Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent
Saathee.com
May 2019
21st
Anniversary Issue IN THIS ISSUE
Is the DREAM Act Back? IN PERFORMANCE Sukhwinder Singh Richa Sharma Dances of India Kaajal Oza
May 2019 Issue # 252 Editor
Samir Shukla
(Samir@Saathee.com)
page 14 Is Knee Replacement Worth it?
page 18 Upcoming Events in the Region
Hello ReadeRs!
Up to a third of knee replacements pack pain and regret. See page 14 for the story. A slew of new spring and early summer events can be found in our section beginning on page 18. Is there untapped potential in Bollywood Cosplay? Read our column on page 36. Indian summer monsoons amplified global warming 130,000 years ago. Read about its effects now on page 46. Too early to start thinking about 2019 taxes? Not really. Go to page 76. Catch up on several immigration topics and analyses in our column beginning on page 82. Pop’s world famous puzzles and jokes are on page 118. The AstroScope, our exclusive monthly horoscope is on page 122. There are many new classifieds in our section on page 124, find everything from nannies to a new job or business opportunities. As always, we welcome your comments.
Quote:
"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path." - Agatha Christie
page 28
Film Clips and Movie News
page 50 Spot the Differences in these Images
In tHIs Issue
The Editor’s Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 12 Knee Replacement Problems . . . . . .pg. 14 Community Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 18 Upcoming Movie Releases . . . . . . . .pg. 24 Film Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 28 Subcontinental Divide . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 32 Mirror Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 36 Namaskar Y’all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 40 Full Frame 2019 Review . . . . . . . . . .pg. 44 Indian Monsoons and Climate . . . . .pg. 46 Spot the Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 50 College Admissions Insider . . . . . . .pg. 52 Increase Your India Knowledge . . . .pg. 54 Raajeev’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 58 Thinking About Thinking . . . . . . . . .pg. 62 Kismuth and the Way . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 64 My Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 70 Nutrition for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 72 Personal Finances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 76 Buy Right, Sit Tight . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 80 Immigration Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 82 Read Watch Listen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 86 News Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 88 Community Organizations . . . . . . .pg. 100 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
Cover: Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
Sanchi Stupa is a Buddhist complex, located in Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. The Great Stupa is one of the oldest stone structures in India, and an important monument of Indian Architecture.
Photo: Shutterstock
Publisher & Advertising Divakar Shukla
(rakavid@aol.com)
Ad Design / Layout Nageshwar Andrews
Digital Media & Marketing
Jennifer W. Allen & Dhruv Pathak
Contributors for this issue: Kirit Shukla, Kamal Darji, Parul Kharod, Rishi P. Oza, Dipika Kohli, Kristen Moon, Mo Vidwans, Balaji Prasad, Amit Rupani, Ahsen Jillani, Nam Douglass, Dilip Barman, Yash Garg and Jalendu Vaidya. All content
© 2019 Shukla Entertainment, Inc.
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 is published monthly. Deadlines for advertisement, submissions and events information is 15th of the month. For a free Saathee subscription, visit saathee.com/subscription 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.
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“Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent.”
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The Editor’s Desk By Samir Shukla
Road Rage 2020: Volume 3
sounds Good
Mueller Reports, Bernie rides a Fox, India’s election Rolls
earbuds and sonic sounds
As springtime blooms around us and summer emerges, nature’s symphony is making its presence known. It is in high fidelity, surround sound, if you will. This cacophony of singing birds, chatty bugs, light preludes of drizzled rain leading to the booming drum rolls of thunderstorms, the winds making the trees dance, the annoying neighbor mowing his yard at 7am on Sunday morning, this orchestra is a composition of pure, analog sound. This audible feast makes me miss the analog sounds of human music that is digitized into a shadow of its former self. I don’t mean the music itself, which is everywhere and accessible at all times, but the actual sound that reaches my ears. It seems to be missing subtleties, the sound was warmer with less technology, and this is made worse when it is not heard in a proper setting. We have access to so much instant music, but most people wind up listening to music via crappy little computer and cell phone speakers, via condensed digital music formats. It is an injustice to the music. Granted, not everyone can afford recording studio equipment, but listening to music on laptop speakers, tinny car speakers, and especially those hideous earbuds leaves me hungry for a fuller sound. Listening to music via earbuds is akin to buying the cheapest taco at Taco Bell, dipping it in water, tossing it into a blender and then drinking the sludge. Yeah, you are eating something, but can you delineate the flavors and the ingredients? It’s a travesty. Save earbuds for those conference calls and phone calls while driving. Even the expensive branded headphones out there leave much to be desired. Music should be heard in a proper room where the sound can expand. Even in the confines of a car, with proper speakers, the music sounds better than with earbuds or headphones. Musical sound is best when it fills the air, the room, or the concert hall. You should feel the music, not just listen to it. I don’t mean that the bass should thump so hard as to make you want to eject your lunch or rattle the eardrums at massive levels. It’s all about the full sound. When you are at a concert, when the sound is just right, not too loud or soft, but powerful, where the musical frequencies twirl around and in and out your body and return to the ether, there’s nothing like it. After over 40 years of listening to music, attending concerts, at all levels of volume, my hearing has actually become more attuned. That is the dilemma. I’ve become pickier. When I go to concerts, the lights, the clothes, the props, dancers, effects, all are secondary to the sound. When the sound gels and hits all the right buttons, there’s nothing like it. So do the music you love a favor. Buy decent speakers, set them up in a proper room and, unless you are out for a jog and must have music playing, toss those earbuds into a drawer in your desk at work. Sound good? Saathee.com
It’s the slow thickening of summer. The soft spring is rapidly dissolving. The road to the 2020 American election is also hardening month by month. Special Counsel Robert Mueller released his report in April, and reset the political parameters. I’ll let you make up your mind, and, sure, there’s no smoking gun pointing to President Trump on matters of collusion. But there are layers of untruths, most of them unnecessary for governing, surrounding this most amoral of a president. The ball will continue its roll, history will judge. Bernie Sanders did a townhall on Fox News and it was a hit for him, he is on a roll and already making other candidates as well as the general Democratic political establishment nervous. By the time this magazine hits the streets, it is likely that Joe Biden will have announced his candidacy, further shaking up the Democratic tree. This historically diverse slate of candidates is now gathering money, chatting up talk shows, and will go into next month ready to prep for the first two Democratic debates…slated for late June on NBC and late July on CNN. Each will be spread over two days. It is yet to be determined how the Democratic National Commitee will mix up the batch of candidates to make the debates fair to all. Each of them will have shorter times to explain their agendas. Trump was the “way off the grid” outlier in 2016, Bernie is already emerging as the expected outlier of 2020. Will the new generation of Democrats elbow their way upfront and take the reins or will the old guard tamp down the youngsters and emerge as frontrunners saying, “Not so fast young’uns.” The first order of business is the tug of war between the young squad and the “we’re saving these seats” squad of grizzled political veterans, namely Biden, Warren, and Bernie. There are many intriguing characters in the young squad. Finding the balance between exciting the activists and partisans and getting noticed by the wider mainstream is the challenge for all here. In the meantime, India is in the midst of its massive election. The voting will wrap around the third week of May and the Commission will announce victors a few days later. Ahhh, democracy. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.
Samir Shukla
Editor of Saathee magazine contact - Samir@Saathee.com
12
May 2019
Up to A Third of Knee Replacements Pack Pain and Regret
By Liz Szabo, Kaiser Health News
Danette Lake thought surgery would relieve the pain in her knees. The arthritis pain began as a dull ache in her early 40s, brought on largely by the pressure of unwanted weight. Lake managed to lose 200 pounds through dieting and exercise, but the pain in her knees persisted. A sexual assault two years ago left Lake with physical and psychological trauma. She damaged her knees while fighting off her attacker, who had broken into her home. Although she managed to escape, her knees never recovered. At times, the sharp pain drove her to the emergency room. Lake’s job, which involved loading luggage onto airplanes often left her in misery. When a doctor said that knee replacement would reduce her arthritis pain by 75 percent, Lake was overjoyed. “I thought the knee replacement was going to be a cure,” said Lake, now 52 and living in rural Iowa. “I got all excited, thinking, ‘Finally, the pain is going to end and I will have some quality of life.’” But one year after surgery on her right knee, Lake said she’s still suffering. “I’m in constant pain, 24/7,” said Lake, who is too disabled to work. “There are times when I can’t even sleep.” Most knee replacements are considered successful, and the procedure is known for being safe and cost-effective. Rates of the surgery doubled from 1999 to 2008, with 3.5 million procedures a year expected by 2030. But Lake’s ordeal illustrates the surgery’s risks and Saathee.com
limitations. Doctors are increasingly concerned that the procedure is overused and that its benefits have been oversold. Danette Lake walks her dogs, Zoe and Chloe, in her rural Iowa neighborhood in early December. One year after having knee replacement surgery to treat arthritis, she says she’s “in constant pain.”(Rachel Mummey for KHN) Research suggests that up to one-third of those who have knees replaced continue to experience chronic pain, while 1 in 5 are dissatisfied with the results. A study published last year in the BMJ found that knee replacement had “minimal effects on quality of life,” especially for patients with less severe arthritis. One-third of patients who undergo knee replacement may not even be appropriate candidates for the procedure, because their arthritis symptoms aren’t severe enough to merit aggressive intervention, according to a 2014 study in Arthritis & Rheumatology. “We do too many knee replacements,” said Dr. James Rickert, president of the Society for Patient Centered Orthopedics, which advocates for affordable health care, in an interview. “People will argue about the exact amount. But hardly anyone would argue that we don’t do too many.” Although Americans are aging and getting heavier, those factors alone don’t explain the explosive growth in knee replacement. The increase may be fueled by a higher rate of injuries among younger patients and doctors’ greater willingness to operate on younger people, such as those in their 50s and early 60s, said Rickert, an orthopedic surgeon in continued on page 114 14
May 2019
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May 2019
Community Events Sunder Be Baydiwalo (Gujarati Natak): Charlotte, NC (May 3, 2019)
Catch the hilarious Gujarati Natak (play) “Sunder Be Baydiwalo” featuring Sanjay Goradia on Friday, May 3, 2019 beginning at 6:30pm at The Oasis Shriners Club, 604 Doug Mayes Place in Charlotte. Seating is limited and tickets range from $30-$50. Food will be available for purchase. For more details, call 704-313-8445 or 704-915-2939. Tickets available at www.hungamacity.com, and sulekha.com
Bandhan, an Eternal Bond Dance Recital: Charlotte, NC (May 4, 2019)
Nrityangan Dance Academy presents its annual dance recital “Bandhan, An Eternal Bond” on Saturday, May 4, 2019 (4pm) at Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte. The theme this year is sisterhood. “A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.” The recital celebrates eternal and magical bond of sisterhood and experience the various emotions that come with it. It will be a performance with the richness of Indian culture, woven into a dance drama poignant and touching while exploring the many facets of this complex relationship. There will be over two hundred dancers, jewelry, clothing vendors and food options. This is a fundraiser for Maiti Nepal and The Tree House Children’s Advocacy Center. For more details, call 704840-5495 or write to ritusdance@gmail.com.
Kiran Heroes for Hope Walkathon: Morrisville, NC (May 5, 2019)
Kiran is hosting the 4th annual Kiran Walkathon 2019: Heroes for Hope on Sunday, May 5, 2019. The Kiran Walkathon will be taking place from 10am - 12pm at Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville, NC. This year’s superhero theme is to honor not only the heroic qualities present in all victims and survivors of abuse, but to also honor the heroism present in supporters - who make it possible for Kiran to do what they do best. Various activities will also be available for all ages. Proceeds raised from the Walkathon will go towards empowering South Asian victims of domestic violence across North Carolina. Registration is open through May 3 at bit.ly/2JlrIY0
Black Mountain Spring LEAF Festival: (May 9-12, 2019)
The Black Mountain Spring LEAF Festival will be held from May 9-12, 2019 at 377 Lake Eden Road. There will be arts and crafts, live music, yoga and meditation, healing arts workshops, kids’ activities, mask and costume making, circus arts, juggling, games, puppet show, demonstrations, sports, and much more. International artists will be on-site all weekend to provide once in a lifetime experiences. See more info including performance schedules and ticket prices at www.theleaf.org/the-festival/
Artisphere: Greenville, SC: (May 10-12, 2019)
Spartanburg Earth Day Festival: (May 4, 2019) Whether you’re a Greenville native or looking to visit for the first time, the 15th annual Artisphere offers a one-of-a-kind experience. From awardwinning restaurants to some of the most talented artists gathered on one of the quaintest main streets in the south, Artisphere is for all. This mixture of visual, performing and culinary art will be on display along the streets of downtown Greenville from May 10-12, 2019. More info can be found at www.artisphere.org. The 3rd annual Earth Day Festival will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 10am to 3pm. Attend the educational workshops, demos, and enjoy children’s activities, live entertainment, performances, dance, singing, short informational films and plenty of great food. There will also be exhibitors and vendors selling green themed products and a variety of other items. Further info can be found at www.spartanburgearthday.org
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North Carolina Brewers & Music Festival: Huntersville, NC (May 10-11, 2019)
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The North Carolina Brewers & Music Festival (NCBMF) is a celebration of music, North Carolina, and its craft brewing traditions. The festival will be host to 11 bands over two days as well as over 40 NC brewers on Saturday, serving free tastings of their finest brews for over three hours, all in the confines of one of the most beautiful and historic properties in Mecklenburg County. Come by between May 10 & 11, 2019 at 4431 Neck Road in Huntersville, NC to enjoy the fun! Tickets and other info are available at www.ncbrewsmusic.com.
May 2019
BAPS Charities Walk Green: Charlotte, NC (May 11, 2019)
Mayfest on Main Festival: Myrtle Beach, SC (May 11, 2019)
The 14th annual Mayfest on Main Festival will be held on Main Street, Saturday, May 11, 2019 from 10am until 6pm. Along Main Street, approximately 100 crafters will display their crafts, food vendors will serve a variety of treats and children will be entertained with a kid’s area. A community stage will offer live music and performances from 10am until 4pm. At 12pm the main stage will begin and feature musical talents around until 6pm. Info: parks.nmb.us/festivalsevents/festivals
Charlotte SHOUT!: Through May 11, 2019
Blumenthal Performing Arts will present a variety of both free and ticketed events Charlotte SHOUT!; a celebration of art, music, food and ideas in the heart of Uptown Charlotte from April 29 to May 11, 2019. Kicking off with the Charlotte Jazz Festival and culminating with a three-day creative convergence, this festival will feature exceptionally curated programming from around the corner and around the world. This year’s celebration is distinguished as the grand finale of CLT250, the year-long celebration of Charlotte’s 250th anniversary. Info: www.charlotteshout.com
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BAPS Charities Walk Green 2019 is an event to raise funds for The Nature Conservancy, Bright Blessings and other BAPS Charities activities. This year, BAPS Charities will support The Nature Conservancy’s continuing efforts to plant one billion trees by 2025 through their Plant a Billion Trees initiative. Walk Green 2019 will help The Nature Conservancy plant 61,000 additional trees in 2019. During the last four years, from 2016 to 2019, BAPS Charities Walkathons will have helped plant a total of 361,000 trees. The Walk will begin on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at Crestdale Middle School in Matthews, NC at 9:30am with registration starting at 8:30am. To learn more, visit www.bapscharities.org/usa/charlotte/walk19charlotte/
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May 2019
Community Events Sukhwinder Singh in Concert: Charlotte, NC (May 17, 2019)
The Greater Charlotte Association of Physicians of Indian Origin presents the Jai Ho Tour with Sukhwinder Singh and special guest, Amruta Fadnavis at the Grady Cole Center on Friday, May 17, 2019 starting at 7:30pm. Tickets are available now through Sulekha.com ranging from $50-$150. For other information including sponsorships and VIP packages, call or text 704-661-5554 or 704-770-5822.
Speed Street: Charlotte, NC (May 23-25, 2019)
Got to Be NC Festival: Raleigh, NC (May 17-19, 2019)
Join your friends and family for a down-home celebration. The Got to be NC Festival will be held on May 17-19, 2019 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. It’ll feature a carnival, kid’s activities, music, rides, games, contests and competitions, racing pigs, grandstand shows, boat show, parade, magic show, cooking show, agricultural magic show, horse show, flea market, food and wine expo, and much more. See all the info including vendors, attractions, and tickets at www.gottobencfestival.com
Charlotte Asian & Dragon Boat Festival: (May 18, 2019)
The festival celebrates Asian cultures, diversity, ethnicity, roots and history. A large part of the festival is the Dragon Boat Festival Race, an exciting team competition. The Charlotte race is an open competition to anyone 15 years of age or older. The Asian Music and Dance Fest is a competitive showcase of Asian talents. It encompasses all categories of the performing arts: traditional and contemporary vocal and instrumental music performances and folk and modern dance. This will be held in Cornelius, NC at 18441 Nantz Road on Saturday, May 18, 2019. For more information, visit www.charlottedragonboat.com
Art & Craft Exhibition: Charlotte, NC (May 18-19, 2019)
The Hindu Center of Charlotte presents its 6th annual Art & Craft Exhibition on May 18-19, 2019 (12 - 5pm) at the Vihar Hall, 7400 City View Drive. There will be exhibits of paintings, sculpture, crafts, textile art, jewelry, and more. There will be art, henna, and rangoli contests as well. Children’s art and activities will also be on hand. Food stalls by local Indian chefs. For more details, call 704-620-4503 or visit www.hcclt.org.
Lake Norman Festival of the Arts: Huntersville, NC (May 18-19, 2019)
The Lake Norman Festival of the Arts will provide an opportunity to experience a range of creations ranging from sculptures, photography, glass, paintings, ceramics, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and mixed media. Visit more than 60 retailers and purchase original artwork from the artists, as you enjoy this weekend of visual inspiration. See all these artists have to offer between May 18 & 19, 2019 from 10am to 5pm both days. Admission is free. See more information at www.artfestival.com
Ramakrishnan Murthy Vocal Concert: Charlotte, NC (May 19, 2019)
Classical Music Association of Charlotte presents a Carnatic vocal concert by Ramakrishnan Murthy and Party on Sunday May 19, 2019 beginning at 3:30pm at Hindu Center Gandhi Bhavan in Charlotte. Tickets are $30. For more details, call 704-8149355 or visit www.onlinecmac.org.
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Coca Cola Speed Street is an outdoor multi-day music and entertainment festival with spectacular family-oriented events each day from noon to 8pm along Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte. This includes a series of concerts with Corey Smith, Brothers Osborne and Styx among others at Romare Bearden Park. All of this leads up to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Memorial Day weekend. To learn more, visit www.600festival.com
Godavari Residential Camp: Stockbridge, GA (May 24-27, 2019)
This is a camp featuring interactive instructional sessions on spoken Sanskrit, yoga, meditation, indoor games, and informal evening meetings. The camp takes place from May 24-27, 2019 at Indian Springs State Park, 2600 Highway 155 SW Stockbridge, GA. Adults: $100 per person, Children: $75 (Ages 5 to 18), kids under five are free. For more details call 470-499-4170, write to godavari@sbusa.org or visit www.samskritabharatiusa.org and search for the event.
Spoleto Festival USA: Charleston, SC (May 24-June 9, 2019)
For 17 days and nights each spring, Spoleto Festival USA fills Charleston, South Carolina’s historic theaters, churches, and outdoor spaces with performances by renowned artists as well as emerging performers in opera; theater; dance; and chamber, symphonic, choral, and jazz music. Now approaching its 43rd season, Spoleto Festival USA is internationally recognized as America’s premier performing arts festival. In the decades since its inception in 1977, Spoleto Festival USA has presented more than 200 world or American premieres. This year’s festivities will take place between May 24 & June 9, 2019. See more info, including performance schedules and tickets at spoletousa.org May 2019
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May 2019
Keep Pounding 5k Stadium Run: Charlotte, NC (June 1, 2019)
Prana Pratishtapana Mahotsav: Clemmons, NC (June 6-9, 2019)
Join the Keep Pounding 5K on June 1, 2019 to fight cancer. One hundred percent of net proceeds stay local, benefiting adult and pediatric cancer research programs at Atrium Health Foundation’s Levine Cancer Institute and Levine Children’s Hospital. Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome, as well as “virtual fundraisers” who wish to support this great cause through online donations. Registration for participation is now open through May 29, 2019. Learn more at events.carolinashealthcarefoundation.org/site/TR/Events/2019 KeepPounding
Sri Mata Hindu Temple of WintonSalem invites all to utilize this unique opportunity to create a legacy of service for this and future generations. Prana Pratishtapana is a rare opportunity to participate in the ceremony of instilling the Divine Spirit into a Vigraha that gets transformed into a Deity. This event occurs only once for each Vigraha. The ceremony is the only opportunity to be up close with the vigrahas inside the garbhagriha. This celebration will be held with daily morning pujas from 7am to 12 noon, daily evening pujas from 4pm to 7pm, and daily cultural programs (devotional music or dance) starting at 7:30pm at the Sri Mata Hindu Temple of Winton-Salem in Clemmons, NC. To learn more, contact 336287-0378 or visit www.tinyurl.com-mata-prana.
Dances of India: Mint Hill, NC (June 1, 2019)
Internationally acclaimed performer and choreographer Dr. Maha Gingrich presents the 17th Annual Dances of India Performance on June 1, 2019. Experience the stunning 3000 year-old classical dances and dance dramas of India and witness world dances in their purest form. Over 30 performers will bring age-old stories to life through vibrant traditional costumes. The signature “Unity in Diversity” dance presents unforgettable international dance styles along with a live international orchestra. It will take place beginning at 4pm at Kerr Recreation Center of the Philadelphia Presbyterian Church in Mint Hill, NC. Admission is free.
