Austin South Asian. April 2015 by Austin South Asian

Monthly Community Paper | www.austinsouthasian.com | 512-828-6709 | Vol. 8 No. 04

INDIA AND WORLD CUP By K.R. N ayar Melbourne: India’s defeat to Australia by 95 runs may be dis-

appointing for millions of fans, but a close study will reveal that it was a combination of many factors that went against India.

One may argue that One-day cricket is won by the team that plays well on that day. Although

India had put up a great show in the World Cup, the scars of their defeat to Australia in the triseries, (Continued on page 4)

A WOODEN CROSS, AN EMPTY TOMB, AND A FULL HEART By Ravinder Andrew Each year billions of Christians celebrate on what is called Good

Friday the death of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. The most recognized verse in the Bible is John 3:16 and it states, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” God the Father sent God the Son to die as a substitute for the sins of mankind. (Continued On Page 4)

Holi In RMD

After weeks of cold and gloomy weather, Saturday, March 7, turned out to be a cool spring day

– warmed up somewhat with the sun trying to peek in from behind the clouds. Despite the lingering cold and threats of rain, more

than 4,000 people gathered to celebrate the Indian festival of Holi. The sights, tastes and sounds of India greeted people as they strolled around the 200 acres of beautiful Temple grounds, along with chirping of birds, beautiful peacocks and deer that came to witness the scene.

inside

April 2015

Meet Sandeep Shah....04 SXSW.........................05 Easter Surprises..........07 New Insights From......08 A Relaxing Oasis.........08 Wildlife Friendly..........11 DACA Legal Services...11 Free Soil Testing.........11 Wooden Cross............14 Real Estate Special......15

May 2015

Summer Free DACA Legal Services Special

By Taral Patel

Eligible Youth Can Obtain Legal

(Continued On Page 23)

Advice Regarding Work Authorization, Social Security Numbers and More

D.A.C.A or the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” program was announced by President Obama on June 16, 2012 which has allowed over 560,000 people who entered the United States as children to avoid deportation, obtain work authorization, get a Social Security number, receive a Texas Driver’s License, and gain the ability to travel outside and return to the United States among other benefits. (Continued On Page 11)

512-828-6709

Three Indian American Win Medals.................17 Vibha Launches..........17 Austin Non Profits.......18 Make A Difference.......18 Predictions.................19 Texas Whiz Kids..........20 Community Calendar...20 Straight A’s.................21 Childrens Page............22 Holi At RMD................23 Entertainment........25,26

Austin South Asian | April 2015

What’s a

smart way to build your kids’ financial foundation?

Life insurance from Modern Woodmen of America. It’s a gift that can last a lifetime. Let’s talk – I can help you plan for life. Janak Zalawadia, FIC 11130 Jollyville Rd., Ste. 400 Austin, TX 78759 512-250-0458 Janak.Zalawadia@mwarep.org

Austin South Asian | April 2015

India and World Cup

(Continued from page 1) before the World Cup, had not been totally wiped away. Despite them putting up a brave face, India did fear the Australians and knew that to beat them, they would have to be at their best and hoped things would go their way. For Indians to succeed, the best option would have been to win the toss and hope to bat first. Unfortunately that did not happen and they knew that should Australia pile up a big score, chasing that against Mitchell Johnson and company will not be easy. Having lost the toss, the only way to put Australia under pressure was to bowl them out for a small score. India got the wicket of opener David Warner quickly, but they were unable to crack the partnership between Aaron Finch and Steven Smith. Their aggression too began to fade away slowly, allowing Smith, who had been in tremendous form against them all summer, to go on and get a century. Even then India was still in the game, but towards the end of Australian innings they let Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner score freely. The last five overs yielded 57 runs, helping Australia gain the psycho-

Austin South Asian Editor: Bala Kumar Marketing: Jayachitra Vijay -512-8286709 / info@austinsouthasian.com Production: Jyothi Mariswaran Admin: Sharada Dayanidhi Publisher: Vidya Kumar Distribution: Vasooda Kumar ©All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof be published without the wirtten consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertisement and article is 20th of every month.

512-828-6709 info@austinsouthasian.com www.austinsouthasian.com

logical advantage of posting a total of over 300-plus runs. Umesh Yadav did bowl a tight length but Mohammad Shami, in his eagerness to bounce the Australians out, bowled a number of short balls. This was the same mistake that Zaheer Khan had committed in the 2003 World Cup final in South Africa against Australia and had got thrashed. Shami, India’s strike bowler, went wicketless for 68 runs. Despite the big score, India were still in the game after their openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma put on 76 runs. Virat Kohli, fully aware that his role was to stay at the wicket to anchor the innings, should have attempted the risky shot like the pull only after sighting the ball well. His wicket put additional pressure and Ajinkya Rahane failed to force the pace. Rahane then got out at a time when he should have started accelerating, but in the process took up 68 balls to score 44 runs. Although Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni played a good knock, the lack of momentum resulted in the run-rate piling up. Australia’s fielding rose to the occasion and when Ravindra Jadeja got run out off a superb direct throw from Smith, the Australians got psychologically on top. When Dhoni, too, fell through a run out, the contest was as good as over.

Austin South Asian Invites Contributions from Readers and Community

Austin South Asian | April 2015

A WOODEN CROSS, AN EMPTY TOMB, AND A FULL HEART (Continued From Page 01) It was a cruel and horrific death for the Son of God but what happened on that wooden cross allows mankind to be reconciled to God! All four Gospels (the first four Books in the New Testament) give accurate, detailed accounts of Jesus’ substitutionary death and His resurrection from the grave three days later. Many have claimed to be divine prophets sent by God but only one Person died and substantiated those claims by a bodily resurrection never to die again. That person was Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul states, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Because Jesus lives we have hope for today and for eternity. Because His tomb is empty I have a heart full of joy, peace, and forgiveness! I invite you to join us for our Good Friday service at 6:00pm on April 3rd. On Saturday April 4th we will have a wonderful time with the children in a massive Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00am. And then on Easter Sunday, April 5th, we will have a celebration worship service where we thank God for His forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. Great Hills Baptist Church, 10500 Jollyville Rd, Austin, TX 78759, 512.343.7763 www.ghbc.org

AN AFFAIR Poem by Arun Sundarraj

Leaving him a little disturbed.

Her Charming sight made him hot somewhat Increasing the beat of his vacant heart. He nursed a desire making him to crave for She is with him and he is with her ever.

No disgust. No anger. For the affair was pure and sincere. As they cared for the welfare More for each other.

Becoming closer and getting accustomed Keeping all hesitations aside To pour his intentions he decided With courage he proposed. With pleasure she concurred. His joy knew no bounds. He was too surprised to receive her warm hug unexpected. But alas! It was only in his dreams. Fire of hope continued to flare Dreams come true as wise declare. To win the game he had to play Must succeed was only his pray. But the blaze of hope extinguished When reciprocation anticipated For fundamental reasons she denied.

Life is a journey with varied vehicles. A few accompany make the excursion joyous. Inevitably some change the conveyance Leaving an indelible impact on few close travellers. Like a sip of wine tingle on the tongue The memory of the affair short Linger for long in the heart May be till the time the lives depart.

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Austin South Asian | April 2015

Pakistani Community Welcomes SXSW Showcase With AADI By Sumaiya Malik Photo Credit: Amil Malik On Saturday, March 14, Austin Arts and Drama Initiative (AADI) and the South Asia Institute co-hosted a dinner along with the Pakistani Community in honor of the artists that came from Pakistan for

artists better. Friends laughed and danced and Pakistani nightingale Humera Channa fulfilled requests from the audience and sang parts of songs she is so famous for. Khumariyaan and Mekaal band mingled with the guests and Mai Dhai and Tanveer Brothers repeatedly thanked the crowd and did dua for the success of the community.

Pakistani Khumariyan Plays With Silence At SXSW At The Union Theater

By Sumaiya Malik

We always knew that musicians play with sound, but for the first time we learnt how Khumariyaan plays with silence. Pakistani instrumental band Khumariyaan mesmerized the Austin music scene at the SXSW this year.

AADI is a group of ten Austinites who have come together to support arts and drama initiatives in the Austin community. This was their first event. It happened a day after the concert at UT.

