Voice of Asia March 14 2014

VOICE OF ASIA

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FRIDAY, March 14, 2014 Deadline Approaching For Obama Care Enrollment.

Are You Enrolled ? Read On Page 18 Or Call 713771-2900.

Vol. 27 No. 11 Friday, March 14, 2014 Published Weekly from Houston 713-774-5140 28 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Pretty in Pink, Japan style Tiger Ball Sets Record

Stunning Fashion, Superb Escapade - Japan Celebration at Asia Society’s Tiger Ball Blooms

H

OUSTON, February 27, 2014 (Asia Society) — An unforgettable evening of high style was in full bloom at Asia Society Texas Center’s magnificent Tiger Ball, one of Houston’s most anticipated social events. More than 650 elegant and illustrious guests celebrated Japan as Asia Society pulled out all the stops for a sold-out, standing-room

only gala. The Texas Center’s interior spaces were beautifully transformed with pink hues typical in Japanese sakura cherry blossoms. Crowds mingled on the lawn, enjoyed sushi bites in the Grand Hall, and an irresistible auction, before savoring an exquisite dinner

by City Kitchen in the Education Center, Water Garden Terrace, and Sarofim Gallery. Local taiko

drummers sounded the thunderous dinner bell.

Tiger Ball 2014 grossed $840,000 for the organization and its programs, plus in-kind contributions of an additional $110,000, resulting in a record setting Tiger Ball. Co-chairs Donna Cole and Glen Gondo led the elaborate affair, while newly appointed Executive Director Bonna Kol and Deputy

Director John Bradshaw, Jr. greeted guests throughout the evening. The Theater stage was the intimate setting for diners to hear and welcome the honorary Chair, His Excellency Kenichiro Sasae, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan.

After dinner, Tiger Ball guests found extraordinary desserts too good to pass up while DJ Baohaus kept the night in high gear.

Houston’s philanthropist Vijay Goradia elected as global NRI of the Year 2014 in the Philanthrophy / Social good Category, USA, initiated by Times NOW. Award ceremony will be held on 24th March 2014 in Mumbai.

Vijay Goradia, Founder and Chairman of Vinmar International Vijay Goradia was selected by popular vote as the winner of the first edition of NRI of the Year 2014,

Vijay Goradia is the Founder and Chairman of Vinmar International, a 3.5 billion dollar global distributor of chemicals and polymers that has been in business for 30 years. He also holds controlling stake in Lion Copolymer, USA, a producer of synthetic rubber and elastomers for industrial construction and automotive applications. Mr. Goradia is the founder and Chairman of Pratham USA, a grassroots organization that provides education services to over 20 million children in India. He also serves on the board of Houston Technology Center, a technology incubator and is a trustee of the American India Foundation.

Mr. Goradia has received many awards. His most notable accomplishments include Ernst &Young Master Entrepreneur for the Southwest Region, Top Businessman from the South Asian Chamber of Commerce, Paul Harris Humanitarian Award by Rotary International, Community Leadership Award from Asia Pacific Heritage Association, and the Asian American Leadership Award from The Asia Society.He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Harvard University.

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Executive Director Bonna Kol, Deputy Director John Bradshaw Jr. and Y. Vani Rao.

Easter Seals to honor Leela Krishnamurty at their “Hats Off to Mothers” event

HOUSTON- Easter Seals, nationally known organization which provides much needed support to children and adults with disabilities is honoring mothers who have made a significant contribution to their families and the community on at their 15th Anniversary of Hats Off to Mothers, event to be held on Tuesday March 25th , at the River Oaks Country club.

Leela Krishnamurthy has been a lifelong supporter of social programs. Currently she serves on the Board of Houston Habitat for Humanity, Ek Disha, advisory Board of UNICEF and Trustee of Sankara Nethralaya Om Trust.

Krishnamurthy completed her master’s degree from Clark University in Atlanta and was immediately recruited by the Los Angeles County library system. Although she was a librarian by profession, her focus has always been on helping her community.

As the head librarian in Los Angeles and then in Houston, she initiated many innovative programs to encourage children and adults from underserved communities.

Leela’s husband’s transfer to New Orleans resulted in a career shift. She joined the Food Bank as Volunteer

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VOICE OF ASIA 2

OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

by Anjali Kanojia

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Voice of Asia, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074 It is the policy of Voice of Asia to publish letters to the editor which evidence a variety of viewpoints. The opinions expressed in any particular letter to the editor are not necessarily those of the management. Voice of Asia welcomes letters in reply to issues raised in letters to editor. In as much letters to the editor are not articles written or researched by members of Voice of Asia, it is not the policy of the Voice of Asia to perform any investigation or confirmation of any facts or allegations contained in letters to the editor. Moreover, Voice of Asia reserves the right to edit letters to the editor as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints.

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M

r. Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the AamAadmi (Common Man) Party (AAP) resigned as Delhi’s Chief Minister (CM)after being in power for less than two months. He submitted his resignation after political opponents in the state assembly blocked to pass the new anti-corruption law, which Mr. Kejriwal was strongly backing.

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Rise and Fall of AAP: Activism vs. Governance

During Mr. Kejriwal’s short stint in office, he worked on reducing power tariffs, granted access to specified liters of free water to Delhi residents and enabled citizens to use technology (i.e. cell phones) conduct undercover operations against those taking bribes. Mr. Kejriwal and his supporters also staged a sit-in protest on the streets, with demands that Delhi police be brought under the Chief Minister’s control, thus initiating a debate on federalism and sparking questions on whether Delhi deserves full state-hood.

Prior to the elections, the AAP enjoyed a surge on the national agenda, gaining support from various, interested individuals and stakeholders, especially nonresident Indians. Mr. Kejriwal, an ex-bureaucrat was seen as a politically savvy, battling the status quo of the Congress party, as well as the anti-secular sentiment of the presidential candidate of the Bhartiya Janta Party. Mr. Kejriwal was seen as a breath of fresh air, a welcomed change to the sustained stagnation and corruption in the Indian political system. Though it is usually difficult for new, third parties to make gains in both presidential and parliamentary systems of government, the AAP quickly rose to the top on the Indian, national political scene, primarily given their emphasis on clean politics and anti-corruption agenda. However, once in power, the activist politics and tendencies of the AAP and Mr. Kejriwal which had helped leap them into power when campaigning, failed to seamlessly translate into effective governance once Mr. Kejriwal assumed the role of CM. Activism and governance are two separate constructs. Political activism consists of promoting or blocking certain policies and agendas with activities ranging from campaigns, boycotts, rallies, strikes, etc. Governance refers to decisions related to governing, which take place via policy implementation, usage of market mechanisms, and forming public-private partnerships

Arvind Kejriwal to implement specific policies.

Once in power, a political party and their leaders must be able to distinguish between activism and governance.A party’s political agendas and promises made during campaign speeches do not always translate as sound, decision-making once the party members are elected to office.

Should Chief Ministers be activists, or should they focus on creating and modifying existing laws with the focus on incremental change that can be implemented within the existing system? Mr. Kejriwal, after deciding to resign said “we didn’t come here for power. We came here to change the country… They say we don’t understand governance, but I say going after corrupt politicians is governance.” Was it responsible of Mr. Kejriwal to use resignation as a strategy if the anti-corruption law he wanted passed was blocked in assembly? The AAP, going forward, needs to figure out their political agenda, and either focus on pleasing the elites, or direct energy towards energizing the masses. The former strategy will help with fundraising efforts, and making friends with people at the top; may it be political or business elites, while the latter will help garner votes.

Unfortunately, the AAP will not be able to do both; Mr. Kejriwalcannot expect to affect change within the bureaucracy and at the same time, lobby for the change

outside of the bureaucracy as an activist, stakeholder.

Will the AAP recover from the damage to its credibility? Will the AAP make a comeback on the national stage? Prominent political scientists argue that while the street-style protest of Mr. Kejriwal may appeal to the lower middle class and the poor, the elites will become increasingly isolated by such activist tactics. Support-

ers of the AAP are right to question Mr. Kejriwal’s hands-on approach to policy-making as being the best alternative. Would he have be more effective in pushing his political agenda if he focused on building a stronger, political coalition, and partnerships to coordinate inter-party coordination? Should Mr. Kejriwal have waited for audit reports from the Delhi Jal Board and evaluating subsidizing power tariffs before engaging in major bureaucratic changes? Should he have better strategies in place than gambling away his position as CM if the laws he favors are not passed in assembly? Now that Mr. Kejriwal is no longer the CM, the bottom line for the AAP is to strengthen their party platform and define goals and roles for party elites so that they don’t fail to perform once they are elected to the office. The AAP will learn the hard way that an activist way of governing is not aresponsible approach to democratic decisionmaking.

Anjali Kanojia, PhD is with the University of Houston, India Studies Program. She can be reached at akanojia(at)uh.edu regarding questions or comments. The views and opinions expressedin this article are solely those of the author.

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VOICE OF ASIA 3

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Second Front Page

Friday, March 14, 2014

by Padmashree Rao and Uma Aggarwal he great auspiciousness of Mahasivaratri glorified Saumyakasi Sivalaya in Chinmaya Prabha, Houston, when more than five thousand devotees gathered over three days between Feb.27 and March 2, 2014, to invoke the blessings of the Lord Siva.

The spirit of one of the holiest nights of the Hindu calendar became manifest in thought, word and action when the Chinmaya family of Houston welcomed the community at large to pray together during Mahasivaratri.

The events were planned with careful dedication to blend joyful celebrations, collective prayers, and silent hours of meditation.

Saumyakasi Sivalaya had the touch of the holy Mount Kailas as preparations began to propitiate the perfect atmosphere for tuning to the Highest. Even the unseasonal chilly weather in Houston added to the feeling of being transported to the Himalayas. Somehow, the cold air only warmed the hearts of the thousands who thronged to

T

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Saumyakasi Sivalaya shines during Mahasivaratri

Family performing the Ksirabhiseka to the Utsava Linga. All the devotees had an opportunity to offer abhisekam with milk to the Utsava Linga. Photos by Jayesh Mistry and Rohith Kudrathaya.

quiet in their minds when they could focus their love towards the divine during these special moments.

It is said that the stars are most conducive for meditation on Mahasivaratri. Indeed, as Lord Siva is the greatest Yogi and Meditator in the Universe, ardent devotees found the right atmosphere for deep, silent meditation after a slow melodious chanting of “Om Namah Sivaya” subdued the mind. The intense prayers culminated in a Maha Arti at midnight on Thursday Feb 27th in the temple.

On Friday Feb 28th, the Mahanyasa Purvaka Rudrabhisekam was repeated, so that the devotees who missed it on Thursday had another chance to participate. Every year, the crowds increase at the Sivalaya, knowing that the vibrations of Sivaratri ring out strong in the festivities.

Tel: 713-774-5140 arya Gaurangbhai Nanavaty of Chinmaya Mission Houston explained the significance of every word of the mantra and encouraged everyone to let the mantra soak into their consciousness during the ceremony.

With Sri Ganeshji of Saumyakasi Sivalaya conducting the homa and energizing it with his powerful chanting, each family was given their own plate with yantra and black sesame and flat rice for offerings, so that each devotee could feel part of the homa. The 108 chants of the Mrtyunjaya mantra infused great energy in the families who prayed, leaving no doubt in the power of selfless, collective prayers. Then, as the homa concluded, all of the puja offerings from the devotees were collected by the volunteers and offered as Purnahuti at the main fire altar on the stage.

Every Sivaratri at Saumyakasi Sivalaya shines because of the incredible teamwork of the Chinmaya volunteers. The wellplanned parking, the arrangements to accommodate the growing rush of devotees, and the careful attention to every detail in the festivities, bring true

Family performing the Ksirabhiseka to the Utsava Linga. All the devotees had an opportunity to offer abhisekam with milk to the Utsava Linga.

The priest, Sri Ganesh, Sri Harish and Sri Chandrasekhar performed the abhisekam of the glowing Sivalinga in complete harmony with his chanting of the Rudram.

the temple to participate in the puja and abhishekam that started on the morning of Thursday, Feb.27th.

The day began with an adored activity of Lord Siva – his bath!

Devotees felt blessed to do the Ksirabhiseka seva, to the Sivalinga, guided by Shri Ganeshji,

nate of the mahanyasa form of abhisekam.

To make worship more personal, a beautiful lingam was created in a special altar under the Sivalaya where every devotee could do the abhisekam (pouring milk over the lingam).

Devotees could experience the

the temple priest. The Mahanyasam, meaning the great nyasa (purification) is recited to purify the body, mind, and soul of all the impurities. Recited before performing the rudrabhisekam of Lord Siva, the ritual came alive as the linga was bathed in milk, water, yogurt, and honey.

All agitations of the mind and

senses felt cooled further when the linga was adorned with turmeric, kumkum, chandan, and vibhuti. This sacredness echoed through the evening when devotees got the opportunity to repeat the Ksirabhisekam amid the incessant Vedic chanting of the laghunyasa ekadasa rudrabhisekam, a summarized alter-

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COMMUNITY/LEGAL

VOICE OF ASIA 4

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER

The People’s Lawyer

Answers to your Immigration Questions

by Sharlene Sharmila Richards, Immigration Lawyer: email at srichardslaw@aol.com

www.peopleslawyer.net

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT AH-1B VISA (cont...)

Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

“Upskirting” is illegal in Texas

Sharlene Sharmila Richards

Q: What are the fees associated with the filing of a new H-1B Petition and can we, the employer recoup those fees from the employees’ wages?

Texas, on the other hand, has an improper photography statute that does apply to upskirting. The issues that arose in Massachusetts would not arise in Texas.

A: The fees for an H-1B petition payable to US Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) are as follows: First, the petition base filing fee is $325. Second, there is a Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee of $500. Third, there is the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Fee (ACWIA) which is $750 or $1500.

This fee is to be paid unless the employer is exempt as being an institution of higher learning or is a non-profit entity or organization related to or affiliated with an institution of higher learning.

Your attorney handling the H-1B petition will be able to advise whether your organization is exempt from this fee of not. The ACWIA Fee of $750 is payable if the employer has 25 or less full time employees in the US including those at any US affiliates or subsidiaries. If the number of employees exceeds 25, then the ACWIA fee payable is $1500. Lastly, and where applicable, there is the Public Law Fee of $2000 to be paid if the petitioning employer employs 50 or more employees in the United States and more than 50% of those employees are either in H-1B or L non-immigrant status and the petition is filed before October 1st, 2014. These fees including the attorney’s fee for preparing the H-1B petition must be paid by the employer as federal regulations require that the employer treat these fees as business expenses of the employer. The employer may not recoup these costs from the H-1B employee’s wages.

