HUM Magazine November 2012

NOVEMBER 2012

BIG BOSSES OF LITTLE INDIA Mountain of Light: Kohinoor Diamonds

THANKSGIVING EVOLUTION SLAVIC FESTIVAL Brings Remembrances of Childhood

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Diwali Delights

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FROM

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Nature flaunts an unbridled paintbrush in Bennington, Vermont. Against a backdrop of the majestic Taconic and Green Mountain ranges, you see a lush palette of burnished bronzes, robust greens, delicate chartreuse, flaming orange, and every hue of yellow, from ochre to saffron. You fly into Albany, NY, and it’s a forty-five minute drive to Bennington through some of the most whimsical and captivating terrain imaginable. Farmhouses, red barns, tractors and livestock dot the landscape. A sweet, laidback town with a liberal arts college nestled at its heart, Bennington’s “city” boasts a chocolate factory, art galleries, pottery studios, excellent eateries, a bookstore, cathedrals with beautiful stained glass windows, and the Crazy Russian Girls Bakery that sells capriciously-named cupcakes, among other goodies. There are single-lane covered bridges with a speed limit of ten miles per hour, and a fine of five cents if one dares to violate that law. And those ubiquitous painted moose, that add to Bennington’s colorful tapestry. On a more serious note, the poet Robert Frost is buried in this town.

Mid-October, I took a mini-vacation from HUM Magazine and joined hordes of other “leaf peepers” who, armed with cameras, thronged the small town. It was an idyllic stay, but home and HUM beckoned.

It’s my favorite time of year in Houston when the weather cools and the festivities begin. The November issue of HUM is an ode to celebrations. As our cover suggests, Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights will be observed this month globally. Light symbolizes knowledge, which dispels the darkness of ignorance.

Living in America, we have much to be thankful for. As we celebrate Thanksgiving with family and loved ones, let us be grateful for our many blessings. Let us celebrate freedom, and pray for the wellbeing of our troops and all those who put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. We wish our readers a glorious festive season.

Warmly,

Kalyani Giri

Publisher

Photo captions (from left): Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales Raoman Catholic Church, Those colorful moose!, Shades of Fall, Covered bridge

team HUM Publisher/Editor Kalyani Giri Art Director Saqib Rana Print Consultant Ken Hoffman Correspondents Dr. Arjune Rama Ian Mellor-Crummey Lisa Brooks Nalini Sadagopan Priya M. James Tajana Mesic Tamara Mousner

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CONTENTS What WE Love about

07 HOUSTON

Sabrina Lynn Motley

Big Bosses of Little India

08 MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT

KOHINOOR DIAMONDS

Kalyani Giri

12

Thanksgiving EVOLUTION

14

Trending Now:

Cynthia Singleton

FEMALE FOOTBALL FANS FEMALE Deepi Sidhu

16

SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME SHAKEN

18

JONATHAN BLAKE

Arjune Rama, MD

Fashion Show Spring/Summer 2013

Cover: Sandhya Ayyar

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24/7 updated local, national & international online news service www.twitter.ocm/DholNews

www.facebook.com/dholnews

NOVEMBER 2012 22 24

REFLECTING THE DIVINE

Melding the Best of East and West Robert Arnett

DIWALI

Celebrating the Triumph of Goodness

WHY IS THERE NO LABELLING

34 OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS? Dr. David Courtney

DE LOS MUERTOS: 36 DÍA A Celebration of Life and Death Elvia Francis

26 DIWALI RECIPES

OF THE HEART 39 BITS Ratna Sinha

29 THE BANYAN BRUNCH

40

Festive Goodies

30

SUSTAINABILITY 2.0

SLAVIC

Festival Brings Remembrances of Childhood

Danijela Miškić

The Original Power Play: Social Enterprise and Profits with Purpose

44 IFFH CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

Honoring Literacy Month

48 HUMwee

Tajana Mesic

33 AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER Rathna Kumar

Arjune Rama, MD

OF INDIAN CINEMA

50 Chiba Sister City of Houston

Interiors by Cantoni

28

Great Design Is a Way of Life

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VOICES

7

What I Love About

Houston Sabrina Lynn Motley

Photo: Krishna Giri

I think that cities carry their own perfume. Houston’s is mossy.

Slightly dank. Best experienced around five or six in the evening as the light starts to shift. Just as people start fleeing their cubicles the air becomes lusty and the sky offers another serving of the most luscious clouds one can imagine.

I must admit that Los Angeles, my home city—soul city, really—can be somewhat parsimonious with its admirable gifts. They are often tucked in a crevasse over the next mountain or floating just beyond the next wave. Houston has no charming veils behind which to hide. It is a wide and flat thing. Baubles are unabashedly offered on the palm of a beautiful hand.

There are exceptions, of course. I guess cities always hold something in reserve for the traveler or town newbie. Actually, they’re usually things found in plain sight, but vanity demands that we “discover” them on our own.

A Sunday drive along a road that I think will never end drops me into a place awash in beauty and dichotomies, serenity tempts bustling. Intimate beckons to the grand.

The first peek through the trees and telephone wires produces a feeling that I love most: air being caught in the throat. I am surprised by what I see and shamed by folly of my own arrogance. For I have been to Madurai and, like millions before me, found both comfort and awe in the belly of the Meenakshi Amman Temple. What in heaven’s name

could I find Texas, Texas!, that had a chance of evoking the spirit of Tamil Nadu’s holiest of cities?

I get out of the car and make a mental note that there is a reason proverbs and prophets speak to the perils of pride and arrogance. They block what can be, what we are meant to see. Fortunately, on this day I listen to a wiser voice than the one taunting me to spend another yet another day in the office. As the warm, mossy air sweeps across my face and settles in my throat, I acknowledge that through no fault of my own I am blessed to find myself at the entrance of Sri Meenakshi Devasthanam.

The third Hindu temple built in the United States, it is dedicated to the Goddess Meenakshi, Parvati’s avatar and Shiva’s consort. Like Texas, the temple complex is both imposing and welcoming. Like the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Southern India, its sights and sounds conspire to slow our pace so that we can open ourselves to whatever expression of the divine call us. This is a place of families, pilgrims, tourists, and seekers. As I cross its threshold I am happy to join their ranks and become one more about to discover her favorite place in Houston.

Sri Meenakshi Devasthanam 17130 McClean Road Pearland, TX 77584 For more information visit emeenakshi.org.

Sabrina Lynn Motley is Director of Programs and Education at Asia Society Texas Center. She has hosted a world music program on KPFK in Los Angeles, worked as an arts consultant for institutions including the J. Paul Getty Museum and the California Endowment, and is an erstwhile Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at UCLA. Most importantly, she is the daughter of a wise woman who told her from a very young age that all the world was hers to explore.

Pearlands Meenakshi Temple Mahagopuram

LITTLE INDIA LITTLE INDIA

BOSSES BIGBIG BOSSES OF OF

Mountain of Light

KohinoorDiamonds Diamonds Kohinoor Through Big Bosses of Little India, we trace the evolution of Little India through those visionary business titans whose businesses began to pepper that vibrant area between Westpark and US 59 from the early 70s to the present day.

We began with the stalwarts, and continue our series with younger businesses that add variety and panache to that intriguing stretch.

Neelofer Ali

By Kalyani Giri

Neelofer Ali is poised, decorous. She’s also strikingly attractive. When I first met her seven years ago, she was the proud new owner of Kohinoor Diamonds, the sole purveyor of those precious gems in Little India. That hasn’t changed. What has changed however, is Neelofer’s demeanor; gone is the vulnerability that goes hand in hand with starting a new endeavor, albeit an expensive one. Today confidence surrounds her like a comfortable mantle.

She’s successfully parlayed her passion for diamonds into a thriving business and has branded Kohinoor Diamonds into a trusted destination for aficionados of high-end jewelry. The Kohinoor showroom, sprawled over 5000 sq. feet and home to the creative works of some of the most imaginative designers of international repute, still holds court today as the only jewelry store on Hillcroft to specialize exclusively in diamonds. In a short span of seven years the store is the only one in Houston to proudly carry the Luca Carati line. Also splendidly showcased are the creations of top international design houses in the ilk of Claude Thibaudeau,

Le Vian, Diadori, Carlo Viani, Odelia, Diana by Design, Diana Classic, Fope Gioielli, Breanna, Paragon Pearls, Triton, Fendi, and Crown Ring, to name a few. Among other accolades and honors, Kohinoor is a recipient of the Gold Certificate for the past three years from the Better Business Bureau.

On Beginnings Kohinoor Diamonds has its origins in a love story. As newlyweds living in Chicago, Neelofer and her husband Altaf Ali would spend evenings strolling in the city. Neelofer, who loved diamonds from a very young age, would gaze wistfully into jewelry store windows mesmerized by the luminosity of the gems. Altaf, empathetic to his bride’s yearning, promised that one day, he would shower her with diamonds. The young family moved to Houston and when their daughters Sophia, 22, and Aleya, 21, reached their upper teens and were sufficiently able to fend for themselves, Altaf kept his word. Instead of buying her a couple of diamonds, he did

something grandiose, quite over the top and beyond Neelofer’s wildest expectations. He designed and commissioned a stateof-the-art showroom outfitted with immaculate wood paneling, gleaming glass cases, and opalescent chandeliers, and gifted it to his wife, and Kohinoor (meaning Mountain of Light) Diamonds was born. They added knowledgeable staff, filled the store with beautiful jewelry. Neelofer’s initial inventory was entirely based on her personal taste, but she soon learnt that customers had varying appreciation of designs and expanded to include a more diverse range. She upped her game and took intensive lessons in gemology and learnt about the cut, clarity, color, and carat of diamonds. An accomplished designer she began creating exclusive pieces of jewelry.

“I can’t believe my ‘baby’ is seven years old, I have followed my passion and I am convinced that one has to follow one’s heart to find contentment,” says Neelofer reflectively. “I also wanted my store to be different, to offer our clients one-of-a-kind pieces. When they’re investing in expensive diamond jewelry, they certainly wouldn’t like anyone else wearing the same thing.”

The Growing Years Kohinoor carries a wide range of classic and contemporary, traditional and playful styles, to please all ages and jewelry palates. A rotunda at the heart of the store plays host to dazzling array of engagement and wedding rings, coveted and popular among those planning on tying the knot. From custom made pieces, to designer pendants, necklace sets, earrings, bracelets, designer watches, the store offers a plethora of choices. Neelofer keeps abreast of her clients’ needs. She and Altaf are regulars at the jewelry industry’s premier and most comprehensive trade show in North America, the JCK Las Vegas; it is at this event that

they source new jewelry trends and connect with designers from all over the world. Neelofer also travels abroad to keep up with the latest European styles and to purchase fresh and unique wearable art for the store. She says that the secret to success in the jewelry business is a large and diverse inventory.

