Table of Contents
January 2018
Desh-Videsh VOLUME 25, ISSUE 01
Article
Page No
India’s Progress under Prime Minister Modi
16
Modi Approval Rating
26
The Seven Enemies of Wealth
28
How to Prepare Financially for a Longer Life 34
COVER
India’s Progress under Prime Minister Modi
16
The Indian economy has witnessed ambitious growth over the last three years. According to the World Investment Report, India is among the top three prospective host economies of the world. In the last fiscal year, the country garnered investments worth $55 billion.
The Seven Enemies of Wealth
28
The Seven Enemies of Wealth are Enemies that can take any, all, or some of your wealth much faster than you can imagine. Enemy 1: Lack of Planning & Discipline Lack of a Systematic Financial DecisionMaking Process: Without proper planning & discipline, it is impossible to build Desh-Videsh (USPS 024575/ISSN: 1941-2398) is published 13 Times a year (12 regular monthly issues and a special issue in March) by Desh-Videsh Media Group Inc. 10116 NW 53rd St., Sunrise, FL 33351-8020, • Telephone: (954) 784-8100 • E-Mail: info@deshvidesh.com. Copyright 2010 by Desh-Videsh Media Group Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission of Desh-Videsh Media Group Inc. The publishers of this magazine assume no responsibility for statements made by their advertisers in business competion, nor do they assume responsibility for statements/opininons expressed or implied in the columns of this magazine. Photos: © wtamas, Phase4Photography, czamfir / Dollar Club. Subscription Services: Subscription rates are $7.00 for 6 Issues, $12.00 for 12 Issues, $24.00 for 24 Issues, $30.00 for 36 Issues.
Desh-Videsh Distributors
38
Indian Women Power
46
Misconception about Itemized Deductions/ Schedule A on your Tax Return
52
Desh-Videsh Media Group Announces Launch of New Magazine, Sanatan Dharma 58 Numbers for Financial Success
56
Bollywood Today
60
Desi TV Duniya
66
Community News
72
23rd Annual Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Chanting Competition 76 Must Read Books
78
This is your
Desh-Videsh If you have any information or suggestions, please call
PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA AND AT ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES
(954) 784-8100
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Desh-Videsh Media Group • 10116 NW 53rd St., Sunrise, FL 33351-8020
E-Mail: info@deshvidesh.com
Dear Readers, Goodbye 2017 and Welcome 2018! 2017 was a very exciting year for Desh Videsh Media Group, and we know that 2018 will be just as exciting! On behalf of the entire Desh Videsh Media Group team, I want to wish a Happy New Year and extend a heartfelt thanks to our readers, advertisers and supporters. May God Almighty bring you and your family a happy, prosperous and healthy 2018! Speaking of prosperous, it is our pleasure to present a special edition of Desh-Videsh magazine on financial planning. In this issue, two young financial planning experts contributed articles. Nirali Choksi shares tips on tax planning and Anjee Mahabir does the same for insurance. In keeping with our tradition of presenting facts in easy to understand format, we present a new section, Numbers for Financial Success. Some of you saw me dressed as Modi ji at Sindhi Association Diwali Bash. It was a proud moment to dress like my most favorite leader, the Honorable Prime Minister of India! Check out the numbers page of Modi ji’s approval rating. On January 26, 2018, we celebrate India’s 69th Republic Day. In this issue, we present an article on India’s progress. Addressing the nation in his last Mann ki Baat episode of the year, PM Modi ji said, “The Republic Day will be celebrated with leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries coming to India as chief guests. This is unprecedented in India’s history.” We are very proud of India, our Matruboomi and Honorable Prime minister of India Modi ji. Before I leave, don’t miss our next MyShadi Bridal Expo in Atlanta on March 25, 2018, at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center and in Orlando on April 15, 2018 at the Hilton Orlando. Mark your calendars, and we’ll see you soon! Raj Shah Managing Editor
India’s Progress under Prime Minister Modi
T
he Indian economy has witnessed ambitious growth over the last three years. According to the World Investment Report, India is among the top three prospective host economies of the world. In the last fiscal year, the country garnered investments worth $55 billion. Economic reforms of the Union government including inflation control, fiscal deficit, trade deficit, ease of doing business, manufacturing revival seem to have delivered.
PM Modi brought in what is termed as the biggest tax reform in the country since post-independence on July 1. Goods & Services Tax is a comprehensive, multi-stage, destination-based indirect tax levied on every value addition such as the supply of goods and services. Demonetization
The introduction of GST replaced around 17 state and federal taxes by bringing them under a single unified tax structure.
Sixth Largest Manufacturing Nation
On November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonetized large currency notes. To root out black money and fake currency notes, he scrapped old Rs.500 and Rs.1000 notes. This step was termed ‘the single most economic reform in the history of independent India’ according to Business Today reports. UIDAI Chairman Nandan Nilekani praised Modi’s demonetization drive and said that it would see a massive activation of digitization of financial services in the country.
As per the Global Competitive Index of the World Economic Forum, India has jumped 32 places and is the 6th largest manufacturing nation in the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of his personal initiative has fast-tracked projects worth Rs. 8 lakh crore that was long pending.
in India, Smart City, Startup India, Jan Dhan, Skill India, Udaan Scheme, Crop Insurance Scheme, GiveItUp LPG Subsidy, National Health Policy and many more.
New Projects Launched
Jan-Dhan Scheme
Nearly 30 new projects have been launched in the last three years. These include Digital India, GST, Swachh Bharat, Make
In a bid for financial inclusion, PM Modi launched his first flagship program -- Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana in Au-
GST PM Modi brought in what is termed as the biggest tax reform in the country since postindependence on July 1. Goods & Services Tax is a comprehensive, multi-stage, destinationbased indirect tax levied on every value addition such as the supply of goods and services. 18
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
gust 2014. The national mission ensures use of financial services such as savings accounts, remittance, credit, insurance and pension in an affordable manner. Modi brought the country’s over 15 percent population under the scheme, now over 27.84 crore accounts have been opened under the scheme. This economic policy helped him to gain popularity as a leader of the masses.
Affordable Housing The PM launched Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojna with the aim of providing ‘Housing for All’ by 2022. The scheme is designed for the rural masses.
PM Ujjwala Scheme Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched on May 1, 2016, with the aim of providing 5 crore LPG connections to women below the poverty line. The scheme was aimed at replacing unclean cooking fuels used in rural India with the clean and more efficient LPG. India has become the world’s second-largest importer of LPG thanks to Modi’s pledge to provide cooking gas cylinders to every household.
Commitment to Renewable Energy India has produced 50 GW of renewable energy in the last three years; however, the gov-
ernment has plans to produce 175 GW in keeping with its commitment towards production and use of clean energy.
With nearly 22 crores LED bulbs distributed by the government, around Rs. 11,000 crore in electricity bills have been saved. India ranks 4th in the world in global wind power installed capacity. Electricity Saving With nearly 22 crores LED bulbs distributed by the government, around Rs. 11,000 crore in electricity bills have been saved. India ranks 4th in the world in global wind power installed capacity. The government is consciously taking grassroots level steps to strengthen the common man and the rural foundations. It is not only targeting mega projects but is also paying equal attention to micro-level social engineering.
Pew Research Center conducted a survey among 2,464 respondents in India from February 21 to March 10, 2017. Nine out of 10 Indians hold a favorable opinion of Modi, compared
to their view of him in 2015. About seven out of 10 have a very favorable view of the prime minister, similar to views in 2015, PEW Global Center stated in its report.
PM Modi remains the most popular figure in Indian politics according to the survey. His favorable rating is 31 percent higher than that of Sonia Gandhi and is 30 points more than that of Rahul Gandhi. The government of India’s local and foreign currency issuer ratings have been upgraded by Moody’s Investors Service to Baa2 from Baa3 and changed the outlook on the rating to stable. Moody’s has also upgraded India’s local currency senior unsecured rating to Baa2 from Baa3 and its shortterm local currency rating to P-2 from P-3, according to The Economic Times. Due to the Union government’s various economic and institutional reform programs those that have been implemented will improve the business climate, enhance produc-
tivity, stimulate foreign and domestic investment, and ultimately foster strong and sustainable growth. Moody’s expects real GDP growth to moderate to 6.7 percent in the fiscal year ending in March 2018 (FY2017) and real GDP to rise to 7.5 percent in FY2018.
