Desh-Videsh Atlanta October 2022

What Diwali Means to Me 12

About 10 years back, Aruna and I started this tradition at Diwali time that we will do Diwali pooja at our home and invite parents with young children. It had multiple reasons — first and foremost, our kids and grandkids live in California.

Editor’s View 10

First, let me wish a Happy Diwali to all of our Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist readers and supporters. I would also like to wish all of our Gujarati readers a Happy Hindu New Year!

Genesis of Hinduphobia 18

Distortion & Denigration of Hinduism & Indian History by British Colonialists & Missionaries - George Orwell has rightly said: “The most effective way to destroy a people

Is a Caribbean medical school worth it, and do you get return 26

It’s been 10 years since I graduated from medical school in the Caribbean. Although much has happened since then, I still remember all the wonderful feelings surrounding my

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Happy Diwali! By Chahna Tailor 38

Diwali, the Hindu New Year, is a time of renewal. We want to bring in light, positivity, and kindness. We want to remove darkness, negativity, and anything that drains our energy.

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Currently, not only in India, but all over the world, millions of people including political leaders from hundreds of countries are getting inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.

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Community News 60

Horoscope October 2022 66

Bollywood Today 68 Desi TV Duniya 72

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Editor’s View

Dear Readers,

First, let me wish a Happy Diwali to all of our Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist readers and supporters. I would also like to wish all of our Gujarati readers a Happy Hindu New Year! May Lord Rama and Devi Laxmi ji bless you and your family with happiness and prosperity!

Just like all of you, we are so proud of our culture that we continue to share all of the important, exciting, eventful Indian news and articles each and every month. That’s why we are so thrilled to announce that we are expanding our reach even further.

Some of you may know that we have been publishing Desh-Videsh magazine from our headquarters in Fort Lauderdale since 1993. We have also been distributing and mailing several thousand copies in Atlanta over the last 15+ years.

After receiving numerous requests from our loyal readers in Atlanta, it is our pleasure to announce the DeshVidesh Atlanta edition.

Diwali is the most joyous festival for all of us and it is the best time to start a new venture invoking Devi Laxmi ji. This is our first issue! I hope we meet your expectations, and of course, we strive to continue improving as you give us your valuable feedback.

In this issue, we are covering various articles starting with “What Diwali Means to Me.” There are volumes upon volumes written about Diwali. Therefore, in this article, I am not writing anything new, but I am talking about a tradition which we have started to educate our children about — Diwali, our religion and heritage.

About 10 years ago, Aruna and I started this tradition at Diwali time that we would do Diwali pooja at our home and invite parents with children, and the children will be the ones who will do pooja. This tradition has picked up steam. We started with four people and now there are over 50+ people enjoying this tradition. In this issue, under “What Diwali Means to Me,” we have included short articles written by children and adults. It is very satisfying that Indian children take a keen interest in our heritage and culture.

Speaking of our Hindu heritage and culture, Dhirubhai Shah has written an excellent article on the “Genesis of Hinduphobia.” At the time when so-called liberal academia experts and mid-stream media here in the US and worldwide, including India, are denying Hinduphobia, this article takes us step by step through its emergence, revealing how it started and where it is going. It’s high time that every Hindu knows about it and does what is needed. In everyday life, we see so many incidents that can be very easily identified as Hindu hate or Hindu discrimination, but there are many times it is hidden where you cannot see it unless your really look into it. Allow me to offer one small example. While writing an article on “What Diwali Means to Me,” I was conducting some research on the internet and did a Google search with the term “diwali message in hindu scripture.” And guess what all the results I got on the first page were directed to? — They pointed to Christian websites such as eplocalnews.org, stcuthberts. com, and catholicnewsagency.com with the article titled “Diwali, Light and Christian Love” or “Vatican in Diwali message.” I know this is not the case of Hindu hate, but I am not sure what I would call it. One thing is for sure, there was no mention of Hindu scripture.

It has always been our intention that in the Desh-Videsh print edition we cover articles which are for all ages and people with a variety of interests.

In the inaugural issue of Desh-Videsh Atlanta edition, we have covered a variety of topics such as what inspired Gandhi ji, immigration, Indian cuisine, must read books, NRI news, successful Indian American women, and Caribbean medical schools. We have also expanded community news detailing exciting events that have taken place in the last month or so.

Speaking of exciting events, if your organization has just completed an event, we would love to see brief write-ups along with a few high-resolution pictures. Please send it to info@ deshvidesh.com. Make sure you include your name and contact phone number in the email. Until then be safe, Happy Diwali and Happy New Year!

Raj Shah Managing Editor

What Diwali Means to Me

by Raj Shah

About 10 years back, Aruna and I started this tradition at Diwali time that we will do Diwali pooja at our home and invite parents with young chil dren. It had multiple reasons — first and foremost, our kids and grandkids live in California. Obviously, we miss them. Inviting parents with young children who remind us of our own kids fills that void. The second reason was that I wanted our children to learn about Diwali on a firsthand basis, and the best way to teach anything to anybody is to get them involved. At this Diwali pooja, we made a rule that all young children will do pooja and parents will only ob serve — no advice, no comments, no back seat driving instructions. I’m happy to report that our Diwali pooja became a very successful festival! We started this tradition with 8 to 10 close friends, and today it has grown to over 60 people. It is still a small group but we want to do this pooja at our home, and of course,

there is some limit when you do it at home. One of the most important things I noticed is that not only do the parents look forward to it, but all kids are also looking forward to this event every year… at least that is what they are telling me. In the past, we have been blessed to welcome Vinodbhai Mehta and his wife to our home to participate in our pooja. Vinodbhai, being an engineer as his profession, always explains to us some scientific and practical meaning behind each step of the pooja as we perform. He also makes it fun by asking ques tions to the kids. Every year kids will come prepared with the answers, but then Vinodbhai will have a new set of questions, so this tradition becomes fun combined with education on our Hindu, Jain, and Sikh heritage.

Now, let me explain my choice of titles for this article, “What Diwali Means to Me.” For me, one of the most remarkable things about Diwali is the sheer scale of its reach and the universal appeal of its message. In In dia and now all over the world, when Hindu, Jain, and Sikh celebrate Diwali, they remember the history and the facts behind it. The message of victo ry of good over evil is universal. Look at India — over a billion people, speak ing hundreds of different languages, following various faiths — united by this festival of light.

For me, Diwali is that time to con nect with everyone, to share happi ness with families, friends, and our extended family members. It’s a time to bring back that child in you, for get the ill feeling, and spread happi ness around. It’s the time to remem ber sweet memories when you spend a great time with parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, and friends.

When we analyze the true mean ing of Diwali, its relevance extends beyond India, beyond the Indian di aspora, and even beyond the Hindus, Jains, Sikh, and Buddists, who, in dif ferent ways, mark the festival. Diwali’s messages apply to every single one of

us, whatever our background, what ever our faith. The values Lord Rama embodied are values which we can all heed — values of charity, sacrifice, and responsibility. Gandhiji gave us the same message — losing ourselves in the services of others.

We celebrate values of good con duct — Dharma — taking the right path and ensuring that good tri umphs over evil. We celebrate values of hope, of optimism, of forgiveness, of the new beginnings, and of clean slates represented by the Hindu New Year as people wear new clothes and say prayers for the year ahead.

I think these are the values we need more than ever as we forge a

new positive, ambitious role in the world today.

Diwali is the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals cel ebrated around the world. It’s the festival of lights which literally illu minates homes with its brilliance, and brightness and dazzles us with its joy.

We have all read volume after vol ume on Diwali: its significance, the story behind it, and its main message. In this article, let me point out some spiritual or philosophical aspects of Diwali.

A Brand New Beginning

In several states in India, including Gujarat, Diwali marks the beginning of a new Hindu New Year. It rejuve nates us with a sense of freshness and renewed enthusiasm.

Family Bonding

It is the time when the whole fam ily gets together for the festival. We work together, pray together, and ap preciate each other.

Good over Evil

We remind ourselves that no mat ter how difficult things might seem, the forces of good will always be tri umphant in the end.

Spiritual Wealth

We pray to Devi Laxmi who blesses us with wealth throughout the whole year and especially on a Diwali day. The greatest wealth one can possess is spiritual wealth, sincerity, and faith.

Cleanse our Hearts

It is also a time to cleanse our minds by dropping all negative bag gage from the past. We can choose to cleanse our hearts and fill them with love and compassion that will drive away the darkness of hatred and ig norance.

Forget and Forgive

All the festivals bring joy, enthusi asm, and friendliness. Diwali brings much more. It brings a special feel

What does Diwali mean to me?

By Ridhaan Joshi

Diwali is a fes tival celebrated by Hindus around the world every year, including my fam ily and me. Diwali is referred to as the festival of lights because people of Ayodhya put out “Diyas,” or clay lamps, to welcome Rama back to his home after 14 years Of exile and the killing of Ravana. The festival occurs on a no-moon night of Kartik month of the Hindu calen dar. It is celebrated by worshipping Laxmi, Goddess of Wealth. There are a total of five days in Diwali during which all Hindus celebrate by lighting clay lamps every night.

• Day 1 is Dhanteras, celebrated in the honor of Dhanvantari, God of Medicine.

• Day 2 is known as Chhoti Diwa li or Narak Chaturdashi or Roop Chaudas. Lord Krishna killed Asura named Narakasura while Roop Chaudas is celebrated by cleansing of body and house.

ing of forgetting and forgiving the wrongs done by others and a positive outlook to move forward in your life. It is a unifying event, and it can mend a relationship that may have been broken for a long time.

About the Author Raj Shah

A software engineer by profession, Indian culture enthusiast, ardent promoter of Hinduism, and a cancer survivor, Raj Shah is a managing editor of Desh-Videsh Magazine and co-founder of Desh Videsh Media Group. Promoting the rich culture and heritage of India and

• Day 3 is marked as the main Diwali day celebrated by lighting lots of Diyas, and worshipping Goddess Laxmi and sources of income fol lowed by fireworks in the evening. Everyone wears their new and best clothes and jewelry. On this day, family and friends get together to celebrate festivities together by ex changing gifts, spending time with loved ones, eating, and praying.

• Day 4 is celebrated as Anna kuta. In our home, we cook a spe cial mix of vegetables (11 or more) to offer to God. In our temples, it is celebrated by offer ing a variety of foods to God.

Illuminate your Inner Self

Diwali, the festival of lights, also signifies a time of inner illumination. Sitting quietly and focusing the mind on the positi ve aspect of life illuminates the soul. It is an opportunity to acquire and enjoy eternal bliss

Hinduism has been his motto ever since he arrived in the US in 1969.

He has been instrumental in starting and promoting several community organizations such as the Indian Religious and Cultural Center and International Hindu University. Raj has written two books on Hinduism titled Chronology of Hinduism and Understanding Hinduism. He has also written several children books focusing on Hindu culture and religion.

• Day 5, the last day of Diwali is called Bhai-duj where sisters invite the brothers of the family to have a scrumptious meal with their favor ite dishes and sweets and exchange gifts. Overall, it is a very fun-filled festival where we get gifts from family and get to eat a variety of sweets. I look forward to Diwali all year long. Wish Everyone Happy Diwali!

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What does Diwali mean to me?

By Akash Deo

It’s time for cleansing. I think the symbolism that underwrites Diwali poojas is the following: We’re trying to make our homes and our hearts as welcoming to Maa Lakshmi as possible. Not only does that involve washing the feet of Maa Lakshmi, but it also requires purifying everything around and within us, such as our workspaces, our minds, and our hearts. I see Diwali as an opportunity to take stock of what is impure and improper about me and commit to cleansing it, so I can lead a better life in the days that follow.

Akash Deo is a sophomore at Northwestern University, actively pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in computer science. He is passionate about debate, computer science, and law. He has participated in and won numerous national awards in the university-level policy debate circuit.

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What Diwali Means to Me

May this Diwali fulfill all of your dreams!

