Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
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Friday, March 19, 2010 | Vol. 29, No. 12
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In IAN this Week
IAA Season Begins with a Sold Out Concert
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Rahat, Enigmatic Sufi Guru to Perform in Houston Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, nephew of qawwali maestro Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is to perform in Houston on April 24. Rahat has been the voice of many popular Indian songs and has also lended his voice in the soundtrack of Mel Gibson’s movie Apocalypto.
Shanthi: A Journey of Peace Raises Over $120,000 to Benefit AIM for Seva
Colorful Night Images Debuts at Fotofest 2010
Story on Pg 3
BAPS Hosts Annual Women’s Conference Story on Pg 6
Fommy.com Revolutionzing the Wireless World Story on Pg 25
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Governor Rick Perry Appoints Sara Abraham to Texas Board of Professional Counselors AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Sarah Abraham of Sugar Land to the Texas State Board of Professional Counselors for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013. The board oversees the licensing and regulation of professional counselors in Texas. Abraham is vice president of Zoya Enterprise. She is a certified Christian counselor, from the International Institute for Christian Counselor Training. She is a member and former president of the Hunterwood Municipal Utilities District, and an athletic and academic competition judge for the Fort Bend Independent School District. Abraham is also a former member of the Texas Private Sector Prison Industries Oversight Authority. She is also Commercial Real Estate Developer. She received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Finance from the University of Houston.
By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: It was a feat of Herculean proportions, a display in creative eloquence. The stage at the Cullen Performance Hall at the University of Houston inundated with a cast of 220 singers, musicians, and dancers, the hall resonating with voices in soul-stirring melody, and capacity audiences moved by the messages of global peace and harmony. Shanthi – A Journey of Peace, the brainchild of Cincinnati-based musicologist Maestro Kanniks Kannikeswaran, teamed a coterie of richly enthusiastic vocalists from the local Indo American community with the United Nations Association International Choir (UNAIC) in a unique multi-culturally diverse and interfaith endeavor. Serving as choral and orchestral conductor to Kannikeswaran’s opus was Eric Esparza, Interim Conductor of the UNAIC. Two presentations of Shanthi on March 13, 2010, at 5.00pm and 8.30pm respectively, drew capacity audiences and raised over $120, 000 in ticket sales and donations for the visionary philanthropic organization, All India Movement for Seva (AIM for Seva). The programs began with welcome addresses by Mistresses of Ceremonies for the evening, Bhavani Iyer and Rohini Chandrasekhar, who also acknowledged the presence of dignitaries in the audiences. They included Consul
General of India Hon. Sanjiv Arora, Mayor of Pearland Tom Reid, spiritual heads of diverse faith – based ministries, and leaders of local social, educational, and community organizations. Projected onto large screens flanking the stage were video presentations of humanitarian work being done in India by AIM for Seva. The movement founded and spearheaded by His Holiness Swami Dayananda Saraswati in the early 2000’s, touches the lives of over 2.5 million people in 1,000 rural and tribal villages across 15 states in India. AIM for Seva is a movement that Shanthi’s creator Kannikeswaran resolutely believes in. He made several trips over the past 18 months to this city volunteering his creativity and time for the worthy cause. The performers, many with fulltime jobs, were so inspired and energized by Kannikeswaran’s commitment to the project that they dedicated thousands of hours in preparation for the stage show. Shanthi is a monumental representation of 5000 years of India’s living traditions through music and dance. It reiterates India’s spirit of inclusiveness that allowed a plethora of faiths to co-exist harmoniously for centuries. The presentation celebrates the human mind when it transcends differences and diversity and empowers itself to see goodness and likeness in all beings. A master craftsman conversant in the classical western
and Indian forms of music, Kannikeswaran has built Shanthi on that tensile fabric with multi-textured hues of harmonizing in tandem. Rather than a Broadway presentation that transports participants from city to city, Shanthi incorporates local talent pertinent to the city of performance. The objective of AIM for Seva is to make education possible to every child in inaccessible and rural areas through the concept of chatralayas, or student homes. Student homes are located near existing schools and each student is provided with clean living quarters, food, health check ups, books, vocational training, after school activities, all free of cost to help them get ahead in life. The goal is to have at least one home in each of the 600 states. The charitable trust has more than 122 projects that include 83 chatralayas, 20 schools, five hospitals, 17 health care centers, 11 medical clinics including seven mobile units treating about 200,000 patients each year. More than 20,000 hours of volunteer work went into the making of Shanthi. The stretch goal locally is to raise $500, 000 dollars to educate, and to emotionally and physically care for children in India. For more information or to donate, visit www.aimforseva.org. For more information about Shanthi – A Journey of Peace, visit www.shanthichoir.org.
AUSTIN: Photographer, Michele Wambaugh’s series of night photography The String Theory of Cities debuts here at Fotofest 2010. Her exhibit is at Gallery3 in Winter Street Galleries. This exhibition continues through April 3rd. In October 2008, Wambaugh began this series shooting from the 30th floor of her hotel in Beijing, China, which she was visiting for her first Retrospective Exhibition. Her China exhibit was primarily on India and was opened by the Honorable Nirupama Rao then the Indian Ambassador to China, now Foreign Secretary. After beginning the String Theory series in China, she continued to shoot it in India, Paris and USA. The amazing images Wambaugh creates are not computer manipulated imagery; Canon digital EOS cameras are used and all images are made in-camera. Light is pushed or bent depending on its sources and original speed to create a new world of abstract nebulae, textured ribbons, whirling colors interspersed with sporadic identifiable objects. Based on the difficulties of the techniques and what are need to make images sing, To enter this land of color sends a viewer into the very heart of what light is. In 2006, Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures, Corpus Christi filled their gallery with her “Faces of India.” Wambaugh’s images on India have been published in A Published Gallery (Fairpoint Press, 2009) and featured in Asian Photography Magazine (Mumbai) many times & Petersen’s PhotoGraphic magazine (USA). For six years, she has been lecturing on a variety of photographic topics at many Universities and art venues in New Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other cities in India. Last year Michele established close ties with 100 photography students in India some of whom she mentors on-line. She hopes to eventually bring an exhibition of their finest work to the USA.
