India Currents November 2016

New Zealand Beckons

by Kalpana Sunder

On Feminism

by Chandra Ganguly

Savory Stuffed Pumpkin

by Shanta Sacharoff

Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence

november 2016 • vol. 30 , no. 8 • indiacurrents.com • $3.95

Looking at the Rhetoric of the 2016 Election Season

By Arpit Mehta

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ou’ve all met Mr. and Mrs. Immigrant India. They’re well educated, have family values, work hard, pay their taxes, obey laws and own a home in the best school district. Mr. and Mrs. India are extremely focused on their children who usually end up in top colleges. In other words, they embody the American Dream. But wait—this is not the full picture. Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. India don’t know who is on their city’s council, who their United States congress representative is, and worse, don’t care to know.

They hardly know the ballot propositions this November.

I live in the Kimber Park neighborhood in Fremont, California part of an ethno-burb where Indians dominate the neighborhood mix. And, yet, at a community meeting for “Save Kimber Park,” held earlier this year, in a packed library at the local school, there were five Indians. It was the final meeting to discuss lobbying at the City Council to prevent rampant development in our own neighborhood!

But, Mr. and Mrs. India were too busy to come—after all they were busy driving their children to soccer games, Kumon and Hindi classes. Don’t get me wrong—they will make an exception to volunteer enthusiastically if their time is spent helping their own children. So they will be room parents at the elementary school, and they will learn the rules of baseball to be an assistant coach.

Unfortunately the malaise of apathy is the worst of sins. Indian-Americans are now among the most successful immigrant communities in America. We are no longer a fringe group made up of doctors and nerdy engineers. Indian-Americans are entrepreneurs, artists, chefs, television anchors, teachers, writers, and finance gurus.

Their expertise spans every conceivable profession, and many are thought leaders in their respective fields.

It is important to recognize that this success was built on meritocracy, a meritocracy made possible by previous generations of Americans who battled discrimination of every form. If your child can now attend the school of your choice, if you proudly wear your religious symbol on your person, and express your opinions freely, all without fear of discrimination,

Vote! reprisal, or retaliation, it is not because of pure happenstance. It is because of the tireless efforts of millions of Americans who chose to express their views on what this country should be—through the power of the ballot box.

The right to vote is both a duty and a privilege, and is especially so in this election which I am dubbing the –ism election. Racism and sexism have been in full display. Even Mr. and Mrs. India would have heard about the video this election cycle—the one where Trump bragged about making unwanted sexual advances.

Before the video surfaced, India Currents had planned the November cover to feature photos of both candidates—Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, with a headline “Vote!” After seeing the video, the intense outrage we felt prompted an editorial decision to carry only Hillary Clinton’s image on the cover. And so, for the first time in thirty years, we are endosring a presidential nominee—Hillary Clinton to be the next President.

We’re also asking you to vote for state and local representatives. We’ve made research about State ballot propositions easy—Rishi Kumar, Saratoga City Councilmember has spelt out the issues on both sides in the article, “Aye or Nay” (Pg. 48). Don’t miss reading the thoughts of the “motorcycle guru” Sadhguru on the current elections—a unique perspective indeed! We have a recipe for savory, stuffed pumpkin in time for Thanksgiving, a travel piece on New Zealand for their busiest travel season, and an article on end-of-year financial planning. We’ve got you covered this month on issues big and small!

The publisher, Vandana Kumar, and I are proud to be part of the trendiest group of women this fall—the tribe of nasty women. And we nasty women will vote!

Nirupama Vaidhyanathan, Managing Editor

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INDIA CURRENTS November 2016 • vol 30 • no 8

West Coast Edition

ELECTIONS

www.indiacurrents.com

3 | EDITORIAL Vote!

By Nirupama Vaidhyanathan

Find us on

10 | POLITICS Welcome to Democracy, America!

By Vijay Rajvaidya

38 | BOOKS Reviews of The Great Derangement and Those Immigrants!

By Siddhartha R. Oza, Rajesh C. Oza, and Viji K. Chary

PERSPECTIVES 26 | VIEWPOINT On Feminism

By Chandra Ganguly

52 | PERSPECTIVE Unpeeling the Real Me"

By Tamanna Raisinghani

22 | RELATIONSHIP DIVA Three Tips For Successful Dating

By Jasbina Ahluwalia 35 | FILMS Reviews of Pink and M.S. Dhoni

By Aniruddh Chawda

15 | OPINION The Demagoguery will never stop

By Vivek Wadhwa

32 | INVESTMENT Bagels, Cream Cheese and your Portfolio

By Prabhu Palani

LIFESTYLE

45 | ENTERTAINING Wine Pairing with Indian Foods

By Praba Iyer

16 | Campaign Rhetoric Looking at the 2016 Elections

58 | YOUTH Letter to Trump Supporters

By Kavya Padmanabhan 79 | ON INGLISH On a Reunion Dinghy

By Kalpana Mohan 80 | HEALTHY LIFE Mindful Living

By Singaravelan Narayanasamy 86 | THE LAST WORD Don't Tell me to Feel Sorry for White Men

By Sarita Sarvate

4 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

By Arpit Mehta

48| Analysis Aye or Nay? State Propositions Explained

By Rishi Kumar

8 | Commentary Elephant and Donkey Tribes: The Motorcycle Guru Speaks

By Supriya Venkatesan

46 | RECIPES Savory Stuffed Pumpkin with Tamarind Rice

By Shanta Sacharoff 54 | TRAVEL New Zealand Beckons

By Kalpana Sunder 64 | MUSIC When a Song Becomes an Anthem

By Priya Das 82 | DEAR DOCTOR Communing with Nature

By Alzak Amlani

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letters to the editor HIllary—Not the Clear Choice

I wanted to respond to your editorial about Hillary as “The Clear Choice.” (India Currents October 2016). Based on your editorial, I am sure that you bring some Indian ideals of socialism Almost everyone here is an immigrant or a descendant of an immigrant. I am the latter and am married to an immigrant. Please understand that Trump does not hate immigrants. He has an issue with unknown undocumented peoples coming into this country, causing crime and bringing drugs to our citizens.

I was in Phoenix last year when the Feds dumped busloads of undocumented immigrants into the city at the bus station.

You say that the election is about freedom, but I don’t think you understand what that really means. Many Americans oppose progressivism that seeks to tell each of us what we can and cannot do cradle-to-grave. Liberties and privileges are not hard fought, they are given by the government and can be taken away.

If you vote for Hillary, then the US will continue to look more and more like the country you and most of your readers came from.

Terry Johnson, email

Need the Secret Sauce; Not Advice on Dropping Out

Ragini is just the epitome of desi superwomen who having reached the pinnacle of success in top schools happily drops the ladder and tells the rest of us desis that “high pressure schools” are not that important. (Pressure Cooker, India Currents, October 2016) I have been impressed by the schools she attended—Berkeley and Duke and how she successfully did a tiger mom act by raising her daughter while keeping her traditional grandmother happy and pursuing a rich cultural life.

What some us want is the secret sauce to make it happen and not a lecture on dropping out.

Gopal Chakravarthy, email

Suicide Argument Off the Mark

Ragini Srinivasan’s impassioned plea against academic pressure in high schools (Pressure Cooker, India Currents, October 2016) seems a bit off the mark.

Competition is at the heart of our glob-

al economy. Nations compete for natural resources; companies compete for market share; employees compete for high-paying jobs. Schools and colleges are competitive because the real world for which they are preparing their students is competitive.

Competition is not necessarily evil. It often brings out the best in people. But is there such a thing as too much competition? Or too much academic pressure? Perhaps. However, high school students have latitude in choosing their courses as well as their overall academic workload. Purvi Mody’s essay (Want to Impress Colleges?

Be Yourself, India Currents, October 2016) provides some good practical advice.

In her article, Ragini suggests that too much academic pressure may lead to student suicides. At first glance, this is an appealing argument. However, academic pressure is just one among several potential causes of student suicides, such as loneliness, bullying, drug and alcohol abuse, break-up of an important relationship, parental divorce, protracted illness, and negative body image.

It is very difficult to tease out the contribution of one particular cause (academic pressure) in a statistically small sample of suicides. However, studies show that college students have about half the rate of suicide compared to an age-matched sample in the general population. Moreover, a National Center for Heath Statistics report shows that, in the age group 18-24, the suicide rate for Asian Americans is 40% lower than that for whites and 60% lower than that for Native Americans.

Suicide is a complex phenomenon with many unknowns. But it seems likely that a well-tailored education—one that engages a student’s interests and talents fruitfully— could actually help prevent suicides by providing a positive purpose in life, academic pressure notwithstanding.

Vijay Gupta, email We received many comments on Kavya Padmanabhan’s piece, “Letter from a College Student to those who are not upset by Trump Video,” that was published online. We are publishing a sample of comments.

Bravo to You!

Bravo to you for writing this and expressing so eloquently what we are all feeling! As a progressive Indian-American woman and mother of teenage girls, we

6 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

know all too well what’s at stake.

Shobana Ram, email

Eloquent Article

Eloquent and right on target. Thanks for your courage in speaking up.

Karen Coates, email

We Kept Quiet at First!

Brilliant! My boss was just talking to me about this point—we kept quiet as a society as long as insults were being hurled at Muslim Americans, Mexican Americans, and African Americans. And then it hit us, because all of us have a mother, a wife, a sister, and a daughter. My boss was indignant at all of us collectively—for failing to respond sooner. She is correct and so is Kavya. We should all be emotional as Kavya has rightfully said— at what was done, and what was boasted about. With so many allegations surfacing about repeated behavior of this kind, my emotions have now turned to sadness and fear. Sadness because so many leaders have come in support of him, including women. So many misguided humans follow his word so “loyally,” and I am afraid that they might follow his actions too!

Shivakumar Raman, email

Issues Must Be Addressed

This whole election is a circus! Leaving the elections aside, the issues raised in the letter are real and must be addressed.

Everyone from Aaron Persky (the judge who gave a light sentence to Brock Turner) to Bill Cosby (who also called his accusers liars until so many of them came out of the woodworks) should be held accountable.

Prakash Narayan, email

SPEAK YOUR MIND!

Have a thought or opinion to share? Send us an original letter of up to 300 words, and include your name, address, and phone number.

Letters are edited for clarity and brevity.

Write India Currents Letters, 2670 S. White Road, Suite 165 San Jose 95148 or email: letters@indiacurrents.com.

November 2016 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 7

commentary

Elephant and Donkey Tribes of Politics The Motorcycle Guru Speaks

By Supriya Venkatesan

R

ecently, I interviewed the New York Times bestselling writer and mystic, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would being in the presence of a realized soul awaken my own intelligence, and would I be able to impart that experience to my readers?

I waited in a hotel that bordered Central Park in New York. He walked in wearing a kurta, a draped shawl with a massive turban looking just like his pictures on the Internet, many of which depict him flying on a motorcycle giving him the name “motorcycle guru.” Aside from the attire, he seemed like other mortals: I sensed no halo or special vibes. He touched my arm and asked me to move closer, an invitation to intimacy that I was unprepared for.

Mildly taken aback, I suddenly remembered the fresh flowers and the woolen shawl that I had brought as gifts. My cousin-in-law who is a devotee had advised that I take these to show my respect.

The movement of rustling plastic shook me back into the present and I remembered my list of prepared questions. I told Sadhguru of my own background. I served six years in the United States Army, 15 months of which were spent deployed to Iraq. I began asking him a few questions and very quickly the conversation turned to politics. He said, “I am amazed to see people committed as Democrats or Republicans. They are two tribes, which will invariably fight. How they fight may not be with guns, but they fight.” He explained to me that when voters are precommitted to a party, then they don’t take the time to evaluate a candidate based on merit or views.

Sadhuguru said, “In the name of democracy we are going back to a feudalistic existence of belonging to different tribes.

Right now, there is a blue tribe and a red tribe: an elephant tribe and a donkey tribe.

America should not be divided on a tribal basis: this is a melting pot. Now you are

“Motorcycle Guru” Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

trying to divide by creating a new kind of tribe.” His words gave me pause. We are conditioned to believe that our democracy, our way of leadership is superior. But is this true? Is the fighting between candidates that we see currently in the media and debates civilized? As Sadhguru said, there are no guns, but the words of these candidates do incite violence and hate crimes. The deep division that currently exists in our country between political supporters is a growing chasm.

So I asked Sadhguru—what is the solution? He told me that leaders have to become meditative. They have to cultivate inner experiences, which will give them insight into humanity. He said, “being meditative you are not identified by the limitations of the physical boundaries of

8 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

“In the name of democracy, we are going back to a feudalistic existence of belonging to different tribes.

There is a blue tribe and a red tribe: an elephant tribe and a donkey tribe. America should not be divided on a tribal basis. This is a melting pot.”

the body, your clan, your family or nation.

There is a larger experience of life beyond your identities. If such a thing happens to the top leaders of this world, everything can be changed.”

He continued, “What are our problems? Our problems are of nourishment, health, and education. Conflict is not even an issue. Statistics say that in the year 2012, we generated enough food on this planet for 18.6 billion people. Today we can get food anywhere and as much as you want. Still 50% of the population is hungry because we don’t have inclusive consciousness. We have never experienced ourselves beyond identities we have artificially taken on in the society we are living in. If the leadership on the planet experiences a deeper dimension of life, there is a solution for everything.”

We continued our meeting in his car enroute to his next appointment. He pointed to a tree and said, “What you inhale, the trees exhale. What you exhale, the trees inhale. One half of your breathing apparatus is hanging outside. Just look at the trees, it looks like your lungs actually.”

Then he pointed to another tree that had

Statistics say that in the year 2012, we generated enough food on this planet for 18.6 billion people. Still 50% of the population is hungry because we don’t have inclusive consciousness. If the leadership on the planet experiences a deeper dimension of life, there is a solution for everything. been partially cut off for beautification, “Except that one—only one lung left.” We laughed, and he said that if we experience the fundamental unity of life, then there is no need to work on resolving conflict—it will happen naturally.

After my meeting, I checked myself mentally and emotionally for the slightest hint of a buzz or strange feeling, but

I found none. Totally spiritually sober.

Last night, as I watched the third and final debate between Trump and Clinton, I couldn’t help but see how my friends indulged in verbally violent comments on social media. They forgot that they were, in fact, friends or that they had served alongside each other in war.

I didn’t experience any psychic changes after meeting Sadhguru, but his words have stayed with me. This morning, as I ordered grocery items online, I recalled the statistic of how much food is available and all that separates its distribution is the lack of inclusiveness, of true global leadership.

And later as I went for a walk, I stood near a tree and inhaled deeply. In response, a limb shivered in the wind—perhaps my intelligence was being awakened. n Supriya Venkatesan is a freelance writer based in Princeton, New Jersey. Her articles have appeared in Forbes, Washington Post, TIME, and Huffington Post. She is currently working on a memoir based on her military deployment to Iraq. @supriya_venk(twitter) or www. supriya.ink

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politics

Welcome to Democracy, America!

I

t may sound paradoxical, but the success of democracy poses the biggest challenge to it. Let me explain.

When I was growing up in India, I admired the moral fiber of the political class in the United States. I was impressed when Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox joined the faculty at Harvard University after Richard Nixon fired him.

Here was a person of integrity who was hired by the most respected Ivy League school, right after he lost his job.

This incident happened in the 70s when the Indian political leadership seemed terribly incapable and intellectually inadequate. But first let us trace the history of Indian politics before the 1970s.

After India became a Republic on 26th January, 1950, the first Lok Sabha (the lower house in Indian parliament) was elected on 17th April 1952. Most of the members of the first Lok Sabha were highly educated and established leaders who had participated in India’s Independence struggle. They were elected for their service to the nation and their ability to stand up to the British. They were called the “representatives of the people,” but they certainly weren’t representative of the masses in any sense. Most of the Indian population was abjectly poor and uneducated with only a small educated and affluent segment. The reins of a nascent Indian democracy were handed over to these highly educated and proven leaders and they remained true to their calling.

Democracy took root in India through the institutions they established.

Twenty years later, Indian democracy was firmly established through a regular cycle of elections. Even though India faced four external aggressions, it did not affect the working of its democratic institutions.

The real threat to Indian democracy came from within and from those who had been empowered by this same democracy.

By the time the fifth Lok Sabha was elected in 1971, it had acquired the true representative character of the Indian populace. While the country had made progress since independence, members

By Vijay Rajvaidya

We are at a moment whenthe world’s biggest democracy can teach a thing or two to the world’s oldest democracy.

with higher education had declined in the composition of the fifth Lok Sabha, and they were no longer the leaders in the body. As a matter of fact, the Lok Sabha was more representative of the vast majority of people who exercised their franchise to vote for people who were “like” them.

The new leaders lacked the foresight and the vision, which inspired nation building.

It was not long before the results appeared on the horizon.

Indian democracy faced its first true crisis when, then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi suspended individual rights and imposed a state of Emergency. For the first time, we heard the slogan, “Indira is India and India is Indira.” It is said that Napoleon was the child of the French Revolution but he killed it. Such was the situation in India. The Congress party, that had governed for most of the time in free India, was ready to emasculate democracy.

The country survived this crisis because of the gravitas Indian democracy had acquired by then. Look at other failed democracies which lacked the power to withstand threats. Most of them got Independence in the post Second World War period from their colonial masters. Many of these countries faced coups that resulted in military dictatorships or were led by the proletariat, as the communists liked to call themselves. Nothing of that sort happened in India and we continue to have a robust democracy, the largest in the world.

After living for more than thirty years in America, I came to realize that the reason American democracy looked so stable, steady and mature to me in the 1970s was not because it was so, but because it

10 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

had skipped the phase where democracy permeated down to the last citizen. It occurred to me that the success of democracy could not be measured by the number of elections the country has had. Many sham democracies conduct elections but that doesn’t make them truly representative of the people they want to lead. America didn’t allow a large segment of the population to be responsibly active as voters until the early 1920s when women and African Americans were allowed to vote.

In today’s globalized world, a large segment of the American population had felt disillusioned and had not found a voice to represent them on the political stage.