“It takes years to understand the average volume of business,” adds Altaf. While Neelofer rules as the face of Kohinoor, Altaf takes care of the business aspects of the store. Together they’ve endured a rugged economy and have prevailed. Kohinoor is today stronger than ever. From the beginning they have invested hugely in advertising; they also give back to the community through their philanthropic work and generous contributions to humanitarian organizations. And there’s nary a concert or Bollywood show that comes to town without Kohinoor’s strong presence as a promoter or underwriter of note.

Both Neelofer and Altaf are appreciative of their clients that support them. They’ve raised the bar on their line of diamond jewelry and they plan on outdoing themselves with the new range of exceptional pieces that they ordered in time for the Hindu festival, Diwali. They’re rewarding clients who purchase for $5000 and more with gifts of Apple Macbooks or Sony laptops during the Diwali sales; every customer that buys a piece of jewelry will receive a gift too. On past occasions they’ve given away IPads, Sony televisions sets, and more.

Success and Life “We’ve got our finger on the pulse of this industry, our primary clientele is South Asian, but we’ve had a lot of interest and new clients from the mainstream,” says Neelofer. “We pride ourselves on carrying the finest quality of merchandise, and we never push sales. We prefer to give the client the chance to

decide. Among us – and our staff who are like family to us - we have over forty years of experience. Visitors to this city come by just to see the showroom. They may not buy anything, but they’re our honored guests. So much is about word of mouth.

Happy clients recommend us to others, and we have many repeat customers,” she adds.

Neelofer says that she owes a debt of gratitude to Urmila Shah (Baa), Bharat Shah, and Murad Pirani for being with her since the inception of Kohinoor Diamonds.

“I sincerely thank them for managing the showroom so well. They are excellent people and my family, we’re all part of the Kohinoor Diamonds family,” Neelofer adds emotionally.

A diehard fan of Bollywood movies, Neelofer confides that many actors and musicians have visited the store. They hosted a catered seated dinner party for forty at the showroom in honor of the legendary singer Jagjit Singh a couple of years ago. A memorable moment for the family was when the vocalist, since deceased, had serenaded their daughter with her favorite song on her 18th birthday.

Neelofer’s philosophy is simple; she lives in the present.

She enriches her personal growth through spirituality, yoga and meditation. A certified yoga instructor she teaches voluntarily at three locations because “helping others gives me inner satisfaction”. And she enjoys reading.

“God has been very kind to us,” says Neelofer, “I believe if you’re good and honest, the future will always be bright. Now I want to see Kohinoor grow up and mature, there’s always room for growth,” she says with a smile. sales@kohinoordiamonds.net (713) 334 8700

Thanksgiving

Evolution

By Cynthia Singleton

The crisp mornings and the ubiquitous appearance of orange and yellow decorations herald the fall holiday season of which Thanksgiving gleams as one of the paramount crown jewels. It’s a time of family and feasting, with some football thrown in for good measure. This holiday has evolved so much for me over the years. As the youngest of six much-older siblings, I looked forward to Thanksgiving. Our quiet routines were eagerly set aside for the endearing chaos that only a pack of grandchildren under six can bring. Feeding a crowd of at least thirty involved many preparations. I listened with fascinated ears to the women - my sisters, in-laws and mother - gossiping in between all the chopping, baking, roasting, wrapping, peeling and stuffing. “You don’t want to run out of food,” was my mother’s mantra, so there was always a lot of time to gossip. We invariably prepared enough so that she could press foil wrapped pouches of her famous cornbread stuffing and turkey leftovers into grateful hands as everyone was packing up to return home. The importance of food for Thanksgiving, most especially my mother’s menu, imbued me with the longing to learn the arduous process. The only way to do this was to drive over to mom’s home, shoo her out of the way, and from her perch on a nearby barstool, have her instruct rather than jump in and do it herself.

Soon, I could roast turkey and make cornbread stuffing

like the best of them. This came in handy later as my world expanded beyond the United States. During my stay as an exchange student in Germany, a friend requested that I prepare the Thanksgiving menu for his family’s Christmas celebration. We had to order the turkey from a local farmer, which proved quite fun. His mother gave regular updates on Tommy the turkey’s growth, until the time came to cook him up. It had not occurred to me that European ovens might differ in size, so I was pretty relieved when we were able to squeeze the fifteen- pounder into the tiny oven with about ¼ inch to spare!

The perfect fit resulted in a spectacularly roasted Tommy, and very, very happy tummies of all who sampled him and the side dishes. One thing my mother had not taught me was how to cut the proportions down, so having no idea how to prepare a meal for just six people, I ended up with one for twenty-five. I didn’t want to run out of food after all. The family lost no time in inviting neighbors and friends over, and a rowdy soccer tournament ensued until the wee hours.

When my husband and I moved to Japan, raw ingredients were much, much harder to come by. We couldn’t find a local turkey farmer despite living in the Japanese sticks, so we made do with frozen turkey breasts, Kobe beefsteaks, and all the sides. One secret my mother had passed along is that stuffing comes out just as good, if not better, in a slow cooker.

GRATITUDE

13

Photos: Cynthia Singleton

In Mexico, my husband so bragged on about my cooking skills that I found myself with a crowd of more than thirty ex-pat friends longing for a scintillating Thanksgiving meal. I managed to create a meal with just one kitchen helper. After we returned to the states, we transitioned to celebrating the day with my husband’s extended family. We join their clan at a lake-house east of Dallas for a three-day extravaganza of food and a celebratory reunion. Over the years, each meal of the three days has acquired a certain tradition that is constantly evolving, as new recipes become old favorites. Wednesday night is chili night; Thursday, traditional lunch for thirty preceded by a formal toast, fall fruit and cheese with a reduced port sauce, a hymn of gratitude, and the reading of William Bradford’s original proclamation of Thanksgiving. Thursday evening sees us enjoying leftovers and pie, while Friday’s menu boasts breakfast burritos, afternoon harvest soup and sandwiches, an evening catfish dinner, followed by stories or fireside singing

over hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows. One year an informal pecan pie competition amongst the female cousins netted us nearly a pie per person! Who knew there were so many ways to make pecan pie?

However in the last few years, the Thanksgiving food aspect has grown more problematic for me as my son with autism spectrum disorder adheres to a strict gluten/free, dairy diet, and I am vegetarian, almost vegan. This makes the entire concept of sharing fellowship through feasting downright difficult and sometimes impossible. Interestingly enough, my abstinence from anything with a face has caused quite a few hostile comments though I really don’t care what others eat - I even fix meat for my kids at home. I have come to a place where the importance of appreciating of all the blessings of this life takes precedence over just about everything else. The day is called Thanksgiving after all.

The best of the season and blessings to all!

An intrepid traveler and cook from her early days, Cynthia Singleton, a native Houstonian, now uses her powerful voice to write, speak, advocate, train parents and professionals about autism in the area of recovery, awareness, special education, and health insurance reform.

GAME ON!

14

Trending Now:

Female Football Fans

Photo: Ted Westby

Photo: Kristina Fortner

Photo: Michelle Stewart

Photo: Deepi Sidhu

Photo: Ashley Kirklen

Photo: Kara Zimmerman

By Deepi Sidhu Remember when women used to be referred to as “football widows,” those who were left behind while their men watched NFL on the weekends? Women have flipped the script on the NFL market. An estimated 45% of fans are women and the numbers are rising, according to Tracey Bleczinski, vice president of NFL consumer products. I personally, have always loved football. It began before my beloved Indianapolis Colts had ever moved from Baltimore. I used to watch all the Sunday games with my dad but having a hometown team solidified my fandom and gave my cheering a purpose. Now living in Houston, I share this love with my husband and my boys who are Houston Texans’ fans. Texas is football country and with the Texans off to their best start in franchise history, women (young and old) are showing up in droves to each game at Reliant Stadium. This trend is not limited to Houston, but also popping up across the nation. I have written many articles covering the sport from a woman’s perspective. I write a weekly blog for Her Game Life, a football site for women by women. The readership as well as the number of women clamoring to write has been astounding and our small staff grew to 90 female writers in just a few months of going live. What has caused this recent spike in female NFL fans? I have a few theories.

1

Think Pink!

The NFL is light years ahead of other team sports in its marketing vision. This season fashion magazines all over newsstands

are splashed with the NFL’s latest marketing campaign called “It’s My Team,” featuring among others, Serena Williams, Condoleezza Rice, and Melania Trump. It is the latest in a series of ads geared towards making women feel like a part of the NFL’s fan base.

The NFL also dedicates the entire month of October each year to breast cancer awareness. In October the players wear pink gloves, shoes, socks, ribbons, etc. to show their support for breast cancer awareness for women. Many franchises also have “Women Only” fan clubs where female fans can get together, meet players, and receive team prizes and gifts.

2

Fantasy Football When it comes to sports, men and women have never been on a more equal playing field (no pun intended) than in fantasy football. In 2011, an astounding 5.4 million women played fantasy football, according to ESPN and research done by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association and the market research company Ipsos.

That is roughly 20% of all fantasy players.

No one could have predicted the outrageous success of fantasy football. What began as a game for football geeks has now integrated itself in the NFL’s social fabric. It has become an essential part of the football season among co-workers, friends, and mere acquaintances for Monday (and Tuesday) morning water cooler talk. Fantasy football has become such a phenomenon that there is even a hit television show on FX called “The League” which

GAME ON!

15

Photo: Janie Williamson

Photo: Brit Roper

Photo: Swati Narayan

Photo: Jennica Maes

features a motley group of friends who indulge in various football and non-football related shenanigans. “The League” also has a female player Jenny (played by Katie Aselton). Jenny, a wife and mother on the show, can trash talk and spew statistics as well as the rest of the guys in the league, which consists of her husband and their friends. Isn’t this a classic case of art imitating life? Fantasy football allows for women to be just as successful as men. In fact, our highly verbal skills make us very proficient trash talkers, a skill as necessary as knowing your league’s scoring rules.

3

Show Me the Money We love to shop. It does not take a genius to equate women with buying power and consumer purchasing. The NFL is a business and a big part of the profit comes from merchandising. This can work two ways: (1) if women like football, they will be more inclined to buy the stuff. (2) If the stuff is stylish, women will buy it and may be more inclined to root for a team.

