Saathee Charlotte January 2020

Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent

Saathee.com

January 2020

IN THIS ISSUE

Risks to Groundwater in Solar Irrigation Pump Expansion: pg 32 Navarasa Classical Dance Competition: pg 18 New Jobs Classifieds: pg 124 Youth Corner: pg 116

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In This Issue

Page 72 How Not to Make a Million Dollars

Page 18 Community Events

Page 28 Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, starring Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Saif Ali Khan opens in January....

Content

The Editor’s Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 14

Page 32 Risks to Groundwater in India’s Solar Irrigation Pump Expansion.

Increase Your India Knowledge . .pg. 54

Community Events . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 18

Nutrition for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 58

Film Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 28

Buy Right Sit Tight . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 64

Upcoming Movie Releases . . . . . . .pg. 26 Groundwater Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 32

Dances of India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 36

Thinking About Thinking . . . . . . .pg. 62 Mirror Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 70

Subcontinental Divide . . . . . . . . . .pg. 72

Namaskar Y’all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 40

Fair Algorithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 74

College Admissions Insider . . . . . .pg. 46

Raajeev’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 82

Read Watch Listen . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 44

Spot the Differences . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 50

Saathee.com

Personal Finances . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 76

News Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 84 8

Community Organizations . . . . . .pg. 96

Youth Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 116

Pop’s Puzzles and Jokes . . . . . . . .pg. 118

Festivals and Holidays . . . . . . . . .pg. 120

Puzzle Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 120

AstroScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 122

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 124

Index of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 128

January 2020

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January 2020

Hello Readers!

Check out all the events coming up in the first couple of months of the new year 2020. See page 18.

There are increasing risks to groundwater in India’s solar irrigation pump expansion. Cheap solar power, widely available, could worsen India’s already depleted aquifers. See page 32 for the whole story.

Read about the global popularity of Bharatha Natyam in our column on page 36.

There are four things students should do if they are deferred from their dream university. See page 46.

Happy New Year to all our readers, advertisers, contributors and supporters!

“Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent.”

January 2020 Issue # 260 - Saathee.com Editor Samir Shukla (Samir@Saathee.com)

Publisher & Advertising

Comments and Suggestions always welcome.

Samir Shukla, Editor

Divakar Shukla (rakavid@aol.com)

Ad Design / Layout

"The tiger springs in the new year.

Us he devours."

- T. S. Eliot

Nageshwar Andrews

Digital Media & Marketing Jennifer W. Allen & Dhruv Pathak

Contributors for this issue: Kirit Shukla, Lindsey Conger, Parul Kharod, Raajeev Aggerwhil, Dr. Maha Gingrich, Amit Rupani, Mo Vidwans, Rashmi Kanjia, Balaji Prasad, Ahsen Jillani, and Jalendu Vaidya.

Mission: Our goal is to be a valuable source of information for the South Asian community and to be a vital advertising tool for businesses.

- FOUNDED 1998 -

Saathee Magazine

P.O. Box 11468 Charlotte, NC 28220

704.527.7570 Fax: 704.527.7590

Cover: Flower sellers at KR Market in Bangalore, India.

Photo: Pablo Hidalgo | Dreamstime.com

Saathee@saathee.com Opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily of the publisher or editor.

Please contact us prior to submitting articles or photographs.

Saathee (USPS 021-116) (ISSN: 1543-8147) is published monthly by:

Shukla Entertainment Inc. 655 Pressley Rd., Ste G, Charlotte, NC 28217 Periodicals postage paid at Charlotte, NC and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to

Saathee, P.O. Box 11468, Charlotte, NC 28220-1468

Saathee.com

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Saathee is published monthly. Deadlines for advertisement, submissions and events information is 15th of the month.

For a free Saathee subscription, visit saathee.com/subscription

All content © 2019 Shukla Entertainment, Inc

January 2020

The Editor’s Desk

Glorious Incremental Evolution

By Samir Shukla

Season of Reason

Passion for sweeping change meets the reality of baby steps

Evolution is such a magically slow and incremental thing.

Human lifetimes are too short to notice this magic. In order to alleviate this unfathomable unknown, we have created mystical gods and goddesses, prophets, swamis and messiahs, and myriad creation myths.

We live in an age where incremental evolution, or slow changes made by or imposed upon humans in social, political, and historical realms, seem like anathema. Everyone has an opinion or solution that will solve problems instantly. Everyone wants everything instantly. Put a “Stop Racism” bumper sticker on your car and presto racism is gone. Build a wall on the border and illegal migration will go away.

The reality is that social change is very slow, it is generational. Revolutions generally burn out in wisps of choking smoke. There’s no pixie dust to wipe out racism, inequality, sexism…poof a pinch of the magic stuff and it’s gone. It doesn’t work that way. It takes a community of humans and change agents making sacrifices to infuse justice into the systems. It is slow, but effective.

Youngsters looking for revolution are a feisty bunch. But real change occurs slowly, incrementally. Human behavior doesn’t swing on a dime. Deeply held beliefs, perceptions, and prejudices are not easily changed. But they can be softened a bit via soft power and subtle persuasion. Not by telling them to do something, but by showing them something positive. Creating options and choices are the way to sway others. Don’t try to change someone, engage someone. Engagement creates a positivity swap, if you will, which even in small doses pulls people forward.

Revolution lies in the wings of a butterfly, not in the fires of torches or metals of bullets. Everyone complains about the divisiveness that is plaguing the country and the world. We must step back and assess what has worked, what needs to be reworked, and work on needed changes. That’s always been the way forward.

The rapid march of technology will render vast amounts of current jobs and occupations unnecessary. Automation will reign. Artificial Intelligence will reign. We will need fewer humans to run the planet precisely when the human population keeps expanding. It will mean realigning our aspirations, needs and economic systems. What matters is what we do to ameliorate the inevitable forces and work out solutions.

Remove an essential brick from a rickety wall and the whole thing tumbles down. Learn how to make bricks and you build foundations.

A Solution to Political Pollution

It’s a lovely number, this incoming fresh year. 2020. This number gives a sense of perfect vision, calm and order. Of course contemporary politics are not exactly ordered or calm.

They are disjointed, emotionally charged, physically draining and full of twists and turns. There is a concept, a word, where we can approach some sort of orderly calmness. That concept, a simple tool to tap into in times of conflict and dissonance, is called reason. The quiet voices of reason can douse the fires of political partisanship and tribalism, and help get things done.

Of course, by reason I mean in the sense where logic and facts matter. Well, that’s common sense, you may say. What I mean is the ability to put aside biases in heated moments and put your adult hat on.

It requires concerted effort.

In the madness of this presidential election year, the strong middle, the backbone of America has to come to the rescue. Join the reasoned masses and help put the fake news, fake memes, and fake righteousness and bravado of liars and noisemakers back into their holes.

The loudmouths on the right and the left are in the minority. They are like the proverbial barking dogs that lack a real bite and can be subdued, but only when the reasoned folks insert truthfulness into chaos.

It’s funny how we are becoming more tribal, but at times, especially during sporting events and music concerts, we untangle our usual tribalism and weave a different tone. Sports fans high-fiving each other every time their team scores, everyone dancing and singing along to a popular song during concerts, these folks maybe politically opposite, but in that moment, after a slam dunk, or a soaring guitar solo, the tribes intermingle. They become one. This is the real human community, instilled with a natural sense of camaraderie. A shared joy. This similar convergence happens in moments of national tragedy. A shared pain.

Political ideologies vanish when peoples merge in celebration. They may again become bitter partisans as soon as they walk out, but in that moment of communal gathering, differences melt away. This is worth replicating in daily lives.

Fellow travelers on the ship called reason take a deep breath and welcome the fresh year. There will be maddeningly distorted political ads everywhere as we inch toward Election Day, incessant robocalls, and social media fisticuffs galore. The adults in the room will have to sprinkle the cooling drops of truth and facts to keep those partisan fires from getting out of control, which can consume individuals, destroy longterm friendships and unhinge families. It is just politics folks; we still share our joys and our pains.

Let’s create invisible parties of logicians, Reasoncrats or Reasonpublicans, if you will, and yes, we still have our personal ideologies, but we can be the moderation sorely needed for the sake of our neighborhoods, towns, and country.

Saathee.com

Samir Shukla

Editor of Saathee magazine contact - Samir@Saathee.com follow me on Twitter: @ShuklaWrites

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January 2020

Community Events Vivaah South Asian Wedding Expo: Raleigh, NC (January 12, 2020)

Uthsaav Wedding and Event Planners present the 2020 Vivaah South Asian Wedding Expo on Sunday, January 12, 2020 from 12 noon to 6pm. The event will be held at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley.

Vendors will be on hand to fulfill whatever you need for the perfect wedding. Raffle prizes will be available and a fashion show showcasing the latest wedding outfits will be held at 4pm. Registration for the event can be found at www.uthsaav.com. Contact uthsaav@gmail.com or 919-694-3748 for further details.

SC International Auto Show: Greenville, SC (January 10-12, 2020)

Navarasa Classical Dance Competition: Raleigh, NC (January 18, 2020)

Students from NC State University present the Navarasa intercollegiate dance competition on Sunday, January 18, 2020 at NC State’s Stewart Theater in Raleigh from 6-9pm. This competition is where the most talented teams from universities across the nation will come together to showcase and celebrate their Indian classical dance heritage all while raising money for charity. 100% of the profits will go to CRY: Child Rights and You which empowers at-risk children and provide them with access to basic human rights such as education and health in developing countries. Tickets are available from $5-$25 and are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/navarasa-2020-tickets-82394168175.

Kids Jamboree: Florence, SC (January 18-20, 2020)

Bring the entire family for a fun-filled weekend for the Kids Jamboree to be held between January 18 & 20, 2020. The entire indoor Florence Center facility will be jam-packed with fun including magicians, clowns, face-painting, balloon animals, amusement rides, games, comedy, coloring stations, and more. Tickets are $10 and sold at the door at the day of each event. Find more information at www.florencecenter.com/events/2020/kidsjamboree

Free Citizenship Classes: Durham and Garner, NC (starts January 23, 2020)

The South Carolina International Auto Show will be held between January 1012, 2020 at the Greenville Convention Center and feature hundreds of new cars, SUVs, trucks, vans, crossovers, sport/utilities and alternative fuel autos.

There will also be vehicle test drives, a collection of classic mustangs, displays of the classic muscle cars, and much more. Tickets and information: www.southcarolinaautoshow.com.

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Raleigh: InStepp presents this 10-week class on Mondays & Thursdays starting on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at the South Regional Library in Durham from 6-8pm. A required orientation as well as class placement tests will be held on Monday, January 13, 2020.

Garner: InStepp presents this 10-week class on Mondays & Thursdays starting on Thursday, January 23, 2020 from 1 - 3pm and Saturdays starting on January 25, 2020 from 10am - 1pm at the Southeast Regional Library in Garner. A required orientation as well as class placement tests will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2020.

To register call InStepp at 919-680-8000.

Classes will help Legal Permanent Residents learn everything they need to know about American history, government and culture to pass the citizenship exam.

Students who complete the class will receive discounted assistance filing their Naturalization Form.

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January 2020

Community Events North Carolina Jazz Festival: Wilmington, NC (January 23-25, 2020)

Enjoy the 40th anniversary of one of the largest traditional jazz festivals in the Southeast. This musical weekend starts on Thursday, January 23, 2020 with “Rising Young Stars” Jon Hill Ensemble, the sultry Veronica Swift with The Emmett Cohn Trio and then continues Friday and Saturday (January 24 & 25) with concerts featuring seven sets with six or seven musicians per set (each with a different leader). See the full list of scheduled performers and ticket information at www.ncjazzfestival.org.

Outlook for Tech Conference: Charlotte, NC (January 23-24, 2020)

NC TECH’s annual statewide kick-off event is packed with leading perspectives on trends and innovations shaping technology. Digital transformation and business disruption have become the new normal and the 2020 Outlook for Tech Conference - Disrupt or Be Disrupted – will focus on how your business can be a disruptor versus being disrupted.

This event will also feature Unicorns Are Real: A Leadership Conversation with Avidxchange + Pendo. The conference will begin with a PreConference Shindig on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 5:30pm, and then continue on Friday, January 24, 2020 from 8:30am - 2:30pm with an Exhibit Showcase, Breakout Sessions and an information packed Luncheon Program. It will be held at the Sheraton Charlotte Convention Center’s South Tower. More information including Registration can be found at www.nctech.org/events/event/2020/outlook-for-tech.html.

Charleston Jazz Festival (January 23-26, 2020)

The 6th Annual Charleston Jazz Festival will be held between January 23 & 26, 2020 and present performances by a wide variety of talented jazz artists. From legends of jazz to emerging artists, to Charleston’s most celebrated home-grown talent, artists of the Charleston Jazz Festival will perform a wide range of styles including Swing, Salsa, Blues, Brazilian, the American Songbook and more. Find more info including performers and ticket pricing at www.charlestonjazz.com/festival.

Blowing Rock Winterfest (January 23-26, 2020)

Join in for the 22nd Annual Blowing Rock WinterFest from January 23-26, 2020 and enjoy the fun side of winter. Events include the icy Polar Bear Plunge in Chetola Lake, WinterFeast - 15 Restaurants under one roof, WinterFashion Show, Ice Carving in Memorial Park, Rotary Chili Cookoff & Tasting, Winter Art events at BRAHM, Winter Beer Garden and more. Event schedule and tickets can be found at www.blowingrockwinterfest.com.

Astronomy Days: Raleigh, NC (January 25-26, 2020)

Join the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Raleigh Astronomy Club to help you see the big picture — of the Universe! From comet crafts to solar observing, lectures to rocket launches, space enthusiasts of all ages will find something to do and learn at Astronomy Days. The event will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 9am-5pm and Sunday, January 26, 2020 from noon - 5pm. Admission is free to the museum and the event.

Learn more at www.naturalsciences.org/ calendar/astronomy-days.

Saathee.com

Cricket Coaching Certification Camp: Raleigh, NC (January 25-26, 2020)

The American Cricket Federation is providing Level 1 & 2 Cricket Coach Certification Clinics for the very first time in North Carolina. This is an ideal opportunity to become a Certified Cricket Coach and help with USA Cricket matches. The clinics will be held at Friends Pavilion on 6201 Daimler Way in Raleigh. The Level 1 Clinic will be held in Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 9am - 2pm. The Level 2 Clinic will be held on both January 25 & 26, 2020 from 9am - 4pm both days. Successful participants will be Awarded Certificates of Completion at the End of each Clinic. Participants are encouraged to bring their personal cricket gear.

Fee for the Level 1 clinic is $50 and the fee for the Level 1 & Level 2 clinics is $150. Online Registration is required.

Register at www.acfcertification.info. Info: Asia Sheikh at 919803-6583 or friendspavilion@gmail.com.

Republic Day Celebrations: Charlotte, NC (January 26, 2020)

The Hindu Center of Charlotte presents India’s Republic Day Celebrations on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at the Vihar Hall from noon to 3pm. This free event will feature flags hoisting, singing on national anthems and a lively cultural show with regional performers. For more details call 704-206-9348 or 704-535-3440. Website: www.hcclt.org.

OddBall 2020 - Alien Chic: Spartanburg, SC (January 30, 2020)

OddBall 2020: Alien Chic is Spartanburg Art Museum’s defining annual fundraiser to be held on Thursday, January 30, 2020 from 7 - 10pm. This high-energy event features out-of-this-world entertainment by Imagine Circus, astronomical eats, intergalactic cocktails, and a live art auction. Don’t forget your costume! Tickets are $99.99 per person.

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January 2020

Community Events Queen City Brewers Festival: Charlotte, NC (February 1, 2020)

Carolina Chocolate Festival: Morehead City, NC (February 1-2, 2020)

The Queen City Brewers Festival will be held on February 1, 2020 at the Park Expo and Conference Center in Charlotte from 12pm - 8:30pm. Taste locally produced beer and ciders from Charlotte-area breweries. Also enjoy food sampling, live music and other activities. Guest admission provides craft beer, cider, coffee, Kombucha and food sampling along with interactive exhibitors and a ‘Best of Show’ presentation to conclude the evening session.

Tickets are available now at www.qcbrewfest.com.

Sangeet Saagar: Raleigh, NC (February 1, 2020)

Come see the first South Asian A Cappella Competition in the Southeastern US. Organized by Delta Sigma Iota Fraternity, the 6th annual event will be held at the Stewart Theatre on the campus of NC State in Raleigh. All of the proceeds are going to The Movember Foundation. Free entry with valid student ID. General admission is $20 at the door and $15 in advance. Sangeet Saagar is an official All-American Awaaz bid competition. See teams from all over the US compete a cappella style featuring Bollywood and classical Indian music. For details or to purchase tickets visit www.facebook.com/sangeetsaagardsi.

The annual Carolina Chocolate Festival will take place at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City, NC on February 1 &2, 2020 and will be packed with activities from tastings, demonstrations, the Cocoa 5k, Pro/Am and Junior bake-offs, a chocolate spa and more! Tickets and registration information can be found at www.carolinachocolatefestival.com. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit three local charities.

NCIAP People’s Medical Care Gala: Raleigh, NC (February 1, 2020)

Bharat Ke Rang Ekal Ke Sang: Carolinas (February 7-15, 2020)

Ekal Vidyalaya USA presents its annual fundraising concerts with several performances happening in the Carolinas. The dates are as follows: February 7, 2020: Fayetteville, NC; February 8, 2020: Raleigh, NC; February 15, 2020: Columbia, South Carolina. Ekal’s mission is to eradicate illiteracy from rural and tribal India. For more details about each event, visit www.ekal.org/us/events.

On February 1, 2020 NCIAP People’s Medical Care will be hosting their 2020 Gala to celebrate the achievements of 2019 and look forward to continued success in the new year. The 9th annual event will raise funds for the organization’s work. NCIAP Medical Care provides basic and specialist health care services to the uninsured. The organization is run by the support from the members of local community and businesses, government grants, and other sources of funding. The gala will take place at 5720 Creedmoor Rd., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC. For more details call 919-277-0345 or visit www.PeoplesMedicalCare.com.

Southern City Film Festival: Aiken, SC (February 20-23, 2020)

Wilmington Coffee Fest: (February 1, 2020)

Enjoy a celebration of coffee on Saturday, February 1, 2020 with some of downtown Wilmington’s finest purveyors of coffee, roasters and distributors that will help you discover new and different artisan coffee tastes. Check-in location is the Hannah Block USO/Community Arts Center which is scheduled to house representatives from coffee shops, roasters, demonstrations, lectures, bakers, competitions and more. There will be a community party with arts and craft vendors, food and coffee trucks, and activities for the kids.

Find more info at www.wilmingtoncoffeefest.com.

Saathee.com

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The Southern City Film Festival was founded in 2015 and hosted its first festival in the fall of 2016 in Aiken, SC. The Southeast is so rich with talent from all mediums that they wanted a place to showcase and celebrate that talent. The event features industry roundtables, filmmaker Q&A’s, VIP Lounge, prizes, parties with an open bar and food, celebrity guests, after parties, networking events, and more. To learn more, visit www.southerncity.org.

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Community Events Wine & Chocolate Festival: Greensboro, NC (February 22, 2020)

Wineries and wine enthusiasts from across the region will gather on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex for an unlimited sampling of dozens of fabulous North Carolina wines of all styles and tastes. Bottles will be available for purchase. Everyone gets a free souvenir tasting glass. Enjoy a selection of tasty nibbles and treats, chocolates, cheeses and sweets. Take a stroll through the Candy Bar. Check out wineandchocolatefestivals.com/events/greensboro-nc/ for further info including tickets and participants.

Plan your next racecation at the beach and join in for the 23rd annual Myrtle Beach Marathon on March 7, 2020. Enjoy a weekend full of events including: a beachfront Health and Wellness Expo, full marathon, half marathon, 5K, family fun run, and two post-race celebrations. Whether you’re looking to qualify for the Boston Marathon or you’re planning a fun running weekend getaway with the family, the Myrtle Beach Marathon course is the place to start. Enjoy the post-race extravaganza. To learn more, visit www.capstoneraces.com/myrtle-beachmarathon.

Nuv Yug India Fest: Raleigh & Charlotte, NC (March 2020)

Aag Ki Raat Dance Competition: Columbia, SC (March 7, 2020)

Since 2003 the Nuv Yug India Fest has been organized to preserve and promote Indian cultural arts by producing programs of high artistic merit that entertain and educate. It also is a way to reach out to people from diverse ethnic background to increase awareness of Indian cultural arts and build strong community ties. This March, Nug Vug will host an event in Raleigh at the Jim Graham Building of the NC State Fairgrounds on March 1415, 2020 and in Charlotte at Marvin Ridge High School in Waxhaw, NC on March 2122, 2020. Both events include free admission.

For further info about the Raleigh Fest, visit www.nuvyug.org For further info about the Charlotte Fest, visit www.nuvyugclt.org

North Carolina Rice Festival: Leland, NC (March 6-8, 2020)

Myrtle Beach Marathon: (March 7, 2020)

Aag Ki Raat is a Bollywood-fusion dance competition hosted by the University of South Carolina in Columbia - and its back for its 14th year. Presented by the Indian Cultural Exchange (I.C.E.), AKR aims to celebrate South Asian dance and culture by attracting teams from all over the country in the spirit of competition. The eight performances will be at the Koger Center of Performing Arts. All of the efforts made by AKR are in pursuit of helping the local charity, Carolina Survivor Clinic. Aag Ki Raat, a night of fire is on Saturday, March 7, 2020. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Email: uscakr@gmail.com

Run Hard Columbia Marathon: (March 7, 2020)

This spring race event is fun for all ages. The Run Hard Marathon provides course support, fluids/nutrition, shirts, medals and awards. From 5K to full Marathon, they’ve got the race you need at a price you’ll love! aturday, March 7, 2020.

Details at www.runhardcolumbiamarathon.com.

Charleston STEM Festival: Ladson, SC (March 7, 2020)

The Charleston STEM Festival is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and math in the Lowcountry. The 7th annual festival will an outdoor event that provides opportunity for engagement and exchange between children, teens, families, and local STEM professionals. This event will take place on March 7, 2020 from 10am - 3pm at Exchange Park in Ladson, SC. More info at www.facebook.com/charleston.stem.festival.

Oak City Revolution: Raleigh, NC (March 21, 2020)

Raleigh’s premiere Bollywood-fusion dance competition will take place at NC State’s Stewart Theater in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Teams from several universities will compete in the fast-paced dance competition. For more details, visit www.facebook.com/OakCityRevolution/.

The 2019 North Carolina Rice Festival will be held between March 6 & 8, 2020 at various locations within the city of Leland, NC. This event will showcase live music all 3 days along with arts & crafts vendors, art contests, rice cooking contest, a kids’ play area and a beer garden for the adults. For more information, contact 910-795-0292 or ncricefestival@gmail.com.

Saathee.com

Thalavadyan Concert: Charlotte, NC (March 22, 2020)

The Classical Music Association of Charlotte (CMAC) presents Thalavadyam Concert, an instrumental ensemble featuring violin, ghatam, thavil, and keyboards, on Sunday March 22, 2020 at the Gandhi Bhavan, Hindu Center, 7400 City View Dr., Charlotte. The performance begins at 3:30pm. For more details, call 704-814-9355 or visit www.onlinecmac.org.

