The Skinny on a Low Carb, High Fat Diet by Ashok Jethanandani
The Call of Qawwali by Priya Das
Grief and Costco by Nirupama Vaidyanathan
Celebrating 29 Years of Excellence
Living Clay With
october 2015 • vol. 29, no .7 • www. indiacurrents.com
The dying art of clay idol modeling by Gautam Banerjee
The Big, Fat Indian American Stereotype “Sanjay is sensitive about being from India, and he thinks it’s a cliche that a guy with his name runs a start-up in Palo Alto.” I quote from Adam Johnson’s recently released collection of stories, Fortune Smiles. In the story, “Nirvana,” the character Sanjay has a Stanford MBA and is vaguely embarrassed to draw attention to his culture, so he uses the initials SJ to refer to himself. The inference here is that Indian names are so tough to pronounce that something as safe and generic as a couple of initials would serve to hide the western inability to pronounce Indian names, or the tinge of discomfort that Indian Americans often must face when announcing our last names, or even our first names. When western writers attempt to make sense of the Indian American élan vital, most of the time, they resort to what is generally and stereotypically known about the community. I consider Adam Johnson one of the most brilliant writers of our times. His Pulitzer winning novel The Orphan Master’s Son was executed with such deliberate sleight of hand as to require at least two readings to fully grasp the extent of his genius. Yet, here he is, perpetuating the big, fat Indian American stereotype, and admitting to doing so. For a writer who is known for building nuanced characters, poor Sanjay is as un-nuanced and harmful as Anna the admin or vodka drinking Olga. It used to be that the Indian American cliché was all too visible on our blue screens. We saw it in The Big Bang Theory, where astrophysicist Raj Koothrappali appeared painfully socially awkward—a nerd with poor social skills. We saw it in The Simpsons, where Apu Nahasapeemapetilon had a Ph.D in computer science and worked at Kwik-E-Mart—a nerd with an unpronounceable last name working at a convenience store. This reminds me of the time, in 2006, Joe Biden quipped “you cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin Donuts without a slight Indian accent … I’m not joking.” These days, though, television has been steadily evolving and viewers have been introduced to some originality and diversity with complex characterizations of Indians, with Archie Panjabi, a private
investigator, on The Good Wife; Mindy Kaling on the The Mindy Project; Dev Patel on The Newsroom, Aziz Ansari on Parks and Recreations, and a host of others. While I admit that the Indian American stereotype is largely positive—hardworking, educationally inclined, entrepreneurial—the one-size-fits all aspect of even positive stereotypes is exasperating. In a study titled “When is a Compliment Not a Compliment?” published in the Journal of Experimental Social Pyschology, Alexander Czopp revealed his findings that even positive stereotypes can have harmful effects. In the study, “Black participants evaluated a White student who praised the athletic ability of African Americans more negatively than a control condition.” Both white and black participants found the white speaker equally likeable before the stereotype was introduced, but with the positive endorsement of blacks, black participants (and not white participants) found the speaker prejudiced and less appealing. The groupthink of stereotypes advances perceptions of our communities that
are insipid, unimaginative, and sometimes misleading. It is the very reason why, if our children don’t aspire to Harvard or Yale, many of us believe that we’ve failed as parents, for “look at Rajeev’s children, or Sonia’s or Ashok’s. We must have done something wrong.” Certainly, as the story progressed, Johnson introduced other interesting facets to Sanjay aka SJ’s character. “About once a month, Sanjay gets homesick and cooks litti chokha for everyone at work. He plays Sharda Sinha songs and gets this look in his eyes like he’s back in Bihar, land of peepal trees and roller birds.” As part of a psychological portrait, those particulars are admirable. So, kudos to Johnson, even though these are details that are piled on top of a cliched premise. Does this mean that only Indian American writers can frame truly dimensional Indian American characters? To know an Indian American do you have to be an Indian American?
Jaya Padmanabhan, Editor
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 1
2 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California |October 2015
INDIA CURRENTS October 2015 • vol 29 • no 7
PERSPECTIVES 1 | EDITORIAL The Big, Fat Indian American Stereotype By Jaya Padmanabhan
Southern California Edition www.indiacurrents.com
20 | INVESTMENT Does Investing in Gold Make Sense? By Kunal Sampat
Find us on
21 | TAX TALK Filing a Tax Extension By Rita Bhayani
6 | WORDS AND THINGS Chasing the Dissertation Mouse By Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan
28 | BOOKS Reviews of The Man Who Wasn’t There, Being Mortal, Mango Cheeks, and Metal Teeth By Vidya Pradhan, Rajesh C. Oza, Melanie P. Kumar
7 | COMMENTARY Grief and Costco By Nirupama Vaidyanathan 12 | EDUCATION Liberate that Engineering Degree By Shivakumar Raman 14 | OPINION Welcome to the Gandhi Center By Ranjani Iyer Mohanty 17 | FICTION Brink By Tanvi Chawla Buch 24 | PERSPECTIVE How I Keep Busy After My Youngest Flew the Coop By Hema Alur Kundargi 25 | MEDIA The Secret Illness of Leaders By Sandip Roy 26 | ON INGLISH Hey, I Need Cash! By Kalpana Mohan 56 | THE LAST WORD Annoyed by the Self-help Cult? You Are Not Alone By Sarita Sarvate
LIFESTYLE
8 | Living with Clay The four-hundred-year old traditional art form of clay idol modeling is on its way to eventual extinction
32 | TRAVEL Coconut and Mangrove Dreams By Kalpana Sunder 39 | MUSIC The Call of Qawwali By Priya Bhatt Das
By Gautam Banerjee
50 | Healthy Life The Skinny on a Low Carb, High Fat Diet By Ashok Jethanandani
35 | Technology Hackers for a Better World By Prakash Narayan
42 | RECIPES Get Your Beetroot Chops On By Jagruti Vedamati 45 | RELATIONSHIP DIVA Four Types of Men to Avoid Dating By Jasbina Ahluwalia 54 | DEAR DOCTOR How Do I Find Personal Fulfillment When All I Do is Take Care of Others By Alzak Amlani
DEPARTMENTS 4 | Letters to the Editor 15 | Popular Articles
36 | Films Reviews of Phantom, Katti Batti By Aniruddh Chawda
22 | Ask a Lawyer 23 | Visa Dates
WHAT’S CURRENT 46 | Cultural Calendar 52 | Spiritual Calendar
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 3
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4 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California |October 2015
Modi Lovers, Modi Haters
This is in response to the article penned by Joe Samagond and Vidya Pradhan as well as the cover story by Vamsee Juluri (“The Modi Model,” “Speak Up, Prime Minister Modi!” September 2015) Prime Minister Modi has been in office for only one year and has already sowed the seeds for a great future for India and surrounding countries. i) The extremely complex border with Bangladesh has been resolved and a new fencing is taking place. This will stop illegal migration on that border. ii) The Naga insurgency has put their trust in Mr. Modi and agreed on a negotiated solution (rather than an armed conflict) to their cultural heritage preservation concerns. iii) Millions of poor Indians have been given the opportunity to open bank accounts whereby they can secure affordable bank loans rather than paying hefty interest rates to private loan-sharks. iv) The River Ganges is being cleaned. v) Mr. Modi has been able to secure the trust of like minded countries (Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) within South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), in establishing transport and economic links. vi) Mr. Modi has started hydro-electric projects with Nepal and Bhutan vii) Japan, UAE and other countries have already pledged large sums to tackle India’s complex infrastructure projects. viii) Mr. Modi has convinced Australia to supply uranium. ix) With France, India has agreed on nuclear power plants and defense equipment contracts and defense and agricultural research with Israel. x) Mr. Modi has clamped down on government bureaucrats who were wasting the countries time and resources. xi) To the Chinese, he had warned them that if they did not help equalize trade imbalance with India, he will pass anti dumping laws affecting Chinese goods. This is why China has invested US $20 billion in India’s infrastructure projects. xii) Mr. Modi has been working 18 hours a day for the Indian people, as compared to Congress leaders who were busy
looting the country, left and right. In short, Mr. Modi is a blessing to India. Jai Hind. Hemant Shah, San Jose, CA The architect of the 2002 state-sponsored ethnic cleansing, including a series of gang-rapes and burning humans alive, is being called humanistic in your cover story by Vamsee Juluri? (“The Modi Model,” September 2015) The 2002 riots was yet another holocaust except that the victims were not Jews. If Modi reflects any humanism, then Mussolini and Hitler are angels! Those who have any conscientiousness need to examine: i) Hindu fundamentalists referring to non-Hindus as bastards [RSS/BJP]. ii) While the cause of fire in Godhra’s train remains unknown in spite of the conspiracy and aggressive manipulations by Modi’s government, the author is echoing Modi’s justification of the prolonged gang-rapes and burning humans alive in 2002 riots. iii) In most communal riots, 90% of the casualty is of Muslims, which comprise only 15% of the population. How? Why? iv) The media is controlled by the 80% pro Hindu majority, portraying propaganda as truth. Congressman Edolphus Towns once reported on India (1999): “… This ethnic cleansing has taken the lives of over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, over 200,000 Christians in Nagaland since 1947, over 60,000 Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and thousands of … [other] minority peoples.” Ron A. Patel, Watsonville The September issue had two readable articles about India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (“The Modi Model,” “Speak Up, Prime Minister Modi”). Vidya Prad-
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, 1885 Lundy Ave. Suite 220, San Jose 95131 or email letters@indiacurrents.com.
han and Jawahar “Joe” Samagond basically rehashed what other Modi-bashers have been harping on ad-nauseum. What about the scores of communal riots in several other parts of India in the last decades—instigated and spearheaded by “other” politicians? Modi was cleared of all “charges.” There is a pronounced bias against Indian culture, ancient Indian history and values, and Indian literature, which is evidenced everywhere with zealots trying to convert Hindus to other religions in India. Yes, some NGOs have been shut down in India, Greenpeace being one example, but as per the report that CBI gave to the Indian Supreme Court recently, over 90 percent of these three million NGOs have not submitted their returns or balance sheets and other financial details to the authorities. Clearly there are glaring irregularities and financial problems—foreign donations/contributions included. That’s not a witch-hunt, it calls for strong action. Talking about “slogans,” why forget that Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan “Quit India,” Subhas Bose had “Dilli Chalo” and “Jai Hind” that stirred the country and brought freedom. Another inspiring slogan by Lal Bahadur Shastri was “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.” Vidya Pradhan and Joe Samagond write about Modi’s “Make in India,” but credit Nehru with that, forgetting the emphasis on “socialism” and the fact that the public sector was a disaster under the Nehru-Gandhi family leadership. I suggest that the authors read the “Modi Model” article in the same issue of India Currents, written brilliantly by Vamsee Juluri, on what Mr. Modi is, what his vision is, what direction he has given the country, and what he hopes to achieve in 50 months as opposed to 50 years. Please keep an open mind, for a change. Yatindra Bhatnagar, email The article by Joe Samagond and Vidya Pradhan (“Speak Up, Prime Minister Modi”) is an example of pseudo-secularist thinking. Here are some key issues to keep in mind: i) Fifteen months is too short time to change India’s 60 years of mis-rule and the culture of corruption. ii) The Godhra burning of kaar sevaks, (Hindus) was also a hideous crime, and none of these pseudo-secularists uttered a
word of protest. iii) India is a very strange country. We got independence from Queen Elizabeth and now we have Queen Sonia, attempting to rule us. One thing to remember is that Mr. Modi is immensely qualified and 1000% better equipped to do the job than Manmohan Singh or Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi. Just cut Mr. Modi some slack. Wait a few years and then judge him, please! Prakash Deshmukh, San Jose, CA
Go Ahead, Wear that Bindi!
Referring to Maya Murthy’s article (“Why is That White Girl Wearing a Bindi?” September 2015), yes, I am a white girl, and sometimes I wear a bindi in public. Not for decoration. For me it is the focus-point of the third (spiritual) eye. After morning-puja, trying to keep the attention there through the day. Since I don’t like to attract attention from others (especially with the contrast of my very light skin) in public I use gopi-chandan instead of the bright red kumkum. At your age being totally accepted by all your peers feels very important. But don’t let your mind twist that “proof of otherness” into one of second-class status. When you clearly realize the great beautiful civilization that you are from, you will be met with respect. Yes, there always will be some people who reject anything that differs from their own ways. Narrow-minded people. Not just in the United States; I experienced that in India, too. Different doesn’t mean less. I hope that if that bindi really has a true spiritual meaning for you, you will come to wear it with a relaxed attitude of someone proudly representing your world, background, and inner being. Don’t wait till this world becomes perfect; it never will. But you can stand up and speak up to set straight the deformed representations that you encounter. Also, being a Hindu is not something only Indians have a right to. Otherwise great souls like Vivekananda and Yogananda and several more, would not have bothered to come to the United States to share their wealth. Varenya, email As I read Maya Murthy’s article on
wearing the bindi (“Why is That White Girl Wearing a Bindi?” September 2015), I was reminded of Sandip Roy’s award winning cover story (“Dot busters or Cool Dots?” India Currents, March 1999). The cover picture was of several pre-teen girls—blondes, brunettes, and redheads, with a variety of skin colors—playing together while wearing bindis and saris. The article describes a program in which these young girls came together, learning about Indian culture as a way of combating bigotry. Since then, I have played music at many Indian weddings, and have seen many heart-warming variations on this sight. I remember one overheard conversation between two teenage girls, one Indian, one blonde, both in saris and bindis, both with California Valley Girl accents.” Why don’t you come to the festival at my temple this weekend, girlfriend?” “Do you really think I’d be welcome?” “Totally! There would be lots of awesome food and music and stuff. And it would give us a chance to wear saris again.” Ms. Murthy protests the wearing of the bindi by white women “without permission.” Does that invitation count as permission? Would the Indian girl be authorized to give permission if she was born in America and spoke nothing but English? If not, who does the authorizing, and who authorizes the authorizers? I realize that colonialism has produced deep emotional wounds on colonized peoples. Ms. Murthy might be conflating these wounds with the emotional vulnerability caused by being an intelligent and articulate young woman balanced between two cultures, and still finding her place in each. Ms. Murthy, I am very sorry to hear that you have encountered classmates who have considered you “backward” for wearing a bindi. Encountering such people is an inevitable part of getting through high school, and they only have as much power over you as you are willing to give them. You don’t have to divorce yourself from your culture to keep your “place in society.” Any place in a society which requires that isn’t worth keeping. You might try talking to the girls, both Indian and Anglo, who are wearing both bindis and blue jeans. They might have some fashion tips that will help you appropriate what you need from each of your two cultures to express who you truly are. Teed Rockwell, email
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 5
words and things
Chasing the Dissertation Mouse By Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan
H
e showed up in May, a flash of fur and tail that my husthat I could spot him out of the corner of my eye. I didn’t even band mistook for a cockroach and my mother identified have to turn my head; he somehow registered my presence, then swiftly as a mouse. He came flying out of my home disappeared into the dishwasher, which I was planning, just then, office; then, skirting the wall of the dining room, made his way to unload. into the kitchen, where he would, over the course of the next four I started talking to the mouse, announcing my presence with months, set up homes under the oven, in a hole at the base of the heavy, marching steps before I drew within sight of the kitchen back door, behind the refrigerator, and, in what still seems like an (where he appeared to have settled). I tried to sound menacing: optical illusion, inside the dishwasher. Vacation homes for a city “Mouse! I don’t want to see you!” I supposed that my neighbors mouse, maybe: one toasty for Chicago’s Arctic clime, one with below could hear me and would think I had gone a bit mad. But proximity to the main road, one cold for the hottest months, one it was worth it if it meant that the mouse didn’t come out of his for a casual swim on a warm summer day. hiding spot, ruining my equilibrium, momentum, and day. In May, he was small enough to be mistaken for a roach. By By now, I’d decided that the mouse was a harbinger of doom. June, when he appeared in the main bathroom after the happy peWell, not doom, but of a bad working morning, of a dissertation rusal of our master closet, he had grown chapter’s certain unraveling, of research fatter. Still, I thought I could plug the I started talking to the mouse, gone awry, of time inevitably wasted, of bottom of the bathroom door with towmy falling down the rabbit hole of Twitels and hold him hostage. It was a foolish announcing my presence with ter. Not seeing the mouse was akin to thought. Mice don’t have collar bones. heavy, marching steps before I wresting control, to self-determination, Their bodies are tiny, but squish easily, to seizing the day by avoiding the unand if their heads can make it through drew within sight of the kitchavoidable intruder who had found his some passageway, so, too, can the rest of en (where he appeared to have way into my life and whose presence them. He made it past my terrycloth barkept me awake all night sometimes, and ricade with hardly a squeak and zipped settled). I tried to sound menwhom I feared I would never be rid of. down the central hallway, taking rest acing: “Mouse! I don’t want to With my brother’s help, we set up a behind a bookcase he probably knew I humane mouse trap: a paper towel roll see you!” didn’t have the strength to move. smeared with peanut butter, balanced Then he disappeared for some weeks. precariously over a trashcan that was When he resurfaced, he had developed a supposed to double as a prison. The more adventurous disposition. Now, he did not fly about or run at mouse didn’t fall for it, or into it. Then there was the expensive first sight of me, but happily walked around the kitchen floor and mouse house we ordered on Amazon, all plastic green and gabled even found his way, leisurely, to the crumbs underneath my todroof. Then the more subtle black contraption that was supposed dler’s booster seat. This was too much for me to take. I shouted to be an enticing cave that would close tightly over the mouse, about the mouse; I complained about him to anyone who would so we could release him far away, drive him out to pasture, eslisten; I beseeched my husband to get rid of him by any means necsentially, maybe spin him around a few times first so that he’d be essary. Non-violent, of course. The thought of a mouse corpse was disoriented and not know how to find his way home. the only thing worse than the impudent mouse himself, whom I To date, the dissertation mouse has proven too clever for our imagined, like the dolls in Toy Story, came most alive at night while schemes. He senses, I think, my ambivalent desire to avoid and we slept, when he had the run of the house and ample opportunity yet deal with him, to tame and dispense with him, to keep him to memorize escape routes, even invite over little murine friends— alive (I wouldn’t, no matter how many times he asked, permit in short, to terrorize me. For his part, my husband didn’t worry my husband to buy those deadly spring traps) and yet within my much about the mouse, and Mrinalini, age two, found the idea of control. He knows my attempts at containment are only half serihim thrilling (she’s never actually seen the little beast). ous, that part of the issue is my inability to commit to a course Yes, my mother had spotted him first, and Brandon had seen of action: come down on him hard and mercihim as well, the slip of tail disappearing between the floorboards, lessly, or give up and let him wander free. n but the mouse seemed to come out most often when I was home alone, working on my dissertation. If I set up my computer on the Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan is a doctoral candidate dining table, he would appear in the kitchen, just close enough in Rhetoric at UC Berkeley. 6 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California |October 2015
