India Herald 112818 by India Herald

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VOL. 24 • NO. 48 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • P.O. BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017699 • 25 cents

Dr. Rathna Kumar, artistic director of the Anjali Center for Performing Arts, was a featured speaker at the Youth Leadership Development Program. See story on Page 7.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner meets with India’s Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu while leading a trade delegation The 23rd annual free to India from Nov. 9 to 17. Story on Page 3. community Health fair coordinated by Council Chairman Dr. Vaduganathan was held at Sri Meenakshi Temple during the Diwali celebrations on Nov. 3. Services provided included Blood Pressure test, EKG, Blood tests, Dental Check up, Eye Exam, Prostate Exam, Women’s wellness check. Right, temple priest Sathish Devanathan is undergoing a blood test at the health fair. See story on Page 2

IAA presents Anoushka Shankar in season opener

Indo American Association will present Sitar player Anoushka Shankar in live concert as the 2019 season opener at Stafford Centre on March 9, 2019 at 7 p.m.. Sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar is a singular figure in the Indian classical and progressive world music scenes. Her dynamic and spiritual musicality has garnered several prestigious accolades including six Grammy Award nominations. A range of recordings from Indian classical ragas to her more creatively experimental work has already produced 10 highlyacclaimed albums and a DVD film-score to the Indian silent movie epic, Shiraz (1928). In her new program, Anoushka Shankar reflects on her journey so far; drawing on classical ragas, referencing some of the experiences she’s built along the way and experimenting with new ideas in a cross-cultural dialogue that showcases the versatility of the sitar across musical genres. Joining her in this concert will be: Ojas Adhiya – tabla; irashanna Thevarajah – mridangam; Ravichandra Kulur – flute; Danny Keane – cello & piano; and Kenji Ota – tanpura. Join Indo-American Association - Houston at the Stafford Centre for this performance by purchasing your tickets today. Group ticket disocunts available. If you are purchasing 10+ tickets, please call 832.231.3086 for 20% off your entire order. The discount not available in online ticket purchases. Call to avail this offer. Visit www.iaahouston.org.

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PAGE 2 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

COMMUNITY

Meenakshi Temple celebrates Diwali with free health fair By Bhargavi Golla

Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, accompanied by Memorial Hermann Health System oﬃcials inaugurates the free health fair.

Devotees participate in the Lakshmi Puja at the main temple during the Diwali celebration.

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Diwali, the festival of lights, was celebrated with exhilaration at Sri Meenakshi Temple on November 3rd, 2018. The festive look of the temple with colorful lights, huge tents and filled parking lots with thousands of people was all set for the celebration of a grand spectacular Diwali. Diwali, or Deepavali, is a Sanskrit word meaning “rows of lighted lamps. The significance of the festival is the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. The day started with the 23rd annual free community Health fair coordinated by Council Chairman Dr. Vaduganathan and was inaugurated by dignitaries Hon. Mayor Tom Reid, Pearland, Kyle Price, CEO, Memorial Hermann, Kelly Ochoa Chief Nursing Officer, Memorial Hermann, Rebecca Lilly Memorial Hermann, Joanne Barrett, Chief clinical officer, Kindred hospital. Services provided were Blood Pressure, EKG, Blood tests, Complete Blood Count, Metabolic Profile, Thyroid test, Lipid Profile, Dental Check, Eye Exam, Prostate Exam, Women’s wellness check and general Medical advice. Dr. Vaduganathan thanked the Kindred Hospital for its generous support for the lab tests, Dr. Subhadra for diabetic screening, Dr. Saranathan and Dr. Mukesh for EKG, Dr. Bhavani Iyer and residents and students for the vision screening, Dr. Vijaya Kaila, Dr. Priti Palvadi, Dr. Hema Salvady, Dr. Ramarao Denduluri and Dr. Jay Patel for consulting services and Taylor for amazing organization. Honorary President of MTS Sam Kannappan requested many dignitaries to inaugurate and attend the Diwali Bazaar. Mayor Tom Reid, Pearland, UH Dean of Humanities, Dr. Antonio Tillis, President UH Clear Lake, Dr. Ira K. Blake, Ms. Kim Howard, Sr. Director of Development, UH System, Satya Gudipaty, Staff Assistant, UH Pearland campus, Texas State Representative Hon. Ed Thompson, Kim Sinistore, Pearland Convention & Visitors Bureau, Hon. Stacy Adams, Brazoria County Commissioner, Consul Amit Khanna, Consulate of India at Houston, and Lisa Weller of Chase Bank cut the ribbon and inaugurated the Diwali Bazaar 2018. About 45 vendors had their beautiful items for sale such as jewelry, saris, costumes, art works, paintings, handicrafts that filled up the entire youth center and lobby. Under the food tent, seven local restaurants served authentic Indian food from morning till midnight. There was a steady stream of devotees with families throughout the day to pray, shop and participate in many activities organized by MTS simultaneously for all age groups. This year, MTS Chairman Dr. Padmini Nathan made great efforts to design and setup the stalls in Raja Veedhi to mimic the stalls in front of the temples in India. Devotees experienced Little India while buying Temple sarees, Pooja items, sweets and savories from these stalls. Among the many attractions organized by MTS was the children’s cultural program. Brightly clad children entertained the visitors by displaying their wonderful talents. Budding artists participated in art workshop and rangoli competitions. This year Kumon, West University, sponsored the art workshop. VHS children had a booth selling cookies, Tulasi plants, and origami workshop, VR activity, which was a big hit for kids and adults as well. The Carnival coordinated by Aakash Srikanth and Adhi Gopal kept the children engaged and entertained. The traditional Lakshmi puja was conducted in the Main Temple both in the morning and evening. Sri Lakshmi was then taken on a procession around the Temple in a silver chariot. Several devotees took part in pulling the chariot rope to the resounding drumbeat of chenda melam. Around 8:30 pm, the grand professional fireworks show began where beautiful fireworks lit up the night sky in a blaze of glory. The crowd then joined in Garba and Dandia with live music in the Kalyana Mandapam. This wonderful free event is a great voluntary effort. It takes a lot of work and planning to make it happen. MTS Chairman Dr. Padmini Nathan thanked this year’s coordinator Bhargavi Golla, the board, volunteers and employees of MTS for organizing such a flawless festival year after year.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • PAGE 3

NEWS

Houston trade mission to India opens doors for economic and cultural expansion

HOUSTON From natural gas demand to tourism, tech innovation, real estate development and more, the Greater Houston Partnership trade mission to India led by Mayor Sylvester Turner found soaring opportunities for the city’s economic and cultural expansion. “The connection between India, which has the world’s fastest growing economy, and the United States was labeled by President Obama as the defining relationship of the 21st century. Houston is now a trend-setter for nurturing this relationship as the result of our trade mission,” Mayor Turner said. “I have no doubt that our business and diplomatic meetings in India will lead to more jobs, wealth, and cultural enrichment in Houston as well as in the emerging sectors of what will soon be the world’s most populous nation.” Establishing non-stop commercial airline service between Houston and India was among the main focuses of the Nov. 9-17 trip to New Delhi and Mumbai by about 30 business and government officials. “I’d be very happy if this moves forward very fast,” India Minister of Tourism K.J. Alphons said of the quest for direct flights in a meeting with the mayor and other delegation members. He promised to work through government channels to help clear the way for airlines to obtain permission to establish such flights. “Direct flights would encourage more business activity and tourism to and from India and Houston,” Mayor Turner said after the trade mission. “It would be a win-win-win for airlines and people at both ends of the routes.” Houston is the fourth busiest gateway for trade between the U.S. and India. India is Houston’s 10th largest trading partner among nations, with $4.3 billion in trade a year, growing by 36 percent from 2017 to this year. Global energy business already triggers extensive air travel between Houston and India, which buys $1 billion worth of liquid natural gas from foreign sources every year as its booming population of 1.2 billion people creates a growing demand for energy. Mayor Turner emphasized that Houston has the right mix of know-how and corporate infrastructure to provide more LNG to India. Indian companies such as Oil India Ltd., Gail Global USA, ONGC Videsh Ltd. and Reliance operate their U.S. headquarters in Houston. Along with Indian information technology companies such as Tech Mahindra and Tata Consulting Services, they employ tens of thousands of people in the Houston area. Mayor Turner visited executives of Reliance, one of the three largest companies in India,

at their headquarters in Mumbai. Reliance buys oil in Houston to feed its refinery in India, which is larger than any in Texas, and recruited construction experts in Houston to expand an Indian hospital that the company funds as part of its social responsibility programs. “As in many nations around the globe, conducting business in India takes more than offering the best products and services at the lowest prices. It also involves building trust through long-term business relationships,” the mayor added. “That’s why meeting with business and government contacts face to face is one of the many valuable aspects of such a trade mission.” “The Greater Houston Partnership was pleased to bring this business delegation to New Dehli and Mumbai,” said Susan Davenport, the organization’s chief economic development officer. “From the moment we were on the ground, the connections between the Houston business community and our Indian counterparts were strong, and I am confident new business opportunities and partnerships will result from the visit.” The mayor and delegation members also met in Mumbai with India Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar. In New Delhi, Mayor Turner met with executives of BP, the international energy company whose U.S. headquarters are in Houston, and with India government ministers such as Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri. Singh Puri oversees a massive national program to build housing for low-income residents. In talks with Mayor Turner about private engineering and construction firms in Houston that may want to pursue contracts for the housing program, the minister said, “I would be very happy to help you pursue this business.” Delegation member Gabriella Rowe, chief executive of Station Houston, a startup accelerator aiming to transform Houston into a world-leading hub for technology innovation and entrepreneurship, met with India counterparts at the National Association of Software and Services Companies, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the Internet and Mobile Association of India to forge innovation alliances. The Houston delegation also included the CEO of Space Center Houston, William Harris. With India set to launch a manned space rocket in 2022, Space Center Houston stands to attract more tourists from India. Thousands of Indian tourists already visit the uniquely diverse city of Houston each year, spending an average of about $8,000 per person, and many come to

Houston Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner along with Council Members Jerry Davis and Jack Christie and myself and other community leaders visited Akshardam Temple in Delhi. Sanjay Ramabhadran, right, and Hasu Patel, were among the Indian American community members, were part of the trade mission.. visit relatives, who have had an Khan Development Network’s serene Mahatma Gandhi Meindelible impact on the city’s restoration and expansion of morial, named for “the father kaleidoscope of cultures. The buildings and grounds at Hama- of India.” Indo-Americans in Houston area contains 82,000 yun’s Tomb, a 16th century at- Houston have purchased land in people born in India and an addi- traction that inspired the design far southwest Houston to build a tional 200,000 people of Indian of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. corresponding Gandhi museum. The Aga Khan Foundation, led heritage. The delegation included Mayor Turner also visited by the spiritual leader of Islam’s Houston Vice Mayor Pro Tem sites in New Delhi with connec- Ismaili movement worldwide, Jerry Davis and Council Memtions to future cultural amenities has announced plans to build a ber Jack Christie. in Houston for residents and vis- cultural center in central HousPartial funding for the trade ton. itors alike. mission came from the city’s The mayor also visited the Hotel Occupancy Tax. The mayor examined the Aga

