The month of May is a little special for us. We launched Saathee in May 1998 and now you are holding the 27th anniversary issue. Through the years, our essential task has remained steady. We are a resource for the community. We are your bridge, bringing readers, families, advertisers, entrepreneurs, and the larger community together.
Thanks to you, our families and friends, and well wishers for the continuing trust in Saathee.
Remember, when you call or visit one of our advertisers, be sure to mention that you saw their ad in Saathee Magazine, Saathee.com or the weekly e-Newsletter.
As always, thanks for reading.
Some highlights in this issue:
♦ Read about the famous “Mediterranean Diet” on Page 30.
♦ The essay on page 42 addresses the challenges faced by Indian American students when applying for college.
♦ Check out “Markets Caugh Off-Guard” for an analysis of the current turmoil in financial markets on Page 46.
We would be happy to add anyone in the Carolinas to the Saathee subscription base at no charge, simply visit saathee.com/subscription and also sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter: saathee.com/weekly-e-newsletter
“Miracles happen every day, change your perception of what a miracle is and you'll see them all around you.”
- Jon Bon Jovi
Cover: Peacock
The peacock is a peafowl species native to the Indian subcontinent. While it originated in the subcontinent, it has since been introduced to many other parts of the world.
The peacock is also India's national bird and holds significance in Indian mythology.
Saathee (USPS 021-116) (ISSN: 1543-8147) is published monthly by: Shukla Entertainment Inc.
Photo: Preethi Prasad / Unsplash
612 Heather Ln., Charlotte, NC 28209 Periodicals postage paid at Charlotte, NC and additional mailing offices.
Publisher & Advertising Divakar Shukla 704-527-7570 or saatheemag@hotmail.com
Digital Media & Marketing
Jennifer W. Allen
Ad Design / Layout DSJ Graphics & Manimaran
Contributors for this issue: Taige Shukla, Balaji Prasad, Dilip Barman, Dipika Kohli, Shikha Singh, Parul Kharod, Hiren Deliwala, Alisha Mistry, Ketu Desai, Dr. Maha Gingrich, Rishi P. Oza, and Jalendu Vaidya.
Mission: Our goal is to be a valuable source of information for the South Asian community and to be a vital advertising tool for businesses. - F OUNDED 1998
We were at a restaurant waiting for our table. I was sauntering about outside, killing time, and caught a bit of conversation between two elderly women as they were leaving after their meal.
“You know, that was a good year,” said the woman in a white dress.
“Yeah, it was the last good year of my life,” replied her friend in a red dress.
I couldn’t make out whether she was sad while saying that or had a smile on her face.
Those two lines were the gist of their conversation before they strolled past my hearing range, headed toward their respective cars.
I don’t invade others’ conversations, but if I’m stationary in a place and a conversation or someone chatting away on their phone reaches my ears, well then, I become a gatherer of chatter, a participant of sorts. I receive their thoughts, a spirit hovering about, if you will.
Most of the time they are just routine words, but sometimes you catch slices of nuggets, maybe said in anger, in jest, with a laugh, in sadness, and then just when your attention is raised, they are gone. Their words flutter and fall to the ground or get blown away by the breeze.
In today’s era of whipping out the phone and recording anything that gets one’s attention, and transmitting it into the world of social media, these brief encounters of human words left to their own natural dispersion, feel more real, timeless. An uncountable number of such moments have spanned the eons of human time.
Spoken thoughts sprinkled onto passersby.
These floating conversations, the words, get into your thoughts, and you either process them out, ignore them, or, if something interesting was uttered, pause and think about what those words may mean to you.
Editor’s Desk continued on page 110
Upcoming Events
Sheetal Sheth Book Reading:
Charlotte, NC (May 3, 3035)
Children’s book author Sheetal Sheth will do a book reading and signing of her book Anjali Can! On Saturday, May 3, 2025, 11am, Park Rd Books, 4139 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC. Sheth brings her passion for social justice to children’s literature, encouraging young readers to recognize their voices as tools for change and community engagement.
Heroes for Hope Walkathon: Waxhaw, NC (May 4, 2025)
Kiran will host its annual Heroes for Hope walkathon on Sunday, May 4, 2025, 9amnoon, at Marvin Efird Park in Waxhaw, NC. For more details, visit Kiraninc.org/events.
Indian Ocean in Concert: Durham, NC (May 4, 2025)
United Bengali Association of Carolina presents fusion musical group Indian Ocean in concert on Sunday, May 4, 2025, beginning at 6pm at the Southern School of Energy and Sustainability in Durham, NC. For tickets visit marvanentertainment.com or call 919-946-6539.
HSNC presents a Bollywood music journey on May 9, 2025, beginning at 7pm featuring singers, musicians, narrator, and dancers. The venue is HSNC, 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC. Tickets begin at $40 with 50% discount for members. For more info, call 919601-9626 or 919-396-9804.
Gujarati Natak Manubhai Mind Blowing: Morrisville, NC (May 15, 2025)
Triangle Gujarati Association presents the Gujarati comedy play, Manubhai Mind Blowing on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at HSNC Hall, 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC. The play features Sharman Joshi (of 3 Idiots fame). Tickets begin at $30. For more details, call 919-353-0550 or visit Nctga.org.
I Hope You Dance Musical Play: Cary, NC (May 16, 2025)
Ekal Raleigh presents “I Hope You Dance” - A Bollywood Musical Play on Friday, May 16, 2025, beginning at 6:30pm. This is a fundraiser for Ekal. The event will take place at Alston Ridge Middle School, 7833 Fussell Ave., Cary, NC. For more details, call 919621-4571 or visit Ekal.org/event/Raleigh2025. The event will also take place in Atlanta and Fayetteville, NC. For details on these events visit: ekal.org/us/events.
World Dance Fest: Morrisville, NC (May 17, 2025)
HSNC presents “World Dance Fest” with Triangle area Guru Supriya Desai and her students on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 2 – 8pm. This is a fundraiser to support artists impacted by hurricane Helene in Western NC. The venue is located at 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC. For more details call 919-6224514 or visit Hsnctemple.org.
Swar
Sandhya: Morrisville, NC (May 17, 2025)
HSNC presents an evening with classic devotional melodies on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 5 –7:30pm at the temple hall. Featuring Yashaswini Sirpotdar (vocals), Pt. Ramdas Palsule (tabla), and Sukhada Khire (harmonium). For more details, call 919-332-0362 or 919-396-9804.
Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival and Asian Festival: (May 17, 2025)
The festival is on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Ramsey Creek Park on Lake Norman (Cornelius, NC). This annual family-oriented event is a celebration of Asian cultures, roots, and history. Public parking is not available at Ramsey Creek Park, but free parking and shuttle service are available starting at 9am and throughout the festival. Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Rd, Cornelius, NC. Info 980-314-1001 or visit Charlottedragonboat.com.
Sundarkand: Morrisville: NC (May 20, 2025)
HSNC presents a Sundarkand with Guruji Ashwinkumar Pathak on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, beginning at 7pm. Followed by Aarti and prasad. HSNC is located at 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC. For more details, call 919-481-2574 or visit Hsnctemple.org.
Upcoming Events
Sudha Ragunathan Concert: Cary, NC (May 24, 2025)
Padma Bhushan awardee and singer Sudha Ragunathan will perform live on Saturday, May 24, 2025, beginning at 5:30pm at Alston Ridge Middle School, Cary, NC. The show is a fundraiser for the Carolina Murugan Temple. For more details, call 919-460-0065 or 804-248-8070.
Memorial Day Celebration:
Charlotte, NC (May 24 – 25, 2025)
Whitewater Center presents the annual celebration featuring live music, yoga, night ops, trail races and more. It will take place on May 24 – 25, 2025 and admission is free. For more details, visit Whitewater.org.
Red Baraat Concert: Greenville, SC (May 28, 2025)
Straight out of Brooklyn, multi-dimensional bhangra funk band Red Baraat mixes effervescent Punjabi rhythms with elements of hip hop, jazz, and hard-driving punk energy. Founded by Sunny Jain, renowned on the dhol, Red Baraat’s purpose is to manifest joy and unity in all people. Music fans the world over flock to their live shows. Their concert is at the Peace Center’s Gunter Theatre on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, beginning at 7:30pm. Tickets are now available at Peacecenter.org.
Greenville
Jazz Fest: (May 30 – 31, 2025)
Located in the heart of downtown Greenville along Main Street from Broad Street to Falls Park Drive, the Greenville Jazz Fest will feature music and food to inspire festival visitors to learn and love jazz music. The event will be held between May 30 & 31, 2025. Admission to the event itself is free while food & beverages will be available for purchase with taste tickets. Info available at Greenvillesc.gov.
Kiran’s
25th Anniversary Gala: Chapel Hill, NC (May 31, 2025)
In honor of Kiran’s 25th year of serving South Asian survivors of Domestic Violence in NC attend the Kiran Gala, celebrating legacy of hope. It takes place on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 6 – 10pm at Roper Hall, 150 Medical Dr., Chapel Hill, NC. Featuring David Crabtree, a performance by Vibhuti Kavishwar, silent auction, and more. Info: Kiraninc.org/events.
This annual event is more than a gathering; it’s a platform to unite for the greater good and make a lasting impact. By participating, you’re not only embracing a healthier lifestyle but also joining a community dedicated to the Spirit of Service and helping others. There are two walks. Raleigh: Sat, May 31, 2025. Registration starts at 7:30am, walk begins 8:30 am – Noon at Green Level High School, 7600 Roberts Rd., Cary, NC. Charlotte: Sun, June 1, 2025. Registration starts at 8:30am and walk begins at 9:30am. McAlpine Creek Park, 8711 Monroe, Rd., Charlotte, NC. Info: Bapscharities.org.
CMAC presents a vocal concert with Shankari Krishnan, along with Sai Raghavan (mridangam), Raghul Ravichandran (violin), and Nerkunam S Sankar (kanjira). It takes place on Sunday, June 1, 2025, 4pm, Gandhi Bhavan, Hindu Center, Charlotte, NC. For more details, call 704-904-9454 or visit Onlinecmac.org.
SC Festival of Flowers: Greenwood, SC (June 5 – 8, 2025)
The unique mix of events and attractions make the SC Festival of Flowers in Greenwood, SC a one-of-a-kind place to visit. The arts and entertainment are alive and well with a wide variety of flower-themed performances and exhibits. Also check out a variety of foods and cuisines. The festival will take place between June 5 & 8, 2025 along the 11,000-acre area of Lake Greenwood. Details: Scfestivalofflowers.org.
Upcoming Events
Taste of Charlotte: (June 6 – 8, 2025)
Taste of Charlotte is the city’s largest food festival and returns to uptown Tryon Street between June 6 & 8, 2025. The food festival features samples from area restaurants. Enjoy delicious food while strolling experiencing three stages of entertainment, performances, and interactive tours. A variety of local, regional, and national partners will provide information, coupons, and free stuff. Admission is free. Learn more at Tasteofcharlotte.com.
Raleigh International Food Festival: (June 7, 2025)
The 10th annual festival will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2025 (11am to 9pm). Enjoy over 120 food trucks from around the globe creating cultural culinary delights. It will also host the largest, outdoor, international dance party with nonstop performances. Admission is free and the event is pet friendly. The festival will be held outdoors in the City Plaza along the 400 block of Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. More info at Visitraleigh.com.
As a recipient of the 2025 NC Heritage Award, Sarod player Gaurang Doshi will perform live along with Ragavan Lutchmidat on table. The event will take place at Martin Marieta Center, Raleigh, NC on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 2:30 to 5om. For more details, visit Ticketmaster.com.
High Country Jazz Festival: Boone, NC (June 13 – 15, 2025)
The 4th annual High-Country Jazz Festival takes place between June 13 & 15, 2025. Three headliners will perform on stage at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country in Boone, NC; a historic Art Deco theatre built in 1938, now renovated and restored. Other events will include a lecture at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, a free performance on the lawn at the Jones House Cultural Center in Downtown Boone, jazz brunches and lunches, and a jam session after the performances on Friday and Saturday evenings. Info: Apptheatre.org.