commentary
Grief and Costco By Nirupama Vaidyanathan
A
phone call from India gives me the news: a road accident has killed my cousin’s young wife in Bangalore, India. Later, in another phone conversation I hear of a dear friend losing her husband and yet another phone call informs me about a childhood friend losing her mother. Each time, the phone rings and the message is delivered. And grief paralyzes me. At 8 a.m., on a bright spring morning, as I sit in my bedroom with the covers pulled up to my chin, I am not in the least bit interested in engaging with the world or doing any semblance of work during the day. Tears streak down my cheeks. I cannot bring myself to eat. The sight of food serves as a reminder of meals enjoyed in years past with the departed. At night, I sit on my living room couch through the wee hours of the morning, staring into the blackness outside my front window, waiting and willing for someone or something to give me solace. All I can see is the reflection of my puffed up face. When I speak to grieving friends and family members in India, my words feel inadequate. I wish I could clasp their hands in mine. Words might not have been necessary if I’d been in India, I think. I could have just gone into their homes and sat down quietly to grieve in a corner. Instead, I say, “How are you? I am so sorry—I feel terrible.” Words that tumble out through the tether of the phone line leave me exhausted. How does one even find the words
my time of grief felt alienating. I wanted to go somewhere where I could feel the physical presence of people. And, where did I go? To that behemoth of a store that is another American suburban fixture—Costco. I walked up and down the aisles, pushing my cart, looking with no particular interest at the shelves of stuff. I looked at the shoppers around me and wondered about the meaning of life and death. I remembered the departed, snatches of conversations and images of their life flitted through my mind. I started to feel a little better as I walked out of Costco. Unbeknownst to them, shoppers at the local Costco had made me feel that I was part of a group—that I was not alone. As the summer melts into fall, I think of that Costco shopping trip and wonder at how I found comfort among strangers. Should I, as an amateur psychoanalyst, opine and say that the crowded aisles of Costco simulated A Creative Commons Image by Ines Hegedus-Garcia the streets that I had once experienced as a child? I certainly don’t have an answer to that question. Chennai. Just watching human beings on But I used one suburban fixture— their motorbikes, cars, and on foot at all Costco—to solve the ever-prevalent probtimes of the day and night was a reassuring lem of silence in American suburbia, when sight through my childhood. If I was sad that silence threatened to pull me into a and moody, the busy street scene helped vortex of loneliness. n me as the emotions churned within. Ironically enough, even though my state of mind was unknown to every one in the Nirupama Vaidhyanathan is a dancer, writer, street below, the feeling of being a small and dance teacher who tries to make sense of part of humanity was one that enveloped the human experience through movement and my psyche, eventually calming my mind. words. When she is not involved in this lofty Removed from this sea of humanity in pursuit, you can find her in her garden. to articulate and share in the grief experienced a thousand miles away? All I have is my American suburbia, where a lone car plies once every hour. This is the canvas in which I experience my grief. The silence and loneliness that is a lasting feature of suburbia had always bothered me. I’ve always wished for signs of life outside my suburban home. I grew up in a middle-class home on a busy street in
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 7
cover
By Gautam Banerjee
Every autumn, for about a week, the city of Kolkata, India, and its outskirts is transformed beyond recognition into a world of fantasy. Millions of people pour into the streets to join in the festive mood of Durga Puja that celebrates triumph of good over evil. Employing the skills and talents of hundreds of artisans for several months, temporary structures or pandals are erected, many of which are spectacular replicas of different famous buildings and historical sites. Adding to the glitter and glamor are the treatments of lights and decorations. And, to top it all, there is the idol of the ten-armed goddess Durga. 8 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California |October 2015
T
he idol of the goddess Durga is usually a towering clay model, varying in height from ten to fifteen feet. Awestruck people bow their heads in obeisance as they hop from one pandal to the other, where the displays and structures compete on categories that include Most Socially Relevant to Most Green to Best Pandal and Best Idol. With Whatever the historithe kind of skill and craftsmanship cal date, Durga Puja on display, the six-day Durga Puja festival in Kolkata is alleged to be today is a festival the largest open air art festival in beyond religion. It is the world. There are several references to a celebration of comDurga, the goddess, in Bengali munity and of art and literature dating back to the 11th century, but it is only in the 18th culture. century that Durga worship became popular among Hindu Zamindars (feudal landlords) of Benthat women exist to please gal. Some believe that the first Durga the opposite sex, as she Puja was organized by Raja Nabakrishna takes on the demons that Deb in Calcutta to celebrate Lord Clive’s threaten her and defeats victory in the Battle of Plassey in 1757. and extracts vengeance Yet others believe that the first official when needed. Durga Puja was organized by the SabarSo it is particularly relna Roychowdhurys in 1610. Whatever evant that a festival that celebrates female the historical date, Durga Puja today power also celebrates modernism, culis a festival beyond religion. It is a cel- ture and arts. ebration of community and of art and culture. A Hereditary Way of Life Idol making is a skill that is hereditary, perfected over the years by an artist Female Power before #Feminism Who is Durga? Durga is a warrior under the strict tutelage and guidance of woman riding a lion and carrying ten an experienced artisan father or any othdifferent weapons in her ten hands. She er family member. Though seasonal, idol saves mankind from miseries and af- making goes beyond goddess Durga, and flictions, dangers and difficulties. She comprises of other gods and goddesses is the embodiment and conglomerate worshipped at different times of the year. Seeing Sanatan Rudra Pal at work no of energy. She challenges Mahishasura who tries to deceive her by changing his one can possibly imagine that he is one form. This idea of changing forms is an of the last remaining artisans and bearers allegorical representation of the contin- of a four-hundred-year old tradition that ual war going on within us about good may eventually face extinction. Perhaps and evil. Evil changes its forms and tries the most sought after clay modeler in to escape in disguise like Mahishasura. the city of Kolkata, Pal is an artist par The Durga Puja idol depicts her lion in excellence whose wonderful creations a deadly grapple with Mahishasura, who follow ritual authenticity and aesthetic bursts out of his fierce buffalo form be- appeal and whose brilliant artistry has been acknowledged through countless fore being slain by the goddess. Durga is not only representative of awards. Sanatan, like other clay artists, the ideals of independence and suprem- learnt his trade from his father and uncle, acy, but she also challenges the assertion both of who were once clay modelers of
Durga is not only representative of the ideals of independence and supremacy, but she also challenges the assertion that women exist to please the opposite sex ...
significant repute. Over the years Sanatan has evolved as an entrepreneur and an employer. His studio, covering an approximate area of 4,000 square feet and employing about a hundred and fifty people, buzzes with activity almost the entire year. Most of his helpers were once daily laborers with a poor and unstable monthly income who, in their spare time, built appreciable clay models for
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 9
On several occasions, I found the artist sitting on a stool, perched on a makeshift bamboo structure, at a height of about ten to twelve feet, rapt in his work, displaying a sense of oneness with his creation.
their villages. They neither had the affluence nor the doggedness to set up their own studios. Many of them came to the big cities before Durga Puja to assist idol makers. It is then that their skills and talent got noticed by craftsmen, like Pal.
Cutting, Chiseling, Hammering
Assisted by an army of helpers, an artisan takes about 15 days to complete a ten feet idol of Durga and reputed artists like Sanatan may have to work with 50 models at a time! Work in Sanatan’s studio gains momentum from the month of April as it starts resounding with cutting, chiseling and hammering. It begins with building three dimensional models of straw and bamboo on a wooden platform. Being a perfectionist, Sanatan keeps on shaping and sculpting the models through repeated interactions with his workers until it’s time to apply clay. The clay is kneaded with tiny bits of straw to render firmness to it. A couple of helpers, standing in knee deep clay, trample and churn it, occasionally adding straw dust, until it is ready. Application of this clay on straw idols requires expertise as it must model a human form to perfection. Sanatan spends hours intently giving form to the clay-faces of idols to be added after the completion of the rest of the body. His long slender fingers work wonders with clay and his unblinking eyes, behind his spectacles, scan for any kind of flaw that has been overlooked. 10 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California |October 2015
Durga Pujo Here and Around Durga Pujo celebrations attract huge crowds numbering over a thousand people in the United States. Here is a listing of some notable ones: In the Bay Area: Sanskriti’s Durga Pujo at Foothill College, Los Altos on Oct 24, 25 Pashchimi’s Durga Pujo at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds, Santa Clara on Oct 18 to Oct 23 Prabasi’s at Chabot College on Oct 17, 18 BayBasi’s Durga Pujo at Bowditch School in Foster City on Oct 17, 18. Shobar Pujo at Century House and Gardens, Fremont on Sunday Oct 18 Women Now’s Bay Area Durga Utsav, at Sneha Banquet Hall, Sunnyvale from Oct 19 to Oct 22. In Southern California: Dakshini’s Durga pujo is scheduled for Oct 23 to Oct 25 the venue tba In Washington, D.C., Sanskriti’s Durga Pujo at Gaithersburg High School in Maryland on Oct 24 and Oct 25 Northern Virginia Bengali Association’s Pujo is to be held at Mclean High School in Virginia on October 17 and 18. n
His area of speciality is painting the eyes of an idol. When painting is in progress Sanatan works the details through strokes of his brushes as he transforms a model into a goddess.
No Money, No Enthusiasm
Many clay modelers have found the business of idol making declining steadily despite the number of pujas increasing every year, along with their budgets. In fact good clay modelers are dwindling in numbers. The hereditary practice of a father teaching his art to his son is now an idealistic concept, hardly ever implemented. The younger generation is not enthusiastic enough to take to clay idol making as a profession. After two and a half centuries about a thousand artisans throughout West Bengal still survive on idol-making, but not even a hundred of them are able to make ends meet today. The industry of idol making is not recognized by the Government because of its instability and volatility. A loan from a nationalized bank being difficult to obtain, artisans have to procure an initial working capital from money lenders at a very high rate of interest. Raw materials along with wages have skyrocketed whereas prices of idols have not proportionately increased. Having faced such constraints himself Sanatan has not taught his trade to his son.
Yet, despite these challenges, Sanatan Rudra Pal is one of the few who has succeeded in building up an excellent clientele in this competitive business of idol making.
Fiberglass Modeling
A new breed of artists and designers from Art colleges shun the age old practice of clay modeling. They are choosing to work with media like paper pulp, brass and bamboo to build the icons of the goddess. Some sculptors make fiberglass models in addition to traditional clay idols. Fiberglass models are light and easy to transport and are sought after in the west. Durga Puja is usually organised by Bengali associations in the United States. Most of the idols found in the United States are made of fiberglass. Prices for a five-foot-tall fiberglass idol of Durga could range between $1,750 to $3,000.
A Word on Pollution
At the end of the festival every Durga icon of clay is immersed in a local river or any other water body. Women, blowing their conch shells, and ululating, smear the face of the goddess with vermillion as they bid her farewell till the next year. The flip side of this custom, however, is water pollution. Lead and chromium, used to color models, make the water toxic. The straw and bamboo structures decompose in water and pollute it. Artisans have been asked to use lead free paints, but that would make the price of their works exorbitant, which many organizers are unwilling to pay for. One doubts if this sanctified custom of bidding farewell to the gods during immersion will last long, as idol-making itself may face eventual extinction. Like his predecessors Sanatan Rudra Pal will also be forgotten once his days as an artist are over. The legacy of a traditional art left behind will gather dust lying unattended. n Gautam Banerjee is a freelance writer and documentary film maker. His works, based on contemporary social issues, have been published and screened in India and abroad. He survives by teaching physics and mathematics.
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education
Liberate that Engineering Degree! By Shivakumar Raman
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y oldest son, a senior in college, is a mechanical engineering major, and he has chosen to take additional classes in religion, politics and linguistics. He explained to me the connection thus, “engineers still have to fit in society, know how to interact with people from all over the world, and learn from everyone’s history.” I have heard the same sentiment expressed by some of his friends pursuing engineering fields. And yet most engineering programs in public schools are not responsive to additional classes in humanities and the social sciences. The core engineering curriucula is set to accept only 10% of courses from other disciplines. Why can’t we provide all students, regardless of the major selected, a comprehensive human education? Advisory boards of engineering colleges strongly recommend the incorporation of “soft skills” into STEM degrees to improve students’ ability to communicate with others. In plain English, teachers and college administrators want students to be taught to read, write and speak in addition to learning formulation and solutions to engineering problems. In my own experience, breadth and context are as important as depth and concept. Now, if one wants to be a pure mathematician, scientist, or engineering researcher, he/she should delve deeper into necessary research. But for a practitioner’s job, in any industry, entrepreneurship, or consultancy, liberal arts courses can facilitate critical thinking, comprehension of societal context, and effective writing. Liberal arts courses teach students to better understand complexity, diversity, and change. And yet its pursuit has diminished over the years at colleges and universities. Employers of high-tech firms are demanding more specialization in areas within engineering and computer science. Consequently, many parents are steering their children toward surer “return-promising” degrees. 12 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California |October 2015
So, do we really educate students to think, or do we train them to do just one thing really well? Should we foster teaching or learning? As an engineering professor, I myself have lectured at middle and high schools about the benefits of pursuing a STEM degree in college. There is certainly a need for more engineers as we continue to build nations and create wealth and value. How then can we achieve a balance between practice specificities and knowledge generalities? Even within engineering, accreditation in individual disciplines requires a balance of foundation courses, subject core, and engineering electives. The total hours cannot exceed 120 hours by many, and the requirements cannot push the curriculum over four years. A longer curriculum could present a problem for parents and students in the light of rising college costs, and availability of financial loans. Liberal arts education in the 1950s through 70s by schools such as Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton often promoted humanities, social sciences, and fundamental sciences including mathematics. The degrees leading to societal evolution and growth depended on such “general education.” The students were allowed to seek breadth rather than specialize within the three fields, as necessary. Some Ivy League and prestigious private schools encourage this approach even to this day. Consequently, students from these schools are often sought after for their liberal thought regardless of major and specialization. Per aacu.org, “a liberal education helps students develop a sense of social responsibility, as well as strong and transferable intellectual and practical skills such as communication, analytical and problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings.”