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PAGE 4 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

ANALYSIS

“Radical experiment” in “identity politics”

By SESHADRI KUMAR Sri Preston Kulkarni was a little known name in December 2017. The name figured in the Texas State Democratic Party list of candidates among those who filed to run for the March primary election in the Texas Congressional District 22 race, with four others. The name Kulkarni piqued my interest because it is a distinctly Indian ethnic name. Initially, I could not find a telephone number or address for Kulkarni. He remained an anonymous candidate for a few days thereafter, but his political fortunes turned for the better when he managed to get the support of a Hindu group. He soon became a standard fixture in all Hindu group and Indian gatherings and became a de facto “Hindu” candidate. His campaign finance report may vouch for that. Kulkarni also assiduously courted Muslim voters. He turned his campaign strategy of attracting ethnic, immigrant population into a new art of politics. Politicians from both the parties have been doing the same overtly and covertly for many years. Kulkarni campaigned in 16 languages, not including English. Media reports hyped the narrative as a “radical experiment” and lauded his “identity politics” as an innovative, winning formula. Kulkarni campaigned on “Making America Decent Again,” a clear expression of his anti-Trump sentiment. He also claimed he was not a politician, and campaigned on core human values, namely “reason, respect and compassion.” Kulkarni’s campaign constantly harped on “diversity” and America’s racist past, hitting the hot button issue of immigration, while implying Republicans are antiimmigrants and racists. Numerous press releases from his campaign stressed this point. The most egregious one pertains to the discovery of a burial ground on a Fort Bend ISD construction site in Sugar Land. The school district announced the discovery of bodies buried on the site in April. They are believed to the bodies of those who worked in sugar plantations under the convict leasing program in the late 1800s. In July, the school district and Texas Historical Commission gave further details about the burial ground and indicated future plans to give proper burial to the unknown at a different site. The Kulkarni campaign seized on this news and issued the following statement on July 20, 2018: 95 African American bodies unearthed in Sugar Land is a ‘painful reminder’ of ‘systemic discrimination’ in the justice system “This discovery is a painful reminder that racial oppression

and violence are part of the history of our community, and have shaped the development of our current criminal justice system, which continues to incarcerate more people than any other country on earth, and disproportionately people of color. We cannot erase the mistakes of the past, but we can chart a course for a better future by addressing the systemic discrimination that still exists today and committing to serious criminal justice reform.” Another press release: Kulkarni Speaks Out Against Muslim Ban Supreme Court Ruling “Today, the Supreme Court upheld the President’s xenophobic “Muslim Ban” that discriminates against individuals predominantly because of their faith or national origin. The travel ban, rooted in bigotry, serves as an outright attack against the American Muslim community. We have seen recent Supreme Court decisions that limit women’s reproductive rights, make it difficult for people to vote, and let lower courts continue the practice of gerrymandering. With each ruling, we see the further degradation of our civil liberties, an alarming trend that this administration is acutely aware of. These decisions threaten our place as a beacon of freedom and justice for all.” Now, Kulkarni could not unseat incumbent Republican Congressman Pete Olson. But, he continued his “fight racism” project by campaigning for Democrat Mike Espy for U.S. Senate from Jackson, Mississippi. If the Kulkarni campaign had turned out massive Asian American voters because of his innovative approach, why did he lose the election? Whether the Asian American voter turnout has been higher than before is yet to be ascertained. Assuming that it is true, still Kulkarni lost because part of Fort Bend County, and some parts of Brazoria and Harris Counties. That the overall voting figures in these Asian American precincts in 2018 was less than that in 2016 suggests that the Kulkarni formula may not have brought more Asian Americans to the voting booth, though more of them voted for Kulkarni. The Asian American Population is not spread out in all three counties uniformly. In Fort Bend, they are concentrated in three or four voting precincts like New Territory, Telfair, Avalon and Riverstone in Sugar Land and Missouri City. Kulkarni won in these precincts handsomely, but not enough to overtake Pete Olson elsewhere. A major Democratic Party precinct is in Missouri City, but that is in Congressman Al Green’s Dist. 9 constituency. Thus, Kulkarni’s winning formula could work only in

this year. Kulkarni won this precinct with Here 1,119 1,230 votes to Olson’s 728. voted straight In another section of Aliana, R e p u b l i c a n (Pct.4147), Olson got 688 votes and 1,712 in 2016 and 632 now. Kulkarni s t r a i g h t improved Gibson’s tally of Democrat. 1,081 votes to 1,710 this year. In New Riverstone (4065) returned T e r r i t o r y Kulkarni with 1,765 votes to (west) (Pct. Olson’s 1,234. Two years ago, 4124), Olson Olson won this precinct with got 1,017 in 1,540 votes to Gibson’s 1,354. 2016 and 779 Turning to the Republican now. Gibson precincts, in Greatwood (1128), beat Olson Olson won this time with 1,497 in 2016 with votes to Kulkarni’s 702. Two 1,471 votes years ago, Olson got 1,772 and Kulkarni votes here and Gibson got 611. got even In another section of more, 1458 Greatwood, (1120), Olson got votes now. 1,381 votes this time against Here 570 675 for Kulkarni. Two years people voted ago, Olson received 1,696 votes straight R and in this precinct to Gibson’s 557. 1,096 voted Sugar Creek and Sugar Lakes straight D. in Sugar Land continue to be There is Republican precincts. In Sugar one small Creek, Olson got 1,460 votes to p r e c i n c t Kulkarni’s 646. Two years ago, Srinivas Preston Kulkarni within New Olson got 1,692 and Gibson certain precincts where Hindu Territory (4026) 515. and Muslim populations are in which gave 1,328 votes to In Sugar Lakes, Olson got a majority. Olson in 2016, gave him only 843 votes this time and Kulkarni An unintended consequence 962 this year. Gibson got 826 got 518. In 2016, Olson got 979 of Kulkarni’s campaign is in 2016 and Kulkarni got 954. votes and Gibson 426. that it brought victory to Here 702 people voted straight The Republican turnout the Democratic Party slate R and 648 straight D. in 2018 has been lower and countywide, while he himself In Commonwealth/Avalon Democrats increased their did not benefit from the strategy. area (Pct.4129), Olson got 1909 numbers slightly. All these Those who voted for Kulkarni votes two years ago and 1,701 years, Democratic turnout and those who voted straight for now. Kulkarni got 2055 votes has been low, giving rise to a Democrats, did not realize that now and Gibson 1,330 in 2016, false sense that there are less every Republican countywide marking about 200 votes loss for Democrats than Republicans in would lose. Olson and about 77 votes gain Fort Bend. The precincts comprising for Kulkarni. Here 1,146 votes But, in 2020, in the absence a majority of Hindus and straight R and 1,353 straight D. of straight ticket voting, Muslims in Sugar Land had Aliana (4126) provides a individual candidates will already demonstrated that they different picture. Though it is have a better chance of getting are against Trump and voted a Democratic precinct, both votes, than being a Republican for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Olson and his opponent got or Democrat. Again, if However, at that time, they lesser votes than in 2016. Republicans do not turn out in voted for Republican candidates Gibson won this precinct in more numbers, Democrats will in down ballot. 2016 with 2,183 votes to 1,376. continue their victory. There was no wave in 2018 in Fort Bend County and voter turnout was lower than in 2016. In 2016, straight Democrat To the Editor: votes were 103,630, while India Herald 21 Nov 2018 issue gave a long list of Indians ap96,020 voted straight pointed in the Trump Administration. I am impressed and pleased Republican. And about 59,000 to see that. voted individually. In the 2016 I have lived in America 50 years and crossed through adminpresidential election, voter istrations of many Presidents, Democrats and Republicans. Most turnout in Fort Bend was 65.28 or none of them took illegal immigration as a serious matter as percent. President Trump has done. The issue is always unpleasant and In 2018, a total of 89,491 controversial but still President Trump has weathered all criticism people voted straight and made remarkable progress. No president has shown the courDemocratic and 81,288 age to face this unpleasant issue. voted straight Republican. On the issue of Indians in his administration, I commend the Another 86,279 people voted President for recognizing the talent. No president, Democrat or individually. The total voter Republican, other than Donald Trump, has shown keen interest turnout was 59.34 percent, six and respect for Indians, and hired them at national level. Good for percentage point less than in Indians, Good for America. Thank you Mr. President. 2016. Vishnu Divecha A comparison of voting Houston. figures in the Dist. 22 race in 2016 between Pete Olson and Democrat Mark Gibson and Established in 1995 in 2018 between Olson and by Rajeev Gadgil, Seshadri Kumar & Salim Sindhi Kulkarni provides an interesting India Herald (USPS Periodical 017-699) is published every insight. Olson got lesser votes Wednesday by India Herald, Inc. for a subscription rate of $25 in these precincts in 2018 than per year. Periodical postage paid at Houston and Sugar Land, in 2016. Kulkarni got less votes Texas. POST MASTER: Send address changes to in 2018 than Gibson in 2016 in India Herald, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Texas 77487 many precincts. For example, in Telfair Publisher & Editor: Seshadri Kumar (Pct.4135), Olson got 2,600 www.india-herald.com; email:editor@india-herald.com votes in 2016 and 1,484 this India Herald assumes no liability resulting from action taken year. Gibson got 2,711 votes in based on information included herein. 2016, but Kulkarni got 2,511 ©India Herald. All rights reserved.

Kudos to President Trump

,QGLD +HUDOG

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • PAGE 5

COMMENTARY

The ’60s radicals won the Culture War By Victor Davis Hanson Fifty years ago this year, the ’60s revolution sought to overturn U.S. customs, traditions, ideology, and politics. The ’60s radicals eventually grew older, cut their hair, and joined the establishment. Most thought their revolution had fizzled out in the early 1970s without much effect, as Americans returned to “normal.” But maybe the ’60s, not the silent majority, won out after all. The world a half-century later looks a lot more like 1968 and what followed than what preceded it. Most of the political and cultural agenda from that turbulent period—both the advances and the regressions—has long been institutionalized. The military draft, for good or bad, has remained defunct. There is greater transparency in politics, fewer smoke-filled rooms. Disabled children, once ostracized and/or dismissively labeled “retarded,” are now far better integrated into society and treated more ethically as special-needs kids. The rights of women, minorities, and the LGBT community are now widely accepted. Yet lifestyles have been radically altered—and often not for the good. Before the late ’60s, most Americans married before having children; afterwards, not so much. Oneparent households are now far more common.