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Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
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Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
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IAA Season Begins With a Sold Out Concert Shreya Ghoshal & Atif Aslam Thrills Crowd at Jones Hall
Clockwise: Shubham Sachdeva (left) Murgesh Wani, and Priyanka Wani with pop star Atif Aslam. Bollywood’s top playback singer Shreya Ghoshal Photo Courtesy: Pakistan Chronicle
By Hussain Mandviwala HOUSTON:“Fabulastical” meaning Fabulous while it lasted and in English, if that is even a word would explain the excitement that the audience had at the Atif Aslam and Shreya Ghoshal concert last week at Jones Hall. Performing in Houston after almost a year-long hiatus, Shreya Ghoshal and Atif Aslam, looked visibly happy to be in Houston and performing in front of a sold out concert. “It's great to be singing in front of you guys, the best feedback and encouragement a singer can get is from people who attend these events,” said Shreya.
Shreya Ghoshal, who is considered to be Bollywood’s best playback singer awed the audience with some of her popular songs from blockbuster movies like My Name is Khan, Singh is King, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and others. Donning a shiny black outfit, Shreya captivated the audience with a musical trance. “Her singing, style and melody is more of a spirtual upliftment, it leaves you feeling good inside,” said one audience member who considers herself to be her number one fan. Her classical song Mere Dholna was received with chants for “once more, once more” by the audience
followed by a standing ovation. Before she sang it, she clarified that most people think Indian classical music has died down with younger generation, but the song was made popular by the younger audience. “She sung it with such power, absolutely thrilled by her performance,” said Dhavan, a fan in the audience. The concert turned out to be a great season opener for Indo American Association. Even though it was filled with a lot of controversies over whether Atif Aslam would perform but Dr. Hari Dayal; President of IAA, was confident that he would and he did as
promised. According to the organizers, Atif Aslam was having visa issuance problems in Pakistan for the concert but received it a few days prior to the concert. He left Pakistan on Friday and arrived in Houston on Saturday in the nick of time, in fact one hour before the show was about to end. Atif Aslam, whose songs has created ripples across the Indian subcontinent, made his grand entry with the crowd screaming his name with frenzy. The singer, sporting a casual look, sang Doorie, Tere Bin, Tu Jaane Na, Tum He Hoo, Mahi Ve and other hit songs. Atif Aslam gave his best this time,
his last show in Houston was not well received because of his limited performance in it. This time, he left none disappointed. He sang and sang and the organizers had to literally intervene to stop him. It was a non-stop 4-hour performance by the singers with a lot of happy faces leaving Jones Hall. In an unrelated interview with Shreya Ghoshal, she said platforms like Aman Ki Asha are very important to bring the people of India and Pakistan closer to each other and such efforts must continue till the objectives are achieved. Atif Aslam and Shreya Ghoshal concert was organized by Indo American Association If you receive your paper more than 4 days after the Dateline, please file a complaint with your post office or call the USPS Consumer Affairs Office at 713-226-3442 Indo-American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly on every Friday (for a subscription price of $30 per year) by Indo-American News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036, Tel: 713-789-6397, Fax: 713-789-6399, Email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Indo-American News, 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036.
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Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
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Society
Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
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BAPS Charities Makes Donation to UNICEF for Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund The start of a fantastic partnership, one that will help save the lives of thousands of children around the world. BAPS Charities donated $47,000 to the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, launching the first-ever partnership between the two NGOs. Ed Lloyd, CFO of UNICEF said, “Every penny makes a difference. This is what we do. We are in the business of helping children. Luckily, today, we found an able and willing partner. This partnership shows what two giving organizations can do to help children in need.” The volunteers of BAPS Charities - children, youth, and adults - came together to raise funds for those suffering in Haiti. Roshni Chavda, a six-year old girl, was saving money in her piggybank for a new toy; however, after she heard about the plight of the children in Haiti, she donated all that she had saved, to help them rebuild their lives. “I can’t imagine living without cookies and juice. It must be hard for them.” Roshni donated enough money to buy 45 cartons of juice and more than 60 packs of cookies! On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 mag-
nitude earthquake with 33 recorded aftershocks rattled Haiti. It killed more than 200,000 people, displaced over a million, and affected as many as 3 million people. Since forty percent of the Haitian population is children aged 14 and under, a large majority of the people displaced as a result of this earthquake is children. During the aftermath of this earthquake, BAPS Charities partnered with UNICEF to provide aid and protection for children who lost their family and friends. Together, they constructed over 400 camps for the displaced individuals in the affected areas. These camps provide children with education, protection, and health care services. This earthquake, the worst in this region in 200 years, destroyed over 3,000 educational facilities and caused grave damage to government buildings and hospitals throughout the country. The efforts of BAPS Charities and UNICEF have brought clean water to individuals living in remote areas, improved sanitation conditions to prevent the spread of disease, and provided ‘baby tents,’ a safe place for mothers to breastfeed. Ms. Hilde Johnson, UNICEF’s
Haitian children with immediate relief and long term rehabilitation.” BAPS Charities is known for its excellence in providing disaster relief services and on-going humanitarian care for children. In 2001, after the Gujarat earthquake, its volunteers reached Kutch within minutes of the first quake. They helped rescue individuals buried in the rubble, regularly fed hot meals to victims and volunteers, provided minute necessities like nail cutters, and BAPS Charities presents a check of $47,000 to The United Nations Chilrebuilt schools, homes, dren’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide relief to the victims of Haiti earthquake. and communities. DurFrom Left: Mr. Richard Esserman, Director of Finance, UNICEF; Mr. Ed ing Hurricane Katrina Lloyd, Chief Financial Officer, UNICEF; Anand Mehta, Director of BAPS and Ike, to help people Charities; Ms. Dawne Basinski, UNICEF and Yogi Trivedi, BAPS Charities, survive this catastrophe, Director of Media Relations. BAPS Charities volunDeputy Executive Director, re- activities as well as to play and teers again served hot meals, procently visited Haiti to survey and have fun,” said Ms. Johnson in a vided people with clothing, and offered counseling. The natural gauge the progress of the relief UNICEF press release. efforts undertaken by the global “Working with UNICEF has calamity in Haiti has again providcommunity. “Learning spaces been a great experience,” said ed an opportunity for BAPS Charlike this give children who have Anand Mehta, Director, BAPS ities to engage tens of thousands been through a terrible experience Charities. “These two organi- of its volunteers to work alongside a chance to get back to normality, zations worked in unison and UNICEF to make a difference in allowing them to resume learning quickly mobilized to provide the our world.