Overall India is in a strong position with its economy, robust economic growth, strong fiscal consolidation, low current account deficit, higher agricultural output, growing FDI, low inflation, and higher wages in rural areas, a World Bank report released in May 2017 stated.
Modi Approval Rating
26
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
The Seven Enemies of Wealth By Bimal Shah, CLU, CHFC, CASL
The Seven Enemies of Wealth are Enemies that can take any, all, or some of your wealth much faster than you can imagine. Enemy 1: Lack of Planning & Discipline Lack of a Systematic Financial Decision-Making Process: Without proper planning & discipline, it is impossible to build wealth. 94% of the time the failure is because of an improper planning. The first step is to create a Budget and to find out any expenses that aren’t necessary for your lifestyle. Those unrequired expenses are your Hidden Assets. The purpose of doing a budget for the wealth is to allocate the spending of money where it brings happiness and meaning to life. The next step is to maintain 3 types of primary personal bank accounts. 1. Lifestyle Account: Checking account where we pay everyone else. 2. Planning Account: Bank account from where all your planning takes place. 3. Wage Account (Emergency Account): It holds wages of up to six (6) months for emergencies. Planning for this is a foundation to being WealthY(Wealth + SecuritY = WealthY)
Enemy 2: Debt Many misunderstand debt. Some might feel we should live debt free others believe leveraging debt is good. There are two rules of thumb. Rule #1: Debt to Liquidity Ratio: At a minimum, you should maintain at least 10% liquidity to debt, and 25% is very good. Rule #2: Differentiating Good Debt & Bad Debt: For any debt such as home loan, equity line, and property loans that are below 6%, there are tax advantages, and small business loans or lines of credit that are good debt.
Enemy 3: Taxes It is absolutely imperative to pay the least necessary tax. In order to ensure this, you should work with a team of CPAs, Independent Third Party Administrators, attorneys, independent Insurance agents, benefit experts, and Independent financial advisors.
Enemy 4: Unexpected Events It is very important to be fully prepared for the unexpected as it could turn your life, family, business, or livelihood around. 30
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
Enemy 5: Losses The best way to make more money is to lose less money and by understanding the system of market cycles. And not putting foundational retirement and college education funding assets to very high risk.
Enemy 6: Lawsuits It is imperative to protect your assets from lawsuits. A good attorney can provide the best asset protection planning according to your needs & objectives.
Enemy 7: Unintended Heirs & Separation It is very important to plan your legacy to secure inheritance. A multi-generational legacy planning is also possible. Regarding separation, it is an extremely sensitive issue. Divorce can be worse than Death.
About the Author Bimal Shah, as a financial advisor for 21 years, has helped the community to preserve and protect their assets, build lasting legacies, increase their income, and reduce the taxes they pay. To contact him, please email him at info@bizactioncoach.com or call him at 561-208-4032.
How to Prepare Financially for a Longer Life Provided By: Anjanee Mahabir, Northwestern Mutual
People are living longer, which increases the odds of developing a chronic illness that could require on-going care.
34
I
f you ask people, many of them will tell you that they are not afraid of dying so much as they may be afraid of outliving your resources. No one looks forward to the time when you can no longer care for yourself. When that time comes, your ability to live as good a life as physically possible will depend on what preparations you make today. Exercise, eat right, stay mentally fit and financially prepared.
Long-term care can be expensive and costs can quickly impact a person’s financial security. People are living longer, which increases the odds of developing a chronic illness that could require on-going care. If the day comes that you are unable to do basic things, such as dressing yourself, getting in and out of bed, eating a meal or going to the bathroom alone, you will need to be prepared for the costs of paying professional caregivers for the help you need.
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
As health care costs escalate, an increasing number of people are protecting themselves by planning for long-term care. Though Medicare covers skilled care for acute conditions such as heart attacks and broken bones, in general, it does not cover the custodial care required for chronic medical conditions. When making your plans for a secure retirement, it’s also important to consider long-term care needs as a way of helping to protect your assets so they aren’t exhausted by possible extendedcare costs. By planning ahead, you can help maintain your independence and help ensure you have financial security to live your life your way. There are quite a few factors to consider when planning for longterm care. For this reason, it’s important to work with a financial professional who understands your needs, and who can design a plan that will meet those needs at a cost you can afford. Specifically, look for a financial professional who is supported by a wellestablished company with a solid history of strength and stability. A company that is well-positioned
to deliver long-term value and will be there when you need it most. The right long-term care plan can provide you with options on how you receive the care you need and where. It gives you choices about how your final years are lived and where. And maybe, with such a plan can help reduce the fear of outliving your resources.
When making your plans for a secure retirement, it’s also important to consider long-term care needs as a way of helping to protect your assets so they aren’t exhausted by possible extended-care costs.
Article prepared by Northwestern Mutual. Anjanee Mahabir is a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual based in Boca Raton, FL. Anjanee Mahabir is a licensed insurance agent. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI, and its subsidiaries. To contact Anjanee Mahabir, please call (954) 649-0095 or email at anjanee.mahabir@nm.com.
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
35
DESH-VIDESH DISTRIBUTORS
FLORIDA
Boca Raton Boca Indian Grill 561-465-3446 Cafe Bombay 561-750-5299 Preeti Salon 561-347-8250 Punjab Indian Restaurant 561-392-8000 Tanjore Indian Restaurant 561-886-7735 Bradenton India Bazaar 941-756-5373 Bawarchi Indian Cuisine 727-789-9760 Martins Indian Cuisine 727-237-3130 Tampa Grocery 813-655-8900 Casselberry Hindu Society of Central Florida 407-595-9224 COCONUT CREEK Robbie E Custom Cakes & Pastries 954-775-2633 Cooper City Ellies Desi Kitchen 954-436-1231 Coral Springs Bawarchi Indian Cuisine 954-344-3544 Indian Kichen 954-227-1123 Salma Kitchen 954-344-2644 Sheesh Kabab 954-775-0167 Taste Buds of India 954-603-6996 Daytona Beach Aavtar Indian Cuisine Taj Restaurant 954-629-7599 Delray Beach Deshi Bazar 561-865-7186 Saffron & Curry 561-270-2069 Fort Lauderdale 7 Flavors Restaurant 954-370-6200 Best Indian Grocery & Super Market 954-252-0011 Bombay Cafe 954-568-0600 Convenient Wholesalers 954-351-0080 Eastern Supermarket 954-749-0302 Mehfil Banquet Hall 954-742-3370 Monas Fashions 954-709-8622 Nirala Sweets 954-292-4415 Sunita Boutique & Beauty 954-747-6664 The Palace Indian Cuisine & Banquet Hall 954-370-4750 Woodlands Restaurant 954-749-3221 Fort Myers Halal Meat & Grocery 239-332-1765 Hindu Temple of Southwest Florida 239-225-0319 House of Spices 239-931-3901 India Palace 239- 939-2323 Indian Grocery Store 239-936-2123 Kabab Village 239-335-2222
Little India 239-936-9299 Spice Club India Grill Indias Grill 239-931-6751 Greenacres House of India-Greenacres 561-965-2102 Hollywood Big Bazar 954-433-7599 Flavors of India 954-433-4343 Little Asia Market 954-437-1666 Sitara Indian & Asian Groceries 954-517-0020 Tropics Restaurant & Nightclub 954-985-8382 Jacksonville 5th Element Indian Restaurant 904-448-8265 Apna Bazaar - Jacksonville 904-996-8780 Flavors Essence of India 904-733-1525 Hindu Temple of Jacksonville 904-268-7630 India House Restaurant 904-683-5528 Indias Restaurant 904-620-0777 Jax Spice 904-853-6217 Maa Kitchen Restaurant 904-990-9999 Masala Indian Cuisine 904-268-6499 Patel Brothers Llc 904-800-2235 Raja Indian Spices 904-448-8006 Sitaara 904-900-1369 Tandoori 904-646-4477 Buddhas Belly 904-900-6042 Kissimmee Antasha West Indian Grocery 407-518-9200 Punjab Indian Restaurant 407-507-1094 Lake Mary Spice Land 407-829-2440 Lake Worth Island Getaway Cuisine 561-434-6926 Rung By Ruby 954-232-8753 Lakeland Krishna Grocery 863-510-0200 New India Bazaar 863-667-1105 Lauderdale Lakes Singh S Roti Palace 954-735-4686 Lauderhill Bedessee East-West Indian Grocery 954-583-3700 Indian Chillies 954-741-8388 Longwood Apna Bazar - Longwood 407-260-2644 Spice House of Longwood 407-331-9888 Margate 711 Food Store Margate 954-935-5670 A-1 Foods International 954-752-3028 Bourda Market 954-977-6402 Lucky City Restaurant 954-972-1871 Shalama S Halal Roti Shop 954-977-6753