Taste of Charlotte Festival: (June 7-9, 2019)
Taste of Charlotte is a 3-day festival featuring over 100 samples from area restaurants along with Live Music and Entertainment, Interactive Children’s Activities, Cooking Demos, Street Performances, Unique Shopping and a large variety of local, regional and national partners interacting with festival goers, providing information, coupons and free stuff! Admission is free. Purchase festival coins to use for restaurant samples, beverages and kid’s activities. The festival will run from June 7 to 9, 2019 along Tryon Street in downtown Charlotte. To learn more, visit www.tasteofcharlotte.com
Intergalactic Bead & Jewelry Show: Raleigh, NC (June 1-2, 2019)
Asheville Vegan Fest: (June 9, 2019)
A celebration of compassionate living in one of the top veganfriendly cities in the country, the Asheville VeganFest will be held on Sunday, June 9, 2019, from 11am-6pm. Come enjoy an outdoor festival with lots of vendors showcasing vegan food, beer, and lifestyle products. The VeganFest is free, open to the public and takes place in the heart of downtown. See more information at veganfest.bwar.org
The Intergalactic Bead and Jewelry Show will be held on June 1-2, 2019 from 10am-5pm both days at the DoubleTree by Hilton: Brownstone University in Raleigh. Browse an incredible selection to take home some great items. There will be precious and semi-precious gemstone beads, gold and silver beads, brass beads, findings and chain, copper, charms, pendants, lamp work glass beads, pearls, Swarovski crystals, exclusive handmade jewelry and much more. Admission is $5. Learn more at beadshows.com/events/raleigh-nc-june-1-2-2019/
Kaajal Vaidya Oza: Charlotte, NC (June 14, 2019)
Gujarati motivational speaker Kaajal Vaidya Oza presents Face to Face “Ek Saanj maari Saathe” (an evening with me) on Friday, June 14, 2019 at Hindu Center of Charlotte, 7400 City View Dr. The evening begins at 7pm. Tea and food will be available for purchase. For more details call 704.313.8445 or visit Ticket Hungama.
Wilmington Women’s Day: (June 2, 2019)
Come out to the Coastline Conference & Event Center on Sunday, June 2, 2019 from 12-4pm to get pampered, do some shopping, and have fun with the women in your life. This event features dozens of vendors with local products, services, and information for women, photo booth, chair massages, makeovers, manicures, self-defense classes, health screenings, and more. Admission is free. For more information, email contact@touchofmagicsc.com.
Richa Sharma Live: Raleigh, NC (June 28, 2019)
Livespectrum presents vocalist Richa Sharma live in concert with live musicians on Friday, June 28, 2019 beginning at 8:15pm. The venue is Duke Energy Center, 2 E. South St, Raleigh, NC. She will perform many of her hits along with Sufi and unplugged performances. The event is also a fundraiser and book drive for Bonnie Book Foundation. For more details call 877-222-9324 or visit www.livespectrum.com.
OBX Food Truck Showdown: Nags Head, NC (June 2, 2019)
The OBX Food Truck Showdown is back with more trucks for shorter lines and festivities kicking off on Sunday, June 2, 2019 at 11 am. The event is guaranteed to be a tummy-tempting, toetapping good time as food trucks, breweries and local performers show off their stuff at the Soundside Event Site. Learn more at www.outerbanks.org/ Saathee.com
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May 2019
RUKSHMANI’S TIJORI Mother’s Day Special Sale All Month of May
DESIGNER CURATED WEDDING OUTFITS, SAREES, BLOUSES, JEWELRY AND MUCH MORE
www.rtijori.com • Facebook : @rtijori • vaishali@rtijori.com
Please call 336-613-8777 for appointment
Upcoming Movie Releases May 24
May 3
arjun suravaram Cast: Nikhil Siddharta, Lavanya Tripathi, Vennela Kishore, and Tarun Aroroa
aladdin (Director: Guy Ritchie) Cast: Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Will Smith, and Marwan Kenzari
uglydolls (Director: Kelly Asbury) Cast: Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Pitbull, Gabriel Iglesias, and Wanda Sykes
India’s Most Wanted (Director: Rajkumar Gupta) Cast: Arjun Kapoor and Amrita Puri
BrightBurn (Director: David Yarovesky) Cast: Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, and Jackson A Dunn
Blank (Director: Behzad Khambata) Cast: Karan Kapadia and Sunny Deol
ad astra (Director: James Gray) Cast: Brad Pitt, Ruth Negga, Tommy Lee Jones, and Donald Sutherland
long shot (Director: Jonathan Levine) Cast: Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, Ravi Patel, Alexander Skarsgård, and Andy Serkis
setters (Director: Ashwini Chaudhary) Cast: Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani, Sonnalli Seygal, Ishita Dutta, Pawan Malhotra, and Vijay Raaz
May 10
student of the Year 2 (Director: Punit Malhotra) Cast: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Panday, & Abhishek Bajaj
Pokemon: detective Pikachu (Director: Rob Letterman) Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Rita Ora, Suki Waterhouse, and Bill Nighy
Booksmart (Director: Olivia Wilde) Cast: Skyler Gisondo, Beanie Feldstein, Will Forte, Molly Gordon, Billie Lourd, and Lisa Kudrow
the Hustle (Director: Chris Addison) Cast: Rebel Wilson, Anne Hathaway, and Brino Sevilla
May 31
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Director: Michael Dougherty) Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, and Vera Farmiga
tolkien (Director: Dome Karukoski) Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, Anthony Boyle, and Colm Meaney
Rocketman (Director: Dexter Fletcher) Cast: Taron Egerton and Jamie Bell
May 17
June 5
de de Pyaar de (Director: Akiv Ali) Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, and Rakul Preet
Bharat (Director: Ali Abbas Zafar) Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Tabu, and Jackie Shroff
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (Director: Chad Stahelski) Cast: Keanu Reeves, Hallie Berry, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Laurence Fishburne, & Anjelica Huston Saathee.com
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24
May 2019
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Ballantyne: 704-910-2108 16011 Lancaster Highway Charlotte, NC 28277 denver: 704-966-4227 523 Brentwood Rd Denver, NC 28037
Highland Creek: 704-625-6366 10018 Benfield Rd. Charlotte, NC 28269
Mint Hill: 980-299-5018 7032 Brighton Park Drive Gastonia: 980-251-1469 Mint Hill, NC 28227 3090 E Franklin Blvd. Fantasticsams.com Gastonia, NC 28056
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May 2019
Film Clips New York Indian Film Festival 2019
The annual New Indian Film York Festival (NYIFF) will be held from May 7 – 12, 2019 in the Village East Cinemas in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Chairman Dr. Nirmal Mattoo said, “The 2019 NYIFF selection is the culmination of a global search process by our festival director and curators. We will present award winning releases. We will showcase for the first time, regional movies which present the depth and breadth of India. Original, fresh, transformative dramas will give the audience the deep immersive experiences that they seek. The audience will join us in giving critical acclaim and recognition to the artists who give us so much.” NYIFF screens premieres of feature, documentary and short films made from, of, and about the Indian subcontinent in the Independent, arthouse, alternate and diaspora genres. Seven days of screenings, postscreening discussions, industry panels, award ceremony, special events, networking parties, and red carpet galas build an awareness of Indian cinema. iaac.us/nyiff2019/index.htm.
Student of the Year 2
Tiger Shroff is back on the big screen in the romantic comedy Student of the Year 2, which is produced by Karan Johar and features new songs by Vishal & Shekhar. The film, featuring stories of friendship, sportsmanship, companionship, also features newcomers Tara Sutaria and Ananya Panday, along with Abhishek Bajaj, and is directed by Punit Malhotra. The film is slated for release on May 10.
De De Pyaar De
Director Akiv Ali directs veteran actors Ajay Devgn and Tabu in the film De De Pyaar De. The MayDecember romance is a story about a 50-year-old Saathee.com
single father facing disapproval from his family, children, friends and his ex-wife when he falls in love with a 26-year-old woman. The comedy drama is slated for release worldwide on May 17.
Bharat
Prakash Jha Announces his Next Film
Prakash Jha, one of the most respected directors in the Hindi film industry, has announced his upcoming film Pareeksha. The film is in the post-production stage and is slated for release sometime in the summer of 2019. Jha told Bollywood Hungama, the film is “Inspired from real incidents and real people, this was a story living and growing with me for some time. Really fortunate to have had the collaboration of right actors and the technicians to make this film Pareeksha. The shoot is complete, it is in post production and we plan to bring it to the audience later this summer!” Pareeksha will tell the story of a common rikshaw driver and his dreams and will star Adil Hussain, Priyanka Bose, Sanjay Suri and Shubham Jha
Veteran director Ali Abbas Zafar is back with Bharat, featuring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani, Sunil Grover, Tabu, and Jackie Shroff. It is a story and adaptation of 2014 Korean film, Ode to My Father. Look for it to release worldwide on June 5.
The Secret Life of Pets 2
India’s Most Wanted
Director Rajkumar Gupta directs the cast, including Arjun Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma, and Amrita Puri in the film based on real events, India’s Most Wanted. A group of intelligence officers embark on a top secret mission to track down a wanted international criminal who has been planting and exploding bombs around the country. The thriller is slated for release in cinemas on May 24. 28
The hilarity continues in the sequel to the animated hit film that continues story of Max and his pet friends, following their secret lives after their owners leave them for work or school each day. The pets have the run of the house and their neighborhoods for their misadventures. The film, directed by Chris Renaud & Jonathan Del Val, featuring the voices of Jenny Slate, Kevin Hart, Patton Oswalt, Tiffany Haddish, and Harrison Ford, among many others. It hits the screens on June 7. May 2019
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Come and join internationally acclaimed performer and choreographer
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saturday, June 1, 2019 (4 p.m.) kerr Recreation Center
Philadelphia Presbyterian Church 11501 Bain School Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227
adMIssIon Is FRee
• experience the stunning 3,000 yearold classical dances & dance dramas of India • Come and be enthralled to witness world dances in their purest form • over 30 performers bring age-old stories to life through vibrant traditional costumes
• signature dance, “Unity in diversity,” presents unforgettable international dance styles with a live international orchestra
Saathee.com
29
May 2019
Music Lessons for ages 3 and Up!
Charlotte Music School
The Only Exclusive Music School in the Area!
Piano, Guitar, Trumpet, Violin, Viola, Horn, Drums, Voice, Ukulele, Harp, Accordion, Woodwinds, Brass, Jam Sessions, Performances, Recitals, Master Classes & more
NEW! GROUP PIANO CLASSES for Beginners 5-7 years old! Enroll today! SPRING PRE-K CLASSES (Ages 3 - 5) Limited space available, Call today! SPRING ENROLLMENT FOR PRIVATE LESSONS! Sign up today!
FREE 30 minute trial lessons for new students. Call for details and restrictions
Discount Semester Rates Available Registration now open.
Classes begin Soon. Limited space. CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION! No material or instruments to purchase!
Want your little one to get a head start in music? Ages 3 - 5 We have established a fun music curriculum that will allow your child to learn about instruments and music theory while preparing them for private lessons. Call for details.
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The importance of education today is undeniable. Are you prepared for what it costs? It takes planning to fund the cost of an education considering that between 2006-07 and 2016-17, published in-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions increased at an average rate of 3.5% per year beyond inflation1. While tuition will be the largest expense, don't forget about these additional costs that may be incurred: Pre-College Costs • Standardized test fees • Test prep courses and materials • Campus visits • Moving costs Additional College Costs • Room & Board • Books & Supplies 1 College Board (Trends in Higher Education) 2017 • Transportation
Talk it through with an expert. We’re Here to help.
Rasheed Ulhaq Dedicated Agent Phone: 704-709-7520 Cell: 310-418-0816 rulhaq@ft.newyorklife.com New York Life Insurance Company Charlotte General Office 1729183 EXP: 3/10/2019
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980-265-1156 www.CharlotteChessCenter.org 10700 Kettering Dr., Suites E+F Charlotte, NC 28226 Saathee.com
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May 2019
Subcontinental Divide An Indian Subcontinent & America Dialogue By Ahsen Jillani
agendas…and the Post-apocalyptic Future
“Confirm safety. Jillani. Bangkok,” read this telegram stuck to my apartment door on a winter evening in 1980. I still had no phone my fifth month in America. I would go to the nearest Burger King where there was an enclosed Southern Bell booth, and make a collect call to my parents in Asia. For two weeks, I hadn’t checked in. About five years out, I was within a couple of semesters of finishing grad school and decided to take on quite a task – a novel. At the college newspaper, which I had been managing for over four years then, we had boxes of folded, continuous light yellow paper that we fed into IBM Selectric typewriters. All news reporting and editing took place on that paper, which we simply tore off the roll as needed. I hijacked a box, put it under my desk, and that was the novel I wrote most evenings for a semester. The professor rejected the continuous sheet format, in addition to the fact that I submitted it a day late. Over the years I ran into it here and there during the myriad moves and the hundreds of relationships that You don’t grow looking at a kept whittling my worldly thousand memes.You just possessions down to nothing but jeans and shirts. In 2008, I stay where you are. saw it again, soaked and bug infested, packed roughly with magazines, poetry, and a few photos from bygone days. I sat next to the box on a warm summer evening and drank a beer; then threw it all in the trash can and went inside. It was a good novel for someone 25. It talked frankly about the strangeness of the expat experience—and the changing world of the 1980s. My mother more than once had commented on the phone and during my infrequent visits home to Pakistan that I was just slumming it in America. She wanted me to have money, she wanted me to smile more, she wanted women of quality in my life—like the desi kind she would have found me if I had returned home like normal people. I wasn’t normal. I went from editing newspapers to operating typesetting, photo-developing, and print machinery. When I wasn’t doing that, I was constantly working on my Italian sports car. The computer age was starting to creep up on the world by 1990. I dropped seamlessly from changing car clutches to rotating opened up failed hard drives by hand to retrieve data onto floppy disks. For decades, the computer age made sense to me. It seemed like the new mechanics of this era. I mastered networking, starting with Novell coaxial networks, set up servers during freelance hours, got into politics and started photoshopping unflattering pics of opposition candidates for MySpace, where I set up some of the earliest social media accounts for politicians. I thought all this technology would be heading somewhere. It didn’t. About 15 years ago, Charlotte had a major ice storm and we lost power for 10 days in the brutal cold. Within one day, the family and I changed tracks completely, had soup on the charcoal grill and a steady fire in the fireplace. The world did not collapse. Things just got simpler and more pleasant. Saathee.com
Looking back at the 80,000 words I had written on a typewriter over three decades ago, I can only laugh. Shakespeare may have written 20 million words with a quill and an inkwell. I was in 1985 in a high-tech world comparatively, just like I am sitting on my laptop today talking about an IBM Selectric. Today, I can only snicker at the new generation whose first question upon entering your house is what your Wi-Fi password is. Without exaggeration, since I purchased one of the first cell phones in this region in 1995, I have had about zero reason to ever absolutely require it. Before cell phones, every shopping center and convenience store had a pay phone. If you were ever stuck on the highway, people then stopped and helped, and if you had a CB radio, truckers could probably send the national guard to assist if you needed it. No, we were not crippled. And no, the world was not collapsing because your boss or your client couldn’t talk to you right then and there while you were stuck in traffic. Things got done just fine, and on schedule, back then too. There is about zero relevance in getting your Amazon pasta strainer delivered rush via UPS, or a politician wanting a fundraising letter out in two hours. You learn to prepare and plan, if greed and money are not the only gods you now worship. Yes, I can go to work, use a typewriter and send a hardcopy of this article in the mail. Someone like me (and other old timey typists), who can type 120 words a minute, can key this in faster than most modern techno types can fire up their latte machines, pop their nerve pills, and roll up the yoga mats. And this goes on and on. I can drive to the bank. I can bring farm produce to the market in a horse carriage and ride the carriage to the bank. I’m not on Jeff Bezos’s hamster wheel, or flying on two wheels to deliver Uber Eats, but things really, really, got done before iPhones and iPads. I swear. I can assure and reassure the younger generation that if all technology ceases tomorrow, they can fall back on this unique experience—being human. We are extremely resilient. Save the Kids, Save the Whales, Save the Dogs, the ACLU, the NAACP, PETA, UNICEF, they all existed way before the iPhone or Facebook. Literature existed, great art existed, porn existed, encyclopedias existed way before search engines. There’s just this slight difference: people interacted directly then, and through that you build relationships, a culture, a society; you learn about norms not from Big Media or Fortune 100 agendas but from people around you—the people who are your community. You see, there’s a difference between a meme and a conversation or a piece of writing. Witty as some memes are, they are not intellectually complex like writing or verbal engagement. You don’t grow looking at a thousand memes. You just stay where you are. Humans grow through engaging thought and dialogue. The infinite possibilities in language make you more complex and vibrant. We are not the Zuckerberg clan. We are the human race. We can go back to being social animals, not binary code.
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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.
May 2019
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May 2019
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704-324-3322 300 S Polk St Pineville, NC 28134 trivenisupermarket.com May 2019
Mirror, Mirror
A Conversation From the Outside Looking in...
There are so many movies and shows from South Asia that could be inspiration for such beautiful costumes, especially for women who (until recently) didn’t have nearly as many Bollywood Cosplay: choices for outfits as men. Yet there is hardly any to be seen in the untapped Potential the mainstream. The Bollywood film industry has had many decades of inspiration. Just about any Desi film you can think of has at “Exercising the imagination, experimenting with talents, being creative; these things, to me, are truly the windows to your soul.” ~ least one or more performance numbers with brightly colored dancers. A lot of them also have beautiful wedding sequences Bob Ross with both bride and groom dressed so exquisitely. Some even have a plot set within a fantasy setting with even more I’ve mentioned a few times elaborate set pieces and costumes that would be before that one of many facets of my perfect to duplicate. Geekdom is that I love to Cosplay I’ve seen Spartans from 300 at various Cons. (short for Costume Play). In truth, Wouldn’t it also be fair to see someone dressed as I’ve enjoyed dressing up in costumes of one form or another since I was Shivudu from Baahubali? You see several dressed as very young. I loved to try on my Batman, Deadpool, Wonder Woman or Captain grandmother’s old flapper dresses or Marvel. Why can’t more Cosplayers instead find some of my aunt’s old stage inspiration to dress up as Desi superheroes like costumes as a way to channel a Ajooba, Ra.One, Drona or Krrish? completely different character upon I think the potential is certainly there. I’ve seen myself. plenty of Cosplayers who chose to dress as a less I thought that only entertainers recognizable character or pull off a hybrid costume were into wearing costumes. But that from multiple genres. I’ve seen small number of all changed when I went to my first costumes inspired by Bollywood, but also tied with Star Trek Convention at the age of something else. Most often I see it paired with 14. Star Trek: The Next Generation was Steampunk like Ariel Dixon’s (also known as in its second season at the time and I MakeUpSiren) work or Suna Dasi’s (also known as heard from a friend of a friend that there was Steampunk India). I do love me a con in town. Once we arrived, I was some Steampunk, so seeing it completely surprised by the sheer amount of meshed so perfectly with South people in costume. Besides all of those in Asian clothing just looks so various styles of Starfleet uniforms from over awesome. the years, I saw Klingons, and even saw one So, will we ever see more person dressed in a very impressive Borg Bollywood Cosplay? costume. I think we will as the films My first thought of Cosplaying was that I gradually gain more popularity with liked it, but could never feasibly do it. This non-Desi audiences around the was due to a few reasons which included world. Who knows? You may be everything from to lack of money to not walking along near the next Fantasy having a sewing machine to “my parents convention and see someone dressed would never understand it”. Over time, as one of the Sikh British Indian however, the urge to dress up from my Army Soldiers from Kesari. younger days sparked something in me, and If you do spot someone, stop and I started dressing up mainly at annual not only ask to take a picture, but Renaissance Fairs to start with before also thank them for representing the gradually adding Conventions to my Bollywood culture in a way that repertoire. should be better appreciated by At this point, I love seeing all of the everyone. creativity that goes into every single outfit I see and appreciate each one, no matter how off the wall, crazy or unique it may be. Now, a majority of Cosplay revolves around a few major Jennifer Allen categories: Comic Books, Sci-Fi, Anime, or Fantasy being just some of them. In all of my observations, I gradually realized works at Saathee and is also that there is another category that has been severely a Podcaster, Blogger, Photographer underutilized: Bollywood. & Graphic Artist . Seriously, why is there not more Bollywood Cosplay? By Jennifer Allen
Saathee.com
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May 2019
Contacts for Bookings and Sponsorships: Book online: Ticket Hungama, Sulekha and EventBrite Carolinas Entertainment: 704-313-8445 Vimal Patel: 704-915-2939 Live Pulse Entertainment: 919-995-0566 Dr. Pradip Thakkar: 336-970-1600 Sanjay Patel: 704-975-4330
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May 2019
Namaskar Y’all
Reflections and a few confessions as an Indian American in the Carolinas By Shyama Parui
Culture talk
“We have a rich culture.” “We are very cultured, but look at them; compared to us they have no culture at all.” Whether you were deliberately eavesdropping or not, you might have overheard such remarks and observed heated debates about this complex C word, called culture. I am not alone in wondering if people pause to think about what culture truly means. In fact, Joshua Rothman dedicated an entire article about the complexity of this term, in his 2014 article “The Meaning of ‘Culture’”, published in The New Yorker magazine.