We are currently in a Camelot era of women’s NFL apparel. It’s never been as wide-ranging and stylish as it is today.

From fitted tees to pajamas to team-colored nail polishes to distressed leather boots, women can show their team spirit in a multitude of ways. Actress Alyssa Milano, a huge Giants fan, designs a line of clothing for the NFL. Victoria’s Secret has its own line of NFL apparel. VS even opened its first PINK store

Photo: Kayla Yap

at the Cowboys Stadium in October. As someone who used to have to shop in the boys’ section to find NFL shirts that were not made for a 200-pound grown man, I say it’s about time!

4

Sunday Is the Day of Rest…and Football Women are busy! Between work, kids, activities, or social lives, we do not have a lot time to dedicate to watching hundreds of games in a calendar year. Football fits very neatly into our schedules. Unlike hockey, basketball, baseball, and soccer, professional football teams play the fewest games. The added advantage of fewer games is that each week is wildly important. Head-to-head records, home field advantage for playoffs, and leads for divisional champion are made and broken each week. Fans only need to set aside three hours a week to watch an NFL game. To make it even easier, the majority of games are played on Sundays or in the evenings (Monday Night Football, anyone?) when most people are home. In 2011 NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” ranked third on network television and ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” was the number one show (not just in sports, but overall) on cable television. While women may watch other sports, football has surpassed baseball as America’s favorite past time among men as well as women.

Get Your Head in the Game…and the Game in Your Head Football is the ultimate spectator sport. This month I met

ao’s

up with my sister, sister-in-law, and best friend to attend a Colts game in New York to cap off a fantastic girls’ getaway of Broadway, shopping, and eating out. Crazy?

Absolutely not. It has never been more accepted to be a woman who follows football as it is today. We saw several girl-only groups on our way into MetLife Stadium decked out in their NFL gear. Growing up in a time that had no female anchors on ESPN, no women’s section in the NFL store, and certainly no television show portraying a diehard mom loving fantasy football to a time when even having a female referee was possible is thrilling.

Women often approach me and ask how they can start following and understanding the game of football.

It can be intimidating and confusing but I have some tips for women or anyone with an interest to learn more about the game.

Photo: Rachel Thebault

1. Pick a team to follow and watch them weekly. Even if you do not get local coverage, there are lots of local restaurants and establishments that televise all the NFL games.

2. Do some homework. Football is a complicated but intriguing game. Listen to the broadcasters’

observations. Read the box score and/or game summary. Watch highlights of other games. The more you immerse yourself, the more you will learn about teams, personnel, strategy, and even subtle nuances of the game.

3. If you can, attend a game. It is a fantastic experience to be surrounded by 60,000 people cheering alongside you. The adrenaline rush will make you want to watch even more football at home.

4. Make football a group activity. Watch with your significant other, friends, or family. Head out to a sports bar or throw a viewing party and make it fun!

There is nothing better than kicking back with friends and family on a lazy Sunday afternoon to watch some NFL. As former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (a Cleveland Brown fan) once said jokingly of her love of football, “I probably would have written several more books if it had not been for NFL on Sunday.” I’m chagrined by the thought of what I could have accomplished in those three hours each week as well. But each Sunday, I flip on the television anyway because I love this game.

Deepi Sidhu is a co-host of GenerAsian Radio (www.facebook.com/generasianradio) and can be heard every Thursday from 1-3 PM on KPFT 90.1FM or at www.kpft.org. She writes a weekly football blog for women at www.hergamelife.com and has also previously written articles for CBS Radio Houston. Along with talking and writing, Deepi also loves shopping and is the owner of Styled. By Deepi personal shopping and styling services. For more info, visit www.styledbydeepi.com. She lives in Houston with her husband Sham and their three boys.

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Fashion Show Spring/Summer 2013

From left: Asha Dhume, Tanya Pal, Sreemathy Ranganathan, Kalyani Giri, Sonal Subramaniam, Seema Sanghi, and Raj Patel.

Some Enchanted Evening Applause, Accolades Greet Jonathan Blake’s Bella Donna Spring/Summer 2013 Collection

The air of anticipation was almost tangible at the Junior League of Houston on October 3, 2012, as fashion mavens, friends, and a slew of well-wishers breathlessly awaited the debut of this city’s hottest young fashion designer, Jonathan Tinkle, founder and chief fashion designer for Jonathan Blake LLC. And he did not disappoint. He delivered regally. And without a doubt, a star was born that night. Elegance and classicism were the hallmarks of Tinkle’s Bella Donna Spring/Summer 2013 Collection. Against a backdrop of edgy music, models rocked the ramp in his stunning line of day dresses, flirty skirts, adorable peplum blouses in jewel-tones, and a dazzling array of evening gowns. Rich magenta vied with cool beige and ravishing teals and emeralds for starring roles in Tinkle’s creative opus. Sleek flowing silks and organza imported from New York were structured into wearable pieces of art; iridescent crystals enhanced necklines and one-shoulder dresses.

Ruffles found tasteful purchase on a standout deep pink frock.

Arguably, the pièce de résistance was a fitted strapless crepe silk siren-red gown that flared languidly from the knees to trail into an enticing train boasting more than 700 handmade organza roses. Worn by Brittany Booker, Miss Texas USA 2012, the gown hearkened back to the era of screen icon Veronica Lake, enduring in its timeless sophistication. Adding allure

to the look was a cleverly matched emerald necklace and earring set from Valobra Jewelry & Antiques.

Feted with a standing ovation at the conclusion of the show, Tinkle thanked his parents Mandy and John Tinkle; he also recognized and thanked his mentors and supporters Dr. Carolyn Farb, Zarine Boyce, and Dr. Meherwan Boyce.

Present in the audience were Tinkle’s sister Amanda, and Hollywood actor Lee Majors and his wife, Faith.

At just 22 years of age, Tinkle is all set to blaze trails of his own like his idol, the other luminary designer from Texas, Tom Ford. Intuitively imbued with an understanding of what would please fashion-forward women, Tinkle draws inspiration from organic shapes and nature for his designs. Sizes range from 0 to 12, and the multigenerational line is priced from $275 to $14,000.

“Houston is known for being an entrepreneurial city with a solid economic climate,” said Tinkle. “Besides, Houston is my hometown, and it is also home to thousands of smart, stylish women who are engaged in business, the community, and society. I know many of these women personally, and I know they are serious about looking their best and projecting a confident, positive image. Those who are my target clients expect superior quality and stunning designs.”

Jonathan Blake and Carolyn Farb

With Miss Texas 2012 Brittany Booker

Zarine Boyce, Lee Majors and Faith Majors

Acknowledgments Fashion Show Producer: BLINC by Bambi Linn Featured guest model: Miss Texas 2012 Brittany Booker Exclusive Hair Stylist: Eric Vaughn Makeup: Christi Harris Fragrance Sample Provider:Clive Christian Fragrances Photographers: Kim Coffman – social Arthur Garcia/Select Studios – runway

Models: Page Parkes Emcee: Hilary Wagner Hair: Michael Kemper Salon Flowers: Flowers by Nino Food and Beverage: Junior League of Houston Public Relations: Laura Pennino, Pennino and Partners

Shaken Baby Syndrome

By Arjune Rama, MD

I have never shaken a baby. I will never shake a baby. Until we had our own child I considered people who have caused Shaken Baby Syndrome to be some of the lowest examples our species has to offer. I used to think to myself, “What kind of animal could shake a baby so hard that she bleeds into her brain?” However, I am starting to understand why people do it.

Although I neither accept nor endorse it, I recognize that the situation is more complicated than I once thought.

Considering that babies scream despite having been fed, changed, walked around, bounced, hugged, and kissed, I am amazed by how rarely parents talk about just how furious our babies can make us. I think about it frequently, especially in the context of the horrific level of global child poverty. I marvel at our daughter’s fortune to have been born into a family that desperately loves her and wants to provide her with everything.

I hear myself angrily thinking, “How dare she treat us this way?

Does she know how lucky she is?”

Those angry feelings sharpen to a point when her cry suddenly cuts through the quiet of our all-too-short nights. The English translation of that cry is, “Tomorrow your twelve-hour work day will be a groggy-eyed waking nightmare.” As the cry shifts into a throaty scream, in my half-awake/half-asleep state I feel a slowly growing animus bloom inside me. While I try to intellectualize away the possibility of hurting her, hardwired human feelings like desperation, hopelessness, and anger are frighteningly difficult to keep at bay. Nothing breeds desperation like hopelessness. And nothing fuels anger like desperation.

Perhaps surprisingly, I believe that this anger is directed much less at our baby than at myself. In these 4.00 a.m. confrontations I experience feelings of aggression in direct proportion to my perception of personal failure at the most important job of my life. In those moments I feel like my love is not enough or that if I were stronger or smarter, she would not be crying. As a physician training in psychiatry I thought that I would be better equipped to successfully navigate the emotional waters of childrearing. I could not have been more wrong.

Although I am trained to manage my emotions in the context of a doctor-patient relationship, the degree of parental closeness I have with my daughter renders me unable to use my background in any meaningful way. In these tense situations, she is like a boxer who constantly clutches her opponent so tightly during a bout that both fighters are immobilized.

Shaking a baby is child abuse, criminal, and unacceptable under any circumstances. However, I believe that the anger from which it stems is not so inaccessible to even the most loving parent. I realize that we live in a climate of childrearing wherein whole sections of bookstores are dedicated to the craft and hours of armchair wisdom are seemingly available from every family member, friend, and grocery store clerk. While I do not intend to add to that forest of writing or earfuls of anecdotes, I would like to propose a single simple bit of advice that I use before I step into my daughter’s room in the middle of the night during a maddening crying jag. I remind myself that I come first. I love myself first. I realize that these statements are anathema in a world that screams, “Your child comes first!”

However, if I can’t love myself despite my well-intentioned attempts to satisfy her frequently insatiable level of need, then I can’t really love her either. It’s like being on an airplane. In the event of an emergency landing, we are asked to secure our own masks before assisting others. If I tried to secure her mask first, I might not last long enough to do much of anything on her behalf anyway.

Arjune Rama is a resident physician in psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine.

You can follow him on twitter at @arjunerama

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A Buddhist Monk Blowing a Ceremonial Trumpet. Ghoom Monastery, Darjeeling, West Bengal. The deep sound of the trumpet represents God’s creative presence in the universe.

Most religions have a similar sacred word testifying to the Divine Presence:Â Aum to Hindus, Om to Buddhists, Amin to Muslims, and Amen to the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Jews, and Christians.