This Festival of Diwali is a beautiful sight Fizzling fireworks spring up through the night Rangoli on every doorstep, the vibrant hue

And Lakshmi rides on her lotus, spreading prosperity to you As the dazzling diyas shines throughout such a luminous light it glows in our hearts, filling us with delight

And we receive our gifts, with a smile on our face We give great thanks, with happiness and grace We remember how Hanuman made a incredible roar

Over mountains, hills, ocean and more Finding dejected Sita with a terrible heartache A bridge of floating rocks did he make

As the revered Lord Rama overcome Ravana’s might The rescued Sita was a welcomed sight Then we lit the path to lead them home

To symbolize the fact, that we are never alone And as we taste different sweets, mithai and creams May this Diwali fulfill all of your dreams! Have a very Happy Diwali everybody!

Mira Bhatt 10 year old

Sanskrit word “Deepavali” Which may guide you through the darkest nights. After 14 years in exile, finally Lord Rama would, Return to Ayodhya Symbolizing the Victory of good.

Nina Shah 9 Years old

A Very Special Occasion

Dancing on the tune of the sweet laughter I hear, In the essence of Diwali, everyone seems so dear. We pray to the God and thank Him for the treat-Array of colors & the fragrance of flowers so sweet.

Lights everywhere with firecrackers overhead, In this festival of lights, smiles are so easy to spread.

I wish you all - on this very special occasiona very happy and prosperous Diwali!

Nandini Rao 12 years

A Better Future

Being a teenager, it means a lot more to me. Having something that connects me to my cultural roots awakening the soul inside me is a special gift to have in this fast-paced world. Every firecracker I set off reminds me that it’s part of my responsibility to carry our culture forth.

Every Diya light reminds me that hope is vital and could be given through the smallest of the gestures. Every little thing about this big festival helps me find something new, helping me towards a better future

Riya S. 12 years

Deepavali

GENESIS OF HINDUPHOBIA

By Dhiru Shah

left India and has continued in modern times to follow the tested old modus operandi under the new garb of academic freedom and failed theories of Psychoanalysis. The Western “experts on Hinduism” seem to be in a league with the Christian evangelists to subvert and demonize Hinduism, as well as its traditions and culture, thereby, destroying the only surviving ancient civilization in the world. Some American and Western businesses have also ventured out in using symbols and pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses in clothing, such as bikinis, shoes, and sandals.

Distortion & Denigration of Hinduism & Indian History by British Colonialists & Missionaries

George Orwell has rightly said: “The most effective way to destroy a people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”

The British colonialists mastered that practice after the conquest of India so as to govern their crown jewel with minimum challenge! They funded the departments of Indology and Sanskrit to rewrite the Indian historical narrative primarily from a victor’s perspective by erasing the rich heritage, traditions, culture, and history of India and Hinduism.

The East India Company went to the extent of hiring the German missionary, Max Muller, with rudimentary knowledge of Sanskrit, to translate Hindu scriptures in a manner that would uproot Hinduism from India and spread Christianity

in its place. It is no secret that the missionary work to convert Hindus to Christianity by the Evangelists and Churches continues unabated in India by fraudulent methods used earlier by Francis Xavier (16th century), Robert Nobili (17th), William Carey, the Baptist, and Max Muller even now over 75 years after the departure of the British colonialists.

The British employed native Indian “sepoys” in the British army to rule and carry out Her Majesty’s nefarious and most barbaric policies in India. These sepoys fought on the side of the British colonial rulers to subjugate their own fellow people for pittance rewards from their masters.

Nexus of Western Academia & Missionaries Promoting Neocolonialism in India

Western academia has stepped in from where the British rulers

It almost appears as if the American academia in the field of religious studies is a very closeknit ideologically driven cartel, which emphasizes only distortion, denigration, and belittling of Hinduism and forbids any dissent against their one-track scandalous motives. The adversarial scholars in this case are extremely powerful, entrenched groups which occupy tenured positions in academia, the American Academy of Religion, and its journals. Some examples of such misdirected but calculated endeavors are Paul Courtright’s (Emory University) book: GanesaLord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings (Oxford University Press), Jeffery Kripal -Kali’s Child: The Mystical and the Erotic in the Life and Teachings of Ramakrishna (Chicago 1995), and Wendy Doniger’s 750-page book, The Hindu: An Alternative History

In 2004, a group of Hindu American scholars and community leaders in Atlanta challenged the distortions in the book by Emory University Professor Paul Courtright whose book Ganesa: Lord of Obstacles went overboard with offensive interpretations of the physique of the most revered deity of Hindus, Lord Ganesha. Some examples of pornography being pedaled in Courtright’s book:

“Although there seems to be no myths or folktales in which Ganesa performs oral sex; his insatiable appetite for sweets may be interpreted as an effort to satisfy a hunger that seems inappropriate in an otherwise ascetic disposition, a hunger having clear erotic overtones” (Page 111).

“Ganesa’s broken tusk, his guardian’s staff and displaced head can be interpreted as symbols of castration” (page 111).

“He (Ganesa) remains celibate so as not to compete erotically

with his father, a notorious womanizer, either incestuously for his mother or for any other woman for that matter” (Page 110).

“That a baby elephant’s trunk is a metaphor for a limp phallus, that sweets are metaphors for oral sex, that a mango is a metaphor for asking children to have sexual intercourse with their (Hindu) mothers.”

It is universally known that Wendy Doniger is a long-time mentor and a guide for Courtright, and in fact, she provided the foreword/introduction of his ill-conceived book.

The Atlanta based Concerned Community challenged the shoddy scholarship of Courtright’s book and asked the Dean of Emory College to investigate what they were teaching in their Hinduism courses. Initially, our endeavor was met with unbelievable arrogance bordering on racist bigotry. After the online petition and comments in the leading Indian American newspapers, Emory agreed to meet the committee members at the university hall. However, Courtright, who was supposed to defend his book, cleverly absented himself

from that meeting with the Emory administration. By the time the meeting had finished, one could see the embarrassment that Courtright had landed Emory University into, the insult as peddled by Courtright’s book to the practicing Hindus. As for the self-proclaimed Indology/ Hinduism scholars, they got a taste of what they deserved. The book was sidelined in the USA, pulled off the markets in India, and Courtright was switched to teaching Islam at Emory until the passions subsided.

Wendy Doniger’s Erotic 750page book, The Hindu: An Alternative History, Published by Viking Penguin in 2009

The book was written with a biased and agenda-driven scholarship. By sexualizing and eroticizing every aspect of Hinduism, the book reads like a semi-pornographic novel rather than a scholarly history of Hindus — pretty much on the expected lines and as she has trained her graduate students researching under her guidance and assistantship.

Her book is also full of factual inaccuracies, innuendoes, distortions, and selective use of primary texts of Hinduism. Her racial profiling of Hindus and denigration of Hindu gods and goddesses transgress all the universal codes of ethics and morality. Had Mahatma Gandhi been alive in present times, he would not have hesitated to also label it as a “drain inspector report” as he did then to Katherine Mayo’s book Mother India.

Here are just a few of the many of pornographic & erotic gems (smut) from her book:

• Depiction of Krishna on the cover jacket of the book as

Prof. Paul Courtright’s book: Ganesa: Lord of Obstacles

riding a horse made of bodies of naked women is the epitome of vulgarity and misuse of the holy symbol with ulterior motives to denigrate Hindu faith.

• Doniger denies that the images in the Indus-Saraswati Civilization were sacred or “the source of Hindu images.” Mother goddesses are just big-breasted women — “Big breasts are as useful to courtesans as to goddesses.” — once again with the malicious intent of sexualizing our goddesses!

• “But Kunti already had one son secretly out of wedlock. When she was still a young girl, she had decided to try out her mantra, just fooling around. The sun god, Surya, took her seriously; despite her vigorous protests and entreaties, he raped her and afterward restored her virginity” (1.104; 3.290-94; 5.144.1-9) (p.295).

• Another example of the perversion and sexual mindset of the author: “Dasharatha’s son is certainly lustful” is a key

• phrase. Rama knows all too well what people said about Dasharatha; when Lakshmana learns that Rama has been exiled, he says, “The king is perverse, old, and addicted to sex, driven by lust (2.18.3)”. (P.225).

She says that “Ramayana teaches incest.”

It is surprising that the fevered mind of Wendy Doniger sees incest in a sacred scripture, which has defined Hinduism for generations. Ramayana has been the guiding light for almost every Hindu. Even in the Islamic countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, Ramayana is adored and respected. It is a sacred text. Even the state is expected to follow the path of Rama by establishing Ramarajya, a state of justice and social and moral responsibility bound by dharma, the inexorable ethic.

conference of Association of Asian Studies (AAS) from March 31 - April 2, 2012, held in Hawaii, but she declined it and made comments to one Hindu academic that “I have moved beyond the Hindus.” Neither fatwas nor any crusades were undertaken as characteristics of disagreements by other faiths. A scholarly letter campaign by Hindu intellectuals bore fruit when the NBCC refrained from giving her the NBCC award for her book. Earlier, the now defunct Microsoft Encarta, pulled her article on Hinduism after investigating complaints that the article had a racist tone.

Withdrawal of Book & AntiHindu Propaganda

Several Hindu academics and scholars suggested a dialogue with Penguin and Doniger (through direct letters to Doniger and the President of University of Chicago) to apologize and to rectify the factual errors and remove the unwarranted sexuality and distortions from the book. Even an online petition was submitted to Penguin and another one to AAR (American Academy of Religion). Letters were also written to the White House interfaith section headed by Rev. Dubois. Doniger was also invited to a round table panel to discuss her book during the annual

Having exhausted all conciliatory efforts to persuade Penguin and Doniger, Hindu scholars/leaders were left with no other alternative but to take recourse to the Indian law. The right of academic freedom also demands acceptance of academic responsibility of not misusing that freedom, just as the journalists (and other professionals) are encouraged to refrain from yellow and sensational journalism. Academic “freedom” exercised without responsibility or accountability is tyranny and should have no place in a civilized society.

After deliberation for nearly four years, Penguin India compromised on February 4, 2014, in an out-ofcourt settlement to withdraw and pulp within the next six months the remaining copies of US Chicago professor, Wendy Doniger’s book, The Hindus: An Alternative History. Failure to settle with the litigants Dinanath Batra of Shiksha Bachao Andolan, India (supported by Atlanta based Hindu leaders) could have

led to the arrest of the Western author, Wendy Doniger, of the Chief Executive of Penguin India, the publisher, and/or a ban from entering India per Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

Notwithstanding the moral and legal defeat, the powerful propaganda machine of Doniger and Penguin had unleashed one of the most vicious, abusive, and negative campaigns against India’s Dinanath Batra, Indian Penal Code, and Hindu scholars/academics (challengers) of India and overseas. Though the book is not banned in India, ever-obliging anti-Hindu media in the Western world and India has been ranting a doomsday scenario of India becoming a fascist state without the right of freedom of speech. Surprisingly, the same Indian Penal Code was acceptable to the Western academics when the British were ruling in India, but now these votaries of freedom of speech are damaging it.

Doniger and her clan would not dare to denigrate and sexualize the scriptures and prophets of Islam and Judaism, because they are fully aware of the brutal consequences thereof. However, Western academics know that Hindus are a soft target and easy game, because most Hindus are tolerant and peaceful and try to keep away from controversies.

Truschke, Associate Professor of South Asian Studies at Rutgers University, New Jersey

Audrey Truschke has followed the path of Prof. Paul Courtright and Wendy Doniger in spewing venom against Hindus and Hinduism. She refuses to accept the evidence and writings of Islamic historians and chroniclers about cruelty, torture, slavery, destruction of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples, and the biggest genocide of Hindus by the Islamic invaders and rulers from 8th to 17th century.

Truschke has been making several unsubstantiated and false statements against Hindus and Hinduism. She claims that the Bhagavad Gita promotes murder, and Hindus were associated with the Nazis because they used the swastika (symbol used by Jains, Buddhists, and indigenous American tribes without distinguishing between the Nazi Hakenkreuz and the swastika).

She claims that Hindus want to commit genocide against Muslims in India even though Muslims in India have more rights than Hindus. One of her favorite topics is the Hindu caste system which was imposed by the British to divide Hindus and Muslims for ruling India.