At a minimum, culture is a compilation of customs and fine arts in addition to belief systems and values. An exceptionally broad term, experts from the field of Sociology and Anthropology see culture as a series of behaviors that one generation passes on to the next. The legacy we inherit shapes the way we define our way of life, or who we are as a group. Our culture creates many artifacts that we preserve and nurture, so that we can pass the baton to our children. As Indians, we take great pride in our cultural heritage and rightly so. Dance, music, art, and literature are all forms of cultural manifestation, but culture is more than art or symbolism. How we treat each other as well as those outside our definition of “us” represents our cultural beliefs, too. What we choose or feel obliged to follow become the customs, traditions, rituals of a community and, in time, represent culture. None of these occur in isolation. Let’s take cuisines, for example. Traditional dishes unique to certain cultures come from the geographic location. The climate and growing conditions affect what people eat and how the food is cooked. Just like geography, historical milestones influence the stories and poems recited around bonfires. In the true sense of the word, culture is not a commodity to own nor is it a synonym for formal education. In Saathee.com
fact, it would be unfair to limit this multifaceted concept with one definition. Honoring your own culture should be encouraged just as we are urged to cheer or chant for our favorite sports team at stadiums creating that electric atmosphere to charge the players. Ethnocentrism takes that positive feeling to the dark side. A community that assumes a sense of superiority and wants to forcibly impose their culture on other groups begins to brew problems. There is historical evidence of how the ethnocentric mindset of the colonists or religious extremists resulted in destruction of works of art and symbols along with suppression of certain languages. And these are only a few of the transgressions recorded. In milder forms, ethnocentric behavior may stem from regional groups in India thinking that their sub-culture should be held in higher esteem than others. At an individual level, even if we do not wish to compare and compete with others from a cultural standpoint, we don’t want to tarnish the image of our community either. We might be quick to associate with famous and successful persons, if they are say from your hometown, but quickly disassociate with those who have gained notoriety. There is hesitation to accept someone who distorts the picture of your community or sub-culture. Writer Jhumpa Lahiri’s works come to mind. Although a work of fiction, the novel titled The Namesake was embraced by Indians both in India and around the world and subsequently made into a movie. Bengali Americans across generations identified with the characters and Lahiri’s work was discussed over numerous cups of tea. Contrast that with her newer novel, The Lowland which effectively portrays characters who are less than perfect humans, and in a way that imperfection makes them more human. But they are hardly the poster child for Bengali success. There was neither a movie version nor heavy “Lowland” discussions around the coffee table. This probably says something about our tendency to idolize our culture and an aversion to anything that fails to put our cultural image on a pedestal. For the same reason, the history of a nation is published after carefully filtering out unpleasant details. Social problems such as gun violence, racism, gender bias, or dowry demands, are harder to erase when the culture implicitly or explicitly supports it. Immigrants constantly face the push and pull of dueling cultures, one for their motherland and the other for their adopted land. First generation members worry about the loss of their language and way of life as they attempt to assimilate, whereas the second generation members are keen to blend in. To me an individual does not have to sacrifice their uniqueness to be a part of a culture. Similarly, a shared culture does not mean that every person thinks and behaves uniformly. Our human attributes make that virtually impossible. Culture by definition is dynamic. It would be a mistake to lock it up and merely display it as a prized museum piece. Instead, we should allow it to evolve and thrive by permitting newer generations to cultivate novel ways of expression.
Shyama Parui
Shyama is a long time North Carolina resident and an ardent writer. You can reach her at: shyamashree_parui@hotmail.com
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May 2019
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May 2019
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May 2019
Full Frame Festival 2019 Review By Dilip Barman
The 22nd annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival came and went too quickly as always, taking place at multiple venues in Durham April 4 – 8, 2019. In the April issue of Saathee, I had written about two films that I had been able to preview, The Watson’s Hotel (2019, thewatsonshotel.movie), a portrait of India’s oldest surviving cast iron building in the midst of Mumbai, and Giants and the Morning After (2018, facebook.com/GiantsandtheMorningAfter), about a small village in rural Sweden. I was able to see over a dozen films – and wish that I could have seen more. Some of my favorites included some science films like Breakthrough (2019, breakthrough.movie) about 2018 Nobel Prize winner Jim Allison who has dedicated his life to fighting cancer. He found promising strategies using immunotherapy but didn’t get a lot of support initially in turning his ideas into clinical solutions. Human Nature (2019, wondercollaborative.org/human-nature-documentary-film) was remarkable in how clearly it presented its exciting science through simple explanations and excellent graphics and animations; I had taught my fourth grade daughter some basics about DNA and genetics, and that was ample background for her to understand and love this film. This film explains gene editing and CRISPR (repeated DNA sequences that can be used to find and excise target sequences) technology, including both scientific and ethical concerns. Some well received films include, Knock Down the House (2019, knockdownthehouse.com) about women like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others who ran for Congress in 2018. One of the candidates, Amy Vilela (who ran in Nevada but didn’t win a seat), was part of the film’s question-andanswer session. Hail Satan? (2019, hailsatanfilm.com) was a funny and provocative film addressing the separation of church and state through the guise of a satanic group suggesting, for example, that religious displays in government buildings should offer equal access to other faiths/approaches. I was stunned by The Infiltrators (2019) about a group that infiltrates ICE detention facilities to help those unjustly detained. Their work is dangerous and puts themselves at personal risk in order to help others for whom the light of justice may be blocked. Sure enough, one of the infiltrators was in attendance and took questions after the film. Decade of Fire (2018, decadeoffire.com) was another favorite of mine. The film describes a happy melting pot of neighborly Bronx living in the 1950s and 1960s. Gross neglect by landlords led to arson so that they could collect insurance and then abandon the properties. The Bronx suffered with lack of public Saathee.com
support and ended up in a downward spiral. The film documents the seemingly decade-long 1970s fires that burned and, inspirationally, describes how residents have been taking matters in their own hands and rebuilding in spite of lack of support. There were upsetting politics that I wish could have been covered in Decade of Fire but which had to be cut. The Carter administration at the end of the 1970s was intent on funding redevelopment for the Bronx, but the New York Mayor blocked this. Along with films like Owned, a Tale of Two Americas (2018, ownedfilm.com), which was shown at Full Frame 2018, more films need to be made to analyze varying perspectives and expectations of the social contract especially in terms of housing and orchestrating vibrant, diverse communities. It was a treat to introduce my daughter to the groundbreaking film critiquing the pace and modernity, of direction (1982, Koyaanisqatsi koyaanisqatsi.org). It was my first time taking in the stunning film on a large screen. Filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar were honored at the Festival. I was thrilled to get to talk with them and enjoy a number of their films, many of labor about are which movements. There was also a film, Personal Belongings (1996), which Steve had made about his father, a fascinating portrait of a man who fought in the Hungarian Revolution before fleeing for America. The opening night film was their American Factory (2019) about a Chinese company taking over from a General Motors plant that had closed. The story of hard working and proud workers trying to navigate the mores of a very different culture was continued in the post-film discussion that included not only the filmmakers, but also one of the factory workers. I got to see Bognar and Reichert’s The Last Truck (2009), which made a nice prequel to American Factory; Union Maids (1976), a retrospective of Depression era women labor organizers; and a work-in-progress, Raises not Roses. For this current effort, Reichert and Bognar document the “9 to 5” movement of the 1970s, when secretaries and other administrative staff organized for fair treatment and better working conditions. It was particularly interesting because, after the screening, the filmmakers asked the audience what we thought about different parts of the film and got input to help them in completing the film. I met many other filmmakers, including Aparna Agrawal, (2018, Ends Pavement the Where of producer janegillooly.com/where-the-pavement-ends). The director, Jane Gillooly, grew up in Ferguson, MO, and thought that the adjacent towns of Ferguson, historically with no African American population, and Kinloch, which had been AfricanAmerican and was physically separated by a road blockade, continued on page 98 44
May 2019
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Indian Summer Monsoons Amplified Global Warming 130,000 Years Ago By Pallavi Anand and Katrina Nilsson-Kerr, theconversation.com
The past may be a surprisingly useful guide for predicting responses to future climate change. This is especially important for places where extreme weather has been the norm for a long time, such as the Indian subcontinent. Being able to reliably predict summer monsoon rainfall is critical to plan for the devastating impact it can have on the 1.7 billion people who live in the region. The onset of India’s summer monsoon is linked to heat differences between the warmer land and cooler ocean, which causes a shift in prevailing wind direction. Winds blow over the Indian Ocean, picking up moisture, which falls as rain over the subcontinent from June to September. The monsoon season can bring drought and food shortages or severe flooding, depending on how much rain falls and in what duration. Understanding how the monsoon responded to an abrupt climate transition in the past can therefore help scientists better understand its behavior in the future. When we researched this weather system’s ancient past, we found it was highly sensitive to climate warming 130,000 years ago. Our new study published in Nature Geoscience showed that the Indian summer monsoon pulled heat and moisture into the northern hemisphere when Earth was entering a warmer climate around 130,000 years ago. This caused tropical wetlands to expand northwards – habitats that act as sources of methane, a greenhouse gas. This amplified global warming further and helped end the ice age. The rate at which today’s climate is changing is unprecedented in the geological record, but our study shows how sensitive the Indian summer monsoon was during a global transition into warming in the past and may still be.
the monsoon rains of yesteryear Over the last one million years, the climate fluctuated between a cold glacial – known as an ice age – and a warm interglacial as the Earth’s position relative to the sun wobbled Saathee.com
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in its orbit. The last transition from an ice age into the warm climate of the present interglacial – known as the Holocene – occurred around 18,000 years ago. This period of Earth’s history is relatively well understood, but how Earth system processes responded to these climate changes deeper in time is still something of a mystery. A recent expedition to drill deep into the ocean floor of the Bay of Bengal gave an opportunity to reconstruct past Indian monsoon behavior over hundreds of years before the last ice age. Our study used these deep sea sediments from the northern Bay of Bengal to capture a direct signal of the Indian summer monsoon from 140,000 to 128,000 years ago, hidden in the fossilized shells of tiny microscopic creatures called foraminifera. These plankton species once lived in the upper ocean water column and captured the environmental conditions of the surrounding seawater in the chemical makeup of their shells. We detected the ocean surface water freshening from river discharge induced by the rains of the Indian summer monsoon from 140,000 to 128,000 years ago – a sign of the strengthening monsoon system. This occurred when the Earth was coming out of a glacial state and into the interglacial which occurred before the one we live in, separated by a single ice age. During this period – which we’ll refer to as the penultimate deglaciation – sea levels rose from six to nine meters worldwide. Ice-core records show that Antarctica began to warm first during the penultimate deglaciation. Southern Hemisphere warming provided a source of heat and moisture which fuelled the strengthening of the Indian summer monsoon, as seen in our records of surface freshening and river runoff from the northern Bay of Bengal. During this warming period around 130,000 years ago, the Indian summer monsoon responded to southern hemisphere warming while the northern hemisphere and other monsoon systems, such as the East Asian summer monsoon – which continued on page 98
May 2019
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May 2019
Spot the Differences See if you can spot the 10 dierences between the original photo on top and modiďŹ ed one on bottom. Answers are on pg 120.
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May 2019
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May 2019
College Admissions Insider By Kristen Moon
Gap Year Programs to Consider Before College
Traditionally, students have transitioned directly from high school into their first year of undergraduate. While some students follow this path and excel, other students might have trouble adjusting. Moving to a new environment, taking classes, and studying for exams - all without having their parents monitoring their behavior and grades. Some students are just not ready to go to jump right into college, and that is okay. Many are now taking a gap year between high school and college to gain life experiences to better prepare for university. Students can use the gap years to travel, volunteer, or further their knowledge in a particular subject. Gap years have started to gain in popularity within the last few decades. Malia Obama, Prince William, and Prince Harry all took a year off before attending college. Luckily, you don’t have to be a member of the elite to take a gap year. More students are starting to take advantage of gap years as universities are allowing students to defer their admission for one year. Schools like Harvard University, Princeton, and Middlebury College often look positively on gap years and frequently give students the opportunity to defer enrollment for one year to pursue this opportunity. One option is to attend a gap year program, like the ones listed below, that give students a structured and transformational experience.
and discoveries. Participants in the program have the chance to explore the wilderness or cities through 30 to 85-day expeditions that give students real-world, hands-on experiences. Many people have found that Outward Bound pushes them both mentally and physically, allowing them to achieve things they never thought possible before joining the program. Students can also receive between 3 and 18 credits, depending on the length of the expedition. Learn more: www.outwardbound.org
Completing any of these gap year programs is an excellent way for your college application to stand apart from others— after all, not many college applicants can say that they have completed an 80-day expedition into the wild or lived with a family in a foreign country. A gap year can help students adequately prepare for college by increasing their confidence, rediscovering a love for learning, and gaining invaluable life lessons and skills.
nols NOLS is an immersive gap year program that allows students to explore every corner of the world, from India to Alaska to Mexico. NOLS teaches lessons in leadership and confidence, with the chance to earn college credit through courses like backpacking, canoeing, whitewater kayaking, wilderness medicine, and more. The non-profit outdoor education school aims to teach environmental ethics, outdoor technical skills, and risk management and judgment. Scholarships make this gap year program possible for every student. Learn more: www.nols.edu
thinking Beyond Borders As a global leader in gap year programs, Thinking Beyond Borders is an expert in offering culturally enriching experiences. They provide students with the opportunity for cultural immersion through homestays in foreign countries. If one of your main determinants to doing a gap year is the cost, Thinking Beyond Borders (TBB) gives students options. They offer both scholarships and assistance in helping students raise funds for their tuition. TBB helps students build a crowdfunding campaign through Generosity.com, which has helped students raise anywhere from a few thousand to twenty thousand dollars. Learn more: www.thinkingbeyondborders.org outward Bound Outward Bound aims to change lives through challenges Saathee.com
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Kristen Moon
is an independent college counselor and founder of MoonPrep.com. She specializes in Ivy League, BS/MD Programs, and International Students. She works with students 9-12th grade. kristen@moonprep.com May 2019
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May 2019
Increase Your
knowledge
The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a gravity dam on the Narmada River near Navagam, Gujarat. Four Indian states, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra and Rajasthan, receive water and electricity supplied from the dam. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone for the project in 1961. After years of controversy and work, the dam was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in September 2017.
Four of the world’s major religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, originated in India.
Varanasi, also called Benares, Banaras, or Kashi, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
India shares its land border with six countries: Pakistan, Nepal, China, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar.
India is a constitutional republic consisting of 29 states, six union territories; and the Delhi national capital territory, which includes New Delhi, India’s capital.
The Himalayas, from the Sanskrit words hima (snow) and alaya (abode) are the loftiest mountain system in the world.
The Godavari is India’s second longest river after the Ganga. Its source is in Triambakeshwar, Maharashtra and flows from west to east for 910 miles through the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Karnataka, before emptying into Bay of Bengal through its extensive network of tributaries.
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485 May 2019
After listening to her second round of complaints about Neil’s immaturity, poor performance in school and his happygo-lucky behavior, I tried to defend my son. “I understand your concerns but this is only first grade.” There was a pause. “Second,” she said. “Pardon me?” I said. “Second. This is second grade.” I scanned her face hoping to see a smile. It was expressionless and businesslike. I rested my case and let her patiently insult me for the remaining 12 minutes of the conference. I am sure Neil must have been happy that his teacher’s focus shifted away from him to me. I came home wondering why my kid was not a high performer like most IndianAmerican kids; maybe he had ADD or maybe we were just bad parents. I don’t know if we took any extraordinary measures after that but somehow Neil completed the year, laying low on Mrs. Oscar’s radar screen. The following year we rented another house in a cul-de-sac. The kids were much happier. Neil was not held back and attended a new school that had equally good test scores. He completed second grade, oops, third grade with an overall rank of “outstanding.” Sometimes you just get stuck with the wrong teacher. Fast forward ten years later. Neil is 17 now. At 6 ft. he would tower over Mrs. Oscar if he met her again. He has had guest spots on network television and has booked a couple of commercials. His agent and manager recommended upping his game by taking some advanced acting classes. I find myself sitting in front of another teacher; in this case at a premier acting school in Hollywood. The class is competitive and Neil has to go through an audition to be selected. He decides to do the monologue in front of the teacher and the peers. I am not allowed in the class so I wait patiently outside. I call my wife again to verify that Neil is a senior and not a junior in high school. The teacher, Caitlin, a young woman in her early 30s, is about the same height as Mrs. Oscar but a lot friendlier. I am sure the warm weather in Los Angeles makes her smile more genuine. I am also glad I don’t have to be so formal with her as in a regular school. Still, I am nervous. Caitlin explains that Neil did well in the audition. She says, “He is a natural and is able to project his emotions seamlessly.” She continues, “He must have had a happy childhood.” I feel relieved. “So, is he in?” With that same 100 watts smile she tells me, “Yes, but he would have to work really hard to make up for some impediments … some disadvantages he has had.” I am lost. Is she referring to what I am thinking? I thought race and cultural diversity were being promoted in Hollywood. I gather the courage to ask, “You mean about being IndianAmerican?” “No, no. That is an advantage.”
RAAJEEV’S CORNER Equally offensive to all
By Raajeev Aggerwhil
algorithm
When we moved to Lexington, Massachusetts from Virginia, we had a hard time finding a decent rental. We ended up leasing a house on a busy street which the kids hated. Still, they were thrilled with the idea of walking just two blocks to school. The elementary school in Lexington was similar to the elementary school in Fairfax, Virginia where our kids went the previous year. It had modern facilities, a strong academic program and high test scores. Like many parents wishing the best for their children, our assumption was that if the test scores of the schools were good, our kids would get a better education. This new school was a little less diverse than what we were used to in Virginia. The population was so homogenous that they instituted a program to bring in a handful of innercity kids to artificially induce diversity. A couple of months after the start of the academic year, my wife mentioned that Mrs. Oscar, our youngest son’s teacher, was concerned about his progress. She felt that he was immature. I am sure if Neil were a girl, her opinion may have been different. When my wife had brought up this topic, I had told her, “Well he’s the youngest kid in the class. He is supposed to be less mature.” However, Neil was a bit more problematic as he was more carefree, extroverted and friendly. In fact, Mrs. Oscar complained to my wife that, “Neil is so happy, he is not even aware of what he doesn’t know.” I was not looking forward to the first parents-teacher’s conference. In Virginia, I had accompanied my wife to such meetings but this time I had to go alone, as she was busy at work. Mrs. Oscar, a short stout woman, was sitting at the desk when I entered the class room. She reminded me of Kathy Bates in Misery which added to my anxiety. After the quick pleasantries, she started reciting the problematic areas: lack of attention span, disorganization, inability to follow instructions. “He does not even know the algorithms to do the math problems.” She used the word “algorithm” three times. “Interesting choice of word,” I thought. As a Computer Science undergraduate at Berkeley, I always used the term algorithm to define a series of steps to solve complex problems like airline reservations, student enrollment or an optimal route for stressed-out young mothers for their weekend shopping. Saathee.com
continued on page 98
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 58
May 2019
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May 2019
Thinking About Thinking By Balaji Prasad
a Billion shades of Grey “He makes you the person you want to be, instead of the person you are.” ~ E.L. James, Fifty Shades Trilogy
Some of the things that human beings have accomplished are absolutely mind-blowing! It’s not the moon-landings or the conquest of Mount Everest that I’m speaking of. It’s the accomplishments that are far more extraordinary – so extraordinary, in fact, that they have become all but invisible.
Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary How often do we pause to reflect on the fact that we are able to walk and talk – things that the infant that was us, once upon a time, would have sworn that it would never be able to accomplish? But infants don’t “think”. For, unlike most of us, they have not been indoctrinated into this dark art, at least not quite yet. Toddlers simply put one baby foot in front of the other, wobble a bit, fall, pick themselves up again, and do the cute three-step shuffle all over again. And again. Then one day, the activity that had appeared clumsy, error-prone, tedious and, The adults walk and talk perhaps, even comical with ease, grace and poise, became a native pattern – as the wide-eyed child something that was executed with ease, skill and grace. An fumbles, tumbles and flails. “expert” mysteriously appeared on the scene, at some point in this rather wobbly progression. The interesting thing is that unlike an adult, the child never needed to be admonished to “walk the talk”. Children do not talk; they simply walk.