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REFLECTING THE DIVINE A shrine commemorating Paramahansa Yogananda. Kumbha Mela.

Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Paramahansa Yogananda was the first Godrealized yogi to bring to the West soul-liberating meditation techniques by which God may be experienced. His spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi is used in hundreds of universities and is translated into over 20 languages.

Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of the Cosmic Dance of Creation and Dissolution, and the elephantheaded Ganesha. Ekambareshwara Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

Shiva, a part of the Hindu Trinity, holds in his upper right hand a damaru, a hand drum, that made the first sound of creation. In his upper left hand, he holds agni, the fire that dissolves all creation back into the One, Unmanifested Spirit. The figure trampled by his right foot represents maya, ignorance, which leads humankind astray. The iconography is identical to the words of Christ: “I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:13).

Melding the Best of East and West

By Robert Arnett Many people know well the first line of Rudyard Kipling’s famous “The Ballard of East and West,” published in 1889, but how few have ever heard the following three lines from that stanza that opens and closes Kipling’s poem: “Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat; But there is neither East nor West, border, nor breed, nor birth, When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the Earth!“ Our shrinking world makes it easier today than ever before to adopt the best from all civilizations. Certainly no nation or religion has a monopoly on truth. West and East have much to share.

Of all of the nations in the world, India is the most spiritually blessed. More and more Americans are learning that materialism does not give lasting satisfaction, and they are turning to India for spiritual guidance.

The most sublime purpose of religion is to teach us how to know God. Once we become aware of the spark of God within us (the soul), we realize that we are all interconnected children of the Most High and that all true religions lead to God, and it does not matter which path one follows, for the multicolored lamps of each faith burn with the same white flame.

I do not suggest that the various forms of religious worship be made homogeneous, for each appeals to the particular culture to which it was brought. Rituals and symbols may vary, but the principles they represent are universal. Once we experience the God within, religious prejudice and dogma disappear.

I believe that religion should offer a scientific basis by which the practitioner may know God. Yoga meditation is the scientific way to experience God-communion. By consciously withdrawing the mind from the restless senses, one’s attention can be placed upon God. Meditation makes God knowable to ordinary people through the framework of their existing religion. The Bible says: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). Once the mind becomes calm, the image of the Divine is reflected within.

When Albert Einstein said, “Science without religion is lame, and religion without science is blind,” he could have been describing contemporary America and India. India has become overbalanced spiritually—and in spite of making tremendous strides in reemerging as one of the world’s major economies after the total disruption and theft of the nation’s wealth by the British—India still cannot adequately provide for the material needs of its own people.

And though America leads the world in consumer comforts, it has veered sharply off course morally. Each culture would benefit from adopting the best qualities of the other.

It is my belief that the United States and India can give the world a new direction: a materially efficient democracy that is spiritually guided and serves humanity. But for this to become a reality, each of us must do our part. By integrating the best of East and West into our own lives, as Kipling forecast, we will become world citizens—seeing others as nothing more than an extension of our very own being: “Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.”

Robert Arnett is the author and photographer of internationally acclaimed India Unveiled and multi-award-winning children’s book Finders Keepers?. For more information about Robert Arnett and his work visit www.AtmanPress.com

Diwali Observances  What else is done for Diwali? Melas, or fairs, are held in all Indian towns and villages.

In the countryside, the mela includes a festive marketplace where farmers bring their produce to sell and clothing vendors have a heyday.  What are the giant effigies that are burned by big crowds? Huge effigies of Ravana, with ten heads, are built of straw and filled with firecrackers. They are burned as a joyous, symbolic cleansing from evil, and lights are lit in every home, just as residents of Ayodhya did to welcome home their victorious king, Rama. Are there customs for the day after Diwali?

The following day, families offer special prayers to Lakshmi for a prosperous year. This ritual worship is also directed to Kubera, the celestial being who distributes wealth to mortals. As Hindus pray for comfort and the family’s material wealth, it is believed that things should not be given away or donated on this one day of the year.

Diwali

Celebrating the Triumph of Goodness If you rolled a bit of Christmas, New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July all into one, then catered the affair with mountains of sweets and savory snacks, you would have a taste of what it means to celebrate Diwali, India’s best-known festival. It is a day of Hindu solidarity, when all Hindus gather in love and trust. It is observed by lighting rows of oil lamps and exchanging greeting cards, clothing and other gifts. Family bonds are strengthened and forgiveness sought. For many, Diwali marks the beginning of the new year. Joyous festivities and parties abound.

What occurs on Diwali?

Diwali (or Deepavali, “row of lights”) is celebrated by Hindus worldwide to commemorate the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair. Oil-wick lamps are lit in every household, along with colorful strings of electric lights, causing the home, village and community to sparkle with dancing fl ames. The festival falls on the day before the new moon in the month of Ashwin (October/ November). Communities spare nothing in celebration. Lavish spreads of sweets and treats refl ect unfettered partying. Diwali lehyam—a potent concoction made with ginger, pepper, ghee and more—is provided to help gourmands

digest the sumptuous feast. Families reach out to each other with gifts of sweets, dried fruit and crunchy, salty treats. Everyone wears colorful new clothing and many even new jewelry. Girls and women decorate their hands with henna designs.

What does lamp-lighting signify?

In Hindu culture, light is a powerful metaphor for knowledge and consciousness. It is a reminder of the preciousness of education, selfinquiry and improvement, which bring harmony to the individual, the community and between communities. By honoring light, we affirm the fact that from knowing arises respect for and acceptance of others. Lighting lamps reminds Hindus to keep on the right path, to dispel darkness from their hearts and minds, and to embrace knowledge and goodness.

What legends are associated with Diwali?

In the sacred text Ramayana, Diwali marks the return of Rama to his kingdom after defeating Ravana, the demon king who ruled Sri Lanka and kidnapped Rama’s pious wife, Sita. It also celebrates Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, the demon of ignorance. Rama and Krishna are earthly incarnations, or avatars, of Vishnu.

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Photo: Krishna Giri

Photo: Chantal Jumel

About Hinduism

Carissa & Anjali Kumar, daughters of Miya & Chetan Kumar

Does ritual bathing play a part?

Diwali marks the conquest of negative forces. To wipe away all traces of life’s struggle, the negative and draining energies of strife, Hindus invoke the waters of India’s holiest rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Indus and Kaveri—into water collected in urns in preparation for an ablution after an oil massage. The special bath cleanses the physical and auric energies of the individual. Fragrant powders of dried lentils, roots, aromatic seeds, leaves and fl owers are used to remove the oil. Families then don fi ne new clothes, beautiful patterns are drawn on the ground, and lamps are lit until entire streets glow. Even the White House in Washington, D.C., is illumined by the gentle glow of oil lamps during its annual Diwali observances.

Article reproduced courtesy of Hinduism Today

FACT: Believing that the Divine resides in all things, Hindus practice non-injury and hold a deep respect, bordering on reverence, for all living beings. This embracing attitude is refl ected in India’s history of welcoming refugees from all cultures and faiths.

By following dharma, Hindus eschew violence and terror.

Secure in their faith, they interact harmoniously with their neighbors, regardless of religious affi liation.

FICTION: Many people wrongly believe that Hindus, being proud of their religion, may disdain other cultures. In fact, Hindus fully accept the spiritual effi cacy of other paths and never proselytize.

FESTIVE FOODS

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DIWALI RECIPES Rice Coconut Payasam Serves 4 “I think Payasam or Rice Pudding is a must on festive occasions as they symbolize everything sweet, good and auspicious. It’s easy to make and tastes delicious.” – Sharmilla Vaidyanathan, Bangalore, India.

Ingredients 1/2 cup rice 1 cup grated coconut 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup milk 2 tablespoons condensed milk ¼ cup cashew nuts broken into small pieces and lightly roasted 1 teaspoon crushed cardamom 2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)

Method Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes.

Grind the soaked rice and coconut to a smooth paste.

In a separate pan, add enough water to cover the jaggery, and place it on In a thick-bottomed pan, add some water and the ground coconut rice paste. Stir the paste constantly on medium heat till the rice is cooked. I observed a mild color change when the rice was cooked.

Add the sugar and some cardamom. Mix well and let the payasam thicken.

Add milk and sweetened condensed milk in the end. Mix well and check if consistency is not too thick (add milk accordingly). Switch off the heat.

Garnish with cashew nuts and cardamom.

Vadais (Savory Snack) Ingredients 1 cup channa dhal 1 tablespoon rice flour I onion chopped fine 5 green chillies 1 teaspoon fennel seeds 2 tablespoons each cilantro and mint leaves salt to taste 1 sprig curry leaves 1 inch piece of ginger 5 – 6 cloves of garlic 2 cups oil for deep frying Method Soak channa dhal for 3-4 hours. First grind ginger, garlic, chillies and fennel coarsely. Then drain channa dal completely and add it in two batches and grind coarsely. Mix finely chopped onion, coriander and mint, salt, rice flour and curry leaves. Keep a bowl with water and wet both hands. Make equal sized balls first for uniform sized vadais. Heat oil in a wok or frying pan. Shape each ball to flat patties of medium thickness. Initially oil should be hot when dropping vadais into the frying pan. Then reduce the heat to medium after all vadais are in the oil and cook until golden in color. Drain on paper towels. Serve with hot tea.

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Naan Khatai

Topping 1/4 cup crushed pistachios 1/4 cup crushed mixed nuts

Authentic Indian Cuisine- Houston Press Method Mix together all ingredients and set aside for about 3 hours. Knead dough again, and shape the dough into small round balls. Press each lightly with crushed nuts and place on a cookie sheet. Preheat oven at 300 and bake for 20 minutes.

(Recipe shared by Asha Dhume)

Rasgoola (Sweet Cheese Ball Dessert)

“Rasgoola is one of my favorite Indian desserts and every time I visit India, I gobble up a bunch of them! They are sweet and juicy cheese balls from the eastern Indian state of Bengal. Soft Indian cheese (paneer) is shaped into small circles that are then simmered in a simple sugar syrup. Rasgoola are served chilled, so after you cook them, you do have to wait while they chill in the refrigerator! I like to sprinkle a few drops of kewra essence (pure anise extract) to give a traditional flavor, but this is optional.” – Shubhra Ramaneni, Author of Entice with Spice.

Serves 5 Prep time: 5 minutes + 1 hour refrigerating + 10 minutes to make paneer Cook time: 20 minutes + 20 minutes cooling time + 2 hours to chill in the refrigerator Refrigerator Life: 3 days Reheating Method: None! Serve chilled.