Suddenly in this election cycle, in Donald Trump, they rallied around a candidate whose populism appealed to them.

To me, American democracy in the 70s had looked like a model to be emulated.

But, in reality it was only representative of a highly educated segment of America. A super-plutocracy if you like, but it wasn’t what it was portrayed to be. Now, all of a sudden, 240 years after it won independence, the rest of the citizens have become active. What caused this can be detailed in another essay, but the fact is that there is an oligarch who has given them a voice and who has flatly refused to accept the election results unless he is declared the winner. Democracy has arrived, finally!

It’s interesting to watch the panic it has caused in the minds of progressive citizens.

Bill Maher was right when he told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that even if Trump loses the election, the empowerment of the “fabled 40%” is a cause for concern. Yes, it is.

But what saved Indian democracy will save American democracy too. Democracy in America is strong and robust—it is not going to crumble by this new enfranchisement. True it may make it more chaotic, like India, but we are at a moment when the biggest democracy on Earth can teach a thing or two to the oldest democracy. n Vijay Rajvaidya is Managing Director of India Currents.

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opinion

The Demagoguery Will Never Stop

By Vivek Wadhwa

I

still can’t get over the surprise or should I say shock—of hearing a Sikh woman implore other Sikhs to vote for Donald Trump. This was at the gurudwara in San Jose, California.

The woman was a Caucasian who had converted to Sikhism, and she wore ultra-traditional garb: a turban, robe, and kirpan (a ceremonial sword). She was selling bangles and religious objects outside the prayer hall.

“Donald Trump is the only person who can defend America from the Muslims. Let’s all vote for him and save America,” she said to passersby.

I know I should have ignored her, but I couldn’t help walking up to her and saying: Don’t you realize that to the people Trump is appealing to, we are all Muslims, that the turban on your head looks very much like what Osama bin Laden wore, and that the dark skin of the people you are preaching to is what really offends these racists?

She responded by yelling at the top of her lungs: “Trump is going to make America great again. He tells it like it is—look at what crooked Hillary did in Benghazi.” I walked away, because I realized that I was speaking to a segment of America that is not well educated and won’t listen to logic.

But it isn’t just the uneducated, it seems. Silicon Valley, where I live, is one of the most ethnically diverse and educated places in the world. Immigrants like me fit right in and we welcome others—of all nationalities and religions.

No Silicon Valley executive, with the exception of Peter Thiel, has expressed support for Donald Trump—because his values are antithetical to what the Valley stands for.

So I was even more shaken up when one of my Indian-American friends, a successful venture capitalist, told me that he planned to vote for Trump because he will “put the Muslims in their place.” He uttered the same anti-Muslim sentiments that we hear in Trump’s

I still vividly recall the days after 9/11, when antiMuslim hysteria was at its peak. I had refused to heed the advice of my friends to shave my beard and had angry insults hurled at me.

Two of my Sikh friends’ children were so fearful that they removed their turbans. tirades. I was dumbfounded that there are more people in the technology world who would vote for a person who built a platform based on racism, bigotry, and xenophobia, who couldn’t look beyond their religious biases.

Perhaps all of this shook me up because I still vividly recall the days after 9/11, when anti-Muslim hysteria was at its peak. Dark-skinned or Arab-looking people with beards (like me) became targets of angry mobs. I had refused to heed the advice of my friends to shave my beard and had angry insults hurled at me when I ventured into a small town on my way to the North Carolina coast. Two of my Sikh friends’ children were so fearful that they cut their hair and removed their turbans. Indian women who wore ceremonial “bindis” on their foreheads were disparaged and labeled as “dotheads.”

Since 9/11, there have been dozens of hate crimes against Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims. This is what happens when you stoke the flames of racism and bigotry.

Sadly, these are demons that Donald Trump has already unleashed on America—until recently one of the most

open, inclusive, and tolerant countries in the world. Yes, all human beings have biases, and there has always been some racism beneath the surface. But America has been making great strides from its days of slavery and segregation. For the last five decades, to express racist views had become increasingly unacceptable.

Now, a presidential candidate is retweeting members of the Ku Klux Klan—and his party is standing behind him. Politicians who decreed immigration and free trade are rallying against it. Respected political leaders remain silent when Trump spews racist venom, makes sexist rants against Latino beauty queens, and we see videotapes dignifying sexual abuse and misogyny.

It is very likely that the majority of the United States will take a stand and vote against Trump. Despite America’s flaws, it does have a collective conscience and does do the right ethical and moral things.

But damage has already been done.

Racism, bigotry, and xenophobia have again risen to the surface and become acceptable. The world has seen a side of America that has shocked it, and the country has lost moral ground. How will the United States now stand up to tyrants who perform ethnic cleansing, leaders of corrupt banana republics who turn their countries into cash registers for their businesses, and despots who ignore the constitutions of their countries, when the same sentiments are openly being expressed by a potential president of America?

Let’s not forget that once the bigots have finished demonizing Mexicans and Muslims, gays and lesbians, the Jews, Hindus, Mormons, and Sikhs will be their next targets. The demagoguery will never stop.n Vivek Wadhwa is a Distinguished Fellow and professor at Carnegie Mellon University Engineering at Silicon Valley. Follow him on Twitter @wadhwa

November 2016 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 15

cover

Campaign Rhetoric “To appeal to the emotions of the public in a political campaign is sound— in fact, it is an indispensable part of the campaign.”— Edward Bernays, Propaganda

By Arpit Mehta

W

ith mere days left before the presidential election, emotional exhaustion is likely commonplace amongst the electorate. After all, the candidates put forth by the two major parties would hardly qualify as the first choice for most Americans. The Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has been embroiled in a scandal involving the careless handling of classified emails. On the other side, the Republican nominee is billionaire Donald Trump who continues to

offend moral sensibilities across the board and seemingly delights in doing so. *****

E

ach of these candidates is vilified by the opposing party in hopes of gathering enough traction to bolster their own case. What’s fascinating, however, about how both of the parties have presented their candidates is that they have relied heavily on emotional appeals to

16 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

strengthen their respective bases. From the campaign slogans to the highlighted issues and the rhetoric regarding the opponent all showcase masterful uses of propaganda.

This isn’t a new occurrence, mind you, but it’s been converted into an art-form when considering the individuals being promoted in this election cycle. In this last leg of the campaign, a close examination of the rhetoric and imagery of the campaigns is helpful to understand how each candidate is being presented to the American voters.

F

ormer Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was under FBI investigation this year regarding the use of a private email server to send classified documents. She denied any wrongdoing, barely recanting even after the FBI announced that she was responsible. Yet no indictment was brought forth, something that could have ended her campaign overnight. Ironic that the candidate of choice for the equality-seeking “Black Lives Matter” would receive favoritism in the face of criminal offenses, which is why her campaign slogan isn’t about political issues but gender. “I’m With Her” draws a hard line in the sand, reminding her base that her opponent is a man—the gender of the status quo—lest they are considering casting a vote for a rich, white candidate.

Businessman Donald Trump is a contradiction of similar magnitude. A lifelong Democrat who expressed dissent towards Republicans less than a decade ago, Trump has claimed he believes marriage to be between a man and a woman and has built his platform criticizing immigrants, even though his third wife happens to be one. In fact, a recently surfaced video revealed Trump crudely gloating about making sexual advances on women, which led to theologian Wayne Grudem recanting his support for Trump. Yet the slogan that drives his campaign, “Make America Great Again” has helped him draw voters who buy his rhetoric, which centers on an anti-establishment sentiment. The slogan also begs the question as to what greatness he’s appealing to, since it would be easy enough to connect his words and actions to the highly publicized sexual indiscretions of former presidents Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy, a rather unlikely scenario considering that both happened to be Democrats. Yet this message has connected with a base that holds the opposing party responsible for the current state of political disarray.

With unanswered questions and issues surrounding both candidates, one would imagine the electorate would move away from the two parties to seek outward, yet nine out of ten voters polled were leaning

Still from Trump video that created controversy

American politics relies heavily on targeting the binary nature in American culture. Coke vs. Pepsi.

Capitalism vs. Socialism.

Republican vs. Democrat. towards one of these two candidates. Curious that an educated and informed electorate would stand for this, the likely reason is that American politics relies heavily on targeting the compartmentalized nature of western education, and the rather binary nature in American culture. Coke vs. Pepsi. Capitalism vs. Socialism. Republican vs.

Democrat. As Edward Bernays eloquently explained in Propaganda, an influential book which brought together psychology, democracy, and power published in the late 1920s, compartmentalization allows for “the conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses [which] is an important element in democratic society.” In another vein the binary nature makes it easier to mobilize the masses to, say, vote instead of getting frustrated and giving up on the system altogether. *****

A

common thread in political demagoguery on both sides of the aisle has revolved around the failure of politicians to effectively safeguard the pub-

lic interest. While the right wing has identified this as an inherent flaw in a system that allows for career politicians, the left believes this to be a byproduct of corporate interest manifesting as lobbying. The Republican National Convention brought many excited about a political outsider winning the nomination. Little concern was expressed regarding his moral failures, and his penchant for conveniently changing his stance on issues based on the audience he’s speaking to. In a nutshell, Trump was presented as the anti-establishment solution that America needed.

The Democratic National Convention was hardly any different. In the Democratic primaries, Bernie Sanders regularly criticized Hillary Clinton for running a campaign funded heavily by Wall Street.

Yet after Clinton won the nomination, a parade of wealthy celebrities—political and otherwise—marched on stage to support her. Comedian Sarah Silverman even talked down to Bernie’s supporters, expressing that they were being ridiculous for voicing their frustration with the nomination of an establishment candidate.

If Edward Bernays had been alive today, he would have applauded the brilliance of both parties. After all, it was he who organized the very first public relations display for Calvin Coolidge a century ago, inviting Hollywood celebrities for breakfast with the candidate in order to show him as a likable candidate to the press. Press and media play crucial roles in the building up—as well as the tearing down—of propaganda.

November 2016 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 17

Kennedy and Nixon in first televised debate in 1960

I

n the early days of television, the firstever televised debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon was held on September 26, 1960. Political pundits who heard the debate on the radio felt that they were evenly matched with some even giving the Republican incumbent a slight edge over his younger rival. But those who watched the debate on television thought that Kennedy trumped Nixon. He had a tan, a wide smile and an easy nature, whereas Nixon had just recovered from a knee surgery, looked pale and ineffective.

Many felt that his live performance in the debates helped clinch the presidency for Kennedy in a tightly contested election.

But we needn’t look to the last century to see the effects of visual imagery in helping shape public opinion.

It was early 2008 when Shepard Fairey created the iconic “Hope” poster.

It arguably became the tipping point in Barack Obama’s successful presidential campaign. Few know that the original iteration of the poster read “Progress,” and included Fairey’s signature “OBEY Star” over the campaign’s sunrise logo.

Commissioned by the Obama campaign and managed by publicist (or propagandist, as Bernays would call him) Yosi Sergant, Fairey adapted the poster to read “Hope.” He was also asked to remove the “OBEY Star,” which has been a part of his brand for decades.

“The OBEY sticker campaign can be explained as an experiment in phenomenology, [which] attempts to enable people to see clearly something that is right before their eyes but obscured; things that are so taken for granted that they are muted by abstract observation,” reads the manifesto on Fairey’s website.

Incidentally, what was right before

his eyes was the rather conscious removal of what had manifested as an anti-authoritarian symbol, a byproduct of that very experiment. As it originally stood, the “Progress” poster with the word “Obey” made a far more accurate observation than its revision, at least according to Fairey’s interview in 2015: “There have been a lot of things that [Obama has] compromised on that I never would have expected. I mean, drones and domestic spying are the last things I would have thought [he’d support].” While authority had a new color in tow, the machine itself remained intact.

Had Fairey’s art intuitively captured the

18 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

Political pundits who heard the Kennedy-Nixon debate on the radio felt that the candidates were evenly matched with some even giving the Republican incumbent a slight edge over his younger rival. But those who watched the debate on television thought that Kennedy trumped Nixon.

conflict he sensed between the man and the machine when “Obey” was featured?

If so, his experiment in phenomenology (simplistically described as the objective study of subjective topics like perception and emotions) was derailed when he gave in to the propagandizing of his art. *****

Y

et therein lies the problem. Humans are highly subject to their own emotions. This is the underlying premise for psychology, economics, even politics. While it’s easy enough to point out that greed and fear are to be legislated against, Lord Acton observed, “absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Those in power seek to hold on to it, employing any and all means necessary.

They leverage the very emotions they condemn. The two campaigns use emotional triggers to bolster their cases. It’s easy when her campaign can invoke the fear of a Trump presidency that deports every immigrant. Likewise, someone who has bragged about committing some form of sexual abuse continues to have support behind him because his opponent cannot be trusted. And the media outlets perpetuate these manipulations.

In 1999, the Journal of Educational Psychology published a study labeled, “Effects of Repeated Exposures to a single episode of the television program Blue’s Clues” on the viewing behaviors

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Visual from second presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

and comprehension of preschool children.

While the age range was certainly limited, the experiment found that continuous repetition led to higher audience retention, and the recalling of transmitted information more readily. This might shed light on why 24-hour news channels recycle content regularly. It’s also why it’s become increasingly difficult to dispel myths and even lies from political discourse. One of the most prevalent ones concerns the “wage gap.” While it is true that there is a twenty-cent gap between men and women, that number is an average across all types of jobs. When looking at the same job, however, the gap shrinks to less than five cents. But after a misleading statistic has been repeated by demagogues incessantly, reality is simply the reiteration of a propagandist’s well-crafted narrative. Of course, this cuts both ways.

The bases of both parties have consistently made it clear that they rely on talking heads to help decision-making easier for them. But genuine change doesn’t come easily. It’s not a bumper sticker or even a cast ballot. It starts with accepting the inconvenient truth that those you were taught to trust, could betray that trust if it helped their careers. While Mitt Romney was criticized in 2012 for saying that 47% of Americans don’t pay taxes, Hillary Clinton has seen little backlash for claiming that Bernie Sanders’s supporters live in their parents’ basements. Likewise, President Obama’s policies are often criticized by Republicans who don’t seem to realize that he would be considered a moderate Republican just a couple of decades ago. “But when … the herd must think for itself, it does so by means of cliches,

pat words or images which stand for a whole group of ideas or experiences,” Bernays observed rather accurately. Neocon.

Socialist. Communist. Fascist. It’s much easier to compartmentalize another human being that way, after all. *****

T

he reality and influence of propaganda in American politics is unlikely to change overnight. The Internet age has fueled that to an even greater extent. As search engines learn about the individual conducting the search, the results are curated to display links that would interest someone of their political leanings. Further use simply reinforces an echo chamber for most. Compounding this issue is when social media giant Facebook comes under fire for promoting left-wing issues by fraudulently pushing them to the top of their “trending topics.”

For these reasons and more, it is increasingly important for Americans to do their research instead of regurgitating what they heard or read. Settling for the chain of command to deliver talking points in bitesize pieces is the very reason this election looks the way it does. So the next time someone suggests voting, ask them who would benefit from the execution of such carefully crafted propaganda: the voters or the establishment? n Based in Southern California, Arpit Mehta is an international visual artist, writer, and a consultant to creatives. As a polymath he is fascinated by the exploration of the human psyche from both a philosophical and a logical perspective, which is why he’s often drawn to topics like politics, economics, and technology.

20 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

1) Letter from a College Student to those who Support Trump Kavya Padmanabhan 2) How Much is Too Much?

Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan 3) No Amma for America Sandip Roy 4) More Than a GPA Maya Murthy 5) The Clear Choice Nirupama Vaidhyanathan 6) Are You One of Those?

Jaya Padmanabhan 7) October Digital Edition 8) The Resplendent Indian Wedding Arushi Sinha 9) Diwali at Times Square 10) Sadhguru’s Book Launch Prabhu Palani

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relationship diva

Three Tips For Successful Dating

By Jasbina Ahluwalia

W

ith so many hopes and fears we can bring to our dates, it’s no wonder we can oftentimes get in our own way. If you’re prone to bad dates, you may start assuming straight off the bat that the person is terrible for you, and if you’re prone to falling in love quickly, you may wind up wasting your time in dead-end relationships. Here are three ways to be open-minded, during the early stages of dating.

1. Clarify First, Listen Second

Before you go out on a date, you have to clarify what you’re looking for (i.e. your personal deal-breakers). This doesn’t mean that your priorities can’t change, but it does mean that you need to have some guidelines. Once you do, you can start listening to how your dates view life, and

see whether or not they’re compatible with your views.

2. Body Language Counts

Everyone tries to make a good impression in the first few months, but people can’t hide forever. There are hints if you allow yourself to observe. If something seems fishy at the beginning, listen to your intuition. If you can’t get a satisfactory answer, don’t just ignore or dismiss it.

3. Stop Assuming Your Assumptions Are Correct

You will miss out on so much if you stick with your assumptions. Just because your date is conservative it doesn’t mean they want to pass out guns on the street.

Just because the person says they care about fitness, it doesn’t mean they’re per-

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sonally attacking your weight. And just because they care about commitment, it doesn’t mean they want to get married soon.

You’re playing a very delicate balancing act when dating, which is why so many people make mistakes in the beginning.

It’s neither effective to attempt to force the other person to tell the truth, nor to grill the person about their intentions. If staying true to yourself is important though, it’s extremely well-serving to maintain both an open-heart and open eyes.n Jasbina Ahluwalia has pioneered an approach to matchmaking, which blends the best of the East and the West. She is the FounderPresident of Intersections Match by Jasbina, the only premier dating coaching firm for Indian singles in the US, Canada and the UK. Jasbina@Intersectionsmatch.com

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viewpoint

On Feminism

By Chandra Ganguly

I

t has been eight months since I started my MFA at Bennington College. In the last eight months I have cooked half a dozen meals. I pack my children lunches and I clean up the kitchen after my husband when he makes dinner for the family after he comes home from working in a Silicon Valley tech company.