SXSW. The venue was the Marquis, a beautiful banquet hall near Spicewood Springs and Mesa. One hundred guests of the Pakistani and Indian community welcomed the artists and informally chatted with them. Dr. Fida Khan and his wife Uzma asked each artist questions so that we would get to know the

All publicity for the concert was arranged by AADI. During the dinner catered by Bombay Bistro, AADI asked Humera Channa and Mai Dhai to cut the cake which looked like the Pakistani flag. Fashionable women in traditional attire and men in dinner jackets clapped and cheered in an ambiance reflective of Pakistan. A huge flag hung in the background to remind the group of their rich heritage.

By Sumaiya Malik courtesy The Jewish Outlook Newspaper Photo Coutesy: Ali Khataw

Pakistani American and Austinite, Ali Khataw held an exhibition of photographs on March 12 along with two other photographers. Ali is an avid adventurer and world traveler and his art reflects the socioeconomic issues of the countries he visits. Ali harnesses the power of the image and channels it into a nonprofit platform. He asks people interested in purchasing his art to donate $100 to their favorite charity and then sends them the picture at cost. He

calls this philanthropic photography. All proceeds from his photography are given to organizations dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. Khataw says, “a camera is really an excuse to delve deeper into a place than we otherwise would. Looking for a good shot forces us to seek out the unique features and scenic beauty of a location, to explore further, and to interact with our surroundings. When you press the shutter release, you’re making a personal connection to the place and its people. My lifelong passion is to strive for originality and excellence, which is a continuous effort!” Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Ali came to the United States in his early twenties. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and founded Austin’s Encotech Engineering Consultants, Inc. Ali’s photography is highly recognized and has been published in National Geographic Magazine (2014).

At the concert, Farhan Bogra, the lead instrumentalist who plays the lute-like Pashtoon rubab, taught the audience simple dance steps between songs. Amer Shafiq, on guitar, would raise one finger to his lips and ask the crowd to clap and be silent for a second before loudly clapping and raising hands. Everyone would follow! Sparlay Rawail on percussion and Shiraz on djembe-like zerbaghali (clay or wooden goblet drum) and Pushtoon sitar (long-necked lute) blended the richly layered sound builds to frenzied intensity.

Their first performance at the Union Theater at UT on Friday, March 13, had an audience of about three hundred people dancing on their fingertips. A band of four musicians, Khumariyaan “The Intoxicators” has reawakened the live music scene in Peshawar, Pakistan, the ancient crossroads through the Khyber Pass whose

Pakistan Television Crew Pakistani American In Austin To Cover SXSW

Photographer artist

contemporary culture is under attack from within and by outside factions.

By Sumaiya Malik Pakistan Television, the official and first channel of Pakistan sent two crew members to cover SXSW Pakistani Showcase. Raja Musaddiq Khan Saheb is the producer and head of V.V.I.P Cell at the Pakistani Television Headquarters in Islamabad. He was here, along with his colleague, to cover the musicians for the SXSW program. However, he also met the diverse Pakistani community here and interviewed them about the musicians and also about life in Austin/ in the US. They also attended the Friday, Jummah Prayer at the North Austin Muslim Community Center on Friday, March 20, 2015.

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There were moments of pure delight. No one missed a vocalist! And when it was time for them to go we heard a star struck girl say, ‘we love you.’ And most said, ‘please don’t go!’ The band has come to Austin as a part of the Pakistani Showcase at SXSW. Kamran Ali, Director of South Asia Institute at UT worked tirelessly with the SXSW to bring the talent to Austin under a State Department endeavor to bring unique talent from all over the world to the US. Others like Humera Channa and Mekaal Band, Mai Dhai and Tanveer Brothers, Haroon and Poor Rich Boy are also a part of the showcase. Khumariyaan’s aim is to enlighten the youth with all encompassing aesthetics and performing arts. Their focus is to elevate music to a medium of peace of being, and musically, breaking the tradition of the South Asian vocal based musical culture, thus they are an instrumental band.

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Austin South Asian | April 2015

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MANAGER FINANCIAL SERVICES: YOUR NEXT BIG CHALLENGE. Your next big career challenge is here at Prudential as a Manager Financial Services (MFS). It’s an exciting role in which you’ll recruit, lead and shape a team of ethical, confident sales professionals with the goal of helping customers grow and protect their assets. This opportunity requires Series 6, Series 26, Life, Health and P&C registrations (or ability to obtain such), along with excellent time management/organizational skills and an understanding of industry compliance. You’ll also the initiative to coach and develop a topperforming team. In return, you’ll enjoy: • Competitive Compensation • Bonuses • Recognition Programs • Exceptional Benefits • Excellent Growth Potential & More We are an organization with tremendous momentum. Challenge yourself to find out why. For consideration, please respond to: Ramesh Raj, Managing Director 832-389-5165 ramesh.raj@prudential.com

© 2014 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. Prudential, the Prudential logo, the Rock symbol and Bring Your Challenges are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc., and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Life Insurance is issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ, and its affiliates. Securities offered by Pruco Securities, LLC (member SIPC). Each is a Prudential Financial company. The availability of other products varies by carrier and state. Prudential is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ. Prudential is an Employer that participates in E-Verify. 0222647-00006-00 Expires 10/28/2015

According to Research studies Children spend more than 6 hours on some form of Media activity everyday. Help your child kick Media Addition. Order Media Rehab Tool Kit TODAY. Email: info@mediarehab.com

Austin South Asian | April 2015

For Kids, Books Make Great Easter Surprises (StatePoint) The best way to treat kids this Easter may not be with the typical sweets. While candy is predictable, you can really make a child’s day with a different approach. “This Easter, think books,” says Jaimie Cona, Associate Director of Marketing at DK, a publisher of adult and children’s books.

Bug Hunter” includes more than 30 handson learning activities and step-by-step project instructions. Enter the kingdom of creepy crawlies and learn everything there is to know about

while teaching basic baking skills. From simple kneading and mixing to creating whimsical and tasty treats, the book empowers kids to experiment in the kitchen. • “Frozen”: For fans of the mega hit film,

• Bedtime: There’s always time for a little play before bedtime. Capture the attention of infants with “Baby Touch & Feel Animals,” which features blankets, stars, sleepy stuffed animals and a range of novelty textures.

“Fill baskets to the brim with books, and consider including them in your egg hunt.” Here are some titles that are fun enough to be a sugar substitute:

• ABC’s: Children around the world have fallen in love with Sophie, the popular giraffe teether toy from France.

• Super Heroes: Discover a thrilling, action-packed world with “LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Amazing Battles!,” which features the bravest of heroes as they foil yet another evil villain’s scheme. Dynamic images and scenes will appeal to reluctant readers. Super hero fans may also love “Ultimate Factivity Collection: Marvel Avengers,” which combines facts about the Earth’s mightiest super heroes – the Avengers – with fun activities and interesting puzzles. • Pop-Out Surprises: Using flaps, touchand-feel textures and pop-out surprises, “Pop-Up Peekaboo Farm,” introduces young minds to sheepdogs, tractors, cows, horses and more. • Creepy Crawlies: “Eyewitness Explorer:

combines facts with games, challenges and sticker activities; and aspiring princesses everywhere are sure to love the “Ultimate Sticker Book: Frozen,” which lets kids recreate their favorite scenes from the movie with reusable stickers.

In the “Sophie la girafe” book series, Sophie and her friends teach new concepts, such as colors and basic vocabulary. “Peekaboo ABC” features every letter of the alphabet illustrated by familiar objects found in Sophie’s world.

beetles, bees, spiders and more. Experiments that can be done at home include raising a caterpillar. • Little Chefs: Encourage your budding chef’s aspirations with creative recipes that are safe for children. The “Mommy & Me Bake” cookbook is designed to offer parents and children the opportunity to work together as a team

fill up Easter baskets with a great crop of new picks, including “Frozen: The Essential Guide,” a fact-filled reference book about the characters, locations and themes of Disney’s beloved princess tale. A sing-along companion, “Frozen: The Essential Collection,” features lyrics to the famous songs, as well as a full-color sticker book. “Ultimate Factivity Collection: Disney Frozen,” a jam-packed activity book,

More kids’ book ideas for Easter can be found at www.dk.com. With a few literary surprises, you can indulge more than just your child’s sweet tooth on Easter.

