Web: www.india-herald.com • Editor@india-herald.com • Tel: 281-980-6746
24 Pages
India Herald
VOL. 24 • NO. 44 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 • P.O. BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017699 • 25 cents
Sexual abuse in our community
Reacting to last week’s breaking story, Masala Radio host lands in sex offender registry, Daya, a South Asian women’s support group, issued the following statement: “In light of recent news both nationally and here in Houston, Daya is taking this critical moment to speak out against the pervasiveness and silence around sexual violence in our community. Perpetrators and victims come from all ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds. Daya is outraged over these incidents, we offer our support to all who are or have been victims of sexual predators, and we reaffirm our mission to end domestic and sexual violence in the Houston community. “Sexual assault is any type of sexual behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. This not only includes sex but also touching, grabbing, attempts at sex and lewd remarks and gestures. The abuser may be a family member, a co-worker or a community member who, in most cases, is seen as a person of authority. Like in domestic violence, maintaining power and control over the victim is at the center of sexual assault. “In cases involving children under the age of 18, consent is not possible and, therefore, any sexual act between an adult and a minor is, without a doubt, considered sexual assault. “Sexual abuse and assault thrive on secrecy and silence. Societal stigma and victim blaming silence victims and drive them to keep their experience a secret. Instead of blaming and shaming the victims, we must hold abusers accountable, regardless of their position in the community, their fame, or their wealth. The blame for sexual assault should solely lie on the perpetrator. “As reports of powerful individuals abusing others flood our newsfeeds, we want to channel our outrage into awareness and action. Daya stands with the brave survivors who are sharing their stories within their families, in courtrooms, and on social media. We also stand with the countless survivors who have been silenced but are yet to come forward. “Every day we work with survivors by providing support and advocacy to help them find justice and peace in their lives. We speak openly in the community about sexual assault, knowing that spreading awareness will equip our community to support survivors, hold abusers accountable, and one day prevent these horrendous acts from happening. “We ask you to join us in taking a stand against sexual assault against women and men and especially against children and teenagers in our community. Together, we can empower families break the silence and secrecy surrounding sexual abuse and help stop the generational cycle of abuse. “If you or anyone you know needs resources or support, call our confidential helpline at 713-981-7645 or visit us at dayahouston. org.” Now in its twentieth year, Daya empowers south Asian women, their children and families who are trying to break the cycle of domestic and sexual violence and reclaim their lives. Daya empowers these women by offering counseling and advocacy, promoting community awareness and by advocating at the policy level. (See Story, Page 2)
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PAGE 2 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017
NEWS
Masala Radio host lands in sex offender registry
By SESHADRI KUMAR (Last week, after India Herald went to press, this story broke and it was first published on our website, India-herald.com. Here,the story has been updated with reactions from Sunil Thakkar and his wife, Sandhya Thakkar.) Sunil Thakkar, 51, noted host of Houston’s Masala Radio program and a comedian, has pleaded guilty to the charge of sexually assaulting a child, between the age of 14 and 17. As part of a plea deal, Thakkar will be on a five-year probation, spend 10 days in Harris County Jail, pay a fine of $1,500, register as a sex offender for lifetime, and do community service for 120 hours. He is prohibited from coming into contact with girls under 17. The genesis of the case began with probable cause found by the Houston Police Department on Dec. 7, 2015 and Thakkar posted a $30,000 bond on Dec. 10, 2015. A Grand Jury indicted Thakkar on Feb. 5, 2016. Judge Ramona Franklin of the 338th District Court in Harris County sentenced Thakkar on Wednesday, Oct. 25 and deferred adjudication of guilt until Oct. 24, 2022. Harris County’s Assistant District Attorney Joseph Sanchez prosecuted the case and Attorney Asha Reddi represented Thakkar. (India Herald was present in the courtroom during the hearing on Wednesday, after this week’s
edition went to press.) Nearly 18 months after the charges were filed, a plea deal was reached with the District Attorney’s office in June, 2017. Subsequently, sentencing was reset a couple of times. Sexual assault of a child is punishable with two to 20 years in prison. The District Attorney’s office had a range of punishment open. After the sentencing, at the courthouse, Reddi said Thakkar made “an informed and educated choice.” The prosecution had a diary and a statement from the victim, identified as K.S. The prosecution had no significant evidence to prove the charges and the defense brought enough information so that the DA’s office offered deferred adjudication instead of jail time, Reddi said. Once the probation is completed successfully, there will be no conviction on record. When K.S. was away from home, her parents stumbled upon a diary and it contained Thakkar’s name, among a few others. Since the girl was a minor and Thakkar was 47 at that time, the state pursued the felony charge. The alleged offense occurred in February 2014, when K.S. was 15. She first met Thakkar on or about Nov. 22, 2013 in her grandparents’ home, K.S. told the police. However, she did not initiate the complaint. “After much thought and de-
liberation, to avoid media blitz and to spare both families the agony and uncertainty of the trial, a decision was made to take the plea offer,” Reddi said. “Going to trial on these kinds of cases is not easy. There is a social stigma attached to the case. One has to make an informed and educated choice. It has been two long years. The family needed closure. We felt like this was good option for all parties concerned,” Reddi said. Thakkar is expected to report to the Harris County Jail after working hours for 10 days beginning Nov. 5. The state sex offender registry carries with it several requirements. Thakkar has to register with the local law enforcement authorities within 7 days and keep them informed of his movements. Registration involves the sex offender providing the local law enforcement authority with information that includes, but is not limited to, the sex offender’s name and address, a color photograph, and the offense the offender was convicted of or adjudicated for. Registered sex offenders are required to periodically report to the local law enforcement authority to verify the accuracy of the registration information and to promptly report certain changes in the information as those changes occur. A sex offender who fails to comply with any registration re-
quirement is subject to felony prosecution. The Texas Sex Offender Registration Program itself does not prohibit registered sex offenders from living or going near places frequented by children. However, Texas community supervision and parole laws, as well as city ordinances, may require the imposition of a “child safety zone.” Those in the registry are assigned a numeric risk level, which indicates the level of risk a sex offender poses to the community. A numeric risk level is assigned to each sex offender when the offender is released from a penal institution or placed on community supervision or juvenile probation. It is determined by using the sex offender screening tool adopted by the Risk Assessment Review Committee. Soon after the story appeared online, Sunil Thakkar posted the following statement: “I fought for two years to go to trial to prove my innocence. After much thought and advice from my attorneys I decided to accept deferred adjudication rather than go through a trial that would cause trauma to both families. I am thankful for the support of my family and friends through these difficult times. While I cannot discuss the details of the case in any media I am available to talk one on one.” Sandhya Thakkar: I am sure that many people without knowing the facts of the
case would judge on what has been presented by the media and thoughtlessly circulated by spiteful individuals on WhatsApp. The media, like the judge, prosecutor, and police are all doing their job, and no one knows what really happened in this case except the two involved. There are so many details, included the troubled past of the girl who aggressively turned to Sunil for attention, that are withheld from the public. It is being reported now as the case just went through sentencing on WED OCT 25th. I know my husband, and while he has many flaws, he is not a child predator. I am a woman, and while I have been a faithful and supportive wife, mother, and daughter-in-law, I know a lot of women who have thrown themselves to my husband. Women who are younger, older, single, married, disturbed, maybe mentally ill, thrill seeking, or just needing attention. And my husband has flirted with many of them, even on the radio, on stage, and in front of me. Unfortunately, its a part of his persona. But I stand by him because I know him better than anyone else, and know he is not capable of what he was charged with. I am hurt by all that has happened, and certainly did not “allow any of this to happen,” it was all beyond my control. I thank the overwhelming support of our family and friends, and pray to God to give us all the strength to overcome this.
