India in New York - October 10, 2014 by India Abroad

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VOL. XVIII NO. 16

India in New York A GUIDE TO EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FROM INDIA ABROAD FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

MUMBAIKAR, NEW YORKER How migration inspired Manjari Sharma’s art ADVERTISEMENT

COURTESY: MANJARI SHARMA

India in New York

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INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

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Singers perform Vaishnav Jan To on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

United Nations celebrates Gandhi’s 145th birth anniversary

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the UN International School, which collaborated with the Mission in putting the program together. The event was presided over by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and addressed, among others, by Bangladesh Finance Minister Abdul Muhith, President of the 69th UN General Assembly Sam Kutesa and Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson. Recalling a saying of Mahatma Gandhi that ‘Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind’, Swaraj said, ‘Let us as leaders heed that important message and continue to find ways to use the forces of non-violence in our everyday lives and in our collective work, for the betterment of the world and its people.’ She said the world was currently experiencing a ‘profound and an appalling surge’ in violence and the new and

SUMAN MOZUMDER

he United Nations, which designated October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, as the International Day of Non-Violence in 2007, celebrated the 145th birth anniversary of the Indian leader. Over 400 people, including diplomats and 1996 Peace Laureate Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta and former president of East Timor, turned up for the hour-long event at the Trusteeship Council Chamber last week. The gathering, organized by the Permanent Mission of India, was welcomed by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ashoke Mukerji, who thanked ‘colleagues from other nations’ and acknowledged the role of students from

emerging threats posed by terrorist activities and extremism were challenging the foundations of international peace and security. ‘Now, more than ever, the global community must intensify its efforts towards the peaceful settlement of conflicts,’ she added. Eliasson, in his keynote, urged the international community to reaffirm the power and potential of bringing about change through peaceful means. He said the response to violence was all too often violence when, in fact, reconciliation and dialogue were needed. Swaraj presented a large portrait of Gandhi to Kutesa. The portrait depicting Gandhi spinning the charkha was painted by Raghuvir Dayal. An audio-visual on Gandhi’s life and journey, made by a Harvard student, was also played at the event.

PIO-OCI merger will create confusion: GOPIO GEORGE JOSEPH

he Global Organization of People of Indian Origin presented a memorandum to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj requesting her not to merge the Person of Indian Origin card with the Overseas Citizenship of India card, saying it would create confusion and problems. Ashook Ramsaran, president, GOPIO, welcomed the decision to make the PIO card a life-long visa, but told India Abroad that merging the OCI and PIO cards could “cause unnecessary burdens and confusion, especially among PIOs in countries with

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Ashook Ramsaran, president, GOPIO presents the memorandum to Sushma Swaraj.

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INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

Festive fervor! Left, devotees offer prayers during Navratri in Somerset, New Jersey. Below left, a garba in Somerset.

Below, Falguni Pathak performs during Navratri at Raritan Exposition Center, Edison, New Jersey.

PHOTOGRAPHS: PARESH GANDHI

Former ratepayer advocate fined for ethics violations A CORRESPONDENT

ttorney Seema Singh, a former ratepayer advocate in New Jersey, was fined $11,000 for ethics violations by the State Ethics Commission. Singh was a ratepayer advocate, a cabinet level position, under Democratic Governor Jon Corzine. The position entrusted her with representing the interest of business and residential customers on utility issues. The commission found fault with her simultaneously working for state while serving as president of the Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce and allegedly influencing the awarding of government contracts to five vendors associated with the group.

‘As president of the AICC, Singh held a leadership role in a trade organization whose mission was to further the economic interest of the member business,’ according to the decision by the commission. Singh’s attorney, Herbert Waldman, has filed an appeal of the decision in the courts, saying the ruling by the commission is both unfair and wrong. He described the state agency as both the prosecutor, who brought the charges, and the judge, deciding the case. Her attorney said the commission failed to understand her role as a member of the cabinet. ‘She was a member of the government. One part was to get more minority vendors for the state and that’s exactly what she did. There’s no evidence she was doing anything improper.’

PIO-OCI merger will create confusion: GOPIO f PAGE 2 multi-ethnic societies.” He added, “The current PIO and OCI cards are well accepted and widely used, but the differentiation must be retained.” “It is good to have the PIO card for life,” said Dr Thomas Abraham, founder president, GOPIO. “However, when the PIO and OCI cards are merged, those whose forefathers migrated four-five generations ago may not be qualified under OCI, though they are qualified to get a PIO card. That is a big concern.” The GOPIO also requested acceptance of alternate documentation to obtain a PIO card because descendants of indentured laborers have no original documents with them due to poor record keeping in countries where Indian laborers moved from 1834 to 1920. The memorandum also requested that the GOPIO be given active partnership in the planning and management of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas along with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Cover Story

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

The Shower Series. Manjari Sharma says this project has helped her cheat her ‘traditional and tame Indian upbringing,’ but, more importantly, led to ‘some of the fastest, most disarming relationships’ she has formed.

wait for Manjari Sharma in the backyard garden of a Clinton Hill coffee shop. There are picnic tables and stray grass sprouting up between the clay tiles of the terrace floor. I get a call; it turns out Sharma thought we were meeting somewhere else. Her voice brings me suddenly back to Mumbai. She has that unmistakable accent with the vaguely British touch that I came to know while living there, and which I come across all the time since my return to New York. The cities being similar in many ways, specifically in their energy, pace, and the vast scale

of the population, Mumbai transplants are everywhere — each with their own story of what drew them here, and how their home on this side of the world shapes what they do and why. Sharma is a photographer. Her portfolio includes a mix of commercial work but much of what she does is inspired by her migration from India to America, with

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Much of what photographer Manjari Sharma does is inspired by her migration from India to America, discovers Chaya Babu

JAMI SAUNDERS/COURTESY: MANJARI SHARMA

Mumbaikar, New Yorker

COURTESY: MANJARI SHARMA

Cover Story

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

Mumbaikar, New Yorker f

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that theme varying from overt to more subtle from project to project. Sharma’s move to New York was in 2009, but she had come to the United States initially in 2001 to get her BFA in Media Studies and Still Photography from Columbus College of Art and Design (though she already had one bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications from S V T College in India). She stayed in Ohio even after finishing the degree, working at a media company where she shot a diverse range of photographs of what she felt was quintessential American culture: From

Metallica to country folks making apple butter to high school students learning in the classroom. She recalls that her transition from there to New York gave her an area of expertise — people — that she wouldn’t have found otherwise. “Having a ‘focus’ is kind of a new thing in Bombay,” Sharma says, once she arrives and talks about her career over coffee. Currently, a piece from her series Darshan, a collection of nine photographs that replicate artistic renderings of Hindu gods and goddesses through portraits of people styled as the deities and placed in three-dimensional dioramas, is on display in DUMBO at Brooklyn Bridge Park in an exhibit called THE FENCE.

From Darshan. “A darshan is the process of looking and getting looked back at,” Manjari Sharma says, adding that the series contemporarizes what darshan means and pushes the boundaries of her faith.

COURTESY: MANJARI SHARMA

She says, “Often, commercial photographers in Bombay, which is where my mindset was, do product, they do architecture, they do people, they do a smorgasbord of things, which is often the case in not a very finessed and sophisticated market like New York. In New York, if you’re not known for one thing, then you’re known for nothing.” “I would say that’s really where I started to find myself,” she continues. “Because if you don’t have a distinct voice, then it’s lost in the sea of voices. Like sometimes the best way to find your center is to go to Times Square — you HAVE to drown everything else out. It’s like if life is an obstacle course, and you want to get somewhere, you have to navigate that or stay lost. I feel like New York is a little bit like that.” Sharma felt at home in the chaos and madness of Manhattan because of her Mumbai roots, but there was still a sense of loss that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. The cultural rift, a desire for connection in the sea of busy New Yorkers, the sense of isolation that comes with being a foreigner — these were all elements of her migration

that formed the impetus for three major projects: Darshan, The Shower Series, and Anastasia. Sharma describes her motivation for the Darshan project as a result of the void she felt that she didn’t entirely understand in real time. There’s an unsettling feeling, she says, of not doing the things you once did, habitually, thoughtlessly, for years. How you turn the lights on, where you place your shoes, what you do to wash your clothes are all the little rituals that create the foundation of daily life. Her everydays, as she called them, hadn’t struck her as remarkable before, but slowly she realized their importance. “My parents are very spiritual people; Hinduism is very seamlessly integrated without any pressure into my family,” she says. “That was among your other day to day stuff, like going to the bank and doing

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whatever else you did. It was just around me. So, the all encompassing nature of it just went away when I came here, and it was replaced by new everydays, which were full of museums and art galleries and studios and Dorothea Lange and Diane Arbus and studying great American photography, and that became my world. That was the iconography that now surrounded me. But at some point, when I said, ‘I want to photographically recreate these deities,’ I think I was addressing that void.” Sharma’s new life as an artist in New York had its own mark of ritualistic routine. Taking traditional imagery of Hindu gods and goddesses and transferring it to a new contemporary medium was her way of bridging her old and new worlds through the platform of photography. She completed the nine portraits in three different periods in India, each piece costing $5,000 to $6,000 to create. They’re starting to get acquired, so funds from that could lead to her working on one of Narasimha, which she says would come next.