MEN CAN COOK! Info@Austin SouthAsian.com

How to Find Support When Going Gets Tough

(StatePoint) In life, having a game plan can help you identify goals and be successful in your efforts. But unfortunately, such plans are never foolproof. From serious illness to serious romantic upset, there are limitless unforeseen circumstances that can set you back. “Finding support when life gets challenging is a helpful way to cope,” says Max Lucado, a leading inspirational author, named “America’s Pastor,” by “Reader’s Digest.”

Lucado’s latest book, “Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café,” follows the story of a newly single mother after a very

public break up. She takes over an old coffee shop in dire need of reinvention. After a visit from a curious stranger, the failing café suddenly becomes the go-to place for people in search of answers to life’s biggest questions, as its Internet connection links directly to God. While not everyone will experience divine intervention when the going gets tough, support can take on many forms. Lucado, well-known for his encouraging words, offers a few insights: • Make a plan. Hard times are a “petri dish for brainless decisions,” says

Lucado. “To do nothing is the wrong thing. To do something is the right thing.” Keep it simple, but decide what would be most helpful in your situation, and pursue it.

• Join a congregation: If you aren’t already affiliated with a religious community, consider joining one. A priest, rabbi or minister can be a great resource for advice, and fellow congregants offer a built-in social circle and support network. If that’s not for you, a community center often offers many of the same benefits and programming. • Spend time with loved ones: Time

with family and friends can be a great reminder that you are loved. Take time each week to be around the people who uplift your spirit. They can offer advice and insights into your particular situation and remind you that you are not alone. • Be honest about the help you need: It can be hard to swallow your pride at times, but often, assistance is the only way to land on your feet. Whether you need financial aid, help with babysitting or advice, don’t be afraid to ask. When the going gets tough, the tough know to seek the right support.

Austin South Asian | April 2015

New Insights From Expectant Parents (StatePoint) There are a lot of items parents don’t necessarily know they will need before their new bundle of joy comes. Preparing for baby is exciting, but the pregnancy journey also can be

simply can’t? Parents can now register their wishes -- such as a dream nursery, help with hospital bills, or a year’s supply of diapers.

Turn Your Bathroom Into A Relaxing Oasis (StatePoint) Time spent in the bathroom can be precious, as it may be your only solo time. When prioritizing home upgrades, consider first transforming a ho-hum, conventional bathroom into an oasis of comfort, style and ultimate relaxation. Relax Replace outdated fixtures with

chromatherapy mood light systems, thermotherapy heated backrests and in-line heaters that keep water heated perfectly. Explore your options at www.Mansfieldplumbing.com. Retreat Make your bathroom the perfect retreat from the rest of the house and the outside world with a few stylish accents that provide great-

Beauty On a limited budget you can give the bathroom an elegant long-term facelift by investing in millwork products that resist humidity so you don’t experience warping. From crown moulding to trim around showers and bathtubs to ceiling medallions, polyurethane is a more practical material than traditional wood for these design elements. It’s lightweight, easy to install, and most importantly, designed to resist the humidity of bathing. To get the look of a luxury hotel, the experts at Fypon, which produce thousands of pieces of polyurethane millwork, moulding and trim in a variety of architectural styles, recommend a few project ideas:

overwhelming. Mom is expected to tackle big to-do’s before baby comes -- including making a baby registry. It’s not always clear what to include on the registry. How many diapers and wipes will baby need in that first year? Nearly half of moms don’t realize that on average they will change 2,200 diapers in baby’s first year, according to a new survey conducted by Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers, which focus on offering outstanding skin care with a gentle absorb liner. Even with countless resources available online, nearly 80 percent of moms report their friends are a primary influence on their baby registry choices. Is there something you wish you could add to your registry, but

If you’re selected as a winner, Huggies will do everything they can to make your wish come true. For more information and to enter, visit huggies.com/registerwish. When baby comes you want to be as best prepared as possible -- so remember to add essentials like diapers and wipes to your baby registry.

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new top-quality options that offer greater functionality. Manufacturers such as Mansfield Plumbing, produce fixtures and fittings designed to work in tandem. Such “suites” of a toilet, sink and bathtub can improve the look of a bathroom setting.

er solitude. For example, privacy decorative glass windows and privacy acrylic block windows offered from Hy-Lite are design elements that don’t compromise natural light.

In a toilet, there are certain features to seek. A SmartHeight toilet allows for easier access.

Available in four designer frame colors, you can go beyond plain frosted glass with stylish windows that come either operable or fixed in place.

For those who are environmentally conscious or looking for a pocketbook-friendly option, seek out a WaterSense rated toilet, signifying greater water conservation.

Offered in varying shapes and sizes, it’s easy to match windows to other bathroom elements, such as tiles and countertops. Full details are available at www.HyLite.com.

When it comes to relaxation, the bathtub is king. Luckily, manufacturers are innovating features to go beyond whirlpools.

Take your spa retreat a step further by piping music into your bathroom with humidity-resistant speakers unsusceptible to steamy showers and hot baths.

New bathtub offerings include

• Install a set of pilasters on both sides of your shower stall and a door crosshead overhead to upgrade your bathroom’s look. • Surround mirrors and decorative accent windows with painted or stained polyurethane mouldings that complement the room. • Install chair rail moulding around the bathroom to add dimension. Paint above or below the moulding and use wallpaper, paneling or a different color paint in the other section. Find more project ideas at www. Fypon.com. While many think of the bathroom as a place to take care of necessary business, you can easily give yours an upgrade that will transform it into a whole lot more.

Austin South Asian | April 2015

Free DACA Legal Services To Be Available At The Asian American Resource Center (Continued From Page 01) The Asian American Resource Center Non-Profit will be hosting a FREE Education Session on Wednesday March 25th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Asian American Resource Center located at 8401 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX 78754. Attending the Education Session is required to enroll in the FREE workshop/clinic on Saturday April 25th from 8:00am to 4:00pm to receive assistance in filling out the applications.

at the University of Texas at Austin, South Asian Bar Association of Austin, Austin Asian American Bar Association, Jung Ko LLC, University Leadership Initiative, Equal Justice Center, Education Austin, and the City of Austin Asian American Quality of Life Commission to launch a free educational workshop and free legal clinic for potential applicants of DACA with an emphasis of reaching out to the Asian American community and especially for the Hindi, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese language groups.

At the workshop/clinic we will have lawyers and attorneys to help all applicants.

Texas is the 4th highest state for the number of potential beneficiaries of DACA from Asia.

The Asian American Resource Center Non-Profit is proud to partner with the Network of Asian American Organizations, Asian Law Students Association

For more information, contact, Richard Jung - 512-419-9288 richard@jwalegal.com ; Taral Patel - 832-748-1096 - taralvpatel@ gmail.com.

Is Your Yard Wildlife-Friendly? (StatePoint) Being a good neighbor means more than being friendly to the humans across the street, it also means being friendly to the animals in your yard. Making your yard a safe place for local wildlife should be a top lawn care priority. With that in mind, here are some tips for creating a healthy habitat for local critters. Be a Valuable Rest Stop Stock your garden with small native species of trees, shrubs and flowers to give wildlife needed nourishment, as well as cover from predators. A source of water can also be a great resource for visiting fauna. Whether it’s a pond or a bird bath, be sure this zone is well-maintained so you don’t inadvertently create a haven for unwanted spe-

cies. In the warmer months when mosquitoes are most active, you should change the bird bath water even more often. Promote Safety A bird feeder in your backyard, full of water and seeds, will be the perfect invitation for beautiful migrating and local birds to stop by. Just be sure your property is safe for birds. Unfortunately, birds don’t see clear glass. As a result, millions of birds die every year by striking glass. Don’t let your sliding glass doors or other windows become a death trap for birds.

decals that reflect ultraviolet sunlight. For example, those from WindowAlert have the appearance of frosted glass, but glow like a stoplight for birds, so you don’t have to compromise your own view out your window. The brand also makes a high-tech liquid called WindowAlert UV Liquid, which should be applied between decals. “Wildlife can beautify your garden and be a sign that your yard is healthy” says Spencer Schock, founder of WindowAlert. “But birds and other wildlife need food, shelter, and safety.” Get out the binoculars! With a few small actions, you can make your yard or garden a wildlife refuge.