Other legacies of the ’60s include couples marrying later and having fewer children. A half-century later, these social inheritances often mean prolonged adolescence, older parents, delayed or nonexistent home ownership, and more emphasis on leisure time than on household chores. Fashion remains ’60s-inﬂuenced. There are few dress codes left. Even billionaires now dress in jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers rather than slacks and wingtips. Wire-rim glasses of the 1950s were considered old people’s spectacles. Then they became hip, and now they are standard. The iconic drug of the ’60s, marijuana, has been legalized in many states and soon may be decriminalized at the federal level. Post-’60s movies routinely include the sort of profanity, nudity, and graphic violence that was unknown in 1950s cinema. Big-screen romance is often no longer about courtship, romance, and mystery, but lots of on-screen sex. Promiscuity and hookups were redeﬁned in the ’60s as norms. They are now, too—but with lots of ensuing psychological, social, and cultural damage. Before the campus turmoil of the late ’60s, there were almost no “studies” courses in the college curriculum. The

ancient idea still persisted that the university was obligated to teach philosophy, literature, languages, science, math, and the professions—along with the inductive method to use such knowledge to make sense of things. Yet the impatient ’60s threw out that disinterested notion as quaint, naïve, and a roadblock to utopia. The campus instead became a center of deductive progressive activism. Updated studies courses now train students to think politically correctly rather than empirically. Other pernicious ’60s ideas survived and got worse. The notion of shouting out in campus free-speech zones now means shouting down those with whom students disagree. The street-theater antics during the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court conﬁrmation hearings, the violence of Antifa, and the disruptions of Black Lives Matter were all birthed in the ’60s as legitimate means of obtaining supposedly noble ends. Progress in civil rights has veered from Martin Luther King Jr.’s integrationist idea of a color-blind society emphasizing the content of our character to racially segregated dorms and rampant identity politics. The current tribal notion that we are deﬁned forever by our DNA, not our character, is also a ’60s legacy. The freewheeling habits of

Bill Clinton and Donald Trump are ’60s carryovers. So is the hard-left sermonizing and preachy, nonstop hectoring of Al Gore and Barack Obama. The new faddish socialism of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is merely the old socialism of 1968. Could the good of the ’60s have been accomplished without all the bad? The answer is still debated. Unfortunately, the wounds of the ’60s have not healed with the graying of the 1968 generation. Now, Americans increasingly self-select geographically. Those who prefer stronger religious life, smaller government, fewer taxes, more liberty—and who desire to keep traditional American values alive—tend to gravitate to our nation’s rural and red-state interior. The blue-state coasts seek to keep the spirit of the ’60s alive with hip urban culture, bigger government, higher taxes, greater emphasis on identity politics—and a constant eﬀort to radically change America. So who won the ’60s? Republicans would claim that they have won more presidential elections since 1968. They would argue that the silent majority eventually saved much of what was still traditional America. Radicals of the ’60s such as Bill Ayers and Jane Fonda were never widely

1970-2018 1970 - 2014

popular. But turn on the television, watch a movie or an NFL game, listen to popular music, visit a campus, notice how crowds dress and speak, walk down a sidewalk in a major city, and examine the behavior of our celebrities and political class: It’s hard not to conclude that the ’60s won out. —The Daily Signal (C) 2018 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and author of the book “The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conﬂict Was Fought and Won.” You can reach him by e-mailing authorvdh@gmail.com.

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PAGE 6 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

NEWS

Saurashtra Patel Cultural Samaj holds Diwali gala

Nonproﬁt organization Saurashtra Patel Cultural Samaj (SPCS) was founded in 1980 to promote and preserve EastIndian social, cultural, and festive traditions in the United States. As the organization evolved, its goal shifted more towards community giving, promotion and encouragement of education and helping ﬁnancially challenged college students here in the US and overseas. The SPCS community consists of over 12,000 members

and thousands of supporters nationwide with close to 1400 members from the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) area. It provides an encouraging platform to exchange ideas, promote social and charitable activities, preserve Indian heritage and culture, invigorate educational endeavors, and aid other non-proﬁt educational and cultural institutions worldwide. Its eﬀorts empower the Saurashtra Patel Community in its sense of inclusion within American culture.

On Nov 10th, SPCS SC celebrated its annual Diwali Gala 2018 at Thomas Jeﬀerson High school where more than 80 participants from ages 3 to 75 performed about 17 cultural dance performances. At the Gala under the leadership of Dr. Ajay Narola, president and executive members Chirag Dobariya – Treasurer and Jigna Narola - Secretary, the team raised $150,000 in less than 15 minutes from members of the SPCS community for good causes/education

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fund that it created to help ﬁnancially challenged college students. A portion of the fund will also be used to help the homeless with food and clothes.

The SPCS DC team will reach out to various shelters in the area to distribute the assigned fund annually. — By Dr. Ajay Narola

U.S. announces $5 million reward for info on 26/11 perpetrators Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a “barbarity”, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates. On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, the state department’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) programme offered a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack. “It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement,” Mr. Pompeo said in a statement on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack. “We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates,” Mr. Pompeo said. Some 166 people, including Americans, were killed in the attack carried out by 10 LeT terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by the police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after he was handed down death sentence by an Indian court. The U.S., Mr. Pompeo said, is committed to seeing that those responsible for the attack face justice. The RFJ programme is offering a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack. “On behalf of the Government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack,” Mr. Pompeo said. “We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world,” said the top American diplomat.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • PAGE 7

NEWS

YLDP: Finding a balance Dr. Rathna Kumar. A name that resonates with Houstonians as a beacon of the arts and for merging Indian classical dance with the western world. On November 17 at India House, students of the Youth Leadership Development Program had the privilege of listening to Dr. Kumar talk about her journey to her position as the artistic director of the Anjali Center for Performing Arts along with her other accolades. From an English professor in India to a classical dance teacher in the United States, Dr. Kumar eloquently shared anecdotes from her life filled with lessons on finding a family-passion balance and the effective leadership that resulted from that balance. A point every student could relate to was Dr. Kumar’s struggle to please her father’s wishes for her academic future while pursuing her passion for dance. As Indian-Americans, there’s often a certain amount of pressure on us to get excellent grades, to get into a reputable college and to get a respectable job; passion is always the factor left on the back burner. Dr. Kumar talked about the importance of a balance between the two; the only way one can achieve true happiness and be successful leaders in his/her life is to find that balance of pleasing family and chasing passion. She described how she achieved this seemingly impossible balance by being an English professor while going to dance class every day and performing on weekends. Yet another point that was equally crucial to Dr. Kumar’s incredible journey and applicable in our lives was her adaptive capacity, perseverance, and integrity. As a way to cope with the lack of arts in the US in the 1970s, Dr. Kumar became a dance teacher at a time when no one else in Texas was teaching Indian classical dance, personifying these values. A leader needs to be able to adapt to any unexpected circumstances thrown towards him/her and navigate accordingly and effectively. A leader needs to be resilient and willing to do anything it takes to get the job done. And most importantly, a leader needs to have moral and ethical values to keep them on the right path at all times. Dr. Kumar’s words are a lesson to us to not be afraid to follow our passions while keeping our values in mind, a true balance leading to happiness. — By Sritha Cheemerla

Rathna Kumar, center, with YLDP board members and volunteers.

Get the Digital Edition of India herald? Visit www. India-herald.com. email: editor@india-herald.com

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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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PAGE 8 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

NEWS

U.S. stands with India in its quest for Weighing the weight: justice for 26/11: President Trump New measuring tool for kilogram On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack, President Donald Trump on Monday said that the United States stands with the people of India in their quest for justice. In the attack unleashed on November 26, 2008 by 10 LeT fedayeen, 166 people, six of whom were U.S. nationals, were killed. “On the ten-year anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, the U.S. stands with the people of India in their quest for justice. The attack killed 166 innocents, including six Americans. We will never let terrorists win, or even come close to winning!,” Mr. Trump tweeted. Kia Scherr, whose husband and a 13-year-old daughter were killed in the attack, thanked the President for his tweet. “May this day serve to remind us that love overpowers hate. This is the strength no bullet can kill. This is our true power. Thank you,” she said. At a solemn event “in memory of the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks” at the Indian Embassy here, a top American counter-terrorism official called on Pakistan to bring LeT operatives and other terrorists to justice. “We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to do their parts in bringing the perpetrators to justice. All countries must uphold their international obligations to take action against this UN sanctioned terrorist group and its leaders,” said Nathan Sales, State Department’s coordinator for counter-terrorism in his brief remark. Noting that a day earlier, the State Department had announced to offer up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction to anyone who committed or assisted the horrific attacks, Mr. Sales said, “With this, we remind the world that we have not forgotten those who perished 10 years ago and we will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

It is an absolute aﬀront to the victims of Mumbai and to their families who grieve them to this day, that after 10 years, those who planned these despicable acts have still not been convicted for their crimes, Sales said, echoing the statement of the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a day earlier. “Our citizens died together. So we must all work together to end the scourge of terrorism. We must prevent the terrorists who committed this act of barbarism, LeT from ever threatening our people again,” Mr. Sales said as he warned the terrorist group and its leaders that the US will go after them wherever they are. In his remarks, the Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, paid tributes to the innocent lives lost during these attacks which included Indians and citizens from 14 other countries, including those from the United States. Mr. Sarna thanked the State Department for instituting a “Rewards for Justice” programme announcing a bounty for any information leading to arrest or conviction of any individual involved in planning or facilitating the attacks. To honour the memory of the victims, a moment of silence was observed by the attendees followed by lighting of candles. Extracts from an article written on this occasion by Kia Scherr, the co-founder of a charity ‘One Life Alliance’ and a family member of US victims in this tragedy, was also read out. The event concluded with the screening of HBO documentary on 26/11 Mumbai attacks, titled ‘Terror in Mumbai’ The event among others was attended by Basant Sanghera and Jennifer Whethey, Director in the U.S. National Security Council at the White House. Rabbi Levi Shemstov, Executive Vice-president, American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) recounted his personal encounter of the events of the day 10 years ago, when he desper-

ately tried to save his friends and colleagues in Mumbai and talked with one of the terrorists over phone. In a separate statement, Congressman Eliot L Engel, Ranking Member of the powerful House Committee on Foreign Aﬀairs, said 10 years ago, the world watched in real time as a horriﬁc terrorist attack unfolded over the course of 60 hours in Mumbai. “I join the friends and families in remembering the 166 victims, including the six American citizens killed during the attack, and I stand in solidarity with the people of India who have demonstrated their resilience in the face of such violence,” he said.