Mumbaikar, New Yorker themselves to her. And it’s visible in the photographs. There is certainly a sensual feel to them, but less because of nudity and more because the people are exposed and real. The little Indian girl in Sharma says the project pushed her boundaries perhaps more than those of the people featured in it. She stepped out of the comfort zone of a demure girl from India who would have found The Shower Series highly scandalous, but many subjects have no inhibitions.

Anastasia. A woman Sharma was drawn to at a party and ended up becoming the protagonist for an eponymous series of her own. Also living in New York but not from the US, Anastasia mimicked a life and identity that Sharma could relate to — she was poised and well-suited to her new surroundings, but she was a foreigner still with a largely quiet and solitary existence amid the clamor and vibrancy of the city. The series shows her in various settings, alone, but rarely does the shot portray loneliness. “She was compelling to me, and she’s become a great friend,” Sharma says. “I was curious about the experience of another young woman living in the loud, glamorous city of New York but finding herself very much in solitude. It’s not sad, but there’s definitely a void that remains in coming from somewhere else, and I think this ties us — and others like us — together. There’s a vulnerability there too

arshan is what’s on display at Brooklyn Bridge Park and at THE FENCE in Atlanta, but The Shower Series is likely Sharma’s most popular work. The photos depict subjects in the shower to convey a sense of vulnerability and, both literally and metaphorically, nakedness. The photos are not intended to be sexual; they’re about human connection and letting one’s guard down through the symbolic act of washing oneself. Sharma laughs as she recounts how the idea came about, how naturally it happened that she started inviting strangers into her shower, but how odd it sounded when she said it out loud. She drew a line between her old habit in India of inviting someone in for Chai, to chat and have conversation, something that’s done often immediately after meeting someone. Such a thing would be alarming in New York, where asking someone into your home — forget your shower — is seen as somewhat intimate. It’s a fast-moving, everyone-out-for-himself kind of place, and Sharma realized that she longed for meaningful connection. She was starved of real interactions, the stuff relationships are made of, talk beyond, ‘Is this train headed downtown?’ So upon realizing the window in her bathroom made for a beautiful backdrop for portraiture, Sharma began asking subjects if they’d like to enter her shower. At first it wasn’t even about turning the water on, she says. And all of the shots are from the shoulders up. But eventually, over time, there was water, and it did wonderful things. “I realized, something really interesting is hapCOURTESY: MANJARI SHARMA pening inside the shower,” she says. “I would walk From Anastasia, a series that Manjari Sharma began when she met Anastasia. ‘Ana came to this country as a foreigner, so did I,’ she said in her Artist Statement. ‘While the prospect of gain and glitz and the promise of a better life takes in with somebody I don’t know that well and literally walk out with a friend, because somewhere a lot of us travelers to distant shores, an empty void in the heart can remain. Through extended conversations with Anastasia and having lived overseas for several years now, I have come to believe that there is something common between our sparkling lives in glossy cities, it’s solitude. Whether we hail from the between my lens getting fogged and my toes getting wet and us standing in this really tight space, midwest or India, our understanding of loneliness is what binds our fabric as human beings.’ a picture is made, but really the photograph in the way we are around a lot of people but still find our“At some point it was weird because people would be like, becomes a way to connect to something bigger. And the selves in a silo of sorts, and in seeking something deeper ‘I just came across your Shower Series and I know this is a conversations that we had were so disarming, so real. We or bigger from the void of having left what you knew for little bit awkward but do you think I could come shower for spanned everything from parents splitting up to heartthe unknown.” you?’ I mean, like three weeks ago someone was like, ‘Are breaks to summits of mountains — you know, life-altering Sharma says that though she can’t share details of what you still doing the shower project?’ I’ve had cold offers from moments. It was like a Darshan actually in a way. And then she’s working on next, it continues to build on the theme of people who want to just shower for me.” I’d walk out, and it became really addictive.” the disparity between the two cultures she has come to In spite of that, most of the shower portraits are people Sharma couldn’t get enough of exploring the human psybelong to. And she will keep growing through the spiritual che, and in particular, the question: ‘When clothes come off, who Sharma has selected based on her own taste and intuand psychological connections she makes with and through ition about who would be interesting to talk to and share do the walls of mind come down with them.’ her photography. the intimate experience with in her bathroom. For instance, Her subjects brought a raw, open, unguarded side of

Aseem in Zurich/New York

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

ASEEM CHHABRA

India needs many Haiders Old Town, Zurich.

urich is the biggest city in Switzerland, but by all counts, it is still a tiny town — about 34 square miles in area and a population under 400,000 (as compared to New York City’s 469 square miles and 8.4 million population). It is quite easy to get around Zurich with a very tourist-friendly tram/bus system and even commuter boats that make several stops around Lake Zurich. Last week in between watching films at the Zurich Film Festival I moved around the city and discovered some

ast Wednesday, my plane from Zurich landed at around 1 pm at JFK. After immigration and customs (which did not take too long), I took the air train and then switched to the E subway line to Manhattan. I was rushing to catch the press screening of Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider in a small theater near Times Square. I was so short of time that I dragged my bag to the theater. Of course, I had no sense of jet lag at that moment! Haider — Bhardwaj’s latest offering in his Shakespearean trilogy — is an amazing depiction of the Kashmir conflict layered with the heartwrenching tale of Hamlet. Much has been said about the film since its release last week — a lot of praise from most critics and then criticism from some who felt that Haider was anti-Hindu, pro-Muslim and anti-Indian Army. Some of the Haider-haters took to social media, launching a Twitter hashtag #BoycottHaider.

amazing sites. I spent one afternoon walking down the tiny cobbled stoned lanes of the Old Town in Zurich, much of which was built before the 1900s. The Old Town is a major tourist attraction with highend shops and more sidewalk cafés than I have seen in New York City. I took the walk on a Sunday when the shops were closed and I could admire the architecture. It resembled parts of other European cities, but the streets in Zurich had their own identity. The Old Town was been built around the Limmat river giving beautiful views of

A scene from Haider.

the water and classic old buildings. The next day I took an hour-and-a-half boat ride on the Lake Zurich. I decided to take the evening trip at 7.10 pm. The sun was almost setting and it was lovely to see the lights of the city and then the suburbs. On the top deck where I sat were two young women from Hong Kong, and two Turkish men who had spent a few years working in Poland and were now living in Zurich. We took pictures of each other, spoke, and later connected on Facebook. It got chilly by the time the boat got back. Later a friend told me I had missed spotting Tina Turner’s house which apparently is right on the Lake. On another day I took three modes of transportation — a tram, a bus and then a train that goes up a mountain to go to the Dolder Grand, a classic five-star hotel, the best in Zurich and built in 1899. It was stunning architecture with some beautiful artwork — modern sculptures and paintings.

The debate continues. Many people have expressed relief that the call was to boycott the film and not ban it, which is often the route some people take in India, resorting to court action and other protests. Bhardwaj has carefully shown the situation in Kashmir, during the height of the insurgency and added dimensions of Hamlet within the state’s political scenario. It is beautifully shot, very well acted and a deeply tragic film. It does show the truth about Kashmir, even though it could have enhanced its focus by looking at other stories from the state. The film could have looked at the Kashmiri Pandits stories in depth instead of just mentioning their status. India needs many Haiders — the film. Clearly, the film has had some impact on the audience in India. The debate should continue. People should see Haider and then hope for more such conversations on Kashmir.

Arthur at the Theater INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

Kultar’s Mime.

