India Currents Dec '17 - Jan '18 Digital edition by Nirupama Vaidhyanathan

A Year of Transgressions By Kalpana Mohan

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness By Jeanne Fredriksen

Top 10 Hindi Films of 2017 By Aniruddh Chawda

INDIA CURRENTS Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence

The Audacity of A Joke: Comics That Make You Laugh, Cry and Think

dec ’17 - jan’18 • vol. 31 , no. 9 • indiacurrents.com • $3.95

By Geetika Pathania-Jain

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carpet of yellow leaves blankets the ground outside my window. The air is frostier, prompting me to hurry indoors. My mind soon turns inward reflecting on the past year. Confronting thoughts within is never easy; it is far easier to move ceaselessly from one thing to the next with nary a moment for self-reflection. Our current lifestyles create a busy whirr, filled with never-ending todo lists. Nature creates a slower rhythm at the end of the year to encourage selfreflection, I imagine. Before I can slip into that meditative rhythm, I confront stacks of magazines with titles that scream—Make New Year’s Resolutions that Stick! The hope that the new year holds the key to fulfilling every dream is strong and well. Even before we set priorities for this new year, there will be that little Pac-man in our heads who starts to speak loudly about why and how we can never make it to that finish line. It is precisely at the moment, when that internal voice spews negativity, that we need to turn to achievers like Dara Torres who made the impossible possible through sheer will and determination. She has the distinction of being the oldest swimmer to place in an Olympic swimming event. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she was 41. In her book, Age is Just a Number, Torres, the five-time Olympic swimmer talks of her career and her comeback, truly an awe-inspiring account. In 2000, when Dara Torres left the Sydney Games with a tally of five medals with three coming from individual events, she was exhausted. “I’d competed in those Olympics every day in my head for the past 13 months. Now I was done.” When a reporter approached her and asked whether she’d be back at the age of 41 in the 2008 Olympics, she retorted, “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” But when she decided to make the “dumbest thing” a reality, elite coaches were understandably skeptical. “The water doesn’t know how old you are,” is what she repeated to anyone who doubted her ability in the water. She was the mother to a young toddler through intense months

of training. As she stood on deck ready to splash into the water, her fellow competitors were teens who hadn’t even been born when she had taken part in her first Olympic Games. Or take the example of Adriane HasletDavis, the professional ballroom dancer who lost her leg in the Boston bombing in 2013. MIT Media lab director Hugh Herr, a double amputee himself, helped craft a leg that could be adapted to accomplish minute movements on the dance floor. After his March 2014 TED talk on developing limbs to help humans overcome disability through technology, Adriane Haslet-Davis stepped on to the floor to dance using her prosthetic limb and went on to run the Boston Marathon in the spring of 2016. Remarkable stories. Remarkable women. And, even though we only get to see the feel-good triumphal moment, what we miss seeing are the wins of the infinitesimal kind. The day when the body is bone tired not after but before practice. The mental toughness that it takes to come back for practice after a session that flopped. Sportspersons and athletes are lauded for the ways in which they best physical limitations that constrain and restrict others. Those who follow sports get to watch the triumphs without watching the grueling practice sessions that preceded those moments. What you cannot see—mental toughness, is the energy that drives the physical feats. I’ve often wondered about how instructive it will be if major sports teams let children come to watch practice sessions, not the games. And for all of us, goals are achieved or lost within our minds. So even as we step out into the new year, we need to first step within to succeed! Happy New Year to you and yours! n

Nirupama Vaidhyanathan, Managing Editor

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INDIA CURRENTS Dec '17 - Jan ' 18 • vol 31 • no 9

3 | EDITORIAL

West Coast Edition

The Hardest Battle Lies Within By Nirupama Vaidhyanathan

www.indiacurrents.com

LIFESTYLE 22 |INTERVIEW An exclusive interview with Deepika Padukone By Geetika Pathania Jain

Find us on

24|RELATIONSHIP DIVA Three Secrets to Setting Good Boundaries in a Relationship By Jasbina Ahluwalia 26| ASK A LAWYER Changes to Immigration Law By Indu Liladhar-Hathi

Happy New Year!

30| INVESTMENTS Investing Tips for 2018 By Prabhu Palani

COLUMNS

34| RECIPES Vegan Desserts Aplenty! By Shanta Nimbark-Sacharoff

8 | NOW AND THEN

36 |TRAVEL

How to Buy a Green Card By Jaya Padmanabhan

10 | The Audacity of a Joke Comics that make you laugh, cry, and think

40 | DESI LENS A Year of Transgressions By Kalpana Mohan 70 | LAST WORD What about Bill? By Sarita Sarvate

DEPARTMENTS 6 | Letters to the Editor 27 | Visa Dates 50 | Calendar of Events

By Geetika Pathania-Jain

By Ritu Marwah 42 | BOOKS Review of A Life of Adventure and Delight by Akhil Sharma

By Jeanne Fredriksen

16 | Profile An exclusive interview with Amish Tripathy By Pavani Kaushik

46 |MUSIC Music Concerts: To Go or Not To Go? By Priya Das 64 | HEALTHY LIFE Protein in a Vegetarian Diet By Dr. Panchajanya Paul

32 | Films Top 10 Hindi Films of 2017 By Aniruddh Chawda

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The Isle of Lanka Enthralls: Of Yakshis and Mansions

68 |DEAR DOCTOR Seeking Premarital Counseling By Alzak Amlani

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Men Are Not To Blame

letters to the editor

This is in response to the essay by Rasana Atreya (When sexual assault happens, what should you do? November 2017). Nature has given desire to men to mate. Ladies should use some restraint in exposing their body parts that may intensify desire and compel men to take risks. If we show very attractive sweets to a very hungry man, he is bound to try to take some to satisfy hunger. In olden days women used to hide their face from strangers. Even a holy lady like Sarada Devi, wife of Sri Ramakrishna, covered her face in front of Swami Vivekananda. If ladies wear proper clothes and avoid becoming too familiar with other men, most men will avoid causing physical pain to women. We need two hands to clap; men may take very revealing attire as an invitation from females. Mohan Dadlani, email

Impactful Writing

Letter from reader Ara Piranian in response to November cover story “As American as Apple Pie? Guns, Tragedy and the Search for Anssers”

Stop Second-Guessing Mother Nature

This is in response to the editorial by Nirupama Vaidhyanathan (Be a Man, November 2017). One needs to look at evolution to understand why men are stronger and different than women. In the animal world, males are stronger and more aggressive during mating season because of elevated testosterone levels. Many thousands of generations ago, men were like wild apes. They needed to hunt to support their families. That tradition is carried forward in today’s world where men work, except that now more women are getting higher education and do hold jobs as wel. Still, the genealogical differences are there. Some women increase their muscle-mass by taking testosterone, but they don’t look graceful like most women. Whether men cry or not depends on their emotional level. Most boys are conditioned by society by the time they become men.

They bear more responsibilities and avoid becoming timid to cry over small things. Still, they do cry during major catastrophic events. So stop second-guessing Mother Nature. Rani Bhatia, email.

Guns and Gangs

This is in response to the cover story by Nirupama Vaidhyanathan and Gayathri Chakravarthy (As American as Apple Pie? Guns, Tragedy and the Search for Answers” November 2017). The big issue of gun control and violence that is not being mentioned by the press is one simple statistic. And that’s what we also need to examine. Many murders in America (with guns) are done by gangs; 14-24 year old AfricanAmerican and Latina people, shooting each other in major cities. What are they shooting each other over? Drugs distribution (turf), money, and even jealousy over girls, among other issues. With that perspective, where are the solutions? Gregory Haffernan, email

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This is in response to the essay by Kalpana Mohan (My #MeToo Story, November 2017). Three shockers, all told in a direct impactful way. I am referring to the parental advice to let the first molester go as the second shocker. The third shocker is perhaps too typical, the disgusting empowered Indian male decision maker with male cronies, well described as “during an interview with the XYZ newspaper, the editor—a large, illustrious man who filled the room with the miasma of his ego and accomplishments.” When choosing the Facebook reaction for the excellent prose, I was not sure which emoticon to use—like, love, cry, or angry face. Ramesh Abhiraman, web

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. letters@indiacurrents.com

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now and then

How to Buy a Green Card By Jaya Padmanabhan

are to become a green card holder quickly? Looking to avoid the long H-1B lines? All you need is upwards of half a million dollars. That should be the tagline to the EB-5 visa marketing campaign. The EB-5 visa program is a pathway to legal permanent residence for foreign nationals who create at least ten new jobs by investing $1 million directly in a business or in a Regional Center (a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) designated enterprise sponsoring capital investment for EB-5 visas). Alternatively, that amount drops to $500,000, if the investment is in a targeted employment area (TEA) or high unemployment area. China has dominated the EB-5 visa market. Invest in the USA (IIUSA) analysis shows that China captured 82.5% of EB-5 specific visas, with 10,948 applications filed in 2016. In contrast, Vietnam had 404 and India 354 applications filed last year. These are the top 3 countries for EB-5 visas. In order to understand how EB-5s work, I talked to Rohit Kapuria, an associate at Saul Ewing Arnstein and Lehr law firm’s Chicago office who was named a Top 5 EB-5 Rising Star by EB5 Investors Magazine in 2016. In the last five years, Kapuria’s practice has been solely focused on India and he believes that India is poised to become a significant player. From 2015 to 2016, the number of EB-5 investors from India increased by 40%. “I’ve seen the jump. I used to give seminars in India, where there used to be 20 to 200 people in a room and only 2% of the attendees would know what EB-5 was. Now when I hold those same seminars, easily 60 to 70% of the attendees know what EB-5 is,” Kapuria said, adding that he’s “very passionate about India’s development. It is a market that has been largely untapped till date, but you will be hearing more and more about it.” Back in 1990, when Congress hammered out the specifics of the EB-5 program, wait times for employment based visas were negligent. Now the EB-2 and EB-3 wait times are 7 to ten years long. Increasingly, Indians looking to migrate to America are beginning to look at strategies to get out of long queues. EB-5 is a viable option for those with money. “There’s no requirement of education. There’s no requirement of language proficiency. As long as your money is clean, we can source it and you do have a true intent to migrate to the United States and be a resident then that’s the way to go,” asserts Kapuria. Most importantly, there is no backlog for India. The processing time from initial application to green card is roughly around 24 to 30 months. That’s not the case with the Chinese EB-5 investor, who might have to wait as long as 7 years to get a green card via the EB-5 process. In India, Kapuria differentiates between investors from Mumbai and Delhi (tier 1) and those from Ahmedabad, Bangalore or Chandigarh (tier 2). Investors from tier 2 cities tend to focus on 8 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition |Dec '17-Jan '18

Looking to avoid the long H-1B lines? All you need is upwards of half a million dollars. That should be the tagline to the EB-5 visa marketing campaign.

direct EB-5s and are wary of Regional Center investments. These investors typically say “well, we understand the Regional Center model, but we’re not as convinced yet. We actually are looking at EB-5s as an investment strategy, first, and then as an immigration strategy,” Kapuria explained. Not so with the Delhi or Mumbai investor or the Chinese investor. Kapuria indicated that 92% of Chinese investors go towards the regional center model, and like the Chinese, investors in Delhi, for example, are less focused on control and more willing to frame their investment strategy in the form of larger, glitzier and more sustainable projects, as within the Regional Center model, with an eye to getting the immigration advantage. “So, the immigration benefit comes first before the so-called security and return on investment,” opined Kapuria. Indian investors thus far are more attracted by the smaller investment amount of $500k in areas of high unemployment. 93 to 94% of all deals from India are in TEA areas, according to Kapuria. But, just as India is beginning to position itself as a critical player in the EB-5 visa scenario, the United States is on the verge of re-evaluating this particular immigration route. December 8, 2017 is the next deadline by which Congress will decide its fate. It is unlikely that the visa will be eliminated, even though there are a few short-sighted Senators on both sides of the party line (Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa)), who question its import, citing the advantage that the wealthy have as an inherent flaw of an immigration strategy that is full of flaws. But here’s the argument for EB-5s: there is a cap of 10,000 every year (which includes immediate family of investors) on EB-5s. Compare that to the 85,000 per year limit on H-1Bs. Since 2008, the United States has received $18.4 billion of direct investment because of the EB-5 program. And the final clincher: each investor translates to ten jobs, and that’s a very powerful incentive to keep it going. n Jaya Padmanabhan was the editor of India Currents from 2012-16. She is the author of the collection of short stories, Transactions of Belonging.

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By Geetika Comedians, like clowns, have a special license to help us enter a liminal area where the boundary between reality and imagination is blurred. We can think of them as the “no man’s land” of political critique. While satire can occasionally cut too deep, with unfortunate consequences, as Salman Rushdie found after Satanic Verses earned him a fatwa from the Khomeini of Iran, the wise “fool” is to be let off for his witty upending of his social superiors. My children enjoyed the Amar Chitra Katha stories of Birbal in Akbar’s court, or Tenali Raman in the court of Krishnadevaraya. It is within this context of entertainment that dissent can be most effective, as we saw in the 2017 White House Correspondents’ dinner. ne of the differences between Muslims and Hindus, says Hasan Minhaj, bouncing around the stage in Davis, is that “we Muslims hate cartoons.” Gasp. Did he really say that? The Davis, California audience of Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King (2017) is shocked into silence, and then, what I fervently hope is cathartic laughter. A joke about the infamous “clash of civilizations:” the Danish cartoons, the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. A risky joke indeed. Perhaps it is too early to laugh? But the laughter is rolling in, and we have witnessed that moment when a difficult topic has been pulled out from under the carpet into the spotlight. The narrative starts with Minhaj being jilted on prom night by his “white princess,” whose parents were as worried about log kya kahenge (what will people say?) as his own. It is a story that can cause an unexpected lump in your throat. It then moves to a critique of world events, as the personal becomes political. “I am the cure for racism,” he offers simply.

Hasan Minhaj

umail Nanjiani, who plays Dinesh Chugtai in Silicon Valley, also weaves between the personal and the political. In his 2017 film The Big Sick, responding to a question by his movie in-laws about how he felt about 9-11, he deadpans: “it was terrible. We lost 19 of our best guys.” (Just kidding!) Gasp. The audience is shocked into silence, and then there is laughter. A joke about 9/11? Get used to it. Desi comedians are having a moment. But at whose expense is the joke being made? There is an implied power inequality in all humor, and it is worth exploring this question. Clearly, Minhaj is roasting religious intolerance. Bigotry and racism seem like other favorite targets. “Be a better racist,” urges Nanjiani, looking impish. “Get your facts straight.”

10 | INDIA CURRENTS | WestKumail Coast Edition |Dec '17-Jan '18 Nanjiani

Pathania-Jain

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o express dissent, some people go on fasts (think Gandhi). Others organize protest marches. Kondabolu, a former immigrant rights organizer, and now a stand-up comic, has made a documentary film, The Problem with Apu (2017).

We are talking here not about the Apu from Satyajit Ray’s realist trilogy, but animated cartoon character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Kwik-E-Mart owner on The Simpsons (1989-present). Apu was created by Matt Groening and voiced by Hank Azaria. Apu has a Ph.D. in Computer Science from CalTech (Calcutta Technical Institute). His character seems loosely based on the brownface Peter Sellers character Hrundi V. Bakshi from The Party (1968). Kondobolu claims that Apu’s trademark “thank you, come again,” delivered in a singsong accent was repeated by schoolyard bullies and ruined many a childhood. In the film, he discusses his ambivalence about Apu’s caricature with Aziz Ansari, Kal Penn, Aasif Mandvi,

hile Peter Russell built his career on jokes such as his Dad’s accented promise of punishment: “Somebody gonna get hurt a real bad,” some comics resist the easy laugh about stereotypes. Aziz Ansari dedicated a whole episode to this subject on Master of None (2015). On the one hand, such humor offers opportunities for critique within the community, much like Meet the Patels (2015), which Peter Russell lampooned desi dismay at non-arranged and inter-racial marriage.

Hasan Minhaj, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Aparna Nancherla. There is some discussion with Whoopi Goldberg about whether Apu can be called a minstrel character. Despite The Simpson’s equal opportunity offensiveness, Kondobolu has called the Apu caricature stereotypical and hurtful. Hank Azaria as Apu, he said, was like “a white guy doing an impression of a white guy making fun of my father.” While accents in general are problematic, Kondabulu has become more woke about his comedy and issues of representation. In “Yes, we can,” a 2009 article by Shruti Swamy in India Currents, he states: “I used to talk about my family much more. I realized after awhile that a lot of those jokes were ‘my family is different from your family.’ I want there to be some depth to their stories and lives. They are not just immigrants with thick accents who say goofy things. They are not caricatures.”