Trial drags on in Pakistan

As India marked the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 carnage on Monday, the mastermind of the attack LeT operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi has virtually secured his acquittal and his six accomplices are expecting their exoneration anytime in the near future. The Mumbai attack case in which seven Lashkar-e-Taiba members are facing charges of planning and executing the deadly strike since 2009 is still being dragged on in a Pakistani anti-terror court though the Islamabad High Court in 2015 directed that the case should be wrapped up in two months. Lakhvi walked free from jail in April 2015 after securing a bail from the trial court, while the six others are in jail. After his release, Lakhvi went underground. He has virtually secured his acquittal with the Pakistan government indicating no plan to challenge his bail. The six others — Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum — have also “bright chances” of acquittal with their trial witnessing bizarre twists and turns like frequent change of judges and murder of a prosecutor.

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Kilogram is getting a new definition as scientists have changed the way the kilogram is defined. Last week, researchers meeting in Versailles voted to get rid of it in favour of defining a kilogram in terms of an electric current. The decision was made at the General Conference on Weights and Measures. But some scientists, such as Perdi Williams at the National Physical Laboratory in the UK, have expressed mixed feelings about the change. “I haven’t been on this project for too long but I feel a weird attachment to the kilogram,” she said. “I think it is such an exciting thing and this is a really big moment. So I’m a little bit sad about [the change]. But it is an important step forward and so the new system is going to work a lot better. It is also a really exciting time, and I can’t wait for it to happen.” Currently, it is defined by the weight of a platinum-based ingot called “Le Grand K” which is locked away in a safe in Paris. Le Grand K has been at the forefront of the international system of measuring weights since 1889. Several close replicas were made and distributed around the globe. But the master kilogram and its copies were seen to change – ever so slightly – as they deteriorated. In a world where accurate measurement is now critical in many areas, such as in drug development, nanotechnology and precision engineering – those responsible for maintaining the international system had no option but to move beyond Le Grand K to a more robust definition. How wrong is Le Grand K? The fluctuation is about 50 parts in a billion, less than the weight of a single eyelash. But although it is tiny, the change can have important consequences. Coming in is an electrical measurement which Dr Stuart Davidson, head of mass metrology at NPL, says is more stable, more accurate and more egalitarian. “We know from comparing the kilogram in Paris with all the copies of the kilogram that are all around the world that there are discrepancies between them and Le Grand K itself,” he said. “This is not acceptable from a scientific point of view. So even though Le Grand K is fit for purpose at the moment, it won’t be in 100 years’ time.” How does the new system work? Electromagnets generate a force. Scrap-yards use them on cranes to lift and move large metal objects, such as old cars. The pull of the electromagnet, the force it exerts, is directly related to the amount of electrical current going through its coils. There is, therefore, a direct relationship between electricity and weight. So, in principle, scientists can define a kilogram, or any other weight, in terms of the amount of electricity needed to counteract the weight (gravitational force acting on a mass). There is a quantity that relates weight to electrical current, called Planck’s constant – named after the German physicist Max Planck and denoted by the symbol h. But h is an incredibly small number and to measure it, the research scientist Dr Bryan Kibble built a super-accurate set of scales. The Kibble balance, as it has become known, has an electromagnet that pulls down on one side of the scales and a weight – say, a kilogram – on the other. The electrical current going through the electromagnet is increased until the two sides are perfectly balanced. By measuring the current running through the electromagnet to incredible precision, the researchers are able to calculate h to an accuracy of 0.000001%. This breakthrough has paved the way for Le Grand K to be deposed by “die kleine h”. What are the advantages of the new system? Every few decades, all the replica kilograms in the world had to be checked against Le Grand K. The new system, now that it’s been adopted, will allow anyone with a Kibble balance to check their weights anytime and anywhere, according to NPL’s Dr Ian Robinson. “It feels really good to be at this point. I feel it is the right decision. Once we’ve done this it will be stable for the foreseeable future,” he said.

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INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ PAGE 9

COMMUNITY Tamil Nadu Foundation Houston Chapter hosts childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day celebration By Dr. P. Vaduganathan For the ďŹ rst time in the greater Houston Tamil community, TNFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Houston chapter hosted a Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day celebration at Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland. The grand celebration was attended by celebrity comedian/actor, Vadivel Balaji, and singer/music director Satyan Mahalingam. The celebration was packed with an entertaining yet intriguing program, with over 100 children from all ages and areas of Houston participating in various unique games and events. After a brief introduction by TNF Houston Chapterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s President, Mala Gopal, the celebrities were introduced to the audience. The show held 3 segments designated to 3 age groups from 4-year-olds to 18-yearolds. Many young children (ages 4-8) dressed as their favorite leaders from Lincoln to MGR lined up the stage in a fashion show. Following this came the second segment Maathi Yosi. Children, ages 9-12, interacted with celebrity Vadivel Balaji one on one, in a thought-provoking game from a very popular TV show hosted by Balaji. Segment 3 followed, inviting the youth (13-18) to recite a prepared 2-minute speech about their personal plans if they were a one-day minister. The children later had the opportunity to converse with comedian and actor Vadivel Balaji on stage. The Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day celebration saw TNF board members from both the Austin and Dallas chapter as well as a youth member from Austin who shared his experiences with TNFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international summer internship program. The Houston Chapter board also made major announcements for their upcoming Thirukkural game, where children will win incentives for reciting more Thirukkurals. Board members also spread awareness for Thiruvarur district, an area aďŹ&#x20AC;ected by the recent cyclone Gaja. TNF Houstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adoption and support have provided education and other necessities for struggling youth. After the announcements, playback singer Satyan Mahalingam rocked the stage with a lively musical segment, performing many songs with local youth talents as well as his own hit movie songs. TNFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day ended with elevated spirits, as children and families left with happy souls and stomachs full of fresh puri. TNFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Houston Chapter thanked all the business sponsors and public supporters who made this event possible, and are eagerly looking forward to many more years of Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day celebrations.

Visiting celebrity artists with Houston area children who participated in the celebration.

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PAGE 10 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

COMMUNITY Maarga USA dedicates music festival to Lord Muruga HOUSTON Maarga USA continued its recently established tradition of commemorating the eighth month of the Hindu lunar calendar (Karthika or Karthigai in Tamil) by organizing an allday cultural program, featuring classical music and dance celebrating the favored Lord Muruga or Karthikeya. The program included solo and group presentations from talented Houston based performers and from established artistes from all over the USA. Particular emphasis of this year’s festival was to pay homage to the proliﬁc composer and one among the venerated trinity of Carnatic Music lore, Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar, and also highlight the Veena, a divine stringed instrument whose ultimate practitioner is the Goddess of all universal knowledge and wisdom, Goddess Saraswathi herself. The morning session started oﬀ with a vocal group presentation of Guru Guha Vibhakti krithis of Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar by disciples of Krishna Gana Sudha Music Academy, a Houston based music school, under the guidance of Vidushi Smt Rajarajeshwary Bhat. This was followed by a solo Veena concert by Sastry Vedam (disciple of (Late) Vidwan Sri R Pichumani Iyer). He was accompanied on the mridangam by Houston’s resident young mridangam exponent Vishal Setlur (disciple of Vidwan Sri Ramesh Srinivasan) and the young kanjira prodigy, Samarth Rao (disciple of Vidwan Bangalore Sri N Amrit). The musical celebration continued into the afternoon with a presentation of the Thiruppugazh by the group Thiruppugazh Anbargal, led by Smt. Maha Krishnan and her disciples. They were ably accompanied by Vishal Setlur on the mridangam and Abhishek Balakrishnan (disciple of Vidwan Delhi Sri P Sunder Rajan). This was followed by a specially orchestrated interactive lecture demonstration based on a form of south Indian classical dance, Bharatanatyam, by pupils of the Silambam School of Dance, under the guidance of their guru Smt. Lavanya Ra-

Abhishek Balakrishnan jagopalan. They were well accompanied by a live orchestra that included Gayathri Mullapudi (Vocal), Mukund Josyula (Violin) and Naga Srinidhi Kuruvada (Mridangam). The main concert for the day featured the immensely talented young Veena artiste from California, Sri Guhan Venkataraman, disciple of renowned and legendary vainika (Late) Smt Ranganayaki Rajagopalan. In what turned out to be veritable feast encompassing the gamut of technical and artistic possibilities of the sound of the divine instrument, Guhan held stage with great poise and had the audience in a rapture for the entirety of his performance. A brisk start with Sri Muthuswamy Dishithar’s Swaminatha paripalayam in Ragam Nattai was sustained through several other presentations of Sri Dikshithar’s compositions - Balasubramanyam Bhajeham in Ragam Surutti, Subramanyena in Ragam Suddha Dhanyasi, Parvathi Kumaran in Ragam Nattakurinji, to sample a few. Compositions of other illustrious composers were also given due respect, with Sri Koteeshwara Iyer’s Ganamudha Panam in Ragam Jyothiswarupini and Sri Thyagaraja’s Vara Shiki Vahana in Ragam Supradeepam deserving special mention. The piece du jour was Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar’s Sri Subramanyaya Namaste in Ragam Kambhoji. This was introduced through a soulful raga Aalapana, followed by a trademark Pancha ragam Thanam - thanam in ﬁve diﬀerent Ra-

Guhan Venkataraman (veena), N. Sivakumar (mridangam), and Samarth Rao (kanjira)

Kanda Sasti and Kanda Guru Kavacham group rendition by musicians and devotees of Houston, gams (Thanam being an extempore exposition of the Ragam through a combination of skillful embellishment of individual constituent musical notes along with complementary drone string sounds that are a signature component of the Veena). An immersive neraval, a scintillating Swara Kalpana and a brilliant Thani Avarthanam (a musical tete-a-tete) between the percussionists on the mridangam and kanjira provided a rousing ﬁnale for the main piece and laid the perfect setup for the climactic phase of the concert. The concert aptly entered its conclusive phase with Manadirkkugandadu (literally translating to “that which pleases the mind”) in Ragam Sindhubhairavi and a thillana in Ragam Behag by Sri Lalgudi

G Jayaraman. Throughout the duration of the concert, Guhan’s penchant for his art shone through brightly. Performing on the veena at his level is in and of itself a testament to his passion and dedication. His immense skill in the Karaikkudi baani (style), one of the tougher styles to master, only enhanced the already riveting experience. On the whole, the concert provided the audience with a resplendent demonstration of the sound of the veena in all its glory, while handled by an exponent aspiring to challenge standards and set new ones. The accompanying artistes, Dr Sivakumar (disciple of Sangeetha Kala Acharya Kumbakonam Sri M Rajappa Iyer) from College Station, Texas on the Mridangam and the young

kanjira prodigy Sri Samarth Rao (disciple of Vidwan Bangalore Sri N Amrit) from North Carolina, supported Guhan to the hilt and greatly helped sustain and enhance the overall performance level, thus making for a ﬁtting pinnacle for the day’s celebration of Lord Muruga.The day’s events concluded with a group rendition of Kandha Sashti Kavasam and Kandha Guru Kavasam, presented by Smt Jyothi Venkatesan and her group. They were accompanied by Sastry Vedam on the Veena and Dhruv Narayanamurthy on the Tabla. Hearty congratulations to Houston’s own young violin virtuoso Abhishek Balakrishnan and his team of volunteers from Maarga USA for their untiring eﬀorts in creating and organizing this annual event.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • PAGE 11