Melbourne Best India Grocery 321-914-0876 India Bazaar -Melbourne 321-600-4997 Taal Fine Indian Cuisine 321-802-6537 Tandoor Fine Indian Cuisine 321-704-0260 Taste of India 321-751-4191 Miami 786 Grocery 305-752-9199 Amar Jyoti Mandir (Miami) 786-553-8438 Ashoka Indian Cuisine 305-456-8566 Ashraf Halal Meat & Grocer 305-654-0195 Asia Grocery 786-268-7700 Asian Spices 305-387-0025 Bismillah Cash & Carry 305-324-4044 Bombay Darbar Indian Cuisine 305-444-7272 Caribbean Delight 305-254-6606 Consulate of Guyana 786-235-0431 Ghee Indian Kitchen 305-968-1850 India Bazzar 305-253-9551 Indian Grocery -Miami 786-293-1861 Indo American Store 305-382-7570 Lazeez Asian Cusine 305-388-2428 Masala Market 305-698-8770 Rupees Sarees 305-576-4368 Spice N Curry 305-359-3928 Thali Indian Cuisine 305-397-8814 Miramar Desi Bazaar 786-467-7999 S&A Caribbean Market 954-961-6160 Naples Passage To India Restaurant 239-513-0024 North Miami Zaika Indian Cuisine 786-409-5187 Orlando Aisha Beauty Salon 407-334-5465 Annies Roti Shop 407-930-8069 Apna Andaaz 407-859-0020 Apna Bazaar - Orlando 407-856-0238 Baps-Shri Swaminarayan Mandir 407-857-0091 Bombay Bazaar - Orlando 407-856-1780 Caribbean Super Center 407-523-1308 Chaat House 407-240-4922 Chutneys Indian Restaurant 407-730-9624 Dine India 407-802-4854 Flavors of India 407-778-5255 Golden Dynasty 407-851-2090 Grand India 407226-9797 Himas Indian Cuisine 407-574-4254 House of Spices 407-857-8805 India Palace Restaurant 407-238-2322 Indian Market 407-243-2424 Khasiyat Restaurant 407-888-2147
Book More Indian Weddings Reserve Your Booth
MyShadi
Bridal Expo The Largest Event of its Kind Photo Courtesy: Castaldo Studio
75%
Over repeat vendor rate Attention Exhibitors Several years experience producing the best bridal shows in the Southeast. • Mass-advertising through TV and Radio advertisements on some of the National South Asian Radio and TV channels. • City and statewide print/radio advertising • Direct mailing to thousands of households • Outbound phone calls to households • Opportunity to market to thousands of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and IndoCaribbean Brides. • Pipe and drape booths arranged in classy and elegant layout to create an ambiance of splendor. • Contact "lead list" provided after the show in digital form. • Did we mention thousands of brides will attend?!
Expo showcases the latest trends and products essential for Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh weddings. Hundreds of brides and families attend each show!
ATLANTA
ORLANDO
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Noon to 5:00 PM
Noon to 5:00 PM
Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel
Hilton Orlando 6001 Destination Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32819
2450 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339
Reserve Your Booth Online Today
www.myshadibridalexpo.com Destination Wedding Pavilion Booths Available
Affordable Booth Options Starting at $300!
Fashion Show Sponsorship Available
Presented by
Desh-Videsh Media Group Inc. (954) 784-8100 www.deshvidesh.com
Free Admission and Parking
Platinum Sponsors Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel
MyShadi
(770) 303-3123 www.renaissancewaverly.com
(954) 784-8100 www.myshadi.com
Hilton Orlando (407) 313-8458 www.thehiltonorlando.com
The Arpan Group (703) 651-6670 www.thearpangroup.com
DESH-VIDESH DISTRIBUTORS Maa Durga Sri Sai Baba Temple 407-437-6709 Patel Brothers Orlando 407-816-0070 Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir 407-341- 9076 Shri Shivdham Hindu Temple 407-380-2661 Sizzler Tandoori Restaurant 407-345-4980 Woodlands Orlando 407-854-3330 Shahi Bazaar 386-675-6165 Palm Coast 5th Element Indian Cuisine 386-302-0202 Pembroke Pines Asia Spices 954-589-5401 Beautiful U Spa 954-441-9511 Beauty Cafe Salon 786-486-9665 New India Bazaar 954-270-2101 Ruchi Authentic Indian Cuisine 954-505-7455 Sheiks Bakery & Roti Cafe 954-441-4895 Shezan Banquet Hall Tandoor Restaurant 954.392-0999 Plantation Al Natour 954-514-7277 India House Restaurant 954-565-5701 Shiv Mandir 954-735-3560 Pompano Beach 5th Element India Grill 954-977-4334 Satis Indian & Vareity Store 954-977-6585 Port St Lucie India Spice 772-340-4991 Royal Palm Beach India Grill + Bar 561-249-7168 Sarasota Flavors of India 941-921-9200 South Daytona Masala Indian Cuisine 386-760-4505 Southwest Ranches South Florida Hindu Temple 954-252-8802 Sunrise Apna Bazar - Sunrise 954-742-5757 Delhi Fashions 954-702-8391 Hibiscus Restaurant 954-587-1238 Indu Herbal Beauty Salon 954-572-6822 Patel Brothers 954-742-3004 Tandoor Pizza & Sweets 954-746-6000 Zevar Jewelers 954-742-5305 Tallahassee Apna Bazar 850-597-9774 Little India Inc 850-422-7701 Persis Biryani Indian Grill 850-877-8899 Rhythm House of India 850-422-7701 Samrat Indian Restaurant 850-942-1993 Tampa Apna Bazaar - Tampa 813-903-1774 Biryani Cafe 813-972-7400 Dosa Hut 813-385-2033
Golden Paan And Chaat House 813-407-8612 House of Spices -Tampa 813-333-2479 India Bazaar -Tampa 813-885-9551 India Cultural Center (Icc) 813-802-4638 Kismet Bollywood Dance 310-729-6484 Malani Jewelers 813-866-4653 Patel Brothers -Tampa 813-558-9090 Rana Grill & Kabab 813- 972-1550 Royal Indian Bar & Grill 813-600-3463 Saffron Indian Cuisine-Tampa 813-600-3315 Shree Laxmi Naryan Mandir 813-444-9786 Tabla Fine Indian Cuisine 813-972-5900 Taj Indian Cuisine 813-971-8483 Tamarind Indian Restaurant 813-341-8100 Udipi Cafe 813-962-7300 Temple Terrace Gro Styles 813-903-8334 West Palm Beach Apna Pharmacy & Supermarket 561-967-7193 Desi Subs & Grill 561-328-7455 Halal Meat Market 561-433-3183 India Bazaar- West Palm Beach 561-684-3480 Indus & Indian Herbal Cuisine 561-249-0123 The India Palace 561-478-5606 Wilton Manors Little Market 954-561-8606
GEORGIA
Alpharetta Chennai Express Haveli Indian Cuisines 770-422-8000 India Plaza 678-867-0388 Spices Hut 770-410-9477 Taste of India 404-421-4505 Atlanta Asia Halal Meat 404-633-0010 Bhojanic Restaurant 404-841-8472 Cafe Bombay 404-320-0229 Himalaya Indian Restaurant/ Grocery 770-458-6557 Swapna Indian Cuisine 770-956-7589 Cumming Alpharetta Halal Meat 770-346-8808 Cherians International Groceries 770-888-4141 Decatur Chai Pani Restaurant 404-378-4030 Chat-Patti Indian Vegetarian 404-633-5595 Cherians International Groceries 404-819-5979 Gokul Sweets - Decatur 404-299-2062 Mantra 404-636-4400 Mirage Sarees 404-292-0002 Patel Brothers Atlanta 404-296-2696 Royal Sweets 404-327-5799 Sankalp Decatur 470-225-6083
Tava Indian Bistro 404-343-2710 Zyka Restaurant 404-664-8880 Duluth Apna Bazaar -Duluth 770-807-7776 Brahmin Samaj of Georgia Inc House 770-662-8628 Gokul Sweets 470-268-4444 Madhur Groceries 678-878-2420 New Delhi Imports 770-623-9560 Planet Mumbai Bombay 770-476-9976 Udipi Cafe 678-584-5840 Dunwoody Bharath Groceries 678-731-9252 Indian Bazaar-Dunwoody 770-455-3128 Johns Creek Biryani Pot 770-476-4795 Kennesaw Suvidha Indo-Pak Groceries 770-419-7112 Lake City Shree Shakti Mandir 770 968 3490 Lawrenceville Desi Bazar & Halal Meat 678-615-7089 Shahi Bazaar/United Wholesaler 770-972-5878 Spice Oven Catering 678-630-2867 Lilburn Akshar Grocery 770-717-9882 Al Hamrah International Food And Spices 770-381-2006 Kabab Hut 770-925-4440 Marietta Bismillah Halal Meat & Indo Pak Grocries 770-565-8859 Haveli Indian Cuisines - Marietta 770-422-8000 Lahore Grill 678-398-9868 Punjab Grocery 770-955-3277 Shivam Indian Groceries 770-971-7448 Vatica Indian Vegetarian Cuisine 770-955-3740 Norcross Guru Nanak Mission Society of All 770-931-3490 Junaid Jamshed 770-849-0001 Lazeez Tava Fry 770-939-1221 Rahuls Boutique 478-747-9418 Sabri Kabob House Sri Krishna Vilas 770-447-0049 The Mughals Restaurant 770-446-6941 Riverdale Hindu Temple of Atlanta 770-907-7102 India Imports 770-997-1085 Indo Pak Grocery 770-996-6786 Roswell India Chef 770-817-0661 Suwanee Suvidha Indo-Pak Groceries 770-292-1992
We Love Diwali
Holi Hai!
