India Herald 092618

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India Herald

VOL. 24 • NO. 39 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 • P.O. BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017699 • 25 cents

Hindu group turns GOP’s goodwill ad on its head

By SESHADRI KUMAR A Hindu group turned the tables against the local Republican Party and triggered a negative campaign when the Fort Bend County Republican Party published an advertisement on the occasion of the Hindu Ganesh festival on Sept. 12.

The ad conveying greetings to Hindus on the occasion of Ganesh Chathurthi was published in the India Herald on Sept. 12.

The header of the ad copy read: “Fort Bend County Republican Party wishes a Happy Ganesh Chathurthi to the followers of Hindu faith.”

The advertisement had a sketch of Ganesha, the elephantheaded deity and explained the symbolism around the image.

The political advertisement also contained a sentence which asked Hindu voters: “Would you worship a donkey or an elephant?

The choice is yours.”

This sentence became controversial and many readers felt it was not in good taste.

For six days after the publication of the ad, there was no negative reaction.

However, the HinduAmerican Foundation, took upon itself the role of decoding the message, and concluded that the ad is “offensive.”

It called upon the Fort Bend County Republican Party “to clarify its intentions regarding the use of Lord Ganesha in an ad urging support of the Republican Party.”

All those who had not seen the original ad, now got to know that the ad is “offensive” to Hindus. Many who saw the ad in HAF’s Facebook posting did not know where it was published or if Hindus were involved in the creation of the ad, but denounced the Republican Party with their choicest expressions.

Though the HAF has belabored the point and created a narrative suggesting that the ad is offensive to Hindus, not all Hindus bought the argument.

When asked to point out what is wrong with the ad, most

people said the sentence at the bottom about voting for elephant or donkey was in poor taste. But, really nothing about Hindus was objectionable.

And the Republican Party of Fort Bend County appropriately clarified its ad with the following statement: “The Fort Bend County Republican Party placed an ad in the India Herald on September 12 that was meant to bring a greeting for Ganesh Chaturthi, a Hindu festival that was celebrated September 13.

“The ad was meant to be part of the celebration and acknowledge the occasion and was not meant to disparage Hindus in any way.

As the party’s first KoreanAmerican Chairman, I have seen successful party outreach and understand the complexities of those efforts. This ad was created with input from Hindus so that we could properly pay respect to the sacred festival.

This highlights the difficulty in outreach that can be positive for one group but not for another in the same community. We offer our sincerest apologies to anyone that was offended by the ad. Obviously, that was not the intent.

“It is our goal to build understanding and relationships with all of the different communities in Fort Bend County so that we can best convey our ideas and values.

We welcome all those who are willing to be part of that process.”

Instead of graciously accepting the “apology,” HAF gave generous “advice to both the parties” (as an after thought) not to repeat what HAF considers a “mistake” of using a religious image in a political ad, “while continuing outreach to not only the Hindu community, but all communities in Fort Bend.”

Another interesting fallout of this controversy was even Muslims were “outraged” by the ad and some Muslim community members approached the Hindus asking if they would agree to issue a joint statement See HINDU, Page 4

Panel presents new perspective on ‘generational business transition’

Moderator Pradeep Anand with panelists Jugal Malani, Pankaj Malani, Rishi Bhutada, Ramesh Bhutada, Abhishek Dhingra, Mrs. Vijay Dhingra. Photo by BIJAY DIXIT.

By MANU SHAH In a first of its kind event, two generations came together to give their take on Generational Business Transition. Founders Ramesh Bhutada and son Rishi of Star Pipe Products, Jugal Malani and Pankaj of Unique Group of Companies and Mrs. Vijay Dhingra with Abhishek of Expotech USA, shared insights on how the second generation was initiated into the family business and how they are being groomed to take

over the reins in the future.

The event, organized by IACCGH at the Hess Club on September 20, was sponsored

by AJ Gallagher & Company, represented by Bill Newman.

The topic clearly garnered a great deal of interest and was evident in the packed room. Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia revealed that in the last 24 hours alone, registrations doubled from 90 to 180.

The novel concept came

from Star Pipe Controller Vijay Pallod and Chamber President Swapan Dhairyawan.

It highlighted the success stories of three Indo American entrepreneurs and quizzed the second generation on shouldering this responsibility and taking it forward. In his remarks, President Dhairyawan thanked his Board and pitched for the sustainability and continuity of this series in the future as a Signature event of See BUSINESS, Page 6

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PAGE 2 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

COMMUNITY

FBJSL invites scholarship applications

Each year, the Fort Bend Junior Service League awards up to four $1,000 Volunteer Scholarships and one $2,000 New Beginnings Scholarship.

The Volunteer Scholarships are awarded to female high school seniors in Fort Bend County who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in volunteerism and community service. Recipients must have completed at least 100 hours of high school community service, have a minimum GPA of 2.5, and plan to attend an accredited two or four year col-

lege or university.

The New Beginnings Scholarship is offered to help Fort Bend County females improve their career opportunities by furthering their education. Recipients must have been accepted into an accredited college, university, or vocational school after having taken a break in their education and establish financial need.

Qualified applicants can learn more about these scholarships and obtain a copy of the applications by visiting the FBJSL’s website at www.fbjsl.

org. Applications and supporting documentation will be accepted from December 1, 2018 until February 1, 2019.

The FBJSL is a non-profit organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, to developing the potential of women and to improving the Fort Bend County community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

Varsha Vasu, 2018 Volunteer Scholarship Recipient, with her parents Girish and Usha Vasu.

Download India Herald Free App at the Apple Store or Andorid Playstore.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 3

NEWS

World Hindu Congress honors ISKCON, BAPS, Geeta Press and Chinmaya Mission

Anuttama Das of ISKCON receives the award from Dr. Mohan Bhagwat.

By MANU SHAH The World Hindu Congress held from Sept. 7-9, 2018 in Chicago reaffirmed Swami’s Vivekananda’s message of universal love, peace, acceptance and service to humanity. In this context, it recognized and honored the substantial contributions of four organizations whose selfless volunteers have dedicated their lives in spreading these teachings of Hindu Dharma and preserving its un-

paralleled culture around the world. The four organizations that were honored were ISKCON, BAPS Swaminarayan, Geeta Press, Gorakhpur and Chinmaya Mission.

ISKCON ISKCON was honored for its work in spreading the philosophy of the Bhagvad Geeta to the remotest corners of the world and sparking an interest in Hindu traditions. Its transla-

Swami Swaroopananda of Chinmaya Mission with Dr. Mohan Bhagwat

tions of this sacred text into 70 languages has resulted in diverse ethnicities embracing its message and timeless teachings and incorporating it in everyday life. Today ISKCON has a strong presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Australia and runs over 850 temples, community centers, schools, restaurants (including feeding the needy) and charitable institutions across the world to See AWARDS, Page 6

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by Rajeev Gadgil, Seshadri Kumar & Salim Sindhi India Herald (USPS Periodical 017-699) is published every Wednesday by India Herald, Inc. for a subscription rate of $25 per year. Periodical postage paid at Houston and Sugar Land, Texas. POST MASTER: Send address changes to India Herald, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Texas 77487 Publisher & Editor: Seshadri Kumar www.india-herald.com; email:editor@india-herald.com India Herald assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on information included herein. ©India Herald. All rights reserved.

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PAGE 4 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

POINT OF VIEW not in good taste.

Hindu Pallod said some Hindus did From Page 1 condemning the Fort Bend GOP. The Hindus declined the oer.

The whole media narrative was that the Republican Party “apologized� to Hindus.

Many news outlets, after getting this reporter’s comments, ignored them, possibly because they did not ďŹ t their narrative.

As far as I know, only one news outlet fairly and accurately reported on the issue.

The Independent, UK, headlined the story: Texas Hindus have split reaction over ‘oensive’ Republican political ad.

Reporter Mythili Sampathkumar, based in New York, quoted me accurately.

To this day, HAF does not want to accept that opinion is divided among Hindus and some are not oended.

HAF either did not contact those who had a contrary opinion or ignored when someone said he or she was not oended.

Vijay Pallod, a well known Hindu community activist in Houston, told this paper that he did not ďŹ nd the ad oensive when he ďŹ rst saw it. Later, some youngsters pointed out to him the wording in the bottom, which he thought was

not even know that Donkey referred to the Democratic Party.

Another Hindu from India, currently visiting the U.S. described the ad campaign as “smart� and said if these symbols were used in elections in India, people will overwhelmingly vote for the elephant, he said.

Swapan Dhairyawan, another Hindu associated with Hindu and other community organizations, said he was not oended by the ad at all.

Achalesh Amar, Global campaign director of “Hindu Lives Matter,â€? felt there was nothing oensive in the ad.

Hindu Lives Matter was at the forefront of protests against CNN for promoting hatred against Hindus and fomenting Hinduphobia and organized rallies across the U.S., Amar pointed out.