COMMUNITY Remarkable Marathi play Geet Ye’ Na Te’ Julun

Pramod Mehta

Playwright Sunil Anaokar, center, is flanked by Viju Bhadkamkar, left, and Pramod Mehta, both actors in the play. In the present times, when letter writing is almost nonexistent and Inland letters or aerogrammes have reached the museums, epistolary form of theater art portrays a unique challenge. Recently, a Marathi play named Geet Ye’ Na te’ Julun was presented by the Houston Maharashtra Mandal (HMM). The play was very well received by the audience writes Dr. Dan Mayur an accomplished writer and an arts critic from Sugar Land. By DAN MAYUR As the Indian community grows and thrives in the US happily, there is no dearth of ethnic cultural events in most major cities in the country. A great majority of them are run-of-the-mill, flashy Bollywood song and dance programs or classical music recitals by renowned traveling artistes from India or local aficionados. Occasionally this repertoire of entertainment is complemented by noteworthy plays. The Maharashtrians are second to none in the field of these performing arts. Earlier this month in Houston, connoisseurs of theater arts were regaled to a most remarkable Marathi play “Geet Ye’ Na Te’ Julun”, an adaptation of A. R. Gurney’s 1988 PulitzerPrize-nominated novel “Love Letters” presented by the Houston Maharashtra Mandal (HMM). Gurney’s play centers on two characters, Andrew and Melissa, who are childhood friends. Romantically attached, they continue to exchange letters through their school and college years. Andrew goes on to Yale law school, while Melissa flunks out academically. In due course of time Melissa marries, but her attachment to Andrew remains strong. They continue to keep in touch as he marries, becomes a successful attorney, gets involved in politics and is elected to the U.S. Senate. With a faltering marriage, Melissa seeks solace in art, alcohol and sex and is estranged from her children. After Melissa’s death, Andrew’s poignant letter to her mother makes it abundantly clear what they really meant to each other, physically apart but spiritually as close as only true lovers can be. This story is beautifully narrated in the play in epistolary form by the two protagonists. Melissa and Andrew sit side

by side at tables and read their notes, letters and cards full of hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats covering nearly 50 years of their separated lives. Houstonian Sunil Anaokar has adroitly adapted the central concept of Love Letters into his Geet Ye’ Na Te’ Julun in a gripping narration of the unfulfilled love life of Makarand Gore and Alissa Narvekar delightfully Indianizing the background with titillating references to Bollywood, cricket and local politics, all-time gossip favorites of Indians. And Anaokar has brought out the pathos as well as the playfulness of the story with appropriate sensitivity as well as humor. The beauty of Anaokar’s writing is amplified by Viju Bhadkamkar’s skillful direction as well as her acting in the role of Alissa, with Pramod Mehta giving a fine and enjoyable account of himself as Makarand. The epistolary form is a favorite of busy actors, for it requires little preparation, and no memorizing, no lengthy rehearsal and no special theater or set. And yet it presents its own unique challenges. A successful performance requires incredible vocal skills on the part of the actors. I recall watching a few years ago “Tumhari Amruta”, a Hindi version of Love Letters featuring the celebrated Indian actress Shabana Azmi and Farookh Sheikh. Shabana’s happy voice still rings in my ears. However, it will not be an exaggeration to say that Viju Bhadkamkar’s performance surpasses Shabana’s in many ways. Houstonians who have been around for a few years know of Viju’s many talents. She is an accomplished actor, director and singer. In the role of Alissa she gives the audience a glimpse of

her singing through some nostalgic, haunting songs. She displays an amazing vocal variety and range of voice modulations appropriate to evoke emotions of anticipation, joy, happiness, empathy, disappointment, anger and agony as the story unfolds. Undoubtedly, the highlight of the performance is in her imitation of the “old, frail” Alissa in her shivering, feeble voice that is reminiscent of Dilip Prabhavalkar’s famed Martandrao Chinchankar. Viju has presented to the Maharashtrian community many wonderful cultural programs over the years. This one is yet another feather in her cap. Performances like this are a rare treat to discerning audiences and they all loved it. Perhaps it is an age related phe-

Viju Bhadkamkar nomenon. As you look back, you may ﬁnd some of the experiences of Alissa and Makarand common to yours. Most of those will make you smile, some may be sad. But you will surely reﬂect on them and cherish them. Well done team “Geet Ye’ Na Te’ Julun”! I hope that this play makes it to the forthcoming BMM convention in Dallas in 2019 for the enjoyment of all Marathi speaking people in the US.

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PAGE 12 â&#x20AC;˘ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

NEWS

Couple pays it forward with gift to UHCL-Pearland Campus

Pearland residents Nizam and Jesmin Meah pledged $300,000 in two significant donations to University of Houston-Clear Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pearland Campus. Through their Meah Family Foundation, they committed to a gift of $200,000 to equip the nursing simulation lab in UHCL-Pearland Campusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new Health Sciences and Classroom Building, which opens this spring. A naming gift of $100,000 will benefit the expansion of UHCLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities onto the Pearland Campus. The new health sciences facility is pictured behind the couple.

IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE OF 100 YEARS OF World War IN FLORIDA. Prince Organization CEO signed the Employer Support for the Guard & Reserve (ESGR) Statement thanking and Honoring on the Veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day. Spending the day with over hundreds of Veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and their spouses celebrating with a custom ordered cake with states of U.S., Grand Salute and National Anthem with Bugle call was Thanksgiving in action, says CEO Sunil Tolani (4th from left with his wife Neelam). The Company believes Veterans are Heroes among us as they focus on safety, service, respect and the power of working together serving our country. Tolani was awarded the prestigious â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nelson Mandela Leadership Awardâ&#x20AC;? for Social Services. Photo by Marine Sgt. Major Tom Royce.

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Nizam and Jesmin Meah are immigrants living the American dream â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a dream that impelled the Pearland couple to pledge $300,000 in two signiďŹ cant donations to University of HoustonClear Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pearland Campus. Both emigrated from Bangladesh, became U.S. citizens, went to college, met and married. Nizam is a gastroenterologist with clinics in Pearland, Lake Jackson and Friendswood. Jesmin, an electrical engineer by education, is a stay-at-home mom who volunteers in Pearland schools. Both came from families that prized higher education, family and service as virtues â&#x20AC;&#x201D; values they are passing on to their four children through the creation of the Meah Family Foundation. The foundation committed to a gift of $200,000 to equip the nursing simulation lab in UHCL-Pearland Campusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new Health Sciences and Classroom Building, which opens this spring. A naming gift of $100,000 will beneďŹ t the expansion of UHCLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities onto the Pearland Campus. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I make my living in health care. Our families have a long legacy in health care,â&#x20AC;? Nizam said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So this perfectly matches our interests.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Both my parents are teachers,â&#x20AC;? he added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and my wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dad is a teacher. The whole idea of our family foundation is to commemorate the legacy of our parents.â&#x20AC;? Nizam is one of nine siblings; Jesmin is one of four. Both sets of parents â&#x20AC;&#x153;wanted all of their children to have a higher education,â&#x20AC;? Jesmin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They encouraged each of us to be a full functioning member of the community, to give back to the community.â&#x20AC;? The Meahs have lived in Pearland area about 10 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are proud Pearlanders,â&#x20AC;? Jesmin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In order to be part of the community, you have to support the community. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just want to live here. We want to be a full support organization for the community.â&#x20AC;? She added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are two immigrant stories. Our parents wanted a better life for us. We got a better life, and we want to pay it forward.â&#x20AC;? Jesminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family moved to the U.S. when her father obtained a scholarship to Texas A&M, where he received masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and doctorate degrees in civil engineering. Nizam said he came to the U.S. as a young man â&#x20AC;&#x153;with $23 in my pocket.â&#x20AC;? But he knew as a young teen that America was his destiny. He recalled sitting at his familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen table as an 8th-grader, listening to his sister read Abraham Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gettysburg Address. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That drew my attention. So I read it myself. I liked it so much that from that time, I said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to America and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to make my life there.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;My American dream,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the American dream is a lot bigger than America. Maybe Americans who are born and brought up here donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know that. For Americans like me, who have, by choice, adopted this nation, the American dream is a desire and a commitment to improve yourself. But to be truly successful, you have to help others succeed. To me, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the American dream.â&#x20AC;? Richard Zalesak, UHCLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s associate director of development for University Advancement, said the Meahsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; gifts will help train nurses â&#x20AC;&#x153;for many, many yearsâ&#x20AC;? as well as provide therapy services for children on the autism spectrum. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Giving does two things,â&#x20AC;? Zalesak said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a blessing to the recipients. But it also changes our hearts. What we invest in, we become very concerned about.â&#x20AC;? For giving opportunities, visit www.uhcl.edu/giving.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • PAGE 13