1 recipe paneer (see below), chilled for 30 minutes in the refrigerator 1 cup (200 g) sugar 2 cups (500 ml) water 2 drops kewra essence (optional) 1. Blend the chilled cheese in a mini food processor until smooth and creamy. At first the cheese may seem as if it crumbling even further in the food processor, but soon it

will come together in a ball. Add any loose bits of cheese to the ball with your hand.

2. Divide the cheese into 10 equal pieces. Wash your hands so they are clean and it is easier to continue working with the cheese.

3. Using your hands, gently roll each piece into a smooth ball. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the cheese balls to set.

4. To make the syrup, bring the sugar and water to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan over high heat.

5. Add the cheese balls to the boiling syrup. Cook for 2 minutes while boiling. Reduce the heat to medium.

Simmer for 15 minutes, undisturbed.

The cheese balls will slightly fluff up. Remove from the heat and let rest undisturbed as the syrup cools to room temperature (about 20 minutes).

8. Sprinkle on the kewra essence, if using, and gently stir. Cover and place in the refrigerator until chilled.

When serving, place 2 Rasgoola per person in a dessert bowl, and add plenty of the syrup. Enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of Shubhra Ramineni from her Indian cookbook, “Entice with Spice – Easy Indian Recipes for Busy People” Copyright © 2010 Shubhra Ramineni.

All rights reserved. www.enticewithspice.com

Best Indian Restaurant in Fort Bend County- SUN reader’s choice

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Ingredients 2 cups all purpose flour 1 cup confectioner sugar/powdered sugar 1 cup ghee (clarified butter) 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 5 saffron strands 2 teaspoons cardamom powder

Specializing in Moghlai, Punjabi, Gujarati, Peshawari, Italian, Mexican, and Mediterranean Delicacies

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Indulge your tastebuds on a trip of evocative ecstasy

Tommy & Rosily Phillips with their daughter Mia

Robin Subramaniam & his son Rahul

Alisha & Rahul Subramaniam Seema & Satin Sanghi with their children Saahil, Riya and Ronak Carissa & Anjali Kumar, daughters of Miya & Chetan Kumar

BOMBAY SWEETS & Pure Vegetarian Restaurant

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Photo: Latika Bathija

Renowned Actress Vyjayanthimala a Stellar Presence at The Banyan Brunch Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety, wrote Shakespeare. Had they been contemporaries, these words could have been written for the renowned Bollywood actress and danseuse Dr. Vyjayanthimala Bali, who at age 76, dazzled a capacious room of younger women with her wit and striking beauty. As guest of honor at The Banyan Brunch fundraiser held at the gracious Lakes of Parkway home of Latika Bathija, the ageless Dr. Bali endorsed the humanitarian efforts that the Chennai-based The Banyan is providing for women with mental illnesses. Over a delicious catered luncheon, Dr. Bali met and mingled with gatherees. She was later formally introduced and venerated by her longtime friend and ‘sister’ Deepi Mehta. Dr. Bali lauded Latika, who founded Friends of The Banyan, the US chapter of the organization, for her sincerity and passion for a noble cause and urged guests to contribute to the organization.

“Just like the enormous banyan tree whose branches spread far and wide offering protection, shelter, and shade, so must we be as generous. We have been blessed with so much,” said Dr. Bali.

The Banyan, formed in 1993 by two students, reaches out to women who have been thrust into the streets by their families and left to fend for themselves. In India there is a greater stigma attached to mental illness; about 40% of that country’s homeless are mentally incapacitated. The Banyan initially rented a three-bedroom building to run a care and rehabilitation center that they called Adaikalam, which means Refuge in the Tamil language. Since then the organiza-

Dr. Vyjayanthimala Bali with Latika Bathija and Deepi Mehta tion has mushroomed and has helped change the lives of over 5000 women. Through education and outreach programs The Banyan sensitizes communities to mental illness and therapy options. More than 1,500 women have been rescued from the streets, given medical attention, rehabilitated, taught job skills, and are leading productive lives in the community. The organization has three care centers in Chennai with full-time employees and part-time trained psychiatrists and psychologists; it also operates largely through the dedicated support of volunteers who tirelessly render crucial service. The Banyan runs outreach programs that educate and teach lessons in sensitivity to the public about mental illness. The annual budget for The Banyan is $700, 000, an amount the organization often falls short of.

“These women are the most marginalized faction of society, they’re penniless, terrified, and often raped and mistreated by society, and if we do not do something to help, then there is no hope of their survival,” said Latika. “On a visit to The Banyan in Chennai, I saw how well these women were being taken care of, and how much effort was put into teaching them life skills and preparing them to be independent so they can assimilate back into society when they are ready,” added Latika, a former restaurateur who became actively involved in the organization about three years ago when she sold her business. The Banyan fulfilled her philanthropic need to give back to her former hometown, Chennai.

For more information on The Banyan visit http://www.thebanyan.org and http://www.fotb-usa.

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THE ORIGINAL POWER PLAY: SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND PROFITS

SUSTAINABILITY 2.0

By Tajana Mesic The other day, a friend gave me a ticket for the upcoming Dallas Stars versus Detroit Red Wings hockey game. If you follow the sport, you know the meaning of a power play. One team makes a rough play, penalty is called, and the punished player is sent to the penalty box giving the opposing team the playing advantage while the punished team player sits out. Advantage often means a difference between winning and losing.

Most social enterprises develop as a result of a business version of an ice hockey power play. One sector of the economy plays rough; the other team gets the advantage. One sector lets the environmental and social issues of our time slide; the other team makes an impact in solving a pressing problem and benefits as a result. Who do you think ends up winning the game?

The Fourth Sector Our economy today operates within three major sectors: the for-profit private sector, the non-profit social sector, and

the governmental public sector. The implied purpose of the forprofit company is primarily the financial bottom line, creating products and services to enhance our lives. Non-profits give us ways to build and protect our values and help us build and maintain healthy communities. Governmental organizations provide for the common security through laws and strive to promote the best interests of society.

Historically, these three sectors operated within their own silos. What happened? Environmental and social problems are cropping up. Planet’s resources are starting to get scarcer.

Generation Y cares about impacting the planet. Climate change is evident. Economic scarcity. Social costs of doing business that we just witnessed with the tsunami in Japan, which led to the meltdown of a nuclear reactor. There is a need for silos breakdown, for forming of public-private partnerships. There is a need to use the power of business to make an impact in solving pressing issues of our time.

Some businesses started dedicating more resources to

Photo: Tajana Mesic

“To go far you must begin near, and the nearest step is the most important one.” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti delivering social and environmental benefits, striving to make a profit, but also to make a difference. It’s an appealing prospect.

As a result, there is a fourth sector emerging – the Social Enterprise sector. These companies are also called Triple Bottom Line companies – they are measured by their impact on people, profit and planet. Companies such as the clothing company Patagonia, Grameen Bank and cleaning product supply maker Seventh Generation were formed.

The Fourth Sector of the economy has many informal manifestations and a number of buzzwords that you might recognize: corporate social responsibility, B Corporations, the Triple Bottom Line, cause-based marketing, corporate responsibility, community development, social enterprise, venture philanthropy, sustainable business, microfinance, and many other names.

At the October 2012 SXSW Eco conference in Austin, I spoke with Jigar Shah, a social entrepreneur and the very successful founder of SunEdison, a solar energy service company.

Often young social entrepreneurs come to him for business advice. The best advice he gives them is to find inspiration and to bring their outrage to a social or environmental problem. “We have lost our outrage as a society. We’ll never win this battle through technology,” Jigar said.

Social Enterprises: Leading by Example There are a number of social enterprises solving problems and making money both in America and beyond. Listed are some that inspire me daily with their results.

SunEdison is an American company. Its founder Jigar Shah created the power purchase agreement (PPA) model for the solar industry. This business model used net metering,

streamlined interconnection standards, ways to connect to the grid, and actually provided a new solar power service to customers. Investments in PPAs are delivering compelling 7-12 percent returns at a very low risk. They have also lowered the use of fossil fuels to deliver electric energy; created thousands of jobs worldwide and are growing. They have impactful financial returns and impact a big problem.

Pioneer in microfinance, Grameen Bank was started by Professor Muhammad Yunus in 1976 with a $27 investment to provide loans to the world’s poorest people, especially women.

Over time, the organization reversed conventional banking practice and created a system based on mutual trust, accountability, participation and creativity. Today, Grameen Bank provides credit to over 7 million poor families in rural Bangladesh, without any collateral. With 2,559 branches, Grameen Bank services 84,652 villages, covering nearly 100 percent of the total villages in Bangladesh. The bank is fully owned by its clients. In 2006, Professor Yunus and Grameen Bank jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize. President Barack Obama awarded Professor Yunus the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. Grameen Bank continues serving as a role model for microfinance institutions and other social enterprises internationally.

Houston Student Team: The Revolutionary Trashcans: With a number of leading universities, Houston is a hotbed of thought leadership and development. At a recent business competition, a group of students at Rice University spent a weekend developing solutions to environmental and social problems. One team came up with the Revolutionary Trashcan idea, developing a scalable solution that will increase awareness and reduce the amount of negligent food waste in college cafeterias. In a recent update from the founder, a Rice student,

the team has successfully collected data from the Rice cafeteria and is working on standardizing the data for commercial use.

Approximately 1.3 billion young people in the world today are between the ages of 16 and 24. That’s a quarter of the world’s population of working age. I hope that success stories discussed in this article serve to inspire the budding generation of Houston’s social entrepreneurs – new and veteran, young and old – to pursue big ideas that can make the world better. Take one small step at a time and there will be no power play needed to give you a boost.

In December, we will talk about green jobs. What are they, where and how you can best land one.

Tajana Mesic is the president and founder of GGG Sustainability Solutions. GGG is a full-service sustainability and resource efficiency consulting firm, providing clients with professional services and guidance on integrating sustainability strategy into operations in a financially viable way. GGG is a certified B Corporation and deeply involved in the Dallas and Houston international community. You can get more relevant sustainability tips at www.facebook.com/greengrovegroup or connect with Tajana at www.greengrovegroup.com.

Honoring Literacy Month

An Affair to Remember

By Rathna Kumar I am sure your interest in this article must be piqued after reading the title. Rest assured this is not your usual run-of-themill ‘affair’! And, by the way, it started when I was just five years old!

Blame it on Holy Angels’ Convent, or our headmistress Sister Nessan, but what started as a casual interest developed into a deep passion that made me take a completely different path in my life from the one envisaged by my fond father.