Acharya Arumuganathaswami, Managing Editor, of Hinduism Today Magazine, had this to say: “We wouldn’t call it oensive. The whole Ganesha explanation is good, and if they’d left it at that the ad would be more eective. “What throws it o kilter is the two statements at the bottom. First, “Would you worship a donkey or an elephant?â€? Ganesha isn’t an

elephant, He’s a person with an elephant’s head. Picky detail, I know, but not a mistake a Hindu should make, assuming a Hindu placed the ad. “Second, was “Better led by red.� The popular statement during the Cold War was “Better dead than red,� which meant better to die in a war with the communists than be conquered and subjugated by them. Now in this ad, red is being used to mean the Republican Party, and why they’d want to harken back to a cold war slogan where red meant communist is beyond me.�

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the controversy, the BAPS Temple oďŹƒcials in Staord, extended an invitation to the Fort Bend County Republican Party Chairman and others to strengthen the outreach.

The temple oďŹƒcials felt . that “a meeting would also serve well so we can serve as a resource for your team in the future on Hinduism and the Indian American community.â€?

As The Independent newspaper summed up my opinion: “HAF’s statement to set the controversy in motion has more to do with politics rather than an oense to a shared faith, bringing up a debate in the US as both Republicans and Democrats vie for votes from the growing

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demographic group. I believe HAF aligns itself with the Democratic Party on social issues and is at odds with conservative Hindus...The debate is between Hindus who support Democrats and Hindus who support Republicans.â&#x20AC;?

HAF board member Rishi Bhutada disputed this comment and cited the HAFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s principles listed on its website in which it states the group â&#x20AC;&#x153;is politically agnostic and non-partisan, meaning we are informed, but do not favour or endorse any one political party or its positions.â&#x20AC;?

After seeing the HAFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign against the recent ad, Vincent Bruno who is associated with HindusforTrump and JusticeforHindus, wrote a blogpost explaining â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why that Republican Ganesh political ad is not so bad.â&#x20AC;?

(See the article below) Just for the record, on Dec. 13, 2003, the Hindu American Foundation ďŹ led friend of the Court Brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in a

case involving the placement of a permanent monument of the Ten Commandments on government property (Texas Capitol) when Rick Perry was the governor.

Earlier this month, HAF welcomed a decision by Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Supreme Court in decriminalizing homosexual intercourse with an article titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Decriminalizing Same-Sex Intercourse, Indian Law Catches Up With Indian Culture.â&#x20AC;?

In June this year, in honor of LGBT Pride Month, HAF cosponsored a townhall at Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Washington D.C. on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Creating Spaces for LGBTQIA Hindusâ&#x20AC;? and discussed what the temple could do to make queer Hindus feel more included.

HAF is well known for its campaign in California and Texas in ensuring that school textbooks properly portrayed Hinduism.

HAF has also helped in tackling the problem of bullying in schools.

By VINCENT BRUNO The Hindu community in the USA and particularly in Texas is split this month over a controversial ad which was placed in the India Herald by a local Fort Bend County Republican political advocacy group.

The ad targeted Texas Hindu voters with an image of Ganesh, the ad explained Ganeshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s symbolism, but then begged the question â&#x20AC;&#x153;Would you worship a donkey or an elephant? The choice is yours.â&#x20AC;?

Now yes, at ďŹ rst this does sound a bit politically stupid, to equate the veneration of the Hindu god Ganesh with animal worship, and especially linking it in with a political party, however it should also be noted that The India Heraldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s editor Seshadri Kumar and others were consulted on the ad before it was launched and that they did not ďŹ nd it oďŹ&#x20AC;ensive, perhaps only in poor taste.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve received phone calls from Hindu community members asking me to write a piece on the scandal and to add some further community comments and insights.

The people I have spoken to who have seen the ad state that except for the phrase â&#x20AC;&#x153;would you worship a donkey or an

elephantâ&#x20AC;?, that the rest of the ad was ďŹ&#x201A;attering to Hindus.

Many Hindus were pleasantly surprised to ďŹ nally see political ads which target the Hindu community speciďŹ cally, this after a grueling history of virtual political non-existence.

One person I spoke to said she welcomed the attempt to reach out to Hindus, this showed we were ďŹ nally considered and important by mainstream politics.

Another Hindu I spoke to said they liked that the ad described the symbolism of Ganesh, they found it to be a respectful and educational touch.

Everyone agreed the one line about worshiping donkeys and elephants was a poor choice, but overall they found the ad to be positive and encouraging.

Now the complaint against the ad comes with its own perceived political motive as the complaint was spearheaded by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF).

HAF has a history of taking oďŹ&#x20AC;ense to ads which were put out by Hindus themselves when it seemed that HAF did not like the political message behind the ad.

During the 2016 elections, some friends and I launched the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hindus For Trumpâ&#x20AC;? campaign See Page 5

Why that Republican Ganesh political ad is not so bad

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 5

COMMENTARY From Page 4 in which we copied India’s Bharatiya Janata Party’s montage of depicting politicians such as Modi seated upon a lotus flower.

When the BJP puts Modi at the center of a lotus it would seem that this is not offensive, however when the person seated in the lotus is Donald Trump, this is deemed inflammatory by the Hindu American Foundation.

HAF sent Tweets to our twitter account requesting we change our poster so as not to bring disrepute upon the lotus and om symbol.

Why did HAF single us out for using imagery which has been standard propaganda for the BJP and Hindu politics for years now?

This poster was created by nothing but Hindus, HAF had no right to criticize standard Hindu political artwork just because the art now featured Donald Trump.

But more than this, The Hindu American Foundation claims to be a “Politically Agnostic” organization, however during the election season they produced an article in the Huffington Post which was met with much criticism not only from the Hindu community but also the White community.

The title of the piece was “The Racialization of Religion Began Long Before Today’s Islamophobia”.

The article took aim directly at Trump’s then proposal to slow down immigration from particular Islamic theocratic states in the Middle East which were known to harbor large numbers of terrorist organizations and Sharia Law activists.

The article completely misrepresented the communities concerns about immigration from Islamic Theocracies by trying to paint the opposition as not being against theocracy but being racist.

The article strongly implied that Whites were racializing Islam, that our concerns were not about Sharia Law and infiltration by Islamic terrorists from known danger zones, but simply that we were antibrown racists. The implication was that this anti-brown racism could spill over into antiHinduism.

The Hindu American Foundation hurt the sentiments of Whites and Hindu friends of Whites by implying modern Whites were too ignorant and simply wicked to want to know the difference between race and religion.

The point is this, the Fort Bend County’s intentions behind the Ganesh ad were noble and positive for the Hindu community.

All the Hindus I know are grateful that members of any mainstream political party are now courting Hindus.

Overall, the ad was very respectful and did its best to present Hindu beliefs and sentiments to the public at large.

The Hindu American Foundation has done nothing but bring more ill repute upon itself by attacking yet another Hindu created or Hindu approved political ad.

Again, it would seem that HAF, when it is perceived that Whites of Republicans are involved, are willing to go against Hindus themselves.

This is just further evidence of the deteriorating relationship between HAF and the American Hindu community. If anyone should apologize it is HAF

for not only propagating dangerous canards against Whites but taking aim at Hindus when it seems to be politically expedient for them. HAF is already viewed with great suspicion, where there is smoke there is fire. HAF, whether it is true or not, is felt by many Hindus to be, yes, an arm of Left wing

globalism, especially since they take to qualms about alienating and even targeting Whites and Hindu Americans who do not seem to jive with their perceived political agenda.

(Vincent Bruno is associated with HindusforTrump and JusticeforHindus.org.)

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 6

COMMUNITY

Ishwar Prasad Patwari of Geeta Press, Gorakhpur receives the award.

Award From Page 3 serve humanity.

International Director of Communications Anuttama Das attributed ISKCON’s success to the profound knowledge with which “we all have been blessed.” He also stated that had Srila Prabhupada, Founder of ISKCON, been with us today, he would have been proud of these substantial achievements but would remind us that Hindu culture is not about achievements in this temporal world but about seeking the eternal world and eternal values. It is about teaching the world that we are all spiritual beings, that real peace and success lies in understanding our divinity and our relationship to the Supreme Divine.

BAPS Swaminarayan It’s easy to be awed by the ar-

Business From Page 1 future as a Signature event of the Chamber.

Unique Group of Companies founded in 2008 by Jugal Malani imports, warehouses and distributes a wide range of OEM products servicing the Plumbing & Drainage, HVAC, Gas & Electrical industries.

Star Pipe Products founded in 1981 by Ramesh Bhutada is a global manufacturer and supplier of pipe fittings with 1400 employees globally and Expotech, a women owned business started by Vijay Dhingra in 1985 is a world class distributor of laboratory, chemical and industrial equipment and supplies. All three have been honored in the past by IACCGH for their business acumen and entrepreneurial success.

Moderator Pradeep Anand, a business coach and consultant, kicked off the event with some interesting statistics. Family owned businesses account for an estimated 80% of companies worldwide and are the largest source of long-term employment in most countries. In the US, they employ 60% of workers and create 78% of new jobs.

US Statistics also reveal that only 30% of family business organizations last into a second

chitecturally magnificent BAPS Swaminarayan mandirs around the world with their intricate marble carvings and sprawling spotless surroundings. These visually appealing temples served to stimulate curiosity and interest in Hindu architecture and through it Hindu Dharma among people of different cultural and religious backgrounds.