To protect birds, apply special

FREE Soil Testing For Gardeners Visit the Soil Kitchen during this year’s Fusebox Festival. AUSTIN, Texas— As the temperatures in Austin warm, home gardeners begin to think about the many varieties of crops they’ll want to plant this spring. First, however, they’ll need to put some thought into the quality of their garden’s soil. Austin Brownfields Revitalization Office, part of Austin Resource Recovery, is making this process easy by sponsoring free soil testing at the Soil Kitchen. The Kitchen will be open during part of this year’s Fusebox Festival, on April 10-12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 1098 Jain Lane in East Austin. Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension Service and the City of Austin will be on hand to test soil for the presence of heavy metals

and soil nutrients. “Soil testing is an important start for preparing garden beds before planting. Understanding what is actually in the soil provides gardeners with the information they need to successfully grow healthy crops for their families,” said Christine Whitney, program manager for Brownfields Revitalization Office. With technical support from the Environmental Protection Agency, gardeners can bring in samples for sophisticated testing in the EPA’s mobile lab at no charge. “Historical uses of land, even for residential use, may have left behind heavy metals. The Soil Kitchen provides an opportunity to inform gardeners of what’s in their soil and what can be done to improve soil quality and food safety,” Whitney said.

The testing is confidential. Gardeners simply list their initials, date of soil collection and the closest intersection on their quart size sample bags. A number is assigned to the sample and the gardener can look up the number online, contact the Brownfields Office by phone or drop back by the Soil Kitchen to obtain the results later. A test will generally take about 30 minutes, but the length of time depends on how many samples have already been dropped off. Gardeners can also watch demonstrations on how to build raised beds and learn about home composting during the festival. Additionally, staff members from the City’s Office of Sustainability and Parks and Recreation’s Sustainable Urban Agriculture program will be on hand to encourage gardeners and answer any questions they may have about

their gardens and plant life. For more information about the Soil Kitchen and soil sampling, please visit: www.austintexas. gov/soilkitchen. Directions for Soil Sampling: Gather together a garden trowel or spade; a spoon; two zip-top, quart size, plastic bags; a waterproof marker; and a clean shallow pan. Label the bag(s) with the following information: your initials, the date you took your sample and the approximate location of your garden plot. PLEASE do not give your exact address. Instead, please list your street and the closest cross street. This is for the protection of your privacy. Go to your garden area and sample the soil in five to 10 different spots around the garden bed(s).

Sample to a depth of six inches, using your trowel to make a cone shape into the soil and then extract the samples. Place each of the collected samples into the shallow pan. When you have completed the sampling work, take your spoon and mix all the soil together in the shallow pan to obtain a more representative sample. If the soil is very wet, leave the soil to dry out in the pan overnight. Make sure to remove any rocks, grass or dead plant material that could get in the way. If you would like to have your soil sampled for the presence of heavy metals AND for soil nutrients, please use the collected soil to half-fill TWO separate zip-top bags. Fill your plastic bag(s) until it is half -full and seal it shut.

Austin South Asian | April 2015

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Austin South Asian | April 2015

train rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, inflatables, and breakfast tacos!

Easter

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Austin South Asian | April 2015

REAL ESTATE SPECIAL

How To Avoid Apartment Rental Scams By Jeanette Pavini Navigating your way through the housing rental market can be frustrating and discouraging. Now add to that the potential for being scammed in the process.

If they say things like, “It’s OK if you have bad credit,” or “If you don’t have money for the security deposit, that’s OK, we’ll take it in installments,” beware. Some online ads look real be-

The Federal Trade Commission says you can avoid rental scams by looking for signs. The number one sign of a scam is if you are asked to wire money.

When you find that dream apartment that’s spacious, low cost and centrally located and you think it’s too good to be true, you may be right.

You can use rent comparison sites like Rentometer.com to gauge whether a rental price is reasonable. If you get into communication with a landlord and they are overly accommodating, that could also be a red flag.

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yer or agent who will get you the keys. They may even go so far as to create fake keys.

If you can’t be there in person to see the apartment, ask someone you trust to go in your place.

In some cases, they may not be after your money, but your identity. Be cautious about giving out your Social Security number, bank account or driver’s license.

This will ensure that apartment is indeed for rent as advertised. You may also want to conduct an Internet search on the owner. If you find the ad listed under a different name, it’s probably a scam.

Here’s how to make sure your dream rental doesn’t turn into a nightmare. Research the average rates for comparable rentals in the area. If the apartment you’re interested in comes in a lot lower, that’s reason to be suspicious.

a security deposit or first month’s rent before you’ve met or signed a lease, it may be a scam.

cause they are. Scammers will hijack a rental listing, swap out the contact information for their own and place it on another site. In some cases, they don’t even change the contact info, they hack the landlord or property manager’s email address. Then there are phantom rentals, which is where listings are completely fabricated for a place that isn’t for rent or doesn’t exist.

There’s no reason they would need to request payment by wire transfer only to pay a security deposit, application fee or first month’s rent. Even if they sent you a contract first, avoid wiring money. Remember wiring money is like mailing cash — once it’s gone, there’s nothing you can do to get it back. If the owners or managers ask for

In one version of this scam, they might say they can’t give out the address because in they past they’ve had issues with vandalism. Don’t believe that. Think of all the home and apartments for sale or rent that could potentially be unoccupied. That doesn’t stop legitimate agents and property companies from posting the address. Another red flag is if they say they’re out of the country. Typically scammers will tell you they can’t meet you because they are overseas but they have a law-

It is standard procedure for a landlord to want to check your credit, especially if you’re renting in a competitive real estate area. Often the landlord will ask for permission to obtain your credit report when you fill out the rental application. And sometimes the cost of the credit report is covered in your application fee. This in itself is not a red flag. However, proceed with caution if a “landlord” sends you a link to enter personal and financial information so they can get a credit report. This could be a ploy to steal your identity. Only enter this type of information on secure, trusted sites.

by Bala Kumar

2015 SUMMER SESSION (6/8 ~ 8/14)

Austin South Asian | April 2015

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Austin South Asian | April 2015

Vibha Launches Kalakaar 2015

February 15th, 2015- Vibha invites you to ‘Click for a Cause’ with Kalakaar 2015. The contest returns after a successful run in 2013 which saw 1500 participants from 50 countries worldwide.

children.

Inspired by the success, several other Action centers came on

Kalakaar is open from 15th March to 15th April 2015 and invites entries from amateur and skilled photographers alike! Founded in 1991, Vibha is a USbased non-profit with over 1000 volunteers spread across 15 Action Centers in cities across the US and India. The Minnesota Action Center of Vibha first conducted Kalakaar in 2009 as an arts event for adults and children. Featuring drawing, writing and photography competitions, it sparked the idea of using one’s creativity to help underprivileged

board and the vision to launch the event on a larger scale came into being. In 2012 Kalakaar went national as a photography contest to an overwhelming response.

With over 600 entries and through the sponsorship of Digital Nirvana, iTasveer and DishWorld and other donations, Vibha was able to fund their project with Vidya Sagar Vikas Kendra in Thane, India for the education of children of sex workers and other underprivileged children. After this success, a dedicated team of volunteers from across the country put in their efforts towards organizing Kalakaar as an annual event. HDRSoft Kalakaar 2013 had more than double the entries of previous years and raised $3200

through HDRsoft, Purple Rickshaw, ArtSmart, Digital Nirvana and donor Zenfolio.

A new partnership was entered into with ValueDOT via CertLog to provide online participant and winner certificates. This year Kalakaar is being sponsored by Mubi, Certlog and private donors. Media partners for the event are ChicagoIndian.com, The Desi Times and Austin South Asian. Other partners include Buddy4Study.com and MotaChashma.com. This year there are two themes and a separate category for HDR Photography. In addition to winners decided by a select panel of judges, there will be a special prize for the most

liked photo.

Participants will have the unique opportunity to vote for their favorite photograph. You too can Click for a Cause! Participation is free. Contest runs from 15th March to 15th April 2015 at 12:00 am PST. Learn more at: www.kalakaar.org The mission of Vibha is to educate, empower and enable every individual who wishes to make a positive difference in the life of the underprivileged child. Till date, we have supported over 190 projects in India and the US. To read more about Vibha, visit: www.vibha.org

ICC NEEDS

Three Indian-Americans Win Medals At Intel Science Competition VOLUNTEERS By Press Trust of India Three Indian-Americans have won medals at the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search for the year 2015, and alongside other winners, today they will get a chance to meet President Barack Obama at the White House.