Martha Nussbaum said it best: “when we ask about the relationship of a liberal education to citizenship, we are asking a question with a long history in the Western philosophical tradition. We are drawing on Socrates’ concept of ‘the examined life,’ on Aristotle’s notions of reflective citizenship, and above all on Greek and Roman Stoic notions of an education that is ‘liberal’ in that it liberates the mind from bondage of habit and custom, producing people who can function with sensitivity and alertness as citizens of the whole world.” The current structuring of engineering curricula and degree plans in many universities often makes students follow a specific but constrained path that purportedly enables them to find better employment. All the same, this can often discourage serendipity and stymie logic, thus impeding creative thought. So, do we really educate students to think, or do we train them to do just one thing really well? Should we foster teaching or learning? There is one option worth considering that could partially address this age-old dilemma at public institutions: creating an accelerated BS/MS program, accented by general education. This way participating students could get an MS with an added year for basic liberal education, and in a sense retain some good from both worlds. The world around us is evolving. We have an obligation to facilitate the agents of that evolution! n Shivakumar Raman is a professor of engineering at the University of Oklahoma. He is an avid reader and his interests span engineering education and college admissions to analyzing sports and multiple genres of music.
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 13
opinion
Welcome to the Gandhi Center It is high time India uses its ample soft power By Ranjani Iyer Mohanty
J
oseph Nye, professor of Although at times its traditions, diversities, consciously, calculatingly, and political science at Harcoordinately uses its ample soft vard, coined the term soft and intricacies can seem overwhelming and power to its advantage. One way power and defines it as “the a burden to getting things done, when it is to open a global chain of Ganability to get what you want dhi Centers. through attraction, rather comes to filling the shelves of a cultural In terms of language, these than coercion or payments.” center, India has a brimming treasure chest centers could offer Hindi classes Unlike military power and or Tamil, Bengali, and Sanskrit, economic power, a country’s to choose from. not to mention any of the other soft power comes from its 20 official languages. It could and promote Chinese culture. Operating culture, political values, and reclaim the word “yoga” and offer out of existing universities and schools, the original and authentic yoga experience. foreign policies. “there are now 475 such institutes in 120 It could offer classes in Ayurveda, meditaSome of the most visible examples of countries” (The Economist, July 25, 2015), tion, classical music (North and South), soft power today are American. The result including two in India. is seen the world over in the popularity of Bollywood dancing, and cooking (state India has less economic power and less by state)—not to mention on-site cafes. American books, music, TV shows, movmilitary power than China. And therefore It could hold events, such as film screenies, and universities. Many of these aspects —to get support from friends, minimize ings, art exhibitions, as well as talks on are promoted by the American Center, damage from enemies, and convince by- the old (philosophy and history) and the which operates as part of the Public Afstanders—India’s soft power is all the new (IT and management). It could even fairs Section of United States Embassies more important; fortunately, it has plenty have bridal fairs and offer advice on how globally. The American Center in Delhi of it. has a library on all things American, with a to have any of the many styles of big, fat China lost much of its old and fascinat- Indian weddings. special focus on higher education. It holds ing culture during its Cultural Revolution talks on American policy, global issues, The Gandhi Center has a nice ring to and now it seems to be trying to reclaim it and Mohandas K. Gandhi would be the and how to study in America, as well as it through Confucius (The Economist, July ideal poster-person. He’s likely the bestfilm screenings, like last week’s Foxcatcher 25/2015). India has an equally ancient but known Indian. And he would certainly be and next week’s The Theory of Everything. unbroken culture. It has several ancient a supporter of soft power; in fact, he may Other countries also wield their soft sources of soft power: e.g., philosophy, well be the grandfather of the term, given power through such cultural centers. Ayurveda, yoga, languages, history. And his clever use of non-violence. Nye himself France’s Alliance Francaise is a franchise of it also has its modern sources: India pro- said that Gandhi, with his choice of soft “850 establishments in 136 countries on duces the most number of movies per power, was “able to attract moderate maall five continents,” offering French lanyear; Indians are one of the most success- jorities over time, and the consequences guage classes and cultural programs of all ful emigrant groups; several high profile were impressive both in effectiveness and things French. The British Council (a regglobal companies are now led by Indians in ethical terms.” Gandhi was an avid istered charity sponsored by the UK gov(the most recent being Google’s Sundar proponent of many aspects of India’s culernment’s Foreign and Commonwealth Pichai); and after a long time, the country ture. And by standing up for all of India’s Office) operates in over 100 countries and has a dynamic, articulate leader in Naren- classes, castes, and religions, he embodies offers mostly English language classes but dra Modi. also other forms of education as well as inclusivity. Although at times its traditions, divercultural events. The Instituto Cervantes, Namaste, and welcome to the Gandhi sities, and intricacies can seem overwhelm- Center. n “a non-profit organization founded by the ing and a burden to getting things done, Government of Spain” offers Spanish lanwhen it comes to filling the shelves of a guage classes and cultural programs. cultural center, India has a brimming trea- Ranjani Iyer Mohanty is a writer, editor, and If this looks like a club of erstwhile sure chest to choose from. colonial rulers using soft power to extend commentator, based in New Delhi. She has As India enters its 70th year of in- contributed to several publications, including their glory days, the picture is changing. dependence, its position within Asia be- the International Herald Tribune, the New A little more than a decade ago, Chicomes more critical, and its status on the York Times, the WSJ, the Financial Times, na’s Ministry of Education created the world stage grows, it’s high time India the Globe & Mail, and the Atlantic. Confucius Institute to teach Mandarin 14 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California |October 2015
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16 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California |October 2015
fiction
Katha Fiction Contest 2015 • Honorable Mention
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he steamy heat tendrils wrap around my throat and pummel at my head. I am still, suspended in the short gaps between my stilted breaths. Outside the snow is falling, and the dim light kisses each snowflake, making it sparkle for a fleeting, timeless moment before extinguishing it. It seems paradoxically surreal—the serenity of this instant, the intense cold outside, and the throbbing fire inside me. The heat waves between us make you sway as I stare into your sandy, yellow eyes. Flecked with bronze and brown, they carry the colors of a lizard and the infinite expanse of the desert. I recall smooth, flawless sand dunes—each undulating form so familiar to my memory, yet so distant from my reality today, two decades after the time when I was a young girl. Your eyes also remind me of the Middle Eastern heat, and the exfoliating, coarse breeze right before a sandstorm. The smell of dust and sand that stays in my nostrils. I am made from that same dust now, crumbling, on edge. I recognize that almost camouflaged cord on the side of your face. It is the same scar, aged now. I know you. I remember you. But I am nothing to you. *** It was early one morning almost two decades ago when I had woken to the heat, the sheets on the bed tangled like spaghetti around my bare legs. I thought I had felt an earthquake. But then every tremor reminded me of the Loma Prieta that I had experienced as a freshman studying architecture at Berkeley. I waited for its successor and it came silently, like an inevitable shadow, a low rumble, a vibration, with sounds frozen in the air. I sat up in bed and listened. In the darkness outside, flashes of light in the sky, like a fireworks display, forced their way in through the sheer curtains hanging like a hijab on the windows. Everything then reminded me of California—of earthquakes, and July Fourths. The blue light of the television outside
By Tanvi Chawla Buch
A Creative Commons image
A border is a taut string, tense and poised in the tug-of-war between two countries, on the brink of snapping. Just pinch it off the page with your pincer grasp, and throw it away. That was the reality of the border between Kuwait and Iraq now. There, and now gone. shimmered and bounced off the corridor walls, zigzagging like a serpent towards my room. I walked down the corridor into the dark living room where my parents were huddled around the TV, intense expressions of shock and disbelief on their electric white faces, as if sitting closer to the TV screen would change the reality before their eyes. The screen replicated the flashes in the sky—translating with words and images the language of the event unfolding around us. In the morning, our quiet street was populated by Iraqi military as they paraded up and down, seemingly continuing the pomp of the fireworks display the night before. We momentarily forgot what had happened as we went about our humdrum routines of the weekend. Then a flash of uniform through the curtains would remind us of the invasion—an abrupt assault into our lives that we believed would surely blow over in a day or two when the
world woke up to it and reacted. The soldiers came to our door with sun-constricted pupils and asked for batteries and water, and squinted and peered beyond our shapes towards the dark and cool innards of the house behind us, envious of the air-conditioned temperatures within and returning with reluctance to the blazing heat outside in early August. Once, they asked for our radio. They, too, were trying to understand what they were doing there. They were respectful, trying to be kind to us, as kind as they could be in this terrible situation. We were all trying to keep up civilized pretenses. The world aligned with Kuwait. Every day, the news reported yet another country speaking out against Iraq, offering Kuwait military help. Boycotts and embargoes were flung around, shifting in permutations around Iraq, which was always at the center. Our daily vocabulary changed. We were using words that we had only read
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 17
B
effort to manage the hundred and ten about in history lessons. degree heat. Nine hours and several checkDuring that time, India was silent. It points later, we were in Baghdad. It was incomprehensible. We felt disapwas a bustling city, energetic, frenetic. pointed, angry, abandoned, forgotten. There were no signs there of the Money, that animal we seldom historic upheaval just next door that talked about, seldom needed to worhad been forced upon our lives. ry about, now lifted its heavy head Stepping outside, walking to the from sleep and stared at us. There airport entrance, we were stung by was no way to avoid looking at it. the flying sand, a million particles We had very little cash and that too pricking us at the same time, and was fast depleting. Suddenly, prices a million more coming, like miniaof things were realized, and compared ture darts falling from the sky. My lips against what we had at hand. Even became dry and chapped in an instant, though we were prosperous, we had no A Creative Commons image but I didn’t dare moisten them for relief access to the black figures on our carefully in case the sand in the air entered my filed bank statements. The bank was open mouth and stuck to my lips and an empty, desolate building where no You, in full uniform, opened tongue. We squinted to prevent the one came to work anymore. The ATM sand from entering our eyes. At the machine had already been vandalized, your door and stepped out with we bought four one-way air one of the few visible and petty signs of a long silhouette that could only airport, tickets from Baghdad to Amman. Our disorder in the country. journey out was to be in three weeks, We weighed and balanced, compared ha e been a ri e the earliest date available. We spent a and contrasted—this item being more night at a hotel in Baghdad, parting precious than that, what we really need, with our cash with frugal hesitation. I and what we could do without. We sold I had read about in my architecture history some electronics at a thriving black market class—had it not been for the hard facts remember our dinner that evening. How in Kuwait City and raised funds for our that we now knew: that Iraq had invaded easy it was to forget the big picture over a air tickets out of Baghdad, Iraq, the only Kuwait; that only the Iraq-Kuwait border simple meal. How easy it was to live in the airport accessible to us now. Aside from was open for free travel; that we did not moment, the present, the now. India, Jordan, too, had taken a neutral, need a visa since it was all one country non-reactive stand against Iraq. As a rehe drive back to Kuwait the next day now; that flying out of annexed-Kuwait sult, there was some air travel allowed was desolate. Towards the evening, it was no longer an option; and that we between Baghdad, and Jordan’s capital were now prisoners in an area larger than seemed that night was falling early, despite Amman, which subsequently became a just Kuwait. That choices that we had the long summertime days. It was as if Kuwait gateway to the rest of the world. day before had inexplicably vanished, like a was experiencing a massive desert mirage. We kept driving, looking at could only start to understand the long Iraq now with new eyes, a novel attitude. view a country must take before it takes It was more developed than Kuwait, but a stand, makes a decision. It is so easy to the bland desert was the same. For a brief FIRST PLACE: speak out, to condemn and shun; so much part of the journey, the crisp, hard blade of LWALA Unsaid by IQBAL PITA harder to remain silent, to think and weigh the horizon where the Arabian Gulf met a rni lifo Cherry Valley, Ca each consequence. Silence does not always the sky on our right contrasted with the
T
I
mean consent. Silence buys you time to think. Some silences may well save people. Over the next month, we understood India’s silence. It was to keep the Indian population in Kuwait safe. Later we would learn that India had been quietly negotiating a way to keep them unharmed, as she prepared to launch an official rescue to airlift them directly out of Kuwait. The mind is a clever place—it is in the knowing of what has happened that affects the experience. The drive to Iraq two weeks later was like any road trip we might have previously planned for and undertaken—to see a new country, to explore the Babylonian ruins, to see the ziggurats that
18 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California | October 2015
Katha 2015 Results
organic, soft curves of desert sand on our left. The grandeur of the mammoth bodies of sand continued across miles, across borders, unbroken. Political borders became irrelevant to us. A border is a taut string, tense and poised in the tug-of-war between two countries, on the brink of snapping. Just pinch it off the page with your pincer grasp, and throw it away. That was the reality of the border between Kuwait and Iraq now. There, and now gone. The sun indefatigably beat down on our car and competed with the noisy blast of the air conditioning inside. The white noise was soothing, a futile
SECOND PLACE: JYOTHI Miss, Dolly and Hulk by ia Ind re, alo VINOD, Bang THIRD PLACE: NGULY, San 10-4 by SANJOY GA Jose, California ION: HONORABLE MENT LA BUCH, AW CH I Brink by TANV Los Altos, California ION: HONORABLE MENT HOSH NT SA K VE Courage by VI a San Francisco, Californi
power outage, and street lights, freeway signs, indeed all lights were unexpectedly turned off with a big switch. Click. We drove on, surprised and scared. There was not another pair of headlights on the freeway, nothing to illuminate the streets around us but beams from our own car. The sparkling jewel-like lane reflectors merged into one another and made bright ribbons on either side of our moving car. We crossed the border and had been driving in Kuwait for over an hour when a pair of headlights appeared in our rearview mirror. Our terrified eyes swept from the short stretch of headlight-illuminated road before us to repeatedly making eye contact with the twin headlights in our rearview mirror. When we changed lanes, the car behind changed lanes too. We drove on, too scared to stop, not understanding why there were no other cars, no other lights, no feeling of safety. Finally, after an hour of tailgate-torture, the car changed lanes, accelerated and stopped in front of us, blocking our lane. We stopped as well and waited, scared for our lives, and worried that we were to be hurt, bruised, left alive in some state, or left for dead, unwitnessed in this remote desert.
You, in full uniform, opened your door and stepped out with a long silhouette that could only have been a rifle. You turned to face our car, as if on stage in the spotlight. Then you walked over to us. You knew where the driver sat, but continued walking to the back of the car and opened my door. Your rifle entered first and then your head appeared in the open doorway of the car. Triggered by the door, the dim light of the interior shone on your face and every hair of your mustache. A long purple scar from the corner of your left eye down your cheek looked like the edge of a mask that you might take off any time. To reveal what? A kinder situation? And those eyes. My sister, then sixteen, and I, nineteen, shrank back. “Do you know it is curfew right now?” You appeared to address my father in the driver’s seat, without breaking your gaze from my face. Your d’s and t’s were soft, as spoken in Arabic. The silence deafened me. We stilled in anticipation of what you could do with us, of what you would do with us. Time stopped so you could contemplate, plan, decide and reject. Then you slammed close the door and
beckoned to us to go. You got in your car, and followed us for another hour to our town, and when you saw us stop at the entry checkpoint, you drove away. I remember your eyes. I remember your face. I lived my whole life in that moment when your eyes met mine. I lived several different lives in that moment when your eyes met mine. You spared us. We lived. n
Tanvi Chawla Buch is a licensed architect and playwright. She loves reading, hiking, watercolor, Bikram yoga and all things Bollywood. Her first play Admission received a staged reading in the Bay Area in June 2015. Judges: Vikram Chandra’s works include Red Earth and Pouring Rain (a novel), Love and Longing in Bombay (collection of short stories), Sacred Game (a novel) and Geek Sublime: The Beauty of Code, The Code of Beauty (nonfiction.) Sonia Faleiro is the award winning author of Beautiful Thing: Inside the Secret World of Bombay’s Dance Bars.
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What about those interest rates?
Well, the Fed is poised increase the rates, in case you missed the news from Forbes, in March 2015. Last time Fed increased the rate was about 10+ years ago. They raised it on 17 different occasions over 2004–2006, in equal increments of 0.25%. However, even if the Fed does not begin to raise interest rates until late 2015, that does not mean that mortgage rates won't increase. Back in 2013, there was a perception of rising interest rates change. Even though the Fed actually did not take any action, mortgage rates went from 3.500% in April 2013 to 4.500% by December 2013.
What should you do?
If you have a good rate, say 3.750% for a 30 years fixed program and if you are happy with it, do nothing. However, if you want to switch to an ARM, get cash from equity, consolidate debts, get rid of PMI or have been dreaming about switching to a 15 years fixed, do it now. I know many clients who switched to 10 years fixed in the last refinance boom of 2004. Their homes are paid off now! Who says you need to keep a 30 years mortgage? Let me help you get your financial house in order! Call me now to get these smoking hot rates! October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 19
investment
Does Investing in Gold Make Sense?