From extraordinary to ordinary And then … everything changes. How does a child who learns so effortlessly to do impossibly complex deeds suddenly lose what would seem to be an extraordinary ability? Could it be that our brains fundamentally change and somehow get rewired, making us mere shadows of the learning machines we once used to be? Or, could it be that it is not that the “hardware” of our brains ossifies, but that it is the “software” layer that somehow gets mis-programmed with a number of “bugs”? Maybe there is not a whole lot that we can do about the hardware – the neurons, the synapses, and the trillions of weighted connections among these. At least not in any direct manner. But perhaps the software layer is a bit more accessible to us? There has to be a smidgen of doubt in our minds that we may be part of a team of programmers that writes the code that makes things inside our heads hum. “No, no!” you say, shrinking away from me, “There is no ‘team’. There is only me! I am the one that owns this thing. I am the programmer! To which I might be inclined to say, as Shakespeare’s spirit unceremoniously enters my writing soul, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” Saathee.com
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From copycat to albatross Could it be that the very thing that helps us learn at blinding speed when we are little ones be the albatross around our necks at later points in our lives? Is it possible to have learned more than we should have? Could the infant’s extraordinary ability to learn through mimicry become the adult’s source of gimmickry? Copy me? That adults copy? And copy! Copiously. Perhaps when we are younger, our abilities are so far below that of the giant beings that tower over us, that a simple, blind copying technique works like magic. The adults walk and talk with ease, grace and poise, as the wide-eyed child fumbles, tumbles and flails. Maybe we have wonderful role models at that stage in our lives. We had so much to learn then. However, as the toddler metamorphoses into a little girl or boy and beyond, the gap with potential role models starts to narrow. They become more like us, as we become more like them. But the one thing we got habituated to, in this process, is to being programmed. To copying. The word “copying” doesn’t do justice to what actually occurs. Nor does “programming”. Both words indicate a directionality of flow – one that is effluent from us, and the other from those around us. The reality is probably that it is a blend of both. It is collaborative – true teamwork. Things flow from this side to that, and from that side to this, as the copier and the copied shift their roles from this to that.
an addiction to “uniqueness” The net of all this copying is that you look like me, and I look like you. It’s not just fifty shades of grey; it’s billions of shades of grey. We are all cast from the same grey cloth, and we collaborate fast and furiously to make sure that it all stays as grey as grey can be. “But I am a unique individual!” you exclaim, with more than just a little rancor. “I am not like everyone else!” To this I say in a rather professorial manner, “Well, yes and no! Yes, there are seeds of uniqueness in all of us. But “unique” is a fuzzy word that can mean different things to different people. Just because you wear a tattoo on your left shoulder, and I don’t, doesn’t make either of us unique.” It is often trivial, and – ironically – copied things that people often view as ways of differentiating from one another. Even more ironically, it is these kinds of attempts at being “unique” that thrust an individual deeper into the morass of gray goo that is the mindless mainstream, There is a different kind of uniqueness though! Perhaps if we tried a bit less to be unique, we would actually be that in a more organic way. Then we would be true to the one entity that we actually are. You would be you, and I would be me. And suddenly there are a billion points of light streaming from every direction, where there once was a dull greyness that cast an unbearable haze over the universe. So, let there be light! From you.
Balaji Prasad
is an IIT/IIM graduate, a published author, SAT/ACT Online and Offline Coach, interview, resume, and career coach at NewCranium. Contact: 704.746.9779 balaji.prasad@newcranium.com May 2019
Kismuth and the Way By Dipika Kohli
Japanese language teacher, Kyoko Murakami, showing us how to draw them, in high school in Durham. She’d had immaculate calligraphy. That kind of attentiveness to detail: where to apply pressure with a brush, how to move the hand, the formality and order... learning from here these things opened my eyes to a place very far from North Carolina where aesthetics are... important. And not just in an academic or throwaway kind of way. They’re built into the whole thing. This past week I saw some Edo-era buildings, and more, and was reminded all over again of the great care taken in the arrangements of things there, and at the Tokyo National Museum with its many sutras, bowls and scrolls. On the train up from the Izu Peninsula this morning, there was a transfer at Tokyo Station. The Yamanote Line. Many of the stops on the familiar circular line are places I’ve been before in years past, and spent good chunks of time in. Memories. A very late night once, with a missed last train from Ueno, for example, had led to a wander underground with a friend born and raised in Hiroshima whom I’d first met in North Carolina; on that particular day, I had met her to return a borrowed coffee maker, so after dinner, I think we missed the train, and then, stuffed the machine into a coin locker and ducked into a crazy disco that used to be in Roppongi, I think, called Velfarre. Recounting this story often in the years since, I always talk about the weird experience of taking an elevator down, down, down, after handing over Y4,000 for admission (which came, I remember, with a free mini-deodorant.) Gosh, I still remember that. I mean, it was one of those all-time crazy explorations that push your edges, and confirm there is way, way more out there than you ever dreamed. Legend’s in Raleigh back in the days when my girlfriends dragged me to a drag show once, or Limelight when it was there in Manhattan: similar. Art can be a moment. Shared experiences of seeing and learning, together. With comfort and familiarity. Japan: where I first heard jazz, where I first saw major skyscrapers, where I tried my first beer at a dear friend’s family home. Fear of other melted a bit when I got closer towards uchi from soto. Inside from outside. Inches, but still. It makes a difference. “That’s just you, though,” said a friend in Tokyo, whom I met after more than a decade of not seeing one another. Last Tuesday we shared lunch. “Other people are doing something, the group, but then there’s you, off somewhere, walking around, alone...” (I’m translating, and sometimes things get lost, of course... Add some air, here. A pause, lots of space, between the words...) “Really?” (Me.) “Yes. You haven’t changed.” “I have, surely.” “No. You haven’t. Exactly the same. And, well. You’re just an adult now. Naturally.” “Um—wait, I can’t have not changed at—-.”
original departures
I am in Narita: as in Tokyo Narita, as in, right next to the airport. From the window of this hotel you can see the sun about to set behind a crop of trees: a scene that reminds me a lot of Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.
It’s so quiet here, right before I go, and I’ve found a moment to quickly jot impressions before going to meet the high school friend of my college friend, both of whom are waiting at a station a bus ride away. It’ll be good. Stern drinks this time instead of the sodas we used to share in rounds over in Kyoto and Washington D. C. at karaoke boxes years ago. We’ve all done a lot of growing up. Of course. Lucky to have longitudinal friendships, I realize, in these last few days: I’ve been catching up with some, here and there, these last few weeks. After all, it’s been eight years since I was last in Kantō, which is this side of Japan. Studied abroad in Kyoto, got handy enough with Japanese to land an internship in an architect’s office, and kept coming back. Nine times, ten? Often. Opportunity, as they say, is an admixture of preparedness and luck. Or was it another permutation of those words? I’ve forgotten exactly, but it sounds good, right? Say it like you know what you’re quoting and people believe you. A little too readily, if you ask me. Better to trust, instead, the Book of You. Guess that’s what I’m doing here, checking in with the past, re-examining that which I think I remember, seeing where ideas have shifted shape, or revisit the spots that taught me to soak in, when you can, the things that are right in front of you, in the moment. A week ago in Mito, the ume were in full bloom, for example, at the Kairakuen, which calls itself the world’s second biggest city park. After the plum tree’s flowers, the cherry, or sakura, came out, too. But let me back up. A couple of weeks ago I was in Hà Nội: taking the desperately important time that one needs to simply pore through gobs of paper, typing some lines into a computer, then dumping the rest. Wish I could say that this processing had opened a plateau, from which point I could visit Japan with new eyes. How best to approach this old-and-yet-new-again conversation? (But honestly, all the revisiting with my old lines had just left me very tired. What used to matter no longer does: why hold on to obsolete records?) Here in Japan again, weirdly, I started seeing ideograms, or kanji, when people spoke to me. I remembered my very first Saathee.com
continued on page 98
Dipika Kohli
is the author of Kanishka, The Elopement, and Breakfast in Cambodia. See kismuth.com. 64
May 2019
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My Voice Readers' Forum
By Kamal Darji
Research has shown that people with a high level of cardiovascular fitness have low blood pressure and decreased levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol. Furthermore, the aforementioned demographic possesses a higher level of HDL or “good” cholesterol. This grants them more energy, more stamina, and an endorphin release that helps regulate their overall mood. There are many different forms of cardio and the benefits of each are well documented. However, I personally prefer high intensity interval training or HIIT as opposed to running around my neighborhood for 30-45 minutes. You can execute HIIT on either the treadmill or you can do it outside, weather permitting. More often than not, I perform HIIT on the treadmill. The way it works is I sprint all-out or as fast as I can for 30 seconds making sure I really push it. For me, the speed I start sprinting at the on the treadmill is 10.2. After that, you recover by jogging or walking for a minute to two minutes until your heart rate returns to almost normal. I walk at a speed of four on the treadmill to recover. Then you do another set and I usually do 8-10 repetitions of this. The speed that one utilizes for sprinting on the treadmill is going to vary by fitness level. As a result, it is important to start at lower speeds to get your body somewhat accustomed and then you can gradually build up over time. I prefer HIIT because it really engages you and you really feel the intensity as your heart rate is going to reach higher levels than normal. Furthermore, it is convenient as you can do it just about anywhere without any equipment and it burns more calories in a shorter amount of time. With that being said, I have learned that in relation to fitness, everyone finds their niche, so to speak. Therefore, some people are proponents of long-distance runs and steady state cardio for a prolonged period of time. The point is to get out there and do something even if it’s walking around your neighborhood. I think it’s best to have a mixture of both as the redundancy can get to you at times. It is not always easy to find time for exercise as one’s problems and responsibilities often take up a lot of the time; however, this is not an excuse to neglect one’s health. Just like many things in life, there has to be an effort and one has to have the bigger picture in mind. With consistent exercise, one’s life quality can greatly improve and that energy is transferred to other areas of life as well. There is only one Usain Bolt, but even you can take steps to ensure your health, and, in essence, your future.
Cardiovascular Fitness is Integral
When I was in the army, specifically the Infantry, much to my chagrin we would go on long distance runs and/or alternate with sprints for physical training. It was a rare occurrence when we were authorized to go to the gym as a squad or platoon for PT. As a result of the aforementioned redundancy, I began to develop an intense hatred for running of any kind. Most of the people in leadership positions were lean in build and looked like the poster boys for any cover of any running magazine. Even though seasoned vets of multiple combat deployments would point out the benefits of switching up the training, a lot of those suggestions would fall by the wayside and the physical training program essentially became a runner’s dream. The schedule would be something along the lines of running 5-8 miles on Monday, doing sprints on Tuesday, running 3-5 miles on Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday would be a variation of something related to running. After I finished my contract and left the Army; more often than not, I would go to the gym and proceed to lift weights. Over time, I became quite consistent in that regard; however, my routine was devoid of a cardio workout as the Army had simply filled me with an intense and deep-seated hatred at the very thought of cardio. The turning point would come one evening at my parents’ house. I was helping my sister move boxes upstairs to their bedroom. After I had reached the top of the stairs, I was breathing similar to someone who had just finished running a few miles at a decent pace. As a former soldier and as someone who values fitness, it was quite embarrassing that climbing up a flight of stairs had left me so winded. My sister even made a remark about how my breathing was rather labored for just having gone up a flight of stairs. Needless to say, this sparked something inside of me and I decided it was time to get my cardiovascular fitness back on track. Cardiovascular fitness is often called aerobic fitness and it is distinguishable in comparison to other forms of fitness due to two factors. The first being that it increases the ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen-rich blood to one’s working muscles. Moreover, it enhances the aforementioned muscles’ ability to provide adequate energy for movement. Aerobic exercise is used to describe any rhythmic and continuous activity that includes the simultaneous use of multiple large muscle groups. The main thing this does is that it challenges the heart and lungs making them work harder than when they’re at rest. Pertinent examples of aerobic fitness include running, jogging, cycling, swimming, brisk walking and aerobic dancing. Saathee.com
Kamal Darji
I enjoy lifting weights, reading, and long walks on the beach filled with bad puns.
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Saathee.com
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May 2019
Nutrition for Life By Parul Kharod
dietary Guidelines of america
This time we will move away from the topic of food and talk a little about food policy. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) jointly publish the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) every five years. Public health agencies, health care providers, and educational institutions all rely on Dietary Guidelines recommendations.
The Dietary Guidelines have a significant impact on nutrition in the United States because they: • Form the basis of federal nutrition policy and programs • Help guide local, state, and national health promotion and disease prevention initiatives • Inform various organizations and industries (e.g., products developed and marketed by the food and beverage industry)
In short, all the major decisions regarding food – manufacturing, regulations for food companies, agriculture, and price, how companies label the food, and what foods are approved for school lunches, food distribution, food stamps, etc are based on the Dietary Guidelines. So, if you live in the United States, it is important for you to know how the Dietary Guidelines are updated and what the influencing factors that shape the food and health policies in this country are.
about the dietary Guidelines The Dietary Guidelines were first released in 1980. In 1990, Congress passed the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act, which states that HHS and USDA jointly review, update, and publish the Dietary Guidelines every five years. The current guideline term is 2015-2020, which means that next year we will get an update.
How are the dietary Guidelines updated? • The HHS and the USDA appoint an Expert Advisory Committee. The application and selection process began last year and the final committee members were selected in February 2019. The Advisory Committee is comprised of nationally recognized nutrition and medical researchers, physicians, dietitians, and science experts. • The Advisory Committee hosts a series of open hearings where the general public and speak – sort of like an open town hall meeting. This will begin sometime in May. • The Advisory Committee reviews the latest research, and makes a list of recommendations. • After the Advisory Committee Report is submitted, the general public is allowed to submit comment. The public has opportunities to respond with written comments on health.gov/dietaryguidelines • HHS and USDA use information in the Advisory Report, along with comments from the public and federal agencies, to form the new edition of the Dietary Guidelines. Saathee.com
Technically this is how the process is supposed to work. However, as you may have guessed, this is not what happens! • Who gets selected to the Advisory Committee as always been controversial • The public is not engaged enough to influence any decisions • There are strong political lobbyists that have more influence
For example, research shows that excess salt and sugar is bad for health. So the Advisory Committee in 2015 made the recommendation that Americans should reduce the intake of salt and sugar in their diets. However, the final published guidelines ignored this advice. Also, even though the Advisory Committee said a healthy diet should be lower in red and processed meats, the new guidelines made no mention of red meats. Do you remember the Food Pyramid? Introduced in 1992, the pyramid was supposed to represent a healthy balanced diet. However, the pyramid did not completely reflect the health of the consumers. It was shaped by agreements with big food companies and their lobbyists to produce something that was mutually beneficial for them all.
In 2011, the Food Pyramid was replaced by the MyPlate, which has sections for grains, protein (meat), fruits and vegetables. Next to the plate, is a glass of milk. There were questions from nutrition experts, including the Harvard School of Public Health, as to why milk was needed at every meal. Well, it was the influence of the lobbying from the dairy industry! All food companies employ lobbyists or belong to trade associations that employ lobbyists. Some of the biggest employers of lobbyists are the National Restaurant Association, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the American Beverage Association, Coca-Cola, and Monsanto. There is also McDonald’s Corporation and PepsiCo. Then there is the National Corn Growers Association and the Beef Association and many such other groups that influence public food policy.
What can we do? The best thing the public can do is be involved. Just like we can change the outcome of an election by voting for the right candidate, we have to voice our opinion in large numbers to actually make a difference. When the public comment section opens up in the next couple of months, write your comments! Go to health.gov/dietaryguidelines and fill out your responses.
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Parul Kharod, MS, RD, LDN
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Personal Finances By Mo Vidwans
will focus on the individual tax returns first and then we will look at the small business side. The main point here is to start planning for all these moves that are suggested now and don’t wait till December. Even though we tend to ignore it, tax planning is a big part of your financial strategy, so give it the attention it deserves and demands.
tax Prep for 2019 It is not too early!
You just finished your filing of tax return for 2018 last month with a sense of immense pride that you managed the tax preparation without any problems even though many tax laws were relatively new. And you are thinking that now you don’t have to look at it again or worry about it till at least early next year. I can almost hear the big sigh of relief like some heavy burden is taken off your shoulders for at least eleven months or so.
Individual Returns:
adjustments to income If you are an educator, like a teacher or teacher’s assistant then you can still deduct expenses that you incur out of pocket. There is an upper limit as to how much you can deduct but this is a good feature to have. Almost all teachers spend their own money out of compassion for the profession they are in and also for the students and at least the Government is still recognizing that. Many Businesses go for HSA as their health insurance model which has a high deductible but it reduces the premium. Your contributions towards the HSA are deductible. HSA is a good way to satisfy your needs for health insurance. The money accumulated in that account is portable and you can use it for medical expenses till way after you are 65. There are many other benefits, too. I will talk more about self-employed SEP and other qualified plans, self-employed health insurance deduction and business tax later in the Business section. If you open your own traditional IRA or if you have student loan interests that you are making payments on regularly then that is also deductible.
Itemized deductions This has been a much-talked about and lamented subject. So many of the deductions that were previously possible are taken away. I am going to focus here on how can we counter that since you already know what is taken away. Clearly, now it is difficult for many to accumulate enough every year through just medical expenses over 10 percent of AGI, property taxes and state income taxes (with an upper limit of $10,000), mortgage interests to a limit and donations since that is all that is left. But a strategy of taking Itemized deductions every alternate year (as against every year) by accumulating some of these deductibles judiciously could work wonders. Donations can wait for a year and be done in the chosen alternate years. For mortgage payments and property taxes we can arrange so that December and January payments can be adjusted to fall in the same year we are planning to take deductions. The idea is that if you cannot exceed the enhanced limit of Standard deduction every year then maybe you should look at
Well, enjoy if you wish to, but I have some news for you. Take time off from thinking about taxes for a month or two but the real work, behind the scenes so to speak, is to be done now while there is still time this year and not when the year is over or almost over. It is too late then because once the New Year starts every thing is frozen for this year (with one or two exceptions) and there is nothing you can do about it. Let us review what I am thinking. While it is fresh in your mind let us take a second look at the tax forms you just filed for 2018. It was touted by the Administration that the new law is going to cut taxes for all the middle class. Did it happen to you? Did you pay fewer taxes than last year for comparative income? Were you able to take all the deductions that you have taken in the past years, especially for those who Itemized? Did the fact that the personal exemption was taken away, without much hoopla, affect you? There are many such questions that can be asked but you know your own personal tax situation much better than anyone else and you can compare and decide. The general reaction I am hearing is that most are paying slightly more taxes for 2018. So given what we have, and unless Congress passes new laws, we are stuck with it, and we have to do the best we can. Granted, the way the law is written right now, this new law would expire by end of 2025 and the old 2017 law would come back with all the bells and whistles that came with it. But there is always a big slip between the cup and the lip and many things can happen in between now and 2025. So let us review what we can do with what we are served. I Saathee.com
continued on page 112
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. 76
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ANIS H S H A H www.RealtorAnish.com
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New Listing - BASEMENT HOME - Sun City
This one is a must see! Beautiful 3 bedroom home with spacious finished basement on a private wooded lot! Well appointed kitchen with gas stove, granite counters, stainless steel appliances. Spacious Sunroom, Master Bedroom with trey ceiling and luxury bath. Tons of curb appeal in wonderful community featuring pool, tennis, walking trails, recreation and lake. Shows like a dream. Bring your offers! $389,000
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Immaculately Maintained. Elegant, full brick home on cul-de-sac lot. Bright, open floorplan, gorgeous wood floors and dual staircases. Amazing gourmet kitchen with gas cooktop, generous cabinet space and adjoining butlers pantry. Large Owner's retreat on main level. 2-story Great room with fireplace and built-ins. Upstairs features Bedrooms with a Jack-and-Jill Bath, an Ensuite Bedroom and a spacious Bonus room. The oversized Deck overlooks a beautifully landscaped backyard which backs up to walking trails. New roof 2012, ALL New HVAC inside and out 2015. Don't forget to look at the Crawl Space. $674,900
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Immaculate home in desirable Belair at Carolina Lakes with open floorplan and tons of natural light. Beautiful wood floors in 2-story Foyer, Breakfast and Kitchen. Kitchen with gas range/oven, granite counters, tiled backsplash, and SS appliances. Dining Room with trey ceiling, Family Room with gas fireplace and Guest Bedroom suite on main level. Inviting Master Bedroom with trey ceilings and luxurious Bath with dual vanities and roomy soaking tub. Large backyard is great for entertaining. Enjoy the neighborhood pool, clubhouse and playground. Wonderful opportunity! $309,900
Coming Soon - BASEMENT HOME - Glen Laurel Amazing 4 Bedroom cul-de-sac home in Indian Land. Beautiful landscaping, spacious interior and well appointed. Gourmet kitchen, gorgeous new hardwood floors throughout main level and huge unfinished basement with tons of potential. Only five minutes from Ballantyne. Fantastic opportunity coming soon!
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New Listing - Bryant Park
IMPROVED PRICE. MOTIVATED SELLER. BEST LOCATION IN BRYANT PARK! Better than new. Gorgeous end-unit Rosecliff Model featuring new carpet, new light fixtures, and fresh paint throughout. Kitchen offers SS appliances, granite counters, 42" cabinets, great storage, and new Subway Tile Backsplash. Open, light-filled floorplan, exquisite 5" Hardwood floors throughout first level. Upstairs features spacious secondary bedrooms, a cozy Loft area and Laundry. Inviting Master Suite with trey ceilings, large walk-in closets, and luxury Bath featuring tiled garden tub & shower, and dual vanities. Tankless Hot Water Heater, attached 2-Car Garage, plus ample adjoining common area to enjoy. Just minutes from Uptown! Lots of Green area in the back and side. Huge green open space in the front. Unit feels like Single Family home. Call today. $299,900
SOLD
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Beautiful custom 4bedroom home with an open floor plan, custom moulding and much attention to detail. Gorgeous hardwood floors throughout. Study/Flex Room on the main level with convenient drop-off zone. Family Room opens to Kitchen with island, granite counters and SS appliances. Spacious Master Bedroom with Sitting Area. Fabulous Master Bath with freestanding tub and huge shower. Must-see Bonus room and oversized Garage. A lovely backyard accompanied by an exquisite covered patio with hanging swing and amazing fixtures, just perfect for entertaining. Fantastic neighborhood. A dream home!