NEWS

Ascetic extraordinaire By Sandhya Jain The 50-odd day Mandala Puja at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, the climax of 41day long austerities by devotees who piously trek barefoot through Pampa forest to reach the shrine, has currently become a spiritual obstacle course for the faithful who have to suffer shabby sabotage by the State Government that has ruthlessly curtailed transport and civic facilities for pilgrims, while hyperactively facilitating women of the prohibited age-group to ascend the sacred sannidhanam (sanctum sanctorum). Interestingly, in its majority judgement of September 2018 allowing women of all ages to enter the temple on grounds of gender equality, the Supreme Court did not actually strike down Rule 6(c) of the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act (1950, 2018) which prevents entry of women aged between 10-50 years to the Sabarimala shrine. Hence, it can be argued that the Travancore Devaswom Board is dutybound to implement the rule and prevent women belonging to the said age-group from entering the temple. The State Governmentdominated Board is refusing to implement its mandate, forcing devotees to brave stressful circumstances to protect the sanctity of the temple and its traditions. When police could misbehave with Pon Radhakrishnan, Union Minister of State for Finance, who came as a devotee carrying the sacred irumudi kettu on his head, the plight of ordinary pilgrims can be imagined. Images of women of the traditionally now permitted age-group weeping at the prospect of the tradition being defiled would surely have stunned those who had tried to ‘liberate’ them. So far, vigilant devotees have ensured that attentiongrabbing women of the prohibited age-group do not ascend the sacred 18 steps (pathinettaam padi) to the sannidhanam; many have been halted along the route itself. But until the temple opened for Mandalam Puja on November 16, it was open for only a few days in all. Such intense vigilance may be difficult to sustain up to January 20-21 and this has heightened tensions among the faithful. A devotee told this writer that while he was there, two women sporting false beards managed to escape scrutiny and reached the sacred steps; they were stopped with the demand that all men must ascend the steps bare-chested. It would be appropriate for the Supreme Court, when hearing review petitions listed for January 22, 2019, to reconsider its decision to permit women of all ages to visit the temple in violation of the specific tenets of Ayyappa worship. The Court is also urged to revisit the prin-

ciples on which it has been ruling on questions of faith. Too many judicial interventions in recent years appear to be driven by personal opinions of the honourable justices of the day in effect flouting the Constitutional separation of powers and even otherwise treading on tricky terrain, leading to complaints of judicial activism and overreach. In the Shirur Mutt case (1954), the Supreme Court enunciated a doctrine of essential religious practice, and ruled that what constitutes the essential part of a religion is to be ascertained with reference to the doctrines of that religion itself. It stated that a religious denomination or organisation enjoys complete autonomy in deciding what rites and ceremonies are essential according to its tenets and no outside authority has any jurisdiction to interfere with their decision in such matters. Over the years, however, experts have observed that the Court has used this principle to itself decide what is “essential” and what is not, in an interventionist manner. Ayyappa at Sabarimala is a unique yogi (ascetic); he sits in arddhasana (yogapadasana), a posture of extreme tapasya (meditation). His knees are bent upwards, bound to his back by ‘yogapatta’ (a belt made of cloth) with the right hand in Chinmudra (gyan mudra) and the left hand facing downwards and resting on the knee. This is a rare yogic posture and symbolises the wish of the ascetic to leave no space for anyone to sit on his lap. There is a powerful symbolism in this posture. When the seated image of a god has the left thigh folded, his divine consort sits over it; the folded right leg is for the child. Normally, the deity’s legs are crossed. However, Ayyappa Swami’s legs are not crossed as he is Naishtika Brahmachari (student who accompanies his Guru everywhere and learns Vedas from him) and has no need to fold his legs because he has no wife or offspring. His raised and bound knees deny space to all. While divinities sit on simhasanas (royal thrones), Ayyappa sits on his feet, on a peetham, in deep meditation, with eyes open. In this state, he elevates one to the conscious awareness (observing) state, sat-chit-ananda, the supreme meditative state. The only other deity wearing yogapatta is Narasimha in YogaNarasimha form, but his legs are crossed and his consort sits on his left thigh. This is the “essential religious practice” and core sanctity of the Ayyappa tradition that thousands of devotees, men and women alike, are fighting to preserve. Only the oceanic depth and diversity of the Sanatana Dharma can sprout such subtle and profound forms of divinity. They are not easy to

No protests, demonstrations should be held at Sabarimala: Kerala High Court The Kerala High Court Tuesday ordered that no protests or demonstrations should be held at Sabarimala, holding that it was not a place for such activities. The court also set aside the ‘unilateral’ restrictions imposed by police on the devotees in Sannidhanam (temple complex) and appointed a three-member team as its observers there during the ongoing Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season. Considering a batch of petitions on the Sabarimala issue, a division bench comprising justices P R Ramachandra Menon and N Anil Kumar said that no protests or demonstrations should be held at the Sannidhanam as it was not a place for such activities. The court also modified the restrictions imposed on chanting Ayyappa mantra as well as a ban imposed on halting at the Sannidhanam. It said that women, children and the physically challenged can halt at the complex. The hill shrine had been witnessing protests by devotees and right wing groups against comprehend, even for the devout, but they are worthy of utmost reverence. The minority verdict of Justice Indu Malhotra understood that the Supreme Court should avoid wading into theology. Especially, as there was no threat to public order, morality or health. A bunch of busybodies with no locus standi had no right to tell a religious group what rites and ceremonies are essential to its practice. In my considered view, the Court negated its own wisdom as defined in the Shirur Mutt case and failed to honour the assertions of the respected Thantri regarding the tenets of the faith, denied his autonomy to decide its rites and rules, and allowed the mischief of non-devotees to prevail over believers. The fact that well-funded activists flew to Kerala to become the ‘first’ to shatter the sacred barrier proves the iconoclastic mindset of the group which moved the petition. In S Mahendran vs The Secretary, Travancore (1991), the Supreme Court opined that the prohibition of women of a particular age-group was a reasonable restriction and did not apply to women as a class. It noted that the identity of a religious denomination consists in the identity of its doctrines, creeds and tenets, which ensure the unity of the faith and bind its adherents together as one community. It is submitted that the Court should protect this bond of unity. (The writer is Senior Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library; the views expressed are personal)

the government’s decision to implement the September 28 Supreme Court verdict, permitting women of all age groups to pray at the temple. Tension, frequent protests and restrictions imposed by police at the complex and surroundings had kept pilgrims away from Sabarimala, but their numbers have slowly picked up. The Advocate General Tuesday handed over a sealed cover to the court on the proposed modalities to ensure smooth and safe pilgrimage for women of the prohibited age group. The court said retired high court judges P R Raman and Siri Jagan and senior IPS oﬃcer A Hemachandran would be its observers at Sannidhanam in the Mandala-Makaravilakku season. The court made it clear that prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC shall prevail at Sabarimala. It came down heavily on an IPS oﬃcer for his ‘excesses’ on devotees, including obstructing a High Court judge during his pilgrimage to the hill shrine recently.

The Court observed that the broad mindedness of the judge who was “insulted” should not be construed as a weakness. It was only due to the request of the judge that action was not initiated against the officer, the court said. The Chief Justice was also aware of the incident, it said. The court observed that some IPS officers were crossing their limits and bringing a bad reputation to the police. However, it expressed faith in police and hoped that the force would discharge their duties more efficiently. It also removed restrictions imposed by police for plying round the clock KSTRC bus services between the Nilackal base camp and the Sannidhananm. Since the apex court verdict, no women in the 10-50 age group has succeeded in offering prayers at the shrine, where the deity is “Naishtika Brahmachari” (perennial celebate). The Ayyappa temple was opened on November 16 for the over two-month-long pilgrimage season amid tension.

Under ISI tutelage, KLF wants to revive Khalistan movement Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh said on Wednesday that the accused in Sunday’s attack on a religious congregation near Amritsar were associated with the banned outfit, Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). Security agencies say the KLF, an extremist organisation active in the 1980s, was revived in 2009 in Malaysia under pressure from Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). It is currently being headed by Harmeet Singh, alias “PhD”, of Amritsar who is working under the “tutelage of Pakistan’s ISI”. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) says Harmeet Singh has been living at Gurdwara Bibi Nanki in Lahore since 2008. He used Skype to radicalise an Italy-based Sikh youth, Hardeep Singh, and convinced him to come to India to carry out specific attacks. He would fly down from Italy every time he was assigned a target. The NIA chronicled the revival of the extremist outfit in May when the agency accused KLF of being involved in eight incidents of murder and attempted murders of RSS leaders and a pastor in Punjab in 2016 and 2017. Singh and a sewing machine mechanic, Ramandeep, were accused by NIA to be involved in all the killings. The NIA said the main objective of the KLF is to “liberate the socalled Khalistan”. Founded by Aroor Singh in 1986, the outfit had been active in promoting secessionist activities till 1994. “After being ousted from the Panthic [religious] committee, he [Aroor Singh] organised the Mai Bhago regiment under the banner of the KLF as the armed wing of the All India Sikh Students Federation (Presidium),” an NIA document said. It further said that after Aroor Singh’s death in 1986 and killing of other top leaders by security forces, Avtar Singh Brahma took over the outfit in 1987. After Brahma was killed in an encounter with security forces in Rajasthan in August 1988, Gurjant Singh Budh Singhwala took over. “Singhwala also died in an encounter on July 29, 1992 and after his death, Dr. Pritam Singh Sekhon took over in 1994. As per reports, he died in Pakistan,” the NIA said. According to the NIA, in November 2009, Sandeep Singh, alias Jasbir Singh, who was part of the KLF in the 1980s and 1990s, came to Malaysia to meet Harminder Singh Mintoo, Bakshish Singh and Daljit Singh Khalsa. Mintoo was asked to carry out attacks in 2010. Mintoo was arrested in 2014 in Thailand and deported to India. He was lodged in the Nabha jail from where he escaped in a sensational jailbreak on November 28, 2016. He was later arrested and died of a cardiac arrest in Punjab Central Jail.“The leadership of the KLF believes that they can revive the moribund Khalistan movement by targeting members of specific communities so as to polarise the society of Punjab on communal lines. Organisations and persons, who according to the leadership of the KLF oppose the ideology of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, are their prime targets for elimination.

PAGE 14 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

NEWS

Dattatreya is my gotra, ‘Brahmin’ Rahul silences critics

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday silenced his detractors, particularly the BJP, by “revealing” his Gotra that has been questioned umpteen number of times by the ruling party leading to intense debate over his religion lineage. During his visit to Pushkar temple in Rajasthan in the midst of Assembly election campaign, Rahul said that he is a Kaul Brahmin and he belongs to Dattatreya Gotra. “I am a Kaul Brahmin and belong to Dattatreya Gotra,” the priest mentioned quoting Rahul. After revealing his gotra, Rahul was allowed to oﬀer prayers at the lone Brahma temple of the world. When Rahul took to temple visits, including Kailash Mansarovar, the BJP tried to create controversy and sought to know Rahul’s gotra.

A temple priest in Pushkar who assisted Rahul in performing his puja, revealed that Rahul belongs to Dattatreya gotra and that he is a Brahmin from Kashmir. The priest also shared an instance about an entry made at Pushkar around 15 years ago by the Gandhi family. Last year in the run-up to Gujarat polls, the BJP had criticised Rahul for his temple visits. To this, Rahul had responded by saying he is a Shiv bhakt. “Main Shiv ka bhakt hoon, sachaai mein believe karta hoon. BJP jo bhi bole main apni sachaai mein believe karta hoon (I am a devotee of Shiv. The BJP may say anything, but I will remain honest),” Rahul had retorted. A massive controversy had erupted when the Congress president on his visit to the Somnath temple in Gujarat registered as a non-Hindu.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of celebration of Constitution Day on Monday, Rahul alleged that the present regime is conspiring to destroy the Constitution. Colours of the Constitution are “engrained in every part of us”, Rahul said on Twitter. “The Constitution of India is the hallmark of both our struggle and existence. It is our philosophy. It is our pride... Let those who conspire to annihilate it know that neither do they have the capacity to do so nor will the Congress party and I ever allow them...,” Rahul tweeted. Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated on November 26 to commemorate the Constitution’s adoption by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. The Indian Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950.