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or many of us, purchasing gold coins during Diwali is considered auspicious. So it begs the question: does it really make sense to invest in gold?
Historical Gold Trends
Generally speaking, gold has been regarded a safe haven for many people. In recent years, gold prices have been volatile. In 2013, the gold price dropped more than 25%!
Looking at the chart above, you can see that if you invested $1 in gold in 1802, its value would be $3.21 in 2013, a mere 0.6% increase. Stocks, by comparison, would turn your $1 investment from 1802 to $930,550 in 2013. Does this mean investing in gold is a bad idea? Not necessarily. Given the right economic conditions, gold can be a great investment! The key is to have the right mix of investments, gold being one of them.
How is Gold Priced?
Gold prices are fixed twice daily in US Dollars by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA). There are ten price participants who have been accredited to contribute to the LBMA Gold Price. This serves as an indicator and basis for the market price, also
By Kunal Sampat known as the spot price. When you search “gold price today” in your favorite search engine, what you see is the spot price for gold. The retail gold price is generally greater than the spot price for the following reasons: Cost to Create Gold Coins When you purchase physical gold coins, gold bars known as bullion are melted and molded into coins. This leads to an additional cost that is passed to the purchaser. Brand of Gold The four wellknown brands of physical gold are the American Gold Eagle (most expensive), Canadian Maple Gold Leaf, South African Krugerrand and Credit Suisse Gold Bar (least expensive). What you pay for is the brand and there is no difference in the “quality” of gold. Unbranded gold rounds are also available from private mints and cost less than branded gold coins and bars. Gold Purity Karat (symbolized as K) is a measurement for gold purity with 24K being the purest and most expensive form of 100% gold with no mixed metals. 22K gold has 91.6% pure gold that is mixed with 8.4% of other metals. Similarly, there is 18K (75% purity), 14K (58.5% purity), 10K (41.7% purity) and 6K (25% purity) gold.
Ways to Invest in Gold
There are many different ways to invest in gold each with it’s pros and cons. Gold coins, Bars and Rounds Branded and unbranded physical gold can serve as a safety net against inflation or should physical currency ever disappear. Gold Jewelry Gold jewelry serves as a fashion accessory and also an investment. However,
20 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California | October 2015
there are additional costs associated with making gold jewelry, which makes the net price per gram of gold significantly greater than the spot price.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETF)
A Gold Exchange Traded Fund is a marketable security that can be traded like a common stock thereby removing the need to store and secure physical gold. Generally, there are additional fees and commissions associated with ETFs, which may offset any potential upsides in gold prices. You can also purchase stocks of gold mining companies. However the rise in gold prices may not necessarily correlate with the increase in stock price of a gold mining company due to factors such as mismanagement, flooding etc.
What Experts Say
When it comes to investing, you may have heard about asset allocation and diversification. What this means is that you diversify your investments across various asset classes such as gold, commodities, stocks and bonds and allocate specific percentages of your money to each of these asset classes. In his book, Money–Master the Game, Tony Robbins, a motivational coach and personal finance instructor, discusses Ray Dalio’s all-season portfolio. Dalio is the founder of the investment firm Bridgewater Associates. Dalio’s portfolio consisted of 30% stocks, 40% long term US bonds, 15% intermediate bonds, 7.5% commodities and 7.5% gold. The key here is to remember to regularly re-balance your portfolio. It is also important to note that gold prices are very volatile and it is hard to predict the right time to buy and sell gold. Whether gold is the right investment choice for your portfolio depends on your tolerance for risk and investment goals. Happy Investing and Happy Diwali! n Kunal Sampat is part of Sampat Jewellers Inc., a family owned business based in San Jose and Mumbai. This article was inspired by Kunal’s own personal curiosity of what it means to invest in gold.
tax talk
Filing a Tax Extension By Rita Bhayani
Important Tax Dates and Tips i) Individual federal tax returns that were granted an automatic six-month extension are due on October 15. ii) If you have insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you may be getting advance payments of the premium tax credit. These are paid directly to your insurance company and lower your monthly premium. Any changes in your circumstances may affect your premium tax credit. Now is a good time to see if you need to adjust the premium assistance you are receiving, so you don’t end up paying back the IRS. For most American taxpayers, April 15 is Tax Day—the due date for filing their tax return. However, over 10 million taxpayers choose to file an extension. But what exactly does that mean?
What is a Tax Return Extension An extension is a request to the IRS for extra time to file your tax return, but it does not extend the time you have to pay any tax
due. You will owe interest on any amount not paid by the April 15 deadline, plus you may owe penalties. There are two basic penalties that the IRS typically imposes: i) A late filing penalty, and ii) A late payment penalty. If you file an extension and then file by the October 15 deadline, you’ll avoid the 5% per month late filing penalty. You still may be subject to the late payment penalty if you didn’t pay any tax due by April 15. If you choose to file an extension, include any amount that you think you might owe to the IRS. The IRS will automatically grant you an additional six months to file your return. Having extra time to finish your return is often necessary, especially if you are still waiting for tax documents to arrive in the mail or you need additional time to organize your tax deductions. Some taxpayers worry that they are more likely to be audited by the IRS if they request an extension. This isn’t true! The IRS uses the same audit determinations on all tax
returns filed. n
Quote Corner “A penny saved is a penny earned.” ~Benjamin Franklin
Trivia Corner On September 3, 1833, the New York Sun first appeared, marking the beginning of the “penny press,” inexpensive newspapers sold on sidewalks by newspaper boys. The paper focused on human interest stories and sensationalism. By 1836 it was the largest seller in America with a circulation of 30,000. n Rita Bhayani is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant practicing at Pleasanton, CA and she protects the clients from the IRS. She provides tax planning, accounting, payroll and outsourced CFO services too. For more information log on to www.ritacpa.net. Reprinted with permission from the National Association of Tax Professionals.
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 21
ask a lawyer
How Do I Deal With Sexual Harassment at Work? By Bobby Shukla
Q A
I believe I am being sexually harassed at work. What are my rights?
Sexual harassment is unlawful and your employer has a legal obligation to protect you from it. The definition of sexual harassment includes behavior that creates a hostile work environment, interfering with your ability to perform your job, and behavior that conditions employment benefits (like a raise, promotion or continued employment) on submission to sexual conduct. A hostile work environment may include sexual comments, i.e. about sex or body parts, sexual propositions or sexual jokes. It may also include visual conduct, such as leering, gestures or pictures and physical conduct such as touching or blocking movements. The conduct must be severe or pervasive (frequent) and unwelcome to be regarded as harassing. The law protects you against a hostile
work environment even if the conduct is not performed by a supervisor. Your employer must also address harassment from a co-worker or customer/client. As a victim of sexual harassment, you may be entitled to monetary damages based on the harassment alone. You do not need to show that you have been denied an employment opportunity or loss in pay. If you believe you are being sexually harassed, you should report the conduct to your employer. Your employer is legally obligated to put an end to any harassment that is brought to their attention. When it comes to harassment by a supervisor, however, your employer may be liable whether or not it knew about it. Your employer must immediately and thoroughly investigate reports of sexual harassment. If harassment is found, your employer must take prompt and effective remedial action and communicate the action to you. Your employer must also
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prevent further harassment. The law prohibits retaliation for complaints of sexual harassment whether or not harassment is found. Retaliation may include any action that materially and negatively affects the terms and conditions of your employment, including demotion, an unwanted transfer or termination. You may also be entitled to monetary damages resulting from any retaliation. If you have suffered harassment or retaliation, you should consult a lawyer to determine potential remedies. n Bobby Shukla represents individuals in employment law matters. She can be reached at (415) 986-1338. Disclaimer: The information provided here is generalized and not for purposes of providing legal advice. You should contact an attorney to obtain advice regarding your particular circumstance.
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.
October 2015
T
his column carries priority 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 October 2015.
In the tables below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed. “Current” means that numbers are available for all qualified applicants.
FAMILY PREFERENCE VISA DATES Preference Dates for India 1st Jan 15, 2008 2A Apr 15, 2014 2B Jan 15, 2009 3rd May 22, 2004 4th Feb 08, 2003 NOTE: F2A numbers subject to percountry limit are available to applicants beginning with priority dates beginning March 01, 2014 and earlier than April 15, 2014.
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Preference Dates for India 1st Current 2nd July 01, 2011 3rd July 01, 2005 Other July 01, 2005 Workers 4th Current Certain Current Religious Workers 5th Current Targeted Employment Areas 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. Source: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/ en/law-and-policy/bulletin/2016/visa-bulletin-for-october-2015.html
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perspective
How I Keep Busy After My Youngest Flew the Coop By Hema Alur Kundargi
“Y
ou are going back to graduate school? Oh!” is the usual response I receive when I tell people about my plans. The facial expression that goes with the “oh” is particularly interesting. Sometimes it signifies pity as in, “Why would you want to put your self through the misery of school life again?” or sometimes it signifies admiration, “Aren’t you brave to venture into school life again!” and sometimes a very confused reaction just short of saying “I can’t figure out if this is smart or foolish.” Whatever the response, I always have the same answer “I believe I have a mutated gene which likes to study.” At times, I wonder why I decided to pursue graduate school after a gap of nearly three decades. It is true that my life was busy with transitions from changing diapers to preschool, middle school and high school. And with a rambunctious son and super shy daughter, there was much to deal with. But before I knew it, they were off to college. And time slowed. I did not have to worry about after-school activities and could get by with simple one-pot meals and salads. My husband and I were like a newly married couple again. When we were newly married, my husband had asked me to look deep within my heart to figure out what I really wanted to do. I had always dreamt of becoming a
dietitian and working in a hospital, but at the time it had seemed too complicated to pursue that dream—I had an accounting and taxation background and I would have to go through science pre-requisites before enrolling for the dietetics program. So I bubble wrapped my dream and continued with life. Fast-forward 25 years and I was dreaming again, “How do I keep myself busy when my youngest flies the coop?” With my husband’s encouragement I decided to enroll in community college for a biology refresher course. The class was absolutely fascinating and I could not
24 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California | October 2015
wait after each class to chat with my professor to ask more questions, and over the semester I became really good friends with her. She sensed my apprehension and hesitation in going to graduate school. “Hema, just do it. Everything will fall in place if you really want to do something, all the forces of the Universe will work for you,” she had said and her words are etched in my memory. So, I decided to take the leap and started my graduate studies in nutrition and dietetics. I was fifty and my youngest had just left for college. Surprisingly, my children played cheerleaders when I went back to college. When I complained about a B grade, my daughter consoled me with “You worked really hard, so the grade you really earned is an A,” she assured me. And once when I was worried about failing and my scientist son asked, “Do you realize scientists would never have flourished if they feared failure. Why are you so afraid of failing? What happens if you fail? And if you fail, won’t you know how to do better next time?” My empty-nest-life is challenging with school projects, assignments and eccentric professors. Last week as I was washing dishes I saw a small nest in the bush near my kitchen window. I texted my children: “We are no longer an empty nest, Mr. and Mrs. Hummingbird have moved in with us.” n Hema Kundargi has a weekly cooking show on local TV. She used to be a food columnist for India Currents.
media
The Secret Illness of Leaders i
Carter s i ni e e brace o his
e ical roble
By Sandip Roy
E
ven in his nineties, Jimmy Carter continues to surprise. At a press conference the former United States president announced that the cancer that had been removed from his liver had reappeared in his brain. That is always the ultimate nightmare of any cancer patient— that it’s never truly gone, always waiting around the corner. But Carter was at peace. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” said Carter. “I do have a deep religious faith which I am very grateful for.” Jimmy Carter left his presidency a diminished man. Somewhat like Manmohan Singh years later in India, Carter had come to power as a man famous for his decency and honesty. Like Singh, he left office as a leader regarded as somewhat weak, deposed by a more swashbuckling Ronald Reagan who played up his own cowboy image. But in his long post-presidency Carter has steadily risen in public esteem, not just by embracing humanitarian projects but by taking decisions that required a moral courage. Ex-presidents either disappear into the sunset to write memoirs or they lend their name to laudable goals that are also largely uncontroversial. Carter rebuked his own Democratic successors like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama over issues such as drone strikes, Guantanamo Bay and pardoning an indicted commodities trader. He took on the powerful Israel lobby calling its policies in the Palestinian territories apartheid. And the devoutly religious Carter who served as a deacon severed his own ties with the Southern Baptist Convention because he found their doctrine “increasingly rigid.” None of these decisions could have been easy and all of them exposed him to criticism. His decision to hold a press conference to bare his health issues is just as gutsy and principled. Personal health is 100 percent a pri-
What Carter did was break that taboo and face his disease s arel He i not do it with false optimism, b t ith reat race vate matter. No one has any reason to out someone’s health problems unless that patient is willing to disclose it. But having said that one cannot but be admiring of a public figure who chooses to do that. It requires both a courage and a humility that politicians rarely have because an admission of illness is an admission of vulnerability. Carter could have just quietly stepped down from his foundation and dialed back his active schedule without disclosing the real reason. Most of us are reluctant to discuss our private health issues because we do not want the attention, the pity, the barrage of endless advice, and, depending on the malady, the judgement. But for a political leader or public figure, there’s also the fear that they will be regarded as damaged and weak in the public eye, and lose some of their clout, become more easily replaceable. Jinnah never revealed his tuberculosis problems to the public afraid it would hurt his political standing blaming his health problems on “over strain.” By 1948 he was dead from lung cancer and that spawned speculation that continues to this day about whether the subcontinent’s history might have been different if the leaders had known that Jinnah was dying even as he was pushing for Partition. That probably exacerbated his resolve to keep his health problems a secret. That need for secrecy was obviously true in the Soviet Union where the health of leaders was a state secret. The news of Stalin’s stroke came out only a day before
he died. Leonid Brezhnev’s failing health was apparent but never mentioned. His successors died in quick succession but their illnesses were never disclosed as other leaders jockeyed for power. Leaders should not feel the need to make their personal medical history a matter of public record but it is also true that the secrecy clampdown around it adds to the burden of the illness in the public eye. Politicians vanish from the public eye. Some rumors are dismissed, some are deflected to other less serious-sounding ailments, none of it dispelling the feeling of an unsavory conspiracy. In the end the illness itself becomes the unmentionable elephant in the room, the subject of whispers and loaded comments. It does make an enormous difference to millions of cancer patients if celebritites choose to be upfront about fighting the disease. It normalizes the disease as opposed to making the ill feel they have been marked as part of some separate secret society where they are now the “other.” Cancer is terribly commonplace and becoming more and more common by the day. We fear it enough to not want to go for check-ups in case we find out something we would rather not know. The secrecy around it adds to the aura of the feeling of a death sentence. It becomes the great taboo. What Carter did was break that taboo and face his disease squarely. He did not do it with false optimism, but with great grace, tying his prognosis with the debilitating parasitic guinea worm the Carter Center has been trying to eradicate. “I hope the last guinea worm dies before I do, “ said Carter. He made the illness simply a human condition. It sounds obvious but it was a truly rare and remarkable thing to do. n Sandip Roy is the Culture Editor for Firstpost.com. A version of this story appeared on Firstpost.com.