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Rental - Cedar Walk
Beautiful 3-story end unit in perfect Ballantyne location. Gorgeous laminate "wide plank" wood floors in kitchen w/ SS appliances & 42" cabinets. Spacious living and dining area filled with natural light. The 2nd story boasts a Master w/high ceilings, large walk-in closet & bath w/ garden tub. A 2nd BR has a full bath with tile floors. The 3rd level 'loft area' off master is perfect for home office. Great fenced yard and large 1.5 car garage! Top rated schools, excellent shopping. New Paint throughout. $1,450 / month
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Buy Right, Sit Tight Rational side of the investing pendulum
By Amit Rupani
even God has to live with stock Market Volatility
Few months back I came across a very profound study by Wesley Gray, PhD founder of Alpha Architect, an asset management firm. Gray’s study looks into performance of portfolios with perfect foresight as compared to S&P 500. He calls this portfolio with perfect foresight as “God’s Portfolio.” He was curious to find if god is omnipotent, could he create a long-term active investment strategy portfolio that was so good that he could never get fired? Let’s look into how he structured his test and its remarkable findings.
long and short side, it wasn’t able to decrease the volatility. When we look at the 1-year relative annual return over time between God’s Hedge Fund Portfolio and the S&P500 – there were multiple occasions when God’s hedge fund was beaten by S&P500 by 50 percentage points – or more! So not only this portfolio with perfect foresight on both long and short sight was more volatile than S&P500, but had underperformed the market on multiple occasions. Not many money managers in today’s era would have their job, if they underperform benchmark by 50 percentage points. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a medical test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. A normal ECG pattern looks like below picture:
the design of Gray’s “God” study #1 Study computed 5-year “look ahead” return for all common stocks for the 500 largest NYSE/NASDAQ/AMEX firms starting on 1/1/1927 till 12/31/2016. God’s portfolio is constructed on 1/1/1927 with 500 stocks which had best five year returns and was held passively for five years until 12/31/1931. The second portfolio would be formed on 1/1/1932 with 500 top performing stocks and held until 12/31/1936. This pattern repeats at the end of every fifth year. We would have had 18 of such “God’s Portfolios” between 1927 and 2016. Now it’s time to look at the findings.
As expected, God’s best portfolio has outperformed S&P500 by big margin given god had perfect foresight. But the interesting part is that the God’s portfolio had higher standard deviation than S&P500. Standard deviation is also a measure of volatility in the stock market and the study results shows us that even with perfect foresight; God’s portfolio had to live through higher volatility compared to S&P500.
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 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. Gray’s study also confirms that even God’s portfolio with perfect foresight can’t beat the market when compared to its volatility. Buying right and sitting tight through the volatility is the no brainer concept to tackle stock market volatility. Wesley’s Gray’s article with his study findings can be accessed through alphaarchitect.com/2016/02/02/even-godwould-get-fired-as-an-active-investor/
the design of Gray’s “God” study #2 For the second study Gray created “God’s Hedge Fund Portfolio.” He leveraged God’s perfect foresight and went long (buy) the known winners and short sell the known losers. Why not make money on both sides? Same portfolio construction pattern – buy five year winners and short sell five year losers which are rebalanced every month. Let’s look at the findings. Happy Investing!
Amit Rupani, CFA
Again as expected, god’s best long-short portfolio beats benchmark by very big margin. God’s portfolio returned 46.23 percent annual return. But still its standard deviation (volatility) was higher than the market. Even with perfect foresight on both Saathee.com
is an Independent Investor, practices Value Investing principles, manages money for longterm wealth creation through Equities asset class. Email: rupaniamit@yahoo.com 80
May 2019
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Immigration Matters By Rishi P Oza
Is the dReaM act Back?
By Nam Douglass
While much talk surrounding the topic of immigration has focused on President Trump’s insistence on a border wall with Mexico, Democrats in the House of Representatives have revived a major piece of legislation – an immigrant overhaul that would permit approximately 2.5 million people to apply for lawful status in the United States and provide them with a pathway to US citizenship. HR 6, also called the Dream and Promise Act, combines many of the proposals from the DREAM Act that was proposed under President Obama, with additional protections for immigrants granted Temporary Protected Status (also known as “TPS”) and other humanitarian-based programs. If passed, which is hardly a given, the Dream and Promise Act would mark a major accomplishment for President Trump in address many of the existing problems currently facing millions of individuals. Up until this point, millions of individuals in the United States have been caught in a legal limbo, crunched between some pre-Obama/Obama-era programs and Trump Administration initiatives to roll or extinguish these initiatives. Two primary categories have driven much of the conversation, DACA recipients and those that have qualified for TPS, both of which the Trump Administration has attempted to terminate. The Obama initiative known as DACA has helped to protect millions of individuals brought to the United States as youths, but served as a band-aid-style remedy, providing recipients with work authorization cards and therefore, access to Social Security cards and higher education opportunities; however, the core criticism of DACA has always been that it amounts to a massive executive-branch overreach, as the President cannot create laws, but can only execute those that have been passed by Congress. A review of the Immigration and Nationality Act will provide not a single mention of “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” and so states have argued (somewhat successfully) that DACA cannot stand as the President must enact laws created by Congress, but not create laws on his own. Similarly, TPS is granted to individuals from specified countries which the US government has determined are unsafe for return, due to war, natural disasters or other calamities. Currently, USCIS estimates that over 300,000 individuals from ten countries are legally in the United States through the TPS program, some of whom have had TPS for over 20 years. The Dream and Promise Act would provide DACA and TPS recipients with statutory authority to remain in the United States as conditional permanent residents, as well as an eventual pathway to obtaining US citizenship. DACA recipients continued on page 94
Recognizing the Invisible Wall Policy Changes to Restrict legal Immigration
Since 2017, numerous polices have limited legal immigration and constricted benefits to nonimmigrant visa holders, such as H-1Bs, and their families. These efforts intensified with the July 1, 2017 issuance of the “Buy American and Hire American” Executive Order aimed at protecting US workers. the H1-B Hurdle
As of April 1, 2019, the H-1B visa program for temporary foreign workers in specialty occupations is subject to new rules modifying the lottery process and requiring employer registration. The lottery is a result of US employers petitioning for more than the annually allotted number of H-1B visas. In fact, more than double the number of available visas have been submitted every year for the last five years. The new lottery process is designed to give an advantage to persons eligible for the advanced degree exemption, meaning they hold a US master’s degree or higher. USCIS estimates this will result in a 16 percent increase in the number of H-1B workers with graduate degrees from US colleges and universities. The new electronic registration requirement that goes into effect in FY 2021 requires all employers to register online to participate in the lottery and only selected applicants will submit full H-1B petitions. While USCIS believes this will make the H-1B process more efficient and cost-effective, it will not alleviate the limitations created by the numerical cap, the uncertainty of the lottery, and the hiring constraints imposed by the annual April 1 deadline.
the Requests for evidence Barrier
Selection in the H-1B lottery is no sense of relief. The issuance of Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and denials of H-1B petitions over the last two years are at an all time high. In the 4th quarter of FY 2017, the RFE rate for H-1Bs reached 69 percnet as compared to 23 percent the previous quarter, and the denial rate rose from 16 percent to 22 percent. These rates are even higher for Indian citizens. During that same quarter, 72 percent of H-1B cases received RFEs compared to 61 percent for all others countries. These challenges come in addition to the new employer
Rishi P. Oza
is the Associate Attorney at Gardner Law PLLC, an immigration law firm in Raleigh. She handles business immigration cases as well as family-based petitions. Contact at 919-987-2101 or nam@gardnerlawpllc.com.
Nam Douglass
is the Partner at Robert Brown LLC, a firm that focuses solely on immigration law; he practices in Durham. roza@rbrownllc.com Saathee.com
continued on page 94
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Read • Watch • Listen By Samir Shukla
Sanya Malhotra and Nawazuddin Siddiqui appear in Photograph by Ritesh Batra -- Photo courtesy of Amazon Studios Photograph Directed by Ritesh Batra Cast: Nawazzudin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar
In our video-driven world, a still photograph can still impact lives. The film Photograph is a quiet tale of friendship and romance opened by a single photograph. A very subtle entanglement of the characters guides the film, written and directed by Ritesh Batra (The Lunchbox). He takes time unfolding the story. Rafi (Nawazzudin Siddiqui), a struggling photographer, and Miloni (Sanya Malhotra), a shy middle-class student, cross paths at the Gateway of India in Mumbai. Rafi convinces a hesitant Miloni to take her photo and prints it out on a portable printer in his backpack while she waits. He loses track of her when she is called away by a family member, taking the photo without getting a chance to pay Rafi. Rafi is working in Mumbai to help pay off family debt back in his native village. He lives in a dark, grungy room with several male roommates while saving money to send back home. His grandmother, dadi (Farrukh Jaffar), meanwhile writes to him that she refuses to take her medicine unless he finally finds a wife. Rafi decides to track Miloni down and asks her to play along and pretend she is his fiancée, so dadi will resume her meds. Miloni goes along with Rafi’s scheme while living out her life, even meeting potential suitors her parents arrange for her, in her comfortable middle class home. In the meantime, feisty dadi decides to visit her grandson and meet his future bride. No, the film doesn’t turn into a comedic farce at that point. Batra deftly guides the story and characters further into a study of friendship, longing, class and caste differences that inform people’s lives. Both Rafi and Miloni keep up the charade to please dadi, who of course in no amateur in such matters. Rafi and Miloni begin to develop a friendship that slowly suggests a budding romance. Photograph is a nuanced, slow strolling film. It’s the space between the silence and subdued conversations that make it tender without being coy or corny. Interspersed with Hindi and Gujarati dialogue, the film unfolds ever so gently, while navigating cultural differences, societal expectations and the invisible forces that attract two people. Saathee.com
The film gives nods to classic Bollywood while Batra and the cinematographers capture the daily lives of street denizens of Mumbai - the taxi drivers, chai sellers, vendors, small shopkeepers. The densely packed lives of Mumbai streets come alive where the different inhabitants in Rafi’s local street market all have heard that his grandmother wants him to find a wife or she will not take her medicine. Somewhere along the way I was expecting tense moments, conflict between the two protagonists, maybe harsh words being exchanged, some physical action even, but Batra sticks with a serene mood. Both Siddiqui and Malhotra, respectively playing middle aged man and young student, work their parts with subtle warmth. Jaffar steals more than one scene as the world weary grandmother. Photograph premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and will release in North American theaters starting May 17. My Write to Right a flight to freedom from India to america Author: Purnima (Mital) Gupta (Page Publishing)
This book is essentially a huge collection (nearly 550 pages) of diary entries. Gupta, who is based in Raleigh, NC, has collected decades of entries, dated and annotated, about her deeply personal revelations of struggles, and recollections expanded into a huge word count while pursuing a lifelong quest to find personal happiness. Interspersed flashbacks and photographs marking different points of her life add to the book. Gupta writes, “I write my biography that I have no right to write and even after writing not to assume it is right. I have been wronged from birth by my own family. Yet I find my life to be exemplary as an educated female, brought up in a chauvinist culture and struggling to get validated as an individual…..The first-generation immigrants have struggled to establish themselves in the midst of interracial conflicts and little family support. Their children started out with an incomplete family picture, were raised in dual cultures and ended up split between wrongs and rights. Their relationships with their children are need-based or lost. Many of them don’t get to see their grandchildren, let alone get to bond with them.” This is memoir switches back and forth between her life in India and later in America, stitched with the dynamics of an Indian-American family. Gupta has also written several books of Hindi poetry, short stories, and biographical sketches.
Samir Shukla
Editor of Saathee magazine contact - Samir@Saathee.com
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May 2019
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News Notes Ekal Vidyalaya Fundraisers Held in the Carolinas
Heritage India Festival 2019 Review By Yash Garg
The Heritage India Association of North Carolina held its annual Heritage India Festival on April 13, 2019 at HSNC Cultural Hall, Morrisville. Chief Guest Govind Chandak cut the ribbon and gave the inaugural address. Dr. G. D. Sharma, Saroj Sharma, Morrisville Mayor TJ Cawley, Council Members Steve Rao and Satish Garimella, and Ron Sanyal performed the Lamp Lighting Ceremony. Morrisville Mayor TJ Cawley and Cary Mayor representative, Jerry McCormick read out the Proclamation declaring April 13 as Heritage India Day in Morrisville and Cary, respectively. The invocatory Bharatnatyam dance “Pushpanjali” was presented by the 10-12 age group students of Sridevi Jagannath, choreographer for Lassya Music & Dance Academy. Yash Garg, HIANC President welcomed the audience and introduced the Program Chair, Sangeeta Nayak. Emcees Subhadra Pati, and Shreya Sahoo, conducted the Program which consisted of a variety of folk fusion dances, from regional folk to Bollywood and classical dances. A special solo classical Bharatnatyam dance was Ekal Vidyalaya, RTP Chapter held its annual fundraiser and performed by Prabha Aditaya. Aruna Bhatnagar compiled the awareness event “Surili Shaam Ekal Ke Naam” on March 22, music for the entire show. 2019 in Cary, NC. The highlight of the event was a musical performance presented by the Kolkata-based Heartbeat Group. The lead singers Dipayan Banerjee and Madhuraa Bhattacharya took the audience on a journey through time by crooning melodious tunes dating back to the 1960s and concluding on a high note with the latest faster tracks. The event was a hit with 240 attendees participating enthusiastically by clapping to the slower tunes and kicking off their shoes and doing “Bhangra” or “Raas” steps in response to the faster ones. The event was successful in attracting new donors who pledged school sponsorships as well as new volunteers who expressed interest in joining the Movement. Overall, the event helped with sustaining the sponsorship of approximately 180 schools that are renewed annually as well as a handful of lifetime schools. As part of a new Community Outreach effort, Ekal RTP Dance competitions were held in four age categories, and Chapter is actively working with local artists and dance/music schools in order to collaborate and present events beyond the winning teams were given Heritage trophies. Winning musical shows (e.g., Kathak or Bharatanatyam presentations) Teams were: 5-8 (choreographed by Rohini Thakkar Joshi), 9and thus reach additional potential Ekal supporters. 12 (choreographed by Vandana Ranjan); Teens (choreographed The same group also performed at fundraisers in Charlotte, by Rohini Thakkar Joshi); Adults (choreographed by Sunita Fayetteville, NC, and Columbia SC during March. Dave & Shraddha Nagar). Naresh Giri served as Floor manager Ekal Vidyalaya is a Movement involved in integrated & and Ruchika did stage decorations. Manisha Rath, Vandana holistic development of rural & tribal India and Nepal. The Ekal Ranjan and Gauri Singh were the judges for the dance Movement was visualized in 1985 and began with rural competitions. Madhumita Saha, Director, Sur Sangam education as the goal and has since blossomed into Academy, sang a number of songs with her students, and teen “empowerment of rural lives.” Ekal Vidyalaya was awarded the students of arshna Zaveri, Director, Sur Sumiran School of 2017 Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize for its singular dedication Music entertained the audience with popular songs. for its contributions to providing education to rural and tribal At the recognition ceremony, Dr. Ponugoti Vasantha Rao children and for furthering gender and social equality in remote received the “2019 Heritage Award for Excellence in Medical parts of India. Science”; Ramesh Vora, received the “2019 Heritage Award for Ekal Chapters around the Carolinas’ efforts are focused on Outstanding Community Services”; and Valarmathi Manickam obtaining sponsorship of single-teacher schools; the stepping received the “2019 Heritage Award for excellence in Performing stone towards eradication of rural illiteracy. For further Arts.” Duke Eye Center specialists, led by Dr. Pratap Challa, information about Ekal Vidyalaya, visit www.ekal.org. offered a free Eye Camp. Saathee.com
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• University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Pittsburgh, Penn.)
International Day of Yoga 2019
The International Day of Yoga is an event organized by Embassy of India, Washington DC in Partnership with Friends of Yoga to raise awareness of benefits of Yoga on mental health and celebrate Yoga. This year’s event will be held on Sunday, June 16, 2019 from 8:30 to 11:00am at the Washington Monument, 1600 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC. There is no cost to participate but registration is requested. Rain or shine, the event will proceed as planned. Bring your yoga mats. There is some street parking and the closest metro station is Smithsonian Station. The United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. Addressing the UN General Assembly in September 2014, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change.” His efforts led to the creation of International Yoga Day. For full details, visit www.indianembassy.org/dcyogaday
• University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine (Los Angeles, Calif.)
• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine (Richmond, Va.)
As part of a 3-year commitment, the five new consortium medical schools will work with the existing 32 member medical schools to reimagine medical education and develop new—and expand upon existing—education innovations that can be shared among medical schools nationwide. The projects announced today include curricular innovations focused on equipping physicians to help patients better navigate digital health technology, improving student well-being, using virtual reality technology to address social determinants of health and improve the quality of patient care. The five new consortium schools also received AMA grants through the inaugural Accelerating Change in Medical Education Innovation Grant Program. That award aims to stimulate research, new innovations or dissemination of existing innovations in medical education to train future physicians to succeed in the rapidly evolving health care system. During a two-day meeting held in Atlanta in April, the consortium schools worked toward developing a roadmap that medical schools can use to make sure they are providing an environment where physicians-in-training from diverse backgrounds will thrive. This is part of the larger effort to ensure medical schools are building a diverse pipeline of physicians whose racial and ethnic backgrounds reflect the actual needs of patients. For more info: visit www.amaassn.org
AMA Expansion of National Effort Creating Medical School of the Future
The American Medical Association (AMA) announced last month five additional medical schools are joining its Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium, bringing the total number of medical schools in the consortium to 37. These added schools join top U.S. medical schools, including the Atlanta-based Morehouse School of Medicine and Emory University School of Medicine, as part of the AMA’s work to drive the future of medicine by reimagining medical education and transforming the way future physicians are trained in Georgia and nationwide. “For nearly six years, the AMA has been working with some of the nation’s leading medical schools to create the medical schools of the future. Working together, we have already made significant progress toward preparing future physicians to provide care in the modern, technology-driven health care environment,” said AMA President-elect Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A. “Knowing that our work is far from complete, we are excited to welcome five additional medical schools to our community as we promote innovation to tackle the biggest challenges in health care. This work will directly impact the way that health care will soon be delivered to patients in Georgia and across the country.”
DoD Announces Award for STEM Education and Outreach Efforts
The five new consortium member medical schools include: • Stanford University School of Medicine (Stanford, Calif.)
• Univ of California, Irvine School of Medicine (Irvine.) Saathee.com
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The Department of Defense (DoD) recently announced the award of the Defense Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Consortium (DSEC) cooperative agreement. The cooperative agreement was awarded to Research Triangle Institute (RTI), based in Research Triangle Park of North Carolina, who will receive up to $15 million a year over the course of five years. The goal of the DSEC is to identify and support stronger programs for conducting Kindergarten - 12 and undergraduate STEM education and outreach efforts. It will provide the DoD with far-reaching sustainable and scalable programs through a consortium of organizations that have similar STEM goals. RTI will identify strategies to meet the vision and goals of the DoD STEM Strategic Plan, including: (1) building a highly-qualified STEM workforce in mission critical areas; (2) enhancing the preparation of dependents of our Armed Forces for careers in STEM; (3) providing education, outreach programs, and activities that stimulate an interest in STEM; and (4) promoting increased participation of underserved groups. “STEM is a national priority. In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have given rise to major economic and political shifts across the globe,” said Dr. Milan Nikolich, Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Research and Technology. “The department’s unique STEM May 2019
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programs align with the newly released five year Federal STEM Strategy entitled, Charting a Course for Success: America’s Strategy for STEM Education by exposing students of all ages to ground-breaking, forward-looking research and development that supports the warfighter and provides science, technology, and engineering expertise to develop technologies that benefit the U.S. and directly contribute to protecting national security.” The DSEC will allow the department to directly support improving permeability and recruitment through strategically investing in students of all ages in STEM education and outreach activities, giving them more exposure to DoD research and career opportunities. These partnerships will enable the DoD to encourage underserved, underrepresented, and military dependent students to pursue STEM careers and consider defense laboratories as a place of employment. Additionally, the DSEC will provide unique hands-on learning experiences where students can work side-by-side with the nation’s best scientists and engineers helping to create cuttingedge research and development. RTI International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the human condition and is headquartered in the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina to provide research and technical services. Founded in 1958 with support from North Carolina government, education, and business leaders, RTI maintains close ties with North Carolina State University, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. RTI’s staff of nearly 5,000 works in more than 75 countries— tackling hundreds of projects each year to address complex social and scientific challenges on behalf of governments, businesses, foundations, universities, and other clients and partners.
