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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018

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MIDWEST / EASTCOAST

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community news/midwest 4

FRIDAY,23 FEBRUARY, 2018

Indian Assn of St Louis marks Republic Day

Fellowships for books on India

BY A STAFF WRITER he New India Foundation has announced a June 1 deadline for applications to the Ninth Round of its Fellows programme. Trustee Ramachandra Guha said: “In the 70 years since Independence, there has been a large body of work produced by Indian historians and social scientists. Taken singly, many of these studies are very impressive; viewed cumulatively, they add up to much less than what one might expect. “It is this lack that the New India Foundation seeks to address, by sponsoring work of quality on the histor y of India since Independence”. Open only to Indian nationals, these Fellowships will be awarded for one year and will carry a stipend of Rs 100,000 a month. Fellowship holders shall be expected to write original books. Proposals should be oriented towards publication, and outline a road map towards that destination. The Foundation is ecumenical as regards genre, theme, and ideology: the only requirement is that the proposed works contribute to a fuller understanding of independent India. Thus Fellowship holders may choose to write a memoir, or a work of reportage, or a thickly footnoted academic study. Their books could be oriented towards economics, or politics, or culture. They could be highly specific—an account of a single decade or a single region—or wide-ranging, such as a countrywide overview. Applicants for the New India Fellowships are invited to submit their book proposal and a writing sample of at least 5000 words (published or unpublished) either online (www.newindiafoundation.org/ fellowships) or by couriering a physical copy to the Managing Trustee, T h e Ne w I n d i a Fo u n d a t i o n , Neev Schools, Sy No.16, YemalurKempapura Main Road, Yemalur Bangalore 560037, Phone 080-71101774 (the phone number is provided for courier purposes only) before June 1. Fi f t e e e n b o o k s h a v e t h u s far emanated from the New India Foundation Fellowships.

T BY A STAFF WRITER T LOUIS, MO -- India Association of St. Louis celebrated the 69th Republic Day of India on January 28 in a grand manner at Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center of St. Louis. Besides members of the Indian community, there were special guests who graced the occasion. Over a hundred children participated in the flag-hoisting ceremony. Both American and Indian national flags were hoisted on the stage by the children singing both national anthems.

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Krishna Rao Moharir, president of the association, gave the welcome address, reminding the individuals of the significance of the Republic Day. He stressed the importance of keeping in touch with the Motherland and reminded the people how India endured as the largest democracy all these years due to its sound Constitution. Ram Lakshmanan, a banking consultant and dedicated volunteer in the Hindu temple of St. Louis, in his keynote address spoke on importance of volunteerism and helping the

people in need and gave various ways by which young and old can service society. There were four chief guests--Judges Judy and George Draper, state representative Dean Plocher and businessman and aspiring county executive Mark Mantovani. Other members of the Board of Directors of the association are, Sanjeev Rao Chintakunta (president-elect ), Vijaya Lakshmi Buddhiraju (treasurer), Sharath Rao (secretary), Sendil Rathina Sabhapathi, Meera Jain, Venkat Pulumati, Haridas Kartha and Vijaya Bhutaria.

Shivratri celebrated at Lake County Mandir

Pt Anil Joshi , Shri Yogesh Pandey & devotees

BY A STAFF WRITER AKE COUNTY, IL -- Maha Shivaratri, the ‘Great Night of Shiva’, was celebrated at Hindu Mandir of Lake County on February 13 with thousands of devotees of all age groups from all Hindu communities thronging the temple to participate and witness in the special Abhishekams and Alankarams.

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The main attraction of this year’s Shivaratri was Kailash Parvat/mountain made out of the snow fallen in the parking lot. This year, the temple provided organic milk and Bilva Patras/leaves to all the devotees to offer to Shiva Lingam to overcome darkness and ignorance in life and also offer thanksgiving to the Lord Shiva for protection from annihilation. Four priests: Pt. Anil Joshi Ji, Pt.

Ganesh Ji, Shri. Ramachari and Shri. Yogesh Pandey performed four special Abhishekam and prepared very beautiful Alankarams namely: Basma Alankaram, Haldi-Kunkum Alankaram, and Pushpa Alankaram one by one after the Abhishekam. Maha Mangal Arati to Lord Shiva was performed with all the devotees before the Maha Prasadam for both fasting and nonfasting devotees.