Shaan in Concert: Raleigh, NC (June 15, 2025)
Arvind Mahajan presents legendary singer Shaan in concert on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 6:30pm, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, Marietta Ctr for the Performing Arts. Shaan’s “The Infinity Tour” will feature live musicians and the singer performing his hits. For more details, send text to 571-241-6285 or visit Ticketmaster.com.
CORDUSA
Charity Run: Cary, NC (June 21, 2025)
The 10th annual charity run event will take place on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 101 Soccer Park Dr., Cary, NC. This is a fundraiser for “The Women’s Center” in Cary and to build a facility in rural India for skill-based programs for villagers. For more details, call 919-641-0491 or visit Cordusaraleigh.org.
Life Mission USA presents their 2025 Youth Summer Camp from July 5 to 11, 2025 in Mebane, NC with a theme of Living in harmony with Yam & Niyam: Exploring the importance of Ahimsa and Satya. This camp is for 9 to 17 years old kids to awaken the spirit, enliven the body, and inspire minds. Schedule includes yoga class, morning classes on personal growth, stories from Indian Culture, and discussions on how to maintain a youthful spirit through life, afternoon workshops in Indian cooking, arts and crafts, sports, and then an evening campfire with skits. Info: kgvaghela@gmail.com or call 760-473-4811. Registration: Lifemissionusa.org.
Keep up with all the events happening in our region with Saathee Magazine. The best way to find them is in these pages or online at our regularly updated events section: Saathee.com/events
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Doctor Who Returns with Some Polish! Polish!, Time Schwups and a Dynamic New
Companion:
Indian Actress - Varada Sethu
Mirror, Mirror by Jennifer Allen
The second season of the BBC favorite, Doctor Who has now begun with the 15th Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) on a quest to find a particular nurse working in a present-day London hospital who (as things often go in the Whoverse) is captured by space robots with disintegrator ray weapons.
This nurse, played brilliantly by Varada Sethu, may be familiar to fans of Disney’s Andor series as she portrayed Cinta Kaz, one of the rebel cell members seen in the middle portion of the season.
Here she is Miss Belinda Chandra, whom 17-years prior received a framed “star registry with your name” certificate from then boyfriend Alan Budd as a birthday present. This little piece of paper will go on to set off a fateful chain of events which lay a foundation for the episode to follow.
The planet Sethu’s character is transported to is in the Missbelindachandra star system, on which the Missbelindachandrakind explains she was brought there
by the Missbelindachandrabots (just go with it) to be their one true Queen and marry/merge with the ‘Great A.I. Generator’ if only to bring about peace between the local synthetics and organics.
What follows is a series of twists and time fracture “schwups” which ultimately end up with Belinda joining The Doctor as they leave Missbelindachandra 1 with the former Unlike previous season-long companions, ironically, she declines his offer and instead insists he return her to Earth at the exact same time in which she left.
Unfortunately, certain events occurred while they were away, and the TARDIS is unable to acquiesce her request.
It’s nice to see Companion-centric episodes once in a while on Who, and this one does not disappoint in terms of introducing Belinda to the audience. She’s an overworked nurse of South Asian descent in a less-than-ideal living situation with two flat mates she barely gets along with.
I was recently told that most of London’s first responder employees are migrants, so her predicament is fairly common (at least to a British
MIrror continued on page 90
Images courtesy of BBC
The Year of the Composition Segues
Kismuth and the Way II by
Dipika Kohli
‘You need a transition here.’
‘Do I?’
‘Yes.’
I’m aged sixteen and standing outside the art room at school, in the early evening hour. A twinge of reddish sunset is starting to color the shorthaired, loopy carpeting, which is otherwise a plainer beige, not that anyone is looking.
A good friend of mine and I are crouching over four dot-matrix-printed pages, which are the leaves of my first-ever English paper. I am beaming.
She is tentative. After what seems like fifty-five minutes, (and may well have been), she looks up. In a voice that is kind, yet firm, she says, ‘Can I ...?’, and nods slightly at what we will soon find out is a
blunter-than-it-looks red color pencil that she has brought along just for this, and which I, for some reason, am twirling.
‘Thanks. This spot. See, we don’t know where this paragraph is going to take us, so add a line between this one, and this one... here. A transition A kind of segue between the ideas, that’s what you need.’
‘Okay. How would I do that?’
As she embroiders red essays in a flurry in the margins, it gets dark fast. Fall in North Carolina If it gets drafty, I can tell her I’m cold, and then, I can go get noodles at Northgate.
‘What?’
‘Nothing. So, are we finished here?’
‘I think so,’ she reiterated. ‘Write transitions. Between paragraphs.’
After the mall, I settle into my room and my desk, and switch on the desk lamp, one of those
Kismuth continued on page 80
Mediterranean Diet
Nutrition for Life by
Parul Kharod
You may have heard your doctor recommend eating a Mediterranean diet for heart health. Let us explore what it means to eat a Mediterranean diet, and how can we modify it to desi taste?
One of the most well-researched diets for over half a century, the Mediterranean diet is backed by a robust body of scientific research to enhance longevity and improve quality of life. The Mediterranean Diet has also been ranked #1 Easiest Diet to Follow and #1 Best Diet for Diabetes, High Cholesterol, Gut Health, Mental Health, Inflammation, and many other health conditions.
What is the Mediterranean Diet?
“Mediterranean diet” is a generic term based on the traditional eating habits in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. There is no single standard Mediterranean diet as there are several countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Eating styles among these countries, and even among regions within each country, are different because of differences in culture, ethnic background, religion, economy, geography, and agricultural production. In this sense it is quite like Indian cuisine.
Most people associate the Mediterranean diet with Greek, Lebanese, or Italian food. But there are more than twenty countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea and include countries from Eastern Europe and North Africa, including Morocco, Malta, Spain, and Lebanon.
Common foods included in a Mediterranean diet
Overall, the Mediterranean diet mostly emphasizes plant-based foods, focusing on overall diet quality rather than specific nutrients
• Fruits and vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
• Beans and legumes - lentils, chickpeas, cannellini beans, and peas
• Whole grains like farro, buckwheat, bulgur, rice, and couscous
• Healthy fats and oils, including extra virgin olive oil
• Herbs and spices
• Small amounts of fish, seafood, lamb or chicken (optional)
What foods are not part of the Mediterranean diet?
• Highly processed foods (such as sodas, sugary fruit juices and chips)
• Refined carbohydrates (processed sweets)
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Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Director: Christopher McQuarrie)
Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Angela Bassett
The Raja Saab (Director: Maruthi)
Cast: Prabhas, Nidhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, and Malavika Mohanan
Friendship (Director: Andrew DeYoung)
Cast: Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, and Kate Mara
Lilo & Stitch (Director: Dean Fleischer Camp)
Cast: Sydney Agudong, Billy Magnussen, and Zach Galifianakis
Kapkapiii (Director: Sangeeth Sivan)
Cast: Tusshar Kapoor and Shreyas Talpade
Fountain of Youth (Streaming) (Director: Guy Ritchie)
Cast: John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Domhnall Gleeson, and Stanley Tucci
May 30
Karate Kid: Legends (Director: Jonathan Entwistle)
Cast: Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio
Kingdom (Director: Gowtam Tinnanuri)
Cast: Vijay Devarakonda and Bhagyasree Borse
The Phoenician Scheme (Director: Wes Anderson)
Cast: Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera, Bill Murray, Riz Ahmed, and Tom Hanks
Abir Gulaal
Two wounded souls, brought together by chance, find solace in each other’s company and gradually develop a profound connection that blossoms into love. The film is directed by Aarti S Bagdi and stars Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor. Opens May 9, 2025.
Fountain of Youth
Two siblings join forces to seek the legendary Fountain of Youth. Using historical clues, they embark on a quest. If successful, the mythical fountain could grant them immortality. Guy Ritchie directs John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Domhnall Gleeson, and Stanley Tucci. The film begins streaming on May 23, 2025.
Kesari Veer
The tale of Hamirji Gohil, a brave warrior who fought against the Tughlaq Empire to protect the Somnath Temple and the Hindu faith. Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath stars Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi, Sooraj Pancholi, and Akansha Sharma and is directed by Prince Dhiman. Opens on May 16, 2025.
Kapkapiii
Sangeeth Sivan directs the movie where a clique of friends, seeking thrills, uses a Ouija board to connect a ghost for fun. Soon realizing that their house has become haunted by a female spirit. The film stars Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Jay Thakkar, and Siddhi Idnani. It opens on May 23, 2025.
Trail of Vengeance
Ballerina
An assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma organization sets out to seek revenge after her father’s death. Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves star in this action thriller, a part of John Wick universe. Directed by Len Wiseman. It is scheduled to open on June 6, 2025.
A widow’s life is upended by her husband’s murder, orchestrated by a nefarious colonel. She unexpectedly crosses paths with a former Pinkerton agent, a man with a troubled past. Directed by Johnny Remo, starring Eric Nelsen and Rumer Willis. It opens May 23, 2025.
Materialists
A matchmaker’s lucrative business is complicated when she falls into a toxic love triangle that threatens her clients. Celine Song directs Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans and Dakota Johnson in the film opening on June 13, 2025.
The “Done Thing” is a Thing with Wings
The “Done Thing” is a Thing with Wings
Thinking
About Thinking by Balaji Prasad
“There is no one alive who is youer than you.” ~
Dr. Seuss
You say you have goals, priorities, philosophies and ways of being? Do you, really?
It’s not uncommon to have one’s words live in a parallel universe that bears little resemblance to the real one. You could believe something to be true in the little universe concocted inside your head while the big universe moves where it moves, like a juggernaut, paying little respect to such unruly mind games that you play within yourself.
While it is easy to see that you can get some things wrong, and suffer from some illusions that arise from words, could you even be wrong about your own self and what such a “self” cares about? Is that possible?
The selfless self
Paraphrasing Lewis Carroll (“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”)
If you don’t know what your self is, any self can be your self.
Aye, there’s the rub, as Hamlet might have mused, as he pondered the possibility of ending his physical self. Here, we are, of course, not musing about the physical self; we are pondering the amorphous self that we call our “I”. And, horror of horrors, unbeknownst to us, it may well be dead or dying. Or at least stunted by various impediments that we are barely aware of.
That’s a bit of a problem. If the self that you have been thinking you own and shape is not really your self, nor exclusively shaped by you, then what does it really mean when you say “I” or “my”, and you discuss your goals and priorities? Whose goals and priorities are these really, if they are not yours?
Thinking continued on page 88
The Quiet Struggle: Indian American Students and the Pressures of the Road to College
Voice by Alisha Mistry
Nestled between the fall and spring lies a special season: not just winter, but college admissions season. A whirlwind of emotions take place—after all, higher education is a goal in the minds of millions of high schoolers across America. But what does this mean for the several thousand Indian Americans applying to college? Beyond the statistics and stereotypes lies a deeper, untold story: one of cultural expectations, systemic challenges, and the relentless pursuit of the American Dream.
Many students feel a strong sense of responsibility to honor the sacrifices their parents made to provide them with better opportunities. For some, this translates into the belief that attending an “average” college would be an insult to that hard work.
The pressure to attend an elite institution can sometimes make college admissions feel like the be-all and end-all. As a high school student myself, I see this firsthand. Many of my peers are compared to their own friends by their parents, a heartbreaking thing to witness when a parent is so focused on determining where their child stands in relation to others.
It is a stressful time for everyone, but especially for firstgeneration Indian Americans. Not only are the students going through the process for the first time, but so are their parents. It’s easy to get caught up in discussions about what everyone else has been up to, whether that is prestigious internships, research with college professors, or hours upon hours of volunteer work.
It’s human nature to compare ourselves to other people, especially those who are similar to us. Although Indian families are often a source of deep support, they can also unintentionally contribute to academic pressure. As a community, we need to understand that everyone has their own circumstances and academic limits.
It’s also important for students to recognize that someone else’s dream is not their own, as expressed by the Hindu term “Svadharma.”
It’s easy to lose sight of our aspirations when we see others excelling in a path that doesn’t align with what we truly want. But we can’t chase someone else’s dream, because we only live once.
College admissions policies have changed significantly in recent years due to several factors, including affirmative
My Voice Quiet Struggle continued on page 92
My
When Should North Carolina Students Go Back to School? NewBillAimstoGiveDistrictsMoreFlexibility
By Chantal Brown, EdNC.org
A bill focused on giving school districts more calendar flexibility passed the Senate education committee Wednesday.