Test Stand 4670, at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in
NASA, Blue Origin Agreement Signals Rocketing Growth Huntsville, Alabama of Commercial Space Under a Commercial Space Launch Act agreement, Blue Origin will
Officials from NASA and the private space company Blue Origin have signed an agreement that grants the company use of a historic test stand as the agency focuses on returning to the Moon and on to Mars, and America’s commercial space industry continues to grow. Under a Commercial Space Launch Act agreement, Blue Origin will upgrade and refurbish Test Stand 4670, at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to support testing of their BE-3U and BE-4 rocket engines. The BE4 engine was selected to power United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan rocket and Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch vehicle – both being developed to serve the expanding civil, commercial and national security space markets. “This test stand once helped power NASA’s first launches to the Moon, which eventually led to the emergence of an entirely new economic sector – commercial space,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Jim Morhard. “Now, it will have a role in our ongoing commitment to facilitate growth in this sector.” Constructed in 1965, Test Stand 4670 served as the backbone for Saturn V propulsion testing for the Apollo program, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Later, it was modified to support testing of the space shuttle external tank and main engine systems. The facility has been inactive since 1998. “We’re excited to welcome Blue Origin to our growing universe of commercial partners,” said Marshall Center Director Jody Singer. “This agreement ensures the test stand will be used for the purpose it was built.” Saathee.com
upgrade and refurbish Test Stand 4670, at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to support testing of their BE-3U and BE-4 rocket engines. Constructed in 1965, Test Stand 4670 served as the backbone for Saturn V propulsion testing for the Apollo program, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Credits: NASA
NASA identified the 300-foot-tall, vertical firing test stand at Marshall as an underutilized facility and posted a notice of availability in 2017 to gauge commercial interest in its use. Blue Origin responded and a team was commissioned to begin exploring the proposed partnership. “I am thrilled about this partnership with NASA to acceptance test both BE-4 and BE-3U engines at Test Stand 4670, the historic site for testing the Saturn V first stage and the space shuttle main engines,” said Bob Smith, chief executive officer of Blue Origin. “Through this agreement, we’ll provide for the refurbishment, restoration and modernization of this piece of American history – and bring the sounds of rocket engines firing back to Huntsville.” Under the agreement, Blue Origin will pay for the investments it makes to prepare the test stand for use, as well as any direct costs NASA incurs as a result of Blue Origin use of the stand, maximizing the value derived from taxpayer investment in government facilities. To learn more about NASA’s strategic partnerships to advance America’s space exploration goals and commercial space industry, visit: www.nasa.gov/partnerships.html
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Immigration Matters
Immigration Matters
continued from page 82
continued from page 82
would qualify for conditional residency if they were to meet a requirements for H-1B workers at third-party work locations, series of requirements: requiring more evidentiary support such as work orders, and detailed information about the type and length of contractual • Must be 17 or younger when they entered the United States; services. Also in 2017, USCIS rescinded its policy of giving deference • Was continuously present in the US for four years before to its own agency decisions when considering visa extensions. the date the bill is enacted; This has led to sudden denials for existing H-1B visa holders, leaving workers and businesses scrambling. Businesses and • Have not been convicted of a serious crime or terrorismvisa holders should be prepared to provide greater details related offense; about job duties, responsibilities, and work itineraries. • Have obtained or are obtaining a high school diploma, Consideration should also be given to H-1B alternatives GED, or industry credential; such as O-1 and L-1 visas that have no numerical limit, yearround availability, fewer government fees, and ongoing • Submit an application fee, pass security and law premium processing for faster government turnaround. The Oenforcement background checks, and register for selective 1 visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability in the service (if applicable). sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, and the L-1 visa is for overseas businesses with a qualifying US office or those Once approved for conditional permanent residency, seeking to start or acquire a US office. individuals could apply for full residency status once they have: North Carolina’s highly-educated population, billion-dollar R&D industry, and numerous Fortune 500 and 1000 • Obtained a degree from a higher education institute or headquarter make both these nonimmigrant visas viable completed at least two years in a bachelor’s or post-secondary options. level program in the US;
• Completed two years of military service, with an honorable H-4 spouses Walled off from Work discharge (if applicable); or
On February 20, 2019, a proposal was sent to the White Worked for a total of at least three years, with employment House Office of Management and Budget to end work authorization for at least 75 percent of that time authorization for eligible H-4 spouses. These workers add about $5.5 billion to the U.S. economy to include $1.9 billion in TPS recipients would be permitted to apply directly for lawful federal tax revenue and $530 million in state and local tax permanent residency if they revenue. This work authorization eases the strain on families whose • Have lived in the United States for at least three years H-1B workers face long delays in receiving a green card given the excessive back-logs. As of December 25, 2017, of the • Were eligible for or had TPS status on September 25, 2016 approximately 90,000 USCIS approved employment and applications for H-4 visa holders, almost 85,000 were for • Have not been convicted of a serious crime or terrorismwomen, and 84,000 for Indian nationals. related offense The Dream and Promise Act would also provide the added benefit of cancelling any pending removal proceedings or outstanding orders of removal for any eligible applicant. Moreover, those removed from the Untied States by the Trump Administration before the bill’s enactment would be eligible to return with a green card if they met the above-mentioned requirements. While the policy seems to be relatively straightforward, the politics surrounding the legislation remains treacherous. Immigration has long-been a political minefield and has not seen landmark legislative reform since the mid-1990s. Successive administrations, both Republican and Democrat, have tried and failed at comprehensive reform, despite acknowledgement from all parties of the systemic dysfunction and needs for reform. As has been a repeating theme with all immigration-related topics, the inability for Congress to muster the collective will to pass reforms may stymie otherwise reasonable policy considerations. The beneficiaries of such legislation are millions of immigrants, many of whom only know the United States as home and therefore, finding a solution to this issue may help to define what kind of country America wants to be moving forward. Saathee.com
Interviews now Required
Another two bricks in the wall are new policies requiring expanded international and domestic interviews. At consulates abroad the Interview Waiver Program designed to streamline the visa process at high volume consulates, such as India and China, was suspended with limited eligibility. In the US, since October 2017, all employment-based green card applicants, including spouses and children, are now required to attend in-person interviews. This has increased the burden on USCIS as well as applicants and businesses whom now require legal representation for the interview process. For nonimmigrant visa holders and US businesses, these policies have significant impact from the sudden loss of employees and business contracts to uncertainty in international travel and processing delays. Those affected should seek expert advice from a reputable immigration attorney on the best strategies to navigate this encroaching invisible wall.
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Raajeev Corner
Full Frame
continued from page 44
formed an interesting subject. The death of Michael Brown in Ferguson in 2014 made the film’s addressing of racial discrimination even more urgent. Unfortunately, many of these films only tour the festival circuit. However, some do have or are working on distribution plans; for example, Decade of Fire will be broadcast on PBS this or next year, and Knock Down the House is scheduled to be released by Netflix on May 1. More details at www.FullFrameFest.org.
Indian Monsoon
continued from page 46
affects modern day China, Japan and the Far East – remained in a glacial state. The Indian summer monsoon pulled heat and moisture northwards, driving glacial melting in the northern hemisphere and helping tropical wetlands expand their range. These expanding tropical wetlands resulted in more methane release into the atmosphere which caused even more warming, setting changes in motion which ended the global ice age. The Indian summer monsoon is an incredibly dynamic system. Though confined to the tropics, the system is sensitive to climatic conditions in both hemispheres. Due to its role in contributing to methane emissions, the Indian summer monsoon also has an outsize impact on the global climate. Monsoons should not be viewed in isolation, just as the polar ice sheets shouldn’t. Earth’s internal climate system is intrinsically linked and abrupt changes at one place can have significant consequences over time elsewhere.
Originally published in TheConversation.com
continued from page 58
She explains that they use techniques to draw upon your own life’s experiences to create the complex emotions of the characters. She shares the background of other young adults in the class; how most of them have experienced pain, depression or tragedy in their lives. They may come from an abusive family background, broken homes, dealing with an alcoholic father or being born to a teenage mother. They may have had a drug addiction when they were in school. I begin to feel a slight panic that I am putting my son at risk surrounding him with derelicts. It brings to mind horror stories of Southcentral gangs. “Your child has had a very happy childhood. You and your wife have provided a loving, caring environment for him. That’s great but do you see the problem?” I realize what she is saying. Neil’s reservoir of painful memories is shallow. So, he would have to work extra hard to accentuate or magnify smaller moments. I sit in the car with Neil. He is happy that he did well in the audition and is accepted in the class. He smiles and says, “How could you, Dad? If you had disappeared on us for some time or fought with Mom a lot harder, I would have been a better actor.” I say, “Neil, I am so sorry. I should have punished you right after that meeting with Mrs. Oscar. That may have been a better.” He said, “Let’s not worry about some Oscar from the past; let’s focus on the future.” I think Neil has mastered the algorithm for a successful life.
Nutrition
continued from page 72 Katrina Nilsson-Kerr is a PhD Researcher in Climatology, The Open University Pallavi Anand is a Lecturer in Ocean Biogeochemistry, The Open Will it make a difference? Can’t say for sure, but we can get some hope from our University neighbors up North. Canada recently revised its guidelines, and Kismuth the new plate replaced the glass of milk with a glass of water! continued from page 64
Canada’s 2019 Food Guide is a very “And one more thing.” pretty plate with fruits and “What?” vegetables. The protein section does “Your brother. Call him. I still remember when we hung not have just meat, but also includes out together, with your cousin, and...” beans, nuts, and tofu. The grains “...I can’t...” section shows a variety of whole “Don’t make excuses for the things that are important. Like intact grains, and then there’s the this conversation. I’m sorry it took me so long...” glass of water. There are also very I have to stop taking so many notes, now, or dreaming up useful suggestions such as: books-to-be. Must make a space. Let go. Nature. Shifts. • Be mindful of your eating habits Goodbye to the old post-it notes that never inspired a piece with • Cook more often real substance. Goodbye index cards large and small with a • Enjoy your food smeared pencil obscuring words that probably don’t matter • Eat meals with others now and which, anyway, I can no longer read. Writing this • Use food labels today with a 4B pressure-proofed pencil, made, of course, in • Limit foods high in sodium, sugars or saturated fat Japan. Hello, new page. Hello, writing without even writing. • Be aware of food marketing Compositions in dream-form, waking up with a brightness that comes from the same motion of moving a pen on a page, that We can only take inspiration from Canada in revising our wondrous, ‘Yeah, that’s it, maybe now we’re getting guidelines. So get involved, do your part, and hopefully we can somewhere. Let’s keep going, there.’ Where did I learn these change the course for better food and nutrition policy for the things, first?... Ah yes. Japan. And here we are again: a curious next generation. rapprochement. Saathee.com
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Community Organizations Charlotte
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
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 2336) - 4pm, Teens - 4:30pm, and Children - 5pm. For Further Details: www.saathee.com/baps-charlotte
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 Sunday School from 9 - 9:55am and Sunday Worship from 10 - 11:45am. For Further Details: 803.792.7223 Pastor Rajan Samuel - pastorofbcf@gmail.com 7604 New Town Road, Waxhaw, NC www.bcfcog.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) Mukesh Shah - 919.523.0141 (Raleigh)
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. For Further Details: Dr. Shibu Cherian (Pastor) 704.208.9099 12601 Idlewild Rd., Matthews, NC www.carolinaschristianassembly.org
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 Saathee.com
in English and discussion For Further Details: dshetti@gmail.com - 214.587.7331 skdave@hotmail.com - 704.844.9567
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
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
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 as a remedy for universal ills. 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
Classical Music association of Charlotte (CMaC) CMAC sponsors many classical concerts during the year in Charlotte. Membership forms are available at shows. Upcoming Events: Sun, May 19, 2019: Vocal concert by Ramakrishnan Murthy and party, Hindu center, Gandhi Bhavan, 3:30pm For Further Details: Lakshmi & Muthukrishnan - 704.814.9355 Jayashree & Panduranga - 704.442.1186 memberservices@onlinecmac.org www.onlinecmac.org
dada Bhagwan Foundation (Charlotte) Every living being is in constant pursuit of happiness. This
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Community Organizations 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
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
bring the rich world of classical music and dance from the Indian subcontinent. For Further Details: Jyoti Kulkarni - 704.804.1275 contact@ipaac.org / www.ipaac.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
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: May 11: Maha Prabhuji patotsav May 18 - 19: Art and Craft June 15: Gayatri Jayanti Havan July 20: Rath Yatra For Further Details: 704.534.3440 7400 City View Dr., Charlotte, NC www.saathee.com/hindu-center-charlotte
Jain Center of Greater Charlotte (JCGC) Serving the spiritual & community needs of Jain families. Members meet for worship, ceremonies, and festivals. Organizes religious activities including celebrating religious festivals such as Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushan, and Diwali, and Swadhyay, Pujas and children’s Pathshaala. May 5: Snatra & Astha Prakari Puja, 10:30am May 9: Astha Prakari Puja, 9:30am May 12: Astha Prakari Puja and Kids' Paathshala, 10:30am May 17: Astha Prakari Puja, 9:30am; Pakkhi Pratikraman, 6:45pm May 22 (Vaisakh Vad Paancham): Astha Prakari Puja, 9:30am May 26: Astha Prakari Puja, 10:30am, Monthly Meeting, Swadhaay & kids' paathshal, 4pm May 27 (Vaisakh Vad Aattam): Astha Prakari Puja, 9:30am Regular events: Weekdays: 9:30am - Prakshal & Puja; 7:30pm - Aarti Weekends: 10:30am - Prakshal & Puja 7:30pm - Aarti For Further Details: JCGC President: Saumya Kothari: 858.382.351 info@jaincenterus.org 7631 Mallard Creek Road, Charlotte, NC www.jaincenterus.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
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
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/
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 Saathee.com
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 activities. For Further Details: charlotte.jetusa.org / jetcharlotte@jetusa.org 704-981-1JET
Pratham - Charlotte Pratham organizes programs in the area of primary education through its Read India campaign. With nearly half the children
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Community Organizations in India who attend schools not learning to read and write at the required level, Pratham is trying to fill an important 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
shanti niketan senior Center of Carolinas The Center values diversity, holistic health, peaceful living and 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: NimishBhatt@bellsouth.net Saathee.com
Located at: 7701 Wallace Ln., Charlotte 704.491.1186 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: Santanu Sarkar - santanu_kumar@yahoo.com 704. 541.3451 www.srishtiofcharlotte.org
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Community Organizations 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; insight into the laws that govern the emotions; 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
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 school-based 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
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Community Organizations 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 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
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 programs in Raleigh & Columbia. 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. For Further Details: Temple - 252.752.2670 B.S. Srivatsa - 508.654.0360 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, Saathee.com
bhajans, discourse on the Bhagavad-gita, As It Is, and a pure vegetarian feast - all free. Festivals are celebrated year-round. 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 movement for meditation and healing. Nithyananda is a leader in the science of enlightenment and an author. For Further Details: 704.766.1420 / 704.992.6114 innerawakening.org / nithyananda.org
nuv Yug Nuv Yug is 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 are 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, visiting homes for fellowship, worship, scriptural study, and kirtan. Also facilitate spiritual festivals and puja. 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.
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
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Community Organizations south Carolina
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 12:30 - 2:30pm. For Further Details: 803.233.7042 / 512.547.7077 (Evenings) 1728 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC
Carolina Buddhist Vihara (Greenville, sC) Offering teachings of the Buddha, primarily by bringing Theravada Buddhist nuns and monks. “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
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. Based on the foundation of Self Realization. Satsang held Every Sat 5- 7pm with Q & A sessions, aarti, and Mahaprasad. For Further Details: 877.505.3232 x 1035 wccolumbia@us.dadabhagwan.org Regency Inn,1335 Garner Ln, 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/
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, Saathee.com
mental, cultural, social & spiritual lives. For Further Details: 803.772.6940 5704 Kiawah Road, Columbia, SC www.hindutemplesc.org
India assoc. of Greater Charleston (IaGC) IAGC fills 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. Events are organized through the year including picnics. For Further Details: Omi Hasija (Chairperson) - 843.766.4661 iagcchs@gmail.com www.indiaassociationofgreatercharleston.com
Kannada association of Greater Greenville (KaGG) 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 are also conducted. For Further Details: 864.430.4973 kaggculturalcommittee@gmail.com www.kagg-sc.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 Englishspeaking 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 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
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For Full Community organizations listings, visit www.saathee.com/community.asp
May 2019
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Personal Finances continued from page 76
if we could do it every other year. Otherwise the increased standard deduction is always there. For those who are drawing an RMD (required minimum distribution) from their retirement account, there is another neat method possible. If you give donations anyway but cannot itemize every year then instruct the retirement account manager to take that same amount from your RMD in the form of QCD (qualified charitable donations). By doing this, you reduce your income, pay less taxes, donate to your charities and still get the enhanced standard deduction.
Credits Credits are always much better than deductions because they reduce taxes directly, dollar for dollar, and not by reducing taxable income. By far the biggest one that many miss, or are totally oblivious to, is the foreign tax credit. When you own foreign stock and get dividends on that stock you pay taxes on that dividend to the foreign country where the Corp. is located. This foreign tax paid by you is given full credit for in your taxes, which means it reduces your tax liability dollar for dollar. The Child Tax Credit is now worth $2,000 per child, two times what it was before. The tax law also expanded the number of families who are eligible. The credit begins to phase out for couples with an Adjusted Gross Income of more than $400,000 (up from $110,000 in 2017) If you or somebody in the family is taking educational classes then credits are possible there. If you are working full time and have a need to have child or dependent care or if you started retirement savings you can get credit for all of those. Just keep records and your paperwork handy in case it gets questioned by IRS. For residential energy credits you can only take credits for solar and wind power sources. Business:
American tax laws have always leaned favorably towards the businesses ever since the tax laws came into existence. But with the new laws in place they have made it even more palatable. Having a small secondary business is a thought that has always resided in the back of our heads. Some people act on it but many don’t. However, it does not hurt to know what the law allows us to do and how it helps us. I have always advocated to many clients, young and old, to utilize their special skills they may have and run their own business on a small scale. In addition to opening an IT business, accounting or real estate business for yourself, some of the ideas that have worked well in this regard are jewelry making, sewing prom and key dresses, special fruit baskets, making cakes and cake decorations, flower basket arrangements, special food preparation, special soap making, and tutoring. I am sure you can think of many others. So how does the new tax law help? For one it has lots of breaks for businesses but there are, still, some pitfalls you want to avoid. Making the right moves before the end of the year can save you and your business plenty of taxes. You can, of course, claim all expenses towards the business, profits are taxed if you have them, but now there is a special provision in the new law to slash 20 percent deduction for passSaathee.com
through income. The self-employed and owners of LLCs, Scorporations and other pass-through entities can deduct 20 percent of their qualified business income; it is subject to limitations for individuals with taxable income in excess of $315,000 for couples and $157,500 for all others. If you are close to or just above the income limits, consider accelerating deductions or deferring income so that you come in under the dollar thresholds for this year. Pay attention to your asset purchases. Very generous writeoffs are in place now. Many small tools and small equipment can be fully expensed. For one, 100 percent bonus depreciation is back. Firms can write off the full cost of qualifying assets, both new and used, with lives of 20 years or less that they buy and place in service after September 27, 2017. Expensing is also available. For 2018 Firms could have expensed up to $1 million of new or used business assets. This limit phases out once more than $2.5 million are placed in service during the year. The amount expensed can’t exceed the taxable income of the business. Buying a new or used business vehicle can generate big tax breaks. The annual depreciation caps for passenger autos have risen sharply also. Business owners can shift income and expenses between 2019 and 2020. Professionals can postpone their yearend billings to collect less revenue in 2019 or they can speed up if they expect to be in a higher tax bracket next year. You can deduct 50 percent of the cost of the client meals as long as they are not lavish or extravagant. The taxpayer or an employee needs to be present with the meal furnished to the current or potential customers, clients or similar contacts. Meals and entertainment expenses need to be kept separate if both are provided. More businesses can use the cash method of accounting. Under the prior law, C corporations with average gross receipts of $5 million or more over three years could not use cash method. Tax reforms raised the threshold to $25 million. The new law sheds brighter light on deducting business interest expense also. Tax reform caps net business interest write-offs generally at 30 percent of adjusted taxable income, with disallowed interest carried forward. General
It is clear to me, as it should be to you after reading this article, that much planning is needed both for individual taxes as well as business taxes. More planning means more time which suggests we should start looking at our tax situation now so that if there is a need for major change, then it can be started now and be ready before the year is over. Last minute rush does not work, is not necessary and should not be contemplated. Best place to start is to create “estimated tax form for 2019” using last year’s filed forms. For individuals start thinking in terms of which year you are going to have Itemized deductions; is it 2019 or 2020? Accordingly, plan on shifting the Dec/Jan payments for medical, mortgage interests, property taxes and donations. If you are going for QCD then sooner you inform your IRA manager about who the donees are, what you amount is and start filling the appropriate forms, better off you are. For business, be cognizant of the thresholds of the different areas of concern so that you can insure that you don’t cross them. If you do all this within the framework established by the new law and IRS, then you are safe and you do not have to worry about getting on the wrong side of the law.