The art of the mischievous dig at the conservative relatives is perfected by Nanjiani, who looks quite pleased on Saturday Night Live at the scorecard so far: “Nanjianis: 0; White Women: 2.” His wife Emily is the second gori woman married to a Nanjiani, forty years after an uncle moved to Scotland and married a white woman. But it’s clearly an in-joke, like gently roasting your beloved mamaji (uncle) at his birthday party that you helped arrange. There is affection even through the eyerolls. Dec '17-Jan '18 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 11

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n her sassy cartoons, full of Roy Lichtenstein style desi tropes of jhumka and bindi wearing women, Maria Qamar, in Trust No Aunty offers: “It’s all for brown people. I don’t care to speak to anybody else because this is a conversation between us,” she says. “Lord knows if I see a person who isn’t desi trying to say, ‘Oh, aunties, aren’t they crazy?’ I’ll be like, ‘Shut the hell up.’” The desi words remain untranslated in badtameez gems like “Your daughter’s getting a little moti in the arms, no?” (fat-shaming) and “Pitaji don’t know shit!” (um, patriarchy?) Besides plentiful millennial sass “What does your roti shape say about you?! Match your rolling skills below and find out just how disappointed your in-laws will be”; “How to dodge the chappal” “What would society say?” There are helpful tidbits for young desi girls as well “Recipes for the desi campus girl on a budget” and “how to stay focused in school when all of your friends are getting married” and “how to ignore bakwaas criticism.” In response to the question “when was the last time you waxed?” for instance, Qamar’s advice is “Reply with “Never!” And then run out the door, with the wind caressing your silky soft mustache strands. Facial hair is nothing to be embarrassed of. We all have it. Its natural… facial hair is a beautiful characteristic of our people and it looks adorable.” I shared Maria Qamar’s book with my daughter Sagaree, who was delighted at all the irreverence. “In comedy, it’s ok to punch up but not down.” Pointing out the times that I have praised the sanskaari kids in our neighborhood, she challenged me. “Mom, are you identifying with the desi girl or the aunty?” My response was one that sounded Qamar-esque: “Eventually, beti, we all become aunties.”

How Rudy the Zebra had to wait for a green card

udy the Zebra has The Wrong Stripes. They zag instead of zig. Much like the comics who talk about existing in American immigrant third cultures (or in Qamar’s case, a fifth culture in Canada in a home of “half Gujarat and half Bihari, by way of Bangladesh but located in Pakistan”), anthromorphized Rudy feels all alone in a roomful of zebras. He sets off on an adventure, leaving his home much like an immigrant, and discovers a world full of animals with vibrant spots, dazzling points, and other mesmerizing patterns. Arjun Rihan, a layout artist at Pixar Animation Studios, left home in Pune at sixteen to attend school in Singapore and later moved to the United States. He spent years exploring what it means to fit in and be yourself. He drew on these experiences to write and illustrate his children’s book The Wrong Stripes. Rihan shared his familiar story of waiting for legal status in America. “I got a book contract many years ago, and I

was very excited about that. Sadly, at the time, I was on an H-1 visa and the rules did not allow me to accept this offer. That was really disappointing, and also ironic because you’re writing a book about being an outsider, and your own outsider status has prevented the story from being told.” Rihan’s previous works have also touched on similar themes. His 2014 collage piece “Passport-size Portraits” was featured in the Smithsonian Indian American Heritage Project for the H-1B visa, where artists depicted “the anxiety, dignity, isolation and opportunity associated with the H-1B visa.” The exhibit consists of twenty-three photographs taken in the process of applying for various required immigration documents such as passports, visas and work authorization. They span school, college, graduate school, jobs and travel. “These photos are tiny windows into one immigrant’s journey.” Rihan’s 2009 student film Topi, about a young boy’s experience during the turbulent days of the Partition of India is based on true events. Yes, it can be referred to as a cartoon film, but it can make you cry.

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Funny Memories

tried to remember the funny Bollywood comics of my childhood. In Sholay (1975) alone, we had laughed at jailer Asrani (Govardhan Asrani), spy Keshto Mukherjee, as well as merchant Jagdeep (Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jafri). Before that, there was the moti TunTun (Uma Devi Khatra), for some casual fat-shaming. Pairing TunTun with sharaabi Johnny Walker (teetotalling Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi) got some additional laughs. I remembered a Charlie Chaplinesque Raj Kapoor in Mera Naam Joker (1970), and the waterfalls of tears that sprang out of his clownish eyes came to mind. A memory surfaced. I met a film-maker at a friend’s house some years ago, and he had handed me a copy of his film, The Loins of Punjab Presents (2007). In the film, a New Jersey town catches Bollywood fever when five Indian-Americans and one Jewish Indophile

compete in an amateur Indian Idol-style singing contest. Loins of Punjab Presents satirizes non-resident Indians and Bollywood fans as they vie for the title of “Desi Idol.” Ajay Naidu had been in the film, and so had Anuvab Pal. A few years later, I learned that the filmmaker, the late Manish Acharya, had died in a tragic accident. A rewatching of the film The Loins of Punjab Presents lit up my brain with dopamine and filled my eyes with tears. Watching Manish Acharya in the film, I marveled at yet another comic who had managed to make me laugh, think and cry. n Geetika Pathania Jain is Culture and Media Critic at India Currents.

ho would have thought, with everything going on in the country, that a Muslim would be standing on this stage— for the ninth year in a row, baby. We had eight years of Barack. What’s another year? I would like to thank Jeff Mason and the White House Correspondents’ Association for having me. I would say it is an honor to be here, but that would be alternative fact. It is not. Uh, no one wanted to do this. So, of course, it lands in the hands of an immigrant. That’s how it always goes down. No one wanted this gig. No one. —Hasan Minhaj, White House Correspondents’ Dinner his event is about celebrating the First Amendment and free speech. Free speech is the foundation of an open and liberal democracy, from college campuses to the White House. Only in America can a first-generation, Indian American Muslim kid get on the stage and make fun of the president. The orange man behind the Muslim ban. And it’s a sign to the rest of the world. It’s this amazing tradition that shows the entire world that even the president is not beyond the reach of the First Amendment. —Hasan Minhaj, White House Correspondents’ Dinner

eeping up with politics is easy now. But the president didn’t show up. Because Donald Trump doesn’t care about free speech. The man who tweets that everything that enters his head refuses to acknowledge the amendment that allows him to do it. Think about it. It’s almost—what is it? It’s 11? It’s 11 p.m. right now. In four hours, Donald Trump will be tweeting about how bad Nicki Minaj bombed at this dinner. And he’ll be doing that completely sober. And that’s his right. And I’m proud that all of us are here tonight to defend that right, even if the man in the White House never would. —Hasan Minhaj, White House Correspondents’ Dinner

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On why he doesn’t do accents in his comedy anymore t’s hard having an accent in this country and you are judged based on it. I can imagine that it must be hard for my folks to work twice as hard to communicate and also the idea that when maybe my father says something and he walks away, the idea that people are laughing because what he said is funny to them because of how he sounds crushed me when I thought about it. And the idea that I was contributing to that was hard. I’ve been saying this onstage, but, my father should be judged based on the content of his words and not the accent that comes with it, because he does a lot of ridiculous things that have nothing to do with his accent. —Hari Kondabulu. NPR Interview

You classify aunties into various types—there’s the CEO Aunty, the Bollywood Aunty, and the Aunty in Training. What’s your favorite kind of aunty? he Soft Aunty. That’s what my mom is. She used to be a Bollywood Aunty. She was always having dramatic reactions to things, and she’d quote dialogue from movies to express her feelings. We kids would be like, “Uh, we saw those movies too—we know where you’re getting that from.” But now she’s more laid back. She’s learning to accept things more. And I love her home cooked meals. I love my mom. —Maria Qamar. NPR Interview

katha “California Fiction” Contest 2018 First Prize: $300 • Second Prize: $200 • Third Prize: $100 • Two Honorable Mentions One or more winners will be considered for inclusion in the "Best of California Fiction" collection forthcoming from Wellstone Books, the publishing arm of the Wellstone Center in the Redwoods. All entrants will be notified of the results by e-mail by June 30, 2018.

Entries this year should adhere to a theme of “California Fiction.” California has a rich literary history and, with the coming-of-age of Indian-American voices, we are encouraging writers to situate their experiences within this history. A substantial part of the story setting and/or its characters should be drawn from California and/or should reflect the ethos of what it means to be a Californian. CONTEST GUIDELINES: 1. One submission per individual; $7 per submission. (Paid by check or paypal) 2. Submissions should consist of one short story or extract from a longer work up to 2500 words in length. 3. Entries should be unpublished works and should not have won previous awards or contests.

How To Pay: s A Paypal account is required for online payment. Send to payments indiacurrents.com s Alternatively, you may send a personal check, cashier’s check or money order.

How To Submit: E-MAIL YOUR STORY as a word file attachment to: katha@indiacurrents.com

For complete contest guidelines go to indiacurrents.com/katha DEADLINE: MARCH 31, 2018 Submissions not following the guidelines will be automatically disqualified from the contest. Disqualified entrants will not be notified. Co-sponsored by

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India Currents is a leading Indian-American monthly with features, reviews, opinion, analysis, and a detailed calendar of Indian events. For more information: (408) 913-1610 katha@indiacurrents.com

in the Redwoods Founded by Sarah Ringler and Steve Kettmann, the center serves as a space to promote writing and nurture writers in a peaceful, tranquil setting.

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profile

Re-Imagining History India Currents’ exclusive interview with Amish Tripathi By Pavani Kaushik

t would not be an exaggeration if he were cited to be one of the most influential writers in India at the present time. His personal story is an example of reinvention. His love of history and Hindu theology started in childhood, interacting with his grandfather, a Sanskrit scholar. A career span of 14 years in the financial industry did not take him away from this passion. A deeply rooted love of tradition and a strong liberal streak saw the emergence of the writer in him. Bursting upon the scene in 2010, Amish Tripathi has reimagined the traditional mythology of India. Starting with the Shiva Trilogy, he has created a time warp of sorts, where traditional heroes and heroines of ancient India are placed in today’s milieu. A worm hole into the annals of history if you will. And in doing so, he has garnered a huge readership eager to reacquaint themselves with a modern narrative of an ancient heritage. With the Ram Chandra series, he enthralls his readers by recreating the Ramayana while placing it in the present day. Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku was the first book and Sita: Warrior of Mithila is the second, equally compelling sequel. Art Forum SF, an organization that strives to project art forms from South Asia, will host Amish Tripathi in the Bay Area in a few weeks. India Currents is the media sponsor. Meet the writer on Sunday, February 4th, 2018 at 11 a.m., India Community Center, Los Coches Street, Milpitas.

Amish Tripathi (AT) had an engaging conversation with India Currents writer Pavani Kaushik (PK). Here are some excerpts. PK: After the Shiva Trilogy and The Scion of Ikshvaku, it has been a big bonus to pick up this new book about Sita to redesign her in my mind. It is fascinating to see her portrayed this way. In a sense, it is a form of vindication for many modern women.

the impact will be far greater than to look elsewhere for examples. PK: Your remark about modern liberals brings to mind a scene in your book where Queen Sunaina lectures Sita, who has had a rude awakening when on an adventure, she confronts desperation in people less privileged for the first time. Would you like to give Sunaina’s message to us?

AT: Thank you! For most modern Indians the image of Sita has been formed by a television serial from the 1980s. But there are many versions of Sita, where she is a very strong character. In the Adbhuta Ramayan, she was the one who killed Raavan. And that is an ancient version.

AT: Queen Sunaina says “Be a liberal, but do not be a stupid liberal.” Liberalism is the Indian way—it has always been so. Sometimes, there is an assumption that anyone from a “victim” community is always good and anyone from a “perpetrator” community is always bad. This is also a bias.

PK: The popular culture version is what we grew up with. We have Devis and historical precedences in figures such as Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi, and Kittur Rani Chennamma from Karnataka. We celebrate them, even deify them. But we are very happy relegating them to history. For some reason we have trouble accepting present-day examples of the Nirbhayas and Sitas who reside amongst us. Why do you think it is such a problem?

PK: As mother to a little girl who is just getting out of her princess phase, your version of Sita holds a very strong appeal. Without trivializing what she represents, I would say that she is Supergirl minus her cape. Before we introduce these mythic characters to our children, it is time we reacquainted ourselves by erasing old models and by keeping an open mind so we can experience fresh, new versions.

AT: One of the biggest problems in modern India is that in many ways we are actually cut off from our ancient culture. I have said repeatedly that it is a misfortune that our liberals have not realized that our ancient culture is actually our biggest ally! They have no knowledge of our texts and vast literature. What they have read is from a Western perspective. In my opinion, our education system teaches next to nothing about our heritage and culture. When we change this, we will aid the cause of true liberalism. By that I mean—basic respect; respect for women and transgender people, respect for meritocracy, and respect for the freedom of expression. These tenets were part of our ancient culture. When we use our own heroes to make this point,

AT: Completely agree. We have to read our original texts which hold a wealth of wisdom. I am not saying everything about ancient India was perfect. No society or individual is perfect. But the best part of ancient India is the belief that “Nothing and No one is beyond questioning.” This was considered to be the heart of a civilized society. In the Vedic era in Sanskrit for example–there is no translation for the word “blasphemy.” The concept did not exist and the word did not as well. No one was beyond questioning, not even God. Neither was there the concept of a permanent Heaven or Hell. What happened in your life was the result of your actions—karma. Everything was in your hands. God was more of an archetype, a model to learn from.

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PK: Your characterization creates an impact because your narrative is drastically different from the models I have. My internal dialogue is shifting, even though it is difficult to let go of the prior versions of the tale. A.T: There is no need to “let go” of anything! Again—that is the Indian way. There is no concept of false Gods, or the One Truth. Because there are multiple Truths. Your truth is defined by your own perspective, shaped by your life experience. There is a lovely line in the Rig Veda—Ekam Sad Vipra Bahuda Vadanti which translates to mean, “Truth is One, many speak it as Many.” So all Gods are true—all versions are true. It is a purely personal relationship. With this comes acceptance and respect. And this ends the problem of contradictory beliefs. Our ancestors believed and accepted that contradictions are a part of the Universe itself! PK: What age group of readers does your version appeal to the most? AT: I just write what feels right to me. It is driven by pride in our culture, and I try to communicate this by modern and hopefully engaging storytelling. I don’t write for a specific age group. Having said that, many of my readers are young, though I have others reading my books as well. PK: So you have the more traditionally minded, Tulsidas Ramayan readership appreciating your books as well? AT: Yes, they seem to enjoy it as well! (laughs). PK: Your narrative especially in terms of warfare is striking—for example the use of biological warfare like Asuraastra. This weapon has a pretty serious repercussion—Rama’s 14 year Vanavaas! We could be talking about the great wars humanity has fought over the past several centuries. For all our advancements, I guess we haven’t evolved all that much. Your story makes this all the more real. AT: Modern day technological prowess has almost given human beings the power to play God, in a sense. My father is a genetic research scientist and I follow keenly the studies that are being done today. And it looks like we are getting close to a time when modern medicine will allow us to live up to 150 or 200 years! This is not the

stuff of science fiction. This sort of lifespan is almost divine to someone who lived a few hundred years ago. Having said all of this, at the end of the day, we are human beings. We are still driven by the same emotions. The search for happiness, for love, for enlightenment and a need to escape from hatred and discomfort—we are essentially driven by the same needs. Internal spiritual introspection is needed to go beyond these fears and needs, which we seem to lack. Do we have the spiritual awareness to deal with the technological, almost divine powers? Food for thought. PK: The Mithila of your narrative seems to be ultra progressive. While there are aspects like poverty and other issues within its borders, it is still progressive in its acceptance of the nagas/ disabled for example, and in the status given to women. Sita’s act of lighting her mother’s funeral pyre was a particularly strong visual. AT: Some of the Vedas of our ancient India were in fact written by Rishikas, female sages. That was the status accorded to women in that time. There are people today who say that women should not read the scriptures, when they have actually written them! I don’t know how such beliefs came about, but they need to change. PK: We see contrasts like this in present day India as well while the reality seems to be somewhere in between. Would you say that through your writing, there is the fervent hope that it opens a more positive, open minded way of thinking? AT: Absolutely! Today we have either ignorance, or we have people looking down on our ancient past. PK: The clue in the last part of Scion of Ikshvaku and the revelation in the first chapter of Sita: Warrior of Mithila is that she is the next Vishnu. That was indeed a surprise! Traditionally we have the Ardhanarishwar concept, the Shiva and Shakti balance that we accept. Is this a nod to the feminists among us? AT: The feminist movement has been driven by the Western paradigm, not the Indian way. And this Western way has over the past 2000 years morphed into the black/white or a right/wrong narrative. They tend to approach most issues from that perspective. There is no approach of

18 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

reaching towards a balance. You see an extremism and you feel the answer is the opposite extremism. This in actuality is not an answer! There should be freedom for everyone to make a choice. This is at the heart of male/female equality. Balance is important. PK: The language is more contemporary than with the Shiva trilogy. Is that because historically this story is set in a more recent timeline than the time of Rudra and Shiva? AT: No. I prefer keeping the language contemporary because it is easier to reach the reader. For example, Tulsidasji’s Ram Charita Maanas was written in Awadhi, the language of the masses, and not in Sanskrit. Language is the means to an end. So I make it as easy as possible for the reader that they don’t even notice it. Focus is more on the philosophy behind the storyline. PK: Now what happens when the novels are adapted into a screenplay—which I know is in the works? AT: It is important to make sure that the soul of the book is not lost. The problem in the movie format is the limitation of time. We are forced to trim the story—fortunately we have the option to release it as a series. This way we have don’t end up losing nuance. And so—we wait and watch! Whichever way the story will unfold on the big screen, we can be sure that it will be a visual treat. Amish Tripathi has left his readers literally hanging in mid-air in the final chapter of Sita: Warrior of Mithila! The next book in this series is titled Raavan: Orphan of Aryavarta and is slated for release in 2018. It remains to be seen how his narrative helps establish the balance he so firmly believes in. We wish the author much success in his journey. n Pavani Kaushik is a visual artist who loves a great book almost as much as planning her next painting. She received a BFA from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. She has held art shows in London, Bangalore and locally. She is a mother to a rambunctious girl. She loves to dabble in all things creative, and keep life interesting for her family.

Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 19

ज़िन्दगी की छोटी छोटी खु श ियों के शलये वी एच पी हम सबसे कम लागत वाली कवर्ड कैललफ़ोर्नि या य़ोज्ाएं प्रस्तुत करते हैं I इसके अततररक्त एम री लाइव टेलीहेल्थ सप्ाह के 7 दि् और 24 घंटे सेवाएं िेती हैं I हमारी फाममेससयों का राष्टीय स्र पर ्ेटवक्ड है I इसललए आप अप्े स्ास्थ्य की सिं ता कम करें और अप्ी ऱोजमरा्ड की य़ोज्ाओ ं के काय्डक्रम ब्ाएं I दूसरों से तुलना करें और valleyhealthplan.org से जुड़ें I 20 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 21

interview

“We Will Not Live in Fear:” Deepika Padukone India Currents exclusive interview with Deepika Padukone By Geetika Pathania Jain

ollywood star Deepika Padukone is Padmavati in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film, based on a story by Malik Muhammad Jayasi set in 1540 A.D. Deepika Padukone (DP) took some time to chat with India Currents Culture and Media critic Geetika Pathania Jain (GPJ) on the topics of jauhar, intolerance, and the limits of artistic freedom.

o provide context to this discussion. Press reports regarding opposition to the film, Padmavati have been increasing in number. Members of a group called Shri Rajput Karni Sena, have vandalized property and even assaulted Sanjay Leela Bhansali. There is opposition to an alleged love scene between Padmavati and Allaudin Khilji (played by Ranveer Singh) in the film. Deepika has been speaking out against the intolerance, and has even engaged in a sparring match with Subramanian Swamy on this topic. Bhansali has been provided police protection after death threats were leveled against him. The movie that was slated for release on December 1 has been indefinitely postponed. GPJ: Deepika, congratulations on your upcoming film, Padmavati. Our readers at India Currents are super excited and looking forward to it. Do you have a message for our readers? DP: Please tell India Currents readers that we are very proud of the film we’ve made and we are equally equally excited! There’s been so much anticipation about the film, about its release, based on everything we’ve seen so far, and we can’t wait to share this experience with everyone. GPJ: So you’re working with Ranveer Singh again, and he has a darker role as Alauddin Khilji in this film, an anti-hero who invades Chittor. How does it work, as an actor? DP: It’s very hard! In two films, we are cast opposite each other as eternal lovers, you know, you have RamLeela and you

have Bajirao Mastani, and then to put us in a film where we are in a hate story, so to say, it’s emotionally very very hard.

Richard Allen similarly note that “History is always written and re-written from the point of the present.” Your comments ?

GPJ: It seems there is some concern about how the film will be received and whether there is the potential to hurt the sentiments of some groups of people. Do you have any comments?

DP: I feel like people need to trust. We’re very proud of the film that we’ve made. It’s the story of a woman and her story and the sacrifices that she made for her people. And we should be celebrating this moment. Instead, it seems to be completely the other way around, and for what? And what can anyone say without even having seen the film?

DP: Firstly, I find it appalling just to see how people are reacting, certain groups of people are reacting, or what they’re reacting to. Just based on hearsay, without having any facts to back what they’re saying. It’s kind of hilarious and appalling at the same time. GPJ: You are referring to the protests against the film. DP: And the only people that we’re answerable to is the (Indian) censor board. And we’re not going to succumb to these threats or to this pressure and we’re not going to live in fear. Because we’re not answerable to them. GP: I’m going to quote a line from Ajay Gehlawat, a film historian, who discusses Bhansali’s strategy of using “historical accounts to retell a contemporary story?” Ira Bhaskar and

22 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

GPJ: Well, like the rest of the world, I have not seen the film yet. But just the title, Padmavati suggests that it’s a female-centric film, that it’s the story of this amazing woman who lived in the fourteenth century, and of course when we look at her from contemporary eyes, it’s hard to put ourselves in that situation. What do you think about the practice of Rajput women committing jauhar, a form of mass suicide to avoid capture and sexual violence during war? DP: I don’t think I can question that, to be honest. Times change. Things that were relevant then may not be relevant now. And vice versa. So I don’t think we can really question what they did or didn’t do, or what they practiced or didn’t practice.

it. And I think no amount of opposition from a small group of people will kill the spirit of the much larger audience that understands the power of cinema. And it’s definitely not going to kill our spirit. If anything, it’s fueling it further.

But for me, it’s much larger than that. For me, like I said before, it is about the woman that she was, the courage that she had, what she believed in, what she stood for, her intelligence, her vulnerability, those qualities that make her a woman. That’s the inspiring part for me. GPJ: When we talk about the growing intolerance in India, do you feel that working in the

Bollywood film industry is losing its charm? DP: If anything, we serve a purpose— people turn towards us because we are the one industry that gives you moments where you can escape from reality. Where you can feel love, feel unity, feel positive, feel happy, laugh. Cinema is that powerful. And it’s sad that people don’t see it. Or, certain groups of people choose not to see

GPJ: That’s good to hear. As you said, Bhansali films are all about the spectacle, stunning scenery and choreography, the songs and the beautiful ghoomar dance that we’ve been seeing. Certainly it seems like it will be a visual treat and hopefully one that will bring people together rather than divide them. Congratulations on your beautiful dancing; you look luminous in the film. And I think our India Currents readers will be very excited to see you on the screen on December 1st. Stay strong! n Geetika Pathania Jain is Culture and Media Critic at India Currents.

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relationship diva

3 Secrets to Setting Good Boundaries in a Relationship By Jasbina Ahluwalia

feel unless you tell them. So: • Be honest when communicating your needs • Create a safe and respectful environment to share these needs • Practice “active listening,” which includes making eye contact, remaining quiet, and paying attention • Ask clarifying questions

ver wondered what “boundaries” are in a relationship, and why they’re so important? With good boundaries, intimate partners enjoy respect, honesty, and open communication. Each partner feels a healthy sense of independence and wholeness that is separate from their loved one. On the other hand, relationships with no or poor boundaries tend to have these qualities: jealousy, manipulation, dependency, miscommunication, feelings of incompleteness, and difficulties in letting go. Good boundaries are essential. Here are three key ways to set them:

2. Follow Through

A boundary can be small, like “I want you to stay out of the bathroom when I’m showering” or “I don’t want you to use my laptop without asking.” Boundaries can also be large and somewhat more abstract, such as, “I don’t want to be told what to do or wear” or “I want to be monogamous.” Boundaries should be honored by both

1. Express Yourself, Don’t Assume

It’s not possible to know everything your partner is thinking or feeling unless you ask. Likewise, it’s not fair to expect your partner to know what you think or

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partners. If you fail to honor your partner’s boundaries, this will make it difficult to feel safe, loved, and respected. Eventually, this over-stepping can lead to resentment and contempt.

3. Take Responsibility for You (Only You). Even partners with healthy boundaries have conflict—but these partners also tend to take responsibility for their own happiness as well as their own frustration, anger, and other “negative” feelings. If your partner is unwilling to respect your boundaries, ending the relationship may be necessary for your own well-being. n Jasbina Ahluwalia is the Founder-President of Intersections Match by Jasbina, the only premier dating coaching firm for Indian singles in the US, Canada and the UK. Jasbina@Intersectionsmatch.com

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ask a lawyer

Changes To Immigration Law By Indu Liladhar-Hathi

ver since President Trump signed the “Buy American, Hire American” Executive Order on April 18th, 2017, there have been a number of changes in the employment-based immigration law arena that have taken place in a very subtle manner. There has been no change in the law concerning H-1B visas. However, there has been a significant increase in the number of Requests for Evidence (RFEs) that have been issued by the USCIS. Typically, an RFE is issued after an application is submitted and if the immigration officer concludes that the information provided is insufficient. Since June 2017, we have seen about 70-80% increase in the number of RFEs that are being issued pursuant to this executive order. The increase of RFEs in the H-1B visa context is illustrative of the “Buy American and Hire American” era. Employers file H-1B petitions on behalf

of foreign national employees whom they seek to employ in “specialty occupations” which are defined as occupations that require at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific field, such as doctors, lawyers, and software/hardware engineers. The RFEs are primarily issued on the basis that the USCIS does not accept that the specific position qualifies as a specialty occupation, or on the basis that the wages paid to the individual does not qualify the position as an H-1B specialty occupation. Similar queries had not been raised by USCIS in previous years. The number of RFEs and subsequent denials have resulted in many H-1Bs returning to their home country after being in America for a number of years which, in my opinion, will have a detrimental impact on the economy in the long term. The above change is not the only

26 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

change that we see. There have been many other subtle changes that are taking place under this administration and the interesting part is that the changes are being made without the formal rule making process, avoiding the legislative process.

Useful Tip:

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that establishes the public’s right to obtain information from federal government agencies. So for instance, if an individual does not have copies of their prior filing, or if they have lost documents that they have previously submitted to the USCIS, they can use FOIA request to obtain copies of their records. n Immigration and business attorney Indu Liladhar-Hathi has an office in San Jose. (408) 453-5335.

Legal . tax 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.

December 2017

his column carries final action dates and other transitional information as taken from the U.S. State Department’s Visa Bulletin. The information below is from the Visa Bulletin for September 2017.

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investment

Investing Tips By Prabhu Palani

t’s party time folks. The stock market is on a tear, interest rates are low, and it’s almost holiday season. According to the Wall Street Journal, the S&P 500 was up 359% since March of 2009. Goldman Sachs predicts that the S&P 500 will hit 2,850 by year-end 2018, a more than 10% gain from current levels. Technology is one of the great factors driving our lives. Google gives us the ability to search for things that we need and Amazon finds and delivers them. We watch movies on Netflix, and take Lyft to the airport. Elon Musk and China are determined to make gas stations a relic of the past. Technological change ensures higher productivity and hence lower costs and greater efficiency. As a result technology stocks have become stock market darlings. FAANG, an acronym given to the stock market’s highfliers (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google) accounted for more than a quarter of the S&P 500’s gains through July 2017 according to MarketWatch.com. The Great Recession seems like a distant memory. Have we reached that perfect blend of economic expansion, low inflation, and technological innovation that will put us on the path to stock market nirvana? Let us consider three important factors before we jump to any conclusions:

Valuation

According to the Shiller PE Ratio, created by the Nobel prize winning economist Robert Shiller, which looks at how expensive the market is relative to its cyclically-adjusted earnings, the US stock market is now more expensive than it has ever been since data for this ratio has been available (since 1881), except for the Nasdaq bubble in the late 1990s. The ratio stands at 31.53 (you now pay 31 times the earnings of underlying stocks to buy them). The long-term average of this ratio is 16.80 and it reached a peak of 44.19 in December 1999. Buying stocks at current levels suggests that, in order to eke out any meaningful gains, you are hoping that

stocks will enter bubble territory. And we all know how bubbles end. Some argue that given the weight of information technology in the S&P500 index (the FAANG stocks account for about 11%), and given that these stocks have high growth potential, today’s PE ratio is not strictly comparable to history, when the share of IT was a lot lower. In a well-researched article, Anna Chetoukhina and Rick Friedman of GMO demonstrate that, even after accounting for the increased weight of the IT sector and its tendency to trade at higher multiples, the S&P 500 remains overvalued.

Tips For Investing • US market exposure should be tempered by exposure to emerging markets for diversification and growth. • Given the history of high equity returns over the past decade, expect lower returns going forward. • Exposure to income-producing real estate can boost your returns. • The 10-year US treasury bond yields 2.3%. If you bought and held it to maturity, that is the return you should expect.

Earnings

For those who are bullish on the market, US corporate earnings growth provides the greatest support. The American economy continues to be one of the bright spots in the industrialized world with its combination of modest growth, low umemployment, and low inflation. However, if you believe that PE ratios will revert to their long-term average, companies have to grow at a much faster rate and at a sustained pace in order to justify their current valuation levels.

Government Policy

The stock market greeted the Trump administration with great fanfare. A troika of policies—infrastructure spending, deregulation, and tax reform were expected to give a boost to economic growth. At this point, the planned $1 trillion infrastructure spend remains elusive. According to The Economist, while it can be argued that there are fewer rules in place now, the economic benefits of deregulation are unclear. Some reversals, such as rolling back EPA provisions, while saving costs also give up substantial benefits. This leads business to rely on much-awaited tax reform which continues to face an uncertain future. Against this backdrop, here are some tips on investing. Prabhu Palani CFA is founder of Tresses Capital.

30 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

• Invest for the long-term. This horizon smoothens out short-term volatility. • Investing in passive strategies (index funds, ETFs) makes sense if you cannot pick market-beating stocks. Very few professional investors do so either; the share of passive investments has grown to 41% according to Jack Bogle, founder of Vanguard. • Guard against your own biases. Nobel winner in economics, Richard Thaler warns that individuals consistently make irrational decisions when it comes to economic behavior. • Stick to what you know—it is ok to miss the potential 40% upside on Bitcoin if you do not understand it. • Ignore the predictions of Wall Street pundits—their incentives are not aligned with yours. Read their analyses and form your own opinions. • If you don’t have the ability/time to invest, seek the help of an adviser. Financial wealth is only one measure of your overall wealth. As you enjoy the holidays, do not forget to hold your true wealth close to you. Here’s wishing everyone a Happy New Year! n

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Top 10 Movies of 2017 By Aniruddh Chawda Crashing Thunderbolts, Sizzling Sixers

Crooning Jailbirds and

2017 witnessed an unusual number of sequels (Golmaal Again, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Judwaa 2, Baahubali: The Conclusion) and remakes (Hindi Medium, Ittefaq, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan), and judging by the box office returns for many of these projects, more chapters will likely be added in the future. As movies everywhere move towards an entertainment-on-demand objective and the yet elusive goal of being able to see any movie or sporting event anywhere at any time—albeit with a price—the movie theater experience must feature a razzmatazz that cannot be replicated easily in a home theater screen. The crossover appeal of Indian players outside of India continued to rise with Priyanka Chopra’s success in Quantico, Ali Faizal in Victoria and Abdul and Deepika Padukone in xXx: Return of Xander Cage. Padukone, who will feature in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati, also achieved 20 million Twitter followers, the highest for any Asian woman. A short list of noted movies for the year:

ECRET SUPERSTAR. Filmmaker Aamir Khan’s relatively-small budget entry about a teenager (well-played by Zaira Wasim) with hidden musical talents being suppressed by an abusive father resonated well-beyond the reach of the Cinderella-at-the-ball ethos. The success comes from director Advait Chandan not only keeping the camera focused on the teen whose hidden musical talent plays out online after her music videos showing her behind a burqa go viral, but he also shies away from budget-busting glitzy packaging and avoids show-stopping big dance numbers. As if keeping a burqa-clad online identity secret is not challenging, there may be trouble brewing on the homefront with the possibility that her father might discover that his daughter is indeed a virtual sensation. Sparingly, and nicely, supported by Khan as a music promoter that the teenager reaches out to for help, Secret Superstar provided terrific and insightful viewing.