They also serve as seats for learning Hindu values and provide an environment for people of all ages to connect with their Hindu identity.

The award was accepted by Alak Parmar, a BAPS volunteer. Parmar drew attention to the countless selfless volunteers who are passionate about serving others because they believe in Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s motto - in the joy of others lies our own, in the progress of others lies our own and in the good of othgeneration.

Contrary to expectations, Pankaj, Rishi and Abhishek were all initially reluctant to join the family business. All three explored other options before coming on board and when they did, they began at the bottom, working in the warehouse and gradually moved up the ranks.

Rishi, who joined the company after securing a Business degree from Wharton, even underwent an interview process before joining as a management trainee.

The no-privileges training served them well and today all three hold positions in the top management of their companies.

In each case, the founders addressed the importance of establishing a “family like atmosphere” in the company with the result that employee turnover is extremely low.

Expotech welcomes inputs in decision making and boasts of employees who have been with the company for 30 years. Star Pipe has 3 generations of the McCutcheon family working for it and husband-wife teams are the norm. Unique retains talent by inviting employees to become partners in the business.

Emphasizing this point, Rishi stated that employees should enjoy their place of work and not consider it a place where “they pick up a paycheck.”

Likewise, Abhishek underscored

ers lies our own.

BAPS Swaminarayan focuses on families and nurturing the younger generation. Parmar highlighted the contributions of thousands of mothers who are helping “raise peace loving Hindus.”

BAPS believes in ahimsa (nonviolence), and most importantly encourages peace and harmony.

Not a day goes by, she stated, when Mahant Swami Maharaj doesn’t talk about unity and harmony – “harmony in the family, harmony in our community and harmony across the world.”

Geeta Press, Gorakhpur The credit for making India’s rich literature accessible and affordable and in turn sustain India’s ancient civilization and historical identity goes to Geeta Press, Gorakhpur.

Thanking WHC for this “extreme honor”, Ishwar Prasad Patwari, a trustee of Geeta Press, Gorakhpur accepted the award and revealed that till March 2018, 664 million copies of “character building” books like the Gita, Ramcharitamanas, Ramayan Mahabharat and other sacred Hindu texts have been published in most major Indian languages.

The main object, he stated, is to spread spirituality for God realization which is the aim of human life. The founder Jay Dayal Goyandka used to say that “when every child will utter the Gita when taking birth…then we have achieved our goal to some extent.” Ishwar Patwari encouraged the gathering to spare a few minutes daily to read “soul elevating” literature.

Operating on a purely non-profit basis, the organization which was established in 1923, has published 72 million copies of Bhagvad Gee-

Alak Parmar of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Chicago, receives the award from Mohan Bhagwat ta and over 70 million copies of Shri Ramcharitmanas to date.

Chinmaya Mission Chinmaya Mission’s most significant contribution has been the spread of the knowledge and understanding of Gita amongst the multitudes through the methodology of Gyan Yagna. The Mission has conducted more than 75,000 Geeta Gyan Yagnas globally over the last several decades and through this has successfully brought the knowledge of Hindu shastras to the public.

Spiritual head of Chinmaya Mission – Swami Swaroopananda, while accepting the award, stated that the mission of Chinmaya was to lead people to knowledge, devotion, service, cooperation and take the glory of our spiritual knowledge, traditions and culture

to people around the world in every stage, role and development of their life. He also emphasized the importance of making the world recognize the true glory of Hindu religion and culture.

Chinmaya Mission is known for its expertise in disseminating the wisdom of Hindu dharma through stories. The Mission has produced prolific books, magazines, pamphlets, and other media content and made this material universally available. This has helped the global Hindu, particularly youth, to understand the enduring Hindu values and truths in the contemporary context.

The organization runs numerous schools, colleges, and other institutions to provide contemporary quality education anchored in Dharma.

A section of the audience at the chamber meeting held at the Hess Club. the importance of encouraging talent with training programs and continuous engagement with senior personnel. Pankaj highlighted the recreation room, gym, basketball court and other facilities at Unique to encourage bonding among its employees.

Business philosophies are strikingly similar. As Ramesh Bhutada put it “businesses must be “anchors for the families, for the employees and the community. They should constantly evolve, be receptive to new ideas and aim “to become a larger mission.”

True millennials, all three played a critical role in deploying new technologies

to optimize efficiency in their businesses.

The three founders have always demonstrated an empathy and generosity to worthy causes. Ramesh Bhutada hailed each family’s legacy of service from Jugal Malani’s grandfather who opened his warehouse to feed people during a severe drought, his own father who was a dedicated social worker in a small village in India and Ashok’s Dhingra’s commitment to building India House and remarked that the next generation has this “legacy to fulfil.” All three boys were equally emphatic about continuing the tradition

of community service they have seen their parents display.

The older generation are making way for the younger generation to come to the forefront, but as Jugal Malani put it, the transition comes with greater expectations, greater responsibility and “greater pressure to prove themselves.”

Looking down the road, all three seem comfortably poised to take it to the next level.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 7

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 9

COMMUNITY Voice of Sanatan Hinduism highlights habits for healthy living

Students of Vidushi Rajarajeshwari Bhat’s Krishna Gana Sudha perform “Nada yoga” Hindus of Greater Houston board members Radha Dixit, left, Vijay Pallod, President Partha by rendering Indian classical music. Mridangist Naga Srinidhi is on the left, and Vedam Krishnaswamy, keynote speaker Suddhananda Brahmachari and Thara Narasimhan, HGH Shastri, right, is on the Veena. secretary and co-host of the Voice of Sanatan Hinduism Radio show.

Venu Joysula

By SESHADRI KUMAR Voice of Sanatan Hinduism and Sanatan Hindu Center, on the occasion of their 25th anniversary, brought aspects of Yoga with music and dance on Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Anjali Center for Performing Arts in Sugar Land.

The event featured three aspects of Yoga - Nada Yoga, Nritya Yoga and Niyama Yoga.

Sri Shuddhananda Brahmachari of Baba Lokenath Divine Life Mission, Kolkata, India, spoke on Niyama Yoga, habits for healthy living, body and mind and pointed out that the source of all happiness and peace in life lies in one’s own mind rooted to the Spirit within.

Nada Yoga is the process of the union of the individual

mind with cosmic consciousness through the flow of sound through Classical Indian music. Students of Rajarajeshwari Bhat opened the program rendering melodious bhajans.

Nritya Yoga, the Hand Mudra depicted in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi is actually Yoga Mudra or hand gestures that guide the energy flow to specific areas of the brain. Venu Joysula, assistant director of Dr.

Rathna Kumar’s Anjali Center for Performing Arts, presented Bharatanatyam.

Ramyani Roy and Divya Srinivasa - students of Dr. Aparupa Chatterjee of Odissi Dance Company at College Station, presented numbers on Dasavatar and Mata Durga, respectively. Both the dancers together performed Namdev Bhajan on Panduranga Vittala.

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PAGE 10 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

BOOK The Billionaire Raj: A journey through India’s New Gilded Age the oligarchs of Russia or yester year’s robber barons of the US) could get away with murder.

While browsing through the The description of Mukesh book, a comment by Jagdish Ambani’s 160 meter residential Bhagwati on the back cover skyscraper “Antilia” against which stated, “it is bound to the background of Mumbai’s become a classic” caught my shanties with corrugated sheets attention. and tarpaulins for roofs make I had almost not picked up any reader repulsive of the conthe book thinking it is about spicuous consumption of the the lavish style of the nouveau new rich. riche but when I went through The book charts three critithe topics covered by the book, cal elements in India’s recent I could not keep the book down. history. The first one deals with They are: Ambani Land, The the rise of the super rich resultGood Times Begin, Rise Of the ing in income inequality and Bollygarchs, India Modified, entrenched corporate power.

The Season Of Scams, CroToday India has over one nyism Goes South, House Of hundred billionaires more than Debt, The Anxious Tycoons, any other country bar America, More Than A Game, The Na- China and Russia. One percent tion Wants To Know, The Trag- of Indians own more than 50% edies of Modi, and Conclusion: of national wealth, one of the A Progressive Era? highest concentrations in the deals with the boom and bust The book starts with a to- world. cycle of India’s industrial tally ruined, Aston Martin The second critical element economy as a result of the Rapide on December 8, 2013 is the rise of crony capitalism above two elements. in Mumbai near Beach Candy which results in collusion beThe bollygarchs were able to – one of the most expensive tween political and business borrow huge amounts of moncars in the world (costing about elites to capture valuable pub- ey. When the global financial $700,000). lic resources. hit the country, overstretched Its ownership was finally When old central planning businesses struggled to repay traced to Reliance. The media and state controls of “license, the debts. It is sad to read how tried to conjecture who the ac- permit, quota raj” were re- the highly connected managed tual driver of the car was, but placed after 1991 ushering a to invest in power plants with never succeeded. new free market era, there was no equity by hoodwinking the The saving grace was that in great expectation that it will “gullible” public sector banks. the three car accident, no one lead to a better and more honest On paper, developers met died. government. Instead there were the required investment of 30% The author subtly sought to mega scams and politicians be- equity which was actually not communicate that in this gilded coming super rich. their capital. age of India, Bollygarchs (like The third critical element Hari Venkatachalam Hindu Students Association, Board of Directors The Billionaire Raj: A journey through India’s New Gilded Age by James Crabtree

They diverted it from another company which had taken loans from another bank. The recent banking fraud by Nirav Modi is small compared to these scams of the industrialists.