Q. In 2006, my ex-husband was ordered to pay child support. He has continued to pay on time. Since that time, however, he has changed jobs and is making much more money.

Shouldn’t he be paying me more for support?

Q: I am currently holding F-1 OPT (Optional Practical Training). My OPT expires on June 28th, 2014 i.e. before October 1st, 2014 but after April 1st, 2014. I have an offer of employment from my employer and they intend to sponsor me for the H-1B. Can I continue to stay here in the US while the H-1B petition is pending?

Q. I heard that the Massachusetts’s Supreme Court said taking a video under the skirt of a woman is not illegal. I don’t understand how a court can say this is legal. Is it legal in Texas?

A. First, it is important to understand what the Massachusetts’s court said, and did not say.

The court was not asked to simply rule whether the practice of “upskirting” is legal. The court was asked whether a state law intended to prohibit “Peeping Tom” voyeurism of completely or partially undressed people also applied to upskirting. The court held that the clear language of the statute did not apply to upskirting, and that the Peeping Tom statute, which required a completely or partially undressed person, was not violated. My opinion is that the Massachusetts’s legislature will quickly enact a new law that covers the practice of upskirting.

A. He probably should be paying you more, but until you get the order modified, he has the legal right to keep paying as originally ordered. Either party may go back to court to have a child support order modified whenever there is a substantial change in circumstances. A new job with a higher salary should entitle you to a larger payment. I recommend you speak with a family law attorney about modifying the order.

Q. I rent an extra room in my home on a month-to-month basis. If a tenant does not pay his rent, am I allowed to lock him out of the house?

A. Even though you are renting just one room, the law considers you a landlord and you are subject to the same laws as other residential landlords. Under the law, a landlord is not allowed to simply lock out a tenant who does not pay rent. A landlord may change the locks on a tenant’s door, however, the landlord must make a key available for the tenant to come and go, 24 hours a day. In other words, you cannot lock out your tenant. If your tenant will not move out voluntarily, you will have to file an eviction proceeding in justice court to have him evicted.

Q. I am getting divorced. My husband has agrees to keep the house and make all the payments. What do I do to get my name taken off of the mortgage?

A. You cannot just have your name taken off of the mortgage. The divorce is between you and your husband. The mortgage company is not a part of your divorce and is not bound by whatever you and your husband agree to. The only way to have your name removed is for the mortgage company to agree to remove it, or have your husband refinance the property in his name alone.

Q. I owe a student loan from more than ten years ago. They now are telling me that if I don’t pay they will garnish my wages. How long do they have to collect? I thought there was no wage garnishment in Texas.

A. Unfortunately for you, there are basically are no time limits within which government backed student loans must be collected. Even though the debt is ten years old, it may still be collected. Additionally, although wage garnishment is generally prohibited in Texas, wage garnishment for student loans is based on federal law that pre-empts Texas law. In other words, if you don’t pay, your wages will be garnished. Under the law you should be given an opportunity to make arrangements to pay before wage garnishment is used. I suggest you take advantage of this opportunity.

Do you want to know more about your legal rights? Check out my website, www.peopleslawyer.net

A: Yes, you will qualify for what is known as an automatic cap gap extension but this is only if your employer files the H-1B petition during the validity period of your OPT. In your case, your employer should try to file your H-1B petition on 04/01/2014. If your H-1B petition is approved, your extension will continue until your H-1B status commences.

Q: We wish to hire an H1-B an employee who has been working with us on OPT. His OPT (Optional Practical Training) expires on March 1st, 2014, which means before April 1st, 2014.

Can we file the H-1B petition for him as soon as possible or do we have to wait to file on April 1st, 2014?

A: In this case, the employee has an additional 60 days grace period after the expiry of his OPT which takes him right to the end of May, 2014. It is advisable to file the H-1B petition for this employee on 04/01/2014 as it is still within the 60 day grace period after the expiry of his OPT. You may not choose to file the petition any earlier than 04/01/2014. As for the employee, he has to find a way to continue to maintain his status in the United States until his H-1B petition has been approved to commence work under H-1B status. For example, he may enroll back in school for that duration after the 60 days grace period has ended or return back to his home country during that time to wait to receive his H-1B visa.

Q: What happens to our filing fees if our H-1B petition for our employee has not been selected for filing?

A: The H-1B petition package will be returned to the employer and the employer will not be charged any filing fees.

Q: I have a Master’s Degree from an Indian University. Am I still subject to the 65,000 visa cap or do I qualify for the advanced degree exemption?

A: You are subject to the 65,000 visa cap. Only those with Master’s or higher degrees from US institutions of learning qualify for the advanced degree exemption which has 20,000 visas.

Disclaimer: Any advice provided in this article is general in nature and not intended to constitute legal advice for any specific case. Please consult with an immigration lawyer about the specific circumstances of your case.

Sharlene Sharmila Richards is a licensed Immigration Lawyer practicing in Houston, Texas. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000 and is a member of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and a member of the US Supreme Court.

If you require advice or assistance, you may contact her at telephone number 713-623-8088 or by email at srichardslaw@aol.com to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. Also you can visit www. houstonimmigrationattorney.com

Read more articles on legal issues at: www.VoiceofAsiaOnline.com

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COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Sangamam – An extraordinary performance by young US based dancers

by Thara Narasimhan and Rathna Kumar

O

n February 22, 2014, Indian Performing Arts Samskriti presented Sangamam, a conuence of three Indian classical dance forms, at JCC’s Kaplan Theater. This was the curtain opener for Samskriti’s 2014 calendar of events and its year long celebration of twenty years of service to Houston arts, and also the inaugural performance for its Stars on the Horizon initiative, with three exceptionally talented dancers presenting an impeccable and thoroughly professional performance. Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Kathak were seen in all their distinct beauty, making one proud of the richness and diversity of Indian classical dance. The juxtaposition of the dances, with the three forms cleverly mixed and matched throughout the performance, gave the audience a better insight into the differences and similarities between the three. The evocative facial expressions, subtle shifts of mood and emotions and complex rhythmic patterns that each dancer demonstrated showed their caliber as performers par excellence. The Stars on the Horizon series, initiated by Samskriti’s Artistic Director Rathna Kumar, will stage performances twice a year by young talented artistes based in the United States.

The exquisitely beautiful Sangita Rangala, originally a Houstonian and currently a Medical Director of the Edward Hospital Care Center in Chicago, is a disciple of Rathna Kumar and Padma Bhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam and his son Vempati Ravishankar. Her three Kuchipudi were a study in grace and beauty and revealed Sangita’s maturity and emotive skills. It was quite obvious that for Sangita dance is a passion, not a choice.

Nineteen year old Megna Murali of Dallas, endowed with enviable artistic talents that cover Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Modern and Flamenco dance styles as well as Carnatic Music, chose three excellent Kathak dances for her presentation. Her Guru, Murali Mohan Kalvakalva of Nartan Academy of Dance and Music (NADAM), Bangalore, would have been immensely proud of his sishya had he been in the audience. In her exciting ďŹ nale, Megna’s prodigious talents came to

Sangita Rangala - Kuchipudi. Photo Credit : Amitava Sarkar.

Sophia Salingaros - Bharatanatyam. Photo Credit : Amitava Sarkar the fore, and her infectious smile and joyous abandon showed her immense love for dance.

Sophia Salingaros, 17, proved that dance and music have no geographical or linguistic barriers. The naturally talented Greek-Belgian American teenager displayed perfect technique and powerful emotions and captivated the audience with her sculpturesque poses and her amazing steadiness. Sophia is passionate about Bharatanatyam and wishes to pursue it professionally, and is also learning Carnatic music to complement her dance. She also performs ballet and piano and loves to draw. Sophia was accompanied by her proud and happy Guru, Dr. Sreedhara of Kaveri Natya Yoga Dance School, San Antonio.

Chief Guest Mrs. Nandita Parvathaneni, wife of the Consul General of India in Houston, an eloquent

speaker in her own right, praised the dancers and congratulated the Samskriti Board for bringing such incredible performances and artists to Houston. Thara Narasimhan, President of Samskriti introduced the current Board & Advisory Board members, who were all in attendance – Prabha & Sesh Bala, Roopa Gir, Deepthi Raju, Vish Bhaskaran, Sheela Rao, Suma Mudan, Anil Kumar and Anuradha Subramanian.

Samskriti’s next major event is DASHAVATAR, The Ten Incarnations of Lord Vishnu, on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at the Wortham Center. All of Samskriti’s programs are funded in part by grants from the Texas Commission on the Arts & the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, and the Asia Society Texas Center is its Arts Partner. Visit www.explorehouston.org / www.samskritihouston.org or call 832 275 9656 for further details.

Megna Murali - Kathak. Photo Credit : Amitava Sarkar.

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VOICE OF ASIA 6

COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Radhe.. Radhe.. Dance Ballet This Saturday

P

EARLAND, TX “Radhe…Radhe…-- A Story of Love for the Supreme”, the much awaited bharatanatyam dance ballet produced by Global Organization for Divinity (G.O.D.) and put together by young Houston talent will be presented this upcoming Saturday, March 15 starting at 4:15 pm at the CA Nelson Auditorium located at 2337 N Galveston Ave, Pearland TX 77581. Seating for the event will begin at 3:30 pm, and the audience is requested to arrive well on time for the program.

Attendees are also encouraged to purchase tickets in advance ($10 general, $25 preferred seating), online at events. sulekha.com or by calling 281516-1596 or 281-402-6585, to save time on day of event.

The presentation will be in commemoration of the fourth anniversary of G.O.D.’s prayer house, Namadwaar, located in the Pearland/Manvel area, and is supported by a City of Pearland cultural arts grant through the Pearland Convention and Visitors’ Bureau.

The bharatanatyam dance ballet will depict the divine love of Sri Radha Rani, who stands for the epitome of devotion to God (Lord Krishna). The performance will weave an English narrative with the beautiful classical compositions of His Holiness Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji.

Radhe.. Radhe.. poster from the Houston area – Surabi Veeraragavan, Anu Nagasimha, Maya Iyer, Shubha Soman, Akila Raman, Nisha Gosar, Kavya Rajan, Roopa Nagarajan - who are disciples of eminent Houston dance gurus Smt. Padmini Chari and Smt. Indrani Parthasarathy, along with Suwetha Kalyan from Dallas Some of the many performers

(disciple of Smt. Vani Iswara) and Nrithi Subramanian from Minneapolis (disciple of Smt. Priya Murali).

This unique dance ballet is sure to delight the audience with its spiritual, musical as well as visual grace and beauty.

After the dance program, Indian snacks and boxed dinners

will be available for sale at discounted prices, courtesy Indy Cravings.

Click here to see a promo video of the event. For more information about the program call 281-303-5828 or 281-4026585 , visit www.godivinity.org or email houston.god@godivinity.org.

The choreography and music direction have been put together completely by Houston artistes Surabi Veeraragavan and Uma Ranganathan. And the production brings together several young accomplished dancers

Community: Fake ‘Legal Consultant’ Arrested After Stealing Thousands From Clients

Sunday, March 16th, 2014

Jeffrey Wayne Wilson, 34

H

OUSTON - A man accused of portraying himself as a legal consultant and a representative of a well-known, but now defunct law firm, has been arrested by HCSO deputies. He’s charged with credit/debit card abuse and stealing more than $100,000 from a single client.

Victims says Jeffrey Wayne Wilson, 34, told them he was a legal consultant for a large Houston area law firm and charged them thousands of dollars in exchange for legal work.

One of the victims gave Wilson $100,000 for work he never performed nor did he have the authorization to perform. She also discovered Wilson had been using her debit card number for personal unauthorized purchases for himself.

Investigators believe there are other victims out there who sought Wilson’s legal help believing he would take care of their case but instead received nothing in return. They are asked to call the HCSO’s Financial Crimes Unit at 713967-5770.

Wilson is in the Harris County Jail with no bond. His photo is attached.

See something? Say something! iWatchHarrisCounty is the HCSO’s free mobile phone app that allows the public to report suspicious persons and/or activity anonymously, anywhere, any time.

For more information please visitwww.iWatchHarrisCounty. com.

We watch Harris County and so should you.

For full details, view this message on the web.

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VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Suspect in House of Pies robbery, Indian American employee files shooting charged with murder federal lawsuit on Schwan’s

HOUSTON—The suspect arrested following an armed robbery at the House of Pies of Westheimer has been charged with capital murder, according to court documents.

HOUSTON, (FOX 26) - by Isiah Carey, Reporter

S

andeep Gupta was born in India, raised in Hong Kong, and decided to make America his home. He says home became a nightmare when he decided to work here at Schwan’s in Texas in 2007.

It’s a 60 plus year old home food delivery service.

Marquis Davis, 19, also faces a charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. Both are felony charges.

Davis is accused of fatally shooting 31-year-old Stanly Kumbanattel outside an apartment in the 8500 block of W. Sam Houston Parkway South.

The shooting was reported around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6.

The victim grew up in the Glenshire subdivision and attended Alief Independent School District Schools, except for high school, when he studied in India. Kumbanattel worked as a lab technician in Houston hospitals for about a decade. Recently he went back to school at the University of Texas at Dallas where he was studying computers and engineering.

According to the Houston Police Department, about an hour after Kumbanattel was shot, Davis and an accomplice

OBITUARY

Stanly Kumbanattel 1982 2014 uneral services for Stanly Babu Kumbanattel were held on march 11, 2014 at the Forest Park Westheimer Cemetary, Houston, Texas.

F

Stanly Babu Kumbanattel

Gupta started in Austin and eventually became a location general manager in Houston before he quit last year. Why? Because he says his supervisors treated him this way.

Gupta says, “all I can tell you everyday is being called a rug head, sand n*gger, being called a turbine head, reading an article about a terrorist bomb and hearing why do you people act this way.”

Stanly Kumbanattel, was 31. held up the House of Pies on Westheimer Road. Customers were forced to the ground, and gunshots were fired inside the restaurant, police said.

Davis was arrrested after someone flagged down a passing officer, but the other suspect got away.

No injuries were reported at the House of Pies. was born on March 7, 1982 in Houston, Texas to Babu and Cindy Kumbanattel. He was the eldest of two children, followed by his sister, Sophia Kumbanattel.