INDI MEDIUM. Saket Choudhary’s notable film, a remake of Nandita Roy and Shiboprasad Mukherjee’s Bengali entry Ramdhanu (2014) and also Rajesh Nair’s Malayalam language comedy Salt Mango Tree (2015), with Irfan Khan and Saba Qamar as parents confounded by the cut-throat competition they encoun32 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

ter when enrolling their four-year old—yes, four-year old—into preschool provided a tremendous satire of modernity creeping into the daily lives in India’s growing economy. With a sharp script that indicts both the lack of connections as well as the lack of English language skills in the parents–and not the child–as hindering what would otherwise be reasonable admissions, Hindi Medium worked equally well as both a well-made movie and also an insightful gaze into the evolution of India’s often highly-regimented education system and the “creative” methods for doling out admissions.

HUBH MANGAL SAAVDHAN. A delightfully ground-breaking story buzzing with fresh approach, K.S. Prasanna’s Hindi language remake of his own Tamil language Kalayana Samayal Sadham (2013) explored the pitfalls that can booby trap budding relationships. Laying bare the premise—he has erectile dysfunction and she does not care—against a backdrop of pending nuptials and also keeping his condition “secret” from the prying ears of their respective extended families who are busy planning the wedding puts to test a nerdy office worker (Ayushmann Khurrana) and his betrothed (Bhumi Pednekar). Confronting the predicament with wry humor, especially the awkward courtship rituals in the early going, discussing the condition and challenging their notion of masculinity in matter-of-fact terms while facing up to how the erectile dysfunction will impact their relationship made a winning entry.

TTEFAQ. In a recrafting of Yash Chopra’s Rajesh Khanna-Nanda entry Ittefaq (1969), which in turn was a remake of the Hollywood thriller Signpost to Murder (1965), director Abhay Chopra’s (no relation) surprisingly taut nail-biter put a modern spin on the tested motif. A London-based writer (Siddharth Malhotra) on a book-promotion tour in Mumbai flees after being accused of murder and, either wittingly or unwittingly, is found lurking in an upscale apartment owned by his business associate and his wife (Sonakshi Sinha) and where another dead body turns up. Hounded like a dog by a shrewd gumshoe (Akshaye Khanna)—perplexed by which version of events to believe—whether the writer on the run or the meek housewife is telling the truth provides the filmmaker an array of nifty, mind-tricking camera work. Exploiting all three charactersespecially Khanna’s cynical detective—with great finesse, Ittefaq thrilled indeed.

ARIB QARIB SINGLE. Newly landed on the uncharted waters of the singles scene, a not-so-struggling poet (Irfan Khan) and a young widow (Parvathi Thiruvoth) meet on-

line on a dating site. Their oil-tovinegar outlook on everything from phone etiquette, personal space and even the fundamentals of dating surely means that this pseudo-relationship will end up on the rocks. In the seasoned hands of director Tanuja Chandra, however, Qarib Qarib Single lands on a short list of wonderful one-off dating movies along the likes of Kunal Kohli’s Hum Tum (2004), Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met (2008) and Ayan Mukerji’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013). The marvelous script gets into the intricacies of mood and tonal shifts in their outlook as they set out on a far-flung tour of the sub-continent to inexplicably check in on his former girlfriends.

UMHARI SULU. When Vidya Balan finds her grooveas she does here—she can perform minor miracles inside of her roles. Her suburban Mumbai housewife Sulochana (Sulu), while attentive to her office worker husband (Manav Kohl) and 11 year-old son (Abhishek Sharma), whittles away the day by entering radio contests. Little does she realize that the trip to the radio station to pick up the kitchen gadget she just won may land her a radio jockey gig on a late night callin show and offer the chance to peek into unopened windows within herself. With Neha Dhupia as Sulu’s radio station boss, Balan turned in a brilliant role filled with confidence. Directed by Suresh Triveni, Balan genuinely looks like she is having fun channeling a sari-clad homemaker who dares dream that she can have it all.

AAM SHABANA. Shivam Nair’s prequel to the Akshay Kumar hit entry Baby (2015) proved to be the logical stepping stone for Taapsee Pannu’s rise in the wake of her success with both Baby and especially Pink (2016). Tracing the origin story of Shabana Khan (Pannu) and her rise into the ranks of international espionage as a covert agent assigned to track down the terrorist responsible for killing two Indian spies in eastern Europe was handled with incremental, plausible turns. Keeping the action grounded and again enlisting French action choreographer Cyril Raffaelli to elevate martial arts, and not guns, as the weapon of choice made the self-reliant girl-power theme stick even more. Drawing on support from Manoj Bajpai as Khan’s spy agency handler, Denny Denzongpa as the spy network chief, Anupam Kher as a techie nerd and even Kumar for backup action support, there will likely be more entries in this series.

ACHIN: A BILLION DREAMS. Taken as either a docu-biopic or nostalgia trip down sporting glory memories, James Erskine’s staging of the life story of Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar succeeded by not only etching out Tendulkar’s meteoric rise

into cricket stratosphere but it also champions parallels between Tendulkar’s rise and the rise of modern India into global business networks under the stewardship of Rajiv Gandhi. An origin story sometimes told by reenacting scenes from Tendulkar’s suburban Mumbai childhood using age-appropriate actors, Erskine’s outline also throws in raw footage of some of Tendulkar’s greatest scoring feats in the international arena. With an A.R. Rahman score and longish interviews with the Tendulkar himself, A Billion Dreams falls somewhere between docu-dramas based on real life sport start and raw-footage stories that help connect the dots.

AAHUBALI: THE CONCLUSION. S. S. Rajamouli’s bigger-than-big sequel to his bigger-than-most Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) scored a list of box office superlatives unimagined previously. From the 9,000-screen global rollout to becoming the highest grossing movie in India’s domestic box office history (the highest global box office for an Indian movie is Aamir Khan’s Dangal (2016)). Thanks to ticket prices of up to $60 on opening weekend, the chart dominoes melted away like candle wax in an incendiary oven. Even though the cutting-edge filmmaking wizardry that ignited the Baahubali feeding frenzy with the first installment in 2015 died down somewhat in the intervening two years, Baahubali: The Conclusion still roared with sizzling thunderbolts and cosmic battle sequences for a landmark theater experience. It lands on this list because Indian cinema has been transformed by the phenomena.

UCKNOW CENTRAL. Ranjit Tiwari’s prison caper was reportedly based on the true story of a real-life prison band from Lucknow that—as Lucknow Central is—was made up of death row prisoners given the chance to band together behind prison walls. Led by Farhan Akhtar’s musician who is accused of murder on trumped up charges and landing on death row, there is enough going on in between to make the story gel. Wired only into his music, Akhtar’s model prisoner reluctantly befriends four other prisoners (Deepak Dobriyan, Imaanulhaq) under the watchful and vengeful eyes of a cruel prison warden (Ronit Roy) who is overruled by a local politician (Ravi Kishan). Supported by Diana Penty as a social worker who intervenes on behalf of the band for outside connections and a rousing ensemble musical score, Lucknow Central also features the single most remarkable film artifact of the year: Arriving at the all-male prison, Akhtar’s character, along with prison garb, is unceremoniously also handed a pack of condoms. On to 2018. Happy movie-going!n Globe trekker, aesthete, photographer, ski bum, film buff, and commentator, Aniruddh Chawda writes from Milwaukee. Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 33

recipes

Vegan Desserts Aplenty By Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff

he tradition of making New Year’s resolutions started some 4000 years ago in Babylonia, and the new year is always considered a good time for a new start. This year, let us resolve to cook more, and to share food with our loved ones. Why does cooking at home and sharing food lead to better health? Most packaged foods contain too much salt, fat and sugar, and time spent with loved ones to prepare healthy food can add to the quality of life. Today, our busy lifestyles require many of us to work long hours. We often grab prepared fast foods to get through the day, and choose from the deli to feed our family dinner! Many Indians follow a vegetarian diet, which would suggest that they select healthy foods, but this is not always true. I have met many vegetarians who don’t

eat vegetables. They live on starchy, sugary, and fried food; some out of economic necessity, and others out of lack of knowledge regarding food and nutrition. Recent health surveys show that Indian-Americans are more prone to coronary heart disease than other groups, despite the lack of other risk factors such as smoking and drinking. So how can Indian-Americans break the habit of buying tantalizing fried chips, sweet gulab jamun, or savory pizza? The two areas of our diet that need the most modification are appetizers and desserts. Indian appetizers such as samosas and pakoras are deep fried and therefore calorie-laden and devoid of nutrients. Oftentimes. desserts such as ladoos, and jalebis are laden with excessive fat and sugar, and some are deep-fried as well. In this column, I share recipes for desserts which are vegan, and gluten-free con-

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taining less sweetener than most desserts. Refined and bleached cane sugar raises blood sugar levels, increases heart rate, and impairs the immune system. Honey and maple syrup, also high in calories, contain only micro-nutrients. Agave, once touted as a good alternative natural sweetener is now also considered unhealthy. Stevia, a natural sugar substitute has an unpleasant after-taste. Date sugar and coconut sugar have the lowest glycemic index, but they are high in calories as well. So instead of looking for a perfect sweetener, I suggest using less sugar whenever possible. Try cutting down the amount of butter or ghee, or use a vegan spread sparingly. Instead of using milk or cream, use coconut milk, or almond milk, both of which are lower in saturated fat. Nut meals are valuable ingredients for preparing glutenfree desserts. n

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Fruit Salad Boat

California is blessed with fresh fruit year-round. Fresh fruit is packed with nutrients and antioxidants that prevent us from getting sick. A fruit salad boat is an attractive centerpiece for any party. Fruit boats can be made using papaya, cantaloupe, or watermelon, depending on what is in season. For fall and winter, this recipe includes berries and chunks of fuyu persimmon, fuji apples, grapes and pineapple. Ingredients 1 large ripe pineapple, to make two fruit boats 2 fuyu persimmons peeled and cut into chunks or 1 fuji apple, cut into chunks ½ cup seasonal berries, washed, hulled and sliced if they are large (such as strawberries) ½ cup peeled and sliced banana ½ cup peeled and sliced kiwi fruit Juice of ½ lime, freshly squeezed Juice of 1 orange, freshly squeezed ¼ cup sliced, raw almonds 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup to offset the tartness of some fruit (optional)

Illustration credit: Serena Sacharoff

Cut the whole pineapple, leaves and all, lengthwise using a sharp serrated knife. Cut and discard the thick middle stem. (For papaya or cantaloupe, slice the fruit in half and remove seeds.) Next, using a paring knife, scoop out the pineapple pulp in chunks, leaving the outer rind intact and strong enough to make a fruit boat. Cut the pineapple chunks into smaller pieces and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add other fruits to the bowl. Sprinkle with lime and orange juices and toss gently. Fill the two empty halves of pineapple generously with fruit and decorate the top with nuts. Left-over fruit can be used to refill the boats. Chill until ready to serve. Makes six to eight servings.

Halva Sweetened with Date Sugar

spoon for about 10 minutes. Lower the heat and continue to cook while stirring often. Place cashews in an electric blender or food processor and crush them into a meal. Add the cashew meal to the cooking cream of rice and continue to stir the ingredients while cooking for an additional 5 minutes. Add hot water, date sugar and cardamom. Continue to stir and cook for a few more minutes until the ingredients solidify. Turn off the heat, and allow the halwa to settle for a few minutes. Then transfer to a platter and shape the halwa as desired, into a round mold, heart or a rectangular cake-like shape. Sprinkle the shredded coconut over the surface leaving some edges uncovered. Spread the berries decoratively on top. It can be served at room temperature or chilled. Makes eight to ten servings.

Kheer

thoroughly until the mixture takes on a pudding-like consistency. Turn off the heat and keep covered for a few minutes. Transfer into a serving bowl and top with the chopped nuts. Kheer can be served hot, at room temperature or chilled. n Makes eight to ten servings.

½ cup raw, unsalted cashew pieces 3 tablespoons soy-based butter spread 1 cup cream of rice or cream of wheat cereal 3 cups hot water 1/3 cup date sugar/coconut sugar/ turbanado sugar (available in health food stores) ¼–½ teaspoon ground cardamom ¼ cup finely shredded dry coconut for topping ½ cup blueberries, raspberries or sliced strawberries Heat a heavy skillet and roast cashew pieces until they start to turn color and smell fragrant. Transfer to a platter to cool. Wipe the skillet clean and heat the vegan spread gently over low heat. Add the cream of wheat and stir-fry at moderate heat, stirring constantly with a wooden

This healthy, gluten-free and vegan rice pudding is made with coconut milk. You can also use soymilk, almond milk or lowfat dairy milk (for a non-vegan version). 1 cup short grain white rice/jasmine rice 2 cups water for cooking rice 4 cups low fat coconut milk ½ teaspoon finely ground cardamom seeds ¼ teaspoon saffron threads soaked in 3 tablespoons warm milk, soymilk, or coconut milk 2 tablespoons oil ½ cup unbleached sugar or honey ½ cup sultana (yellow) raisins ½ cup shelled and chopped pistachios or slivered or chopped almonds Rinse and drain the rice. In a large pot (3-4 quart size) bring the water to a boil and add rice. Bring the rice to a second boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Then add the coconut milk and oil. Then raise the heat to a moderate flame and cook the rice uncovered for approximately 15 minutes, stirring frequently; stir the rice to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. While the rice is cooking, grind the cardamom using a mortar and pestle and soak the saffron as described. When most of the liquid seems to have evaporated from the rice, add the raisin, cardamom, saffron and the sweetener. Stir

Few books that have information about how to nutritionally balance a vegetarian and vegan diet and menu. 1) Robertson, Laurel, Carol Flinders, and Brian Ruppenthal. Laurel’s Kitchen: A Handbook for vegetarian Cookery and Nutrition. Berkeley, Ca. Ten Speed Press, 1986. 2) Vesanto Melina MS RD, and Brenda Davis. The New Becoming Vegetarian: The Essential Guide to A Healthy Vegetarian diet, Healthy Living Publications, imprint of Book Publishing Company, Summertown TN, Book Publishing Company, 2003 3) Sacharoff, Shanta Nimbark, Flavors of India, revised edition, Summertown TN, Book Publishing Company, 1996 Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff , author of Flavors of India: Vegetarian Cuisine, and an upcoming book Cooking Together: A Vegetarian Co-op Cookbook lives in San Francisco. Serena Sacharoff, the illustrator is a chef and a freelance artist.

Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 35

travel

The Yakshi of Lanka Enthralls By Ritu Marwah

he shared histories of India and the isle of Sri Lanka intertwine in the most unexpected and fascinating way. Nearly 2, 000 miles north of Sri Lanka, the first stone structure built in India featured a lady from Lanka, a yakshi that swung from the gate found on the stupa at Sanchi. Four tribes—the Raksha, the Yakshi, the Deva and the Nagas inhabited Sri Lanka about twenty five centuries ago. In the 3rd century B.C., Emperor Ashoka commissioned and built the famous stupa at Sanchi in India using knowledge of those who lived in Sri Lanka at that time. The travel of Buddhist ideas between the two nations resulted in the transmis-

Stupas at Anuradhapura

In Anuradhapura, towering stupas dating back to the 1st to 3rd century B.C. dominate the landscape. The mahabodhi tree, an imported and re-planted branch of the tree under which Buddha had attained enlightenment holds pride of place. Planted in 288 B.C., it is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world. sion and exchange of knowledge in various arenas including art, architecture and sculpture. The British museum that now houses the statue, states that as per an ancient Indian fertility rite, beautiful young maidens were said to usher in spring by kicking a tree trunk while breaking off a branch, so as to arouse it into blossoming. The yakshi has a bare torso with a single pearl falling between her breasts. A girdle holds up a diaphanous lower garment across her broad hips. She wears heavy anklets and bracelets, and her hair is tied into elaborate plaits. She is holding up the sandstone beam that was once across Sanchi Stupa’s gateway. Or as the Boston Globe puts it, “the touch of a woman, according to Indian myth, could cause the sap of the tree to run, making it flower and bear fruit.” In India’s epic tale the Mahabharata,

Image of Yakshi 36 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

the poet calls out to the lady in the translator’s Shakespearean voice: Who art thou that, Bending down the branch of the Kad amba tree, Shiniest lonely in hermitage, Sparkling like a flame of fire at night Shaken by the breeze, Oh thou of fair brows? Exceedingly fair art thou Yet fearest nought here in the forest Art thou a devata, a yakshi, a danavi, an apsara, Or a fair daitaya girl, or a lovely maiden of the Naga king Or a night wanderer (rakshasi) in the woods? The Ramayana tells the tale of Surpanakha who incited her brother, the

well endowed powerful King Ravana to avenge her insult. As I wander around Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first capital city, there is no sign of these epic stories. However, relics related to Buddhism can be found everywhere. Towering stupas dating back to the 1st to 3rd century B.C. dominate the landscape. The mahabodhi tree, an imported and re-planted branch of the tree under which Buddha had attained enlightenment holds pride of place. Planted in 288 B.C., it is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world. Seeds from the bodhi tree were disseminated throughout Lanka where they have taken root. Theravada Buddhism blossomed in Sri Lanka. Even now, over 70 percent of the population are Sinhala Buddhists. The possession of Buddha’s tooth, a relic carried from India, is protected as it bestows the divine right to rule on its possessor. In 1998 the LTTE, a militant Tamil organization tried to capture it in vain. It now resides in a temple in Kandy. Two hours drive south of Anuradhapura, Sigiriya Fort a massive column of rock nearly 200 metres high was a Buddhist monastery from as early as the 3rd century B.C. We scramble up all of the 1200 steps to see a fabulous view of a forest-carpeted vista. Lion claws carved into the rock announce the start of an ancient citadel built by King Kashyapa during the 5th century. In Colombo, another two hour south of Sigriya, the eclectic Gangaramaya Temple houses the Buddha’s hair and the Bodhi tree. The yakshi continues to fascinate the

Yakshi in stupa at Sanchi

Details in Stupas at Anuradhapura

Governor’s Mansion

people of India. The Lady from Lanka now also stands at the entrance of the Reserve Bank of India building in New Delhi, an imposing twenty-one-feet high statue, she also holds a bag of money in her hand. The statue was completed in 1967. She guards modern India’s material needs.