See Page 6
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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 • PAGE 3
NEWS Chinmaya Mission celebrates Diwali with families joining traditional worship
Acarya Sri Gaurang Nanavaty performing the puja. Sri Ganeshji, the head-priest of Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya led the puja. — Photo by Rajesh Thatte Hinduism is marked with numerous festivals, occasions and events throughout the year. Yet none come close to Dipavali, also called Diwali, in its colorful splendor, rich meaning, and cheerful spirit of celebration. Etymologically, Dipavali stands for a “row of lamps.”It marks the return of Sri Rama to Ayodhya, signals the liberation from the misery of the demon Narakasura by Sri Krishna, and also celebrates the appearance of Sri Lakshmi during the Sagar
Manthan, the churning of the Milky Ocean. In every Puranic context, it stands for the victory of light over darkness, of goodness over evil. To many, it also marks the beginning of their New Year. Besides the social cheer of gatherings and joyous celebration, Dipavali also is an auspicious time for self reflection and contemplation. Needless to say, this is the most eagerly awaited annual
celebration at Chinmaya Mission Houston (CMH), and this year the festivities on October 22 were beautifully conducted after enthusiastic, care-filled planning and remarkable teamwork of an army of CMH volunteers. The festive spirit was everywhere as one could see bright colors, flowers and sparkling lights all around. The pratima of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda was beautifully adorned with
rangolis of flowers. The deities of Saumyakasi Sivalaya were resplendent too in their eyecatching colors. Rows of families, dressed in their Dipavali best, sat cheerfully with diyas, flowers, and a picture of Sri Lakshmi to offer their prayers. As per CMH tradition, the puja conducted in two sessions involved around 500 families. Acarya Sri Gaurang Nanavaty commenced the celebrations with a message that resonated profoundly with the audience. He noted that typically Dipavali brings everyone’s attention to health and wealth as the Lakshmi puja serves as a constant reminder. But he also reminded about the importance of rising above our weakness – Pramada (Procrastination) and cultivate the wealth of character and unconditional love toward all. To achieve that, the acarya reiterated on the importance of being alert. As Sri Ganeshji, the headpriest of Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya, led the puja, the rains that began affirmed the auspicious environment in Chinmaya Smriti. Led by him, all the families performed the Lakshmi Ashtottara ShataNamavali (108 names of Sri Lakshmi) puja for the material and spiritual upliftment of everyone. This
was followed by the chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama (1008 names of Sri Vishnu) for universal well-being. Even as the families performed the puja, Acaryas Gaurang Uncle and Darshana Aunty performed puja to a magnificiently adorned Sri Mahavishnu and Sri Lakshmi on the stage. As the festivities concluded, it was a memorable visual treat to see rows of families performing aartis with their lamps. CMH offers a rare connection to the ancient traditions of India and Guru Parampara. After the puja, families lined up in devotion and reverence to offer Guru Dakshina to the acaryas of CMH grateful for the Acaryas who provide a constant reminder of Swami Chinmayananda’s deepest teachings. As the families filed past Chinmaya Smriti and received their prasad, what was evident was bright hope for the upcoming year, strengthened by a determination for good efforts and knowledge. Hari Om! For more information on Chinmaya Mission Houston, Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya and its activities visit www.chinmayahouston.org, www.saumyakasi.org or call temple 281 568 1690 or Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059 or Bharati Sutaria 281-933-0233. —By Satchitananda
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NEWS American Leadership Forum appoints Manisha Gandhi vice president of development
Daniel W. Snare, President of the American Leadership Forum, Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter (ALF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Manisha Gandhi as its new Vice President of Development. “Manisha is uniquely qualiďŹ ed for the position. She brings a strong and varied background in business development, strategic planning, communications, marketing, volunteer management and fundraising,â€? said Mr. Snare. Manisha comes to the American Leadership Forum, Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter from BakerRipley where she served as Director of Resource Development. She began her career in the ďŹ nancial services and insurance ďŹ elds before shifting her focus toward philanthropy. She served as Director of Development for Akshaya Patra
USA (in the southeastern United States), a global nonproďŹ t that provides food for children in India. She also serves as a correspondent for TV Asia USA. Ms. Gandhi is a graduate of the University of Houston and is a Senior Fellow of ALF’s Class XLWorkforce Development. Ms. Gandhi said she is honored to have the opportunity to join the ALF team. “I am very excited about serving ALF and I look forward to expanding and strengthening ALF’s col-
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Feeling outraged
To the Editor: This is in response to the news item in your digital edition dated 10/25/17 about Mr. Sunil Thakkar, host of Masala Radio, pleading guilty to the charges of sexual abuse of a teenage girl two years ago. Lately, sexual harassment, sexual abuse and rape charges against movie producers, television personalities and a past president have been making headline news. More women including celebrities are coming forward with their tales of abuse by these men resulting in a social media campaign, #MeToo, through which we are learning of the extent of the sexual abuse of ordinary women in workplaces, at home and elsewhere. In this particular incident involving Mr. Thakkar, what is more troubling is the fact that his victim was an under-aged girl. I am sure I am not alone in feeling outraged by this incident. In order to stop sexual harassment from happening, we can begin by educating and empowering our young sons and daughters to protect themselves from predators. There are several domestic violence and sexual assault orgaManisha Gandhi nizations in Houston that can provide the information and relective service to our commu- sources that the parents need to help their children in this regard. nities and our region,â€? she said. Those who care for and about children have to be pro-active The American Leadership considering sexual predators have no speciďŹ c proďŹ le. Forum (ALF) is a nonproďŹ t A predator can be anybody that the child may consider to be organization whose mission is seemingly nice and powerful - a neighbor, relative, mentor or to join and strengthen diverse coach. Knowing the South Asian community as I do, I underleaders to serve the common stand the reluctance we have in acknowledging that these probgood. ALF does this through lems exist among us too and that we are not immune to it. The victim and her family in the Thakkar case should shine as an example. They had the courage to come forward and seek a yearlong Fellows Program justice on behalf of their daughter. in which leaders can engage in Sexual abuse and assault thrive on silence and secrecy. For dialogue, explore dierences, every victim that speaks up, there are nine others who choose to and build relationships. stay silent. ALF strengthens Fellows’ It’s time our community breaks the silence surrounding sexual capacity to address public isabuse of women and girls and help break the generational cycle sues collaboratively and builds of abuse. a strong leadership network to work for positive change in our Sincerely, community. Lakshmy Parameswaran, MA LPC Since ALF’s founding, more than 1,200 leaders from the Lakshmy Parameswaran is a licensed counselor specializgreater Houston region have ing in domestic violence, sexual assault and women’s issues for participated in the Fellows Protwenty-fi ve years. She is a founder and board member of Daya gram, now celebrating its 35th Inc., an organization serving South Asian survivors of domestic anniversary. For more inforviolence and sexual assault in Houston: www.dayahouston.org. mation, please visit www.alfhouston.org.