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 25
On Inglish
Hey, I Need Cash! By Kalpana Mohan
cash, noun. 1590-1600; < Portuguese caixa < Tamil kaacu copper coin < Sanskrit karsa a weight (of precious metal)
A
sense our disappointment. He cupped my face in his two gargantuan brown garbage container greeted us at the hands. “But mom, don’t you think it’s totally cool?” From entrance of a grungy two-storey building by the campus. the wall behind him, William Blake’s words, hand-written in Inside, we found a broken suitcase, an old backpack, a green, reached out to me: “To hold infinity in the palm of ripped comforter, and other debris of college life. your hand, and eternity in an hour.” Our son was moving out. He had lived in the residence for two On our way back home, he told us that that he would months while interning at a tech company. In ten weeks, he had never trade the experience of summer living in the co-op for made more cash than I would see in ten months. anything. At a co-op, huge emphasis was placed on being a Whatever I chose to call it, this “thing”—cash, money, moogood citizen, recycling correctly, sharing housework, living la—brought self-worth and validation. For me, it spelt the differtolerantly, accommodating marginalized people, and being ence between the world of words I inhabited—discounting the sensitive to others’ beliefs. He said attending college in the safety net that my husband’s income afforded me—and the Silicon last couple of years had changed his Valley galaxy. My yearly income would mind about the way we continued fit into an antiquated Portuguese cash While he was being molded in to live and about amassing wealth. box. While he was being molded in the The Portuguese word caixa means the model of a valley success stomodel of a valley success story, he be“box” or “coffer.” The word may have gan questioning whether he wanted been inherited from the antiquated ry, he began questioning whether to be another cog in the wheel of Tamil kaashu used to name a small he wanted to be another cog in technology. Did he want to be part of copper coin with a hole in the center, an uber culture that chugged on reor, alternatively, from the Sanskrit kar- the heel o technolo lentlessly, uprooting the poor, steamsa, a weight of gold or silver. Whatever rolling others’ dreams and gentrifying land? Did he want to the origin, cash translated to buying power, and the afternoon in be like the computer that executed, in soulless, logical order, Berkeley, outside our son’s temporary home, my husband and I with no shard of humanitarian foresight? Or did he, given struggled to understand how our son’s fiscal independence seemed his penchant for the arts, want to stay in the humanities? “I at odds with his choice of summer digs. think I can live small,” he said. “I’ve started rebelling against In the living room of the co-op, a gigantic mural of creatures the idea of riches. I dislike money.” with owl eyes and loopy smiles glared down: Where The Wild Later that evening, as we put him on a flight to Europe Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. Behind that wall, leather sofas for his semester abroad, we warned him against romanticizand love seats packed a large gathering room where bath towels ing a life of penury. I was chewing on all the things he had shrouded windows. A projector screen rose in the center, the only said about money, morality and lifestyle when, eight days object that may have been cleaned here since draft-card burning after he landed, we received a frantic call at midnight. “Hey, in 1965 when Berkeley youth rose in protest against the country’s guys,” our son said. “I lost my wallet on the bus. I can maninvolvement in the Vietnam War. age for a while. But I need cash soon.” I chose to ignore the dust and clutter and strode down the Now that he had no cards, he had begun to scrimp. “It corridor where our child shared a room but I could not miss the sucks to live from day to day. You’ve got to watch everything pink vagina painted on the wall to my left. Jessica Rabbit stood you spend cash on. Just make sure to send the credit and waiting on another wall, dipping cleavage, wet red lips, long legs debit cards right away, okay?” Of course I would, I said. and all. Her gun was cocked at me. “I’m not bad,” she hissed into I sat back and pondered the lives of all the parents before a bubble. “I’m just drawn that way.” and after me who had smiled beatifically I turned to my son when we entered his room. “Of every posthrough those auguries of innocence and sible accommodation in the world, why would you live in this?” wisdom. n I asked. The boy’s father rolled his eyes in acknowledgment. We told our son that we knew why he had disbarred us from seeing his Kalpana Mohan writes from California’s Siliplace earlier during the summer. He chuckled. “But isn’t this place con Valley. To read more about her, go to http:// so cool?” he said, tossing his Vans into a plastic bag. kalpanamohan.org and http://saritorial.com. As he pulled off the shirts hanging in his closet, he seemed to 26 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California | October 2015
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books
What Is “I?” By Vidya Pradhan
THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE by Anil Ananthaswamy. Hardcover. 320 Pages. Dutton. $15.12 on Amazon.
G
raham, a 48-year old man, is convinced that his brain has died. No amount of empirical evidence can shake him from his belief in his non-existence. He suffers from Cotard’s syndrome and is the inspiration behind the book’s title. For millennia, mystics and philosophers have grappled with the most existential of questions—“Who am I?” The Upanishads, sacred Indian texts said to have been composed between 800 and 300 BCE, approach the answer by a process of elimination. We cannot be our physical selves, goes the refrain, we cannot be our minds, our memories, or our experiences because all such identities are mutable. Therefore, these ancient thinkers reason, the self must be an immutable form of consciousness that just is, with no defining qualities or characteristics. The phrase they use to describe this consciousness reflects their struggle to grasp this slippery entity—“Neti, Neti” (not this, not that). In The Man Who Wasn’t There author and journalist Anil Ananthaswamy attempts to wrench this question out of the realm of metaphysics into hard science. Instead of the question “Who am I?” Ananthaswamy asks “What is ‘I’?” What in the human brain creates self-identity? When the sense of self we take for granted gets disrupted by illness or disease, what remains? In a fascinating parallel to those philosophers of yore, Ananthaswamy’s search for the answer to that is also a process of clarification by elimination as he methodically breaks down the different parts of the brain that are involved in conditions like schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, and autism to see if we can identify where and how the sense of self is created and whether it persists even when the bricks used to construct it are displaced, damaged, or unavailable. The book begins with a Buddhist
parable about the nature of the self. A man who is caught in a fight between two ogres has all his body parts swapped with that of a corpse. Though a completely different person now, he still retains his identity and, upon meeting some Buddhist monks, asks them whether he exists or not. In reply, the monks throw back the question—Who are you? Though modern science has not yet reached the full capabilities of those limb-swapping ogres, we do encounter phenomena such as phantom limbs, doppelgangers, and ecstatic epilepsy. Each is a disturbance of the self, and each gives a clue to how the brain approaches its own existence. Sufferers of Cotard’s syndrome, like Graham, the patient mentioned earlier, feel not just that they are dead but that they do not exist at all, even though they are aware that they eat, drink, and perform other actions that are the provenance of living persons. On the other end of the spectrum is the case of the Alzheimer’s patient who, despite having regressed to a state where he is unaware of himself and his bodily functions, can recite passages from the Torah perfectly, given the right set of circumstances.
28 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California | October 2015
These disorders, as well as other maladies of the brain, have resulted in a fracture of the perceived self, yet they are wildly different from each other. Philosopher Rene Descartes suggested that “I think, therefore I am,” yet in the case of the Cotard’s patient the trouble seems to be “I think, therefore I am not,” whereas for the Alzheimer’s patient it is “I do not think, yet I still am.” Science buff Ananthaswamy does a wonderful job of corralling these disparate conditions into a cohesive and riveting exploration of the self, an entity that spans the gamut from an implicit being to a creation of narrative. Despite the depth of scientific knowledge plumbed in the book, the language is simple and accessible in the tradition of the late, great neuroscientist Oliver Sacks (The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat). The series of stories that illustrate the complexity of the brain and its creation of selfhood are imbued with emotion and compassion for the sufferers, even as their conditions are explained in scientific terms. Ananthaswamy unveils the map of the brain as we know it so far, but scrupulously stays away from proclaiming that all the answers can be found in science, accepting that the manifestations found in the brain in the disorders he highlights may be a case of correlation and not causation. By the end of the book, we are asking the same questions of ourselves—What are the minimal parameters to create a sense of self? Is the concept of self a “property of the system?” Are we merely a summary of the inferences of our brain? The Man Who Wasn’t There may be a scientific journal, but it makes philosophers of us all. n Vidya Pradhan is a freelance writer and a published author of children’s books. She was the editor of India Currents from June 2009 to February 2012. She hosts the popular Safari Quiz Show every Saturday on 1550 AM in the San Francisco Bay Area.
This Day Has Ended By Rajesh C. Oza
BEING MORTAL by Atul Gawande. Metropolitan Books, 2014. 304 pages. Hardcover $15.78 • • • • • •
S
Has the author chosen a relevant topic? Check! Does he have passion for the subject? Check! Will the opening chapter grab the reader’s interest? Check! Are the characters three-dimensional? Check! Is the writing descriptive? Check! Has newness (something novel) been given birth? Check! But this time, it’s death not birth.
ome five years ago, the pages of India Currents used the above framework for a review of The Checklist Manifesto. In that important book, Dr. Atul Gawande suggested that the practice of medicine, this life-giving and life-saving calling, would be greatly improved by the simple, unheralded, and largely untaught technique called a checklist. If only the end of life were so simple, then the good doctor’s latest book, Being Mortal need not have been written, reviewed, nor read. But neither life nor death are simple matters. Is the book relevant? Unless death-defying cryonics blinds one to the realities of life’s end state, the relevance of this book is universal. Gawande looks to Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich to unmask the deception that so many of us are so willing to accept: “Ivan Ilyich has flashes of hope that maybe things will turn around, but as he grows weaker and more emaciated he knows what is happening. He lives in mounting anguish and fear of death. But death is not a subject that his doctors, friends, or family can countenance. That is what causes him his most profound pain.” What about the author’s passion for his subject? Like so many of us with connections to the premodern world where death is a part of life rather than apart from life, Gawande looks back with common sense to look forward with empathic passion. Even in the United States, a mere half
century ago most people died in their homes. Today, the percentage of deaths at home across the industrialized world has dropped precipitously into the low teens. Gawande passionately believes that this shift is not inevitable. Compassionately considered choice might result in more of us spending our last days with our loved ones, in our own homes. And while we patients may be very fond of our doctors and nurses, few of us would elect to spend our final days surrounded by clinical white coats and antiseptic white walls. And how about that opening chapter? There are two quotes in the introductory chapter that grabs the reader and sets the tone for the rest of the book: “Death, of course, is not a failure. Death is normal. Death may be the enemy, but it is also the natural order of things.” Sadly, medical professionals have been socialized into feeling that they have failed their patients and their patients’ families if somehow they don’t consistently perform life-saving miracles. “This experiment of making mortality a medical experience is just decades old. It is young. And the evidence is it is failing.” Hopefully, by being in personal and professional dialogue with each other, we —caregivers, patients, and patients’ loved ones—can all find a way to our own sense of success during those waning days of life. Any compelling characters here? While Being Mortal is about medicine, and thus inevitably the science, economics, and public policy of health care find their way into the book, it is Gawande’s personal response to death and dying that gives life to his words. In comparing how his grandfather (Sitaram) and his father (Atmaram) spent the last stages of their lives, Gawande gives the reader some compelling truths along with these two compelling humans. Sitaram, a centenarian farmer living in a Maharashtrian village, “was surrounded
and supported by family at all times, and he was revered—not in spite of his age but because of it…. When we ate, we served him first. When young people came into his home, they bowed and touched his feet in supplication…. In America, he would almost certainly have been placed in a nursing home…. But in my grandfather’s pre-modern world, how he wanted to live was his choice, and the family’s role was to make it possible.” Ironically, postmodernism argues for choice, and yet Atmaram, a Ohio-based urologist lived his life and practiced his profession in America, a country where compliance with legal regulations and medical ethics would remove much of the decision-making from his hands. Faced with a slow-growth cancer, at first he resisted surgery for nearly half a decade. Eventually, Atmaram consented to surgery and follow-up radiation, neither of which moved the cancer into remission. Deterioration of his physical condition set in rapidly, and quality of life was greatly
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 29
Tickets available at Sulekha.com 30 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California | October 2015
diminished; but this merely emboldened Atmaram’s physicians to summon their considerable technical skills. Dr. Atmaram Gawande’s response was the very human, “I can’t do this. I don’t want this. I don’t want to go through this. I want to die rather than go through this.” Despite his implorations, at the end, Atmaram was taken by his physician wife to a hospital where drugs delayed the inevitable; though the attending physicians proposed a ventilator in the ICU, Atmaram insisted upon returning home, where within a week’s time he would die. While the son does not write much about his own emotional response to his father’s final days, he does write that “endings matter.” Is this work of nonfiction truly novel? Although there is nothing new about death, Gawande’s book has moved many to be in dialog with themselves, their loved ones, and their caregivers. In a world seemingly dedicated to prolonging life, and a profession somewhat in denial around the diminished value of delaying imminent death, conversation about being mortal is truly novel. And, thus, Being Mortal is itself novel. While there is nothing new about dying, we all come to it in our own ways. While I need not be a prophet to know that death will come to me, when confronted by this reality I have always found comfort in the final pages of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. “This day has ended. It is closing upon us even as the waterlily upon Its own tomorrow. What was given here we shall keep, And if it suffices not, then again must we come Together and together stretch our hands unto the giver. Forget not that I shall come back to you…. Farewell to you and the youth I have spent With you. It was but yesterday we met in a dream.” n For Dr. Ahn, Dr. Bhalala, Dr. Kwaiben, NP Beck, Dr. Prasad, Dr. Rachamallu, and Dr. Singh. The Oza Family looks to these caring and careful caregivers for guidance on being mortal.
Innocence Shaken By Melanie Priya Kumar
MANGO CHEEKS, METAL TEETH by Aruna Nambiar. 149 Pages. Tranquebar Press. $26.90 on Amazon.
M
ango Cheeks, Metal Teeth is ostensibly a coming-of-age novel set in 1980s Kerala, and it is also more. It is a fastpaced, entertaining story that brims with humor, a vivid sketch of smalltown life, as well as a subtle satire about societal attitudes and class differences. The plot revolves around the events of one summer vacation in the lives of two families. The first is a wealthy Nair family who have gathered in the ancestral home for their summer vacation. The other is that of their former domestic help, Sundarikutty. The protagonist is Geetha, all of 11 years, and at the heart of all the events is “Devaki Nilayam,” the house of Geetha’s grandparents, where Geetha gains new perspectives on life. Geetha’s experiences can be identified with, both by young adults and also those who have passed that stage in their lives. On the one hand, Geetha learns to deal with rejections as also to build up her confidence with simple joys like learning how to ride a bicycle, finding a way to tame the family’s ferocious dog, or hanging around with the domestic help in the kitchen and learning many things from them, including how to improve her Malayalam. On the other, she experiences, a sense of betrayal by her working-class companions, by accidentally stumbling upon something that shakes her innocence. Nambiar deftly handles the unfolding of class differences, which exacerbate as the story progresses. The inbuilt prejudices of the haves are juxtaposed with the feelings of resentment of the underclass, as when Sundarikutty returns a used sari
that has been gifted to her by her old employer, Devaki Amma. Societal preoccupations and keepingup-with-the-Nairs attitude leads to lies and prevarications and plot twists. Nambiar reveals her keen powers of observation, as she satirizes several such situations and takes pot shots at many of the book’s characters. She also touches upon the Indian obsession with a Gulf job in Kerala and the risks associated with finding one. The corruption in Indian society is portrayed nicely in the dealings of Ration Ramaan and the many adulterations that he resorts to in his ration shop. Replete with humor and original metaphors (sample these: “Sundarikutty brayed like a tickled donkey,” and “Bindu reddened like coconut roasting in a pan”), the author is to be credited also for the descriptions and delineations of her characters, and the amusing names that she gives them like Koovait Kannan and Ration Raaman. Nambiar’s tongue-in-cheek humor surfaces time and again in the book but the story goes much beyond, in the deep, underlying themes that are gently touched upon. Beneath the humor, the reader may experience a sense of pathos at the unbridgeable class differences, as also empathize with the tragic fall of the wealthy. Mango Cheeks, Metal Teeth is undoubtedly multi-layered in its reflections on society and is a great attempt by a first-time author. n Melanie Kumar is a Bangalore-based writer. From a young age, Melanie has been fascinated with the magic of words. She enjoys writing about life in its many manifestations. She also does literary reviews and is an avid traveler, who never misses an opportunity to pen her thoughts about her travels.
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 31
travel
Coconut and Mangrove Dreams A road trip through Kerala By Kalpana Sunder
The Kerala coast at Niraamaya Surya Samudra resort
Pre-dawn tea at the beach
32 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California | October 2015
Yoga at the pavilion
I
am standing on a stunning cliff-top, situated between two deserted strips of honey colored beaches, looking across a jade colored infinity pool fringed by palm trees. Away from the bustle of Kovalam, near Trivandrum, Kerala is Niraamaya Surya Samudra (part of Relais and Chateaux) where the property is studded with typical teak wood Kerala houses called tharavadu with wooden pillars, terracotta roofs and tiled floors built by local craftsmen from recycled wood, garnered from hundred year old Kerala homes. I love the fact that greenery pervades even the bath areas. A gargantuan banyan tree that spreads its tentacles all over the open bath area and watches over a room. It’s a celebration of architecture and the culture of Kerala with multiple elements woven into the landscape—gleaming urulis (circular bell metal vessel) filled with bright red flowers, kalvilakkus (stone
A traditional tharavadu house
lamps), yaalis (part lion, part elephant, part horse sculptures), rotund stone Ganeshas resting beneath the abounding coconut trees guarding their territory in proprietary fashion, brilliant Kerala murals with their natural dyes in orange and ochre livening up walls, heavy wooden doors carved with intricate details, large plantation chairs to watch the sea and small hanging bells outside each room. I am near the the breathtaking coastal village of Pulinkudi, about 10 km from Trivandrum, where Klaus Schleusener, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, transformed a barren hill into his winter home. Today his original house called the “Octagon House” still lives on in the property.