The Governor’s Mansion Harbors a Secret

A stay at the Lavinia Hotel tells of the fascinating secret of a love story around 1805 between the English Governor Sir Thomas Maitland and Lovina Aponsuwa, the barechested half Portuguese and half Sinhalese Mestizo dancer. A secret passageway from the English Governor’s house led to the village of Galkissa, to a well that was not in use, near the home of Lovina Aponsuwa. It is said that she was a frequent visitor to the white mansion atop the hill in the dead of night when caressing waves of the Bay of Galkissa swept up the beach towards the mansion. Across the bay while Colombo, the capital city of the island of Sri Lanka,

slept, the lady made her way, hidden from the prying eyes of rigid colonial society, through the tunnel to the cellars of the Governor’s house. The mansion would forever be known by her name, Lavinia. Two hundred years later, we crawl into the tunnel. Our guide is a diminutive man in a gold-lapeled white colonial shirt under which he wears a white Sinhalese sarong. Chef Publis Silva, who has been with the hotel for 60 years, meets us at the other end. His book Royal Meals of the Last Kings of Sri Lanka sits inside a mother of pearl shell in a cabinet in the lobby. On a table laden with Sri Lankan dishes twinkles the English Trifle pudding with a red jeweled glint. Juice soaked sponge cake, succulent fruit, ruby red jello,

Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 37

blanket of creamy lemon yellow custard and fluffy white whipped cream lie in layers distinct in their aristocratic demeanour and together hold a promise of creamy, tangy, sweet deliciousness. The layers in Sri Lankan cuisine reflect the waves of people that have made Sri Lanka their home: Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslim, Burghers and the Wanniyala-eto, Chef Silva tells us. A typical Sinhalese meal consists of red rice and meat, seafood and vegetable curries, a mallung of diced garden greens and a spicy onion or coconut based sambal. (The word mallung means “to mix up” and is a category of Sri Lankan dishes that feature shredded leafy vegetables, coconut and spices, all cooked in a dry skillet or clay pot, and then finished with a couple of drops of lemon juice.) The Tamils sometimes eat their curry with a pancake, dosai. The Sinhalese curries are drier than those of the Tamil. The Sinhalese use coconut milk while the Tamil use ground coconut to thicken the curries. Tamil cuisine depends on gingelly (sesame) oil, yogurt, maize, corn, gram, and tamarind. The Muslims who are the descendants of travellers and traders from Africa, Malaysia, Persia, and Indonesia enjoy biryani which is rice boiled in meat stock, cooked in ghee laced with chicken or mutton, cashew nuts and sultanas. Wanniyala-eto or those of the forest have a rich meat diet with venison, wild boar and small game often smoked or roasted. The Burghers or the descendants of the colonial Dutch, Portuguese and the British contributed sweet, rich and heavy cakes like the bolo folhado, and love cake. Governor Tom and Lovina’s love was many layered and deep like the English Trifle. Recipe for Trifle Pudding Ingredients 1 Swiss roll, dry sponge cake, or sponge fingers 6 tablespoons sherry (optional) 1 packet of jello Can of fruit or 1 1/2 cups of diced fruit salad or thawed frozen fruit (One of the beauties of trifle is that you can use any fruit: mixed fruit, berries, mango, pineapple, banana etc).

Pineapple or orange juice For Custard 1 cup milk 1 cup cream 2 tablespoons custard powder (or 5 egg yolks with a tablespoon of corn flour) 4 tablespoons sugar 1 cup whipping cream with icing sugar to taste A transparent glass bowl will showcase the dish.

Trifle pudding

Method Slice cake or layer fingers to cover the bottom of the bowl completely. Sprinkle with sherry(optional). Soak the cake with juice. Layer the fruit on top of the layer of cake. Prepare jello according to the instructions on the packet. Refrigerate until almost set. Pour the jelly over fruit layer evenly. Allow to set. It should not take more than 30 minutes. If you pour the jelly over the cake whilst it is still hot, it will be absorbed by the cake and you won’t have a jelly layer. The jelly forms a strong base concretizing the foundation of the pudding. Prepare the custard. Take a small bowl and mix the custard powder with a little milk to form a light paste. Heat the remaining milk, cream and sugar in a pan and bring to a boil. Add the custard paste or whisked egg yolks and cornflour into it as you whisk the milk till it thickens. This should be done on low to medium heat. The custard should not be runny and should be spooned over the jello when cool. It is the consistency of mousse. Press

38 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

some clingfilm onto the surface to prevent a skin forming. When the custard is cool, pour over layer of jello. If the custard is too hot, the jello will melt. Take a chilled bowl and pour the whipping cream into it. Beat it to soft peaks with a hand mixer. Slowly add the icing sugar and continue beating till you get stiff peaks. Transfer the frothy whipped cream on top of the custard layer and spread evenly. Refrigerate. Garnish with sliced fruits and serve chilled. Growing up in India, I used to eat the Trifle at our weekly dinners with extended family members. The English Trifle made its appearance at our dinner table via Ceylon as Sri Lanka was then called. My mother’s brother who was in the Indian Foreign Service had been posted in Ceylon in 1958. On their return to India from their foreign posting my aunt Urmil had proudly presented the English Trifle and subsequently coached every generation on how to set the pudding. Any pudding where the jello is missing is definitely non-traditional. The jewel in the crown of the Trifle remains forever the Ruby Jello!

Travel Details

We flew into Colombo from the United States where we visited the Gangaramaya Temple and the IPKF memorial, had lunch at Mount Lavinia Hotel, took a walk down Galle face, dinner at Beach Wadia which seems to be a celebrity eating spot and shopped at Barefoot and Odel. The train tracks that ran along the beach from Colombo to Galle invited us to explore the European quarter. We made a day trip to Galle Fort. The next day, we drove four hours to Dambulla where we stayed at the Heritance Kandalama. The resort is cut into the mountainside by Sri Lanka’s premier architect Geoffrey Bawa. Overlooking the Kandalama Lake and the Sigiriya Rock Fortress the resort is highly recommended. We visited Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa the two ancient capitals as day trips from Dambulla before returning to Colombo. n Ritu Marwah is a frequent contributor to India Currents.

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desi lens

A Year of Transgressions By Kalpana Mohan

n the morning of my birthday this past October, I began reading the first few pages of the book, Oranges, by John McPhee. In the world of nonfiction, it’s a classic. A couple of lines jumped out at me as my eyes hopped over these words: “Citrus does not come true from seed. If you plant an orange seed, a grapefruit seed might spring up. If you plant a seed of that grapefruit, you might get a bitter lemon. With a graft, however, what you saw was what you got.” I realized how lucky I was to have not been born into the citrus family. Sometimes my family and friends may have wondered about my origins. I can be more acidic than a red grapefruit when the circumstances are ripe. On my birthday, as I read McPhee’s words I realized that while I’d grown a year older I’d also grown considerably more sour this year, thanks in part to what was one of the most challenging years of my life. I traveled to unknown parts of India seeking answers for a book I had been asked to write. I cold-called people in different towns, climbed into autos and taxis driven by men who could not communicate with me. I crisscrossed cities on foot with locals. I struck up conversations with people as I stood in line. I barged into the green room of actor Naseeruddin Shah—upon his daughter’s encouragement even though his wife had previously rebuffed my request—and delivered a one-minute elevator pitch about my book after which he gave me his email. I discovered, after I left Prithvi Theater, that he probably never looked at that email id. Nevertheless, I’d crossed an imaginary line when I barged into the place to present myself before a famous stranger while the faces that stared back at me were blank, indifferent, even caustic. It was the year I hustled. I sent emails to accomplished people, politely pressuring them to respond. In some instances, those I’d supported in the past turned out to be less palatable than the rancid navel orange that grew in my front yard. A gentleman in Chennai with an illustrious parentage spurned every request to meet me, refusing even to agree for a short phone call. Conversely and perhaps because of my disappointments, when someone who was entering the writing business approached me for advice, I shared as much as I possibly could. I learned something from that session of sharing; it gave me the confidence to teach a class in the future. Some people I’d never met before, agreed to meet me at short notice. Some of those meetings would open my eyes to my own privileges. I realized why it was important to make the effort to seek out people even when I was intimidated. I found gurus in ramshackle shops. In one fast hour, a Bangladeshi bookseller in Kolkata’s College Street sold me a dozen books, packaged them, and mailed them to my address in Chennai and texted me the tracking number. The gentleman spoke to me in pidgin English and had read, in Bengali, many of the works he sold; he knew the books intimately even though he wasn’t confident about conversing in English. Selling 40 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

It was the year I hustled. This year, I learned to push back and trust my instincts more. Change happens inside of us one small cell at a time. was not about a pretty façade in a fancy storefront on Park Street or about knowing a language. It was the attitude to work, and about helping find solutions to someone’s problems. Change happens inside of us one small cell at a time. This year, I learned to push back and trust my instincts more. As I tried to interview people for my book, I ran up against an army of gatekeepers who thought they were more important than the people they were keeping inside the gate. One famous writer who continues to walk about in a cloud of his own flatulence gave me a time for an interview. I landed at the venue to discover that two others had been given the same time slot. I waited for him to finish the other interviews. Like setting yoghurt, I grew more tart with every passing minute. At the end of the two interviews, when I went to take my seat, the gentleman said he had no time for me and just got up and walked away while I watched on, stupefied. Two hours later, I punched out an email in which I told him that I was appalled at his behavior. He apologized, telling me that he owed me an excellent interview for the gaffe. He never responded to my follow-up emails. Now, I’ve begun to look behind the halo of virtuosity and appreciate decency and integrity a little more. Just because someone was in the limelight, it didn’t mean that they had risen to their position by dint of hard work. The president of my adoptive nation s a fine example of how victory didn’t always reflect merit. Instead, during the months of research, I sought to find out how to add more value and meaning to my book. I heeded the advice of one woman in Chennai who warned me about trying to write a book that was formulaic and also slapped together to fit a spot on the shelf. “Don’t churn out something just because a publisher wants you to do it a particular way,” she said, alluding to the publication of books that were smart and funny, with little depth. “Dig in. Do your own research.” Through the course of the year I’ve felt as if I were standing at the edge of a precipice as an endless fog circled around me. Day by day, one word at a time, I’ve groped my way into building something that has been personally satisfying. I received the best pointer from a statesman in Delhi whose writings I respect. He told me to be unrelenting in my work: “But whatever you do, don’t be afraid to take a stand.” n Kalpana Mohan writes from California’s Silicon Valley. http://kalpanamohan.com

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books

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness By Jeanne E. Fredriksen A LIFE OF ADVENTURE AND DELIGHT by Akhil Sharma. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.: New York. 202 pages. wwnorton.com $24.95 hardcover.

rom the award-winning author of An Obedient Father (2001 Hemingway Foundation PEN Award) and Family Life (2014 New York Times Best Books of the Year; 2015 Folio Prize; and 2016 International DUBLIN Literary Award), comes a collection of short stories that entertains and spares no one. In Akhil Sharma’s A Life of Adventure and Delight, eight stories explore the quest for perceptible love, the life and liberty of relationships, and the perpetual pursuit of happiness. Each story is built on profiles of characters old and young, flawed and beautiful, traditional and modern, all searching for a sense of love or at the very least belonging. However, whether they learn from their mistakes is at the core of each protagonist. At times Sharma employs short, sharp sentences that reflect a Hemingway-esque clarity and precision. His writing is neither pedantic nor oratory, leaving the grist in the details proficiently enough to evoke varying levels of humor in despair. The collection is built on missteps, selfishness, lack of communication, and unshakeable tradition. Yet there is wit, and there is hope—two things without which these stories would be far less powerful. The collection’s title is ironic, for there is little adventure in the stories and even less one would call delight. They are stories that have no conventional beginning, middle, or end. They are, separate and together, slices of life, glimpses into the human condition. The opening story, “Cosmopolitan” and the title story, “A Life of Adventure and Delight” are possibly the two most sadly humorous of all. Both speak to a

sexual naiveté and a desire to be more than one’s former self. In “Cosmopolitan,” a retired man, alone after his wife and grown daughter have left him, decides to create a new life for himself by instigating a friendship with his neighbor, Mrs. Shaw. This leads to a more intimate relationship, while Gopal studies every woman’s magazine he can get his hands on. His mission is

to become the perfect man and perfect partner. In “A Life of Adventure and Delight,” a graduate student who craves the juxta-

posed excitement and unease of setting up meetings with prostitutes does a complete reversal and looks for a virtuous Indian woman for a wife. Just when he feels his past is history, he becomes irritated with his girlfriend’s sexual reserve. The eight stories address issues from the innocence of youth to the perceived chance for love to the hopelessness and despair that may have been dormant in the characters’ lives all along. Sharma looks at the roles of mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, spouses and lovers, the world outside and inside the intimate confines of one’s home. This collection runs the gamut from tender to dark, from sweet to cruel, and all without the sentimentality that would render it toothless. “Surrounded by Sleep” is an abbreviated version of the novel Family Life—the story of how Sharma’s family changed and functioned when the his older brother sustained a severe brain injury after diving into a public pool. Told in the third person limited (compared to the novel, which is first person), love for family clashes with the younger brother’s desperate attempts to bargain with God—whom he sees as Superman and Clark Kent—to make things right for everyone. This is Ajay’s reality in the face of his father’s growing alcoholism and his mother’s allconsuming need to care for her braindamaged son. Grief is pervasive, yet there is hope in abundance, for without it, the Sharma family would have disintegrated. Of the stories, only three feature a first person point of view (“We Didn’t Like

Each story is built on profiles of characters old and young, flawed and beautiful, traditional and modern, all searching for a sense of love or at the very least belonging. However, whether they learn from their mistakes is at the core of each protagonist.

42 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

Sharma employs short, sharp sentences that reflect a Hemingway-esque clarity and precision. His writing is neither pedantic nor oratory, leaving the grist in the details proficiently enough to evoke varying levels of humor in despair. That for Me” is the only story that has a female protagonist. In it Anita, constantly reminded that she’s not as educated as her sister, fights against love and marriage only to find herself arranged to marry a man who didn’t particularly interest her but who might cure her loneliness. One day, seven months into their marriage, she wakes up and realizes that she feels love for this man in their mis-arranged union. As with his two novels, Sharma’s writing is clean, simple on the surface but overflowing with complexities. One can almost imagine him toiling over each word to convey just the right tone, meaning, and nuance. The result is the easy exposure of the hearts and bones of those who come under his literary microscope. The emotions that drive the characters are

relatable and familiar, if not in one story then certainly in another. The darkest and saddest story, “You Are Happy?” takes a serious look at arranged marriages borne as a business connection and the most horrible of consequences that can occur because of family pride and personal actions. Young Lakshman watches his parents torture each other with shouting and sarcasm. The unhappier his mother is with her life, the deeper she sinks into alcoholism—not

an altogether uncommon theme in the collection. Eventually, Lakshman’s father returns his mother to her family in India, and only later does he understand what horrible event prevents her from ever returning to him. Sharma’s characters are unwaveringlyflawed creatures, but imperfections reflect society. There are men who are lonely, who cry, who drink to feel better, and who can feel nothing when they discard a supposed loved one. Sharma’s style carries an abundance of narrative with little dialogue. “Show, don’t tell” is a cardinal rule of fiction writing, but rules are meant to be broken once the rules are mastered. As he breaks that rule, he does it with confidence and grace in the creation of a cohesive collection. n Jeanne E. Fredriksen lives in North Carolina where she is the Managing Editor of a newspaper, a Books for Youth reviewer for Booklist magazine/American Library Association, and Publicity Director for WCPE-FM The Classical Station’s Music Education Fund.

Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 43

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music

Music Concerts: To Go or Not To Go? By Priya Das

ut mommy, it’s Taylor Swift! and Ed Sheeran! and Dua Lipa!,” my 10 year old daughter protested. My mind was paralyzed as soon as she had announced that she really wanted to attend the Poptopia concert at the SAP Center in San Jose. News stories of the Mandalay Bay shooting were still coming in; not enough time had passed, I was still reeling from it all. My first instinct was to say “No.” That was the parent in me talking. My second instinct was to buy more tickets (though I finally did not act upon it) As a good citizen, I believe that I am part of the everyday line of defense against terrorism. Would I be teaching my daughter to stand up to terrorism if we went to the concert? Or would I be a foolhardy parent if I did? Must I not protect her? Was I overreacting thinking that disaster could happen to me and mine too? The third voice in me, the artist, who by definition is rebellious, courageous, and expressive also chimed in: It is a true rite of passage to go to a concert. At school, my daughter had dressed up as Taylor Swift on the day that they had to talk about their icons/heroes/famous people. Hers was not a run-of-the-mill music-lover passion for Swift. How can that which is independent in her thrive, if I taught her to cower? I believe each one of us is in a state of war today and therefore must be a soldier. But that is for me. When I have to make decisions for my children, it is not so easy. As a music columnist, I spent some time in the last few months trying to express what music brings to a world. I wrote about music being the harbinger and announcer of change (Real Voter Stories, May 2016). Of how lyrics, melody, and rhythm can incite powerful transformations (When A Song Becomes an Anthem, November 2016). Of musicians who dared (When in Doubt: Be a Hero March 2017). I remember that Ariana Grande had gone back to Manchester within weeks of the attack at her concert. I remember how U2 had simply rescheduled after their original concert had to be canceled after the

U2 had rescheduled after their original concert was canceled after the Paris attacks. Later, Bono had said, “The least important voices tonight were the ones onstage, because more than any other night, what mattered wasn’t the melody, it was the harmony.” How can there be that harmony without an audience?

Taylor Swift

Paris attacks. Later, Bono had said about the concert, “The least important voices tonight were the ones onstage, because more than any other night, what mattered wasn’t the melody, it was the harmony.” How can there be that harmony without an audience? Maybe I should buy the tickets. “I’ll stay safe, mommy,” my daughter said the next day. I explain to her that it would be impossible to be safe were a bomb to explode. She doesn’t roll her eyes exactly, but does the pre-tween equivalent of it. As 2017 draws to a close, I catch myself wondering about the world more. Was it always so complex? I conclude that it has always been tough for parents in any period of time. In this situation, it boiled down to what was a known risk. But then, every decision we make can be potentially dangerous, such as getting on a plane! I understand now why Yudhistra, one of the main characters of the epic Mahabharata expounded the principles of dharma (an individual’s path). Because discovering your dharma is an endless pursuit and following it does not necessar-

46 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

ily bring rewards. What is my dharma as a parent? To protect or to guide? Maybe I should go to the concert and not my daughter? Restless, I avoided being alone with my daughter, but in vain. I keep telling her, “I’m still thinking about it,” a dozen times. Three days later, I find out that my daughter has talked my husband into it, and he has bought tickets. She followed her own dharma of being a cannot-say-No-to personality, it turns out! My husband has faith in the security measures that will be enforced, especially in the aftermath of Las Vegas. He placates my doubts, “Look, I only bought the tickets. We still have the option of not going.” I’m guessing that most people who go to large public gatherings these days do that after some soul searching. Musicians for example, are taking on terrorism insurance. I wonder if there is similar insurance for citizens and parents? “And the point of that would be what?” I belabor. There is no question in my mind that terrorism can be held at bay by the incessant collective will of regular people wanting to celebrate their lives. I just don’t know if going to a music concert is a musthave celebration for my family. Go/no-go decision time will have come and gone by the time this column gets read: Poptopia is on December 2. If you have had to make similar decisions, please comment online when it gets published! n Priya Das is an enthusiastic follower of world music and avidly tracks intersecting points between folk, classical, jazz and other genres.

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in November 2017

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1) India Currents Events Calendar 2) My #MeToo Story Kalpana Mohan

Shivam arts ol of Kath

3) New Thanksgiving Recipes Praba Iyer 4) How can my child get into a top tier college? Vinnie Gupta 5) India Currents’ exclusive interview with Deepika Padukone Geetika Pathania-Jain 6) November 2017 Digital Edition 7) As American as Apple Pie? Guns, Tragedy and the search for answers Nirupama Vaidhyanathan and Gayathri Chakravarthy

ho Sc

ak d a

n ce

Artistic Director:

Punam Kumar

(Holds a master's degree in art of Kathak)

Special adults class: learn light dancing and Improve grace and flexibility of body.

New classes coming to Santan Mandir, Norwalk Classes also offered at:

Cypress

Diamond Bar

www.shivamarts.org

NRITYODAYA KATHAK ACADEMY Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving, the most beautiful of the arts, because it is not mere translation or abstraction from life; it is life itself~ Havelock Ellis

BHAIRAVI KUMAR

8) Be a Man Nirupama Vaidhyanathan

Founder/Director Since 1989 Contact: 909-630-8558 bhairavipkumar@yahoo.com

9)Directory of Advertisers

www.kathaksocal.com

10) India Currents Wins Big at San Francisco Press Club Awards Nirupama Vaidhyanathan

Online Extras: • Easy access to our current content and decade-old archives of diverse articles • Special web-only articles and videos • Digital issue of the magazine • Interactive event listings • Advertising access to a niche high-value segment of the community • Comments highlighted on home page • A full color experience • RSS feeds and newsletter subscriptions 48 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

Irvine

714-293-4539 714-891-3799 Punam.kathak@yahoo.com

Kathak classes offered in Walnut/ Diamond Bar, Tustin/Irvine, Santa Ana

Affiliated with Hindustan art & music society, Calcutta. Students receives official accreditation, diplomas and degrees from India.

Rangoli Dance Company Artistic Director Malathi lyengar

818.788.6860

www.rangoli.org since 1985

dance . music

Nupur Academy LA Inc.

Check Out

Institute for Indian Clasical Performing Arts - A Not For Profit Organization

our NEW website

Prachi Dixit Founder/Director Kathak | Tabla | Vocal Torrance, Cerritos & Venice

https://indiacurrents.com

(310) 872-7061 nupuracademyla@gmail.com • www.nupuracademyla.org

Geeta & Sanjiv Munshi Arts Academy Bharata Natyam Folk Dances

“Bringing you Music & Dance for 25 successful years!” Call us for LIVE MUSIC & DANCE PERFORMANCES!

Classes: Duarte,Cerritos, Riverside,Chino Hills

• Vocal Classes • Instrument Classes • Dance Classes

Paulomi Pandit Recipient of Post Diploma from

Call for classes in your location GSartsacademy@yahoo.com www.GSArtsAcademy.com

Kalakshetra, India paulomi@rangashree.com www.rangashree.com

626-590-5547

Nishi Munshi

Miss India California

(562) 946-0496 (909) 556-6070

Check out upcoming events l Find services you can use l

Submit an article l Connect directly to Advertisers l

ACADEMY OF KATHAK DANCE Classes offered at La Habra Heights, Whittier, Cerritos, Yorba Linda ( Classes can potentially be offered in your area - inquiries welcome)

Visiting Artist and Teacher Abhay Shankar Mishra Aarti Manek

Head of Kathak Department (Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, London, UK) Contact: 1.714.595.3735 1.714.299.3525 shankaradance@gmail.com www.shankaradance.com Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 49

events DECEMBER-JANUARY

California’s Best Guide to Indian Events List your event for FREE!

FEBRUARY issue deadline: JANUARY 20, 2018 To list your event in the Calendar, go to

http://indiacurrents.com/eventsubmission/

special dates Christmas Day Lohri Makara Sankranti Pongal M.L. King Jr. Day India’s Republic Day Ash Wednesday Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja Presidents Day

Dec 25 Jan 13 Jan 14 Jan 14 Jan 18 Jan 26 Feb 10 Feb 12 Feb 12 Feb 15

CULTURAL CALENDER December 1 Friday Understanding God, with Reza Aslan. Reza Aslan will examine how our desire to humanize God is hardwired in our brains, making it a central feature of nearly every religious tradition. We bestow upon God not just all that is good in human nature but also our greed, bigotry and violence that is reflected in our religion, culture and government. 7:00 pm 8:00 pm. Cubberley Theater, 4000 Middlefield Rd. Palo Alto, CA. (408) 280-5530. info@commonwealthclub.org, https://www. commonwealthclub.org/events/2017-12-01/ reza-aslan-understanding-god. Stand-up Comedy with Hari Kondabolu. 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm. Fox Theater,

The Waiting Room, a play by Enacte on Dec 3 and Dec 10, Mountain View

1807 Telegraph Ave Oakland. http://bit. ly/2u9I36V.

December 2 Saturday Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet Performance. Featuring Matthew Montfort on guitar accompanied by Vishal Nagar on tabla. 2:00 pm. Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 West Napa Street Sonoma, CA. (707) 996-5217. http://www. ancient-future.com/pr_9_6_17-1_6_18. html. Stand-up Comedy Contest. Javanika Entertainment in association with 92.3 FM and India Community Center brings the first ever Stand-up Comedy Contest. 5:00 pm. India Community Center, 525 Los Coches St. Milpitas, CA. www.javanika. com. Ragamala Dance Company’s Written in Water. Conceived and choreographed by

50 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy. Composers: Amir ElSaffar and Prema Ramamurthy. The show explores the cultural complexities of the modern world through the metaphor of the ancient Indian board game Snakes and Ladders, with a live music score performed by an ensemble of four musicians, including jazz trumpeter Amir ElSaffar, known for his distinctive fusion of contemporary jazz and Iraqi maqam. 2017-12-02 8:00 pm - 2017-12-03 8:00 pm. Zellerbach Playhouse, 101 Zellerbach Hall #4800 Berkeley. https://calperformances.org/performances/2017-18/world-stage/ragamaladance-company-written-in-water.php.

December 3 Sunday The Wrong Stripes: Story Time with Author/Illustrator Arjun Rihan. A heartwarming children’s picture book about what it means to belong when you feel all wrong. Rudy the zebra has a pecu

events THEATER

The Partition Revisited

0 years ago the country of India was partitioned by Great Britain, following the Indian Independence Act of 1947. Essentially the last act of Colonialism on the part of the British, it divided the country based on religious identity with the goal of making Pakistand and what is now Bangladesh Muslim states. This set off one of the great migratory upheavals of the twentieth century, one in which both Muslims and Hindus panicked and feeling suddenly vulnerable and stateless, fled or were driven to flee across the new borders for what they perceived to be safer haven. Vinita Sud Belani of EnActe Arts who is Hindu and originally from India, and Farah Yasmeen Shaikh of Noorani Dance who is an American born Muslim to Pakistani parents have long wanted to tell this story through the eyes of those who survived, those who have been forgotten and those who perished. The result is The Parting, presented by Z Space in January of 2018, followed by a production in San Jose in March 2018. While the major political figures of Partition are well known: Lord Mountbatten, the Viceroy from Britain, Nehru and Gandhi, leaders of Indian National Congress and Jinnah from the Muslim League who became the head of Pakistan, none of them will appear in the play. Instead the story will zero in on the British lawyer Cyril Radcliffe who was assigned the task of drawing the line between India and nations, thus sealing the fate of families and individuals who would find themselves caught up in the turbulence of Partition during the birth of these nations. In the end, more than 15 million were displaced, while an estimated 2 million died. The cast of 22 actors and 18 dancers along with a lone violinist (who is also the composer of the original score) will take to the stage to tell these stories that cross borders and time in order to show the price of human conflict. What makes the play so compelling is that all the stories come from real, lived, and documented

events. Interwoven and linked in unexpected ways, the production brings to the surface the causes that became the fault lines between communities— many of which remain still unresolved and buried. Though the partitioning of India occurred 70 years ago, the story The Parting tells echoes today in a modern world that has been turned upside down by a number of internal crises that see borders and populations being upended with huge swaths of citizens forced to flee their homes in order to secure a future. “I have never been to Pakistan but I have many Pakistani friends here,” says Belani. “It is clear to me that the sociocultural affinities developed over five millennia in the South Asian sub-continent cannot be eroded or negated by a mere 70 years of propaganda by politicians.” The lone violinist who will wander throughout the play in different scenarios is the composer of the original score, Raaginder Singh Momi. “The violin is a character in the play, a voice, which sometimes represents the voice of a physical character and sometimes the mood of the collective in that moment,” says dance and music director Farah Yasmeen Shakih.

Adds Belani, “The nature of the Indian classical violin is very evocative for all Indians, both Muslims and Hindus. And not unlike Fiddler on the Roof, where it was used so movingly, The Parting is ultimately a story of home and being pried away from it.” The dancing will include multiple forms of South Asian dance, both classical and folk. Most prominent will be that of kathak, featuring Farah Yasmeen Shaikh herself along with the performance ensemble of Noorani Dance. Says writer and director Salil Singh about the play, “The production should awaken sleeping memories and remind us of what was lost--the terrible human cost of partition on individual lives as the worst of humanity was unleashed and plunged an entire country into darkness. But ultimately, it should also give us hope and inspiration--that through the act of remembrance, in reliving the extraordinary choices and struggles of those individuals, we also witness how it brought out the best within ordinary people.” January 19-20, 2018 at 8pm; January 21 at 2pm. Z Space, 450 Florida Street, San Francisco, CA. $35-$55. Z Space.org

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52 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

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events

California’s Best Guide to Indian Events “Like many immigrants, we came to this country empty-handed,” Khan said. “We believed in American democracy—that with hard word and the goodness of this country, we could share in and contribute to its blessings.” From his family’s move from Pakistan to becoming an American citizen, Khan shares his personal story of immigration, courage and patriotism. 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Schultz Hall, Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way Palo Alto, CALIFORNIA. (408) 280-5530. info@ commonwealth.org, https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2017-12-05/khizrkhan-hope-and-sacrifice.

Kumar Sanu and Sadhana Sargam perform for Sankara Eye Foundation, Dec 17

liar problem: his stripes zag instead of zig. Unable to fit in with his herd, he sets off on an adventure with the hope of finding someone like himself. On his journey, Rudy discovers a world full of animals with vibrant spots, dazzling points, and other mesmerizing patterns. But will he find what he is looking for? 12:00 pm 1:00 pm. Bookasaurus, 125 S Murphy Ave Sunnyvale, California. (650) 814-3145. arjunrihan@gmail.com, www.arjunrihan. com/thewrongstripes. The Waiting Room, a play by Tanika Gupta. A thoughtful farce about death and unresolved family issues. Directed by Pratiksha Shah. Are you prepared to die? Fifty three-year-old Priya Banerjee was not. Fighting the fact that she is dead, she inadvertently summons Dilip Kumar, her Bollywood yester-hero, who manifests to escort her to the waiting room to afterlife. However, when this run-of-the-mill stay at home wife and mother is granted three days to resolve issues with loved ones, a few surprises come to light. Tanika Gupta holds a place amongst the most lauded South Asian Diaspora living playwrights. Her writing reflects her involvement in social justice activism, as evidenced in Gladiator Games. She has over 20 plays to her credit as well as several TV scripts and radio plays. The Waiting Room (National Theatre, 2000) was a career highpoint, enjoyed by ‘blue-rinses’ as well as by Asian

audiences and winning the John Whiting Award. Two shows: 2:30pm and 6:30pm. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street Mountain View, CA. info@enacte.org, enacte.org.

December 4 Monday Khizr Khan: Hope and Sacrifice. One of the most memorable speeches from last year’s Democratic National Convention was given by Gold Star parent Khizr Khan. With his wife Ghazala by his side, Khan spoke about equality, sacrifice and the ideals symbolized by the U.S. Constitution. Khan’s son Humayun Khan, a U.S. Army captain, was killed in the line of duty in Iraq and posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

54 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

Nourishing Our Communities and Ourselves, a discussion with Deepa Thomas. When Deepa Thomas gave up on yet another insulin plan and medical treatment aimed at relieving her husband’s struggle with diabetes, she turned to what she knew best. Versing herself in ground-breaking nutritional research and the wisdom of Ayurveda, Deepa reworked her favorite Indian cuisine, innovating timeless recipes into new dishes that were flavorful, organic, and, best of all, healthy. Deepa’s work to address diabetes in her own home led her to Jenny Shilling Stein, chair of the board at FoodCorps. FoodCorps is a national non-profit dedicated to serving communities in need across the country, including the Bay Area. 7:30 pm. Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real Menlo Park, CA. (650) 324-4321. events@keplers. org, www.keplers.org.