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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 • PAGE 9
COMMUNITY
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PAGE 10 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017
COMMUNITY ICC Nomination Form for Board of Directors Position (Last date to receive applications: Nov. 24, 2017; Election: Dec. 3, 2017) Election for 9 Directors (8 positions for 2 year term & 1 position for 1 year term) & 3 Trustees (2 positions for 3 year term & 1 position for 2 year term) For more information, visit www.icchoustontx.org
Section 1 --- to be completed by nominator --I nominate _________________________________ for the ICC’s Board of Director position Nominator: (Has to be a current ICC BOD or Trustee): BOD _____ Trustee _____
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Section 2 --- to be completed by the person who Seconds --Seconded by:
_____________________________ _________________________________
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Section 3 --- to be completed by nominee --I, _________________________________________________________ accept this nomination. I agree to abide by the ICC Bylaws and will disclose any conflict of interest prior to the election. Nominee:
_____________________________ _________________________________
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Are these three people related? If yes, explain how: ___________________________ Mail Nomination Form and a check in the amount of $25 to: Jawahar Malhotra, Member, Election Committee, 12207 Westmere Dr, Houston, Texas 77077 Fax: (713) 789-6397 and e-mail: jawoche@yahoo.com
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Habitat From Page 1
improve a place that they can call home. Antoinette M. Toni Jackson, partner at the aďŹ&#x20AC;ordable housing real estate practice of Jones Walker and Special Counsel for Housing Development Authority received the Carl Umland Award for exhibiting compassion, dedication and tenacity in the same manner as the founder of Habitat for Humanity had exhibited. The Houston Bar Association received the Legacy Award for its long standing commitment to the Habitat for Humanity. Dr. Tererai Trent, an internationally recognized voice for quality education and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s empowerment, scholar, humanitarian, motivational speaker, educator and author was the Keynote Speaker at the luncheon. Trent, a beneďŹ ciary of Habitat for Humanity, motivated people with her compelling story to ďŹ ght for their own dreams. Tererai did not have the opportunity to go to school. Undeterred, she still dreamed of an education and determinedly taught herself to read and write from her brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schoolbooks. Despite being married young and having three children by the time she was eighteen, she never lost sight of her dreams. As a young mother without a high school diploma, Tererai met a woman who would profoundly impact her life: Jo Luck, President and CEO of Heifer International. She told Tererai, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you believe in your dreams, they are achievable.â&#x20AC;? With this inspiration and her own motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s encouragement, Tererai wrote down her dreams of going to America for higher education, sealed them in a tin can, and buried them under a rock, ultimately redesigning the blueprint of her life. Dr. Trent could not have imagined that her steadfast determination, hard work and belief in her dreams would eventually earn her multiple degrees and a prominent global platform with world leaders and international businesses and audiences where she advocates for universal access to quality education. A two-time guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Tererai was named by Oprah as her â&#x20AC;&#x153;All-Time Favorite Guestâ&#x20AC;? and received a $1.5 million donation to rebuild her childhood elementary school in recognition of her tenacity and never-
give-up attitude. Trent, in her speech, emphasized education as the main pathway out of poverty. If we give education, she added, anyone can achieve his or her dreams. She also described Habitat for Humanity as a giant in her life and a champion. Since 1987, individuals, businesses and groups in our community have joined Houston Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place people call home. Through shelter, Habitat empowered people to build a better future for themselves and their families by completing ďŹ nancial and home maintenance training, building homes alongside volunteers, and by purchasing an aďŹ&#x20AC;ordable mortgage. Seeking to put Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love into action, Houston Habitat brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Purchasing a Houston Habitat home is a partnership â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not just a mortgage. If one meets the criteria and are selected as a future homeowner, they will be required to complete 250 â&#x20AC;&#x153;sweat equity hoursâ&#x20AC;? which include participating in home building. Houston Habitat has built 1050 homes. Through the support of sponsors, donors and volunteers Habitat has been able to build 30-50 homes a year on average. It has housed 4000 people. Allison Hay, in her address stated â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because of your generosity we have been able to grow and achieve our goals.â&#x20AC;? Thank you Houston and to all those who have supported us! The Houston Habitat ReStore is a non-proďŹ t home improvement store and donation center that sells new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, appliances, ďŹ&#x201A;ooring, cabinetry and more at a fraction of the retail price. Proceeds from the ReStore help Houston Habitat build more homes for hardworking, low-income families. Leela Krishnamurthy, a board member of Houston Habitat, observed that the Indian American community has been a big supporter of Habitat. For example, a few years ago, the Indo-American Charity Foundation helped build two houses for Habitat. She further added that The ReStore is open to the public and will pick up any furniture and household items that you want to donate and give tax receipts. Call HHFH at 713.671.9993 or Leela at 281.494.9768.
To advertise in India Herald email editor@india-herald.com or call 281-980-6746/ 281-799-9459 (cell)
INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 • PAGE 11
COMMUNITY New spiritual voice from Chinmaya Mission spreads message of Vedanta home with older adults and their perspectives. Equipped with her practical understanding and the depth of her spiritual self-study, Brahmacarini Shwetaji now offers a valuable forum to delve into Vedantic wisdom. Offering a Study Group format in two new locations Brahmacarini Shweta Chaitanya in the greater Houston area – Clear Lake and HOUSTON The human quest for happi- Katy, Texas, the brahmacarini will initiate study with Tatness is fascinating. Each of us searches for what tva Bodha, a text authored by we think makes us complete – Bhagavan Adi Sankaracarya. wealth, power, physical com- The text, which is composed forts, academic achievements, worldly fame, significant relationships, and so on. Often, we wonder why our efforts do not yield that lasting sense of happiness. In her pravachan in Chinmaya Smriti on Oct.29th, Brahmacarini Shweta Chaitanya of Chinmaya Mission Houston reflected, “We spend so much time catering to the needs of our body, mind, and intellect. Can any of those three be a dependable, secure, constant source of joy? We live with a compromised idea of happiness. Let us make an effort to become close to that great goal of complete happiness. Let us learn to trust, love, and be close to God; let us give time to study and reflect on scriptures; let us develop an intimate relationship with the Supreme. May our efforts become pure seva, and may we lose ourselves in the love for the highest Knowledge that brings true happiness.” Her clear logic kept the audience very attentive, and her apt, relatable examples from everyday life juxtaposed with ideals showcased by saints and devotees resonated with everyone. She engaged the audience from the beginning of her pravachan with an amusing anecdote about the challenge of cutting a jackfruit with unoiled hands and made all think again as she concluded with the deeper significance behind that metaphor. The young Brahmacarini who completed her university studies with a post-graduate degree from Columbia University has also the ability to appeal to youth with her secular exposure and contemporary approach. Thorough yet gentle in her analysis, the young brahmacarini has a strong background having started young at Chinmaya Balavihar Houston. Maturing through a rigorous twoyear Chinmaya Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, she is equally at
in an interactive question- answer format, addresses the fundamentals of Vedanta, and explores questions about human life and freedom, diversity in creation, and the concept of God. The multi-dimensional personality analysis and a very scientific logic presented in this text make for an interesting and compelling study. Trained by the Chinmaya Guru Parampara, Br. Shweta Chaitanya will guide the new Study Groups every week at the two locations: On Mondays from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM in Katy (please contact shweta@ chinmayamission.org for details about location) and on Thursdays from 7:30 PM to 9 PM in Clear Lake at Ansh Labs, 445 Medical Center Blvd, Webster, TX 77856. Seekers of all faiths are welcome to benefit
from this opportunity. For more information on Chinmaya Mission Houston and its activities visit www.chinmayahouston.org or call Jay Deshmukh 832-541-0059 or Bharati Sutaria 281-933-0233 —By Padmashree Rao; Photo by Jayesh Mistry
PAGE 12 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017
COMMUNITY
Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya graces Surangan’s annual day By SANCHALI BASU Although Surangan, Rupa Ghosh’s school of music has been around for 7 years, this was the fifth formal annual program celebrated on a grand scale at the Houston Durga Bari Society’s Sur auditorium the evening of October 14. The record crowd bore ample evidence to the fact that not only has the school gained in the number of students, but also wide popularity especially in the Houston Bengali community. After months of rigorous rehearsals, the students got to showcase their talent on a platform which boosted their confidence and brought the Surangan family closer. The young talents, most of whom are born and brought up in the US, did a commendable job of carrying the torch of Bengali culture and keeping the traditions alive, accomplishing the goal of Surangan. Emcee Sanchali Basu welcomed the audience with a brief introduction of the school. The first half of the program was entitled, “Andhakarer Utsho Hote” signifying the spreading of the mantra of being led from darkness to the light (Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya) of hope, peace and wellbeing as expressed by poets, writers and philosophers over the ages. The beacon and harbinger, Nobel laureate Tagore’s, “Nibido ghono aandhare jwalichhe dhrubotara” in Rupa’s mellifluous voice set the tone for the evening. A series of Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul songs followed, to Biplab Samadder’s impeccable narration in his smooth, soothing, baritone voice.