Hinduphobic Truschke is employed by Rutgers University despite officials knowing fully well that not only is she a racist with a Christian superiority complex, but also devoid of any historical knowledge of India and Hinduism. Any historian of repute could debate with her and prove that she has no credentials to be a professor teaching Hinduism. She is fully aware of her complete ignorance of Indian history, and hence, she will never agree to debate openly with any historian. Rutgers University’s own July 2022 report finds that there has been a sharp increase in Hinduphobic messages

in social media which could lead to violence against Hindus.

Devastating Impact on Hindu Students, Future Generations & Hindu Civilization

Negative portrayal and stereotypes about Hinduism and India originating from the anti-Hindu perverted Western academics such as Doniger, Courtright, and Truschke in the Indian and American classrooms have already wreaked havoc on Hindu students by lowering their selfesteem and pride in their own faith, traditions, and culture. Young Hindu

children/teenagers are tormented every day because of the negative and distorted picture of Hinduism and India as presented by their teachers in classrooms. How will a young Hindu child feel when the teacher quotes from the textbook: “The monkey king Hanuman loved Rama so much that it is said that he is present every time the Ramayana is told. So look around- see any monkeys?” or “However, Hinduism also taught that women are inferior to men. As a result, Hindu women were not allowed to read Vedas or other sacred texts.” (Fact: there were more than 20 sage women).

As the amount of denigration, distortion, and negative portrayal of Hinduism by the western academia started rising alarmingly, the Hindu

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academics and scholars (in India and elsewhere, especially USA) have been raising objections to the unfair and callous treatment of the faith of over a billion Hindus. The majority of these Western scholars of Indology are generally nonpractitioners of Hinduism with limited knowledge of Sanskrit, the language of Hindu scriptures, but they still claim themselves to be experts on Hinduism — a religion/ faith flourishing over centuries even before the birth of the Abrahamic religions and Indology.

With the rising tide of Hinduphobia, Hindus across America are becoming awakened and trying to put up a common front against several anti-Hinduism entities which include American academia, Indian and American Marxist/leftists writers/academics, Christian and Islamic organizations, media, and several politicians. Amongst the most vocal and prominent fighters against Hinduphobia is Rajeev Malhotra, a great intellectual and scholar who, for many years, has single-handedly been taking on some of the most powerful anti-Hinduism academics from Harvard, Chicago, Berkeley, etc. without fear. He has written several books and articles on Hinduism, Indian history, and Hinduphobic topics and has been training young Hindu students and activists using his Infinity Foundation on how to defend Hindu Dharma against these racist Hinduism hater academics.

Hindu leaders and activists throughout America are also setting up Hindu organizations, political pacts to make the politicians aware of what Hinduism is and the contributions that Hindu Americans are making to the American society in every field of human endeavors,

and online educational classes for young Hindu students to create awareness about what Hinduism is and how to fight Hinduphobia. Seeing the tremendous negative psychological impact on their children, CAPEEM (California Parents for the Equalization of Educational Materials) and HAF (Hindu American Foundation) had filed two separate lawsuits against the California State Board of Education to amend and rectify the middle-class textbooks by providing equal opportunities and representation to every religion and culture. The court ruled in favor of both litigants and asked the Board to strictly follow the guidelines of the California Education Act.

Recently, CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) has been very active in fighting Hinduphobia at various levels. It has been organizing

briefing meetings at Capitol Hill with US Congress and senate representatives to make them aware of the rising tide of Hinduphobia and resulting violence against Hindus in the country. It is also conducting Hinduism awareness classes for school-going Hindu students.

Such distorted and negative portrayals of Hindus and Hinduism from the Western academics also influences the US foreign policy decision makers who can use this material to interfere in the internal affairs of India under the pretext of violation of human rights by the Indian government.

What can save Hinduism and India from these neo-colonialists is to defend with all vigor and hold fast our age-old culture, values, and traditions without any element of fancy and distortion.

Is a Caribbean Medical School worth it, and do you get a return on investment?

By Dr. Bhartiben Patel

It’s been 10 years since I graduated from medical school in the Caribbean. Although much has happened since then, I still remember all the wonderful feelings surrounding my acceptance to the school. I was excited at the time to learn about the world and be around smart people. I was eager to see where I stood, competing against the best. I also felt comfortable attending a Caribbean medical school since other Indian American girls had already traveled there before me from my town. One person I remember who influenced me to attend a Caribbean medical school was my Indian dance teacher’s

daughter who went to St. George’s Medical School. A second friend of mine attended the same Caribbean medical school. Both of her parents were physicians in private practice together in Massachusetts.

I remember applying to medical school on my computer on an evening off work in December 2008. I got my interview relatively quickly and met the admission committee member from the school at a trendy South Station train station located in Boston. Honestly, I really just felt cool for merely attending the interview. It definitely was a bucket list item for me! I remember looking fit in a

black New York and Company suit for the interview. I was accepted into the medical school about two weeks later, left my job, bought my books, and raced to the island to start my passion in learning and public service. I was excited to start the journey of being the best Indian girl I could be.

I thought my journey attending a Caribbean medical school would start when classes began on the island, but to my surprise, my journey started on the flight from Miami to Antigua where I started to meet a large bunch of astute students waiting to board their flight. I had never been on a flight with so many cool, good-

looking Indian people before. It was exciting, exhilarating, and maybe even a little liberating. All those students were ready to literally kill those exams with stellar scores while totally making it look easy. And yes, the culture is to make it look easy, and I was on board to join that club if I could!

When I applied to the Caribbean for medical school, my tuition was $5,000 - $12,000 per semester. I don’t remember the exact price, but it was somewhere in that range. It is more expensive now to attend a Caribbean medical school, closer to the $17,000 - $20,000 range for tuition, maybe even more. When I attended, it was a new school that was being set up. We had classes in large rooms. There were farm animals that sometimes traveled near our campus door. It wasn’t as luxurious as it is now, but I didn’t believe that was necessary for my success. Completing medical school in a cost effective way was in line with my life philosophy, so I was okay with making some sacrifices to my personal comfort to do this.

My two years on the island were great. I laughed with so many cool Indian teachers and met the most exotic people from all over the world. I competed against US and international gunners. My last two years of medical school were in the United States where I was able to travel to many different hospitals. I was super excited by this traveling experience. I thought it was valuable to see how different places practice medicine throughout the United States.

Obtaining a residency was tough coming out of a new Caribbean medical school. Caribbean schools are not networked the best with US residencies like US schools. You can

consider residency outside the US if needed with your degree from the Caribbean. It was difficult to match, but I kept trying and I was in receipt of three positions upon graduation from my medical school. I had a choice of positions at Duke University, a community hospital in New York, and a fellowship position in Florida.

I ultimately chose to attain my medical license in the state of Florida, in part, because I wanted to live in a warm place. For the medical license application, I answered an array of questions and received the license within about a month. Now, I work from home for a large telehealth company. For this position, all I needed was my computer which I already had. I enjoy the flexibility of making my own schedule with the job. I work mostly at night and spend all day with my beautiful daughter. I feel this type of work-life balance is

a holistic experience for me and makes me a wellrounded clinician.

For me, the return on investment for attending a Caribbean medical school was net positive. Again, these days the price of attending a Caribbean medical school is much higher. There were some challenges with obtaining a residency, but I ultimately stuck with it and completed the residency needed for my medical license. I am not considering sending my children to the Caribbean unless my kids want to do an accelerated track, start medical school at age 16/17 years old, and finish both pre-med and medical school there. I also would want to work at the school at the same time to get some kind of discount tuition for them. A Caribbean medical school is not for everyone; it does have its pros and cons, but it’s worth consideration. About the Author

Dr. Bhartiben Patel is a 2012 graduate from the American University of Antigua College of Medicine. She is a Board Certified Psychiatrist practicing Psychiatry on a telehealth platform in Florida. She resides in Florida with her husband Vipul Patel and two children Sia and Dev.

We Love Diwali

Written by Raj Shah Illustrated by Kamlesh M. & Natasha S.

We love Diwali, takes you inside the homes of families living in America where Hindus, Jain and Sikh children together celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. In their own words, the children take turns explaining the different customs and traditions celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs during Diwali. The children gather together to participate in a Diwali pooja.

ISBN: 978-0-9642962-1-3

Holi Hai!

Written by Raj Shah Illustrated by Kamlesh M. & Natasha S.

Holi Hai, explains why Hindus celebrate Holi, the festival of colors all around the world in the spring season. This colorful book teaches children living in America the universal message of the victory of good over evil. It also explains the ancient story of Radha and Krishna and why they celebrated Holi. The Holi celebration consists of traditions such as lighting a bonfire and burning Holika, the evil sister of Prahalad. ISBN: 978-0-9642962-3-7

Welcome to our Beautiful

Mandir!

Written by Raj Shah Illustrated by Kamlesh M. & Natasha S.

The mandir or the temple is not just a sacred place for the Hindus, but is also a ground for learning. While children find great joy in visiting the mandir, they also learn about the principles of Hinduism in simple ways. This story helps us all understand the basic ideals of Hinduism through the eyes of children.

ISBN: 978-0-9642962-6-8

The Complete Ramayana in 100 Tweets

Written by Raj Shah

Illustrated by Kamlesh M. & Natasha S.

The Ramayana is among the greatest of Hindu epics. However, it is also a wonderful story for all children as it is interesting and filled with events, and also has plenty of lessons to teach. In keeping with the times and the trends of the millennium, we bring the story of Rama in a simplified form for children to understand, presented as 100 tweets that encapsulate the most important moments of the story.

ISBN: 978-0-9642962-5-1

The Complete Mahabharata in 100 Tweets

The Mahabharat is among the greatest of Hindu epics. However, it is also a wonderful story for all chil dren as it is interesting and filled with events, and also has plenty of lessons to learn. In keeping with the times and the trends of the millennium, we bring the story of the Mahabharat in a simplified form for chil dren to understand, presented as 100 tweets that encapsulate the most important moments of the story.

ISBN: 978-0-9642962-9-9

Written by Raj Shah Illustrated by Kamlesh M. & Natasha S.

Reform Nation

by Gautam Chikermane

On 24 July 2021, India completed three decades of continuing economic reforms. From P.V. Narasimha Rao to Narendra Modi, this period has seen six successive governments under five Prime Ministers across nine terms, all of whom have added to and collectively transformed the country. They have shifted the political narrative from coercive controls to economic freedom. This book tracks India’s economic journey that got a reboot on 24 July 1991 with the unveil ing of the Statement on Industrial Policy 1991 and the Union Budget 1991, and celebrates the path of India as the world’s sixth-largest economy, with all indicators pointing to it becoming the world’s third-largest within this decade. It captures and analyses each aspect of this jour ney, the constraints and convictions of each government as it treaded the challenging path of reforms.

Guru to the World: The Life and Legacy of Vivekananda

by Ruth Harris

From the Wolfson History Prize–winning author of The Man on Devil’s Island, the de finitive biography of Vivekananda, the Indian monk who shaped the intellectual and spiri tual history of both East and West.

Few thinkers have had such an enduring impact on both Eastern and Western life as Swami Vivekananda, the Indian monk who inspired the likes of Freud, Gandhi, and Tagore. Blending science, religion, and politics, Vivekananda introduced Westerners to yoga and the universalist school of Hinduism called Vedanta. His teachings fostered a more tolerant form of mainstream spirituality in Europe and North America and forever changed the Western relationship to meditation and spirituality.

Guru to the World traces Vivekananda’s transformation from son of a Calcutta-based attorney into saffron-robed ascetic. At the 1893 World Parliament of Religions in Chi cago, he fascinated audiences with teachings from Hinduism, Western esoteric spiritu ality, physics, and the sciences of the mind, in the process advocating a more inclusive conception of religion and expounding the evils of colonialism. Vivekananda won many disciples, most prominently the Irish activist Margaret Noble, who disseminated his ideas in the face of much disdain for the wisdom of a “subject race.” At home, he challenged the notion that religion was antithetical to nationalist goals, arguing that Hinduism was intimately connected with Indian identity.

Ruth Harris offers an arresting biography, showing how Vivekananda’s thought spawned a global anticolonial move ment and became a touchstone of Hindu nationalist politics a century after his death. The iconic monk emerges as a counterargument to Orientalist critiques, which interpret East-West interactions as primarily instances of Western bor rowing. As Vivekananda demonstrates, we must not underestimate Eastern agency in the global circulation of ideas.