Written by Raj Shah llustrated by Kamlesh M. & Natasha S.
Written by Raj Shah llustrated by Kamlesh M. & Natasha S.
The complete Ramayan in 100 Tweets llustrated by Kamlesh M. & Natasha S.
The complete Mahabharat in 100 Tweets llustrated by Kamlesh M. & Natasha S.
Written by Meghna Pant
Written by Raj Shah
Indian Women Power By Suresh Gajwani
I
have often pondered why our country is stuck in neutral gear while the world keeps galloping by us. As Indians we do so well abroad, but back home we sometimes get mired in small, petty and selfish acts.
Suresh Gajwani
Our country has many challenges, including the deep-rooted “corruption” at every level of our government and politics. The focus of this article is to bring attention to a plight maybe even worse for our country: The treatment of over 50% of our population as second class citizens. Just how this came to be is debatable, but the fact remains, we are a paternalistic society. The male member of the family is usually the lead in the family. His authority continues to increase as he grows older, leading to consequences: • Females in the family are delegated to minor roles and their input to key decisions is given minimal weight. • That patriarch, especially in a fast-changing world of technology, makes questionable decisions, since there is no tradition of fair debate within the family. These two inter-related factors are hurting our country. Males are not always the best leaders. Moreover, trivializing the contribution of our women is demoralizing and can lead to bad decisions. Thus the need to treat women “exactly equal” to the men and allow them equal status at the discussion table.
46
It starts with the father, who may feel as though he owns the daughter and is duty-bound to save her for another male, the “son-in-law,” as part of this wellcrafted conspiracy of male dominance. Girls are treated as temporary wards of the family and are given minimal support required for a successful marriage. Overnight, after marriage she is expected to switch sides, accept 100% loyalty to her NEW family and cut all ties with her birth family. There may well have been some justification for this several centuries ago when India was primarily an agricultural society. The same justification does not apply in today’s world, making this treatment completely unacceptable. No one owns her. No one has the right to tell her what is right or wrong. No one has the right to place arbitrary limits and expectations on her to fit the narrow agendas of the family, community, or religious leaders (who perpetuate the myth: “Your husband is your God.”). They are all active participants in this male-dominant society. Only She has the right and the responsibility to make decisions that will affect her life. To be fair, this may not be a struggle between male and female, but a struggle between those who benefit from this arrangement and those who don’t. For example, the mother-in-law, who may run family affairs may mistreat younger women in a joint family just as badly as the male leaders!
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
This is a struggle for power. History teaches us that those with power never relinquish it voluntarily. Be ready to fight for it! Remember that this is a vast conspiracy that has been successfully fine-tuned over centuries. It is so deeply ingrained in our culture that it will be very hard to reverse it in a short time. But the time to start reversing this is NOW. Accept the fact that revolution does not happen with “requests”, “be nice,” or “be ladylike” comments. Every woman, age 18 to 88, must stand-up and demand her birthright of Equality. She should have the freedom and support to accomplish whatever she wishes and in whatever role she elects to play, without being encumbered by artificial limits and guidelines imposed by outside influences. We accept that this problem is not unique to India, and that
there are other cultures who treat women just as or worse than our culture does. This is not a race to see who is worse. It is a race for equality, fair play and a desire to unleash the power of our smartest half of the population and the betterment of our country.
Recently, I learned about Kangana Ranaut, and she has become my new hero. She has defied all societal norms, fought many tough battles and reached a pinnacle in her acting career at a young age of 30. Learn more about Kangana, by
listening to her interviews on Burkha Dutt, Aap Ki Adalat, and other major news programs. Kangana is a symbol and potential role model for our women, and there are so many like her among us. If we could create millions of Kanganas, we would be the most advanced country in the world. Do not fool yourself into believing that this struggle will be easy. The opposition has been practicing this art for thousands of years. They have control on the finances, media, and the political and religious classes. You will see some very innovative and impressive theatrics to preserve the “status quo.” If you believe in two simple facts: 1) You are an equal; and 2) You are ready to accept the responsibility and authority to run your own life, then long term victory is sure to be yours.
If someone took your child, how hard would you fight to get him/ her back? Here, they have done something worse – they have stolen you and your child. How can you not fight for that? My personal request to all my sisters: • Do not accept bad behavior simply because it is part of our tradition. Of course you should love, respect and care for our elders, but you also need to take charge of your own life. • Demand your birthright of Equality and do not settle for anything less. • When you succeed, your family and our country will be the biggest beneficiaries. Humanity will take a giant step forward when women attain “true equality.
Our country has many challenges, including the deeprooted “corruption” at every level of our government and politics. The focus of this article is to bring attention to a plight maybe even worse for our country: The treatment of over 50% of our population as second class citizens.
Misconception about Itemized Deductions/Schedule A on your Tax Return
“
By Nirali Chokshi, CPA
”
Sure, you can deduct that on your tax return.. How many times have you heard that statement before? But can you really?
As taxes are a hot topic in the news and your social gatherings, I hear numerous questions on deductions. What’s allowed? How much can I deduct? To what extent can I deduct? Is my accountant really looking out for me? Yes for this last question (at least I do!). But let’s focus in on something personal, so personal that it’s on your Form 1040 Schedule A. On your Form 1040 Individual Tax Return, you either take the standard deduction or itemized deduction that is totaled on your Schedule A. The standard deduction for the 2017 tax year is $6,350 if filing single or $12,700 married filing jointly or $9,350 for head of household. If your itemized total is more than the standard deduction, then you can take the itemized deduction. Makes sense right? 2018: Standard Deduction is $12,000 for single, $24,000 for married filing jointly and Now let’s look at the most common deductions taken and misconceptions about them:
As taxes are a hot topic in the news and your social gatherings, I hear numerous questions on deductions.
52
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
Medical Expenses Medical expenses include doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital fees, and insurance premiums - expenses that YOU have actually paid. Total these all up and anything ABOVE 10% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) will be allowed as part of Schedule A deduction. For example: AGI is $50,000 and total medical expenses are $6,000. Your schedule A allowed deduction for medical expenses is $1,000. 2018: Anything above 7.5% of you AGI will be considered for a deduction.
Charitable Gifts With or without this deduction ALL people should give to charity in one way or another. You can deduct any charitable gifts only if you itemize and may only deduct a maximum of 50% of your Adjusted Gross Income; anything of excess will be carried forward for 5 years.
Mortgage Interest
Job Expenses and Miscellaneous Deduction Subject to 2% floor Various types of expenses that includes unreimbursed employee expenses, tax preparation fees, and hobby expenses that generate income. You can only deduct expense total that exceed 2% of your AGI. 2018: Eliminated till 2025 Remember these are generalized deductions and may or may not apply to you personally. Please reach out to your tax advisor for specific advice.
The standard deduction for the 2017 tax year is $6,350 if filing single or $12,700 married filing jointly or $9,350 for head of household.