Cottages with spectacular sea views at the Niraamaya Surya Samudra resort
Klaus built the Octagonal House where he spent his winters and eventually, since his friends loved to come and stay with him, he bought some more land and reassembled old Kerala homes. “He transformed the life of the local village where you could not even get five eggs from one shop” says Renjith, the operations manager of the resort. The omnipresent motif of Niraamaya Surya Samudra is of course the sea. At night you hear the waves pounding the rocks as you drift off to sleep, and in the morning you wake up to yoga on the pavilion overlooking the beach and “predawn tea on the beach” with the waves lapping at your toes. The cottages have idyllic positions set in lush foliage and with
magnificent sea views. The best part of the resort is the spa with its own herb garden which provides ingredients for the treatments. I have a simple Abhayanga snanam (bath) with earthy smelling herbs and oils. Therapists gently wash my feet before I am lying supine on a wooden table placed in a bamboo curtained therapy room. After being kneaded by expert hands, I feel like I am almost levitating. Come nightfall we sit on tables at the Essence restaurant and watch a Kathakali performance. Originating in northern Kerala this combines mime, classical music, and intricate eye movements. The make-up with vibrant colours applied to the characters is part of its charm. Traditionally a vibrant green face means good, white indicates A kathakali dancer
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 33
super-human and crimson red signifies the demonic! We take a backwater cruise through mangroves to Poovar estuary where the river Neyyar has breached the sand banks and reached the ocean. It’s a sight I cannot easily forget. The ferocity of the waves, the balance of nature that ensures that the backwaters don’t flood the homes on it and the golden sand banks with tender coconut sellers and brightly dressed locals. Kerala backwaters with deltas, lagoons and estuaries Canoeing through the mangroves is a slice of local life: some young men boisterously washing an elephant named Mahadevan Kutty; a pistachio green mosque; women bathing on the banks and the prolific bird life—a snake bird which has us searching for a decapitated head of a snake in the waters, a sea eagle gliding and soaring and cormorants diving to get their fresh meal. I leave the resort the next day, with a heavy heart and a heavier hamper of fresh organic beetroot pickle and pineapple jam, promising myself a return journey here. Chinese fishing nets From the beaches we make the long road journey to Kochi and stay ioned villas converted to boutique hotels in the historic Fort Kochi which is intriand guesthouses, the ochre St Francis cately connected to the city’s importance church (where Vasco Da Gama, who died down the ages as a trading post for spices. in 1524, was buried before his mortal reThe Portuguese, the Dutch and the Britmains were returned to Portugal 14 years ish settled here in the past attracted by its later) and the large Parade Ground dotted lucrative spice trade. with boys playing a boisterous game of Our home away from home is the cricket under the massive umbrellas of giMalabar House a boutique hotel—a labor ant rain trees. of love by German designer and hotelier Just over a mile away is MattancherJoerg Drechsel and his pretty Basque wife ry, the Jewish quarter, where I get lost Txuku. The property has a history that can in antique warehouses lining Jew Street be traced back to the 1700s. piled with carved wooden doors, window I walk into an airy reception with frames and furniture gleaned from old a huge red sphere suspended from the Kerala homes and the Pardesi Synagogue ceiling and eye catching art on the walls with its Cantonese hand-painted tiles and with a carved wooden horse and a café its ornate Belgian chandeliers. We end courtyard with a frangipani tree. My room up at the water’s edge where we find the has a teak four poster bed, an electric red iconic Chinese nets that look like giant wall with a painting and delightful cotton spiders, erected in teak wood and bamboo cushions. poles with a network of pulleys, silhouI squeeze myself into a local auto for a etted against the setting sun making for a quick conducted tour of the grid of streets, brilliant photo-op. where every door, window and brick offers Come nightfall, Malabar House ena lesson in multi layered history. From the traps you in its romantic ambience with early eighteenth-century Dutch Cemetery, musicians strumming sitars, a sparkling an old Jewish House converted into a pool, fairy lights strung around trees and a hotel, Princess Street dotted with old fash34 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California. | October 2015
traditional pole framed dais. We spend a morning at the Kochi Biennale which has brought streams of visiors to Kochi. Historic sites like the sleepy Cochin Club, the sea facing historic Aspinwall House with several warehouses, David Hall—a Dutch House from the 17th century, and Pepper House have become temporary spaces for experimentation—a space for artists to do something not bound by commerce with its mix of film, installation, sculpture, painting, performance art and new media. Of course any Kerala sojourn revolves around water, and it’s to the backwaters that we head last. This is a tight network of bottle green lagoons, estuaries and deltas of forty four rivers and canals where sky and water segue seamlessly in a silvery haze. Water and greenery are motifs of this part of the state. Our last sojourn is at the boutique property Purity, on Lake Vembanad which used to be an Italian guest house and Joerge has converted it into a vibrant turquoise and pink haven of rooms with leather puppets sandwiched behind sheets of glass lit up, modular blocks of furniture designed by him, larger-than-life bathrooms and antiques dotted around the hotel ranging from a palanquin to a statue of the super-god Hanuman. With its stained-glass windows and airy verandas decorated with contemporary art, this is a visual feast. We take a canoe ride across the Vembanad Lake with water hyacinths, as houseboats called ketuvallams drift by. We watch these micro-economies where kids play in the water and farmers herd ducklings to feed in paddy fields and strong men row small boats weighed down with cargo or dive for mussels. In the evening we dine on the waterfront with candlelit tables, and ruminate over the trip through the beaches, backwaters and history of this state. Time seems to slow down and then remain still. A pace of life lined with lassitude that stays stored in your memory chip for years to come.n
Kalpana Sunder is a travel writer and blogger based in Chennai, India who blogs at http://kalpanasunder.com/blog
tech
Hackers For a Better World By Prakash Narayan
B
y the time this article goes to print, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have completed his historic visit to Silicon Valley. As Matt O’Brien says in the San Jose Mercury News, “The visit allows Modi to build relationships with tech firms.” On October 2nd 2014, Narendra Modi launched his vision of “Swachh Bharat” (Clean India Mission). The bold mission statement for this initiative is explained thus: “A clean India is the best tribute we can pay to Bapu when we celebrate his 150th birth anniversary in 2019.” (Bapu, an endearment meaning father, is a term used for Mahatma Gandhi, since he is considered the “Father of the Nation.”) TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) Silicon Valley, is launching a Smart Cities program that combines aspects of technology with the vision of a clean India. As part of this initiative, TiE is organizing a global “Hackathon.” Developers from around the world are invited tocome together to solve some of the biggest problems with urbanization—namely waste management, water management and parking. Developers will get an opportunity to prove themselves at the cutting edge of IoT (Internet of Things) software development and connect with organizations that are sponsoring and investing in Smart City and IoT. Venktesh Shukla, President, TiE Silicon Valley notes, “TiE’s SmartCity Hackathon is a great initiative that will foster innovation in the quality of urban services; reduce cost and promote efficient use of scarce resources—leaving a better environment for future generations.”
Photo Credit: Zvonimir Atletic/ShutterStock
Waste Disposal Management
62m tons of garbage are generated every single day by the 377 million people living in urban India. Waste is typically thrown in government vacant land; drains or littered on streets. This leads to blockage of drains, contamination of water, air pollution and the spread of disease. Developers will assume the role of private waste management companies. The goal will be to efficiently identify, gather and transport solid waste to landfills, while simultaneously preventing random dumping of waste. The idea is to provide real-time guidance to vehicles to increase the efficiency of garbage pick-up as well as monitor truck and worker activities to prevent slack. Programs will reward residents for “good behavior” as well as giving residents the option to take pictures of perpetrators who dump on streets and thus create “social pressure.”
Water Access Management
According to the World Health Organization, in Africa, only about 39% of the urban population and a disastrous 4% in rural areas have access to piped water. The poorest 40% of the population depends on surface water, wells and boreholes. Here, the developers play the role of NGOs working to improve water access by utilizing a fixed amount of funds to guarantee water access to as many households as possible. NGOs will be given the opportunity to invest in drill wells, monitor pump conditions and water contamination, as well as send maintenance and repair staff to problem sites. Based on information available
Photo Credit: Riccardo Mayer/ShutterStock
from the NGO via a mobile application, vendors will supply clean water to residents from various sources.
Smart Parking
A typical driver spends 106 days of their life searching for parking space. 41% of drivers describe parking as their single biggest automobile “headache”. Very little information is available to the driver on parking availability and price. The pricing mechanisms for parking that exist today are archaic. A driver ends up either paying too much or not enough. In this case, developers will take on the role of a private parking operator with the goal of optimizing revenue by efficient and competitive management of parking spaces and pricing. Parking operators will monitor and share real-time vacancy information with drivers. They will have the option to collaborate with each other to help improve a driver’s parking experience. Drivers, in turn, will have the ability to look for parking spaces based on convenience (distance to destination), cost and loyalty to operator. Registration in the TiE SV Smart City IoT Hackathon, powered by Atomiton, is open to anyone across the globe. The event will begin in January 2016 and will last for two weeks. Winners will be invited to attend TiECon 2016, TiE’s largest annual conference. For more details please visit http://sv.tie.org/hackathon. n Prakash Narayan is a software engineer living in Fremont, California. He is a member of TiE Silicon Valley. His Twitter handle is @ kpn320
Photo Credit: John Vanhara/ShutterStock
October 2015 | Southern California. | www.indiacurrents.com | 35
films
In the Devil’s Playpen By Aniruddh Chawda
PHANTOM. Director: Kabir Khan. Players: Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sabyasachin Chakrabarty, J. Brandon Hill, Mir Sarwar. Music: Pritam. Hindi with Eng. sub-tit. Theatrical release (UTV)
O
f the pleasures and pitfalls of cinema, a broad stroke artistic license is surely the big screen equivalent of the dramatic he-said-she-said? Taken a step further, the global movie industries that pretty much tell it like it is or how they wish it were—think large secular leaning Hollywood, the Indian and French film industries, respectively—often have the most thought-provoking entries with, not coincidentally, the largest audiences. Case in point: Kabir Khan’s plausible political thriller Phantom, which derives from recent history, where key reported masterminds behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks—most of whom remain free in Pakistan and elsewhere—are tracked down and given their comeuppance. In a surreal staging, all fiction, mind you, the reluctant former Indian soldier Daniyal Khan (Saif Ali Khan) is recruited to penetrate the shadowy world of terrorists that make up the who’s who of some of India and the world’s most wanted figures. Daniyal has a blank online profile, is a recluse who has pretty much checked out (for reasons that soon become abundantly clear) and little in the way of family connections. In other words, he is ideal for the solo mission. The mission: chase down or neutralize the bad guys from Chicago, London, Syria to, eventually, Pakistan where men who at times literally called the shots during the Mumbai attacks live openly with little or no official interference. Indian writer Hussain Zaidi’s writings have extensively chronicled Mumbai’s underworld. He is well known for once having interviewed arch-terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. Sanjay Gupta’s Shootout at Wadala (2013) and Anurag Kashyap’s Black Friday (2004) were both based on Zaidi’s nonfiction in-depth investigative tomes. Phan-
tom, in turn, is based on Zaidi’s recent fiction bestseller Mumbai Avengers. Not surprisingly, Phantom was immediately banned in Pakistani at the legal behest of one of the perps who gets his due onscreen in the single-focus story scripted by director Khan and Parveez Shaikh. Saif Ali Khan’s Daniyal is a restrained anti-hero, who, because he has so little to lose, can use his deadly stealth for the most daring and dangerous scenarios. While the subject matter is highly speculative, it is etched interestingly. Somewhere in London, Daniyal meets up with Nawaz Mistry (Kaif), a bystander, who gets drawn into Daniyal’s adventure. Nawaz’s stakes in the outcome keep rising, especially after the action shifts to Pakistan. As the body count from mysterious assassinations in crowded market places, opportunistic bombings of violence-promoting Islamist figures and death-bypoisoning begin to take their toll, Indian officials, not unexpectedly, go on record to issue vociferous disavowals of any knowledge of Daniyal having India’s formal seal of approval—exactly as Daniyal’s deeply-imbedded handlers would have it. Using lower-cost settings of Vancouver in place of higher-cost Chicago and London, Beirut subbing for Syria and Kashmir and Punjab fronting for parts of Pakistan nicely gives set designer Aseem Mishra a shot at figurative place-name alchemy. Filmmaker Kabir Khan’s works tap into South Asian political angst that span everything from disrupted family connections (Bajrangi Bhaijaan) to downright espionage (Ek Tha Tiger, Phantom) and
36 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California. | October 2015
terrorism (New York, Kabul Express). Khan deserves kudos for diving into topics many others would shy away from. The other element that works in Phantom’s favor is a respectable Pritam soundtrack that harness the flavors of central Asian sounds. Singer Asrars “Afghan Jalebi” is a rambunctious, foot stomping party anthem that boisterously evokes a hookah-camp big tent late night stop at an outpost on the Afghan steppes. Never mind that the song makes no appearance in the movie—it is used only in online promos, theatrical trailers, radio airplay and YouTube where it has acquired a sizable viewing audience. India’s national neighborhood includes neighbors bent on doing harm to India every chance they get. The many terrorist attacks that the huge nation has withstood since Independence continues to test the nation’s unyielding, emboldened resolve to signal her arrival on the world stage. By the same token, the fact that perps of terrorist attacks walk freely in nearby countries is an affront to the civilized world. Going to the devil’s backyard, carefully sidestepping the vipers that guard it and poking the eyes—or worse—of the bad guys provides a refreshing pause to contemplate alternate outcomes. This time, we got ‘em! n EQ: A
Whiner’s Club KATTI BATTI. Director: Nikhil Advani. Players: Imran Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Vivan Bathena, Abhishek Saha, Mithina Palkar. Music: Shankar Ehsaan Loy. Hindi with Eng. sub-tit. Theatrical release (UTV)
R
omantic comedies comprise just about the largest sub-strata of any film industry. In their lightest moments, they draw the audience to a vision of simplicity with dollops of humor that then naturally transition to little complications. Rom-coms should be good for at least a few good laughs and be void of cringe-inducing, general audience antics. Or at least that is the winning formula in Hindi movies. Not so fast. Advani’s Katti Batti wants so desperately to be everything to just about everyone. When the blink-and-gone jokes subside, Katti Batti does pretty much nothing for just about anybody. The young, dashing architect Madhav, aka Maddy (Khan) has a girlfriend problem, you see. Maddy’s girlfriend Payal (Ranaut) has left him and he is fit to be tied. Was that a suicide attempt or did he only “accidentally” swallow a bottle of herbicide he “mistook” for beer? Now recovered, Maddy is picking up pieces of himself. Oh, did we also mention that Maddy takes his professional success as the license to flagrantly flaunt bad social form. This last bit has diminished his sense of decorum with romance, office and family matters. Otherwise, Maddy is a really likable guy. Advani has a penchant for romantic comedies (Kal Ho Na Ho, Patiala House) and sticks to that mode here, or so we wish. As testament to how little control some film directors have over release dates and just how much clout producers and studios have, consider that Advani has two A-list movies that released nearly simultaneously. Hero, a pot-boiler remake of Subhash Ghai’s 1983 action classic by the same name released on September 11 while Katti Batti released on September 18. Without knocking Advani, one wonders if a director with a last name Johar, Chopra or Varma would allow two of “their” movies to release nearly in synch, potentially pitting one entry up against the box office of the other.
Ranaut is a terrific performer. She effortlessly plays to her own typecast—aloof, detached, college educated, urban young woman, who is restless and won’t stay long enough to be sized up, let alone completely understood. Her borderline-neurotic is a mini archetype that she recently has done well with in Tanu Weds Manu, Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns. In addition to Ranaut’s chameleon-like transformative persona and Tushar Kapoor’s gorgeous sets, the other redeeming aspect is Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s song-pack that hits the right notes. For Katti Batti, Ranaut and the music are good things. The phrase “katti batti” is lifted from playground lingo that frenemies use to signal the end of a tiff. “Katti” is rooted in the Indo-Euro term “to cut” and “batti” is derived from baat, or “to talk.” Kids who signal “katti batti” are now speaking to each other once again. Which brings us to the biggest problem with Advani’s movie, and that is Khan’s Maddy acting like a petulant, spoilt, never gratified, yuppie with a mean streak. He is a stalker. He will not take no for an answer, ever, including from his boss, his best friend or least of all from his (On again? Off again?) girlfriend Payal. Maddy’s ceaseless whining about how Payal just won’t return his phone calls— her independence be damned—has him contriving to find ways to finagle Payal’s new cell phone number, something she clearly does not want him to have. This meanness—to simply get a phone number or to fish for details on an upcoming wedding to which, once again, he is not invited—has Maddy resorting to pinch-
ing a child to make the infant cry and to distract the kid’s mother long enough for Maddy to steal Payal’s phone number from the mother’s cell phone and also to stage a professional contractual lie to solicit an invitation to the wedding. That is not the end to Maddy’s antics. As a final ruse, Maddy, uninvited, crashes the afore-mentioned wedding. This tactic has his band of lovelorn goons beating up the groom and the wedding guests for no apparent reason at all. This is after Maddy has slept with his office flirt and taken selfies he is convinced will bring Payal “back to her senses” for having left him. If this is all for “true love”—it fails. If the hissy fits are for anything less than that, they still flat line. There ought to be a law! If not for Ranaut or the music, we too would have been outta there. n EQ: C+ Globe trekker, aesthete, photographer, ski bum, film buff, and commentator, Aniruddh Chawda writes from Milwaukee.