Michael Hofmann Winer, each received the first-place award of USD 150,000 at the Intel science competition, a program of Society for Science & the Public, the organisers said. The top winners and other finalists from across the US took home awards totalling over USD

ties, which could be harnessed for a variety of electrical and computing applications. Shashwat Kishore, 18, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, won the Third Place Medal of Distinction for Basic Research. Shashwat’s math project focused on representing abstract algebras using matrices. Anvita Gupta, 17, of Scottsdale, Arizona, won the Third Place Medal of Distinction for Global Good. Anvita used machine learning to “teach” a computer to identify potential drugs for cancer, tuberculosis and Ebola. Preclinical trials are already underway in China on the tuberculosis drug that she identified.

The trio, Saran Prembabu, Shashwat Kishore and Anvita Gupta yesterday won medals at the competition, however none of the three could get the top award, which has been dominated in previous years by Indian-Americans. Noah Golowich, Andrew Jin and

1 million. Saranesh (Saran) Thanika Prembabu, 17, of San Ramon, California, won the Second Place Medal of Distinction for Innovation. Saran studied how varying the layers of lead titanate and strontium ruthenate in nanocrystal superlattices could affect their electrical and magnetic proper-

“We are honoured to congratulate Noah, Andrew, Michael and the rest of the top winners of the Intel Science Talent Search 2015,” said, Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science & the Public and alumna of the Science Talent Search. “These students serve as shining

examples of the incredible work being accomplished in STEM fields by young people, and we are proud to recognise and reward these stellar young researchers,” she said. Of the 40 finalists, 11 were Indian-Americans. Each of the finalists received at least USD 500. In total, the Intel Foundation awarded USD 1.6 million for the Intel Science Talent Search 2015.

To Advertise In ASA Call 512-828-6709

India Community Center of Austin needs VOLUNTEERS. Please contact ICC or Email:

iccaustin@ gmail.com

Name

Austin South Asian | April 2015

AUSTIN INDIAN NON PROFITS Make A Difference...

Asian American Resource Center (AARC) Austin Bollywood Cultural Association ABHN (Asian Behavioral Health Network) AFSSA /SAHELI AKS (Austin Kannada Sangha) AMM (Austin Marathi Mandal) Art of Living Arya Samaj Asha ATS Austin Bengali Association Austin Dance India / Anu Dance Austin Gurdwara Sahib Austin Hindu Temple Austin Indian Austin Intercultural Network

Contact Person Email Lesley Varghese Jignesh Patel Esther Chung Linda Phan Veena Rao Sukumar Smita Kulkarni, Prasad Bimal Choudhary/Anoop Swarn Mahendru Gaurav Agarwal Mahendran Nagarajan Ashan “Hero” Chaudry Anuradha Naimpally Harnek S. Bains UmaKant Gupta Nimish Pathak Shalini Komarla

lesleyvarghese@gmail.com soundimaging.medical@gmail.com abhn.austin@gmail.com lphan@saheli-austin.org sukumarveena@hotmail.com spanvalkar@hotmail.com bimalenduc@gmail.com” mahendrus@yahoo.com austin@ashanet.org vijaysan@gmail.com zareefc@yahoo.com anu@anudance.com hbains@austin.rr.com guptaji1949@yahoo.com nimish_pathak@yahoo.com shalini.komalra@gmail.com

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Austin Bollywood Shake BTC CAAAD Chinmaya Mission of Austin CTBA Cutting Chai Productions Dining for Women - Chapter 1 Dining for Women - Chapter 2 Ekal Vidyalaya GAACC GAMA GSA HC4A IACT IASCA ICC ICMCA IDEAYA IFA Indian Syrian Orthodox Church IndieMeme Jain Sangh of Greater Austin Monsoon Dance NAAO Naga Valli Natyalaya School of Dance NetIP Oliver Rajamani’s music group Om Shanti Place for Change Pratham Radha Madhav Dham RangaMancha (Play group) SAADA SAALT Circle SABA Sai Baba Group SAIVA School of Social Work - Former Dean Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Austin TCA TIE Austin Tiru Gallery TV Asia

Kamal Dhanani Ruchika Dias Sonia Kotecha Ramey Ko Seth Greenberg /Girish Niloy Deb Sushma Parmar Jaya Thakkar Seema Mehta Talsi Gadhia Marina Bhargava Jose Animon / PG R Satyajeet Dodia Harish Kotecha Shahin Alvi Jagdish Kothari Mary Matthew Prashant Manikal Kumari Samineni Mrs. Janaki Nagarajan

kamalswami@gmail.com info@bollywoodshakeaustin.com s_kotecha@yahoo.com ramey.ko@gmail.com girish.chaitanya@gmail.com niloyjdeb@hotmail.com sush@cuttingchaiproductions.com jayathakkar62@gmail.com mehta_seema@hotmail.com gadhiat@yahoo.com mbhargava@AustinAsianChamber.org animon.jose@gmail.com sdodia09@gmail.com kotecha@yahoo.com salvi@iactaustin.org jagdishkot@yahoo.com marylm@aol.com icmca.committee@gmail.com kumari.samineni@gmail.com raj38@hotmail.com stgregorios.online@gmail.com alka_bhanot@yahoo.com pankil@hotmail.com shrutinanand@gmail.com dasgupta1974@gmail.com booking@nagavalli.com

UT Center for Asian American Studies UT ICA UT ISA Vadtal Swaminarayan Temple Vibha

Sona Shah Aishavaraya Sonawane Kushal Patel Dushyant Desai Angela Sohan

Alka Bhanot Pankil Matalia Shruti Anand Sumit Dasgupta Naga Valli Vinita Subramanian Ganesh Dasika / Sumina Oliver Rajamani Prakash Mohandas Mark Henson Vandana Kumar Chirag Patel /Braj Rani Amit Apte Samip Mallick Shamim Shahi Arpana Parikh / Sujata Mahesh Mahadevan Shubhada Saxena Shanti Khinduka Craig & Jill Edwards G. Narsi Reddy Mayur Mehta Rama Tiru Seema Govil

suminabhatti@gmail.com booking@oliverrajamani.com prakash.mohandas@gmail.com mark@placeforchange.com info@prathamusa.org chirag@radhamadhavdham.org apteamit@gmail.com samip@saadigitalarchive.org shahishamim@hotmail.com sujata.ajmera@gmail.com info.austin@sairegion10.org saivamembership@gmail.com khinduka@wustl.edu info@saiaustin.org s_shamapant@yahoo.com mayur@ieee.org tirugallery@gmail.com govilseema@gmail.com sona.shah@austin.utexas.edu aishwaryasonawane@yahoo.com kushalp8493@gmail.com rdesai2001@hotmail.com coordinator@austin.vibha.org

By Vidya Kumar

Make a difference – yearly review While working in an office one goes through yearly review of their performance. Most of the time it is stressful because the expectation whether you are reviewing your staff or your boss is reviewing you - what we think we have communicated all year round and what the boss/staff thinks is totally poles apart and this miscommunication comes out clearly during the yearly review. Imagine the same situation we have at home also. Can all the arguments or quarrels or fights that one has with spouse and or children – come under yearly review?

What would be the outcome of such an event? The reason every time I have had my review I would make up my mind to be better at what I have lacked. Although, in my heart of hearts I think there is nothing to change in me. Clearly, there is a benefit to review our habits, relationships and attitudes once a year since it would enhance our life style. Maybe, just like the calendar New Year which bring forth resolutions to the front the New Year that one celebrates – like Ugadi or Tamil or Vishu (Kerala) or during Diwali can be looked at in a different light and improve our habits, tempers, attitudes etc. Wishing all of you happy Tamil New Year and belated Ugadi best wishes.