Kautilyanomics: For Modern Times

by Sriram Balasubramanian

India was an economic power to reckon with until its economic decline in the 18th century. What explains this long period of prosperity? The answer might lie in a framework of social and economic thought that lies buried in our ancient heritage, says Sriram Balasubramanian, of which Kautilya’s Arthashastra is a major example.

Kautilyanomics for Modern Times seeks to do three things-first, to provide a structure and a context for Kautilya’s economic thoughts; second, to examine his work’s relevance today; and third, to do it in a way that a lay reader can follow and grasp easily. Kautilya’s thought is mainly articulated through the prism of dharmic capitalism and its components-some examples in clude his views on global economic outlook, state-market dynamics, and sustainable growth through observance of environmental, societal and familial responsibilities.

Fathoming India’s rich economic and philosophical heritage and making use of it, Balasub ramanian argues, would prove to be a great asset in India’s/the country’s/the nation’s ascent again.

History of India: A Concise Introduction to Indian History, Culture, Mythology, Religion, Gandhi, Characters, Empires, Achievements & More Throughout The Ages

by History Brought Alive

India Has a Rich History Covering Thousands of Years, Civilizations, The Rise of Religions & Empires, British Rule, Revolution, Independence and much more…

In this book we explore the magnificent history of India from it’s ancient origins to its re naissance and concluding to its independence as a free nation.

While there are many books that explore India’s unique history, few are enjoyable. Most books are hopelessly dry, overly academic, and just downright difficult to follow.

Fortunately, this isn’t one of those books.

In the pages that follow, you’ll find well written and accurate information without bias. This concise history will respect your time by getting right to the point and giving you what you came to learn. We strive to offer you a refreshing read with reliable, well-referenced information.

Ask the Monk: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Mind Kindle Edition

by Nityanand Charan Das

Asking questions is an important part of learning as it provides a unique framework for thinking and opens doors to unexpected revelations for us. Digging into how or why things are the way they are, paves the way for enlightenment.

On the contrary, keeping the doubts to ourselves can keep us from truth, thus de priving us from valuable opportunities life has to offer. As human beings, we must en quire and keep doing so. But what kind of enquiries are we supposed to make?

In Ask the Monk, celebrated monk Nityanand Charan Das lucidly answers over sev enty frequently asked questions-by young and the old alike-on topics such as karma, religion versus spirituality, mind, God, destiny, purpose of life, suffering, rituals, re ligion, wars and so on. These answers are extremely crucial to help you, the reader, embark on the journey of self-discovery and self-realization.

Namaste Is a Greeting

by Suma Subramaniam Sandhya Prabhat (Illustrator)

Discover namaste’s many meanings in a simple, lyrical text, paired with a charmingly detailed visual narrative about a little girl’s kindness. Namaste calms your heart when things aren’t going right. Namaste is saying “You mat ter.”

What is namaste? It’s found in a smile, a friendship, a celebration. It exists in silence; it can be said when you’re happy or when you’re feeling low. For one small girl in a bustling city, namaste (“I bow to you”) is all around her as she and her mother navigate a busy marketplace—and when she returns with a little plant and chooses to give it to an elderly neighbor, it can be seen in the caring bond between them. In a sweet, universal text, de but author Suma Subramaniam shines a light on a word with significance far beyond yoga class, while artist Sandhya Prabhat makes the concept of mindfulness come alive in de lightful illustrations likely to draw children in again and again.

by Kimberly Larson

Cleanse your mind and body for health and balance without deprivation or extreme measures using the traditional practice of healing Ayurveda.

Cleanses can promise everything from clear skin, to zero belly fat, to increased en ergy, to absolute nirvana. But really—what most people need is self-care and the right nourishment, not extreme care and deprivation. Super Easy Ayurvedic Cleansing— adapted from The Simple, Healing Cleanse—is your essential guide to a traditional and accessible four-week cleanse derived from the ancient practice of Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga and an ancient medicine from India, that will restore a sense of calm to your mind and body.

With 50 basic, cleansing recipes and meal-planning tips, it is easy for even those with no extra time to spend in the kitchen to commit and succeed at this 4-week cleanse. Learn how to determine your Ayurvedic type (dosha) and establish the right habits for yours; build a foundation for healthy, life-long dietary choices; bring balance to the body and mind; and cultivate vibrant health. Super Easy Ayurvedic Cleansing will guide you through simple ways to give your digestive system a break, simplify your diet without crazy, unhealthy restrictions, and find lightness, clarity, and ease in your everyday.

Cap Exempt H-1B visas… What to do if your current or prospective employee was not selected in the H-1B lottery?

I recently had a South Floridabased Financial Services company reach out to me concerning an international student employee of theirs. “David” is a very promising young man from South America who graduated last year with a master’s degree from a top Florida University. Over the past year, while on postcompletion F-1 OPT (Optional Practical Training), David became a rising star in their company’s jobtraining program and developed into a key piece for their Latin American Strategy. They realized he was someone they wanted to hire permanently but with his F-1 visa and OPT expiring. He would soon no longer have immigration status or work authorization. So they entered David into the March H-1B lottery, but unfortunately, he was not selected. Even though David’s chances of selection increased with a U.S. master’s degree, he was still not one of the 20,000 H-1B registrants in the advanced degree exemption.

Every year there is an annual cap for H-1B visas set at 85,000 and this past Spring, we had a record number of lottery registrants. Normally when companies enter employees or prospective employees into the H-1B lottery, most are not selected and those that are not selected either have to explore other options or wait for the next H-1B season. Employers usually hire a law firm and complete the H-1B petition process for selected employees. What if you were not selected? Every year creative immigration attorneys explore various alternative routes to achieve the visa goals for their clients

whose H-1B dice did not roll a lucky “7”. The Cap-Exempt H-1B visa is another less-known immigration solution for such clients.

How does this work? Since the Cap-Exempt H-1B is very complicated, explaining the entire process is quite difficult and best reserved for a consultation. However, I will do my best to briefly break it down.

Advantages of the Cap-Exempt H-1B visa:

1. There is no lottery or annual cap

2. A Cap-Exempt H-1B visa can be filed at any time (there is no 90day deadline)

3. Once you are in Cap-Exempt H-1B status, you can then file for a concurrent H-1B visa from your company and soon start working for your chosen employer. (This essentially means the employee can get an H-1B visa once they are currently working with a CapExempt H-1B visa)

4. You get to mentor U.S. college students, work on innovative

educational/research projects in your field, and your company can find a direct source of future employees that you already know.

5. This fellowship can be used to build up your qualifications for a green card or another visa.

How do you qualify for a Cap-Exempt H-1B? My law firm collaborates with several educational nonprofit organizations that offer part-time fellowships as CapExempt employers. After a consultation and screening, if my client is deemed a good fit, I will have the employer nominate their employee to apply for one of these fellowships. If they are accepted into the program(s), we collaborate together on a CapExempt H-1B petition. Once the H-1B is approved and he starts his fellowship a) David will work parttime (at least 5 hours per week) for the foundation and get paid the prevailing wage according to his job level and b) David’s fulltime private employer can then petition for his concurrent H-1B visa.

Remember

1. You still must meet the same H-1B qualifications (the job must be a specialty occupation, you must be offered/paid the prevailing wage, and the U.S-based company must be able to pay the prevailing wage)

2. You can work with your concurrent H-1B as long as you are still employed in Cap-Exempt H-1B status but you then have to

1. plan to register for future H-1B lotteries or find other visa options once you are no longer employed in cap-exempt H-1B status.

2. Not all H-1B candidates are good fits for a cap-exempt H-1 visa and your employer has to really want “you”. Your employer has to be willing to spend the additional time, resources, and money (filing fees, legal fees, premium processing fees, foundation fees) to get your cap-exempt H-1B.

We are fortunate that the USCIS is forward thinking to allow us this unique ability to team up employees with non-profit educational and government research institutions. As employment-based Immigration Attorneys, we serve several important functions. 1) we help U.S. employers hire and retain foreign talent, 2) we help innovative foreign employees come to the

U.S. to start their careers and build their American Dream, and most importantly,3) we directly help the U.S. economy innovate and grow with this international influx. Let’s not forget the complicated Cap-Exempt H-1B visa process and requirements really need to be fully understood by both the employee and the employer. It is best to contact an experienced immigration attorney who handles such cases and can explain and

About the Author

U.S. Immigration Attorney Seth Finberg is a 2005 graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. Seth is a member of the Georgia Bar, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and serves on the Business and Investment Committee for the South Florida chapter of AILA. Mr. Finberg is the owner and founder of South Florida based

analyze your options and propose appropriate immigration solutions.

This article does not constitute a solicitation or provision of legal ad vice and does not establish an attor ney-client relationship. The answers provided should not be used as a sub stitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney licensed or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. You should always consult a suitably qual ified attorney regarding any specific legal problem or matter on time.

Finberg Firm PLLC and he represents clients nationwide and internationally in business, employment, and family-based immigration. He can be reached by phone at (954)-843-3568 / (954) 249-6603 or by email at seth@finbergfirm.com or www.finbergfirm.com.

Happy Diwali!

By Chahna Tailor

Diwali, the Hindu New Year, is a time of renewal.

We want to bring in light, positivity, and kindness.

We want to remove darkness, neg ativity, and anything that drains our energy.

Darkness could be seen as exter nal, but what about internal? Have you ever experienced intrusive thoughts? Intrusive thoughts are re curring thoughts that are unwanted and cause distress. They can lead you down a tunnel of darkness. When the darkness is in your mind, it can be very hard to escape.

Breathing is automatic for us. However, you can take advantage of

manual, conscious breathing to take control of the present moment and learn to breathe with intention.

We can employ a pranayama tech nique as a way to still the mind so that it does not get carried away by the darkness.

A great pranayama technique is Ujjayi breathing. Also known as Life Extension Breathing, Ujjayi is the dia phragmatic breathing practice that is used while practicing yoga asana. It helps a yogi/yogini to focus in the moment and breathe through all of the mental or physical emotions and feelings that pop up when the body is required to maintain stillness in tough positions.

Here is the way to practice Ujjayi:

Close your mouth and start to in hale and exhale through your nose.

When taking/releasing a breath, constrict the throat so that each breath sounds like the ocean or the breathing of a scuba diver.Use your diaphragm to lead your breathing.

Breath in and out as slowly as pos sible to control the airflow.

Ujjayi can be used for when a per son is experiencing anxiety, depres sion, panic, high blood pressure, or an overall lack of balance of the nervous system.

This breathing technique can be practiced for as many rounds as you would like. The more breaths, the

This Diwali… let us not succumb to thoughts that bring us down. Instead, let’s create space for positive energy.

This is a time for light, knowledge, and good to triumph over darkness, ignorance, and evil.

Take your time and breathe during this Diwali!

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About the Author Chahna Tailor Gupta, an Ayurvedic Practitioner and certified yoga teacher, has a background in occupational therapy and health science with a focus in public health. Chahna was yoga trained in Rishikesh, India and had ayurvedic clinicals in Kannur, Kerala. Chahna provides yoga, pranayama, meditation, 200-hr yoga teacher training, and ayurvedic health counseling services through her company Namaskar To You. Chahna is a volunteer for Ekal Vidyalaya, American Association of Ayurvedic Professionals (AAAP), and Ayurveda Association of Florida (AAF). She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Ayurvedic Medicine while continuing her self-studies in yoga.

We can employ a pranayama technique as a way to still the mind so that it does not get carried away by the darkness

more replenishment of energy and renewal!

Indian American Women among Forbes “50 Over 50”

Crossing five decades of life does not mean becoming old; it means adding to one’s wisdom, experience, and achievements in life. Forbes “50 over 50” awards are given as a salutation to the accomplishments of 50+ women in various categories, including Lifestyle, Impact, Entrepreneurs, and Money. This year, seven Indian American women have made it to this list. They are Manjusha Kulkarni, Revathi Advaithi, Ann Mukherjee, Poornima DeBolle, Anita Gupta, Padmasree Warrior, and Jayshree Ullal. Manjusha Kulkarni received the award for the “Impact” section while the other six are in the “Entrepreneurs” category.