Solo and group songs, accompanied by Niranjan Roy and Barun Choudhury on the tabla, were interspersed with solo and group dances. The dancers ranged from considerably young artistes to more mature, skilled ones and brought some color and life to the music program. Recitation pieces in between also solidified the entire program and was successful in bringing its essence to totality. Once the students of the school had finished performing, guest artistes from the Houston Bengali community entertained the audience, including Kamalpriya, Swapan, Zulfikar, Ananya, Jharna, Prince, Anjali, Shonali, Biswaruchi, Nandini, Bina, Jitu, Runa, Rita, Mala, Bably, Banani, Kakon, Dina, Parvin, Bithi, Yasmin, Purno, Mina and Amit on vocals, Anirudha, Shouvik, Afsarun Nahar and Mukul on recitation. This year’s annual program was made special by the presence of Bangladesh’s pride, renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya, who was the Chief Guest for the evening. She was called on stage to be felicitated by Surangan and the Houston Durga Bari Society. Certain other dignitaries including Elora Ahmed Shukla and Bulbul Sengupta were recognized, and so were Muna and Salahuddin Ahmad of Balaca, the first Bangladeshi cultural association in Houston. The Certificate distribution ceremony to the students by Bannya ensued and she was sweet enough to pose with them for the camera. By this time the hall was filled to capacity and actually overflowing. The food corner,
Rupa Ghosh felicitates Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya, right.
Surangan students receive their certificates. sari and jewelry stalls were doing brisk business and all were waiting with bated breath for the highlight of the evening. Bannya took the stage with Biplab Samadder on the violin, Rupa Ghosh on the keyboard, Bidyut Ghosh on the mandira and Raja Banga on the tabla. She enchanted the audience with her rendition of not so popular, but rich Rabindra Sangeet numbers mixing them up with some popular ones. What made her concert more captivating were the little tidbits of information that she shared regarding the background of each song. She recounted her memories with her stalwart gurus Kanika Bandyopadhyay, Santidev Ghosh amongst others, during her student days in Viswa Bharati, Santiniketan. Surangan deserves kudos for presenting yet another excellent program.
INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 • PAGE 13
OBITUARY
Nita Mehta (1929-2017) HOUSTON Even as the years slowed her down physically, her spirit was indomitable and she marched on, finally with the aid of a walker, which she said “was a necessary nuisance”. After her husband Padmakanth grew feebler, she would often drive him to meetings and around town. Until a few years ago, Nita ben (as everyone called her) would drive herself, especially to her beloved meetings of the Indian Senior Citizens Association at Bayland Community Center or India House where she would still make a point to mingle with the faces she knew and help out where she could. That same tireless, cheerful worker, Nita Padmakant Mehta, 87, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, October 11, 2017. The daughter of the late Shantilal B. Pandya and Lilavati S. Pandya, she was born in Dohad, Gujarat, India on December 29, 1929. Nita was the eldest of nine brothers and sisters and helped raise her siblings. She studied medicine in India and Ireland and became a practicing physician, a rarity for a woman in 1950’s India.
In 1958, she married her future life-long companion, the late Padmakant C. Mehta. She successfully ran a clinic in India before moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with Padmakant and their two young sons in support of his engineering career. Well into her thirties and unable to work as a physician with her Indian degree in America, Nita let no obstacle stand in her way in making a home for herself in her adopted country. She immediately set about the task of re-training herself, obtaining a degree as a Respiratory Therapist and worked, ultimately, as a Critical Care Coordinator in Philadelphia
and at MD Anderson Cancer Center for over thirty years. Nita was a very outgoing person and involved throughout the Houston Indian com-
munity. She was instrumental in forming the Indian Senior Citizens Association of Houston, Houston Nagar Mandal, and the Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic, and held leadership positions in many organizations, including Gujarati Samaj. Her involvement in these community associations gave her happiness and meaning. Even as Nita grew older and her mobility became limited, she looked forward to attending programs and events sponsored by the Sahitya Sabha literature group, the Indian Senior Citizens Association, Chinmaya Mission, and Gujarati Samaj. Nita is survived by son Pranav, 52, of Houston, son Utpal, 50, and daughter-inlaw Samita (Seema) who cur-
rently live in Beijing, China, and grandson, Naren, of Rockville, Maryland. Her surviving brothers are Girish Pandya of Houston; Sirish Pandya of Ahmedabad, India; Praful Pandya of Dahod, India; Haresh Pandya of Johnstown, PA. and Himanshu Pandya of Ebensburg, PA, and sister, Darshana Jambusaria of Sherman Oaks, California. She was preceded in death by sisters Saroj Vyas of Mumbai, India and Ranjan Vyas of Mahuva, India. Nita leaves behind countless friends and family throughout the U.S., India, and Canada. Funeral services were held on Monday, October 16, 2017 at the Garden Oaks Funeral Home in Houston, Texas and attended by over 350 people. Many of her lifelong admirers gave loving eulogies to her.
Hari Venkatachalam Hindu Students Association, Board of Directors
Succeed In Your Business
PRESS RELEASE
April 6, 2017Get – AUSTIN, TX –your The Hindu Students rid of staffi ngAssociaproblems and spend more tion (HSA) would like to regretfully announce that it will be Good = Good Decisions cancelling its annual Gateway Retreat for the 2017 Numbers year. HSA prides itself in building a strong network of young Hindu Americans, and it looks forward to organizing other events in the future that will link students from its various branches. HSA has been reorienting itself in recent months to doing more grassroots work. “We have been focusing more on accomplishing work on the local and branch level,” said Mrinalini Vijalapuram, National President of the Hindu Students Association. “We have been doing this through many different activities including interfaith events with other religious organizations, building community partnerships, and expanding into other campuses that don’t already have HSA branches.” While the cancellation of Gateway may come as a disappointment for many prospective attendees, HSA hopes to get feedback from students on other projects and events that interest its branch members. Currently, several projects, including developing HSA’s podcast series and releasing monthly articles that highlight the accomplishments of members from the various campuses have been the focus of the organization’s efforts. HSA welcomes student and community members to get involved in these activities to help further the goals of the organization. “It is important that we meet the needs of the campuses and communities we serve,” reiterated Ms. Vijalapuram. “We want to make sure that we are putting our attention on projects that will truly benefit them.” -***-
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PAGE 14 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017
COMMUNITY
Grand Diwali and Annakut at ISKCON of Houston
Govardhan hill of offerings.