Khizr Khan speaks at a Commonwealth Club event, Dec 4 in Palo Alto

events

California’s Best Guide to Indian Events

December 9 Saturday

December 25 Monday

Christmas-New Year Celebration and Dinner. Carols, dance, songs, music, Santa, gifts and more. 3:30 pm - 9:00 pm. Gale Ranch Middle School, 6400 Main Branch Rd San Ramon, California. (925) 261-6601. sangamaus@gmail.com, http://www.sangama.us/. Ta-La with RhythmAatmik. Drutam Dance Ideas Mahesh Kale in concert Dec 30, in San Jose Lab & SThree Produclage Parkway Dublin, CA. sewausa.org. tions collaborate to present Ta - La (The Divine Gift). An exploration of the female December 16 Saturday and male life forces within us, using the rhythms and beats of dance. By Anusree Carnatic Music Concert. Priyanka Chary Bonnerjee & Nilesh Singha RhythmAat(veena), accompanied by Amit Ranganamik: An innovative fusion dance concept than on the mrudangam. 1:30 pm - 4:00 presented by SThree Productions workpm. Community Of Infinite Spirit, 1540 shop participants 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Hicks Av San Jose, California. (408) 569CET Soto Theater, 701 Vine St San Jose, 0860. shobanasujit93@gmail.com, www. CA. https://www.facebook.com/SthreeProducsrfinearts.info. tions/.

December 10 Sunday

December 17 Sunday

The Waiting Room, a play by Tanika Gupta. A thoughtful farce about death and unresolved family issues. Directed by Pratiksha Shah. Are you prepared to die? Fifty three year old Priya Banerjee was not. Fighting the fact that she is dead, she inadvertently summons Dilip Kumar, her Bollywood yester-hero, who manifests to escort her to the waiting room to afterlife. However, when this run-of-the-mill stay at home wife and mother is granted 3 days to resolve issues with loved ones, a few surprises come to light. Two shows: 2:30pm and 6:30pm. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street Mountain View, CA. info@enacte. org, enacte.org.

Kumar Sanu & Sadhana Sargam Live. A fundraiser for Sankara Eye Foundation. 6:00 pm. City National Civic, 135 West San Carlos Street San Jose. info@giftofvision. org, www.giftofvision.org/events.

Aham Asmi, I Am, a tribute to women through dance. A multicultural celebration of women. Fundraiser for SEWA’s Womens’ Empowerment programs. 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Dublin High Center for Performing Arts & Education, 81515 Vil-

AACM Presents Solo Music Concerts. Benjamin Araki on sitar with Nilan Chaudhuri on table and Mallar Bhattacharya on sarod with Vikas Yendluri on table. 7:30pm. Ali Akbar College of Music, 215 West End Dr, San Rafael. (415) 454-6372. aacm.org

Christmas Dinner and Concert by Shubangi Sakhalkar. Shubangi Sakhalkar is an exceptional vocalist and a credit to the propagation of classical vocals combining several gharanas in her own unique style. Followed by a delicious international vegetarian dinner. 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Badarikashrama, 15602 Maubert Avenue San Leandro, CA. (510) 278-2444. badarik@pacbell. net, badarikashrama.org.

December 30 Saturday Mahesh Kale Live in Concert. Organized by AIM for Seva, founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati to transform the tribal and rural children of India through education, healthcare and life skills. 2017-12-30 5:00 pm - 2017-12-31 7:00 am. California Theatre, 345 S First St San Jose, CA. aimforsevabayarea@gmail. com, aimforseva.org.

December 31 Sunday 2018 Bollywood New Year’s Eve Party. Ring in the New Year with Bollywood Dhamaka! With Bollywood dancer, DJ by Artists of Nikhil Chinapa. With options for children and teenagers. 7:00 pm. Oasis Palace, 35145 Newark Blvd Newark, CA. (510) 494-1525, (510) 585-1431. oasispartypalace.com. New Year’s Eve Party with DJ Jessica. Midnight Champagne toast, red carpet step and photo opportunity, complimentary noisemakers, hats & party favors, live DJ NYE 2018 countdown.9:00 pm. Aroma Dining & Banquets Fine Indian Cuisine, 212 Ranch Drive Milpitas. (669) 265-4603. bolyevents@gmail.com, http:// events.sulekha.com/new-years-eve-2018_ event-in_milpitas-ca_320227.

Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 55

events

California’s Best Guide to Indian Events design by David Murakami. 2018-01-19 8:00 pm - 2018-01-21 8:00 pm. Z Space, 450 Florida St San Francisco, CA. info@ enacte.org, enacte.org.

January 20 Saturday Vijay Iyer Sextet. In a Bay Area premiere, Vijay Iyer’s award-wining trio is joined by three of the most cutting-edge horn players on the jazz scene including cornetist Graham Haynes, Steve Lehman, and Mark Shim. 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm. SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin Street San Francisco, California. (866) 920-5299. boxoffice@sfjazz.org, http://www.sfjazz.org/ tickets/productions/vijay-iyer-sextet/. Vijay Iyer performs for SF Jazz, Jan 18-21, in San Francisco

January 6 Saturday Ancient Future in Concert. 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Guerneville Regional Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd. Guerneville, CA. (707) 869-9004. http://www.ancientfuture.com/pr_9_6_17-1_6_18.html.

January 18 Thursday Vijay Iyer with Craig Taborn. SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director Vijay Iyer opens his four night run in a duo with pianist Craig Taborn. Vijay Iyer begins his season residency by inviting another of the jazz world’s most explorative and virtuosic pianists for this exclusive evening of duets. Craig Taborn established himself as a modern master through five expansive releases and pivotal sideman roles with Chris Potter, Roscoe Mitchell, James Carter, and David Binney. An artist as comfortable in straight-ahead situations as the furthest fringes of the avant-garde, Taborn has always built ensembles that are equally versatile and eclectic. 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm. SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin Street San Francisco, California. (866) 920-5299. boxoffice@sfjazz.org, http://www. sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/vijay-iyer-duowith-craig-taborn/.

January 19 Friday Vijay Iyer Trio. Pianist and composer Vijay Iyer’s long-standing trio with bass-

ist Stephan Crump and drummer Marcus Gilmore has been his most acclaimed and elastic ensemble project for over a decade, winning Group of the Year honors in DownBeat’s 2012 Critics Poll as well as an Album of the Year nod for their ACT album Accelerando. In reviewing their latest ECM release, Break Stuff, The New York Times called it, “a superlative album, Break Stuff confirms Iyer’s stature in jazz’s contemporary vanguard, along with the dynamic excellence of his working trio.” 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm. SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin Street San Francisco, California. (866) 920-5299. boxoffice@ sfjazz.org, http://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/vijay-iyer-trio/. The Parting, 1947 Revisited. A retrospective lens into the greatest mass displacement in human history. A multisensory presentation performed through theater, dance, music and visual design, The Parting tells the true life stories of the people who lived through the Partition of Greater India into India, Pakistan and subsequently Bangladesh. Written and directed by Salil Singh, with dance and music direction by Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, an original score composed by Raaginder Singh Momi and visual

56 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

January 21 Sunday Vijay Iyer’s Thums Up. Named for the ubiquitous soda sold on street corners throughout India, Thums Up is an exploratory and groove-heavy mix of acoustic instruments and electronics that features Vijay Iyer alongside Punjabi-American rapper Himanshu Suri (formerly of Das Racist), guitarist Rafiq Bhatia (Son Lux, Lorde), drummer Kassa Overall (Geri Allen, Henry Threadgill), and Pakistani vocalist and composer Arooj Aftab. JazzTimes called them “a powerful expression of the hyphenated-American identity.” They make their West Coast debut with this performance. 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin Street San Francisco, California. (866) 920-5299. boxoffice@sfjazz.org, http://www.sfjazz.org/ tickets/productions/thums-up/.

Bestselling Author Amish in Milpitas, Feb 4

events

California’s Best Guide to Indian Events

January 28 Sunday

Musical Tribute on Swami Vivekananda’s 151st Birth Anniversary. with Bay Area Gitanjali artistes Sonali Bhattacharya, Aditya Das, Ashidhara Das, Shyamoshree Gupta Diamond, and Anoop Bhattacharjya. This program celebrates the life and times of Swami Vivekananda. Regarded as India’s first great spiritual ambassador to the West, Swami Vivekananda is known for his inspiring speech which began, “Sisters and brothers of America ...” delivered at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893. Hear songs, shlokas and bhajans reflecting the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda. 11:00 am - 12:30 pm. Cultural Integration Fellowhsip, 2650 Fulton St. San Francisco, Ca. (415) 668-1559. culturalfellowship@sbcglobal.net, www.culturalintegrationfellowship.org.

Kalpana: A Choreographic Showcase. A showcase of new, ingenious choreography. Featuring dances choreographed and performed by talented artists of Bay Area dance schools. Coordinated by Deepa Mahadevan, Artistic Director of Tiruchitrambalam Dance School. 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Mission City Center for Performing Arts, 3250 Monroe St Santa Clara, California. (650) 565-8859. yuva_bharati@yahoo.com, www.yuva_bharati.org.

February 4 Sunday Bestselling Author Amish in the Bay Area. India’s first literary popstar, Amish’s unique combination of crackling storytelling, religious symbolism and profound philosophies has made him an overnight publishing phenomenon. Amish’s books

till now: The Immortals of Meluha (2010), The Secret of the Nagas (2011) and The Oath of the Vayuputras (2013), which collectively comprise the Shiva Trilogy and Scion of Ikshvaku (2015), Sita–Warrior of Mithila(2017), Immortal India–Young Country, Timeless (2017)— have 4 million copies in print. His books have been translated into 19 Indian and International languages. Presented by Art Forum in partnership with India Currents. 11:00 am. India Community Center, 525 Los Coches St. Milpitas, CA. ambika. sahay@artforumsf.org. artforumsf.org.

Written in Water

al Performances launches its 2017/18 season with two performances by Minneapolis’ Ragamala Dance Company of Written in Water. Rooted in the classical Bharatanatyam dance form, Written in Water draws on ancient influences and practices to explore the cultural complexities of the modern world. The full-length work is choreographed by Ragamala’s co-founders and Artistic Directors, Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy (mother and daughter), and danced to live music, with an original score commissioned from Iraqi-American trumpeter and composer Amir ElSaffar and Indian composer Prema Ramamurthy. Written in Water unfolds over three movements, each showing markedly different shifts in character. The first movement draws on the ancient Indian board game Paramapadam (also known as Snakes and Ladders) to explore life’s travails. The

second movement looks at the tension between good and evil through the Hindu myth Ksheerabthi Madanam, which tells of the churning of the seven seas. The final movement pursues the divine, and ideas of

transcendence, through the epic Sufi poem “The Conference of the Birds,” which tells of birds who travel through seven valleys to achieve immortality. The score, performed live by Amir ElSaffar and four additional musicians, combines American jazz, traditional Iraqi maqam, and Indian Carnatic music. Ragamala artists host a participatory Snakes and Ladders Workshop on Friday, December 1 at 5pm. Check out the public forum with Ragamala’s co-artistic directors, Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy, composer Amir ElSaffar, and Cal Performances associate director Rob Bailis on Sunday, December 3 at 1pm. Concerts on December 2 at 8pm and December 3 at 3pm. All events at Zellerbach Playhouse. Calperformance.org

Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18 | West Coast Edition | www.indiacurrents.com | 57

events

Year’s Day Lohri New Makara Sankranti Pongal M.L. King Jr. Day India’s Republic Day Ash Wednesday Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja Presidents Day Maha Shivaratri Nawruz Holi Good Friday Easter Ugadi Gudi Padva

California’s Best Guide to Indian Events

Baisakhi Tamil New Year Ramanavami Mahavir Jayanti Hanuman Jayanti Mother’s Day Buddha Purnima Memorial Day Father’s Day Ramadan Begins Ratha Yatra U.S. Independence Day Eid ul Fitr Guru Purnima India Independence Day Raksha Bandhan Krishna Janmashtami

Jan 1 Jan 13 Jan 14 Jan 14 Jan 18 Jan 26 Feb 10 Feb 12 Feb 12 Feb 15 March 8 March 21 March 24 March 25 March 27 April 8 April 8

INDIA CURRENTS

April 13 April 14 April 15 April 20 April 22 May 8 May 21 May 30 June 19 June 6 July 6 July 4 July 5 July 19 Aug 15 Aug 18 Aug 25

Ganesh Chaturthi Labor Day Bakri Id Onam Mahatma Gandhi’s B’day Navaratri Dussehra Sharad Purnima Karva Chauth Dhan Teras Diwali Govardhana Puja Bhai Duj Guru Nanak’s B’day Guru Teg Bahadur Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

Sept 5 Sept 5 Sept 12 Sept 13 Oct 2 Oct 1-9 Oct 11 Oct 16 Oct 19 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 14 Nov 24 Nov 26 Dec 25

https://indiacurrents.com | (408) 913-1619

Southern California Calendar of Events December 1 Friday

December 9 Saturday

December 31 Sunday

Bollywood Masquerade. Celebrating our unity in diversity. Dancing with live music by DJ UV and DJ Prashant. 9:00 pm. The West End, 1301 5th Street Santa Monica. http://events.sulekha.com/bollywoodmasquerade-in-los-angeles_event-in_santamonica-ca_320201.

Talk on Autism. By Alok Sharma, neurosurgeon and director, NeuroGen and Spine Institute, Mumbai, India. 10:30 am. Courtyard Santa Ana, 8 MacArthur Pl Santa Ana, CA. (224) 507-2391.

Desi Dhamal. Fusion dancers, complimentary family photo, gourmet desi cuisine. 6:00 pm. Wyndham Anaheim Garden Grove, 12021 Harbor Boulevard Garden Grove. (951) 217-3604.

South Asian Network Open House. 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Venue, 18173 Pioneer Blvd Artesia, CA. bilal@sansocal.org.

NYE 2018 With Charenjeet and His Live Orchestra. Live DJ, belly dancing, cash bar, party favors. 7:00 pm. Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel, 7675 Crescent Ave Buena Park. (714) 397-7224, (562) 860-1135.

December 2 Saturday Bhangra Party. XMas Bhangra with DJ Scorpio. 12:00 am. Union Nightclub, 4067 W Pico Blvd Los angeles, CA. indiafest@ radiophive.com.

December 3 Sunday Bharatanatyam Performance by Hansika Sundaresan, student of Chitrulatha Jayarama, Artistic Director, Shrishti School of Performing Arts. A fundraiser for U Turn Lives Inc. 3:00 pm. Stonegate Elementary School, 100 Honors Irvine, CA.

Comedy Show with Neeti Palta. 8:00 pm. Los Globos, 3040 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA. (480) 280-3875.

December 13 Wednesday Senior Citizens Meet. For information: Jagdish K. Singh 714-639-5139. 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Sikh Center of Orange County, 2530 Warner Ave Santa Ana, CA. Jagdish K. Singh (714) 639-5139..

58 | INDIA CURRENTS |West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

South Indian Dhamaka. Presented by Suja Raghuram’s RAA Productions. 8:00 pm. Business Expo Center, 1960 S Way Anaheim, CA. (816) 592-0776. New Year Eve Party. 8:00 pm. Diamond Palace, 1241 Grand Avenue Diamond Bar. http://events.sulekha.com/new-year-eve-party_event-in_diamond-bar-ca_320118. © Copyright 2017 India Currents. All rights reserved. Reproduction for commercial use strictly prohibited.

Om Sri Mathre Namaha

Saturday December 2nd: Evening at 4.00 PM, Sri Venkateswara abhisheka, Kritika Vratha, Sri Valli Deva Sena sametha, Sri Subramanya abhisheka, Sri Dattareya Jayanthi, continued with Sri Vishnu sahasra nama chanting, Sri Annamalai deepam, aarati and manthra pushpa. Sunday December 3rd: Afternoon at 2.00 PM, Sri Pournami Vratha, Sri Sathya Narayana Swamy Vratha, pooja aarati and manthra pushpa. All are welcome to participate with family. Evening at 4.00 PM, Sri Venkateswara abhisheka, continued with Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama chanting, Sri Sarvalaya deepam, Sri Pancharathra deepam, Sri Vaikanasa deepam, aarati and manthra pushpa.

family. Tuesday December 19th: Sri Sani Peyarchi transition from Dhanur raasi to Vrischika raasi. Evening at 5.00 PM, Shiva abhisheka, aarati and manthra pushpa. Evening at 6.00 PM, Sri Sanipeyarchi transition homa from Dhanur raasi to Vrishchika raasi vishakha, 4th Pada jeyeshta (Kettai) and Anuradha (Anusham) parihara. Required raasis are Dhanur raasi, Vrischika raasi, Kanya raasi, Mithuna raasi, Rishabha raasi, Meena raasi, and Makara raasi parihara. Not required raasis are Thula Raasi, Simha raasi, Karkadaga (Kadaga) raasi and Mesha raasi. Please come and attend Sani Peyarchi homa, special Pooja, aarati and manthra pushpa Sunday December 24th: Night at 8.30 PM, Sukla Sashti vratha, Sri Valli Deva Sena sametha, Sri Subramanya sahasra nama archana. Monday December 25th: Merry Christmas! Weekend timings.