The 53-year-old Manjusha Kulkarni cofounded Stop AAPI Hate in March 2020. It is the leading concern working as an aggregator of Covid19-related incidents of hatred against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. She also leads the AAPI Equity Alliance which fights for the rights and needs of Asian American people in Southern California.

Revathi Advaithi is the CEO of the global manufacturing company Flex. The 54-year-old entrepreneur is also a member of the Board of Directors of Uber and Catalyst.org and is also a member of the MIT Presidential CEO Advisory Board

Ann Mukherjee is the chairperson and CEO at Pernod Ricard North America, the wine and spirits company. She was the first woman of color to assume the position in 2029. The 56-yearold entrepreneur launched the program titled Absolut’s #SexResponsibly campaign to raise awareness regarding consent while drinking.

Anita Gupta is the founder of Kiwitech, a company that helps start-ups in their development and growth. Now 58, Gupta also works as the chief portfolio officer of Kiwitech.

Warrior, aged 61, is the founder and CEO of Fable, a network for social reading and a book club. As the former CTO of Cisco and Motorola, Warrior is no stranger to success. In fact, Fable raised more than $28 million in 2021. She is also a board member of Microsoft and Spotify.

Jayshree Ullal holds the position of president and CEO of Arista Networks. She joined the board of directors of Snowflake, a cloud computing company in September 2020. This 61-year-old entrepreneur is one of the richest female executives in the USA.

All of these women have proven

Poornima DeBolle, 53, co-founded Menlo Security, a prominent cloud and network security company. She also works as the chief product officer here. Menlo Security was able to raise $100 million in Series E funding in 2020 under her leadership.

Gandhi: Both Inspirational and Inspired!

Currently, not only in India, but all over the world, millions of people including political leaders from hundreds of countries are getting inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. In this article, however, we will look into how Mahatma Gandhi was inspired. Gandhiji was a people person. He met hundreds of people every day. He was also a very avid reader. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that he was inspired by people as well as books. Mahatma Gandhi himself has said, “Three moderns have left a deep impression on my life and captivated me — Shrimad Rajchandra by his living contact; Tolstoy by his book The Kingdom of God is Within You; and Ruskin by his book Unto This Last. Besides these three personalities, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, the Gita, and the Bible were lifelong sources of inspiration for Gandhi.

Gandhi met Shrimad Rajchandra on his return from London to India in Bombay. Gandhi was at once convinced that Rajchandra was a man of great character and learning. He was a real seeker of truth. Gandhi very often found him absorbed in Godly pursuits in the midst of weighty business transactions. Gandhi never saw him lose his state of equipoise. Above all, Shrimad Rajchandra’s impression as a spiritual guide on Gandhi’s mind was unrivaled, and Gandhi implicitly believed that Rajchandra would never willingly lead him astray. In turn, Rajchandra would always confide in Gandhi his innermost thoughts.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale, the rare gem among contemporary moderate political leaders, welcomed Gandhi as if they were renewing an old friendship. Gokhale seemed like the Ganga to Gandhi where one

could have a refreshing bath in the holy river. In the sphere of politics, the place that Gokhale occupied in Gandhi’s heart was absolutely unique. Gokhale embodied the goal of spiritualizing in politics, and Gandhi steadfastly adhered to it by further enriching it. It is significant to remember that Gandhi has devoted

letters to Tolstoy. Similarly, Tolstoy wrote to Gandhi emphasizing the almost pivotal significance of Gandhi’s Satyagraha in South Africa. Tolstoy was the prophet of the latter half of the nineteenth century and Gandhi of the first half of the twentieth century. Finally, Tolstoy’s book The Kingdom of God is Within You overwhelmed Gandhi. It left an enduring impression on Gandhi. Tolstoy manifested independent thinking, profound morality, and truthfulness.

seven chapters exclusively to Gokhale in his autobiography. Finally on his return from South Africa to India in 1915, Gandhi looked upon Gokhale as a sure guide whenever he was in difficulty which took a great load off Gandhi’s mind.

Tolstoy of Russia was the only one with whom Gandhi had some prolonged correspondence. Both Tolstoy and Gandhi worshipped in the common shrine to the same heroes — i.e. Buddha, Socrates, Upanishads, and Gita. Neither were mere philosophers, but teachers of humanity who endeavored hard to practice what they preached. Gandhi described himself with characteristic candor as Tolstoy’s disciple in his

Ruskin, the English thinker, was perhaps the most powerful source of inspiration when Gandhi himself described Ruskin’s book, Unto This Last, as “the magic spell.” Gandhi had been offered Ruskin’s book by Gandhi’s intimate friend Mr. Polak, and Gandhi read it on his train journey from Johannesburg to Durban. The book gripped Gandhi so much that its teaching appealed to him instantaneously, and Gandhi paraphrased it into Gujarati as “Sarvodaya,” the welfare of all. Gandhi learned the teachings of the book:

1. The good of the individual is contained in the welfare of all.

2. All have the same right of earning their livelihood from their work.

3. A life of labor is a life worth living.

Gandhi read the Gita for the first time in England, and it made a deep impression on his mind. He regarded the Gita par excellence for the knowledge of Truth, and it afforded him invaluable help in his moments of gloom. The Gita became Gandhi’s lifelong companion and guide, especially the last eighteen verses of the second chapter of the Gita.

1.

Gandhi derived the gospel of selfless action, or duty, from the Gita. His commentary on the Gita reflects his life and mission.

Gandhi read the Bible, especially “The New Testament” and “The Sermon on the Mount” which went straight to his heart. The compassion and renunciation of Jesus appealed greatly to Gandhi.

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Here is a list of other books which inspired Gandhiji:

The Kingdom Of God Is Within You By Leo Tolstoy

A Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire By Edward Gibbon

Defense and Death of Socrates By Plato

Gulliver’s Travels By Jonathan Swift

Ethical Religion by WiIliam MacIntyre Salter

India: What Can It Teach Us? By Friedrich Max Muller

Neha Narkhede:

Youngest Woman Entrepreneur

She is synonymous with intelligence, diligence, and initiative.

Meet Neha Narkhede, a 37-year-old American Indian who was featured in the “IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022.” In fact, she was specially mentioned as the youngest woman entrepreneur who achieved the position all by herself. As the co-founder of a data technology company named Confluent, Neha has a net worth of approximately 580 million USD. She has also been featured in the Forbes 2022 list of “America’s Richest Self-Made Women,” where her ranking was 57th.

Neha was born and raised in the Indian city of Pune and graduated with a degree in Computer Science from Georgia Tech, after which she started working as an advisor to technology start-ups. During her tenure as a software engineer at LinkedIn, she contributed in the development of Apache Kafka, an open-source messaging system. After quitting this job, she founded Confluent, along with two of her colleagues.

This year, Gautam Adani topped the “IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List” edging out Mukesh Ambani.

Siddhi Pawaskar: The Topper with Full Marks

Be ing the topper is a great achievement in itself, but when the topper gets a perfect score of full marks, it indeed is an exceptional accomplishment. Siddhi Pawaskar, a Mumbai-based physical therapist (known as a physiotherapist in India) qualified for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) in the USA, scoring 800 out of 800 marks. One has to qualify for this exam to practice physical therapy in the USA. Siddhi completed her Bachelor’s degree from the MGM Institute of Health Sciences, Navi Mumbai in 2019, and went to the US for higher studies in 2021.

The success rate of foreigntrained students in the NPTE is not very impressive. In 2021, only 45% of foreign students could pass the exam on the first attempt, whereas the percentage was 89% for US students. Siddhi said that despite all distractions and negative statistics, it is her self-confidence and determination that resulted in her success. Her guide, Dr. Bhupinder Singh, also an international student, said that Siddhi fulfilled his dream of getting full marks.

Dr. Arati Prabhakar: First Indian American Director of OSTP

September 21, 2022, is indeed a remarkable day in the history of both the United States of America and India. On that day, the name of Dr. Arati Prabhakar, an American Indian scientist, was confirmed as the succeeding director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) by the US Senate. She is the first-ever woman, immigrant, and person of color to assume this honorable and powerful post and achieved the post by a vote of 56-40. Hence, she will be a member of US President Joe Biden’s cabinet and the Chief Advisor for Science and Technology.

Biden recognized Dr. Prabhakar in June 2022 as “a bright and respected engineer and expert in Applied Physics.” Dr. Prabhakar came to the US with her family when she was only three years old. They settled in Lubbock, Texas. Later, she became an electrical engineer at Texas Tech University and became the first woman to earn a PhD in Applied Physics from the California Institute of Technology.

This camp was organized by San Francisco-based

‘The Marriage of Figaro” in Indian Setting

With his musical talent and enormous love for opera, Viswa Subbaraman accomplished the extraordinary feat of recreating Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” with an Indian background and South Asian cast. The first show took place on September 10 at the Opera San Jose, in California. His initiative was targeted to inculcate a love for opera among the Indian American community. To make the opera more relatable and attractive, he chose the background of British India and a completely Indian setting.

Arun Subramanian to be the First Asian American District Judge in New York

It was an innovative idea — a camp with a different thought. The “Gandhi Camp” of California was organized for the youth with the philosophy that children would learn the Gandhian moralities of honesty, love, truth, and non-violence. They enjoyed the activities included in the camp and did all those chores with the utmost pleasure and enthusiasm. Cleaning the park trails, painting the barns, trimming branches of trees, and cooking and serving food, along with games, yoga, meditation, acting, and dancing were all that the youth did. This built up a sense of community service and cooperation that is very much essential in today’s life.

There was no cellular signal in this week-long camp, and the young participants did not miss it. Instead, they enjoyed the calmness and peace of mind amidst nature. This camp was organized by San Franciscobased community leader Abhay Bhushan. He said that the objective of the camp was to imbibe a feeling of social responsibility and realize the connection of man’s existence with nature.

“The Marriage of Figaro” revolves around the story of love and marriage between the servant Figaro and Susanna, despite the strong opposition from their employer Count Almaviva. Subbaraman is an internationally acclaimed opera conductor from West Texas. His father is a physician and his mother is an accountant with great musical talent. Subbaraman is also supposed to join the medical school, but his love for music has made him pursue both biology and music as a double major.

Arun Subramanian, an attorney of Indian American origin has been nominated as the US District Judge for the Southern District of New York by President Joe Biden. Communication to this effect has been sent to the Senate, and if it is confirmed by the Senate, Subramanian will have the honor of being the first Asian American judge on the District Court of the Southern District of New York.

Subramanian received his Bachelor’s Degree from Case Western Reserve University in 2001 and his JD from Columbia Law School in 2004. He began his career as a law clerk for Judge Dennis Jacobs on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 2004 to 2005. He started working at Susman Godfrey LLP in New York and is a partner at present.

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) expressed its pleasure at the nomination of Subramanian. Indian American Impact has also said that his nomination will pave the way for proper legal representation of South Asians and Asian Americans.

community leader Abhay Bhushan.

Indian Americans at the NIAC

Now, it is the turn of the Indian Americans to share their expertise at the National Infrastructure Advisory Council of US President Joe Biden. The President has announced a list of the names of 26 individuals to be a part of the advisory council which includes the names of two Indian Americans — Manu Asthana and Madhu Beriwal. The responsibilities of this council include advising the White House regarding means and methods to reduce physical and cyber security threats and safeguard the nation’s important infrastructure sectors.

Presently the CEO and president of PJM, Manu Asthana, has a long experience in the sectors of energy and power generation. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. As a bright student, he was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar and a Joseph Wharton Scholar. Madhu Beriwal founded Innovative Emergency Management, Inc. (IEM) in 1985 and continues to work as its CEO and president. She received the honor of being inducted into the International Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Hall of Fame in 2012.

Rishi Bagga to be the Democratic Candidate

Indian American attorney Rishi Bagga has achieved the first milestone of winning the nomination of the Democratic Party to be a candidate for a seat of House District 35 in the Florida House of Representatives. Winning the election will be his next milestone which will make him the first-ever South Asian American representative on the Florida State Legislature.