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Left, Candle light aarti at the altar of Sri Radha Nilamadhava. ISKCON of Houston extravagantly celebrated Diwali, or Dipavali, on October 19th showcasing their magnificent deities, Sri Sri Radha Nilamadhava. This festival commemorates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after valiantly defeating the demon, Ravana, saving the people of Lanka from his reign of terror. The altar was decorated by hundreds of candles that illuminated the temple room during the special candlelight arati that was attended by over 1,500 revelers. The ecstatic chanting of the Lord’s holy names lifted everyone’s spirits into an ecstatic festive mood. Govardhan Puja, or “Annakut” was celebrated the day after Diwali, and met with another wave of devotees. On this day, Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill for the protection of his devotees from Lord Indra’s torrential rainfall upon the inhabitants of Vrindavan. This pastime was celebrated by the abhishek of Sri Giriraj, by bathing him in lavish liquid items such as milk, honey, a variety of juices, ghee, and more. This sweet concoction of liquids would be served as “Charanamrita” to everyone. Thousands of food preparations adorned the altar, and were thereafter served as prasadam. Govardhan Puja was met with great satisfaction by all the attendees who savored the great tasting prasadam, and the wonderful kirtan. On Sunday evening, the temple held the Diwali cultural program, when the devotees began with chanting and dancing of the Lord’s holy names, or “Harinam”, in a parade across the temple grounds and onto the streets, while carrying Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada visited the newly completed apartment complex and soon to be completed Goswami Academy building. Shortly after, the attendees of Sunday Feast were treated to a Govardhan Puja Musical by the children of Sunday school. Enacting the pastime of the lifting of Govardhan Hill, the children of Sunday school were met with great praise and appreciation. To celebrate this festival, the devotees of the temple replicated Govardhan Hill with various sweet dishes such as cake, cookies, and cupcakes. This was followed by many devotees circumambulating, or “Parikrama”, around this replicated Govardhan Hill while engaging in kirtan. Visit the temple at: 1320 West 34th Street in Houston. There is a Sunday Feast which happens every Sunday at 5:30 PM www.Iskconhouston.org.
INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 • PAGE 15
NEWS GOPIO interacts with MPs from India on aadhar card, demonetization GOPIO officials including GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, International Coordinator for North America Dr. Rajeev Mehta and GOPIO Intl. Chamber of Commerce (GICC) Co-Chairman Prakash Shah were in attendance at a one-to-one Interactive Meeting hosted by the Indian Consulate in New York on Friday, October 27th. Organized by Indian Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty, the following members of Indian Parliament were present. Mr. T.K.S. Elangovan Mr. Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu Mr. Raghav Lakhanpal Mr. Bhatruhari Mahtab Mr. Hiterndra Reddy Amdayala Paddu Mr. Anil Gulabrao Shirole Mr. Harshvarsh Narayan Singh Mr. Kodikunnel Suresh Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty welcomed the guest and Deputy Consul General Paramita Tripathi made a presentation of the history and role played by the Indian Consulate in New York, Govt, of India’s subcontractor Cox and Kings also made a presentation. In the interactive session, GOPIO brought some of the current issues faced by the Diaspora Indians as follows: NRI AND PIO ISSUES Presented by Global Orga-
nization of People of Indian Origin to Members of Indian Parliament 1. Demonetization Issue - Millions of OCI card holders and Diaspora Indians with foreign citizenship are still holding demonetized currencies (between 7,500 to 10,000 crores) since they were not allowed to deposit them during the extended period of Jan. 1st to June 30th. GOPIO officials raised the question, what to do with these currencies? 2. On October 21st, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a clarification, saying that the linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts is mandatory under prevention of moneylaundering rules. The central bank was responding to news reports that quoted an RTI reply on linking Aadhaar by Dec. 31st, 2017. However, Govt, of India, Ministry of Finance had issued a press release on April 5th. 2017 saying that Aadhaar Card needs to be linked for income tax filing only for those who are eligible to obtain the card. However, no statement has been issued whether NRIs need to link bank accounts with Aadhaar card. NRIs are not currently eligible to get an Aadhaar Card. GOPIO suggests that all Indian citizens irrespective of staying in India or outside must be given Aadhaar card similar to the Social Security Number issued
to all American citizens living in the US or outside. 3. Real estate issues – Many NRIs have not been able to get hold off the apartment/house for which they have paid, espe-
cially in places like Noida and Gurgaon. Their inherited properties are also being taken over by unsuspecting relatives and others in connivance with local officials.
The members of the parliament interacted with GOPIO officials sand others present a the meeting and promised to take up the issue with appropriate authorities in India.
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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 • PAGE 17
PAGE 18 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017
IN MEMORIAM Space pioneer, friend of Indo-American community: Astronaut Paul Weitz By Dr Kamlesh Lulla, NASA Johnson Space Center Paul Weitz became one of the 19 astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966. As a pilot on the crew of Skylab-2, which launched on May 25 and ended on June 22, 1973; he earned the reputation as one of our nation’s space pioneer. This first pioneering manned Skylab mission continued for a 28-day flight. Mr. Waits became pioneer for logging 672 hours and 49 minutes aboard the orbital workshop, this crew established what was then a new world record for a single mission. Mr. Weitz also conducted spacewalk for over 2 hours. Later, Mr. Weitz once again pioneered early success of the Space Shuttle program. He was spacecraft commander on the crew of Space Shuttle Challenger which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 4, 1983. During the mission, the crew conducted numerous experiments in materials processing, recorded lightning activities, deployed satellite, and conducted spectacular space walks. A good friend of Indo-American community in Houston region I came to know Mr. Weitz while he was serving as the Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center in 1989. He was a great advocate for diversity and inclusion long before it was popular to be an advocate for inclusion. I was pleased to invite him to NASA sponsored Asian American Heritage month events in the early nineties. In the early nineties, I was contacted by then President of India Culture Center to invite Mr. Paul Weitz to serve as the keynote speaker at the ICC annual gala dinner. Mr. Weitz graciously accepted ICC invitation and spent more than four hours-from start to finish at this ICC event. In his keynote address, Mr Weitz brilliantly described his experiences as a pilot on Skylab and a Space Shuttle commander. (There were no power point slides in those days at these events). He enthralled the ICC audiences with detailed observations of Earth as he orbited for 28 days! I had a great privilege of spending the entire evening with such a space pioneer! He was a good friend of our community. In his passing we have lost one more explorer of the “greatest generation” of our nation! Former astronaut and deputy director of NASA Johnson Space Center Mr. Paul Weitz died on October 22, 2017 from an illness at the age of 85 in Arizona.