The English language has always fascinated me. But it was Sister Nessan, our headmistress and our English teacher, who made all her students fall in love with it, explaining its myriad nuances in such a beautiful manner that we all became her ardent fans, and, of course, voracious readers. We vied with one another to read the most number of books during summer holidays, so we could win Sister Nessan’s approbation.

Words had a strange fascination for me, and often I would say a certain new word over and over again to myself, savoring it with the same joy as I did the chewy coconut candy sold by the old man at the corner of our street. Thanks to Sister Nessan, there were new words that constantly enhanced our vocabulary, and sometimes their meaning was driven home to us in an unusual manner. One hot, lethargic, typical Chennai summer afternoon, as Sister Nessan explained Hamlet’s soliloquy to us, and we stared at her, half asleep and with unfocussed eyes.

She stopped mid sentence, smiled benignly at us, and said, ‘my, my, how bovine you all look’! Taking it as a compliment, we smiled beatifically at her. ‘Don’t look so happy’, she said, ‘I am telling you that you look exactly like those cows outside on the street, blissfully ruminating’. Of course we sat up and paid more attention after that, but I will never forget how we learned the meaning of ‘bovine’! Funny how things come full circle! Sometimes when I am correcting or advising my students and use some off-the-beaten-track words, they pipe up – “vocabulary word, Rathna aunty!”, and I am happy that Sister Nessan’s lessons were not in vain.

It was Sister Nessan who nurtured in us the desire to read, to be informed, educated, and develop good communication skills through the medium of language. She would make each one of us stand up and read passages from books, taught us voice modulation, enunciation, pronunciation (such as making the lips into an ‘O’ for ‘water’ and biting the lips for ‘vegetable’,

since many of us had trouble distinguishing the difference in pronouncing the two consonants). Indeed, it was more than just a routine English class, and we could not wait for it each day that we went to school. In fact it became the highlight of each school day.

Sister Nessan has given me a gift for life – a love for reading. To this day, I cannot go to sleep without reading something – a magazine, fiction, non-fiction, dance related material, anything interesting. When my children were young, I used to read to them every night, and I am happy that both my sons, Chetan and Kedaar, have become voracious readers too. The high point of our weekend was going to the local library and picking out loads of books to read through that week, until our next visit to the library. I used to pick out the books for them with great care.

Nowadays it is they who suggest good books to me. In fact, my younger one Kedaar has refused to own a television. In his spare time he is either reading, composing music, or working on his computer. Chetan, an insomniac like his mother, also, like his mother, reads into the wee hours of the morning. But that is the magic of books. They cast a spell upon the reader and take them into a world inhabited by exciting and unusual characters, and once we get caught up in their stories, we cannot extricate ourselves that easily.

In this day of Netflix, Zee TV, Dish Network, Direct TV, and a host of other cable networks, all offering hundreds of channels, it is so tempting to become couch potatoes, just sitting back and watching sitcoms, serials, re-runs, movies, you-name-it. I don’t deny that the television does have good shows - Discovery Channel, Disney Channel (I am not ashamed to confess my fondness for Disney), and National Geographic, to name a few. But there is nothing to compare with the joy of reading a good book. For your child’s next birthday, give a book or two (that’s what we got for ours when we were kids), and keep their interest in reading continuously kindled. “Words!

Words! Words”, says Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Indeed, words are fascinating, as spelling bee champions will tell you. Let your child loose in the world of words. Let them revel in the discovery of new ones, and gently propel them in the direction of an affair that they will remember forever.

Dr. Rathna Kumar is the Founder-Director of the Anjali Center for Performing Arts & Artistic Director, SAMSKRITI. She can be reached at rathnanil@gmail.com or281 265 ARTS. For more information on the Anjali Center, visit www.anjalicenter.org

CONCERN

34

Why Is There No Labelling of Genetically Modified Foods?

By Dr. David Courtney Here is a common scenario. You read in the news that Russia recently banned the importation of genetically modified (GM) corn because research indicated that it might be carcinogenic. So the next time you go into the store, you want to stay away from GM foods. But which ones are they? The organic vegetables are clearly marked and distinguished from their pesticide-ridden cousins. But within the ordinary class of produce, there are no markings as to which are natural varieties and which are genetically modified.

Why are they not labelled? Worldwide, over 40 nations require labelling of GM foods. Are they unmarked because Americans do not want to be informed that their food contains genetically modified organisms? No, most definitely not! In 2010, a Thomson Reuters-NPR poll showed that 9 out of 10 Americans wanted them to be clearly labelled as such. Are they unmarked because there is no substantial difference between GMOs and their non-GMO cousins? They certainly are very different from their non-GM cousins, and many people question their safety. But the US government doesn’t want the American people to know what food is genetically modified and what is not. The government is clearly placing the interest of big agribusiness ahead of the interests of the American public.

The first thing to look at is scientific research to see if genetically modified food is healthy and environmentally safe.

But this is difficult to do as independent research is stifled by the producers of GM crops. In the past, scientists could simply

go into a store, buy various seeds, do their research, and publish the results. But GM seeds are not sold but distributed in a “Technology / Stewardship Agreement.” This gives the companies almost complete control over how the seed is to be used and effectively precludes independent research. The companies give the illusion of transparency by means of “Academic Research Licenses”. But researchers clearly understand that their licenses, and by extension, their careers, might be jeopardized should they publish anything negative. Therefore the bulk of research is questionable.

In spite of the intransigence of the major GM producers, some problems associated with these crops are easy to investigate. One of the clearest problems deals with pesticides. The herbicide Glyphosate (a.k.a. “Roundup”) is particularly problematic. Since many GM crops are engineered to be tolerant to this herbicide, it encourages its overuse. This raises many environmental and health concerns.

Producers of GM crops often claim that their products have increased yields. But the supposed increase in yields is nothing more than an increase in the planting of the GM crops.

Studies show that yields can actually be increased more by using traditional non-GM techniques. But there is one major difference between using traditional approaches versus using genetic modification - intellectual property laws.

Herein lies the real motive behind GM crops. Genetic modification allows companies to gain control over the food supply

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by using intellectual property laws to enforce this control. This is difficult to do with crops produced by traditional techniques.

It is clear that corporate control of the food supply is part of a larger agenda of corporatism, one that is very dangerous.

When prisons became privatised, the inmate population in the US ballooned to give the US the highest incarceration rate in the world. The 2010 Supreme Court decision in “Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission” positioned corporations as the major influencers of US elections. The privatisation of the US internet infrastructure gave Americans a system where the average internet speed is barely above the world average, but significantly more expensive. The corporate control of healthcare gave Americans a healthcare system that according to many experts is below that of Rwanda. Since every aspect of American life, from birth to death suffers from the cancer of corporatism, it is only natural that the food supply should similarly be affected. Genetically modified foods were never about producing a superior product, but were instead intended as a tool to facilitate the control of the food supply.

There are a number of large corporations that are leading these efforts. Monsanto is clearly the most prominent player in this game, but also DuPont, Kellogg, BASF, Dow, Syngenta and a host of others are there.

But the American public is waking up to this important issue. Over the years many state legislatures introduced laws that would require labelling. But in each case lobbyists from the industry moved in, spread a lot of money around, and killed these bills. In the last decade, the GM food industry has shelled out more than $572 million in lobbying efforts. But in the upcoming California elections there is Proposition 37. This could change the entire political landscape in regards to GM foods.

But it is still too soon to tell whether the people or the agribusinesses will prevail.

Like the opening of Pandora’s box, the social, political, economic and health concerns of GM crops can never be put back. But at least mandatory labelling will allow us to take control of what we put into our body.

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Catrinas (a wealthy woman), at Casa Ramirez in the Houston Heights, showcase a satirical icon of death as depicted by the early-1900 Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada

Photos: Agapito Sanchez Jnr.

Día de los Muertos:

A Celebration of Life and Death

By Elvia Francis

Agapito Sanchez Jnr.’s at-home ofrendra for his father, Agapito Sanchez Snr.

Usually, the word “death” conjures up morbid and ghastly images. But, that is not the case in Mexico where death is something to be celebrated, and children’s first cognizance of death is a cheerful one.

Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2. November 1 is reserved for the souls of children who have died, or angelitos (little angels), while November 2 is to venerate deceased adults. The holiday exalts departed souls as well as celebrates the life and death of ancestors, friends, and family who have passed.

In the weeks leading up to Día de los Muertos, family members or friends build altars in homes, public spaces, and even over gravesites. Ofrendas (offerings) are set on these altars, as a way to remember and honor the memory of the departed. These offerings usually consist of photographs, calacas or esqueletos, whimsical folk-art skeleton figures that represent death, candles - purple to represent pain, pink for celebration and white for hope, flowers, specifically marigolds, to represent the transitory state of life, personal memorabilia of the departed, drinks to figuratively quench the thirst of weary, travelling souls, and food such as pan de muerto (bread of dead), which is a special sweet bread baked for the holiday in the shape of skulls, bones, or figures in coffins. Marigold petals are scattered and candles are lit as a path for spirits to find their way back to the living world, while copal incense is burned to elevate prayers to God. Calaveras, molded sugar or candied skulls adorned with icing decorations, and a small piece of paper bearing the name of the departed reverberate convivial sensations with the anguish of death. Families clean and repaint the graves in cemeteries, while priests uttering prayers, and musicians playing the favorite songs of the departed, accompany night vigils.

The traditions of Día de los Muertos vary, since Mexico is not culturally homogenous. However, universally, death is considered a passage from one type

SOCIETY

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Houston-based Angelina H. Rodriguez is a certified by both the Texas State Board of Professional Counselors and Art Therapy Credentials Board and uses traditional Psychotherapy and Art Therapy to help clients. She is the owner of Young Picassos Houston and Psychotherapy

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The Day of the Dead painting is Rodriguez’s interpretation of the cultural observance.

