April 1 2011 1-24 by Indo American News

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Fort Bend student wins Houston PBs spelling Bee

Judge Joe Barbara; Houston PBS General Manager John Hesse; Host Ernie Manouse, Judge Chitra Divakaruni and Judge Robin Willamson with Sivateja Tangirala, the winner of the 2011 HoustonPBS Spelling Bee. Photo: HoustonPBS. http://www.flickr.com/ photos/houstonpbs

HOUSTON: By spelling the word “feijoada”, Sivateja Tangirala from Sugar Land, a 7th grader at Fort Settlement Middle School in Fort Bend ISD, won the 2011 HoustonPBS Spelling Bee. Tangirala was one of 55 spellers from 42 counties competing in the bee which was televised live on HoustonPBS/Channel 8 on Saturday, March 26. He advances to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the nation’s highest-profile academic event. “I have many people to thank for their help and support, including my family and my teachers, Miss O’Brien, Miss Cairns and Miss Bakus” says Tangirala. By winning the HoustonPBS Spelling Bee, Tangirala won an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Washington, D.C. to represent Houston at the Scripps National Spelling Bee during Bee Week, which runs from May 29 – June 3, 2011. He will compete against 274 fellow spellers from all over the country for over $35,000 in cash and prizes. The HoustonPBS Spelling Bee is the third largest Bee in the country with 1,070 schools participating. This is the third year the station has served as the local sponsor of the bee. Channel 8 is the only PBS station in the nation to serve as a local Scripps Spelling Bee Spon-

sor. “We feel the Spelling Bee fits perfectly with our educational mission to empower, engage and enrich the lives of the people in Southeast Texas. We want to wish Sivateja the best of luck as he heads to Washington for Bee Week,” says John Hesse, General Manager at HoustonPBS About HoustonPBS HoustonPBS/Channel 8 serves to empower, engage and enrich the lives of the people of Southeast Texas. HoustonPBS provides content and services that advance civic engagement, create an environment for learning and encourage the exchange of diverse perspectives. Millions of people tune in each month to watch quality programs about culture, arts, science, news, national and world affairs as well as award-winning children’s programming. HoustonPBS/KUHT-TV is a service of the University of Houston supported through the Association for Community Broadcasting

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massmutual works with emerging Asian-Indian Population to Help Protect their American dream SPRINGFIELD, MA: George Eapen, A Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) financial professional, knows first hand the challenges encountered while striving for the American Dream that

to Houston with his new wife and left his successful financial services career behind in India. In Houston, Eapen began to build again and help other Asian Indian families make sound financials decisions that will benefit

comes with relocation to the U.S. from India. As a young man living in India, Eapen agreed to a traditional arranged marriage to a woman who lived in the U.S. He moved

generations of their families. His story is a new American tale. The Asian Indian population has quietly been gaining momentum in the U.S. By 2009, the total Asian-

Indian population had grown to 2.502 million, with an average household income of $90,000*. Eapen and other financial professionals at MassMutual have been working to address the needs of this growing Asian-Indian population by helping them build on their solid savings knowledge and introducing them to an array of financial products that best meet their unique and extended family needs. With the backing of a 160 year-old mutual company to help, along with that company’s culturally relevant educational materials, Eapen and other MassMutual professions help Asian-Indians protect their assets, plan their businesses and prepare for the future care of their parents and themselves.

Chak De India!

continued on page

Beat Pakistan to enter world cup Final Man of the match, Sachin Tendulkar celebrates with MS Dhoni after winning in Mohali. The final match will be in Mubai vs. Sri Lanka on Saturday.

By Pramod KulKarni K Karni HOUSTON: Cricket nuts in the city, who did not get the Dish network or the Willow PC package, gathered in restaurants and community halls throughout the metroplex. Starting at 4 am in the morning on Wednesday, the cricket fans rubbed deep slumber from their eyes and had a rocking good time, cheering India to victory. Shown above are fans at Madras Pavilion in Sugar Land, led by Music Masala’s Sunil Thakkar (center) and Dr. Subodh Bhuchar (left), Mahesh and Alpa Shah of MP. Shown in the background is a banner that Drs. Subodh and Vinod Bhuchar took with them to the West Indies for the World Cup in 2007 when India dropped out in the first round. Other fans cheered (or mourned in the case of Pakistani fans) at Vishala Restaurant, Funplex, Pakistan Center and numerous other private locations. All in all, it was a great day/night for cricket. Dhoni’s men won the plaudits, but even Shahid Afridi’s boys dede serve credit for a hard-fought match.

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Asia society Launches major endowment campaign Texas Chapter Raises $600,000 at Tiger Ball

By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: An unprecedented 650 from the diverse communities gathered at the Grand Ballroom at Hilton-Americas Hotel on March 24 to celebrate and make the annual Tiger Ball 2011 hosted by The Asia Society Texas Center (ASTC) the largest ever in the organization’s history. The event honored former Secretary of State James Baker and Rice University First Lady Y. Ping Sun, and culminated in the announcement of a $25 million Endowment Campaign to support ASTC’s vision of bringing Asians and Americans together for a shared future. The Tiger Ball was organized by Honorary Co-Chair Nancy C. Allen, a leading ASTC supporter and Board member, and Marie and Vijay Goradia and Anne and Albert Chao, who served as gala co-chairs; together, their prolific efforts raised a record amount of over $600,000 for ASTC. The pan-Asian theme of the gala showcased the resplendence of the far Eastern cultures. An Indonesian gamelan ensemble entertained exotically garbed guests as they mingled over cocktails and Asian hors d’oeuvres at the reception preceding the event. Reiterating the tenor of the evening was a striking array of kites from India, Japan, China, and other Asian countries that festooned the stage area with bold bursts of color. Japanese Taiko drummers, and Chinese pipa musicians, regaled the audience dur-

ing dinner. The evening began solemnly as speakers empathized with Japan in the wake of the debilitating earthquake and tsunami that struck that country recently. County Judge Ed Emmett, a frequent visitor to Asia, remembered a heartwarming experience he had had while attending a conference in Yokohama, Japan, during September 11, 2001. Af After a sleepless night taking in the surreal attack on the US on television, he went to breakfast where a roomful of Japanese strangers stood up and bowed in deference and sympathy when they learned he was an American. Former Secretary Baker received the Roy M. Huffington Award for Contributions to International Understanding. Addressing the audience, Baker took issue with those who predict inevitable conflict between the United States and China. Baker also congratulated ASTC on its new 38,000-squarefoot Center, set to open in March 2012. He noted that the new facility “provides a place to bridge dif differences, and that, after all, is what diplomacy is all about.” Y. Ping Sun received ASTC’s Asian-American Leadership Award for philanthropy and for her outstanding work in advancing education in this city. Ms. Sun, who serves on ASTC’s board of directors, stressed the need to prepare young people to be global citizens, able to thrive in a culturally diverse world.

Marie Goradia at the microphone with gala co-chairs Vijay Goradia and Anne and Albert Chao.

A video presentation traced the beginnings of ASTC in 1979 and saluted the organization’s founding members that included former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, and former Ambassador Roy M. Huffington. Another speaker was Houston Mayor Annise Parker who told of the close ties between Houston and Japan that included important trade and business links with that country. Channel 11 news-anchor Shern

Min Chow, a board member with ASTC and the mistress of ceremonies for the evening, told guests that the board raised $30,000 to benefit Japan’s relief efforts. In her announcement of the Board’s decision to launch its Endowment Campaign, ASTC Executive Director Martha Blackwelder revealed that ASTC has already received $2 million in challenge grants toward the current year’s goal of $5 million. The Campaign will seek $5 million

each year through 2015, and has thus has reached nearly 50 percent of its first year’s goal. Endowment income will support the organization’s programs and operations in the new Center, located at 1370 Southmore at Caroline in the Museum District. High profile guests at the event included Charles and Lily Foster, and Renu and Suresh Khator. For more information, visit http://asiasociety.org/centers/ texas.