COURTESY: SIKHRI.ORG

She saw a theatrical piece in it. Her father was doubtful if the poem could lead to a play, but could not resist his daughter’s insistence and passion. And the two began turning the stories in the poem into a play. As the two worked on the stageplay, Singh came across a poem chronicling a 1903 pogrom in Europe targeting Jews and he said, “The killings took place in two periods, and places thousands of miles apart from each other, but by bringing the two sets of episodes together, we look at the universality of inhumanity and injustice.” Singh said the writings of Johns Hopkins university professor Veena Das also provided rich material to the play: “Dr Das told the stories of several children who had been targets of violence during the pogrom. One of the most heartburning stories in her paper was about a deaf mute boy Avtar Singh, whose father had been hanged by a lynching mob. Avatar could only mime his father’s gruesome end.” The play, he says, sends out a message that people should fight against injustice and cruelty wherever it happens. But insists he will never advocate vengeance for 1984: “But justice there should be. And our play is a reminder we shall not forget and we shall not give up fighting for justice and fixing the responsibility for the looting, humiliation and killing of innocent Sikhs.” He adds, “We have had diverse viewers so far. A lot of Indians who are not Sikhs came to see it too. And we are hoping we will have a broad audience in New York.” Kultar’s Mime, which opened in Boston, will be shown in New Jersey October 12 and New York October 13. For more details on the play, show times and dates of the show in other cities and tickets, visit SikhRI.org.

t was a small Off-Broadway play celebrating interconnectedness and the choice of sexuality with Lord Ganesha playing the remover of obstacles. But When January Feels Like Summer received raves during its limited month-long run, many theater critics and audiences felt there should be a quick revival. It was given a star (recommendations only about 10 percent of the plays get in New York) only a few months ago and it is returning for a four week engagement October 1 through October 26. Written by Cori Thomas and directed by Daniella Toprol, the play follows diverse Central Harlem residents as they collide one warm winter, when a feeling of change is in the air. Through everyday encounters on the subway and in corner bodegas a pair of teenagers become unexpected heroes, an immigrant accountant embraces transformation, and two lonely souls, one African American and another Indian, begin to stumble toward each other. ‘Any and every New Yorker knows that living here means the strange, surprising,

Mahira and Debargo’s return

and sometimes magical exchange between strangers,’ Topol has said. ‘Our production captures this energy as five racially and sexually diverse characters collide into and out of one another’s lives in comedic and moving ways.’ Among them is Mahira Kakkar (Ragged Claws, Clive at The New Group, directed by and starring Ethan Hawke) as a dutybound new immigrant whose husband is

in coma because he was shot in a robbery in his Harlem convenience store. She shares her home with Debargo Sanyal (Invasion!, Damages), her brother who begs her to end her husband’s life so that they get insurance money — and he could use part of it to have a sex change surgery. Kakkar and Sanyal are Off-Broadway and regional theater veterans and have been around for a decade. Many of their productions have received raves from major publications, but this play has brought out their best yet. When January Feels Like Summer performs at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 7 pm and Mondays at 7 pm. Matinees are Saturdays at 2 pm and Sundays at 5 pm. Reserved seats are $50, general admission seats are $40 ($32.50 student/seniors). Advance general admission tickets bought before the first preview (October 1st) are $30. To order tickets call 866-811-4111 or visit www.ovationtix.com.

Mahira Kakka, left, and Debargo Sanyal.

GERRY GOODSTEIN

Scars of 1984 in the spotlight

ver 20 years ago, Sarbpreet Singh, a Sikh entrepreneur who was making a new life for himself and his family in America, was still haunted by the mass killings of Sikhs in Delhi following Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination by Sikh bodyguards in 1984. Singh, who was a student in 1984, wrote a poem called Kultar’s Mime based on the horrible, but poignant stories he had read about the attacks and the impact on the bereaved children. The accounts were mostly by non-Sikhs, including human right activist and editor Madhu Kishwar. Few years ago, his daughter Meher J Kaur, a theater student at Smith College, happened to re-read the poem.

Desi View

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

NEW YORK

blew my mind! RUBY BANERJEA

t never fails to amaze me. Every time. As the bus turns around the bend and I can see the New York skyline in front of my eyes in all its urban splendor. The shimmering Hudson snaking its way under the majestic bridges has never lost its appeal and no matter how many times I have been and will be there, it always makes me happy. I have been in New Jersey for 14 years now and the fact that I am only an hour’s bus ride away from New York is strangely comforting. I had visited New York as a tourist many years ago when we were new to this country and it blew my mind! We had done the usual touristy stuff like taking the Circle Line bus tours, the Hudson river cruise, taken the elevator to be on the top of the World Trade Center, and had walked a little around The New Yorker, where we had stayed. It was awesome! My girls were very young and the highlight of the visit was the ride on the double decker tourist bus. It reminded us of the double decker buses in Calcutta, but only better. There was an open roof! I remember how wonderstruck we all were as the bus meandered its way through the streets of the city and how we all tried to crane our necks every which way to take a look at the skyscrapers, and keep listening to the narrator at the same time. It was a short stay and I was sad to leave; my husband

promised to come back again some time. Little did I know that we would be coming to New Jersey and living next door to New York. After relocating we had taken my parents to New York and it was an instant hit with them. I was so surprised when my dad suggested taking the bus to the city by ourselves and not waiting for my husband to take us. He loved it as it reminded him of the streets of Gariahat, a busy shopping area in Calcutta. I had never known him to like the hustle and bustle of the city and he always preferred the quiet solitude of Durgapur (an industrial town in West Bengal) where we had grown up. Maybe New York worked its magic on him. He marveled at the fact that there were people selling their wares on the roadside just like the hawkers in Calcutta. When it comes to earning a living it is interesting how similar the scenes are. I gradually started to get used to Wayne, NJ, where I had moved from Fairfax, Virginia, but was very apprehensive of going to NY. 9/11 had happened, scaring the wits out of me and everybody I knew. However life does go on, and my husband’s job required him to commute through NY. I was terrified when he left for work everyday. Gradually though, my fears and concerns took a back seat and my love for NY surfaced. Even though the subways were a like big underground dragons I learned to push my way through the sea of humanity. The agility required to step into the train with-

KEITH BEDFORD/REUTERS

A sparkling summer day in Bryant Park.

out my feet getting caught in the gap was another story. I followed my husband blindly, holding on to him, through these subway stations and out (and still do), letting go only when outside and up. To this day, I can walk miles through the city as that’s apparently the best way to see NY, but will not, I repeat, not take the subway by myself. I have nothing against them, but the fear of getting on the wrong train and getting completely lost, is my biggest worry. My children have mastered it, and they have tried to push me to try it on my own. I am just not ready. Besides, walking is good for the body and my excuse is just that. I have now, however, learnt to travel to the city by myself, by bus, and walk through the places I enjoy. Bryant Park is my all-time favorite with its beautiful and varied features which keep attracting tourists and residents alike. I love to browse through the bead shops (making jewelry being my passion,) on 6th Ave, walk through the hub of Times Square, and just relax in Bryant Park with their delicious sandwiches and soups. My best incentive to go to New York, however, is to meet my elder daughter who works in the city, and have lunch with her, or to just hang out after work. I am so grateful that even though she is no longer living at home, she is just an hour’s bus ride away. Ruby Banerjea is a New Jersey-based stained glass and mosaic artist, a freelance writer and a homemaker.

Special INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

Monica Dogra’s

MEN ON A PLATTER… And other snapshots from the Myntra Fashion Weekend in Mumbai Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani Monica Dogra debuts womesnwear line at the Myntra Fashion Weekend, October 3 to 5. The singer-and-actress-turned-designer said in an interview that it was her was to ‘commodify male sexuality and present it to women.’

Sushmita Sen closed the show for Rina Dhaka, right. The collection was boho-chic.

Filmmaker Karan Johar’s limited edition Vero Moda Marquee.

Special

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

Monica Dogra’s

MEN ON A PLATTER…

Model-turned-actress Lisa Haydon put together looks from three brands — Girls on Films, Paper Dolls, and Little Mistress.

Aki Narula played with horizontal stripes.

Masaba Gupta showed myriad prints, including the vintage typewriter with occasional neon pops. Myntra.com announced Masaba as the creative director for its fashion brand Anouk.

A Mandira Bedi creation. Her six yards were a mix of traditional handloom and lighter fabrics. Sunil Grover, better known as Gutthi of Comedy Nights with Kapil, closed the show for Bedi.

Bollywood

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

anveer Singh is always high on energy: Fidgeting with his phone, calling his assistant for some cookies, and the next moment, suddenly hug-

ging you. The actor chats about being in a happy space right now, with the first trailer of Kill Dil out, the wrapping up of Dil Dhadakne Do, the start of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani, and exciting endorsements.