Has to be temple, says RSS chief RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday reiterated that the government should enact a law to clear the decks for a Ram temple in Ayodhya, a month after he had first aired the suggestion that was quickly chorused across the parivar. “The Ram temple is associated with India’s self-respect and identity. The Centre must enact a law to pave the way for the temple to be built in Ayodhya,” the Sangh parivar patriarch said at an event organised by yoga televangelist Ramdev in Haridwar. Bhagwat seemed to imply the Sangh cared little that the Ayodhya land dispute was now before the Supreme Court. “There’s no question now of asking what should be built there (at the disputed site) in Ayodhya. The Sangh is committed to building a Ram temple and will remain committed always,” he said. Allahabad High Court had in 2010 divided the disputed 2.77 acres equally into three parts and awarded a portion each to the Nirmohi Akhara, Sunni Central Waqf Board and Ram Lalla Virajman (infant Ram, represented by a VHP leader). While the Akhara wants to build and manage a Ram temple at the site, the Sunni Central Waqf Board wants to rebuild the Babri Masjid, which stood at the spot before a mob of kar sevaks demolished it in December 1992. Bhagwat had first recommended a pro-temple law during his Vijaya Dashami speech in Nagpur on October 18. Leaders of various parivar outfits, even Union ministers from the BJP, immediately began parroting the demand, raising the pitch further after the apex court in end-October dashed all hope of an early verdict saying the case wasn’t a priority. On November 12, Bhagwat asked Sangh pracharaks to talk of the temple and “nothing else” till the general election. But he advised them not to mention the Narendra Modi government in this context —apparently realising the perils of the Centre trying to bypass the apex court before a verdict — which led to a lull in the demand for a pro-temple law. Ramdev said: “The people are impatient for a Ram temple. The government should either bring in an ordinance or start building the temple on its own. Those who say such action will disturb harmony are wrong. No one in the country is against Ram — the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians are all descendants of Ram.”

Temple call after Assembly polls: Sant at Dharm Sabha The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) sponsored Dharm Sabha did not announce any date for the construction of Ram Temple, but one of its senior seers claimed that the Centre will take some decision on this issue after results of Assembly polls were out on December 11. Amid growing demand for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya without further delay, Ramji Das of Nirmohi Akhara told VHP’s Dharm Sabha on Sunday that dates for the same will be announced early next year during Kumbh in Prayagraj. Addressing the sabha after the inauguration marked by chanting of mantras at the Badey Bhaktmaal ki Bagia, Ramji Das said, “The date for construction of the Ram Temple will be declared in the 2019 Kumbh which will be held in Prayagraj.” “It is only a matter of a few days, and I request you all to show some patience,” the seer remarked. The seers at the Dharm Sabha administered oath to the crowd and asked people to take back soil of Ayodhya and make pledge that they will not let die down struggle for making a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya. The Dharm Sabha underlined the strong sentiment for Bill or Ordinance for Ram Temple by the Centre. Chairman of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, who presided over the Sabha, said that people still have faith in the BJP Governments at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh. “This congregation proves the point that people want temple at Ayodhya. Till Modi is PM, and Yogi is Chief Minister of UP, I am sure that they will find a way out,” he said. This sentiment was also echoed by Swami Rambhadracharya, who disclosed, “I spoke to a senior Minister in the Central Government regarding this issue on November 23. He assured me that after December 11, we will sit with the PM and will take a decision on this issue. I am hopeful that a legislation will come for temple construction.” The Swami further said the Minister had asked us to keep patience. “The Government will respect our sentiments this is what a senior Minister told me. I am a devotee of Lord Ram and Ram Janmabhoomi is our right,” he said. He further said he also spoke to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat who “assured me that pressure will be mounted on the Government for bringing in a legislation” in Parliament for temple construction. “We want all MPs to be united and the Bill be passed with 2/3rd majority,” the Swami said. The congregation was amalgamation of sants, RSS, VHP and BJP leaders. The sants took the lead while others followed. “We will abide by the decision of this Dharm Sabha. We will not keep quiet till Mandir construction is achieved,” RSS Sah Karyawah Krishna Gopal said. Earlier, welcoming the sants VHP’s national vice president Champat Rai said the fight for Ram Janambhoomi is on for past 500 years. “This issue is dominating the energy of this country. Hindu Samaj wants the Janmabhoomi back. We don’t want division of the land and want entire land,” he said. He also demanded that Muslim side should take back its case from the Supreme Court for early solution of the case. He announced that next most important Dharm Sabha will be in Delhi on December 9. Several sants and seers of Ayodhya participated in the Dharm Sabha but several seniors also gave it a miss. The city is drenched in saffron - the colour of Hindu parties - with group of supporters chanting Jai Sri Ram on the streets. They danced to the beats of drums and made a vow to sacrifice their lives for Ram Temple. Elaborate security has been made for the meeting with over 60 companies of para-military forces have been rushed to maintain law and order. ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar told reporters in Lucknow the Dharm Sabha concluded in a peaceful manner. “We were taking the help of drone cameras to monitor the crowd,” he said. The official claimed that around 75,000 people are attending the Dharm Sabha while 25,000 people are at different temples. However, in the first half around 27,000 pilgrims had darshan of Ram Lalla at the makeshift temple at Ram Janmabhoomi, Kumar said. The ADG also denied about threat by terrorist on Ayodhya. He said it was just a rumour after the Punjab incident.

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INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • PAGE 15

NEWS

Kartarpur marks a fresh start

Devotees viewing the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, from the Indian side at Dera Baba Nanak on the outskirts of Amritsar on Sunday.

‘Decision to open corridor an unprecedented form of diplomacy.’ As Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh together unveil a foundation stone on Monday for a six-km route leading from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab to Kartarpur in Pakistan’s Punjab on Monday, it will not just be the reopening of a route closed by Partition,

but would mark the beginning of an unprecedented form of diplomacy, say diplomats. On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan will be joined by two Indian Ministers to lay the foundation stone at the Pakistani side, where pilgrims from India will be able to visit their revered Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) by November 2019, to mark the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak. No Indian Minister has visited Pakistan since Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s SAARC visit in 2016, which were followed by the Uri attacks.

Editorial | Corridor of hope: On the Kartarpur proposal “It just shows that IndiaPakistan relations can change very quickly, and change over issues which are not expected,” said former High Commissioner to Pakistan TCA Raghavan. Thaw in ties To begin with, the emergence of the Kartarpur corridor and cross-border invitations are unique since they come at a time when India and Pakistan have had no dialogue and little contact. Although a ministerial team of the previous Pakistani caretaker government had visited Delhi in August to condole

former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s death and met with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, a proposed meeting between the Foreign Ministers in New York in September was called off over terrorist attacks, leaving all plans for dialogue with the new government in limbo. Secondly, according to former officials involved in the past dialogue process who spoke to The Hindu, this is the first time Pakistan has publicly accepted the demand for the corridor, that was made first by PM Vajpayee during his Lahore visit in 1999 and raised regularly by leaders of the Sikh community. “This is a significant and important development,” former special envoy and former High Commissioner to Pakistan Satinder Lambah, who ran the back-channel for years, said. “ I don’t recall any Pakistani proposals on Kartarpur being made in the past, so this is new. It is also significant that the first word publicly on this came from the Pakistani Army Chief (General Qamar Bajwa), a fact that got lost, at the time in his embrace with (Navjot) Sidhu. The controversy over Mr. Sidhu’s embrace in India seemed to suggest that the proposal had hit a dead-end, while in fact the Pakistan government went ahead with its plans to reconstruct the roughly four kilometres of the road on its side of the border. Amongst other concerns, say former security

and oﬃcials and diplomats, will be ensuring security of the corridor on both sides, guarding against inﬁltration, with the overhanging worry that pilgrims from India would be “brainwashed” by Khalistani separatist groups in Pakistan.

said the Punjab girl. Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh also said that the world body has given full marks to the organisation and described it as the best championships ever in recent years.

“They were very happy and it gives us the conﬁdence to go ahead and bid for more tournaments. We will be deﬁnitely eyeing to get one of the Olympic qualifying events to India,” he said.

India, Pakistan commit to Kartarpur corridor “These factors will be taken into account by the government, no doubt, “said former R&AW chief Vikram Sood, adding, “What is puzzling is the sudden announcement and timing of the corridor, as it goes against the government’s stated policy on Pakistan.” Finally, the concept of a “faith corridor” for pilgrims itself is unusual, as cross-border human corridors are usually used for refugee crises and anti-terror operations, and the Kartarpur corridor may set a precedent for other such cases like the Sharda Peeth in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, where the “Save Sharda committee” has asked for the cross-LoC bus route to be opened for Kashmiri Pandit pilgrims. Meanwhile, welcoming the Kartarpur corridor Pakistani Hindu lawmaker Ramesh Kumar Vankwani told The Hindu that he hopes the Indian and Pakistani government would extend the concept of “faith corridors” to other shrines, including Dargahs and Mosques in India, and the Hinglaj temple in Balochistan as well as the Anandpur temple in Khyber Pukthunkhwa.

Mary named best boxer of World Championship NEW DELHI India’s M C Mary Kom, who won a historic sixth world title, was adjudged the best pugilist of the 10th World Women’s Boxing Championships here. The AIBA panel which chose the Indian as the best among the competitors was a richly deserved honour to the 35-year-old Manipuri, whose endurance, perseverance and the never-say-die attitude is unparallel in history. Speaking at the oﬃcial press conference, Mary Kom recalled her participation in the New Delhi event held in 2006. “At that time, boxers from fewer countries had participated. It was not even included in Olympics. Though we won eight medals, four gold included but competition is much tough nowadays and considering the fact, our results here (one gold, a silver and two

bronze medals) were great,” said Mary. “As for as organization, this one was better than what it was in 2006.” Asked to compare the win here with earlier gold medals, the Manipuri said it was difficult to remember. “But this one was very special. I was under pressure and had to change my weight category also. I won my last Worlds gold in 2010 and then the change of weight for Olympics happened. Pressure was something I always felt but don’t know how to put this gold alongside the earlier five,” she reasoned. However, Mary distinctly remembered that she had won five on the trot. “Even Katie Taylor (of Ireland) had not done that,” she said. Sonia Chahal claimed the silver medal in 57kg, while Lov-

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lina Borgohain won a bronze in 69kg. Lovlina pointed out how the New Delhi championships has given the Indian boxers the confidence they needed. “This Championship gave us the confidence that we too can beat the best and we should fear none. We have beaten many top and world champion boxers in the last few days. But we need to work even hard from here on,” said the young Assamese pugilist. Simranjit Kaur, who was unlucky to lose in the semifinals, agreed with her teammates. “We need to work on strengthening ourselves more and the way we have competed in the Worlds is a good sign for the future of Indian boxing,”