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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 • PAGE 19
NEWS
India moves up 30 spots in World Bank’s ease of business ranking
WASHINGTON, D.C. India moved 30 positions up in the latest ease of doing business ranking by the World Bank, in its Doing Business 2018 report which was released on Tuesday. The report ranks India at 100 among 190 countries. Last year, India was ranked 130. Improving India’s ranking in the Doing Business report has been a key component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic agenda and the signifiant improvement in ranking might help the government fight back critics who point to lingering troubles of demonetisation and GST rollout. Rita Ramalho, Acting Director of the WB Global Indicators Group that produces the report told The Hindu that GST would be accounted for only in next year’s report, and the report’s methodology does not capture the impact of demonetisation on ease of doing business, if any. “..Indian government has been focussed on reforms and since the Modi government came into office, it began looking at this area, trying to understand what we measure, how we measure, what is the value of it and designed a reform programme that addresses some of the shortcomings that were measured by the indicators and this is the result of that..these things take some time to come into fruition,” Ms. Ramalho said. “India made big efforts in the last three years and what is seen in this report is not last year’s reforms only,” she said, adding that the methodology of the study captures the actual implementation of a particular reform once it is enacted, resulting in a time lag before it is reflected in the report. India’s upward jump in ranking is based on the underlying improvement in the distance to frontier (DTF) score — an absolute measure of progress towards the best practice — in the report. India recorded the fifth highest change in DTF score and found a place for the first time in the top ten economies improving the most in a given year, in the report which is into its 15th edition. The ease of doing business ranking compares economies with one another; the DTF score benchmarks economies with respect to regulatory best practice. Ms. Ramalho described India’s progress on both counts “high and rare.” Doing Business report measures aspects of regulation affecting 11 areas of the life of a business, and India made eight reforms across these areas last year, the highest number for the country in a single year. India is one of the three countries last year that undertook reforms in as many as eight areas.
Faster permits for construction, combining the application for the Permanent Account Number (PAN) and the Tax Account Number (TAN) into a single submission, reduction in the time needed to complete the applications for Employee’s Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and the Employee’s State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), reduction in export and import border compliance costs and improved access to credit are among the reforms noted by the report. “…the establishment of debt recovery tribunals reduced non-performing loans by 28% and lowered interest rates on larger loans, suggest-
ing that faster processing of debt recovery cases cut the cost of credit,” the report said. India is now in the middle of the list, moving up from the last quarter but still it is at a place where there is scope for improvement, the WB official said. “There are still significant changes possible, though the change this year is significant, both in relative and absolute terms,” she said. India used to be the last among the BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa - countries in the ranking, but now it has overtaken Brazil in the list. China maintained
the same ranking it had last year, at 78. New Zealand, Singapore and Denmark retained their first, second and third spots. Russia, at 35 is the best among BRICS countries; while Brazil is now the last. Bank officials said enforcement of contract is one area of concern in India. The time to enforce a contract has only become longer today, at 1445 days compared to 1420 days 15 years ago, placing India at 164th place in the ranking on Enforcing Contracts indicator. Property registration and property transition, land registry and administration remain complicated in India compared
to many other countries. India has reduced the time to register a new business to 30 days now, from 127 days 15 years ago. Still, local entrepreneurs in Mumbai need to go through 12 procedures to start a business in Mumbai which is considerably more than in OECD countries where it takes five procedures on average. “This is a marathon and not a sprint; patience is a virtue here. What you see here is the result of years of work,” said Santiago Croci Acting Manager of Doing Business Unit at the WB. —The Hindu
PAGE 20 â&#x20AC;˘ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Art Museum Kannappan Art Museum will be open for public Tuesday 5.30 PM to 7.30 PM, Saturday 10AM to 2 PM, Sunday 12 noon to 4 PM. Address: 2341 N. Galveston Ave, Pearland, TX 77581.
is a technology for well being derived from the ancient science of yoga. This program includes guided meditations, interactive discussions, asanas and the transmission of the sacred Shambhavi Mahamudra, which is a life transforming process that enhances your energy, balance, and clarity, helping you discover your highest potential. To learn more or register you can visit www.InnerEngineering.com/Total or call (832)408-0663 or email Houston@ IshaUSA.org.
Sri Meenakshi Temple 4-Nov Sat 10:30 AM Anna Abhishekam 15 to 23- Nov Wed-Thu 63 Nayanmargal and 12 Alwargal Prathista 16-Nov Thu 7:00 PM Ayyappa Saptasuddhi Abishekam 17-Nov Fri 7:00 PM Ayyappa Mandala Puja begins 20-Nov Mon 7:00 PM 1st Karthigai Somavaram 23-Nov Thu 10:00 AM Maha Kumbabhishekam 27-Nov Mon 7:00 PM 2nd Karthigai Somavaram 30-Nov Thu 7:00 PM Kaishika Dwadasi
Durga Bari Temple Durga Bari temple is open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Mon. thru Sat. Sandhya aarti at 6:30 p.m. Temple closes at 7 p.m. Sunday special from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Temple is located at 13944 Schiller Rd (oďŹ&#x20AC; Hwy 6 bet. Bellaire & Westpark). Call Ganesh Mandal at 713-797-9057 / 832-423-8541.
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Inner Engineering Isha Yoga will be conducting a 4-day Inner Engineering Program in Houston, Texas from November 2-5, 2017. This 4-day program oďŹ&#x20AC;ers the rare opportunity to experience life transforming wisdom from an Isha Teacher trained by Sadhguru. Inner Engineering BUY
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www.siri.dhamma.org Arya Samaj Satsang Weekly Havan Satsang every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. DAV Sanskriti School Sundays 10 a.m. to 12 noon. - Havan, Hindi and Naitik Shiksha classes. DAV Montessori School for ages 2 to 7 years. Call Arti Khanna 281759-3286. Free Yoga classes on Sat. Sanskrit & Upanishad classes Tue. 6-8 p.m. At 14375 Schiller Rd. (bet Westpark & Bellaire oďŹ&#x20AC; Hwy 6). 281-752-0100. Brahma Kumaris The Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation Center is open 7 days a week. The center oďŹ&#x20AC;ers free Raja Yoga Meditation classes: MonFri @ 6:00-6:45am and 7-8 pm, Sat-Sun @ 7:00-8:30am, 10 am-2 pm. Visiting hours are Sat-Sun @ 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact us at (832) 379-8888, houston@bktexas.com, or bktexas.com to sign-up for classes. All Raja Yoga Meditation teachers at the Houston center are samarpit and have 15+ years of teaching experience. Chinmaya Mission Sunday satsangs for adults, youth, and children. A unique Bala Vihar program for each grade, from PreK to Grade 12. Satsangs in two sessions between 8:35 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. - 1p.m. Bala Vihar students can take shloka, bhajan and orchestra classes or language classes for Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, and Gujarati. Chinmaya Mission is located at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77498. New members may visit the welcome desk between 8 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. or 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Please visit www. chinmayahouston.org or contact Bharati Sutaria 281.933.0233 for more information. Vedanta Society Vedanta Society of Greater Houston, 14809 Lindita Drive (77083) has classes every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, 1st & 3rd Sunday; Bhagavad Gita, 2nd Sunday; on works of Swami Vivekananda, 4th Sunday; Holy Mother Saradaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gospel, 5th Sunday. Swamis of Ramakrishna Order visit to conduct retreats and lectures. www.houstonvedanta. org or 281-584-0488. Jain Society Jain Society of Houston (JSH) located at 3905 Arc Street Houston Texas 77063 is open M-F from 7:30 AM to 12 Noon and 4 to 7 PM, and Sat, and Sun from 8 AM to 6 PM. Jain Society of Houston invites Jain scholars all year round. Please call Urvashi Jain 713 789 2338. Visit www.jainsocietyhouston.org for calendar of events and other detailed information. Shiv Shakti Mandir Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir, 6640 Harwin. Open daily 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All major festivals, as well as birthdays, naam karan, engagement and other ceremonies. Call Pandit Virat Mehta 713-278-9099 or Hardik Raval 361-243-6539 for puja or other ceremonies. Heartfulness Meditation Heartfulness Meditation is a practical technique of tuning inwards to experience our higher selves. Meditation with someone who has the capacity of yogic transmission can help you explore the Heartfulness practice more deeply. There are no charges for