Legislators and members of the community had mixed reactions to Senate Bill 754, with some of the senators expressing concerns for the tourism industry.
Under current law, public school districts are not allowed to start the instructional year earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end any later than the Friday closest to June 11 — with the exception of year-round schools. Districts can apply for an exception to the end date if they had to close school due to weather or any other emergencies.
Senate Pro Tempore Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, is one of the primary sponsors of the bills, which marks a shift from recent years. Bills to address calendar flexibility often pop up in the House but aren’t able to make it through the Senate. This session’s bill comes after multiple school districts violated the calendar law last year.
At Wednesday’s committee meeting, Sen. Amy Galey, RAlamance, said that many districts have found that updates can be made to the law, which was originally passed in 2004.
“Not only can it be adapted to better suit the students in the school districts, but also adapted for the industries that we rely on (for) their tax revenue in order to support the schools,” Galey said.
The bill proposes a second option — school boards can decide that their district will start the Monday closest to Aug. 19 and end the year no later than “the Friday immediately preceding the last Monday in May,” meaning Memorial Day weekend.
Districts that take the second option also have to have an equal number of instructional days in their fall and spring semesters.
Notably, the proposal also adds enforcement mechanisms and a penalty for districts who violate the law. According to the bill, the State Board of Education would be responsible for ensuring the local school boards comply with the law, and school districts that violate the calendar law risk the Department of Public Instruction withholding their central office administrative allotment and a $10,000 civil judgement against them.
While presenting the bill to the committee, Galey said that 25% of the state’s 116 public school districts were found to not be in compliance with the current law.
NC Students continued on page 92
Eye on the Markets
by Ketu Desai
Sometimes a month feels like a year, and March 2025 was one of those. The market was completely unprepared by the direction the administration has taken. They want to cool the economy down and reduce both yield and inflation. This appears to have initially succeeded.
Consumer and business sentiment is in a free fall. Yields have backed off. GDP estimates for the first quarter are running at less than 1%. While there is initial success, the irony is that global financial conditions are easing. The US dollar is down nearly 4% YTD. The Fed put is starting to reassert itself, with the Fed tapering quantitative tightening and ready to cut rates if needed.
The America first policy has caused foreign countries to stimulate. The ECB cut rates. Germany passed a historic nearly $1 trillion stimulus bill for defense and infrastructure. China announced a broad range of stimulus ranging from rate cuts, lower reserve requirements, property market support, liquidity for the stock market, subsidies on goods, consumer stimulus, and fiscal expansion. The scope and depth of these stimulus measures will no doubt have a
Markets Caught Off-Guard
global impact. Copper rallying 25% YTD is a good indicator of the magnitude of the foreign stimulus. With plenty of domestic fiscal stimulus still in our pipeline, global financial conditions are now easing, and foreign countries are stimulating, prepare for the market to be caught off-guard again.
Positioning and sentiment have been reset. Bank of America’s Global Fund Manager Survey reported the biggest drop ever in US equity allocation and yet the biggest jump in cash allocation since March 2020. CTAs have gone from very net long to net short equities. According to Goldman, CTAs are now buyers in nearly all scenarios. Hedge funds have reduced at one of the fastest paces in history. Aggregate equity positioning is in the 26th percentile. Long/short hedge funds are the shortest in over five years even after a global pandemic. Sentiment gauges for both retail and institutional investors spent March at extreme fear levels.
The Conference Board survey of consumer stock market expectations showed the largest two month decline ever. We had the fifth fastest correction from a 52-week high since 1950. With this reset easing financial conditions, it will not take much to build back up as there’s plenty of fuel from all types of investors with over $7 trillion of cash on the sidelines.
Understanding the History of Classical Dances
I am a strong believer in understanding our history. It is easier to understand today, if we know what happened yesterday. India is working hard to revive and teach art history to the current generation through large music and dance festivals. It is good to see many parents taking their kids to these classical dance festivals to instill interest in these unblemished dance forms. Even in my classes, I now see mother and daughter pairs wanting to learn Bharatha Natyam. They are learning with enthusiasm and hard work. This also increases the bonds between parents and kids with similar goals and a deeper appreciation of a long-term commitment in a culture that expects instant gratification.
Religious perspective: According to Hinduism, Brahma, the creator and one of the Hindu Trinity, with the help of Goddess Saraswati, giver of higher learning and the arts, enlisted Bharatha Muni’s support in writing the fifth Veda, called Natyashastra. This is a book on drama, dance, and music. It describes the setup of classical dance forms, including the jewelry, the building of the stages, the orchestra, the costumes of the dancers, meaning of hand gestures, facial expressions, positions of the feet and many more intricate details. Classical dances were meant to become a guiding light to understand the concepts of good and evil, moral and immoral, and temporary and permanent.
Role of Temples: Due to its divine origins, the earliest support to the art of dance came from temples, which were also the main area of communion between the commoners
and the pundits. Local leaders supported the temples and were their patrons. The temples reverberated with devotion to the gods through elaborate rituals, part of which were also the twin arts of singing and dancing. Local patrons took pride in their temples and provided them with the best available talent. It was also a matter of honor for artists to be associated with service to God. A special class of dancers dedicated to God, deva (God) dasi (servant), came about whose accomplishments were respected and celebrated by many.
Role of Royals: The kings and queens were not far behind in extending patronage to artists and they did a lot to support temples. Financial support and donation of land for temples helped these places of worship to thrive. Each temple was assured not only of local support from their zamindaars or leaders but royal patronage too, thus increasing the power and prestige of each temple and its resident dancers.
Foreign Invasions: In 16th century, with the arrival of foreign powers in India, these dances experienced a huge setback. First, for trade and then for permanent stay and rule, these foreign rulers decreased the power of both local leaders and the royal courts. This led to a slow but sure decline in support to and patronage of temples, in turn leading to the decline of these religious art forms. The indigenous arts of India were looked down upon by colonialists and discouraged when Victorian civilization took over. By the time India attained independence from foreign rule in 1947, most temples and its inhabitants had
Dances of India continued on page 88
Dances of India by Dr. Maha Gingrich
Why Does the Case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia Matter?
Immigration Matters
by Rishi P. Oza
By all accounts, the Trump Administration has intentionally pushed the bounds of the powers of the Executive Branch. As we inch closer to the completion of the President’s first 100 days in office, the recent removal of Kilmar Abrego Garcia stands as a troubling juncture in the President’s observation of the rule of law. For purposes of background, Abrego Garcia is an El Salvadorian citizen who entered the United States unlawfully in 2011 at the age of 16. After being placed in removal proceedings, he requested and was granted Withholding of Removal, a type of relief that legally prevented the United States from removing Abrego Garcia to any country identified by the Immigration Judge.
In this case, the United States was expressly and specifically forbidden from removing him to El Salvador, on the grounds that he would be subjected to persecution by the government. Withholding of Removal is a difficult form of relief to obtain statistically speaking and requires an applicant to show that he is “more likely than not” to face persecution if returned to his home country.
A review of his immigration court history shows that the government did not contest the Abrego Garcia’s approval to a higher appeals court, meaning that when granted, the government believed the Court’s decision to have merit.
Despite this decision, on March 15, 2025, Abrego Garcia was removed from the United States to El Salvador, the one country specifically prohibited by the 2019 order of the Immigration Judge. In its own briefings, the United States “concedes that removal [of Mr. Abrego Garcia] to El Salvador was an administrative error.”
The Administration alleges that he was a member of the feared MS-13 gang; as widely disseminated through media reports, Abrego Garcia’s purported gang membership appears to be predicated on the fact that “he was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie” and “a confidential informant advised that he was an active member of MS-13 with the Westerns clique.”
Despite having never being accused of a crime, he was unceremoniously removed from the United States to El Salvador.
His removal set off a chain of court battles, which ultimately culminated in a decision from the United States Supreme Court mandating that the “the Government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and [ensure] that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.”
Sadly, this has not happened and instead, the Trump Administration has doubled down on its assertion that Abrego Garcia’s removal was just and proper.
The government’s position on this matter is troubling for a number of reasons. Foremost, it directly contradicts the Immigration Matters continued on page 72
Frame Documentary
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 2025 Review
Festival 2025 Review
by Dilip Barman
Franklin, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, and many more. There was one scene when Barack Obama visited and spoke about the importance of the theater.
The 27th annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival was another excellent fest that took place April 3 – 6, 2025. It’s one of the most important documentary film festivals, and we’re lucky to have it here in Durham, NC. It’s an opportunity to see impactful films often not accessible otherwise and to meet and ask filmmakers questions.
This year there were forty-nine films from thirty countries. Twenty feature-length and fifteen short films competed for new documentary awards and fourteen films were part of an invited program including several films by Jean Tsien, such as episodes from the 2020 five-part television documentary Asian Americans (pbs.org/weta/asian-americans).
One of my favorite films was Mr. Nobody Against Putin (David Borenstein, Pavel Talankin, 2025). Pavel “Pasha” Talankin, the co-director, works at a K-12 school in a small town of 10,000 in the Ural Mountains of Russia.
He helps organize events and videos throughout the school. Students enjoy working with him and often use his office for playing music, doing video editing, and just relaxing.
Once the war against Ukraine begins, his school (and, presumably, many others) is directed by Moscow to take time out of lessons to spread state perspectives on the war.
Pasha makes staged videos of the children listening and reacting to propaganda. Things get even worse when students are militarized by parading in army uniforms and even having grenade-throwing competitions. Eventually Pasha has to escape from Russia and armed with the detailed footage, has gone into hiding while sharing the disturbing reality of the war on school children.
When Asian Americans was broadcast on PBS, I loved watching its detailed story of Asian immigration and integration and assimilation into the United States. Several episodes were shown at Full Frame this year which was exciting not just for the big screen experience, but to be able to talk to Jean Tsien and several of the filmmakers.
In the elementary and middle school years of homeschooling, my daughter and I read the poetry and history of the “Harlem Renaissance.” We also saw its rise when we saw Ken Burns’ 2001 Jazz and the importance of the Apollo Theater. It was very nice to see with my daughter the (free) opening film by Jean Tsien, her 2019 The Apollo about this landmark theatre. While I would have enjoyed seeing more of its history as was shown in Jazz, for example, it was hard to beat the joy of archival footage of performers like Aretha
I knew a little bit about Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern, the former (2017-2023) Prime Minister of New Zealand, but learned much more from the opening night film Prime Minister (Michelle Walshe, Lindsay Utz, 2025). The film has high production quality that is enhanced by the unprecedented access afforded by significant footage by Jacinda Ardern’s husband Clarke Gayford. The story portrays a strong woman motivated not by power but by kindness.
The Librarians (Kim A. Snyder, 2025, thelibrariansfilm.com) brings attention to increasing calls for book banning across the United States. Featuring librarians from both communities and schools, it narrates heated censorship efforts sometimes causing librarians to lose their jobs in trying to keep bookshelves open. During the Q&A after the film, one of the librarians in the film, Suzette Baker of Texas, described how she lost her job but how she is now rallying folks to resist book banning.
Legendary filmmaker Stanley Nelson brought his fabulous about-to-be-released (just a few days later on public television) film We Want the Funk! (pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/we-wantthe-funk) to Full Frame. Many may know funk by its originator, the “Godfather of Funk” James Brown.
Indeed, Brown is featured in the film but only as the starting point. “Black music” in the 1960s and early 1970s (including some of my favorite songs) often was offered in forms that would appeal to the majority and avoided social justice and civil rights themes.
When James Brown gave voice to “I’m Black and I’m proud”, it became an instant empowering anthem. One of the theses of the film is that many
Full Frame continued on page 80
Spot the Differences
See if you can spot the 15 differences between the original photo on top and modified below. (Solution on page 104)
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Dear God, Make Me Better Not Just Richer
My Voice by Hiren Deliwala
Prayer has always been a big deal in Indian households. Whether it’s the smell of incense in the morning or your mom telling you “Bhagwan se kuch maango beta (Go ahead and ask of God)” we’ve grown up with folded hands and a hopeful heart. As a kid, I used to pray for better grades, a new toy, and of course, “Please God, make my parents stop arguing,”—the childhood version of world peace. Fast forward to adulthood, and honestly… not much has changed. Now I pray for promotions instead of grades, a bigger car instead of a toy, and that my kids don’t fight— and maybe, just maybe, that my wife also doesn’t argue. (Not holding my breath on that one)
But here’s the thing: somewhere along the way, I started noticing a pattern. All my prayers were about results. “God, give me this, fix that, make this happen.” But not once did I pray about what I needed to become to actually deserve those
things. Not once did I say, “Bhagwan, give me the discipline to wake up early,” or “God, help me stay focused instead of doom-scrolling through Instagram.”