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Holi c celebration at the Arya s samaj of Greater Houston the popular tunes. The continuous food service kept the energy level up. The efforts of the ASGH volunteers to arrange this traditional and fun-filled Holi celebration were highly appreciated by all who came. And if you missed this celebration, do not despair; there will be another one next year. Arya Samaj Greater Houston is located at 14375 Schiller Road, Houston, TX 77082, (www.aryasamajhouston.org or

HOUSTON: The Arya Samaj Greater Houston (ASGH) celebrated Holi this year on Sunday March 20th, with traditional gaiety and fun. The beautiful outdoor Yagya Shala and the surrounding lawns provided a perfect backdrop for the celebrations and the pleasant spring weather made the conditions idyllic for a traditional Holi. The organizers had arranged all the ingredients for a funfilled Holi; there were plenty of multi-colored dry gulal colors, delicious food and exhilarating music. The spirit of Holi was in abundant display as the young and the old, men and women, friends and acquaintances, tried to put color on each other. Soon almost everyone’s face and clothes were streaked with colorful gulal colors. And if all the jostling and running made anyone tired and

Tel. 281-752-0100) and conducts Meditation and Satsang every Sunday from 10 AM to 12 Noon. The DAV Sanskriti School is held every Sunday during the Satsang hours. The DAV Montessori School of offers pre-school and elementary education for children from 2 1/2 to 7 years. Please contact Dev Mahajan at 713-468-4339 or Shekhar Agrawal at 281-242-8280 for any information regarding ASGH or its schools.

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The traditional and modern Holi music made for a truly festive atmosphere with many dancing to

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Namadwaar Celebrates First Anniversary BAPS Charities to Aid Japan Victims MANVEL, Texas: Colorful classical dances, melodious music and cheerful puppets went hand in hand with food, clothes and school supply drives on March 19 at Houston Namadwaar, as the prayer house celebrated its first anniversary which falls on Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s jayanti day. Located at 3642 Bailey Ave, Manvel, TX the prayer house was established by Global Organization for Divinity (G.O.D.), under the guidance of HH Sri Sri Muralidhara

by youngsters, that were a treat to the eyes, ears and the mind! The Dancing Peacock Puppet Company, with its endearing peacock mascot Kutti Kitta, had children and adults alike laughing all the way through with witty one-liners as exotic string puppets, dressed in traditional clothes, depicted a Tenali Rama folk tale. A group of eight young singers then rendered an enchanting, sweet musical presentation based on the theme of the day—Uni-

G.O.D. members with representatives of PNC and Bhutanese refugees

Swamiji, in February 2010 as a universal sanctum for prayers and peace. Several members of G.O.D. from all corners of the country visited Houston for the event. The Honorable Mayor Delores Martin of Manvel was the guest of honor for the afternoon, and expressed her immense pleasure and happiness at being invited to be part of the celebrations. Mr. Narayanan Sathiamoorthy of G.O.D. spoke about the organization’s basic principle which is Universal Harmony through Inner Transformation, Inner Transformation through Spiritual Awakening, Spiritual Awakening by Chanting the Divine Name. He spoke of how we only “fall” in worldly love but always “rise” in Divine Love; and manifestation of that Divine Love, which is everyone’s inherent true nature, can alone transform each of us and bring not only peace within ourselves, but also establish universal harmony. “Thanks to the love and care showered by the Pearland and Manvel neighborhood and specially the Mayor,” he said, “the oneyear-old Namadwaar baby feels very cozy and comfortable in their arms”. Earlier in the day, a food, clothes and educational supplies drive was organized to benefit the Pearland Neighborhood Center (PNC) and Bhutanese refugee children, in keeping with the premise that ‘divinity’ and ‘humanity’ are two sides of the same coin; the premise based on which several such social programs are being conducted by G.O.D. in many countries across the world. Ms. Sondra Huddleston of PNC as well as representatives from Houston’s Bhutanese community were present at Namadwaar to take part in the proceedings and to receive the donations. Several boxes of clothing and non-perishable vegetarian food, notebooks, backpacks and calculators were given away. Residents of the neighborhoods around Namadwaar were among those who generously contributed food and clothes. The afternoon program included the planting of several tree saplings in commemoration of the anniversary, the first of which was planted by the Mayor. Then followed a string of cultural performances, primarily

versal Love and Harmony. Coordinated by Carnatic music maestro, Smt. Rajarajeshwary Bhat of Swaralayam Arts Forum, the performance was led by upcoming teenaged artistes and young Houston talents Keerthana Bhat, Kruthi Bhat and Shilpa Sadagopan. They were supported by Sanjana Rao, Vishnupriya and Vishnuvardhan Parasaram, and Muktha and Mukund Nair. The group sang many beautiful songs that spoke of love, compassion and harmony including Sant Narsi Mehta’s Vaishnava janato, Kanchi Maha Periyava’s Maitreem bhajata and Michael Jackson’s Heal the World. Next, 11-year-old Maya Iyer from Houston and 16-year-old Suwetha Kalyan from Dallas, gave scintillating individual Bharatanatyam performances. Suwetha’s rendering of the Meera bhajan, Hari tum haro jan ki peer, moved several people in the audience to tears as she depicted the saving of Draupadi, Prahlada and Gajendra by the Lord, which were acts of immense love for His devotees. The final piece for the day’s cultural program was a drama presentation by children of Gopa Kuteeram (G.O.D.’s value-based enrichment program for youngsters). The play, based on the life of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who was an epitome of love and compassion, was a huge hit with the audience thanks to the performers’ contagious zeal and enthusiasm. The children who participated in the play were Shivam Dave, Karun and Bharath Salvady, Mukund and Muktha Nair, Vishnuvardhan and Vishnupriya Parasaram, Vishnu Sadagopan, Vyas Easwar and Nithya Dwaritha, all from Houston, TX, Sanjev Kalyan from Dallas, TX and Purush Sriram from Redding, CA. Houston Namadwaar is open to people of all religions, sects, denominations, races and nationalities. The prayer house accepts prayer requests from anyone and performs prayers for these requests every day. Prayers can also be sent online or by email. For more information about Houston Namadwaar and G.O.D., visit www.godivinity.org or email houston.god@godivinity.org.

HOUSTON: In response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, BAPS Charities, a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit international charity organization, has mobilized its resources to provide support and critical assistance in the days ahead. “As we continue to understand the devastating impact of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families affected by this tragedy,” said Neelkanth Patel, Director, BAPS Charities. “We will continue to make available the resources necessary to assist the people of Japan during this time of suffering and distress.” Most recently, BAPS Charities raised and donated $63,000 to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in support of the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. BAPS Charities has engaged in natural disaster relief work in the US, parts of Africa, Europe, and South Asia. With over fifty years of experience, BAPS Charities helps relieve and rebuild communities with personalized care. BAPS Charities is in dialogue with the Japanese Embassy and will determine which local charity they can partner with in Japan. “We have always focused our efforts on children and the needy. This time will be no different,” said Patel.

For more information about BAPS Charities’ humanitarian assistance programs and to contribute to its Japan Disaster Efforts, please visit: www.bapscharities.org or https://my.bapscharities.org. About BAPS Charities BAPS Charities is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit international charity organization committed to sincerely serving the world by caring for individuals, families, and communities. It is affiliated with BAPS as an independent charity and social services arm. The 55,000 BAPS volunteers networked in over 3,300 centers around the world provide over 12 million volunteer-hours of service annually. Among social service charities, BAPS Charities is a well-respected and trusted name. It has amassed over 50 years of firsthand experience in initiating, managing, and sustaining 160 humanitarian operations throughout the world in such diverse fields as: medical services, environmental services, community services, tribal services, and disaster relief services. For additional information on BAPS Charities and its international and local philanthropic activities, please visit www. bapscharities.org or call 732-777-1414, ex. 140 or email: media@na.baps.org

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Holi c celebration at chinmaya c m mission By Vinod Sharma HOUSTON: Chinmaya Mission Houston celebrated Holi on Saturday the 19th of March with the gusto and exuberance fitting a celebration of Prahlada’s miraculous escape from a fiery death owing to his unwavering faith in Lord Vishnu. The festivities at Chinmaya Prabha this year included large helpings of camaraderie, tradition, and holi fun as Mission members gathered together as a family in home away from home. The atmosphere was decidedly carnival like complete with wonderful weather and tasty treats from Madras Pavilion and Udipi restaurants, as well as, delicious homemade pan – an ideal setting for the festivities. The fun level spiked sharply up with the tug of war orchestrated by the Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYKs). Participating teams included elementary school kids, followed by middle and high school girls versus boys best of three matches and even moms versus dads. Next came the puja conducted by Sri Harish Bhat and led by Acarya Gaurangbhai at a ceremonial bonfire to symbolize Holika dahana. Following the puja and pradaksina around the fire by all members, we were treated to a beautifully choreographed raas dance by Bala Vihar children. Acarya Gaurangbhai then addressed all members, as they formed a large circle and held hands. He reminded everyone of the plight and

courage of the people of Japan in this dark hour – their losses and their fortitude in the face of such adversity and danger. Mahamrtyunjaya mantra was recited for peace and recovery of Japan. Then began the celebration of the festival of colors - red, purple, turquoise filled the air as children chased one another around. Age was forgotten, as were worries, and responsibilities. The objective was to find and color as many friends and family as possible. The atmosphere was filled with smiles, hugs, laughter, color ambushes and dancing to the reverberating bhangra music. This year’s celebration was attended by a few hundred members and was filled with joy, meaningful and memorable fun and frolic. Chinmaya Mission is located at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353, Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX-77498. For more information, visit www.chinmayahouston.org or call Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059 or Bharart Sutaria 281-933-0233.