this, and we invite you to experience the unique beneďŹ ts of this transmission. Workshops on Heartfulness relaxation and meditation are held weekly throughout Houston, including Saturdays at 11 am at India House. Web: www.heartfulness.org; Email: houston.heartfulness@gmail.com. Cell: 713-929-0040. Hare Krishna Dham Houstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original Vedic temple, ISKCON of Houston. At 1320 W 34th St. (77018). Daily Darshan & Arati Times: 4.30 a.m, 7 a.m, 8.30 a.m, 12 noon, 4.30 p.m, 7 p.m, 9 p.m. Sunday Festival: 5.30 pm to 7.30 p.m. Weekly Gita classes for adults; call 281-433-1635 or harekrishnadham @gmail.com Houston Namadwaar A prayer house where the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is continuously chanted. Weekends: 8-11 AM & 4-7 PM, Weekdays: 7-8 AM & 6-7 PM. Weekly â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gopa Kuteeramâ&#x20AC;? childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heritage classes and Srimad Bhagavatam classes. Call 281-402-6585; visit www.godivinity.org (Global Organization for Divinity). Saumyakasi Sivalaya Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is located at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478. Temple timings: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon and 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. For more information Contact 281-568-1690 or Jay Deshmukh at 832-541-0059 or visit www.saumyakasi.org Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple Darshan from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. All major festivals as well as birthdays, naam karan, engagement and other ceremonies. Call Pandit Pradip Pandya 832-4669868 for puja and other ceremonies. At 5645 Hillcroft Ste 701, Houston, TX 77036. Veerashaiva Samaja VSNA Houston is a group of families who believe in Veerashaiva dharma (Basava dharma). Monthly Mahamane program for prayer and discussion on Vachana Sahitya followed by Prasada. Contact: vsnahous ton@gmail.com or Jagadeesh Halyal 832-744-4166. Mar Thoma Church Trinity Mar Thoma Church every Sunday at 5810 Almeda Genoa Rd. Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. Malayalam service at 9:30 a.m. on 1st & 3rd Sunday. Adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m. English service at 10:30 a.m. on 2nd & 4th Sunday. Call 713-991-1557 or 281261-4603. Telugu Christian Fellowship Telugu Christian Fellowship meets every third Saturday of the month at Triumph Church, 10555 W. Airport Blvd., StaďŹ&#x20AC;ord TX 77477 at 6:30 p.m. Join us for a time of praise, worship and fellowship. Worship is in English. For information call Chris Gantela 281-344-0707, or Rev. Vijay Gurrala 281-997-0757. Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Hours: Mon to Fri 6 a.m. -8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Weekends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bhajans Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Special poojas (weekends and holidays) Choroon (Annaprasam) for kids, Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Nirapara. Temple is located at 11620 Ormandy St. (77035) Tel: 713729-8994 email: temple@ guru-
vayur.us Preksha Meditation JVB Preksha Meditation Center conducts weekly Meditation, Yoga and Swadhyay sessions inside its unique Pyramid hall under the auspicious guidance of Samani Kanchan Pragyaji and Samani Pranav Pragyaji who are stationed at Houston Center this year. It also runs special events and programs like I-Choose, Meditation Camps and Gyanshala program for children ages 4-14 yrs. JVB is located at 14102 Schiller Rd. Houston 77082. Every Tuesday, 9:30am-11:30am, Samaniji has pravachan for all adults interested in learning about Jainism. Every Wednesday there is Swadhyay class from 7-8pm and meditation from 8-9pm. Every Thursday from 9:30-11am there is special Yoga class for Ladies only. Every Saturday, there is Yoga Class from 9-10am and Meditation from 1010.30am. Ist & 3rd Sundays, there is Gyanshala Classes for Kids ages 4-14yrs. from 10-12:15pm followed by Lunch. Visit www. jvbhouston.org or send email at info@jvbhouston.org for more details. Patanjali Yogpeeth Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun at Arya Samaj from 8 am to 9:30 a.m. Call Anil 281-579-9433. For other free classes, call Indra 281537-0018. For Yoga/Herbal products, call Shekhar 281-242-5000. www.pyptusa.org; www.DivyaProducts.com. Hindu Temple of The Woodlands 7601 S. Forest Gate Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77382 Temple Hours, Weekdays: 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM 5:30 PM - 8.30 PM Aarti @ 7:30 PM Saturday and Sunday 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM Aarti at 12:00 PM 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Aarti @ 7:30 PM; Contact 832-585--0001 or temple@myhtw.net Sathya Sai centers Sunday program held at two locations (North Houston: 12127 Malcomson Road, Houston; South Houston: 246 Fluor Daniel Drive, Sugar Land) from 3:00 to 5:30 pm) - Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) classes for children; Study Circle for adults & Devotional singing for all. Service programs - food distribution, canned food drives, nursing home visits, tutoring at schools, etc. Contact Venkat Rao (North) - 602-503-2249 or Ranji Raghavan (South) 281-451-8238. Visit www.sairegion10.org Sadhu Vaswani Center Sadhu Vaswani Center of Houston holds regular Satsang on 3rd Thursday of the month and daily Arti at 7.30 p.m. Call 281-4630379 or e.mail ramolaj@aol.com Gaudiya Math Sri Govindaji Gaudiya Matha at 16628 Kieth Harrow Blvd., Houston 77084. Satsang Sundays 5 to 7 pm. Mantra meditation, kirtan, Sanatan Dharma classes. info@ sggm.org or 281-499-3347. Swaminarayan Temple Hindu Satsang at Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, under Shree NarNarayan Dev Gadi kalupur. Opens daily from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Daily aarti at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday sabha from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. followed by aarti at 7 p.m. and Maha-Prasad (free dinner). www.issotx.org. (281) 530-2565.
INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 • PAGE 21
NEWS Indian girl’s body released
A photograph of Sherin at a makeshift memorial in Richardson, Texas. Sherin Mathews was found dead in a tunnel in Texas. The body of Sherin Mathews, 3, who disappeared from the home of her Indian-American foster parents in Richardson, has been released by the Dallas County medical examiner’s office, though it declined to say to whom. Sherin, who went missing on October 7, was found dead in a tunnel under a road, about half a mile from her home, on October 22. The Indian-American community in Richardson is mourning the tragic loss and wants to handle her funeral. The death has become an international point of discussion and has raised several questions on the process of adoption. Sherin was adopted by an Indian-American couple, Wesley Mathews and Sini Mathews, from an orphanage in India last year. Wesley, 37, has been charged with first-degree felony injury to a child due to a conflicting statement to police. He had claimed first that Sherin went missing after he sent her outside their home at around 3 a.m. on October 7 as punishment for not drinking her milk. Later, he told the police voluntarily that his daughter choked while drinking milk and he took her body out of the house as he “believed she had died”. Police are still investigating how Sherin died and how long her body had been in the drainage ditch. Thousands of heartbroken community members are mourning the death. The tree near which Wesley initially said he had left Sherin and the tunnel where her body was later found have both become memorial sites. Online plea An online petition had requested authorities to release her body so that it could be given a proper funeral. It had been signed by more than 5,000 people till Saturday. It said that Sherin’s body should not be released to her foster parents due to the circumstances surrounding her death. The body will not be sent back to India unless her parents decide they want that to happen — regardless of their legal standing, said Steven Kurtz, chief death investigator at the Dallas County medical examiner’s office.