Cooking has never moved me. Motherhood has—but not the baggage of social dos and donts that accompanied it. I have done fewer play dates than the meals I have cooked in the past few months, and I rarely go to a birthday party. My husband takes the children to their social engagements. “But is this fair?” you might ask and I answer, “It is not about fairness, it is about what moves you as a person and how to keep that flame of what keeps you alive, burning within you, while negotiating roles in an adult world that still largely favors men over women.” My husband has always wanted to be a father—he is a good father. He can play endless rounds of knock knock jokes with our four year old and he helps the older ones with their science projects. I spend a lot of my time reading and writing, finally able to legitimize my interests because I am in graduate school. In the summer I traveled to Yale for a conference, and then to my residency in Bennington. In total, my children saw me for ten days in June. “How can you do it?” some have asked me explicitly and some with judgment in their eyes. “I must do it,” I say, “to stay alive and be the mother I want to be to my children.” Eyebrows are raised, eyes widen in concern for my choices and their possible harmful effects on my children. “What about home cooked meals? And what about clean houses and laundry and the home and the hearth?” I turn to look at my children when I am asked these questions and they see me staring into space and ask me why I am not studying. “Study, mama,” they tell me.

Women, especially those from more traditional societies, are taught many things in childhood. When I was young, I watched the men in my family as they got more opportunities and freedom, and

dominated decision-making. Even though my mother did not insist on household duties, I had to get married when I was not ready so that my younger sister could marry, surely as outdated a custom as any.

As an immigrant in America without a work visa, I had to stay at home, watch over my children, fold endless mounds of laundry, cook meals while being pregnant or nursing—and lived entire days with no adult conversation. “What is the big deal?” you might ask again. Millions of women around the world are subjected to conditions that are far worse. And because the world has subjugated women forever, and because women have stifled their voices, wishes and desires, does that mean that it must continue?

Every single day in my life in America, I have missed India but what I have not missed in my American life is freedom.

The freedom to be a divorcee without social approbation, the freedom to wear a pair of shorts and run down the street, the freedom to not have to cook, especially when my partner is a better cook than me and a more willing volunteer for the position, to be able to prioritize my studies because that is what calls to me. This is what I want my daughters to learn, to reach out to what calls to them, to work towards that relentlessly, and to find hap-

26 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

piness out of prescribed norms. As a parent, we say many things to our children —how to live, how to be, what to do or not to do—but surely nothing must be as real to them as watching how their parents live and struggle. This is what I tell myself when I tire sometimes of waking early to find time for my workouts or assignments; this is what I hope the girls see and will remember when they are women in a world where men largely still get paid more than their women counterparts, where a walk in the night alone in almost every country in the world can still be fraught with danger.

Feminism is a buzzword now. Everywhere one hears it and it is spoken with ferocious pride by those who consider themselves upholding it. But I say, let us just be. Let us women define for ourselves what it means to be free and if that be to wear a burka, to cook, to write, to be a mother, to not be a mother, to stay married or not to stay married—let us decide, because we women, we have a voice and we are nobody’s fool. n Chandra Ganguly is a MFA student at Bennington College. She writes about the meaning and loss of identity and issues around gender and culture. She lives with her family in Palo Alto, California.

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ask a lawyer

New Visa Rule for Entrepreneurs

By Indu Liladhar-Hathi

Q

I am interested in starting a business. I heard about a new option that might be open in the near future. Can you clarify the rules of the proposed provision?

A

There has been a lot of interest from entrepreneurs regarding a new rule proposed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which looks at a new category of visas that allow them to stay in America as they build businesses.

A new rule was published by the Department of Homeland Security on 8/31/16, which would allow certain international entrepreneurs to stay in the United States in order to start or grow their business. If finalized, entrepreneurs would be given parole—temporary permission to be in the United States, if they can show that their business will create “significant public benefit” and “substantial potential

for rapid growth and job creation.”

The rule will require the the following: 1) That the entity is a “US business entity” that was formed within three years immediately preceding the filing of the initial parole application 2) Have lawfully done business since the date of formation 3) Have substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation The proposed rule excludes small businesses that are intended to generate income for the small business owners and their families. It requires the entrepreneur to prove two things: that he/she owns a substantial interest in the startup, and has a central role in the startup.

Two types of investments that will qualify 1) Receiving at least $345,000 of capital from “qualified U.S. investors” with established records of successful investments;

30 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

2) Receiving significant awards or grants (at least $100,000) from certain federal, state or local government entities.

If an entrepreneur cannot establish the above, he/she may still qualify if they can provide “other reliable and compelling evidence” of the entity’s substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation. The rule will allow an initial stay of up to two years to applicants who meet the criteria.

After that, a request for re-parole, for up to three additional years will be considered if the startup entity continues to provide a significant public benefit as evidenced by substantial increases in capital investment, revenue or job creation.

This is just the proposed rule that has not taken effect and it is likely to take effect in 2017. n Immigration and business attorney Indu Liladhar-Hathi has an office in San Jose. (408) 453-5335.

Legal visa dates Important Note: U.S. travelers seeking visas to India will now need to obtain them through Cox & Kings Global Services Pvt. Ltd. Call 1-866-978-0055, email enquiriesusa@ckgs.com or visit www.in.ckgs.us for more information.

November 2016

T

his column carries final action dates and other transitional information as taken from the U.S. State Depart­ment’s Visa Bulletin. The information below is from the Visa Bulletin for November 2016.

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Preference Dates for India 1st Current 2nd Nov 1, 2007 3rd Mar 08, 2005 Other Mar 08, 2005 Workers 4th Current Certain Current Religious Workers 5th Current Regional Center The Department of State has a recorded message with visa availability information at (202)485-7699, which is updated in the middle of each month.

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Email: info@vermafirm.com

www.vermafirm.com November 2016 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 31

investment

Bagels, Cream Cheese and Your Portfolio

By Prabhu Palani

O

ne of the great joys of migrating to another country is discovering its culinary offerings. When I landed in Newark, Delaware some two score and several years ago, I badly missed one thing.

If breakfast was an important ritual in Indian households then the dosa (or dosai more accurately) was its chief offering.

The thought of a crispy, roasted finish of a rolled-up dosai and its sambar and chutney accoutrements still make my mouth water.

Who cared if it was actually carb-packed with some saturated fat to spare? Now, where in the middle of Delaware, could you find a dosai? Not anywhere actually, at least not in the late eighties and early nineties.

The closest place that served a decent dosa was actually on Route 1 in New Jersey and I didn’t have a car. So I did what most international students did, and that was to look for an American substitute. Enter the bagel. Many years and several pounds later, I still crave for a toasted New Yorkstyle bagel with Philly cream cheese. Not exactly great if you want to keep your heart pumping smoothly, but boy, what a nice way to start your day! It took a long time for me to warm up during those first wintry mornings, and a warm bagel followed by a hot cup of Folgers was just what the doctor ordered.

My friend Eric at the university was (and is) a lot smarter than I am. He’d keep a safe distance from that full fat cream cheese.

At lunchtime, I’d go running for cream of broccoli soup at the Round House Café, and back then the good women who ran that café really took their cream seriously.

Eric would demonstrate through a simple experiment how bad it was for your heart.

He’d stick a spoon in the middle of the cup of soup, and the spoon would stand like one of those ceremonial guards outside Buckingham Palace.

Many years on, I’ve become a tad wiser. After a few blood tests, my doctor advised me to hold off on the cream cheese. Apparently my genes weren’t exactly conducive to digesting the stuff.

I still indulge in an occasional bagel and cream cheese, but it’s on a rare occasion

Academic studies have shown that asset allocation decisions are the greatest determinants of portfolio return and not whether you had success in speculating on individual stocks.

Start with a simple 70/30 portfoilo i.e. 70% in stocks and 30% in cash and bonds.

and only when I’m feeling fit or I want to treat myself. And that’s exactly what I do in the market.

I have carved off a very small percentage of my portfolio to indulge my trading instincts. The rest is according to a wellprescribed plan. As in life, there are no guarantees with the plan. Just because the doctor ordered me off cream cheese doesn’t mean that I am going to live to be a nonagenarian. But I have the comfort of knowing that the plan is based on solid asset allocation techniques, and I am comfortable with the risks associated with my investments.

As the end of the year rolls around, it is an ideal time to take stock of your portfolio.

There is no magic to this time frame other than the fact that the holidays are a relaxing time of year and between bites of turkey (or Tofurky if you are part of my household), pumpkin pie, and that pint of ale, you are in a relaxed frame of mind to evaluate the financial success of the past year. If your plan has been truly prepared for the long run, you may not need to make any drastic changes.

However you do need to consider the following questions: 1) Has there been a big change in your income?

2) Did you incur unexpected expenses during the year?

3) Has there been a change in your personal status i.e. did you marry or get divorced?

4) Do you anticipate any medical expenses or other expenses in the near term that were not accounted for earlier?

The answers to these questions can guide you as you reevaluate your personal asset allocation. Academic studies have

32 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

shown that asset allocation decisions (the decision to be in one asset class versus another) are the greatest determinants of portfolio return and not whether you had success in speculating on individual stocks.

If you don’t use the services of a financial advisor start with a simple 70/30 portfolio i.e. 70% of your assets in stocks and 30% of your assets in cash and bonds. You can then calibrate your portfolio according to your age and your own tolerance for risk. The closer you are to retirement age the greater should be your allocation to risk-free assets. Regardless of your age, if you are particularly sensitive to market volatility, that is another reason to hold a greater proportion of your assets in risk-free assets. The trade off is that you will sacrifice potential return in exchange for safety.

Back to my own approach—I have realized that the time to be foolish and reckless, taste buds notwithstanding, is over.

Occasionally, just occasionally, I will jump in and buy that “cheap” stock. It may or may not work out, but at least I’ve satiated my hunger to “trade.” Just like that rare bagel.

After all, what is life without an occasional indulgence? n Prabhu Palani, CFA, was formerly a managing director and the head equity strategist at Mellon Capital Management in San Francisco. Previously he was senior vice president and Portfolio Manager at Franklin Templeton Investments and Portfolio Manager at Barclays Global Investors. Prabhu holds graduate degrees from Stanford University and the University of Delaware and is a member of the CFA Institute and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

November 2016| West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 33

34 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

films

Masks of Truth

By Aniruddh Chawda

PINK. Director: Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury. Players: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Andrea Tariang, Piyush Mishra, Angad Bedi. Music: Shantanu Moitra. Hindi with Eng. sub-tit. Theatrical release (NH Studioz)

L

ate into a Delhi evening, a car rushes to a hospital. Inside are three young men, one of whom is bleeding profusely from a nasty cut above one eye. Across town the easygoing lives of three young women, who share an apartment in an upwardly mobile enclave, takes an unexpected and ugly detour. The three women appear to have been involved in the incident that resulted in the young man’s eye injury. What exactly happened?

Why the blood? Why the secrecy? Why the fear? And all of this happens in just the first ten minutes.

From this unsettling, uneven high stakes opening we are on to something remarkable. The three men claim to have been attacked by the women after agreeing to meet them after a rock concert. Of the three men, Rajveer (Bedi) belongs to a powerful and well-connected family while the women—Minal (Pannu), Falak (Kulhari) and Andrea (Tariang) are working girls from modest backgrounds. The men begin to harass the women. Minal gets nearly run over by a car and is then attacked and Falak loses her job. The police, not countering any of the womens’ claims, instead jail Minal on attempted murder charges.

Slow but astute in his step, Deepak Sehgal (Bachchan) is an ageing retired attorney caring for his ill wife. Sehgal is the neighbor to the three women and guesses what might have happened and, ever so reluctantly, steps in to help the women in court. What follows is an excellent court drama that lays bare the hypocrisy of social norms that allow men to be independent and decry women for choosing to do the same thing—especially when it comes to living arrangements.

As the tense splendid court drama unfolds, with the women represented by

Sehgal and the men represented by a baldheaded lawyer (Mishra), crowded court room adult confrontations that speak boldly on what makes up sexual consent and sexual morality in a changing society take center stage. This is indeed uncharted territory for a mainstream Indian film.

Should the accused individual’s ethnicity, bank balance, dating history or age at first sexual experience matter? What does it mean when a woman, anyone really, says “no” to a come on?

Like highly refined court procedurals, Pink also tenses up quickly. Credibility is questioned. Memories are recalled. Versions are re-told. Alibis are offered. Alibis are denied. Witnesses are cross examined. Closed circuit video is played, and replayed. With what actually happened shown almost as an afterthought as the camera is pulling away, the urgency is all about the here and now. What the men are saying against what the women are saying.

His word against hers.

Bachchan’s Sehgal wears a mask during his carefully routed daily walks through a neighborhood park. Outwardly to ward off Delhi’s polluted air, the mask brilliantly foreshadows fear—the fear of strangers.

Anyone in the presence of the mask, especially in dimming light, is gripped by a stay-orrun existential jolt. This pretty much sums up the daily fears of urbanites, including Minal, Falak and Andrea after they are harassed. That the mask serves a perfunctory use is of little consequence. The fear it represents must be overcome.

Bachchan’s cranky-goat Sehgal is an old school legal eagle that wants to, and even needs to help, in part to compensate for his helplessness in not being able to help his ailing wife but also to help overcome official indifference he sees the women having to suffer. Pannu and Kulhari decently put up brave fronts and unite when their characters have to, while Bedi, as Rajveer, is a scion of privilege unprepared for court. Shantanu Moitra’s musical score is ear worthy with repeated listening.

The result is a modest budget movie that raked in huge box office returns— Bachchan’s biggest in recent years. For an original script that taps into collective fears about the perils of urban living, Pink has few parallels. For opening social conversation, however, add Pink to the short list of notable Hindi movies that feature strong female characters having to clear their name in court following a sexual assault (Damini, Insaf Ka Tarazu, No One Killed Jessica). n

EQ: A

Globe trekker, aesthete, photographer, ski bum, film buff, and commentator, Aniruddh Chawda writes from Milwaukee.

November 2016| West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 35

films

Pitch Perfect

By Aniruddh Chawda

M.S. DHONI: THE UNTOLD STORY. Director: Neeraj Pandey. Players: Sushant Singh Rajput, Anupam Kher, Bhumika Chawla, Kiara Advani, Disha Patani, Rajesh Sharma. Music: Amaal Mallik.

Hindi with Eng. sub-tit. Theatrical release (Fox) n the cricket world, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, aka M.S. Dhoni, needs no introduction. Dhoni’s larger-than-life persona and rise to India’s national team— where he is still captain—is the fodder for household chats in South Asian households. To capture this expansive personality into a movie creates inherent limitations in that of an unfinished work since Dhoni is still actively engaged in his profession.

Still, M.S. Dhoni—The Untold Story braves a drawn out life-so-far look on the cricket star’s journey. Heavy on minute cricket match staging rather than details on Dhoni the man, it is a decent movie that packs in too much detail.

First spotted as a scrawny, geeky soccer player on the dusty school grounds in Bihar now located in Jharkhand, the young would-be cricket protégé stood out early. Guided along by his observant coach Bannerjee (Sharma), Mahi—a name used by those closest to him— soon developed a solid—if not all that polished reputation in local and regional cricket circuits.

From there, it is pretty much a marathon countdown through just about every key match where Dhoni the player featured prominently.

The matches for the most part are entertainingly staged. Cleverly placing Singh-as-Dhoni smack in the middle of actual TV cricket match footage from that era appears seamless. In the early years, to show the shy, awkward youth, ace cinematographer Santosh Thundiyil (Krissh, Kuch Kuch Hota Hain) virtually “shrinks” Singh’s appearance to make Dhoni look slight and skinny. This works to accentuate the literal out-of-the-park run scores that the youngster begins to pile on as he climbs the ladder of success.

Where Pandey and company get weighted down is the attempt to zoom on all or nearly all the seemingly important

I

cricket matches drawn out over more than three and a half hours, which is practically the length of an actual cricket match.

It is too precise a premise to continue and-here’s-another-one-Dhoni-drilled-outof-the-stadium. Regurgitated repeatedly, it smacks lightly of egoistical flaunting.

Also, there is less shown of any kind of inner turmoil—other than Mani having to win over a reluctant father (Kher) not quite sold on cricket as a profession—and more of which upstart, which regional team, which brand name will bid highest for the rising star.

When a mature Dhoni steps up on the national stage, the narrative gets back on solid footing once more. Now captain of the Indian national cricket team, shed of shyness, brandishing media savviness like a weapon and escorted by machine-gun toting body guards, the-boy-to-the-man trajectory is complete. It is a long, steady arc on an up-ticked career path and even if not offering anything new for Dhoni’s public persona, it is easy to digest.

The interludes on an always-rising career path, however, do provide Dhoni a pause to reflect on two romances, one with a Delhi office worker and star-struck fellow airline passenger Priyanka (Patani) and the other with hotel hostess Sakshi (Advani). The romances, handled softly and even embedded with genuine pain, humanize both the man and the script.

On the soundtrack, meanwhile, Mallik’s “Jab Tak” longingly rests on a melancholic chord.

As Mahi’s fortunes change, the down-

36 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

market, neglected bone dry all-purpose sports fields of Mahi’s teen years —where, incidentally, Mahi’s father is a groundskeeper—eventually transform into state level cricket pitches and then on to meticulous international venues drawn to precision.

Throughout this transformation, as Singh smartly channels the gifted player, the production values remain spot on.

Offered the chance to become a ticket conductor on a regional railroad to help pay for the cost of his training, which a young Dhoni actually takes on briefly early on, this episode offers both a much needed perspective middle-class alternative as well as ends up injecting a vital dose of humility. Strangely, an epiphany on this same remote train platform becomes its own field of dreams for a soon-to-be very rich player. This helps make M.S. Dhoni a feel good sports story for times when too often the news is not so light, positive or uplifting. That sweet spot is exactly where M.S. Dhoni shines brightly. n

LATA’S

FLICK PICKS yegi py Bhaag. Ja  Hap  Pink.  Akira Jatt.  Flying aar Dekho.