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Photos: Jay Deshmukh

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chinmaya Prabha t c takes “Houston Arts Alliance” on a sacred, s thought-provoking Journey t By uma aGGarwal HOUSTON: The East met West on Feb.26, 2011, in a day of joyful culture and thought-provoking philosophy when Chinmaya Prabha, Houston welcomed over 150 non-Indian members of the “Houston Arts Alliance” to an experience of “Sacred Spaces, Sacred Songs – Insight/OnSight.” The curiosity that brought this enthusiastic group was met with a warm respectful welcome, a prime hallmark of Indian and Chinmaya culture. What followed was a sa-

from waking, study, eating and sleep. The guests also were dazzled by the diversity of India’s regional costumes that Bala Vihar parents displayed on stage. With his insightful, yet simple introduction to Vedanta, Acarya Gaurang Nanavaty made the audience think about the fundamental questions of life’s purpose, happiness and the glory of selfless work, drawing from the Immortal Gita. With his words, the true unity of human thought amid diverse cultures was appreciated by the visitors.

Bala Vihar parents displayed the diversity of India’s regional costumes on stage.

cred experience of the sights and sounds of India. The guests were first introduced to the beautiful shrine at Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya where they were in awe while participating in a Puja guided by the priest Shri Ganesh. The atmosphere of divinity surrounded them as they joined Sri Ganesh and CMH orchestra children in a procession filled with Vedic chanting and music. Inside the Smrti Hall, the visitors were spell-bound as they were treated to a comprehensive multimedia show with traditional bharatanatyam performance, a melodious bhajan and a colorful Raas (Indian folk dance), all taking them to India’s rich heartland. They were then presented with “A Day in the Life of a Hindu” where Bala Vihar children introduced the wisdom of simple prayers that guided all activities

As the formal presentations concluded, the group was again overwhelmed as they walked through an arts and crafts display, showcasing Indian art of Rangoli and Diyas. The show ended with an Indian taste fest where guests enjoyed the savory Indian snacks. The success of the program was evident when the group marveled at each aspect of the day and expressed how the Gita transcended cultures with its relevance. It was surely a sacred experience of interfaith and cultural understanding. For more information on Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya and Chinmaya Mission Houston and its activities visit www.saumyakasi.org and www.chinmayahouston.org or call temple 281 568 1690 or Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059 or Bharart Sutaria 281-933-0233

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s serene, sublime Veena concert s

By Thara narSimhan The day after a performance at the Asia Society Tiger Ball 2011 along with two virtuoso performers Gao Hong on Chinese Pipa and Michelle Kinney on the Cello, Nirmala Rajasekar presented a solo Veena Recital at the Ganesh Temple premises of the Meenakshi Temple complex in Pearland. The performance was par excellence. An artist of outstanding accomplishments came out with a traditional Carnatic concert with repertoire of evergreen melodies. The remarkable technique of playing the Veena was special which follows the Thanjavur baani or style that was characterized by its strong commitment to producing musical graces in the manner they would be rendered vocally. The concert interspersed with vocal singing of the Krithis and also explaining the significance of the composition was brilliant, prominent and marvelously executed. What made the concert supreme was due the fact that the Sangeetham or music brought undiminished Reengaram or reverberation on the listeners which was small in number yet very appreciative of the music. Even the Peacocks behind the Ganesh temple were responding the divine Veena Naadham or the melodious tone of the Veena. Any music that comes from within is the Primordial sound, that is referred to as “Naada Bramha”. When one’s mind is agitated the “Naada” from the internal soul is combined with divine resonance that calms the mind which is practiced in Naada Yoga. Hence all of Creation turns to music whether they are human or even if they are birds. Nirmala Rajasekar learnt from one of the senior-most and highly respected Vainikas today, Kalpakam Swaminathan. She was trained in carnatic music by Prof T R Subramanyam and B Sitarama Sarma. As a young teen she was chosen by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to present concerts in Festivals of India around the world. She has performed at many festivals worldwide and continues exploring South Indian Classical Carnatic music and to create collaborative projects with other music traditions including western classical and jazz, incidentally which brought her to the current Asia Society event. The concert commenced with Varnam in Raga Sahana. This was followed by a heart-warming rendition of Hamsadhvani “Gum Ganapathaye”composition of Muthiah Baghavathar. Nirmala Rajasekar brought out the beauty of the 5th Melakartha Raga “Manavati” in Thyagaraja’s composition “ Evaritō nē telpudu rāma nā lōni jālini” meaning “O Lord Rama! To whom shall I convey my mental agony?” This song was followed by the Krithi “Kaana Vendamo” by Shri Papanasam Sivan who expresses the desire to see the Gopuram of Chidambaram Temple of Lord Shiva once in a

Nirmala Rajsekar

life time before seeking moksha. Then came the Varali Raga venerating Goddess Meenakshi in the song “Mamava Meenakshi’ wherein she sang while playing on the Veena the line ” Shyame Shankari Digvijaya Pratapini” which added harmony to melody. The ever popular “Kaapi Narayani” Raga song Sarasa Madhana came in invigorating pace. The Vainika stopped playing the instrument and explained the context in which the Composer Saint Thyagaraja had written this song. She elucidated that the composer would have conversations with Lord Rama just as he would with a friend and brought out the beauty of the Sahitya giving its meaning” Oh Rama! You are the One who knows how to use the saama, daana, bEdha and danDa methods at the appropriate time” and continued playing rest of the song on the instrument. The Raga Alapana of Keeravani was the chosen main raga with Taanam and Pallavi “ Devi neeya Thunai” in praise of Goddess Meenakshi which was a marvelous rendition. The concluding pieces included the crisp Purandaradasa krithi in Nada Namakriya - Dasanamaadiko enna Rama, the haunting Alai paayudhe in Kaanada and the brisk thillana in Paras. The Veena Concert was held with accompaniments on Vio-

lin by Mahesh Iyer and on the Mridangam by Mayavaram Siva. Mahesh Iyer delighted the audience with classic touch on the violin and Mayavaram Siva he contributed a precise and well-structured Thani avarthanam after the ragam tanam pallavi. The concert was brought by Lakshmi Venkateswaran, student of Nirmala Rajasekar. In Carnatic music, the most important and unique feature is the lyrics, known as Sahitya. The sahitya has always been the effective means to communicate man’s moods. A musical composition presents a concrete picture of not only the raga but the emotions envisaged by the composer as well. If the composer also happens to be a good poet, there is a beautiful combination of music and high flown poetry. The role of sahitya in Carnatic music cannot be overemphasised and Nirmala Rajasekar set the balance of “swara anubhava” with “sahitya anubhava” . This explains why composers are held in such high esteem. In fact, the birth and death anniversaries of various composers are also commemorated. Sri Meenakshi Temple Society Pearland and Classical Arts Society Houston will celebrate Thyagaraja Uthsavam on April 16 and April 17 at the Meenakshi Temple Pearland and all are welcome.

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4 Protection pointers To help Asian-Indians secure their American Dream, Eapen of offers the following 4 “Protection Pointers.” Protect your hard-earned income As you build your professional career in the U.S., your most valuable asset is your ability to earn a salary. Yet, if you were to become too sick or hurt to work, even for a few months, you and those who depend on you could be severely affected. Protect your family You, and your parents before you, have worked hard for a comfortable life, one with a promising future, but if you were to die, your family’s future may not be so bright. Would your children be able to attend college? Would your spouse be able to stay in the family home? Protect your retirement Undeniably, life in the U.S. is different than in India. Aging parents often are not able to move

in with adult children, when they need help caring for themselves. Paying for that care could drain retirement assets quickly, endangering the parents’ quality of life and potentially causing them to run out of income too soon. Protect your legacy One of the reasons your parents came to the U.S. was to provide more opportunity for you and your children. One of the most important values for Asian Indians in the U.S. as well as in India is to provide the best education possible to their children. Make sure you can pass this traditional value on to your children, and their children, by leaving an inheritance to the next generation. These four protection pointers can be rounded out with one good piece of advice. Building a comprehensive financial strategy can be a difficult job. Make sure to find a trusted financial professional, backed by a financially sound, time-tested company, to help you navigate the 4 Protection Pointers and pave your path to the American Dream. For more information about how MassMutual helps