Though he began his schooling in Alief, Texas, he continued his education in Kerala, India from 1993 until 1997, when he returned to Houston, Texas.

After completing High school in 2000, Stanly was employed by the Memorial Hermann Laboratory for 10 years, while attending Houston Community College and later University of Houston with the focus in computer engineering. In 2013, Stanly began attending the University of Texas School of engineering in Dallas.

The suspect’s father Marquis Davis Sr. said his son is innocent of the capital murder charge. He said his son gave a friend a lift and was surprised when that friend robbed and shot Kumbanattel.

Davis Sr. went on to say that friend then “forced” his son to shoot up and rob the House of Pies.

Stanly Kumbanattel went to be with the Lord on March 6th, 2014. He is survived by his father, mother, and sister.

Stanly poured all of himself into his family and friends. He will always be remembered as the man who gave relentlessly and fought for the ones he cared about. The compassion he gave and innocence he carried was reflected in his every action. The love he showed and the life he lived will always be an example to the family and friends he left behind. He was indeed a blessing to every person he came across and will dearly be missed by all those whom he touched with his warm smile and giving heart.

According to a federal lawsuit Gupta filed against Schwan’s he says he confronted his supervisors over and over again about how they were treating him and it only got worse.

Gupta says his coworkers even photo shopped a picture of him superimposing a SWAT Team around him. He says it’s an attempt to make him look like a terrorist. He says because of finances and his personal situation he was stuck for years.

“We’d just started the adoption process my son is adopted and we needed stability so I decided I just got to stick around and I let it happen and I think that’s one of the reasons why

Courtesy video clip from Fox 26 news I want this word to get out to people it’s not okay no matter what your family situation is,” Gupta says.

We’ve only scratched the surface on what Gupta and his attorneys say occurred to the former manager at the Houston facility.

“What was absolutely unforgivable is the fact that they would chase him around the corporate office with a yard stick. They would hold him down. There was three managers each of them would pin him down and they would start punching him in the groin.

This is why all of his other colleagues were around,” said Tej Paranjpe.

Raj Mahadass also represents Gupta. He says, “in all my years of practice I have not seen it so systematic for so many years in multiple occasions even after he went and told his direct supervisor to stop this continued.”

For now Gupta is unemployed and looking for work but he says he rests easier knowing he is standing up to a company that made his life a living nightmare.

Schwan’s issued this statement: Given this issue represents a pending legal matter, we are unable to provide specific information at this time. We can say, however, that we take seriously our responsibility to provide a work environment free from harassment or retaliation of any kind. Our policy is to recruit, hire, assign and promote employees on the basis of their qualifications and without regard to age, race, color, creed, gender or any other legally protected status. We also strongly encourage employees to report inappropriate behavior. Mr. Gupta did not report any alleged inappropriate behavior prior to resigning. We intend to vigorously defend the matter.

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VOICE OF ASIA 8

Vedic Heritage School Teachers and Volunteers Appreciation celebrated at Sri Meenakshi Temple

P

EARLAND Sri Meenakshi Temple Society (MTS) in Pearland celebrated the 2014 Vedic Heritage School (VHS) Teachers & Volunteers (T&V) Appreciation Day on Sunday March 2nd.

The first VHS class was started in 2000 with a modest beginning with about two dozen students and five volunteers.

The VHS growth has been dramatic with an enrollment in excess of 220 with about thirty teachers, volunteers and teaching assistants. The VHS recently had celebrated the very successful Shlokotsavam on February 16th and it is befitting to honor the Teachers & Volunteers with the appreciation Day, who have been a key driver for the development of the children.

The event began with the young children demonstrating what they have learned and thanking the teachers in their own inimitable style which was touching. The VHS coordinators, Garuda Rao, MahaLakshmi Panchavaty and Sripathy Karnam, along with all the teachers and volunteers helped to run this segment smoothly.

The recognition began with the Invocatory Slokas to Sri Saraswathi. MTS Education committee coordinator and Executive director of MTS board, Meena Subramanian gave the opening remarks and introduced the MTS Chairman Dr. Vaduganathan to present the awards. Dr. Vaduganathan remarked on how his young adult children had grown being an Integral part of the VHS School, attending the classes and immensely benefitting from the experience which was much appreciated. He added that this is a typical experience of a number of families that have benefitted from the service that VHS has offered from its inception. Several MTS board members were present to lend their support to the VHS School, and especially appreciated the tremendous efforts of the teachers and volunteers, each of whom was recognized individually.

A sumptuous lunch was served as part of the appreciation, enjoyed by all.

COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Sri Meenakshi Temple Vedic Heritage School (VHS) Teachers and Volunteers appreciation day, with MTS Board

For more information on Vedic Heritage School please check http://mtsvhs.blogspot. com/ or contact VHSCoordinators@googlegroups.com

Smithsonian Indian American Heritage Project Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

L to R: HR Shah (Saffron, Founders Circle Member), Richard Kurin (Under Secretary for History, Arts, and Culture), Wayne Clough (Secretary, Smithsonian Institution), Congressman Ami Bera, Konrad Ng (Director, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center), and others.

by Sambhavna Suwalka, TV Asia The Smithsonian Museum has unearthed for the world to see at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. Using a 5000 square-foot space, in an exhibit “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation,” this gallery

is solely dedicated to chronicle the history and culture of Indians that made America their home since the 1960s.

The grand opening of “Beyond Bollywood” exhibit at Smithsonian took place on the 26th February 2014 and a ribbon cutting ceremony was organized.

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VOICE OF ASIA 10

‘Fast for Families Across America’ to knock on Congressmen Ted Poe and Pete Olson’s Doors for Immigration Reform

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

ICC’s EC members meet with Consul General, P Harish

L-R:: Falguni Gandhi, Mrs Nandita Harish, Consul General P Harish, Charlie Patel, Meera Kapur, Swapan Dhairyawan, Jasmeeta Singh & Harshad Patel. (Not in pic PV Patel).

H

Mayor Annise Parker addressed a press conference

“Fast for Families� joins Texas constituents and faith, political and civil rights leaders to act, fast and pray for immigration reform.

HOUSTON - On Thursday March 6, “Fast for Families Across Americaâ€? visits the districts of U.S. Representatives Ted Poe (R-TX) and Pete Olsen (R-TX) to engage constituents in the ďŹ ght for commonsense immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship. Local voters and faith, labor, and immigrant rights leaders will join “Fast for Familiesâ€? advocate Eliseo Medina (SEIU) to urge Congressmen Poe and Olson to

heed their constituents’ call and move immigration reform to a vote this year.

At the Press Conference Mayor Annise Parker (City of Houston), Senator Silvia Garcia, State Rep. Ana Hernandez, State Rep. Armando Walle, Rahman Moton President (MACC), Eliseo Medina, core faster. Fasted 22 days (former SEIU Treasurer), Dr.Laura Murillo CEO (Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), Carlos Duarte Director (Mi Familavota).

Mustafaa Carroll (CAIR) and other community members.

National faith, labor, civic, and immigrant rights leaders are on a 75+ stop bus tour, visiting with advocates and soli-

darity fasters across the country who are following in the traditions of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi by abstaining from all food in order to bring attention to this ongoing, moral crisis.

Moton in his speech urge to the community to write letter to elected ofďŹ cials to support comprehensive immigration reform. Mr. Moton has been working on immigration reform since last year along with the various organizations and elected ofďŹ cials. Also Mr. Moton has requested to the community at large to support in comprehensive immigration reform for the sake of over 11 million undocumented people.

OUSTON - India Culture Center Houston (ICC) Executive Committee & Chief Trustees had a meeting with the Consul General P Harish on March 5th Thursday to discuss wide ranging topics of Community interest. This was the ďŹ rst interaction of the Newly installed Executive Committee with the Consul General. They discussed areas of mutual interest and coopera-

tion for the oldest serving Community organization in Houston.

ICC traditionally celebrates India’s Republic Day & Independence Day in Greater Houston area, to keep the people of Indian origin connected with their homeland. ICC has been a service based organization in the recent years by involving itself in local communities. “ICC celebrated its 40th Anniversary Celebrations in August 2013

and plans to work closely with Partnering organizations like BAPS, Gujarati Samaj, JVB, Indian Senior Citizens, IHA, TCA and many more. We have many versatile & talented Directors on our Board and passionate Trustees this year and we are going to make a difference� was quoted by President Charlie Patel.

For more information visit www.icchouston.org or call 832-4237979

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OUSTON, (March 10, 2014.) - The newly elected President of BITSAA (Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences Alumni Association) International, Mr. Jayan RamanKutty, a silicon valley serial entrepreneur was felicitated with a memento by Houston Chapter members at a luncheon reception held at Kiran’s Restaurant on 2nd. His wife, Vibha JAYAN has also graced the occasion.

The day’s honoree, Mr. Jayan Ramankutty distinguished himself as a founder of four successful technology companies in the last 20 years. Most recently, he was the Founder-CEO of YuMe Networks (NYSE: YUME), a company focused on real time on-line video and adv. Management. In 1997, he co-founded Lara Networks, a world leader in search engines, which was acquired by Cypress Semiconductor. Immediately after graduating from San Jose State University in 1991 with a Masters in Computer Engineering, he co-founded Nimbus Technologies to design multi-processing Sparc Chip sets which was acquired by Alliance Semi-conductor in 1993.

He also co-Founded Empower Tel. Networks which was acquired by IPunity in 2002.

Despite short notice, the event was attended by 25 proud BITSians, young and old, living in Houston Greater metropolitan area that included BITSAA Houston Chapter activists: Krishna Vavilala, Narendra Gosain, Sanjay Ramabhadran, Aalap Tripathy, Rajesh Chelapurath, Ram Tekumalla, P.S. Raju and Venkat Yadha.

A prominent Houstonian and a proud BITSian, Mr. Ramesh Bhutada of Star Pipes could not attend.

Mr. Ramankutty spoke of the need to create a brand name for the BITSAA International organization to inculcate a common pride of being a BITSian.

As the incoming President of the organization, he would try to connect all BITSians so that they could network and help each other.

Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, famously known as BITS-Pilani is the largest

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Houston BITSians welcome BITSAA’s Int’nal President, Mr. Jayan Ramankutty

presented a US $1,000,000/check to its alma matter in the recent BITSAA Global Meet 50@50, held in Hyderabad on January 5th is a testimony of its global strength.

On 23rd December, 2013, BITSAA was invited to ring the NASDQ opening bell, a unique honor rarely bestowed on an educational institution located outside America. This was in recognition of the number of technology companies started

by BITS Pilani graduates in America, thus creating thousands of technology jobs.

Local Houston chapter of BITSAA was ceremonially launched on Aug 2, 2013 by Consul General, P. Harish and his wife Nandita to coincide with the BITSian day celebrations all over the world.

Further information about BITSAA International can be had from http://www.bitsaa. org/. or call Krishna Vavilala 713-795-5169, Venkat Yadha 860-214-6135 or Kalyan Chakravarty 561-670-3384.

BITSAA Houston Chapter members with Mr. Jayan Ramankutty privately funded deemed university renowned for high standard of education. It is the only private Indian institution that has set up a campus outside of India, in Dubai, in addition to its three existing campuses in India, at Pilani, Hyderabad and Goa. The institution was founded by late Mr. G.D.Birla - an eminent industrialist, a philanthropist and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. BITS symbolizes entrepreneurship and leadership and has world renowned reputation for creating immensely talented technical and business leaders.

BITSAA members are estimated to be around 40,000 spread over 80 countries and are strongly connected through BITSAA International which is a registered non-profit organization.

The fact that BITSAA International, under the leadership of its outgoing Chairman and CEO, Mr. Raju Reddy, another Silicon Valley entrepreneur, has

Water and Energy to be the Focus of World Water DayAt Houston Community College Southwest

H

OUSTON (March 7, 2014) – Once again, Houston Community College Southwest will participate in the United Nations’ World Water Day by hosting a day-long workshop Saturday, March 22, at the college’s Stafford Learning Hub. The theme this year studies the nexus of “Water and Energy.”

A diverse panel of waterrelated industry, educational and acclaimed student speakers will present the latest ideas and technology on the subject.

For example, members of the United Nations will attend, as will the Director of the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology in Barbados.

A collaboration between HCC Southwest and the United Nations Association, the event is held annually in recognition of the day the United Nations declared to be World Water Day—March 22.

Free and open to the public, HCC Southwest’s World Water Day will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at the Stafford Learning Hub, 10041 Cash Rd, Stafford, 77477.

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VOICE OF ASIA 12

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

NYC buildings explosion kills three, others missing

by Chris Francescani And Edith Honan

N

EW YORK Wed Mar 12, 2014 (Reuters) Two New York City buildings collapsed on Wednesday in an explosion believed to be caused by a gas leak, killing three people, injuring at least 36, and setting off a search for more victims feared trapped in the rubble, officials said.

The blast, which scattered debris across nearby rooftops, brought down the neighboring five-story buildings, with a total of 15 apartments, at about 9:30 a.m. (1330 GMT) on a largely residential Upper Manhattan block at East 116th Street and Park Avenue.

Clouds of thick smoke billowed from the rubble of the apartment buildings that sat above a ground-level church and a piano store in a largely Latino working-class neighborhood. Officials declined to give a number of people still missing.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, who rushed to the scene in East Harlem, where a cascade of twisted and burnt metal blocked the sidewalk and covered parked cars, said preliminary information showed the explosion was caused by a gas leak.

Officials at the press conference said the blast occurred 15 minutes after a resident in an adjacent building called Con Edison to complain of a gas odor.

Edward Foppiano, Con Ed’s vice president for gas operations, said that while the utility could not say for certain what caused the explosion, it was treating the incident as a gas leak issue. The utility most recently responded to customer complaint about a gas odor in the area last May, but the issue had been resolved, Foppiano said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the “gas explosion and subsequent fire.”

Metro-North Railroad, which had shut down train traffic moving through Manhattan while it cleared debris from the tracks announced late afternoon it had restored all commuter train traffic passing through the area.

Hundreds of firefighters were scouring the mounds of debris for survivors and trapped bodies. Two women were killed and the body of another person was found in the rubble late in the day, raising the death toll to three, a police spokesman said.

De Blasio said there were “a number” of people missing.

“This is a tragedy because

there was no time to warn people ahead of time,” de Blasio said. “We are expending every effort to locate each and every loved one.”