MEN CAN COOK! Email your recipe with photos and see yourself in print

Info@AustinSouthAsian.com

To Advertise in ASA call 512-828-6709 APPEAL TO NON PROFITS Please help us in updating the contact information. Please email correct information if you think the published information needs update. We appreciate if you can also provide a contact number so that your members / community can reach you. We will also carry this on our website and keep it updated for the benefit of community. email: info@austinsouthasian.com 512-828-6709

Austin South Asian | April 2015

April Predictions - 2015

ARIES (March 21 to April 20): People in business will do well this month. Money wise you will stay comfortable. Some one lot younger will try to create some problems at work but will not succeed. You will do some work in and around the house and get rid of things piling dust. You may call an old friend to seek his advice. A business trip is also in the air. TAURUS (April 21 to May 20): Unnecessary stress can cause loss of appetite and upset stomach. Business will continue to grow and you will keep marching towards your professional goals and may even finish project before deadline. Try to relax in spare time and go for a walk if possible. Spouse will give you few very practical and great ideas. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): You will continue to work on a very good idea and keep looking for right partners. You will be invited to couple of parties in September. You will try to take time out of busy schedule and help your child with home work.

People seeking a change will be called for second interview and receive the assurance. CANCER (June 21 to July 22): This may not be the right time to look for a change in career. Money wise you will continue to do well and receive some kind of refund also. Value of stocks will appreciate and you may dispose off some and pocket the profit. People in business will experience better sales. Issue involving a child will be resolved favorably. LEO (July 23 to August 22): Just be careful with all financial transactions and do not stretch your limits. People in business should keep an eye on employees. Business will be better and you will take few sound decisions in career. Do not make any commitments in a hurry. You may start working on a short vacation with family towards the end of next month. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22): Take advice and second opinion before you make any big moves. Legal matters will take a favorable

turn and victory is within reach. Relationship will keep getting stronger and commitment is not far off. You may dispose off recently purchased stocks and pocket the money. Keep an eye on an important mail. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22): Planets are favorable for all financial matters. You may hit some kind of jackpot, don’t forget to try your hands at lottery also. There will be slight change in travel plans. You will try your best to maintain a balance between family and professional life. Deal you had been working on, can be finalized. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 22): Planets will make things happen quick. You will not only regain confidence but hit your professional goal also. Your image in social circle will improve and you will be invited to a big gathering. You may meet an interesting personality during the course of a trip. You will make few more important clients this month. SAGITTARIUS (November 23 to December 22): If you keep your emotions under check,

you are a guaranteed winner. Transiting Venus will bring fresh opportunity to make fast bucks. Try to be calm when on phone and use soft language when writing any important mail if you really wantt to get the job done. You may be thinking of traveling long distance. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19): Strong Venus will give you many reasons to celebrate. Roadblocks will be lifted and you will achieve your goals. Some of you will be offered a lucrative job also. Strong chances that a new member will be added to family. You may spend some money on electronic gadgets or do some repairs in or around your home. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18): You may be in touch with some wise people to seek advice on how to deal with some important issues or headache. Watch out for people trying to flirt. No harm in enjoying life but do not take them seriously or will get hurt later. Some one with honey colored eyes or going little

bald will be very helpful. PISCES (February 19 to March 20): Help will come from totally unexpected places. You will be calling overseas more frequently and may travel on short notice. You will be still aiming for long term goals and not on short ones. Health will get better with minor change in diet. You may recover lots of money and may even receive a big check from insurance in April. It will take some more time to find a better and ideal place to move.

Pandit Parashar parashar@parashar.com www.parashar.com 925-833-7170

Local Artists Invited To Submit Proposals For TEMPO 2015 AUSTIN, TX – Art in Public Places (AIPP), a program of the City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Division of the Economic Development Department, seeks to commission temporary public artworks for the 2015 cycle of the TEMPO program. Professional visual artists and designers who live and work in Williamson, Travis, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Burnet, and Blanco counties are eligible to apply. Multiple commissions will be awarded. The budget for artwork ranges from

$3,000 to $10,000 for each commissioned work. Artists may select from a list of City-owned sites, including parkland, libraries, and right-of-way, and craft a proposal for a shortterm artwork or time-based performance that responds to that specific site. Selected artworks will be installed for varying periods of time between July and December 2015. Proposals must be submitted by April 24, 5:00 p.m., through www.PublicArtist. org, an online application system.

Temporary public art plays an important role in attracting new and emerging artists to the City’s public art program, enriches the civic dialogue, cultivates tourism, and engages public space in a unique way. The TEMPO program allows artists to explore a range of themes suitable for outdoor sites and provides the opportunity for innovative, thought-provoking artwork that impacts the way people experience their environment. AIPP Staff is available to provide assistance to emerging and ex-

perienced artists and can answer specific questions about this opportunity. Two Artist Information Meetings will be held on March 26 at 5:30 p.m. and April 9 at 5:30 p.m. Staff will also be available during Open Office Hours on April 10, 2:00-4:00 p.m. All three events will take place at the Cultural Arts Division offices, 201 E. 2nd Street. Parking is available in the Convention Center Parking Garage, enter on Brazos Street between Ce-

sar Chavez and 2nd Streets, and there is available street parking. The TEMPO project launched in spring of 2013, with an open call to Austin-area artists to submit proposals for temporary artwork on City parkland. Eleven proposals by eight individual artists and two artist teams were selected and installed for varying durations beginning in fall 2013 and continuing through summer 2014. More information about the TEMPO 2013/14 artworks can be found at www.austintexas.gov/TEMPO

Austin South Asian | April 2015

April 2015 Community Calendar

We have compiled this event listing based on the information available on the web site (where ever possible) of the community/organization as of third Friday. Please check with the organizers to confirm its accuracy. We request all South Asian organizations to email us (info@austinsouthasian.com) their community calendar on or before 20th of every month, for the events happening next month. We will carry listing of all South Asian non-profit organizations in Austin. If the Name, Contact info is not correct or has changed email us (info@austinsouthasian.com) the changes you want to see. E&OE.

SCHEDULE:

In Central Texas).

April 04, Saturday, 01:00 PM,

The festival is at Lanier High School - TX, 1201 Payton Gin Rd W Austin, TX 78759.

India Fine Arts presents A New Cultural Experience 20th Sri Ramanavami Musical Festival (2015). A Grand Music & Dance Festival (With Senior Sudents & Teachers Of The Music & Dance Schools

For more information, contact 512-918-1351. Admission free of charge. All are welcome. Donations accepted.

April 18, Saturday, 06:30 PM, Indian Fine Arts presents Shashank, Chaurasia Flute Concert at Jones Auditorium,Ragsdale Center, 3001 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704. Ticket:

How To Get Your Teenagers To Become Lifelong Readers (StatePoint) In today’s age of technology, it’s easy for teens to reject books in favor of gadgets. As these emerging technologies become increasingly important in

always be either reading or anticipating their next read. Serial literature can be a great way to accomplish the goal of keeping kids interested. One great example is

society, parents should reinforce the educational and entertainment benefits of reading. Here are a few tips for encouraging your children to love the written word.

“Hollow City,” the second novel in the “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” series, a unique combination of fantasy and haunting vintage photography. And since that first book is in the process of being adapted into a movie, kids awaiting its release can read “Hollow City” in the meantime.

General admission $ 30.00; Srs., Stds., & Children above 5 $ 20.00

Texas Whiz Kid Earns 7 Associate Degrees From College Richardson, Texas — Joshua Chari, son of Raj and Manjusha Chari, has earned a record seven associate degrees, moving past the known U.S. record of four A.S. degrees in parallel with the high school diploma. Chari achieved this mostly through the “Early College Education” program in some states which allow high school students to sign up for advanced level

classes which give high school and college credit at the same time. Chari attended Richland College, in Dallas, where he earned his degrees in liberal sciences,

computer science, electrical, biomedical, telecommunications, software and computer engineering. According to the Dallas Morning News, in addition to dual-credit classes at the STEM Academy and traditional courses at Richland College, Chari took online courses through the Texas Virtual School Network, a Texas Education Agency program that offers classes that apply to high school

and public college degrees. Chari started taking college credit classes when he was in the seventh grade. He will get his eighth and final Associates’ degree in mechanical engineering on May,

two weeks before he gets his high school diploma. The Texas State legislature recently honored Chari by passing a bill in his honor through House Bill HR480. After high school, Chari plans to go to the University of Texas at Dallas for a fast-track BS/MS degree with dual majors in bio-medical and mechanical engineering,

with dual minors in nano-technology and business. “I’ll have the master’s within four years,” Chari told the Dallas Morning News.