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George willy named to Board of directors of Asian American Justice center (AAJc) SUGAR LAND: George R. Willy, founder and principal attorney of the immigration law firm George R. Willy P.C. in Sugar Land, Texas, was recently named to the Board of Directors of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC). He previously served on the organization’s advisory board. With this appointment, Mr. Willy attended the AAJC annual Board of Directors’ meeting in Washington D.C. on March 10 – 11, where he had the opportunity to meet with the new White House Deputy Director for Public Engagement, Brian Jeung to discuss the latest updates on immigration law reform. The AAJC works to advance the human and civil rights of Asian Americans, and build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. The organization is one of the nation’s leading experts on issues of importance to the Asian American community including: affirmative action, anti-Asian violence prevention/race relations, census, immigrant rights, immigration, language access, television diversity and voting rights. To learn more about the AAJC, please visit their website, http:// www.napalc.org. “I feel very honored and privileged to have been invited to serve on the board of the Asian American Justice Center. The AAJC exemplifies the passion and compassion of the Asian community for its constituency,” said Willy on his ap-

pointment to the Board. He continued, “The organization has made profound changes in the way the Asian community has been viewed and treated in the United States.” George R. Willy P.C. is a full-service immigration law firm with over 25 years of experience in every aspect of business immigration, family-based immigration and immigration-related litigation. The firm is based in Sugar Land, Texas with an office in Atlanta, Georgia, a relationship with a prestigious law firm in Canada and a presence in Hyderabad, India.

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dandi march 2: A campaign Against corruption HOUSTON: While Dandi March 1 was a campaign of nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, Dandi march 2 is a campaign against the Corruption in India and to get Good governance. Dandi march 2 in Houston started in Mahatma district culminating with a 2 mile walk touching 59 feeder, Hill croft and Harwin. On asked by a journalist as to why he was doing a Dandi March, Gandhiji remarked “As the Independence movement is essentially for the poorest in the land, the beginning will be made with this evil salt laws”. It was heartening to see the same spirit in the participants of the Dandi march 2 that said, “Corruption ko hatana hi…Bharat ko bachana hi”..roughly translated to “we will end corruption to save our mother India” While the original dandi march broke the salt laws, the second dandi march asked for enactment of Jan Lokpall Bill that will bring justice to all Indians by strengthening the anti-corruption laws. The support for the march was tremendous. While the spirited volunteers stopped at the signals/junctions shouting Bharat mata ki JAI….inspired onlookers in the cars smiled and honked and expressed their support. At the end of the march, a petition demanding a jan lok pall bill was signed and posted to the Indian Embassy. It was extremely motivating to see people from different states, ages and all walks to life coming

under one umbrella and making this event a success. This event is proudly supported by supporters of India Against Corruption and the civil society which drafted the Jan lok pal Bill. Dr Jaya Prakash Narayan of Loksatta party motivated the organisers. People for Loksatta, 5 th pillar (One of the fastest growing and most powerful anti-corruption organization in India), Bharath Swabhiman and many more like minded organizations took part in this march. Participating in the dandi march, Shekhar Agrawal of Bharath Swabhiman said “ It was a great rally as people of all ages participated enthusiastically and the message was loud and clear that the corruption must end now from India”. “This Dandi March II was a non vilonece Gandhian unique way of expressing our thoughts on corruption in India especially form the top levels of the Government for years. People are now awakened and we the Indian Diaspora are as much committed to voice our concern to remove the corruption. We congratulate the youth who organized and carried out with utmost peace.” said Ramesh Shah of Ekal Vidhyalaya.

The organisers from People for Lok Satta , 5th Pillar and other individuals demonstrated utmost commitment on a continued basis to end corruption in India. Visit www.5thPillar.org for continued efforts to kill corruption in India. We encourage you to take part in this ongoing movement to have good governance in india.

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Indo American News • Friday, April 01, 2011

IAA Presents the Best in Jazz/Blues

Twelve Grammys and nominations in more categories than any other musician in Grammy history define the American Banjo player Bela Fleck. His musical accomplishments are an envy of any musician in the world. Padam Bhushan Zakir Hussain has done India proud in more ways than one. He is rightly called an international phenomenon in percussion and World Music. He has won multiple Grammys, played with most prestigious and internationally acclaimed bands, composed for films, and written music for leading ballet companies. He is a teacher par excellence with faculty appointments at Princeton and Stanford- venues he uses to spread the magic of Indian music in mainstream America. He

is an Indian Ambassador in the true spirit of the word! Edgar Meyer is the most prominent contemporary bluegrass, newgrass, and jazz musician from Nashville. With a long and distinguished discography, Meyer deservingly boasts a wide array of cross-genre collaborations. When the three living musical legends come together, you can expect only the best in jazz/ blues. IAA, true to its mission of promoting cultural arts of India in the American context, is proud to bring this outstanding crosscultural concert to Houston. Watch them live on April 10, 6pm at Wortham Center. For tickets, call 281-648-0422 or visit www.iaahouston.com

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The Slum of All Parts

Artistes of the world are converging on a much-bemused Dharavi slums of Rio de JaneiBy Smita mitra ro, a film called Tsotsi, When well-heeled set in Johannesburg’s Mumbaikars stride into Soweto slum, won the Dharavi, you know 2006 Oscar for Best something odd is afoot. Foreign Language film. And sure enough, there And so, while Rio now they were on a Januhas favela tours, Dharavi ary morning to take in has Reality Tours and the “buzz” generated Be the Local tours, plus by Artefacting Muman unending stream of bai, Dharavi’s first “art foreign researchers, ar arresidency”, for which chitects, planners, design artist Alex Mazarella students, artists, musiWhite, videographer cians and photographers Casey Nolan and phofrom across the world tographer Arne de making their way here Knegt had “immersed” to see, observe, research, themselves in Dharavi write and conduct workfor three months. Given shops. Their route into the language barrier and Dharavi is usually via their lack of engageorganisations like Urbz ment with the locals, and SPARC (Society for the trio’s “artistic inter interthe Promotion of Area ventions” had left Dhar DharResource Centres), who avians feeling rattled. make no secret of their They wondered why passion for Dharavi, these “foreigners” had through essays, cultural made gigantic murals and design workshops (“Christian paintings?” White, Nolan & Knegt. (Photograph by Apoorva and websites like dharathey asked), why their Salkade) vi.org and urbz.net. own mugshots were up But how do locals on large posters; why their children had been made to pelt kar, who earns between 250 and 300 themselves react to seeing their own a tin sheet with dripping red wax that dollars a day finding “characters” in lives repeatedly documented via art, got their clothes awfully messed up his neighbourhood—from ragpick- design and research? At least some (apparently to recreate Anish Ka- ers to super-rich entrepreneurs to rap are openly sceptical. Bhau Korde, poor’s Shooting Into a Corner instal- singers—they are able to wrap up now over 70 years old, is dismislation!). But for the chic Mumbaikars their shoots fast, and go back with a sive of “intellectuals” who love to comment on Dharavi without really chattering excitedly as they viewed made-in-Dharavi tale. The second, more subtle reason for engaging with it. “On any day, at any the artwork in Dharavi’s snaking alleyways, none of that was particularly Dharavi’s new, “hip” turn is that it’s hour, there are at least 10 foreigners relevant. Nor the fact that the huge the ‘ideal’ slum, and one threatened walking around with cameras. Most multicoloured ‘Welcome’ sign greet- by redevelopment to boot, at a time are interested in only capturing the ing them was painted by outsiders, when urbanists across the world are poverty of the place,” he says sardonilooking at slums with new respect cally. Anjum, another resident, is just not Dharavians. Welcome, indeed, to the new Dhar Dhar- as industrious, dynamic, sustainable, as cynical. “The numbers of visitors avi, dismissed for years as an eyesore eco-friendly urban settlements. That have shot up in the last two years. but now the muse of artists, writers, Dharavi, home to about a million Most of us just ignore them and carry filmmakers and academicians. Two people from all over India, sits bang in on with our work,” he shrugs. Richa Hushing, an independent reasons shape this meteoric rise of the middle of the city, flanked by five filmmaker who made a series of short Mumbai’s, and India’s, biggest slum train stations, only adds to its allure. More than one Dharavi-trawler, films on Dharavi’s communities, adin popular consciousness. The first, and obvious one, is Slumdog Mil- camera in hand, is well-versed in mits to hearing a common complaint lionaire, the urban fairytale that ex- ‘slum aesthetics’, a term that has here. “They say, ‘you come with your oticised its garbage piles and bustling found its niche in cinematic idiom cameras, make films but we never alleyways, and went on to trigger and popular culture in the last decade. know for what’,” she says. It made a flood of documentaries capturing “Slums are used as dramatic back- her think, and eventually decide, the “real Dharavi”. Since the movie drops to tell stories like in City of God to screen films, her own and those hit Oscar glory in 2009, film crews or District 9,” says Mathias Echa- of others on Dharavi, for residents. from Discovery, Nat Geo and BBC’s nove, founding member of Urbz, an Similarly, Lutz Konermann also Channel Four have come and gone. organisation that works on alternate screened his documentary Dharavi: With real-time “casting” by the likes ideas of urban development. While Slum for Sale in Dharavi, attracting of Dharavi resident Rajesh Prabha- City of God was set in the favelas or strong reactions, both positive and We provide Kerala speciﬁc Ayurvedic and Panchakarma Therapies for alleviating various pains and disorders based on consultation with our wellexperienced Holistic Consultant. To schedule prior Appointments with our Holistic Consultant or to avail our wellness program, please contact: 281-969-8062 or email to stafford@santhigramusa.com