Of those injured, one was in critical condition and most suffered cuts, broken bones and smoke inhalation, authorities said.

At least three children were among the injured. Two of them were treated for minor injuries and released, while a third is in critical condition, hospital officials told a news conference.

Neighbors said they thought an earthquake was shaking them from their beds and breakfast tables. The explosion, which could be heard from blocks away, shattered windows around the neighborhood.

“I heard a big explosion.

Boom!” said Aisha Watts, who lives in the building next door.

“The walls started crumbling down. The windows were gone,” said Watts. The mother of three said she feared she would die but was soon rescued by a neighbor who kicked down the jammed door to her home.

Six blocks away, Robert Pauline’s apartment was rocked by the explosion.

“All of a sudden the whole building shook. We had no idea what was going on,” said the 56-year-old Columbia University data processor.

President Barack Obama was briefed on the collapse and sent his condolences to the victims’ families and his support to first responders at the scene.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by this incident,” the White House said in a statement.

Crowds of residents, their faces covered with protective scarves and masks, filled the sidewalks of surrounding streets, which were blocked off with yellow police tape.

“It’s a very active scene. It’s a very chaotic scene,” said Fire Department spokesman Michael Parrella.

Fire trucks used high cranes to spray blasts of water into the rubble, as dozens of ambulances and police cruisers with flashing lights swarmed the scene.

During the morning commute, trains were held at nearby stations because of debris on the tracks and passengers were ordered off the Metro-North Railroad cars at the Fordham stop in the Bronx, passengers said. (SOURCE: Reuters)

China satellite finds ‘suspected crash site’ in Malaysia jet hunt

by Tom HANCOCK BEIJING, March 13, 2014 (AFP) - China said its satellites have detected three large floating objects in a suspected crash site near where a missing Malaysian jet lost contact, the latest twist in a hunt which entered its sixth day Thursday.

China’s state science and technology administration said late Wednesday that a Chinese satellite had seen the objects in a “suspected crash sea area” in the South China Sea on March 9, and that the images were being analysed.

The search for Malaysia Airlines flight 370 now encompasses nearly 27,000 nautical miles (over 90,000 square kilometres) -- roughly the size of Portugal -- and involves the navies and air forces of multiple nations.

The hunt originally focused on an area off Vietnam’s South China Sea coast, where the Boeing 777 last made contact Saturday on a journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

But Malaysian authorities later expanded it to the Andaman Sea, north of Indonesia, hundreds of miles away.

It added that they were spread across an area with a radius of 20 kilometres (12 miles), in siz-

It was not clear whether or when the images had been shared with Malaysian officials coordinating the ever-shifting search effort. Officials could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday morning.

- No blast on US satellites US authorities said Wednesday that their spy satellites had detected no sign of a mid-air explosion when a Malaysian airliner lost contact with air traffic controllers.

On Wednesday Malaysia denied that the hunt for the aircraft was mired in confusion after a series of false alarms, rumours and contradictory statements.

Malaysian air force chief General Rodzali Daud attempted to explain why the search zone had been expanded, telling a press conference that military radar detected an unidentified object early Saturday north of the Malacca Strait off Malaysia’s west coast.

He said that the reading, taken less than an hour after the plane lost contact over the South China Sea, was still being investigated and they were not able to confirm it was MH370.

The confusion has fuelled perceptions that Malaysian authorities are unable to handle a crisis on this scale, and infuriated relatives.

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The suspected objects detected by the Chinese satellite were found at 105.63 degrees longitude East and 6.7 degrees latitude North, the administration said on its website.

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VOICE OF ASIA 13

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

LIFESTYLE

VOICE OF ASIA 15

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Vol. 27

No. 11

Friday, March 14, 2014

Section 2

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com Tel: 713-774-5140

Saving planet goes from video game to real-world craze Melkus.

by Katarina SUBASIC

I

“We have two rooms: players can save the world from a nuclear catastrophe or rob a bank,” Melkus explains.

t is the peak of the Cold War, a secret agent has launched nuclear weapons and a small team of sleuths has one hour to prevent the end of the world.

He says players can get their money back if they are not satisfied, but “so far, nobody has asked for it.

The team has a single clue: a coded message left in a typewriter by a secret agent.

“We even had a team from a computer games company, but it was difficult for them and they only just saved the world,” joked Nina.

With 60 minutes ticking down on the large electronic wall clock, they must unravel dozens of codes, clues and leads to discover the keys that can stop the blast.

It attracts all ages -- from 15 to 60 -- but fans of the former computer game in their 30s and 40s are the most common, she added.

“Escape Room” -- the reallife adaptation of a classic 1980s video game -- is a new craze popping up around the world.

Having already made its mark in London, Paris and Bangkok, games are being organised in some unlikely spots around central Europe, including the picturesque Danube city of Novi Sad in Serbia where it has reached the number three spot for “things to do” on travel website Trip Advisor.

“This is a complex game that requires ability, intelligence, education and team work, much more than the online version,” said Boban Melkus, a 36-year-old high school teacher who set up the game in Novi Sad. Melkus and his wife Nina began offering the game in December in a rented apartment. Teams pay 4,000 dinars

Zorica Ljubicic, a 53-year old clerk who had no experience with the virtual version, came out beaming with satisfaction after she and two friends averted the apocalypse.

“This was such good fun -everything was so exciting, we saved the world!”

Players search for clues in a room while taking part in the virtual “Escape Room” game in Novi Sad, on January 31, 2014 (AFP, Andrej Isakovic) (35 euros, $45) to play in one of two rooms that have been given a Cold War makeover.

maps and photos of Cold Warera leaders.

The business was profitable from the very first day, even

though they only put a small ad on their Facebook page, said

- ‘We saved the world’ There are old-fashioned telephones that act as “hotlines” to Berlin, Madrid, Athens; a decades-old typewriter, and walls plastered with military

Her friend Zarko said their team skills were key to their success.

“Next we will rob a bank,” she said.

- Team-building The game was first transferred from the virtual to the real world in Asia, appearing in Bangkok under a variety of names including ClueQuest and HintHunt.

The Melkus couple first played it in Budapest in Hungary, where it has seriously caught on, with over 40 companies organising the game in more than 100 rooms around the city.

The couple plans to take the game next to the Serbian capital Belgrade, as well as Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland.

It’s become a popular teambuilding event for businesses -- in contrast to the original version of the game which was a purely solo affair.

“Here, you are nothing without a team,” Nina said.

A player searches for clues in a room while taking part in the virtual “Escape Room” game in Novi Sad, on January 31, 2014 (AFP, Andrej Isakovic)

Boban Melkus (left) and his wife Nina, managers of the virtual “Escape Room” game, in Novi Sad, on January 31, 2014 (AFP, Andrej Isakovic)

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Building on this part of the business, the Meldeks have even engaged the services of a psychologist to make a profile of each player based on their response to the puzzle.

LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 16

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Houston Grand Opera Presents World Premiere of River of Light

Screening of Film About Indian WWII Heroine in Houston on Opera celebrates Houston’s Indian community March 21 and 22, 2014 March 23 – 30, 2014 Narrated by Oscar Winning Actress Helen Mirren Asia Society Texas Center performances are ticketed events — $15/$13 for Asia Society members. Purchase tickets at HGO.org/RiverofLight.

Performance Dates & Times: • Sunday, March 23, 2014, at 3 p.m., free Sri Meenakshi Temple (17139 McLean Rd.,Pearland) Part of the Temple’s celebration of Holi • Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at 11 a.m., free Ripley House Neighborhood Center (4410 Navigation Blvd., Houston)

Poster of ‘River of Light’ featuring Maya Kherani as Meera.

HOUSTON – HGOco, Houston Grand Opera’s community collaboration and education initiative, presents River of Light, the final installment in HGOco’s East + West series on March 23 -30, 2014. The chamber opera examines the intricacies of a contemporary, cross-cultural family facing the preservation of family legacy.

River of Light follows Indian wife Meera and her American husband, Burton, while they explore and create the cultural heritage of their newborn daughter.

Performances will be given at Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland on March 23 (3 p.m.) as part of an afternoon celebration of Holi; Ripley House Neighborhood Center on March 25 (11 a.m.); and Asia Society Texas Center (ASTC) on March 29 (7:30 p.m.) and March 30 (2 p.m.). Admission to the first two performances is free; tickets for the fully-realized Asia Society performances are available through Houston Grand Opera.

In line with Houston Grand Opera’s longstanding tradition of commissioning new works, River of Light is the eighth and final opera in HGOco’s East + West series and HGO’s fiftythird world premiere.

Award-winning composer Jack Perla—who also composed the first East + West opera, Courtside (2011)—has set the libretto by Houstonian literary paragon Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. An award-winning and bestselling author, poet, and activist, Divakaruni currently teaches in the nationally ranked creative writing program at the University of Houston.

“When I wrote the libretto,” says Divakaruni, “I began to examine my own life as an immigrant from India.

What emerged is a contemporary immigrant story with a Houstonian flavor, situated in what is statistically the most diverse city in the United States!”

The accomplished international cast for River of Light includes Maya Kherani as Meera, Michael Sumuel as Burton, Alissa Anderson as Neighbor/Cousin Renu, and Samuel Levine as Neighbor.

The creative team for River of Light includes director E. Loren Meeker (HGOco’s Past the Checkpoints and From My Mother’s Mother), music director and HGO Studio alum David Hanlon (HGOco’s Past the Checkpoints), scenic designer Laura Fine Hawkes, costume designer Clair Hum-

• Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 7:30 p.m., tickets available at HGO.org/RiverofLight Asia Society Texas Center (1370 Southmore Blvd., Houston) • Sunday, March 30, 2014, at 2 p.m., tickets available at HGO.org/RiverofLight Asia Society Texas Center (1370 Southmore Blvd., Houston) Indian-American soprano Maya Kherani mel, and lighting designer Kyle McAnally. Traditional Indian instruments tabla (percussion) and sitar (plucked stringed instrument) are woven into the score, performed by Houstonbased musician Shantilal Shah (tabla) and San Francisco artist Arjun Verma (sitar). East + West is supported in part by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Andrews Kurth LLP, PwC, Bank of America, Conoco Phillips, and Marathon Corporation.

River of Light Performance Information HGO’s 53rd World Premiere DURATION: Approx. 1 hour LANGUAGE: Sung in English with projected text TICKETS:

About Meera Praised for her sparkling voice and stage presence, Indian-American soprano Maya Kherani has been a featured soloist in the Bay Area since completing her Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the SF Conservatory of Music in 2012. Favorite roles include Despina (Cosí fan tutte), Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Eurydice (Orfée aux enfers), Marie (La fille du régiment), Poppea (Agrippina), Monica (The Medium), and Nuria in Opera Parallèle’s innovative production of Golijov’s Ainadamar. An active proponent of both early and contemporary music, Maya has premiered several works, including Neil Rolnick’s Anosmia, to be released by Innova Records in late October 2013, and Dante de Silva’s “graphic opera” Gesualdo, Prince of Madness.

A Docudrama Film from Unity Productions Foundation Friday, 21 March 2014 7:00 pm Saturday, March 22, 1:00 pm Saturday, March 22, 4:00 pm

O

Asia Society Texas Center 1370 Southmore Blvd., Houston, TX 77004.

(713.496.9901) Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased from http://asiasociety.org/texas/events/upcoming.

n March 21st and 22nd Houston premieres Enemy of the Reich: The Noor Inayat Khan Story. This film tells the true, little known story of a heroic young Indian woman who defied the Nazis during World War II.

port the Allied Forces against the Axis powers in the Second World War, despite the fact that Britain was occupying and colonizing India, and that she supported the Indian independence movement,” explains Michael Wolfe, the film’s executive producer with Alex Kronemer.

Noor Inayat Khan was the daughter of an Indian Sufi scholar, Hazrat Inayat Khan, who was from Gujurat, India. In 1940, when the Nazis invaded France, where Noor Inayat Khan was raised, she fled to England. That same year, she trained as a wireless operator after joining Britain’s Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.

In early 1943, she began her assignment as a covert operative. She joined Winston Churchill’s Special Operations Executive (SOE), which sought to undermine the Axis powers in occupied Europe via espionage, among other tactics.

From Paris, Noor Inayat Khan secretly transmitted messages to Britain.

“For six months she was the only link between the U.K. and the French Resistance, pursued by the Gestapo, betrayed

by French collaborators,” says Kronemer. However, even after the Nazis arrested her and sent her to Dachau prison camp in Germany, “she fought back against her captors. She escaped twice. She never gave up one name or even her own name,” says Wolfe.

“This is someone who saw the moral imperative to sup-

The Houston premiere of Enemy of the Reich will take place at Asia Society Texas Center on March 21st at 7:00pm and March 22nd at 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased from http:// asiasociety.org/texas/events/ upcoming. For more information about the film please visit www.enemyofthereich.org

VOICE OF ASIA 17

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Young Life

VOICE OF ASIA 18

Friday, March 14, 2014

Section 2

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston’s Teen Council organizes photography show drawn from works in The Menil Collection programming and events for the Museum, including the yearly Teen Fashion Show and Teen Music Festival. Every other year, the Teen Council organizes a Perspectives exhibition in the Zilkha Gallery featuring new work by young, Houston-area artists. The Teen Council selects the theme, title, and guest juror, and helps with the design, installation, printed exhibition catalogue, and programming.

Joshua Mann Pailet, Untitled (Dogs, New Orleans), 1978. Gelatin silver print. 16 x 20 inches. The Menil Collection, Houston. Photo: Janet Woodard.

The Evolution of Neglect: Scenes of Ruin and Ruins from The Menil Collection March 15 - April 27, 2014 OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, March 27, 2014 5:30-7:30PM HOUSTON, TX (March 10, 2014)--The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston’s Teen Council presents The Evolution of Neglect: Scenes of Ruin and Ruins from The Menil Collection, featuring a selection of photographs by fifteen artists.

Through varying scenes that portray subtle signs of existence to depictions of barren landscapes, the exhibition traces the complex narrative of an evolving world through images of life and lifelessness.

Conceived out of conversations between Michelle White, Curator at The Menil Collection, and Jamal Cyrus, Education Associate and Teen Council Coordinator at CAMH, the partnership between the two organizations aims to present Teen Council with the exceptional opportunity to build a museum-quality exhibition.

The Teen Council, who is employed by CAMH to help create programming for their peers, was granted rare access to the Menil’s unparalleled collection of contemporary art, focusing on their photography collection, and was empowered to organize an exhibition from the ground up, a process that is loaded with discovery and educational rewards.

Starting in fall of 2013 the Teen Council made several visits to the Menil, delving deep into its photographic collection under the supervision of Curatorial Assistant Susan Sutton and Collection Registrar David Aylsworth. The group digitally reviewed almost 2500 photographs to narrow down the selection to sixty images. They then looked at actual prints, and, after much debate and discussion, the Teen Council reached the final edit of thirtythree images in early December. The Teen Council began working in small groups, each of which built a scale model of the gallery space.

Artists in the exhibition include Ansel Adams, Tom Arndt, Peter Brown, Paul Caponigro, William Christenberry, Edward Sheriff Curtis, William Eggleston, Walker Evans, John Gossage, Clarence Andre Kertesz, John Laughlin, Danny Lyon, John McIntosh, Joshua Mann Pailet, and unattributed.

The earliest image in the exhibition is by an unattributed artist and dated 1871, and the most recent photograph is one

by Tom Arndt taken in 2008.

Black-and-white images by influential American photographer Walker Evans are shown, including several that portray signage that could be interpreted as possible warnings: “Damaged,” “Fresh Water,” and “Sex Maniac.” In John McIntosh’s color photos “Wonder” Wheat Bread and “Wonder” White Bread (both 1985), the iconic

food is placed center stage showing nature in a highly processed state. Other photographers, such as Paul Caponigro and William Christenberry, depict dusty landscapes that appear untouched while others show buildings now in ruin.

“This process has been a long one, at least in teen time, but we are very excited about the lessons learned in exhibition planning, visual literacy, photographic history, and museum protocol. We thank the Menil for agreeing to this partnership and for working so closely with the Teen Council. The experience has been invaluable for the group,” says Cyrus. The show will run in CAMH’s Cullen Education Resource Room from March 15 to April 27, in conjunction with the 2014 Fotofest Biennial.

ABOUT CAMH’S TEEN COUNCIL The CAMH Teen Council is a group of motivated young people (ages 15-19) employed by the Museum, who are committed to bringing the art of their time to their peers. They meet regularly to explore the arts and create youth-oriented

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Teen Council is supported by Ms. Louisa Stude Sarofim.

The Museum’s operations and programs are made possible through the generosity of the Museum’s trustees, patrons, members and donors. The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston receives partial operating support from the Houston Endowment, the City of Houston through the Houston Museum District Association, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Commission on the Arts, The Wortham Foundation, Inc and artMRKT Productions. CAMH also thanks its artist benefactors for their support including Ricci Albenda, McArthur Binion, Brendan Cass, Jack Early, Robert Gober, Wayne Gonzales, Sean Land-

According to the Teen Council’s exhibition statement, “The images frame a story familiar to all of us. They are a warning--a history, a fear that has haunted humanity since creation. Although there is an urge toward life, there is the knowledge of one’s own eventual demise.

Tourists visit ruins until they are in ruin.”

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EDUCATION SUPPORT The Museum receives support for its education programs from: Anonymous, Dillon Kyle Architecture, Sara Paschall Dodd, Frost Bank, Louise D. Jamail, Mr. and Mrs. I.H. Kempner III, Kinder Morgan Foundation, Robert and Pearl Wallis Knox Foundation, Leticia Loya, Elisabeth McCabe, M.D. Anderson Foundation, Marian and Speros Martel Foundation Endowment, Andrew R. McFarland, Nordstrom, Inc., Ms. Louisa Stude Sarofim, Texas Commission on the Arts, Martha Claire Tompkins, and Elizabeth Satel Young.

GENERAL OPERATING Funding for the Museum’s operations through the Fund for the Future is made possible by generous grants from Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, Anonymous, Jereann Chaney, Marita and J.B. Fairbanks, Jo and Jim Furr, Barbara and Michael Gamson, Brenda and William Goldberg, Leticia Loya, Fayez Sarofim, Andrew Schirrmeister III, and David and Marion Young.

ers, Zoe Leonard, Klara Lidén, Donald Moffett, Rob Pruitt, Rusty Scruby, Laurie Simmons, Josh Smith, and Marc Swanson.

United is the official airline of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.

CAMH MISSION The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is a leading destination to experience innovative art. CAMH actively encourages public engagement with its exhibitions through its educational programs, publications, and online presence.

ALWAYS FRESH, ALWAYS FREE GENERAL INFORMATION The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is located at 5216 Montrose Boulevard, at the corner of Montrose and Bissonnet, in the heart of Houston’s Museum District. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 10AM-7PM, Thursday 10AM-9PM, Saturday 10AM6PM, and Sunday 12PM-6PM. Admission is always free. For more information, visit www. camh.org or call 713 284 8250.

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VOICE OF ASIA 19

BOLLYWOOD MASALA

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Friday, March 14, 2014

Section 2

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

Why is Richa Chadda uncom- Bollywood Celebrity Vidya Balan to promote the IIFA Celebrations 2014 fortable with nude scenes? in New York, Houston and Tampa

I

ndian cinema’s megastar, Vidya Balan, will join the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) on a 3-city tour of America (New York, Houston and Tampa) to promote the upcoming IIFA Weekend and Awards.

The 15th Annual IIFA Weekend will take place in Tampa, Florida where it will make its American debut from April 23-26 2014. The event is expected to bring tremendous immediate and long-term benefits & opportunities to the region including thousands of visitors to the area during the weekend.

In Houston, a Press Conference is arranged on Wednesday, March. 12th / 2pm onwards at The Westin Galleria, 5060 W Alabama St, Houston, TX. Speakers include: IIFA Director – Sabbas Joseph Friend of IIFA, Indian Actress, Vidya Balan, Host Committee Chairman Dr. Kiran Patel, Mr. Rajender Singh - Star Promotions Inc.and singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya.

N

EW DELHI An Indian court on Wednesday blocked the release of a Bollywood movie after a woman complained the film was based on her life and gang of pink sari-clad women vigilantes, reports said.

Richa Chadda

by Prateek Sur The Fukrey actor declined an international project to be co-produced by Ajay Devgn

R

Actress Sana Khan dies in car crash, husband critically injured

The Delhi High Court said “Gulaab (Pink) Gang” would not be released at least until after the next hearing on May 8, following charges by activist Sampat Pal that the film-makers had not sought her permission to make the movie which she said would malign her reputation.

icha Chadda got noticed with her very first appearance in Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and went ahead to do the mega blockbuster film, Gangs Of Wasseypur. Since then she has been progressing steadily in the film industry with her films coming every now and then.

Grapevine has news now that the Delhi born actor declined an international project as it had a nude scene in it. We had informed you before that the international project called Parched, which would be directed by Leena Yadav and co-produced by Ajay Devgn.

The film is based on the story of three women from a modern village. The three women would be played by Tannishtha Chatterjee, Radikha Apte and Surveen Chawla.

Pal’s Gulaabi Gang -famed for their pink saris and sticks -- battles for women’s rights across a handful of districts in the povertystricken northern state of Uttar Pradesh, tackling domestic violence, dowry disputes, child marriage and other forms of abuse.

India court blocks release of film on pink sari vigilantes

Judge Sanjeev Sachdeva said the film’s release would cause “irreparable damage and injury” to Pal’s reputation, “which cannot be calculated in terms of money”, according to news agency the Press Trust of India.

The 56-year-old founder and leader of the Gulaabi Gang told AFP last month: “If they don?t ask for permission, we won?t let it release.”

The movie, Gulaab Gang, stars Juhi Chawla as a politician and Madhuri Dixit as Rajjo -- alleged to depict Pal -- who fights for the education of young girls.

Although the actor has been doing bold scenes with Nikhil Dwivedi for their upcoming film, Tamanche, we don’t know why she is saying no to similar scenes for others films. Richa was unavailable for comment and we can wait to know her side of the story. (UTC).

The women who support Rajjo all wear pink, much like Pal’s Gulaabi Gang.

There was no immediate

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YDERABAD: Pakistan - An accident near Looni Kot on super highway some 30 kilometers off Hyderabad claimed the life of actress Sana Khan on Friday.

According to motorway police, Sana Khan along with her husband actor Babar Khan were on their way from Karachi to Hyderabad in a car.

The car driven by Babar went out of control near Looni Kot and overturned as a result of which both Sana Khan and Babar Khan received serious injuries.

On receiving information, the motorway police along with ambulance reached on the spot and shifted them to Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro where Sana Khan breathed her comment available from film director Soumik Sen. But in February he told AFP his movie was “a work of fiction”.

last before she could get any first aid.

Babar Khan was later shifted to Liaquat University Hospital City Branch.

News reports state that Babar has suffered serious injuries in the accident and is in critical condition.

Sana and Babar had tied the knot in December 2013 and had resumed shooting serials earlier this year.

Sana was known for her appearance in a serial ‘Parchaiyan’, where her strong performance earned her critical acclaim. Babar is best known for his role in drama serial Ek Tamana Lahasil Se. The two had also expressed interest working together in more dramas.

Last month Pal attended the opening of an awardwinning documentary on her Gulaabi Gang in the city of Mumbai.

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According to a source, “There is a nude scene in the film, and it isn’t titillating or sensational.

But Richa wasn’t comfortable doing it, and declined the project.” A little birdie made us recall that Richa had done the same previously in B-town as well. She had turned down Ragini MMS 2 because she was asked to do a lesbian scene with Sunny Leone.

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VOICE OF ASIA 20

ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Miss Bollywood Houston pageant a grand success

T

he first ever Miss Bollywood Houston pageant was held on Friday, March 7th at the Signature Manor in Houston. The event delivered all it promised and more! The Houston crowd came out in big numbers elegantly dressed for a memorable evening of fun and entertainment.

was so happy that a bunch of girls came to pick her up (incidentally, she tweeted about that too). She was then escorted to her seat on the judges panel and the show continued.

Next up, was the formal round where the contestants wore stunning and gorgeous clothing by Almas Tejani Desi Couture. This was followed by the announcement of the Final 5 Contestants who each got a question from a judge ranging from “How would you convince the audience and judges?” to “What would you do if you were the Prime Minister of India?”. Preity’s question was “Most beauty queens say they will do all these great things if they win, but they go ahead and join Bollywood. What will you truly do if you win?”

The event began with the guests entering the beautiful foyer of Signature Manor with its granite floors, chandeliers and double-winding staircases.

The venue was nothing short of a palace with its elegance and exquisiteness! As they entered into the main ballroom, they were met with a visual treat again with the very classy ballroom beautifully decorated by Aslam and Abdul from Deco-Art. The show began with a very cute performance by Bollywood Shake students who performed to a medley of Tattad Tattad and Chingam Chabake

Bollywood actor Preity Zinta with the winners: Rafiah Khan was crowned Miss Bollywood Houston 2014. First Runner up was Sukrutha Sujai and Second Runner up was Shareen Memon.

Round 3 was followed by a spectacular jewelry show presented by Kohinoor Diamonds that truly lit up the stage. The bridal sets displayed were simply gorgeous and breathtaking

An impressive line up of the contestants for the Miss Bollywood Houston pageant. Photos by Aventography Studios. kicking off the event with a bang! The Bollywood Shake dance troupe ended the performance with a very entertaining performance to Dhating Naach.

Following that, Bollywood Shake Founder & CEO, Ruchika Dias, entered the stage with her adorable 2 year old son. She talked about how she started Bollywood Shake in Austin in 2009 because of her passion for Bollywood and dancing and how the entire Bollywood Shake team is made of working professionals with a passion for dance. She introduced her son as the #1 man in her life before handing him over to daddy!

Then the judges were introduced. The judging panel included Neelofer Ali (Owner of Kohinoor Diamonds), Kourtney Magnes (Miss Houston 2013), Katharine Harclerode (Miss Houston Teen 2013) and Mr. Ash Shah (esteemed Houston businessman and entrepreneur).

Ruchika then introduced one of the MCs for the night, Raza Hassan, who was also the Choreographer and Artistic Director for the show. Raza’s wig was a statement and matched his entertaining personality.

Participants of the glam show Miss Bollywood Houston 2014 pageant

Then entered, Cady, another MC for the evening. Cady is not of South Asian descent, but loves Bollywood and wanted to be a part of the show. Cady truly demonstrates what Bollywood Shake is about – you don’t have to be desi to enjoy Bollywood music and dance!

Raza referred to Cady as Houston’s “Katrina Kaif” as Cady showed a few moves to “Sheila

Ki Jawani”!

Raza and Cady kicked off Round 1 of the pageant where all 10 contestants were introduced. They were given Bollywood Shake t-shirts that they had to dress up and we saw a variety of interpretations from desi style to cowboy style!

Round 1 was followed by another performance by the Bollywood Shake dance troupe to “Show me your Jalwa” that truly symbolized the spirit of the pageant where the contestants showed us their personality, talent and “jalwa”!

Then entered Afshan, the final MC for the evening, who along with Ruchika entertained the crowd with a little skit and danced to “Lungi Dance”! This kicked off Round 2 where all the contestants showed their talents from dancing, singing to mimicry. The highlight was a stand-up act by contestant Shareen Memon whose impersonation of a Vietnamese nail salon lady had the audience in splits.

Intermission followed during which complimentary food was provided to everybody courtesy Hot Breads, Shiv Sagar and BBQ Tonite.

Following intermission was the special entry of the celebrity judge, Preity Zinta. Preity Zinta’s entry was pumped up by Bollywood Shake dancers and dhol players for a true Bollywood style “dhamaka”. Ruchika welcomed Preity and asked her how it felt to be in Houston.

Preity said that the last time she was in Houston was with Shahrukh Khan and it felt great to be back. She also said that she came in by a red-eye flight and

each set with over 30-40 karats of diamonds.

Preity Zinta was called back up on stage where Ruchika then interviewed her asking her questions like “What is your favorite food?”, “Who were your favorite costars to work with in a movie?”, “Who is your favorite cricketer?”. To these Preity answered – “Kadhi chawal”, “Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan” and “Sachin Tendulkar”.

Preity then turned the tables on Ruchika asking her questions like how long she had been married and what was her message to married women! Ruchika then stumped Preity by asking her when she was getting married and asked about the rumor that Salman Khan had proposed to her! Preity responded by saying that Salman was only a friend.

By now, the results were ready. The very nervous contestants were called back on stage.

Miss Houston crowned the 3rd place winner, Shareen Memon.

Neelofer Ali crowned the 2nd place winner, Sukrutha Sujai.

Finally Preity Zinta announced the Winner of the Miss Bollywood Houston 2014 pageant – Rafiah Khan!

Even though only one could win the crown, all the contestants are winners because they took the bold step of participating in the pageant and showcasing their personality and talent.

This event was a true celebration of women on International Women’s Day weekend!

Bollywood Shake would like to thank all its sponsors, volunteers and Houston for making this event possible! This will be an annual event – so look out for the next one!

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTH

VOICE OF ASIA 21

Friday, March 14, 2014

Section 2

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

WHO recommends halving daily sugar intake in fight against obesity

G

ENEVA, March 5, 2014 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation Wednesday said the recommended amount of sugar consumed daily should be halved as it stepped up its battle against public health problems like obesity and tooth decay.

The UN health agency said it was maintaining its 2002 guidelines that sugars should make up less than 10 percent of total daily energy intake but stressed that half would be preferable.

Cutting sugar consumption to just five percent of total energy intake would mean an adult with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) should consume no more than about six teaspoons per day.

That includes all sugar added to food and beverages as well as natural sugar in things like honey, syrups and fruit juice, WHO said.

“A high level of consumption of free sugars is of concern, because of its association with

poor dietary quality, obesity” and the risk of non-communicable diseases, the agency said in its draft guidance.

At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese, not counting the large percentage of diabetes, heart disease and cancer cases attributable to being overweight, according to WHO numbers, which also show that more than 40 million children under the age of five are overweight.

Tooth decay is also a major, and very expensive health problem, the agency said Wednesday, stressing that treatment of dental disease costs up to 10 percent of healthcare budgets in industrialised countries.

“Much of the sugars consumed today are ‘hidden’ in processed foods that are not usually seen as sweets,” WHO warned, pointing out that a single can of sugar-sweetened soda contains about 40 grammes, or 10 teaspoons of sugar.

Potent new painkiller stokes alarm in US

by Kerry SHERIDAN WASHINGTON, March 8, 2014 (AFP) - A potent new painkiller hit the US market this week, despite warnings from top experts that the drug may deliver a deadly setback in America’s battle with opioid addiction.

Zohydro ER can contain 10 times the amount of hydrocodone as the most popular prescription painkiller, Vicodin, and is easily crushable so it could be snorted, bearing none of the recent safeguards added to pills like OxyContin (oxycodone).

In a nation where some 15,000 people die annually from prescription painkiller use, the drug’s approval has raised alarm among doctors, lawmakers and relatives of those lost to overdose.

Two senators have launched an investigation into practices by the US Food and Drug Administration, amid allegations that pharmaceutical companies eager for a chunk of the $9 billion painkiller market may have paid to influence regulators’ decisions.

“It’s almost unheard of,” said Andrew Kolodny, president of the group Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing.

“For FDA to approve a drug that is going to make a serious problem worse, it is pretty shocking.”

Zohydro was approved in October 2013, even though a panel of FDA-convened experts voted against 11-2. The FDA is not obligated to follow the advice of its advisory committees, but it typically does.

An FDA spokesman told AFP the decision was made “after careful consideration,” and “the product’s benefits outweigh its risks when used as intended.”

Zohydro contains pure hydrocodone in a range of doses, including time-release options that are much stronger than competitor products.

It does not contain acetaminophen, which can cause liver damage and death in high doses and is included in most other prescription opioids.

The drugmaker, California-based Zogenix, said in a statement that the “acetaminophen-free formulation of extended release hydrocodone is an important therapeutic option for certain chronic pain patients.”

- A mother’s story Musician and financial adviser Steve Rummler was one

of the 100 million people in the United States who suffer from chronic pain.

He was prescribed narcotic painkillers in 2005 for a lingering back injury.

“The doctor kept increasing the amounts that he would give to Steve,” his mother, Judy Rummler, told AFP. By 2009, Steve’s family learned he was seeking painkillers from multiple sources.

He tried to learn other ways of coping. He tried rehab for addiction.

“He seemed great for a very short period of time, then he relapsed because of his pain,” said Rummler.

When his last refills ran out, he scored some heroin, and overdosed on July 1, 2011, at the age of 43.

“He was a totally different person the last few years of his life,” said his mother, who now chairs a coalition of activists called Fed Up. The group has held rallies and met with lawmakers in an effort to curb the prescription painkiller epidemic, which public health experts say is also fueling a rise in heroin and street drug use.

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from drug overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Regulators have introduced some tighter rules, and drugs like Zohydro fall under Schedule II, which means the pills can only be dispensed with a written prescription.

But plenty of people, including kids as young as 10, find ways to get opioids, said Janina Kean, president and CEO of High Watch Recovery Center in Connecticut.

“They are being overly prescribed. They end up in people’s medicine cabinets,” she said in an interview.

“We have a huge crisis in our country.”

- Pay to play? The Washington Post and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in October that hundreds of emails released in a public records request showed pharmaceutical companies paid tens of thousands of dollars to attend FDA advisory panel meetings.

The FDA denied any impropriety, but US lawmakers have launched a probe into whether the payments influenced regulators’ decisions to approve drugs like Zohydro.

“If these allegations are true, there is a clear, illegal conflict of interest between the FDA and these pharmaceutical companies that puts consumer safety at risk,” said Louisiana Senator David Vitter in a letter to the FDA last week.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York has urged the Department of Health and Human Services to override the FDA and remove Zohydro from the market until protections to prevent abuse are added.

But that seems unlikely. The drug is already available in select US pharmacies, a spokeswoman for Zogenix said.

Tel: 713-774-5140

Time Is Running Out To Enroll In Obama Care, Are You Enrolled?

A

lmost a million people signed up last month for private health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, federal officials said Tuesday, bringing the total to date to 4.2 million but leaving the Obama administration well short of its original goal, with less than a month to go before the end of the open enrollment period.

White House officials predict a surge in sign-ups just before the six-month enrollment period ends on March 31, but it will be a challenge to make up for the slow start that resulted from technical problems crippling the federal insurance marketplace in October and much of November.

The administration said Tuesday that 943,000 people signed up for coverage last month, down from 1.1 million in January and 1.8 million in December.

Officials noted that February was a short month, with fewer days for people to apply.

Administration officials said they were pleased with the pace of enrollment, even though the total fell short of the target initially set by the Department of Health and Human Services. In an internal memorandum in September, federal health officials said they wanted to have 5.6 million people enrolled by the end of February, with a total of seven million signed up by the end of this month. The goal for February alone was 1.3 million.

Of those who signed up in February, the administration said, 27 percent were between 18 and 34, up slightly from the 25 percent for the first four months of the enrollment period, through January.

Insurers and the White House have avidly sought young adults, saying their premium payments were needed to offset the costs of coverage for Americans who were older and presumably needed more care.

The age profile of people signing up is somewhat older than many insurers expected, with the number of those between 55 and 64 — 1.3 million — exceeding the number in the 18-to-34 age bracket, 1.1 million.

The latest figures were released as the White House makes a final push to increase enrollment, with

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a particular focus on young adults, Latinos and AfricanAmericans.

“As more Americans learn just how affordable marketplace insurance can be, more are signing up to get covered,” said Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services.

Experience with other health programs shows that “young adults tend to sign up later in the process,” she added.

However, Brendan Buck, a spokesman for the House speaker, John A. Boehner, said young adults were concluding that the health care law was a bad deal. “Given these dismal enrollment numbers,” he said, “the president needs to work with Congress to get rid of this year’s individual mandate penalty.”

Julie Bataille, a spokeswoman for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, predicted that “millions more Americans will enroll” before the deadline, and she said, “We have no plans to extend the open enrollment period.”

Four years after it was signed by President Obama, the Affordable Care Act remains a divisive political issue, and it already figures prominently in many midterm election campaigns.

Democrats hope that public opinion will swing in favor of the law as more people experience its benefits. But Republicans continually hammer at the law, saying it will drive up premiums, cause the cancellation of insurance policies for some families and increase costs for many businesses.

Mr. Obama has delayed many provisions, reducing political risks for Democrats this fall but guaranteeing that the law will be hotly debated for several more years at least.

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VOICE OF ASIA 22

HEALTH, TECH & SCIENCE

Indian-American Scientist Anil Jain develops first 3D model of human fingerprint

Second US baby is HIV-free after early treatment

by Kerry SHERIDAN

WASHINGTON, (PTI) Indian-American scientist has built the first 3-D model of a human fingerprint, an advance that could boost the accuracy of fingerprint-matching systems and improve security technology.

WASHINGTON, March 5, 2014 (AFP) - A baby treated for HIV within hours of birth is free of the virus nearly a year later, in the second case that has raised hopes about early treatment, doctors said Wednesday.

Anil Jain, from Michigan State University, and colleagues developed a method which takes a two-dimensional image of a fingerprint and maps it to a 3-D finger surface.

The approach mirrored that taken for a Mississippi baby, who has been off treatment for 21 months and still has no detectable virus in her system.

The latest research on the two young girls was presented at the annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston.

The 3-D finger surface, complete with all the ridges and valleys that make up the human fingerprint, is made using a 3-D printer. It creates what Jain’s team called a fingerprint ‘phantom’.

The newest case involves a Los Angeles baby was born to a mother infected with HIV and who had not been taking her medications, making her at high risk for transmission, said Yvonne Bryson, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Imaging phantoms are common in the world of medical imaging. For example, to make sure an MRI machine or a CT scanner is working properly, it needs to first image an object of known dimensions and material properties.

“In health care, a 3-D heart or kidney can be created. Because the dimensions are known, they can be put into a scanner and the imaging system can be calibrated,” Jain said.

In this case, the ultimate goal is to have a precise fingerprint model with known properties and features that can be used to calibrate existing technology used to match fingerprints.

“When I have this 3-D fingerprint phantom, I know its precise measurements,” said Jain, an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.

“And because I know the true dimensions of the fingerprint features on this phantom, I can better evaluate fingerprint readers,” he said.

While the 3-D model doesn’t yet have the exact texture or feel of a real finger, it could advance fingerprint sensing and matching technology, researchers said.

Flipkart, India’s reply to Amazon, sees $1 bln sales

by Penelope MACRAE NEW DELHI, March 8, 2014 (AFP) - Flipkart, India’s answer to US online giant Amazon, said Saturday its sales would cross the milestone $1 billion-mark this year, ahead of schedule, in the country’s exploding e-commerce market.

Founded in 2007 by two exAmazon.com employees and university friends, Flipkart.com has become India’s biggest shopping portal hit and has drawn backers such as New-York based venture capitalists Tiger Global Management LLC. “In March 2011 we announced by 2015 we wanted to hit $1 billion” in sales when they stood at just $10 million, said founders Sanchin Bansal and Binny Bansal, who happen to share the same surname but are unrelated.

Now the privately held firm expects to hit $1 billion in sales “one year before our target” which means “we’ve grown 100 times in the last three years,” the pair, who pool operational responsibilities, said in a statement.

The figures reinforce Flipkart’s leadership position in the Indian e-retail market.

The founders, now both 32, said they were “happy and proud” at the progress of Flipkart in which they invested an initial $10,000.

The Bansals are seen as typical of the new risk-ready breed of entrepreneurs that has emerged in India amid years of fast economic growth, relying not on inherited wealth but their own-start up talents to launch businesses.

“E-merchandise retailing sales stood at $1.6 billion in 2013.

By 2018, we think they will be $14 billion and in 2023 they will reach $60 billion,” Saloni Nangia, president of leading consultancy Technopak Advisors, told AFP. While there were already Indian online sellers, Flipkart helped sales take off by allowing customers to pay cash-on-delivery, a move Nangia calls a “gamechanger”.

An increasing number of Indians are going online but they are uncomfortable giving credit card details over the Internet. Others do not have a credit card and the Flipkart method allows them to place orders.

“Tools like this would help improve the overall accuracy of fingerprint-matching systems, which eventually leads to

better security in applications ranging from law enforcement to mobile phone unlock,” Jain said.

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Audra Deveikis, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, where the baby was born, tested the infant and gave her high, treatment-level doses of antiretroviral drugs before even knowing if she was HIV-positive, Bryson told

AFP by phone from the conference.

“The way it works is you test and you treat before you know the results because it takes several days to get the results,” explained Bryson, a consultant on the case.

Treatment started at four hours of age, even earlier than the Mississippi child.

Eventually, the tests came back positive for HIV. But by six days of age, the virus was undetectable.

“The remarkable thing about this particular baby is that the virus disappeared so quickly,” said Bryson.

- Not a ‘cure’ yet The baby is still being treated with antiretroviral drugs, and researchers are cautious not to utter the world “cure” or even “remission” just yet.

Now aged 11 months, the child is doing well and continues to see doctors while under the care of a foster family.

She has “no detectable viral load, nothing since six days of age. That is the earliest ever,” said Bryson.

Once she turns two, doctors may decide to stop suppressive

therapy to see if she is in remission, or if the virus would rebound.

“The only way we would know if the baby is in remission is to stop therapy,” explained Bryson.

Also at the conference, Deborah Persaud of Johns Hopkins University presented the latest on the Mississippi baby, who was given ART at 31 hours of age.

Now, the three-year-old is considered in remission from HIV, after drug treatment was stopped 21 months ago and no viral rebound has been observed.

Bryson said the Los Angeles team is optimistic that their baby will do just as well.

“The fact that it was a very fast reduction in the virus to undetectable levels makes us very hopeful that this baby might follow in the footsteps of the Mississippi which is still being followed,” said Bryson.

“We are learning a lot now and it is exciting for the future.”

There is no known cure for AIDS, which has infected some 70 million people around the world and killed 35 million, according to the World Health Organization.

BUSINESS

VOICE OF ASIA 23

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Friday, March 14, 2014

Section 2

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

Education must be relevant, says Dr. Khator

by Manu Shah “We cannot educate tomorrow’s students using yesterday’s tools”

P

ravasi Bharatiya Samman awardee and Outstanding American by Choice, Dr. Renu Khator’s closing statement speaks volumes about her steely resolve to prepare every freshman entering the University of Houston to graduate not just with a degree but with skills and practical knowhow that will help the community.

The first guest in the series of Distinguished Lectures organized by IACCGH and sponsored by Shell, Dr. Khator is best known as “the Chancellor who made UH a Tier 1 university”. She’s pretty, charming and as IACCGH President Ramabhadran put it “a rock star on the campus and beyond”. It was no surprise that the event held on March 5th was filled to capacity.