The rot at the heart of Indian capitalism was exposed in a report, “House of Debt”

by Ashish Gupta of Credit Suisse.

The author was able to talk with exile Vijay Mallya in London to get his side of the story. Expectedly, Mallya tried to convince him that it was not his fault and blamed the Government for forcing him to repay the loan quickly without giving him a chance to restructure which resulted in his bankruptcy.

It is fascinating to read the author’s interview with the “Big Bull”, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala as he sipped a $450 Johnnie Walker in his Mumbai office.

A self-made man without any ties to politicians Jhunjhunwala, India’s Warren Buffet has decided to give 25% of his wealth to charities. When questioned whether he could give

even more, the response was “Maybe”.

While there is some mention of demonetization in the book, there is no in-depth discussion.

The author has high praise for former RBI governor, Raghuram Rajan.

According to Rajan, graft is not the real problem of the banking sector. It is the power imbalance between the creditors and tycoons to whom they lent.

Despite all the problems in India, the author sees a bright future for India. According to him, Modi has reset the balance between politics and business which should result in less cronyism and less corruption.

Despite being amazingly corrupt, China has been able to achieve huge social and economic progress because of its capable state machinery.

While India should continue to fight crony capitalism and corruption, it should also work on strengthening “State Capacity”.

This is what happened in the US more than a century ago.

After the corruption riddled gilded age came the progressive era, when the middle class cleaned up politics and got control over the government. The author is hopeful that the largest democracy in the world can achieve it.

— By BHAMY V. SHENOY

Succeed In Your Business

PRESS RELEASE

rid of staffi ngAssociaproblems and spend more April 6, 2017Get – AUSTIN, TX –your The Hindu Students tion (HSA) would like to regretfully announce that Numbers it will be Good = Good Decisions cancelling its annual Gateway Retreat for the 2017 year. HSA prides itself in building a strong network of young Hindu Americans, and it looks forward to organizing other events in the future that will link students from its various branches.

HSA has been reorienting itself in recent months to doing more grassroots work. “We have been focusing more on accomplishing work on the local and branch level,” said Mrinalini Vijalapuram, National President of the Hindu Students Association. “We have been doing this through many different activities including interfaith events with other religious organizations, building community partnerships, and expanding into other campuses that don’t already have HSA branches.”

While the cancellation of Gateway may come as a disappointment for many prospective attendees, HSA hopes to get feedback from students on other projects and events that interest its branch members. Currently, several projects, including developing HSA’s podcast series and releasing monthly articles that highlight the accomplishments of members from the various campuses have been the focus of the organization’s efforts. HSA welcomes student and community members to get involved in these activities to help further the goals of the organization. “It is important that we meet the needs of the campuses and communities we serve,” reiterated Ms. Vijalapuram. “We want to make sure that we are putting our attention on projects that will truly benefit them.”

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 11

COMMUNITY

Tatvam School presents annual recital, Srishti

By HEMA NAREN As I walked into JCC, I noticed little children in their vibrant blue and yellow costumes trying to stay still as their mothers scrambled to find hairpins and readjust the nethi chutties, their fathers taking pictures and grandparents, watching and waiting for the Tatvam School of Dance’s 4th annual recital.

As I watched, Lavanya Prabu came out of the auditorium, a vision in white and blue, fully composed with a dazzling smile, confident with her students’ practices.

She was smiling and posing for pictures for she knew her students were going to give a performance that would not only make her proud but also everyone else who came to see.

Volunteers dressed elegantly in black, directed us to take our seats.

The auditorium was packed with everyone waiting eagerly for the Tatvam students to take the stage. The lights dimmed, the music came on and the MC, Arthi Subramani, took the podium.

I opened the brochure to see the program schedule. The brochure, simple in looks, was a wealth of information.

The recital was broken into four parts and each item was explained in detail so even a layman could understand and appreciate what was happening.

The curtains opened, there

Voice

From Page 1 Bengal that fosters Hindu dharma.

Shuddananda in his message referred to the internal consciousness as the eye of a storm, though silent, infinite power resides there. One has to contemplate on the spirit within every day, he said.

“Everyone wants to be happy and seeking happiness is common to all, but peace can be manifest only when there is calmness. Calm mind has no ripples. We are not able to see the one within us which manifests as many,” Shuddananda said. Mindfulness and meditation are the tools to earn happiness, he said.

“We talk of diversity, but we don’t know the destination.

stood all the students, hands holding the Anjali hastha, poised and ready.

When Lavanya came to the podium and recited the slokas, the kids listened in awe and waited for their turn. When it was time for them to recite, they did so in unison and in a crisp fashion.

The beginners, in a perfect “V” formation, were eager to show how to do the thattadavus.

The senior students came and rendered the portrayed bhavas for each song perfectly.

The movement of the students, from thattadavu to paichal adavu, was seamless. It was easy to see how much effort went in to organizing the little ones, who sometimes refused to leave the stage. What struck me as incredible was how each set of adavus was dedicated and performed to different slokas.

The musical composition by Maha Krishnan and Sandeep Kamrouth encouraged the dancers to express and enjoy themselves thus creating the beauty we all saw on stage. The beats were perfectly in sync with the adavuus being performed, providing not only a visual treat but an auditory one as well.

Lavanya has set out to create a holistic dance school and has achieved it.

The video, created by Ramesh Venkatraman, offered a glimpse of how and what Tatvam aims to accomplish. It’s like connecting

the dots to a puzzle.

You see all the parts that Lavanya has put emphasis on: the adavus, yoga, slokas and theory and then you see what can be achieved when you put it all together.

The items from Alarippu to Thillana showed us what you get when all of them come together in harmony - dance that transcends all boundaries!

As Anantha Aiyer, the chief guest who handed out trophies to every child, said “if I were

younger, I would have wanted to learn dance from Lavanya”.

The Arts, be it music or dance, is one of the roots of humanity.

It connects us to each other and improves our lives and character.

Whether we are happy or sad, we can use dance to express ourselves. We just need to find a teacher with the passion to guide us towards the path of self-discovery. When you have passion for something, it shows in your every move, thought and expression.

That was what I saw in Lavanya that day. Her love for her students, her passion for the dance, her dedication to retain the way it was taught for generations and her respect for her guru. She has shown her students a way to express themselves through this wonderful art form called Dance!

I saw Lavanya perform a few years back and I was in awe then and watching her students perform, I am in awe now.

Bharat has given to the world that knowledge that to reach ‘mind and intellect,’ one should have the energy reverted and master the sense perceptions within us, by being conscious about breath that sustains life.”

To put it in simple words, be calm for some time every day, with no agenda, be with your body to feel the sense of consciousness, also known as inner awareness. That is the primer for meditation.

Earlier, Thara Narasimhan and Geeta Ravula co-hosts of the Voice of Sanatan Hinduism narrated the story behind the unique radio program in the U.S. The late Padmakant Khambhati started the radio program to showcase the doctrines of Hinduism by sharing Vedic knowledge and broadcasting it on public media.

The radio program emphasizes many aspects of Sanatan Dharma and its core principles.

It highlights human values that are embedded in our scriptures notably the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

It also features special guest interviews and announcements for all events and creates an opportunity for Hindu Temples and Organizations in the Greater Houston Area to connect with the community at large.

Kantilal Patel, current President of Sanatan Hindu Center, has been part of the radio show from its very beginning and presently leads the team members.

Kalpavalli Patel, daughter of Late Padmakant Khambhati is the Secretary of Sanatan Hindu Center, and is glad that her father’s lifelong passion and dream still continues.

Thara Narasimhan, Secretary to Hindus of Greater Houston and one of the hosts of the Radio program for the past 23 years feels that the Radio show carries specially selected divine music melodies every Sunday to its listeners and explains the core tenets of Hinduism that could lead an individual to become a better human being and understand and live in harmony with dharma or righteousness.

Rakesh Parikh manages the website and archives the Radio program with weekly updates and is the Treasurer of Sanatan Hindu Center.

Geetha Ravula, founder of Ashirwad Lifestyle class and Vedic Fair, simplifies the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and other texts in easy and appealing terms for clear understanding. She conducts the highly anticipated “Dhruv Tara Quiz” in

the first hour creating enthusiastic listeners who look forward to it in great anticipation.

Sponsors, donors and seekers of Vedic Philosophy and Sanatan Dharma support the radio show. Individual donations are welcome and Tax deductible.

Payment can be made online on the website www.sanatanhinducenter.org or email: hinduismradio@gmail.com.

Donations can also be sent to Sanatan Hindu Center, 603 Doscher Lane, Sugar Land, Texas 77479.