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Artefacting Dharavi kids do an Anish Kapoor

Emanuelle de Decker of Blue Frog herself admits, some older kids question the point of music workshops that let them “have fun for just a day where they get to perform with the artiste”. She rues how there’s “always a long wait for the next interested artiste”. How great a cultural interaction can be, when it actually works, is encapsulated by the experiences of HeRa aka Netarpal Singh in Dharavi. This hip-hop dancer, who grew up in the ghettos of Queens, New York, visited Dharavi to see French graf graffiti artists work. Spontaneously, he began B-boying, an acrobatic version of hip-hop dancing, and was soon joined by enthusiastic Dharavi kids. “Hip hop came naturally to them. It connects us people from the street, in South Africa, Korea, Palestine, the US and India,” says HeRa, who was so charged with this encounter that he decided to start a hip-hop centre, Tiny Drops, on the slum’s outskirts. Now Dharavi kids like Akash, Rashid and Faizal come here whenever they can, practising for hours to get their moves right. On discovering that the kids he was teaching hated the term “slum dog”, he turned it around, starting an artists’ collective called Slumgods with his Indian-American rapper friend Mandeep Sethi and Dharavi’s dancers. “It makes these kids redefine their identity by connecting to an international hip hop culture. They become empowered,” he says. Creative or jarring, sincere or exploitative, loved or hated, there is no doubt about one thing: the invaders are changing Dharavi. Outlook India

negative, from residents since it dealt with a subject uppermost in their minds—redevelopment. Dharavi’s children, the most favoured subjects of photo essays on the place, have come up with their own unique reaction to the invasion of visitors. “They want to take pictures too. They want to play at becoming surveywallahs and photographers,” says artist Himanshu S., who inter interacts with the kids who come to The Shelter, supported by Urbz, for art and other classes. This has had a positive spin-off. The children were able to document their neighbour neighbourhood like no outsider could, and their photographs, priced at between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500, were exhibited at the Kala Ghoda Festival, held this February. Only two were sold, but the exhibition did attract volunteers eager to work in Dharavi. Such engagement is exactly what Vinod Shetty of Acorn Foundation, which works with Dharavi’s ragpicker community, is aiming for too, despite fumbles like Artefacting Mumbai. He has tied up with a theatre director to create a play with Dharavi’s children. They will pen the dialogues and also act in the play, portraying their realities. Blue Frog, the hip “live music” club, has also become an unlikely entrant into Dharavi’s world—its visiting foreign artistes hold music workshops for Dharavi’s kids through Acorn. Not all such interventions are sustained and it’s this lack of consistency that feeds the scepticism of Dharavians like Bhau Korde. The photography workshops are sporadic, and as

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Indo American News • Friday, April 01, 2011

Mannered in Mohali? Here we were rubbing our hands with glee at the prospect of settling down to watch a day of cricket that can’t get bigger and fatter. And what does the non-cricketing captain of the nation do? He decides to come to Mohali to watch the match from the stands (nothing wrong with that) and calls his Pakistani counterpart to join him. Frankly, though, it’s not Manmohan Singh who is to blame for making a super-exciting match into a super-nervous encounter. It would have been odd, if not rude, not to invite Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Gilani to an IndiaPakistan World Cup semi-final match when it’s being played in a Punjab town 239 km from Lahore. But with the foreign secretary-level talks having happened and with Mr Singh deciding to not draw a strict demarcation line between business and pleasure, the Indian prime minister is to blame for the media and their aunt to suspect that there’s much more at stake in today’s match than, well, blood-chugging joy and blood-draining despair that comes with victory and defeat respectively. The problem is now that every Indo-Pak hand will now worry — and insist that we worry with him — about on-field aggression between the two sides that’s part and parcel of the game. So an LBW appeal will be seen as an extra-cricketing hostile gesture and a overboundary as a sneer that goes beyond standard operation sneer in a big ticket match. So, both sides may be under pressure to win — but with grace, dignity and all those other things that our PM would expect in India’s dealings with old bro Pakistan. Basically, all those things that suck out the life from a genuinely potent and humming game between rivals. Hindustan Times

Step on the Gas The 9th round of oil and gas exploration acreage auctions under the government’s New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) has hardly boosted confidence all round. Out of the 34 blocks that were on offer 33 might have been bid for, but in this instance, the facts obscure the reality. There was little interest from foreign majors - something the Indian energy sector requires urgently and domestic PSUs grabbed the lion’s share. It’s nothing new, merely the latest iteration of a trend that has been established over previous NELP licensing rounds. Given the need for the latest technology and knowhow to explore and exploit untapped hydrocarbon reserves, it’s a trend that must be reversed. The dichotomy between India’s energy needs and its output is stark. Currently, it is the fifth-largest energy consumer in the world - and that’s with a per capita energy consumption that’s just about a quarter of the global average. Calculate the potential per capita increase from such a low base as the benefits of growth trickle down to socio-economically disadvantaged sections, factor in the added demand as the manufacturing base expands, and it’s apparent that India will be lucky to maintain its current 70-30 split between imported and domestic crude in the decade or two to come. As it stands now, only a fraction of India’s 26 sedimentary basins - with a total area of 3.14 million square km - has been explored. And the gap between rate of growth of demand and of domestic supply when it comes to both crude oil and natural gas has been growing. The entire purpose of the NELP, instituted in 1999, was to circumvent the problem and bring in the billions of dollars in foreign investment required for increasing the extraction and production base by offering attractive terms to private investors, putting in place transparent bidding procedures and creating a level playing field with regard to the PSUs. The massive Reliance Industries-BP $7.2 billion deal points to the sector’s potential. With the current instability in North Africa and the Middle East, India ought to offer a stable, attractive option for foreign players. But bureaucratic sluggishness and frequent policy changes have undercut that potential as the NELP auction has shown. Given the inherent risks and substantial investment required in any exploration joint venture, clarity and expedience in government dealings is a must. With production from many of its fields past their plateau, this sort of sloth is adding a very real economic burden. It’s time for New Delhi to step on the gas. Times of India

editorial

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Taking on the Big Bad Wolf By Shabina Akhtar When it comes to sexual violence, children are among the most vulnerable members of the community. India is no exception. A survey conducted by the ministry of women and child development — Study on Child Abuse: India 2007 — reveals that 53 per cent of Indian children are subjected to sexual abuse at some time or another. Conducted across 13 Indian states, the study also found that in 50 per cent of child abuse cases, the offenders were either known to the child or were in a position of trust and responsibility with regard to the child. To address this problem and curb the growing incidence of sexual abuse of children, the ministry of women and child development has mooted the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2011. The bill got the nod from the Cabinet earlier this month and once it is passed in Parliament, it could become an effective tool for bringing child abusers to book. “We have taken care to make the bill child-friendly so as to ensure that victims of child abuse get justice under humane circumstances,” says an official from the ministry. The proposed law addresses sexual assault and sexual harassment of children and the use of children for pornographic purposes. It also lays down stringent punishment for offenders. Most child rights activists are happy with the provisions of the bill. Says child rights expert Praveena Nair S., who works with the legal cell of Delhi-based non government organisation, HAQ: Centre for Child Rights, “The bill has enough legal teeth and brings to attention sexual offences committed against children by people in positions of trust and authority, including police officers, remand home wardens, hospital staff and school authorities. In fact, the bill categorises these crimes as those of ‘aggravated’ nature and stipulates strict punishment for them.” At present child abusers are booked under the Indian Penal Code Sections 375, 376 and 377 that deal with rape and other criminal offences. “The procedure to seek justice is like any other criminal case. If enacted, the