Your cameo in Finding Fanny was hilarious. I really enjoy doing cameos. It is just a day’s work and you get to play a new character. I was approached by the director Homi (Adajania) and agreed to do it. I had to go to Goa to shoot it and unfortunately, I got dengue. I was grounded for three months. At home, I would try out different looks — a French beard or growing my side locks, wearing floral shirts — and would send selfies to Homi as a ‘look test.’ I would love to work with him in a fullfledged role. You have an enviable energy and this image extends to your films and television commercials too… I don’t think I have any set image and I don’t want one. If I think I’m getting a particular image, I try and break it. I find it very important to keep the audience guessing and keep them on their toes. Versatility is very high on the list of things I want to achieve. If I am able to do Band Baaja Baraat then I should also be able to do a Lootera. My television commercials and the brands I endorse are completely different from each other. I don’t like to be tagged. I try to keep things light and humorous, which gets misconstrued. How would you describe yourself ? I don’t do anything just for the sake of it. I don’t live my life for the sake of it. I have to do something with everything. I’m not really old, and I’m not really wise and I’ve just started a career, but in my limited experience, I understand the value of opportunities and the fragility of life in general. When I hurt my back while shooting for Lootera, I was lying there not knowing if I could dance or do action ever again. I couldn’t even stand on my feet. Later, I was down with dengue and I hit rock bottom. The doctors told me, ‘you were incredibly fit going into the disease, and that’s why you were able to fight it off.’ Recently, I lost a very close friend and that’s why I don’t take life and life’s opportunities for granted. Every movie I do is the last movie I will ever do. Every ad I do is the last ad I will ever do. Every cameo is my last cameo. Every shot I give is the last shot I will ever give. Was it your idea to endorse a condom brand (a rarity for Indian actors)? Yes, it was my idea. I was in my car

Ranveer Singh chats about what keeps him ticking. Sonil Dedhia listens in

‘If I think I’m getting a particular image, I try and break it’ passing through Juhu beach (suburban Mumbai) and various commercial billboards were passing by and I thought: why doesn’t any mainstream actor endorse condoms? We have evolved as a society; the attitude towards sex has changed and somebody needs to bring that to light otherwise people will keep treating it like it’s taboo. So I asked my people to call Durex because that was the first brand I used. At what age did you first use a condom? At the age of 12! I started everything early; I was way ahead of everybody, so much so that in school all the mothers use to say he is the rotten apple that’s spoiling all our kids. I used to sit in the middle with all the boys around me and I would teach them all weird stuff. They would listen with their mouths open. I had become an expert. I could write a thesis.

I find it very cool when girls hit on me because for a long time, I was a fat kid. I became sexy at a later stage. You are a self-confessed Govinda fan and your next film, Kill Dil, pits you against him. Govinda shines in whatever he does, he is brilliant in every sense. He is my favorite part of the trailer which has just come out. I have grown up watching his films. I am a hardcore Govinda fan and I feel that his talent never got its due; he is still one of the most unexplored talents. He is the stuff of genius. I don’t think I can ever be a patch on him in my life. In school, people used to teasingly call me Junior Govinda. During the annual events in school, I would dance to songs like Meri Pant Bhi Sexy and all the teachers would be stunned. Ever since I started understanding films, he has been the paragon of entertainment

for me — the way he dances, the way he emotes, his comic timing! Tell us about Zoya Akhtar’s Dil Dhadakne Do. Zoya’s film was a break from what (I do by) default. I had to tell Zoya that I needed time to wrap my head around the kind of films she makes. The performances in her films are candid, conversational and natural. She emphasizes the naturalness of things. She doesn’t want her actors to use a lot of make-up, she wants to shoot in natural light, and dialogues must be spoken as if it’s a conversation. Having done theater throughout school and studied it for four years, my default is theatrical, which is why I work so well with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Zoya guided me and helped me a lot. I hope people like my performance in Dil Dhadakne Do as I have attempted something different. Towards the end of the shooting I was feeling like, ‘I need a Bhansali film. I need to shout and cry and do something loud’ (laughs). How are you preparing for your character in Bajirao Mastani? I am really excited about that film. A magnum opus director is making a magnum opus film. The way I plan to prep for Bajirao Mastani and go about things... yes, I will be underground for a considerable amount of time. Once I go into this zone, I want to go into the depths of it. I have to make a physical transformation. I have to shave my head bald. I think I am going to explore myself as an actor creatively as much as I can with this character. I will be going underground for a long time but I think it will be worth it. How would you describe your relationship with Deepika? Deepika is a very special person in my life. I admire her a lot and she is a brilliant actor. Her capabilities were discovered after Cocktail because it became a commercial success, but I had noticed it much earlier, starting with Love Aaj Kal and then Break Ke Baad and Lafange Parindey. She is operating at an advanced level of performance right now. Having worked with her in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela, you have to see it to believe it, the way she works. I can’t think of any actor in today’s time doing double shifts. I remember while shooting for Ram Leela, she was also juggling between Chennai Express and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. What’s your take on the ‘cleavage controversy’ surrounding Deepika? I already spoke about it on Twitter. I said what I had to say about it. Deepika has also put out her final words. I think the topic should be left at that. As a friend of Deepika’s, I am very proud that she stood up against something wrong. I was also very happy to see the amount of support there was for her.

Bollywood

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

The screenplay of Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Othello and Hamlet — that turned into Maqbool, Omkara and Haider, respectively — have now been turned into books. The cast of all three movies came together for the book launch, in Mumbai recently. Extreme left, the father-son duo Pankaj Kapur and Shahid Kapoor. Kapur Sr was in Maqbool, while Shahid took centrestage in Haider. Left, Vivek Oberoi and Konkona Sen Sharma discuss their Othello-inspired multistarrer.

Below, Tabu and Irrfan Khan launch the book Maqbool.

ALL THAT GLITTERS

A PEEK INTO THE WEEK’S GLITZIEST TINSEL TOWN EVENTS

From extreme right, cousins Kajol and Rani Mukerji enjoy Durga Puja at an event started by their family in Mumbai decades ago.

Above from left, singer Usha Uthup with Mukerji’s mother-in-law Pamela Chopra and mother Krishna. Right, Sushmita Sen with her younger daughter Alisha.

India in New York October 10, 2014

Bollywood INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

ALL THAT GLITTERS

A PEEK INTO THE WEEK’S GLITZIEST TINSEL TOWN EVENTS

Snapshots from GQ India’s annual Men of The Year Awards in Mumbai.

Clockwise from top, the Ultimate GQ Man: Arjun Kapoor, Woman of the Year: Kangana Ranaut, winner of the GQ award for Excellence: Priyanka Chopra, the Most Stylish: Varun Dhawan, Alex Kuruvilla of Conde Nast India with GQ Icon Tommy Hilfiger, and Designer of the Year: Raghavendra Rathore.

Bollywood

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

fter judging and hosting reality shows, actress Sonali Bendre makes her acting debut on the telly with Ekta Kapoor’s Ajeeb Daastaan

HITESH HARISINGHANI

Hain Ye. The series, which began October 7 on Life Ok, has Bendre playing a tenacious woman, Shobha, who fights for her family’s well-being. She is happy and content in her own little world until her politician husband, Samarth (Harsh Chhaya) is put behind bars for breach of information. The actress discusses her acting comeback with India in New York. What prompted you to act in a television serial? I never thought of doing a fiction show, but here I am! This show means a lot to me. I couldn’t have said no to the character I play in it. Shobha has always been a housewife. For her to step outside is a huge deal. I connected with the role because my mother used to always tell me and my sisters that we have to be independent and enter into relationships as independent individuals, as people who could fend for themselves. She always said that if you don’t want to work later, that’s okay. She was a housewife so she knew what she was talking about. It resonated with me and connected to my character. An important reason for doing the show is that it’s a finite show. Our episodes are fixed and we have a graph. What was your husband Goldie Behl’s reaction? I wasn’t ready to hear the story of the show so Ajit Thakkur (executive vice president and general manager, Life Ok) called Goldie and requested him to convince me to hear him out.

Battle over Chitra’s book

ndian-American author Chitra B Divakaruni is embroiled in a battle with the makers of the TV show Mera Naseeb, which was first aired on the Pakistani channel Hum TV April 1, 2011 and is now being aired on an Indian television channel, Zindagi. The Mumbai Mirror reports that Divakaruni has alleged that the show stole the plot from her novel Sister of My Heart and and that she had sold the rights to Manish Goswami, the producer of hit shows like Kitty Party and Aashirwad. Goswami tells the Indian newspaper, ‘I almost fell off the chair when I saw Mera Naseeb. I bought the rights and I’m making a show based on the novel with Chitra’s permission. I had completed the pre-production and am in talks with a channel that has shown keen interest.’ The report adds, ‘Chitra has been in touch with Goswami, who has received a mail from the Chitra B Divakaruni author’s manager stating, “As the current rights holder, would you approach the producer first to tell them to cease and desist? I’ll write in as well to support the fact that we have a license.”’