24

January 2020

Upcoming Movie Releases January 17

January 3

Bad Boys for Life (Directors: Adil el-Arbi and Bilall Fallah) Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, and Joe Pantoliano

The Grudge (Director: Nicolas Pesce) Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Demián Bichir, John Cho, Lin Shaye, Jacki Weaver, Betty Gilpin, and William Sadler

Jai Mummy Di (Director: Navjot Gulati) Cast: Sunny Singh Nijjar, Sonnalli Seygall, Supriya Pathak, and Poonam Dhillon

Happy Hardy and Heer (Director: Raka) Cast: Himesh Reshammiya and Sonia Mann

January 10 Just Mercy (Director: Destin Daniel Cretton) Cast: Michael B Jordan, Brie Larson, O’Shea Jackson Jr, Tim Blake Nelson, and Jamie Foxx

Ae Kaash Ke Hum (Director: Vishal Mishra) Cast: Vivaan Shah, Priya Singh, and Sophiya Singh

Dolittle (Director: Stephen Gaghan) Cast: Robert Downey, Jr, Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, Kumail Nanjiani, and Ralph Fiennes

Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (Director: Om Raut) Cast: Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan, Kajol, Japapati Babu, and Sharad Keikar

1917 (Director: Sam Mendes) Cast: George MacKay, DeanCharles Chapman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Nabhaan Rizwan, & Mark Strong

January 24 Street Dancer (Director: Remo D’Souza) Cast: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhu Deva, and Sonam Bajwa

The Informer (Director: Om Raut) Cast: Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Common, Ana de Armas, and Clive Owen

Chhapaak (Director: Megha Gulzar) Cast: Deepika Padukone, Vikrant Massey, and Rohit Sukhwani

The Turning (Director: Fiora Sigismondi) Cast: Mackenzie Davis, Brooklynn Prince, Joely Richardson, and Niall Greig Fulton

Panga (Director: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Jassi Gill, Richa Chadha & Neena Gupta

Underwater (Director: William Eubank) Cast: Kristen Stewart, T.J. Miller, John Gallagher, Jr, Jessica Henwick, Mamoudou Athie, Gunner Wright, & Vincent Cassel Saathee.com

26

continued on page 94 January 2020

Film Clips Happy Hardy and Heer

Director Raka guides the cast of Happy Hardy and Heer, which includes Himesh Reshammiya and Sonia Mann. Happy and Heer grow up as best friends, with Happy falling for Heer over the years. When she moves to London, Happy goes with her on the pretext of getting a job. He hopes that she will fall for him too but she soon meets Hardy, who was born and brought up in the UK. Hardy is a self-made entrepreneur while Happy is light-hearted and carefree. Who will Heer choose? The film opens on January 3.

Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior

Veteran actors Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan, and Kajol star in the Om Raut directed epic Tanhaji, the Unsung Warrior. The film is based on the life of Tanaji Malusare, a 17th-century Maharashtrian Marathi military leader. The action-packed period drama also stars Japapati Babu and Sharad Keikar. Look for it in movie theaters beginning January 10.

Kajol Wraps the Film Tribhanga

Producer Siddharth P. Malhotra has just wrapped up the shoot of Tribhanga– a Netflix original with Kajol Devgn in the lead role.

Tribhanga is directed by actress Renuka Shahane. Malhotra has produced movies and TV shows like We are Family, Hichki, Zee 5’s web series Kaafir and Sanjivani, Dill Mill Gayee, Sanjivani 2, all of his works show women in a strong light. Tribhanga is a complex tale of three women who are from three different generations but belong to the same family. The film also stars Kunaal Roy Kapur and Tanvi Azmi. No release date has been announced.

Saathee.com

Street Dancer

The Forgotten Army

Chhapaak

Director Meghna Gulzar tells the true story of a woman who was attacked with acid on a New Delhi street in 2005. Deepika Padukone portrays the protagonist in the film that also stars Vikrant Massey and Rohit Sukhwani.

Through Padukone’s character Malti, the film makes an attempt to understand the onground consequences of surviving an acid attack in India, the medicolegal-social state of affairs that transpires after the acid has been hurled and the face is irreparably burnt. Gulzar’s last film was the acclaimed Raazi. Look for Chhapaak in cinemas beginning on January 10.

Chandra Bose. The Forgotten Army brings to life the story of Lt. Sodhi’s daring group of men and women fighting for the liberation of their country from the grips of British colonial ruling in the 1940’s. The series tells the tale of India’s battle under historic Indian nationalist Subhas Chandra Bose, whose defiant patriotism made him a hero in India but whose attempt during WWII to rid India of the British rule with the help of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan left a troubled legacy. The Forgotten Army will depict the journey and sacrifice of the Indian National Army from the point of view of its soldiers. The series is being directed by Kabir Khan who is one of India’s most successful filmmakers. The Forgotten Army, a 5-episode limited series, marks Khan’s digital debut.

Amazon Prime Video is gearing up for the worldwide streaming launch of the web-series The Forgotten Army to be released early January to mark, the Republic Day of India. The Forgotten Army chronicles the dynamic story of Lieutenant Sodhi and his army of heroic men and women fighting for Indian Independence during World War II as part of the Indian National Army led by the charismatic Indian leader Subhash 28

Varun Dhawan is the lead character in Street Dancer, directed by veteran Remo D’Souza. The film weaves a comin-of-age tale based on the lives of street dancers.

Other cast members include Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhu Deva, Raghav Juyal, Dharmesh Yelande, Punit Pathak, Nora Fatehi, Shakti Mohan, Jigar Rupareliya, and Aparshakti Khurana. The movie opens in theaters on January 24.

Panga

Panga is inspired from the life of a national level Kabbadi player from India. It follows her triumphs, struggle and overcoming of stereotypes. It shows how important the love and support of your family is for you to be successful. The film, directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, stars Kangana Ranaut, Jassi Gill, Richa Chadha, and Neena Gupta. It opens on January 24.

January 2020

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January 2020

Risks to Groundwater in India’s Solar Irrigation Pump Expansion Cheap solar power, widely available, could worsen India’s already depleted aquifers.

Irrigated fields outside of Delhi. Photo J. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue

By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue

she said, surplus electricity could be used to pump more water.

Other water-saving policies should be linked to the solar pump expansion, Singh added. Efficient irrigation equipment should be subsidized, and collecting and storing rainwater should be policy objectives, too. “There is no incentive for the farmer to be judicious with the water supply,” Singh lamented.

Karen Villholth, a researcher who specializes in groundwater at the International Water Management Institute, praised the CSE report for its comprehensive assessment of solar irrigation, including groundwater.

India’s drive to install millions of solarpowered irrigation pumps has worthy intentions.

The government aims to lift farm productivity and boost rural income while relieving the state of a budget-draining subsidy for electric power.

But if not carefully implemented, researchers warn, the solar pump program, which subsidizes installation costs, could backfire in a significant way: by accelerating the draining of India’s groundwater.

“Free power leads to groundwater exploitation,” Mandvi Singh of the Center for Science and Environment, a New Delhibased research and advocacy group, told Circle of Blue. Singh, the co-author of a report that criticizes the government’s execution of the solar pump program, pointed to empirical evidence from the northern state of Punjab, where grid power is nearly free for farmers and groundwater levels have declined precipitously since 1997 when the policy was introduced.

India’s central and state governments want to unbind farmers from unreliable, centralized grid power. Thus the solar irrigation pump program, known by its acronym KUSUM. The Modi government, as part of a nationwide embrace of solar power, aims to install 1.75 million solar pumps that are not connected to the grid and 1 million that are. The equipment is subsidized by 60 to 90 percent, depending on the state.

KUSUM is still in its early days — about 240,000 pumps have been installed, nearly all in the last five years — but the potential for solar irrigation growth is enormous. India is home to more than 21 million electric pumps and 9 million diesel pumps, according to the CSE report.

Singh said that while CSE favors solar power in general it objects to the manner in which the solar pump program is being carried out. All solar pumps should be connected to the grid and a reasonable feed-in tariff should be established so that farmers can sell back electricity they do not need. Otherwise, Saathee.com

Just outside the village of Parchh in India’s northern Punjab state, Nagh Singh, in this photo taken in December 2012, stands in front of the irrigation well that he has owned for close to 30 years. About 15 families who together sharecrop three hectares of neighboring land rely on this water, which runs for 18 to 20 hours per day every 20 days or so, when the electricity is coming through the lines. Photo J. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue

“It is commended for focusing on the issue of potential impacts on groundwater resources, which is often neglected, or only addressed in a piecemeal fashion,” Villholth wrote in an email to Circle of Blue. “Clear strategies, implementation of models and assessment of impacts of such strategies are clearly needed, to make sure solar irrigation in the longer term is both equitable and sustainable.” continued on page 92

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January 2020

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January 2020

Dances of India

By Dr. Maha Gingrich

describing all aspects of dance. This book includes the basic techniques called Adavus; position of the feet and body; single and double hand gestures called Asamyuktha and Samyuktha hasthas; Shiro Bhedas-or head movements; Drishti Bhedas or eye movements; Bhru Bhedas or eyebow movements; Griva Bhedas or neck movements; Nava rasaa or nine emotions and so on.

Global Popularity of Bharatha natyam

Diaspora of Indians who have migrated and settled abroad practicing, performing, and teaching Bharatha Natyam has made this beautiful dance form globally recognized, admired and adapted. When presented in its purity, this South Indian dance style is projected as one of the most subtle, sophisticated, and graceful dance forms in the world.

Popularity of this dance form also has its roots tied to the fabulous and heart touching performances of great gurus of this field. I have to recognize the passion of many parents who want their children to learn this dance form either to fulfil their own childhood dreams or because they hope their children will learn about the epics and the rich Indian culture through dance. Due to the amazing survival of this dance form, irrespective of the changes in repertoire and modes of presentation from time to time and from region to region, the basic principles and techniques of the art remained the same to the present day.

Guru Shishya Parampara: Even in the age of technology, a complicated dance form like this cannot be learned without the careful guidance of a guru.

All established dancers themselves will say it starts with the great Gurus being treasure troves of knowledge, not just book learned or theoretical. They had the heritage of a practical methodology and wisdom. They had the ability to be intuitive in their teachings. They were deeply connected with the inner beings of their disciples. They taught more than dancing. They helped us to recognize our inner and outer selves. They taught their students as much by what they said as by what they did not say. They allowed us to nurture and develop our own epistemologies. It is this harmonious blend of relationship between guru and the disciple that renders the transcendent experience in dancing. If you think you can watch a video or a YouTube training video to learn this dance form, I strongly challenge you to compare these dances to the ones taught Source: Let us start with the source of this name. The word directly by a knowledgeable guru.

“Bharatha” is believed to be composed of the first syllable of its continued on page 78 three main elements: BHA for Bhava - meaning mood/expressions Dr. Maha Gingrich RA for Raga - meaning melody/tune/song THA for Thala - meaning rhythmic timing/beat For questions or comments contact NATYAM - meaning the combination of both dancing and acting. via e-mail at: Gingrichmaha@gmail.com It is also known that Sage Bharatha has written the great book Natya Sastra (The great treatise on dramaturgy), Saathee.com

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January 2020

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Namaskar Y’all

Reflections and a few confessions as an Indian American in the Carolinas

By Shyama Parui

Chatting over Chai

It was Thanksgiving afternoon when our family of friends gathered to enjoy a sumptuous feast. The post lunch discussion was unsurprisingly focused on food and as soon as the sugar slump set in, the topic diverted to tea. The mention of this stimulant was enough to infuse us with the energy needed for planning a tea party. And thus, an elaborate excuse to get together over chai pani was set in motion even before we had fully digested the previous meal.

If apple pie is quintessentially American, chai (tea) is its beloved Indian counterpart. In its most popular avatar, chai is brewed with ginger or cardamom, lightened with milk and served steaming hot at pretty much any time of the day. Don’t mistake tea sellers, whether they offer cutting chai on the street corners of Mumbai or serve fragrant tea in earthen cups all over rural India, as mere merchants of a popular drink. They are therapists, informers, and artists in disguise, capable of expertly creating an invigorating sensory journey.

As I write, I am drawn to the allure of its refreshing aroma.

Chai has evolved as the morning fuel enjoyed with breakfast Saathee.com

favorites like toast or poha (flattened rice), an afternoon ritual served with biscuits specially made to be dunked, a recharger one craves for after a long day at work, or the perfect accompaniment to your TV show. Born in a family of tea lovers, I was and still am the odd person out for favoring coffee. Make no mistake, I will not decline any offer of tea. From childhood to adolescence, cha, as Bengalis say it, was the topic of much discussion in our family.

My mother’s survival as the caretaker of six children relied heavily on consuming at least four petite cups of tea a day, whereas my father presented arguments against the innocent beverage at every opportunity. His cautious words somehow did not deter my siblings from adopting cha as their drink of choice once they had graduated from Bournvita. One thing that still perplexes me is how my sisters paired jhal muri (puffed rice continued on page 94

Shyama Parui

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Star Wars: The Mandalorian The Good, the Bad, and the Baby Yoda “I can bring you in warm, or I can bring you in cold.” ~ The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal)

Our protagonist takes the job despite seeing that his client has some former Imperial ties. The show takes place five years after Return of the Jedi so most Imperial characters who appear are either in hiding or are prisoners of war.

The Mando goes to get the bounty, only to discover that it’s a child of the same race as Jedi Master Yoda. The target is said to be 50 years old, but the kid looks to be no more than a toddler. Our Mando takes quite a liking to The Child (named “Baby Yoda” by fans) and ultimately decides to adopt the kiddo and rescues him from the former Imperials.

The show then delves into various scenarios with the Mando taking on various bounties and other tasks with Baby Yoda tagging along. It’s interesting to see all the other characters that the Mando runs into. Sometimes it’s old associates from his past, and other times it’s simply serendipitously finding a like-minded individual who’s willing to help.

The show has an impressive cast with notable appearances

by Carl Weathers, Asif Ali, Nick Nolte, Natalia Tena, Clancy Brown, Omid Abtahi, Richard Ayoade, Giancarlo Esposito, Ming-Na Wen, Taika Watiti, Gina Carano, and even legendary German director Werner Herzog. Part of the fun of each episode is to see which guest stars will appear and who they will play, and the credits only reveal who each guest is after the episode has run.

The core of the show is Pedro Pascal and how he reacts to each situation the Mando gets himself into, and the Baby Yoda character who is shown to be highly intelligent and yet still very curious and playful like any toddler. Since Pascal is shown wearing his helmet throughout the show (which is explained), it’s quite impressive that he can be relatable character simply through voice work and physical stunts.

The Child is rendered through various puppeteers similar to how Yoda was performed in the films and they do a good job of making him as adorable as possible. In fact, both characters have already become so popular that internet Memes and catch phrases have already sprang up amongst Geek culture.

When Disney initially announced that they were planning a live action TV series based on Star Wars, I was both skeptical “This is the way.” ~ Mandalorian proverb and hopeful. When they then said that it would have a Mandalorian as its main character, I was excited. When they cast Pedro Pascal as said main character, I was ready to dive in.

The first season, created by Jon Favreau, consists of eight episodes with For those who are not up on some of their Star Wars lore, a a 2nd season already ordered for some time later in 2020. The series is Mandalorian initially were a type of elite soldiers for the Empire available on the Disney+ streaming service. with a strict code of honor (akin to Sikh Warriors or Samurai).

After a long war with two Sith (dark side force users) nearly wiped them out, the remaining Mandalorians became guns for Jennifer Allen hire, but with the community still holding onto their code. Not all bounty hunters in the Star Wars universe are Mandalorians, works at Saathee and is also a Podcaster, Blogger, Photographer and it’s not easy to become one either. & Graphic Artist .

The show introduces Pedro Pascal’s Mandalorian as a sort of Clint Eastwood-esqe “Man with no name” type, often simply referred to as “Mando” by his constituents and clients. He is Saathee.com

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January 2020

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January 2020

College Admissions Insider

By Lindsey Conger

resume, but also their LinkedIn profile. Your LinkedIn profile serves as a portfolio to add any research papers, pictures from service projects, or videos of you performing an extracurricular activity.

Four Things Students Should Do If They Are Deferred From Their Dream University

3. Ask for another letter of recommendation. Ask a supervisor at an internship, coach, teacher, or manager at a job to write you a letter of recommendation. This recommendation should add something new to your application. Make sure you are asking someone who you have a close relationship with and can speak about the positive aspects of your personality.

4. Write a deferral letter. If you are still committed to attending the school, you should send a letter of continued interest. This letter should be about one page in length. It is important you send the letter immediately.

The purpose of this letter is to demonstrate how you are now a stronger candidate for the university than when you first applied, helping to sway the admissions officers’ decision in your favor.

How to Write the Deferral Letter The letter must display your continued interest in attending the school. In the first paragraph, convey why the school remains your top choice. Don’t lie; only write a deferral letter if you are committed to attending.

Next, describe your most recent accomplishments. Update the admissions officers on things that have occurred since you applied. You want to make your candidate profile stronger, and showcase why you would be a great asset to the university.

Here are some examples of things to include: • High test scores on standardized tests (ACT, SAT) • High grades in challenging courses • Accomplishments in extracurricular activities like music, sports, DECA, HOSA, Science Olympiad, National College admissions early decisions are starting to come out, Honors Society, etc. and some students might get an unexpected answer back: a • Shadowing or volunteer hours deferral.

• Independent projects, such as research A deferral is similar to the limbo of college admissions— you aren’t quite into the university, but you aren’t rejected yet End the letter by restating why this particular university is either. When the university defers you, it means that the school sees potential in your application, but the admissions officers the right fit for you. Don’t repeat things you’ve already want to evaluate your application again during the regular mentioned in your supplemental essays or personal statement; be specific and personal. decision cycle.

Once you have finished writing your deferral letter, email it to the admissions office.

If you do get deferred, here are four steps you should take.

Do not delay sending it!

1. Decide if the university is still your top option. Is the university still your “dream school?” Or have things changed since you have sent in your application? If another school might be a better fit for you, this deferment has opened up your options for you, and a chance for you to reconsider your college list.

2. Update your resume and LinkedIn. Think about your recent accomplishments, updated test scores, or accolades you might have achieved throughout the last couple of months. Our students send in not only a Saathee.com

46

Lindsey Conger

Lindsey is a College Counselor and tutor at Moon Prep. She helps students create memorable personal statements and tutors students to increase their academic profile to universities. www.moonprep.com January 2020

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January 2020

Spot the Differences See if you can spot the 15 dierences between the original photo on the left and modiďŹ ed one on the right. Answers are on pg 120.

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January 2020

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January 2020

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Main level features an open layout with gorgeous hardwood floors, 2story entry hall, eyecatching winding staircase that splits toward formal and informal living spaces, fully equipped Laundry, built-in Drop Zone, and Butler’s Pantry. 2-story Great Room features surround sound and gas log fireplace. Guest Bedroom with full Bath conveniently located on main level. The beautifully appointed Kitchen will delight any cook. Upper level features two Bedrooms with Jack & Jill Bath, and a third Bedroom with ensuite Bath. The Master Bedroom is a welcome retreat with Sitting Room, 3-sided fireplace and luxurious Master Bath with jetted tub. The third level Media room is perfect for unwinding or entertaining with surround sound, theater seating, and screen. The private backyard has a roomy deck that leads down to a paver patio. Beautifully landscaped home with front and rear in-ground irrigation. Don’t miss this one!! $529,000

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The chef's kitchen has new cabinets and appliances. You will love cooking & entertaining here. The large family room has a wall of windows. The Master bedroom on main has sitting area and 2 large walk-in closets. The main floor has its own wing w/ office, conference room & separate entrance. The gorgeous brand new sweeping staircase with night lights leads you to the 2nd floor with 3 additional bedrooms and an exercise room/or bonus. The apartment has 1 bedroom, large open kitchen, breakfast area, hearth room, family room and study, 2nd floor terrace. This home has 4 garages & plenty of parking. $949,000

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4. The Thar is a subtropical desert and the thinly populated grasslands support wildlife such as blackbucks, chikara (gazelles), and some feathered game like partridges and quail.

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January 2020

Nutrition for Life

By Parul Kharod

According to Eco Watch, we currently dump the equivalent of one garbage truck per day into the ocean every minute. And there’s enough plastic thrown away to circle the Earth four times.

It’s now predicted that by 2025 there will be eight million metric tons of plastic in our oceans, equivalent to 100 bags of plastic per foot of coastline in the world. And by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans. There is a dire need to make lifestyle changes now to save the planet so our kids can live safely on this planet.

Food Service, Parties and Events Make a Resolution to Reduce Plastic Waste

This column is generally focused on what we eat. This time we will start the New Year by being introspective about how we serve the food that we eat.

We know that desis love to party! Every weekend there is some event going on either in a home or a club house or at the temple. When we have a gettogether, the main attraction is the food, which is usually served on Styrofoam or plastic plates, with plastic spoons and forks. The used plates, spoons, cups, and napkins are all disposed in multiple plastic garbage bags. If the food is catered – whether via a restaurant or through multiple home based caterers, that food is also brought in disposable containers.

Have you ever thought about how much trash one party generates?

Multiply that by the number of parties happening in the area, and multiply that by the number of parties in a year.

Multiply that by all the events happening around the world, and we have created mountains of trash!

Saathee.com

What is Styrofoam and why is it so bad for the health and environment?

• Styrofoam is made from polystyrene, a petroleum-based plastic; it is very hard to break down. It is said that it requires more than a million years to decompose!

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Toxicology Report have classified styrene as a carcinogen, causing leukemia and lymphoma cancer.

• The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that chronic exposure is harmful to the nervous and respiratory systems and can cause kidney and liver damage. continued on page 78

Parul Kharod, MS, RD, LDN

is a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist and works as a Clinical Dietitian with Outpatient Nutrition Services at WakeMed Hospital in Cary and Raleigh. She can be reached at parulkharod@gmail.com 58

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January 2020

Thinking About Thinking

By Balaji Prasad

And that our mind is not a pretty one. It conjures up all kinds of nonsense that don’t bear resemblance to anything in the real world. We have the dubious gift of being able to create a completely parallel universe that attempts to finesse the real one that it purports to model.

If the real world is earth, our minds are outer space, and we can go there in the blink of an I.

I Think, Therefore I Cram “Cogito, ergo sum.”

(I think, therefore I am) ~Rene Descartes

Thinking is not all that it’s cut out to be. The world is strange, and everything is not as it appears to be.

From good to bad in 60 seconds Don’t great intentions and visions sometimes take things in a direction that we least expected them to? Let’s take the education system. The vision is that young malleable minds get shaped by mature minds with deep knowledge of the things that matter, so that they are positioned to think better, live better and be better than they otherwise would. Maybe some of that does happen. But does it also come with collateral damage that we didn’t quite foresee?

Do we get children who end up calibrated by artificial metrics that make them feel things about Over time, a themselves and others that may be human head can unhealthy? Do we create kids who come to cram in learn to be competitive about the wrong things? And perhaps even all kinds of parents who end up in proxy wars via nonsense... their kids? Do we have kids who are compelled to engage in contrived activities that are valued by colleges, but that are little more than shams designed to pander to the whims of a college selection committee?