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Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
SOCIETY
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BAPS Houston Hosts Annual Women’s Conference Focusing on nurturing families, shaping communities
HOUSTON: This past weekend, on March 13, 2010, over 300 women from across the Houston area came together for the BAPS Women’s Conference 2010. The three-hour Conference was held in celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) and was hosted by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha held at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Houston. IWD is a global event commemorated by the United Nations to recognize women and the important contributions they have made in the world. BAPS is a current member of the UN’s Economic and Social Council. The theme of the conference, “Nurturing Families, Shaping Communities,” provided a forum for attendees to discuss the educa-
BAPS Women’s Conference began with lighting of the diya
tional and environmental impact created by the global community of women through their roles in family and society. The theme
draws inspiration from BAPS’ core values of nurturing individuals and creating stronger families. The various keynote speakers each
about marriage and career and that is what she is focused on.” Mrs. Sonal Bhuchar, member of the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees, addressed the role that women play in educating each other and future generations. Mrs. Bhuchar remarked, “Not only is it important to excel at everything but most importantly is to Chhaya Arora, wife of Consul General teach it and educate others of India in Houston, opened the BAPS and thereby inspire more women conference greatness.” She added, “As women, we are considered as bestressed one of these topics. ing the nurturer and caregivers at The 2010 Women’s Confer- all stages of our lives.” ence began in a traditional Hindu Mrs. Anne Mendelsohn shared manner by lighting of divo by the her thoughts on healthy living in chief guest, Mrs. Chhaya Arora, our families and communities and Dr. Heena Thakkar, Khatyi Unda- the part that women play in the via, Jaya Desai, Dakshini Sen and world. Mrs. Mendelsohn serves Anuradha Patel. as a Board Member for Teach for Mrs. Chhaya Arora, wife of Con- America and an associate to the sul General of India in Houston, President at MD Anderson Cancer opened the program by congratu- Center. She stated many facts to lating BAPS for hosting the event the audience on smoking, includand shared her words of her expe- ing that 23% of high school chilrience of the changes in women dren smoke. She also included that around the world from Delhi, In- obesity has tripled due to many dia to the United States. She said, factors such as the increased us“Women are more focused and age of electronic media. She emthey know what they want. Moth- phasized, “Exercise is the fountain ers know what they want for her of youth. It is so extraordinary for daughters and she is not worried continued on page 7
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Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
BAPS Hosts Annual Women’s Conference 6
be.” She mentioned about ghar sabha or daily home assemblies whereby the family members sit down together, talk about their days, discuss religion and take time to understand one another. Dr. Desai ended in saying, “Pass what you have accomplished and inspire one other individual, one family BAPS Women’s Conference ended with a vedic sholaks by youngsters who will use and recycle!” in turn inspire others.” One of the particiThe final speech of the evening, on behalf of pants, Riddhi Bhatt Ms. Lisa Patel, was by commented that “I Mrs. Sejal Patel, a Har- think each of the speakAnn Mendelsohn, associate to the Presi- vard MBA graduate, who ers did a really great job dent of MD Anderson Cancer Center spoke on the importance on the theme of shaping talks on healthy living of protecting the environ- the community through ment. She brought to the families and inspired via their role in the family unit. Dr. audience the hard facts about how all.” Nikki Patel concluded Desai spoke about her inspirations we are changing the earth by affectwith remarks on the ing our forests, water and air. Mrs. that were provided by her mother, her family and her spiritual guru, Patel said, “Now it is our duty and growth of BAPS in the Pramukh Swami Maharaj. She responsibility to be aware and to past 100 years. Attendsaid, “If you are a student, be the do what we can do to preserve this ees left inspired and best student. If you are a mother, be earth so that our children and their empowered, ready to the best mother. If you are a doc- children and many futures to come implement the message tor, be the best doctor. In essence have an earth one to enjoy.” She of the conference in their be the best individual you can concluded by adding, “Reduce, re- own lives. continued from page
our bodies, minds and our souls. It helps reduce the risk of cardiac disease, osteoporosis, some forms of cancer, dementia, depression, boosts the immune system.” Mrs. Mendelsohn added that increasing an hour of sleep also helps in academics. Dr. Purvi Desai, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician, focused on the impact women have
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Manvel Mayor Overwhelmed by the First Divine Name Prayer House in the USA
M A N VEL, TX: The Honorable Mayor Delores Martin of Manvel, TX was overwhelmed by the message of universal love and compassion that Namadwaar, the first Divine Name prayer house in the Global Organization for Divinity members with the guests of honor, Mayor Delores US, offers to Martin of Manvel, TX, Maaji of Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir and Sri Tupil Narasimhan of Sri America and Meenakshi Temple the world. At ditional lamp was then lit, and Sri The simple inauguration certhe Namadwaar opening ceremony Ramanujamji, disciple of HH Sri emony ended with a prayer, led held on February 28, 2010, Mayor Sri Muralidhara Swamiji, then led by Sri Ramanujamji, for the vicMartin said simply and succinctly the Mayor and other guests around tims of the devastating earthquake that she was very thrilled and im- the prayer room as they read the in Chile followed by a beautiful pressed with what she had seen. saints’ words and looked at post- prayer for the Grace of the Lord in She said that this was a wonderful ers about G.O.D. activities in the each of our lives as well as for the beginning and that she was certain US, India and around the world. US to obtain freedom from global she would be very impressed down Sri Ramanujamji later addressed terrorism, the economic downturn the road. Later, in an email, she the gathering with an inspiring and natural calamities. The Mahasaid