PAGE 16 • INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

NEWS FBI help proved crucial in tracing 26/11 attackers’ boat to Pakistan found the fingerprints. Police had dumped them thinking they were mere case property,” said the official. Headley challenge He said then Home Minister P. Chidambaram had insisted that a team of IB officials be sent to the U.S. to interrogate Headley. However, U.S. officials were adamant and did not allow the team to meet Headley. “All they got was a visit to the FBI headquarters and a photograph of Headley,” he said. Later, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) interrogated Headley. India makes fresh bid to get Headley, Rana India had told Pakistan that the period of conspiracy to commit the terrorist attack was actually between 2005-2008 but FIA only investigated the period between 2007-08. “Headley deposed in a Chicago court that Pakistan’s ISI and Army were helping the Ten Lashkar militants from Pakistan set off on a boat to carry out the Mumbai attacks. The shop owner in Karachi lic prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) helped India sold eight such engines to Am- told The Hindu that the FIA had connect Al Fauz, the small boat jad Khan, a Lashkar-e-Taiba arrested only petty people, but used by the terrorists in the (LeT) financier. Ten LeT men the main conspirators — LeT 26/11 Mumbai attack, to Paki- from Pakistan had set off 10 chief Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi years ago on one of the boats to were free. stan. “Pakistan’s FIA arrested the An intelligence official, carry out the attack in Mumbai since retired, who supervised on November 26. The attack person who sold the said boat, the investigations in 2008-09, claimed 166 lives, including also arrested the person who financed him. Ajmal Kasab’s (the told The Hindu that the FBI that of six Americans. The official said this number lone Pakistani terrorist caught sent one of its agents to the headquarters of Yamaha Motor was key to connecting the boat alive and later sentenced to in Japan to seek help in tracing to the neighbouring country. death) confession coupled with the person who purchased the The number was part of the David Headley’s (an American engine. The unique number en- evidence handed over to Paki- who conducted surveillance graved on the engine had been stan. The U.S. authorities put of targets) deposition, the enerased by the conspirators. The pressure on Pakistan, and raids tire plan was hatched by Hafiz FBI asked Yamaha’s dealer in were conducted, leading to the Saeed, Lakhvi and Pakistan’s the U.S. for help, the official arrest of seven persons, includ- ISI. During one of the training said. The dealer directed them ing Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, sessions, Kasab was patted on the operational commander of the back by a Pakistani army to Yamaha’s office in Japan. the LeT and one of the main official,” Mr. Nikam said. Adding another layer to the conspirators of the 26/11 MumSecret location evidence, the intelligence of“The Yamaha official in Ja- bai attack. The Federal Investigation ficial said a huge number of pan told the FBI that it was possible to trace the num- Agency (FIA) of Pakistan IEDs, recovered from railway ber even if it had been erased charged 27 accused, and 20 stations across Mumbai, was or damaged. They were told were declared proclaimed of- defused and dumped at a police about a cavity at the bottom fenders. The trial is yet to be station. The FBI had asked for of an encase containing the concluded. “Based on our in- access these IEDs. “They were able to lift fincylinders, which when opened telligence, the FIA raided the would have the unique num- house of the person who had gerprints from the IEDs and ber engraved on the side. The purchased the engines; we matched it with those of an conspirators didn’t know about made arrangements for him LeT operative in their datathis number. The FBI shared to depose in a Mumbai court base. This also proved vital in this information with us and through videoconferencing,” linking the attackers to Pakistan. The IED was packed in our engineers were able to re- said the official. layers of adhesive tapes. They trieve the number; the engine removed one layer each, and ‘Key conspirators free’ was then traced to a Karachi However, Maharashtra pub- on the first part of the tape they shop,” said the official.

LeT. Headley had an e-mail correspondence with an LeT operative where the latter assured that nothing was going to happen to Saeed and Lakhvi,” Mr. Nikam said. Doubts over trial in Pak. He said the trial in Pakistan court would never come to an end and he wouldn’t be surprised if the accused walked free. Pakistan has asked India to send 27 witnesses to depose before the FIA court. “We have oﬀered them to record the statements through video conferencing. We insisted that you [Pakistan] record the evidence given by Headley,” Mr. Nikam said. Asked why Headley was made an approver in a Mumbai court in 2015 against another LeT operative Zabiuddin Ansari when he is wanted for the 26/11 attacks, Mr. Nikam said, “It takes a thief to catch another thief. Headley cannot be deported to India as he has entered into plea bargain with the U.S. authorities.”

Sankara Nethralaya: The Temple of Eye

Sankara Nethralaya, premier eye care institution in Chennai, India was established by the Living Legend, Padmabhushan Dr. S. S. Badrinath in 1978 with the objective of providing eye care of international standard free to the poor and reasonable cost to others. Nethralaya has three prong approach for eradicating blindness in the Indian sub-continent – patient care, ophthalmic education and India centric research. On an average, Nethralaya treats 2,400 outpatients and performs 200 surgeries per day, almost half of them free on poor patients. Nethralaya has trained thousands of ophthalmic professionals and sent them throughout India. They serve the patients with major hospitals in in Chennai, Kolkata, Thirupathi and Sri city. There are plans to start hospitals in Thane, Maharashtra and Surat, Gujrat; and Nethralaya University in Sri city in Andhra Pradesh. One unique activity of Nethralaya is Mobile Eye Surgical Unit (MESU). These are operation theatres on wheels – ﬁrst of its kind in Asia. Two busses serve as operation theatres – one as preparation unit and the other as operation theatre. MESU goes out to the villages, performs operations at the door step of the patients and returns to main campus after post-operative care. Nethralaya has two such units and has performed over 10,000 surgeries. Sankara Nethralaya OM Trust, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) nonproﬁt organization established by Mr. S. V. Acharya in 1987 in Maryland, USA with sole purpose of raising contributions in US and transfer to Nethralaya in Chennai for providing free services to indigent patients. SN OM Trust is managed my twenty uncompensated trustees spread across USA. The Trust has been raising over a million dollars and help Nethralaya perform over 10,000 surgeries per year. The Trust has chapters in metro Washington DC, Houston & Dallas in Texas, Atlanta, GA, New York, NY, and Las Angeles and San Francisco, CA. The trust organizes number of fund raising events and help raise public awareness of Nethralaya. It is pertinent to point out that with active participation by the Trustees, administrative overhead of the Trust is in the 2% range. For more information, feel free contact President Mrs. Leela Krishnamurthy at (832) 654-9444, or President Emeritus Mr. S. V. Acharya at (855) 463-8472, Ashok Vasan (281)265-7745 or Jay Malhotra (713) 962-5555.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018• PAGE 17

NEWS

U.S. suspends $ 1.66 bn security aid to Pakistan We still see the Taliban moving weapons, fighters and money through Pakistan, says Pentagon/ The United States has suspended USD 1.66 billion in security assistance to Pakistan, following President Donald Trump’s directive early this year, the Pentagon has said. “USD 1.66 billion of security assistance to Pakistan is suspended,” Col Rob Manning, spokesman of the Department of Defense told reporters in an email response to questions on Tuesday. No further breakdown of the suspended security assistance to Pakistan was provided. According to David Sedney, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary Defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia during the previous Obama administration, the blocking of military assistance to Pakistan, which began in January of this year is a strong signal of American frustration. “But, so far Pakistan has taken no serious steps to address the core US concern - that Pakistan tolerates and often encourages groups which use violence against Pakistan’s neighbors,” Mr. Sedney said. “Pakistan’s leaders have promised cooperation, but beyond words, serious cooperation has not happened, therefore President Trump is frustrated and so are most Americans,” he said in response to a question. “This frustration does not ignore the suffering that Pakistani people have undergone. It just asks Pakistan to recognise that it should act to help stop the suffering of others,” said the Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank. Previously, Mr. Sedney was at the Department of State and the National Security Council, as well as Acting President of American University of Afghanistan. ‘Pak knew about Osama’ He was a part of the Pentagon when Osama bin Laden was killed in a daring raid by US commandoes in Abbottabad. Over the last few days Mr. Trump has said that people in Pakistan knew about the presence of bin Laden. “On Osama bin Laden, I agree with the views of Carlotta Gall of the New York Times who reported in her book, ‘The Wrong Enemy’ that a very small group of very senior Pakistani military leaders knew about Osama Bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan. I have not

seen any evidence that his presence in Abbottabad was widely known by many in Pakistan,” Mr. Sydney told PTI in an interview. While Pakistan has suﬀered terribly from terrorism by Islamic extremists, Islamabad has also enabled extremists groups that attack its neighbours, he observed. After years of dithering, in recent years Pakistan’s security forces have moved strongly against the extremists that threaten the Pakistani state, he added. “What the US seeks, what President Trump is asking for, is for Pakistan to take the same

kind of measures against the Taliban, against Lashkhar-eTaiba, and against all groups in Pakistan that threaten Pakistan’s neighbors,” he said. “But, we still see the Taliban moving weapons, ﬁghters and money through Pakistan. We still see Taliban commanders taking refuge in Pakistan, keeping their families in Pakistan, holding meetings and conducting training in Pakistan, and shipping explosives from Pakistan into Afghanistan,” Mr. Sydney alleged. We see leaders of sanctioned organisations acting freely in Pakistan and speaking publicly in favour of violence, he said.

“If Pakistan would take some strong measures against the Taliban, peace would come to Afghanistan quickly,” he argued. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has roped in former top American diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad for peace talks with the Taliban.

Both Afghanistan and Pakistan would beneﬁt from a huge “peace dividend”, he asserted. “Similarly, if Pakistan would take strong measures against groups which act against India, Pakistan would harvest huge economic beneﬁts from better economic ties with India,” Mr. Sedney said.

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PAGE 18 â&#x20AC;˘ INDIA HERALD â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

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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; 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 Jain Society of Houston, JSH, is located at 3905 Arc Street Houston Texas 77063. Key tenets of Jainism are: Non-violence - Ahimsa, Philanthropy with multicity in views â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Anekantvad, No possessiveness - Aparigrah, Right Knowledge -- Samyak Gyan, Right Path â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Samyak Darshan, and Right Conduct â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Samyak Charitrya. JSH has Jain Pathshala Classed for students of all ages each Sunday starting at 10:15 AM. The center is open M-F from 7:30 AM to 12 Noon and 4 to 7 PM, and Sat, and Sun from 8 AM to 6 PM. Call Jain Center at 713 789 2338 or visit www.jainsocietyhouston.org for calendar of events and other detailed information. 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: 713-7298994 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. The services are held from 5.30PM to 7.30PM followed by delicious prashad. Daily Aarti times : Mangala Aarti5:30 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 832-4644686 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.

INDIA HERALD • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • PAGE 19

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