Photo: Angelina H. Rodriguez

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of living to another. For at least 3,000 much like at Casa Ramirez and at the years, the indigenous people of Central Multicultural Education & Counseling America practiced this belief and ritual. through the Arts (MECA) in Houston, When Hernán Cortés, the 16-century have become popular. Agapito Sanchez Spanish conquistador, and the SpanJr., a fellow Houstonian, says “you can iards conquered the vast buy plastic plates and cups at the regions of Central America, H-E-B grocery store with calaveras they tried to eradicate this printed on them.” Sanchez, who has practice since the Spancelebrated the passing of his faiards viewed death as ther and sister each year since the end of life and the their death with an at-home rituals to be sacrilegious. altar, believes it’s a healing When the Spaniards experience. Agapito and converted the Aztecs to his wife Ann have been Catholicism, the ancient researching and collectrituals began to merge ing Día de los Muertos with Catholic theolfigurines for over 10 ogy, hence the holiday years. Sanchez lived now coincides with the in Madras, India, in the religious feast days of 1980s and spends much All Saints Day (Novemtime in Asia. In those culber 1) and All Souls Day tures he became aware (November 2). of celebrations similar The customs have to, if not exactly like evolved exceedingly, Día de los Muertos… it with the ever-progressshows that mankind/ ing urbanization and humans share culmigration of cultural commonalities tures and people. the world over, and Now, the holiday is “Amor Eterno” is one of the first figurines that we’re a lot more that Agapito Sanchez Jr. and his wife more mainstream alike than we’re even (Ann) collected; they got married on Día and celebrations, aware of.

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By Ratna Sinha It was a strange confession for someone who had so prided herself on being self-reliant, free spirited, and utterly independent. One who without hesitation had left her motherland, a wonderful teaching career in western India, to settle with her husband in Lagos, Nigeria.

I had always believed that children should be “seen, not heard”. Being the youngest of three, I had never been exposed to little children, my sister having had hers in America. I did not grow up loving children, much less tending for them. The joys of motherhood was not something I had anticipated or even been prepared for. In my opinion, there are born mothers and then there are people like me who have had motherhood thrust upon them.

Circa 1992: My son had just thrown a tantrum about food and I wanted to crawl under the sofa, embarrassed and inadequate. I always thought that when I had children, they would be perfect and that I could look at them with admonishment and they’d get the message and everything would be fine. I finally decided to call my father, who was my confidante, guide, mentor, and physician, rolled into one. He listened to my tirade and histrionics patiently and in his matter-of-fact way, without mincing words, said, “you decided to be a mother and now you jolly well rise up to the challenge and be a good one.”

Yes, I had decided to be a mother, not once but twice. And what a glorious decision it has been. All the clichés associated with motherhood suddenly were not platitudes anymore but hardcore reality. The proverbial feeling of completeness when they were born, the ecstatic joy of holding the bundles of joy, the excruciating pain and heart wrenching pangs that were experienced every time they fell ill or faced failures were all

Bits of the Heart tangible truths.

Children are essentially an extension of us - parents. A mother’s heart enlarges and extends beyond her when her children are born and as they grow she looks at them as pieces of her heart, little bits of her heart walking around and living outside of herself. It is no small wonder that we mothers feel physical pain when our children experience any discomfort.

Raising my children has not been a smooth ride. I have had to contend with teenage angst, arguments, illnesses, and relocation. I once overheard my son in his freshman year in high school, mention to someone that he had changed eight schools in the course of nine years of formal education! Considering all the changes I can only say that I have been fortunate that my children have turned out the way they have! My biggest challenge when we moved here from Nigeria was the incongruence of cultures my children had to grow in. I suppose this is the stereotypical cry of every mother of Indian origin - to maintain a balance between the “Indianness” at home with the “Americanness” in the macrocosm. It has been quite a roller coaster ride and in my case, more so, as my spouse’s job entailed extensive travel during the children’s formative years.

Shuttling through piano, soccer, tennis, band, dance lessons, academics, and theater, I lived life vicariously through my babies. Sometimes I had to let some of their passions go because I could not cope with the driving and being at different places at the same time. Never did I stop to think, what went on in their minds.

Did they ever feel overburdened? Did they feel deprived because they had to give up something that they loved to accommodate their sibling? Being a first generation

parent in this country, did I set very high ideals for them? These are questions that still do haunt my psyche. Would I do things better a second time round?

Both my children are individuals in their own right and are dreamers who believe in themselves. Someone rightly said that children are like wet cement; whatever falls on them makes an impression. My children have held on to their impressions and have absorbed and retained experiences from the disparate cultures they have lived in.

Motherhood completely metamorphoses a woman. I have known this first hand, and this is the opinion of someone who was not born to be a mother. Motherhood is all about venturing to pluck the stars out of the firmament and offer it to your child on a platter, especially if you believe they deserve it. Motherhood also recognizes that every story does not always have a happy ending and, armed with that knowledge, a mother sets out to soften the blow for her child.

I look back at the years that have gone by, the agony and the ecstasy of raising my children and the predominant thought that comes to my mind is that they are bits of my heart so be soft with them o brave new world! The irony is that now both my children have become my friends, advisers, and critics. My 24 year old son and 21 year old daughter, in all their youthful wisdom share their ideas with me, be it from what to wear, to telling me what books not to read and which films are not appropriate for the parents to watch. It is gratifying to see the tables turn. It is heart-warming to indulge their protective concern.

Ratna Achari Sinha moved to Houston in 1997. She has worked at St. Xavier’s College, Bombay in her past life.

Ratna has a Phd in English Literature, which is her passion. Until recently, Ratna worked as a high school teacher in Fort Bend Independent School District and gave up her job to travel the world with her husband, Bhuwan Sinha.

When she is not traveling, Ratna loves to entertain, listen to music, sing, and hang out with friends.

We invite readers to submit parenting experiences (500-700 words) to HUM at info@hummagazine.com

Plitvice

Slavic

Festival Brings Remembrances of Childhood

By Danijela Miškić What would you give for a family day where you enter into a whole new world without traveling a world away? Watch the dance, listen to songs and laugh, taste a variety of deliciously spiced foods. Eat your way through sweets and meat dishes, soups and desserts. Get to see people dressed in outfits embroidered with Eastern European motifs and meet people who speak sonorous Slavic languages. Does that sound like a fun way to spend a weekend with your family? I think so. On a recent September Sunday evening, a devoted group of volunteers and organizers of the 49th Houston Slavic Heritage Festival breathed a collective sigh of relief. The rain was in the forecast for that day, but luckily, there wasn’t a single drop at the festival.

On the last Sunday in September for 49 years, Houstonians originating from Croatia, Ukraine, Poland and the Czech Republic create the stage for visitors to experience the “Old World feeling” through traditional foods, elaborate costumes, and an atmosphere filled with laughter. I love it, and I love sharing my rich culture with others.

The Slavic Festival in Houston was established in 1963 by a Ukrainian priest Rev. Blazejowskyj who realized that a large population of Slavs lived in the area and decided to bring them together annually in celebration of their heritage.

The festival offers an excellent opportunity to try the foods from the participating countries and enjoy the deep cultural ethos. Who can resist a warm pita pie (hand made filo dough pie filled with cheese or meat) or a deliciously sweet nut roll? Each community is represented by one food booth and one cultural booth that showcase the splendor of the countries.

The 2012 festival broke the record for the largest public attendance ever. Croatia hosted the festival this year.

My Croatian homeland is one of the “youngest” European countries. It gained its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and it remains one of the more epic European countries with many fairy tales and distinguished authors writing about its rich history.

Magazines such as Conde Nast Traveler and National Geographic celebrate its natural beauty. It boasts mountains such as Mount Velebit, fabled home of Vila Velebitska (a mythic protectress of Mount Velebit people); there are shimmering lakes, and a vibrant coast. On the west, Croatia is separated from Italy by the Adriatic Sea. It proudly carries its nickname “The Land of Thousand Islands”.

That name does it justice. With over thousand islands scattered all over the coast of the Adriatic Sea, it ranks as one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. UNESCO designated seven sites in Croatia as the World Heritage sites. One of my personal favorites is the site of the magnificent Plitvice Lakes, an ecosystem of emerald green lakes and trees, attracting visitors from all over the world.

Here is a riddle for you. What is the one thing that modern businessman can’t live without but typically don’t like tying?

A necktie! Every time a man ties a necktie around his neck, he is holding a beautiful Croatian invention in his hands. Yes, the necktie was invented in 17th century Croatia

by Croatian soldiers who tied colorful handkerchiefs around their necks and created the “cravat” look. The adorable Dalmatian dogs with black-spotted white coats reveal their Croatian origin as Dalmatia constitutes the southern part of Croatia. When kids play the popular childhood game Marco Polo, they don’t know that the renowned traveler comes from the island Korcula in Croatia. And finally, one of the greatest inventors of all times, Nikola Tesla was born in Croatia. Thank you for inventing the electric current, Nikola!

All this talk of Croatia reminds me of my happy and magical childhood back home. We spent less time in school and devoted much more time to studying at home. Why? Teachers were strict and unannounced exams could

Dubrovnik

Photo: Danijela Miškić

Recipe Trpanj Peljesac

Walnut Rolls Some version of nut roll is traditionally made in almost every Central and Eastern European country for Easter, Christmas, and every other important celebration. It is a pastry made of sweet yeast dough with different fillings, usually walnuts or poppy seeds. Delicious!

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 package active dry yeast 1/4 cup warm water 1 cup ( 2 sticks) butter 1/2 cup milk 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 3 egg yolks, beaten 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour Filling: 1 to 1 1/2 cups finely ground walnuts 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup milk 1/4 cup honey 3 egg whites 3/4 cup sugar

be expected any day. All the studying, however, didn’t stop us from enjoying every single free moment devoted to playing with our siblings and friends, mostly outdoors. Croatian television at the time had only two channels available. For kids that meant only a five-minute cartoon per day shown just before the evening news. The highlight of the week was a “long” cartoon on Sunday evenings; it lasted a whole twenty minutes. It was a bit eerie, as no kids were out on the streets playing. The moment the Sunday cartoon was over, kids were back outside and the streets resplendent with laughter.

In the absence of television, the internet and video games, we played popular games and used our creativity to invent others. These games would bring color, camaraderie and happiness into our lives. We played well into the evening, when Mom would call us in for a hearty dinner with the whole family at the table. Family values, folklore, and traditions were passed on down the generations. Our favorite pastime

was spent in nature and parks, hiking, climbing and playing. Something that the whole family would look forward to was the summer vacation at the Adriatic coast. Those days were most memorable. Croatia is considered the “Jewel of the Mediterranean”.

Croatians are very proud of their heritage and work hard on preserving it even though they’re far from home.

Croatians in Houston gather at the Lone Star Croatian Club (www.croatianlsclub. com) for picnics, parties, and festivals.

The club is open to all Croatians and friends of Croatia. For more info about traveling to Croatia, please visit http:// croatia.hr/en-GB/Homepage.

So mark your calendars to attend next year’s Houston Heritage Festival at the end of September. Engulf yourself in the colors, sounds, tastes and laughter of Croatia. (www.houstonslavicheritagefestival.com). You may even want to visit someday. I guarantee that Split, Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes, Trogir, Zagreb will take your breath away.