This is interest paid on your house loan and one other residence and is deductible up to $1 million of debt if you itemize. 2018: New mortgages are only allowed to deduct the interest on debt up to $750,000. No deduction for the interest on home equity loans.
State and Local Property ALERT - Make all tax payments in 2017! Currently, you can deduct all property taxes, state taxes and other local taxes. 2018: State and local tax total capped at $10,000 - this includes any combination of property, income, and sales tax. 54
About the Author Nirali is a CPA working at her family’s accounting firm Chokshi Accounting & Tax Services in Orlando, FL. She graduated with her Masters from University of Central Florida in 2009. JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
55
Numbers for Financial Success To achieve success in life, you must set your goal. This is also true for financial success. Here, we are presenting expert-recommended financial targets that will help you to achieve financial success to what you are looking for.
The Share of Your Pretax Monthly Income that Should Go Toward Housing Costs
28% to 38%
Source: Carolyn Warren, Homebuyers Beware
To Qualify for Home Mortgage Credit Score 740 and 10% down payment
20%
Source: Sheryl Garrett, founder, Garrett Planning Network
120 minus Your Age Source: Jim Holtzman, financial planner, Legend Financial Advisors
Source: Carolyn Warren, Homebuyers Beware
Minimum Amount of Your Pretax Income to Save for Retirement
The Maximum Percentage of Your Retirement Savings that Should be in Stocks or Stock Mutual Funds
You should review your retirement portfolio at least once a year.
Maximum Percentage of Your Take-Home Pay You Should Owe to Credit-Card Source: creditcards.com Companies
5%
Minimum Amount of Life Insurance You Should Buy
10 times Your Gross Income 56
Source: Thomas Henske, partner at Lenox Advisors
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
D
esh-Videsh Media Group announced the launch of new magazine, Sanatan Dharma, which will cover articles on Hinduism—the most ancient religion in the world, its spirituality, belief, values, and culture. The magazine will be published from the company’s headquarters in Florida. The first issue will be on stands and available to readers online January 14, 2018. Hindu scholars and prolific writers like Philip Goldberg, author of The American Veda, Dr. Jeffery D. Long, Professor of Religion & Asian Studies, Dr. Alok Kumar, Sri Nandanandana Dasa (Stephen Knapp), Maria Worth, Dr. Subhas Kak and many more known names will be featured in the magazine.
Magazine content will also touch upon topics like the chronology of Hinduism, maintaining Hindu culture in our youth, among others.
This one of a kind magazine will cover a plethora of subjects such as the difference between Sanatan Dharma and Hinduism and Hindu American children excelling in the US. Questions such as what is Sanatana Dharma; what is the difference between dharma and religion; and is yoga a part of the Hindu culture will also be explored.
Raj Shah, co-founder of Desh-Videsh Media Group shares, “The year 2018 is going to be memorable in the history of our media group. We will be celebrating our 25th year in publishing and will be launching a new magazine, Sanatan Dharma.” He added that a magazine like this was a long time coming. Sanatan Dharma will be available in print and digital formats, come in glossy and all-color, setting it apart from other magazines and putting it in a class of its own. Every month, readers will look forward to receiving their copy of the magazine for its interesting articles and other valuable information. “Sanatan Dharma will cover complex subjects in lucid language, which every member of the family will enjoy reading,” said Shah. The magazine is targeted for people living in the US. For more information about the magazine and to take advantage of introductory offers on subscriptions and advertising, please visit http://sanatan-dharma.org/.
58
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
ALL ABOARD BENEFITS INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE Call Today for QUOTES Visitors Insurance Travelers Outside Your Home Country On Line Quotes & On Line Policy Issue 1-800-462-2322 - www.allaboardbenefits.com
• • • • •
Individuals & Families Groups & Organizations Missionaries & Churches New Immigrants & Green Card Holders Yacht & Crew
• • • • •
Seniors on Medicare Students Traveling Athletes to & from USA Schengen Visa Compliant Foreign Nationals inside USA
For More Information contact: All aboard Benefits / Call: 1-800-462-2322 / Website: www.allaboardbenefits.com Mike Crowston Ext. 1001 • Brenda Rose Ext. 1002 • Bobby Young Ext. 1005 • At varying times travel may be excluded to a country on a terrorist watch list
‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha in Bills Gates’ Inspirational Tweets of 2017
Best Dressed Actresses of 2017 Pinkvilla has come up a list of actresses who have brought their A-Game to red carpets, airports, gyms and even international events. These nine Bollywood beauties made their mark as fashionistas in 2017 (as compiled by Pinkvilla).
Kareena Kapoor Khan
The Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar film, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha was featured in the number 3 position on a list of inspiring tweets from 2017 by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The 62-year-old took tweeted “There’s no denying that 2017 was a really tough year... but it also delivered some amazing moments of hope and progress. Here are some inspiring tweets that you may have missed…” The Bollywood film is about a new bride who leaves her inlaws house and husband when she finds out there is no toilet in the house. In India, one in 10 deaths is due to poor hygiene 60
and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha educates the audience about the challenging sanitation problem in the country. Meanwhile, the director of the film, Shree Narayan Singh is over the moon about the impact it has made. First, it was Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and now Bill Gates who have appreciated the film highly. The film was inspired by Modi’s Swachch Bharat Abhiyan and is based on a real-life incident. In a village, a woman left her husband after learning there was no toilet in the house. The film grossed Rs 100 crore and is Akshay Kumar’s eighth high earning film of 2017.
Kareena Kapoor Khan stunned with her post-pregnancy wardrobe – airport style, red carpet appearances and her iconic Tarun Tahiliani ensemble during Diwali.
Deepika Padukone Deepika Padukone killed it during the promotional tour of her Hollywood flick ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’ and at the Cannes Film Festival 2017.
Kangana Ranaut The fashionista is known for her airport looks. This year her style statements were bold, sharp and conversation starters.
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
61
Priyanka Chopra
Anushka Sharma
The ‘Quantico’ star nailed street style this year. She made fashion history with her appearance at the MET Gala 2017 with a custom made brown trench coat dress by Ralph Lauren.
Anushka’s wedding looks made waves. Besides, her fashion choices while promoting Phillauri and Jab Harry Met Sejal were distinctive.
Sonam Kapoor
Sonakshi Sinha
The fashionista walked the ramp for Ralph and Russo at the Paris Fashion Week and slayed it at Cannes.
From being a fashion disaster to a queen she has come a long way. She nailed it this year pulling off a Beyonce in a sheer red Labourjoisie gown at the IIFA Awards 2017.
Alia Bhatt
Jacqueline Fernandez
Alia Bhatt brought us the pajama trend and experimented with sarees.
Her 3D gown at the Filmfare Glamour and Style Awards was a hit.
Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aanaa Screened at Rashtrapati Bhavan The Rajkummar Rao film Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aanaa was screened at Rashtrapati Bhavan Saturday evening. Vinod Bachchan, producer of the film, said they got a phone call and an email from the President’s office stating the ministry wanted to watch the film as they had heard good reviews of it. “I am overwhelmed by receiving such an email, so we are hosting a screening today at the President’s house. And tomorrow (Sunday) we will be screening the film for a different ministry. It is a family drama set in small town,” he said. The story is about the struggle and journey an IAS officer, the male protagonist. The producer said maybe it was a relatable link for the ministers. Bachchan added stories set in small towns such as – Bareily Ki Barfi, Shubh Mangal Savdhaan, Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aanaa are easier for the audience to relate to. He believes that people can relate to such films and hence they click at the box office. 62
Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana released on November 10 and is still running in single-screen theaters in a few small cities.