All that collateral damage would be okay if the original intent of education, i.e. better thinking and living, were delivered to a large degree. But often, it is not. We may end up knowing which king cut off his opponent’s head in the year 1272 during the xyz war, or know how to do complex-number fractions without ever understanding what a complex number is, and why we even care.

Please accept my apologies for selecting education as the “whipping boy” but we needed a good example, and it is easier, though unkind, to use something that everyone seems to tear into nowadays. The point of the example is to illustrate that any “good” idea can turn out to be pretty bad in the end. The devil is in the details of how things pan out when idea meets realworld, not how noble the intent is.

Earth is hard, but outer space is worse The real world is a pretty wild place. It holds all kinds of possibilities, try as we might to bring it all under our control.

The wise among us sometimes detect the distinct, uneasy feeling that arises when we have unwittingly ended up catching a tiger by its tail. Some of us, though, plod along blissfully until the tiger savages us. Which is better is hard to say – to live in anxiety of being mauled, or to be in an ignorant bliss until we’re torn to pieces. Regardless, the point is that the real world is not easily predictable.

But it gets worse! If we worry that reality has a mind of its own, we can surely see that we have a mind of our own too!

Saathee.com

62

I think, therefore I cram Over time, a human head can come to cram in all kinds of nonsense, pushed at it from everywhere and by everyone. It is possible to believe that something is something when it is decidedly not that something. And, to label this “knowledge”.

It is also possible to think in ways that are inconsistent with how the real world works. We humans have been quite innovative in this regard, and have found countless ways to distance ourselves from the reality that we find ourselves in.

(Without naming names, suffice it to say that there are numerous pieces of nonsense that many among us subscribe deeply to).

One of the craziest of all ideas that we come to believe is the “I”. It is not that there isn’t some entity on this side of the page, writing these words; clearly there is. But we might take issue with the manner in which the thing – this I-thing – is conceived: with a sense of identity that seems to originate from within, but which may be mostly imported from others, and plays more to an external audience.

If I live in a parallel universe and try to remote-control the real world from there, how good am I likely to be at this task?

Probably not very, I am saddened to project.

So maybe I can learn to distrust myself a little? Maybe even a lot? Then maybe I can live more on earth, and less in outer space? And while reality is wild, maybe it is a little less wild than the thing I call “me”, and if I free myself from “me” then maybe I would be able to devote myself more to the real thing.

And live. Actually live!

Balaji Prasad

is an IIT/IIM graduate, a published author, SAT/ACT Online and in-person Coach, and K-12 Math Tutor at NewCranium. balaji.prasad@newcranium.com

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Buy Right, Sit Tight Rational side of the investing pendulum

By Amit Rupani

stock market would die if there is no volatility. Volatility is the heartbeat of the stock market and we have to live with it.

It’s just how this beast works.

Investing Tenets for 2020 & Beyond

5. Market Rewards Patience, Discipline, and Consistency disproportionately: According to one study, done by Fidelity in 2014, showed that the investment accounts with best performance were of people who forgot they had an account at Fidelity. Vermont based one-time janitor and gas station attendant showed with his frugal lifestyle and long-term investment philosophy how he accumulated a portfolio worth $8 million over his lifetime. Anne Scheiber, a retired IRS agent who amassed $22 million in wealth (Scheiber died in 1995, so adjusted for inflation, that’s around $36 million in today’s purchasing power). In the mid-1940s, she retired with lump sum capital savings of $5000 and pension of roughly $3,150. All these are inspiring stories! The common denominator in all these stories is extremely long-term investment horizon and patience. Something to sincerely learn from these stories.

Dear Readers, wish you a very Happy New Year! In equities investing, the right temperament is more important than IQ. And right temperament can be built by better understanding how this beast, the “stock market” works over a longer period of time. I have shared some of the important tenets in this article which should help an investor to keep right mind-set as we get into 2020 and beyond.

1. Mean reversion is one the greatest truisms of capitalism: The stock market doesn’t move in a straight line forever. The market is always forward looking and preempts where the general economy is headed. It moves in cycles just like the economy which leads to bull and bear cycles. Cycles can last for years or sometime decades. We won’t know what is going to happen tomorrow but we can prepare for tomorrow knowing where we stand today within existing cycle.

6. Power of compounding: In the midst of daily market 2. Keep low (realistic) return expectations: The S&P500 has movements, investors neglect the power of compounding given roughly 9.50 percent annual return over last 119 years over a long period of time. The following table indicates the with dividends reinvested. An investor with long-term time compounded value of 100,000 at different rates for 10, 20, and horizon shouldn’t expect more than 9.50 percent return from 30 years. It is remarkable to see how small differences in rates the markets. Instead of living with high expectations and add up to a very significant sums over long period of time. worrying about what will come next, Charlie Munger suggests you “slug it out one inch at a time, day-by-day, and at the end of the day — if you live long enough — like most people, you will get out of life what you deserve.” Charlie Munger’s recommendation to keep low expectation fits well Investing in equities is a marathon, not a sprint. Happy Investing! with both stock market and life.

3. Time in the market and not timing the market: One of the biggest costs of market timing is being out when the market unexpectedly surges upward, potentially missing some of the best-performing moments. For example, an investor, believing the market would go down, sells off equities and places the money in more conservative investments. While the money is out of stocks, the market instead enjoys a highperforming period. The investor has, therefore, incorrectly timed the market and missed those top months. The opposite of market timing is buying and holding as the market goes through its cycles.

Amit Rupani, CFA

is an Independent Investor, practices Value Investing principles, manages money for longterm wealth creation through Equities asset class. Email: rupaniamit@yahoo.com

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4. Volatility: An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a medical test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. It closely resembles with a stock chart of any normal stock traded in the market. It goes up, goes down, bounces from low, falls from peak, but never moves in a straight horizontal line. A straight horizontal line in an ECG would mean that a person’s heart has stopped beating and is dead. Similarly, the Saathee.com

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Group Satya Narayan Katha Reserve your spot for Group Purnima Katha for minimum donation of $51 Bring Coconut, 5 types of fruits, flowers, 5 Paan leaves, 5 Supari and small bowl of halwa/nuts

Call: 704-535-3440 JAN 9th VIHAR HALL 6:30PM TO 8 PM I FEB 8th TEMPLE 6:30 PM TO 8 PM MAR 8th VIHAR HALL 6:30PM TO 8 PM I APR 7th TEMPLE 6:30 PM TO 8 PM MAY 6th TEMPLE 6:30PM TO 8 PM I JUN 4th VIHAR HALL 6:30 PM TO 8 PM JUL 4th VIHAR HALL 6:30PM TO 8PM I AUG 2nd VIHAR HALL 10:30 AM TO 12 PM SEPT 1st TEMPLE 6:30PM TO 8 PM I SEPT 30th TEMPLE 6:30 PM TO 8 PM OCT 30th TEMPLE 6:30PM TO 8 PM I NOV 29th TEMPLE 10:30 AM TO 12 PM DEC 29th TEMPLE 6:30 PM TO 8 PM

HINDU CENTER Puja:

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Jan 12, 2020

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by Kari/Bhogi Pallu & Mahaprasad

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Sunday, Noon to 5 pm, Weather permitting.

Kites,Threads and Food will be available for small donation

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Dhuleti:

Mirror, Mirror

A Conversation From the Outside Looking in...

2019: A Year of Rage against the Status Quo

By Jennifer Allen

journalism is just reposting the same stories with all the wrong facts, and media in general has taken on an “anything for ratings” philosophy instead of simply posting the news as it is.

Was it cast for the mass who burn and toil?

At the same time, your computer screens and social networks Or for the vultures who thirst for blood and oil?

Yes, a spectacle monopolized are littered with misleading “click bait” headlines to keep you They hold the reins and stole your eyes on the page and politicians seem more interested in the finding ~ “Guerilla Radio” by Rage Against the Machine businesses to finance their campaigns rather than speak with the voters they are representing.

While we are now into the first month of a brand new But something changed in 2019. decade in the 21st Century, one can’t help but look back at this past year and the sheer amount of turbulence which struck the continued on page 88 news media from month to month. From Brexit to potential presidential Impeachment, the whole world was struck with a Jennifer Allen sense of “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going take this anymore!” works at Saathee and is also to quote the famous line from Network. Even though that film a Podcaster, Blogger, Photographer came out in 1976, the speech feels more relevant now than its & Graphic Artist . release nearly 40 years prior.

We now live in a society where reality TV is king, tabloid Saathee.com

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January 2020

Subcontinental Divide An Indian Subcontinent & America Dialogue

By Ahsen Jillani

How not to Make a Million Dollars

“Live comfortably, but not extravagantly.” It was 1980, and I was a starving student standing in freezing rain at a telephone booth being lectured by my dad from Thailand.

I was a father myself when a dozen years out from that conversation, I had an epiphany looking at my dad the economist handwriting his weekly newspaper column on a clipboard while lounging in his retirement dream – his bed. You see, lots of things had happened in the oddly smooth course of my life that I was totally clueless about until life punched me in my blue collar gut. I was born literally 13 years after the partition of India. The educated elite who were brought up in prestige colleges in colonial India were off to Ivy League educations and returning to lead the country into a promising future.

These were days when Pakistan’s handsome general president would entertain people like Jackie Kennedy and actually airlift gift racehorses to America for her. Those were days when America threw ticker-tape parades for Pakistan’s leadership during Washington state visits. With the best airline in Asia, open trade with Russia, and an extremely cozy Saathee.com

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relationship with America struggling to find a cold war strategy for Asia, Pakistan had the best of all worlds.

But the world of parenting is a stranger animal. Coming straight out of the University of Chicago with a shiny PhD degree, my father had to maintain a lifestyle commensurate with what he had just left behind in the New World. There had to be entertainment, the high fashion, the newest innovations, the burgers, the ice cream, the car, the drive-in theaters … probably even the secret high-dollar scotch tucked under the dining room cabinet.

I spent my childhood in the bubble that was trying to make Pakistan look like America—minus the wages to support the lifestyle. With large rental homes and servants and Chinese dinners and the newest cars, my dad’s journey from being Chair of the Sociology department in Karachi to a Deputy continued on page 92

Ahsen Jillani

a former editor and publisher, is originally from Islamabad , Pakistan , and now lives in Mint Hill. He owns Must Media, a PR company focusing on both political and corporate clients.

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How Can We Make Sure that Algorithms are

Fair?

By Karthik Kannan, theconversation.com

When people are illogical To humans, fairness is often at the heart of a good decision.

Decision-making tends to rely on both the emotional and rational centers of our brains, what Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman calls System 1 and System 2 thinking. Decision theorists believe that the emotional centers of the brain have been quite well developed across the ages, while brain areas involved in rational or logical thinking evolved more recently.

The rational and logical part of the brain, what Kahneman calls System 2, has given humans an advantage over other species.

However, because System 2 was more recently developed, human decision-making is often buggy. This is why many decisions are illogical, inconsistent and suboptimal.

For example, preference reversal is a well-known yet illogical phenomenon that people exhibit: In it, a person who prefers choice A over B and B over C does not necessarily prefer A over C. Or consider that researchers have found that criminal court judges tend to be more lenient with parole decisions right after lunch breaks than at the close of the day.

Part of the problem is that our brains have trouble precisely computing probabilities without appropriate training. We often use irrelevant information or are influenced by extraneous factors. This is where machine intelligence can be helpful.

Using machines to augment human activity is nothing new. Egyptian hieroglyphs show the use of horse-drawn carriages even before 300 B.C. Ancient Indian literature such as “Silapadikaram” has described animals being used for farming. And one glance outside shows that today people use motorized vehicles to get around.

In the past human beings have augmented ourselves in physical ways and now the nature of augmentation also is more intelligent. Again, all one needs to do is look to cars – engineers are seemingly on the cusp of self-driving cars guided by artificial intelligence. Other devices are in various stages of becoming more intelligent. Along the way, interactions between people and machines are changing.

Machine and human intelligences bring different strengths to the table. Researchers like me are working to understand how algorithms can complement human skills while at the same time minimizing the liabilities of relying on machine intelligence. As a machine learning expert, I predict there will soon be a new balance between human and machine intelligence, a shift that humanity hasn’t encountered before.

Such changes often elicit fear of the unknown, and in this case, one of the unknowns is how machines make decisions.

This is especially so when it comes to fairness. Can machines be fair in a way that people understand?

Saathee.com

Machines are logical…to a fault Well-designed machine intelligence can be consistent and useful in making optimal decisions. By their nature, they can be logical in the mathematical sense – they simply don’t stray from the program’s instruction. In a well-designed machinelearning algorithm, one would not encounter the illogical 74

continued on page 113

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Personal Finances

By Mo Vidwans

Avoid an IRS Audit Watch out for These Red Flags

Now that a new year has arrived and the holidays and the festivities are behind us, kids are off to school again or will be shortly, our thoughts should be slowly turning to getting ready for the new tax season, particularly getting the paperwork ready and thinking of what deductions, exemptions and dependents we can take/claim etc. You may even have a preliminary tax return already done so that it will give you some idea what refund you should expect.

Tax preparation can be a bit scary at times and the thought that goes through many filers is will I get audited; what are the odds?

Most people can breathe easy.

The vast majority of individual returns escape the IRS audit machine. In 2017, the latest data that is available, the individual audit rate was 0.6 percent which converts to one out of every 167 returns filed.

More than 77 percent of these were handled by mail, meaning that taxpayer never had to meet an IRS agent in person. They just have a question or two about the way you may have put your numbers together for W2s or one of the 1099s or medical expenses and if a satisfactory answer is given by mail then that is the end of that. You don’t hear from the IRS again.

But there are red flags that the IRS consistently looks for.

As mentioned above, although the audit rate is low, your chances at the unenviable audit lottery go up depending on various factors such as 1) the complexity of your return 2) the types and amounts of deductions or other tax breaks you claim and 3) whether you happened to still be engaged in a business.

Many folks from Asia have a side business going and occasionally their better judgment gets clouded by the thoughts of not declaring everything on the tax returns to save some taxes. Also, higher income tax payers have a greater audit risk.

A vast majority of the income statements we receive are covered by W2s and various kinds of 1099s and other documents. Be assured of the fact that a copy of the same goes to the IRS. Its computer crosschecks all such forms with whatever you have claimed on your return and if there is a mismatch the computer will spit out a notice that will be mailed to you. These notices are not counted as part of the audit accounted in the 0.6 percent number mentioned above. Hence, failing to report any taxable income from any wages, dividends, interests, pensions, IRA distributions, SSA benefits and other sources (for which you may not have the usual documents mentioned above) will almost certainly draw unwanted attention from the IRS. Be sure to report all income, even if you have not received paperwork such as 1099. For example, if you Saathee.com

got paid for tutoring or as a personal trainer, may be for piano lessons, driving for Uber, selling crafts through Etsy or otherwise, making prom dresses (the list is endless), all that income is taxable.

Another big flag is claiming big deductions or other tax breaks – such as larger than normal charitable deductions or medical expenses. Now if your claims are legit and you have receipts for them and you can answer few questions when inquired, there is no problem, go ahead and take them. But if those write-offs are disproportionately large when compared with your income, your audit risk goes up because that is a factor in the IRS’s return selection process.

Taking a loss from investments or from the sale of rental property can also spike IRS’s curiosity.

If you are self employed or run a side business, Schedule C is a trove of tax deductions and consequently it is a gold mine for IRS agents. Business owners who have claimed a substantial loss on Schedule C or report at least $100,000 of gross receipts have a higher audit risk. Distinction between a hobby and a legit small business can get murky sometimes but not in the mind of IRS.

Handling an Audit As mentioned before, if it is a simple letter inquiry from IRS and you give a satisfactory answer then the matter ends there. If they are more serious about what they are asking and matters proceed to the point of you having to go into IRS office to see the agent then it is a different story. Maybe you can handle it yourself without getting panicky but if not, consider hiring professional help. It is always recommended that you have a lawyer, CPA or other tax professionals represent you before the IRS. This way the personal attachments, emotions, fear or stress are eliminated when the actual meeting happens. Find a practitioner who is experienced and familiar with the ins and outs of the audit procedures. It is like plumbing in your house, you want a professional to handle it if your floors are flooded.

The choice to bring in a professional depends on issues involved, complexity of the items and the dollar amount at stake among others.

Make sure though that you are prepared. Gather all the supporting documents. You can ask for extra time if you need it. Provide copies of the documents and not the originals and have a reasonable explanation for any discrepancies.

One thing is for sure: it is always better to try to do it right the first time. The error of admission is preferred to the error of omission.

Mo Vidwans

Vidwans is an independent, board certified financial planner. For details visit www.vidwansfinancial.com, call 984-888-0355 or write to mpvidwans@yahoo.com.

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January 2020

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Nutrition

continued from page 58

• Food in Styrofoam containers can be contaminated by chemicals that leach into the food, affecting human health and the reproductive systems. This is worse if people reheat the food in the container itself.

• Benzene is another ingredient used in making Styrofoam, and is also a known carcinogen.

• Another chemical used in making Styrofoam is Dioxene.

When Styrofoam is burnt for disposal, Dioxene is released into the environment leading to air pollution and health problems.

• As it is lightweight, it floats, and has created a huge garbage patch in the ocean harming the marine eco-system.

• As Styrofoam is so porous, it absorbs other pollutants and carcinogens, which are then consumed by fish.

was the first city to implement this service. Every ‘Bartan Bank’ has more than 3,000 sets of stainless steel utensils/cutlery (plates, bowls, glasses, spoons). So anybody in the area who needs utensils for get-togethers/function/parties can go to the bank and borrow the utensils as per their requirements, completely free of cost. Now such Bartan banks are being opened in several other cities in India. Could we do something similar in our communities?

new Year Resolution: Let us all take a pledge to reduce use of plastics in our daily lives.

Dances of India

continued from page 36

Major styles within Bharatha natyam: Due to the historic time periods and its backgrounds, many major styles were developed within this dance form. Some of them are: Melattur Style - This style is based on expressive acting and spontaneous movements.

Pandanallur Style - This style stresses on deep sitting positions and quite difficult to perform.

Vazhuvoor Style - This style the movements flow smoothly with rare leaps.

Kalakshetra Style - This style has hints of Devadasi style and is the most popular of all styles.

How are single-use plastics harmful to the environment?

• They are produced from petroleum chemicals • Plastics do not biodegrade; instead they slowly break down into smaller pieces of plastic called micro plastics.

Single-use plastics will remain in the oceans for centuries, killing marine Margam: life and damaging coral reefs.

A general format was established using a sequence of progressively hard dances to complete an Arangetram or Ranga What can we do?

Pravesham, or as we call it here a “Dance Graduation”.

Making changes to how you eat, drink and shop will make a This repertoire starts with Kauthvam or Alarippu and big difference. continues with Jathiswaram, Shabdam, Padam, Keerthanam, • Stop using plastic water bottles. Carry your own reusable Varnam and ends with Thillana. bottle.

Music: • Pack your own lunch and snacks in reusable containers.

The harmonious blend of Carnatic vocal music (South Pack your own forks/spoons.

Indian music style) and Bharatha Natyam has occurred as early • Carry your own shopping bags and avoid getting plastic as 1572 AD. Instruments such as flute, violin, Mridangam shopping bags.

(South Indian Drum), Ghatam (clay pot) etc. are used as • Carry your own reusable produce bags and avoid getting accompaniments. plastic bags for fruits and vegetables.

Costumes: • Do not use plastic straws, cling wrap, plastic zipper bags.

Many styles of dance costumes are being introduced • Switch from Keurig/K cups to a coffee maker that uses through times, such as Padam style or Sari style; pant styles washable filters. with 2 or three fans; round fans; V-shape fans; side fans etc. The • Reduce use of packaged foods – especially single serving beauty of the costumes is the fan that emphasizes the main aspect of this dance form “squatting” or Mandalam. The best snack foods. way to keep the fans in place is to use pure silk saris for • Buy fresh and local foods. costumes. These could be Dharmavaram or Kanchivaram saris.

• At Events - Ask caterers to provide non-plastic utensils. You may also ask them to provide ceramic plates, glass cups, Exponents: There are so many exponents of this dance form, I am afraid and glass pitchers.

• If you are planning a party, try to use washable plates or I will not have space to mention them all. If you are doing a research paper for your high school project or a thesis, you must recyclable compostable products. include these renowned dancers. Balasaraswati, Rukmini Devi, • At parties, if using paper plates, make sure to stack plates Kalanidhi Narayanan, Ram Gopal, Pillai family, Kamala after use to minimize number of trash bags.

Lakshman, Vyjayathimala, Padma Subrahmanyam, • Join ‘Zero Waste Lifestyle’ groups on facebook and other Dhananjayan, C.V. Chandrasekhar and many more. These social media to get ideas. gurus have propagated this dance form to thousands of • Encourage your children, friends, family and coworkers to disciples across the world. reduce the use of plastics.

I hope this article will help you cherish, appreciate and Community Initiatives treasure this three-thousand-years old tradition. Many years of There are some very inspiring initiatives started all over the practice, grace, speed, versatility and complete mastery of the world. One of such programs is the Bartan Bank. In India, Indore art are necessary to do full justice to a dance form such as this.

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January 2020

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January 2020

“Look, this is not a job interview. Remember, you are the buyer.

Just have the conviction that they can’t take anything out of your wallet without your permission.”

We took my Tesla so they would know that we were not just a bunch of cheap tire kickers. We made sure that we parked in the front. I am sure they notice these things so it is good to be aware that they are judging us from our appearances. I told him before entering, “Look, it is a game. Bring that conviction and have fun.” Then I told him, “Oh, by the way, if you don’t mind, let me take the lead and follow my cues. And whatever you do, please, please, do not contradict me.” He nodded. “Fine, Dad.” One of the employees was waiting eagerly inside to greet us. After exchanging pleasantries and sharing basic information, we agreed to test drive the CRV. Gabriel, the sales person, seemed pleasant and more importantly, genuine. I, however, was cautious not to reveal too much information to him. I didn’t want to take advantage of me by thinking we were friends.

I had also advised my son that no matter what happened, not to set his heart on only one car because it would make my job of negotiation much harder. “If you can view it dispassionately and keep reminding yourself that there are other cars in the market which are as good or even other dealers in the market that are selling the same car, we will get a better deal.”

We entered Highway 5 and Vicktor accelerated. The car’s pickup was good. As a cautious parent, I told him to slow down. We talked about the safety features, the Consumer Reports rating and the warranty. I didn’t want to make a decision that night so I thought I could use humor to dilute any sales pressure. As a comedian, I often mask my true feelings behind humor. I said, “Hey Vicktor, do you think if you fold down the back seats, the space will be big enough for you to make out?” Gabriel was a bit surprised with my candor but he laughed. When we got back to the office, I told him that we liked the car but wanted to explore other options before finalizing.

With the new clarity and conviction, Vicktor decided to go to some other dealers on his own. It was helpful because I had a busy schedule and if he could identify the car he was passionate about, it would make my job easier. After a couple of weeks, we decided to test drive a Toyota RAV4 at a dealership in North Hollywood. The SUV drove smoothly as well. To be honest, I couldn’t tell much of a difference between the Toyota and the Honda. It would have to boil down to the Consumer Reports rating, my son’s preference and the price.

Not necessarily in that order!

When we got back to the dealership, the salesperson was ready to discuss numbers. He was a bit more aggressive than Gabriel from the Honda dealership. I went along with the flow and asked him what the approximate price was. He told us that the car was in so much demand that there was a $5,000 premium on the car. I was livid. As a Bania I knew that in negotiation, the other parties highball a price to take undue advantage. I wanted to hide my contempt and my anger behind the veil of humor again. I started laughing. I said to

RAAJEEV’S CORNER Equally offensive to all

By Raajeev Aggerwhil

Adventures in Car Shopping

Last year, we were looking for a car for my son, Vicktor. He had already gone to a Honda dealership and wanted my approval on their SUV. I was getting frustrated because I felt he was pushing me to make an impromptu decision. I’ll never do that; not even when spending $10! I wanted to inculcate some of the best practices into him. You see, it is all about informed decision making. Whether it is buying a car or picking the right partner through an arranged marriage.

Market research is very important. You can’t compare apples with oranges. I mean you can but you might pay a lot more and end up with a lemon. I told him to go to the library and go through Consumer Reports. For me, Consumer Reports is like doing meditation. It helps cut through the crap, helps prioritize your choices and adds clarity. The barrage of ads in the media are not only confusing, they pander to your emotions which can create an impediment to getting the best possible deals!

After he short-listed five cars, we decided to test drive some of them. I told him to pick a dealer in an area where real estate is much cheaper. If they are paying a high cost in their rent, then he will have to recover it from you in some form. He said, “But this ad for this dealership in Beverly Hills says that they have a special going on right now. Everything is 10 percent off. And then you get oil changes for five years for free.” I said, “Look Beta. My father taught me nothing is free in this country, not even the use of a bathroom. So don’t be naïve. Let’s do it the right way. The Bania way.”

We identified a Honda dealership in Sunland, a city about 10 miles north of us. The real estate in that area is much lower than Burbank or Glendale. My son was getting nervous. I said, Saathee.com

continued on page 113

Raajeev Aggerwhil

LA-based comedian Raajeev Aggerwhil has starred in Nickelodeon’s TV show 100 Things to Do Before High School and also acted in the film based on the television series. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @raajeevcomedy 82

January 2020

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January 2020

News Notes Indian Americans Running for Office in North Carolina

As the New Year begins, the campaigning ratchets up for the upcoming primaries as well as the election on November 3. 2020. North Carolina’s primaries are on March 3, 2020 (part of Super Tuesday). In our ongoing series on Election 2020 below are some of the Indian American candidates running for office.

Charlotte city Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera filed the paperwork in December to run for the office of North Carolina State Treasurer as a Democrat. Ajmera, Certified Public Accountant, was elected to the city council in 2017 and reelected this past November. As a council member she has served for the past three years on the city Budget Committee. She says, “Women like me were not supposed to be in a public office. I literally went from cleaning hotel rooms to pay for college to managing multi-million dollar budgets, and championed affordable healthcare for thousands of local employees.”

Duke University professor Ronnie Chatterji is also running for the office of North Carolina State Treasurer as a Democrat. He announced his candidacy in April. He says it is “the most important job in the state that no one has heard of.” Chatterji worked in the Obama Administration and has received the endorsement of the AFL-CIO for his current campaign.

Atul Goel announced his candidacy for United States Senate in October. He lives in Raleigh and is a trained engineer as well as board certified in family medicine. He completed his residency in family medicine at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.

Look for Saathee’s election coverage in the upcoming issues of the magazine as well as online. Saathee will present updates, information, and interviews with Indian Americans running for office as well as their opponents.

Sitar Found in the Most Unusual of Places

By Rashmi Kanjia

Here is my experience at the Frontier’s RTP180 Event in Research Triangle Park that was held on November 21, 2019.

As I sit and wait for the seats to fill. I cannot help but notice the charm of this place. There are young business professionals, entrepreneurs, and the innovators of tomorrow, all swirling about: grabbing free beers, crunching popcorn, and I assume, networking!

The participants, about 150 strong, settle in their seats. Today’s talks are about physics. Five experts of their respected fields are to give a five minute speech and take questions. All five speakers did an excellent job, but it was the speaker wearing a kurta carrying a sitar that caught my attention the most.

His name is Michael Griska. He is a shishya of the world renowned sarod master, Pandit K. Sridhar and resides in the Triangle. Griska begins by asking the audience “Where are the Hindustani Fans?” To my surprise, the audience gave a nice roar. I guess Classical music is still making its mark.

As one might predict among Indian Classical Musicians, Griska gave much gratitude to his Guru, sharing nice pictures with his slide presentation. The Saathee.com

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focus of his talk was about “The Fibonacci Series,” “Sympathetic Vibration” and how it applies to the sitar. He explained the physics nicely, making comparisons to tuning-forks and pendulums.

Then he changed his focus to the sitar.

Explaining the sitar’s components and how the physics is applied. How it has curved bridges, sympathetic strings and gourds!

I never considered the complications of Indian music or musical instruments. I felt proud to be South Asian when Griska closed his talk by suggesting that more sitars should be in the physics class room.

Michael Griska is a local sitar and surbahar performer, teacher, and repair tech. He is based out of the Greater Raleigh area. As a fan of Indian classical music, I am very happy to know he is in the Area.

The RTP180 Talks were recorded by UNCTV. Go to the links below see Griska’s talk. www.pbs.org/video/rtp-180-physics-michael-griskaydryej/ www.frontier.rtp.org/rtp-180/ www.michaelgriska.com

Guidelines about the Reissuance of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card

The Government of India recently sent a notice for OCI. “It has been noticed that some OCI cardholders were not allowed to board flights to India as the passport numbers on their OCI cards did not match with their current passport numbers and the OCI cards had not been reissued,” the notice stated.

To avoid this inconvenience, OCI cardholders are required to note the following guidelines regarding the reissuance of OCI Card: Up to the Age of 20 – OCI cardholders must get the OCI Card reissued each time their passport is renewed.

Between 21-50 years – Reissuance of OCI Card is not required each time the passport is renewed. It is advisable to carry the old passport along with the current passport and the OCI Card as part of abundant caution, but is not mandatory.

After completion of 50 years of age, OCI Card is required to be reissued mandatorily only once.

The application form and more details can be found at: www.ociservices.gov.in.

January 2020

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January 2020

Kargil to Kohima Ultra Marathon: Glory Run

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria with the participants of IAF Ultra Marathon - Kargil to Kohima, in New Delhi on December 16, 2019.

Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Chief of the Air Staff Indian Air Force felicitated a team of 25 Air Warriors at Air Force Station, New Delhi on December 16, 2019 for a unique achievement – a running expedition from Kargil to Kohimaaptly named as K2K Ultra Marathon-Glory Run. The event commemorating the 20th year of Kargil Victory was flagged off from the Kargil War Memorial at Drass on September 21, 2019.

The Air Warriors undertook the challenging task of carrying the “Glory Torch” through 4500 Kilometers, averaging 100 Kilometers on the road per day for 45 days, passing through mountains and plains, traversing densely populated cities and wilderness enroute, finishing on November 06, 2019 at Kohima, Nagaland. The expedition also saw the Air Warriors break the mental barriers of age and gender, and spread awareness on pedestrian safety and Fit India Movement.

The ceremonial “Flagging In of the Glory Run Warriors” at Air Force Station New Delhi by the CAS IAF on Vijay Diwas reinforces the commitment of the Men and women in Blue towards remembering India’s martyrs and lives up to the tradition and motto of the IAF - Touch the Sky with Glory!

Climate Change Opens Door to Arctic for Competitors, Dept. of Defense

By Terri Moon Cronk, DOD News

An LC-130 Hercules aircraft sits on an Arctic region skiway that was created by airmen from the 109th Airlift Wing, April 11, 2019.

The Arctic is a region where strategic trends are amplified by the effects of the changing climate and physical Saathee.com

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environment, a lead Defense Department official said on Capitol Hill, Dec. 10.

Most notably, “the Arctic continues to grow more accessible as the sea ice diminishes,” said Victorino Mercado, acting assistant defense secretary for strategy, plans and capabilities.

That means the Arctic is becoming more navigable over greater periods of time, resulting in increased interest and activity in the region, he said.

Countries are exploring the potential of Arctic shipping routes, and opportunities in natural resource development and tourism, he added.

Mercado made his remarks before the House Armed Services Committee, subcommittee on intelligence, emerging threats and capabilities, in a hearing on climate change in the era of strategic competition.

“The door is open to increase activity in the Arctic by the United States, our allies, partners, but also our strategic competitors,” he said.

The Arctic will continue to be characterized by extreme temperatures, vast distances, magnetic anomalies — which complicates communications — and market seasonal variations, Mercado said.

“Together, these conditions form a harsh and demanding operating environment for all, including the U.S. joint force,” he said.

The DOD 2019 Arctic Strategy takes into account these environmental conditions as part of the department’s strategic approach to the region, Mercado emphasized.

“The department’s desired end state for the Arctic is a secure and stable region, where U.S. national interests are safeguarded, the U.S. homeland is defended and nations work cooperatively to address challenges,” he pointed out.

The immediate prospect of conflict in the Arctic continues to be low, but DOD maintains a clear-eyed approach to its competitors’ activities and their implications for U.S. interests, Mercado added.

In making these assessments, we begin with a fundamental difference between Russia and China, he noted.

Russia is an Arctic nation, China is not, Mercado added.

“Russia’s military investments in the Arctic contribute to its territorial defense, but may have implications for access to the region,” he pointed out, adding that China is seeking a role in the Arctic to include governance, despite its having no territorial claims in the region.

“There is a risk that to further its ambitions, China may repeat predatory economic behavior in the Arctic that it has exhibited in other regions,” Mercado warned.

The DOD Arctic Strategy establishes three defense objectives derived from the National Defense Strategy that guide the department’s approach to addressing competition in the Arctic — and defending the homeland is No. 1 — in addition to competing when necessary to maintain favorable regional balances of power, and ensuring common domains remain free and open, he said.

The United States’ network of allies and partners is a key strategic advantage for the nation in the Arctic, Mercado said.

“They are the cornerstone of the department’s strategic approach. Six of seven other Arctic nations are either NATO allies or NATO-enhanced opportunity partners,” he noted.

“Our allies and partners are highly capable and proficient in the Arctic region’s operating conditions,” Mercado said.

“They also share the U.S. interest in maintaining the international rules-based order, including in the Arctic region.”

January 2020

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January 2020

Mirror

USCIS Announces Implementation of H-1B Electronic Registration Process for Fiscal Year 2021 Cap Season

continued from page 70

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services last month announced that it has completed a successful pilot testing phase and is implementing the registration process in the next H-1B lottery. Employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions for the fiscal year 2021 cap, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register and pay the associated $10 H-1B registration fee.

The electronic registration process will dramatically streamline processing by reducing paperwork and data exchange, and will provide an overall cost savings to petitioning employers.

Under this new process, employers seeking H-1B workers subject to the cap, or their authorized representatives, will complete a registration process that requires only basic information about their company and each requested worker.

USCIS will open an initial registration period from March 1 through March 20, 2020. The H-1B random selection process, if needed, will then be run on those electronic registrations. Only those with selected registrations will be eligible to file H-1B capsubject petitions.

Historically, employers filed their full, and often voluminous, H-1B cap-subject petitions with USCIS, after which USCIS would select eligible petitions through a random selection process. This process resulted in unnecessary paperwork and incurred mailing costs for both petitioners and the agency.

“By streamlining the H-1B cap selection process with a new electronic registration system, USCIS is creating cost savings and efficiencies for petitioners and the agency, as only those selected will now be required to submit a full petition,” said USCIS Deputy Director Mark Koumans. “The agency completed a successful pilot testing phase, which included sessions with industry representatives, and implementation of the registration system will further the goal of modernizing USCIS from a paper-based to an online-filing agency.”

USCIS will post step-by-step instructions informing registrants how to complete the registration process on its website along with key dates and timelines as the initial registration period nears. USCIS will also conduct public engagements and other outreach activities to ensure registrants and interested parties are familiar with the new registration system. The agency may determine it is necessary to continue accepting registrations, or open an additional registration period, if it does not receive enough registrations and subsequent petitions projected to reach the numerical allocations.

DHS formally created the H-1B registration requirement in the final rule, Registration Requirement for Petitioners Seeking To File H-1B Petitions on Behalf of Cap-Subject Aliens, published on Jan. 31, and effective on April 1, 2019. DHS intends to publish a notice in the Federal Register in the coming weeks to formally announce implementation of the H-1B registration system and provide additional details on the process.

On Nov. 8, 2019, DHS published a final rule establishing a $10 H-1B registration fee. The registration fee final rule is effective on Dec. 9, 2019, and will apply to registrations submitted during the initial and future registration periods.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov Saathee.com

88

There was finally enough collective anxiety and disorder in the world that somehow the human race finally decided that enough is enough. We had riots. We had mass shootings. We had work strikes. We had teenagers fighting for climate change.

We had crooked political leaders and business moguls being forced from their positions. “Dogs and cats living together!

Mass hysteria!” to quote another famous (and amusing) line from Ghostbusters. If there was anything out there to challenge in 2019, then oh boy was there some sort of uprising against it.

Keep in mind that some of the objections were extremely awful. We heard of shootings, bombings and other forms of terrorism from all over the world. The worst part is that it wasn’t just one “type” of victim in each case either. There was the Taliban attack in Moscow, the suicide bomb attack in Kashmir, the Mosque shootings in New Zealand, bombings in Sri Lanka, the arson attacks in Japan, the lone gunmen shootings in El Paso, TX and Dayton, OH. Unfortunately violence is universal to humankind and doesn’t discriminate on your gender, race, beliefs, or societal upbringing.

On the flipside, we also saw many political leaders in countries such as Italy, Bolivia, Albania, Haiti, and Kazakhstan step down due to various revelations of their personal behaviors being brought into light. We also saw more and more stories being unearthed about certain business executives (such as Jeffrey Epstein) and their associates with every sort of crime from sex trafficking and abuse to money schemes. Obviously it’s not safe anymore in this quasi-Big Brother world to have a secret life that could land you in jail or worse. So many things in this world now are filmed, posted, and reposted by this handy dandy device that many of us have in our pocket or bag.

There are no secrets anymore, and your dirty laundry will surface one way or the other no matter that your status may be.

We will just have to acknowledge this for the time being.

A form of protest that was especially good this past year was that many more countries either rescinded laws banning homosexuality or finally permitted same-sex marriage. While there are still countries that still find the LGBTQ+ concept to be “immoral”, it’s nice to see that a few more have become more open-minded and accepting.

Another bit of surprising outcry has been the strikes by teens against climate change, with its current spokesperson Greta Thunberg (and TIME magazine’s 2019 Person of the Year) at the head of it all. It’s understandable for the youth of today to be worried about the world of tomorrow as they will eventually be the adults who have to live in it. I just find it atrocious that many of Thunberg’s opposition are middle-aged, conservative men who feel threatened by her intelligence and courage as a young woman, and respond in kind with insults laced with misogyny. While her fight is still ongoing, I think we will see more of her in the future as climate change becomes a growing issue to fight against the adults who have been challenged to behave like adults. Unfortunately, it’s much easier to attack others rather than to look at ourselves, reflect on our own feelings and start to deal with them, like grownups.

I wonder now if this overall sense of righteous frenzy will continue to blossom in 2020 or slowly diminish. All I know right now is, things are changing and will continue to change whether we all want it to or not. One thing we can do is collectively continue to stick our proverbial head out of the window and shout out that we are all human beings and that our life has value. Because we all do…

January 2020

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January 2020

Subcontinental Divide continued from page 72

Secretary in the government in the new glistening jewel of a capital that was Islamabad quickly spelled trouble.

I of course played carefree through the growing pains for this new nation—and the jetset technocrats who were supposedly going to make the nation the pride of Asia. By 1968, when I was about 8-years-old, I remember my mother having conversations with relatives about “overdraft” at the bank. I wasn’t sure what it was, but my mom usually sounded dire talking to relatives about that blot on my dad’s existence.

And then mysteriously, when my dad accepted a position with the UN in Thailand in 1972, I remained equally clueless as to why he might need ten-fold the income to pay off those overdrafts that had been supporting our lifestyle for a dozen years. Strangely, we returned to Pakistan again in just a couple of years, maybe his debts then paid, and with an offer for a much more senior government position.

Then the bottom fell out of the world of country clubs, discos, rock music, Playboy Clubs, and liquor stores that was Pakistan until the instant the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, and an insidious shift in US policy happened that turned the country into a fundamentalist CIA-financed playground to defeat communism. The aggressive, sexy, charming, intelligent, arrogant Prime Minister Z.A. Bhutto was imprisoned and executed by a US financed general, and we as a family, in protest, trekked back to Thailand on UN assignment #2.

This story, of course, is much more complex than my father, who was depressed and drinking. It is more complex than my mother, who was depressed and sitting alone in a foreign country every night. It is more complex than children leave home and getting scattered all over the planet, leaving you afraid, disoriented…leaving you even more depressed.

While an entire country got derailed by a brutal international chess game, we as a family slowly fell into a wintry dysfunction that would take years to heal. And it was there, on a collect call from a phone booth in Charlotte, NC, on a cold winter’s eve that I heard my dad’s voice on the other end: “Live comfortably, but not extravagantly.” I was a fool then as I am now. A global political monster had swallowed his prestigious career and he was sitting alone in a tiny office on the 14th floor of a UN building, surrounded by a petty and useless bureaucracy that simply showed up to draw a large paycheck—and for no other reason; for no higher cause.

It’s really taken me decades to realize that my father sacrificed himself using a double edged sword of geo-politics and pure love. He rotted at an international organization when he was so well known in Pakistan that he would simply tell me to mail him anything at “Jillani, Islamabad, Pakistan” and it would get to him (and it did). That was how enormous that burden was, when in those days, broken and having chest pains, he returned to Pakistan, and upon my grandfather’s death, finally inherited a pretty tidy amount from an old man everyone thought was a hermit poet living in a two room house.

But a leopard and his spots, and in my quiet, smiling father, perhaps, the sheep and his wool, there were no options but to share what he had with whoever came to his door for help. This economist, moving billions of dollars to save nations, he didn’t have a plan beyond making sure my mother had “comfortable” savings to maintain her lifestyle after he was gone.

I am writing this approaching the holiday season. I have a couple of thousand dollars saved. I am comfortable enough without them. I know no other way to live.

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Groundwater

continued from page 32

The Problem with Free India’s leaders are beginning to recognize the country’s unsustainable course for groundwater and acknowledge the urgency of the moment.

India pumps more groundwater than any country, mainly for irrigation, and it shows. The average groundwater level in Punjab declined 17 inches (43 centimeters) a year between 2000 and 2013, according to the Central Ground Water Board, the government’s oversight body. In areas of Maharashtra the decline is several feet a year.

“The declining groundwater level is a big challenge for India…time has come to conserve, reuse, and use water judiciously,” Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the water minister, said on August 23. A year ago a government think tank referred to plunging groundwater levels as the country’s “worst water crisis.”

More researchers watching the country’s farm economics have come to similar conclusions: cheap power results in groundwater depletion.

“Power reforms and electricity pricing for irrigation play a key role in averting the groundwater crisis in Punjab,” determined a 2017 study from the National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research. Farmers have no incentive to optimize water use when electricity is free, the researchers added.

A 2017 working paper for the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics examined solar pumps in Rajasthan.

The analysis found substantial benefits: solar pumps improved water access for farmers, increased cultivated area, raised profits, and decreased fossil fuel consumption. However, there was also evidence of increased groundwater extraction in order to expand cultivated area.

“We need innovative policies for governing ground water level in a sustainable way,” the paper concluded. “There is a need for metering agriculture water use and total water extraction by farmers using solar, electric, or diesel pump.”

Free comes with a cost, Singh and her colleagues also discovered. Their report was informed by interviews with farmers in three states with high penetration of solar pumps.

In the Buldhana district of Maharashtra, some 500 kilometers (310 miles) east of Mumbai, Mandvi surveyed 72 farmers who are using solar pumps. They told her that they preferred solar pumps to diesel or electric pumps or relying solely on rainfall. Grid power was patchy, availably six hours a day, sometimes only at night. With solar pumps, irrigation costs were lower and yields higher, which meant greater income.

But there was a drawback in Buldhana. Because of declining groundwater tables, farmers could not maximize their use of solar pumps. Hours of irrigation actually decreased in the last three years as the water table declined.

“Groundwater levels were so low that the pumps were not being used five months of the year,” Singh said. “What about five or 10 years ahead?”

For more India-related articles about water, visit www.circleofblue.org.

January 2020

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Namaskar

continued from page 26

continued from page 40

with hot spices) with Assam tea, setting their tongues on fire in a masochistic, gastronomic delight.

If I must enjoy tea in solitude, I like a cup of Earl Grey or Darjeeling, with no cream or sugar. In the company of my family, this version invites rather strange looks. I notice at least one person shaking their head in disapproval probably thinking, “America has changed her.” Tea has always meant more than a beverage. During childhood, tea was the soothing medicine that comforted us when we were under the weather.

Warming my cold hands around the mug was at times enough to make me feel better. In my teen years my older sister made extra strong tea to help me stay up to study for finals with the caffeine pushing me to endure late nights of cramming. And, given a choice I will select my husband’s adrak aur elaichi wali chai (tea with ginger and cardamom) over a dozen red roses.

So, if coffee is my first love, tea is my best friend.

I am not alone in my association of tea with “a good feeling.” A trip to the local grocery store with dedicated shelves or even an entire aisle for teas, might lead you to think that whatever the mood or ailment, there’s a tea for that. Green tea with strawberry promises a healthy glow, the box right next to it with chamomile aims to calm you down, and the list goes on.

However, every coin has two sides and there are some occasions when the experience can be less than favorable.

Culturally in Northern and Central India, chai is considered the ultimate test of how hospitable you are. If you simply offer tea you may earn a single point, but successfully coaxing the guest until they bow to the pressure and take a few obligatory sips, ensures that you have passed with flying colors. Trust me, you do not want to be that guest. Movies and commercials portray the stereotypical image of a young woman carrying a tray of tea for an eligible bachelor and prospective in-laws in the stale ladki dekhne aaye hain scenario, making many women of my generation detest serving tea as if it was bacon mixed with oolong.

Barring the exceptions mentioned above, tea tends to transcend occasions and social strata bringing people together to meet their common goals whether it is chatter, heavy political debates, or camaraderie, and ends up cementing friendships and family ties for life. My personal journey with tea is not over yet as I look forward to trying the flavors of newer options like matcha, bubble and kombucha to mention just a few.

Now, where’s that kettle?

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Community Organizations Charlotte

For Further Details: Dr. Shibu Cherian (Pastor) 704.208.9099 12601 Idlewild Rd., Matthews, NC www.carolinaschristianassembly.org

Art of Living (Charlotte) Art of Living is dedicated to serving society by strengthening the individual. This is done through self-development programs that recharge the body, mind and spirit and allow people to function at their optimum potential. All are welcome.