that she was overcome with message. He emphasized that ev- mantra was chanted 11 times by emotion to realize there are still eryone was only seeking the same everyone present. people in this world who are so Truth through different paths and Everyone is welcome to visit the filled with love and compassion, that unity was the key, not unifor- Houston Namadwaar and add to and that it had been an honor and mity. He said that there was beauty the presence of divinity by chantprivilege to have been included in in diversity just like a bouquet of ing the Mahamantra or just experithe dedication. different flowers held together by ence peace by simply listening to Established by Global Organiza- the cord of “universal love” was the chanting. For more information for Divinity (G.O.D.), Nama- more colorful and beautiful than tion about Namadwaar, its operdwaar is a prayer house where the a bouquet made of the same type ating hours or other G.O.D. acMahamantra—Hare Rama Hare of flower. He said chanting the tivities in the Houston area, please Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Divine Names was the simplest call 1 (830) 4 GOD HOU or email Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krish- way to infuse positivity and trans- houston.god@godivinity.org. na Krishna Hare Hare—will be formation into a person so that he Namadwaar is based on a continuously chanted. It is located could follow his own path to the worldwide initiative of G.O.D., at 3642 Bailey Avenue, Manvel, ultimate goal. under the guidance of HH Sri Sri TX, about 1.5 miles east of SH Maaji, founder and chairman Muralidhara Swamiji, to strive 288, bordering Pearland city. of Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir of towards universal peace and harThe inauguration ceremony Sugar Land, TX and Sri Tupil mony by manifesting the divinity began at 1:30 PM with Mayor Narasimhan, vice chairman of Sri within each individual through the Martin officially opening the Meenakshi Temple of Pearland, simple path of chanting the Divine “Namadwaar” curtain and cutting TX were also guests of honor at Names (Nama sankirtan). There the ribbon to enter the beautiful the event. Both these leaders in are currently over 10 such Namaprayer room adorned with pearls their respective major temples in dwaars in India, and several others of wisdom from His Holiness Sri the Houston area heartily congrat- are in the process of being estabSri Muralidhara Swamiji, Swami ulated G.O.D. and welcomed Na- lished in various countries around Papa Ramdas, Yogi Ramsuratku- madwaar to the Sanatana Dharma the world. mar and other great saints. The tra- family of Houston.
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Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
Simran and Her Great Grand Pa ....Divakar Karkhanis A must read for Indo-Americans of all ages
By Vijay Pathare This Grandpa’s ‘tell-it-all’ has been attracting Marathi readers on the US shores now! A simple and appealing narration that deserves the attention as ‘Indo-American News.’ At 80, Divakar, also affectionately known as ‘Dada’’ or ‘Bhai, has a hope that Simran, now a five year old, will one day learn Marathi and read these Grandpa memoirs. Actually, it is a disguise..... its for us! We Indians immigrated to these shores, mostly in sixties and thereafter, hoping for riches and happiness. Our struggles have been leading us to our success. But shouldn’t we be happy? Grandpa Karkhanis has steered many on this exhausting highway ride, a friend who sits next to you, smiling all the way. Simran tells us about him and his journey, struggles and friends. He never tries to use his age to advise you on moral issues, but comments on incidents and frailties he
encountered in our immigrant community. Its up to each of us to find our balance in life, he says. Not many Grandpas do that! Maybe his genuine narrative will find translators in other Indian languages like
Divakar Karkhanis currently lives in Dickinson, Texas.
English, Gujarati and Bengali. Our roots and culture play an important part in our sense of belonging as Indians, our togetherness. Divakar was born in a village named Vihari, a small distance from Khapoli in Maharashtra. Since then, he truly became a Vihari, or a happy wanderer! First, he relocated in Mumbai, an im-
portant phase in his life, where he finished his M.A. and LL.B , as a part-time student, while getting romantically involved, married and raising three kids. After starting his law practice, he got an opportunity to settle down in Uganda. There, he taught commercial law, until Idi Amin appeared on the political scene. Wisely, he chose to immigrate to USA! The rest is his and our geo-history! Its a story of a ‘forever smiling’ social immigrant who belonged to everybody,.... wherein lies the charm of ‘SIMRAN,....Life Without Regrets! Vijay Pathare is based in Arizona
JVB Houston to Conduct Annual Family Spiritual Camp HOUSTON: JVB Preksha Meditation Center to conduct 10th Annual Family Spiritual Camp from 2-4th April at the Gordon Ranch, Richmond, just at the out skirt of Houston. The program includes daily sessions which focuses on yoga & meditation for healthy living, healing & tolerance techniques, lecture sessions by Samanijis, health check up from doctors, special activities for children’s and many more. The theme of the camp is Happy and Harmonious family. JVB Houston had conducted similar 9 camps in the past with great success. The children and parents who have attended the camp have an overwhelming positive experience. The family
camp is to rejuvenate the body, mind and soul of the campers, young and old alike. We encourage everyone to make use of this opportunity. Space is limited. Enrollment will be first come first enrolled. The camp will be conducted by Samani Akshay Pragyaji and Vinay Pragyaji. Preksha Meditation is the combination of knowledge from ancient religious books, modern science and experience. It is the practice of purifying our emotions, conscious and realizing our own self. Mediation augurs attitudinal change, behavioral modification and integrated development of one’s personality. Started in 1970, Preksha Meditation is the result of the untiring efforts of Ganadhipati
Tulsi and Acharya Mahapragya. Acharya Mahapragya researched and experimented for twenty years to rediscover the process of meditation, as was practiced by Bhagwan Mahavir. Preksha Meditation is for everyone, irrespective of his or her race, religion language, color, gender and belief. After the eventful grand opening celebrations of the JVB Preksha Meditation Center last October, the new center has already started its regular operations at the specially designed Preksha Dhyan ‘Pyramid’ Hall at 14102 Schiller Rd, Houston, TX 77082. The registrations for the camp is open for all and for information, please call 281-596-9642 or visit www.JVBHouston.org.