As an attorney, Bagga feels that the increasing South Asian American community is devoid of sufficient representation. That is why he decided to contest the elections. He has a good track record as an attorney who fought cases of domestic violence and is an expert in resolving legal issues of various kinds. His ambition is to work for the expansion of Florida’s economy and ensure that everyone gets a fair chance of success. A firm believer in justice and common sense, Bagga lives with his wife Shelly and their 23-month-old son, Gyan, in the East Orlando area.

Pairing Wine with Indian Cuisine

The taste of India is perhaps one of the best elements of Indian culture. It has diversity like the country and a unique blend of select spices and herbs that make Indian food some of the most highly regarded in the world. Be it pure vegetarian, or non-vegetarian, Indian food is rich in taste, aroma, and health and offers loads of satisfaction. It ranges from a variety of rice, bread, vegetables, and of course, fish, meat, seafood, eggs, and so on. Every region of India has their specialty cuisine, innovative and reflective of the local culture, harvest, and course choice. Indian cuisine has the assimilation of various tastes and habits and represents a palate that is more than food; it is a character of the Indian tradition.

Pairing Indian food with wine is a trend started in the last few years. One has to know the kind of wine that syncs well with the type of Indian food. In this regard, many things are to be considered, such as the alcohol content of the wine, the spices used in making the food, and the type of food or gravy. This knowledge will make the pairing a super hit and enhance the taste of both the food as well as the drink.

James Beard award-winning author and Wine Communicator of the Year, Madeline Puckette says, “When in doubt, there are a few wines that match exceptionally well with a wide variety of Indian dishes. You really can’t go wrong with these

four wines: Riesling (sweet or dry), Grüner Veltliner, Sparkling Rosé, Gamay.”

Having said that, let us talk about very specific Indian food and suggested wine.

The most popular and famous Indian curries, such as vindaloo are made with a variety of spices, including garam masala, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and paprika along with coconut milk, vinegar, chili, garlic, and onions. The curry can be made with lamb, pork, chicken, or tofu (for the vegans). It goes extremely well with Rosé.

The next popular Indian cuisine in the US is tikka masala which can be paired with Riesling, Pinot Grigio, and Gewürztraminer.

Tandoori chicken is the Indian version of roasted chicken. It is roasted in an indigenous claymade oven called a tandoor. Before roasting, the chicken is marinated in yogurt, lemon, and spices such as coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne pepper, garam masala, and paprika. It can be paired perfectly with Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Zinfandel.

The green spinach or cilantro-based curries, such as palak paneer pair well with Sauvignon Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Vinho Verde, Verdicchio, Silvaner, Albariño, Muscadet, dry or sweet Riesling, and dry Chenin Blanc.

Now, let’s talk about two specific vineyards — one based here on the east coast of the US and another based in india.

Indian food some of the most highly regarded in the world. Be it pure vegetarian, or non-vegetarian, Indian food is rich in taste, aroma, and health and offers loads of satisfaction.

India

wines

Narmada Winery based in Amissville, VA, was founded by the late Dr. Pandit Patlil and Dr. Sudha Patil. The winery is dedicated to Dr. Pandit Patlil’s mother. Her devotion to him made it possible for Pandit to pursue his education in the US.

Here is the list of Narmada wines and perfect pairing of Indian cuisine suggested by the experts at Narmada winery.

2020 Gulabi

Fragrant aroma of strawberry with heaps of jammy strawberry flavor in an off-dry style. Pair with papri chaat.

One of the most popular Indiamade wines available in the US are from Sula winery based in Nashik, India, about 100 miles from Mumbai.

Sula Vineyards is the brainchild of Rajeev Samant, a former employee of Oracle.

Rajeev found an uncanny resemblance between Dindori hills’ landscapes of Nashik in India and those at Napa Valley in California. His research made him realize that these hills could be used to cultivate wineproducing grapes while everyone else was following traditional table grape production. In 1999, Samant

established Sula Vineyards in Nashik. Samant partnered with Kerry Damskey, a renowned winemaker from California with a goal of producing wines that would match international standards. Sula planted its first wine grapes in 1995, and the first bottle of wine was sold in 2000.

Here is the list of Sula wines and perfect pairing of Indian cuisine suggested by the experts at Sula Winery.

Sula Sauvignon Blanc Grape Varietal 100% Sauvignon Blanc.

FLAVORS: green apple, guava, bell peppers.

WINE HIGHLIGHTS India’s first ever Sauvignon Blanc. A New Zealand

style Sauvignon Blanc with refreshing acidity. Decanter World Wine Awards 2020 - Bronze Award.

SUGGESTED PAIRING paneer tikka, hara bhara kebab.

Sula Chenin Blanc Grape Varietal 100% Chenin Blanc.

FLAVORS: ripe tropical fruit and hints of honey.

WINE HIGHLIGHTS India’s BestSelling White Wine. An easy-drinking off-dry white wine, great to offer to first-time wine drinkers.

SUGGESTED PAIRING Salad, Gujarati thali, vegetable quiche, rawa fried fish.

One of the most popular

made

available in the US are from Sula vinery based in Nashik India about 100 miles from Mumbai

SULA RIESLING GRAPE VARIETAL

100% Riesling.

FLAVORS: lemon, grapefruit, & honey.

WINE HIGHLIGHTS India’s first-ever Riesling. Light refreshing Kabinett style. An easy-drinking off-dry white wine, great to offer to first-time wine drinkers. Decanter World Wine Awards 2020- Bronze Award.

SUGGESTED PAIRING

Indo-Chinese appetizers such as spring rolls, salads, sushi, chili chicken, tandoori chicken.

RĀSĀ CABERNET SAUVIGNON GRAPE VARIETAL

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

FLAVORS: black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberries), olive, vanilla.

SUGGESTED PAIRING Seekh kebabs, kadai paneer, arrabiata pasta, rogan josh.

WINE HIGHLIGHTS One of India’s best red wines! Aged for 14 to 16 months

in French oak barrels. SWEETNESS LOW MED In Summary

The best wines to counterbalance the burn of hot peppers are wines that have these 3 traits: they’re served cold, they have lower alcohol, and some sweetness. It’s not surprising then that Riesling is the most favored wine among Indians.

We hope this guide on what wine goes with Indian cuisine showcases that these two can blend well together. This list provides an excellent recommendation whether you love white, red, or sparkling wines.

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Georgia

Atlanta Metro

Navratri Dandiya Night 2022

When: 2022-09-30 Where: DeSaNa Middle School 678-883-3460 Host: Atlanta Community Events

Purbasha Durgotsav 2022

When: 2022-09-30 Where: South Forsyth High School purbashainc@gmail.com Host: Purbasha

Thaman Live in Atlanta

When: 2022-10-01 Where: Sidney Marcus Auditorium 678-468-6624 Host: Sri Krishna Vilas

Amit Tandon Stand Up Comedy - Atlanta When: 2022-10-02

Where: Duluth High School Auditorium 425-326-9859 ohoproductionstickets@gmail.com

Host: OHO productions

Capricio Band - Live in Concert! - Atlanta

When: 2022-10-07 Where: Haven Restaurant and Lounge 470-519-4149

Host: People Media Factory

Gujarat Garba Mahotsav with Parthiv Gohil in Atlanta

When: 2022-10-09

Where: Sumant Center Shakti Mandir 361-218-2523

Host: Whizz Entertainment

Gujarat Mahotsav in Atlanta

When: 2022-10-09 Where: Sumant Center Shakti Mandir 361-218-2523

Host: Whizz Entertainment

Diwali Halchal

When: 2022-10-15 Where: Desana Middle School 713-623-3859

Host: Atlanta Indian Family

Happy Diwali 2022 When: 2022-10-21 Where: Ashiana Banquet HallGlobal Mall 678-646-9993 Team@punjabisociety.us Host: Punjabi Society

Nirguni Bhajans

When: 2022-10-22

Where: Aditya Memorial Hall 678-988-2234

Host: ICMS and Manoranjan Group

A Unique Concert of Hindustani Classical Vocal Recital by Pt. Bhuvanesh Komkali

When: 2022-10-22

Where: Greater Atlanta Vedic Temple 678-988-2234

Host: Indian Classical Music Society of Greater Atlanta

Abby V Live Concert - Atlanta

When: 2022-11-05 Where: Lassiter Concert Hall 248-979-8900 sriniv@aimforseva.org Host: AIM for Seva

Moruchi Mavshi In Atlanta

When: 2022-11-13 Where: Atlanta Civic Center 805-387-3636

info@5dimensionsinc.com

Host: Five Dimensions Entertainment

Global Mela 2022

When: 10/08/2022

Where: 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd. Norcross, Atlanta,30071 Contact: 770-416-1111

globalmela@amsglobalmall.com

Host: Global Mall

Combating Hinduphobia through Awareness

working, creative, innovative, charitable, and compassion ate like any other American.

Congressman Hank Johnson also highlighted the rich contributions of the Hindus in America for decades and how they have enriched the country’s culture with their values and enterprises. Nikunj Trivedi, President of CoH NA, emphasized the need for awareness of Hinduism to combat and stop this hatred. They have taken the initiative of educating the Hindus on their rich traditionand culture through various events.

Hindu Americans have contributed greatly to the devel opment and growth of the USA, and this has been widely acclaimed by the lawmakers of the country. Yet, a recent trend of anti-Hinduism propaganda, or Hinduphobia, has been prevalent in the virtual media supported by memes and other narratives that actively spread hatred and toxic ity. It was discussed at the National Hindu Advocacy Day on the Hill, a significant event organized by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) in Washington DC on September 21, 2022.

The event was attended by 15 American lawmakers, in cluding senators, congressmen, and congresswomen. The vibrant culture of Hinduism and its colorful and signifi cant festivals like Navratri was emphasized in this event. However, the topic and the dark influence of Hinduphobia were also talked about. Recently, the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) at Rutgers University conducted a study on anti-Hindu propaganda and Hinduphobia.

The leading researcher and Chief Science Officer of NCRI, Dr. Joel Finkelstein, has exposed a sharp rise in antiHindu hatred in online channels and growing Hinduphobia in general. He further said that these online memes and writings are shared by white racists, Islamists, and others. According to him, such hatred is globally interconnected and a major reason behind the attacks on Hindu temples and Hindu people in the USA and the UK.

This was considered a matter of grave concern by the lawmakers. Mentioning the contributions of the Hindu Americans in almost every field of activity, they expressed their deep regard and respect for the community. Admit ting to the growing trend of toxic Hinduphobia, Congress man Drew Ferguson mentioned his genuine love of the Hindus for America and said that they are extremely hard

ACE Committee.

It is indeed a great honor for Kishan Tallapally to be nominated as a member of the Johns Creek City Arts, Culture and Entertainment (ACE) Committee. The city of Johns Creek has the unique feature of cultural diversity. The residents of the city represent various ethos and values and live a united life of peace and harmony in the city. Being a member of the prestigious Arts, Culture and Entertainment Committee of such a rich city is indeed a great achievement, and Tallapally is extremely happy and humbled to receive this responsibility.

The Mayor of the Johns Creek City, John Bradberry, appointed Tallapally along with eight other members of the ACE Committee which includes another American Indian. The nominations for membership are reviewed by the city council. After reviewing, they send their recommendations to the mayor. The duration of the membership is two years.

Kishan Tallapally becomes a member of the Johns Creek City

Tallapally has been a resident of Johns Creek City for the last 12 years. He is an active community leader engaged in various community welfare projects as a volunteer. He held a number of important posts in various community organizations pertaining to American Indians. In 2021, he held the post of President of the Greater Atlanta Telangana Society (GATeS). At present, he is the President of the Indian Friends of Atlanta (IFA).

Tallapally expressed his pleasure and gratitude at his nomination. He thanked the mayor and the members of the city council for nominating him to the esteemed post. He further said that he would put forth the best of his efforts to unite the people belonging to diverse communities and cultures and form an assimilated community that reflects the unique features of multi-ethnic and multi-dimensional residents. With his vast experience in community welfare, it is expected that Tallapally will do full justice to the responsibilities assigned to him.

The nine-member committee shall fulfill the responsibilities of studying and making recommendations to the city council on matters regarding public art, cultural activities and entertainment in the city. They also make recommendations on proposals of art on public properties.