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
63
Virushka Wedding
Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli tied the knot in Italy on December 11. It was a closeknit gathering at a countryside resort in Tuscany. The couple announced the news in an identical tweet the same day. The wedding of the year was preceded by their engagement the video in which showed the Indian skipper kissing and hugging his ladylove. The entire haldi, mehendi, engagement, wedding and reception outfits and jewelry were done by celebrity designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. “Today we have promised each other to be bound in love forever. We are truly blessed to share the news with you. This beautiful day will be made more special with the love and support of our family of fans & well-wishers. Thank you for being such an important part of our journey,� tweeted Virat and Anushka. 64
Though their wedding was an intimate affair, the couple treated their friends and colleagues to a lavish reception in New Delhi on December 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also in attendance. The wedding reception invitations were grand. Virat and Anushka will host another reception for Bollywood and cricket stars at the St. Regis hotel in Mumbai on December 26. The couple spent some quality time in Finland from where they shared pictures on social media. The Indian skipper will start preparing for the upcoming series for two months in South Africa where he will travel with his wife on December 27. Anushka will begin shooting for her next film opposite Shah Rukh Khan and also prepare for Sui Dhaaga with Varun Dhawan. JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
Sunny Leone’s Role Models Taught her to be Herself Sunny Leone’s inspiration and role models are wellknown names in Bollywood actresses Madhubala, Sharmila Tagore, Zeenat Aman, Rekha, Dimple Kapadia and Mandakini. She said Sharmila, Madhubala and Dimple taught her to be herself. The 36-year-old actress took to Twitter Wednesday and shared photographs of Zeenat, Dimple, Sharmila and Mandakini, dressed in bold clothes, from their films. The 1970s and 1980s actresses dared to go against societal norms with their outfit choices. These Bollywood beauties broke the image of the traditional sari-clad female and raised many eyebrows and led the way for today’s actresses to follow.
“A few women in Bollywood who have taught me that it’s perfectly okay to be myself
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
Sharmila Tagore, Mandakini, Dimple Kapadia, Rekha, Zeenat Aman and Madhubala,” Leone captioned the images. She said these actresses have inspired her not to make any changes in her personality. The Canadian-born actress is known for playing bold roles in films. She entered the adult film industry in 2005 where she worked her way to the top. Sunny appeared in Indian reality TV show Bigg Boss in 2011 where she was offered the lead role in Jism 2 by Mahesh Bhatt. She also starred in Bollywood films Ragini MMS 2, Hate Story 2, Mastizaade and Baadshaho. She was last seen opposite Arbaaz Khan in Tera Intezaar, released in December.
65
Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s Honeymoon Pictures are Adorable
Newly married comedienne Bharti Singh and her husband writer Haarsh Limbachiyaa are on their honeymoon with their first stopover being Dubai. She had planned the month-long honeymoon much in advance. The couple got hitched in a destination wedding in Goa
on December 3. The couple is taking time off from their busy schedules to spend time with each other. Bharti and Haarsh are all set to travel and explore European countries like Italy, Venice, Budapest and Greece. “Marriage is having a sleepover with your best friend every night.... 1 month of total fun and pampering with @haarshlimbachiyaa30,” she shared on twitter. They are celebrating their first Christmas together in Dubai. The comedienne took to social media to wish her fans on the occasion: “Wishing you a season full of love, hap-
piness, joy, cheer and laughter! Wishing each one of you Merry Christmas! Let’s jingle all the way!” Bharti posted pictures of food from their Christmas celebrations. They are sure having a lot of fun. She has posted lots of selfies in which Haarsh can be seen kissing her, while she is seen with henna on her hands, complete with chooda and mangalsutra. Her newly married avatar is winning hearts. The comedy queen delayed her honeymoon by a week as she was invited to be a part of the finale of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge.
Vatsal Sheth wants to do films like Indiana Jones Vatsal Sheth who married his former co-star Ishita Dutta in November wants to do an adventure film along the lines of Indiana Jones. The 37-year-old actor who made his Bollywood debut with Taarzan: The Wonder Car (2004) is currently doing a television show, Haasil, a romantic thriller. “It’s a good time in the film industry as a lot of experimentation is happening in terms of content and approach. I’m looking at doing films next year. I would love to do an adven66
ture film - the genre interests me a lot,” Vatsal said. Vatsal was last seen in the Salman Khan film Jai Ho in 2014. Vatsal is known for his shows Rishton Ka Saudagar – Baazigar, Ek Hasina Thi and Just Mohabbat. JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
Chetan Hansraj back on TV as an Aghori Tantrik Chetan Hansraj is back with a bang on television with Mahakaali Anth Hi Arambah Hai. The actor who was last seen in Chandra Nandini will play the role of an Aghori tantric, Malla, a negative character in the show.
Not much has changed for the actor from doing hit daily soaps to now. Previously he used to shoot in the suburbs of Mumbai while now he shoots in Umargaon which is very far. For him, apart from the distance, nothing has changed.
The 36-year-old actor said that the strong role demands a unique look, for which he takes approximately one and a half hours to get ready. Chetan otherwise is known to be ready for shoot in 10 minutes.
Chetan is known for essaying negative role with finesse. He believes that it is his niche. “As an actor, I am very focused and patient because in our industry sometimes there is less work and no work phase so one should not lose the focus. I keep pushing myself and also keep believing in myself. I always feel my work should speak for me, Chetan said.
“Once you get into the look you know why it takes so much time. You are completely in that zone. I would say it’s crazy,” he said. Chetan added
that his look is inspired by John Sparrow.
Mouni Roy to make Bollywood Debut; Slays in Madhubala-Style Attire Nagin fame actress Mouni Roy is surely going places. She is all set to make her Bollywood debut in Gold opposite Akshay Kumar. She has also been cast in Dabangg 3 opposite Salman Khan.
“When you dance do you feel desire?” she captioned the video clip. Previously, she shared five pictures of her dressed in attire similar to that of legendary actress Madhubala from Mughal-e-Azam.
The Dabangg actor was reportedly impressed by Mouni in the reality television show, Big Boss 10.
“The last dance of 2017... All classical all heart,” she captioned the pictures, slaying it in the red, white and gold attire. The actress is known for her elaborate gowns and style.
However, this time around, the actress made news when she shared a short video clip on Instagram Sunday, performing to “pyar kiya to darna kya.” It shows the 32-yearold rehearsing in a black full-length anarkali with a group of dancers in the background.
Mouni will not be seen in Naagin 3, for which Ekta Kapoor has cast Surbhi Jyoti and Anita Hassanandani in place of her and Adaa Khan. She was last seen in Naagin 2 and was sad over the turn of events. But she has a lot to cheer for the New Year!
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
67
Vivian Dsena Admits Romancing a Transgender is Difficult about his co-star Rubina Diliakinow.
Harman from Shakti -- Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki aka Vivian Dsena said in an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla, portraying the character who fell in love with a transgender is very difficult.
On his plans to foray into Bollywood, the actor said he didn’t know whether anyone appreciated his work, but if they did they could call him for work. Vivian lets his work do the speaking.
“It is not normal according to the human standards,” said the actor who will complete almost a decade in the industry. His show is amongst the top 10 shows. The 29-year-old has come a long way from playing the hottest vampire on television to a normal man.
Talking about a crazy fan encounter, the actor who was featured in the Top 100 Sexiest Asian Men list said, “I was in a mall, walking, when a fan came and held my hand asking me to marry her.”
He was not keen on doing the role in Shakti earlier, but when the channel called him to hear the story, he gave in. “We are two professionals trying to work hard,” said Vivian, talking
On his personal life, Vivian doesn’t talk much. He said he doesn’t have much time after work and whatever time he gets, he spends with his family and friends.
Star Bharat’s Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki Premieres January 1 the role of Janki Prasad Chowdhury or Dada. The 73-yearold actor also plays Dada in the original Bengali show. He was launched by none other than Satyajit Ray in his film Seemabaddha. Rupanjana Mitra as Sandhya also plays a pivotal role in the show.
Star Bharat will launch its new show Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki on January 1 and will be telecast from Monday to Saturday at 9.30pm. It is inspired by the hit Bengali show Bhojo Gobindo. The story is about the Chowdhury family and their woes and Kanhaiya, a ‘fixer’ and a cook. He is hired by the family and bridges the gap between Dada and Dali. The central character not only whips up delicious meals but also brings joy to everyone’s life. The Hindi show has been directed in Hindi by Tollywood director Snehashish Chakraborty. The show will star Vishal Vashishta as Kanhaiya and Bengali actress Swe68
“I am thrilled to be part of ‘Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki’. The entire cast and crew are super excited about shooting the show in Kolkata. Our aim was to make the show look as real as possible,” said Vishal in a statement. ta Bhattacharya as Dali in her Hindi television debut. Veteran Bengali film and TV actor Deepankar De will play
He added that the show would be visually appealing to the audience as the sets are grand. Vishal said he couldn’t wait for the audience to see it.