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Vibha’s Math Champs Raise Funds for Needy Kids! we would like to see this event happen more often than once a year “says Rao, parent of a third grader. This event has grown bigger this year and the response was overwhelming. The publicity and logistics of
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HOUSTON: On March 6th, the batch also received medals along new Alpha Math center on Hwy with Certificate of Merit during 6 was bustling with activity. The the prize distribution ceremony. scene on the Saturday morning As the names of the winners were included eager parents and enthu- announced, there was a round of siastic kids gathered, to participate applause for the kids from one and in the second annual Vibha - Al- all. Every participant was awarded pha Math: Math contest. a participation certificate. The contest was for 2nd through This is the second time Vibha, a 6th Graders. The questions were volunteer–driven, non profit , non devised as fun word problems. religious organization is collaboFifty two happy children faced a rating with Alpha Math Station, battle with a few math problems Houston’s leading Math learning and emerged as winners. After center. Parents were excited about 30 minutes of employing their critical thinking abilities, the participants were also given an opportunity to have fun, while waiting for the results. Thanks to thoughtful Vibha volunteers – the organizers who gave the Wnners of Vibha-Alpha Math contest. participants whistles and balls. this event. This provided an opporThe test was held in two batches, tunity for their kids to participate first, Batch A for 5th and 6th grad- in a fun filled learning activity. ers and subsequently Batch B was The kids were also educated about grade 2 through grade 4. The high- the less privileged children. “This est scorer (list below) in each batch probably is one of the very few received grand prizes that included contests in the Houston area, that a gift pack, medal and a certifi- allows us to gauge the abilities of cate. The two runners up in each our kids with respect to other kids,
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185 Greens Rd., Houston, TX 77060 Free Wi-fi • Cable TV - featuring Live Sports, Latest shows • Easy access from I-45 • Ample Parking
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SOCIETY
Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
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Hindu Group Against Doniger Book WASHINGTON: Hindus living in the United States have urged the Penguin Group to “immediately” withdraw noted scholar Wendy Doniger’s book on the community, alleging that it has numerous errors in its historical facts and Sanskrit translations. However, there has been no immediate comment on the issue by the publisher Penguin USA. An online petition, which is currently being signed in the US, has alleged that “errors and misrepresentations” in the book The Hindus — An Alternative History are “bound and perhaps intended to mislead students of Indian and Hindu history.” “Throughout the book, Doniger analyzes revered Hindu Gods and Goddesses using her widely discredited psycho-sexual Freudian theories that modern, humanistic psychology has deemed limiting. These interpretations are presented as hard facts and not as speculations,” it says about the book which was published in 2009. - IT
Vibha’s Math Champs Raise Funds for Needy Kids
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Some children donated books, some others pledged to raise funds on their own by collecting Vibha donation box. Vibha ‘s(www.vibha.org) mission is to educate, empower and enable every individual who wishes to make a positive difference in the life of the underprivileged child. Vibha’s Houston chapter is an energetic and enthusiastic group of young professionals. The fund raisers, such as this, organized by Vibha directly impact thousands of children impacted by its 42 projects in India and US. Please visit www. vibha.org/projects to learn about the beneficiaries of this fundraiser. “ This is only our first event for 2010, we have
more interesting events coming up” says Jayna, theAction Center Coordinator of Vibha Houston. Stay tuned!! Top Scorers: 2nd Grade : Gold- Pratik Pohuja , Silver-Vikram Padmanaban , BronzeSpoorthi Cherivirala 3rd Grade : Gold- Arya Ranjan , Silver-Akash Karanam , Bronze- Anish Ganti 4th Grade : Gold- Ruhi Patel , SilverMuskaan Chaturvedi , Bronze- Riya Chakraborty & Rashu Jain 5th Grade : Gold-Aniket Joshi , Silver-Ankur Bhagwat , Bronze- Sanjay Annigeri 6th Grade : Gold- Akhil Jonnalagadda , Silver-Rishabh M , BronzeSharad Kalaga
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 19 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
Lata, Asha, Alka and Now Shreya When Lata Mangeshkar and her sister Asha Bhonsle ruled the microphone in Bollywood, we always wondered how we could ever get along with them. Under their shadow, no other female singer could thrive. Last Saturday’s Indo-American Association concert in Houston, headlining Shreya Ghoshal and Atif Aslam showed us how times have changed. Shreya Ghoshal has the voice plus the beauty and the ability to perform on stage. I had enjoyed Alka Yagnik’s singing during her relatively short reign as well. Now Shreya and Sunidhi Chauhan seem to have taken over the Lata-Asha mantle of melody and masti. While the teeny boppers in the audience screamed for Atif Aslam, the mature section of the audience appreciated the young lady’s performance. Atif Aslam’s voice was almost drowned out by the rock band for those who perfer their Bollywood music with crystal clear diction. Do you have an opinion on this topic? Please send us your feedback at indoamericannews@yahoo.com Pramod Kulkarni
Ivy League in India Indian students are a step closer to gaining access to foreign universities on home ground. The cabinet has approved a Bill allowing overseas players to open campuses in India. While the Left with its allergy to anything ‘foreign’ is likely to object, it’ll be in everyone’s interest that the Bill gets passed. Many reputed foreign institutions, including heavyweights from the US, UK and Australia, see promise in India’s growing youth bulge, sizeable English-speaking and knowledge-hungry population and booming middle class. It’ll be foolish not to roll the red carpet. Entry of foreign entities will inevitably impact the performance of domestic education providers. With global standards of teaching and infrastructure on offer, every institution will need to compete to attract students with improved pedagogy, internationally accepted courses and upgraded facilities. This can only benefit the sector as a whole. But domestic institutions, including government-run ones, will be justified in demanding a level playing field. Which means less government interference and control. Overall, “brain gain” will result. If students can access highgrade educational services and acquire the much-sought-after ‘foreign degree’ at home, they’d have less reason to ship out. But India won’t just get to retain its best brains to a greater extent. Let’s avoid policies that have the effect of discouraging the best education providers from setting up shop. Times of India