The Fundraising Program of the Atlanta Chapter of Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA

Today, more than 80,000 villages are under the aegis of Ekal benefiting countless children by empowering them with the tool of education. Their model of a one-teacher school with an annual sponsorship of $365 has become very popular. Along with free basic primary education, Ekal has successfully expanded its activities in the areas of vocational training, organic cultivation, vermicomposting, telemedicine, social empowerment, and healthcare for adults and consequently brought about far-reaching changes in neglected villages of India and Nepal.

The Atlanta Chapter of Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation organized a grand fundraiser program on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at Berkmar High School’s new auditorium and raised over $100,000 for Ekal Vidyalayas. It was a soulful presentation of music and dance titled “Ye Jo Des Hai Mera” or “This is my Country,” narrating Independent India’s journey of 75 years and the milestones, and achievements along with the image of a new India that is confident, aggressive, and steadily emerging as a major force.

The program began with a warm welcome by emcee Neetu Singh Chauhan. Regional Vice President Ajay Upadhyaya, led the Ekal youth volunteers in singing the US and Indian national anthems. The presentation on India was conceptualized and directed by Milind Oak and narrated by Nachiket Devasthali. Milind has a long association with Ekal and visited an Ekal school in 2015. It was presented with melodious live music, dances, trivia, interviews, and vintage speeches.

The presentation started with a dance to the patriotic song “Vande Mataram” with clippings of old newspapers, speeches, and photographs being shown in the background. The achievements of India in various fields like sports, movies, and the recent digital revolution of Make in India were also highlighted.

The grand show was attended by over 275 guests including dignitaries, Mr. Mark Gonsalves, a successful businessman and GA’s 7th Congressional District candidate, and his wife; Mr. Dilip Tunki, Council

Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA was initiated on the principles of providing education to the underprivileged children of rural India. They believe that education can bring the greater world within reach of these children and expand their horizons towards a far better life. With this vision, the Ekal Vidyalaya began its journey back in 1989 and changed the academic scene of rural India.

Member for the City of Johns Creek, Mr. Kartik Bhatt and Mr. and Mrs. Harsha Agadi, and Mr. Shiv Aggarwal, Ekal Chapter President and owner of Global Mall, invited the guests of honor.

The program included a meet-and-greet hour where VHPA served sumptuous dinner and tea. The show concluded with the traditional Rajasthani invitation “kesariya baalam aao ni padhaaro maare des” which is an intimate request to visit “My Country” or India.

New Jersey Hindu Americans Demand Rescission of Hateful Resolution by Teaneck Democrats

Almost 55 Hindu American organizations representing more than 155,000 residents of Bergen County, NJ, and surrounding areas signed a letter condemning a hateful resolution recently passed by the Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee (TDMC). The resolution labels almost every major Hindu American organization in the US as fascist organizations which promote hate and terrorism.

Hindu Americans see this resolution as a vicious act by Democratic Party activists to demonize the Hindu community, long considered by many to be a model minority community. Unfortunately, it has recently experienced numerous instances of hate crimes in the New Jersey area.

“The TDMC chose to make baseless assumptions and operate from a position of ignorance and hate,” said S. Rawal, a long-time NJ resident, who recalls similar instances in his childhood.

Civic leaders also expressed their support. NJ State Senator Vin Gopal, in a strongly worded statement, condemned the resolution and called for its immediate rescission.

Teaneck City Council Members Keith Kaplan and Michael Santiago Pagan also issued a strong statement in response to the resolution, “Unfortunately, the TDMC resolution… was felt by some to condemn all Hindus, which encompasses many peaceful members of our larger community. Hate has no home in Teaneck.”

Hindu Americans called for an investigation into the individuals and organizations that may have incited the TDMC to pass this hateful resolution.

Interestingly, Alexandra Soriano-Taveras, the TDMC Chairman who signed off on the resolution, is no stranger to stirring up ethnic and religious animosity, having suggested boycotting Jewish businesses a year ago.

Hindu American organizations donated over 30 million pounds of food and over $50 million worth of supplies and other essential services during the pandemic to help the elderly or lower-income communities. “Our volunteers strive to serve humanity considering that as serving divinity,” said Rashmita Shanbhag of Sewa International USA.

The letter urged the TDMC to immediately rescind their hate-filled resolution and apologize for endangering the security, well-being, and safety of Hindus in New Jersey.

“Vote for Herschel Walker” urges Nikki Haley

Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley has extended her support for the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Herschel Walker, and urged the Asian American voters of Atlanta to vote for Walker. At the “Republican Rally for the Indian American Community” outside Global Mall in Norcross, on Friday, September 9, Haley admitted that the Republican Party could do better. She further said that the Asian Americans have not voted for the Republicans, because none of the Republicans listened to them. Expressing her support for Herschel Walker, she said that he will be there for the community. This whole-hearted support from a highprofile Asian American Republican like Nikki Haley is quite significant.

In his speech, Herschel Walker spoke about the importance of racial unity along with his strong belief in God. He further said that he is not concerned about color or race, but only gives importance to the character of a person. He is in a unity bus, where he wishes to take all, because he thinks a divided house cannot stand strong. He also expressed his support for law enforcement and the military and his conservative values in social matters, including his disapproval of transgender rights. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr also joined the meeting in his bid for re-election.

Sunil Savili, an entrepreneur from Johns Creek, organized the rally. More than 200 Asian Americans attended the rally. They expressed their concern and dissatisfaction over inflation and public safety and said that as their population and representation are increasing, this was their chance for their voices to be heard. Louis Tseng, a 51-year-old logistics and aviation executive of Duluth, spoke about the high price of groceries, gas, inflation, and other things. Bhupendra Darji, a financial advisor from Duluth, said that the Republican Party represents the interests of Asian Americans, and as the Asian Americans enter into business, they need support from the Republicans.

Nikki Haley also stressed the need for fiscal responsibilities. Criticizing the Democrats for their wasteful expenditure on illegal immigrants and federal inmates, she said that the Democrats do not understand the value of a dollar.

Aries (March 21 to April 20)

This is the month to concentrate on your career and work hard. This may affect your health. However, get some rest to regain energy. The results of your diligence will be wonderful. Your efforts will be appreciated by higher authorities. For students, fruitful results will come soon. Businessmen — avoid investing in new projects. The love life of the Arians will be a roller-coaster ride that will let you know your partner’s authentic self. Finally, don’t argue with elders and remain cool.

Taurus (April 21 to May 20)

Set aside your self-respect problems and try to understand those who avoid listening to your worries and advice about them. It may take a complex shape around the second week. Try to maintain a balance between your personal and professional life as you tend to ignore your work this month. Students aspiring to come overseas for higher education will reap positive results in the final week. The business will not be very profitable this month; waiting another month for a new partnership is advised. Open up with your partner/spouse. Health will be fine.

Gemini (May 21 to June 20)

Unfortunately, this is a troublesome month for Gemini and that is due to your own mistakes. However, your career track may change for the better if you finish the assigned work and avoid what hurts you. Students will get too emotional, allowing your logic to be overshadowed. It is a fulfilling month financially for business persons. Focus on making your business strong. Romance and family matters are favorable. Look after your digestive health and avoid eating out too often.

Cancer (June 21 to July 22)

Cancerians will have a busy schedule this month with the best things occurring in the first two weeks. You are going to receive a long-overdue promotion in your job. Your terms with people around you will be improved. Students will also have a gala time in their institutions. Cancerian business persons will welcome many prospects and pleasure this month. You will begin new ventures and establish your name. Romance will be good with some pampering by your partner/spouse. Take care of your health.

Leo (July 23 to August 22)

You need a break from your demanding and hard-pressed time this month as you may be annoyed by the adversities. Being the dominating Lion, you may be disturbed by somebody trying to take over your responsibilities at your workplace. However, keep your calm and focus on your work. Students working hard for government exams may be disappointed. Your business tactics will get you supreme success, but don’t invest in new ventures for the first two weeks. Take care of your relationship balance. Health will be fine.

Virgo (August 23 to September 22)

The workhorse Virgo will get a lot of appreciation and applause from the higher authorities at the workplace this month. They will take the opportunity to relax at parties to destress. However, keep an eye on some stressful things that may crop up in the middle of the month. Also, be careful of some demoralizing persons at the workplace. The business will perform better this month, but don’t enter into conflicts with your clients. Romance may not be very interesting. Give some time to your family and take a break.

Libra (September 23 to October 22)

October is a great month for Libras with a favorable future and the best time to embark on new projects. You will shine brightly in the workplace with success and dominance. Students will also perform remarkably well. Businessmen will get good returns on their investments. However, caution against competitors is necessary. Take expert advice in investments. A new relationship is predicted on the romantic front for the single among us. For those who are married, expect a surprise from the spouse and a family gathering in the third week. Unfortunately, pain may bother you. Physiotherapy, medical help, and yoga are advised.

Scorpio (October 23 to Nove. 22)

A month of satisfaction and fulfillment is predicted for the Scorpio with new developments in their lives. Try to take full advantage of opportunities at the workplace to ensure your growth. Students trying for scholarships will have better prospects. A big opportunity is coming this month for those who are in business. Finances will take an upward turn from the second week. Singles will have new relationships; couples will enjoy loving time, and family life will also be happy. Health will be ok.

Sagittarius (Nove. 23 to Dec. 21)

After a busy September, people of the Sagittarius sun sign will enjoy a comforting time this month. Your hard work will be acknowledged with success at the workplace this month. Students will get the necessary encouragement to do better. A greater standpoint is predicted for business persons. Make small changes and avoid being harsh for a much greater business prospect. Finance will also improve. Make frank and good communication for a healthy romantic life. A gathering with siblings and cousins is predicted for later this month. Health will be fine.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 to January 19)

Spend some time with yourself to ignite your imaginative and intuitive self. You will have better job opportunities on the work front. Students will try hard to succeed in difficult exams. Those who are in business may feel like changing their focus to some other areas. You will get good returns from an investment made a couple of years ago. Your hot temper may create a problem with your spouse. A family event is in the cards. Some skin problems may crop up.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 to February 18)

Luck will favor you this month, but you will feel a constant dearth of something in your life. Work life will be very smooth, and your higher authorities will be easily impressed with you. You will have prospective opportunities. Students may face certain problems regarding their studies. Those in business will have excellent earnings. October will also be great for investments. Your romantic life may make you feel the lack of love from your partner. Hence, good communication is needed. Health will be fine.

Pisces (February 19 to March 20)

There will be hope and a lot of choices for Pisces this month, but you have to think carefully before opting for any choice. Work life will be full of success and acknowledgements with the prospect of a bright future. School students will get good news regarding exams. Business persons will get new income opportunities. The financial situation will also be very bright. Romantic life will be full of fun and pleasure. However, avoid romancing online. On the health front, there may be joint pain.

Anupam Kher meets his “Hero” Hima Das in Guwahati

Very few people have the honest and open heart to praise a youngster and call her an idol. Ace actor Anupam Kher, however, is an exception. The talented actor exudes a loving nature full of respect for any talented person. Recently, on his visit to Guwahati, the capital of Assam, he met the sensational young sprinter Hima Das. Kher was so impressed that he referred to Das as his “hero,” recognizing both her athleticism and her nature.

Kher met Das at the race track. She was practicing when the veteran actor arrived. After that, the two of them had a long informal chat. Age was no barrier for them and the young Das discussed and shared many things with Kerr frankly. He was highly impressed by the nature and talent of Hima and called her the “track princess.” Kerr was particularly moved by her love for the nation and found it extremely inspiring and priceless.

Kerr took to his social media handle and to share the picture of himself in a casual T-shirt with Das in her tracksuit. He described this meeting as highly motivating for him, leading him to call the super-talented sprinter his “hero.” Das, too, took to her social media handles and described this meeting as a great pleasure. She was in total awe of the energy of the senior actor and said that she was motivated and inspired by meeting him.

Hima Das is a famous athlete from a village near the town of Dhing in Assam. Her speed has given her the nickname of “Dhing Express.”