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
70
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
Florida Orlando Hanuman Chalisa When: 01/6/2018, 10:00 AM Where: Shri Shiv Dham Hindu Temple 460 Oberry Hoover Rd, Orlando,32825 Contact: 407-380-2661 Host: Shri Shiv Dham Hindu Temple & Brahmrishi Yogashram
Celebrate New Year
Dhanur Masam Sri Aandal - Sri Ranganatha Swami Special Kalyana Uthasavam When: 01/13/2018, 4:00 PM Where: Hindu Society of Central Florida 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry,32707 Contact: T. Madhanagopal 407-353-8971 Host: Hindu Society of Central Florida
25th Asian Trade, Food Fair and Cultural Show 2018
When: 01/7/2018, 1:30 PM Where: HSCF - Community Hall 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry,32707 Contact: Madan Arora 407-971-9259 Host: HSCF New Age Group
22nd JVB Annual Spiritual When: 01/12/2018, 6:00 PM Where: Shergill Grand Hotel 5665 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven,33884 Contact: 407-852-8694 Host: Jain Vishwa Bharti - Orlando
HSCF Lohri Celebrations When: 01/13/2018, 6:00 PM Where: HSCF Community Hall 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry,32707 Contact: Neema Vedi 407-415-8501 Host: Hindu Society of Central Florida 72
When: 03/17/2018 Where: South Florida Fairgrounds (Expo) 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33411 Contact: 754-246-2801 Email: asianfair.fl@gmail.com Website: www.asianfair.org Host: Bangladesh Association of Florida JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
Makara Sankranti When: 01/14/2018, 6:00 PM
Musical Gala Night Keerthana
Where: Hindu Society of Central Florida
When: 02/10/2018, 4:30 PM
1994 Lake Dr, Casselberry,32707
1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry, FL 32707
Contact: Dr. Srinivas Seela 407-276-5407 Host: Hindu Society of Central Florida
Uttarayan (Kite Festival) When: 01/14/2018, 10:00 AM Where: Barnett Park 4801 W Colonial Drive, Orlando,32808 Contact: Mona Patel 407-757-7086 Host: Gujarati Society Central Florida
Navagraha Puja & Abhishekam When: 01/20/2018, 8:00 AM Where: Hindu Society of Central Florida 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry,32707 Contact: Ramprasad Nitta 407-325-1165 Host: Hindu Society of Central Florida
India Day 2018 When: 02/03/2018, 4:00 PM Where: Amway Center 400 West Church Street West Church Street Orlando, FL 32801 Contact: 407-391-5151 Host: Indian American Chamber of Commerce Orlando
Where: Community Hall
Contact: Dr. Guru Prasad 321-277-3724
Host: Hindu Society of Central Florida
Tampa Hatha Yoga - Yogasanas by Isha Yoga When: 01/20/2018, 8:00 AM
Where: Holiday Inn - Sarasota Airport 8009 15th Street East, Sarasota,34243 Contact: 813-413-1661 Host: Teacher Trained by Sadhguru
Inner Engineering Total
Pratham Atlanta Launch Party When: 01/20/2018, 6:30 PM Where: Pratham Atlanta Launch Party 26 Thai Kitchen & Bar 541 Main ST STE F170, Atlanta,30324 Contact: Ketan Shah 404-384-9100 Host: Pratham USA
When: 01/25/2018, 6:30 AM Where: Garden Club 500 Sunset Drive S., St. Petersburg,33707 Contact: 813-413-1661 Host: Isha USA
Georgia Atlanta Metro
Lohri Celebration 2018 When: 01/27/2018, 7:00 PM Where: Ashiana Restaurant & Banquet Hall 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd. Global Mall, Norcross,30071 Contact: Surinder Lalli 404-819-3890 Host: Sikh American Society of Georgia
Penn Masala A Capella Concert
Youth Festival - FOMAA
When: 01/13/2018, 5:30 PM Where: Ferst Center For The Arts 350 Ferst Drive Northwest, Atlanta,30332 Contact: Samarth Saran 424-785-4248 Host: India Club at GT
405 Pleasant Hill Rd., Lilburn,30047 Contact: 404-425-4350 Host: FOMAA South East Region
When: 01/27/2018, 9:00 AM Where: Berkmar High School
23rd Annual Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Chanting Competition Sunday, December 17, 2017
C
hinmaya Mission (CM) conducts annual Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Chanting Competitions around the world for tens of thousands of children, youth, and adults. His Holiness Swami Chinmayananda, the founding father of Chinmaya Mission, conceptualized this competition in the 1980s as an avenue to encourage children and youth to learn the glory and teachings of the Gītā. Chinmaya Mission Miami conducted its 23rd Annual Shrīmad Bhagavad Gītā Chanting Competition (GCC) on Sunday, December 17, 2017, 1-5 p.m., at the Sai Temple in Lake Worth. The event commemorated ShrīGītā Jayanti and ShrīTapovan Jayanti. The Gita, which teaches the supreme Truth and the art of living, has inspired millions, along with great world leaders and achievers. This year’s GCC featured the chanting of Verses 1-21 of Chapter 10. CM Miami’s GCC was open to all ages, and offered in the Memorized and Open Book categories. The Qualifying and Final Rounds, on Verses 1-9 and 10-21, respectively, highlighted the skills and discipline of the participants, who were judged in the following Groups: Group A: Grades PK-2, Group 76
B: Grades 3-7, Group C: Grades 8-12 and Adults. The judging criteria included pronunciation, memorization (where applicable), tune, and overall presentation. The judges were SwaminiAkhilananda (CM Miami Āchārya), Bhooma Sailappan, and Deepti Sailappan.
After the Qualifying Round, everyone enjoyed the half-hour break of refreshments. The halls were abuzz with anticipation of who had qualified for the Final Round, while the judges stayed behind closed doors to deliberate the selection. Everyone reconvened anxious
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
to hear the Final Round participants, whose names were called in random order. Joy and trepidation flashed on the faces called to chant. By the time the last finalist chanted, the room was filled with an air of eagerness for the announcement of the winners. The event coordination was led by Jeyanthi Rajaselvarasu and emcee, AlkaKhungar. All the organizing volunteers were thanked for their time and efforts. Before the winners were announced and prizes distributed, all the participants came forward to offer worship with the GītāĀrati. Judge, Deepti Sailappan, announced the winners and the emcee distributed the prizes. By Lord Krishna’s grace and PujyaGurudev’s
blessings, CM Miami’s GCC 2017 concluded successfully, invok-
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
ing devotion and Gītā wisdom in the hearts of all attendees.
WINNERS: Group A: SitharaManoharan (Grade 1, Open Book) Group B: Pranav Maddukuri (Grade 3, Memorized) Group C First Place: Anish Ravichandran (Grade 10, Memorized)
Group C Runner Up: Ananthanarayan Venkatachalam (Adult, Open Book)
77
Gandhi and the Nobel Peace Prize By Rajinder Singh (Available only via Kindle) An apostle of non-violent struggle and a crusader against colonialism and inequality Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi) was a much revered world figure. Between 1924 and 1948, in nearly 100 nominations (individual or joint) he was proposed for the Nobel Peace Prize. And yet despite international support, Gandhi was never a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Why was it so? Was it the fault of the Nobel Committee? Perhaps his associates made mistakes? In order to answer such questions, the nomination letters, newspaper cuttings, reports of the experts’ of the Nobel Committee, confidential record of the Committee, and other unpublished documents were consulted from the Archives of the Peace Prize Institute. The results are discussed and analysed in this volume. ISBN-13: 978-1138490031
The Indian Struggle (1920–1942) By Subhas Chandra Bose The Indian Struggle, 1920–1942 is a two-part book by the Indian nationalist leader Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose that covers the 1920–1942 history of the Indian independence movement to end British imperial rule over India. Banned in India by the British colonial government, The Indian Struggle was published in the country only in 1948 after India became independent. The book analyses a period of the Indian independence struggle from the Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movements of the early 1920s to the Quit India and Azad Hind movements of the early 1940s.