For Further Details: 980.216.8732 charlotte@us.artofliving.org www.artofliving.org/charlotte

Charlotte Gita Study Group Beginners and advanced students of the Gita are welcome. The group meets the second and fourth Sunday from 3 - 5pm. Each session starts with meditation followed by a recorded lecture in English and discussion For Further Details: dshetti@gmail.com - 214.587.7331 skdave@hotmail.com - 704.844.9567

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Charlotte) Dedicated to improving society through individual growth by fostering Hindu ideals of faith, unity, and selfless service. Activities include: Daily Arti - 6:30 am & 6:30 pm; Weekly Satsang Sabha held Sundays with spiritual discourses: Adults: 4pm, Young Men (Ages 23-36) - 3pm, Young Women (Ages 23-36) - 4pm, Teens - 4:30pm, and Children - 5pm.

For Further Details: www.saathee.com/baps-charlotte

Charlotte Malayalee Association The association promotes and facilitates the cultural, educational, social and economic welfare of the Charlotte Malayalee community.

For Further Details: cltma@cltma.org 704.517.5850 www.cltma.org

Bethel Christian Fellowship BCF was founded to “Raise Up the Next Generation for Jesus Christ.” The Fellowship offers services in various Indian languages (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam) with a Sunday School from 9 9:55 am and Sunday Worship from 10 - 11:45 am.

For Further Details: 803.792.7223 Pastor Rajan Samuel - pastorofbcf@gmail.com 7604 New Town Road, Waxhaw, NC www.bcfcog.org

Charlotte Marathi Mandal The Mandal adds to the vibrancy of Charlotte with various events including the Ganapati Festival which are designed to keep the cultural values and traditions alive. The community is encouraged to participate.

For Further Details: 704.565.9237 committee@charlottemarathimandal.org www.saathee.com/charlotte-marathi-mandal

Brahma Kumaris (Charlotte) The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization works toward world peace and transformation through self-transformation. Raja Yoga Meditation classes, offered by the Brahma Kumaris are free.

This meditation throws light on the importance of rebuilding inner positive energy and provides tools to relax, refresh and recharge.

Sunday mornings - 8am to 9am - Introduction to Raja Yoga Meditation.Sunday mornings - 8am to 9am - Introduction to Raja Yoga Meditation.For Further Details: Charlotte, NC area 704.412.1426 bknc2010@gmail.com www.brahmakumaris.org

Charlotte Telangana Association Association promotes two different aspects, to promote Telangana cultural activities within Charlotte area and also to bring together the Telangana people. Also plans and takes action around the development of Telangana focusing both on rural and urban areas.

For Further Details: Charlotte.telangana@gmail.com www.charlottetelangana.com

Charlotte Vipassana Meditation Group Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India’s most ancient meditation techniques, taught more than 2500 years ago. The group holds weekly group sits and monthly all-day sits for established students. Ten-day courses are also available for all students. There is no charge.

For Further Details: 704.277.5013 - rbddesai@gmail.com 704.807.3933 - madhaviparikh@yahoo.com www.dhamma.org

Carolina Khadayata Samaj All Khadayata families of NC and SC are welcome to be part of the Carolina Khadayata Samaj.

For Further Details: carolinakhadayatasamaj@yahoo.com Jaswant Mehta - 704.839.1965 (Charlotte) Sharad Mehta - 336.554.5211 (Greensboro) Kaupind Shah - 919.928.2852 (Raleigh)

Classical Music Association of Charlotte (CMAC) CMAC sponsors many classical concerts during the year in Charlotte. Membership forms are available at shows.

For Further Details: Lakshmi & Muthukrishnan - 704.814.9355 Jayashree & Panduranga - 704.442.1186 memberservices@onlinecmac.org www.onlinecmac.org

Carolinas Christian Assembly Offers worship, fellowship and community assistance to South Asians in Charlotte. Sunday morning worship services is currently being held at New Heaven Community Church, 8823 Albemarle Road, Charlotte at 9:30am. Pastor Cherian, offers free counseling services to married couples and is a licensed premarital counselor.

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January 2020

Community Organizations subcontinent and South Asia.

For Further Details: Jyoti Kulkarni - 704.804.1275 Chaula Jain - 704.248.1515 contact@ipaac.org www.ipaac.org

Dada Bhagwan Foundation (Charlotte) Every living being is in constant pursuit of happiness. This search ends only when the source of eternal happiness is found. It can be attained through realizing your true Self. A path to eternal happiness was discovered by Gnani Purush A. M. Patel (Dada Bhagwan) and it was revealed as Akram Vignan, a spiritual science. Weekly satsang held Every Sunday 1- 3pm & once a month Saturday 2-7pm.

For Further Details: 877.505.3232 x 1027 wccharlotte@us.dadabhagwan.org 7400 City View Dr, Charlotte, NC www.dadabhagwan.org

ISKCon (Charlotte) There are weekly meetings to learn and practice bhakti-yoga - for all ages. Celebration of festivals, prasadam, heartfelt kirtan, spiritual discourses, class for kids, association with visiting monks and teachers, and make friends. Bhagavad-Gita class is held on every Friday at multiple locations.

For Further Details: 980-277-GITA (4482) Iskconofcharlotte@gmail.com

Gurdwara Sahib (Charlotte) The Gurdwara works to enrich the lives of the Sikh & Punjabi communities. Regular Program: Every Sunday: 10 - 11am, Asa Di War by Bhai Satnam Singh Jee, 11am - 12pm, Keertan by Children, 12 - 1:15pm, Keertan by Bhai Satnam Singh Jee, 1:15 - 1:30pm, Ardaas, followed by Guru Ka Langar.

For Further Details: 704.509.2828 1760 Stoney Creek Lane, Charlotte, NC www.charlottegurdwara.org

Jain Center of Greater Charlotte (JCGC) Serving the spiritual and community needs of Jain families while understanding and preserving the Jain faith. Members meet for worship, ceremonies, and festivals. Organizes religious activities year-round - including celebrating religious festivals such as Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushan, and Diwali, and programs like Swadhyay, Pujas and children’s Pathshaala.

Regular events: Weekdays: 9:30am - Prakshal & Puja; 7:30pm - Aarti & Mangal Divo Weekends: 10:30am - Prakshal & Puja 7:30pm - Aarti & Mangal Divo For Further Details: JCGC President: Saumya Kothari: 858.382.351 info@jaincenterus.org 7631 Mallard Creek Road, Charlotte, NC www.jaincenterus.org

Hindu Center of Charlotte The Center holds many regular events and religious ceremonies.

The temple library is stocked with books, CDs, DVDs and other materials on varied genres such as religion, culture, history, philosophy, yoga and health.

Upcoming Events: Jan 18: Pongal / Bhogi Pallu Jan 19: Makar Sankranti (kite ying) noon-5pm.

Jan 26: Republic Day Celebrations Feb 21: Maha Shivratri For Further Details: 704.534.3440 7400 City View Dr., Charlotte, NC www.saathee.com/hindu-center-charlotte

JET USA (Charlotte, north Carolina) These organizations are operated across the world to empower communities. Activities include personality development and spiritual activities like discourses / puja / homam etc. VTSeva (Volunteering Together for Service) focusing on various service activities.

For Further Details: charlotte.jetusa.org jetcharlotte@jetusa.org 704-981-1JET

India Association of Charlotte The organization works to foster better understanding of the rich diversity of Indian culture by the larger community in and around Charlotte.

For Further Details: Toni Sawhney - 704.604.2133 Lal Vishin - 704.545.3727 indiafestival.iacofcarolinas.org/

Kriya Yoga (Charlotte) A sincere seeker who follows the path of Kriya Yoga with love and devotion and a desire for spiritual growth can attain Selfrealization. Two annual initiation programs and a weekly Sunday meditation are held.

For Further Details: Adesh Gupta - 704.814.7476 info@charlotte.kriya.org www.kriya.org

Indian American Muslim Council (IMAC) of Charlotte Committed to promoting peace, pluralism and social justice through advocacy as well as protecting human rights and dignity in India. IAMC-Charlotte seeks to reach out to Indian Muslims in Charlotte to strive for Inter-Community understanding with focus on Indian Diaspora.

For Further Details: Ashfaq Mehdi - 704.904.5778 iamc-charlotte@yahoogroups.com

Madhya Pradesh Association of Charlotte (MPAC) The organization will conduct events and gatherings throughout the year for folks originally from Madhya Pradesh and residing in the Charlotte region. Diwali 2019 celebrations are in the works.

For Further Details: mp2clt@gmail.com 980.231.1112

Indian Performing Arts Association of Charlotte (IPAAC) IPAAC promotes Classical Hindustani music and is the result of a shared dream of a small group of music enthusiasts to bring the rich world of classical music and dance from the Indian Saathee.com

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January 2020

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Community Organizations Pratham - Charlotte Pratham organizes programs in the area of primary education through its Read India campaign. With nearly half the children in India who attend schools not learning to read and write at the required level, Pratham is trying to fill a gap in this area.

For Further Details: Anju Desai - ajdesai66@gmail.com - 980.622.0125 Shubhra Chakraborty - shubhra.chakraborty1@gmail.com - 704.942.4798 www.prathamusa.org

Probasi of Charlotte Probasi’s goal is to organize cultural and educational program related to Bengal in the Charlotte area, to increase Bengali cultural awareness, and to provide community service in the area.

For Further Details: Swapan Nandi - 704.708.5993 Anindita Paul Bhunia - 704.360.2326 welcome@probasi.org www.probasi.org

Sahaja Yoga Meditation Classes are free to attend and meant for all age groups who desire to find his or her true self, which is full of peace, joy and love for others. Sahaja Yoga was founded and developed by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi and teaches simple techniques of meditation.

Sessions are conducted weekly or biweekly.

For Further Details: 5935 Hickory Grove Rd, Charlotte www.meetup.com/SYCharoletteNC/

Samskrita Bharati Sthanam of Charlotte Promotes Samskritam (Sanskrit) as an everyday language and provides access to its rich repository of knowledge. Trained teachers teach Samskritam in spoken and written forms in an interactive environment. Start your journey to speak this ancient foundational language by attending a one-day introductory workshop. No prior knowledge is needed.

Four Further Details: Shreedhar Murthy: murthy90232@gmail.com or 513-967-4775 Joy Vyloppully: vykuntha@gmail.com or 704-906-5665. www.sbusa.org

Sangamithra Foundation Formed to make a difference in society, the team has taken the path of identifying the needs of underprivileged communities in India and provides support to meet those needs. Sangamithra works collectively towards realizing its vision.

For Further Details: info@sangamithra.org www.sangamithra.org

Sant nirankari Mission (Universal Brotherhood) Knowing about God is a knowledge and knowing God is Realization of God as “Knowing about something” is different from “knowing something”. God can only be realized with the blessing of living true master. You are invited to join for a weekly congregation.

For Further Details: Meena Thohan: 703-443-0584

Shanti niketan Senior Center of Carolinas The Center values diversity, holistic health, peaceful living and Saathee.com

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community engagement, especially for under-served populations including Refugees, Immigrants, and minorities. Efforts are made to support a population with the understanding that a diverse population adds to the strength and well-being of the community.

For Further Details: Nbcharlotte@uisac.org 704.491.1186 7701 Wallace Lane., Charlotte, NC. 28212 www.uisac.org

Shree Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal Vadtal On every 1st Saturday, Shree Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal Vadtal has kirtans and bhajans at the Hindu Center of Charlotte at 5pm. After the bhajans, there is Aarti and Mahaprasad. In addition, on the 3rd Sunday of every month, an additional Satsang Sabha is held at a sponsor’s house from 3 - 5pm.

For Further Details: Divyesh Chauhan - 704.965.9735 Sanjay Savaliya - 704.779.7574 admin@issvcharlotte.org issvcharlotte.org

Shri Rang Avadhut Parivar (Parspar Devo Bhav) Devotees of Guru Dattatraya Rang Avadhut and Shri Prem Avadhut meet on Thurs from 6-8pm in Charlotte for recital of “Datta-Bavani,” singing devotional Dattatraya Bhajans and reading “Guru-Lilamrut.”

For Further Details: Bharat Shah - 704.724.6247 Nagesh Patel - 704.399.7805

Sindhi Association of the Carolinas The Sindhi Association of the Carolinas (SAC) organizes religious, cultural, community, and social events in Charlotte. SAC also sends donations for the needy to the schools in India for Scholarships and for camp refugees in India.

For Further Details: sindhiassociationcarolinas@gmail.com 704.779.2396

South Park Cricket Club (SPCC) The South Park Cricket Club is a group of gentlemen who play competitive cricket for fun. SPCC is based in Charlotte and has been a part of the Carolina Cricket League since 2010.

For Further Details: anishtr@hotmail.com www.southparkcc.org

Sparsh of Greater Charlotte Sparsh seeks to build community, preserve our heritage, and showcase the culture of the states of Bihar and Jharkand through cultural, charitable, and social events.

For Further Details: sparshofcharlotte@gmail.com 980-221-9641

Srishti of Charlotte Srishti works to fulfill the community’s need for togetherness and the desire to showcase Bengali culture, literature, music and arts.

Srishti means an act of creation and brings together people of varied cultures, ethnicity, languages, and backgrounds who are interested in East Indian traditions.

For Further Details: January 2020

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Community Organizations Santanu Sarkar - santanu_kumar@yahoo.com 704. 541.3451 www.srishtiofcharlotte.org

Telugu Association of Greater Charlotte Area (TAGCA) TAGCA was formed with an intention of preserving and promoting the Telugu cultural heritage and traditions among the Telugu speaking people in Charlotte. The association organizes social and cultural events and festivals that reflect the Telugu culture from India.

For Further Details: pr@tagca.org www.tagca.org Trimurti Temple Devasthanam The temple grounds offer many areas to explore including 14 sanathis with traditional Mandabams for various Hindu deities.

Open daily with a Morning Puja at 10am and Evening Puja at 7pm.

Sunday Abhisekhams at 11am as well as other special pujas.

For Further Details: 980.219.7556 contact@trimurtitemple.org 6519 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC www.trimurtitemple.org

Vallabh Pushti Samaj of Carolinas (VPSC) VPSC’s objective is to fill devotional needs of Vaishnavs in Carolinas to worship and pray together, celebrate festivals and engage in humanitarian and educational activities. Paath and Bhajan recitations are held on the 2nd Sunday of each month from 4 - 6pm. A VYO Youth (ages 6-14) educational Meet is also scheduled on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays.

For Further Details: 1006 Vickie Lane, Matthews, NC www.saathee.com/vallabh-pushti-vpsc

Greensboro

Art of Living (Greensboro) Uncover the strength, peace, and joy at the core of every human being. Courses are offered in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Greensboro which cover breathing techniques to eliminate stress; skills for improving relationships; practical wisdom; low-impact yoga and the breathing-based technique called Sudarshan Kriya, or the healing breath.

For Further Details: Sonal Chhawchharia - sonal.chhawchharia@gmail.com Puja Verma - puja_usa@yahoo.com www.artofliving.org/us-en/greensboro

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Greensboro Features Sunday Sabhas: Shishu (Toddlers) sabha: 4 - 5pm; Bal/Balika sabha: 4:15 - 5:30pm; Kishore sabha: 2 - 3:30pm; Main sabha: 4 - 6pm; Gujarati classes: 2:30 - 3:45pm and Arti at 6pm followed by Mahaprasad. Fresh Shayona snacks available on Sundays.

For Further Details: 336.355.9798 bapsgreensboro@gmail.com 922 Gallimore Dairy Road, High Point, NC www.baps.org/Greensboro Saathee.com

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Gujarati Cultural Association of Piedmont (GCAP) The Gujarati Cultural Association of Piedmont serves the Asian Indian community through sponsored events, cultural, educational and social programs.

For Further Details: Janak Patel - 919.799.1603 127 Landmark Drive, Greensboro, NC www.gcap.us

India Association of the Triad (IATnC) Promotes social, cultural and educational interests, develops understanding between members of the Indian community and other residents of the Triad area, and make the latter aware of issues of concern to the Indian community.

For Further Details: committee@iatnc.org www.iatnc.org

Indian Association of the Carolinas (IAC) IAC promotes Indian culture by hosting community events, Diwali and Garba and similar celebration and sports events. Their Center is located in Winston-Salem.

For Further Details: Gopal - 336.509.5943 Hasmukh - 336.971.5594 (Membership Help) indianac14@gmail.com www.indianac.org

Indo-American Society of nC (IASnC) Supports Indian and South Asian communities in Greensboro, NC and vicinity and other individuals interested in learning the culture, traditions, and arts of India. Specifically, IASNC promotes Indo-American cultural, arts and sports events and also schoolbased volunteering activities. For Further Details: Krishna Balu - balu4428@infionline.net - 336.292.9462 www.iasofnc.org

Indo-US Cultural Association of Winston-Salem Increase awareness of the cultural heritage of India which is tremendously rich in its diversity and history. Association seeks to reach out to the Indian-American community within the Piedmont and Triad areas to share the vibrant Indian culture and promote cross-cultural understanding.

For Further Details: indouswinston@gmail.com 336.575.5348 www.indouswinston.org

Life Mission, USA This ashram has been established to provide physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits. All these benefits can be achieved through the natural remedies of yoga therapy, Ayurveda, naturopathy and diet.

For Further Details: 336.421.0690 Dr. Manoj - 848.459.7401 lifemissionusa@gmail.com 8136 NC Highway 119, South Mebane, NC www.lifemissionusa.org

Sri Mata Hindu Temple of north Carolina Working to meet the community’s religious, spiritual, and cultural Needs. Panchayatana Puja is the system of worship in the Smarta January 2020

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Community Organizations Sampradaya of Hinduism. It is said to have been introduced by Sri Adi Shankara. Weekdays: 6:30 - 7:30pm; Sat & Sun: 10:30am 12:30pm.

For Further Details 336.LOK.MATA (565.6282) info@matahindutemple.org 8535 Lasater Road, Clemmons, NC www.matahindutemple.org

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center (Greensboro) The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center regularly conducts Sai Bhajans, Study Circles, various service activities and SSE classes (for students) every Sunday from 9:45am - 12:15pm.

For Further Details: Swami Rajendran - 908.875.6964 Dr. Varatharajah - 336.851.9150 www.sathyasaicentergso.org

Winston-Greensboro Cricket Club (WGCC) Everyone from Triad Area in NC are welcome. The goals are fun, fitness, and friendship. WGCC is also a member of the Carolina Cricket League. Practice Sessions during the regular season are held every Wednesday at 5:30pm in Weston Park, Winston-Salem.

For Further Details: www.wgcricketclub.com

Raleigh

AABAJ (American Association of Bihar and Jharkhand) Organized to bring together the Indian diaspora connected with Bihar and Jharkhand. AABAJ celebrates Holi, Diwali, Chatth and other festivities while promoting and sensitizing the unique culture, music and cuisine from Bihar and Jharkhand. Also conducts Yoga and Art classes, and provides learning opportunities for the next generation.

For Further Details: Pragyan Shrivas 919.371.2800 Samarendra Kishore 919.438.0009 aabajmail@gmail.com

Art of Living (Raleigh) Art of Living gives practical knowledge and techniques to unlock deepest potential and bring fullness to life. The techniques are effective in reducing stress and increase health, physical energy, enthusiasm, self-esteem, and clarity of mind. Advance courses are also available. Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar’s mission is to create a stress-free society.

For Further Details: 919.659.5939 rdu@us.artofliving.org 4000 Bear Cat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC www.artofliving.org/us-en/raleigh

Assamese Association of north Carolina AANC promotes understanding of Assamese culture and language. AANC celebrates festivals and organizes cultural activities like Bihu Dance, music, songs and social events with Assamese culture. Everyone from Assam as well as anyone with any connection to or interest in Assamese culture are welcome.

For Further Details: Nilaskhi Phukan - 919.949.1618 - nilakshi_phukan@yahoo.com 919.200.4020 assameseassociation.nc@gmail.com Saathee.com

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BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Raleigh) Dedicated to improving society through individual growth by fostering Hindu ideals of faith, unity, and selfless service. Daily Arti - 7am & 6:30 pm; Weekly Satsang Sabha held every Sunday which includes Bhajans and spiritual discourses: Adults: 4pm, Young Men (Ages 23-36) - 3pm, Young Women (Ages 23-36) - 4pm, Teens - 4:30pm, and Children - 5pm.

For Further Details: 1020 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC www.saathee.com/baps-shri-swaminarayan-mandir-morrisvillenc

Bengali Association of north Carolina (BAnC) BANC seeks to promote Bengali culture, language, music, arts and social activities by offering varieties of programs for members of Indian-American community within North Carolina and adjacent states. The association is organized exclusively for charitable, cultural, social and educational purposes.

For Further Details: exec@banc-online.org www.banc-online.org

Bhaktidham Raleigh This is a Pushtimargiya community and cultural center. The seva and bhakti of Pushtimarg Manorathas are conducted, dedicated and offered to Thakorji based on the path and teachings of “Shree Jagadguru Shri Vallabhacharya”. The center is blessed

by H.H. Shree Dwarkeshlalji Mahoday Shree (Kadi Amdavad).

For Further Details: 919.610.4194/ 919.622.1126 Info@pushtimargrtp.com www.pvsr.org

Bhartiya Senior Citizens of nC (BSCnC) The organization for seniors of Indian origin that are age 60 years and over. Members meet on 2nd Sat of each month at Cary senior center in Bond park in Cary NC from 10 am to 3 pm. The next meeting will be on Saturday, January 11, 2020. This month there will be a Satya Narayan katha and introduction of new president and vice president.

For Further Details: amidhara19@yahoo.com

Chinmaya Mission Raleigh-Durham (CM RDU) Founded by Swami Chinmayananda and dedicated to spreading the knowledge of Vedanta and other Hindu scriptures and to provide individuals with the practical means for spiritual growth and happiness. CM RDU conducts weekly discourses (Satsanga-s) and study groups for adults, and classes for youth (Yuvakendra) and children (Bala Vihar).

For Further Details: www.chinmaya-RDU.org

Dada Bhagwan Foundation (Raleigh) Every living being seeks happiness. This search ends only when the source of eternal happiness is found. It can be attained through realizing your true Self. A path to happiness was discovered by Gnani Purush A. M. Patel, also known as Dada Bhagwan and revealed to the world as Akram Vignan, a spiritual science. This is based on the foundation of Self Realization. Satsangs at HSNC, Satrdays from 5 - 7pm.

For Further Details: 877.505.3232 x 1003 January 2020

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Community Organizations wcraleigh@us.dadabhagwan.org 309 Aviation Pkwy, Rooms 5 & 6, Morrisville, NC www.dadabhagwan.org

Datta Yoga Center (Raleigh) Spreads the teachings of Sadguru Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji. Activities: Namasankeertana - Bhajans written, composed and sung by Pujya Sri Swamiji. Kriya yoga classes conducted by trained teachers from India. The group meets on the first Sat of every month and every major festival for Satsang and Namasankeertana (divine singing).