Treat Reading Like a Privilege If your kids believe that reading is a chore, they’ll stop as soon as your influence over them begins to wane or they are no longer required to read for school. Instead, show them that reading is a source of fun. In order to do this, position reading as a “reward.” When they get good grades, take them to the bookstore. When they finish their homework in the evening, give teens “reading privileges,” as you may be inclined to do with electronic sources of media. Offer Compelling Literature One of the most important things you can do is make sure that your kids have positive early experiences with books. This will shape their opinions of reading for the rest of their lives. Beyond school assignments, be sure your teens are reading compelling literature for fun. The best way to do this is to give them books that you know they’ll enjoy -- that way, they’ll

Model Good Reading Behavior Let your kids see you reading. If they know that you like to read, then they’ll imitate your behavior. Teens may not always act like it, but they do look up to you. Don’t replace reading with interacting with your teens; instead, read at a time when they are already engaging in independent activities. Start your own little household book club. During dinner or another portion of the day spent together, discuss what you both are reading and what you like about the books. Make recommendations and swap great books.So when your kids are staring at their screens, remember that this generation can find just as much joy in books as you did when you were younger. All you need to do is give the extra push.

Austin South Asian | April 2015

Straight A’s Aren’t All You Need In A 21st Century Education By Aruna Andrew

mind.

plying to colleges.

President’s Day, celebrated on the third Monday in February, was originally established to recognize President George Washington, but has since become a day

We at Best in Class believe that having high marks on a report card is important, but so is the value of strong leadership skills in our students.

College admissions have transformed in the past decade. According to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, each year nearly 60 percent

education that students can be confident in their abilities and knowledge. Colleges are not only looking at grades and test scores; but also for strong leadership abilities and self-efficacy. If your child is preparing to enter a college or university, here are some tips to help them achieve and hone their leadership strengths. These are also great ways to build experiences that can be highlighted on college applications. Run for student government – Being able to work with others and lead through student council is a great way to show determination and dedication. This is also a great way to meet people and learn from others. Become president of a club – Does your child have an interest in chess, debate or sports?

recognizing all U.S. presidents past and present. When reflecting on this holiday, the word leadership comes to

Through our programs, we place a strong focus on building leadership skills in students, especially high school students who are ap-

of freshman college students realize they are not prepared for postsecondary studies. It is only through a well-rounded

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Becoming captain of an intramural team or president of an organization shows initiation. Take the lead on group projects – Taking on this role helps students work efficiently and creatively.

Learning to delegate whilst being fair is a life-long lesson. Volunteer –Dedicating time to a cause that a student is passionate in is not only a great resume builder, but it shows empathy and emotional intelligence. Be a team player –Even if your child isn’t class president or captain of the team, being a team player, showing eagerness and always being a good sport is just as important as having a leading role. Branch out – Being part of several different organizations shows depth and well-roundedness. Encourage your child to explore new activities; they might even discover a hidden talent. Who knows? Maybe someday we’ll be celebrating your child on President’s Day. For more information about Best in Class services for your student, visit bestinclasseducation.com/ locations/nw-austin or call toll free at 1-512-375-3245.

THEME: EARTH DAY ACROSS 1. Penniless 6. Hermey the dentist, e.g. 9. “____ in the face” 13. *Experts say sea level does it as planet warms 14. “New” prefix 15. *Geography class prop 16. Tiny island 17. Contend 18. Kind of space 19. *Environmental science 21. *Green car 23. R&R spot 24. Give the cold shoulder 25. College entrance exam 28. Of a particular kind 30. Long John Silver had this 35. *Deforestation is big issue in this country 37. Brazils or filberts, e.g. 39. Upholstery choice 40. Van Gogh’s famous flower 41. “_____-and-true” 43. Dissolute man in fashionable society 44. Bordered 46. Common hosiery shade 47. Concludes 48. Looked lecherously 50. Like a sharp eye 52. “O say can you ___” 53. Prejudice 55. X 57. *Type of bug? 60. Guards and keeps order 64. _____-Goldwyn-Mayer 65. “Ostrich” of Australia 67. Cafè offering 68. Actor’s reward 69. Hanks or Cruise 70. Relating to ohms 71. Light grey 72. *Clean Air Act org. 73. Required things

Austin South Asian | April 2015 DOWN 1. French hors d’oeuvre staple 2. Reduced Instruction Set Computer 3. Northern European capital 4. Hull appendage, pl. 5. Impedes by estoppel 6. Green-eyed monster 7. South Pacific welcome 8. Warm down-slope wind of the Alps 9. Talk like a drunk 10. “Laughing on the inside” in text message 11. In the sack 12. p in mpg 15. Chunk of raw meat 20. Like hunger strike victim 22. Uh-huh 24. Performer’s gimmicks 25. *Oil crisis 26. Eagle’s nest 27. Father, Son and Holy Ghost, e.g. 29. “Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me” band, The ____ 31. *”An Inconvenient Truth” author 32. Some have a mane 33. Dodge 34. These in U.S. are often Canadian 36. “Breaking Bad” victim 38. Dried-up 42. Because of 45. Credit card user 49. “___ Hard” movie 51. *Earth Day founder 54. Mountain ridge 56. Specialty 57. It’s more, to some 58. A strong desire 59. Cafeteria carrier 60. Wild feline 61. Dog call 62. Children’s author Blyton 63. Abbreviated seconds 64. Extinct flightless bird 66. Janitor’s tool

SOLUTION

Sudoku

Please email your sudoku answers to info@austinsouthasian.com. Name and photo of the inviduvidual with first correct answer will be published in Feberuary 2015 issue.

To Advertise in ASA call 512828-6709

Austin South Asian | April 2015

A Magical Experience Of Colors At Radha Madhav Dham, Austin TX

(Continued From Page 01) The Holi Mela, hosted by community volunteers, was enjoyed by Indians and Westerners alike, who flocked around the food booths eager to taste the delectable Indian dishes being prepared right in front of them – freshly prepared dosas, paav bhaji, chhole bhature, papdi chaat and samosas, along with mango lassi and sweets like hot jalebis and gulab jamuns, not to mention the delicately spiced garam chai for a cold day. Kids were transported into a fun world of games, as they rolled around the grass inside a Zorb ball, jumped up and down in the Bounce house, toured the grounds in a mini train, watched funny

clowns festooned with painted faces – all were delighted to be spending a fun day with friends and family.

ating create a colorful depiction of Holi, as played in the land of Braj (Vrindavan) in India, 5000 years ago when Radha Krishna descended on this Earth Planet. All Temple programs celebrated the spiritual aspect of Holi, enabling loving remembrance of Krishna’s mischief in the play of Holi with Gopis in Vrindaban, and bringing to life the theme of “Braj Style” Holi.

Inside the Prayer Hall, the deities of Radha and Krishn looked stunning in a new Holi Shringar (adornments) with heaps of colorful Holi powder and decorated pichkaris placed at their feet, cre-

At 6:00 p.m. sharp, gulal play began with loud cries of “Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, Holi Hai!”, reverberating throughout the grounds – as it was sung by the live band and repeated by the thousands of participants playing Holi.

Uplifting Braj kirtans, and fun folk dances showcased Krishna’s naughty leelas. The speech by Swami Nikhilanand Ji explained to the audience how to practically integrate this devotional remembrance into their fun festivities.

their hearts, sharing of the joy and in celebration of the human values of compassion, forgiveness and love, which underlies the spirit of this colorful Indian festival called Holi. In the words of one enthralled visitor, Holi at Radha Madhav

The atmosphere quickly turned vibrant, exuberant and joyful – bright florescent colors of spring could be seen flying Correct Answer: Yudhveer Bagga everywhere, creating clouds of pink, purple, blue and red hues in the air.

Dham was a magical experience - “It’s the best, it’s so magical, I want to thank the temple for letting my children experience our culture in this way”

The live band was electrifying as it brought the entire crowd to its feet, dancing in excitement and merriment. Young and old, male and female, Indian and Western – all opened

For more on this Holi event, check out their Facebook page for event photos at www.facebook. com/RadhaMadhavDham.