That’s when it hit me. Maybe prayers aren’t just for wish lists. Maybe they’re also for checklists—meri checklist of qualities that I need to actually get where I want to go.
Let’s break this down. What if, instead of asking God for outcomes, we started asking for —inner strength? Here’s what that could look like:
1. Confidence to Get Started
For Indian Americans, everyone wants to be the next big thing. But start something new? Yeah, that’s out of my reach! So what if, instead of praying for success, we asked for confidence? “Hey God, give me strength and confidence to get started.” The hardest part is often taking that first step. Confidence can be divine too, you know.
Festival of India Matthews 2025 Community Focus
The annual Festival of India Matthews took place on April 12, 2025, at Stumptown Park in Matthews NC. This is a regional fest leading up to the Festival of India which takes place in downtown Charlotte in the fall. The festival featured a variety of dance performances, along with Indian food, henna, turban tying and glimpses into India’s vast cultural heritage. The India Association of Charlotte organizes these festivals annually. The fall festival will take place the weekend of September 20 – 21, 2025. Info: Indiafestival.net
Photos by Dola Paul
News Notes
LA 2028 Olympics Cricket Venue Announced
Cricket has been absent from the Olympics for over a century, last featured at Paris 1900, where a one-off, two-day match between Great Britain and France was held.
At LA 2028, cricket will be played in the fast-paced T20 format, with six teams competing in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. A total of 90 athlete quotas have been allocated for each gender, allowing every team to name a 15-member squad.
Cricket is one of five new sports to feature at the upcoming Olympics. The IOC approved cricket’s inclusion for LA28 two years ago, along with baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash.
Baseball will be played at the Dodger Stadium in Downtown Los Angeles. Incidentally, the Dodger Stadium hosted a cricket tournament featuring legends Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne headlining the Cricket All-Stars Series finale in 2015.
“The 2028 Olympic venue plan invites communities from across the region to celebrate the Games coming to their backyard with the most exciting sports staged at some of the world’s top-tier existing stadiums and arenas, famous beaches and purpose-built temporary structures,” according to an Olympics press release.
The LA28 Olympics will take place between July 14 and 30, 2028. The schedule for each sport, including cricket, will be finalized closer to the Games.
For more details, visit Olympics.com.
India Philanthropy Alliance Announces 6th Annual Youth Essay Competition
The India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), a U.S.-based coalition of 21 nonprofit, philanthropic, and charitable organizations focused on India, has announced its 6th Annual Youth Essay Competition.
This year’s theme, #FutureByYou, emphasizes youth agency and empowerment in building a better tomorrow for the world, and for India in particular.
Since the competition’s inception, shortly after IPA’s public launch in 2019, it has served as a platform for young voices to engage with global challenges and philanthropic action. Students are encouraged to research one of the most challenging issues facing India today and write a well-researched and compelling essay that outlines the challenges and opportunities of their chosen topic. Each year around 10 essays are published on the India Giving Day website, giving students an opportunity to have their voices and ideas heard and to identify allies in advancing their visions of a better world.
“We believe young people have the ability to think of complex social challenges in new ways and propose innovative solutions,” said Alex Counts, Executive Director of the India Philanthropy Alliance. “This competition reinforces that they have the power to shape India’s future through thoughtful analysis and pragmatic ideas.”
The competition will be judged separately for Middle School and High School youth by a panel of nonprofit professionals. Winners in each category will have the opportunity to present their ideas at a national gathering of philanthropists, business leaders, and nonprofit executives in the fall of this year and to direct a grant of $1,000 to the charity of their choice.
Runners-up can direct a $500 grant to a nonprofit they select and have their essay promoted on IPA’s website and social media channels, and to its network organizations.
The deadline to submit an essay is July 1, 2025. Winners will be notified in late August or early September at which time they will be contacted to coordinate travel plans. Airfare and accommodation to the philanthropy conference will be provided by the IPA.
For details, visit Indiaphilanthropyalliance.org.
Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami of B.A.P.S
Honored with the Saraswati Samman
In a recognition of Sanskrit scholarship and Indian philosophy, Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami, of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, was conferred in late March 2025 the Saraswati Samman 2024 for his acclaimed Sanskrit publication Swaminarayana Siddhanta Sudha. This marks a historic occasion as the prestigious literary award returns to Sanskrit literature after more than two decades.
The Saraswati Samman, instituted in 1991 by the K.K. Birla Foundation, is one of India’s highest literary honors. It is awarded annually to an Indian citizen for an exceptional work of prose or poetry published in the last ten years, written in any of the 22 languages recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The award carries a cash prize of ₹15 lakhs, along with a citation and a plaque.
Swaminarayana Siddhanta Sudha, published in 2022, is a profound Sanskrit treatise that systematically presents the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan, the philosophical doctrine revealed by
Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Written in the classical vadagrantha style, it serves as both an exposition and a defense of this unique Vedantic philosophy. The work has been lauded for its clarity, depth, and accessibility—bridging ancient philosophical traditions with contemporary relevance. It stands as a testament to the living nature of India’s philosophical heritage and the expressive power of the Sanskrit language.
Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami is an internationally respected Sanskrit scholar and thought leader in Indian philosophy. He holds multiple academic distinctions, including an M.A., Ph.D., D.Litt., and an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) from IIT Kharagpur. Currently serving as the Head of the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute, he has dedicated his life to the advancement of Sanskrit scholarship and Vedic philosophy.
BAPS is a spiritual, volunteer-driven fellowship dedicated to improving society through individual growth, by fostering values of faith, service, and global harmony.
Saving Lives, One Beat at a Time
The Rohan Rajeev Foundation was born from unimaginable loss and a powerful purpose. In 2022, Rohan Rajeev, a bright, compassionate young man, tragically passed away from sudden cardiac arrest. Despite being surrounded by people, no one present knew CPR. Help arrived just five minutes too late. That gap—those five minutes—became a call to action.
The foundation was created to ensure no family loses a loved one because bystanders didn’t know what to do. Since launching, the foundation has:
• Trained hundreds of individuals in bystander CPR. Approximately 2000 citizens have been trained free in the Raleigh Durham area (offered once per mont at the HSNC). Training now is being scheduled in Charlotte starting June 7, 2025. Click QR code to register.
• Partnered with schools, temples, and local organizations to raise awareness about heart health
• Launched the Rohan Rajeev GATE Scholarship at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business to support future leaders in global education
The mission continues to grow. In 2025, RRF plans to expand CPR training to more underserved communities, collaborate with youth organizations to teach life-saving skills early, and advocate for CPR education to be a standard part of school and workplace safety programs.
Rohan’s life was full of kindness, curiosity, and love. Through this foundation, his legacy lives on—not just in memory, but in action. For more details, visit Rohanrajeev.org.
Tiger TRIUMPH 2025: U.S. Navy’s P-8A
Poseidon Crew Engages VIT University Students
Interaction Highlights U.S.-India Defense Cooperation Through Technology and People-to-People Exchange
Crew members from the U.S. Navy’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft interact with students from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University in Vellore on Thursday, April 10.
Seventeen crew members of the U.S. Navy’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft interacted with students from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University in Vellore, Tamil Nadu on April 10, 2025. The U.S. Navy visited the institute alongside a visit to the Indian Naval Air Station INS Rajali as part of the ongoing Tiger Triumph 2025, the fourth iteration of this tri-service joint exercise between the United States and India.
VIT Vice President Dr. Sekar Viswanathan welcomed the service members. The crew later interacted with students specializing in a variety of cutting-edge technological disciplines, explained the aircraft’s key features, and shared the aircraft’s role in joint operations with the Indian Navy.
The event highlighted the real-world application of emerging technologies in disaster response missions and maritime security.
U.S. Consulate General Chennai Public Diplomacy Officer Eric Atkins said, “Tiger Triumph is a bridge between our people and our shared vision for a secure and resilient Indo-Pacific. Today’s interaction at VIT University highlights another facet of how innovation, collaboration, and mutual respect can power our partnership forward.”
Lt. Noah Conner, officer in charge of the P-8A attachment, which operates under Commander, Task Force 72 and U.S. 7th Fleet said, “Our team is thrilled to be in India for Tiger Triumph 2025, where we can bring this technology and expertise into a realistic training environment that prepares our joint, combined forces for any mission our nations may require.
One of the most important parts of this exercise is building personal relationships and strengthening the News Notes continued on page 94
International Students Infuse Tens of Millions of Dollars into Local Economies Across the US
International Students Infuse
Tens of Millions of Dollars into Local Economies Across the US
By Barnet Sherman
The Trump administration has recently revoked the visas of more than 1,300 foreign college students –detaining some – and launched immigration enforcement actions on college campuses across the country. This has raised concerns among the more than 1.1 million international students studying at U.S. universities.
Headlines are filled with perspectives from immigration and civil rights experts, but one aspect of the story often goes overlooked: the tremendous economic impact international students have on local communities.
Although the actual impact on enrollment won’t be known until the next academic year, interest from foreign students in pursuing graduate-level education in the U.S. fell sharply in the early days of the Trump administration, one analysis showed.
If these global scholars stay home, that’s bad economic news for cities and towns across the United States.
A $44 billion economic impact
Higher education is America’s 10th-largest export, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. (Yes, even though students are coming into the U.S. for their education, economists consider it an export.)
What Happens if They Stay Home?
What Happens if They Stay
Home?
Last year, U.S. colleges and universities attracted international students from 217 nations and territories, including one student from the island nation of Niue in the South Pacific. Their economic contributions added up to more than the value of U.S. telecommunications, computer and information services exports combined.
While the national impact is impressive, the effects at the local level are even more important. After all, nearly every city across the U.S. has at least one institution of higher learning.
The average international student brings a wallet stuffed with about $29,000 to spend on everything from tuition to pizza. As these students rent apartments, buy books and order DoorDash delivery to fuel all-nighters, they’re pumping money into the local community.
This money translates into American jobs. On average, a new job is created for every four international students enrolled in a U.S. college or university. In the 2023-24 academic year, about 378,175 jobs were created. And that’s just counting jobs that are directly supported by international students, such as local business hiring to staff retail shops and restaurants. If you count those jobs indirectly supported by international students, such as employees at a distribution center, the number is even higher.
International Students continued on page 70
Helping Hands
Helping Hands
Profiles of Organizations Helping the Community
Profiles of Organizations Helping the Community
The Women’s Center of Wake County
By CORDUSA’s youth ambassadors
Nora Robbins is the volunteer coordinator at the Women’s Center of Wake County, which uses evidence-based practices to provide stability and housing for single women experiencing homelessness.
CORDUSA Youth:
Give us a brief overview of your organization.
NR: We are primarily a day shelter providing resources for single women experiencing homelessness weekdays Monday to Friday. Safe Haven Shelter (lower level) is a unique program partnered with WakeMed Hospital, dedicated to providing medical respite for women coming out of surgery or needing extended time for recovery (five beds). The other six beds are reserved for women that cannot navigate the overnight shelter system due to age, disabilities, and severe mental health. Our guests come from all walks of life, depending on their circumstances. We serve about 100 women daily. Due to being short-staffed, we typically have around 17 staff members. We rely heavily on interns and have a volunteer workforce of 3,000 volunteers. At the front desk, we check in women who often arrive with suitcases: sometimes ones we’ve given them, or ones provided by their community. Women new to the system arrive with belongings in grocery bags. We therefore seek donations of suitcases. Many live in constant fear of where they will go after 2:30pm. It’s not just about getting food; it’s about figuring out their next steps. They must leave the shelter by 7am and make their way back later. Some spend up to five hours a day commuting on buses while carrying their belongings. When they arrive, it’s often a long uphill walk to the location. To give you a clearer picture—about 50% of our women are elderly,
and 85% struggle with mental health issues and have to navigate the system and shuffling between day shelter and overnight shelter. Women accessing overnight shelter throughout the city, or sleeping in tents, cars, or outdoors arrive at The Women’s Center each morning seeking meals, clothing, showers, laundry services, access to computers, phones, and resources for housing, medical appointments, etc.
