ तुम्हार�
प्रकृ�त का करूँ वणर्न, क्या �लखूँ काले बादल और घटाये या न�द �क चंचल लहर� पर ह�, �लख द ु कुछ क�वताएँ फुल पौधे क� ह�रयाल� और संद ु रता पर कर नह� पा रह� थी �वचार क्य��क �हम क� सफेद� चार� ओर नजर आ रह� थी बार बार सोच सोच कर �नकल रहा था दम �नं�दया रानी भी बढ़ा रह� थी अपने कदम �नशा क� आगोश म� , मिस्तस्क ने मान ल� थी हार चतुर मन ने आदे श �दया, �दवाल� अंक म� �लखना अगल� बार
Our Trip to the Caribbean Island of St martin/St Marten - Dr. Niru Prasad MD
As we know, vacations are all about relaxing and having fun. During winter of 2015 we got lucky to go to St Martin Island along with our dear friends who joined us at Tampa. St martin is one of the smallest islands in the world; only 90 km in length and is the connecting hinge between the Caribbean and the Atlantic. This is a very unique island shared by two nations: the Netherlands and France. With their different cultures this is a very special region with extraordinary beauty and a charming way of life. St Martin is true treasure of the Caribbean and the most famous resort in St Martin is Simpson bay which is also the site of Marinas where ships from all over the world dock. The French capital city of Marigot is in the northern part of the island, which is separated by a theoretical border from the Dutch side. The Netherlands St Marten capital city of Phillipsburg is in the southern part of the island. The border crosses an intense lagoon opening up to the north on Nettle Bay at Sandi Ground and south at Simpson Bay. Our flight from Miami to St Martin international airport was non-stop 5-hours; however an 8-hour non-stop flight is available by all major airlines from Europe, France, South America and other countries. My excitement grew as we were approaching the land to see the panoramic view of beaches, mountains and the Atlantic. The international airport securities were very strict with passports, our visa and luggage. It was interesting to see the local inhabitants and people from different parts of world at this busy airport. The English language was spoken by the majority; however the local cab drivers mostly spoke French and Dutch. American dollars are accepted all over the island. We stayed at the famous Simpson Bay resort for a week at a villa overlooking the ocean. Each day was very interesting as we visited different cities and beaches. The major attraction of Dutch St Marten is the capital city Phillipsburg which was a 2-hour ride from our resort by car. Philipsburg was founded in 1763 by john Philip, a Scottish Captain of the Dutch navy. The city is full of interesting sight-seeing places like museums, court houses and the large marinas accommodating large cruise ships from all over the world. The Board walk along the beautiful shores are full of interesting shops, casinos, and duty free items which are easily available to be bought. Their open markets along the beach also sell local liquors prepared on the island. Philipsburg is a bursting center for international trading and salt mining. Our next adventure was to visit the French city Marigot by crossing the connecting bridge. The entire Marina and city has a significant French influence including relatively upscale hotels, upscale shopping, and excellent food available at French bistros, creoles, casinos, and more. The economy of the island depends on tourism mostly since they have no industries there of their own. People are very polite, hard working and courteous.
Dr. Niru Prasad got her medical degree in Bihar, India. She is certified in Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine. She has authored a book called “How to Keep Your Child Safe and Healthy”. This book has been distributed to the developing countries through Orphan Medical Network International (OMNI). With the proceeds of the book, Dr. Prasad started a charity fund for blind orphans at her hometown Patna. Niru is married to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bala Prasad. She is blessed with four children and six grandchildren.
I would also like to mention a few more interesting sites we visited such as The Sea which is a St Martin nature foundation that manages the sea turtles in the ocean. It is a water island with beaches that help to protect the sea turtles especially during nesting season. Approximately 6 miles from St Martin is the Anguilla resort full of white sandy beaches, a major attraction for scuba diving, sailing surfing and more. The water is full of fish of different species with deep sea fishing charters for swordfish, barracuda and more can easily be organized. Another wonder of the sea includes different species of shells, reefs, conch, corals and more making the island all the more attractive. The night before we departed we had a lovely dinner at a seafood place restaurant by the ocean where we ate lobsters. It was interesting to see the tank full of live lobsters and to see fish swimming in the sea water right below us. A week passed by soon and we returned home with the most pleasant memories of our wonderful trip. Lastly I would like to share with all of you a few travel tips: Share your dreams before planning your trip. Share photos of past memorable trips Check your budget and stay within your limit Consult your travel agent and know the dollar exchange values Be relaxed and lock your possessions and passports at hotel safe locker. Always keep copies of your passport, important documents and your health cards. Lastly always think positive and enjoy to your best satisfaction.