For Further Details: Suresh and Madhavi Kota - 919.434.1604 www.dycusa.org

Duke Diya A student organization and forum for interaction through events relating to South Asian Americans and anyone interested in South Asian culture, politics or economics. Duke Diya represents the six major nations of South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Social events like mixers and semiformals, especially with other Duke cultural groups and S. Asian organizations at UNC and NC State, are organized.

For Further Details: diya.duke@gmail.com www.dukediya.com

EKTAA Student organization (nCSU) EKTAA (meaning unity) is the South Asian Student Organization at NC State. The motto is “unity within diversity.” EKTAA strives to spread culture and heritage of South Asia on campus as well as the local community and works hand-in-hand with many organizations on and off the NCSU campus, as well as South Asian organizations from area universities.

For Further Details: ektaaexec@ektaa.org www.ektaa.org

Geet Bazaar Radio (nCSU) Sundays from 10am - 12pm on WKNC 88.1 FM, join hosts Afroz Taj and John Caldwell, for a variety of music from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. They specialize in the music of the Indian film industry including ghazals, qawwalis, bhajans, and Indi-Pop. Listen worldwide using the NC State Student Media App or live streaming on wknc.org.

For Further Details: Dr. Afroz Taj & John Caldwell - 919.851.1119 geetbazaar@wknc.org

GEM Raleigh Church of God Come and join in every Sunday from 10:45am to 1pm. They have worship services, prayer meetings, Sunday school, and much more.

For Further Details: Pastor Thankachan Mathai - 919.395.6208 globalem@gmail.com 3331 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC

Gokul Bhajan & Vedic Studies (Raleigh) Weekly satsang singing bhajans and glorifying Lord Krishna are held Fridays 7pm - 9pm at the HSNC in Morrisville, NC with a dinner afterwards. Gokulam Learning Center in Durham every 1st Saathee.com

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& 3rd Saturday from 5pm - 9pm. Children learn slokas, skills, manage and lead projects such as book distribution, charity for cow protection, food for the poor, and prison seva.

For Further Details: bkdasa@gmail.com 919.491.9536 www.gokulbhajan.com

Gurdwara Atlantic Coast Sikh Association Meets Sundays for Diwans along with Akhand Paths celebrated on appropriate dates. Classes for Punjabi and religious studies are held for children at the same time.

For Further Details: Yadvinder Singh - 919.477.7035 3108 Sparger Road, Durham, NC acsikhassociation.org

Heartfulness Meditation (Triangle) A heart-based system of meditation centered on the supremacy of heart that helps one realize the ultimate potential within oneself.

Regular practice under capable guidance enables aspirants to progressively experience the sublime presence of the divine in their daily lives. It is offered free to seekers worldwide through Shri Ram Chandra Mission. In the Triangle area, group meditations are held on Sun at 8:30am & Wed at 7pm.

For Further Details: Raj Solanki - raj_solanki@yahoo.com www.heartfulness.org

Heritage India Association of nC (HIAnC) HIANC provides Indian cultural experience through performing and cultural arts, fine arts & crafts of India. Its mission is “to preserve and promote Indian heritage and culture.” HIANC presents several annual events such as Heritage India Festival, Gandhi Jayanti, Children’s Day, and participates in the International Festival of Raleigh.

For Further Details: www.saathee.com/heritage-india-association

Hindi Vikas Mandal of nC The Mandal, based in the Raleigh-Triangle area, promotes study and appreciation of Hindi and strives to foster Indian culture and traditions through Hindi. HVM has special focus on the youth for the preservation of heritage. Every year HVM organizes Kavisammelan (Poetry Reading); Independence Day, Dushera and a members’ picnic. HVM also conducts weekly Hindi classes (10:30 - 11:30am on Saturdays) at HSNC for children.

For Further Details: www.saathee.com/hindi-vikas-mandal

Hindu Society of north Carolina The temple is open daily from 7am - 9pm. Morning Aarti: Mon-Fri 10.30am, Sat-Sun 10am. Evening Aarti: Mon-Fri 7pm, Sat-Sun 6pm.

All major religious celebrations are observed. Facility rentals are also available. Activities: Yoga, Hinduism and Meditation classes; Weekend Community Classes: Jain pathshala, Hindi classes, Sanskar Gurkul Classes, Tamil classes, Balmukund classes; Youth Affairs: Ohm Squad is the youth wing of HSNC involved in the youth activities like camp, games, and arts.

For Further Details: 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC www.saathee.com/hsnc January 2020

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Community Organizations HumSub HumSub is dedicated to sharing the social and cultural traditions of India with the residents of the Research Triangle Park and North Carolina.

For Further Details: www.saathee.com/hum-sub

Immanuel Assembly of God A full Gospel Christian church serving the Indian / South Asian community in the Raleigh. Service is offered Sundays at 10:30am & Bible Study is Wednesdays at 7pm.

For Further Details: Pastor Sam Daniel (919.442.8537) thechurch@immanuelassembly.org samimmanuelag@gmail.com 5419 S. Alston Ave, Durham, NC www.immanuelassembly.org

Indian Classical Music & Dance Society (ICMDS) ICMDS is dedicated to promoting Indian classical music and dance in the Triangle area by inviting top artists from all over the world to perform.

For Further Details: www.saathee.com/icmds

InStepp Located in Durham, the organization has served women residing in the Triangle area and offers long-term support and training to women who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking; women who are transitioning back into the workforce following separation or divorce; women transitioning from prison or jail, and immigrant women, including women from South Asian cultures.

For Further Details: 919.680.8000 info@instepp.org www.instepp.org

International Community Church ICC is a worship center for people from India and neighboring countries. Church services at Reedy Creek Baptist Church.

For Further Details: 919.233.2900 Pastor: Joseph B. Jesudason 1524 N. Harrison Avenue Cary, NC www.icc-nc.org

International Hindi Association IHA promotes Hindi language and literature and has chapters all over the United States. The Raleigh Chapter periodically organizes Kavi Sammelans with local and indigenous talents. Open to those interested in listening to poetry or in reciting poetry.

For Further Details: Saroj Sharma - 919.460.7830 / 919.656.5224 www.hindi.org

ISKCon of nC (Hillsborough) New Goloka temple is a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Visitors are welcome have darshan of Sri Sri Radha Golokananda. Every Sun at 4pm, there is a special program consisting of arati, kirtan, Bhagavad-gita discourse, and a prasadam feast. Also provides educational classes and programs for children and adults. Daily Darshan at 4:30 - 5am, 7:15am - 1pm, Saathee.com

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4:15 - 5:45pm, 7 - 8pm. Sat and Sun Darshan open from 7:15am 8pm.

For Further Details: 919.732.6492 newgoloka108@gmail.com iskconnc@gmail.com 1032 Dimmocks Mill Rd. Hillsborough, NC www.newgoloka.com

Jain Study Center of north Carolina (JSCnC) The JSCNC was organized to study and understand Jain religion, philosophy, rituals, and literature and to educate children. The center participates in many activities for youths and adults, where an environment is created making members feel like a part of the family. Jain pathshala and swadhyay are held routinely for children and adults.

For Further Details: jscnc101@gmail.com jscnc.org

Kiran, Inc. Kiran serves South Asian victims of domestic violence in NC by helping them rebuild their lives and ending the cycle. Domestic violence is a rampant and preventable public health problem.

Kiran promotes healthy family relationships and raises awareness on the prevalence of domestic violence through outreach and advocacy. Core services comprise of a 24-hour free and confidential hotline, crisis counseling, legal advocacy, translation assistance, skills development and other culturally sensitive support services.

For Further Details: www.kiraninc.org 24 hours Crisis line: 877-NC-KIRAN (877-625-4726) Office: 919.831.4203

Krishnadham USA The mission is to foster richness of Hindu heritage in children and to provide experiences on cultural values to visitors and residents alike under the guidance of Vaishnavacharya Shri Dwarkeshlalji Mahoday. Satsangs and monthly manoraths celebrate various Pushtimargiya festivals. They meet at 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102 in Morrisville, NC on Sat from 5:30pm to 7:00pm for Satsang.

For Further Details: Hemant Sura - 919.608.2412 krishnadham.nc@gmail.com 795 Beaver Creek Road in Apex, North Carolina Maitri (nCSU) A student organization at NC State that aims at unifying various cultures at university while working to help and support Indian students at NC State, but also creates opportunities for them to immerse in the global culture while retaining their Indian identity.

For Further Details: maitri.ncsu@gmail.com www.maitrincsu.org

north Carolina Pakistani-American Anjuman The NCPAA is a non-political, cultural and social organization that strives to promote the presence of the people from Pakistan living in the Triangle area. Their mission is to provide cultural and social interaction for the families and individuals of the Pakistani community and to offer a variety of programs and services to its members.

For Further Details: www.ncpaa.org January 2020

Community Organizations north Carolina Tamil Christian Fellowship The Tamil Christian Fellowship meets in Morrisville/Cary/Apex, North Carolina twice a month for worship, study and prayer.

For Further Details: 919.747.4115 (Prasanth) nctamilchristian@gmail.com

Pratham - Triangle Area Pratham works towards universalizing primary education in India.

It continues to evolve, grow and works to meet the continually changing needs of the children it educates. The NC chapter actively aims to collaborate with individuals, local organizations and community associations and seeks ideas, volunteers and resources to deliver the vision of “Every Child in School and Learning Well.”

For Further Details: Sri Rajgopalan - rajagoph@yahoo.com Ravi Sundarajan- ravisrajan@yahoo.com www.prathamusa.org Radha Krishna Temple of nC Organizes keertans/chantings, havan, pooja, abshik, bhog, aratis, and all day festivities.

For Further Details: 919.685.0447 or 919.306.3175 635 Hollands Chapel Road, Apex NC

Raleigh Sai Center Parthi Sai devotees meet Sundays from 4 - 6:15pm in the Mini-Hall of Hindu Bhavan in Morrisville. There is also a study circle, Bhajan Practice, Veda Chanting between 4 - 5pm depending on the week, followed by bhajans from 5 - 6:15pm. The center carries out several service activities as well, including Human Values Education (SSE) classes for children.

For Further Details: rsc.president@yahoo.com raleighsaicenter.org

Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of nC The Society draws inspiration from the philosophical wisdom of the Vedanta as practiced and preached in the modern day by Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda. Practical Vedanta and the message of the harmony of religions and the spiritual oneness are studied.

For Further Details: 919.412.8304 vedantanc@gmail.com 3109 Globe Road Morrisville, NC www.vedantanc.org

RTP Maharashtra Mandal The goal of the Mandal is to advocate the vibrant culture, the rich heritage and the language of Maharashtra. The Mandal is dedicated to showcase the cultural, social and traditional attributes of Maharashtra to the local community through variety of programs and events such as Makar Sankrant, Shiv Jayanti, Gudi Padwa, Ganesh Festival and Diwali.

For Further Details: mail@rtpmm.org www.rtpmm.org

RTP Tamil Catholic Association Formed by Catholics hailing from Tamil Nadu, the objectives are to support Tamil Catholics in worship through regular Roman Saathee.com

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Catholic mass and prayer, celebration of religious feasts and festivals and to pass on this tradition to future generations. Also active with religious instructions in Tamil, support for Tamil heritage and charity. Meets the 3rd Sun every month at St. Lourdes Matha Church to recite the rosary and celebrate the holy mass.

For Further Details: rtptamilcatholic@gmail.com 1400 Vision Drive, Apex, NC www.rtptamilcatholic.org

Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple (ISSo) ISSO’s objective is to advance the Sanatan Dharma in accordance with the principles and teachings of the Original Shree Swaminarayan Sampradaya. A weekly “Satsang Sabha” is held every Saturday (5-8pm), which includes Kirtan bhakti, Katha, Aarti and Mahaprasad. Open daily 8am to 12pm and 4pm to 9pm; Daily Sandhya Aarti: 7pm.

For Further Details: 500 SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC www.saathee.com/issonc

Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mandir of nC The Mandir promotes Sai philosophy and facilitates worship and services similar to Shirdi SaiBaba Temple, located in Shirdi-India.

This organization is dedicated to sponsoring and supporting religious, spiritual, cultural, educational and charitable activities in the US and abroad.

For Further Details: 919.386.1085 info@shirdisaimandirnc.org 1150 NW Maynard Road, Cary, NC www.shirdisaimandirnc.org

Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Temple (Durham) The temple is open daily with puja services, along with celebrations of religious festivals and other events.

For Further Details: 984.888.5306 410 North Carolina 55 STE D & C, Durham, NC ssvpriestservices@gmail.com www.srisiddhivinayakatemple.org.

SV Temple of north Carolina The temple, a tribute to Lord Venkateswara and his consorts, is designed to exacting standards of shilpa shasthra and features the only shrine in N. America to incorporate abodes to Lord Viswaksena and Lord Sudarshana/Lord Narasimha as part of Srinivasa Parivaram. The temple rituals are performed in accordance with Pancharathra Agama Shastra.

For Further Details: www.saathee.com/sv-temple-nc

Tamil Cultural Association of north Carolina (TCA nC) TCA NC was formed for the purpose of providing youths with exposure to Tamil culture. Everyone is invited to join TCA and become part of the organization promoting Tamil culture.

For Further Details: tca_nc@yahoo.com www.tcanc.org Triangle Area Telugu Association (TATA) TATA is committed to building a vibrant Telugu Community and promoting Telugu culture and language in the Triangle area of January 2020

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January 2020

Community Organizations North Carolina.

For Further Details: www.triangletelugu.org

Triangle Gujarati Association (TGA) TGA’s mission is to promote and serve Gujarati culture in the Triangle area by organizing various events and programs throughout the year and impart Gujarati culture and language on the youth.

For Further Details: www.saathee.com/triangle-gujarati-association Triangle Vegetarian Society (TVS) The mission of TVS is to build a sense of community between current vegetarians and those interested in vegetarianism and have a forum for a discussion of issues. TVS was formed promote the nutritional, ethical, and environmental aspects of vegetarianism.

Build a sense of community among people of varying interests in plant-based diets, encouraging healthy and sustainable.

For Further Details: barman@cs.unc.edu www.trianglevegsociety.org

Triangle Vipassana Meditation Vipassana, which means to see things as they are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques. Group sittings are held every Saturday and are only meant for students who have completed 10-day Vipassana course as taught by S N Goenka.

For Further Details: Hitesh & Vaibhavi Parekh - 732.213.9660 / 919.601.3555 carync.sittings@gmail.com www.dhamma.org

Vaishnav Samaj of Triangle Area A group of like-minded devotees who meet for religious worship and understand Pushti Marg Principles at large. Bhajan recitations are held 2nd Sunday of the month from 4-6pm and Seniors are requested to encourage youngsters to participate.

For Further Details: Arvindbhai Shah - 919.233.7677 Vithalbhai Shah - 919.803.9027

Regional

Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India Ekal was established to help in the development of the remote tribal and rural villages in India. Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA is committed to the cause of eradicating illiteracy from tribal areas. Education is the key to self-esteem, self-sustenance, and economic freedom. The Carolinas Region of the EVFI USA conducts fundraising and awareness programs.

For Further Details: Southeast Regional President: Chander M. Aggarwal - cmaggarwal44@gmail.com - 407.454.3739 Carolinas Regional President: Janak Dalal - jaydalalcolumbia@gmail.com - 803.665.4050

Hindu Society of Eastern nC (Greenville, nC) The temple celebrates major festivals and holds regular bhajan seesions and Geeta study.

Upcoming Events: Jan 5: Bala Vihar- Children’s Program by Roopa Gandhiji Jan 12: Bhajans, Hanuman Chalisa Saathee.com

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Jan 19: Haldi Kumkum/ Makar Sankranti Jan 26: New Year’s Havan For Further Details: Temple - 252.752.2670 Dharam Vasnani: 252-413-8181 Hindutemplenc@gmail.com

ISKCon Temple of the Holy name in Prabhupada Village The Temple, situated in a peaceful, rural area, is a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Come and take darshan of Sri Sri Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurasundara from 5am-7:30pm, 7 days a week and special program held every Sunday at 3pm with arati and kirtan, bhajans, discourse on the Bhagavad-gita, As It Is, and a pure vegetarian feast - all free. For Further Details: 336.593.2322 tothn@iskconpv.org 1283 Prabhupada Rd. Sandy Ridge, NC www.iskconpv.org

nithyananda Sangha nC (Inner Awakening) Inner Awakening works to spread the knowledge of Yoga and meditation by letting people experience the teachings of Vedic Science in its purest form delivered by the enlightened master Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda. This chapter is part of a worldwide movement for meditation and healing. Paramahamsa Nithyananda is a leader in the science of enlightenment and the author of more than 300 books published in 27 languages.

For Further Details: 704.766.1420 / 704.992.6114 innerawakening.org nithyananda.org

nuv Yug A cultural organization with a mission to promote awareness of Indian cultural arts and heritage while striving to create synergy among various cultural groups from the South Asian region.

For Further Details: www.saathee.com/nuv-yug

Prabhupada Village A rural, devotional community, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Inspiration and guidance is derived from the books, letters, and lectures of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, The International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Following Srila Prabhupada’s personal example, spiritual values in order to achieve true happiness, prosperity and spiritual fulfillment are taught. Serving Hindu communities with fellowship, worship, scriptural study, and kirtan. Also facilitate spiritual festivals, Bhagavad-gita discussions, and vegetarian cooking.

For Further Details: 336.593.8108 or 336.593.3031 sarvadrik@gmail.com www.prabhupadavillage.com

Sacred River Cow Sanctuary The sanctuary is a goshala in the foothills near Iskcon’s Temple of the Holy Name. Connect with nature, discover the joy of cow seva, and introduce your children to the importance of cows in Vedic culture. To arrange a visit or Pooja, call 336-339-3070.

For Further Details: Find Sacred River Cow Sanctuary on Facebook.

January 2020

Algorithms

continued from page 74

preference reversals that people frequently exhibit, for example.

Within margins of statistical errors, the decisions from machine intelligence are consistent.

The problem is that machine intelligence is not always well designed.

As algorithms become more powerful and are incorporated into more parts of life, scientists like me expect this new world, one with a different balance between machine and human intelligence, to be the norm of the future.

In the criminal justice system, judges use algorithms during parole decisions to calculate recidivism risks. In theory, this practice could overcome any bias introduced by lunch breaks or exhaustion at the end of the day. Yet when journalists from ProPublica conducted an investigation, they found these algorithms were unfair: white men with prior armed robbery convictions were rated as lower risk than African American females who were convicted of misdemeanors.

There are many more such examples of machine learning algorithms later found to be unfair, including Amazon and its recruiting and Google’s image labeling.

Researchers have been aware of these problems and have worked to impose restrictions that ensure fairness from the outset. For example, an algorithm called CB (color blind) imposes the restriction that any discriminating variables, such as race or gender, should not be used in predicting the outcomes. Another, called DP (demographic parity), ensures that groups are proportionally fair. In other words, the proportion of the group receiving a positive outcome is equal or fair across both the discriminating and nondiscriminating groups.

Researchers and policymakers are starting to take up the mantle. IBM has open-sourced many of their algorithms and released them under the “AI Fairness 360” banner. And the National Science Foundation recently accepted proposals from scientists who want to bolster the research foundation that underpins fairness in AI.

Improving the fairness of machines’ decisions I believe that existing fair machine algorithms are weak in many ways. This weakness often stems from the criteria used to ensure fairness. Most algorithms that impose “fairness restriction” such as demographic parity (DP) and color blindness (CB) are focused on ensuring fairness at the outcome level. If there are two people from different subpopulations, the imposed restrictions ensure that the outcome of their decisions is consistent across the groups.

While this is a good first step, researchers need to look beyond the outcomes alone and focus on the process as well.

For instance, when an algorithm is used, the subpopulations that are affected will naturally change their efforts in response.

Those changes need to be taken into account, too. Because they have not been taken into account, my colleagues and I focus on what we call “best response fairness.”

If the subpopulations are inherently similar, their effort level to achieve the same outcome should also be the same even after the algorithm is implemented. This simple definition of best response fairness is not met by DP- and CB-based algorithms.

For example, DP requires the positive rates to be equal even if one of the subpopulations does not put in effort. In other words, people in one subpopulation would have to work significantly harder to achieve the same outcome. While a DP-based algorithm would consider it fair – after all, both subpopulations Saathee.com

achieved the same outcome – most humans would not.

There is another fairness restriction known as equalized odds (EO) which satisfies the notion of best response fairness – it ensures fairness even if you take into account the response of the subpopulations. However, to impose the restriction, the algorithm needs to know the discriminating variables (say, black/white), and it will end up setting explicitly different thresholds for subpopulations – so, the thresholds will be explicitly different for white and black parole candidates.

While that would help increase fairness of outcomes, such a procedure may violate the notion of equal treatment required by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For this reason, a California Law Review article has urged policymakers to amend the legislation so that fair algorithms that utilize this approach can be used without potential legal repercussion.

These constraints motivate my colleagues and me to develop an algorithm that is not only “best response fair” but also does not explicitly use discriminating variables. We demonstrate the performance of our algorithms theoretically using simulated data sets and real sample data sets from the web. When we tested our algorithms with the widely used sample data sets, we were surprised at how well they performed relative to algorithms assembled by IBM. Our work suggests that, despite the challenges, machines and algorithms will continue to be useful to humans – for physical jobs as well as knowledge jobs. We must remain vigilant that any decisions made by algorithms are fair, and it is imperative that everyone understands their limitations. If we can do that, then it’s possible that human and machine intelligence will complement each other in valuable ways.

Kannan is Professor of Management & Director of the Krenicki Center for Business Analytics & Machine Learning, Purdue University.

For more articles, visit www.theconversation.com.

Raajeev

continued from page 82

him, “John, I am a comedian and my whole act is about being cheap and good in bargaining. I am actually insulted. You think I am new to the country, someone Fresh off the boat?” John apologized and gave some lame excuse. There was no point in wasting time with him so after some conversation, we walked out making a lamer excuse that Vicktor had to get a haircut.

After a few iterations, Vicktor test-drove some other cars on his own. He liked the sporty, Mazda 3 but I thought Mazda’s SUV might be more practical for him. After a brief discussion, I realized I was thinking too much like a Bania, and since both cars were equally highly rated, it was better to go with what he wants. We ended up with a Mazda dealership where he had already test-driven his cars. I took an easier route this time by negotiating with the salesperson over the phone using the Costco auto-buying program. We had decided on the options and the final price was sent via email.

At the dealership, we test drove Mazda 3 one more time because I had not been in one. The sales person was very pleasant. It turned out he was also a comedian. Since the price was already decided, there was not much to negotiate. Still I thought there is no harm in trying, “Hey, if we all come to your show, is there an additional discount?”

On the way in his new car, Vicktor said, “You know dad, you could have gotten a much better deal. You could have just bought me a skateboard to get around Santa Barbara.” I said, “No, Vicktor, then I would be spending all my gas money and time driving out to see you. Now you can do that yourself.”

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January 2020

Community Organizations Sri Somesvara Temple (Asheville) The temple is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western NC. It is a Vedic Shiva temple at the center of Mount Soma, a community commonly referred to as “Mount Kailash of the West.”

People travel great distances to experience Sri Somesvara’s powerful Linga, profound silence, and timeless vibrations. The temple is open every day from 9:30am to 6:30pm. Aarti is at 6pm.