Tune in every Sunday from 12 noon to 2 pm on Houston Radio dial 1110 AM or 96.1 FM station. You can listen live online www.sanatanhinducenter. org. Podcasts of previous recordings can also be found on the website.

PAGE 12 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY,SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

COMMUNITY Life and Soul Health Fair brings the community together in service On September 15th 2018, Love to Share Foundation America served over 250 primarily uninsured citizens of Greater Houston during its 8th annual Life and Soul Free Health Fair held at New Life Plaza in Manvel.

The heath fair was officially kicked off by dignitaries - Mayor of Pearland Tom Reid, Mayor of Manvel Debra Davison, Representative from Congressman Pete Olson’s office, John Paul Anders, former Mayor of Manvel, Delores Martin and Ramaswamy Subramanian representing Love to Share Foundation America.

A Congressional Recognition was presented to Love to Share Foundation for its dedication to serve the community which in turn ensures the community’s well-being and development for years to come.

The services offered during Life and Soul included Blood Pressure, BMI, Cholesterol, Blood sugar, Vision, Glaucoma, Fungus screening, Hearing, EKG, Thyroid Ultrasound, Bone Density, Lung Function test, Carotid Doppler, Mammograms for registered uninsured Brazoria County residents, Flu shots for the uninsured, Helmets for children to prevent head injury, Basic CPR class, Stroke and Diabetes Education.

The vendors that offered screenings and services included HEB, Genesis Hearing Clinic, University of Houston, Alvin Community College–Respiratory Division, Sai Primary Care, Walgreens, Southeast Cardiovascular Associates, Coastal Vascular Center, UTMB, Texas Medical Association–Be Wise Immunize and Texas Medical Association–Hard Hats for Little Heads program, and Indo-American Nurses Association of Greater Houston.

The sponsors of the event included Texas Medical Association, Amgen, Ying and Yang Health Care, New York Life Insurance, Walmart and HEB. Approximately 50 volunteers paved way for the event to take place in an organized manner, despite the heavy flow of participants, a multitude of tests with each participant having individual requirements and parking constraints due to wet weather. Cognizant’s Outreach program brought in 14 volunteers who did a tremendous job of handling online registration, directing patient flow in the testing stations and in parking. These volunteers tirelessly transported patients to and from the parking lot to New Life Plaza for six hours straight.

The Indo-American Nurses Association of Greater Houston (IANAGH) had approximately a dozen nurses who helped out with blood pressure, blood sugar screening and education. They also conducted basic CPR and Stroke Education Classes. High school and College students from Dulles High School, Clements High School, Shadow Creek High School and University of Houston also volunteered and earned their volunteering hours at the event. Food for vendors and volunteers was sponsored by Olive Garden, Shipley’s Donuts, Chipotle, Papa John’s and Biryani Express.

Overall it was a pleasant day defying all weather forecasts that saw a lot of unconditional service, compassion and gratitude.

Love to Share Foundation’s next event will be Life and Soul Free Health Fair – Dallas Metropolis that is scheduled for Sept 29th in Garland.

Love to Share Foundation America continues to make strides in empowering the community through several programs at the grass roots level. In addition to Life and Soul, the other initiatives include – Reality Retreat, Body Mind and Soul, Workshops for professionals and high-schoolers and several cultural collaborations and camps to stage diverse art forms, depicting the universal harmony that is intricately woven across the cultures around the world. Please visit www.lovetosharefoundation.org to know more about us and our programs; we would love to have you be a part of this wonderful family!

Elected officials and volunteers at the Life and Soul Health Fair.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 13

NEWS Decision to revoke work permits to H-4 visa holders to be announced

US Postage Stamp for Gandhiji With Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary approaching fast on 10/2/2018, it is likely that the Unites States Postal Service (USPS) is seriously considering issuing stamp honoring him.

In a recent letter the USPS informs us that the proposal for Gandhi Stamp will be submitted to the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee for review and consideration at their next meeting.

The Committee is responsible for reviewing stamp proposal and making recommendation to the Postmaster General (PMG). Its approval is based on national interest, historical perspective and other criteria.

Additionally it is also responsible for reviewing all stamp proposals and making subject and design recommendations to the PMG. Mohandas K. Gandhi, also called “Bapu,” the father of the nation (India) was born on 10/2/1869. Besides other things, he promoted peace, non-violence, social activism and freedom. The world celebrates this day as “International Peace Day.” If successful, this will be the 2nd stamp in recent times that USPS is commemorating which are dear to the heart of IndianAmerican Community. Incidentally our group is also diligently working on getting Yoga/Meditation Stamps.

Shailendra Kumar, MD, Potomac, MD

Washington, D.C. The Trump administration has informed the federal courts that the decision to revoke work permits to H-4 visa holders will be released within the next three months.

This decision is the result of President Trump’s “Buy American and Hire American” executive order and will affect thousands of Indian-American spouses who currently hold a job within the United States.

H1B visas are the most sought-after visas by the IT professionals and the H-4 visas are issued to the immediate family members of H1B visa holders, namely, spouses and children under 21 years of age.

The Department of Home-

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land Security stated they were “making a solid and swift progress in proposing to remove from its regulations on certain H-4 spouses of H-IB non-immigrants as a class of aliens eligible for employment authorization.”

This most current update from the Department of Homeland Security marks the third time they have delayed the decision on the status of H-4 visa holders, leaving many to feel like they are in limbo.

This move is a reversal of an early Obama-era decision and will mostly affect IndianAmerican women who followed their H-1B visa holding spouses to the United States and could cripple Indian-

American households.

President Trump, who has criticized the H-1B visa program believes that the change will, “ensure that American labor is hired to do the jobs,” instead of immigrant spouses.

Many Indian-Americans who will be affected by the decision have shared their stories online to spread awareness on the proposed H-4 visa revocation.

Most spouses who are currently eligible to work under H-4 visas are highly educated professionals who will lose their ability to bring in a second income and will become homemakers exclusively by this proposed move.

Burqa ban: Swiss region overwhelmingly votes

A second Swiss canton will introduce a regional “burqa ban”, after voters in St Gallen on Sunday emphatically backed prohibiting all face-covering garments in public spaces.

At the same time, voters across Switzerland resoundingly rejected initiatives aimed at boosting local farming and promoting more ethical and environmental standards in food production, amid fears of cost hikes and reduced consumer choice.

In the northeastern canton of St Gallen, nearly 67 per cent of voters came out in favour of introducing the implicit “burqa ban”, according to official results, which showed turnout was 36 per cent. That paves the way for the canton to follow the example of the southern region of Ticino, where a law was introduced two years ago that appeared to be aimed at burqas and other Muslim veils. Three other cantons — Zurich, Solothurn and Glarus — have rejected introducing such bans in recent years.

A text stipulating that “any person who renders themselves unrecognisable by covering their face in a public space, and thus endangers public security or social and religious peace will be fined” was adopted by lawmakers in St Gallen late last year.

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PAGE 14 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

GLIMPSES OF WORLD HINDU CONGRESS, CHICAGO, SEPT. 7 TO SEPT. 9, 2018

Dattatreya Hosabale, joint general secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Bharat, introduces the panelists during the second plenary session on “Collective efforts for Hindu resurgence” at the World Hindu Congress on Sept. 7. Swami Purnatmananda, left, president, Bharat Sevashram Sangh, Swami Swaroopananda, Head, Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, RSS Chief Mohanrao Bhagwat, Satguru Dalip Singh, Head of Namdharis, Sadhu Madhu Pandit Dasa, President of ISKCON, Bangalore and chairman of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, Bharat, and Swami Parmatmananda Saraswati, secretary general, Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, Bharat.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 • PAGE 15

Members of the Vedic Friends Association— Vijai Ganapa, treasurer, left, Robert Arnett, Sandy Armstrong, Jeffrey Armstrong, Co-Chairman, Stephen Knapp, Co-Chairman, David Frawley, Chairman, Vijay Pallod, and Benny Tillman, President, and Srinivas Konteti, General Secretary.

Delegates from South America, Left to right: Top row, Vishvarupa Das [Ecuador], Bhadarayani Das [Peru], Bhakti Raksak Swami Maharaj [Mexico], Kalki Avatar Das [Peru], Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Swami [Germany], Ambika Devi Dasi [Colombia], Maha Laksmi Devi Dasi [Mexico], Radha Dham Devi Dasi [Colombia]. Bottom row: Angira Muni Das [Mexico], Giri Raj Das [Argentina], Maharati Das [Colombia], Vrindavan Chandra Das [Colombia], Radhe Shyam Devi Dasi [Ecuador].

Vice President of the Republic of Suriname Ashwin Adin, left, with RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat.

Actor Anupam Kher addresses the inaugural session of World Hindu Congress.

Namdari Sikh group members with their spiritual leader Satguru Dalip Singh, seated center.

Some of the members from Houston: Rajiv Bhavsar, left, Gopal Savjani, Acharya Gaurang Nanavaty of Chinmaya Mission, Houston, Col. Raj Bhalla (Retd.), Ajit Patel, a delegate from Florida representing Ekal Vidyalaya, Ramesh Shah, Charlie Patel and Swapan Dhairyawan.