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May 2019
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Knee Replacements continued from page 14
Bedford, Ind. That shift has occurred because new implants can last longer — perhaps 20 years — before wearing out. Yet even the newest models don’t last forever. Over time, implants can loosen and detach from the bone, causing pain. Plastic components of the artificial knee slowly wear out, creating debris that can cause inflammation. The wear and tear can cause the knee to break. Patients who remain obese after surgery can put extra pressure on implants, further shortening their lifespan. The younger patients are, the more likely they are to “outlive” their knee implants and require a second surgery. Such “revision” procedures are more difficult to perform for many reasons, including the presence of scar tissue from the original surgery. Bone cement used in the first surgery also can be difficult to extract, and bones can fracture as the older artificial knee is removed, Rickert said. Revisions are also more likely to cause complications. Among patients younger than 60, about 35 percent of men need a revision surgery, along with 20 percent of women, according to a November article in the Lancet. Yet hospitals and surgery centers market knee replacements heavily, with ads that show patients running, bicycling, even playing basketball after the procedure, said Dr. Nicholas DiNubile, a Havertown, Pa., orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. While many people with artificial knees can return to moderate exercise — such as doubles tennis — it’s unrealistic to imagine them playing full-court basketball again, he said. “Hospitals are all competing with each other,” DiNubile said. Marketing can mislead younger patients into thinking, “‘I’ll get a new joint and go back to doing everything I did before,’” he said. To Rickert, “medical advertising is a big part of the problem. Its purpose is to sell patients on the procedures.” Rickert said that some patients are offered surgery they don’t need and that money can be a factor. Knee replacements, which cost $31,000 on average, are “really crucial to the financial health of hospitals and doctors’ practices,” he said. “The doctor earns a lot more if they do the surgery.”
clots or knee stiffness severe enough to require another medical procedure under anesthesia. In general, 1 in every 100 to 200 patients who undergo a knee replacement die within 90 days of surgery. Significantly, most of those treated with non-surgical therapies were satisfied with their progress. Although all were eligible to have knee replacement later, two-thirds chose not to do it. Tia Floyd Williams suffered from painful arthritis for 15 years before having a knee replaced in September 2017. Although the procedure seemed to go smoothly, her pain returned after about four months, spreading to her hips and lower back. She was told she needed a second, more extensive surgery to put a rod in her lower leg, said Williams, 52, of Nashville. “At this point, I thought I would be getting a second knee done, not redoing the first one,” Williams said. Other patients, such as Ellen Stutts, are happy with their results. Stutts, in Durham, N.C., had one knee replaced in 2016 and the other replaced this year. “It’s definitely better than before the surgery,” Stutts said.
Making Informed decisions Doctors and economists are increasingly concerned about inappropriate joint surgery of all types, not just knees. Inappropriate treatment doesn’t harm only patients; it harms the health care system by raising costs for everyone, said Dr. John Mafi, an assistant professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The 723,000 knee replacements performed in 2014 cost patients, insurers and taxpayers more than $40 billion. Those costs are projected to surge as the nation ages and grapples with the effects of the obesity epidemic, and an aging population. To avoid inappropriate joint replacements, some health systems are developing “decision aids,” easy-to-understand written materials and videos about the risks, benefits and limits of surgery to help patients make more informed choices. In 2009, Group Health introduced decision aids for patients considering joint replacement for hips and knees. Blue Shield of California implemented a similar “shared decision-making” initiative. Executives at the health plan have been especially concerned about the big increase in younger patients undergoing knee replacement surgery, said Henry Garlich, director of health care value solutions and enhanced clinical programs. The percentage of knee replacements performed on people 45 to 64 increased from 30 percent in 2000 to 40 percent in 2015, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Because the devices can wear out in as little as a few years, a younger person could outlive their knees and require a replacement, Garlich said. But “revision” surgeries are much more complicated procedures, with a higher risk of complications and failure. “Patients think after they have a knee replacement, they will be competing in the Olympics,” Garlich said. Danette Lake once planned to undergo knee replacement surgery on her other knee. Today, she’s not sure what to do. She is afraid of being disappointed by a second surgery. Sometimes, she said, “I think, ‘I might as well just stay in pain.’”
Ignoring alternatives Yet surgery isn’t the only way to treat arthritis. Patients with early disease often benefit from over-thecounter pain relievers, dietary advice, physical therapy and education about their condition, said Daniel Riddle, a physical therapy researcher and professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Studies show that these approaches can even help people with more severe arthritis. In a study published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage in April, researchers compared surgical and non-surgical treatments in 100 older patients eligible for knee replacement. Over two years, all of the patients improved, whether they were offered surgery or a combination of non-surgical therapies. Patients randomly assigned to undergo immediate knee replacement did better, improving twice as much as those given combination therapy, as measured on standard medical tests of pain and functioning. But surgery also carried risks. Surgical patients developed four times as many complications, including infections, blood For more details, visit www.khn.org. Saathee.com
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May 2019
International Community Church
We Welcome You to Become a Part of This Loving Spiritual Family
“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
www.icc-nc.org
seRVInG God and tHe CoMMunItY sInCe June 1984
Worship Service - Sundays at 8:30 AM (Dynamic Praise Time) 1524, North Harrison Avenue, Cary (Next to SAS Campus)
A Worship Center For People From India And Neighboring Countries
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
leading annual medical missions to remote areas of Kenya and India.
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
(919) 233-2900 or (919) 467-4435 (Residence)
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Serving your immigration needs in North Carolina & South Carolina
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May 2019
Youth Corner Word World
O
Y
2, The 63rd Filmfare award of 2018 for best Hindi Bollywood film was given to (a) Hindi Medium (b) Badrinath ki Dulhania (c) Races (d) Bareilly ki Barfi
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 + = Excellent; 6 to 8 words = Good; 5 or less = keep looking. Words we found are in solutions below.
dadaji’s Moral short stories serve Humanity
Many, many decades ago, a soldier named Bert was injured while fighting in a long battle.. His legs were injured and he was in a great deal of pain. He was brought to an unsanitary hospital and the overworked staff placed him onto a smelly, dirty bed. He lay there in anguish while a group of rats came crawling by and jumped on the bed and said: “We will make the bed filthy, give you disease to make you sick and soon you are going to die.” Bert was terrified, but he saw a light coming towards him which gave him hope to survive. A lady with a lamp showed up. She picked a rat up by its tail and threw it out. The other rats got scared and ran away. She said, “Bertie, from now on I am going to clean this place and make it safe and treat you well.” She cleaned his legs and dressed them with ointment and bandages. He felt much better and soon got well. He thanked the nurse and left the hospital. This caring woman was Florence Nightingale. She was a nurse who cared for soldiers in the 1850’s and later became the founder of modern nursing and was a social reformer. She became known as “The lady with the lamp” making rounds of wounded soldiers at night. She was born in Florence, Italy on May 12, 1820 and lived to be 90 years old. Many nurses today still study her works.
3. The city near the intersection of I-40 & I-25 is (a) Denver, CO (b) Albuquerque, NM (c) Amarillo, TX (d) Oklahoma City, OK
4. The red blood cells can last up to (a) 30 Days (b) 60 Days (c) 90 Days (d) 120 Days
5. “Narsimha”, was — Avatar of God Vishnu. (a) Third (b) Fourth (c) Fifth (d) Sixth
6. First issue of Saathee was released in the year? (a) 1998 (b) 1999 (c) 2000 (d) 2001
7. In 1919, the President of United states was (a) Taft (b) Wilson (c) Harding (d) Coolidge
8. Using numbers 1,2,3,4 only once, how many 4 digits numbers are possible? (a) 16 (b) 20 (c) 24 (d) 28 9. The winner of ACC Basketball 2019 finals is (a) Duke (b) Florida State (c) UNC (d) Virginia
10. “Namaste” in Sanskrit/Hindi means (a) Greeting (b) Respectful (c) Leave taking (d) All of above
Moral: Service onto humanity is as service onto God. Saathee.com
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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): AHOLD, DAILY, DIAL, HALOID, HOLIDAY, HYALOID, HYOID, LADY, LAID, LOAD.
A
D
I
4.d
L
1. Arrange these Western States of India from South to North (a) Gujarat (b) Karnataka (c) Kerala (d) Maharashtra
Scholar Answers: 1.c, b, d, a 2.a 3.b 5.b 6.a 7.b 8.c 9.a 10.d
H
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.
May 2019
Schedule a FREE Parent Orientation TODAY!
Pop’s Puzzles & Jokes By Kirit Shukla
Clues down:
Note: * denotes abbreviation of the word or phrase Clues across:
1. A western state of India; Cap. Mumbai. 11. Rub out or remove (marks or writing). 12. The optical illusion. 14. A day of celebration to honor moms in the US. (5/12/ 2019) 16. The most sacred symbol in Hindu religion. (ॐ) 17. Rural Nurse Organization. (*) 18. A glowing fragment (as a coal) from a fire. 20. The 9th month of Islamic year as sacred with fasting daily. 23. The second largest city in Maharashtra state. 24. An orange crystalline phenolic compound C15H10O5 . 26. Rochester Institute of Technology. (*) 27. Uncooked (of food). 28. A meaningless noise. 30. Poles or bars serving as support or prop. 32. Something that has actual existence. 33. For example. (*) 35. Cease to exist. 36. A facility providing a place for a particular activity. 38. Gave consent. 40. An upland reddish wild sheep of south & central Asia. 42. Youth Hostel. (*). 43. Incapable to be dissolved in a liquid. 45. A collapsible shelter of fabric stretched and sustain by poles and used for outdoor camping. 46. One who holds real or personal property under a lease. Saathee.com
1. A federal holiday for remembering the people who die while serving in the United armed forces. (5/27/2019). 2. A distinctive pleasant smell. 3. A hood covering the head for warmth or as a fashion. 4. Four age-based life stages discussed in Hinduism texts. 5. To furnish again with an income or something. 6. Short Message Service. (*) 7. Put or keep out of sight. 8. A person travelling on foot in search of work or a beggar. 9. An unincorporated community in Marshall county, AL. 10. A symbol for a chemical element ‘silver’. 13. A heron with long white plumes. 15. An open way for vehicles, persons and animals. 19. A female character in the Arthurian romantic tale. 21. The absorption by a corporation of one or more others. 22. The seventh month of civil year of Jewish calendar. 25. A large golden-brown bat, native of Eurasia. 29. A womb. 31. A cube of number two. 32. Federal Employee Defense Services. (*) 34. A jellied food. 36. A monetary unit of the US = 1/100 $ . 37. The long curved bones surrounding in the chest. 39. Employer Identification Number. (*) 41. An alcoholic malt beverage. 44. Ordered List. (*) (HTML) (Puzzle solutions are on page 120. NO peeking!)
Hee Hee
Jokes From Around The World
CEO: “Has your manager told you what to do?” Booddhoo: “Yes sir, he told me to wake him up when I heard you coming!” ••••••••••••••
Chakram: “My father is a doctor. I can be sick for nothing.” Booddhoo: “My dad is a pastor. I can be good for nothing.” ••••••••••••••
Booddhoo: “Doctor, I have pain in my left leg.” Doctor: “Don’t worry. It is just because of old age.” Booddhoo: “That is strange. So far as I know, both legs are of the same age.”
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••••••••••••••
May 2019
Word Find (Created By Kirit Shukla)
Find & circle the words in the puzzle. (Subject: “Hindi Films” Movies of Same Name)
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.
AANKHEN ANDAZ BAAGHI BAAZI BADSHAH BARSAAT DEEWAR DILLAGI DILWALE DOSTANA DOSTI
DUSHMAN GOLMAAL HERAPHERI KATHPUTLI KHOOBSURAT MOTHERINDIA SAUDAGAR SHANDAAR WAQT ZIDDI
The remaining unused 16 letters spell ”The subject of his puzzle.”
There was an error in this puzzle last month, the sequence should have ended in 9 not 0, (solution on page 120) however the solution was correct.
eZ-BZ
TEST YOUR IQ The common letters are “PP” - Fill in the blanks) 1. Glad; Pleased.
_ _ PP _
2. To have lost one’s sanity.
_ _ _ PP _ _
3. Parts Per million. (*)
PP _
4. Wife of Socrates.
_ _ _ _ _ _ PP _
5. A brand of peanut butter made in USA.
_ _ _ PP _
6. A tedious or difficult journey.
_ _ _ _ _ PP
7. Applications. (*).
_ PP _
8. Point To Point Protocol Over Ethernet.
PP _ _ _
9. Assume something without proof.
_ _ PP _ _ _
10. Situated above another part .
_ PP _ _
11. Pay Per Load. (*)
PP _
12. A mobile application that enables users to chat with one another one-to-one or as a group free of cost.
_ _ _ _ _ _ PP
13. Easy and fluent without stiffness.
14. Master of Public Policy.
15. A presumptuous person.
16. Pay Per View. (*)
_ _ PP _ _
_ PP
_ _ _ PP _ _ _ _ _ PP _ _
17. Worthy of, to receive gratuity.
18. A gift given by way of good measure.
19. Marked by airs of superiority; Cavalier.
20. Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol. (*)
21. A person’s father. (Sourthern US, Informal.)
22. Cutting with short, quick strikes.
23. Circuit (book) binding
24. To crush by abuse power or authority.
25. ’David __’, American soccer player (Age 27).
PP _
_ _ PP _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ PP _ _ PP _ _ _ PP _ _
_ _ _ PP _
_ _ _ PP _ _ _ _ _ PP
_ PP _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ PP_ _
(Puzzle solutions are on page 120. NO peeking!) Kirit Shukla Contact him at kiritsshukla@hotmail.com
Saathee.com
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May 2019
Festivals & Holidays
spot the differences solutions from page 42
May 2019
May 1 - Gujarat / Maharashtra Day May 1 - International Workers Day May 1 - Beltaine May 2 - Yom HaShoah May 4 - Darsha Amās (No Moon) May 5 - Cinco de Mayo May 6 - Ramadan Begins May 7 - Akha Trij / Akshaya Tritiya May 7 - Tagore Jayanti / Parshuram Jayanti May 9 - Shankaracharya Jayanti May 9 - Yom Ha'atzmaut May 11 - Ganga Saptami May 12 - Mother’s Day May 12 - Sita Navami May 14 - Mohini Ekadashi May 18 - Narsimha Jayanti/Vaisakha Poonam May 18 - Armed Forces Day May 23 - Lag BaOmer / Declaration of the Bab May 27 - Memorial Day
1. Person removed
6. Color changed
3. Boat removed
8. Plane added
5. Bird added
10. Color changed
2. Roof color changed 4. Person removed
7. Jeep added
9. Rock added
8
2 1 3
June 2019
Jun. 1 - Lailat al-Qadr Jun. 3 - Darsha Amās (No Moon) Jun. 4 - Ramadan Ends / Eid al-Fitr Jun. 6 - Maharana Pratap Jayanti Jun. 9 - Shavuot Jun. 13 - Bhima / Nirjalā Ekadashi Jun. 13 - Gayatri Jayanti / Kabir Jayanti Jun. 14 - Flag Day Jun. 16 - Vat Savitri Purnima (Full Moon) Jun. 16 - Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Jun. 16 - Father’s Day Jun. 19 - Emancipation Day Jun. 20 - Sankasthi Chaturthi / Corpus Christi Jun. 21 - Summer Solstice / Litha Jun. 21 - International Day of Yoga / World Music Day
4
10
6
7 5
9
Puzzle Solutions from page 118
Math Magic from page 119
Saathee.com
120
May 2019
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Astroscope -
May 2019
aRIes (March 21 – april 19) After a slow start, life will start progressing by the last week of the month. It is better to start moving, but don’t make any abrupt decisions during the start of the month. Remember to curb any egoistical comments. You may also see improvements in your health. A friend will help you in bringing positivity to your life. Happy family life is clearly indicated. The time is very good for making property-related decisions.
tauRus (april 20 – May 20) After a very good start, the confusing situation will hurt your self-confidence. It is now time to put a brake on your expenses. You may get help from your associates, so be sure to utilize them to ensure success. You may need to strategize and work to get easy money in the next few months. Instead of your whole family trying to solve kid problems, you should handle them yourself, but with care. Avoid traveling; it may end up in disaster.
GeMInI (May 21 – June 20) After a negative start, things will start to improve during second half of the month. That is also the time to be serious and start making major long-term decisions. You may enjoy higher status as a result of your innovative ideas. Your partner could have major role in this success, and it will make you feel extremely delighted. Don’t rush to invest in real estate. Get ready to work hard for the foreseeable future.
CanCeR (June 21 – July 22) The month will start with a very busy schedule but will end with great success. Plan to spend on celebrating your achievement. Your income will also increase. You will earn a good reputation and fame this month. Avoid travel and focus on the completion of projects. Your family could prove to be a very good support. Combine the strengths of your family and associates to gain desired results.
leo (July 23 – august 22) You may enjoy full control over a situation this month. The time is appropriate for entering any new partnership deal. Go ahead with confidence and start a new venture. Move fast; don’t miss opportunities that come to you. Avoid taking on any big debt until the last week of the month. You may have to use a lot of your energy for family issues. Instead of resolving them now, take your time and wait for next month. VIRGo (august 23 – september 22) It is not advisable to make any major moves this month. Your instinct and ideologies may mislead you. Try to support and work with your partner to get some relief from recent losses. Try to curb your expenses and avoid dispute with your siblings. Uncertainty in income may also hurt you. You may feel some relief during the last week of the month. Your kid’s health could be another issue you may need to address.
Saathee.com
lIBRa (september 23 – october 22) Try to take advantage of the first half of the month. However, you may start losing control over circumstances afterwards. You may spend your time and energy with useless pursuits this month. Don’t invest in land property. Your income will go up; at the same time expenses may also rise. Family happiness may not be there because of arguments with your partner. Also try to watch your diet, if traveling.
sCoRPIo (october 23 – november 21) Your hardships may end during last week of the month. Continue working on your projects but wait until the end of the month to achieve the desired result. Don’t forget that your enemies are also working parallel to you and may reach success at the same time. Don’t count on your siblings or associates for help. Your family may help you in gaining financial success. Watch your health this month.
saGIttaRIus (november 22 – december 21) You should be extremely comfortable in this month. Due to your own caliber and skills, results will be positive. You will be respected, and fame will also increase. Your keen observation will pay dividend. The state of your health will improve. You will continue to yield power and authority either in government or business life. Make quick and bold decisions. Time is good for investing in real estate property.
CaPRICoRn (december 22 – January 19) You may feel like your luck is just not there this month. Setbacks from many directions may frustrate you. Try to slow down and wait for the coming months for better opportunities. Also keep watching your health and don’t ignore any symptoms for illness. You can count on your siblings or friends for help. It is advisable to travel and spend on a pilgrimage this month as it will give you new direction.
aQuaRIus (January 20 – February 18) Even though hardships and tiring work will continue, you could see a rise in bank balance and enjoy a happier family life. Unexpected financial gain may delight you. Act maturely and use your education to earn more. Eye related headache problems may develop and slow you down. Drive very carefully and control aggression as well as stubborn behavior towards any mishap. Your sixth sense may send messages this month. PIsCes (February 19 – March 20) You will do extremely well in your business or profession. An expansion of business may also occur. Friends and enemies will both surround you constantly, so be sure to use your skills to make your way through. Your family atmosphere will be quite satisfactory. Good news from a faroff place is also possible. Your partner will co-operate with you nicely. Act wisely to achieve success and work sincerely.
122
By Jalendu Vaidya
Contact: 973-223-5047 / www.jmvaidya.com May 2019
Quality Through Perfection 12 + Years Of Accounting & Tax Experience.
Muhammad kamran awan
336-763-4428
Accounting & Tax Services:
Cell: 336-314-8075
14-A Oak Branch Drive Greensboro, NC 27407
• Financial Statement Preparation • Payroll & Sales Tax • Tax Preparation & Planning • New Business Set Up And Incorporation • Audit Representation, Back Taxes Owed, Tax Problems, IRS Issues
kamran@accountingsolutionsnc.com
www.accountingsolutionsnc.com
Serving North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia FOR COURTEOUS, RELIABLE AND PERSONAL SERVICE
For Luxurious, Memorable Vacations And Business Trip Ticketing
The Carolinas’ Link To Wholesale Airline Tickets Serving the Carolinas for 26 years
Your most Trusted & Reliable Travel Source in the Carolinas.
Your Cruise & Worldwide Tour Center!
Tour Packages to India, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia including New Zealand & Fiji, Hawaii, Bahamas, Mexico, Jamaica and many more places. Mon - Fri: 10am - 6 pm ● Sat: 11am - 2 pm. ● Sun: By Appointment
919. 380.9191
Fax: 919.460.9292 E-mail: travelinks@gmail.com
Consolidator for all MAJOR AIRLINES to India, Europe, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji & any World Wide destination.
For Emergency & After Hour Service 919.868.9000 Cell
Near RTP, Durham, Cary & Morrisville. 1073 Upchurch Farm Ln, Cary, NC 27519
Passport, Visa and other consular services.