“We have taken care to make the bill childfriendly so as to ensure that victims of child abuse get justice under humane circumstances,” says an official from the ministry. proposed law will definitely make the entire trial procedure much more child-friendly,” adds Praveena Nair S. For example, to make the ordeal of the trial easier for the child, the bill proposes that a family member or a friend whom he or she trusts should be allowed to be present in the court. It also suggests the setting up of special courts to try these cases to ensure their speedy disposal. The courts have to complete the trial within a year from the date of cognisance of the offence. In yet another gesture of sensitivity, the bill stipulates that though the police may be allowed to interview the victim, they must do so in civilian clothes for being quizzed by uniformed officers might scare and intimidate an already traumatised child. Victims of child abuse also find redress under The Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2000. However, experts say that the proposed law would be an improvement on the JJ Act. As Jay Sengupta, a criminal lawyer at the Calcutta High Court points out, “What makes the Prevention of Children against Sexual Offences Bill different from the JJ Act is that the former spells out everything related to child abuse in a detailed manner.” A salient feature of the bill is that punishments have been made much more stringent. A person convicted of committing “aggravated sexual assault” can be imprisoned for seven years along with a fine. Moreover, an accused found guilty of “penetrative sexual assault” on a child will

IndoAmerican News Founder: Dr. K.L. Sindwani Editor: Pramod Kulkarni Business Manager: Jawahar Malhotra Managing Partner: Krishna Giri Community Reporter: Kalyani Giri Community Editor: Manasi Gokhale Administrative Manager: Vanshika Vipin Business & Recreation: Jacob David Graphic Design: Saqib Rana correspondents Chicago: Nand Kapoor ®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

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 01 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

be slapped with a minimum of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of at least Rs 50,000. The bill takes a strong line on child pornography as well. Chapter III makes the “use of children for pornographic purpose or possessing pornographic material involving children” a crime and proposes a penalty of three years’ imprisonment for it. However, though the bill has been largely hailed as an important legal initiative, some activists feel that it could have been better. “It is a good law, but it does have some lacunae. For example, it is silent on the rehabilitation of victims. It also does not address the issue of victims or witnesses turning hostile,” says Sahasrabuddhe, whose term as a judge of the JJB ended earlier this year. She says that during her tenure she has seen many cases where victims and witnesses turn hostile under social pressure. “Victims are often forced to turn hostile when a family member is involved. The law needs to have a provision to take care of that,” she stresses. Again, some hold that with the onus of proving his innocence being on the accused, the bill could be laying itself open to abuse. “It shifts the burden of proof on the offender for certain offences if the victim is below 16 years of age. This could lead to the law being misused. People may be falsely implicated in cases of child abuse. If the investigation process is inept and corrupt, this provision could be widely misused,” says Sengupta. Others feel that the presumption of guilt in child abuse cases should be conditional. Calcutta High Court lawyer Protik Prokash Banerjee says, for example, that it should “only be applicable if medical examination proves a case of penetrative sexual assault. Pornographic material is, of course, something that must be found before the offence is alleged, so there the presumption may also be justified.” The need of the hour, say experts, is to bring all the measures available under the law to deal with the growing problem of child abuse. As Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Amodh Kanth, points out, “We should link the pro-

society

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Indo American News • Friday, April 01, 2011

Maheshwaris Celebrates Colorful Holi

By Nikita Zamwar HOUSTON: “Holi hai bhai holi hai bura na mano holi hai” Maheshwaris said to each other as they played with colors. On Sunday March 13, Maheshwari Mahasabha of North America held a full day holi celebration at George Bush Park.

With stomachs happy the program went on with a game of musical bingo. Trying to present something new the committee put music and games together. While dancing, the people searched for the name of the song on their sheets. It was very innovative idea and perfectly suitable

tee did a great job with the menu and planning,”. This year the committee wanted to plan something where everyone had fun from the newborns to the adults. The southwest Chapter hopes to bring even more Maheshwaris together for their upcoming programs.

MMNA was found in 1983 by a small number of families mainly in the North-East America with an objective of bringing all the Maheshwaris together who are living in North America. Today MMNA has recorded over 1000 families. The holi program held in Houston consisted of activities for all ages. The teenagers kept the older kids busy with Quiditch and a obstacle course while the younger toddlers played in the park. “This holi celebration was a marvelous event. It was really nice to be able to bond with the younger kids by keeping them entertained with fun games like quidditch and relay races. Top it off with some intense holi playing at the end. This was definitely a memorable event” stated Namita Pallod, a 16 year old who voluteered her time to help out with this event. With the kids out of their way, the ladies enjoyed lagori while the men played volleyball. After some games the Maheshwaris went onto to enjoy the delicious vegetarian potluck. The program started with traditional appetizers and nice and cold thandai which was followed by lunch consisting of many delicious recipes of paneer, rice and Shrikhand. Hot masala tea was served at the end of the event.

for holi celebration. The celebration ended as everyone joyfully threw gulal at each other. The program was very successful as everyone had a wonderful time. When asked how they felt of this program Tripti Mundra stated, “I thoroughly enjoyed the program. The commit-

“Holi is one of the most popular festival celebrated by the Maheshwaries. Participants appreciated the Vegeterian potluck lunch. I am glad that the youth participated in large numbers and had a great time.” stated Narendra Zamwar, President of MMNA Southwest Chapter.

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Indo American News • Friday, April 01, 2011

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Letter to the Editor

Indo American Association (IAA) Sums Up ICCR Sponsored Concerts Episode

Dear Editor: The IAA Board would like to sum up the recent episode around ICCRsponsored IAA concerts. In response to letters in the press, we simply provide facts and ask people to draw their own conclusions. For a proper perspective we first provide the chronology. It all began with Dr. Dayal’s visit to ICCR in Delhi for a totally unrelated matter in the first week in January. The ICCR asked for help in presenting in Houston some of the events they were sending to Kennedy Center and other places in USA in March. They were nervous because not much time was left and the groups had nothing to do in between engagements. Dr. DayaI asked why they have not approached the CG in Houston for help, to which they said he has been asked repeatedly for a long time and has failed to respond. In a series of meetings Dr. Dayal and ICCR agreed that IAA will present the L. Subramaniam concert on March 4th and the Tanusree Shankar concert on March 18th. It was agreed the two concerts will be ICCR-sponsored non-ticketed events of the IAA 2011 series. On January 6th Dr. Dayal sent an e-mail to CG Arora, with copies to ICCR officials, about what had transpired. IAA booked the auditorium, paid the deposits, and at ICCR’s request the publicity of the two concerts as part of IAA’s 2011 series started around January 15th. Dr. Dayal contacted L. Subramaniam,

who was delighted at the prospect of performing for IAA, and visited Tanusree Shankar in Kolkata who was equally enthusiastic about performing for IAA at a prestigious venue like Wortham Center. On February 6th, Sangeeta Bahadur, DDGO of ICCR, sent an e-mail to CG Arora, with copy to Dr. Dayal and the Embassy in Washington, asking him to coordinate with IAA the local hospitality of the artist groups for both the concerts. Dr. Dayal returned to Houston on February 11 and immediately contacted CG Arora to discuss the details. In a meeting on February 17 CG Arora told Dr. Dayal his wish list, and Dr. Dayal agreed to accommodate without compromising IAA’s style. On February 20 CG Arora called Dr. Dayal to ask that IAA accommodate Col. Bhalla and make ICC a co-presenter in both the concerts. The matter was discussed at the IAA Board meeting on the same day and Dr. Dayal was provided directions. Col. Bhalla called Dr. Dayal on February 21 to discuss the matter. While he was anxious for the ICC to be a co-presenter, he was unwilling to commit ICC to contribute towards the expenses IAA was incurring in presenting the concerts. Subsequently, CG Arora started persuading ICCR to let him take over both or at least the March 18th Tanusree Shankar concert. Between February 24 and March 3, ICCR torn between doing the right

thing and giving into CG Arora’s request, reversed and re-reversed its position on whether IAA should do both concerts or just the March 4th Subramaniam concert. The only reason given for the flip-flop was that they needed to cater to CG Arora’s request. In the last conversation Dr. Dayal had with Sangeeta Bahadur on March night she suggested that IAA appeal to Ambassador HE Shankar to intervene, and to approach Virendra Paul at the Embassy in this regard. Dr. Dayal had an hour-long phone chat with Mr. Paul on March 7 morning, who was ‘shocked’ to hear the facts and asked to immediately e-mail him the appeal, promising to get back to Dr. Dayal by the evening. To the specific issues concerning the Subramaniam concert, the IAA Board submits as follows. • CG Arora has created a perception that the Subramaniam concert was entirely paid for by ICCR. That is simply not true. IAA has spent a lot of money on Wortham Center rental, musical accessories rental, the technical crew, ushers, security, printing, insurance, and publicity. • Per the agreement with ICCR, IAA presented the Subramaniam concert as a non-ticketed event. All IAA press releases were copied to ICCR to make sure they were consistent with the agreement- they were. • As to CG Arora’s ploy of justifying his actions by accusing IAA of violating the non-ticketed provision,

the CG dictated every single word of what was put on the IAA website homepage, which said free admission passes for general admission will be available at the counter on the day of the concert. That is also what IAA told people over the phone, and that is exactly what was done- everyone who came, over 120 of them, was given a free admission pass and IAA did not collect any money at the door. • IAA wanted those free passes at the counter to be available for all open seats in the house, but CG Arora instructed that people be only given seats behind row 12, as he wanted better seats reserved for his personal friends. Indeed CG Arora drew 187 choicest seats in first twelve rows for his personal friends- there were hardly any diplomats or Americans in those seats. CG Arora does not recognize that IAA is a non-profit US Corporation