ÂI never thought of doing a fiction show, but here I am!Ê Sonali Bendre speaks to Rajul Hegde about making her acting debut on television When I heard the story, I was floored. The character of Shobha was amazing. What nailed it further for me was the fact that I was playing my age. Mentally and physically, I am in a different space, and I do not want to do something that will not suit my real-life persona. I am really enjoying playing this role and I am glad that I took it up. Working in a daily soap means long working hours. How are you going to balance work and family? I have allotted a certain amount of time to Balaji (the production house). They will have to finish my shoot within that time. I am not being difficult. I leave my son and come on the sets, so after those allotted hours are over, it will always be my son’s time. I have no doubt in my mind about where my priority lies. You have worked with all the Khans of Bollywood. For the first time you are acting with television actors like Apurva

Agnihotri and Harsh Chhaya. What was the experience like? I don’t think telly actors are inferior to Bollywood stars in any way. Harsh is a fine performer and he brings out the best in me. Apurva too is amazing and very professional. He is looking great in this show. Apurva said in an interview that he had a crush on you. Really! Oh my God! I didn’t know that. Maybe he is just pulling my leg. I will let the whole team know that he has a crush on me! Let’s see how they react (smiles). What do you think is the most challenging part of working in a daily soap? For a movie actor, the biggest challenge on TV is the number of close-up shots. In a movie there are multiple camera angles and on days when an actor is not looking or feeling her best, some portions can be filmed in a long shot. Television does not offer this luxury and one must be close-up ready all the time. The grammar of television is different from that of films. Films are based on the big screen and viewed in a dark theatre. Television is on a small screen, inside someone’s living room, so you have to grab their attention while they are having dinner or cooking or doing something else. Was there any talk about you doing a television show when you did a cameo in the film Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara (produced by Ekta Kapoor)? I did a cameo because Shobha aunty (Shobha Kapoor) called my mother- inlaw and she convinced me to do it. But this offer came through the channel. My mother- in-law thinks I’m more beautiful than all the other faces around. She keeps encouraging me to take up more work (smiles).

Will they? Won’t they?

After actor Dhanush, left, tweeted this picture from the sets of Shamitabh, it has been confirmed that actress Rekha, right, is a part of the Amitabh Bachchan starrer. What is, however, not confirmed is whether the veteran stars — last seen together on screen in the 1981 film Silsila — will share the same frame. Guess we will just have to wait and watch.

Bollywood

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

Farhan Akhtar

Kajol out, Kareena in

Farhan may go behind the camera again

First look

Shah Rukh Khan decided to give his fans a little surprise this Eid. He posted a picture of his son AbRam. ‘Eid Al Adha Mubarak to everyone. May all have the happiness that life has to offer. The littlest one wishes you too,’ he tweeted.

Mary Kom makes way for Dhyan Chand

roducer-filmmaker Karan Johar has bought the rights to make a biopic on hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, NDTV reported. Dhyan Chand, who died in 1979, played at a time when India dominated hockey. He was given the epithet ‘Wizard’ for his skills on the playing field and scored over 400 goals in his career. He played his last match in 1948. Though no details have been revealed yet, we hope the actor chosen to play the hockey legend is someone who rightfully qualifies and deserves the part rather than Dharma Productions’ regulars. Major Dhyan Chand

ctor Kajol, who was set to return to the silver screen after a gap of four years, has now opted out of her comeback project, The Times of India reported. The film has now been offered to Kareena Kapoor. The film is based on Dutch television series Penoza and will be directed by Ram Madhvani. Penoza is the story of Carmen who steps into the world of crime after her husband is murdered, to protect her children. Kareena, who last worked with Kajol in Karan Johar’s We Are Family, liked the script, but further details are yet to be finalized. Meanwhile, we hear Kajol was offered Rensil D’Silva’s television show. But more on that later.

COURTESY: TWITTER.COM/IAMSRK

Kajol, left, and Kareena Kapoor.

HITESH HARISINGHANI

t has been over three years since Farhan Akhtar directed a film. And the director in him is urging him to wield the megaphone once again, he told Hindustan Times. ‘The urge to don the director’s hat has begun to grow, but I have three film commitments right now,’ Farhan said. ‘I have categorically told myself not to think of anything beyond them.’ Talking about any script that might have grabbed his interest, he said, ‘We all have scripts that stay with us for years together, like Zoya’s (Akhtar; sister, film-maker) Luck By Chance was in preproduction for seven years. In my case, I wrote the script of Voice Of The Sky right after Dil Chahta Hai.’ According to rumors, he was also rewriting the script for Dev Benegal’s film. ‘No, it’s a great script,’ said Farhan, refuting the buzz. ‘I loved it. It is very unfortunate that it didn’t happen at the time when we wanted it to. Hopefully, it will work out. In fact, I told Dev about two and a half weeks ago, before he left for New York, that we should meet again, as it is a great script. The film will happen if the timing is right.’

ctors Fawad Khan and Sonam Kapoor will be appearing together in the cinematic translation of Anuja Chauhan’s book Battle for Bittora, the Daily News and Analysis reported. Sources say Sonam’s father Anil Kapoor has purchased the rights of the book and the movie will be produced by sister Rhea Kapoor, featuring Khoobsurat co-stars Sonam and Fawad in lead roles. Battle for Bittora is a love story between 25-year-old Jimmi and Zain Altaf, set against the bitter backdrop of politics in Mumbai.

Sonam, Fawad to reunite

India in New York October 10, 2014

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Food

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

Dodha INGREDIENTS 4 cup milk 1½ cup heavy cream 1½ cups sugar 3 tbsp fine cracked wheat or dalia 3 tbsp clarified butter or ghee 1 cup crushed cashews or kaju 1 cup crushed almonds or badam 2 tsp cocoa powder (this adds color and not flavor) 2 tbsp sliced pistachios for the garnish

TASTE of HOME Try these simple but lip-smackingly good Diwali sweet recipes

Dodha

SHAILJA TOMAR

METHOD In a small pan or wok roast the cracked wheat in 2 tbsp of the ghee over medium heat, till it turns brown. Set aside. In a heavy-bottomed pan, over medium high heat the milk, and heavy cream. Boil till mixture thickens ie for about 40 minutes, stir occasionally and scrape the milky residue that accumulates on the sides. Add the roasted cracked wheat and sugar. Mix well. Keep cooking for about 20 more minutes, stirring occasionally, scraping the sides. Add cocoa powder. Mix well. Add 1 tbsp ghee, cashews, almonds. Stir continuously till mixtures has become like soft dough and start leaving the sides of the pan and oozes fat. This should take about 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the Dodha mixture to a 12-inch plate, shaping it into circle or square, ½ inch thick. Sprinkle the pistachios over Dodha and lightly press them in. While Dodha is still warm cut them in about one inch square. This sweet will stay good for about a week at room temperature and in the refrigerator for 2-3 months.

Rajasthani Ghevar

hot. Check temperature by dropping a small portion of the batter into the ghee/oil. If it swiftly floats to the surINGREDIENTS face and doesn’t stick to the bottom For the Ghevar: it is hot enough. 2 cups all-purpose flour Take a spoonful of batter — use a ¼ cup clarified butter or ghee big ladle— and pour it in the middle ¼ cup milk of the wok in a thin stream from as 4 cups water high as a foot. The greater the Slivers of almonds and pistachio for height, the better the texture. As the garnish soon as the batter touches the hot A drop or two yellow food color ghee, bubbles start to appear. If the (optional) bubbles are vigorous enough stop Clarified butter/ghee or oil for frying pouring for a while and continue (half ghee and half oil is a good later. After the first spoon, wait for a option) few seconds till the bubbles settle, and then pour the second spoonful. For sugar syrup: Repeat this for 3-4 times or as need2 cups sugar ed depending up on the size of the 1 cup water wok and how much batter it will accommodate — the bigger the wok METHOD the more number of spoons For the sugar syrup: required. If the ghee is not hot Combine sugar and water in a enough, the batter will start sticking wide, shallow pan and simmer till it to the bottom so keep the heat going. reaches a 1 string consistency. As you pour in the batter, it will start scattering and collect near the For the Ghevar: sides of the wok in a circular fashion. In a large bowl whip the ghee with As you keep adding more batter, a few ice cubes till the mixture turns the disc starts taking its correct white-ish. Add the milk, flour and shape. If the batter tends to stay in one cup of the water to make a batthe middle of the oil/ghee, after ter. Add food color (if using) into the pouring, use the back of a wooden balance water and add as much of spoon to gently move it to the sides. the colored water to make a freeKeep on increasing the center space flowing batter. Fill a kadhai or wok with the back of the wooden spoon. more than half with ghee/oil and After 3 or 4 rounds of pouring, a heat on high till the ghee is really complete disc will be formed. Let this disc turn golden brown on medium heat. The sides will be slightly more golden. Rajasthani Ghevar Take the disc out of the oil/ghee carefully by inserting the back of the wooden spoon in the middle and lifting the whole Ghevar out. Now immerse the Ghevar in the hot syrup with the help of the back of the wooden spoon and take it out after 5-10 seconds. Do not keep the Ghevar in the syrup extra or it will become soggy and wet. Garnish with almonds and pistachios. Let the sugar-coated Ghevar dry open for about an hour. Then store in closed containers and refrigerate. Dry Ghevar without syrup can easily be stored for 15 days. Dip in syrup and serve hot. — Shailja Tomar