The goal for these women is to assist them with securing permanent housing while working through disability, guardianship, and medical issues.
CORDUSA Youth:
What motivated you to join an organization like this?
NR: I had worked with the homeless before. I owned a home I had rented to a fraternity house and turned into a recovery house for homeless men. I was working in the dental field, but it wasn’t fulfilling. I wanted to work with people in a way that truly made an impact. When I interviewed for the Women’s Center, they didn’t have an opening at the time. However, they kept telling me to check back. The day I finally decided it wasn’t going to work out, they called and said they had an opening.
CORDUSA Youth:
Doing this daily, have you adapted to this work-life? What are the challenges you face?
NR: I have worked with the homeless for 25 years, and I don’t consider it just a job, it’s more of a ministry. My husband and I saw unmet needs in the community. We approached our pastor and asked if they could provide shuttles for people attending recovery program meetings. We set up a system where we provided meals and transportation. We held three Wake County continued on page 82
A boon to local economies
In any of the 50 largest American cities, you’ll find at least one college or university with international students on campus. For these communities, global learners bring a most welcome financial aid package.
Consider Boston. Greater Boston hosts more than 50 colleges and universities, including Boston University, where I teach multinational finance and trade. The city’s economic gains from the more than 63,000 international students attending these schools are huge: about $3 billion.
Prestigious private schools are a draw, but hands down the biggest pull for international students are state universities and colleges. Of the nation’s top schools enrolling these students last year, 29 were state colleges and universities, attracting over 251,300 students.
In the top three of those public institutions alone Arizona State University, the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign and the University of California, Berkeley international students contributed nearly $1.7 billion, supporting over 16,800 jobs. Expand that to the top 10 the University of California system takes four of those spots and the numbers pop up to $4.68 billion and 47,136 jobs.
Bringing the world to Mankato
Yet international students aren’t just boosting the economies of major university towns. Consider Mankato, a small city of 45,000 about 80 miles from Minneapolis that hosts a Minnesota State University campus. In the 2023-24 academic year, about 1,716 international students called Mankato their home away from home.
Those students brought an infusion of $45.9 million into that community, supporting around 190 jobs. There are dozens of similar campuses in cities and towns like Mankato across the country. It adds up quickly.
In addition to private and public universities, community colleges attract thousands of global scholars.
Although their international enrollment declined during Covid-19, community colleges are resurgent, attracting some 59,315 international students in 2024, with China, Vietnam and Nepal leading the countries-of-origin list.
Generating about $2 billion and supporting 8,472 jobs, they have a major economic impact particularly in Texas, California and Florida, where the majority of these students come to learn.
Texas leads the nation with the three community colleges with the largest international enrollment: Houston Community College, Lone Star College and Dallas College. Of the $256.7 million and 1,096 jobs international students brought into those institutions, Lone Star led the pack with $102.3 million and 438 jobs, nearly one job created for every two international students double the national average.
Due to changing demographics, American colleges enroll 2.3 million fewer domestic students than they did a decade ago a decline of 10.7%. Colleges and universities are increasingly looking to international students to fill the gap. What’s more, universities tend to see international students as subsidizing domestic students, particularly since international students are generally ineligible for need-blind admissions.
Moreover, the vast majority of international students are funded by family or foreign sponsors. Few require student aid packages. In fact, less than 20% of all international students receive grant funding from a federal source, and most of that goes to postgraduates doing advanced research. If you look at undergraduate exchange students alone, just 0.1% receive any sort of public funding.
One thing’s for sure: Whether they’re attending smalltown community colleges or the Ivies in big cities, international students bring a “high degree” of economic impact with them.
Article courtesy of theconversation.com
Barnet Sherman is Professor, Multinational Finance and Trade, Boston University
Graphic courtesy of the Conversation Source: Institute of International Education
ruling of the 2019 Immigration Judge’s order finding that Abrego Garcia was “more likely than not” to be subject to persecution should he be returned to El Salvador. Had the government asserted that the country conditions had changed or that he was now somehow ineligible for a grant of Withholding of Removal, the government could have easily filed a Motion to Reopen his previous removal proceedings and made its arguments in support of his removal.
Doing so would have provided Abrego Garcia with notice and the opportunity to challenge the government’s assertions. In short, he would have been provided with due process and the opportunity to review the government’s evidence and challenge it in open court. The American system of jurisprudence is founded on evidence and not assertions – any client of mine will have likely heard me say “it’s not what we say, it’s what we can prove” at least once during our discussions and until now, I have believed this mantra to be true.
The government’s summary removal of Abrego Garcia, without due process, makes clear that an all-powerful Executive Branch does not believe it needs to prove anything; simply saying he is a gang member makes him so.
The government’s refusal to meaningfully engage El Salvador in seeking his return is also problematic. The Administration has argued that the US cannot simply demand El Salvador to return Abrego Garcia to the United States; while factually accurate, given El Salvador’s willingness to assist the Trump Administration in deportation efforts, a reasonable observer would likely conclude that the Administration, if motivated, could easily facilitate his return.
regardless of an individual’s background, race or creed are foundational concepts to America’s system of jurisprudence. The Administration’s willingness to defy an order from the Immigration Court from 2019, as well as the United States Supreme Court in 2025, is a step towards the dangers of a banana republic (again, apologies for sounding alarmist). However, when a singular branch of government acts without restraint, the other branches of government are charged with ensuring balance.
Congress has sadly abdicated its oversight role and the Courts have no mechanism for enforcement of their orders, as they have no police or military force. Our foundational system of governance relies upon a common observance of the limitations of power, a sad fact apparently lost on today’s Executive Branch. Abrego Garcia’s removal makes clear that the Trump Administration is willing to defy such limits, creating a slippery slope for future actions by this Administration and beyond.
The assertion that Abrego Garcia is a gang member provides the Administration with an easy narrative justifying his removal, but wouldn’t we all want the ability to defend ourselves if charged with a similar accusation? Years ago, I represented a man that was mistakenly arrested for murder in a Las Vegas casino.
After agonizing and contentious arguments with DHS, the agency conceded that his simply shared the same name as the actual criminal; however, he had been branded a “criminal” nonetheless due to his arrest. Should this alone be sufficient to be deported from the United States?
Should Abrego Garcia (or the public) be permitted to see what evidence the US government is using to effectuate his separation from his wife and children? Americans have historically distrusted government, a concept that traces back to the nation’s founding.
However, a recently televised interview between President Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele made clear that the Trump Administration had little appetite to push for Abrego Garcia’s return, despite the order of the Supreme Court.
In fact, Administration officials went so far as to laud his removal, claiming that their actions were in full observance of law. Watching Secretary of State Marco Rubio denigrate the authority of the Supreme Court reinforces what Justice Sonia Sotomayor feared: “The Government’s argument, moreover, implies that it could deport and incarcerate any person, including U. S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene.”
Given the Trump Administration’s candid refusal to intervene, this seems to be exactly what has transpired. Finally, and while cognizant of our current environment of constant hyperbole, the actions of the Administration are a grave offense to the idea of rule of law. The United States has built itself as a country of laws and not of individuals. The idea that the nation’s laws are applied equally
President Trump has repeatedly denigrated government employees as members of the “Deep State” or the “DC Swamp” and while his reasoning has often been dubious, his distrust of government is reinforced by Garcia Abrego’s swift removal.
Had the government reopened his 2019 case and proven his ties to a criminal gang, then this commentator would certainly have not lamented his removal. However, precisely because the government chose not to do so and simply asks us to believe what it tells us is where things break down – it is not what we say, but what we can prove and so far, the Trump Administration has said a lot, but not proven much and we cannot and should not accept that as good enough from our government.
Rishi P. Oza
is Partner at Brown Immigration Law, a firm that focuses solely on immigration law; he practices in Durham. Contact: roza@rbrownllc.com
Sai Kavuri (NC) 703-953-6169 spkavuri@gmail.com
Ankitkumar S. Desai (NC) 704-340-8004 ankitdesai127@gmail.com
There’s something magical about the cozy comfort of chai and cookies—and these chai-spiced snickerdoodles bring the best of both worlds together. While I usually bake them during the holidays when the spices are in full swing, I’ve found myself reaching for this recipe even on a lazy Saturday afternoon. They’re the perfect pick-me-up with your cup of chai or coffee—soft, chewy, and infused with the familiar warmth of cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger. Trust me, once you try them, you’ll want to keep a batch ready at all times!
Ingredients Directions
For the Cookies:
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp cream of tartar
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Chai Spice Sugar Coating:
3 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cardamom powder
¼ tsp ginger powder
⅛ tsp nutmeg
⅛ tsp cloves
Servings: 2 - 3
Prep Time: 15 minutes / Cooking Time: 15 minutes
1. Preheat & Prepare Dough: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.
2. Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
3. Make Chai Spice Sugar: In a small bowl, combine the sugar and spices for the coating. Adjust the spices to taste if you prefer a stronger chai flavor.
4. Shape & Coat: Scoop out dough into 1-inch balls, roll them in the chai spice sugar mixture, and place them on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
5. Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers are still soft. The cookies will firm up as they cool.
6. Cool & Serve: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
H INDU C ENTER
Hindu Center Expansion
Leave a Lasting Memory on HC Wall. Sponsor Plates for $1001, $5,001, $10,001, $25,001 or more Expansion project update:
Work Completed: Grading, Parking Lot , foundation, stone work inside and outside.
Work Continues: Main Shikhar and electrical.
2025 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Upcoming Hindu Center Events & Activities:
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Gayatri Jayanti Havan: June 1st, Sunday
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Guru Purnima: July 10th, Thursday
Hindu Center’s 43rd Anniversary
General Body Meeting / Mela / Health Fair - July 26th, Saturday & July 27th, Sunday
Balaji’s Brahmotatsavam:August 1st, Friday thru August 3rd, Sunday
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Janmastami: August 16th, Saturday
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Annual Membership: $101, Students & Seniors $31 Become life member for $1001! HINDU
O F C HARLOTTE
Sunday, June 1, 2025 (4-7 pm) - Vihar Hall
Ratha Yatra
Saturday, June 28th, 2025
All are welcome. Mahaprasad will be served.
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O F C HARLOTTE
Hindu Center 43rd Anniversary!
July 26 & July 27 2025 (Sat & Sun)
Lunch/ Anand Bazaar
2 PM- 6 PM Vihar Hall Foyer
To sponsor a food stall or for more info ontact:
Sunder Mirchandani: 704-691-2974
Nilesh Chuadhry: 704-307-6979
Narain and Deepa: 704-307-0942
Surendra Patel: 704-564-9436
Jatin Patel: 678-602-0935
General Body Meeting 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Cultural Program
2 PM - 6 PM Vihar Hall
Participate in the cultural program or come enjoy the show!!
For Details Contact:
Anitha Gowtam: 704-206-9348
Rashmikaben: 704-596-7188
Sarika Milhoutra: 201-696-1877
Riya Annesha 980-349-9476
Hemant Amin 704-258-3588
Reena Roy 704-607-8412 or email: reena.roy@hcclt.org
Health Fair
Sun, July 27
Noon - 4 PM Gandhi Bhavan
Learn about your health and how to improve it.
For more information contact:
Rajeev Puri: 704-649-2165
Vipul Mistry: 704-392-8789
Dr. Anoop Kalia: 704-674-3632
Dr. Mahesh Duggal: 704-793-3208
For donations / sponsors contact: Pujari, Bal Gupta, Ravi Patel or Hemant Amin.
To sponsor food for a stall or volunteer, contact Ashok Shah Hemant Amin, or anyone above.