B r  Baa hi list.  Vaisak i. al ab K 

November 2016| West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 37

books

Values for Success

By Viji K. Chary

Those Immigrants! Indians in America: A Psychological Exploration of Achievement

By Scott Haas. Fingerprint! 344 pages. Copyright 2016

T

he picture on the cover caught my attention, even before I read the title of the book. Lady Liberty was draped in a crisp crimson sari. The symbolism was a clue to the contents of the book I was about to read. Those Immigrants!

Indians in America by Scott Haas explores the inner workings of the psyche that has brought the Indian diaspora unprecedented success in America.

Haas asserts, “No other immigrant population has the achievement comparable to that of Indians.” Other immigrant groups such as the Jewish and Chinese have achieved tremendous success too, but Indians have experienced success within a minimal amount of time and the accomplishments are in a vast range of fields, he feels. Curious about the common thread that runs across the Indian population, Haas interviewed thirty accomplished men and women of Indian origin in an attempt to discover what in their culture drives Indians to strive for excellence. With a background in psychology, Haas finds common themes across the stories and says, “I am deeply charmed and fascinated by the particulars of ordinary people who, through their deeds, become extraordinary.”

I was intrigued with the history of the Indian migration through the life stories that Haas has captured. Prior to 1965, fewer than 10,000 Indians lived in America.

It was the civil rights movement coupled with the Immigrant Act of 1965, which overturned the limited quotas set aside for Asian immigrants that led to an influx of large numbers of Indian immigrants.

Before this, the immigration department had largely allowed white Christians from Northern Europe. After this initial wave, some Indian immigrants arrived to escape the political turmoil in India in the 1980s.

In the next decade, Indians landed in the United Ssates with entrepreneurial ideas.

Each wave of immigrants laid down the

foundation for the next generation to build upon. Haas believes that with a combination of family ties, luck, confidence, brilliance and perseverance, the whole population has added richness to the fabric of this country.

I found this book particularly fascinating because I am a second generation Indian immigrant and this history is part of my heritage. My father, a mechanical engineer, made the United States our new home in 1970 when I was a toddler.

Haas notes that early Indian immigrants saw America as a place of opportunities that did not exist in India at the time. This was definitely the case with my family—with my father’s high educational achievements, strong work ethic, a bit of luck, and a nudge from my grandfather, my father accepted an employment offer in the Bay Area.

In the book’s interview narratives, Haas has let the interviewee lead the conversation which brings up the most significant values and thoughts to him or her. Most conversations have covered important family values, circumstances that allowed opportunity, the emotional

38 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

and monetary struggles, and the hopes and dreams of America. Haas has spoken to successful people from all walks of life —from comedian to film maker, from doctor to astrophysicist, and from economist to CEO. The author invites the readers to discover for themselves the common thread that runs through the lives of his interviewees and that are responsible for the successes of the Indian immigrant in America.

As I read the interviews in Haas’s book, I identified with the struggles and hurdles of the early immigrants. The success stories of Vijai Nathan and Dr. Nirav Shah particularly resonated with me. They spoke of facing adversity as they grew up in a predominately white population. Among other things, Vijai was the only Indian at school. Nirav’s parents socialized primarily with other Indians. These experiences mirrored my childhood as well as that in most early Indian immigrant households.

With so many success stories within the Indian immigrant population, I wonder how Haas chose to profile these thirty.

Then, I realized that he has chosen to present immigrants from different time periods in the last few decades.

However after reading Hass’s interesting and inspiring book, I find the title Those Immigrants! misleading. It gives an accusatory flavor which is far from the intent of the author. Omitting these two emphasized words, the rest of the title which is printed in a smaller font, reads Indians in America: A Psychological Exploration of Achievement.

Just this title would have been perfect.

As I read each profile, from the simple beginnings to dreams realized, I felt pride and inspiration. Haas’s book introduced me to the thought processes of Indians that have contributed and assimilated to the rich and diverse tapestry that is America. n Viji K. Chary writes for adults and children.

She has published several articles and a picture book for children. Her book, “Porcupine’s Seeds” published in 2012 won the Mom’s Choice Honor award. She likes to discuss books with her book club. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and children.

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books

Clarion Call to Creative Climate Action

By Siddhartha R. Oza and Rajesh C. Oza The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable. University of Chicago Press, September 2016. 196 pages.

T

he Great Derangement is an important corrective in the oft-polarized dialog on climate change. Rather than take sides on the American red-blue divide, Amitav Ghosh deftly takes everyone to task, including other contemporary novelists. Given the emotion around this important issue, this review takes a coauthored dialectic approach.

As an undergraduate in Stanford’s Earth Systems program, one reviewer (Siddhartha) was a student under Professor Stephen Schneider, a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2007. The other reviewer (Rajesh) has long used the D x V x F >R model to inform his change consultancy and to guide clients through transformational strategy initiatives.

The change model is a rather simple means of expressing that there is always resistance (R) to change. Transformational leaders must communicate why change is required due to dissatisfaction (D) with the current state, share what the future might look like in terms of a compelling vision (V), and plan how the collective must move forward with first (F) steps.

D: Dissatisfaction V: Vision F: First Steps R: Resistance If “D,” “V,” or “F” do not exist (i.e., in mathematical terms any, or all, are zero), then resistance prevails because resistance to change is prevalent (i.e., “R” is greater than zero).

Siddhartha, who is now at the London Business School, believes that Schneider would have strongly related with the above model, especially the “Burning Plat-

form” concept. This concept comes from a July 1988 news story about an oil rig on fire in the North Sea. To save their lives, rig workers jumped off the platform into frigid waters, running the risk of hypothermia. When asked why he jumped, one of the survivors said, “It was either jump or fry.” With the platform burning, he selected potential death over certain death. While the metaphor is not terribly original, it bluntly clarifies the dilemma: with climate change, the earth is burning, and we citizens have nowhere to jump from our planetary platform. Some type of action is required. And it is required now.

Rajesh questions the viability of a corporate top-down model for addressing the challenges of global warming. Vested interests have too much to lose, and corporate executives cannot be expected to be reformers.

Amitav Ghosh’s solution requires tripartite shared leadership: legislators must take the lead using a corporate compliance approach that privileges the utilitarian

40 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

greater good; religious leaders must take the lead using a spiritual approach that gives voice to the voiceless poor that are at greatest risk of facing floods and droughts; and writers, who are by design at odds with the status quo and are able to articulate cataclysms in a visceral and believable manner, must take the lead to push, pull, and prod those in power.

Ghosh has written a brilliant manifesto for urgently changing how serious literary communicators write about global warming: “If the urgency of a subject were indeed a criterion of its seriousness, then, considering what climate change actually portends for the future of the earth, it should surely follow that this would be the principal preoccupation of writers the world over.” The less compelling second half of “The Great Derangement” recommends that serious political leaders shift gears in how they drive policies to ameliorate the deleterious effects of this largely man-made climatic disaster: “It is now perfectly clear that in the West political processes exert very limited influence over the domain of statecraft…this altered political reality may in part be an effect of the dominance of petroleum in the world economy.”

Ghosh skillfully opens the book with a section called “Stories” before moving on to “History” and “Politics.” Unsurprisingly, the “Stories” part of this work of nonfiction is the strongest; given his bona fides as prize-winning storyteller, Ghosh is in his element gently, but firmly, criticizing writers who have shied away from exploring the scientific, cultural, economic, and personal aspects of carbon-dioxide-based global warming: “The questions that confront writers and artists today are not just those of the politics of the carbon economy; many of them have to do with our own practices and the ways in which they make us complicit in the concealments of

the broader culture.”

Concealment and derangement are at the heart of this “heart-of-darkness” book-length essay. Developed from a series of lectures given at the University of Chicago, the author climbs down from the ivory tower position of postulating and posturing and makes a shift toward galvanizing fellow writers toward creative climate action. A marvelous passage of such creative literary writing is built on research Ghosh had done for his novel The Hungry Tide, from an Indian folk epic of the Sundarbans: “The tiger is watching you; you are aware of its gaze, as you always are, but you do not see it; you do not lock eyes with it until it launches its charge, and at that moment a shock courses through you and you are immobilized, frozen.”

The Great Derangement is an imploration for us to look at the tiger—our burning earth—in the eye before it is too late, before we are paralyzed with the shock of imminent death. Ghosh’s book aims to give voice to the “mute exchange of gazes” between mindless instruments of change who have brought the earth

“The Great Derangement” is an imploration for us to look at the tiger—our burning earth—in the eye before it is too late, before we are paralyzed with the shock of imminent death.

to this unsustainable stage and mindful agents of change seeking a path out of the deadlock. Ghosh introduces the reader to the idea of the “uncanniness” of all this change: “the uncanny intimacy of [our] relationship with the non-human.” This relationship has a built-in “powerful,” “grotesque,” dangerous,” and “accusatory” feedback loop built into it as the “events set in motion by global warming have a more intimate connection with humans than did the climatic phenomena of the past—this is because we have all contributed in some measure, great or small, to their making. They are the mys-

terious work of our own hands returning to haunt us in unthinkable shapes and forms.”

From a book reviewer’s perspective, nothing is a more mysterious work of our hands than the creation of fictional worlds to bring to life nonfictional truths. To overcome collective hand-wringing about climate change, we urgently recommend reading The Hungry Tide and The Great Derangement. This (F)irst step of yours will enable you to en(V)ision Ghosh’s twin worlds of fictional and nonfictional climate crisis, internalize (D)issatisfaction with our burning planet, and (R)esist the deranged idea that there is neither karmic nor capitalist cost to our carbon (dioxide) creating cultures. n For Bob Dimicco, with whom Raj and Siddhartha had the privilege to work in Cisco’s Cloud Consumption initiative. Cloud has nothing to do with inclement weather and Consumption has nothing to do with economic gluttony. Bob’s wise application of DxVxF>R to “Shadow IT” is the type of thought leadership required of climate change stakeholders.

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recipes

Draksha Rasa - Grape Essence The Art of Wine Pairing With Indian Food

By Praba Iyer

I

t was going to be a simple dinner.

Some piping hot onion khuzhambu (tamarind curry) and fried potato cubes with brown rice. Just as I was setting the table our good friends who are wine enthusiasts, wanted to stop by. I ran to my wine collection in panic, for Indian food and wine, is like a Hindu Muslim wedding—complex and very often, it is not a match made in heaven. The complexity of Indian spices and pungency clashes with every wine bouquet and aroma. Wine bouquet refers to flavors that are derived from fermentation and ageing like the vanilla flavor that develops from ageing in oak barrels. Flowery, fruity and herbal aromas are derived from the variety of grapes.

When selecting a wine, the mantra is, “Simple wine with complex food, and complex wine with simple food.”

Spicy food goes well with wine that is less tannic. Tannins come from the stalks and skins of the grapes, and give the wine a tinge of bitterness. Wines fermented in oak barrels tend to hold more tannins—so stay away from oaky cabernets.

Since our palates and individual tastes are varied, here are some general guidelines for choosing wines with your favorite Indian food

White Wine Varietals

White wines are low in tannins and are generally dry. They do not stay long in your palate, so they tend to pair well with spicy food.

Gewürztraminer: This wine is from

the Alsace region of France. It is a dry, sweet wine, which complements the rich complex flavors of Indian and Thai cuisine.

Sauvignon Blanc: This wine is also known as Fume Blanc and is a dry white wine. It has a fruity (citrus and melons), or herb flavors (cilantro, thyme). Examples are Sula wines, Kendall Jackson’s Vintner’s Reserve, Chateau St. Jean, Chateau Souverain and Cloudy Bay (New Zealand).

Pinot Noir: From Burgundy in France,

this grape is the hardest to grow and the most difficult wine to ferment. That explains the hefty price. This has peppermint, berry and tomato flavors— one has to be careful in choosing a good pinot.

Champagne Rose: This sparkling pink wine is made by adding red pinot juice to white wine. It is a versatile wine and can be quite expensive but is very tasty with Indian food.

Chenin Blanc: This wine is also known as Pinot Blanco (South American), and is originally from the Loire Valley in France.

It is a dry, grassy crisp wine. Sula wines from India and French wines from Anjou or Savennieres are other varieties.

Chardonnay: This is the most popular

wine in the world. Since it is aged in oak barrels, this wine has a sweet vanilla flavor and its fermentation produces a rich buttery taste unlike the Sauvignon Blanc that has a slightly acidic taste to it. Therefore, this wine goes well with creamy sauces. A good Chardonnay from Chile or Australia that is lightly aged or a chilled California Chardonnay also works.

Pinot Gris: Drawn from the Alsace re-

gion in France, it has very complex flavors like cinnamon, lemon and ginger and goes well with almost all spicy foods.

Red Wine Varietals

We have to be very careful with red wines because they can completely clash with the food. Avoid wines with high tannins (they give a bitter after taste). Choose fruity reds like Malbec, Merlots, and Pinot Noirs (low on tannins). Avoid full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.

Shiraz: This grape grows in clusters and

the wine is quite peppery, with chocolate flavors and it is native to the Rhone valley in France. The Australian Shiraz and Spanish wines can be served with Indian food.

Zinfandel:

An exclusive California grape, this wine is fruity with citrus and vanilla. Frog’s Leap Zinfandel, comes to mind.

Merlot: This grape is widely planted in

the Bordeaux region of France. It has a lower acidity and astringency than cabernet, with a range of herbal, fruity (currant, plum, cherry), and spicy(coves and bay leaf) flavors to it. Columbia Crest Merlot goes fabulously well with spicy lamb.

Gamay: This grape produces the Beaujolais wine. It is a fruity (banana), light wine. Beaujolais Nouveau is the first set to come out after the harvest and should be consumed immediately. Look for a French wine with low alcohol (less than 12%) Here are some other red wines that go well with Indian food: Chilean Malbec, Riojas, Costieres de Nimes and Corbieres Wines of Southern France, Grenache, Beaujolais, Barbera, and Viognier too.

My friends arrived and I served a Chilean Malbec and an Alsatian Gewurztraminer to go with the onion khuzhambu and potato fry. The low tannic Malbec slides smooth with the tamarind curry and the Gewurtz makes the union of Indian food to wine, absolutely perfect. n Praba Iyer is a chef instructor, food writer and a judge for cooking contests. She specializes in team building classes through cooking for tech companies in the Bay Area. praba@cookingmastery.com.

November 2016| West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 45

recipes

Savory Stuffed Pumpkin With Tamarind Rice

By Shanta Sacharoff

I

n the San Francisco Bay Area, the four seasons are not easily discernible, but come October, along with shorter days and cooler nights, fall fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, and a dazzling variety of squashes begin to appear in the markets.

Among these vegetables and fruits one can find jolly, bright orange pumpkins, popular among cooks and children alike.

Pumpkins are native to Central America and Mexico, but spread all over the world as they are easy to cultivate and very nutritious. They are low in fat, sodium and cholesterol, and high in important nutrients such as vitamins A, B, C, E, iron, magnesium, potassium and riboflavin.

Pumpkins come in a tremendous variety of sizes and colors. The most familiar color is orange, but some varieties of edible pumpkins are green, white, or

even pale blue! There is also a beautiful variety of pumpkin called a “fairytale pumpkin.” The biggest pumpkins grown for carving into jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, are not ideal for cooking. Smaller pie pumpkins that weigh 2 to 3 pounds, are better for soups, pies, or stuffing, as they are meatier, sweeter, and less stringy than large pumpkins.

Pumpkins have been woven into fairy tales of almost every culture. One of my favorite books that I read to my children when they were young was a folk tale from India retold by Betsy Bang and illustrated by her daughter, Molly Bang.

In the story, an old lady sets out to visit her daughter in anticipation of being fed well. On the road, she meets three wild animals who want to eat her. She promises them that she will return later after

becoming fat and much tastier. After a pleasant stay with her daughter, where she feasts on tamarind-flavored rice, the old lady prepares to return home. To protect her from the waiting animals, her daughter hides her in a large pumpkin and gives it a good kick to roll her towards home. The old lady in the pumpkin outwits the animals by singing “pumpkin, pumpkin, roll along,” asking them to give her another push until she reaches her home safely.

The recipe presented below is inspired by memories of this story.

This recipe for savory stuffed pumpkin involves a four-step process, but the finished product is worth the effort. In addition to being delicious and nourishing, the baked stuffed pumpkin looks very festive! n

Savory Stuffed Pumpkin with Tamarind Rice

Serves 8.

Ingredients: 1 medium-sized, 2-2½ pound pie pumpkin 1 cup [white] rinsed and drained basmati rice ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon oil

For tamarind sauce: 5 or 6 large tamarind pods or a lime-sized chunk of dry tamarind paste 2 tablespoons oil ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds ½ teaspoon cumin seeds 3 or 4 dry chilies (shake out and discard the seeds) 1 teaspoon shredded fresh ginger root 1 tablespoon sugar 2-3 tablespoons crushed or powdered sesame seeds ½ cup roasted shelled peanuts

Illustration credit: Serena Sacharoff

1) Prepare Pumpkin: Wash the pumpkin and dry. Using a sharp knife, cut a wide circle so that the stem can be lifted off the pumpkin like a lid. With a large spoon scoop out the seeds and fibres inside, being careful not to puncture the body of the pumpkin.

46 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition |November 2016

2) Steam the Pumpkin: Place a steamer basket in a pot with 1 cup of water and place the pumpkin with the hollow side down, with the lid next to it as shown in the illustration. Bring the water to a boil and steam the pumpkin for 20-25 minutes till the flesh is soft.

Let it cool. Use a large spoon to evenly

scoop out approximagely two cups of flesh.

Set aside.

3) Prepare Rice and Tamarind Sauce: While the pumpkin is steaming, cook the rice. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, and stir in turmeric, oil, salt, and rice. Cover and bring to a boil again and then simmer. Cook covered for 15 minutes, turn off the heat, and let the covered pot sit undisturbed.

Tamarind Sauce: If using fresh tamarind pods, soak in warm water for 15-20 minutes. Then remove pods, separate the pulp into the water and save the sauce. If using dehydrated tamarind pulp, soak for 1520 minutes in warm water and blend the tamarind-water mixture.