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Diplomatic Art of Deception By K. P. Nayar Camouflage, sometimes bordering on deception, has been a part of diplomacy since the earliest record of diplomats among mankind in Mesopotamia in 3,000 BC. There was a time when the United States of America, with its infinite resources, mastered the art of deception as an instrument of its foreign policy. A high point of such diplomacy was the secret trip made by Henry Kissinger to China through Pakistan to facilitate Richard Nixon’s historic opening to Beijing under Mao Zedong. Since then, smaller men have attempted poor copies of such deception, as in the case of Colin Powell who went to New Delhi in 2004 professing America’s friendship only to fly to Islamabad a day later and gift General Pervez Musharraf the status of Washington’s major non-Nato ally. Whenever India attempted camouflage as an instrument of its external affairs, these efforts have ended, more often than not, in disastrous consequences. One such attempt was a ‘secret’ meeting in London in April 1994 between Indian and US officials for a non-proliferation initiative in South Asia. The meeting was exposed when a woman Indian foreign service officer, who now holds a very senior position in the government, carelessly walked into a party at the Indian high commission in London in very casual clothes. An alert reporter, who knew that the lady officer ought not to be in the United Kingdom unless something special was going on, immediately contacted his editor in New Delhi, who ferreted out details of the secret talks in London for the next day’s newspaper. The uproar that ensued made sure that it was the end of P.V. Narasimha Rao’s nonproliferation initiative. More recently, when he was foreign secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon went on a ‘secret’trip to Madrid to meet the Bush administration’s point man on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Nicholas Burns. That was when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee, the United Progressive Alliance’s nominee for negotiations
The real objective of Rao’s visit to Washington was to serve notice on the Obama administration that the way things are going in Indo-US relations, it can no longer be business as usual unlike during the UPA government’s first five-year term. with the left parties on retaining their support for Singh, were telling Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) that India would not approach the International Atomic Energy Agency for a Safeguards Agreement, which would have taken the nuclear deal forward in Washington. Menon met Burns in secret to assure him otherwise. But Menon did not take anyone in his ministry into confidence or hand over responsibilities during his travel to Spain. When some senior officials in South Block found out, they felt let down. They leaked what was happening. It was this camouflage, which alerted Karat that the UPA was double-dealing the CPI(M), and the countdown for withdrawing support to Singh began. This week, the foreign secretary, Nirupama Rao, engaged in her brand of camouflage diplomacy in Washington, but she appears to have got away with it. Rao is in Washington ostensibly for a meeting of the IndoUS High Technology Cooperation Group, but her real reasons for visiting the US at this time are entirely different. The HTCG was important in Indo-US engagement when it was formed in 2002, when a range of sanctions against India were in force and the country was finding it next to impossible to obtain dual-use civilian-defence items from America — even a Cray computer for the Indian
Institute of Science in Bangalore. Because the Group was already up and running, it helped India steer through a crucial phase of the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership when it was launched in January 2004. The NSSP was the precursor of the nuclear deal, bilateral cooperation in space and high technology trade. But the HTCG meetings are no longer of any great policy interest to India. In fact, they now primarily benefit US commercial interests, but New Delhi goes along with its meetings simply because the mechanism exists. The foreign secretary said as much when she told the Group’s industry-toindustry session on Monday that the “US industry has brought up policy constraints in this forum that have, in their perception, hampered their high technology exports to India.” The last time an HTCG meeting brought any policy benefit for India was at its fifth meeting in February 2007, when Menon secured a commitment from the US that its hightechnology exports to India that still need licences will be in line with the requirements of America’s closest allies: Israel and the UK. The real objective of Rao’s visit to Washington was to serve notice on the Obama administration that the way things are going in Indo-US relations, it can no longer be business as usual unlike during the UPA government’s first five-year term. This she did in her own understated style, without being offensive or moralistic as New Delhi’s visiting envoys to Washington — including some previous foreign secretaries — can be. It was not lost on the Americans that Rao emplaned for Washington a day after the Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin, left New Delhi for home. Putin’s was a brief working visit. Yet, despite the complete absence of trappings of a State dinner or a State visit — designations used by the Obama administration to pander India’s ego — Putin’s one-day stay in New Delhi produced results that far outstripped what the Obama administration has been able or willing to work out with India during its 14 months in office. Telegraph
IndoAmerican News Publisher Emeritus: Dr. K.L. Sindwani Editor: Pramod Kulkarni Business Manager: Jawahar Malhotra Marketing Manager: Krishna Giri Community Reporter: Kalyani Giri Community Editor: Manasi Gokhale Administrative Manager: Vanshika Vipin Marketing & Food Correspondent: Jacob David Production Manager: Hussain Mandviwala correspondents Chicago: Nand Kapoor Ottawa: Avinash Gavai ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 5 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com
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IAPAC Partners with AACFB to Support for the U.S. Census 2010 HOUSTON: The Asian population is one of the fastest growing populations in the United States, outpacing growth of the general U.S. population between 1990 and 2000, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. As the number of Asian individuals in the United From Left: George Chang, Saeed Gaddi, Michael Liu, Ratna Kumar, Howard Paul, States continues Ramesh Anand, Daniel Wong and Dinesh Shah. to grow, it’s im- Not in the picture: Farha Ahmad and Philip Nguyen portant we understand our changing population, other countries in Asia. The focus of our families and our community. Evso we know how to provide and the council is to support opportuni- ery person in the United States must obtain the best services, resources and ties for Asian Americans in fields of be counted. This includes people of programs to meet the needs of Asian education, economic development, all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens government, and international affairs and noncitizens. Community. Throughout the coming month, IAPAC (Indo-American Political in order to promote the success of Fort IAPAC and AACFB will continue Action Committee of Greater Hous- Bend County. Today’s very important issue is to share information with the comton) is the political voice for the entire Indo-American Community of the U S Census 2010. Next week munity including about the censusGreater Houston area. The mission of everyone will get the 2010 Census related events, news and activities IAPAC is to promote and encourage form “10 questions in 10 minutes” in our community. Among