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Aadar Jain and Tara Sutaria Enjoy Vacation in Paris

Priyanka Chopra Joins UN General Assembly Meet In New York

Priyanka Chopra and her achievements have always made us proud. Recently, she attended the United Nations General Assembly Meet in New York. She became the Global UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador back in 2016 and has been working for child welfare ever since. This time, she felt extremely honored and privileged to join the UNGA meeting as a representative of UNICEF and share her thoughts. Priyanka took to her Instagram handle to share her experience, including photos and videos of the event, with her followers.

Bollywood actress Tara Sutaria is enjoying her vacation in Paris with beau Aadar Jain in total style and beauty. They seem to be having a gala time before the festival season in India. They are accompanied by Tara’a friend Alekha Advani. Sutaria and Jain have each shared beautiful pictures of their vacation. One of them shows a superstylish Sutaria in a black crop top with cargo pants and boots sitting casually on the stairs of an ancient building; another is with a standing pose.

Jain posted a picture of himself walking on the streets of Paris. He was looking handsome in black trousers, a white T-shirt, and a blue jacket. He also shared a picture of the famous Louvre museum amidst a beautiful sunset. The three of them are also enjoying authentic French food, such as steak, French fries, and a variety of seafood. Sutaria made special mention of her “fav girl” Alekha Advani, as the two ladies are having a wonderful time together, along with Jain. Advani also shared her picture, playfully mentioning her role as the “third wheel” with the couple.

Sutaria’s Bollywood debut film was Karan Johar’s Student of the Year 2 in 2019. She was cast in the recently released Ek Villain 2. Jain is the grandson of the legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor and the son of Reema Kapoor and Manoj Jain. He made his debut in the film Qaidi Band in 2017 and was last seen in the 2021 film Hello Charlie. Although there hasn’t been any official confirmation from either, the duo seems to have been in a relationship for quite some time.

She expressed her sheer pride in walking through the UN gates for the second time as a UNICEF representative. With this year’s top priority being Sustainable Development Goals, she expressed the need for urgency in transforming the objectives of Sustainable Development into reality. She profusely thanked UN Secretary-General António Guterres for giving her the opportunity to attend the event and share her views.

Chopra also participated in the Transforming Education Summit. It was difficult for her to believe that almost 2/3 of children across the globe cannot read and understand a simple story. In this respect, she quoted the opinions of the US Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, and poet Amanda Gorman. Both of them stressed the necessity of getting every child educated as education is everyone’s birthright.

Chopra had the opportunity to meet the Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai at this event. She shared some of her photographs of herself with Yousafzai, Gorman, and other celebrated participants on her Instagram handle.

Kriti Sanon Enjoying her France Trip with Family Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja Name their Son “Vayu”

Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon took a break from her busy shooting schedule to vacation in Europe. At present, she is enjoying her French holidays with her family. She took to her Instagram handle and shared several photographs that describe not only the beautiful destination, but also the glamour and style statement of the actor. She is accompanied by her parents, Geeta and Rahul Sanon, and sister Nupur Sanon, who is also an actor.

She posed in denim outfits in front of the Eiffel Tower. Disneyland in Paris was also on her destination list, where she donned a red crop top with denim trousers in front of the gate. She also visited a variety of other places, including Paris at night. Her super cool and comfortable dresses made her look extremely fashionable. It seemed that she was having a relaxed and happy holiday with her family. She also posted a family photo with the skyline of Paris in the background. Daddy’s girl Kriti also shared a picture with her father Rahul Sanon. The pictures show the family bond between the four of them and how much they enjoy each other’s company.

Kriti’s acting has been highly praised following her stellar performance in the 2021 film Mimi in which she played the role of a surrogate. She has some interesting and bigbudget films in her kitty. One of them is the mythological film Adipurush with south superstar Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan, and Sunny Singh. Other films include Bhediya with Varun Dhawan and Shehzada with Kartik Aaryan.

“Vayu Kapoor Ahuja” is the name of the son of actor Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja. The couple was blessed with their son on August 20, 2022. After a month, on the 20th of September, they posted the first picture of the baby boy along with his parents on their social media handles and announced his name. Vayu meaning “air” is one of the five basic elements of life. It has a great significance in Hindu mythology as well as religion. Air being an important element is the source and sustaining force of life.

The couple described the arrival of their son as the spirit of force that created a new significance in their lives. They also paid respect to Bheem and Hanuman, the spiritual sons of Vayu according to Hindu Mythology, by choosing the name of their son. They further explained that Hindu mythology regards “Vayu” as the God of Breath who can give the breath of life to all and also destroy the evil forces with his power. The God Vayu is gallant, brave, and beautiful. These are primarily the reasons behind choosing the name “Vayu” for their son.

All three of them were dressed in ethnic outfits of saffron. They thanked all their followers and fans for their blessings and best wishes. Earlier, Sonam posted a photo of a cake with a “Boss Baby” theme to celebrate her son’s first month birthday. The couple also thanked all the doctors, nurses, friends, and family for their support in the birth of their son on August 20, 2022.

Just like all of you, we are so proud of our culture that we continue to share all of the important, exciting articles and eventful news each and every month to Indians living in the USA. That’s why we are so thrilled to announce that we are expanding our reach even further.

Some of you may know that we have been publishing DeshVidesh magazine from our headquarters in Fort Lauderdale since 1993. We have also been distributing and mailing several thousand copies in Atlanta over the last 15+ years.

After receiving numerous requests from our loyal readers in Atlanta, it is our pleasure to announce the Desh-Videsh Atlanta edition.

To begin with, we will print 20,000+ copies and will increase the quantity as demand grows. We will launch in Mid-October 2022 with our Diwali issue.

Because we are so excited to expand our reach, we are celebrating by rewarding those who act fast.

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Fan’s Letter Leaves Big B Emotional

Living legend Amitabh Bachchan has received a bounty of awards, accolades and admiration throughout his acting career which is very active even today. However, a note of appreciation, a letter praising his compassionate and human character left him completely drowned with emotion. It took place in one of the episodes of Kaun Banega Crorepati’s current season. Big B is hosting KBC Season 14 at present and a contestant named Jyotirmayee Mallick from Odisha read aloud a letter that she wrote for him.

Kaun Banega Crorepati has been a very popular reality show that features common people participating in quizzes with host Amitabh Bachchan. His style of conducting the show, close interactions with contestants of all age groups and extremely courteous gestures have made the show popular along with showering praises on Big B. The promo of the show with Jyotirmayee Mallick in the hot seat is being shared by the channel on their Instagram handle.

Jyotirmayee Mallick is from Odisha and works in the postal department. She wrote a letter to Bachchan which she read in the show. It starts with the salutation of Respected Amitabh

Bachchanji and narrates how nice a person he is. The writer says that she doesn’t know whether she will be like him ever, but the superstar has proved that he is someone among them. All his gestures like pulling the chair for the contestants, wiping

www.deshvidesh.com/oct2022-atlanta

their tears and reaching out to the contestants have proved that. She also wrote that she thinks a superstar like Big B is born once in a generation. The emotional Bachchan folded his hands in gratitude and said that this message made him emotional. Please scan

Krishna Mukherjee Got Engaged to Chirag Batliwala

Dheeraj Dhooper’s Stressbuster

TV actor Krishna Mukherjee, famous for her roles in serials like Naagin, and Yeh Hai Mohabbatein recently got engaged with her longtime boyfriend Chirag Batliwala in an intimate ceremony. The engagement took place in the picturesque location of Manali in presence of the couple’s family members and close friends. Krishna’s Yeh Hai Mohabbatein coactors Aly Goni, Jasmin Bhasin and Shireen Mirza were among the guests present. Both of them looked beautiful in their engagement attires. Krishna wore a beautiful off-shoulder white gown and Chirag, working in the Merchant Navy was dressed in his service uniform.

Krishna posted the pictures of their engagement ceremony on her Instagram handle. The pictures show that Chirag lovingly guided his fiancée to the engagement venue. After the exchange of rings

was over, the beautiful couple hugged each other. She expressed her happiness at the beginning of the new chapter of her life. They are supposed to get married next year.

Aly Goni too posted pictures using #engaged #KrishRag and wrote an emotional note saying that the ceremony brought tears of happiness to his eyes as he knew how eagerly Krishna longed for this ceremony. With high praises for Chirag, he mentioned that Krishna has got the best guy in her life.

Actor Shireen Mirza shared pictures of Krishna getting ready for the engagement. She posted some group pictures of her friends that showed their admiration for Krishna after she was ready for the engagement. It was a beautiful ceremony with the blessings and best wishes of family and friends.

TV actor Dheeraj Dhooper famous for his portrayal of the role of Karan Luthra in the serial Kundali Bhagya is now busy with two shows Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10 and Sherdil Shergill. In a recent interview, Dheeraj admitted that two shows simultaneously are very strenuous, especially for his health. He gets tired after the hectic schedule. However, he has his exclusive ‘stressbuster’ in the form of his newborn son Zayn, who is just a month old. Spending time with his bundle of joy at the end of a long day makes him feel stress-free. He forgets everything by hugging his son and wants to be with him.

Dheeraj and his wife Vinny Arora were blessed with the baby boy on August 10, 2022. Both of

them shared the picture of the baby on their social media handles. Dheeraj said that though the busy schedule becomes tiring for him, it is an integral part of his life as an actor. Sometimes he feels guilty for not spending much time with the newborn. However, it is he who gives him freedom from all strain and weariness and makes him feel great.

Answering a question on motivation, Dheeraj said that the love of his fans keeps him motivated. The fans were upset after he quit the show Kundali Bhagya thinking that they won’t be able to see him on the TV screen soon. However, Sherdil Shergill will release on September 26, so they don’t have to wait for much to watch him.

New Dayaben for Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah?

Mouni Roy in all Praise for the Naagin 6 Tejasswi Prakash

It seems that the popular sitcom Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashma will have another new actor in the role of Dayaben. Earlier, the role was played by Disha Vakani who is absent from the show since 2017 due to her pregnancy. Now, the creator is seriously considering bringing back Dayaben in the serial as he thinks that the viewers including him still miss the character of Dayaben. In a press conference, he wants to bring either Disha Vakani or someone else in this character.

Paying due respect to Disha, he said that he waited for her throughout the pandemic time and he still waits for her. However, a woman has many responsibilities after marriage and Disha is also fulfilling those. If she can make time for the serial,

she is welcome. Otherwise, the makers have to find a suitable actor to play Dayaben as the viewers want the character to be back in the sitcom. He also expected that the viewers will be able to accept the new actor as it is necessary to bring new faces.

Dayaben is the wife of Jethalal and Disha Vakani played the role for a long period of almost 10 years from 2008 to 2017. A few days back Sachin Shroff replaced Shailesh Lodha as Taarak Mehta. The viewers were a bit upset with the new face as their favorite ‘Mehta Saab’. And now, it is a question of acceptance if Dayaben is played by a new actor. However, the producer has decided to bring the character back and run auditions for a suitable actor.

People still remember her as the first Naagin in the supernatural thriller of the same name and Mouni Roy has travelled a long path from her Naagin days. Presently she is celebrating the success of Brahmastra, the Bollywood film, where she has played the negative character of Junoon. However, Mouni acclaimed the lead actor of Naagin 6, Tejasswi Prakash calling her an extremely bright, pretty and sweet girl. Although Mouni said that she is yet to watch any episode of Naagin 6, she has a high estimation of Tejasswi.

Mouni has portrayed the role of Shivanya and Shivangi in Season 1 and 2 of Naagin respectively. This serial is produced by the eminent producer Ekta Kapoor. Mouni began her acting career in television back in 2006 with the mega serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi followed by her

portrayal of Sati in Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev. Naagin made her a household name and she took her flight to Bollywood movies. Her acting has been praised in the big-budget movie Brahmastra which was released on September 9 and running successfully. It has also been dubbed in 5 languages. She made her Bollywood debut in the film ‘Gold’ in 2018 opposite Akshay Kumar.

Tejasswi Prakash also started her acting career in Television and appeared in serials like Sanskaar - Dharohar Apnon Ki, Swaragini - Jodein Rishton Ke Sur, Pehredaar Piya Ki and others. She emerged winner of the reality show Bigg Boss 15. At present, she is playing the lead role in Naagin 6 with Simba Nagpal, Mahek Chahal, Amandeep Sidhu and others in key roles.

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