LATA’S FLICK PICKS ngi Bhaijaan Bajra an ist Bang am hy ris D Hero Y I Love N
October 2015 | Southern California. | www.indiacurrents.com | 37
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music
The Call of Qawwali–Fannah-fi-Allah By Priya Bhatt Das
A
t the age of 15, Geoffrey Lyons left his Nova Scotia home with a one-way ticket in hand to find his spiritual home in the mountains of North India. He had heard Indian raga music and it called out to him. What he did not know at that time was that music would be his calling; that the world would know him as Tahir Qawwal. “I was looking for a guru. I studied the Upanishads, practiced yoga, visited temples, got schooled in classical and spiritual music—bhajans, kirtans, even Baul music from Bengal. But I could not connect with any of the gurus I met; somehow, something was missing,” reminisces Qawwal. “About when I was 18, I happened to walk into a Qawwali mehfil in Benaras. It was a thoroughly disappointing experience! I could not believe that the music of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, whom I idolized, could be so misrepresented. That was when I decided to perform this music. I finished transliterating “Allah Hu” that very night.” With him that evening, more than a decade ago, were Oregon based tabla player Jessica Ripper and Florida based singer Devanand (“he’s from a spiritual family”), both non Indians, non Asians; non desis, as Qawwal puts it. The three of them decided to stage an experiment, to perform Qawwali as it should be and this is how Fanna-fi-Allah, their “band” was formed. Ripper was transformed into Aminah
Chishti and Anand, Laali Qalandar. By then, Qawwal had already put in months into studying the various Sufi poems, learning pronunciations and meanings. This devotion shows in their rendition of “Allah Hu.” They are deliberate in their exploration of the lyrics, specific tones, and the experience. It is a journey in all senses. Their first “experimental” concert was in Hawaii. “We continue to present Qawwali to unconventional audiences!” says Qawwal. They perform over 100 times a year, in all continents, including Australia and Africa. When asked which audience has been most appreciative, he says, “We play often in San Francisco, which is always great; the audience is part desi and part gora (white) like me. Half our shows are for the Pakistani community—we’re like a local American qawwali group. The other half is comprised of Indian and Sufi/ bhakti/ yoga/spiritual events.” In 2003, Fanna-fi-Allah created history in the Sufi world by being the first all-white group to be invited to perform at the Urs, the annual Qawwali festival in Pakistan. The festival, which was aired worldwide, attracts Sufi practitioners and performers and gained them immense popularity and more importantly, acceptance. Chishti created a revolutionary milestone and is “indirectly the spearhead of a freedom movement for women in Pakistan” when she became the first woman to
be admitted into a Sufi shrine to perform. Chishti’s playing is certainly bold and at the forefront of all their performances, especially so in a rendition of “Ya Mustafa.” This song is evocative of the spirit behind the name—Fanna-fi-Allah means annihilation into the infinite, into Allah. Also part of the group, which is now based in Grass Valley, California, is son of tabla maestro Ustad Dildar Hussain, Abrar Hussain. The group has released ten CDs thus far. The record label they created, called Tabaruq Records, recently published an album by the popular Qawwali group Rizwan Muazzam, called Amad. There is also a film expected to be out later this year, called Qawwali–Music of the Mystics. The project can be found on kickstarter.com. In the last two years, Fanna-fi-Allah has been funded by the United States government to tour Pakistan in order to foster a peaceful relationship between the two peoples, leading to many high-profile and in-the-public-eye philanthropic events. As Qawwal says, “We are really famous in Pakistan, people love us there.” Fanna-fi-Allah will be performing in California in October, more details and music at fanna-fi-allah.com n Priya Das is an enthusiastic follower of world music and avidly tracks intersecting points between folk, classical, jazz and other genres.
October 2015 | Southern California. | www.indiacurrents.com | 39
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40 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California. | October 2015
Bharata Natyam Folk Dances Classes: Duarte,Cerritos, Riverside,Chino Hills
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recipes
Get Your Beetroot Chops On By Jagruti Vedamati
T
here’s never been a cold, rainy day when I haven’t yearned to cuddle up in my cozy comforter gazing out of the window while sipping a cup of chai generously laced with ginger and munching on crispy home-made onion fritters aka pakodas. Although quite a rare occurrence these days, especially with a busy schedule and our untimely rain, I considered myself extremely lucky to be home on one such afternoon when it rained generously. Just as monsoon does to every romantic’s heart, it brought out the poetic, creative side of me—a side very willing to experiment. I raided my refrigerator and came across a piece of beet lingering in a forgotten corner of my fridge drawer. As I stared at it for a brief moment, the only thing that popped into my head was “vegetable chops.” I must confess that I have always had
a love-hate relationship with beets. The few times I’ve had the courage to experiment with this vegetable, it turned out to be a messy, bright magenta blob that tasted a bit too earthy for my taste. So yes! I am guilty of using this vegetable minimally. In the vegetable chop something really magical happens with beets and that which I detest ends up becoming the star ingredient of this favorite recipe. Vegetable chop (as we Cuttackis call it) is actually a vegetable croquette, distinctly characterized by the presence of brightly colored beets in a medley of vegetables. On an unrelated note, we Cuttackis, should really think about copyrighting the word “chop” since it seems very native to Cuttack and I am often meted a blank stare the moment I mention it to any non-Cut-
tacki. So to an average Cuttacki, “chop” refers to any battered and fried vegetable stuffed croquette—be it the aloo chop or the vegetable chop. n Jagruti Vedamati is a post-doctoral student at Stanford University.
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The Dainty Vegetable Croquette
T
hese crispy rolls, made of sautéed veggies wrapped in a spiced potato mixture, rolled in bread-crumbs and deep fried till golden brown, get their additional punch from the occasional sweetness of the raisin and the freshness of mint. Most aptly described as the Odiya version of the dainty croquette. Ingredients (serves 4) 1-2 cloves of thinly sliced garlic 2 tbsps of beetroot, chopped ½ cup of carrots, chopped ½ cup of beans, chopped 1 cup of onions, thinly sliced 2 cups of cabbage, thinly sliced 3-4 nos. of green chilies, chopped 1 tbsp of raisins (optional) 1 tbsp of mint leaves, chopped ½ tbsp tomato ketchup ¼ tsp red chilli powder ¼ tsp black pepper powder ½ tsp chaat masala 1 pinch of garam masala (optional) Salt to taste 4 boiled medium sized potatoes 1 tbsp of cornstarch 1 tsp of black pepper ½ teaspoon of amchur (dried mango powder) To taste–Salt 1 cup of bread crumbs oil for frying Method For the filling: In a pan over medium-high heat, add three tablespoons of oil and let it heat up. Add the garlic and stir till fragrant. Now add in the raisins, beets, carrots, beans, chilies, onions and cabbage in that order. Sauté the vegetable mixture for about 3-4 minutes In a separate bowl, mix in the tomato ketchup with one tablespoon of water along with red chili powder, pepper powder and salt. Mix well to form a smooth paste. Add this paste to the vegetable mixture. Keep stirring till the vegetable filling looks glossy. Add the mint leaves and garam masala while the filling is hot and keep aside.
Mash the cooled, boiled potatoes to a smooth paste along with cornstarch, red chili powder, black pepper powder, amchur and salt. Taste and adjust if necessary. Making the croquettes: Make equal sized balls of the potato mixture. I used the ¼ cup scoop measure to measure out equal amounts. Flatten the potato balls and add in 1 tablespoon of the filling in the middle. Gather the potato mixture from the sides and form an oblong shaped croquette. You can keep it round too if you like. I preferred it oblong since that’s how its originally made. Now, roll the prepared croquettes in seasoned bread crumbs till well coated. Wrap up the croquettes and refrigerate for at least half an hour to make them bind well.
Heat up oil in a pan and fry till golden brown Notes: 1. Before frying, the croquettes can be stored covered in a refrigerator for up to 24 hours in advance. Fry the croquettes when you want to serve them. 3. If you don’t have any bread crumbs on hand, toast some thin poha (flattened rice) on the stove (~1-2 minutes) and crumble them. This makes the crust extra crunchy. While it takes time to fry, don’t forget to put your teapot to work, too. There’s nothing more surreal than the heavenly combination of vegetable chops and ginger tea. Don’t forget to thank me later when you are done enjoying this blissful combination! n
October 2015 | Southern California. | www.indiacurrents.com | 43
44 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California. | October 2015
relationship diva
Four Types of Men To Avoid Dating By Jasbina Ahluwalia
Q
My divorced sister is dating for the first time after her arranged marriage didn’t work out. Should I advise her to stay clear of certain types of men?
A
I do believe that preconceived notions can come in the way of organically getting to know someone. At times we tend to project our own experiences with previous partners unwittingly onto current/future partners. So I would encourage your sister to approach dating with an open mind and open heart. That said, there are recurring patterns of behavior (described below, with some humor) that might be helpful to keep in mind. I encourage you to try to keep the lines of communication with your sister, with respect to dating, as open as possible— being there for your sister as a sounding board is one of the greatest ways you can help her navigate through the ups and downs of dating to find love a second time
around. i) Mr. Sensitive—also known as the “nice guy who always finishes last”—seems gentle and soft-spoken, but is easily stressed— so much so that his sensitivity makes you stressed! For example, if you tell Mr. Sensitive that his shirt is missing a button, he’ll take it personally and think you are calling him a slob. This guy also suffers from co-dependency, which compels him to call you every ten minutes—even if it’s at 3:00 am. ii) Mr. Unmotivated—too lazy to decide anything, tends to leave date specifics to you. In fact, it takes Mr. Unmotivated a full minute before answering your questions with “huh”? His idea of a great date is to channel surf at home, call the pizza delivery guy, and fall asleep while bingewatching cable TV shows. iii) Mr. Player—smooth as a baby’s behind and able to charm the rattle from a snake,
Mr. Player makes you feel like you are the center of his universe. You know he’s not entirely truthful about what he claims to be, but he’s so appealing you hope you can “change” him. iv) Mr. Commitment-phobe—so you’ve dated this guy for about a month now and everything seems to be going great ... until he starts to call off dates, claims he never received your text messages and acts distant for no reason. Beware—you’ve connected with a commitment-phobe who rarely dates someone for more than two weeks, let alone a whole month! n Jasbina is the founder and president of Intersections Match, the only personalized matchmaking and dating coaching firm serving singles of South Asian descent in the United States. She is also the host of Intersections Talk Radio. Jasbina@intersectionsmatch. com.
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events OCTOBER
California’s Best Guide to Indian Events Edited by: Mona Shah List your event for FREE! NOVEMBER issue deadline: Tuesday, October 20 To list your event in the Calendar, go to www.indiacurrents.com and click on List Your Event
Check us out on
special dates Mahatma Gandhi’s B’day
Oct. 2
Navaratri
Oct. 13-21
Dussehra
Oct. 22
Sharad Purnima
Oct. 26
Karva Chauth
Oct. 29
Dhan Teras
Nov. 8
Diwali
Nov. 11
Govardhana Puja
Nov. 12
Bhai Duj
Nov. 13
CULTURAL CALENDER October
3 Saturday
Bansuri and Veena Jugalbandi. By
Pundit Ronu Majumdar (bansuri) and Vidushi Nirmala Rajasekar (saraswati veena). The success of a jugalbandi concert depends on choosing a raga that is common to both Hindustani and Karnatik style. Some common choices include Yemen/Kalyani, Malkauns/Hindolam and Bhoopali/Mohanam. Organized by The
India’s Daughter, a movie screening, O-ctober 30
Music Circle. 6 p.m. Herrick Chapel, Occidental College, Los Angeles. $35, members $25. www.musiccircle.org.
October
4 Sunday
Bombay Jayashri Headlines Fundraiser for Visually Impaired. Ac-
46 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California. | October 2015
companied by Embar Kannan (violin), Anantha R Krishnan (mridangam), B Shree Sundarkumar (kanjira). Organized by Sankara nethralaya Om Trust. 4 p.m. Cabrillo High School, 2001 Santa Fe Ave., Long Beach. $30-$250. (562) 650-6377, (562) 381-3060, (562) 547-3246. www. omtrust.org.
Bombay Jayshree Headlines Fundraiser
Bombay Jayshree
After a gap of almost five years, Vidushi Bombay Jayashri is slated to return to California. In spite of achieving world renown with her Oscar nomination for Life of Pi and hit melodies in Indian cinema, Jayashri continues to adhere to her Karnatik music roots, drawing enthusiastic audiences wherever she goes. She will be singing at a fundraiser for Sankara Nethralaya, accompanied by Embar Kannan (violin), Anantha
October
10 Saturday
Hindustani Classical Music Concert. Vocals by students of Dayita Datta,
Founder and Artistic Director of Shruti Music Academy. Vocal performance by Dayita Datta and guest artist Sandip Ghosh. Accompanied by JyotiPrakas (tabla) and Indradeep Ghosh (violin). The concert will also include a group tabla performance by students of Dhwani Academy of Percussion Music under direction of JyotiPrakas. Organized by Shruti Music Academy. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pasadena Conservatory of Music Auditorium, 100 North Hill Ave., Pasadena . $15. (626)
R. Krishnan (mridangam) and B. Shree Sundarkumar (kanjira). Founded in 1975 by Dr. S. S. Badrinath, Sankara Nethralaya runs on a unique non-profit model: use the income from normal tariff-paying patients to plug into free eye care services for the indigent. They make up roughly two-thirds of the 2 million-plus patients treated every year. In 2014, $4 million worth of free services were rendered bringing improved vision
788-2553. shrutimusic@hotmail.com. www. dayitadatta.com.
October
17 Saturday
SDM Cancer Relief Fund 30th Anniversary Fundraiser. Dancing with DJ Greg Tria, buffet dinner. 6 p.m. Sheraton Cerritos Hotel, 12725 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. $75 adult, $50 children. sdmcancerfund@gmail.com. www.sdmcancerfund.org, 2015@sdmcancerfund.org.
October
23 Friday
to nearly 17,000 patients who otherwise could not have afforded the treatment. The purpose of the fund-raising campaign is to support the costs of building modern facilities, acquiring state-of the-art, highend equipment, and maintaining the 35% target for providing free services.n October 4, 4 p.m. Cabrillo High School, 2001 Santa Fe Ave, Long Beach. $30-$250, www. omtrust.org, (562) 650-6377.
Dakshini Durga Puja. Ends Oct. 25.
TBD. www.dakshini.org/events/events-calendar-2015-16/durga-pujo-2015.html.
October
24 Saturday
Vocal Concert by Sangeetha Swaminathan. Accompanied by Vocal Shiva
Ramamurthi (violin) and Nirmal Narayan (mridangam). Organized by South Indian Music Academy. 5 p.m. Hoover Middle School Auditorium, 3501 Country Club Drive., Lakewood. (909) 618-7685, (408) 910-5328. www.simala.net.
October 2015 | Southern California. | www.indiacurrents.com | 47
events October
25 Sunday
INDIA CURRENTS
October
0
5
5
9/15/ 2015
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11
$19.95 VANDANA KUMAR
(408) 324-0488
VANDANA KUMAR, 2670 S White Rd, Ste 165, SAN JOSE, CA 95148 VANDANA KUMAR, 2670 S White Rd, Ste 165, SAN JOSE, CA 95148 JAYA PADMANABHAN, 2670 S White Rd, Ste 165, SAN JOSE, CA 95148
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2670 S White Rd, Ste 165, SAN JOSE, CA 95148
VANDANA KUMAR
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INDIA CURRENTS
SEPTEMBER 2015
30 Friday
Movie Screening—India’s Daughter. The movie tells the story of the sav-
age rape and eventual death of 23 year-old medical student, Jyoti Singh, in New Delhi in December of 2012, an event that shook the social fabric of the country, and the world, to the core. Sundance Sunset Theater, 8000 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. www.indiasdaughter.com.