होली होल� का त्योहार हमलोग बहुत धम ू धाम और हषर् के साथ मनाते है | जाता हुआ बसंत , आती ग्रीष्म क� करवटे और इनके बीच भीनी भीनी सी महक �लए , रं ग� से भीगती और �भगोती होल� | फागुन मह�ने का यह महोत्सव हर साल हमारे �दलो को जोड़ने आता है| तरह तरह के रं ग गुलाल हमारे तन मन को , हम सबके संपण ू र् जीवन को अन�गनत भावनाओ से सराबोर कर दे ते ह� | फागुन मह�ना आते ह� अंतमर्न मे रं गो के बादल �घरने लगते ह� | खेतो और गाव� क� माट� अबीर बन जाती है | प्रकृ�त ने मनष्ु य� को बहुत सार� सौगाते द� है | उन्ह� मे से ऋीतए ु ँ ु ँ और मौसम भी है | त्योहार ऋीतए ु ँ से गँथ ू े है और ऋीतए फसल से | खेत� मे सरसो के फूल है और सब तरफ �पलेपन क� बहार है | फागुन का मह�ना और बसंत का मौसम जब साथ होते है तो धरती सजी दल् ु हन बन जाती है | और इस दल् ु हन का स्वागत करने के �लए अबीर और गुलाल लेकर फागुन दहल�ज पर आ खड़ा होता है | ये रं ग मन को तो रं गते ह� है हमारे जीवन मे भी नये सरगम बजा दे ते है | अपनी सार� उदासी को प्रकृ�त पहले ह� �मटा दे ती है और होल� क� तैयार� करती है | हमारे यहाँ होल� का त्योहार काफ़� पहले से मनाया जाता रहा है | इसक� शरु ु वात हो�लकदहन से हुई थी िजसका अथर् है असत्य पर सत्य क� �वजय | इ�तहास के पन्ने कहते है सल् ु तान शहं शाह आम जनता के साथ �मलकर होल� का त्योहार मनाते थे | नवाब वािजद अल� शाह ने �लखा है "ऐसी कन्हाई से प्रीत ना क�रए, ब�हयाँ गहे मोर� सार� रे �पया मेरा मन ललचाए , काह� मारत �पचकार� रे |" स्रोत : अखंड �ोित �ाती िस�ा के �ारा संकिलत
Swati was brought up in Darbhanga, Bihar. She holds a MSc. -Zoology from Science College, Patna. She enjoys writing hindi poems, reading hindi novels and watching old classic movies. Swati is married to Sanjeev Sinha and enjoy time with 6th grader Satyam and 4th grader Stuti. Swati has been with MIBihar since 2012. She currently leads publication department.
प्रसाद सेवा
- स्वाती �सन्हा मनष्ु य के सभी धम� म� सेवा को सवर्प्रथम स्थान �मला है | सेवा तो मनष्ु य का कतर्व्य है और इसे �नस्वाथर् भावना से करनी चा�हए | �म�बहार के सभी सदस्यो ने सोचा क� भगवान का प्रसाद बनाया जाए और भगवान को भोग लगा कर जीतने भी भक्तगण है उनको �खलाया जाए| हमलोगो ने जून 11, 2015 �दन चन ु ा | इसके �लए हमलोगो मं�दर के व्यवस्थापको और पज ु ार� जी से �मले और उनसे खाने का एिस्टमेट �लया | �फर हमलोगो ने खाने का मेनू का �नणर्य �लया | �म�बहार के सदस्य बहुत उत्सा�हत थे | हमलोगो ने �बहार और झारखंड म� बनाए जाने वाले प्रच�लत खाने को चन ु ा| खाना का मेनू इस प्रकार का था | १ चावल २. चना दल ३. आलू दम ४. �मक्स वेिजटे बल क� सब्जी ५. रोट� ६. रायता ७. आचार ८. हलवा संयोग से हमारे बहुत सदस्यो के पेर�ट्स उस समय यहा आए हुए थे | उनलोगो ने हमलोगो को काफ़� सहायता और मागर् दशर्न प्रदान �कया | सभी बच्चे भी ७ बजे सब ु ह म� तैयार हो कर हमारे साथ आ गये थे | उनमे कुछ नया करने का उत्साह था | पानी , पेपर प्लेट, नॅप�कन, स्पन ू , फोकर् इत्या�द रखने म� हमलोगो के बच्चो ने काफ़� उत्साह �दखाया | १२ बजे भगवान जी को भोग लगा कर हमलोगो ने वाहा आए हुए सभी लोगो को प्रसाद �खलाया | प्रसाद �वतरण का समय समाप्त होने के बाद हमलोगो ने �कचन के सभी बतर्न का साफ करके जगह पर रख �दया| �म�बहार के सभी सदस्यो ने उस �दन नेपाल �रल�फ के �लए १००० डॉलर संग्रह करके �दया | �म�बहार के इस प्रसाद सेवा को भार�तया ट� पल के प्रमख ु अरुण पांड्या जी और बाक� लोगो ने काफ़� सराहा| उसी �दन �म�बहार के सदस्यो ने मं�दर के हवन और स्टे ज ए�रया के स्वच्छ और व्यविस्थत रखने का �नणर्य �लया | उस �दन उपरांत अब हमलोग हर दस ू रे और चौथे र�ववार को मं�दर जाकर श्रम दान करते है | इस तरह क� सेवा से हमारे बच्चो के मन म� भी सेवा भावना जागत ृ हुआ| ये भावना उनके संद ु र व्यिक्तत्व म� सहायक होगी | इस�लए हमलोगो ने मं�दर प्रसाद सेवा को प्रत्येक साल करने का �नणर्य �कया है |