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 01 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

operating under a charter and by-laws to promote cultural arts of India in the American context, and that his position as CG gives him no authority over IAA. He has interfered in IAA operations to the extent of causing damage and injury to the organization, including an actual cash loss of $3,000 in forfeited deposits for the March 18th concert for which he is directly responsible. CG Arora failed to do anything for a long time to help ICCR with respect to arranging ICCR-sponsored concerts in Houston. But, once IAA’s hard work brought those concerts to fruition, he had no inhibitions in usurping them! IAA respects the office of Consulate General and the chair CG sits on. IAA would like to think the abovementioned behavior is no reflection on the office or the chair. IAA Board of Directors

Indo American News • Friday, April 01, 2011

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LetterS to the editor

CGI’s Response to IAA Letter Dear Editor: The Consulate’s attention has been drawn to a Press letter, said to be from IAA Board of Directors, about the ICCR-sponsored performances in Houston earlier this month. As in the case of a disgusting letter written earlier by IAA’s Executive Director, the Consulate unequivocally rejects the fabricated allegations and the disinformation contained in the above-mentioned letter, and deems it below its dignity to comment any further on such statements. The Consulate’s role with regard to the performances sponsored by ICCR, is well known and widely appreciated. Our active efforts to get some of the ICCR-sponsored Groups visiting the United States for ‘maximum INDIA’ Festival at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC, to Houston, had been initiated as far back as in

February, 2010 when DG, ICCR had visited Houston. The grand finale of this process was an enthralling performance given by Tanushree

Shankar Dance Group at a free event for the public organized jointly by the Consulate and the University of Houston (UH) on March 18, 2011 at the Cullen Performance Hall, UH main campus, which was attended by a large and enthusiastic audience. Likewise, in pursuance of an earlier recommendation by the Consul General, ICCR had sponsored a group of artistes to perform at the opening of the Arts of India Gallery at Museum of Fine Arts Houston, in May 2009. The Consulate continues to take fur further initiatives such as these. Therefore, IAA’s Executive Director and any other(s) who might endorse his disgraceful efforts to malign Government of India, would be well advised to seriously reflect upon such unacceptable behavior and draw necessary lessons. Office of Consulate General of India, Houston

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Shocked at IAA Director’s Comments

Dear Editor: I am shocked to read the letter by Dr. Hari Dayal, Executive Director of Indo-American Association (IAA) published in your newspaper, relating to the concert by Dr. L Subramaniam, a Padmashree Awardee and the “God of Violin” as he is known, held on Friday, March 4 at the Wortham Center. I was present at the concert and am witness to the whole proceedings. First of all let me congratulate, from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the Indo-American community, Consul General Sanjiv Arora for ar arranging such a wonderful musical treat for us in Houston. Also, we should be thankful to the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) who have spent considerable money and effort to sponsor such a distinguished Group to perform here. I honestly believe the controversy sought to be raised by Dr. Hri Dayal is motivated and uncalled for. Dr. Dayal’s comments (read allegations) that Consul General made a lengthy speech in which he recognised the

presence of certain individuals, or that was not a ‘protocol’ requirement and so on, are in a very bad taste. Introducing the visiting artistes, praising their past performances, giving organiser’s view points, wishing them well and welcoming the invited audience by the responsible person, are the normal done things, prefacing any performance/concert. All the more reason, where the sponsors of the visiting Group were Government of India (GoI) and the Consul General of India being the India’s highest official representative here, he would be well within the call of his duties to do so and/or even publicise his Government’s initiative as eloquently as possible. Who should or can object to such a norm and why? It pained me that even on the stage, Dr. Dayal targeted his barbs at the Consul General, who was very brief, dignified and poised in his comments. I think the important point here is something else. In my humble view, it seems IAA wanted to make a quick buck at the cost this noble gesture of

ICCR. Therefore, the readers ought to know whether or not the tickets/ admission passes/entry passes (whatever the nomenclature might have been given) were sold for monetary consideration or not by IAA, for this concert that was meant to be free and open to all. In fact, I understand, IAA had been playing many gimmicks while posting ads for this concert. It is my feeling that Consul General’s intervention to ensure that nothing is done against ICCR’s policy, had infuriated Dr. Dayal who threw all decency and propriety to winds and wrote such a venomous piece. Last but not the least, had this concert been handled by the local organizer i.e. IAA in all honesty and exactly the way it was intended/ proposed to be, the venue would have been jam-packed much before the start of the show. But thanks to the games played by IAA, there were many seats which remained vacant. Thomas Abraham, Council Member At Large Position 1, City of Sugar Land

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Indo American News • Friday, April 01, 2011

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“Keep Keep a healthy mouth, Live a Healthy Life” Life Thursday, April 7, 2011 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM Individuahl Blessings & Saraswati Deeksha Venue: Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple 10098 Synott Rd, Sugar Land, TX 77498

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Friday, April 8, 2011 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM Lalita Sahasranama Pooja

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Sunday, April 10, 2011 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Homa – Sacred Fire Ceremony

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education

Indo American News • Friday, April 01, 2011

UH Chosen as One of America’s Best Colleges for Undergraduates by Carnegie Foundation HOUSTON: On the heels of gaining Tier One recognition from the prestigious Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the University of Houston has been named one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review, the widely known education services company. The Princeton Review has chosen UH for inclusion in the forthcoming edition of its popular annual guidebook, “The Best 376 Colleges: 2012 Edition,” which will be available in bookstores in early August 2011. “Since we are striving to achieve overall excellence, this recognition by the Princeton Review is one more important indication that we’re making great progress,” said UH President Renu Khator. “This is the first time our school has been included, so it’s gratifying to know our efforts at improving student success are starting to show real results.” Robert Franek, senior vice president-publishing for The Princeton Review, said UH was chosen as one of the “best” undergraduate colleges based on several criteria the publication considers when reviewing schools for the book. “First, we must have a high regard for their academic programs and other offerings,” said Franek. “Second, our selections take into account institutional data we collect from the schools and the opinions of more than

122,000 students who we survey. We also greatly value the feedback we get about schools from our college-savvy staff across the country as well as from students, educators and parents who use our services and books.” So impressed was Franek with UH’s profile, he and a team of Princeton Review executives flew to Houston recently to visit the campus. “You have much to be proud of and much to brag about,” he said. “We’re delighted to share in it with you.” During the tour, Joe Guerra, vice president of educational partnerships for The Princeton Review, said, “UH students are energetic. I was par particularly impressed to see how much diversity the campus offers, as well as the variety of languages being spoken.” Khator cited a number of factors she believes have contributed to an improved undergraduate experience at UH, including: · Implementing an ambitious construction program to provide new academic, research and housing facilities for students, with approved projects to double campus building square footage from 6 million square feet in 2000 to more than 12 million square feet. · Adding state-of-the-art residence halls such as Cougar Village, Calhoun Lofts and the planned Cougar Place sophomore housing complex, which continue to grow the community of more than 3,900 students

who now live on campus. · Providing world-class dining facilities, such as the addition of the cooked-to-order Fresh Food Co. at Moody Towers – the first-of-its-kind facility in the Southwest and the largest in the nation. · Creating a living-learning environment on campus, where the Faculty-in Residence program allows faculty and their families to live in the residence halls and interact with students. · Rewarding academic progress with the Graduation Pledge, which provides grants that can total $3,000 for students who complete at least 30 credit hours a year toward their degrees. Only about 15 percent of the nation’s colleges reviewed by Princeton Review – and only 8 percent of all colleges nationwide – are included in this widely known college guide. “It includes public and private schools, traditional and non-traditional colleges, historically black colleges and universities, and science and technology-focused institutions,” Franek said. “However, each one is an outstanding institution we highly recommend to college applicants and their parents. In our opinion, these are ‘the cream of the crop’ institutions for undergraduates in America.” “Student success is a top priority at UH, and this recognition by Princeton Review shows that we’re making great strides,” Khator said.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 01 , 2011• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