Ngodup Tsering, Representtaive from Central Tibetan Administration, Prem Kaidi from Nepal, Santosh Kalyan, National Assembly member from South Africa and K. Sachithanandan from Sri Lanka.

Youth delegates at the World Hindu Congress.

Swami Vigyananand and Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu at the concluding session of the World Hindu Congress.

PAGE 16 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

NEWS

Supreme Court asks Parliament to frame laws to bar those accused of crimes from fighting elections

Political parties have to display the criminal record of candidates who contest on their ticket on their official websites, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court directed on September 25, 2018.

Parties should also issue a declaration on the criminal antecedents of their candidates in a widely circulated publication, said a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.

To facilitate this transparency by parties, candidates should first give complete information about their criminal past or pending cases to the parties on whose ticket they intend to contest elections, stated the judgment.

This is to ensure that the ordinary voter can have an “informed choice” about who he has to vote for in a country “tired of money and muscle power,” said the court.

The direction to compel political parties to go public about their “criminal” candidates is a step to “foster and nurture an informed citizenry” and to protect the “culture and purity in politics.”

The court said criminal politicians are nothing but a liability to this country. Their presence in power strikes at the roots of democracy. Criminalisation of politics and corruption, especially at the entry level of elections, has become a national and economic terror.

It is a disease which is selfdestructive and becoming immune to antibiotics, opined the court.

“There is a steady increase in the level of criminality creeping into politics,” the court observed.

Parties need to come clean about the criminal elements within their apparatus.

Chief Justice Misra, who

Lawyers elected as lawmakers can practice in courts: Supreme Court The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that there is no bar on MPs and MLAs doubling up as lawyers.

The judgment by a three-judge Bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud comes as a great relief for many sitting MPs across the political parties who are practising lawyers in the Supreme Court and various high courts.

The judgment authored by Justice Khanwilkar said MPs and MLAs do not come under the definition of full-time paid employees of the state.

The apex court upheld the earlier decision of the Bar Council of India, which had also declined to issue such a ban on legislators practising as lawyers.

Should MPs and MLAs be barred from practising law?

The writ petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay said legislators donning the lawyers’ robes is a “matter of serious concern to both the judiciary and the legislature.”

“They also utilise their position as MPs/MLAs to be visible in the public domain, including on television where they give interviews or participate in shows. This essentially amounts to advertising as their “brand” is promoted among the public, many of whom are potential litigants. This virtually seamless transition between the two spheres by these legislators is causing irreversible harm to both the profession and public interest,” the petition had said.

The Bench dismissed the arguments made in the petition that such legal practice by lawmakers is in violation of Rule 49 of the Bar Council of India Act, which forbids an advocate to be “full-time salaried employee of any person, government, firm, corporation or concern, so long as he continues to practice”.

The lawmakers drew their salaries and pensions from the public exchequer, Mr. Upadhyay had contended.

Mr. Upadhyay had argued that MPs and MLAs draw their salaries from the Consolidated Fund of India, hence, were “employees of the State.”

Under Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 2(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, MLAs and MPs are public servants. Hence, allowing them to practice, as an advocate and restricting other public servants is arbitrary, irrational and violation of Articles 14-15 of the Constitution, Mr. Upadhyay submitted.

He had contended that it amounted to “professional misconduct” that MLAs and MPs, who get salary and other benefits from the public fund, appear against the government . Some of these lawmakers even hold corporate retainer-ships.

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authored the verdict for the Bench, directed “each contesting candidate,” whether he or she belongs to a party or not, to fill up all the required information in the forms to be submitted to the Election Commission of India before an election.

The candidate should fill up in block letters the complete details of their criminal antecedents, if any.

The Bench, however, refused to legislate and add a disqualification that candidates charged with heinous crimes should be banned from contesting elections.

Instead, it urged Parliament to consider such a disqualification, saying the nation eagerly awaits its decision. It noted that the Election Commission of India has its hands tied, watching on as criminalisation of politics at the entry level is on the rise.

The Bench, also compris-

ing Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Rohinton Nariman, D.Y. Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra, made it clear that the Supreme Court cannot legislate for Parliament.

It said “time has come for the Parliament to act” and empower the poll body. “The court declares the law, the Parliament makes the law,” Justice Nariman had observed.

Chief Justice Misra had pointed out that Parliament was obliged under Article 102 (1) (e) to make a law. “As conscience-keepers of the Constitution, we [Supreme Court] can ask you [Parliament] to do it,” he stated.

The court countered the government’s submissions that only a convicted candidate can be disqualified from contesting elections.

It addressed Attorney General K.K. Venugopal’s submissions during the hearings that

a person is presumed innocent until he is proven guilty, and nothing prevents an accused, who won an election on public mandate, from becoming a lawmaker.

Chief Justice Misra said, “It is one thing to take cover under the presumption of inncocence, but it is another to allow politics to be smeared by criminal stain.” The court said Parliament should also consider the issue of false cases foisted upon politicians.

The judgment came on a batch of petitions to bar politicians facing charges of heinous crimes like murder, rape and kidnapping from contesting elections.

Under the Representation of the People Act, convicted lawmakers are disqualified from contesting elections, but not accused ones.

International Science Festival in honor of late Vajpayee In a tribute to the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Government has decided to organise the fourth edition of India International Science Festival (IISF) in his hometown in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. To be attended by approximately 10,000 delegates including students and teachers from India and abroad, a world record attempt will be made to “isolate DNA” by 500 students from class 8th to 10th standard.

The festival will be inaugurated by President Ramnath Kovind.

Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that it was the former Prime Minister who had brought Science to the centre stage of national agenda. “ It was Vajpayee who had added Jai Vigyan to Lal Bahadur Shastri’s slogan of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”, he added while addressing a curtain raiser of the festival here.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said, IISF

is the biggest platform in the country to bring together students, researchers, innovators, artists and general public to celebrate India’s achievements in science and technology. The Minister said that IISF is a medium to encourage the young minds towards the field of science and to promote the networking of stakeholders working towards the propagation of science.

IISF-2018 with its focal theme “Science for Transformation” will have 23 special events. The Global Indian Science & Technology Stakeholders Meet (GIST), Industry Academia Meet and Science & Technology for Harnessing Innovations (SATHI) - A National startup entrepreneurship summit and Student Science Village are some of the important events, being organized.

The Science Village program is linked with the Pradhan Mantri Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to reach out to the rural masses and propagate science

and for seeking scientific solutions to the diverse challenges facing our society, particularly rural India.

Secretary Department of Biotechnology, Dr Renu Swaroop said that the special role of women scientists and entrepreneurs in shaping the scientific growth trajectory will be another highlight of the festival. “The programme aspires to develop new entrepreneurship and explore new vistas of opportunities in the field of science and technology among the women. Approximately 800 women scientist/entrepreneurs will attend the event,” she said.

There will be a special effort to engage with stakeholders of the Northeast and the aspirational districts. Another feature of IISF-2018 will be mega science and industry expo that will highlight the outstanding contributions of India in the field of science, technology, and industry.

INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ PAGE 17

NEWS

Ayodhya reference verdict likely on September 28

The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its judgment on September 28 on whether to refer the question if a â&#x20AC;&#x153;mosque as a place of prayer is an essential part of Islamâ&#x20AC;? in the RamjanmabhoomiBabri Masjid appeals to a Constitution Bench.

The petitions are seen listed in the advance causelist for September 28.

A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices Ashok Bhushan and S. Abdul Nazeer had taken up the long-pending Ayodhya land title appeals against the Allahabad High Court judgment of 2010, which had ordered a three-way partition of the disputed land.

Chief Justice Misra had in the beginning observed that the appeals would be decided like any other civil suit, shorn of any â&#x20AC;&#x153;religious sentimentsâ&#x20AC;? displayed by the parties.

However, as the hearings progressed in the appeals, the Muslim appellants pressed that the place of a mosque in Islam and the importance of the practice of oďŹ&#x20AC;ering prayers inside a mosque should be ďŹ rst decided by a ďŹ ve-judge Bench. They said this question should be answered before the court goes into the main title dispute.

The bone of contention here is an observation made in a 1994 judgment of the Supreme Court in the Ismail Farooqui case that â&#x20AC;&#x153;a mosque is not an essential part of the practice of the religion of Islam and namaz (prayer) by Muslims can be oďŹ&#x20AC;ered anywhere, even in openâ&#x20AC;?.

Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, for the Muslims appellants, argued that the observation has aďŹ&#x20AC;ected the status of mosques in Islam. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If [the] congregation part of Islam is taken away, a large part of Islam goes worthless. Mosques are meant for congregation and prayer,â&#x20AC;? Mr. Dhavan had argued on why mosques are â&#x20AC;&#x153;essentialâ&#x20AC;?.

Susceptible for acquisition Senior advocate C.S. Vaidyanathan, appearing for one of the contesting Hindu bodies, had countered that the observation in the 1994 judgment, read in its entirety, only points to the fact that all places of worship are equally susceptible for government acquisition.