Tuesday December 5th: Sri Parasurama Jayanthi.

Friday December 29th: Temple opens morning 8.00 AM. Sri Venkateswara suprabhatam, continued with Sri Wednesday December 6th: Sri Sankata Hara Bhuwaneswari / Sri Lalitha Devi abhisheka continued Chathurthi. Evening at 5.00 PM, Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi with Sri Lalitha shasra nama chanting continued with Sri Vaikunda Ekadasi swarga vaasal heaven's gate homa / Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi abhisheka, aarati and opening pooja, aarati and manthra pushpa. manthra pushpa. Friday December 15th: Evening at 5.00 PM, Sri Bhuwaneswari / Sri Lalitha Devi abhisheka, continued with Sri Lalitha sahasra nama chanting. Evening at 6.00 PM, Pradosham, Shiva Sri Rudra abhisheka, aarati and manthra pushpa, Sri Dhanur masa arambham pooja in the temple. Saturday December 16 : Dhanur Masa starts. Thirppavai and Thiruvembavai pasuram begins. th

Sunday December 17 : Evening at 4.00 PM, Sri Lakhshmi Ganapathi abhisheka, Sri Shiva abhisheka, Sri Valli Deva Sena sametha, Sri Subramanaya abhisheka souramana, Sri Hanuman / Hanumath Jayanthi. Special pooja aarati and Sri Hanuman Chalisa chanting. All are welcome to participate with th

Saturday December 30th: Evening at 4.00 PM, Sri Venkateswara abhisheka kritika vratha, Sri Valli Deva Sena sametha, Sri Subramanya abhisheka, Sani pradosham, Shiva Sri Rudra abhisheka, Sri Vishnu sahasra nama chanting, aarati and manthra pushpa. Sunday December 31st: Night at 11.30 PM, Shiva abhisheka, Sarva Devatha archana. Sharp 12.00 AM New Year 2018 special pooja, arrati and manthra pushpa. Wish you all Happy and Prosperous New Year 2018 1.00 AM temple closes. Monday January 1 2018: Temple opens at 8.00 AM. Sri Venkateswara suprabhatam, continued with Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi homa, Sri Shiva abhisheka aarati and manthra puspa pournami vratha sri sathya st

narayana swamy pooja/ vratha aarati and manthra pushpa, continuous archana night at 10.00 PM. Sri Nataraja abhisheka aarati and manthra pushpa. Night at 10.15 PM, Sukha Karta Dukha Hartha aarati and Sri Jaya Jagadeesha Hare aarati for Balaji Ekantha Seva and the temple closes. Tuesday January 2 2018: Evening at 6.30 PM, Sri Arudra Dharsanam special pooja, aarati and manthra pushpa. nd

Friday January 5th: Evening at 4.00 PM, Sri Bhuwaneswari / Sri Lalitha Devi abhisheka, continued with Sri Lalitha sahasra nama chanting. Evening at 5.00 PM, Sri Sankata Hara chathruthi, Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi homa / Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi abhisheka, aarati and manthra pushpa. Saturday January 6th: Sri Thiagaraja aaradhana. Evening at 6.00 PM, special Pooja, aarati, manthra pushpa and pancha rathna keerthanas. Thursday January 11th: Thiruppavai 27th day Pasuram Koodarai Vellum seer Govinda. Friday January 12 : Thiruppavai 28 day Pasuram Karavaigal pin chendru. th

Saturday January 13th: Bhogi festival. Sunday January 14th: Uttharayana punyakalam, Makara Ravi Pongal festival. Temple Opens in the morning at 6.30 AM, Sri Venkateswara suprabhatam, continued with Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi Abhisheka Aarati And Manthra Pushpa Makara Sankaranthi Special Sri Surya Narayana Pooja, aarati, manthra pushpa, and continuous archana. Evening at 4.00 PM, Pradosham, Shiva Sri Rudra abhisheka, Makara Sankaranthi Pooja, aarati and manthra pushpa. Mandala Pooja ends. Night at 10.15 PM, Sri Sukha Karta Dukha Hartha aarati and Jaya Jagadeesha Hare aarati for Balaji Ekantha Seva and the temple closes. Monday January 15th: Evening at 6.30 PM, Mattu Pongal special, Gomatha Pooja, aarati and manthra pushpa.

Please Make A Note:: Temple Address:: 32 Rancho Drive, San Jose CA 95111 Temple Timings: Week Days Morning 10.00 Am To 12 Noon, Evening At 6.00 pm To 8.00 pm Week Ends And Holidays 10.00 am To 8.00 pm

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INDIA CURRENTS GRAPHICS (408) 324-0488

Friday December 1st: Evening at 5.00 PM, Sri Bhuwaneswari / Sri Lalitha Devi abhisheka, continued with Sri Lalitha sahasra nama chanting. Evening at 6.00 PM, Pradosham, Shiva Sri Rudra abhisheka, Sri Bharani deepam, aarati and manthra pushpa.

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

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

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

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ART FORUM PRESENTS

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healthy life

Is An Indian Vegetarian Diet Protein-Deficient? By Dr. Panchajanya Paul PROTEIN-CONTENT (Grams ) / 100 GRAMS OF FOOD

s Indians have immigrated around the globe, many have carried their culture including vegetarianism with them. Many Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains eat vegetarian food which includes all plant-based food, along with milk and honey, devoid of any meat, fish or eggs. In the beginning, all humans were hunter-gatherers. People foraged wild fruits, berries and meat of wild animals. The Last Ice Age also called the Last Glacial Maximum ended around 11,000 years ago. As the glacial ice retreated to the polar caps, it opened up vast acres of land for grains to flourish. The domestication of grains heralded agriculture around 10,000 years ago in the fertile crescent which includes the present-day countries of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Egypt. From here, agriculture travelled westwards to Europe and eastwards to India around 9000 years ago. It was around this time that cows were domesticated, and milk entered the Indian diet as well. Vegetarianism became mainstream in India when Emperor Asoka decreed against animal slaughter in 250 B.C. The next major change occurred after Columbus discovered America. Potatoes, tomatoes, chilies, pumpkin, squash, and beans (like rajma) entered India. These foods were brought to India by the Portuguese from the new worlds (Americas) around

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1500-1600 A.D. during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. This process called the Columbian exchange also added many fruits like guava, grape, pineapple, and papaya to the Indian diet. Now all of these foods have become an accepted and integral part of the Indian diet over the last 400 years, and their non-Indian origin is not known to many. We do not know which local Indian vegetables and foods these new world crops replaced.

Importance of Proteins

Proteins are the building blocks of life, and are important for growth and repair. They also act as enzymes, hormones, and neurotransmitters. Protein deficiency can make one tired, sick and stunted. The Institute of Medicine’s Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. This means an adult who weighs 70 kilograms needs at least 56 grams of protein each day. The RDA for pregnant and nursing women is higher. For athletes, it is 2 gram per kg. of body weight. A well planned vegetarian diet can supply the required quantity of proteins using high protein foods like milk, beans, nuts, and lentils. However, one important fact is to be taken into consideration. Not all protein is created equal. The body has to break down the protein from food into amino acids, which it then used to build its own proteins. There are nine amino acids that humans cannot synthesize which are phe

nylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, and histidine. Animal protein contains all the essential amino acids, but plant protein does not. They need to be combined to make the protein complete—like eating rice with lentils or rice and beans. Milk is an excellent source for vegetarian protein. However, most adults are lactose intolerant. They can substitute for milk by having yogurt, curd, kefir, cheese, or paneer which are all high sources of protein. Other high protein sources are nuts like almonds, cashews, walnuts, and peanuts. There is an important distinction between vegetarian and vegan diets. The vegetarian diet with copious amount of milk-based products can, and has historically sustained a healthy population. Vegan diet excludes milk, in addition to other animal products. A vegan diet will lead to a deficiency in Vitamin B12, zinc, and iron unless chemical supplementation is added. With the advent of modern pharmaceutics, many take multivitamins and mineral supplements. However one has to be cautious about supplements. Their quality can vary as they are not regulated by the FDA. Multivitamins taken in excess can lead to health hazards. There are protein powder supplements made from whey protein which is derived from milk. Then there are plant-based protein powders. However most are loaded with soy. Soy ingested in excess can cause hormonal problems including low testosterone and thyroid deficiencies. Plant derived food contains less protein than animal derived food and the standard Indian vegetarian diet is lower in protein content. However, a carefully planned vegetarian meal that contains high protein sources like milk, bean, nuts, and lentils can provide the required daily dietary allowance of protein. n

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dear doctor

How To Approach Premarital Counseling By Alzak Amlani

My fiancé and I are thinking about premarital counseling as a way to get clarification on some issues and to make sure that we are compatible and ready for marriage next year. We are in love with each other and have a lot in common. At times we argue and fight, however, we are able to resolve differences to find a workable solution. But I think we are both afraid of tackling topics related to our extended families, money and religion. When we are together we seem so happy that we don’t want to get into these issues. Can you give us some guidelines on what we need to cover when we go for our sessions? Do we just bring up issues or should we learn more about the whole process?

Premarital counseling is set up to help couples bring up challenging and essential areas of being in a relationship. Falling in love is a great start to a relationship. However, a long-term rela-

tionship needs to be grounded, as you will be sharing a home, finances, family, friends and a physically intimate relationship. This can be complicated and addressing these dimensions early on can help create a compelling vision for your relationship. Each couples therapist will have their own way of approaching pre-marital counseling. However here are some guidelines: Learn good communication skills. This includes first connecting with your own needs, feelings, reactions, interests and desires. Then you practice speaking them using “I-statements”. For example: “When you interrupt me, I get angry and start to believe you’re not interested in what I have to say.” Once you understand the basics, the therapist can guide you to discuss sensitive topics using some of these methods. Exploring and communicating your key values to each other is also another key aspect of pre-marital work. What do

68 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

you each really care about? Some values include: integrity; time over money; intimacy; financial security; being part of a community; spirituality; meaningful work. The topic of family life is essential for most couples. Do you want kids? If you already have them how will they be blended into the new family? How will you include each of your parents into your marriage? How much do you each want to work and how do you dividing finances and bills? Are there any prenuptial agreements that you wish to create together? The therapist can help you work with the deeper feelings that arise as you encounter differences or conflict. n Alzak Amlani, Ph.D., is a counseling psychologist of Indian descent in the Bay Area. 650-325-8393. Visit www.wholenesstherapy.com

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the last word

What About Bill? By Sarita Sarvate

ow the dominoes have fallen. Ever since producer Harvey Weinstein was exposed as a sexual predator, the list of prominent men charged with sexual harassment has grown. Some of these men, like comedian Louis C.K., and actor Kevin Spacey, have been my idols. Even NPR’s revered news department has been purged of its bad actors. For the first time, the accusers are being believed. And liberals are finally asking, “What about Bill Clinton?” It’s about time. People on the left defended Clinton during his impeachment on the grounds that the accusations were politically motivated. Which they were. But in the political fray, the truth got lost, namely, that Bill wielded his power to use women for sex. What bothered me most during the Lewinsky saga was not Bill’s actions, but Hillary’s reactions. She admitted that Bill had a problem, but failed to show compassion towards any of the women. Hillary’s attitude towards the young and the naïve Monica Lewinsky remains hostile. Hillary used the phrase “bimbo eruptions” to describe her husband’s transgressions, thus directing the blame toward his accusers. She stuck to an age-old narrative of wives and concubines. Which I could have overlooked had she not been one of the most ambitious and powerful females in the world. Hillary can’t have it both ways. She can’t hold herself as a champion of feminism, and also say, “Don’t look at my personal life.” If the personal is political, as the feminists once preached, then Hillary’s personal life has been bewildering, particularly for women of the “third world,” who continue to suffer from the legacy of bride burnings, polygamy, shaved-head widows, female genital mutilation, and the murder of female fetuses. As I said so passionately in my column published in the Los Angeles Times nearly twenty years ago, “the American feminist movement—which taught us about sexual liberation, birth control, domestic violence, and sexual harassment—is now teaching is to preserve our marriages even if our middle aged husbands engage in sexual liaison with women young enough to be our daughters. Moreover, the message is, we should overlook our husbands’ sexual lapses for the sake of our children.” Reading these words today, I am moved by my younger self. Don’t get me wrong. I am not suggesting that the Clintons should be investigated and punished, as the Republicans have suggested. Neither am I saying that Trump was a better candidate

Hillary can’t have it both ways. She can’t hold herself as a champion of feminism, and also say, “Don’t look at my personal life.” If the personal is political, as the feminists once preached, then Hillary’s personal life has been bewildering. 70 | INDIA CURRENTS | West Coast Edition | Dec ‘17-Jan ‘18

than Hillary. All I want is for Hillary to acknowledge that her choices contributed to her loss of an election that should have been a cakewalk. She needs to take some responsibility for the resulting destruction of our democracy at the hands of Trump. She needs to stop peddling her book and blaming everyone else for her failures. She needs to listen to Monica Lewinsky’s Ted Talk describing the harrowing months in 1998 during which her family would not let her go to the bathroom alone for fear that she’d commit suicide. Why am I focusing on Hillary instead of Bill? Because I am still stinging from her election debacle, while I am more or less satisfied with her husband’s presidency. The political left is at last abandoning its hypocrisy. Chris Hayes, the MSNBC anchor, has tweeted that we need to reckon with the accusations against Bill. Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator from New York, has said that Bill Clinton should have resigned in 1998. Matthew Yglesias of Vox has written an article saying the same thing. I suspect this revisionism is happening partly because the liberals wonder if their defense of Bill Clinton’s lapses indirectly led to the election of Donald Trump two decades later. I am not fond of such Monday morning quarterbacking. But I want liberals to acknowledge Hillary’s role in silencing and vilifying Bill’s accusers. I want Gloria Steinem to admit that Hillary was not a paragon of feminism. The tragedy is that one cannot criticize the Clintons without falling prey to alt-right trolls. The Republicans have proven to be hypocritical. Otherwise, they would not have elected Donald Trump as President. This is the reason why the left supported Clinton during his impeachment trial. Republicans, liberals knew, were not motivated by a search for truth or a sense of morality, but by pure partisanship. So what now? Have we entered an era in which sexual harassment will always be taken seriously? Or will there be a backlash, as has been the case with Trump’s election, in the aftermath of which our values of decency, diversity, world leadership, inclusiveness, and tolerance are being upended? Don’t get me wrong. I think sexual harassment needs to be prevented. I am glad that women are finally speaking out and are being believed. But I worry about the current hysteria and the resulting tendency of the liberals to jump on the bandwagon. Instead of asking for the head of Al Franken or the retroactive resignation of Bill Clinton, the liberals need to teach women to shed their fears. We need to demand that men treat women with respect. We need to abandon our double standards, one for the rich and powerful, and another for the rest of us. We need to prevent a Donald Trump from ever coming to power again. n Sarita Sarvate (www.saritasarvate.com) has published commentaries for New America Media, KQED FM, San Jose Mercury News, the Oakland Tribune, and many nationwide publications.

India Currents Wins Big at SF Press Club Awards! The San Francisco Press Club’s 40th annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards were held at the Hilton SFO Airport Hotel on November 16. 2017. India Currents magazine won a total of nine awards under various categories. Here are the winning entries: Overall Excellence: Third Place: India Currents Commentary: First Place: Nirupama Vaidhyanathan, “Why I will listen to Rush Limbaugh.”

Vijay Rajvaidya

Vandana Kumar

Nirupama Vaidhyanathan

Features: Second Place: A Community’s Concerns: From portrayals, representations to youth struggles by the following authors: Geetika Pathania Jain, Erasing the Accent, Vamsee Juluri - Does History Matter? Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan - How Much Is Too Much? The Price of Pushing Kids to Attain Elite Status Political: Third Place: Questions of Afliation and Electoral Choices by the following authors: Jaya Padmanabhan - It's the Race Card, People! Nirupama Vaidhyanathan - The Clear Choice and Vote!

Jaya Padmanabhan

Congratulations!

Feature Story / Light Nature: Second Place: Ranjani Iyer Mohanty, “No Country for Gray People.”

Read winning entries at www.indiacurrents.com

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