For Further Details: 828.476.4073 www.srisomesvara.org

South Carolina

India Assoc. of Greater Charleston (IAGC) IAGC was incorporated when the residents of Indian origin in Charleston felt the need to organize a community of people who were interested in the culture and heritage of India and share the profound beauty of this culture with others.

For Further Details: Omi Hasija (Chairperson) - 843.766.4661 iagcchs@gmail.com www.indiaassociationofgreatercharleston.com

American South Asian Cultural Association of Columbia, SC The goal is to increase cultural awareness and develop cultural understanding among American South Asian Community in Columbia, SC area. A lunch meeting will be held on the second Sunday every month between 1 - 2:30pm.

For Further Details: 803.233.7042 / 512.547.7077 (Evenings) 1728 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC

Carolina Buddhist Vihara (Greenville, SC) A temple and monastery offering teachings of the Buddha, primarily by bringing Theravada Buddhist nuns and monks to Greenville. “Theravada” refers to the oldest surviving branch of Buddhism, the highly traditional school found in countries such as Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, and Thailand. The meditation is on Mon & Thur from 6- 8pm & for women only on Friday 9- 10am.

Sutta discussion on Sat from 2-4pm.

For Further Details: 864.329.9961 greenvillebv@gmail.com 113 Woodridge Circle, Greenville, SC www.carolinabuddhist.net

Kannada Association of Greater Greenville (KAGG) An organization devoted to the awareness and promotion of Kannada culture in the area. KAGG is a primarily run by volunteers and invites Kannadigas living in and around Greenville area to participate in the organization. Kannada classes for children are also conducted.

For Further Details: 864.430.4973 kaggculturalcommittee@gmail.com www.kagg-sc.org

Dada Bhagwan Foundation (Columbia) Every living being is in pursuit of happiness; no one likes suffering.

This search ends only when the source of eternal happiness is found. It can be attained through realizing your true Self. A path to eternal happiness was discovered by Gnani Purush A. M. Patel, also known as Dada Bhagwan and it was revealed to the world as Akram Vignan, a spiritual science. This is based on the foundation of Self Realization. Weekly satsang held Every Sat 5- 7pm.

For Further Details: 877.505.3232 x 1035 wccolumbia@us.dadabhagwan.org 1335 Garner Lane, Columbia, SC www.dadabhagwan.org

Hindu Society of Greater Spartanburg Satsangs are held from 5-7pm on the second Sunday of each month. The Society also celebrates religious and social festivals based on the Hindu calendar. Though the Balvihar does not meet on a regular basis, the temple is quite active in sponsoring children’s programs, such as Rangoli classes and classical and contemporary dance classes.

For Further Details: 864.599.7048 1130 Fairview Church Road in Spartanburg, SC pluralism.org/profile/hindu-society-of-greater-spartanburg/ Saathee.com

Hindu Temple and Center (Columbia, SC) The temple is open on weekdays between 8:30am to 12 noon and between 5pm and 8:30pm. On weekends, the temple is open between 8:30am to 1pm and 5pm to 8:30pm. Bal Gokulam (Sunday School) classes are held Sundays from 10:30am to 12 noon. Classes are designed to help children build physical, mental, cultural, social & spiritual lives.

For Further Details: 803.772.6940 5704 Kiawah Road, Columbia, SC www.hindutemplesc.org

Spartanburg Buddhist Center of SC The Center’s resident monks seek to preserve Theravada Buddhist traditions and welcomes all interested in Buddhism, Southeast Asian culture, or meditation. A regular English-speaking group meets at 6pm on Thursdays for meditation, a brief Dhamma talk, and short discussions.

For Further Details: 864.327.8726 770 Bryant Road, Spartanburg, SC www.facebook.com/spartanburgbuddhist2012

Telugu Association of Greater Greenville TAGG is devoted to the awareness and promotion of Telugu Culture in the Greenville Area. The association caters to the cultural and social needs. TAGG organizes events to celebrate major festivals and organizes a picnic during the summer as scheduled activities. In addition, TAGG screens choice Telugu films throughout the year and organizes special cultural events.

For Further Details: www.taggsc.org

Vedic Center of Greenville Daily Aarti is conducted Mon - Fri at 8pm. Bal Vihar classes are conducted Sundays from 11:15am - 12:30pm. Sri Venkateshwara Suprabhatam is held on 2nd Saturday of each month at 9am.

Temple is open from 9 to noon and from 5 to 9 pm daily. Various religious services are offered.

For Further Details: President: Janak Desai - 864.884.5183 520 Bethel Road, Mauldin, SC www.vediccenterofgreenville.org 114

January 2020

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January 2020

Youth Corner Word World

V

R

2. Music director of 2020 Hindi film: 83. (a) Pritam (b) Sanjay Leelā Bhansāli (c) A. R. Rahman (d) Anu Malik

Make words using 4 or more letters. The central letter must be used in each word. Letters cannot be used more than once per word.

Use all letters for the subject word (underlined in solutions below) 9+ words = Excellent; 7 to 8 words = Good; 6 or less = keep looking.

Words we found are in solutions below.

Brain-Train

Hi boys & girls, see if you can solve the quiz by matching the number of squares that go with the puzzles or games.

Compare (Columns X & Y) and Pair.

X 1. TV Show- jeopardy 2. TV Show- Wheel of Fortune 3. Board Game – Chess 4. Board Game – Snake & Ladders 5. Board Game – Scrabble 6. Fun Game – Tic-tac-toe 7. Saathee – Pops Puzzles/Word Find 8. Parcheesi or Chaupar 9. Board Game -Standard monopoly 10. World’s smallest word puzzle

Y A. 1 Square B. 9 Squares C. 40 Squares D. 52 Squares E. 60 Squares F. 64 Squares G. 96 Squares H. 100 Squares I. 144 Squares J. 225 Squares

4. Achluophobia is the fear of (a) Heights (b) Itching insects (c) Noise (d) Darkness

5. Our Moon spins around the earth in about (a) 1 Day (b) 15 Days (c) 27 Days (d) 30 Days

6. The volume of the space between two spheres of radius = 7” & 14” is approximately (a) 6.82 Cubic feet (b) 5.82 Cubic feet (c) 4.82 Cubic feet (d) 2.82 Cubic feet

7. Melting point of Tin (Symbol Sn) is about (a) 292º C (b) 272º C (c) 252º C (d) 232º C

8. This game of Indian origin needs no money. (a) Kho Kho (b) Kancha/Lakhoti (c) Chess (d) Parchisi/Chaupar

A Panchatantra Tale:

The Drum and the Jackal

A hungry jackal was wandering in the woods and saw a clearing ahead. The jackal carefully walked out of the woods into the open field, which was at the time a battlefield. He was sniffing the ground and searching around for food and all of a sudden heard a loud sound. He got scared and thought to himself, “What kind of animal would make that terrible sound?”

While cautiously searching around, he found a huge wardrum under a tree. He watched as the wind shook the tree and a branch fell on the drum to make the sound. He tried to strike the drum with his forelegs and the sound made him happy. He thought, “Wow, a thing which makes such a loud sound is surely filled with meat. At last, I’ve found my food.”

Eagerly he struck the drum’s skin with his paws and gnawed a hole into it. He slid into the drum and found nothing but the dry skin and wood of the instrument itself. He then crept out and walked away hungry.

The moral of the story: A person can act unwisely when hungry.

Be careful.

Saathee.com

3. A & B sleep on their back. Both are on left of each other.

If B is South of A, in which direction the head of A is? (a) North (b) East (c) West (d) South

9. The “Sonnet” poem has __ lines. (a) 4 (b) 8 (c) 10 (d) 14

10. The highest peak in North Carolina is Mount (a) Craig (b) Chapman (c) Mitchell (d) Carolina

116

Answers are below. No Peeking.

Scholar: All correct; 1st Class: 9 Correct; 2nd Class: 8 Correct; 3rd Class: 7 Correct; Need to improve: 6 or less

Word World (Solution): ANNA, ARIA, AVIAN, INVAR, NAAN, NAIRA, NANA, NIRVANA, RAIN, RANI, RAVIN, VAIN, VAIR, VARA, VARNA, VINA

A

A

I

Brain Train 1-E, 2-D, 3-F, 4-H, 5-J, 6-B, 7-I, 8-G, 9-C, 10-A

N

1. Arrange these India’s freedom fighters from British rule chronologically by their birthdays. (a) Bhagat Singh (b) Mahatma Gandhi (c) Mangal Pandey (d) Bahadur Shah Zafar

Scholar Answers: 1.c, b, d, a 2.a 3.c 4.d 5.a 6.d 7.b 8.c 9.a 10.c

N

By Kirit Shukla

Who wants to be a Scholar?!

Answer the ones you know and research to answer the rest.

There is only one correct answer.

January 2020

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Pop’s Puzzles & Jokes

By Kirit Shukla

Note: * denotes abbreviation of the word or phrase

Clues Across: 1. __ __ King, A civil rights movement (American) leader.

7. A shoe or a sandal having a thick typically wooden sole.

11. The bulbous posterior portion of the metasoma found in hymenopterans.

12. A relief plate printing process on nonporous substrate.

13. An interval of silence of a specified duration. (Music) 14. The aquatic larva or nymph of a dragonfly or stonefly.

16. The main railway station of city of Jamshedpur, India.

18. Bachelor of Science. (*) 19. International Nuclear Energy Research Initiative. (*) 20. 10% of a person’s income given to a church.

22. A large stone structure of Sardinia built in shape of a truncated cone and held to date from the bronze age.

25. The hot Darjeeling beverage favored in India.

26. Low Pressure. (*) 27. Annually.

29. Virtual Memory. (*) 31. “Steve ___”, American professional baseball player.

32. Lebanese American University. (*) 33. Adult tapeworms in the intestines of carnivores.

35. A definite quantity of work assigned.

37. Haskell XML Toolbox. (*) (Computing, Software) 38. Cell division of the nucleus and division of the cytoplasm without spindle formation of chromosomes.

40. The 12th month of the civil year in the Jewish calendar.

42. A bronze coin of the ancient Roman republic.

43. Ampere-Hour. (*) 44. The constitution of India came into effect, on Jan. 26.

Saathee.com

Clues Down: 1. Nuclear power plant near Charlotte.

2. An exceptionally large profit in a business enterprise.

3. The enlarged part of the abdomen behind the pedicel in hymenopterous insects, like ants.

4. Makar Sankranti; Northward movement of earth:1/15/20 5. Internet Explorer. (*) 6. Recombinant Deoxyribonucleic Acid. (*) 7. The quality of being certain or definite .

8. A light-emitting diode .

9. A domestic bovine mammal.

10. “Nathuram ___,” Gandhiji’s assassinator.

12. An authoritative determination.

15. A symbol for chemical element “Silver”.

17. A country in western Africa, Capital: Abuja.

18. ‘Giver of life’; The Goddess Parvati. (Sanskrit word) 21. A symbol for chemical element “Tellurium”.

23. The Icelandic poem dealing the ethical conduct.

24. Before.

28. London Youth Support Trust. (*) .

30. A city located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.

31. An elaborate outfit.

32. Summer solstice.

34. A rod passing through the center of group of wheels.

36. A loathsome person.

39. Indian Standards Institution. (*) 41. Luxembourg. (*) (Puzzle solutions are on page 120. NO peeking!)

Hee Hee

Jokes From Around The World

Wife: “Did you hear? Our pundit (Wedding priest) died?”

Mafatlal: “One day it had to happen; it’s fruit of his Karma.”

••••••••••••••

A mathematician wanders back home at 3am and proceeds to get an earful from his wife.

"You're late!" she yells.

"You said you'd be home by 11:45!"

"Actually,” the mathematician replies coolly, "I said I'd be home by a quarter of 12."

••••••••••••••

Why did Beethoven get rid of his chickens?

All they said was "Bach, Bach, Bach..."

•••••••••••••• Q. Why is Cinderella so bad at soccer?

A. Because she always runs away from the ball!

118

••••••••••••••

January 2020

Word Find (Created By Kirit Shukla)

Find & circle the words in the puzzle.

(Subject: “Travel and leisure”)

CAMPING COURSE CRUISE DRIVE EXCURSION EXPEDITION FLIGHT GLOBETROT GO ABROAD JAUNT JOURNEY MOVE RAMBLE RIDE

ROAM SAIL SEAFARING TANGA TOUR TOURING TRAVERSE TREK TRIP VISIT VOYAGE WALK WANDER

The unused 11 letters spell ”The subject of this puzzle”.

Math Magic Use these numbers only once: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) in empty squares, to get = the final given answers.

Note: Follow the order of operation per basic math rule: ×,÷, +, The multiplication or division is done before addition and subtraction. (solution on page 120)

EZ-BZ

TEST YOUR IQ The common letters are “EK” - Fill in the blanks) 1. A small short-billed black and white auk. _ _ _ EK _ _ 2. The tea made from young leaves. _ EK _ _ 3. The middle of the week. _ _ _ _ _ EK 4. The 15th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. _ _ _ EK _ 5. To fake (an opponent) out of position. _ EK _ 6. Endurance training in which a runner alternates periods of sprinting with periods of jogging. _ _ _ _ _ EK 7. A town in Carter County, Montana, US. EK _ _ _ _ _ 8. Twice a week. _ _ _ _ EK _ _ 9. An expert in a technological computer field. _ _ EK 10. A small baking dish for cheese/bread crumbs. _ _ _ EK _ _ 11. A prune butter used as a pastry filling. _ EK _ _ _ 12. A very thin translucent porcelain with a lustrous pearly glaze produced in Ireland. _ _ _ _ _ EK 13. The basic monetary unit of Israel. _ _ EK _ _ 14. Excessively submissive. _ _ _ _ _ _ EK 15. California's state motto. (Means ‘I found it.’) _ _ _ EK _ 16. Katina; wife of the late Sergei Grinkov, 1988 and 1994 Olympic Russian figure skating champion.

EK _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 17. The period Sat/Sun at the close of workdays. _ _ EK _ _ _ 18. Active aquatic swimmers in a body of water. _ EK _ _ _ 19. A natural stream of water smaller than a river . _ _ _ EK 20. The currency of Equatorial Guinea in 1975/85.

EK _ _ _ _ 21. A wild shrill or scream. _ _ _ _ EK 22. A furnace for reducing shells to lime. _ _ _ EK _ _ _ 23. Trimmed with eyelet embroidery. _ _ EK _ _ _ _ 24. A white-headed Australian shelduck. _ _ _ _ EK _ _ 25. A native of Greece. _ _ _ EK

(Puzzle solutions are on page 120. NO peeking!)

Kirit Shukla Contact him at kiritsshukla@hotmail.com

Saathee.com

119

January 2020

Festivals & Holidays January 2020

Spot the Differences Solutions from page 50 8. Clouds Added 9. Building Removed 10. Bench Removed 11. Crack Removed 12. Bench Added 13. Stairs Added 14. Collar Added 15. Foliage Removed

1. Man removed 2. Color Changed 3. Decoration Removed 4. Spier removed 5. Woman Added 6. Window removed 7. Decoration removed

Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day / Year 2020 Begins Jan. 1 - Kwanzaa Ends Jan. 2 - Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Jan. 6 - Putradā Ekadashi Jan. 10 - Poshi Poonam (Full Moon) Jan. 13 - Lohri / Maghi Jan. 15 - Makara Sankranti (Uttarāyan) Jan. 15 - Pongal Jan. 16 - Swami Vivekanand Jayanti Jan. 19 - World Religion Day Jan. 20 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Jan. 20 - Shat Tilā Ekadashi Jan. 22 - Meru Trayodashi Jan. 24 - Darsha Amās (No Moon) Jan. 25 - Chinese New Year (Year of the Rat) Jan. 26 - Republic Day (India) Jan. 30 - Gandhi Nirvana Day Jan. 30 - Vasant Panchami

8

10

February 2020

Feb. 1 - Ratha Saptami / Imbolc Feb. 2 - Groundhog Day Feb. 5 - Jaya Ekadashi Feb. 7 - Vishwakarma Jayanti Feb. 7 - National Wear Red Day Feb. 9 - Māghi Purnima (Full Moon) Feb. 10 - Tu B’Shevat Feb. 12 - Lincoln’s Birthday Feb. 14 - St. Valentine’s Day Feb. 15 - Shrināthaji Pātotsav Feb. 15 - Nirvana Day Feb. 17 - Presidents’ Day Feb. 18 - Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti Feb. 19 - Shivaji Jayanti Feb. 19 - Vijaya Ekadashi Feb. 21 - Maha Shivaratri Feb. 25 - Mardi Gras Feb. 26 - Ash Wednesday (Lent Begins)

9

1

4

6 12

11

5

15 7

13

2

14

3

Puzzle Solutions from page 118

Math Magic from page 119

Saathee.com

120

January 2020

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Astroscope -

January 2020

ARIES (March 21 – April 19) After a good start, your financial situation will take a downward turn by the end of the month. Aggressively try to curb the expenses and avoid any risk-taking tendencies. In the middle of the month you may come across a good moneymaking opportunity. Grasp onto it cautiously. Do not overreact to any issue. Take advantage of your reputation and protect yourself against any awkward situations. Avoid travel.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Compromise is better than stubbornness. You will find prospects for a rise in income at your present job/business. The time is not favorable for any major changes in your life. You may get benefit due to an adjustment in government policy or political actions. A misunderstanding may spoil your family environment. Aggressive and quick actions will help you more than prayers. Postpone any longdistance journeys.

GEMInI (May 21 – June 20) Politics will help you more than moral or religious activities this month. You may achieve great status and become famous amongst people. Don’t dispute with your partner and/or family. Self-confidence and boldness are very important right now. Change your strategy to help in achieving successful goal. Business related short distance journeys might prove fruitful.

CAnCER (June 21 – July 22) An unexpected rise in income will delight you and cover your expenses. You will feel relaxed during the middle of the month. If you ignore your health then it may take serious turn. Avoid any kind of speculation during middle of the month. You may get good news regarding family. Keep away from the court or legal matters.

LEo (July 23 – August 22) Don’t try to act on instinct this month; otherwise you may be in dire trouble. There will be temptation to indulge in wrongful acts. Health problems may disturb your peace of mind. However, you may try out some type of occultism. A memorable journey is also possible. Your family and associates will help you in making a favorable financial deal.

VIRGo (August 23 – September 22) You may have to change your ideology twice during this month; it is advisable to not make any quick decisions. You may recoup a lost opportunity, so don’t lose hope. The time is good for financial gains, but in the long term the business conditions surrounding it will deteriorate. A fast and busy journey will prove beneficial. Minor health relief is also possible.

LIBRA (September 23 – october 22) Ventures you may undertake this month may prove fruitful, provided they link with government agencies. There may also be a rise in status and position. Avoid any type of travel this month. Your enemy will try to tarnish your reputation but he/she will fail. You might get very good piece of news this month. A small accident is also possible.

SCoRPIo (october 23 – november 21) During this month you may be especially attracted to someone of the opposite sex. Unexpected favorable events are likely to take place. A family member’s attitude will be quite unpredictable. Your interest in occult/parapsychology will develop, and some positive experiences are possible from this. Sudden monetary gains could be there. Your friends may not keep their promises.

SAGITTARIUS (november 22 – December 21) Even though things are improving for you, it will take a while to get back on track. The time is very good for financial gains as expenses will be under control and your bank balance will go up. Unfortunately, a sense of insecurity and fear won’t let you enjoy it. Long distance travel may prove tiring. Speculation is also good this month. Watch your health.

CAPRICoRn (December 22 – January 19) This month will relieve you of tension and anxiety. On the domestic front you will feel content. Don’t plan any travel this month. There are chances of getting a promotion if employed. Your mind will bend towards higher philosophy with a touch of a romance on the side. There is the possibility of prolonged illness, so watch your health. Don’t work long hours if possible.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) A lack of self-confidence may create some problems, so try to remain open-minded. Do not be tempted by immoral deeds such as cheating on your partner or less than savory business deals. It is better, instead, to take a business trip. Running into old friends or a past love is quite possible. Try to curb your expenses on luxury items. Don’t get involved in minor disputes with your family.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20) Wait and watch. Adopt this slogan for the month. A very good period for you is coming, but don’t attempt to accelerate this process right now. Illusion may create big problem for you. Try to control your imagination and dreams.

Keep yourself active and busy, but don’t go for any drastic change. Traveling must be avoided. You may have to depend upon undesirable people. Take it easy.

By Jalendu Vaidya

Contact: 973-223-5047 Saathee.com

122

www.jmvaidya.com January 2020

Blooming Buds

Supreme Insurance Services Inc.

Full Service Independent Insurance Agent

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• Financial Statement Preparation • Payroll & Sales Tax • Tax Preparation & Planning • New Business Set Up And Incorporation • Audit Representation, Back Taxes Owed, Tax Problems, IRS Issues

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Serving North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia Saathee.com

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January 2020

CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Established Dry Cleaning Business for Sale in Raleigh, NC Asking Price $240,000. Excellent location in high income area. Selling due to health reasons. Contact 919-210-9919 or pg1patel@yahoo.com

Hotel Help Wanted: Front Desk, Laundry & Maintenance for franchise motels in Raleigh & Mooresville, NC. Fluent English required. Experience preferred. Couples welcome. Call 980458-4929 & leave message.

Gas station/C-store for Sale or Lease in West Columbia, SC .Neighborhood store on busy intersection. Un branded gas with high volume lottery sale. Call 803556-6729.

High Volume Gas Station/C-Store for Hotel Manager needed for Franchise Independent Motel for Sale. 55 room Sale or Lease in the heart of Gaffney, SC. Hotel in Statesville, NC. Please contact motel near Florence, SC. Recently Neighborhood store on busy street with 864-593-5420. independent after operating as brand new pumps! Call 704-726-7544. nanny needed to care for 1 year-old in Franchise for several years. Ideal for Fast growing STEM Education Charlotte (5 miles from Ballantyne) owner/operator or someone looking to Franchise for Sale in Charlotte. Monday - Friday beginning March 2020. learn the business. Contact 732-429-4881. EngineeringforKids STEM-Robotic- Vegetarian preferred. Call or text 704Coding-GameDesign Franchise for after 975-7948.

Looking for Business Partner at new school and summer camps in Charlotte.

Indian restaurant in Garner, NC. Gas Station help needed at multiple Minimum investment $20k. For more Operation can be run from home. stores within 30 mins of Greensboro, Running business. Well positioned for information text or call 704-957-7777.

NC. Experience required and must expansion! Contact 919-818-8304. speak fluent English. Call or text 336C-store with Property for Sale or Lease 45 miles from Columbia, SC along with Convenience Store for Sale at busy 509-4054. displays for fresh produce & frozen intersection location in Reidsville, NC. nanny and Household Help needed in items. Gross income $55K / Lotto $25K Please call 336-549-9168.

South Charlotte (Ballantyne). 4-5 hours per month. Call 904-307-4770.

Convenience Store Property with no a day, Monday-Friday. Contact Deepa Sandwich Shops for Sale in Cary, NC Gas for Sale in Gaffney, SC. Call 980- 480-457-0783. (asking $125k w/ gross revenue of 250-4995.