In fact, the particular paragraph in the judgment reads that â&#x20AC;&#x153;a mosque is not an essential part of the practice of the religion of Islam, and namaz (prayer) by Muslims can be oďŹ&#x20AC;ered anywhere, even in open. Accordingly, its acquisition is not prohibited by the provisions in the Constitution of India. Irrespective of the status of a mosque in an Islamic country for the purpose of immunity from acquisition by the State in exercise of the sovereign power, its status and immunity from acquisition in the secular ethos of India under the Constitution is the same and equal to that of the places of worship of the other religions, namely, church, temple etc. It is neither more nor less than that of the places of worship of the other religionsâ&#x20AC;?.

TN court acquits 9 Veerappan men in actor Rajkumar abduction case A trial court on Tuesday acquitted nine associates of sandalwood smuggler Veerappan accused in the 2000 abduction of Kannada superstar Rajkumar, saying that the charges against them have not been adequately proved.

Mani, the third additional sessions judge of Gobichettipalayam, said the witnesses have not corroborate the prosecution case fully, nor have the charges against the nine accused proved adequately.

The court examined 47 witnesses in the sensational case.

Veerappan and 14 members

of his sandalwood smuggling gang abducted Kannada star Rajkumar from his farmhouse in Dhodda Gajanure village in Tamil Nadu on July 30, 2000, at gunpoint, according to the prosecution.

The actor was in captivity for over 100 days in the jungles spread across Western Ghats abutting Thalawady near here, leading to tension in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and further straining the ties between the two states.

Veerappan released the actor after 108 days.

Veerappan himself was shot

dead in an alleged encounter near Dharampuri in 2004, along with three of his men.

Rajkumar passed away two years later.

On a complaint from Rajkumarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife, a case was registered against Veerappan and his associates under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act. The remaining nine accused were arrested and later enlarged on bail. When the judgment was pronounced, all the accused, except Puttusamy (who absented himself on health grounds), were present in the court.

Petition in Bombay HC challenges ordinance that on instant triple talaq A petition has been moved before Bombay High Court challenging last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ordinance that makes invoking the instant triple talaq a punishable oďŹ&#x20AC;ence.

The plea seeks an interim stay on those sections of the ordinance that criminalise the pronouncement of the talaq three times at one go by a Muslim husband.

Filed jointly on Friday by former councillor Masood Ansari, lawyer Devendra Mishra and the NGO Rising Voice Foundation, the petition has challenged the ordinance as â&#x20AC;&#x153;illegal, null, void, unreasonable and arbitraryâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ordinance is targeting Muslim men in particular and violates their fundamental rights,â&#x20AC;? said Tanveer Nizam, counsel for the petitioners. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Under this ordinance, the bail application can be heard only if the complainant (the wife) is present. In criminal cases, bail pleas are heard even if the complainant is absent. Why make a discrimination in this case?â&#x20AC;?

Nizam said the ordinance runs counter to Articles 14 (equality before the law), 19 (freedom of speech and expression), 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) and 25 (free profession, practice and propagation of religion). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Will a person with a criminal case pending against him get a job?

Why is the government criminalising a civil procedure?â&#x20AC;? he asked. The ordinance declares the pronouncement of the instant triple talaq â&#x20AC;&#x201D; if written or oral â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as illegal and void and provides for a jail term of up to three years for the husband.

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PAGE 18 â&#x20AC;˘ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Art Museum Kannappan Art Museum will be open for public Tuesday 5.30 PM to 7.30 PM, Saturday 10AM to 2 PM, Sunday 12 noon to 4 PM. Address: 2341 N. Galveston Ave, Pearland, TX 77581.

Ashirwad Classes for Kids in Katy Enrollments are open for Indian Heritage classes for Kids and Teens from 4 to 16 yrs. Class curriculum includes Yoga, Meditation, Sloka, Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagwad Githa, Sports Day, VEDIC Fair Presentations, Dance, Drama, Hindi & more. Contact : 281-995-0930 or AshirwadABlessing@gmail.com.

Durga Bari Temple Durga Bari temple is open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Mon. thru Sat. Sandhya aarti at 6:30 p.m. Temple closes at 7 p.m. Sunday special from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Temple is located at 13944 Schiller Rd (oďŹ&#x20AC; Hwy 6 bet. Bellaire & Westpark). Call Ganesh Mandal at 713-797-9057 / 832-423-8541.

Arya Samaj Satsang Weekly Havan Satsang every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. DAV Sanskriti School Sundays 10 a.m. to 12 noon. - Havan, Hindi and Naitik Shiksha classes. DAV Montessori School for ages 2 to 7 years. Call Arti Khanna 281-759-3286. Free Yoga classes on Sat. Sanskrit & Upanishad classes Tue. 6-8 p.m. At 14375 Schiller Rd. (bet Westpark & Bellaire oďŹ&#x20AC; Hwy 6). 281-752-0100.

Brahma Kumaris The Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation Center is open 7 days a week. The center oďŹ&#x20AC;ers free Raja Yoga Meditation classes: Mon-Fri @ BUY

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6:00-6:45am and 7-8 pm, Sat-Sun @ 7:00-8:30am, 10 am-2 pm. Visiting hours are Sat-Sun @ 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Contact us at (832) 379-8888, houston@bktexas.com, or bktexas.com to sign-up for classes. All Raja Yoga Meditation teachers at the Houston center are samarpit and have 15+ years of teaching experience.

Chinmaya Mission Sunday satsangs for adults, youth, and children. A unique Bala Vihar program for each grade, from PreK to Grade 12. Satsangs in two sessions between 8:35 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. - 1p.m. Bala Vihar students can take shloka, bhajan and orchestra classes or language classes for Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, and Gujarati. Chinmaya Mission is located at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77498. New members may visit the welcome desk between 8 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. or 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Please visit www. chinmayahouston.org or contact Bharati Sutaria 281.933.0233 for more information.

Jeeyar Educational Trust Translate knowledge into action classes every Sunday at 10:15 a.m to 12 p.m. at Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple, 10098 Synott Road, Sugar Land, Tx 77498. Call 785 550 3621 or 832-334-9163. Visit www. ashtalakshmi.org for registration.

Vedanta Society Vedanta Society of Greater Houston, VSGH (oďŹ&#x192;cial Branch Center of Ramakrishna Math, Belur), 14809 Lindita Dr. (77083), has lectures & talks on every Sunday 11 am - 12 pm, followed by Arati & Prasad; Bhagwad Gita Class on Tuesdays, 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm; OLD

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and Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna on Thursdays, 11 am - 12 pm. Rev. Sw. Atmarupanandaji, the Resident Monk, gives all classes, lectures & talks. Ramnaam Sankirtan is on 1st Saturdays 6 pm - 7 pm.

Please visit www.houstonvedanta. org or call 281- 988-7211.

Jain Society JSH will celebrate Swami Vatsalya day on Sunday, September 30 in the morning hours followed by a Bhakti program by Shri Bhanubhai Vora from India. Adhar Abhishek, Gyan Pacham and related pujan shall be carried out in November 2018. JSH has Jain Pathshala Classed for students of all ages each Sunday starting at 10:15 AM Jain Society of Houston at 3905 Arc Street Houston 77063 is open M-F from 7:30 AM to 12 Noon and 4 to 7 PM with Aarti at 6 PM every weekday, and Sat, and Sun from 8 AM to 6 PM. For more details call Jain Center at 713 789 2338 or visit www.jainsocietyhouston.org.

Shiv Shakti Mandir Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir, 6640 Harwin. Open daily 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All major festivals, as well as birthdays, naam karan, engagement and other ceremonies. Call Pandit Virat Mehta 713-278-9099 or Hardik Raval 361-243-6539 for puja or other ceremonies.

Heartfulness Meditation Heartfulness Meditation is a practical technique of tuning inwards to experience our higher selves. Meditation with someone who has the capacity of yogic transmission can help you explore the Heartfulness practice more deeply. There are no charges for this, and we invite you to experience the unique beneďŹ ts of this transmission.

Workshops on Heartfulness relaxation and meditation are held weekly throughout Houston. Web: www.heartfulness. org; Email: houston.heartfulness@ gmail.com. Cell: 713-929-0040.

Hare Krishna Dham Houstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original Vedic temple, ISKCON of Houston. At 1320 W 34th St. (77018). Daily Darshan & Arati Times: 4.30 a.m, 7 a.m, 8.30 a.m, 12 noon, 4.30 p.m, 7 p.m, 9 p.m. Sunday Festival: 5.30 pm to 7.30 p.m. Weekly Gita classes for adults; call 281-433-1635 or harekrishnadham @gmail.com Houston Namadwaar A prayer house where the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is continuously chanted. Weekends: 8-11 AM & 4-7 PM, Weekdays: 7-8 AM & 6-7 PM. Weekly â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gopa Kuteeramâ&#x20AC;? childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heritage classes and Srimad Bhagavatam classes. Call 281-402-6585; visit www.godivinity.org (Global Organization for Divinity).

Saumyakasi Sivalaya Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is located at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478.