Danijela Miškić was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to a family of Croatian ancestry. After living in Croatia and Germany, she moved to Houston in 1999. A graduate of University of Houston, she currently works at a consulting firm in Houston. Danijela enjoys traveling and photography and is actively involved with Lone Star Croatian Club and Slavic Alliance of Houston.

Preparation: 1. Dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside.

Heat butter, 1/2 cup milk, 2 tablespoons sugar and salt until lukewarm and butter has melted.

2. In large bowl, combine yeast mixture, butter mixture and beaten egg yolks.

3. Add flour gradually, beating well.

4. Divide into 2 equal portions, wrap and refrigerate overnight. Next day, make the filling.

5. To make the filling: Combine walnuts, 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, 1/4 cup milk and honey in a saucepan. Place over low heat, stirring constantly until hot. Remove from heat and cool.

6. Beat egg whites until frothy. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff. Mix together with cooled walnut mixture. Set aside.

7. On floured surface, roll 1 portion of dough into a 24-inch square. Spread with 1/2 the filling and roll as for a jellyroll. Coil in a wellgreased, 10-inch tube pan.

8. Repeat process with remaining dough and place second roll on top of first. With sharp knife, cut to bottom of pan in several places.

Let rise, covered, until doubled, about 1 hour.

9. The dough can also be rolled to a 1/8-inch thickness, spread with filling, rolled as for a jellyroll and baked as a log.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 1 hour or until nicely browned. Cool in pan 20 minutes and invert onto a wire rack.

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IFFH Celebrates 100 Years of Indian Cinema With a chic kick-off cocktail party hosted at the Houston Motor Club that highlighted vignettes of films made in India over the past ten decades, and with five days of movies, documentaries, and short films screened at the Studio Movie Grill, City Centre, the 4th Annual Indian Film Festival of Houston (IFFH) celebrated 100 years of Indian cinema and feted the In-

dian film industry for creating celluloid magic that consistently captured the collective imaginations of movie lovers over the years. Over five days from October 3 – 7, 2012, IFFH presented on multiple screens, the best of the festival and drew record crowds of movie buffs. The trophy for the Best Feature Film Jury Award went to Gattu, directed by Rajan Khosa, while An

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Unknown Guest directed by Durba Sahay bagged the Best Short Film Jury Award; the Best Documentary Jury Award was Wendy J. N. Lee’s Pad Yatra. Bollywood star Raveena Tandon, who attended the festival, received the Special Recognition for Outstanding Performance for her role in Shobna’s Seven Nights, which was directed by Sudipto Chattopadhya.

The events culminated in a glittering Festival Awards Night at the Hotel Sorella at City Centre, on October 7. IFFH presented Special Recognition Awards to four distinguished personalities; local Indian classical dancer and dance guru Dr. Rathna Kumar for the Arts, renowned author and poet Chitra Divakaruni for Literature, Drew Wilson for Philanthropy, Raveena Tandon for Film, and 20th Century Fox International’s Craig Dehmel of Los Angeles for Business.

Guests included actor Iqbal Khan, Indian Consul General Parvathaneni Harish and his wife Nandita, Sam and Omana Abraham, Dr. Carolyn Farb, Sanjay and Savita Rao, Ash Shah, and Jonathan Tinkle, to name a few. Led by Arzan Gonda, Artistic Director of Rhythm India, dancers regaled the audience with a veritable kaleidoscope of Indian cinema that channeled bygone years to the present through a medley of evocative and well-choreographed dances.

Founder/Director of the IFFH, Calcutta-born Sutapa Ghosh is a moviemaker by profession with an enduring passion for film. She has firm roots in Houston and has succeeded in creating a festival that is a celebration of cultural exchange. The 5th Annual IFFH will run from October 2 – 5, 2013. www.iffhinc.org

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Gripes and moans, rants and raves. HUM Magazine’s new page Caviar & Cabbages is all about what you like and dislike about Houston. In a few lines, have your say and we shall print your words. Team HUM welcomes you to vent grievances, and/or heap kudos on our fair city.

The following contributions are from our readers.

Greater Houston is one of the coolest urban areas in the US and I am fortunate to have lived here my entire US life.

While the only downside to Houston may be it’s humidity, to me, it is not an issue as I migrated from Mumbai, India, which is on the coast and humid. With it’s inexpensive cost of living, Houston allowed me the ability to provide the best irrespective of the money in my pocket. The cultural diversity in the Houston area gave my family a chance to blend in while enjoying our own individual identities at the same time. We have a great formal school system and an informal living style with a Republican Governor and a Mayor with a Democratic leaning. Yes - Houston is one of the best cities to live the US. Ramesh Anand Community Activist

Houston’s diverse communities bring wonderful opportunities to share the rich culture of many countries...

The Texas Medical Center in Houston is a leader in research and treatment, attracting patients from around the world...No matter how many highways are built, Houston’s traffic is often at a standstill.

Ellen Israel Goldberg, President, Sister Cities of Houston.Inc.

I like how spread out the city is and no matter where you are, you can always find good food. What I don’t like is Houston’s weather. It can get unbearable sometimes. But, the Spring and Fall are the best time to live in Houston.

Hector Luna, Producer at C47Houston News & Entertainment

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Ph: 713-821-1367 www.modilaw.com

Sadguru Charanaravindabhyam Namah

Atchuta Ramiah Private Priest

Experienced in every kind of Hindu Rituals Pujas, Homes, Thread Ceremonies, Marriages, Vastu, Horoscopes ets.

2015 Highland Hills, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Cell: 713-885-6037 - 713-885-6033 www.meenakshipeetham.com

FOR SALE

Traditional Hand Crafted Kolkata Sitars with Fibre Glass Cases For furture information call:

832-659-4666 832-368-4012

Udayakumara Sharma Vedic Priest based in Sugar Land

Serving Houston & Entire USA Call 713-933-8821 for all rituals such as namakaranam, Annaprasanam, Upanayanam, Marriage, Housewarmings, Satyavratams, Nakshatra & Navagrahashantis, Abhishekams, Homams, Kalyanotsavams Basic Astrology & Basic Vastu, Etc. Also Sraddhakaryams & Last Rites 16338 Kensington Dr. Ste: 110 (Near Patel Bros), TX 77047 website:www.saipuja.com • email:u_gullapalli@yahoo.com

on AM 1320 Geetanjali Radio Sat & Sun 2-6PM

Shoba Joshi

To advertise, call 281-909-0825 - 713-545-4749 713-984-0424 - Cell:832-878-4338 shobajoshi999@gmail.com

Hiren Joshi Every Sunday from 3:30pm to 4:30pm 832-646-2116 bjoshi7@hotmail.com

Jones Al-Rifai, 2 ½, loves to help his photographer parents Bonnie and Gabriel on photo shoots. On this particular shoot he was showing two boys how to pose. He prides himself on his posing skills and you can see that pride in his eyes while he shows off his signature move, the foot cross, says mom Bonnie.

HUMwee

Pretty in turquoise.

Dua Adil is the daughter of popular DJ, Samia Adil

Painting on a rainy Saturday afternoon…siblings Sanjana and Samyukth are the children of Sandhya and Sanjeev Ayyar of Sugar Land.

Children. From the day that you bring them into the world, it’s a rotating and constant collage of emotions. They’re your pride and joy. They color your world with butterfly kisses and grubby hugs.

They grow into disgruntled teenagers and fill you with untold anxiety. And before you know it, they’re off to college, starting new jobs, getting married, and bringing their own little ones into your world. Every stage of their lives is celebratory. Share your memories with us at HUMwee. We welcome photographs and captions describing those precious moments.

Best friends in ‘sarees’! Jaya Ramineni in pink and purple is the daughter of Shubhra and Naveen Ramineni, while the sea-green clad nymph in a tiara is Olivia, whose parents are Anik and Gerry Desjardins. Both little girls will be three years old in December.

HUMCreatives 832-368-4012 Web Design We provide web development for all types of businesses.

Our professional web developers can design and program a high-end websites that get you results! We handle all technical aspects of the development process and take your business to the top

Graphic Design Our graphic designs can bring full color life to your business! From website graphics to any other print media, we can create it all for your business! Logos, business cards, letterheads, envelope designs. Direct mailings, brochures, post cards, newsletters, menus, trade show displays, Power Point presentations, Flash website animation, Flash movie clips

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a concept-to-completion, every stage in between - and beyond enterprise

Chiba - Sister City of Houston The Houston-Chiba Sister City Association, under the auspices of the Japan America Society, has a very active student exchange program with Johnston Middle School. As part of the long-standing program, students attend classes, live with host families, visit local points of interest and meet with government officials. Houston-Chiba also participates in the annual Japan Festival, one of Houston’s most popular festivals.

To view gifts given to the City of Houston from our sister city, please visit Hermann Park’s Japanese Garden and the Visitors Center in the Houston City Hall to see a Japanese stone lantern and a replica of a samurai statue.

Chiba City, Japan, is the capital of Chiba Prefecture. It is situated at a strategic point on Tokyo Bay between Tokyo and Narita Airport. Its history as a modern city began in 1873, when it was appointed as the official prefectural seat. In subsequent years, both residential and business areas flourished, and development of new infrastructure and buildings in the coastal area quickly gave way to a rapid increase in population. In 1992, Chiba City received the 12th official designation from the national government as a major city of Japan, granting it special administrative powers.

A manufacturing center noted for the production of steel, textiles, paper products, and plastics, Chiba City’s industrial port plays a pivotal role in its economy. Its 133 km of coastline spanning six cities make it the largest port in Japan. In 2009, trade between Houston and Japan was valued at $2.8 billion. Houston’s seaborne trade with Japan was valued at over $1.3 billion in 2006.

Japan is Houston’s top air cargo trade partner in the Pacific Rim as measured by weight. Trade between Houston and Japan has grown at a compounded annual growth rate of 3.9 percent over the past 10 years.

Fast Facts: Population: 925,923 Country: Japan Continent: Asia Latitude & Longitude: 35.57˚ N, 140.11˚ E GMT Time Difference: GMT + 9:00 hours Time Difference from Houston: + 15:00 hours Distance from Houston: 6660 miles /10718 km Climate: Average temperature of 41˚ F (5˚ C) in January and 80˚ F (27˚ C) in August Average rain fall 132.9 mm per month Language: Japanese Governmental Structure: 6 wards which communicate with the municipal government and handle family registration, social security, social welfare and taxes.

Current Mayor: The Honorable Toshihito Kumagai, Mayor of Chiba

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