43rd Anniversary Celebration and Anand Bazaar
Cultural Program Contacts
Email: hc_cultural@yahoo.com
Anitha Gowtam 704-206-9348
Sponsorships
Nirav Pandya 570-205-2636
Anju Jain 704-620-4503 or email: hc_cultural@yahoo.com
HC Contact
Hemant Amin 704-258-3588
Ameeta Patel 203-434-4004
Reena Roy 704-607-8412 or email: reena.roy@hcclt.org
Saturday, July 26, 2025 2 PM - 6 PM
Kismuth continued from page 28
standard issues that you get when you’re a high school student, unflashy and functional. I direct my attention to the red scribbles but it’s hard to focus. I am so not going to get an ‘A’ in English
On the one hand, this was gonna be a blemish to my academic career. On the other hand, what was the problem, really, with that, if I didn’t feel like it was very interesting as far as assignments go? It felt super boring to write a ‘persuasive paper.’ So, the next day I skipped English class and went to Francesa’s. I got an “Unexcused Absence.”
Ten years after not acing high school English, I found myself in Ireland, writing every single day for a small newspaper. I’d like to think we had a nice, lofty goal, something like capturing a moment in time of our shared cultural history, and I maybe got influenced by lots of tourists coming to find out about their Irish roots, or maybe the songwriters in my writing circle. We met on Fridays.
That’s probably where I found the right classroom for me. I learned by osmosis their art of poetry. We’d talk at length and laugh. They’d start ‘slagging’ each other, and it was a ‘gas.’
Ten years after that, I wrote my first book. This was trickiest for me to press ‘go’ on.
Before I did, I knew I had to reconnect with the very same old friend from high school, the one who’d helped me with the English paper. I needed to know what she’d think. Of the title, at least. I’d committed to the story and didn’t feel like changing it. I knew it was what I wanted it to be, only... I needed some kind of friendly... affirmation.
On a sunny day in summer, we found one another after a long spell. I told her I’d got a book written. ‘And I have a title.’ I was tentative.
She was beaming. ‘What is it?’
I told her. ‘Do you like it?’ All that fussing over the first draft - writing, rewriting, cutting things, putting things back, reframing, regrouping, spreading the pages out on the floor and peering into them late over many a night - had led me here, to this moment. I trusted her feedback.
‘Yes!’ No hesitation. Not even a smidge.
‘Really? So, should I go ahead with it?’
‘Yes.’
Winging it is cool, since, ultimately, I feel the person who decides the value of a thing is the person who makes it. What was the most satisfying, though, wasn’t having something on the internet and a website, but having the conversations that came together, as a direct result of the effort. A book club invitation. A reading. Rekindling with old friends in West Cork, Ireland, who’d heard about it, and wanted to say, ‘Good girl, yourself. Grand stuff, altogether.’
I know now, recalling my teenage self, falling asleep on a desk, that I wasn’t wanting to write to make a point. I was looking for a different invitation to write. Writing... to connect
Dipika Kohli
is an author who is based in Phnom Penh. Discover her books at kismuth.com and ther projects at dipikakohli.com.
Full Frame continued from page 54
forms that came after, including international ones like Afrobeat spearheaded by Fela Kuti, owe their musical roots to funk.
The White House Effect (Pedro Kos, Jon Shenk, Bonni Cohen, 2024, thewhitehouseeffect.com), I found during the Q&A with producer Josh Penn afterwards, has amassed 14,000 archival sources in what they say is the largest such environmental collection. Tracing today’s climate crisis to the George H.W. Bush era, it describes how a noncontroversial scientific understanding of the worsening environment got conflated with politics. When President Bush ran for office, he argued for forceful action to stop global warming. Once in office his chief of staff John Sununu largely blunted and even reversed the targeted changes. The film leads the viewer to wonder how things might be different today if other decisions were made in the decades previously.
The (free) closing night film Sally (Cristina Costantini, 2025) was in intimate biopic of the first American woman astronaut to go into space, Sally Ride. She was a very private woman and, seeing the career-ending examples of people like Billy Jean King in 1981 coming out as lesbian, kept her own sexuality a secret. Only in her obituary with her permission before she passed away, was it shared that she had had a 27-year relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy. The film was inspiring to see what a strong astronaut Sally Ride was and how she persisted in a world that was very male dominated.
These are only a few of the films that I saw. I encourage others to do as my family has done for years and that is to reserve the Thursday-Sunday next year when Full Frame is back (April 16 - 19, 2026) with time off work or school, and plan to be educated, be entertained, and be happy to be at this fabulous festival of a myriad stories and master storytellers.
For more details, visit Fullframefest.org.
Photographs courtesy of filmmakers. We Want the Funk! image courtesy of Firelight Films of musician and lead of ParliamentFunkadelic, George Clinton.
Dilip Barman
is a lover of culture and teacher of math and vegan food/nutrition teacher. Check out his monthly show somanycooks.com. Contact: dilip@trianglemathinstitute.com
Wake County continued from page 68
meetings per day for five years until the program was eventually eliminated. If you are passionate about something, it means you are meant to help. Personally, the hardest challenge for me is seeing women in pain. Sometimes, when I’m working at the front desk, I witness heartbreaking moments—like a woman finding out she has lost custody of her child. She had hope to turn her life around, but in that moment, everything shatters, and she breaks down. Another challenge is seeing women suffering in harsh weather conditions.
One cold February night, right before Valentine’s Day, I saw a 20-year-old woman sitting near traffic, talking to herself, with her jacket off. It was snowing, and she could have been hit by a car. I wake up every day and pray that they will be okay. Miraculously, I have never seen a woman die from the cold, which is a blessing. There are smaller but pressing challenges, too: like receiving calls saying we’ve run out of coffee cups or suitcases with wheels. We rely heavily on social media to ask the community for help, and people step up. If I could emphasize one critical need, it would be underwear; it’s an essential item that many of our women lack.
CORDUSA Youth: Where do you get most of your budget from? Does the community provide for it?
NR: Our Funding comes from monthly sustaining donors (individuals giving), grants, foundations, fundraisers. Donations made by volunteers is the main source of funding. We also receive grant money from corporations that set aside a portion of their income for community support. When organizations provide grants, we try to find someone within their company who can help with the grant application process. However, grants are inconsistent. We may receive funding for one year and then not get another grant for several years. We also hold fundraisers, but these require a lot of time and effort, which is difficult with our limited staff. It’s preferable when someone else hosts the fundraiser on our behalf.
CORDUSA Youth: How do volunteers contribute to your work? Do they make a big difference?
NR: In 2023, we provided over 30,000 meals and in 2024, we provided 73000 meals. The need increased dramatically, with homelessness rising by 62%. We don’t have an oven or stove, so we rely on volunteers to prepare meals at home or provide cold food. There have been times when we went for three days without enough meals, but volunteers stepped in to make food and ensure we had enough. Some even bring Panera leftovers or casseroles in crockpots. Volunteers help in other ways, too—whether at the front desk, in the warehouse, or in leadership roles.
We even have a volunteer board. One young volunteer wanted to gain experience in board management, so she joined to learn how nonprofits operate. We also involve schools in our efforts. Nine schools are currently engaged with us, and one student even won funding for the center through a competition.
CORDUSA Youth: What is your favorite part about this organization?
NR: The women. They love me. One woman, who can barely write, brings me a drawing almost every day and then runs away—it’s the cutest thing. Another woman was very argumentative, and the staff struggled with her. But I knew I just had to listen. One day, during a vision board activity, she created a board filled entirely with pictures of dogs. She was incredibly intelligent. Out of everyone at the center, she was the one who slipped notes under my door when I lost my husband. I had asked the staff not to bring up my loss, but she somehow knew. This was a woman who never hugged anyone, but she hugged me. Despite all their struggles and heartaches, they still find ways to give back.
CORDUSA Youth: What do you want readers to understand about homelessness? How can they contribute?
NR: It’s important for the community to understand that homelessness is only going to increase. Some people assume that if someone is begging on the street, they should just “get a job.” But many of these individuals are dealing with severe mental health challenges that prevent them from maintaining employment. The best way to help is to get involved. Whether through donations, volunteering, or simply advocating for better support systems, every effort makes a difference.
For more details, visit Wcwc.org.
Interview conducted by: Shirom Malik, and Anika Sethi Notes written by: Shirom Malik, Sanjana Chawla and Aaryan Madan (CORDUSA Youth ambassadors) Info: Cordusaraleigh.org
CORDUSA’s Youth Ambassador Program offers local youth leadership opportunities through community service. Participants engage in activities centered on sustainability, addressing issues like the environment, food insecurity, housing instability, education, and intergenerational connections. These young leaders approach their work with purpose, thoughtfulness, and empathy.
CORDUSA’s youth ambassadors aim to raise awareness about other local non-profit organizations making a significant impact in underserved communities. To achieve this, they interview representatives from these organizations. The youth take on the tasks of researching the organizations, creating questions, conducting the interviews, and compiling the responses.
Bhargavi Rao, the Head of Programs and Community Engagement at CORDUSA Raleigh, mentors and guides the youth by offering them valuable leadership opportunities within the organization.
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• High sodium foods (such as ready to eat snacks and packaged/frozen ready to eat foods)
• High fat greasy foods and foods with saturated fats and trans fats
• Fast food
Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet is an eating pattern that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, olive oil, and nuts. It has numerous health benefits, including:
Cardiovascular Health:
• Reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure
• Lowers cholesterol levels
• Provides heart-healthy unsaturated fats from olive oil and nuts
Metabolic Health:
• Help regulate blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes
• Improves insulin sensitivity
Gastrointestinal Health:
• Supports healthy gut microbiome, reducing inflammation and improving digestion
• Provides fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which aids in digestion
Brain Health:
• Protects against cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease
• Improves memory and brain function
Anti-inflammatory Effects:
• Reduces inflammation throughout the body, which can benefit conditions like arthritis
• Contains foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties
Other Benefits: Improves mood and mental well-being, reduces the risk of certain cancers, prolongs life expectancy, and supports sustainable and environmentally friendly food choices. Overall, the Mediterranean diet is a nutrient-rich and sustainable eating pattern that offers a wide range of health benefits
How to follow a Mediterranean Diet?
• Eat a variety of colorful vegetables- salad, soup, or cooked sabzi
• Enjoy seasonal local fruits
• Include nuts and seeds regularly – almonds, walnuts, pistachios, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, etc
• Eat a variety of pulses and legumes – chickpeas, red kidney beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, and varieties of other daals
• Choose intact whole grains. Typically grains like farro,
bulgur, barley, and freekeh are eaten in the Mediterranean countries. But we can adapt this to grains from our traditional cuisine such as cracked wheat, jowar, bajra, ragi, and other millets
• Herbs and spices such as parsley, basil, sage, sumac, za’atar, and garlic are the flavors of the Med. Diet. We can use them as well as include our own commonly used spices and herbs
• Limit dairy to small amounts of yogurt. The diet includes some cheeses such as feta, goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, and other freshly made cheese in small quantities. Avoid high fat cheeses, especially the processed cheese sticks and wrapped slices.
The Mediterranean diet is not just about food. The reason it is associated with being healthy is because it includes other lifestyle factors. Being physically active – not just exercise or going to the gym but moving more. It also includes activities such as dancing, hiking, gardening, walking, and swimming. Social Connections – stay connected with friends and family. Meet people more often. Volunteer or engage in your favorite hobby where you connect with others. Human connection is the best way to improve brain health and prevent memory loss.
Wine: The Mediterranean region is associated with wine as part of the daily diet. However, recent research which shows an increased risk of cancer with alcohol has prompted experts to change their recommendations. The new guidelines state to limit alcohol as much as possible
The Mediterranean diet is considered to the best for improved health and longevity. We can take the key aspects of the diet and modify it to our own foods. We also need to include the lifestyle factors mentioned. A word of caution. The lack of nutritional guidance regarding specific nutrients and amounts of foods or portion sizes can lead some people to consume excess calories if they are not careful. Please get advice from a Registered Dietitian to help customize your own plan and portions.
Parul Kharod
is a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist and works as a Clinical Dietitian. She can be reached at parulkharod@gmail.com
Hemant Prakash MD, FAAP
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Unpreferred pronouns: them/they
In the last decade or so, the notion of preferred pronouns has emerged. While the motivation behind that movement is different, that turn of phrase offers an interesting stimulus to motivate thinking about whether we are using the right pronouns for ourselves.