Math Tutor needed in Charlotte for $500k) and Fuquay Varina, NC (asking Convenience store w/ Citgo brand for UNCC college student & for high school $200k w/ gross revenue of $550k). Call Lease in Gaffney, SC. 3500 sq/ft. Can student. Call for 704-724-2005 for details.

Hardik Patel for details: 919-434-5255. add liquor store or tire shop. Deposit C-Store & Hotel Help needed: Cashier For Sale or Lease: Gas Station w/ C- required. Call Prat Shah 704-763-3059 or for Convenience Store near Charlotte. email shahdmcp@yahoo.com Store & Restaurant in Pollocksville, NC. Couple for franchised hotel 1.5 hours Corner location with no competition & Motel For Sale: Red Carpet Inn in from Charlotte. Accommodations new intersection coming soon. ATM and Kinston, NC. 99-Rooms. Fully provided. Must speak English. Text or jukebox included (extra income). Three renovated with new Roof. Includes Call 704-701-9975. bedroom mobile home accommodations. Owner / Manager's Apartment and 9500 for Young, Energetic Call Milan Patel 252-521-5656.

SF Banquet / Meeting Space with Bar, Looking Employee (Full-time/ Part-time, single Indian Restaurant for Sale in NC. Well Restaurant, & Commercial Kitchen. or couple) for Tropical Smoothie CafĂŠ established. Open 10+ years. Serious Asking $2.4 million. Call 919-455-5949. franchise food store near UNCinquiries only. Call 910-409-4123 for Cash Available for businesses: Bad Charlotte.

Weekend availability details.

Credit financing for merchant cash preferred. English required. Call Pravin C-Store w/ Gas Station for Lease in advance, Equipment Leasing, Factoring, Patel 803-974-0291.

Forest City NC. High Volume Location. etc. Call 336-447-1957 or visit Housekeeping Couple needed for Grocery Sales $43k, Lottery comm. sjmleasing.com. franchise hotel in Charlotte. $3000 + other income $700 per month.

Accommodations available. Contact EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Brand new Citgo gas pumps. Asking 980-297-4431. $75k, Rent $3300/month. Call Neel 828- Full-time nanny needed (Live-in / Livenanny needed to take care of 1 year-old 781-2527. out) for baby in Charlotte (near Freedom in Concord, NC. Also some light Franchise Hotel for Lease near Rock park) starting March 2020. Required to cleaning, Nanny should be completely Hill / Richburg, SC. 32 Units. Call 803- also help with cooking, light cleaning. dedicated towards their work. Call 717Call or text 810-265-0153.

230-4402.

440-5434.

Retail / Convenience Stores: C-Store: Housekeeping Couple needed for Hickory NC $30,000 + Inv, Annual Sales Hotel in Greenville, SC area. Legal status Wealthology is looking for ambitious, individuals. $691,881, Inside $361,561 - Reduced; C- required. Accommodations provided. career-oriented Responsibilities include educating Store: Charlotte, $1,600,000 + Inv, Inside Call 704-692-2454 families on financial concepts.

Experience Sales $807,215, Fuel Gallons 761,684; CLooking for live-in/live-out nanny is recommended but not required.

Store: Commerce, GA $69,000 + Inv., starting February 20th for 10 month-old Training is available. Potential first year Annual Sales $1,128,000, Fuel Gallons baby boy in Huntersville, NC for a income: $80K+ Email to set interview: 372,000; Call County South at 704-440minimum of 6 months. Call or text at wealthology.nc@gmail.com 4433 or visit www.Countysouth.biz 732-429-7851 or 619-534-7097.

Saathee.com

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January 2020

C-store / Gas Station Help Wanted in Royston, GA. Full-time. Single, Couple or Family. Legal status required. Fluent English & previous experience Excellent pay plus preferred. accommodations available. Call Navin 704-965-3165 or Mayur 706-988-7549.

Housekeeping Couple needed for hotel in Raleigh/Durham area near airport & Indian grocery store.

Accommodations provided. Contact 828-507-2079.

Front Desk & Housekeeping/Laundry needed for Motel in Durham, NC. Front desk requires computer skills, fluent English, and legal status. Call 919-4523131 or email kenco00@gmail.com.

Eyebrow Threading Position available in Winston-Salem, NC. Excellent Pay + Tips & Benefits! Some Experience & fluent English required. Call 336-422-7582.

C-Store/Gas Station Help Wanted in Gaston County / Bessemer City (30 min drive from Charlotte). Full-time.

Honesty, consistency, and punctuality a must.

Great package with transportation & accommodations. Call 704-408-4920 or 973-207-6798.

Hotel Help needed: Front Desk / Maintenance for franchise Hotel in Charlotte, NC. Contact 704-978-9487 between 11am to 5pm.

Household help needed with cooking and chores for family in Ballantyne (South Charlotte). One day a week for 3-4 hours a day. Call 704-277-7346.

Help Wanted: Housekeeping (couple or single) needed for franchise hotel in NC. Manager (couple or single) needed for independent motel in NC. Accommodations provided for both positions. Contact 704-465-8129 or lehran19@yahoo.com.

Threading Specialists wanted in Charlotte. New locations opening soon.

Full & part-time, Great pay & flexibility.

Sign up for Training. Must have good English speaking skills. Call 704-3121870 (M-F, 9am-5pm).

Front Desk Couple / Manager wanted for hotel in North Charlotte off I-85, Exit 41. Fluent English, legal status and basic computer skills required.

Accommodations provided. Call 704302-3318. Email mars803@gmail.com.

Housekeeping needed for franchise Hotel near Charlotte. Accommodations provided. Legal status required. Call 864-384-6900 between 9am & 5pm.

Saathee.com

Hotel Management Firm Hiring: Housekeepers, front desk (must speak fluent English), and General Manager of franchise hotels. Experience required. Email resumes to abcone@abcinns.com or call 704-649-6833 (M-F, 9am-5pm).

7-11 Convenience Store Help Wanted: All 3 shifts in South Charlotte (Indian Land/Ballantyne area) and near Northlake Mall. Experience preferred.

Fluent English & legal status a must.

Part-time or full-time including weekends. Contact 856-266-5059 or store10700@gmail.com.

Hotel Help Wanted: Front Desk/Manager, Night Auditor and Housekeeper (Single/Couple) for franchise hotels in Charlotte, Gastonia, High Point. Accommodations provided.

Call 704-460-0379 between 6- 9pm.

Hotel Housekeeping needed for Hotel in Cleveland / Akron, OH. $4 per room.

Accommodations provided. Call Ram 919-673-7623 or email Ram@omdevelopmentcorp.com

C-store / Gas Station Help Wanted in Gaffney, SC. Part-time or Full-time.

Single, Couple or Family. Legal status required. Fluent English & previous experience preferred. Call 704-726-7544

Hotel Help Wanted: Front Desk / Manager, Night Auditor & Housekeeper (Single / Couple) for franchise hotels in Wilmington, NC. Accommodations provided. Call 910262-8357 or email ilmhotelemployer@gmail.com

Manager wanted for 22-room Hotel in Dallas, NC. Accommodations provided.

Call 704-674-8395 & 704-674-8390.

Front Desk Couple / Manager wanted for Franchise Hotel in Fort Mill, SC. Fluent English, legal status, hotel experience and computer skills a must.

Accommodations provided. Email resume to bwhospitality78@gmail.com.

Motel Manager & Housekeeping Couple needed for independent motel in Greenville, SC. Legal status & English required. Contact 864-517-9587 or 864376-7543.

Live-in Couple needed to look after elderly Gujarati parents in Charlotte, NC. Call 704-906-9170.

Sales Coordinator and Estimator needed for rapidly growing company in High Point, NC. Email resume to kajalb@amerifabintl.com 125

Cashiers wanted (single or couple) for Gas Station in Rock Hill, SC (Exit 77).

Legal status required. Good pay with experience! Call 803-792-4452.

Motel Manager / Housekeeping Couple needed for independent Motel in Fayetteville, NC. Please call Sanat 910-551-7572.

Gas Station / Subway help wanted in Richburg, SC. Full time, single or couple. Must have legal status. Call 704737-7230.

Front Desk & Housekeeping Couple needed for Hotel in Raleigh, NC Legal status required. Accommodations provided. Call 301-526-6532.

PROPERTY & EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

Townhouse for Sale in front of Archdale Station in Charlotte. 3 Bedroom, 3 bath, 2 car garage. 1160 sqft.

Close walking distance to shopping centers. Rent $900/month. Sale $110k.

Call 404-999-2542.

Bungalow for Sale in Suraj, Gujarat (India) on Bhatar Road. Great Location.

Call 704-562-0248 for details.

LEARn ABoUT LAnD

We specialize in helping groups invest in land. Contact Bob Atkinson “The Land Man” 919-362-6999 or visit www.learnaboutland.com

SERVICES

need help with your tax filings?

Contact Bhaskar CPA for affordable personal and business tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services.

Contact 704-770-7125, lak123cpa@gmail.com or visit www.lnbcpa.com for details.

Dholi For Hire: Plays the Dhol (drum) for any occasion!

Barat, Doli, Graduation, Birthdays, Baby Showers & any other festivity. Affordable rates!

Call Arpan Bhandari 704-641-4761 or email: arpandholi@yahoo.com

Satya Math & Reading: Enroll now for SAT/ACT/PSAT prep starting in Jan 2020. We also tutor Math I, II, III, & AP courses year round. Contact 704-5404589 Email: satyamandr@gmail.com

neeta’s Beauty Parlor: Charlotte area open 7 days a week. Full service. Call for appointment. 704-968-0270.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

January 2020

CLASSIFIEDS CONTINUED

Priest Available for these services: Shree Satya narayan katha, Shanti hawan, Vastu shanty, Weddings, Baby shower, Bhumi pujan, Mata ki chowki pujan, Funeral, all types of karmakand.

Please call Viral Bhatt 704-438-6334.

Gujarati Priest: Devendra Dave Independent priest. Ganesh, Randal, Navratri, Diwali’s Laxmi & Sharda Pujas, Satyanarayan Katha, Weddings, Vastu, Baby Shower, Funeral Seva. Call Daveji 704-780-3563. God Blessings to All.

Saree Draping: specializing in draping sarees, dupattas and jewelry for any event. Weddings, Engagements, Baby showers, Birthdays, etc. Contact Rital Patel at info@bridaldraping.com or www.bridaldraping.com

Looking for a life partner? Saathee can help you reach hundreds of potential matches. E-mail info@saathee.com.

Computer Programming Courses from beginner to advanced serving the Charlotte area and online. Contact Chandra Prakash (B. Tech. Computer Science, IIT Delhi) at 612-568-2426, cprakash@acm.org or visit www.cupriver.com

Priest specializing in all kinds of Hindu Ceremonies. Poojas, Vrathas & Homams/Havan, Satyanarayan Pooja, Rudraabhishegam, Gruhapravesam & Japam, Baby Showers and Weddings.

Self- Transportation to Pooja site anywhere. Call Pralad Joshi: 704-5002210 (home), 704-450-6447 (cell)

Gujarati Priest in nC & SC for Ganesh, Randal, Laxmi, Sharda Pujan, Satyanarayan Katha, Wedding, Vastu, Baby Shower, Hawan, Grah Shanti.

Kishor Trivedi Home: 336-774-0597 Cell: 336-486-7925 E-Mail: kishor7@juno.com

Pari Beauty In Matthews: Threading, Waxing, Facials, Massage for newborn and mom & other services. 29 years of experience. Special Deals & Great Service. Call: 704-846-7912.

Saathee Classified ads: Sell your business, or property. Find the perfect job, hire the perfect employee. Get more customers. Get great adversting results with Saathee Magazine, weekly email newsletter and Saathee.com.

Call 704.527.7570 or email info@saathee.com.

International Community Church

A Worship Center For People From India And Neighboring Countries

Leading annual medical missions to remote areas of Kenya and India.

To Submit a Classified visit: saathee.com/submit-classified or email: info@saathee.com or call 704.527.7570 Business ads are $25 Personal ads are $15 Upgrade to color for an additional $10 or add a box for $15 Saathee.com ads posted daily We accept all major credit cards.

Ads up to 25 words. Deadline for print is the 20th. Web ads daily.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (The Holy Bible)

Regular Activities

Worship Service - Sundays at 8:30 AM (Dynamic Praise Time) 1524, North Harrison Avenue, Cary (Next to SAS Campus) Children’s Sunday School & Adult Bible Study - Sundays at 11 AM 1215 Jones Franklin Rd Suite 204 Prayer Fellowship - Wednesdays at 7 PM Meet at Five Zones at host families Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Cary, Morrisville & Chapel Hill Zakar Bible Club: Character development of children through memorization of God’s powerful & redemptive word. Please send your child and receive guaranteed life lasting blessing.

We welcome you to come and receive a blessing through this evangelical, Christ-centered, Bible-based, non-denominational, loving, caring, mission-minded spiritual family church.

Church Office: 1215 Jones Franklin Rd, Ste 204 Raleigh, NC 27606

Pastor:

Joseph B. Jesudason Saathee.com

Travel Passion: Call for International & Domestic Air tickets. We process India Visa, OCI, Indian Ppt Renewal, Hotel bookings & Tour packages. Call 509.550.9076 or 509.550.9034 Email: travelpassion24@gmail.com

We Welcome You to Become a Part of This Loving Spiritual Family

www.icc-nc.org

SERVInG GoD AnD THE CoMMUnITY SInCE JUnE 1984

need an affordable DJ for Graduation, Birthdays, Baby Showers & any other festivity? Look no further! Contact DJ Rahul at 980-319-7389 or email: TheRealDJRahul@gmail.com

919-233-2900 or 919-467-4435 (Residence) 126

January 2020

SHAH & TRIVEDI CPA, PLLC

Certified Public Accountants and Wealth Planners FROM BASIC BOOKKEEPING TO MORE COMPLEX FINANCIAL NEEDS • Bookkeeping • Full service payroll • New business set-up • Review & compilation • Business consulting • Notary • Individual & business taxes

• Certified acceptance agent for ITIN • Retirement planning • Investment linked insurance plans: life, health, long-term care • Representations with government authorities • Financial statement preparation

Kirti Shah, CPA, CA (India)

Kirti.Shah@shahandtrivedicpa.com

Kalgi Trivedi, CPA

WHERE YOUR FINANCIAL SUCCESS IS OUR BUSINESS

Kalgi.Trivedi@shahandtrivedicpa.com

Shah & Trivedi CPA, PLLC

Phone: 980-290-3600 | www.shahandtrivedicpa.com | Fax: 980-500-8874 3230 Prosperity Church Rd., Ste. 202, Charlotte, NC 28269

Law Offices of

MRUGESH S. PATEL

Member of American Immigration Lawyers Association

888-549-0030

Family Petition Fiance Visa H-1, L-1, & Student Visa Visitor Visa Labor Certification

Citizenship Removal/Deportation Re-entry Permit Adoption Consular Processing

Call for consultation!

North Carolina Office:*

1913-204 J. N. Pease Place University Ridge Office Center Charlotte, NC 28262

New Jersey Office: 1941 Oak Tree Road Suite 101 Edison, NJ 08820

* Practice in Carolinas limited to immigration only (Office visit by appointment only). Licensed in New Jersey.

Serving your immigration needs in North Carolina & South Carolina

Saathee.com

127

January 2020

Advertisers Index A2Z Health Mart Pharmacy......................................57

Fairview Home Mortgage .......................................129

Passage To India - Fine Indian Cuisine......................48

Aarushi Salon (Charlotte) ..........................................47

Fantasic Sams .........................................................83

Patel Brothers (Charlotte)........................................103

Accounting Solutions (Muhammad Kamran Awan).123

First-in-Smiles Dentistry.........................................101

Patel, Mrugesh (Law Offices)..................................127

Amarja Webb (Realtor / Broker - Allen Tate).............65

Geological Resources, Inc.........................................35

Patel, Tony (Real Estate)............................................85

Anand, Versha (Real Estate) .....................................49

Gilles Law, PLLC (Immigration & Family Law) .........111

Pineville Pharmacy ...................................................15

Anil & Anjali Bedi LLC (CPA & Consultants)...............31

Global Mall / Legacy Jewels ..................................131

PNC Bank (Commercial Financing - Reena Ruwala).65

Around The World Market (Charlotte)......................107

H2 Laser & Skin .......................................................11

Ponce D. Moody Funding .........................................77

Ashes to Phoenix (SAT Prep Classes) ......................15

HelloMyCPA Consulting Inc.......................................21

Pramukh Mandapam ...............................................39

Aspect Commerical Realty (Prashant Parmar) ..........77

Hindu Center of Charlotte (Events) ......................66-69

Quality Inn & Suites (Banquet Hall - Charlotte) ..........34

Austin Village Eye Care (Dr. Keshav Bhat)..................97

Home Decorators Of America (Atlanta) .....................42

Raghu Mothukuri Allstate Agent................................45

Bala Sure (Broker / Realtor, NC & SC)......................71

Idolize Brows & Beauty ...........................................71

Raj D Batra Photography ..........................................21

Ballantyne Tech Academy.........................................33

Illume MD (Laser Hair Removal) .............................111

Raj Jewels (Morrisville, NC) .....................................6-7

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Charlotte)............63

India Grocers (Charlotte).........................................117

Rajdeep Video & Photography (Ramesh Panjabi)......45

Bashyam Shah LLP - Immigration Law Group..........56

Indian Grocery (Columbia) ........................................49

Raj's Kitchen (Indian Street Food - Charlotte)............33

Bawarchi Indian Cuisine (Charlotte) ........................109

Insurance - Tushar Barot, Supreme Insurance Services123

Ram Realty (Ram Kalagara)....................................121

Bhindi Jewelers ......................................................2

International Community Church ...........................126

Regal Oaks Dental .................................................101

Bipin Parekh Realty, LLC...........................................60

IPAAC (Ustad Zakir Hussain Trio - In Charlotte)..........11

Richa Sinha Real Estate...........................................79

Blooming Buds.......................................................123

Jay Bale (Real Estate - Commercial & Residential)....73

Royal Biryani (Charlotte)............................................47

Blooming Smiles Pediatric Dentistry .........................61

Jyoti's World Cuisine (Vegan & Vegetarian)...............61

Rug and Home.........................................................29

Blue Federal Credit Union.........................................25

K & M Accounting ..................................................111

S S Event Services (Event planning, Photo, Video).....17

Bombay Grille (Charlotte)..........................................80

K Scott Weddings (Wedding & Event Designer).........77

Saffron Restaurant and Catering...............................83

Brijal Shah (Keller Williams - Real Estate)..................81

Kaur, Karamjit (New York Life Insurance)...................38

Sangam Travels........................................................41

British International School of Charlotte.......................9

KB Zaveree.................................................................4

Satya Math and Reading ..........................................47

Brown Immigration Law (Rishi Oza, Partner)...........130

KD Financial & KMD Realty.......................................75

Shah & Trivedi CPA, PLLC ......................................127

Business For Sale - Sandwich Shops - Raleigh area 41

Khanna & Sons Jewelers .........................................23

Shah, Anish (Real Estate) ...................................52-53

C4D Mortgage (Jubi Chackunkal, P.E.) .....................59

Kumar, Kokila (Real Estate - Allen Tate).....................15

Shah, Kirti (CPA - Sepa Consulting) .........................43

Carolina Law Group (Monty Desai) .........................105

Maadhurya Photography........................................129

Shining Stars Academy ............................................95

Carolina Wedding Belle (Event Design & DĂŠcor)........31

Maharani Indian Cuisine (Charlotte) ..........................65

Shukla, Kirit (Music Lession & Band).........................97

CaroMont Medical Group (Dr. Manu Patel)................97

Malak Jewelers........................................................27

Shyama Beauty Parlour............................................85

Charlotte Chess Center ............................................79

Malani Jewelers.....................................................132

Sona Realty (Venkat Suryadevara) ............................16

Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat ..............................90

Malaya Kitchen.........................................................39

Surgical Specialist of Charlotte .................................37

Charlotte Music School...............................................3

Mathur, Gitanjali (Allen Tate Realtors) ........................57

Surjmor Leasing (Bad Credit Financing)....................94

Chatpatay Causal Indian Kitchen (Charlotte) ...........115

Matthews Family Dentistry ......................................89

Thakkar, Beena (Realty) ............................................89

Chiro-Carolina

....................................................91

Maxim Tours.............................................................21

The Blue Taj..............................................................87

Concha, David (Immigration Attorney).......................89

Monroe Oil Company................................................30

Travel Passion ..........................................................43

Copper Restaurant (Charlotte)...................................87

Mr. Idli (Pineville) .......................................................99

Travelinks .................................................................35

County South Realty & Business Brokers ...............115

MyShadi Bridal Expo (Raleigh) ....................................5

Triveni Supermarket .................................................91

Delhi Palace / Spices of India (Columbia, SC)............73

Nationwide Ins. (Maqsood Khan) ..............................59

Ttravel Guru..............................................................64

Dentist (Pineville Dentistry - Lina V. Mistry, DDS) .......81

Nawabs Kebabs (Charlotte) ......................................93

Tyagi, Rita (Real Estate).............................................97

Desai & Desai LLP (CPA & Financial Services)..........39

Neeta's Beauty Parlor...............................................89

Uni World Travel........................................................45

Desai, Rajarshi (CPA, PLLC)......................................93

New York Life Insurance (Rasheed Ulhaq).................37

Vema Mortgage LLC (Sebastian George)..................55

DJ Desi (Amit Vasi) ...................................................41

North American Bancard ........................................13

Vyas Travels..............................................................62

DJ Lalit (Lalit Hemnani).............................................43

Nuv Yug India Fest....................................................19

Worldwide Travels ....................................................17

DJ Murali..................................................................79

OM Tech Training .....................................................85

Zafran Kabab Palace (Harrisburg).............................43

Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation ........................................10

One2 Entertainment .................................................59

Zaika Express (Charlotte)..........................................47

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January 2020

Rates are LOW again!

Consider Refinancing if:

♦ You purchased your home in 2018

♦ You currently pay PMI with your monthly payment

♦ You have an ARM rate that has expired, or is expiring soon

Please call for a quick review to see if a refinance makes sense

(Loan Officer NMLS # 69811)

Maneesh Pathak

Work: 704-941-3652 Mobile: 704-661-4904 maneesh@goFHM.com

www.FairviewHomeMortgage.com

3111 Springbank Lane, Suite I, Charlotte, NC 28226 (Fairview Home Mortgage, LLC NMLS ID: 1705521)

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We Provide Live Streaming Video Service Member of professional photographers of America (PPA) Wedding & Portrait photographers International (WPPI) and Wedding photographic society (WPS) in good standing Nikon Professional Service

Saathee.com

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Photos & Videos for all Occasions at reasonable rates by professional photographers

MAADHURYA PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY • Engagement, Wedding & Reception • Cultural Events & Parties • Head Shot Photos

• Arangetrams & Ballerina • Portraits and Graduation • Baby Showers

Call Ravinder: 919-523-4254

• Maternity & Baby photo shoot

Email: maadhuryaphotography@gmail.com

www.MaadhuryaPhotography.com

Facebook.com/MaadhuryaPhotography January 2020