4) Put it all together. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and whole red chilies. Stir in shredded ginger, tamarind sauce and sugar. Cook and stir for a minute. Add the pumpkin pulp and stirfry for 5 minutes to blend in the tamarind sauce. Next, add the rice, stirring gently, so that the ingredients are not mushy. Stir in crushed sesame seeds and peanuts.

Fill the pumpkin with the rice and pumpkin mixture. Place the pumpkin lid on top and massage the skin on the outside with oiled hands, without pressing too hard.

Pour about 1/4 cup of water into a pie plate and place the pumpkin in it. Slide the plate into the pre-heated oven.

Bake for 45-60 minutes, until the outside is shiny golden brown and the stuffing inside is soft and fragrant.

Bring the pumpkin to the dinner table.

To serve, use a large spoon and scoop out the filling with some of the meat from inside the pumpkin. This dish goes well with daal or soup.

Notes: (1) To serve as part of a large Thanksgiving dinner, prepare two pumpkins. (2) If using brown rice, cook 1 cup of rice with 2 cups of water, but cook the rice for 45 minutes instead of 15 minutes. n

Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff, author of Flavors of India: Vegetarian Indian Cuisine is coowner of Other Avenues Food Cooperative in San Francisco. Serena Sacharoff is a chef, an illustrator and an art student.

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analysis

Aye or Nay? California Ballot Propositions Explained

By Rishi Kumar

A

s we eagerly await the Presidential election, Californians will also need to sift through seventeen ballot measures on election day. This year, fifteen measures were put on the November ballot by citizens through signature petitions and two were introduced by the legislature.

The inclusion of ballot measures stems from 1911 when Governor Hiram Johnson, concerned with the influence of corrupt politicians who were in cahoots with powerful railroad companies, looked at a constitutional amendment to give citizens a more powerful voice. But it has not worked out exactly as he intended as billionaires sometimes influence the outcome of ballot initiatives, helping fund their campaigns now.

About 99% of the $10.6 million raised to pass Prop 54 has come from Charles T. Munger Jr., a Stanford physicist and son of the billionaire vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. Billionaire investor Tom Steyer has given $5.5 million towards the passage of Prop 56, also called the tobacco tax.

How much has been spent on these ballot measures? As of end September, campaigns had amassed over $390 million, only $85 million shy of a record!

Understanding the source of funds behind both sides of the measure can be pretty telling for voters. In other words, to make a decision about how to vote—“Follow the money.” Along with California, 23 other states and Washington DC provide their citizens an opportunity to change state law or the constitution by just gathering signatures.

To make your decision simpler, I have explained six important ballot propostions and have laid out the issues on both sides of the issues in clear, easy language.

Proposition 57: California Parole for Non-Violent Criminals and Juvenile Court Trial Requirements Initiative Summary: A “yes” vote approves a constitutional amendment for reforming heavyhanded criminal sentencing, turning prisons from a warehouse for criminals to a place of rehabilitation. There are two components to this proposition.

Component 1: A judge will decide whether an accused under the age of 18 will be charged as a juvenile or as an adult.

The current norm is that they are usually tried in juvenile court, but for murder or specific sex offenses the prosecuting attorney can decide if they are tried in adult court. If this proposition passes, it seeks to return that power to judges, parole boards and prison officials.

Component 2: This would allow nonviolent felons an opportunity to shorten their sentences by taking into account rehabilitation and time spent in education, as long as they have spent the minimum time stipulated in the sentence. Violent felons convicted of murder, robbery and rape would not be affected by Prop 57.

Supporters/Funds Raised: $8 million.

Governor Brown, Reed Hastings, cofounder of Netflix, and San Diego’s district attorney, the only top prosecutor in favor.

Pros: Provides jailed felons an opportunity to turn their lives around, allowing law enforcement to work towards curbing more dangerous crimes. If Prop 57 passes, 7,000 inmates would be eligible for parole immediately and 30,000 non-violent felons would qualify to seek parole. Passing of this proposition is needed to comply with a 2011 federal judges’ panel recommenda-

48 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition |November 2016

tion to prevent prison overcrowding. If this passes, the state will likely save millions of dollars annually.

Opposition/Funds raised: About $275,000. District Attorneys, Republican Party, Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, Crime Victims United, Los Angeles County sheriff ’s deputies association.

Cons: Eligibility for parole could be seen as an undesirable choice. Critics say other sentence-reduction measures have already increased crime and Proposition 57 will accentuate that even more.

Props 62 and 66: Death Penalty Summary: If you vote “yes” on Prop 62, it would abolish the death penalty in favor of a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Since 1978 when California reinstated capital punishment, about 875 death sentences have been handed out, but only 15 deaths were the result of a state execution (119 were deaths through natural causes or suicide).

The legal system grinds on and there is no end in sight.

If you vote “yes” on Prop 66, you are voting to establish death penalty procedures which may allow more appeals, making the process even longer than it is currently. Voters will need to make up their minds about which side of the death penalty issue they stand.

Propositions 62 and 66 are at opposite ends of the spectrum. If both pass, the one with the higher margin of victory will become law.

Supporters/ Funds Raised: $5.2 million. Long-time death penalty opponent and actor Mike Ferrell, actor Edward James Olmos, Lt. Governor Gavin New-

som, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.

Pros: California hasn’t executed anyone since 2006, and has had only 15 executions in four decades. The protracted legal process is expensive, with at least $150 million per year spent in attorney fees. This money could finance therapy and job training for inmates. It will also require death row felons to work and pay restitution to victims’ families. A death sentence costs 18 times more than a life sentence. California has spent $5 billion dollars since 1978 to carry out only 15 executions. The current system allows for many appeals and costs tax payers $47,000/year/prisoner Opposition/Funds raised: ACLU, state employee unions, innocence projects and some families of murder victims. Most of California’s 58 district attorneys oppose Proposition 62. $4.1M has been raised.

Cons: This will take away the only fitting punishment for California’s worst killers.

Proposition 64: The Adult Use of Marijuana Act Summary: A “yes” vote means that California will join Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon to allow recreational use of marijuana. The objective of this proposition is to come up with good public policy to replace the failure of prohibition. But, there is a dichotomy that makes the decision a hard one to make. On the one hand there is a desire to see marijuana legalized, while there is concern about the new business model that will emerge which includes taxes and regulatory fees.

The measure would allow adults ages 21 and older to possess, transport and use up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational purposes and it will allow individuals to grow as many as six plants. It would bring back resentencing for many who have been incarcerated under current laws. The current regulatory body for the medical marijuana industry in California, namely the State Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation will be renamed as the Bureau of Marijuana Control and it will regulate the industry, establishing packaging, labeling, advertising and marketing procedures.

There will be a $9.25/ounce tax on cultivation and a 15% retail sales tax. No matter which way this proposition goes, the use of marijuana in public and while driving would remain illegal.

Supporters/ Funds Raised: Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, Drug Policy Alliance, Marijuana Policy Project, California Cannabis Industry Assn., California Medical Assn., California NAACP, and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Facebook President Sean Parker has contributed $7 million.

Pros: This marijuana act adopts the best practices of other states, includes the strictest child protections in the nation and raises a new source of tax revenue for the state. Tax revenue will be earmarked for research, youth programs, environmental remediation, along with programs that would reduce driving under the influence.

The medical association has supported this as it believes that the best way to protect public health is to tightly control, track and regulate marijuana instead of ineffective prohibition. Gavin Newsom’s commission on marijuana policy made recommendations that were incorporated into the act, taking into account the problems with Colorado, and it also has protections for the small farmer from being overrun by large corporate firms which will likely jump into this new industry.

Opposition/Funds Raised: Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana, which was formed to defeat a 2010 initiative. The measure is opposed by the California Police Chiefs Association because of problems that have arisen in Colorado.

Cons: There is a fear of red tape and the fear of corporate agriculture driving out the small mom and pop farmers. Some feel that the cannabis industry is working well for the 800,000 patients who benefit from legally available medical marijuana.

Colorado has seen problems in implementation—for example, extremely potent marijuana is being sold in Colorado which it fears will lead to high addiction rates.

Proposition 63: Sale of Firearm Ammunition Summary: If you vote “yes” you will vote to improve public safety by controlling the sale of ammunition as against guns. It requires background checks and a permit issued by the DOJ to purchase ammunition.

This bans possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines and prohibits certain individuals from carrying firearms. This also corrects a loophole making stealing any and all firearms a felony.

Supporters/ Funds Raised: Lt Governor Gavin Newsom, California Democratic Party, Amnesty International, California Medical Association, California College of Physicians, and the California American Academy of Preventative Medicine.

Pros: According to Newsom’s office, 38,576 Californians were killed in gun violence from 2002 to 2013. California law requires background checks for the purchase of firearms, not for purchase of ammunition. This one will close that loophole too.

Opposition/Funds Raised: Coalition for Civil Liberties, National Rifle Association’s official state affiliate, California Rifle and Pistol Association, California Republican Party, the California Libertarian Party, and law enforcement associations such as the California Police Chief ’s Association.

Cons: Civil liberties groups, anti-terrorism experts and law enforcement officials feel that these new regulations will not make a difference in terms of public safety, but will mostly impact law abiding citizens with higher costs and taxes.

Prop. 59 is part of a national effort to urge legislators to begin the process of overturning Citizens United. Voters have passed similar ballot measures in Colorado and Montana, and another is before voters this November in Washington. This one on the California ballot will not have the force of law but is only an instruction to legislators.

In this article, we have covered six critical ballot measures, but the remaining eleven are also critical. I hope you do your research, analyze the pros and cons, while making your choice. n Rishi is a Saratoga City Councilmember. He is also the President of the Bay Area Indian American Democratic Club (www.baiadc. org) whose charter is to further the interests and values of Indian Americans, work towards political empowerment and advance ethical standards in the political system. www.RishiKumar.com.

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perspective

Unpeeling the Real Me

By Tamanna Raisinghani

I

am sure there are many women who share my pain about the effort it takes to look the part, when you head out to a party where you know that other women will be dressed to the nines. The hunt for the perfect dress, elegant jewelry, perfectly matched lip color, expensive handbag, sixinch heels, and last but not the least, the perfect hairstyle—the list is long!

I confess that every fiber of my existence envies the branded brigade flaunting their shimmering eye shadows, bold lip colors, glittering jewels, ravishing outfits, high heels, and lovely nail colors. No matter how hard I try to ignore my lack of interest in the department of dressing up, the pressure to fit in gets to me. The internal dialog starts between a part of me that is hungry for some attention and a part of me that values comfort and simplicity over anything else.

My attention-craving part wakes up from a deep slumber and bombards me with questions like: “How can you come to a party like this with this handbag?

Now don’t try to hide it as if it doesn’t belong to you. And look at your hair—so frizzy and dull. The worst part is the greys that play peek a boo with the blacks. And look at your face—you are not in your twenties anymore. With a little make up and some pampering you can change this face from the one that only a mother could love to the one that may not stop the clock

but might slow it down. And your favorite mantra, ‘everything in moderation,’ doesn’t apply here. Either you fit in or you don’t - stop feeling bad about not being a head turner and jump on the dolled up train. These parties are not meant for meaningful conversations. Only Gucci and Prada talk here. If you cannot raise the bar, don’t lower it by dressing for comfort. The truth is, you don’t belong here, but you secretly wish you did.

Those who know me well describe my sartorial style in variations of the same theme. If my mom had to say it in one line, she would say “Don’t come in your pajamas in front of my friends, I have a reputation.” In the words of my close friends: “Only you could have come like that!!” And my daughter would say, “Mama wears the same sandals every day. They’re her favorites.”

My logical side gives up. I promise myself that the next time I go out, people will see a new me. I am ready to take a ride with no apprehensions. The first thing on the list is to shop for a nice outfit. I find shopping exhausting so I bug my husband to help me with the adventure of “dress hunting.” He is my savior when I face an outfit crisis. The next step is to make sure that the outfit fits nicely. Accessories are finalized; footwear and handbag are ready for display with their price tags showing. (a deliberate mistake to make sure they get the attention they deserve).

And now when the time comes to get ready for the party, I am super excited but, wait a minute, I didn’t realize that I had to start planning a day in advance. My dress is not ironed, my jewelry and shoes are still in their respective boxes somewhere in the garage and this damn thing called hair straightening takes a good 30 minutes.

This nervousness feels so familiar. It’s the same feeling I used to get before taking an exam. In no time, jittery nerves replace the excitement of trying something new. My

52 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition |November 2016

well-thought out plan seems to unravel from this point on. The kids are screaming to get my attention, as they don’t like what my husband has made them wear. My husband’s temper is soaring. He doesn’t want his efforts to go waste because of my poor planning. And I am fumbling in the drawer looking for suitable lip and nail colors. I take a deep breath and somehow manage to stay afloat amidst the high currents of confusion and chaos. The kids are finally seated in the car and my husband who is tired of calling me multiple times is all settled in the driver’s seat. Oops, I forgot—I still have to transfer stuff from the purse I carry to work to this new branded handbag that will be my arm candy today.

And if that is not enough, my new sandals are biting me. My husband is ready to leave without me and I literally hop into the car leaving from the driveway. My head is spinning from this craziness and I am ready to throw up. In spite of all the things I crossed off the list getting ready, there is still one last thing to cross off my list—the new nail color. I take out the nail color from my purse and ask my husband to drive slowly so that I can manage to apply it with precision. I avoid any eye

contact pretending to not notice the murderous look he is giving me. He curbs his anger, and drives slowly. Phew, I am ready for the party! I’m a little out of breath with this hectic pace of preparation, and try to regain my composure. I console myself with the thought that none of this will be visible once I reach the destination. The only thing that I am going to project today is calmness and poise. Only my accessories and outfit will do the talking today!

But what is happening to me all of a sudden? After all this hard work, I am not too pleased with the results. I feel like the only things that reached the venue are my designer wear. I left myself behind in this business of trying to be someone that I am not. What am I trying to prove and to whom? Do I really need to go through all of this just to get some attention? Most times, in get togethers, I am busy observing others. Now I am more concerned if my presence matters. I am tired and wornout though my outward appearance tells a different story. The brand is carrying me. I feel crushed under its weight. Not only my shoes, this garb of pretense that I am wearing is biting me. I start wondering about

what went wrong. Everything is nicely put together including my hair. What is missing? Ah—I realize that I missed the most important ingredient. I failed to infuse it with something that is the very soul of this entire business of looking good. Without the right mannerisms and attitude, you fail to own the stuff you are wearing. This dolled-up look makes me feel uncomfortable and doesn’t feel natural. I feel like I am living out someone else’s version of how I should be. I take a deep breath and let go. I feel so relieved that my attentionseeking side is defeated.

The real me takes over. I wash my face, take off my high heels, tie my hair into a ponytail and get rid of everything that was making me feel so plastic and superfluous.

As the real me emerges, all the longing for attention vanishes. I get back to what I am good at and that is giving attention.

I shower people with compliments and make them feel like a million bucks. If everyone is seeking attention, who is going to give it? All performances need a good audience—everyone cannot participate.

And to all the lovely ladies out there, you stand out in a crowd because we don’t. Your finesse, elegance and charm are appreciated because there is a contrast that exists. Instead of a nose-up-in-the air attitude, please show us some gratitude for making you what you are. Don’t dismiss us as mere onlookers. Our ordinary appearance is what makes you extraordinary. So let’s keep the admiration mutual.

Please don’t judge us based on how we look. Instead make some room for us in your world. With a little hand-holding we might be able to shed our inhibitions and feel more comfortable in your sassy world.

Am I asking for too much? n Tamanna Raisinghani is a software engineer by profession. She loves to spend spare time reading, writing, cooking and pausing every now and then to be thankful for being part of this miracle that breathes in us called life.

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travel

New zealand beckons: milford Sound

By Kalpana Sunder

A

ccording to Maori legend, Lake Wakatipu was formed when the body of a sleeping giant was burnt by a Maori warrior, who wanted to ensure that the giant could never kidnap his beautiful daughter again. The fire caused the ice and snow on the surrounding mountains to melt, forming Lake Wakatipu.

We drive past this turquoise glass-like lake from Queenstown, on our way to Milford Sound or Fjord land in the South Island of New Zealand, where the journey is touted to be as spectacular as the destination! We arrive at Te Anau which is the picturesque town that acts as the gateway to the fjords with the almost-perfect Lake Gunn. Its name is derived from Maori words Te Ana Au, meaning “cave of swirling waters.”

These caves were forgotten for years till they were rediscovered in 1948. Today the caves are popular with visitors who descend into their depths, and glide through a grotto illuminated by glow-worms.

The road from Te Anau to Milford Sound is often lauded as one of the most scenic highways in the world, reaching a height of almost 1,000m! The winding road enters the spectacular golden- grassed Eglinton Valley where we stop to take photos and stretch our legs. Standing in knee-high grass with snow-capped mountains in the background, it is hard not to feel like I am the heroine in a blockbuster! Some scenes from the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy (shot entirely in New Zealand) were based in the Eglinton Valley. We take a walk through a forest with primordial mystique that has silver ferns blanketing the floor of a beech forest—the moist environment gives rise to emerald mosses, old man’s beard and lichens. It reminds me of a forest from a child’s fairytale where elves and gnomes might just appear at the next corner! Moss and algae cover everything; the trees drip epiphytes.

There is the earthy smell of leaf litter and moist soil in the air.

We drive past a landscape of snowy 54 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition |November 2016

There is a light drizzle and every cliff-face sprouts a waterfall and the place looks even more magical, as a shroud of ethereal mist descends on us.

Some of the waterfalls are slender and pencil thin, landing in a powdery white mist; others are furious and strong as they pour ferociously over the cliff edges.

peaks, alpine lakes and primeval forests, in this massive World Heritage area with 14 fjords that slash into its coastline. This is also a region that gets up to twenty feet of rainfall every year. We walk to the glassy Mirror Lakes, whose sapphire waters reflect the picture perfect Earl mountains.

We come back to the parking lot to see the brazen Alpine parrot called Kea sitting on our parked vehicle. It is notorious for its penchant for chewing the rubber off car windows, breaking in, and eating the upholstery!