Is it possible that when we say, “I want this”, it might actually be more accurate if we phrased it as “they want this”? Is it possible that we might be possessed? By some spirits that we are completely unaware of? And, that this thing that we call the “I” may just be one more word that takes us far far away from what the reality underlying that word may be?
One way to see what your “I” really is, in practice, is to see the kinds of things that you proclaim to be “my” attributes. For example, you may say that you do certain rituals because you are from an Indian culture. Or, if you are the child of Indian immigrants, raised in the USA, you might practice a different set of customs and rituals. You may justify these ways of being and doing by saying “I am an Indian” or “I am an Indian-American” or “I am a Millennial Indian-American”. Therefore!
So, when the “I” has become a member of a class of people, and you believe and do the things that the class of people does, then your “I” has crossed over into the kingdom of “them” and “they”. But there is a price of entry into the land of them/they: your “I” must die; or, at least, be buried under the word “I” which no longer means what the word purports to be.
Help! I am no longer me! How do I reclaim the thing that was born to be me?
Exorcise! Exorcise! Exorcise!
The idea of exercising to keep the body fit is grounded in reality: it is provable that it makes you more capable. You shed fat and build muscle. Maybe, the regular exercise of the spirit would be a way to keep your “I” in shape too, and build those “muscles”? And shed the “thems” and “theys” that are the unwanted fat that could make it more difficult for you to live in the real world that you would otherwise be able to live in. As you: the one and only you!
It would be more appropriate to call this “exorcise” rather than “exercise”, since it involves the shedding of the various spirits that have come to possess you from those around you, along with their ways of being. And with all the attendant adverse effects and loss of options that you might avoid, were you to live more “organically”: as a real “I” in the real world, rather than an entangled-I in an Alicein-wonderland world with all its fantasies.
Then, when you say, “I want x”, it would really mean that you do, not someone else who possesses your spirit who wants what someone else wants who wants what someone else wants … and so on. The accidental pot of gold in all this is that you may find that you want fewer things than you thought you wanted, and that these things are more wholesome, more organic and more grounded in the real world. And that you have a lot more options in what you do than you thought you did.
Then, there is no more “the done thing” that represents the many many things that you do because the members of classes you think you belong to do. There are only the things that you do: simple, small and organic. And … on the ground.
Balaji Prasad
is an IIT/IIM graduate, a published author, SAT/ACT Online and in-person Coach, and K-12 Math Tutor at NewCranium. balaji.prasad@newcranium.com.
Dances of India
continued from page 50
been reduced to near destitution. In the absence of support, they had no means of sustaining these art forms.
Revival after Independence: It was during the struggle for independence and determination of several nationalists that the revival of Indian arts began. All over the country, from the beginning of the twentieth century, individuals tried to help save old dance forms. In the south, the spirit of resurgence led to the saving of Bharatha Natyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, and Mohiniattam. In the North, Kathak was revived, and in the Northeast, Manipuri. The pioneering gurus, dancers, and critics of the early twentieth century played a major role in helping save these dance forms.
After independence, several dance institutions and individuals took on the responsibility of serving the arts. The government, by not interfering with the creative process, established an atmosphere where dance forms could be nurtured. Soon other forms like Yakshagana, and Chhau found a place of importance too.
Fortunately, all folk dances had continued unaffected, as they were not supported by temples but by the rural and farming communities who sang and danced without formal training during harvest and the sowing seasons. By the end of the twentieth century, not only were these classical forms fully revived and thriving, but the new generation of dancers were also looking at the arts as a profession, and not just a hobby.
Now: My own students are excited to continue to learn even after their dance graduation (Arangetram). They are learning online, performing at their colleges, coming back to dance during breaks and so on. This is a new trend and a very old trend. This is how yesterday meets today. Now classical dances have become a passion and not a hobby. I hope these articles about the history of dance will bring us a new perspective and appreciation as they have gone through many hardships and still survived.
I want to dedicate this article to many gurus, organizations, and publications like Saathee magazine that provide means to keep these dance forms alive.
Dr. Maha Gingrich
For questions or comments, contact via email at GingrichMaha@gmail.com
audience). There is also a current housing crisis across the pond, so the detached relationship with her flat mates also feels realistic to add some flavor to further personify her unsatisfying life.
Once Belinda meets The Doctor on Missbelindachandra 1, she goes completely ‘against type’ in terms of past female companions.
She immediately asks questions to assess how and why she was abducted. Once the pair reach a makeshift infirmary set up by a band of Missbelindachandrakind, she immediately taps into her experiences as nurse and moves to assist the wounded.
She even figures out the big twist of the episode without any hints or help from The Doctor. Her self-confidence and wits shine through when she admonishes The Doctor for scanning her DNA without consent (something he immediately apologizes for afterward).
Ultimately, she declines The Doctor’s invitation to join him in galivanting across Time & Space and instead be sent back to the very moment she was taken… on May 24, 2025. A date which will coincide with the real-life air date for episode 7 of the Series. Quite clever, everything considered.
The episode as a whole does have its flaws. A sub-plot personifying Alan as a misogynistic gamer dude with an inferiority complex, while topical, is a bit forced. A character on screen for mere minutes is killed causing The Doctor to mourn their passing; an emotional moment which doesn’t quite land either.
However, I’m grateful the show has cast another South Asian performer as a very capable yet flawed character for the audience to relate to.
If this episode is anything to go by… Varada Sethu’s intelligent yet cautious take on Belinda paired with Ncuti Gatwa’s extroverted, carefree Doctor with a supernova smile will make for some uniquely entertaining interactions in the next seven episodes.
Jennifer Allen works at Saathee and is also a Podcaster, Blogger, Photographer, Graphic Artist, Gamer, Martial Arts Practitioner, and an all around Pop Culture Geek. You can reach her at Saathee@Saathee.com
action, long-term impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In the Supreme Court case Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, the Supreme Court declared that race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and UNC were unconstitutional, effectively ending affirmative action in higher education.
Access to Tutors, SAT Prep, and Competitive Schools
What does this mean for Indian American students? Some students feel that, prior to the ruling, they were at a disadvantage due to overrepresentation in top schools. Others recognize that privilege plays a role in college admissions decisions, as many Indian American students come from highly educated families with access to tutors, SAT prep, and competitive schools—advantages that not all minority groups have.
At the same time, legacy admissions, donor influence, and athletic recruitment still favor wealthier applicants. This raises the question: is the real issue affirmative action, or the systemic advantages that elite schools continue to protect? Instead of focusing on things outside of our control, such as the unknown desires of admissions officers, we should concentrate on building unique applications that highlight our personal strengths rather than getting caught up in debates over fairness.
We must understand that so many people around us are fixated on getting into elite colleges, but often for wrong reasons. They seek external affirmation that attending an elite college justifies all the hard work and sacrifices made in high school, but it doesn’t matter once they’re in, right? Understand that when you’re constantly looking for outside validation, you’ll never truly win, and the game will never end.
Getting into one of these elite colleges and being unhappy with yourself is actually the best-case scenario, because imagine not getting into any of the colleges you wanted to attend, despite working so hard in high school.
Now you’re stuck at an “average” state school with an inferiority complex and resentment toward the world around you.
The reality is that there’s nothing wrong with attending a school that may not have the same recognition as an Ivy League, especially considering that college admissions get more competitive every year and acceptance rates continue to decline.
Why, as an educated, prosperous, and resilient community, are we still bound by traditional ideals and pressures that no longer align with the realities of today’s society?
Alisha Mistry
is a high school student from Charlotte with a passion for writing that inspires meaningful conversations. She plans on pursuing a career in the fields of business and law. Email: amistry312@gmail.com
NC Students
continued from page 44
Galey said that the benefit of introducing the second option is that it gives school districts the ability to have final exams in December before holiday break.
She said this will help students get higher test scores since they will not “lose” any knowledge over break, and high school students who finish their requirements in December can transition into college courses full time during the next semester.
Galey said the school calendar law can be a point of contention between tourism industry advocates and education advocates.
“I disagree with that. I think that we can have economic development and we can have academic achievement at the same time,” Galey said.
Sen. Bobby Hanig, R-Bertie, said that allowing schools to open earlier does not just hurt travel and tourism industries, but it hurts the families that work there.
“If you close that business two weeks early, they won’t be in business,” Hanig said.
For Sen. Gladys Robinson, D-Guilford, an even earlier start date is needed to promote academic achievement and student proficiency. Robinson said that her district would like the option to have a start date closest to Aug. 11. Because many summer camps close during the first couple of weeks of August, Robinson said parents can struggle to find child care until the school year starts again.
“So then those kids aren’t hanging out somewhere as opposed to being in a secured environment,” Robinson said.
Many speakers during the public comment period expressed support for the bill.
John McPherson, a representative from NC Realtors who played a role in advocating for the current law, said the bill would be a “reasonable compromise.”
Paula Rakestraw, chair of the Rockingham County School Board, said having calendar flexibility would allow their district to have a three-week holiday break while still having enough time in the classroom.
“I am very pleased with the introduction of this bill and hopefully for the approval as well, because we need this flexibility. It gives us the ample flexibility to be able to provide the adequate classroom time for our students as well as getting those exams in prior to the holiday break, which is very important for our students and for our families,” Rakestraw said.
The legislators passed the bill with a favorable report onto the Senate Judiciary committee. It will have to eventually pass the full Senate and House before it can become law.
“I’m old enough to remember when I first came here one of the rules was ‘Don’t do a school calendar bill,’ and ‘it isn’t going to happen,’” Sen. Buck Newton, R- Greene said. “But times do change. It’s been 20 years, and I remember when school didn’t get in until after Labor Day because people were cropping tobacco and working in the fields. Times have changed.”
Article courtesy of Ednc.org.
My Voice Dear God continued from page 58
2. Patience to Stay the Course
We live in a world where 10-minute Maggi takes 2 minutes too long. But real growth is slow-cooked. Instead of asking, “Why haven’t I got that raise yet?” what if we asked, “God, give me patience to keep working even when I can’t see the results.” Patience is underrated—but it’s what separates a one-hit wonder from those with asli (real) journey.
3. Courage to Leave the Comfort Zone
We all love our cozy spots—same job, same people, same streaming shows. But deep down, we know growth only happens when we’re slightly uncomfortable, like the first day of gym or yoga class when every muscle screams, “Why am I here?” So maybe we start praying, “God, give me the courage to try new things—even if I look silly doing them.”
4. Grace to Accept Limitations
We’re always comparing— “Sharma ji or Patel ji ka beta” syndrome never really leaves us. But what if, instead of wanting to be perfect, we prayed to accept our flaws? “God, help me chill a little and be okay with not being a superhero every day.” Accepting yourself doesn’t mean giving up. It means being real and growing from there.
Now don’t get me wrong—I still want my promotions and peace at home (especially that second one). But now, when I go to a temple, I try not to be that 7-year-old me with a wish list longer than a Diwali shopping bill. I try to be that grown-up who says, “God, give me the will to do what I need to do. I need your aashirvaad (blessing) and I will do my part, too.”
Let’s face it, effort or grace— dono chahiye (both needed). Because if I keep asking only for results, without doing my bit, even God must be up there thinking, “Is this guy going to do something or just insisting I do it all?”
So now, my prayers are a little different. Instead of just saying “Give me a better job,” I try saying, “Give me strength to tolerate my current job while I look for new job.” Instead of “6pack,” I ask, “Give me discipline to wake up and go to gym and off course, instead of wandering around the gym – give me focus to work out.”
Maybe this won’t work. Maybe I’ll still fail. But I’ll fail with purpose—and that’s a start. Prayers, at the end of the day, are like pep talks from the soul. They align our intentions, remind us of what matters, and maybe—just maybe—trick our brain into getting off the couch and doing something about it.
So, next time you go to the temple try something new. Try praying not just for the destination, but for the fuel confidence, patience, courage, and clarity. Effort is in your hands. Grace will follow.
And who knows? Maybe even your wife (or husband) won’t argue that day.