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Will seek win-win framework for India-US trade disputes: Nisha Biswal New USIBC president says she will draw from her experience as a former Assistant Secretary of State in this regard. There can be a ‘win-win’ framework for resolving lingering trade issues between the United States and India, and she would draw from her experience as a former Assistant Secretary of State for such an approach, the newly appointed President of the U.S-India Business Council (USIBC) Nisha Biswal has said. Ms. Biswal took over as head of USIBC, which has more than 400 companies as members, after her predecessor Mukesh Aghi walked out and established a parallel body called U.S-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) with the support of several American companies. The split followed years long differences between the USIBC and the U.S Chamber of Commerce, which it is part of, on India related trade matters. ‘Leveraging the clout’ Speaking to The Hindu in her first interview after taking over, Ms. Biswal said USIBC must leverage the clout of the US Chamber for expanding trade and commerce. “In the past decade, USIBC as an entity was almost independent of the Chamber. Some people thought of it as a favorable construct, but one of the key strengths of the USIBC is its leverage to influence the Chamber, which is the most influential organisation in the country, and arguably in the world,” she said pointing out the immense political and economic clout that the Chamber enjoys at the state, local and national levels in America and in the “C Suite offices in companies across the country.” “Their global reach, because of the councils, the Japan Council, U.K Council, Middle East Council.. and their ability to engage the entire world is unparalleled,” she said. “When I talk to Indian CEOs, trade associations such as FICCI and CII and government officials, they say they want to leverage the massive market of America and drawn them into India. Thats where the Chamber has a massive capability,” Ms. Biswal said. The former diplomat, who dealt with India and the region for fours years in the Barack Obama administration, said USISPF, which reportedly has the blessings of the Narendra Modi government in India, said she saw no conflict between the two
Nisha Biswal organizations. “The same as in India, where you have the CII and FICCI and other business bodies, and some companies are members of more than one; and they [organisations] work individually and in collaboration. U-S-India space is huge…… If there are some companies that have supported the new entity, they are also very clear to us and the US Chamber about their support for us. And the U.S Chamber is a very very important organisation for them. I think this will all be clear as we move forward…. there is no reason for anybody to focus on any made up drama,” she said. Trump’s vision for India The Democrat has said the Donald Trump administration’s vision for India as articulated by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently creates a favourable environment for growth in commercial ties. “It is a not a vision of geostrategic implications alone, but also with geo economic implications. That is where the USIBC and the Chamber will play a really pivotal role in the ties between the countries,” she said. American companies want the USIBC to take up their issues with the Indian government more forcefully, while some of these demands more IPR protection and market access — are politically sensitive in New Delhi. Ms. Biswal said her past job was in balancing these factors on both sides and she would do the same in her new job. “I had to balance those issues every single in day in my last job. If you define issues in terms of zero sum, winlose equations, there will be
no resolutions. If you are able to identify what the win-win looks like when we resolve those issues, there is a path forward. I don’t shy away from tough issues. Political dynamic in both countries requires us to show maturity and understanding. But we also need to show some resoluteness to work through these issues. When I came into the State Department four years ago, the trade and economic relations were pretty tense. There were some fairly strong words being thrown around by both countries. But very soon, very soon, we changed to talking about the bigger promise of the relationship. Stronger IP protections are not only for American companies, but also for Indian companies that are innovating India,” she said. Price restrictions Ms. Biswal also touched on price restrictions imposed on some medial items such a heart stents and artificial knee caps. “If you are talking about medical equipment technologies, the question is how do you address concerns about affordability in India, but also you have policies that allow that relationship to flourish and India continues to have access to state-of-the-art technology. India is in some ways is becoming a destination for medical services for the region. Much in the way Singapore has become, India wants to grow in that direction. Many Indian clinics and hospitals would want to. For that, you need policies that will attract, these companies. Again we are talking about win-win again. We will be working toward providing that kind of framework for India-US economic ties,” she said.
PAGE 22 â&#x20AC;˘ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017
NEWS Patelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great contribution was the Indian Administrative Service: Venkaiah Naidu NEW DELHI One of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great contributions was the creation of the Indian Administrative Service, which was once a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;missionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; but had now become a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for some, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Tuesday, Oct.31. Many contributions and teachings of Patel have been ignored and remain unrecognised, Naidu said at an event to commemorate the 142nd birth anniversary of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst home minister at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library here. The day is being celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His vision for a uniďŹ ed India also saw the creation of the All India Administrative Service which he described as a steel frame. It was one of the great contributions he made to the country,â&#x20AC;? the vice president said. Patelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exhortations to probationers to maintain â&#x20AC;&#x153;utmost impartiality and incorruptibility in administrationâ&#x20AC;? were as relevant today as they were then, Naidu said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Earlier it was a mission, now some people have turned it into a commission giving remission and committing many omissions.â&#x20AC;? Naidu, who also inaugurated a two-day national conference and an exhibition on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Making of a Gandhian Nationalist: Life and Times of Sardar Patelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, said agriculture had been completely ignored post independence, contrary to Patelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s belief that it was the â&#x20AC;&#x153;basic culture of Indiaâ&#x20AC;?. Agriculture and industry were like our eyes, both needing equal care, but the former had been treated unjustly, the vice president said. Food security is an important aspect in India, with a population of 130 crore, and agriculture cannot be ignored, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People are leaving agriculture... A doctor wants his son to be a doctor, a teacher wants his son to be a teacher, a businessman wants his son to be a businessman, an actor wants his son to be an actor, even when the face is not good enough, and then thrusting them upon us, but a farmer does not want his son to be a farmer. This is because agriculture is not remunerative,â&#x20AC;? he said. In a bid to rectify the situation, the Modi government was focusing on agriculture. â&#x20AC;&#x153;... By 2022, the aim of the government is to double the income of agriculturists.â&#x20AC;? Naidu also rued the fact that there had been no proper recognition of Patelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monumental contribution and his legacy in unifying the country at its most critical juncture. He asked the young to read and follow Patelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life story and understand his contribution in building a modern, uniďŹ ed India. Patel led a down to earth life and knew each and every problem of the country. He had clarity and was committed to unity, Naidu said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He needs to be remembered by every Indian as the country marches ahead as one of the largest economies in the world... His thoughts combined with parts of Mahatma Gandhiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are eternal to India,â&#x20AC;? he said.
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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;His momentous service and monumental contribution to India can never be forgottenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; It was a day of tributes as Tuesday marked the 142nd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. A leader of the Indian National Congress, Patel was one of the pioneering figures in Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s freedom struggle. It also coincided with the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the BJP has never hid his admiration for the Congressman Patel. Rahul Gandhi, the Congress Vice-President, and his party paid tribute to Patelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work in unifying a once fragmented India, with a few princely States demanding autonomy, after independence. The Congress quoted one of Patelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous words. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also paid tribute to Patelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contribution towards national integration President Ram Nath Kovind paid tribute at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan BJP President Amit Shah was in Shimla for Rashtriya Ekta Divas to promote national unity, as a tribute to Patelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tireless eďŹ&#x20AC;orts Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu had inaugurated the national conference and exhibition on Making of a Gandhian Nationalist - A Study of the Life and Times of Sardar Patel
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