Executive

Director

of

IACCGH, Jagdip Ahluwalia welcomed the gathering and recognized the luminaries of the afternoon – Consul General P. Harish, Founding President Durga Agarwal, members Gopal Savjani, Juuhi Ahuja and Dr. Stephen Klineberg. He also welcomed the media calling it the “force multiplier” and outlined the objectives of IACCGH – primary among them the networking opportunities it affords for entrepreneurs, professionals and businessmen.

President Sanjay Ramabhadran recognized the growing trade between the Greater Houston region and India as well as the Chamber being the voice of the Indo American business community. Apart from several initiatives to encourage networking, he outlined IACCGH’s latest effort – a Power Breakfast Dialogue where a business leader would talk to a small group of people to facilitate better interaction within business sectors. The focus of the lecture on education, he highlighted,

was recognition of the fact that Houston’s future is inextricably linked to the ability of the education system – early childhood to university education, to touch everyone in this diverse city. Dubbing Dr. Renu Khator as “Houston’s Global Ambassador”, he introduced her to the audience and invited her to address the gathering.

Dr. Khator asked the gathering to raise their hands if they were Cougars, have children who are Cougars and employ Cougars.

She was delighted with the response. Her two and a half year old grandson got her thinking about what higher education will be like in 15 years. She believed there were three scenarios being played out in the present college education system: One: Unaffordable tuition combined with budget cuts in University funding. Two: Online courses will make universities which are “the creators, hoarders, distributors and facilitators of knowledge” relegated to being simply facilitators. Three: Only those

Shell members with Dr. Khator L-R: Dacun Li, Ken Coon, Mubarik Choudry, Dr. Khator, Joya Shukla and Sudini Padmasiri. Photo credit Bijay Dixit.

who reshape their agenda and offer a niche will survive.

According to Dr. Khator, the jury is still out on the efficacy of online courses as research showed that only 5% of the students ended up taking all the classes. She also cited Boeing’s policy of not hiring online graduates as they did not come with the required skills or Dr. Renu Khator delivering her talk at the knowledge.

IACCGH Distinguished Lectures series.

So what is UH quarters where “teenagers could doing to ensure that it won’t just survive but have a meal at 2 am if they were thrive? Dr. Khator’s mantra was hungry.” It would also encourclear. UH would offer programs age entrepreneurship and ofthat were relevant to the com- fer free education to deserving munity and fulfil the needs of students who had a “fire in their the energy, medical, science and belly” and hailed from housearts industry which are the back- holds where the income was less bone of Houston’s economy. It than $45,000. would offer a beautiful campus, With justifiable pride Dr. affordable education, residential Khator also mentioned the novel

solution UH hit upon for revenue generation. The technical research carried out by the faculty over the years was dusted off the shelves and is being marketed. It netted a whopping $17 million from licenses just last year alone. UH was gearing up to tackle the challenges the next decade would bring, Dr. Khator concluded.

Dr. Klineberg took the podium briefly to state the seats of learning will witness a sea change in the next three decades not seen in the last 900 years.

Shell is the sponsor of the Distinguished Lecture series and VP of Human Resources, Ken Coon was present to show his support. Shell has several financial, energy and resource interests in India and according to VP Coon, the wealth of technological capability that Indians possess is “truly phenomenal.” Continuing along the same lines, he quipped “Indian engineers maybe stereotypes but it fits.”

The next in series is a lecture on An Introduction to Alternative Investments by Jay Kabad of JayKay Wealth Advisors, Inc. to be held on March 27th 2014.

Host members of IACCGH with Dr. Khator. Photo credit to Bijay Dixit.

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VOA © 2014

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Herbalife faces FTC inquiry after activist campaign

The company’s securities filings are “false and misleading” on China, he added.

Herbalife, which has been accused for more than a year by activist investor William Ackman of running a pyramid scheme, said it was “confident” it would be vindicated.

Herbalife, which has consistently denied Ackman’s charges, said the latest Pershing Square attack “reflects Mr. Ackman’s continued failure to fundamentally understand Herbalife’s business model.”

William A. Ackman has made a $1 billion bet on Herbalife’s collapse, and lobbied aggressively for it. Brian Snyder/Reuters.

“Herbalife is a financially strong and successful company, having created meaningful value for shareholders, significant opportunities for distributors and positively impacted the lives and health of its consumers for over 34 years.”

The investigation follows repeated criticism of the company by Ackman, head of hedge fund Pershing Square, who has described Herbalife as a scam that makes money by recruiting more distributors rather than selling nutritional products, diet food and other items to consumers.

The activist’s latest broadby Penelope MACRAE NEW DELHI, March 12, 2014 (AFP) - India’s industrial production edged into positive territory Wednesday but the 0.1 percent rise posted for January was nowhere near the strong recovery the government had hoped for ahead of national elections.

The marginal increase in output by factories, mines and utilities in January from a year earlier, marked the first acceleration in four months.

It was also a better result than the 0.6 percent contraction financial markets expected.

Herbalife sells vitamins and other health supplements through independent distributors. Robert Galbraith/Reuters.

Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2013, Price $ 30.00

T

his is a very well written book about the events surrounding the civil war in East Pakistan, which eventually created the nation of Bangladesh, after the intervention by the Indian Army when Mrs. Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister of India. It is highly recommended reading for all.

The title of the book is derived from the name of the U.S. Consul General in Dacca, Archer Blood, who is described in the Preface to the book as a “gentlemanly diplomat raised in Virginia, a WorldWar II Navy Veteran in the upswing of a promising Foreign Service career after several tours overseas. He was earnest and precise, known to some of his more unruly subordinates at the U.S. consulate as a good, conventional man.”

We also learn from this book that Nixon and Kissinger were driven not only by cold war strategy but also by “a starkly personal and emotional dislike of India and Indians.” White House recordings have shown that Both Nixon and Kissinger, in their private conversations, have referred to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as an “old witch” and “a cold bitch” and more

Nikesh Arora , Senior Vice-President and Chief Business Officer of Google attends a session at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos January 22, 2014. (Reuters Photo).

S

AN FRANCISCO, (Reuters) - Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets will vastly expand the number of companies who advertise online and will allow Internet companies to reap more revenue than they have from customers on PCs, Google Inc Chief Business Officer Nikesh Arora said on Wednesday.

of thousands to a few million,” Arora said. “I think as we go forward, that a few million becomes tens of millions as mobility becomes more relevant.”

He last year sparred in a joint television appearance with fellow billionaire Carl Icahn, who sharply criticized Ackman’s arguments on the company. Icahn is the company’s biggest investor with a 16.8 percent stake.

Small, local businesses will represent the largest influx of new marketers as they discover the benefits of reaching on-thego consumers on their mobile devices, Arora said, speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in San Francisco.

Herbalife shares fell 7.4 percent to $60.57 after disclosing the probe.

“The desktop world took the world of advertisers from tens

Google, the world’s No.1 Internet search engine, generates the vast majority of its revenue from advertising. But its ad rates, like those of other Internet companies including Yahoo, have been under pressure as more consumers access its online services on smallscreened mobile devices, where advertising rates are lower than on PCs.

India’s industrial output turns positive, rises 0.1% “The data shows India’s beleaguered economy moving in the right direction, but still far from healthy,” said Capital Economics economist Miguel Chanco.

“Manufacturers are clearly still struggling for momentum, amid subpar domestic demand,” he said.

The numbers carry added weight as they are among the last key indictors about the health of the economy, before staggered elections kick off

early next month in the world’s largest democracy.

The scandal-tainted Congress-led government had hoped the “green shoots” of economic recovery would be clearly visible before voting took place.

But the anaemic output rise reflected stumbling consumer demand in the face of high interest rates, creaking infrastructure, choking productivity, and a slew of political scandals, that have discouraged investment.

by Dr. Krishna Dronamraju, President, Foundation for Genetic Research,Houston, Texas, and Visiting Professor, University of Paris, France.

Author: Gary J. Bass,

Herbalife said it follows the law in China, where it “has established itself as a leading nutrition brand and legitimate direct-selling company.”

Ackman has reportedly bet more than $1 billion that shares of Herbalife would decline.

Besides talking up his case to investors, he has lobbied lawmakers in Congress to scrutinize the company.

BOOK REVIEW

BOOK: The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide.

Google’s Arora says mobile will create bigger advertising pie

side came Tuesday when he accused Herbalife of extending the pyramid- scheme model to China, violating Chinese laws on recruiting and compensating sales staff in the process.

NEW YORK, March 12, 2014 (AFP) - The US Federal Trade Commission has opened a civil investigation into Herbalife, the nutritional products marketer announced Wednesday.

“Herbalife welcomes the inquiry given the tremendous amount of misinformation in the marketplace, and will cooperate fully with the FTC,” the company said.

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Dr. Krishna Dronamraju, with former Indian president K. R. Narayanan. colorful abusive names!

Mr. Blood sent the now famous telegram to the U.S. State Department in Washington D.C. which informed them of the terrible genocide that was being carried on by the Pakistani Army to control in what was then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. Ethnic cleansing was carried out, with public executions of peaceful Hindu professors at Dacca University, and setting fire to Hindu homes and businesses. Rape and killing of families including children were carried out with brazen disregard for any civilized behavior! The telegram was signed by Consul General Blood and twenty members of his staff.

The reaction in Washington was fury against Blood for dissenting from the White House policy which was framed by President Richard Nixon and his Advisor Henry Kissinger!

Kissinger told Nixon: “The Dacca consulate is in open rebellion.” Their policy was to send more weapons to Pakistan and reassure Pakistan’s Military Dictator Yahya Khan that America was totally behind him.

They received him at the White house with cordiality while the genocide was going on.

In the meantime, Senator Edward Kennedy went to Dacca on a fact-finding mission and

was horrified by the slaughter and rapes and the traumatized children who saw their whole family shot dead in front of their eyes! Kennedy returned to Washington and spoke to the National Press Club about these facts. He stressed the great humanitarian crisis that was being created by the genocide that was launched in Bengal by the Pakistani Army. Kennedy thundered: “This was what the United States was supporting... it is our military hardware - our guns and tanks and aircraft delivered over a decade - which are contributing substantially to the suffering.” Kennedy pointed out that while the U.S. was supporting a failing government in Vietnam, they were ignoring the results of a free election to help the Pakistani Army suppress an electoral mandate. The NixonKissinger team interfered again in Chile, committing the same atrocities under General Pinochet, while ignoring the democratically elected government of Allende.

Blood’s career was blocked by these events. He decided to retire from the Foreign Service inMay 1982. He became a diplomat -in-residence at Allegheny College. After his death in 2004 at the age of eighty-one, the U.S. embassy in Dacca named its library for him, which would have made him a very happy man!

Manufacturing output, which accounts for over three-quarters of the Index of Industrial Production, shrank by 0.7 percent in January.

Production of capital goods such as plant equipment -- a strong indicator of investment intentions -- contracted by 4.2 percent.

The influential Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) called the increase in total industrial output, led by a strong rise in electricity production “small

consolation”.

“The (economic) slowdown is yet to show any visible sign of bottoming out,” the industry body said.

Separate figures Wednesday showed consumer price inflation fell year-on-year to a still hefty 8.10 percent in February from 8.79 percent in January.

The consumer inflation drop gives the central bank more room to manoeuvre but is unlikely to trigger any immediate shift in its hawkish stance,

Arora also said that monetization on mobile will eventually “become a multiple” of the current rate of monetization on desktop PCs.

economists said.

The central bank’s next monetary policy statement is slated for April 1.

The government, which opinion polls suggest is headed for defeat, has forecast economic growth of 4.9 percent in this financial year to March but many economists expect growth in the low four-percent range.

The economy expanded by 4.5 percent the previous year, the weakest pace in a decade -- half the blistering pace recorded in the so-called “Indian summer” of the last decade when expansion was near double-digits.

FEATURE

VOICE OF ASIA 25

All aboard! Pakistan’s first women-only bus

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

Your Horoscope (For week beginning Friday, March 14, 2014)

Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950

As per Indian Vedic Astrology the Moon sign is considered, in which every Rashi has control over certain letters, which are initials of your name. Whereas in Western system of Sun Sign, all the people born in one month belong to the same sign. For example, every year approximately around 21 of March to 20th April, the Sun is moving in the Aries Constellation. So all the people born in that month belong to the Sign of Aries. If you were born in between those two dates then you are a Aries born.

Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April Confidence and skill rise sharply with an invention or a final debt payment. This trend peaks gloriously. After that, any return to normal life may disappoint. You could be staring out the window again with daydreams of flying. Be careful about your wishes, because around the middle of the week you may actually get some of them. Beware of new distractions ongoing around you, when good looks and intense opinions might pull you into the orbit of some stronger heavenly body. The week opens an exciting chapter, as you manifest the speed and articulation for which is so well known.

A brand new set of minibuses in bright pink are a delight to see on an otherwise dusty roads. AFP

by Gaëlle Lussiaa-Berdou RAWALPINDI - At 7:15 am on a dusty street corner in Rawalpindi, among the dozen rickety minibuses jostling for passengers, a brand-new, bright pink vehicle stands out.

number and ask for mine,” she said during the 20-odd kilometre ride to her destination in the capital Islamabad.

Others on board described being touched by drivers, conductors and male passengers.

Emblazoned with the words “Ladies Transport”, this is Pakistan’s first commuter bus solely for women, aimed at those sick of wandering hands and unwanted attention on regular services.

To add to this harassment, the tiny minibuses that ply the roads of the Pakistani capital and its twin city Rawalpindi often have only a few seats, sometimes with only one out of a dozen reserved for women.

Some see it as a welcome respite, but detractors warn it is reinforcing gender segregation in a highly patriarchal and often misogynistic country.

“I used to work in a hospital.

Often there would be no space on the bus and I would get told off for being late,” said Sana.

Sat on one of the minibus’s four banquette seats, Azra Kamal, who works at an electronics shop, welcomes the new project, named “Tabeer” -- “fulfilment of a dream” in Urdu.

Her face half-hidden behind a black veil, she tells of obscene comments and other inappropriate gestures she suffered on mixed transport.

“I have a long journey to work and when I get there it’s often only me left on board.

Sometimes the driver will take advantage to give me his phone

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Today the 21-year-old proudly wears a pink tunic, the uniform of her job as conductor on the women’s bus, as she collects the 30-rupee (30-US cent) fare.

- Mobile segregation? But the new service has not impressed everyone in a country where the forces of conservatism are seen to be growing in strength.