March 2015 Sudoku Answer:

Second Correct Answer: Ketika Tyagi

Austin South Asian | April 2015

�mma Sri Karunamayi 2015 World Tour Experience Amma’s

Unconditional Love, Peace and Divine Blessings �

Austin Texas Programs May 1 - 3, 2015 Friday, May 1, 2015

Individual Blessings & Saraswati Diksha — 11 am - 5 pm One World Theatre 7701 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX 78746 For information call Sherry 512-750-9206 or Linda at 512-657-5262 Saturday, May 2, 2015

One-Day Meditation Retreat — 9 am - 6 pm Austin Hindu Temple 9801 Decker Lake Rd, Austin, TX 78724 For information email Sherry at sakbub@aol.com or call Sherry at 512-750-9206 or Linda at 512-657-5262

Join Amma

Participate in a 10-day Fire Ceremony for World Peace

Sri Lalitambika Devi Maha Maha Yajnam May 29 - June 7 SRIM Center, Atlanta www.karunamayi.org for details

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Homa — Sacred Fire Ceremony — 9 am - 1 pm Austin Hindu Temple 9801 Decker Lake Rd, Austin, TX 78724 For information call Sherry 512-750-9206 or Linda at 512-657-5262

www.karunamayi.org

All programs are open to the public and free of charge with the exception of the meditation retreat and Saraswati Diksha, which require registration and have a nominal fee. Saraswati Diksha is only offered to students ages 4-24. People of all faiths are welcome. Sponsorship opportunities are available to perform the homa in Amma’s divine presence. For more details, please visit http://karunamayi.org/world-tour/north-america/

Austin South Asian | April 2015

National Awards: Kangana Ranaut Wins Shashi Kapoor’s Dadasaheb Phalke Award Is Best Actress, ‘Queen’ Is Best Hindi Film Recognition Of A Career Which Is Kaleidoscopic New Delhi: Kangana Ranaut won the Best Actress award for her powerful performance in

“Queen” at the 62nd National Film Awards where Bollywood movies “Haider” and “Mary Kom” bagged key honours while Chaitanya Tamhane’s “Court” was named the Best Feature Film. Ranaut, 28, who celebrated her birthday on Monday, got a belated present by winning her career’s second national award in the movie about a girl who goes on a foreign honeymoon alone after

being ditched by her fiance just before marriage. She had won her first National award, as best sup-

porting actress, for “Fashion” in 2010. The Vikas Bahl-directed comingof-age film was also named the best Hindi feature film. Vijay was declared the best actor for his poignant portrayal of a woman trapped in a man’s body in Kannada film “Nanu Avanalla Avalu” (I am not a he, but she). “Court”, which focuses on the flaws in the Indian judicial system, has been

winning critical acclaim nationally and internationally. The award is expected to give a major boost to the movie ahead of its theatrical release on 17 April. Shahid Kapoor-starrer “Haider”, a Kashmir-set modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, won five honours. Its helmer Vishal Bhardwaj was named the best music director but lost out the best director award to Bengali filmmaker Srijit Mukherji (’Chotushkone’). Bhardwaj was also named for best dialogues in the movie while Sukhwinder Singh clinched the best male playback singer for the song “Bismil”. Its other two wins were in the categories of choreography and costume design. “Chotushkone”, a film about four directors’ attempt to make four short stories, won two more awards—best cinematography and screenplay (original). Priyanka Chopra-led biopic “Mary Kom” was named the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment.

Karthi-Nagarjuna Bilingual Begins With A Pooja A bilingual film starring Karthi and Nagarjuna has begun with a

first shot of the Tamil version.

The untitled film will be produced by PVP cinemas and already the

eran actor Shashi Kapoor for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award seems to address the aforementioned concerns. It is the recognition of a career which is as kaleidoscopic as cinema could be. It is a story

chain of varied reactions Very often, a large number of film artists fade into oblivion and their contributions are not noted and recognised. The selection of vet-

of a survivor, a conformist, a performer who became an actor and above all, a film artist who staked all and created Hindi cinema’s enduring art house offerings but in the bargain lost all also.

‘Kakki Sattai’ has become Sivakarthikeyan’s highest grossing film in his career and has catapulted him into the elite list of top heroes of Tamil Cinema. Siva took time to chat live to his fans

Vijay,Ajith, Dhanush, Vijay Sethupathi , Anirudh and Mahesh Babu as well as his personal life were directed at Siva to which he answered with humor and ease. Many of his fans addressed him

on twitter yesterday and the less than couple of hours he stayed on line he started trending Chennai and gradually ended up trending India. A flurry of questions about

as ‘Anna’ and Sivakarthikeyan said that he was more comfortable with this kind of relationship with his fans than being a Hot star like Arya and Simbu.

Sivakarthikeyan A National Phenomenon?

makers have organized a separate pooja for the Telugu version in Hyderabad. Shruthi Haasan has been confirmed as one of the heroines in the film while the hunt is on for the second female lead. Vamsi Paidipally of Brindhavanam fame will be directing the Tamil-Telugu bilingual and Gopi Sundar who is known for his works in Bangalore Days and Ustad Hotel will be composing the music.

formal pooja. Karthi’s father and ace actor Sivakumar clapped the

Awards are a strange beast especially those given in recognition of an artist’s lifetime work. In the field of cinema where the personal is so ‘personal’, a lifetime award many a times elicits a

PVP cinemas have also confirmed PS Vinod of Aaranya Kaandam fame as the cinematographer for this bilingual.

Austin South Asian | April 2015

Chandamama Kathalu 62nd National Film Awards: Bobby Simha, Wins National Award Vivek Among Winners In Tamil!

Telugu film “Chandamama Kathalu”, which is directed by Praveen Sattaru and has eight sub-stories in the movie to tell, has now won

National Award for Best Telugu film.

All these days we don’t even have a film to be sent to National Film Awards Committee, but Telugu

films are surely changing now.

Released last year, the film has stories of a struggling writer, a fallen model, an aged couple, a greedy Muslim girl, a municipal worker, a beggar and others. The film looks little slow at times but deals with life and the point where all stories converge into a single theme is superb. Praveen Sattaru deserves a pat for the win.

62nd National Film Awards are being announced and Tamil cinema has already won seven of them. We bring you live updates as the awards are still being given away.

The biggest surprise has come in the form of Best Female Playback Singer. Unnikrishnan’s eight year old daughter Uthara Unnikrishnan has won the best singer award for her debut song in the film Saivam.

Vivek Harshan, the editor of Ji-

It is to be noted that Unnikrishnan

garthanda has bagged the Best Editor of the year while Na Muthukumar has got the Best Lyricist award for the second consecutive time.

too won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for his first song ‘Ennavale’ in the film Kadhalan.

Prominent roles in the flick are essayed by Lakshmi Manchu, Aamani, Naresh, Krishnudu, Chaitanya Krishna, Abhijeet, Naga Shourya, Vennela Kishore, Amitha Rao and Richa Panai play the lead roles. Mickey J Meyer composed the music for this spine chilling life-story.

Good News For Women In Film Industry We all know that the dashing Manchu girl, Lakshmi Manchu, has been unanimously elected as the Vice President of the Movie Artistes’ Association (MAA).

good this time around. Since the present general body’s tenure will be over soon, elections are being held to form a new committee.

The elections for the President post will be held on 29th March and both the groups are pulling all their strings to come out with flying colours.

It is to be noted that Muthukumar won the best lyricist last year for the song ‘aanandha yaazhai’ from the movie Thanga Meenkal. It is said that the song ‘Azhagu’ from Saivam has awarded him the honour this year.

Now, with the senior actress turned politician Jayasudha contesting for the President post, charming heroine Charmee and other popular actresses vying for the top posts, expectations are high on the state of women in the film industry being altered for

While Vice Presidents and the core committee members have been elected without much sweat, the competition seems to be really tough between Nata Kireeti Rajendra Prasad and Sahaja Nati Jayasudha for the President post.

If Jayasudha wins the contest and Lakshmi already elected as the VP, there is no doubt that women will be brought into the limelight in the film industry and the long stricken indifference towards women in the industry will be eradicated.

Bobby Simha has won the Best Supporting Actor for Jigarthanda which takes the tally of total awards won by the film to two. Best Tamil film is won by Kutram Kadithal which was directed by Bramma.G and produced by J.Sathish Kumar and Christy Siluvappan.

Austin South Asian | April 2015

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Austin South Asian | April 2015