Driving alongside green pastures, dotted with zillions of sheep, craggy peaks and high plateaus, we approach the Homer Tunnel built out of solid granite. This took over twenty years to build, keeping men employed during the Depression and I hear that they built it with just their bare hands and pickaxes. We stop at another viewpoint where I walk through a wooden walkway—a series of paths and bridges to the Chasm, a 400 metre loop with a series of swirling waterfalls, rushing water gurgling and racing deep underground, rapids and sensuous curves gouged out by millennia of erosion in the path of the Cleddar River. The force of the water and rocks being carried in the current have created sculpted rocks, basins and holes that remind me of abstract art.

We finally arrive at Milford Sound which is steeped in history and legend— the Maori attribute its creation to the

god Tu-te-raki-whanoa, who was called away before he could carve a proper route, leaving high rock walls! The Maori are believed to have discovered the region over thousand years ago, going there to collect greenstone or pounamu, which they used to carve jewellery and weapons.

They named the Sound Piopiotahi after a thrush-like bird, which is now extinct.

John Grono was the first European settler in Milford in 1912; he renamed the sound Milford after Milford Haven in Wales. I

hear that Milford is at its best in the rain, something that happens very often. And sure enough, within minutes of our arrival there is a light drizzle and every cliff-face sprouts a waterfall and the place looks even more magical, as a shroud of ethereal mist descends on us. Some of the waterfalls are slender and pencil thin, landing in a powdery white mist; others are furious and strong as they pour ferociously over the cliff edges.

We board our ship aptly named “Southern Discoveries,” and sail along the ancient path of ice. Our guide explains that Milford is actually not a Sound which is technically an area eroded by a river, but a fjord which is a drowned area created by a glacier. Milford is flanked entirely by sheer rock faces, some of which tower almost 5,000 feet high and the channel is more than 1,300 feet deep in some places, making this a very unique experience!

Dominated by the steep slopes of the Southern Alps, it takes its name from the deep lakes and ocean-flooded valleys that resemble the fjords of Scandinavia! I take out my beanie, scarf and bundle myself in fleece as I step on to the deck of the ship.

It’s a great feeling battling the elements and soaking in the jaw dropping scenery.

It’s all about sheer scale and size. I gaze entranced at waterfalls that plummet

November 2016 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 55

down the cliffs, woven with rainbows. In the distance, the iconic 1692m-high Mitre Peak (Mitre comes from the word for a bishop’s hat, which it’s supposed to resemble) rises tall from the water. We edge closer to the tallest waterfall—the Stirling Falls which is three times the height of the Niagara Falls and as the captain navigates the ship under its thunderous cascades, I scuttle for cover, covering my camera with a plastic cover! We see fur seals slouching and basking on a rock almost camouflaged by the colour of the rock. The sharp-eyed guide points to bottle nosed dolphins.

Verdant palettes of moss ridden rock, the grey sheet of rain, the white foam of the waterfalls, all pass me in the blink of an eye, as I huddle under the cowl of my rain coat, on the upper deck of the boat. The occasional whale makes its way into the sound to play before disappearing back to sea. The haunting, misty ambience stays in my mind for a long time to come—no wonder Rudyard Kipling described the dramatic Milford Sound as the eighth wonder of the world! It’s truly Mother Nature at her best. n

The haunting misty ambience stayed in my mind for a long time—no wonder Rudyard Kipling described this as the eighth wonder of the world!

How to get there:

Fly to Singapore and connect to Auckland.

Where to stay:

Milford Sound can be done as a convenient day trip from Queenstown. There are many coach companies which do these tours with scenic stops on the way. You can also stay at Te Anau or the Milford Sound Lodge nestled beneath the towering peaks of the Darran Mountains; this lodge provides river view chalets near the Fiordland National Park There is also a campervan option. If you wish to see some of New Zealand’s most dramatic scenery in style, splurge on a helicopter to Milford Cruise from Queenstown.

56 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition |November 2016

Things to do:

No visit to Milford Sound is complete without a boat cruise around this iconic fiord. Discover towering waterfalls, lush rainforest, sheer granite cliffs and marine life. You can also kayak the inky waters in a small group. Fjord land is a world-famous hiking paradise. Whether you decide on a multi-day adventure like the Milford Track or a shorter day walk, exploring on foot makes for a rewarding experience.

Shopping: Buy Pau shell jewellery, Maori carvings and Manuka honey.

Best Time to Visit:

An all year destination; but, since it is in the Southern hemisphere, December is their summer.

What to carry: A waterproof jacket with a hood and an umbrella as this region is wet and windy.

Dining Options: Restaurant options are limited. Boat cruises serve sandwiches, cake, ice cream, and coffee. A good option is to carry a packed lunch.

Visit http://www.newzealand.com Kalpana Sunder is a travel writer and blogger based in Chennai, India who blogs at http://kalpanasunder.com/blog

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youth

Letter from a College Student to Those Who are Not Upset by Trump’s Video

By Kavya Padmanabhan

I

have been upset and emotional this past week about Donald Trump’s candidacy. You are probably confused as to why I have become so emotional about this. For the past few months, we have all been subjected to Trump’s highly inflammatory comments constantly; we have become inured to Trump’s racist, sexist, hetero-normative, and patriarchal rhetoric due to the frequency with which we have heard the same appalling language.

There has been a massive outcry only now, after the Access Hollywood video came out, which depicts our society’s inclination to hold different groups to different standards. It is only when the white woman has become the target of Trump’s hate speech that the world has taken notice.

Where was this same fervor when Trump coolly denigrated Muslim Americans, black Americans, Mexican Americans, to name just a few minority groups?

Living on a college campus, surrounded by like-minded others, I have had the immense privilege to learn, grow and attempt to be the best ally and activist for issues that I believe in. I think that’s why it hurt me so much to hear some of you as well as Trump himself sweep away the negative impact of his words.

Trump’s video showed him laughing about sexually assaulting a woman. That it was mere “locker room talk” was trotted out as justification for his behavior. This excuse is fundamentally flawed. In a society that has already allowed sexual assault to go largely unnoticed (especially on college campuses), we see Trump condoning this behavior and even bragging about it.

This man is a role model of sorts, our maybe future president. Excusing Trump’s unkind words about women has a corrosive effect. It attempts to normalize destructive rhetoric and its ensuing pain.

Justifying Trump’s words implies that it is fine for men to sexually and verbally as-

It is only when the white woman has become the target of Trump’s hate speech that the world has taken notice. Where was this same fervor when Trump coolly denigrated Muslim Americans, black Americans, Mexican Americans to name just a few minority groups? sault women because it has been done in the past. Not only did Trump justify his own behavior, he bragged and joked about it. He belittled millions of victims’ pain by dismissing the harm done with his “men will be men” attitude. He obviously does not realize that words matter During Brock Turner’s case, his father argued that a few seconds of action should not lead to his son spending years in jail.

His argument overlooks the fact that a few seconds of action are equivalent to years of pain, therapy and emotional torment for the victims. This is a male-focused view.

Both Trump and Turner are straight, white males. They have never been the brunt of somebody’s sexist, violent, racist jokes.

This is an issue that I care about deeply.

I have seen the aftermath of sexual violence. I have closely interacted with those who have been assaulted. I feel their pain.

The only way in which we can move forward and become a better society is if we choose to address the pain of our victims, and not that of the perpetrators.

I was deeply saddened by Trump’s apology. You tried to convince me that we must get past Trump’s words, which carry the terrible burden of past non-consensual actions, because he apologized. Apologies, while necessary, must have the purpose of addressing the moral and ethical implications of a heinous wrong. An apology has no meaning if it merely seeks to advance “locker room” leniency.

I hate to bring up gender divisions,

58 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition |November 2016

but many of you men have never had to experience what it is like to have someone who is physically stronger than you call you names or sexually harass you or put your life in danger. Many, if not all, adult women have, at some point in their lives, experienced sexism. I have.

You ask me why I am emotional about this? I ask you why you are not emotional about this. There is a man out there who could take away my rights and my voice.

He could silence my thoughts and opinions and beliefs because of my body and my gender and my race. He does not believe that I am his equal. This is personal.

This is my life.

I will continue to be upset—not at you, but at our society and our political system.

Trump’s rise in power has pushed us back.

I feel immense anxiety and sadness that a man who has no respect for others’ lives has come so close to becoming President of the United States. Hopefully he never attains that office.

If you have any questions or comments, I want to hear them, I truly do. I do not promise to be unemotional, however. I will feel passionate and I will feel angry. But that doesn’t mean I don’t respect your opinion. We have had different life experiences and I want to understand where you’re coming from. n Kavya Padmanabhan is a junior at Wesleyan University.

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music

When a Song Becomes An Anthem

By Priya Das

L

ast month, this music column talked about how music captures the sentiments of voters. This month, we continue with the patriotic theme, but through a more enduring musical track, the National anthem: that of the United States and South Asian countries.

Every country seeks to fuse its hopes along with national pride and history into its anthem: it is a collective rallying cry to connect all. The United States anthem, written by Francis Scott Key adheres to these principles but some have questioned the principle behind the lyrics.

NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick shone a spotlight on the lyrics in August this year, saying, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” He was referring to the rarely sung third stanza, which has the lines: “No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.”

There has been much debate in mainstream media about the matter of Kaepernick’s stance and whether the original lyrics did indeed refer to African-American slaves and whether the lyrics should be interpreted differently now compared to what they may have signified then. That particular stanza is never part of the official version, but it is bound to roil Americans from time to time.

At the Rio 2016 Olympics, American gymnast Gabby Douglas was twittershamed into an apology for not putting her hand on her heart when the anthem was playing. Swimmer Michael Phelps shocked everyone when he burst out in laughter when others were singing the Star-Spangled Banner. He later explained that he was reacting to fellow Baltimorians roaring the “Oh!” at the end, a tradition that signified support for the Baltimore Orioles.

South Asian countries have their own share of controversies when it comes to the national anthem. Pakistan’s first national anthem is believed to have been written by Jagan Nath Azad. Azad is reported to have said that Pakistan’s first

President Mohammad Ali Jinnah wanted a Hindu who knew Urdu to write it.

According to Wikipedia, the current anthem Pak Sarzamin or Quami Tarana was performed for the first time, but without lyrics, during the state visit of the Shah of Iran to Karachi on March 1, 1950, many months after declaring Independence.

Nepal had two anthems, with the current Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka, being adopted in 2007. The previous anthem Rastriya Gaan served more as an homage to the monarchy rather than the country itself. What’s not popularly known is that the music composer of Rastriya Gaan, Bakhat Bahadur Budhapirthi, was the grandfather of the musician Louis Banks (born as Dambar Bahadur Budhapirthi)!

Unbelievably, Sri Lanka continued to use the British national anthem as its anthem after Independence; however, a version of the current anthem, Sri Lanka Matha was sung as a national song at its first Independence day ceremony in 1949.

Sri Lanka is one among the few countries of the world to have the same anthem in two languages. Afghanistan has had three national anthems and for a period during Taliban rule, there was none.

India’s Rabindranath Tagore has the distinction of writing the national anthems for two countries—Bangladesh and India,.

He penned the song, Amaar Sonar Bangla, which was adopted as Bangladesh’s national anthem. Interestingly, a World

Gabby Douglas at the Rio Olympics 2016

64 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

Record was set in Bangladesh for the most people (about 300,000) singing a national anthem at the same time in 2014.

India’s Jana Gana Mana written by Tagore, was first rendered in 1911 at the 27th session of the Indian National Congress at Calcutta. The Anglo-Indian press at that time believed that it was written in honor of Emperor George V. Tagore, later said in a letter that while he was indeed asked to honor the King, he was not “capable of such unbounded stupidity. I pronounced the victory in Jana Gana Mana of that Bhagya Vidhata (God of Destiny) of India who has held steadfast the reins of India’s chariot through rise and fall, through the straight path and the curved.

That Lord of Destiny, that Reader of the Collective Mind of India, that Perennial Guide, could never be George V, George VI, or any other George.”

In 1985, in Kerala, believers of Jehovah’s Witness stood, but refused to sing the Jana Gana Mana at school, on grounds that it was in conflict with the non-idolatry beliefs they held. The Supreme Court ruled that no part of the Constitution obliged anybody to sing the anthem, stating, “Our tradition teaches tolerance; our philosophy preaches tolerance; our constitution practices tolerance; let us not dilute it.”

Other questions continue to be raised: Why must Jana Gana Mana mention Sindh, when that region is no longer in In-

dia? Why not substitute Sindh with Kamarup, so the North East feels included? Why must we adhere to a lyrical geographic map as an anthem, why not instead sing something that evokes a country’s passion such as Vande Mataram?

It is evident that national anthems are living hymns, designed to represent the reigning ethos and hopes of their citizens.

Mark Clague, musicologist and the founding board chairman of the Star Spangled Music Foundation sums it best when talking about the American anthem, “For me, it’s the punctuation that ends the part we sing. After “land of the free,” we have a question mark, not an exclamation point.

Are we winning the battle for freedom that this country was founded on?” This, in itself, allows time for reflection, every time we sing it. He also believes that if too many rules are constructed around an anthem, then people will be forced to do it, rather than be motivated to do it out of love.

Indeed, we must all ask ourselves, what can we do to include more of us, to excite meaningful debate and create an actionable agenda to ensure that each of

India’s Rabindranath Tagore has the unique distinction of writing the national anthems of two countries—Bangladesh and India. Of India’s Jana Gana Mana, he said, “I pronounced the victory in Jana Gana Mana of that Bhagya Vidhata (God of Destiny) of India who has held steadfast the reins of India’s chariot through rise and fall, through the straight path and the curved.”

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events

California’s Best Guide to Indian Events Edited by: Mona Shah List your event for FREE! DECEMBER issue deadline: Friday, November 18 To list your event in the Calendar, go to www.indiacurrents.com and click on List Your Event

Check us out on

special dates Bhai Duj

Nov. 1

Guru Nanak’s B’day

Nov. 14

Guru Teg Bahadur Day

Nov. 24

Thanksgiving Day

Nov. 26

CULTURAL CALENDER November

1 Tuesday

USC HSO Diwali Celebrations.

Organized by USC Hindu Student Organization. 6:30 p.m. USC Ronald Tutor Campus Center Ballroom, 3607 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles. events.sulekha.com/ usc-hso-diwali-celebrations-2016_eventin_los-angeles-ca_309994.

November

3 Thursday

An Evening with Chitra Banerjee Divakuruni. She will discuss her book

Oleander Girl, her writing and experi-

Sangam Arts presents a multicultural celebration, Mosaic America—Rhythm, Movement, Music, Nov 4-5

ences. Book signing and sale following the presentation. Organized by Danville and San Ramon Libraries. 7:30-9 p.m.

Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Road., San Ramon. Free.

(925) 314-3750. ccclib.org.

The Chaos of Empire: The British Empire and the Conquest of India. India specialist from King’s

College London, Jon Wilson discusses his new book. 5-7 p.m. Stephens Hall, 10 (ISAS Conf. Room), UC Berkeley. (510) 642-3608. isas@berkeley.edu. events. berkeley.edu/index.php/calendar/sn/csas. html?event_ID=103542&date=201611-03&filter=Target/Open%20To%20 Audiences&filtersel=.

November

68 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

4 Friday

Mosaic America—Rhythm, Movement, Music. A multicultural celebra-

tion featuring Aztec, Ballet, Chinese, Folklorico, Flamenco, Indian Classical and Folk dances interwoven with eclectic world musical traditions. Ends Nov. 5. Organized by Sangam Arts. De Anza Visual & Performing Arts Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino. $25-$100. info@sangamarts.org. www.sangamarts.org, www.sangamarts.org/tickets.html.

Screening of the Film Trafficked. The

film is the first truly global, authentic feature film on human trafficking. Around the world, millions of vulnerable girls are being ensnared by human traffickers into the insidious world of sex slavery and exploited relentlessly to generate profits of one hundred billion dollars per year. That is more than the annual profits of Google, Microsoft, Nike

By Mona Shah

3

rd i’s 14th annual San Francisco International South Asian Film Festival runs Nov. 10-13 (in SF) and Nov. 19 (in Cupertino). The festival shines a spotlight on Voices from the Diaspora, featuring work by filmmakers living between two cultures, and negotiating multiple histories and identities.

From art-house classics to documentaries, from innovative and experimental visions to cutting-edge Bollywood, the festival promotes diverse images of South Asians through independent film.

The five-day festival screens 15 programs of narrative and documentary features and shorts by independent filmmakers from South Asia and the South Asian diaspora, including stories from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Canada, and the United States.

Sami Khan’s intimate and atmospheric feature Khoya/Lost, captures the story of a Canadian man who returns to India after the death of his adopted mother, seeking to unravel the mystery surrounding his adoption. New York-based Naeem Mohaiemen’s immersive documentary United Red Army, on the other hand, unravels history; part of a trilogy on radical left-wing movements, it reconstructs the hijacking of Japan Air Lines flight 472 at the hands of the Japanese Red Army in 1977, and its forced landing in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Also part of the focus is UK-based Amit Gupta’s charming Woody Allen-esque comedy, One Crazy Thing; Ray Panthaki (recently named one of BAFTA’s Breakthrough Brits) essays the role of out-of-work actor running a Tandoori restaurant in London, and with the notoriety and fallout of online revenge, when his sex tape with an ex-girlfriend makes its way to the internet.

Continuing their mission to provide a platform for the Voices of Women and a focus on gender-related issues, the festival also features films with women both behind the lens and on-screen. The centerpiece slot at the Castro Theatre is Leena Yadav’s Parched, described by lead actress

Ta n n i s h t h a Chatterji as “Sex in the Village;” Yadav combines the stark realism of Rajasthan’s hostile desert landscapes with a Bollywood exuberance to tell the tale of four ordinary women Amit Gupta’s charming Woody Allen-esque comedy, One Crazy Thing who break the bonds of trayoung lovers in India caught up in the dition to unleash their repressed sensuality webs of caste and sexual politics. and dreams. Between The Lines, on the Documentaries find a place on the other hand, makes its feminist arguments program including the painterly Origimore subtly; written by Nandita Das and nal Copy by Florian Heinzen-Ziob and Divya Jagdale, and featuring superlative Georg Heinzen—a portrait of Sheikh performances by Das and her real-life Rehman, the city’s last painter of film husband Subodh Maskara, the cineplay posters. The feature is preceded by (a new genre that adapts theater for the the exquisite short Clouds In An Event screen) masterfully tells the tale of a lawChamber by Ashim Ahluwalia, where yer couple who find themselves on opthe filmmaker works with acclaimed posite sides of a case on domestic abuse.