Saathee.com
123
(Exit 278 off I-40 for Hwy 55)
May 2019
CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Rajbhog Cafe and Grocery Franchise Business available to take over immediately in Charlotte, NC in University City area (Pinnacle Point). Low rent / Great Location. Call 929-261-2124. Convenience store for sale: Well established store in Axton, VA near Martinsville. Includes gas pumps and busy deli. Contact 276-638-4276/704-4772218 or trgelot@gmail.com Wholesale retail business for Cigarettes, Vape, Hookah looking for Partner to run the business. Call 919-599-7307 for details. C-store for Rent in Radford, VA. Good location. 4000 sqft. Asking rent $2850 per month. Contact Mr. J Patel 540-629-6318. Jewelry store for sale in Raleigh (Prime Six Forks Rd). 14K, 18K, Diamonds, Silver. Ready to run from day one with or without Inventory (all equipped). Owner retiring. Contact Jay 862-220-1390. For sale or lease: Gas Station and Convenience Store in good neighborhood of Gaffney, SC. Serious inquiries only. Contact 704-726-7544. established dry Cleaning Business for sale in raleigh, NC Asking Price $325,000. Excellent location high income area. Contact 919-210-9919 or pg1patel@yahoo.com Convenience store Properties for sale in Forest City, NC and Gaffney, SC. Call 980-250-4995. Businesses for sale: Frenchies and independent motels available with finance. Call 404-903-3362. Retail / Convenience stores: C-Store: Fort Mill, SC $785,000 + Inv, Prop. incl., Inside $424,000, Fuel Gallons 801,202; CStore: Oak Island, NC $529,000 + Inv, Inside $1,300,000, No Gas; C-Store: Lancaster, SC $379,000, Prop.Included, Inside $340,000. Call County South at 704-821-8888 or visit www.Countysouth.biz Gas station for sale [Omcorner] with property in Bennettsville, SC. Inside sales $30k & Gas Sales $15k-$20k per month. In business for 25 years. Includes liquor store site next door. Asking $390k. Contact 704-294-5542. Convenience store for sale near Cowpens, SC. No gas. Good location. Contact 704-813-2462. looking for work? Check Saathee.com daily for additional help wanted classified ads visit Saathee.com/employment-opportunities Saathee.com
leaRn aBout land
We help High networth Cash Buyers in the Carolinas. Contact Bob atkinson “the land Man” 919-362-6999 or visit www.learnaboutland.com
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Grocery delivery Company Hiring parttime (2-days/week) delivery driver for North Charlotte locations. Mileage paid daily. Four-wheel vehicle and valid driver’s license required. E-mail resume to contact-us@thursdaygrocery@.com Hiring experienced Managers for independent motel near Petersburg, VA and Econo Lodge near Hampton, VA. Apartment included with office. Legal status required. Please call 804-517-7484 or 804-681-0565. looking for Full-time or Part-time employee (single of couple) for Tropical Smoothie Café franchise food store near UNC-Charlotte. Call Pravin Patel 803974-0291. Motel Manager couple needed for Independent Motel in Meridian, MS along the Exterior corridor. Must have good customer service and communication skills along with knowledge of business operations. Accommodations provided and competitive pay. Contact 601-480-5664. 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. nanny needed (Live-In/Live-out/Parttime) in Concord (North Charlotte) area during daytime/nighttime for newborn expected in July/August. Must be able to drive. Flexible hours. Call or text at 704763-5140 or email gnsha07@yahoo.com. Hotel Help Wanted: Franchise Motel in Shelby, NC needs Front desk, Night Auditor and Laundry (Couple/single). Accommodation provided. Must have legal status and basic Computer skills. Call Sanjay 704-974-1521. Caretaker needed for senior female in Cary, NC. Bathing / Grooming, Exercise / Walking, Light Housekeeping & Cooking. Must be able to drive and speak basic English. 15-20 hours per week. AM hours. Good hourly rate. Please call 919-481-1162. 124
Household cook needed in Raleigh, NC for vegetarian Indian/non-Indian meals for young family of four. Flexible schedule with evenings & weekends (2-4 days a week). Call 724-244-2335. Front desk Couple needed for Franchise Hotel in Concord, NC. . Experience, fluent English and legal status a must. Accommodations provided. Call Rusab 704-772-5554. eyebrow threading Position available in Winston-Salem, NC. Excellent Pay + Tips & Benefits! Some Experience and fluent English required. Contact 336-422-7582. Hotel Help Wanted: Looking for all positions (GM/AGM/Front Desk/Housekeeping) for 98-Room property in Charlotte, NC. Contact 704502-2630 or Gm.nita.shah@gmail.com live-out nanny needed for 1.5 year old girl in Charlotte (Arboretum area). 7:15am - 5pm, Monday -F (around 40 hours/week). Includes baby food preparation. Must have own transportation. Call 309-339-7640. Front desk Help wanted (night shift) for hotel in University area (North Charlotte). Legal status, Fluent English, and basic computer skills required. Email mars803@gmail.com or text 704-302-3318. 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. Parttime or full-time including weekends. Contact 856-266-5059 or store10700@gmail.com. Help Wanted: Franchise Motel in Fayetteville, NC for Front Desk and Housekeeping. Accommodations possible. Good salary. Fluent English a must. Contact Dev 630-253-8860 or devsuper8@gmail.com. C-store help needed in Southern Illinois. Full-time, 6am-8pm. Good pay and accommodations provided. Contact 812899-0071. Housekeeping Couple needed for motel in NC. Excellent pay. Accommodations provided. Call 910-817-4313 / 910-995-1707. Manager wanted for 22-room Hotel in Dallas, NC. Accommodations provided. Call 704-674-8395. Hotel Help Wanted: Front Desk/Manager, Night Auditor and Housekeeper (Single/Couple) for franchise hotels in Wilmington, NC. Accommodations provided. Call 910-262-8357 or email ilmhotelemployer@gmail.com May 2019
entry level sales & marketing position available at rapidly growing, family owned company in High Point, NC. Email resumes to Kajalb@amerifabintl.com Housekeeping Couple and Front desk help wanted for motel in Florence, SC. Must be honest and have legal status. Accommodations provided. Call 843992-8424. Gas station Help Wanted: Full-time Single or couple in Columbia, SC. Experience Preferred. Must speak English. Accommodations provided. Call 803-466-5861 or 803-319-9878 looking for sales Manager: Dynamic and self-motivated for largest furniture retail in Asheville area. Good management & computer skills. Excellent communication skills. Excellent Salary plus sales incentive and benefits package. Apply at sales@123cfc.com.
experienced manager and Housekeeping (single or couple) needed for franchise motels in North & South Carolina. Accommodations provided. Contact 704-465-8089 or southsidehospitality189@gmail.com Gas station Help Wanted: Full-time, Single or couple in Kings Mountain, NC. Experience preferred. Must speak English. Accommodations provided. Call 704-763-0722 Housekeeping couple wanted for Hotel in Rocky Mount, NC. Accommodations provided. Contact 443-538-3997. iCare Hospitality llC is looking for Operations Manager/Front desk and GM for multiple Choice Hotels (Comfort Suites in SC & NC). Legal status & Choice Hotel experience required. Contact 704-906-2239 or email resume to icare.nc325@yahoo.com live-in nanny needed immediately for Doctor Couple in Harrisburg, NC. Home is smoke free, pet free & vegetarian. Two kids ages 7 & 2. Cooking and light house work. Call 540-314-6432 or email ajayguptamd@gmail.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). experienced threading Practitioners or licensed esthetician in Charlotte & Raleigh. New locations now open. Full or part-time. Great pay & flexibility. Experience required. Good English skills. Call 704-312-1870 (M-F 9-5). Saathee.com
C-store/Gas station help needed. Multiple positions available in and around Greensboro, NC. Experience preferred. Must have legal status and speak fluent English. Call or text 336-509-4054. Front desk / Housekeeping needed for Hotel in Cleveland / Akron, OH. Accommodations provided. Call Mit Patel 734-776-4371 or email Sixsigmahotels@gmail.com
Hotel Help Wanted: Front Desk, Laundry & Maintenance for franchise motel in Raleigh, NC. Fluent English required. Experience preferred. Couples welcome. Please call 919-659-8897 & leave message if no answer. Convenience store help needed immediately in Charlotte, NC. Full-time & part-time including weekends. Call Vimal at 704-299-2580. live-in help needed for elderly lady in Gujarati household. Light cooking and cleaning required. Please call 336-471-1901. Hotel Help Wanted: Front Desk/Manager, Night Auditor and Housekeeper (Single/Couple) for franchise hotels in Charlotte/Gastonia/High Point. Accommodations provided. Call 704460-0379 between 6- 9pm. Motel Help needed: Housekeeping Couple and Front Desk needed for Motel in Spartanburg, SC. Accommodations provided. Contact 864-237-0561. Motel Help Wanted: Housekeeping, Managers & Night Auditors for Independent & Franchise Motels in South Carolina. Good pay and accommodations provided. Call 803-664-0477. looking for live-in/live-out nanny to take care of toddler with cooking help. In South Charlotte near Ballantyne. Good compensation will be offered. Contact 704-497-2845. Hotel Help needed: Manager Couple and Front Desk (1st & 2nd Shift) for Hotel in Fort Mill, SC (near Carowinds). Legal status, fluent English & computer skills required. Accommodations provided for Manager. Email resume to bwhospitality78@gmail.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 needed: Housekeeping couple and Front desk for Franchise Hotel in near Hickory, NC. Accommodations provided. Good Pay! Legal status & fluent English required. Call Rick 919-724-6772. 125
PROPERTY & EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Hotel Bed linens for sale. King, Queen, and Full-sized white linen sets & pillowcases from Quality Suites in Pineville. Call 704-889-7095. India Property for sale in Pune. Elegant Flat in band new building, 3 BR/3 Bath, 1325 Sqft on 10th Floor. Club House, Swimming Pool, Close to Mumbai-Pune Highway. Call Jay 862-220-1390. Hotel equipment for sale: 93 rooms of Hotel furniture in mint condition. Works well for franchise or independent hotels. Also Onity T-24 Locks in working condition. Call Rusab at 704-772-5554. Home for sale: Investor special. Home in Villa Heights / Noda area. $239,000. Check 1000 Matheson Ave. Charlotte, Realtor.com
MATRIMONIAL
looking for match for sikh girl. 30’s, 5’ 5” from Defense Services family. Currently in India working as logistics manager for major USA based company. Willing to settle in US or India. Caste no bar. Please respond with confidential inquiries to ic1528@gmail.com. Parents looking for match for son & daughter. Indian Christian, Caste no bar. 32 year-old son, 5'11", unmarried, doctor / surgeon in Saudi Arabia. 37 year-old daughter, 5'4”, unmarried, PhD in English, professor in India. Send biodata, pictures to smparmar.299@gmail.com or via WhatsApp +91,8849931465. 33 year-old Male Professional green card holder living in North Carolina seeking Sindhi/Punjabi professional match. Contact kirpalanip@gmail.com with inquiries and biodata. affluent Hindu-Punjabi parents seek match for us citizen daughter: 27/5’4”, slim, very pretty, fair complexion, family oriented. Professional health care worker. Financially secure. All serious inquiries will be promptly responded to. Send biodata & photos to nudaak@gmail.com or 520-442-5482.
SERVICES
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
SERVICES CLASSIFIEDS CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE May 2019
SERVICES CONTINUED
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. satya Math & Reading: Enroll now for SAT/ACT prep starting in June.We also tutor Math I, II, III, & AP courses year round. Contact: 704 540 4589 Email: satyamandr@gmail.com Belmont alterations & designing: Custom alterations or stitching for your Punjabi suits, blouses, sarees, dresses, cholis, and lehengas. Also available for henna/mendhi art. Contact 704-898-5376. need an affordable dJ for Graduation, Birthdays, Baby Showers & any other festivity? Look no further! Contact DJ Rahul at 980-319-7389 or TheRealDJRahul@gmail.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)
CLASSIFIEDS CONTINUED
alyssa’s Garlands: Unique fresh flower garlands. Boutonnieres, bouquets, flower ornaments, Exotic Flowers available on special Request. We ship nationwide. Contact Ila Amin: 803-6274239 or email: ilaamin49@gmail.com 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 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. travel Passion: Call for International & Domestic Air tickets. We process India Visa, OCI, Indian Ppt Renewal, Hotel bookings & Tour packages. 509.550.9076 or 509.550.9034 Email: travelpassion24@gmail.com Wedding doli Rental: Customizable /elegant designs. Impeccable service. Based in Chapel Hill with broad travel range. Add'l info: text 919-824-5144 or visit: www.DulhanDoliRental.com
neeta’s Beauty Parlor: Charlotte area open 7 days a week. Full service. Call for appointment. 704-968-0270. 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
To Submit a Classified visit: Saathee.com/classifieds 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 Ads up to 25 words. Deadline for print is the 20th. Web ads daily.
Serving Buyers and Sellers Since 1989 Our experienced and talented agents can speak
English, Hindi & Gujarati Offering Motels, Restaurants, Dry Cleaners, Laundromats, Convenience Stores, Land and more CONVENIENCE STORES:
C-Store: Zionville, NC $85,000, Inside $387,000, Annual Sales $898,000, Fuel Gal 245,158
C-Store: Hickory, NC $254,000+Inv, Recently Reduced, Property Incl. Annual Sales $691,881 C-Store: Hickory, NC $45,000+ Inv., Recently Reduced, Inside $361,561, Fuel Gal 109,000 C-Store: Louisburg, NC $199,000, Property Included, Store Currently Closed
C-Store: Mount Olive, NC $165,000 + Inv, Property Incl., Inside Sales $450,000, No Gas C-Store: Charlotte, NC $79,000 + Inv., Inside Sales $360,000, No Gas
C-Store: Elkin, NC $119,000 + Inv., Inside Sales $600,000, Annual Sales $1,950,000 Truck Stop: Wade, NC $500,000, Property Incl., Currently Closed
Let Us Help You Buy or Sell A Business!
County South Realty & Business Brokers 303 Indian Trail Road South Indian Trail, NC 28079
704-821-8888 www.CountySouth.biz
FOOD:
Hoagie & Wing Restaurant: Asheville, NC $179,000, Annual Sales $330,000
OTHER SERVICES
Marketing Company: Hickory, NC $118,000, Annual Sales $332,000 Clothing Store: Charlotte, NC $34,000, Great Opportunity Edible Arrangements Franchise: Central NC $197,500, Annual Sales $270,000
More listings available at:
Saathee.com
CountySouth.biz 126
May 2019
Years
Monroe oil Company is a trusted Full service Wholesale petroleum distributor. Our corporate office is in Monroe, NC and we are expanding with additional offices in GA to better service and grow the Southeast US Region.
We offer the highest quality branded fuels of Bp, CItGo, & liberty for gas stations solutions, unbranded spot fuels, commercial fleet fuels as well as a full line of quality bulk lubricants for fleets & heavy duty trucks along with terraCair deF- package or bulk.
Make my C-Store Great Again let’s talk! Call Us!
Saurin (Sam): 706-587-6182 Paul: 704-292-9266 Ken: 706-617-9058 Ellen: 770-543-9236
MonroeoilCo.com
Has a well known C-Store Chain opened near you or a Big Box retailer and you feel helpless? Please give us a call so we can as a team quickly devise a Winning Strategy to compete, so you can continue on the road as a re-invented successful gas station operations. are you possibly taking over a new store? Congratulations! Let us do a site survey on all aspects of the fuel sales viability, current & future petroleum equipment needs to maintain EMV compliance, so you can stay focused on the profitability of your new exciting venture.
Advertisers Index A2Z Health Mart Pharmacy......................................45
Global Mall / Legacy Jewels ..................................131
Patel, Tony (Real Estate)............................................27
Accounting Solutions (Muhammad Kamran Awan).123
Gujarati Natak (Sunder Be Baydiwalo).......................37
Pathak, Atul (Real Estate)..........................................89
Anand, Versha (Real Estate) .....................................37
H2 Laser & Skin .......................................................99
PNC Bank (Commercial Financing - Reena Ruwala).43
Anil & Anjali Bedi LLC (CPA & Consultants)...............77
Hair Transplant Consultation (Dr. Anjali Shere)...........17
Pramukh Mandapam ...............................................41
Anupam Realty LLC..................................................59
Hindu Center of Charlotte (Events) ......................66-69
Raghu Mothukuri Allstate Agent................................73
Around The World Market (Charlotte)........................56
Home Decorators Of America (Sonal Furniture - Atl)130
Raj D Batra Photography ..........................................89
Aspect Commerical Realty (Prashant Parmar) ..........49
Illume MD (Laser Hair Removal)................................21
Raj Jewels (Morrisville, NC) ..................................6 & 7
Austin Village Eye Care (Dr. Keshav Bhat)..................97
Inchin's Bamboo Garden Charlotte...........................75
Rajbhog Foods .........................................................49
Bala Sure (Broker / Realtor, NC & SC)......................91
India Grocers (Charlotte) ...........................................38
Rajdeep Video & Photography (Ramesh Panjabi)......73
Balance by Touch Massage .....................................74
Indian Grocery (Columbia) ........................................61
Ram Realty (Ram Kalagara)......................................60
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Charlotte)............63
International Community Church ...........................115
Red Line Auto Services (Charlotte)............................43
Barot, Tushar (Insurance)..........................................59
Jay Bale (Real Estate - Commercial & Residential)....85
Regal Oaks Dental .................................................111
Bashyam Shah LLP - Immigration Law Group..........48
Jyoti's World Cuisine (Vegan & Vegetarian)...............42
Richa Sharma Concert - Raleigh (Live Spectrum Ent) .5
Bawarchi Indian Cuisine (Charlotte) ..........................93
K & M Accounting ....................................................65
Richa Sinha Real Estate...........................................39
Bhindi Jewelers ......................................................2
K Scott Weddings (Wedding & Event Designer).........21
Robert Brown LLC (Oza, Rishi: Immigration Law)......33
Bipin Parekh Realty, LLC...........................................16
KB Zaveree.................................................................4
Rukshmani's Tijori ....................................................23
Blooming Buds.........................................................49
KD Financial & KMD Realty.......................................95
Saathee.com............................................................96
Bombay Grille (Charlotte)........................................107
Khanna & Sons Jewelers............................................9
Saffron Restaurant and Catering...............................57
Brijal Shah (Keller Williams - Real Estate)..................65
Kinjal Dave Garba & Dandiya Night (Charlotte)..........10
Sani Designs ............................................................17
British International School of Charlotte.....................34
KMD Realty (Divyesh Chauhan)..............................103
Satya Math and Reading ..........................................53
C4D Mortgage (Jubi Chackunkal, P.E.) .....................73
Kumar, Kokila (Real Estate - Allen Tate).....................35
Shah & Trivedi CPA, PLLC.........................................89
Carolina Elite Ventures .............................................71
Kumon Math and Reading Center .........................117
Shah, Anish (Real Estate) ...................................78-79
Carolina Law Group (Monty Desai) .........................109
Life Mission USA ......................................................51
Shah, Kirti (CPA - Sepa Consulting) .........................21
Carolina Wedding Belle (Event Design & DĂŠcor)........51
Maadhurya Photography..........................................77
Shining Stars Academy ..........................................121
CaroMont Medical Group (Dr. Manu Patel) .............103
Maharani Indian Cuisine (Charlotte) ..........................53
Shukla, Kirit (Music Lession & Band).........................99
Charlotte Chess Center ............................................31
Malak Jewelers........................................................25
Shyama Beauty Parlour............................................39
Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat ..............................84
Malani Jewelers.....................................................132
Singh Tutoring ........................................................101
Charlotte Music School.............................................30
Malaya Kitchen.........................................................59
Sona Realty (Venkat Suryadevara) ............................87
Chiro-Carolina
..................................................101
Mathur, Gitanjali (Allen Tate Realtors) ........................57
Southern Oncology Specialists (Dr. Swetha Gujja).....99
Concha, David (Immigration Attorney).......................97
Matthews Family Dentistry ......................................97
Sukhwinder Singh Concert (GCAPI) ............................3
Copper Restaurant (Charlotte)...................................26
Monroe Oil Company .............................................127
Thakkar, Beena (Realty) ............................................99
County South Realty & Business Brokers ...............126
Mount Soma (Sri Somesvara Temple).......................61
The Blue Taj..............................................................26
Dances of India (Dr. Maha Gingrinch Group) .............29
Murlidhar Party Supply .............................................55
Travel Passion ..........................................................21
Delhi Palace / Spices Of India (Columbia, SC)...........29
Nagpal, Sunil (MassMutual Carolinas).......................55
Travelinks...............................................................123
Dentist (Pineville Dentistry - Lina V. Mistry, DDS).....103
Nationwide Ins. (Maqsood Khan) ..............................71
Triveni Supermarket .................................................35
Desai & Desai LLP (CPA & Financial Services)..........83
Nawabs Kebabs (Charlotte) ......................................91
Ttravel Guru..............................................................83
Desai, Rajarshi (CPA, PLLC)......................................75
New Pinnacle Health Group ...................................129
Tyagi, Rita (Real Estate).............................................43
DJ Desi (Amit Vasi) ...................................................83
New York Life Insurance (Rasheed Ulhaq).................31
Uni World Travel........................................................41
DJ Lalit (Lalit Hemnani).............................................33
North American Bancard ........................................11
Vema Mortgage LLC (Sebastian George)..................47
DJ Murali..................................................................65
Novant Health Ballantyne Family & Sports Medicine.13
Vyas Travels..............................................................55
Fairview Home Mortgage .........................................33
OM Tech Training .....................................................35
Worldwide Travels ....................................................19
Fantasic Sams..........................................................27
One2 Entertainment .................................................55
Yafa Halal Market & CafĂŠ..........................................81
First-in-Smiles Dentistry.........................................111
Passage To India - Fine Indian Cuisine....................105
Young Hearts Concert (Atlanta).................................15
Geological Resources, Inc.........................................41
Patel Brothers (Charlotte)........................................113
Zafran Kabab Palace (Charlotte / Pineville)................39
Gilles Law, PLLC (Immigration & Family Law) .........101
Patel, Mrugesh (Law Offices)..................................115
Zest of the Rest ......................................................83
Saathee.com
128
May 2019
Decorate Your Home Like a Palace with Furniture You Have Never Seen Before! • One of a Kind Designer Furniture • Custom Indian Furniture • Chandeliers - Free Installation • Custom Draperies • Indian all Wool & Cashmere Silk Rugs • Free Delivery • Anywhere in the U.S. • No Installation Fees • No Designer Fees - Free Quotes • Room by Room Layouts
12 Months Same as Cash!
Call Shyam Garg 478-361-5558 or Lynn Gunter 770-584-9094 (Inside Global Mall) 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Ste 102 & 103, Norcross, GA 30071 Show Room Hours: Open 7 Days -12:00 pm to 8:00 pm • Tel: 770-209-8999 • Tollfree: 1800-567-5686 e-mail: shyamgarg@sonalimports.com • www.thesonalfurniture.com • www.sonalimports.com