November
1
2670 S White Rd, Ste 165, SAN JOSE, CA 95148
An Evening of Indian Dance. Three
back to back dance productions. Vismaya by Prasanna Kasthuri, Tiruppavai by Sushma Mohan and Dashaavataara by Soorya Dance Company. Organized by Soorya Performing Arts. 4 p.m. Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Drive, Malibu. $15-$50. (818) 730-0371. sushmakasthuri@hotmail.com, info@sooryadance.com. www.sushmamohan.com, www. sooryadance.com.
0
MONTHLY EXCEPT DEC/JAN ISSUE (COMBINED)
21,221
20,500
10,389
9,739
2,550
2,550
22
72
12,961
12,361
8,009
7,771
8,009
7,771
20,970
20,132
251
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companied by Shiva Ramamurthi (violin) and Raamkumar Balamurthi (mridangam). Organized by South Indian Music Academy. 5 p.m. Hoover Middle School Auditorium, 3501 Country Club Drive., Lakewood. (909) 618-7685, (408) 9105328. www.simala.net. © Copyright 2015 India Currents. All rights reserved. Reproduction for commercial use strictly prohibited.
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healthy life
The Skinny on a Low Carb, High Fat Diet By Ashok Jethanandani
T
here is an urban legend that the Indian diet is rich in fat. When you think of desi cuisine it brings up images of deep-fried pooris and sautéed vegetables floating in oil. It is further assumed that this fat-rich diet contributes to the high prevalence of heart disease among Indians. On the contrary, my own observation is that in most IndianAmerican households today only a small amount of vegetable oil, and almost no ghee, butter, or cream is consumed. Also, in my Ayurveda practice I usually evaluate people’s diets and find that most consume less than 30 grams of fat a day. Instead, rice, wheat, dals, breakfast cereals, low-fat milk and yogurt, fruits, potatoes, and other vegetables are listed most commonly in their food logs. The truth is this is a diet rich in carbohydrates, not fats. This was not the case some 60 years ago. Until the 1950s ghee and freshly churned butter were the preferred fats in the Indian diet. People consumed whole milk. They were also more physically active.
Controversial Hypothesis
Then in 1953 an American scientist named Ancel Keys proposed a hypothesis that dietary fat and cholesterol were responsible for heart disease. Although Keys’s research methods were flawed, the theory caught the interest of some bureaucrats and politicians who advanced it to inform new dietary guidelines for Americans. Low fat became the mantra for a healthy diet, which spread worldwide and remains the conventional wisdom even today. These dietary guidelines have led to several unfortunate consequences. Following the recommendations of their
doctors, people switched from ghee to Dalda, and from butter to margarine, thus consuming trans fats which have since been studied and shown to be linked to heart disease. Many have cut down fat intake to a bare minimum, replacing it with more grains, fruits, and sugary snacks as their main sources of calories and energy. Processed foods laden with refined and enriched flours, trans fats, and high fructose corn syrup, yet labeled “low fat” and “heart healthy” have gained favor. Meanwhile, we are witnessing a pandemic of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, dementia, and other chronic diseases. According to ayurveda, while less fat is beneficial for some people of kapha constitution, or suffering from a kapha ailment, it is not recommended for all. Most people who restrict dietary fat increase their risk of imbalance of vata dosha leading to vata disorders like constipation, arthritis, and sensory and neurological dysfunction. Snigdham ashniyat (eat unctuous food), recommends Charaka Samhita, an ancient text on Ayurveda. This advice is for
50 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California | October 2015
healthy people to maintain their good health. The fat enhances the taste of the food and bolsters agni (the digestive fire). Thus, it speeds up digestion and helps with absorption of nutrients. It also aids the downward movement of vata (peristalsis), nourishes and strengthens the body, improves sensory function, and promotes clarity of skin complexion.
Choices of Healthy Fats The fat most highly recommended in ayurveda is ghee, or clarified butter. It is a tonic for memory, intellect, and the eyes. Ghee has a high smoke point (500 degrees F) and so is especially suitable for tadka, or high temperature tempering of spices. You can also add organic butter, cream or whole milk to your diet. Healthy choices of oils include extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and sesame oil. Among fruits avocadoes, coconuts, and olives are good sources of healthy oils. So are tree nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and brazil nuts. Cold water fish like
salmon contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to be beneficial for heart health. Chia seeds, hemp seeds, and flax seeds are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. How much fat can you include in your diet? Listen to your body and it will tell you. Too much dietary fat makes you feel heavy and nauseous. So, most people are unlikely to binge on fat. Even so, you may want to increase it by only one tablespoon (14 grams) at first in each of your main meals and see how you feel. At the same time, reduce your consumption of sugar
glycerides will also drop. You can also expect gradual and sustained weight loss. Contrary to popular belief, it is not dietary fat that makes you fat, it is excessive consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods. Here are a couple of recipes for reducing carbohydrates and adding healthy oils to your diet.
Salad Dressing The oil, herbs, and spices in a dressing not only add to the taste, they also help in easier digestion and more complete
isn;gQ;m;ÆIy;;t;< = Eat unctuous food.
What to Expect You will probably find that with more fat in your meals you feel satiated with smaller portions. Also, fats and oils keep you satiated for a longer time, and there is less craving for snacks between meals. You will also be training your body to burn fat for energy and not rely as much on glucose. If you had sugar cravings before, they will subside in a few weeks and you will experience an even supply of energy throughout the day. Oil, being the best remedy for vata imbalance, will help to relieve symptoms of vata like body ache, joint pain, numbness, stiffness, and constipation. If you simultaneously reduce your carbohydrate intake to less than 100 grams a day, your blood sugars will probably decrease and become more stable. Tri-
Ingredients: almond meal: ¼ cup chickpea flour (besan): ¼ cup Himalayan pink salt: ¼ teaspoon water: as needed to knead the dough Mix all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add water in small amounts to knead into dough of medium to stiff consistency. Roll into thick flat breads. Roast on a tava or cast iron griddle. Makes 2 small rotis.
Charaka Samhita (Vimanasthana, 1:24:2)
(and other sweeteners, desserts, sodas, fruit juices) and starchy foods (rice, wheat, other grains, potatoes) by at least twice as much.
and you may find a mix that satisfies your taste buds without elevating your blood sugar too much. Chickpea flour has only half the carbohydrates as wheat, and more dietary fiber and protein. Almond meal and coconut flour are very low in carbohydrates, but by themselves they don’t bind well and are difficult to roll into flat bread. My mother tried various mixes and came up with this delicious recipe that is glutenfree, low in carbs, and has a substantial amount of protein. n
absorption of the phytonutrients in a green salad. Many commercial dressings contain vegetable oils processed with heat or chemicals. So it’s best to make small batches of dressing at home with the healthiest oils. Choose extra virgin, cold pressed, unrefined olive oil or macadamia nut oil. Ingredients: 12 tablespoons (3/4 cup):olive oil, extra virgin, cold pressed, unrefined 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup): juice of one lemon 1 teaspoon: pepper, coarsely ground black ½ teaspoon : salt or Himalayan pink salt Mix all the ingredients in a dressing mixer or a small glass bottle. Shake well before dispensing.
The ideas and opinions expressed here are for educational purpose only. They are not intended to replace the advice of a physician or medical practitioner. Before beginning any diet program including any recommendations discussed here, it is recommended that you seek your physician’s advice. Ashok Jethanandani, B.A.M.S., is a graduate of Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, and practices ayurveda in San Jose, Calif. www.classical-ayurveda.com.
Share your stories on health with India Currents readers! We are accepting original submissions that focus on health and wellness. Send your 500-850 word essay on disease prevention, exercise, ayurvedic cooking, or any other
Almond-Chickpea Roti
health-related topic to Mona Shah
If roti or some kind of flat bread is your comfort food, try various kinds of flour
at events@indiacurrents.com.
October 2015 | Southern California | www.indiacurrents.com | 51
SPIRITUALITY & HEALTH
Kumbh Mela USA 2015, October 24
October
4 Sunday
Loyalty: Highest Law of Spiritual Success. Sunday Service. Lake Shrine
Temple and Retreat, 17190 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. (310) 454-4114. Hollywood Temple, 4860 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 661-8006. Glendale Temple, 2146 East Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale. (818) 543-0800. Fullerton Temple, 142 East Chapman Ave., Fullerton. (714) 525-1291. Encinitas Temple, 939 Second Street, Encinitas. (760) 436-7220. San Diego Temple, 3072 First Avenue, San Diego. (619) 295-0170. Call temples for times. Organized by Self Realization Fellowship. www. yogananda-srf.org.
October
11 Sunday
What Is Truth? Sunday Service. Lake
Shrine Temple and Retreat, 17190 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. (310) 454-4114. Hollywood Temple, 4860 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 661-8006. Glendale Temple, 2146 East Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale. (818) 543-0800. Fullerton Temple, 142 East Chapman Ave., Fullerton. (714) 525-1291. Encinitas Temple, 939 Second Street, Encinitas. (760) 436-7220. San Diego Temple, 3072 First Avenue, San
Diego. (619) 295-0170. Call temples for times. Organized by Self Realization Fellowship. www. yogananda-srf.org.
October
18 Sunday
Ways to Conquer Fear. Sunday Service. Lake Shrine Temple and Retreat, 17190 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. (310) 454-4114. Hollywood Temple, 4860 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 661-8006. Glendale Temple, 2146 East Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale. (818) 543-0800. Fullerton Temple, 142 East Chapman Ave., Fullerton. (714) 525-1291. Encinitas Temple, 939 Second Street, Encinitas. (760) 436-7220. San Diego Temple, 3072 First Avenue, San Diego. (619) 295-0170. Call temples for times. Organized by Self Realization Fellowship. www. yogananda-srf.org.
October
24 Saturday
Kumbh Mela USA 2015. Rudra homa, grand procession, maha snan, arati, garba and speeches. Organized by Sanatana Hindu Dharma. 2-9 p.m. Excelsior Grounds at Norwalk, 15711 Pioneer Blvd., Norwalk. (626) 222-4039, (714) 936-1439. www.usakumb-
52 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California | October 2015
hamela.net.
October
25 Sunday
What Is the Soul? Sunday Service. Lake
Shrine Temple and Retreat, 17190 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. (310) 454-4114. Hollywood Temple, 4860 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 661-8006. Glendale Temple, 2146 East Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale. (818) 543-0800. Fullerton Temple, 142 East Chapman Ave., Fullerton. (714) 525-1291. Encinitas Temple, 939 Second Street, Encinitas. (760) 436-7220. San Diego Temple, 3072 First Avenue, San Diego. (619) 295-0170. Call temples for times. Organized by Self Realization Fellowship. www. yogananda-srf.org.
Place your event for free at www.indiacurrents. com/submit-event Š Copyright 2015 India Currents. All rights reserved. Reproduction for commercial use strictly prohibited.
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dear doctor
How Do I Find Personal Fulfillment When All I Do is Take Care of Others? By Alzak Amlani
Q
ance, we burn out, get resentful and even depressed. Finding your own life is a process of paying attention to yourself. This is the gateway to your own inner truth. Start by asking what you are feeling, wanting, needing or avoiding? Keep a small journal handy where you take a few moments several times a day to jot down your responses. Writing about your experiences will connect you to your inner states and needs. Given the losses you are describing, attending to your grief is a central part of your inner process. Focusing on others’ needs might be a way to not feel your own losses. Your interests may conflict with others and you may be very uncomfortable with that. Is harmony a big factor for you? Do you give too much to maintain peace? Getting more comfortable with anger,
disapproval, and conflict will free you to follow your wishes for more fulfillment. As you harness your interests and genuine feelings, start to act on them. If you need more time off, ask for it. If you can’t take on another task, say no, and offer alternatives. Being proactive for yourself is a key ingredient to your own well-being. It will feel like you’re moving upstream at first, however, it will energize you and people will respect your volition and connection to yourself, in due course. Your natural ability to see the big picture and be a peacemaker will slowly come into more balance with self-direction and passion for your life interests. n
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In the last five years, my responsibilities to my family and work have increased tremendously. My father died and I was the one who had to facilitate difficult conversations and make final decisions. My wife has been very ill and I have had to take over taking care of our young child with very little help, while working full time. I feel stuck in these roles, and can’t seem to find my own life in the midst of it all. I am not one to renege on my commitments, but I also don’t want to live without personal fulfillment. Could you help?
A
It’s commendable that you have been so devoted to caring for your family’s needs while juggling a full time job and the care of a sick wife, and a young child. You’ve been very supportive to those around you who rely on your thoughtfulness and skills. There is satisfaction in caring for others. But I do agree that if there isn’t bal-
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the last word
Annoyed by the Self-help Cult? You Are Not Alone By Sarita Sarvate
I
n California, everyone is spiritually enlightened. Everyone is One easy way to tell if you are in a cult or not is by findon a path to nirvana. In the San Francisco Bay Area, there ing out if they expect you to recruit other people or not. A few are gurus galore; ashrams are at every street corner; and years ago, when a neighbor of mine persuaded me to go to an yoga has gone mainstream. Recently, the spiritual hype seemed introductory program at Landmark, I met several people who to go national when CNN’s Anderson Cooper attended a mindhad been lured there under false pretexts, such as invitations to fulness retreat. dinners. With all this self-help going around, you would think that What I find most annoying about the self-help movement is our country would be full of people trying to make the world the “holier than thou” attitude of its followers. They assume that a better place. if you don’t belong to a self-help cult, you must be unenlightYou would be wrong. ened. But, in my experience, if you inspect their behavior Research shows that the California movement instead of their words, you will find a lack of even the to raise self-esteem among youngsters, initiated commonest courtesy or compassion. Are women in the 1980s, has led to an epidemic of narcisFollowers of cults are often unwilling to enin our society led gage in a philosophical or intellectual debate. sism. So much so that in a poll, 75% of college students were found to believe that they were to believe that they What they want is quite the opposite, namely, to above average, a mathematical impossibility. be with others who think exactly like themselves. The story reminded me of Garrison Keillor’s are in serious need of No wonder, then, that we are seeing political and famous line from the Prairie Home Companion: social polarization in our country today. improvement? “In Lake Wobegon, all the children are above The other troubling aspect of many self-help average.” movements is that you will find them filled with Social scientists believe that tools such as Facewomen. Are women in our society led to believe that book, which encourage users to post photos and trivial they are in serious need of improvement? Plagued by a deep details about themselves, have only exacerbated the tendency sense of unworthiness, are they seeking self-satisfaction and selftoward self-absorption. aggrandizement in seminar after seminar? Since the 1960s, so many self-help movements have cropped Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that you cannot benup that it is hard to examine the validity of each one. efit from mindfulness or spirituality. I, myself, follow a practice Some offer workshops on “nurturing the inner child.” The based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, which include idea is that when you feel unloved, you give yourself the tender detachment, meditation, training the senses, slowing the mind, care that your parents failed to provide. and one-pointed attention, among others. But the trouble is that The problem is not with the premise, but its implementamost people who get drawn into self-help cults do not possess tion. Under the guise of “nurturing the inner child,” many the ability to discriminate and to pick the useful kernels and leave adults are simply becoming obsessed with fulfilling their own the brainwashing behind. desires with little regard for others. In search of happiness, people are taking workshops today to Movements like the Landmark Forum go a step further, recover from childhood traumas, to find soul mates, and to live requiring the participants to “drink the Kool-Aid,” a term that in the moment. What they are forgetting is that there are bilwas introduced to the American lexicon after nearly a thousand lions of people around the world in need of help. What they are members of the Peoples’ Temple drank poisoned Kool-Aid and not being told by the money-making promoters of the self-help died at the behest of their cult leader, Jim Jones. movement is that it just might be more fulfilling to get away Although suicides are thankfully rare among self-help cults, from their inner selves and go out and live for others. the use of specific language and behavior is not. Followers of The Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard, who, based on his such movements often speak in coded language, soon believing brain scan, was recently pronounced “the happiest man in the that they are superior to others who cannot follow their jargon. world,” has one simple recipe for happiness: “If you are unSome use personality tests, like Enneagram, which allegedly happy, go help someone else.” help you to know yourself; others encourage you to get rid of Now that is the kind of self-help philosophy I can get behind. your sexual hang-ups by entering polyamorous relationships and n engaging in group sex. All develop their own slogans, like “Ask for what you want,” “Achieve a breakthrough,” or “Beingness Sarita Sarvate (www.saritasarvate.com) has pubin a personal form.” The trouble is, many of the dictates can be lished commentaries for New America Media, interpreted in several ways, with the result that they can be used KQED FM, San Jose Mercury News, the Oakland to further one’s self-absorption. Tribune, and many nationwide publications. 56 | INDIA CURRENTS | Southern California | October 2015
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