various political involvement and increase in the mail. It is very important not to initiatives, IAPAC has initiated PSAs political awareness. IAPAC also disregard it, but it is our duty to fill it from various Indo American Comworks with hand in hand with other out and mail it immediately. IAPAC munity Leaders of Greater Houston ethnic group for a common issue. One is partnering with AACFB and the urging all to be counted – we should of them is “Asian American Council Census Bureau taking the lead to be hearing them on various radio of Fort Bend” known as AACFB is raise awareness and encourage par- stations in the coming weeks. For a coalition of citizens whose cultural ticipation to help ensure we have an more information about the 2010 heritage originates from the following accurate representation of the Asian Census, including the availability countries: China, India, Pakistan, Sri population in our city and county of language assistance and other asLanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, during the 2010 Census. An accurate sistance programs, visit the webBangladesh, Burma, Indonesia, Ma- population count of the Asian will site – www.2010census.gov or visit laysia, Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka, help make a significant difference in www.iapacgh.org or call IAPAC at Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, and the quality of life for our neighbors, 832-886-5191
Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
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RESTAURANT FOR SALE Selling Restaurant located in the heart of Hillcroft, seating capacity for 90 people For more information Call 832-367-1831
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Expert Plumbs ‘Dark Side of Night’ Baylor Med prof knows how daylight saving time affects you
By Todd Ackerman HOUSTON: You may curse daylight saving time upon losing an hour of sleep, but what you might not realize is its potential effect on your health. Dr. Shyam Subramanian, a Baylor College of Medicine professor of pulmonary medicine and medical director of the Harris County Hospital District’s Sleep Lab at Ben Taub General Hospital, talked with the Chronicle’s Todd Ackerman about who’s most affected by daylight saving time, what people can do to limit the disruption, and how medicine is just scratching the surface of what Subramanian calls “the dark side of the night.” Q: I got a number of daylight saving time story pitches from sleep specialists this year. Is an hour time change twice a year that big a deal? Aren’t most people just tired that day and fall asleep an hour earlier the next night? A: Well, there is a higher incidence of workplace and occupational accidents, particularly in industries like mining and transportation, for about two to three weeks right around this time. The time change can also have a negative impact on scholastic performance, as with teenagers taking tests during this two-week period. Beyond that, your characterization is fairly accurate. Most people adjust in a couple days — some, obviously, better than others. Q: Aren’t there studies that suicides and heart attacks increase mildly in the first days after the spring change and decrease mildly after the autumn change? A: Yes, there is some data supporting that. Those are epidemiological studies — they don’t show cause and effect in any way. Researchers just plot out heart attacks for the year and find an increase after clocks are moved up. Q: What actually happens in the brain to cause difficulty adjusting to time changes? A: Losing an hour of sleep contributes to sleep debt. If you don’t make up the debt, it manifests in waking up tired, needing a lot of caffeine to get going, nodding off during the day.
There are also more subtle signs — irritability, depression, attention deficit, inability to focus, inability to multitask, anxiety. The second issue is light. The body clock that tells us when to go to sleep and when to wake up is influenced by light and the hormone melatonin. When melatonin levels go up, the body clock tells the brain to go to sleep. When bright light shines, melatonin production shuts Dr. Shyam Subramanian, a pulmonologist, down and the observes patients in restful sleep lab suites at the brain tells the Baylor Sleep Center at Main and Loop 610. body to wake up and be alert. At daylight saving morning, commercial light boxes are time, it takes a little while for the body available. Also, 20 minutes of good aerobic exercise will get the adrenaclock to readjust melatonin activity. Q: Have people’s attitudes to- lin pumping, a great natural alerting ward daylight saving time’s effects influence on the body. At night, limiting exposure to light is important, changed over time? A: I think society is probably less though that’s easier said than done tolerant because we’ve become so because things like laptops and LCD sleep-deprived. The average amount television screens emit light that’s of sleep Americans get is now well particularly alerting to one’s body below seven hours, even less for teen- clock. Snacks rich in tryptophan — agers, who require nearly nine hours milk, bananas, almonds, pistachios of sleep. I think medical professionals — are also a good idea. Q: How does a time change like this are starting to take daylight saving time more seriously — certainly, we affect people with insomnia? A: Paradoxically, those patients give our patients additional counselare kind of just used to having poor ing because of it. Q: I know you emphasize going sleep all the time — they’re already to bed a little earlier each night as a sleeping one to three hours a night and preventative, but since people won’t using sleeping pills — so it may not be reading this until after the change, have too much of an effect. Those for are there any after-the-fact adjust- whom it does have an effect is when it’s related to a body clock disturment strategies you suggest? A: In the morning, getting bright bance, such as an older teenager who light is really the key — for people can’t get to sleep until 4 a.m. Houston who have trouble getting going in the Chronicle
Third Special Yog Camp Focused on Youth ST. LOUIS: A Two-day FREE YOG CAMP is being organized on Mar 20th & Mar 21st, 2010 at Mahatma Gandhi Center (Hindu Temple) in Ballwin, St Louis, MO. This camp will be focused on the Youth. Prior to that, Two Yog camps were organized in the past and hundreds of people have attended and benefited. This camp will be focused on Youth related problem like Drugs, Alcohol, Psychological, obesity, eyes and Growth. Now a day Youth are going through so much pressure that some-
times they crumble into the pressure and move towards bad habits like drugs and alcohol. And by practicing Yog Youth can strengthen their mind and attain the positive attitude towards the life.Another major problem of today’s young generation is obesity. Breathing Exercise works great in such problems and curbs the problem greater than any other exercise. Digestion gets proper which is the main reason of obesity. Swami Ramdev is the first, in the world health history, to use freely
available Pran (Oxygen) as a medicine and in turn helped in treating millions of grief stricken persons suffering from lethal diseases. Sunil & Pooja Sharma are doing this community service free of charge from more than two years. Lots of people have got benefitted from their camps. Their aim is to spread this knowledge to as many people as possible. These YOG sessions are FREE and participants will be taken on “first come first served” basis.