Hiren Deliwala
currently serves as the Leader of Solutions Architecture for the Worldwide Public Sector at Amazon Web Services (AWS). He received his MBA from UNC Chapel Hill. Contact: hcdeliwala@gmail.com
Eye on Markets
continued from page 46
The epicenter of the sell-off has been large cap technology which has had its biggest outflow since 2008. This presents an opportunity to buy the best companies in the world. They have the best balance sheets, resources, lowest cost of capital, highest free cash flow generation, margins, and earnings growth in the market. They are also at the forefront of nearly every technological shift ranging from A.I., cloud, digital advertising, autonomous driving, robotics, and quantum computing.
A.I. is still the next major technological paradigm shift as related spending will total over a trillion dollars over the coming years. Hyper-scaler CapEx guidance has gone up since DeepSeek. If the US wants to bring manufacturing back to the forefront, it will be highly unlikely to be globally competitive without A.I. and robotics. The regulatory and antitrust pressure on large cap tech is easing and now in a position to grow through acquisition, as we saw with Google buying Wiz.
Large cap tech hit bear market territory in March, but forward earnings estimates hit new highs. Nvidia can be bought for 24x for 52% growth. Compare that to McDonald’s at 25x for 5% growth. Meta is trading at 20x for 15% growth, compared to Clorox at 20x for 2% growth. Uber at 22x for 37% growth, compared to Walmart at 29x for 12% growth. Tech will benefit from a weaker dollar, lower rates, and if the economy slows, investors will look to these secular growers.
From a technical perspective, we have shifted back to important support, have a MACD crossover, and a DeMark exhaustion signal. The market periodically gives you an opportunity to buy the best companies in the world, and this is one of those times.
Looking forward, the market will focus on the latest from Washington, the economic data, and first quarter earnings.
Ketu Desai
is the principal of i-squared Wealth Management Inc. (www.isquaredwealth.com), an investment management firm based in New Jersey. ketu@isquaredwealth.com
News Notes continued from page 64
bonds between our people, and that’s what we’ve been able to do with the students at the university. This is a really special occasion that we’ll remember always.”
Held April 1-13, 2025 in Visakhapatnam, Tiger Triumph 2025 focused on refining joint operational capabilities in logistics, command and control, and maritime maneuvers. This year’s collaborative efforts reaffirm the enduring strength of the U.S.-India defense relationship, and the importance of people-to-people ties in shaping a more secure and innovative future for the Indo-Pacific region.
CarToon Corner
Tune Your Brain
Solve these brain teasers - Solutions on Page 110
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PUZZLES
Magic Maze
Puzzles 4 Kids Answers on page 110
Key Word Search
Fill in blanks of these clues, then take the first letter of each word and unscramble them to find this month’s Key Word.
America's National Bird, _____.
Opposite of close, _____.
Rabindranath _____, Indian writer. Summers are _____, (temperature). Bugs Bunny is a _____, (animal).
Cookie _____, Muppet Character.
Answers on page 104
Chess Puzzles
Difficulty:
Game reference: Adhiban – Sharma 2009
Directions: White to move and force checkmate in 2.
Difficulty:
Game reference: Chakkravarthy – Aginian 2010
Directions: White to play, checkmate in 2.
Difficulty:
Game reference: Henderson – Aravindh 2014
Directions: Black to move and checkmate in 4.
Hello Readers
We welcome comments and suggestions about our puzzles and cartoons pages. Send your thoughts to Samir@Saathee.com
Festivals & Holidays Puzzle Solutions
May 2025
May 1 - Maharashtra / Gujarat Day
May 1 - Beltane / May Day
May 1 - International Workers’ Day
May 1 - National Day of Prayer
May 2 - Shankaracharya Jayanti
May 4 - World Laughter Day
May 5 - Cinco de Mayo
May 6 - National Teacher Appreciation Day
May 7 - Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti
May 8 - Mohini Ekadashi
May 11 - Mother’s Day
May 11 - Narsingh Jayanti
May 12 - Buddha Day / Vasak
May 12 - Vaishakha Purnima (Full Moon)
May 12 - International Nurses Day
May 16 - Lag B’Omer
May 17 - Armed Forces Day
May 23 - Apara Ekadashi
May 26 - Memorial Day
May 27 - Darsh Amas (No Moon)
May 28 - World Hunger Day
May 29 - Maharana Pratap Jayanti
1. Removed tower
2. Shirt color changed
3. Man added
4. Window removed
5. Added crow
6. Border color changed
7. Removed Window
9. Water tank color changed
10. Removed water tank
11. Added boat
12. Rock changed
13. Shirt removed
14. Removed tank
15. Color changed
8. Flag removed
Key Word Search Answers from page 103
Key Word of the Month: MOTHER
May 29 - Ascension Day Go Figure! answers from page 103
Puzzle Solutions from page 102
12/31/25
Astroscope MAY 2025
Aries
(March 21 – April 19)
After a normal start, your financial picture will turn ugly by the end of the month. Quickly curb expenses and avoid any risktaking tendencies. However, in the middle of the month you may come across a good money-making opportunity to remain afloat. Try to grab it but remain cautious. Take advantage of your reputation to protect yourself against any awkward situations. This is a good time for travel.
Taurus
(April 20 – May 20)
Compromising is better than stubbornness. You will find better prospects for a rise in income at your present job or business. You may benefit from a change in government policy or political actions. A misunderstanding with your partner may cause turmoil within the family. Quick action will help you much more than prayers. Postpone any long distance journey until the end of month.
Gemini
(May 21 – June 20)
Politics will help you more than the moral or religious activities during the second half of month. You may achieve higher status and become more well-known amongst your peers. Don’t dispute with family members. Self-confidence and boldness are very important during this period. Changing your strategy will help achieve success. Business-related short-distance journeys might prove fruitful.
Cancer
(June 21 – July 22)
An unexpected rise in income will delight you and cover expenses. You will feel relaxed during the middle of the month. Health-related problems may take a serious turn, so be sure not to ignore these. Avoid any sort of business ventures until the end of the month. You may get good news regarding your family. Keep away from courts or any other legal matters.
Leo
(July 23 – August 22)
Don’t try to act on instinct during the first half of the month to avoid financial trouble. However, your family or associates can help with a favorable financial deal during the last week. Health problems may disturb your peace of mind. There could be chances of indulging in some form of occultism. A memorable journey is also possible during the second half.
Virgo
(August 23 – September 21)
You could shift your ideologies twice this month, so it’s advisable to not take quick action. You may recoup on a lost opportunity and even explore new ones, so don’t lose hope. This is a good time for financial gains, but business conditions can deteriorate causing long term problems. A fast and busy business trip will prove beneficial. A minor health ailment is also possible.
Libra
(September 22 – October 20)
Ventures you may undertake during this month can be fruitful if they link with government agencies. There may be a rise in status and position. An enemy may try to tarnish your image but will ultimately fail. You might hear a very good piece of news. Old health problems may return and force you to restart medical treatment. However, seek a second opinion before doing so.
Scorpio
(October 21 – November 20)
During this month you may be attracted to someone of another gender. Unexpected social problems are likely, and family members’ attitudes will be quite uncertain. Your interest in the occult and parapsychology could develop further with potentially positive results. A sudden monetary gain could be there. Friends may not keep their promises. Try to avoid travel, if possible.
Sagittarius
(November 21 – December 21)
Even though things should improve, it will take quite a while to get back on track. Your expenses should be under control and your bank balance could rise, but insecurity and fear won’t let you enjoy it. Any long distance journeys may prove exhausting. Potential business risks can prove fruitful this month. Keep active to avoid any potential health issues.
Capricorn
(December 22 – January 21)
This month will create anxiety which could lead to frustration, although domestically you will feel satisfied. Don’t plan any trips. There are chances of getting a promotion but try to avoid working long hours. Your thoughts will drift towards romance and higher philosophy. There is the possibility of prolonged illness, so keep watch on your health.
Aquarius
(January 22 – February 18)
Try to develop self-confidence and flexibility as otherwise this could create problems. Do not indulge in immoral deeds such as cheating on your partner or under table dealings. Instead, it’s better to go on business trips. Meeting with old friends/love is quite possible. Try to curb your expenses on luxury items. Don’t get involved in minor disputes with family.
Pisces
(February 19 – March 20)
This is a transitional phase, with better tidings arriving by the last week of the month. Because of this, be sure not to take any steps forward until then. Illusion may create a major problem for you, so try to control your imagination and dreams. Keep yourself active but traveling should be avoided. You may have to depend upon undesirable people.
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Hiring for Eyebrow Threader & Esthetician in Kannapolis, NC. Please text 704-4502900 with your information.
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Front Desk Manager & Housekeeping Couple Wanted for franchise hotel in Columbia, SC. Accommodations provided. Fluent English required. Text / call 704-701-9975.
Couple & Night Auditor Needed for Franchise Hotels in Raleigh and Wilmington, NC. Call 843-333-5810.
Gas Station Seeking Help in Rock Hill, SC. Single or couple. Good pay for an experienced person! No accommodations. Call 803-659-3330.
Now Hiring
Full-time positions for multiple gas stations in Elizabeth City, NC & nearby areas, Contact Ashish Desai 201-208-4837.
Hotel Help Wanted
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Gas Station Help
Full-time. 1st or 2nd shift. Experience preferred to manage one or more ventures. Should have valid driver’s license for deliveries. email: seagrovemart@yahoo.com.
Front Desk & Laundry Help Needed for Franchise Hotel Accommodations provided. Concord, NC. Call 704-772-5554.
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Seeking Groom
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Seeking Bride
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I must admit, I wanted to hear a bit more about these women and their chat. What year were they talking about? Why was that one particular year, whenever it was, the last good year for one of the women?
Time spares little sympathy for us. Our lives are marked with a lifetime of work and risk management, mingled with moments of joy. We look back fondly on certain days, or specific memories, sometimes wishing we could stop the clock and go back to a past week, month or year. Even single minutes become markers of life, those times when we may hear some life-changing news.
So, what is a year but a calculation that humans have dreamed up, an aggregation of myriad human happenings and seasonal changes in a specified span of time.
Wars, violence, pandemics, political upheavals, these make conversations darker, somber, and often cause feelings of the world seemingly going haywire. Some people linger in this grayness longer than they should. I suffer occasional sadness, anxiety, anger, but I don’t linger in these weeds. I simply cannot. Our days and our years are too short. Lives are chugging along faster and faster.
Who wants to mope under cold, gray skies? That warm, shiny sun always comes spinning back around. A nasty cold winter eventually gets swatted away by the carefree spring. Always. I’m not sure if I’m sold on the proverbial time healing all wounds, but it sure as heck softens and makes them manageable. Life’s ongoing, incoming, and outgoing chatter makes sure of that.
Children are a lovely boost against this grayness. Their unending joy and energy are contagious. They are like little balls of suns, jumping, running, giggling, with delight, letting life naturally unfold. Ask a kid in the swirl of a playful moment what year it is, and they’ll give you a puzzled look. If possible, find a way to increase these encounters, with those little bright eyed chatter makers.
A grayness that seeps in deep can ruin your day, week, maybe even a whole year. Who needs that?
I don’t know anything about the two women I encountered outside the restaurant on that night, what their background was or what transpired in their lives. Why one marked some specific year as the last good year.
I just know that my good year is every year, despite the inevitable setbacks and trials. This is something we all must face, process and move on. Sure, financial hardships are a tough obstacle. Grief is the toughest one, but it also must be softened using the velvet hammer of time.
My good years? The one I first breathed outside the womb and all the others in between, to here, now.
So, ma’am. Yes you, the one in the red dress. We briefly crossed paths. I’m channeling my thoughts your way, wherever you may be. I wanted to chime in. My last good year will be the one when my expiration date comes due.
Samir Shukla
is the Editor of Saathee Magazine
Contact: Samir@Saathee.com
X: @ShuklaWrites
Newsletter: ShuklaWrites.Substack.com
Magic Maze & Puzzles4Kids answers pgs 102 -103
Advertisers
Index for Charlotte, South Carolina & Atlanta Region
Insurance Shopping (Sonal Patel - Independent Agent)107 International Community Church.........................77
Johnson's Martial Arts - Tae Kwon Do...................17 KB Zaveree (Atlanta)...........................................19
Khanna &
PreJuve Medspa & Wellness (Neelu Agarwal MD)...79
Senior Living..........................................114 Prism Lending (Madan Khatri)............................63 Property for Sale India (Vallabh Vidyanagar).........41