— Shailja Tomar SHAILJA TOMAR

PAGE 21 g

Food

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

Besan Ladoos

TASTE of HOME f PAGE 20

Milk Cake INGREDIENTS 2 litres (approximately 8 cups) milk 150 gm (approximately 2/3 cup) sugar 2 tbsp ghee 2 tbsp liquid glucose (available in grocery stores) ½ tsp alum (available in grocery stores)

Coconut Ladoos

SHIKHA GOEL

INGREDIENTS 200 gm desiccated coconut flakes or powder 1 tin or 400 gm sweetened condensed milk 100 gm milk solid or khoya or mawa 2 or 3 tbsp coconut powder for dusting Slivers almond or pistachios for the garnish METHOD Heat condensed milk in a non-stick pan on low. Add the coconut powder and khoya. Stir continuously, always on low heat. When the mixture starts leaving the sides of the pan take off heat. Allow the mixture cool. Take small portions and make small 1inch balls. Roll/dust them in extra coconut flakes. Garnish with almond/ pistachio slivers. — Shikha Goel

Mango Halwa

METHOD In a large, thick-bottomed, non-stick kadhai bring the milk to boil on high heat. Add the powered alum and sugar. Continue to cook, stirring continuously, for about 1½ hours, or till the milk becomes grainy and begins to thicken. Add the ghee and liquid glucose. Mix well. Continue to cook till the mixture begins to leave the sides of the kadhai. Pour the mixture to a tray or thali greased with ghee. Cover and allow to cool. Ideally cover the mixture and set aside for four to five hours. Cut into rectangular pieces. — Souvik Mukherjee

Malai Ladoos INGREDIENTS ½ cup sweetened condensed milk 200 gm (3/4 cup approximately) coarsely crumbled cottage cheese or paneer 1 tsp edible rose water For the garnish: A pinch cardamom powder A few sliced pistachio A few strands saffron METHOD On a work surface, knead the paneer with the base of your palm till it has a nice creamy texture. Heat the paneer in a pan with the condensed milk on low heat till the mix-

mango pulp. Keep stirring till the pulp is well blended. Cover. Simmer for another 1 or 2 minutes or till it starts leaving the sides of the pan.

INGREDIENTS ½ cup semolina or suji 1¼ cups frozen or fresh mango pulp ½ cup sugar (less if the mango pulp is sweet) 2 tbsp ghee 1 tsp ghee (additional) 1 cup water ½ cup milk Mango Halwa A pinch saffron 2 tsp warm milk 1½ tbsp mixed nuts, chopped

Besan Ladoo

SONAL GUPTA

INGREDIENTS 1/3 cup ghee (vegans can opt for coconut oil) ½ cup chickpea flour or besan ½ cup sugar or to taste (sugar substitutes can be used as well) ¼ tsp cardamom or elaichi powder 8-10 strands saffron or kesar 4-5 almonds, chopped fine or into slivers METHOD Heat the ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan over low heat. Add the besan, cardamom powder and saffron threads to the ghee. Roast over the lowest heat for 10-12 minutes, stirring continuously, till the besan no longer smells raw and gives off a roasted fragrance and the flour is slightly pinkish (do not allow it to brown. Brown means burnt ;). Take off heat. Let it cool to room temperature. Add sugar and mix gently into the mixture with your hands till you have a grainy dough. Take 1 tbsp or 1½ tbsp mixture in your hand and roll into ladoos. Makes 8 ladoos. Decorate each ladoo with chopped almonds on top. — Sonal Gupta

Add the nuts. Add 1 tsp of ghee. Garnish with dry nuts. Serve warm.

ture starts to leave the edges and it condenses and solidifies some. Add rose water. Mix well and allow to cool. When it is at room temperature, take a handful of the mixture and shape them into one-inch diameter balls. Garnish – this is optional — with cardamom powder, slices of pista and saffron strands. Makes about 12 ladoos

—Sai Priya

—Shikha Goel

Date Rolls INGREDIENTS 500 grams seedless black dates. 2 tbsp cream 6-8 Marie biscuits Chopped dry fruit Sliced almonds for decoration METHOD Chop the dates — biggish pieces. In a kadhai, heat 2 tbsp cream. When it starts to bubble add the dates. Mix well. And keep pressing with a spatula, rather than mixing, over heat for 10 minutes. At 6-8 Marie biscuits, powdered and dry fruits. Mix well. Roll into 3 rolls. Cool. Coat the rolls with leftover biscuit powder and refrigerate for a couple of hours. Cut into slices and press an almond in the center.

METHOD Soak saffron in 2 tsp of warm milk. Heat 2 tbsp of the ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan. Roast the semolina till golden. Add the water and milk. Cook till it starts to thicken. Mix in the sugar. The mixture should started to thicken. Add the SAI PRIYA

—Vishaka Rautela

The Week That Was INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

An Indian villager stands next to the wall of a house that locals say was damaged by firing from the Pakistan side of the border at Arnia village, near Jammu, October 6.

Five killed, 34 injured in heavy shelling by Pakistan

Five civilians were killed and 34 others injured in heavy shelling by Pakistani troops on forward villages and posts along the international border in Arnia sector of Jammu October 6. The injured, including a Border Security Force trooper, were evacuated to nearby hospitals. Pakistan troops have been resorting to heavy firing and mortar shelling since October 1. There have been over 100 ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control in recent months. With tension prevailing, the traditional exchange of sweets between the troops of India and Pakistan along the Wagah border in Punjab on Eid was called off. India asked Pakistan to put an immediate end to ceasefire violations along the border in Jammu and Kashmir. ‘Pakistan should realize that the situation in India has changed now,’ Home Minister Rajnath Singh told media persons on the sidelines of a function October 6. Meanwhile, the United States Treasury Department October 1 slapped sanctions on the leaders and financial supporters of two terrorists group in Pakistan, the Harkat-ulMujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. The action froze the assets they might have in any US jurisdiction.

Karnataka High court denies bail to Jayalalithaa

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister and All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam supremo J Jayalalithaa was denied bail by the Karnataka high court October 7 in connection with the disproportionate assets case. Justice A V Chandrashekhara turned down Jayalalthaa's plea despite special public prosecutor Bhavani Singh stating that the prosecution had no objection in granting conditional bail to her. Earlier, senior counsel Ram Jethmalani, appearing for Jayalalithaa, had pleaded that she

MUKESH GUPTA/REUTERS

must be granted immediate bail pending hearing of her appeal against the verdict of the special court. Jayalalithaa was sentenced to 4 years in prison in an 18-year-old corruption case September 29.

West Bengal: Explosion kills two militants

Two suspected militants were killed and another injured in an explosion in a house where they were living inhabited by them in Burdwan, West Bengal October 2. Rajira Bibi alias Rumi hailing from Karimpur in Nadia district and Amina Bibi who belong to Lalbagh in Murshidabad district in West Bengal were arrested in this connection from Khargragarh October 5.

33 dead in Dussehra stampede in Bihar

Thirty-three people were killed and 21 injured in a stampede that broke out October 3 at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna, shortly after the Dussehra celebrations ended. The tragedy occured at the southeast corner of the grounds when people exiting the area after watching the Ravana Vadh (burning of the effigy of Ravana) jostled each other, said the police. The Bihar government vowed to punish those responsible for ‘lapses’ that led to the stampede. Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday demanded slapping of a murder case against the civil and police officers responsible, who were since been transferred. While the Bihar government said the main opposition party was trying to politicising the incident.