Indian painter Akbar Padamsee to recThe first animation feature ever in the reate a lost experimental film from the 3rd i lineup, Shilpa Ranade’s The World Of 1970s.

Goopi And Bagha, is a remake of Satyajit Local shorts are in conversation Ray’s children’s film of the same name, with international shorts in the proRanade’s endearing film boasts excellent gram Coast To Coast: Mumbai musical interludes, evocative animation, To The Mission, featuring films by and an anti-war sentiment at its heart.

KQED-contributor Abhi Singh and Indie narratives abound like The Callqueer filmmaker Neelu Bhuman—both ing, by Marathi filmmaker Aadish Kelusfrom San Francisco, and Mumbai-based kar, recalling the work of Tarkovsky and Payal Sethi, whose short film Leeches Bela Tarr. Based on the true story of a unipicks up on the themes of sexual poliversity professor who was fired on charges tics and women’s empowerment from of homosexuality, Hansal Mehta’s Aligarh other offerings in the festival. n is a powerful and nuanced film that brings together the important issues surrounding People and Castro Theaters in San LGBTQ rights and the right to privacy in Francisco Nov. 10 and the BlueLight India. Another film that shines a spotlight Cinema Nov. 19 in Cupertino. Festival, on the right to privacy is Neeraj Ghayprogram, guest, and ticketing information wan’s Masaan, set in the picturesque city at www.thirdi.org. of Varanasi, the film is astute in its social analysis, and weaves together two tales of

November 2016 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 69

events

California’s Best Guide to Indian Events by a networking dinner. Organized by Indian Mom’s Connect. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

ICC Milpitas, 525 Los Coches St., Milpitas.

Free. www.imcmarketplace.co/FSACC, www. facebook.com/events/1766432996970323/, rutuja_k@hotmail.com.

Screening of the film Trafficked, Nov. 4, at UC Berkeley.

and Starbucks combined. Inspired by real characters from the award-winning book Sex Trafficking by leading slavery expert Siddharth Kara, this is the story of three such girls from America, Nigeria and India. After being trafficked through an elaborate global network of illicit human, organ, and drug trafficking, all three girls end up as sex slaves in a brothel in Texas, where they must band together to attempt to reclaim their dignity and freedom. 6-9 p.m. ngossett@berkeley.edu. events.berkeley.edu/index.php/calendar/sn/ csas.html?event_ID=101826&date=201611-04&filter=Target/Open%20To%20 Audiences&filtersel=.

Diwali Dinner with Musical Night.

Featuring singer Jayshree Gohil. Organized by Radha Raman Temple. 6:30 p.m.

Sanatan Dharma Temple, 15311 Pioneer Blvd., Norwalk. $15, $25. (714) 404-4290.

November

5 Saturday

The Festival of South Asian Children’s Content. Book vendors, author

book signing, story telling workshops for adults, crafts and arts for kids. Interactive Q&A sessions with authors Mitali Perkins and Nandini Bajpai, followed

Mapping the Kumbh Mela. Join three Harvard faculty leaders Diana Eck, Tarun Khanna and Rahul Mehrotra of the Kumbh Mela research project as they share viewpoints from the 2013 Kumbh: from the study of the Ganges pollution due to acts of worship, to understanding just how this massive feat of constructing a city in the matter of a few months is completed. Organized by SACHI, Society for Art & Cultural Heritage of India and Asian Art Museum. 2 p.m. Samsung Hall, Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free after museum admission.

(650) 918-6335. info@sachi.org. www.sachi. org, www.eventbrite.com/e/sachi-annualevent-2016-mapping-the-kumbh-mela-tickets-27996844315?aff=es2.

Vijayotsava-Vijay Prakash Live Kannada Concert with M.D.Pallavi and Arun Kumar. Organized by Kasturi Media. 5 p.m. Chabot College Auditorium, 25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward. $20-$50.

November

6 Sunday

Carnatic Music Conert. Featuring

Step Up. 11 a.m. Shannon Community Center, 11600 Shannon Ave., Dublin. $40. www.narika.org.

ICC Fall Family Fiesta. Diya making, rangoli, art and crafts. 11 a.m. ICC, 525 Los Coches St., Milpitas. $5, members free. www.icc.org/fallfiesta.

The Indus Civilization-Changing Perspectives on Regional Origins, Diverse Character and Complex Legacy. This lecture will discuss the

rapidly changing perspectives on the Indus Civilization that emerged in what is now Pakistan and Western India between around 2600-1900 BC. 3-5 p.m. Stephens Hall, 10 (ISAS Conf. Room), UC Berkeley.

(510) 642-3608. isas@berkeley.edu. events. berkeley.edu/index.php/calendar/sn/csas. html?event_ID=100949&date=201611-06&filter=Target/Open%20To%20 Audiences&filtersel=.

Hindustani Music Concert with Rakesh Chaurasia on the Flute. Ac-

companied on the tabla by Ravi Albright.

Organized by Basant Bahar. 4 p.m. India Community Center, 525 Los coches St., Milpitas. $30. Basant Bahar members, free. surinderc@gmail.com.

Mika Singh Live in Concert. Organized by Instant Karma. 6:30 p.m. City National Civic, 135 W San Carlos St., San Jose. $39-$1000. (408) 368-6865.

Aditya Prakash (vocal), KJ Dileep (violin), Sumesh Narayanan (mridangam).

Organized by Sankritilaya. 4 p.m. TBD. www.sankritilaya.org.

Vibha Dream Mile. 5K/10K/Half Marathon. Food, carnival for kids. Each participant gets a coupon to use Silver Creek Sportsplex. Organized by Vibha.

7:30-11 a.m. 800 Embedded Way, San Jose. thedreammile.org/bayarea.

Dare to Dream 2016. An afternoon

of inspiring speakers, exciting vendors, fashion show, entertainment, food, wine, and fun. Proceeds of the event donated to Narika to help women live violence free.

Organized by Nila Dhugga of Women

70 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

Mika Singh live in concert, Nov. 6 in San Jose

Carnatique du Soleil Desi musician to perform in Cirque du Soleil

By Priya Das

M

ahesh Vinayakram, son of the well-known ghatam master Vikku Vinayakram, will be the first Indian to perform in a Cirque du Soleil show, Luzia, coming to the Bay Area in November. “I am happy and proud to say that I am the first Indian male singer from the entire Carnatic music fraternity to ever be cast by Cirque du Soleil.”

The creators of the show wanted to add a spiritual element to an act that has a contortionist depict Alebrijes, a creature from Mexican mythology, which scares the nightmares away, as it is scarier than them.

“My accentuations lead the reactions of the audience as they see him contort in positions we didn’t know could even be possible,” describes Vinayakram.

Vinayakram is not unfamiliar with contortions himself, musically speaking.

He has worked with several styles and genres of music/ musicians, such as beatboxing, Bulgarian choirs, African percussionists, and Reggae. A riveting You Tube video shows him jamming with Dub Fx, a street performer and studio recording artist out of Melbourne, Australia. His Joy with Georg Gratzer and Klemens Bittmann is an exihilarating homage to the band Shakti, made famous by his father and Ustad Zakir Hussain, among others.

Cirque du Soleil is a performance act like no other. The new show Luzia was inspired by the natural beauty, modernity, surrealism, and mythology of Mexico.

Composer Simon Carpentier said in an interview that he wanted to, at the point in the show where the Carnatic music is introduced, to creatively destabilize whatever has been constructed in the storyboard up until then. Vinayakram was chosen to render this creatively disruptive force, and the raaga he has chosen is Keeravani.

India Currents caught up with the musician to understand how it all came to be, as well as get to know the man behind the musician.

IC: How did it all come about?

MV: I was traveling with a big group Charishnu with the Kalakshetra director

ple, we don’t attempt singing falsetto in Indian classical, but after coming to Luzia, I have been trying “head voice.”

IC: Who have been your role models?

MV: Obviously my dad, he is a simple human being yet powerful, he has conquered the entire world with his small instrument!

Leela Samson who asked me whether I was ready to go for a session with Cirque du Soleil. I said ok and did a 10-minute presentation of singing, Konnakol (vocal percussion), morsing (Jews harp), kanjira (tambourine). I didn’t hear from them afterwards. But apparently they were following my journey on Facebook and four years later, to my complete surprise, I get a message from Andre Faleiros (circus talent scout) asking if I would be interested to join in their new production. They flew me to Burlington for a final recording/audition in December 2015. I was in Montreal joining the creation process of Luzia 45 days later!

IC: Luzia is performance art-how do you feel about singing for it?

MV: Luzia is a bit like musical theatre.

There is stage acting, acrobats, live music…It’s a dream-come-true to take part in a show like this! It gives me wider scope to exhibit Carnatic music, especially to a worldwide audience that would never have heard it before.

IC: How have you been preparing for Luzia?

MV: Indian classical music needs a lot of quality time of practice of melody and rhythm control, Every student has to do it for years. For Luzia, I had to learn western music chords and scale system, for exam-

IC: Growing up with a living legend, your father-was it tough?

MV: Yes kind of… because expectations are high. That I had to match them, made me always conscious about quality …I have been travelling and sharing the stage with my father for more than 15 years now.

IC: What is your earliest memory of watching your father perform?

MV: Watching Shakti band in Madras IIT when I was in school in the 90s … I still can’t forget how my father enthralled an audience of 2,000 people in open air theatre...it had a memorable impact on me not only as a listener, but it also sparked an ambition in me to achieve big.

IC: What is your philosophy as a teacher?

MV: Being human and staying with values of life/ enjoying the moment. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift… I follow this principle.

IC: What next, as a personal goal/ aspiration?

MV: I would like to sing with a philharmonic orchestra featuring Carnatic music. I want Carnatic music to be taken to all kinds of possibilities, I am working on a mission to break the barriers. I want to be the bridge between musical cultures and like the many masters from India who have been an inspiration, I want to give respect to my India. I want to spread harmony using music. n San Francisco, Nov. 17 2016-Jan. 29 2017; San Jose Feb 9-Mar 19, 2017.

Taylor Street Bridge, E Lot, 176 Asbury St., San Jose. Tickets start at $49.

November 2016 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 71

events

California’s Best Guide to Indian Events maybeckstudio.org. www.maybeckstudio. org/2016/08/new-carnatic-music-with-gautam-tejas.html, www.eventbrite.com/e/newcarnatic-music-with-gautam-tejas-ganeshantickets-27292249854.

Vaanara Leela—The Extraordinary Role of the Monkeys. The concert

Kavita Krishnamurthy live in concert, Nov. 12 in Santa Rosa

November

10 Thursday

Sambo: A (Post)Colonial (Mis) Education. Having examined this ques-

tion in the past from scholarly, critical and analytic viewpoints, Abdul R. JanMohamed now turns to the more subjective, autobiographical experiences that have triggered, conditioned and fueled his distinguished body of scholarly/critical accounts on the subject. 5-7 p.m. Hearst Field Annex, Room D37, UC Berkeley. events.berkeley.edu/index.php/calendar/sn/ csas.html?event_ID=101568&date=201611-10&filter=Target/Open%20To%20 Audiences&filtersel=.

November

12 Saturday

Diwali Cultural Event. With Regina

Cassandra, Lasya, Damini, Revanth, Akhila. Organized by Telugu Association Of Southern California. 4 p.m. Centinela Valley Center for the Arts, 14901 South Inglewood Ave., Lawndale.

Kavita Krishnamurthy and The Andaaz Band-Diwali Celebration 2016. Organized by North Bay Indian

Community Center. 6:30 p.m. Saratoga Community Center, 19655 Allendale Ave., Saratoga. $25. (408) 634-0295.

Vaanara Leela—The Extraordinary Role of the Monkeys. The concert

portrays the extraordinary role of Hanuman the monkey warrior-god and his monkey army in the ancient Indian epic, Ramayana. They assist Prince Rama in his mission to destroy the evil ten-headed demon Ravana and rescue his kidnapped wife Sita. Organized by Abhinaya Dance Company. 7-9:30 p.m. School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose. $50 VIP, $30 preferred, $20 general, $15 student/senior.

(408) 871-5959. abdanceco@gmail.com. abhinaya.org, Abhinaya Dance Company, abdanceco@gmail.com.

Sri Lanka Bollywood Night with Preetysha and Sameer. Classics

portrays the extraordinary role of Hanuman the monkey warrior-god and his monkey army in the ancient Indian epic, Ramayana. They assist Prince Rama in his mission to destroy the evil ten-headed demon Ravana and rescue his kidnapped wife SitaOrganized by Abhinaya Dance Company. 4-6:30 p.m. School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose. $50 VIP, $30 preferred, $20 general, $15 student/senior.

(408) 871-5959. abdanceco@gmail.com. abhinaya.org, Abhinaya Dance Company, abdanceco@gmail.com.

November

19 Saturday

Mela 2016-5 Short Plays in 5 Languages. Staging a bouquet of short

plays, each witty and humorous, each in a different Indian language. The scripts are by playwrights all over the world, including masters such as Satyajit Ray, Roald Dahl, and George Bernard Shaw. Each show will consist of five short plays staged in quick succession, and will have supertitles in English. Ends Dec. 4. Organized

by Naatak. Cubberley Theater. www.naatak. com/portfolio/mela-2016/.

and popular songs by Lata Mageshkar, Dharmada and Kalasoori Latha Walpola.

Organized by Bollywood EntertainmentLA. San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, 320 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel. $40, $100. singlanka@yahoo.com.

13 Sunday

American Association. 5 p.m. Jackson Theater, 4400 Day School Pl., Santa Rosa. $56-$81. northbayindia.org.

November

Saratoga Diwali 2016. Dinner and live entertainment by EasternWinds. Organized by Saratoga Hindu Temple and

Maybeck Studio for the Performing Arts.

3-5 p.m. Maybeck Studio for the Performing Arts, 1537 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. $20. info@

Carnatic Music Conert with Gautam Tejas Ganeshan. Organized by

72 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

Book reading and discussion by Chitra banerjee Divakaruni, Nov. 3 in San Ramon

© Copyright 2016 India Currents. All rights reserved. Reproduction for commercial use strictly prohibited.

Music Concert on Nov. 6th, 10:30 am Tabla

Solo Harmonium Concert

Vocals

Thanksgiving Celebration Thursday, Nov. 24th, 2016 @ 3:00pm

Followed by an international vegetarian dinner.

mridangam

veena

Programs are free www.badarikashrama.org

15602 Maubert Ave. San Leandro CA 94578 510-278-2444 | badarik@pacbell.net

Om Sri Mathre Namaha

St. Jude Prayer Sister Theresa the little flower please pluck me a rose from the Heavenly garden and send it to me with a message of love. Tell God that I love Him each day more and more. . Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be

Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thine will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Holy St. Jude, apostle and martyr, great in virtues, rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all those who invoke your special patronage in times of need, to you I recourse from the depth of my heart. I humbly beg to whom God has given such great powers to come to my assistance in times of need. Please help me in my present urgent need. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked, St. Jude, for me and all who invoke your aid.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved, adored, cherished, and preserved throughout the world. Worker of miracles, pray for us St. Jude. Helper of the helpless, pray for us. Amen.

(To be said 9 times).

Vaidica Vidhya Ganapathi Center

SRI LAKSHMI GANAPATHI TEMPLE 32B Rancho Drive, San Jose, CA 95111

(Capitol Expressway West and Montrey Road Junction, Opposite and 1 Block from Capitol Cal Train Station)

(408) 226-3600 • www.vvgc.org or siliconvalleyhindutemple.com Kavadi Festival Saturday November 5th At 4.00 PM Sri Venkateswara Abhisheka Continued with Sri Vishnu Shasra Nama Chanting Continued with Skandha Sashti Soora Samharam Sri Valli Deva Sena Sametha Sri Subramanya Abhisheka Aarati and Manthra Pushpa Sunday November 6 Day Light Savings Time ends th

Saturday November 12th At 4.00 PM Sri Venkateswara

Abisheka Continued with Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Chanting Continued with Sani Pradosham Shiva Sri Rudra Abhisheka Aarati and Manthra Pushpa Monday November 14th At 5.00 PM Kritika Vratha Sri Valli Deva Sena Sametha Sri Subramanya Abhisheka Aipasi Masa Pournami Annabhisheka for Shiva Aarati and Manthra Pushpa At 6.00 PM Pournami Vratha Samoohika Sri Sathya Narayna Swamy Pooja/Vratha Aarati And Manthra Pushpa

Wednesday November 16th At 7.00 PM Ayyappa Mandala Pooja Begins (Starting Date from November 16th Wednesday 2016 to Saturday January 14th 2017 Ayyapa Mandala Pooja ends) Special Ayyappa Pooja Aarati and Manthra Pushpa All are Welcome to Participate with Family Thursday November 17th Sri Sankata Hara Chathurthi At 5.00 PM Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi Homa/Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi Abhisheka, Aarati and Manthra Pushpa

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God's Unfailing Love……

Do you have the real Joy, Peace and happiness in your life? Have you ever asked this question What is the purpose of my

existence in this world? What is a person profited, if he/she shall gain the whole world, and lose his/her own soul? (Or) What shall a person give in exchange for his/her own soul? Is there anyone in this world who can truly love me? Many times we are lost and finally end up asking these questions. There is no one in this world, who can truly love us, except God. Initially, God created human kind (both man and woman) in HIS own image. The purpose of creating mankind was to be with God. But human kind sinned against God and lost the greatest gift of being with HIM. God is Holy. A person with sin cannot dwell or exist with God. Also with sin, human kind earned curses from God. The result of sin was death & curses.

What is sin?

Anything we do that separates us from God’s presence is called SIN. We cannot hide anything from God. God knows our troubles, problems & everything. What the World can offer us is the Lust of flesh, the Lust of eyes & the Pride of life.

Anyone who takes what the World offers ends up committing sin against God.

What is the result of committing sin?

The result of committing sin is a broken heart & soul,having guilt which makes us weak before God, with sadness, no peace, sickness, curses and separation from God. The Bible says, when we were born, we were born with sin because our parents brought us into this world with a sinful nature. For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. The wages of sin is death.

No one in this world including our parents or spouse or kids or friends or relatives can love us more than God. The Bible says, God is Love and HE manifested HIS love by sending God's only Holy SON Jesus Christ into this world to save us from all our sins and redeem us from this sinful world. For God so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten Son Jesus Christ, that whosoever believeth in Jesus should not perish, but have everlasting life, the life after death with God in Heaven.

Jesus came to this earth only to die for us and shed HIS blood so that we can be saved by HIS grace and then receive HIS gift of Salvation. Without HIS shedding of blood there is no redemption from sins. So God sent Jesus Christ to this world to die for you and me. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins. If we confess our sins to Jesus, HE is faithful and just to forgive us from our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jesus said "Come unto ME, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

For every sin we commit, we need to pay the penalty individually. However, Jesus took all our sins upon himself, when HE died for us. By giving HIS every drop of blood, we are saved and free from the penalty of sin & death. Jesus

76 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

died for our sins and on the third day, HE rose again from death and became victorious over death, hell and sins. Jesus is a living God. HE is the same yesterday, today & forever. In the Name of Jesus there is Victory, Deliverance from sins & curses and there is Healing from sickness & Miracles in our life.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY to God the Father, HE is the Truth and HE is the Life. No one can go to God the Father & Heaven, except through Jesus Christ.

Our family or friends, our caste or creed, our education or position, our money or riches or status, or by doing charity or by doing yoga or by doing fasting will not take us to God or to Heaven. When we accept & ask Jesus Christ to come into our heart & cleanse our sins with HIS precious blood, Jesus comes into our heart and makes us a new creature, by giving us HIS Love, Joy, HIS Peace, Hope & eternal Life with HIM. This is the TRUTH and the truth shall set you free.

Now how can I redeem HIS gift of Salvation in my life?

All we have to do is to believe Jesus, accept HIM into our heart & ask him to cleanse our sins by HIS blood by repeating this simple prayer. (Prayer means talking to God in your heart)

Lord Jesus, Thank you for coming into this world for me and my sins. I truly accept you just as I am.

Come into my heart; cleanse me and my sins with your precious Blood. Be in my heart forever and help me to live and lead a Holy life like you. I also invite YOU & Your Holy Spirit to come into my heart and give me the Joy, Peace, Happiness, Deliverance from sins, bondages and sickness forever. Thank you for giving me the assurance of being with me forever. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

If you have truly meant this prayer, then you have accepted Jesus into your heart. HE will be with you forever. HE will not leave you nor forsake you. If you need prayers or would like to know more about Jesus, then you can visit nearby Churches or email us at info@christforworld.org

November 2016 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 77

78 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

On Inglish

On a Reunion Dinghy

By Kalpana Mohan

“I

dinghy a small boat for recreation or racing, especially an open boat with a mast and sails.

together forty years ago. Many times on that trip, see we don’t have life-jackets,” my friend I felt the happiness of a child—unadulterated, Bernie said, grimacing. We were high Risk elevated a trip unmarred, unearthly almost—that seemed to have school classmates from Tanzania on a summer holiday and we had been planning our into an adventure. I dissolved at the altar of adulthood. On one of the days, Bernie brought out her autograph book reunion, with husbands in tow, for about eight months—Bernie from Canada, Meenakshi from held my breath and from 1975 that each of us had signed. To a quesSingapore, Asha from Malaysia, Meena from hoped for the best— tion about what I wanted to be when I grew up, I had written: “Air hostess.” Guffaws reverberated the UK and myself from the United States.

We let some aspects of our trip remain last- on the boat as well as across the sands. “Others said lofty things like minute whims—as that glass-bottomed boat in the rest of our two- “doctor” and “lawyer” but one brilliant person in our group wanted to be a flight attendant Mauritius, which started out calmly enough, by week vacation. when she grew up,” Bernie said, her face keeling our resort at Pointe Aux Piments in northwest into a scowl. I pretended to be mortified by my Mauritius. former self. Days later I admitted, sheepishly, that Half a mile out on the Indian Ocean howevI’d practiced recording, over and over, “Ladies and er, gigantic waves buffeted it and Bernie expressed her concern just as I too began worrying about safety. If, in the gentlemen, Pan-Am Flight 532 will make its descent into HeathUnited States, I had boarded such a dinghy—the word originates row Airport in one hour,” on a National Panasonic recorder that from the Bengali dingha meaning “boat”—I would have had to I had bought on a trip to Kenya long ago.

Where goal-setting was concerned, Asha was indeed the only wear a life jacket. Many miles away in Mauritius, I suppose the law and the mindset was as variant as the time difference. As I sat one who had accomplished her dream of becoming a doctor. Unthere clutching the rails, I was oblivious to another definition of a der Asha’s compassionate eye, Meenakshi trekked with us through dinghy in the Merriam Webster, one altogether less comforting: “a Andasibe-Mantadia national forest the morning after her injury. small rubber boat that is used by people escaping from a sinking We plowed through the forest warning one other of slippery roots boat.” But risk elevated a trip into an adventure. I held my breath and tracks as we followed our guide and stopped to scan for leand hoped for the best—on the boat as well as the rest of our murs that swung high up in the trees where bamboos arched over the forest canopy and vines throttled mature trunks. two-week vacation.

Before we flew out to Seychelles, we shopped in Antananarivo Two days later however, on a cool afternoon deep in the forests of eastern Madagascar, Meenakshi tripped and twisted her where Meena—whose clipped British accent always made us acfoot while walking on a craggy pathway towards a brook. As she cord her the respect one gave the queen of England—stood by howled in pain, the men of our group helped ferry her from van the roadside, a patrician bag lady, clutching five handmade bags. to washroom to a chair. Meenakshi rested at the guide’s quarters, Unrelenting when she wanted to accomplish something, Meena leg outstretched on a ledge as her foot swelled up mimicking a drove a hard bargain. Bernie observed how nothing had changed. chameleon’s jowl, while the rest of us went on a nature walk look- “We’re all the same since we were 15, can’t you see?”

On our last leg, we boarded speed boats to hop between three ing for geckos, frogs and like creatures sunning on the leaves of different islands in the Seychelles. The boats were many times pandanus trees.

That week, we discovered how everything that we took for larger than the dinghy we’d boarded in Mauritius but August granted—health, weather, roads—could capsize in seconds during currents made the waters choppy and menacing. We laughed travel. Some of us introduced problems where there were none. together, at once excited and fearful, as the waters of the Indian “Darn, the Wifi here is so spotty,” my husband said, at least once Ocean roared and crested, drenching us in salty bliss. n a day, to the consternation of musician Mark, Bernie’s husband, Kalpana Mohan writes from California’s Silicon who collected guitars back home in Toronto and lived untethered Valley. To read more about her, go to http://kalpanto Facebook. For these husbands, some of whom had never met amohan.com. one another, our trip was an opportunity to make new connections.

For us girls, the reunion was a renewal of our friendship as much as it was a rehash of the eccentricities that had brought us November 2016 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 79

healthy life

Mindful Living How to truly live in the present moment

By Singaravelan Narayanasamy

I

was driving back home on a weekday evening. As a Bay Area resident I knew that it was going to be a long, dull drive in traffic.

I noticed a van inching forward next to me, and I caught a glimpse of the driver. A lady placed one end of her phone on the wheel for support, while using the other hand for typing. She was holding the wheel very precariously.

She glanced at me for a second and went right back to her texting.

This was not the first time that I noticed such multi-tasking behavior on the road. We see such distracted behavior everywhere—at work, at home, in fact during our entire waking hours.

Does this affect our capacity to be happy? Is it possible for people to live a more satisfying life, when there are increasing demands on their time?

Discovering Mindfulness

I was looking for answers to these questions when I discovered a powerful and practical meditation practice called Mindfulness. Mindfulness is an ancient meditation practice from the East, which is finding great popularity in the West given the enormous benefits.

Even though mindfulness has its roots in Hinduism and Buddhism, nowadays it is seen as being more secular, crossing religious and cultural boundaries. Time magazine called this as the “Mindful Revolution.” Many American healthcare institutions offer mindfulness practice to ailing cancer patients and to veterans returning from war zones.

Unlike sitting meditation practices where you need to set aside time and a quiet place to practice, mindfulness can be done while doing daily tasks. Of course, there are deeper nuances to this statement, but the fundamental aspects of mindfulness practice can be taken up by anyone who wants to live a calmer life by practicing it while carrying out

daily tasks.

I was introduced to mindfulness through a Zen meditation center in Sunnyvale. I practiced at the center and continued the practice on my own at home and at work.

Mindfulness in Action

Mindfulness helps one to focus in the present moment, keeping our minds away from dwelling in the cluttered past or the imaginative future. If you have ever watched a child or a pet animal, you can see this in action. A child is never preoccupied with the past or about the future.

For a child, the only available time is now and he or she wants to make the best use of it. This happens because they live in the present with full intensity.

Health benefits for adults include less stress, better sleep and an avoidance of over-eating. Also one can develop better relationships with family members and friends, since it helps us manage strong emotions, helping us focus in the present.

Try this Simple Exercise

There are many ways to practice mindfulness in your daily life. For instance, I started with applying mindfulness while eating. Prior to trying mindfulness, I would sit in front of the television and eat, barely paying attention to the sensory nature of food. The simple act of mindful eating allowed me to not only appreciate the food I consumed, but to be aware of the quantity. As you can see, this can help

80 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

one develop a healthy body weight.

This can be an easy way to start—let’s say you want to try eating mindfully a few times a week, if not all the time. When you begin to eat, try to avoid distractions like watching television, books, computers or phones. Focus only on your eating. Take your time to eat your food, while avoiding thoughts about upcoming tasks. It might be a good idea not to eat when you feel stressed, angry or in a rush. Food should nourish your body and help you think better so take your time and eat mindfully.

When you try this exercise of mindful eating, you will begin to appreciate the very act of eating. A daily routine will suddenly become an act of joy.

As we saw earlier, the driver can either drive with distractions or do that mindfully. When you do things mindfully, a great transformation that brings about change to the way you live.

Mindfulness has made strides with individuals and now schools and even corporations try this to make workers more relaxed and productive.

Why don’t you give it a try? Mindful living gives you an opportunity to live a healthier and happier life.n Singaravelan Narayanasamy has been practicing Mindfulness for over three years. He shares his experience with others through his free online classes. You can learn about his Mindfulness classes at www.facebook.com/ livemindfullynow. You can also reach him at singar_n@yahoo.com He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his family.

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dear doctor

Communing With Nature

By Alzak Amlani

Q

I find that being in nature is one of the best therapies for me. Sometimes when I am feeling low, if I get myself outside and start walking among the trees something changes. I start to feel optimistic or more alive and my problems start to drop away. I know in previous articles you have recommended that people spend time in nature to release stress and to find well being. I also know about therapists who take people into nature to do different kinds of therapy. I am wondering if there are practices that I can do in nature to enhance my experience while being out there.

A

There is a field called eco-psychology and eco-spirituality. In this approach there is a recognition that humans are an intrinsic part of nature and some of our neuroses (anxiety, depression, alienation and emptiness) are related to disconnecting from nature. Due to living in cities, we spend most of our time indoors. We

are out of touch with seasons and cycles, overly protect ourselves from changes in weather, and do not enjoy the sky, moon and stars enough. Even if people have gardens, they do not cultivate food nor do they spend time touching the soil and caring for plants regularly.

Start with a practice of sitting in nature and gazing across the landscape to see what you are most positively drawn to.

If you are looking at a calm pond, name what you appreciate about it—maybe the reflection in the water, or the cool feel of the water. Then notice its effect on your body—sensations like coolness or tingling.

Feel these sensations and notice if there are emotions that arise. Often they will include joy, calmness and expansion. Allow yourself to sit with all of these changes.

Many of us have heard the term, “communing with nature.” This is a powerful experience and can be done primarily

82 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

through silence and by being in a very quiet setting. Places that are inspiring like Mt. Tamalpais or Yosemite make it very easy to commune. It first involves listening to various sounds —wind, water, birds and other animals. Slowly we drop into a stronger silence. It’s a powerful silence that has a presence and a sense of connectedness. In this silence, we don’t feel alone, but rather heard and held.

Our separateness begins to dissolve and we start to experience ourselves more as energy and presence rather than as flesh and bone. We can start to feel an intimacy with our surroundings and our hearts start to open. This is a profound rejuvenating experience. n Alzak Amlani, Ph.D., is a counseling psychologist of Indian descent in the Bay Area. 650-325-8393. Visit www.wholenesstherapy.com

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the last word

Don’t Tell Me to Feel Sorry for White Men

I

By Sarita Sarvate

want to thank the Donald. I want to thank him for the cease- Alas, his white male pride prevented him from setting the record less editorial columns he has prompted about the plight of straight even as I fumed inside. the white man. The innocent white man, we are told, who is I have been on dates with white men—the most entitled suffering so much, that he cannot help viewing this fascist bully group in our society—who have routinely assumed that I wanted as his messiah. to be kissed or touched. Even today, the concept Ironically, the commentaries have had the opof consent at each stage of a male-female interacSo I fantasize posite effect on me. They have made me see the tion does not exist. Men assume that women’s true character of America. They have made me about November bodies are available to them simply because they see my own immigrant’s journey, not as a gift of agreed to go to dinner or a movie. What’s 8th . I dream that have manna, but as a collection of squashed dreams. worse, a majority of men still believe that women I came to the United States in the late seventhe sane majority are responsible for satisfying their husbands, and ties, when few women and even fewer Indian vice versa. Hence the accusation many men has prevailed and not women worked in the energy field. White men have hurled at Hillary, of failing to satisfy Bill, of ruled the professions. Raised by a father who was being responsible for making her husband stray.

Trump has sufan avowed Anglophile, I accepted this natural orBut what if the husband has failed to satisfy his der. After I earned a graduate degree from Berke- fered a humiliating wife, emotionally or romantically? ley and got a job, I felt grateful for the crumbs of Thanks to Donald’s heinous boasts about asdefeat. success the establishment threw my way. When saulting women, revealed in a recently publicized I was reminded of my inferior status, I brushed video, our society is now engaged in a conversaaside the uneasy feeling. tion about the treatment of women in the boardroom and the The awakening came during my very first job. A raucous bedroom. But much more needs to happen. birthday party was held for two white male colleagues on a day Thanks to Donald’s comments about Mexican-Americans, that also happened to be my birthday. But no one enquired Muslim Americans, and African-Americans, we have also started about me; no one cared. Women always organized such events a conversation about the very racism this nation is built on. But in the workplace, I noted, even as they themselves were rarely cel- the media has failed to do its job. It has failed to point out that ebrated. So I embarked on a silent rebellion. For the next several Trump’s support does not consist solely of working class white decades, I refused to organize such events. men. I myself know three successful Bay Area businessmen who Overt insults followed. During a professional meeting once, are supporting Trump. One of them even owns a plane. Their everyone around the table was introduced, except for me. With overt reason is that Trump will stop unfair trade practices and promy knee-length hair and dark complexion, had the attendees mote American manufacturing. I can only laugh at their pretense. perceived me to be a secretary? The worst part was yet to come, Surely, these educated, intelligent white men understand that the when, a white male colleague would laugh at my predicament Donald knows nothing about economics or trade or job creation? even as I would hesitate to express my indignation.

Surely, they are enamored by Trump for entirely different reasons?

For years, I tolerated being marginalized by the old boy netCould it be that they find Trump’s racism appealing? Could work. For years, I worked for an egotistical white male who treat- it be that they cannot stomach the thought of a female president, ed me with such disrespect that I dreaded going into his office. no matter what?

But the establishment had long anointed him a “genius,” so what So I fantasize about November 8th. I dream that the sane macould I do? Gradually, I got tired of fighting and accepted the jority has prevailed and Trump has suffered a humiliating defeat. fact that I would never achieve the professional heights I deserved.

I fantasize that Trump is not forgotten. That, like Hitler and Recently, I read a news story about some victims of domestic the holocaust, he is etched into our collective subconscious forevviolence whose PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) was trig- er so that history will not repeat itself. Most of all, I dream of the gered by news items about Trump. It rang a bell. I understood day when Trump is scorned as a national and international pariah, why I relived the trauma of that bully of a boss every time I read his bluster ridiculed, his brand tarnished, his fortune vanquished, or saw Trump’s antics. even as the conversation he generated continues. n In the personal sphere too, white men have ruled. I supported Sarita Sarvate (www.saritasarvate.com) has pubmy white British husband financially for years, and even raised lished commentaries for New America Media, his two daughters. But everyone including his brothers took it KQED FM, San Jose Mercury News, the Oakland for granted that he was the breadwinner and I his colored squaw; Tribune, and many nationwide publications. everyone assumed that he had brought me to this country when in fact he and his children had gotten green cards because of me.

86 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | November 2016

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India Currents took home two prizes at the 39th Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards hosted by the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club. The contest received 241 entries from media professionals drawn from 11 Greater Bay area counties. Judges were drawn from press clubs in seven other locations—Cleveland, Florida, Houston, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Orange County and San Diego. Journalist Carla De Luca Worfolk, an Emmy award-winning television and documentary producer, delivered the keynote address.

Comment from Judges For the judges, this magazine is an interesting exploration of an ever-growing segment of the US population-appealing to Indian-Americans and all who wish to learn more about the rich history, politics and arts of an amazing culture. Kudos!

Overall Excellence, Digital Media

First Place, India Currents

Editorial Writing: “Are You One of Those?”

First Place, Jaya Padmanabhan

India Currents Team (l to r): Vandana Kumar, Geetika Pathania-Jain, Jaya Padmanabhan

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