In a blog post for one of Pakistan’s leading English-language newspapers, journalist Erum Shaikh called the project a “complete sham”.

“The mere fact that the authorities thought it appropriate to introduce something like this should actually offend women and yet we sit there smile, look pretty and let the big, tough, muscular men build walls around us to ‘protect’ us,” she wrote.

On board the bus, bank worker Misbah agrees.

“I really appreciate the service but we must tackle the root of the problem and make people take harassment seriously,” she said.

But the man behind the project, Ali Naqi Hamdani, says it is empowering women in a society where many are not permitted to leave the house without male accompaniment.

“The women here are willing to go out to work, they’re willing to go out for education purposes but they don’t have such a conducive situation where they can feel secure in public transport,” he said.

“So it was very important that you provide them an environment where they step out of their homes, they feel secure before they reach their universities or their offices so they are encouraged to come out.”

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Growth, changing, falling in ZERO(SHUNYA)- and hopefully into a rhythm that suits you, because you’ll be stuck there all week. This week is about relationships, whether you’re starting or ending one. Resolve this thing ASAP, or long term plans must change. Fortunately, the stars bring and fresh energy to you. Gamblers and opportunists gleefully forget what has gone before. Cash out and leave the building by week’s end, when Lady Luck pulls another mood change.

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June You want to be the life of the party and mastermind of all the jokes. Don’t fret, satisfaction returns on the weekend. Spend the weekend giving as well as taking. You’re watching the clock, which only slows time down. Expect Monday and Tuesday to crawl by in a tangle of little headaches and petty intrigues. Mid-week brings new spark to your legendary fire, and then it’s all about you. An attack of conscience or a bout of soul searching leads you to forsake pure fun for some greater purpose.

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July The stroke of luck, probably attracted by your responsible habits. You’re selected for an important project with far-reaching results. This demanding schedule takes its toll.

Rest mind and body with lighter work or none at all. But you can’t seem to slow down, you’re in demand and overbooked. Be careful of excessive work or play, because apparently endless resources could bottom out. But water signs regenerate quickly. The weekend finds you buoyant, focused, and ready to mentor/advisor anyone who needs your help.

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August The radical solution to help you through all the work that others cheerfully heap on your head. Keep turning on the charm, which could steer you straight out of trouble. Talk your way out of anything serious by the, unless it’s a seriously fantastic invitation for the coming weekend. A pointed remark could deflate your balloon, but keep your head above the clouds and you may witness a rare phenomenon. Be quiet about your discovery, when your perspective is met with little sympathy. Look for a confidante or soul mate with whom to share your experiences.

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Hunger, that great equalizer, centers you again. Optimism keeps you afloat even when others sink into silence. Find new excitement with enlightened visitors or a hot date. You laugh at those poor souls who lack your cosmic advantages, but beware - a rival may soon steal your thunder. After this running start, buckle down to some serious work on. Surely you know the right people to make this happen. Reward follows punishment. Problems are plentiful but your patience remains firm. Several errands and some hike in spending are indicated.

Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct Success and pleasure as you whirl through unfinished business with style and warmth.

Savor your accomplishments. For two intense days, you’re all seeing and all knowing.

Some of what you’ve learned has immediate applications, and some can be set aside for future use. Your ally in all that’s logical and practical, bails you out this week. Some tacks on a big question mark and hints at a surprising answer. Do you have ‘record’ capacity? You can always blow it away later if you don’t need it.

Scorpio (N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov Your quest for perfection, It leads to a moment of friction. Remember that growth without change is a joke. Your immediate future should be secured, and you’ll have time for fun.

But the week finds you impatient at the slowing trend that the stars bring to your fast-paced world. Be ready to spend the end of the week either in search of your personal grail or chasing a wild goose. As you go down to the wire, you’ll probably question whether your quest was worth all the effort.

Throwing money at problems trying to sooth or placate is highly likely and disappointing as well.

Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 22 Nov to 21 Dec

Debby Ryan Star of Disney Channel’s Jessie

The need for patience, understanding and compassion always comes ‘easier’ for you but it may feel ‘strained’ this week well into and then you ‘catch a natural break’ and members seem to back off and STOP challenging you. Most of the time, they are likely to be totally unaware, with the exception and may be ‘needling you’ or it feels that way. Stay calm and give them a ‘small warning.’ Celebrating with pals over sudden ‘life altering’ events is likely this week but if you are getting engaged, be thoughtful of a partner who ‘just lost a love interest’.

China Anne McClain, star of Disney Channel’s A.N.T. Farm performing with MCCLAIN

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan A graceful apology returns some of your losses. The fire is back in your eyes, and you won’t stand for anyone’s dirty tricks. Expect to work straight through the weekend, when playtime finally hits. Stay close to home, because your skills may be required onsite. An early conclusion frees you to do personal work, but you’re back in battle against a problem revived by the Taurus mate or close acquaintance. You may get into a bit of messy fun, because a real or symbolic parent wags a moralistic finger at you, urging you to clean up your act.

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Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May

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You are being out of step and possibly out of control. Hang on for the burst of astrological fire that warms and clarifies you later in the week. Unless you can escape, there won’t be another break in the action until late in the week. You’re refreshed and ready for the next phase by week’s end, which means that you won’t panic when you hit your wall. Expect a few days of not getting your way. Turn your newfound creativity toward practical ends in the final days of this month, when you understand that you want power to help others instead of power for its own sake.

Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March Beware of whose toes you trample, because someone else thinks that this is his or her dance. You’ll have your act together, and heads will turn. This means that you’ll know exactly how to deal with high prices or depleted resources. Emotion and intuition spread their warm, reasonable vibes wherever you go. Keep one hand firmly on your priorities before they wander off into the haze. Consolidate your assets while they’re still clearly defined. Personal problems are indicated for and MAY be clashes. Tread very lightly as how they are ‘addressed and handled TODAY’ may determine IF they resolve quickly or ‘stick around’ for minutes, days, weeks or months!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

VOICE OF ASIA 26

FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES & ORGANIZATIONS OF HOUSTON - call Voice of Asia 713-774-5140 Sri Meenakshi Temple Prog: March 14th, Friday: Karadian Nombu / Bagavathi Seva March 31, Monday: Ugadhi.

Location: 17130 McLean Road Pearland, TX 77584 Contact: (281) 489-0358 Web: www.meenakshi.org

Hare Krishna Dham (ISKCON) Prog: Gaura Purnima on Sunday, March 16th.Everyday, 7 Aratis and bhoga offerings daily. Sunday Festival: 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Location: 1320 West 34th St, Houston, TX 77018.

Contact:281-433-1635/E-mail harekrishnadham@gmail.com Website: www.iskconhouston. org

Ashirwad - A Blessing Temple Location: Katy, Hwy 249 & Sugar Land.

Contact: 281.995.0930/ 281.808.2159

Chinmaya Mission Prog: Location:10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX77498.

Phone: 832.541.0059.

Website:www.chinmayahouston.org.

Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya Temple Hrs: 9 am to noon and 5 to 9 pm.;Sri Astalaksmi puja: 7 pm. Sri Laksmi Archana will be performed on request all day. Location:same as Chinmaya Mission.

Website: www.saumyakasi. org;

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Hindu Temple of The Woodlands Location: 7601 S. Forest Gate Drive at Woodlands Parkway, Spring, TX 77382.

Contact: info@woodlandshindutemple.org, 832-585-0001 Website: www. woodlandshindutemple.org.

VPSS Houston

ISSO Prog: Darshan daily from 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.; Aarti daily from 7.45 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Location: 10080 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Phone: 281-530-2565 Web:

Shri Satyanarayan Sai Puja Darshan

Location VPSS Vallabh Hall, 11715 Belfort Village Dr. Houston 77031.

Contact:713-530-2900 Website:www.vpsshaveli.org

Prog: Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Every Thursday Abhishek Location: 16338 Kensington Dr, Ste 110, Sugar Land 77479.

Phone: 713-933-8821 / 9359.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Baitus Samee Mosque

Gurdwara Sahib of SW Houston

Prog: Friday Prayer - 1:30 PM Children’s Classes | Interfaith meeting | Location: 1333 Spears Rd, Houston, TX 77067 Imam - Mohammed Zafarullah Contact : Work: 281-875-3400 | Cell: 713-874-4363 Zafarullah_Hanjra@hotmail. com www.Alislam.org

Dr. Ambedkar International Mission Inc. U.S.A Prog: Location: India House 8888 West Bellfort Avenue Houston, Texas 77031

Vedanta Society of Greater Houston Prog: Vedanta teachings Sundays at 10:30 AM Location: at 14809 Lindita Dr. Houston, TX -77083.

Website: www.vedantahouston. org.

Prog: Sundays Dewan 10:00 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Langar Location:14811 Lindita Drive, Houston, TX 77083 Phone: 281-498-5200 Website: www.gurdwaraswh. com

Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple Prog: Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra Parayanam: daily 6.30 p.m. Location:10098 Synott Road. Sugar Land, TX 77478 Phone: 281- 498-2344 Website: www.ashtalakshmi. org

Ashirwad - A Blessing Temple

Location: Katy, Hwy 249 & Sugar Land.

Contact: 281.995.0930/ 281.808.2159

Puja and Prasad. Sunday Service 11:30 AM to 1:30 Location: 2223 Wirtcrest Lane Houston TX 77055.

Barsana Dham Houston Chapter Prog: Satsang every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location: India House, 8888 West Belfort 77031 Phone: (713) 855-9818 for details Website: www.jkphouston.org Weekly Radio Program-1460 AM Saturdays 10-11 a.m.

Global Organization for Divinity Prog: Mahamantra chanting: Weekends: 8 to 11 AM & 4 to 7 PM, Weekdays: 7 to 8 AM & 6 to 7 PM. Every Saturday morning: Children’s heritage classes and Srimad Bhagavatam classes.

Location: 3642 Bailey Ave, Manvel TX 77578 Contact: 281-402-6585, houston.god@godivinity.org Website: www.godivinity.org

Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Prog: Every Friday Satsangh from 7:30 pm to 9 pm. Bhajans and Devi Puja, Discourses.

Location: 12530 Ann Louise Road, Houston, 77086.

Phone: Contact Vishnu at (832) 309- 7181.

JVB Preksha Meditation Center

Hindu Worship Society

Prog: Location: 14102 Schiller Road, Houston TX 77082 Phone: 281.596.9642 Website: www.jvbhouston.org

Prog: Open all days except Thursdays (by appt). Regular

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Center Prog: Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun from 8 am to 9:30 am Location: Arya Samaj @Schiller Road.

Contact: 281-579-9433.

Websites: www.pyptusa.org

Jain Center of Houston Location: 3905 Arc St. Houston, TX 77063 Contact: 281-606-JAIN; Email: ecjsh@jain-houston.org Website:www.jain-houston.org

Durga Bari Society Prog: Sandhya Arati at 6:30 p.m.; Sunday: 9:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.

Location: 13944 Schiller Road.

Contact: 281-597-8100 Website:www.houstondurgabari.org

Gayatri Pariwar of Houston Prog: Sundays Satsang, BalSanskar Shala, from 11am to 1pm.

Location: 5645 Hillcroft, Suite # 307, Houston, TX 77036.

Website: http://www.gayatripariwarhouston.org/ “

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Prog: Bhajans: Sat.7:00 -8:00 p.m.; Sundays 9:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.Location: 1620 Ormandy Street, Houston, TX 77035 Contact: 713-729-8994

Govindaji Gaudiya Math Prog: Satsang every Sunday evening from 5 - 7 p.m. Vedic heritage classes for kids 5-14.

Location: 16628 Kieth Harrow blvd. Houston, TX 77084 Contact: 281-499-3347/281491-4114.

Sathya Sai Baba Centers Prog: Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at two locations Contact: (North) 832-418-3842 or (South) 281-788-4786.

Website:www.saicenterofhouston.org

Telugu Christian Fellowship Prog; Every third Saturday 6:30 PM. Worship is in English Location: The Triumph Church, 10555 West Airport Boulevard, Stafford, TX 77477.

Contact:713-301-6444 Website:

Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center Prog: Daily classes in Raja Yoga Meditation To register call or email.

Contact:832-379-8888/ Email: houston@bktexas.com Website: bktexas.com

Bethesda Houston Tamil Church Prog: Sundays Tamil Worship: 5 – 7pm Sunday school : in English. Bethesda Family Fellowship: in English 10.30 am-12.30 pm Free Tutorial for all children Mondays & Wednesdays 5-6 pm. Ladies Bible Study: Thur 9 am.

Location: 1092, Suite F&G, Stafford. Tex 77477 Tel:281-317-7331, 281-3177331.Website:bethesdahoustont amilchurch.org

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FRIDAY, March 14, 2014

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Are you a newscast producer who’s ready to move up to a top 10 market? Here is your chance to work for one of the nation’s best broadcasting companies that is dedicated to covering local news. KTRK-TV, the ABC O&O station in Houston, TX is accepting applications for an Associate Producer. The person hired for this position will line produce a section of our weekend morning newscasts and have opportunity to fill in on other newscasts as well. Applicants must have at least two years of experience working as a line producer.

This is a newsroom that embraces new technology. ENPS /Aurora/Ignite experience a plus – as is good understanding of social media and how it can be used to reach viewers and create content. Candidates must be able and willing to learn both non-linear editing and writing for our digital platforms. Applicants must be willing to work overnights, weekends and holidays. All Interested applicants must apply online at disneycareers.com, ref job #168940BR. Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references. In addition, please mail writing samples and a DVD of or link to your latest newscast to: Robin Freese, Executive Producer, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005. No phone calls please, and no third parties. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D.

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KTRK-TV, the ABC O&O located in Houston, TX, is looking for a Digital Producer who can do it all. The ideal candidate will have minimum three years of experience working in major market television or print news Internet operation or a comparable digital background, Photoshop experience and experience creating and editing video for distribution on multiple platforms and social media. A strong writing ability is a must, in headline, copy and tease-writing. Candidate must thrive on breaking news and have a ‘Do-it-now’ mentality to excel in our fast-paced environment. Though the primary function of this position is the create news content for distribution on web and mobile platforms, the ideal candidate must be able to adapt to any changes deemed necessary for the benefit of the department. Absolutely no beginners. This position does involve evenings and weekends. All interested applicants must apply online at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Please Reference Job ID: 170468BR on all materials submitted. No phone calls please, and no third parties. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D.

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