Indo American News • Friday, April 01, 2011

society

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Ode to Bollywood: Glitzy, All Dressed Up, to Support Leukemia Society By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: A veritable constellation of “movie stars” walked the red carpet and wore their ritzy high heels thin on the dance floor at the Ode to Bollywood soirée held at the chic Moghul Restaurant and M Lounge on March 26. The fundraising event, organized by TV Asia journalist and Lights Camera Action society commentator Ruchi Mukherjee, benefitted the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), and drew support for Mukherjee who is a nominee for the organization’s 2011 Woman of the Year title. Co-host for the evening was freewheeling disc spinner Samia Adil whose effervescence proved to be quite contagious judging by the rocking crowd. Over 150 from the diverse communities in this city attended the party that went on until the wee hours. The themed event inspired creativity as guests came in character as their favorite Bollywood movie actors/actresses. The hosts set the trend for the evening; Mukherjee, who adopted the persona of Madhuri Dixit, was ravishing in a pink and gold ensemble teamed with ornate jewelry, while Adil made for an arresting Zeenat Aman circa 80’s in a fitted red dress that flared dramatically at the knees. There were Katrina Kaif, Salman Khan, and Karan Johar look-alikes, but Farida Hasanali as a very convincing Rekha from the movie Umrao Jaan stole the show and walked off with the first prize for the best female costume. Shyam Pillai, as a

very urbane Karan Johar, took the honors for best male costume. Winners received a month of free dance lessons from local Bollywood dance teachers and choreographers, Mahesh Mahbubani and Arzan Gonda. A visual treat for the evening was a performance by a belly dancer who wowed guests with her skill. Facesinthecrowdevent were Mariam Issa, Tanaz and Chesley Choudhury, David Raj, and radio personality Sangeeta Dua. Each year the LLS encourages dynamic candidates to vie for the LLS “Man and Woman of the Year” titles that entails ten weeks of innovative fundraising that saves lives through blood cancer research, medication and testing, educational materials and events for patients and their families, family Ruchi Mukherjee with children afflicted support groups, and peer with leukemia counseling. Former nominee Sonia save lives. I am honored to have been Azad, a news reporter with Channel nominated and felt worthy for a good 13, recommended Mukherjee for this cause”, says Ruchi. The grand finale will be on May13 year’s competition. “I was nominated for this campaign at Hotel ZaZa where the winners will on September 20, 2010, the day my be declared at the gala event. For more information or to make a dad passed away and feel like this donation, visit www.lls.org and www. campaign is dedicated to my dad to spread awareness and raise funds and mwoy.org/txg.

Above: Ruchi Mukherjee, Mahesh Mahbubani, Samia Adil and Krishna Giri Below: Tanaz and Chesley Choudhury dressed to impress. Photos: Kalyani Giri

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 01 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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horoscope

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE www.GaneshaSpeaks.com ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20: The new moon in your own sign portends significant gains when it comes to finances. Money flows in effortlessly into your coffers, as a slew of rents, leases, loans, pending dues etc. are realized. This logically means that a lot of your time will be spent in negotiations and deal making, buying and selling assets and the like. Your new found wealth will definitely have a bearing on your lifestyle. You may go in for an image makeover, or undertake an ambitious renovation of your house. TAURUS Apr 21 - You find that the worries that you had been harboring over the previous week did not turn into the full blown storms that you expected them to be. Contracts, collaborations, commissions and communications will be the key areas in your life this week. Your attention towards work in the past has probably alienated your spouse a little. You ought to find time for dinners, pleasurable trips, or shopping excursions for the home and the hearth. While you may end up spending a bit more than you intended, it is all for a good cause. GEMINI May 22 - Jun 21: You have pondered long and hard over the path you wish your career to take, and the lifestyle that you desire to achieve. Now is the time to stop thinking and to spring into action. You will now attempt to break the status quo and try to navigate into unchartered territory. You equip yourself physically and mentally for the challenges ahead by investing in some heavy duty research, creative thinking and attitude. At home, there is a good amount of bonding, and you will find that those around you put in the full weight of their support behind your endeavors. CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 23: The family is ever in focus for the Cancerian. However, this does not mean that you will ease off on your attempts to achieve a financial footing for yourself and your loved ones. If at all, you will be inspired to redouble your efforts to make the best use of your potential. Crabs are known to be sensitive and emotional, but that has never stopped them from being achievers. You are extremely creative during this period, and will be looking to earn as much as you can to be able to provide your family with nothing but the best. Your ability to log that extra mile for the sake of your near and dear ones will stand you in good stead in the near future. LEO July 24 - Aug 23: This is a time of realigning your misplaced priorities and of realigning your relationships. You have a much more positive attitude towards life than you have had of late. You can expect a fair amount of bonding and intimacy with like-minded people during this week. Your new found attitude towards life gives you the fortitude to see through misfortunes safely. Even financially, you may be reviewing and juggling your investments and liabilities. Travel is indicated, possibly a cruise to an unseen destination, or a soothing boat ride down drowsy backwaters. Now is the time to sit back and relax. VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23:You are filled with zest to take your life and career to new highs, and accordingly, all your forces will be marshalled towards that end. You look at inking profitable deals or to farm overseas connections which could help your business. Work will be demanding, but you will enjoy every moment of it. The upward curve of progress that you

Indo American News • Friday, April 01, 2011

Big B and Rajnikanth to Act Together in RANA

Bollywood Shahenshah Amitabh Bachchan is all generate now will go a long way in strengthenstrengthen ing your finances as well. Make the best of this set to share the screen with period, and you will be laughing all the way to Rajinikanth in his upcoming movie ‘Rana’. Buzz the bank for the rest of the year. LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23:You wish you had has it that Amitabh will be the license to print money, all for the luxuries seen in a few scenes in the and comforts it can buy and second half of the film. But help you lead a smooth life. other details about his charNot literally the licence to print acter have been kept under money, but you will be able wraps. Both the stars shared to fulfil this wish to an extent. screen last time in 1991 for Anything that opens doors for Hindi movie Hum in which you to earn more money, be it Big B was in lead role. It may sound very business issues, investments or anything of that sort, will grab your attention. You may miss out surprising. But the veton enjoying the simplicities of life. It is to satisfy eran evergreen actress Rekha has rethe needs and demands of your loved ones that jected the most speculated movie ‘Rana’ starring superstar Rajinikanth. you are working so hard. SCORPIO Oct 24 - Nov 22: The turbulent times have taught you some tough lessons of life. You have understood the value of money and as a result have cut down on unnecessary expenditure. Another impor important lesson you have learnt is that positive attitude can go a long way. The challenging circumstances will make you look within for answers to your questions and confusions. Turn to your friends and family for guidance as well as support, they will lend you a helping hand. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 22: You have become a workaholic and are enjoying the rhythm of life. Colleagues and associates will seek your guidance at the time of need, and your knowledge and vision will come to the aid. You will seal some important deals which will give you great returns in the near future. Praises showered upon you for your efficiency and qualities can take you on an ego drive. You may have to go through some ups and downs but you will enjoy the thrilling ride to success. CAPRICORN Dec 23 - Jan 20: A perfect week for Goats as success comes knocking at your door! You feel on top of the world. It’s high time to get rid of pretenders in your life. You can depend on your optimism for this. Keeping your folks happy and fulfilling your promises towards them leaves you with a happy soul. You have built an aura around you, which does not let an evil eye harm you, not even that of your worst enemies. AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19: As the temperatures start soaring during mid-year, you too get charged up to explore new avenues. You gear up to take new challenges, creating a niche for yourself to etch your destiny. The process may be hectic and tedious, but creativity and innovation can make up for the pressure. Meanwhile, your hunger for knowledge keeps on increasing day by day. Reading books, exploring places, and meeting people can help quench your curiosity about various things. Bravo! Water Bearers. PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20: It’s raining money for you Fishes, as the planets make a favorable alignment! The smell of the newly minted cash gives you a high, while the sight of it gives a mission to your life. In short, you are in love with the ‘M’ lettered word. Love and romance take a back seat for now, as you fix your eyes on career, prosperity and rising bank balance. You go to the extent of taking huge risks in order to conquer new heights. Bank accounts, loans, funds, real-estate etc. form the crux of your life. ‘Apna sapna money money’ is your chant.

According to grapevines, Rekha opted out of the mega-budgeted movie owing to problem in the remuneration. There said to have been some monetary issues between Rekha and the producers, Ocher Studios. Sources added that the actress is not keen to work in the film, unless she is paid what she thinks she deserves. She had allegedly asked for nearly four crores for the film which didn’t go well with the producers. Following which, Rekha chose to walk out of the film.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 01 , 2011• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

Indo American News • Friday, April 01, 2011

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