Women should not wear jeans: Yesudas

Legendary singer K J Yesudas suggested women should avoid wearing jeans as it goes against Indian culture. At a function organized for celebrating Gandhi Jayanti in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Yesudas said, ‘Women should not cause trouble to others by wearing jeans... What should be covered should be covered.’

PAGE 23

The Week That Was

INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

f PAGE 22 Taking exception to the singer’s comment, activists from Kerala unit of the Congress women’s wing took out a protest march in the city.

Girl beheaded in Meghalaya, father arrested

The beheaded body of a teenage girl with her arms also chopped off was recovered from a jungle near Songsak road in East Garo Hills district of Meghalaya October 6. The 15-year-old was missing for a week and suspected to have been raped before murder, the police said. A missing report was filed by her stepfather September 28, but he was arrested after an First Information Report was lodged by the girl’s mother.

Sundays to be ‘dry’ in Kerala

Kerala observed the first ‘Dry Sunday’ October 5 as all foreign liquor outlets and bars remained shut. As per the latest Abkari policy of the government, all Sundays will be dry days. The state government had already shut down 39 outlets of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation and Kerala State Cooperative Consumers Federation from October 2.

Missing child comes home, thanks to social media

Three-year-old, Jahnvi Ahuja, who went missing from Delhi’s India Gate September 28, was found October 5 with her head shaved and a placard around her neck with her name. After she went missing, her family undertook a massive social media campaign and put out her photos on Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp that read she was missing along with her father’s name and contact number.

Congress cries foul over Modi radio talk, complains to Election Commission

Muslims offer Eid al-Adha prayers in front of the Taj Mahal in Agra, October 6.

REUTERS

On a festive note!

Congress approached the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi October 5. The party wrote a letters to the chief election commissioner accusing Modi of ‘misusing state machinery’ and ‘abusing authority’ over the broadcast of his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address on All India Radio ahead of Assembly polls. It said the program was broadcast on October 3 in contravention of the instructions issued by EC after the model code of conduct for the polls had already come into force.

‘IM chief used to send money to kin of his jailed men’

Indian Mujahideen co-founder Riyaz Bhatkal not only used to send funds for terror acts across India but also regularly provided money to families of the jailed and absconding operatives of the banned outfit, the National Investigation Agency told a special court in New Delhi October 6.

Uttar Pradesh: Train collision kills 12, injures 45

12 people were killed and 45 injured as two speeding passenger trains collided near Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, September 30. The Krishak Express, traveling from Varanasi to Gorakhpur, hit the Barauni Express, going from Lucknow to Barauni, around 7 miles from Gorakhpur.

Modi launches Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi October 2 launched the country’s biggest-ever cleanliness drive, the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, from Rajpath, New Delhi. At least 3 million central government employees working across the country and hundreds of school and college students took the pledge of cleanliness. The project aims to clean every city, town and village across India by 2019.

Earthen miniature temples used during Diwali are put to dry at a workshop in Chandigarh, October 4.

New Delhi: African students attacked

Three students of African origin — Mapaga and Yohan from Gabon and Guira from Burkina Faso — were nearly lynched by a mob in front of a policeman at Rajiv Chowk metro station in New Delhi September 28. The ambassadors of Gabon and Burkina Faso took serious note of the attack and wrote to the ministry of external affairs urging the government to ‘work in close cooperation with police for a fair investigation.’

Assam: Floods claim 67 lives

The death toll in the Assam floods rose to 67 October 1. More than 4,200,000 people from 4,446 villages have been affected. The central government October 1 said it will give Rs 674 crore ($108.84 million) to the State Disaster Response Fund to help the Assam government.

AJAY VERMA/REUTERS

3 officers killed in army helicopter clash

An army helicopter crashed October 1 moments after taking off from an airbase in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, killing the two pilots and an engineer. Eyewitnesses said the chopper appeared to be in trouble moments after taking off. It soon caught fire and crashed at the airbase.

Bihar: Minister attacked, car set on fire

An angry crowd attacked Bihar minister Vinay Bihari and set his car on fire September 29. Though the minister was not in the vehicle at the time of the assault, he was injured after a mob pelted stones at him. The incident took place when Bihari went to inaugurate a concert near Patna. The audience of nearly 50,000 people tried to rush towards the stage and a mob threw stones at the minister when the police pushed them back.

Sports INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

India may claim sole No 1 spot in ICC rankings I

ndia has a chance to become the sole No 1 team, a position currently shared with South Africa, in the International Cricket Council ODI rankings if the hosts blank West Indies 5-0 in the series starting October 8 in Kochi. If India wins all five matches of the series, they will rise to 116 ratings point and grab sole position on top of the table, the ICC said in a statement. A 4-1 win for India and 3-0 win for Australia against Pakistan in the UAE will put both the sides on 114 ratings points, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side will retain the No 1 position by a fraction of a point. In the individual rankings, third-ranked Virat Kohli will be aiming to reclaim the No 1 spot in the ODI batsmen’s list when he takes the field against the West Indies. Kohli surged to the top of the table earlier this year but slipped after missing the series against Bangladesh. He

ANDREW BIRAJ/REUTERS

now trails number-one ranked A B de Villiers by 24 ratings points. The skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (6th) and opener Shikhar Dhawan (7th) are the other India batsmen featuring among the top 10. For the West Indies, Darren Bravo (37th) is the highranked batsman, while Lendl Simmons is on 40th position. Both will be looking to gain ground on their nearest competitors when the action gets underway.

In the ICC Players Rankings for ODI Bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja is India’s top ranked bowler in 5th spot, 13 points shy of England’s James Anderson. In Sunil Narine’s absence, 18th placed Kemar Roach is the West Indies top ranked bowler and he will be keen to progress up the leaderboard. Jadeja also has a chance to climb the rankings for allrounders as he currently sits in third place, five points off Sri Lanka’s Mathews.

earing up for the pace test that awaits India in Australia come December, batsman Rohit Sharma said the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle would be a tough challenge to deal with but the Indians are no longer intimidated by bouncy tracks Down Under. ‘Australia will be a challenging tour for us. Mentally, each and every cricketer has a different way of preparing or doing their respective homework for a tour,’ Sharma said. ‘I am no different and I will also have my plans in place as we come nearer to the time of the tour.’ Talking about the Australian players, he said, ‘Facing the likes of Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris will be a stern test. But we have faced Dale Steyn, More Morkel in South Africa. We have played on bouncy as well as seaming pitches in South Africa, New Zealand and England in the past one year.Also, most of us have been to Australia before and know what to expect from pitches out there. It will be a good preparation for us before the World Cup, next year.’ The tour includes four Test matches starting December 4 in Brisbane. The series’

Rohit Sharma

TONY MARSHALL/GETTY IMAGES

‘Australia tour will be a good preparation before the World Cup’ G

other games will be played in Adelaide (December 12 to December 16), Melbourne (December 26 to December 30) and Sydney

(January 3 to January 7). After a break, the one day tri-series will start January 16, the finale of which will take place February 1 in Perth. Sharma has been more consistent as a batsman after he started opening the batting for India in one day matches and he admitted as much. ‘Opening the batting for India changed me as a player,’ he said. ‘My perspective on building an innings has improved tremendously since I started opening the batting. I believe I have become a better overall cricketer once I started opening the batting.’ Ajinkya Rahane has also done well as an opener in England ODIs and Rohit does not feel that there is any competition between him and the fellow player. ‘I have loved my role as an opener but I am proud of what Ajinkya has achieved in England,’ he said. ‘For me, it does not matter which position I am batting as long as I am making a contribution to team’s cause. If I am told to open by the team management, I would humbly accept it and if I told to bat in the middle-order, it will be an equal honor. I have no choices or

preferences as far as batting slots are concerned.’ The right-hander was castigated from all quarters for playing a lofted drive at the stroke of tea time during India’s third Test against England at Southampton but the 27-year-old does not regret playing that shot against off-spinner Moeen Ali. ‘I agree that the dismissal at Southampton is one of the disappointing ones in my international career,’ Rohit said. ‘But if you ask whether I regret playing that shot, then I would say no. I had a plan in my mind but I couldn’t execute that plan properly. The dejection is there because of nonexecution.’ Sharma, who had to return home with a fractured finger during the England series, said he is on course for a comeback soon. ‘You feel bad but in sports injuries will happen and I have learnt to live with it,’ he said. ‘I am in a happy space as far as my rehabilitation is concerned. I am aiming to make a comeback during the Test series but will only come back when I am completely match-fit.’ On a different note, when asked whether he would like some extra padding on his gloves since he has now had a fracture twice, the batsman answered in the negative. ‘I know a lot of batsman use extra cushion on their gloves but I have never felt comfortable with that idea,’ he said. ‘I feel that my hand maneuvering will suffer due to that.’