History of Wells Fargo & Genealogy Thursday, March 25, 4.30pm @ Federal Reserve Bank, Houston Branch Building INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 19 , 2010 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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NAME CHANGE This is to notify that I have changed my name from MOMIN KARIMBHAI KASAMBHAI to KAREDIA KARIM KASAM
Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
Consul General Adddresses Studnets Conference on India’s Rich Heritage at Texas A&M University Consul General Sanjiv Arora addressed the 55th annual Memorial Student Center (MSC) Student Conference on National Affairs (SCONA) at Texas A&M University (TAMU) at College Station on 26 February, 2010. Organized by TAMU students, the theme of this year’s SCONA was “Rebirth of power in the East and the future of Asian-American Relations”. The Conference was attended by a large number of students and academics from TAMU and other universities in the United States. In his detailed presentation on India, Consul General, inter alia, spoke about India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage; non-violent freedom movement led by Mahatma Gandhi; achieveConsul General Sanjiv Arora with a few of the participants ments and challenges of the world’s largest at SCONA-55 at Texas A&M University at College Station. democracy, with particular focus on the strides made by India in agriculture, industry, education, science & technology and other areas; India’s foreign policy and security environment; and India-US relations and cooperation. His speech was followed by a lively Q&A session.
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AR T S & C U L T U R E
Temple Art: Balm for the Soul
By Nandita Sharma It is said that Michelangelo’s, Sistine Chapel can never be recreated. The same holds true for the Frescoes at Ajanta, the Bronzes of the Meenakshi temple in Madurai and the calligraphy in the Blue mosque in Istanbul. Is it because these structures were dedicated to God, or because the very act of building them was a prayer between the artist and the creator? Not everything can be explained, especially enigmas that transcend the physical plane - those are best left to our own interpretations. Most of us fondly remember family heir-
what he ate, where he slept, and even who he interacted with. There’s nothing like an antique piece to add class and character your home. Rich, royal, and religious, the paintings of Tanjore originally catered to the opulent and princely lifestyles at palaces and temples in South India. This magnificent art, and more broadly speaking, craft, actually involves not just the drawing but the cutting and pasting of the gold sheet on a piece of treated Jackwood, adorning the deities with real gemstones, and embellishing the gold sheet. It is the deft hands that handle so many
looms, much loved and a part of our families for generations, the silver statue of Krishna, the big gold pendant, and the terracotta idols from grandmother’s collection – all priceless pieces that bring back fond memories. Unfortunately, the pendant got lost, the statue, stolen, and uncle inherited the clay idols. Sometimes we wistfully remember the piece and then we begin what we don’t even realize is our search for something that brings back fond memories, that brings a smile on our face, that something which I have already resolved in my heart will belong to my daughter, for I want to leave something a bit tangible, and of course, special. Why is it that so many times we can’t shake the haunting beauty of a Raja Ravi Varma painting from our minds? Antique paintings, jewellery, furniture, rugs - all belong to a time when these were made not just as a source of livelihood, but as a labour of love. The astonishing creativity of the artists of the ancient world boggles our minds. Tanjore paintings, native to the temple town of Tanjore, are an important form of classical South Indian art and may be traced back to the early 9th century, when the Cholas reigned supreme. There is an interesting story about how the city of Thanjavur originated. It is believed that Lord Vishnu slew a demon named Thanjanon on the banks of the river Cauvery. Just before dying, Thanjan prayed to Lord Vishnu that a beautiful and great town be named after him. May it rise on the spot of his death and his wish was granted. Thus, Thanjanasur (which later became Thanjavur), came into being. According to folk lore, it is said that in olden days, before an artist started on a Tanjore painting, the he fasted as a ritual cleansing. For, it was believed that the deity he painted would actually emerge or come to life. He took a ritual head-bath before sunrise, went to the temple and prayed at “Brahmamoortham”, and started the painting with a prayer on his lips. During the creation of the painting, the artist watched
aspects of handwork in the painting that makes the art outstanding. Acts of worship, or a labour of love, paintings have been prized investments of art connoisseurs all over the world. Over the years, the art market, the world over, has outperformed traditional investments like stocks, bonds, real estate, and even gold! Free Admission to the Museum of Fine Arts: The Museum of Fine Arts of Houston now houses a special gallery dedicated to Indian arts, crafts, and paintings. I urge you to dive headlong into the world of art and look behind just the colours and decorations, to seek a piece of history. Take my word for it, just as I did many years ago, you too will fall in love with ancient Indian art. For me, it was the old Tanjores with their aesthetic oldworld charm, gem-studded gold work, and their naturebased vegetable dyes that had withstood the ravages of time - beautiful, priceless windows into the golden age of Indian Art. The museum is free to the public every Thursday (courtesy of Shell Oil Company Foundation). The MFAH is also free the first Sunday of every month for Target Free First Sundays, when family activities occur between 1-5 p.m. - from making art, hearing stories, watching performances or free family flicks,
Indo American News • Friday, March 19 , 2010
and more. Nandita Sharma is an avid collector of Indian jewelry and antique South Indian Tanjore paintings. She hails from Bangalore where her
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family has established a successful and widely respected antiques business. She can be reached at 832-363-7986 and by email at nanditanaidu@hotmail.com
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