Temple timings: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon and 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. For more information Contact 281-568-1690 or Jay Deshmukh at 832-541-0059 or visit www.saumyakasi.org Gauri Siddhivinayak Temple Darshan from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

daily. All major festivals as well as birthdays, naam karan, engagement and other ceremonies. Call Pandit Pradip Pandya 832-4669868 for puja and other ceremonies. At 5645 Hillcroft Ste 701, Houston, TX 77036.

Veerashaiva Samaja VSNA Houston is a group of families who believe in Veerashaiva dharma (Basava dharma).

Monthly Mahamane program for prayer and discussion on Vachana Sahitya followed by Prasada. Contact: vsnahous ton@gmail.com or Jagadeesh Halyal 832-744-4166.

Mar Thoma Church Trinity Mar Thoma Church every Sunday at 5810 Almeda Genoa Rd. Sunday School at 9:15 a.m.

Malayalam service at 9:30 a.m. on 1st & 3rd Sunday. Adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m. English service at 10:30 a.m. on 2nd & 4th Sunday. Call 713-991-1557 or 281261-4603.

Telugu Christian Fellowship Telugu Christian Fellowship meets every third Saturday of the month at Triumph Church, 10555 W. Airport Blvd., StaďŹ&#x20AC;ord TX 77477 at 6:30 p.m. Join us for a time of praise, worship and fellowship. Worship is in English.

For information call Chris Gantela 281-344-0707, or Rev. Vijay Gurrala 281-997-0757.

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Hours: Mon to Fri 6 a.m. -8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Weekends & Holidays: 6 a.m. to noon and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bhajans Saturdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Special poojas (weekends and holidays) Choroon (Annaprasam) for kids, Thulabharam, Vahana Pooja, Nirapara. Temple is located at 11620 Ormandy St. (77035) Tel: 713729-8994 email: temple@ guruvayur.us Preksha Meditation JVB Preksha Meditation Center conducts weekly Meditation, Yoga and Swadhyay sessions inside its unique Pyramid hall under the auspicious guidance of Samani Kanchan Pragyaji and Samani Pranav Pragyaji who are stationed at Houston Center this year. It also runs special events and programs like I-Choose, Meditation Camps and Gyanshala program for children ages 4-14 yrs. JVB is located at 14102 Schiller Rd. Houston 77082. Every Tuesday, 9:30am11:30am, Samaniji has pravachan for all adults interested in learning about Jainism. Every Wednesday there is Swadhyay class from 7-8pm and meditation from 8-9pm.

Every Thursday from 9:30-11am there is special Yoga class for Ladies only. Every Saturday, there is Yoga Class from 9-10am and Meditation from 10-10.30am. Ist & 3rd Sundays, there is Gyanshala Classes for Kids ages 4-14yrs. from 10-12:15pm followed by Lunch.

Visit www.jvbhouston.org or send email at info@jvbhouston.org for more details.

Patanjali Yogpeeth Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun at Arya Samaj from 8 am to 9:30 a.m. Call Anil 281-579-9433. For other free classes, call Indra 281537-0018. For Yoga/Herbal products, call Shekhar 281-242-5000. www.pyptusa.org; www.DivyaProducts.com.

Hindu Temple of The Woodlands 7601 S. Forest Gate Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77382 Temple Hours, Weekdays: 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM 5:30 PM - 8.30 PM Aarti @ 7:30 PM Saturday and Sunday 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM Aarti at 12:00 PM 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Aarti @ 7:30 PM; Contact 832-585--0001 or temple@myhtw.net Sathya Sai centers Sunday program held at two locations (North Houston: 12127 Malcomson Road, Houston; South Houston: 246 Fluor Daniel Drive, Sugar Land) from 3:00 to 5:30 pm) - Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) classes for children; Study Circle for adults & Devotional singing for all. Service programs - food distribution, canned food drives, nursing home visits, tutoring at schools, etc. Contact Venkat Rao (North) - 602-503-2249 or Ranji Raghavan (South) 281-451-8238.

Visit www.sairegion10.org Sadhu Vaswani Center Sadhu Vaswani Center of Houston holds regular Satsang on 3rd Thursday of the month and daily Arti at 7.30 p.m. Call 281-4630379 or e.mail ramolaj@aol.com Gaudiya Math Shri Govindji Gaudiya Matha is a Hindu Vaishnava temple of Sanatan Dharam and worshipping place of Shri Shri Radha Krishna, Shri Gaur Nitai & Shri Ram Darbar. Mandir is open daily from 5.30 AM until 8.30 PM. We urge you to make a special eďŹ&#x20AC;ort to join our Sunday services regularly with your family & friends. The services are held from 5.30PM to 7.30PM followed by delicious prashad. Daily Aarti times : Mangala Aarti- 5:30 am. Bhog Aarti - 12:30 pm. Evening Aarti - 7:00 pm. Enroll your child in Sri Govindaji Vedic School. We oďŹ&#x20AC;er Hindi classes for all ages. Sri Govindaji Gaudiya Matha is located in Northwest Houston at 16628 Kieth Harrow Blvd Houston TX 77084. For more information, call at 832-464-4686 or visit our website: http://sggm.org.

Swaminarayan Temple Hindu Satsang at Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, under Shree NarNarayan Dev Gadi kalupur.

Opens daily from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Daily aarti at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Saturday sabha from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. followed by aarti at 7 p.m. and Maha-Prasad (free dinner). www.issotx.org. (281) 530-2565.

Sanatan Dharm Maha Sabha West Indian Religious Organization called Sanatan Dharm Maha Sabha Branch # 377 is located at 26100 Tina Lane, Katy, TX 77494.

Durga Mata Pooja is held every Friday from 7 pm to 9.30 pm.

Contact Ram Sharma @ 713-4129985.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 19

NEWS India conducts successful interceptor missile test

WhatsApp appoints ‘grievance officer’ for India Under pressure to clamp down on sinister messages, WhatsApp has appointed a “Grievance Officer” for India and detailed out the process for users to flag concerns and complaints, including those around fake news.

Meeting one of the key demands that India had put on WhatsApp to curb fake messages that triggered mob killings, the Facebook-owned company has updated its website to reflect the appointment of a “Grievance Officer” for India.

The update mentions that users can seek help through the mobile app, send an email or write in to ‘Komal Lahiri’, who is based out of the US. According to Lahiri’s LinkedIn profile, she is senior director, global customer operations and localisation, WhatsApp. When contacted, a WhatsApp spokesperson declined to comment on the matter but pointed to the public FAQ on the company’s website that contains these details.

According to sources, the appointment of the Grievance Officer was made at the end of August. They added that the Grievance Officer for India being based in the US is in tune with similar practices by other American tech giants.

According to the WhatsApp website, users can reach out to the company’s support team directly from the app under ‘Settings’ tab and in case they wish to escalate the complaint, they can contact the Grievance Officer directly.

A section within FAQs read: “You (users) can contact the Grievance Officer with complaints or concerns, including the following: WhatsApp’s Terms of Service; and Questions about your account”.

The updated FAQs also detailed out the mechanism for law enforcement officials to reach out to WhatsApp. The Government has been pressing WhatsApp to develop tools to combat fake or false messages. One of the demands was to name a grievance officer to deal with issues in India.

India is WhatsApp’s biggest market with more than 200 million users. It, in July, limited message forwards to five chats at a time and had also removed the quick forward button placed next to media messages to discourage mass forwarding. It has also introduced a ‘forward’ label to help users identify such messages.

The latest appointment is also significant as the Supreme Court, last month, had agreed to examine a petition alleging that WhatsApp does not comply with Indian laws, including the provision for appointing a grievance officer. The apex court had sought a reply on the matter within four weeks.

With general elections slated for next year in India, the Government is taking a tough stance

on use of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp for spread of misinformation.

The Government had warned WhatsApp that it will treat the messaging platform as abettor of rumour propagation and legal consequences will follow, if adequate checks are not put in place.

In a meeting held with WhatsApp Head Chris Daniels last month, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had asserted that the company will have to find a solution to track origin of messages on its

platform, set up a local corporate entity that is subject to Indian laws within a defined time-frame as well as appoint a grievance officer.

WhatsApp, which has been slapped with two notices with a third one under consideration, has said it is in the process of establishing a local corporate entity. It has, however, not accepted Government’s demand for traceability of messages saying creating such a software will go against the idea of user privacy and end-to-end encryption.

India successfully conducted an interceptor missile test off the Odisha coast on Sunday night, achieving a major milestone in developing a two-layer Ballistic Missile Defence system, defence sources said. The interceptor was launched from Abdul Kalam Island, earlier known as Wheeler Island of the Integrated Test Range (ITR), at about 8.05 pm, the sources said.

This Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) mission is for engaging the targets in the exo-atmosphere region at an altitude above 50 km of the earth’s atmosphere, a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist said. “Both the PDV interceptor and the target missile were successfully engaged,” DRDO sources said. In an automated operation, radar-based detection and tracking system detected and tracked the enemy’s ballistic missile. The computer network with the help of data received from radars predicted the trajectory of the incoming ballistic missile. The PDV that was kept fully ready took off once the computer system gave the command for lift-off. The interceptor guided by high-accuracy Inertial Navigation System (INS) supported by a Redundant Micro Navigation System moved towards the estimated point of the interception, the sources said.

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