Sports INDIA IN NEW YORK OCTOBER 10, 2014

Nita Ambani launches ISL trophy

he glittering trophy, which will be awarded to the winner of the Indian Super League, was unveiled by chair of IMGReliance, Nita Ambani, in the presence of icons Alessandro Del Piero and Fredrik Ljungberg among others in Mumbai October 5. Designed by Frazer And Haws, the Hero ISL trophy stands 26 inches. The logo on the top band has the ISL colors assigned to it and the handles are ornately carved and embellished with 24 karat gilt to imbue a sense of pride when held up. Joining Ambani on the stage were soccer legends of eight ISL clubs – Ljungberg (Mumbai City FC), Del Piero (Delhi Dynamos FC), Joan Capdevila (NorthEast United FC), David Trezeguet (FC Pune City), Robert Pirès (FC Goa), Mikaël Silvestre (Chennaiyin FC), Luis Garcia (Atlético de Kolkata) and David James (Kerala Blasters FC). ‘It’s a momentous day for all of us today as I stand along with the world’s soccer legends to unveil the pride of ISL,’ Ambani said. ‘As these role models have inspired hundreds of thousands of players worldwide, I am sure the ISL trophy will also stand as a symbol of aspiration for many youngsters in an emergent India.’ Talking about the trophy, Ambani said, ‘The ISL trophy is detailed to perfection by Indian artisans who were trained in London, thus exemplifying the genius of Indian artistry and world-class craftsmanship. Its ‘made in India’ design embodies our love and passion for this beautiful game and it equally represents our ‘made for world’ aspirations.’

Nita Ambani, center, with ISL players during the unvieling of the trophy in Mumbai, October 5.

Katsouranis arrives John Abraham confident of NE United in India to play for FC Pune City

ctor John Abraham, co-owner of Northeast United FC, is confident that the club would give a tough fight to other teams at the upcoming Indian Super League. ‘I am confident that Northeast United will give a tough fight to other teams,’ John said. ‘We have a very good chance to win. We have chosen our players carefully and we have the best team possible. We have a great team, great coach and a great trainer.’ Unveiling the black, red and white jersey of the Northeast United FC, the Bollywood heartthrob said, ‘The three most dominant colors of the North East region is in our jerseys.’ Assamese singer Angaraag Papon Mahanta, who has composed and produced the Club’s anthem, said, ‘We are full of life, energy and love.’

eteran Greek soccer legend and 2014 World Cupper Kostas Katsouranis arrived to play for FC Pune City in the Indian Super League, starting October 12. A former Benfica defender Katsouranis recently led the Greek soccer team in their campaign at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in the absence of regular skipper Giorgos Karagounis. The defensive midfielder will join the likes of former Juventus star David Trezeguet at FC Pune City before they begin their ISL campaign against Delhi Dynamos in New Delhi October 13. Kostas comes with a reputation of being a wall of a defender for his team, and has years of experience playing for top notch clubs like AK-Athens and Benfica.

Dhoni the biker creates a stir at Buddh Circuit

Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the Buddh International Circuit.

ahendra Singh Dhoni took time out for his passion for biking at the Buddh International Circuit, in Gurgaon October 5. The presence of cricketers is known to cause chaos and the scenes were no different at India’s only Formula One track. Dhoni showed up to promote a bike festival. All attention turned towards the Indian captain the moment he arrived in the presence of a sparse crowd. After spending substantial time looking at a variety of vintage and

sports bikes, Dhoni joined a bunch of riders for one lap of the track in a Yamaha R1. One of the garages was dedicated to Dhoni’s prized possessions ranging from the mighty Hellcat to the obsolete Yamaha RD350, a bike he could not afford to buy once upon a time. Now he has got as many as 30 of those outdated machines. ‘It was a great experience to be here,’ Dhoni said. ‘I could not take my eyes off some of the machines on display. I wanted people to see how my bike is different from theirs. You

can’t try these powerful bikes on the road so to be able to see them and know about them is fantastic thing for me.’ As fans and media were kept at a distance from the star cricketer, someone who was with Dhoni throughout his time at BIC, said he promised to drop in quietly sometime soon. Dhoni zoomed around BIC in his Hellcat early last year. He was accompanied by batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and speedster Ishant Sharma then.

India in New York October 10, 2014

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a De celebrates Author Shobhaatime has come country whose

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aka Singh Rana Wrestler Dalip with India’s The Great Khali Patil at President Pratibha May 6 Rashtrapati Bhavan,

INDEX

.......................................A2

Letters to the Editor .......................A4 ..........A44 People............................................ Immigration........................................... ................A38 Business........................................... ...........A32 Community........................................... .................M1 Magazine.......................................... ......................A46 Sports........................................... ...............A37 41 Events........................................... Pages: 56+12=68

EDITION

York Toronto NY/NJ/CT New Los Angeles

Sameer Ahuja helms Sports Museum of America May 16, 2008

magazine

The International

GEORGE JOSEPH áå kÉï vçêâ forMichael Bloomberg York Mayor of America When New into the Sports Museum dream transform mally inaugurated Ahuja saw a May 7, Sameer multivibrant reality. first and only interactive, proved an The nation's museum experience before its media all-sports people lining the street from across the street instant hit, with entrance, just get in. The building to 26, Broadway Liberty ferry, Company, the Statue of Standard Oil housed the had earlier D Rockefeller. the street, so he on founded by John spent all night be the first visitor "One person could museum," to enter the Ahuja, the Delhi-born Chief the museum's and its Operating Officer Philip with co-founder Schwalb, said. cele"The museum sports. all brates sports, millions of There are sports. various fans for houses The museum is no them all. There anythis place like Ahuja where," a proud lives said. The museum he gives up to the billing more than Sameer Ahuja it: It houses movies and 20 original variAZIZ HANIFFA 1,100 photos, experience 600 artifacts, Visitors get to through áå t~ëÜáåÖíçåI a` within 19 galleries.related memorabilia, end up and and week showous sports, presentations, histories of Security last memof Homeland detailed interactive multimedia six foreign-born The Department studying the soldier, one of ceremony spending hours events. out cased an India-born at a special naturalization big-ticket sportsis unmissable: Tourists coming bers of the military, to Lady United States. a soldier in the US the of museum obeisance The for new citizens Sandeep Singh, 23, after paying Team, by 24-foot phoColor Guard of Battery Park Ludhiana-born in their tracks athInfantry Continentalto serve his adopted Liberty are stopped legend Babe Ruth, stories the desire Army's 3rd US names from "followed his tographs of baseball said he had terrorist attacks of 9/11." and other iconic 21 countries lete Jesse Owens sport. nation after the 26 men and women from by museum feet American of Allegiance square annals He was among the Oath of range of the 100,000 and Immigration The interior sports fan; seminal exhibits report who were administered US Citizenship the Sandeep Singh King's school Mall. is manna for director of the icon Billie Jean celebrating historic on these Scharfen, acting in the ceremony at the National from tennis had taken place of variJonathan 'Jock' memorabilia of the DHS, such an event part card through Page A8 US history that museums; the event was Service, an appendage third time in Recognition Week. It was only the bounded by the Smithsonian of Public Service are Page A8 the celebration grounds, which connected with ous activities

Superstar India

India-born 9/11 inspires America soldier to defend

Weekly Newspaper

Author Shobhaa De celebrates a country whose time has come

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050815AY

ASTROLOGY

filming, and music for your special occasions. Call Raja (516) 354-0909;

Wedding Service

www.shriproductions.com

SAI

PAAN

Jasmine Garlands,

010215AY

GARLAND.

Gajara,

Merrigold

Mandap,

Tulsi,.

Bananna leaves etc. Call Bhanu Shetty

(718)

446-6060,

(732) 549-6465.

112114AY

All fares subject to availability and changes without notice. Restrictions apply.

BEAUTY INSTITUTE

NY Flushing Beauty Institute NEW YORK STATE LICENCED BEAUTY SCHOOL • Cosmetology (Hairs) • Esthetics (Skin Care) • Nail Technology • Waxing

Knowledge is Power

WE PROVIDE THESE TUITIONS Nails, Skin Care, Cosmetology, Waxing

YES! You Can.

36-09 Main St., 6 FL, Flushing, NY 11354

718.461.5252

Closing Day for

BUSINESS SERVICES DIRECTORY ADS

Wednesday at 4.00pm Call: 646.432.6026

India in New York October 10, 2014