India: A History By John Keay The first single-volume history of India since the 1950s, combining narrative pace and skill with social, economic and cultural analysis. Five millennia of the sub-continent’s history are interpreted by one of our finest writers on India and the Far East. This edition does not include illustrations. Older, richer and more distinctive than almost any other, India’s culture furnishes all that the historian could wish for in the way of continuity and diversity. The peoples of the Indian subcontinent, while sharing a common history and culture, are not now, and never have been, a single unitary state; the book accommodates Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as other embryonic nation states like the Sikh Punjab, Muslim Kashmir and Assam. Above all, the colonial era is seen in the overall context of Indian history, and the legacy of the 1947 partition is examined from the standpoint of today. 78
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
Advertisers’ Index ACCOUNTANT Env Accounting ........................................................................................................... 70 Vakharia Bhupen CPA ................................................................................................ 55 ADVERTISING Desh Videsh Media Group ......................................................................................... 49 ASTROLOGER Astrologer Vikramji ..................................................................................................... 74 Pandit AnjiRam ........................................................................................................... 73 Pandit Sitaramji .......................................................................................................... 42 Pandith Joshi .............................................................................................................. 48 Star Astrology Center ................................................................................................. 61 ATTORNEYS Dehra Miotke LLC ...................................................................................................... 65 Neelofer Syed ESQ .................................................................................................... 31 BANQUET HALLS Hilton Orlando .............................................................................................................. 5 BEAUTICIANS/COSMETICIAN Anju Thaker ................................................................................................................ 77 BOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT Jadoo TV .................................................................................................................... 43 TV Asia USA ............................................................................................................... 37 BOOK PUBLISHERS Chronology of Hinduism ............................................................................................. 78 BRIDAL SHOW Myshadi Bridal Expo 2018 .......................................................................................... 39 CREDIT CARD PROCESSING North American Bancard ............................................................................................ 11 CULTURAL_PROGRAM Bangladesh Association of Florida ............................................................................. 51 DECORATOR Anand Event Services ................................................................................................ 19 Dreams To Reality ...................................................................................................... 25 Linen Connection Decor ............................................................................................. 82 Occasions By Shangri-la .............................................................................................. 8 DISC JOCKEY Dudha Productions ..................................................................................................... 61 Pavan Events ............................................................................................................. 82 E-COMMERCE Global AMS ................................................................................................................ 71 E-MARKETING The Arpan Group......................................................................................................... 13 FINANCIAL INVESTMENT/PLANNER Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors ............................................................................ 23 FINANCIAL SERVICES Smithdeal & Barry ...................................................................................................... 63 Trans States Mortgage ............................................................................................... 70 FLORIST Dreams To Reality ...................................................................................................... 25 Occasions By Shangri-la .............................................................................................. 8 FOOD DISTRIBUTOR Commerce International Inc ....................................................................................... 15 Sky Speed Distributor ................................................................................................. 41 FUNERAL SERVICES Wages & Sons Funeral Home & Crematories ............................................................ 27 GIFT ARTICLES Ayurveda & Puja Hut .................................................................................................... 9 GROCERY House of India-Greenacres ........................................................................................ 81 House of Spices ......................................................................................................... 83 India Bazaar- West Palm Beach ................................................................................. 83 Patel Brothers ............................................................................................................. 82
JEWELERS Bhindi Jewelers Inc ...................................................................................................... 4 Devam .......................................................................................................................... 2 Legacy Jewelers ......................................................................................................... 85 Malani Jewelers .......................................................................................................... 86 PS Jewelers ................................................................................................................. 9 Zevar Jewelers ........................................................................................................... 59 Magazine Subscription Desh Videsh Media Group ......................................................................................... 70 P R COMPANY The Arpan Group......................................................................................................... 13 PHOTOGRAPHER Anand Event Services ................................................................................................ 19 Krishna Video & Photo Studio .................................................................................... 83 Navyug Digital Studio & Color Lab ............................................................................. 82 Sona Photography ...................................................................................................... 63 PRIEST Acharya Ramesh Mehta ............................................................................................. 81 Mahesh Gor ................................................................................................................ 81 Priest Chakravarthy .................................................................................................... 50 Priest Ramachandra Bhat .......................................................................................... 83 PRINTING Desh Videsh Media Group ...............................................................................36-56-58 RADIO SHOW Manoranjan ................................................................................................................ 80 Radio Asia .................................................................................................................. 80 REALTOR AmeriTeam Realty Inc ................................................................................................ 81 Camelot Realty Services ............................................................................................ 69 Chapman Hall Realtors .............................................................................................. 83 Coldwell Banker - Jyoti Laungani ............................................................................... 81 Future Home Realty ................................................................................................... 82 Island and Resort Realty Inc. ..................................................................................... 83 Nalanda Estates ........................................................................................................... 3 Trans States Mortgage ............................................................................................... 70 RESTAURANT/CATERING 5th Element Indian Restaurant ................................................................................... 33 Ashoka Indian Cuisine ................................................................................................ 32 Boca Indian Grill ......................................................................................................... 22 Cafe Bombay .............................................................................................................. 29 Rasa Asian Street Food ............................................................................................. 12 Rasoi Indian Cusine ................................................................................................... 24 Tanjore Indian Restaurant ............................................................................................ 7 Taste Buds of India ..................................................................................................... 61 SARIS Devam .......................................................................................................................... 2 SCHOOL Orange Wings Aviation School ................................................................................... 88 SPIRITUAL CENTER Planet Watch Guru ..................................................................................................... 87 TRAVEL AGENCY Jubilee Tours & Travel Inc .......................................................................................... 81 Legend Travel & Tours ................................................................................................ 14 Puja Travels ................................................................................................................ 63 Worldwide Travel Inc .................................................................................................. 83 VIDEOGRAPHY Anand Event Services ................................................................................................ 19 Krishna Video & Photo Studio .................................................................................... 83 Navyug Digital Studio & Color Lab ............................................................................. 82 Sona Photography ...................................................................................................... 63 VISA SERVICES Global Visa Care Services .......................................................................................... 55 WEB DESIGN Global AMS ................................................................................................................ 71 WEB HOSTING SERVICES Global AMS ................................................................................................................ 71
HEALTH & FITNESS Planet Smoothie Tampa ............................................................................................. 55
WEDDING BUSINESS MARKETING Desh Videsh Media Group Inc ..........................................................................44-45-53 The Arpan Group......................................................................................................... 13
HINDUISM Chronology of Hinduism ............................................................................................. 78 Desh Videsh Media Group Inc .................................................................................... 47
WEDDING INVITATIONS Elegant Shaadi Cards ................................................................................................ 57 Invites & Events .......................................................................................................... 21
HORSE - CARRIAGE Orlando Horse & Carriage .......................................................................................... 77
WEDDING PORTAL MyShadi.com .............................................................................................................. 75
INSURANCE AGENTS All Aboard Benefits ..................................................................................................... 59 American Family Insurance-Lilburn ............................................................................ 81 Auto Owners Insurance .............................................................................................. 20 Bill Daly Insurance ...................................................................................................... 82 SDK & Associates Insurance Service ......................................................................... 69
WEDDING SERVICES Anand Event Services ................................................................................................ 19 Dreams To Reality ...................................................................................................... 25 Occasions By Shangri-la .............................................................................................. 8
IT CONSULTING Contract Engineers...................................................................................................... 65
WEDDING STATIONARY Elegant Shaadi Cards ................................................................................................ 57 WEDDING WEBSITES MyShadi.com .............................................................................................................. 75
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
81
82
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
83
Classifieds Live-In/Out Help Live In/Out help needed to take care of elderly father/mother, p r o v i d e c o m p a n y, cooking near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Pls call 954-494-4794 Help wanted - Off ice Assistant/ Secretar y for Maxim Tours. Indepth knowledge of various computer applications like Word, Excel, Outlook etc. Good Command over English, Gujarati, and Hindi. hiren@maximtours.net Hiren Jain at 407-480-9672 Seeking live-in nanny/ housekeeper in Orlando, FL to care for 2 school-age kids, cooking, light housekeeping. Enjoy great weather. Call: 917-720-6021
84
Hotel Housekeeping Needed: Indoor C o r r i d o r Ho t e l w i t h Elevators, OnSite Accommodations, Great Pay, Start Immediately. Properties in Atlanta, GA & Savannah, GA. Call D.J. Patel at 407-408-4500
Holi Hai! Holi Hai! explains why Hindus celebrate Holi, the festival of colors all around the world in the spring season. The book helps children living in America the universal message of the victory of good over evil. Phone: 954-784-8100 www.deshvideshpublishing.com
On-line Classified Ads
To Place Classified Ads
To see more Classified Ads, please visit: www.deshvidesh.com and Select View Classifed under Classified Button on top
please visit: www.deshvidesh.com and Select Submit Classifed under Classified Button on top
Publications We Love Diwali 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. Phone: 954-784-8100 www.deshvideshpublishing.com
Chronology of Hinduism The book, Chronology of Hinduism, highlights the rich history of the Hindu religion daing over 10,000 years. Phone: 954-784-8100 www.deshvideshpublishing.com
JANUARY 2018 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM