050710A

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

50¢

Friday, May 07, 2010 | Vol. 29, No. 19

Indo American News

1

Circulation Verified by

AR Rahman Jai Ho Tour Joins List of Top 10 Concerts in Houston Whether you like AR Rahman or not! but the Mozart of Madras has joined the ranks of top concerts in Houston ahead of popular singers such as Lady Gaga.

Houston Chronicle’s Preview Magazine April 29 Issue showcases Rahman taking 2nd slot in Houston’s top concerts

Get Ready for Shankar Ehsan Loy Houston Tour

READ US ONLINE at www.indoamerican-news.com

It’s musical madness in Houston. Rajinder of Star Promotions, Inc announces the trio’s tour to Houston on August 6th 2010.

Published weekly from Houston, TX

7457 Harwin Dr, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036 Ph: 713.789.NEWS (6397) • Fax: 713.789.6399 • indoamericannews@yahoo.com

A Stroll Down Memory Lane (Blemishes Included)

By Jawahar Malhotra STAFFORD: It was a simple motion by the actors, Sheeba Chadda and Vinay Pathak. She stood on her toes on the high balcony, slyly peered over the imaginary balustrade and let go a long

years ago. Since then, the play has achieved a cult like following, playing out to rousing audiences in Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Kolkata, while all the actors have also worked in movies and become huge draws of

A Community Rushes to Support Healthcare

the audience who came to watch some of India’s most talented actors perform onstage with ease and humor in the play which has no set, rather the actors move around.

Unfortunately, the actress Konkona Sen Sharma had taken sick

At The Blue Mug performance, the Directors of the Indian Doctps Charity Clinic collected $100,000 of donations and pledges. From left: Dr. K.T. Shah, Dr. Rakesh Mangal, Gopal Rana, Dr. Sunita Moonat, Dr, Suresh Moonat, and K.C. Mehta.

Photos: Jawahar Malhotra see story on page 6

The actors of the Blue Mug at the question and answer session after the performance last Sunday, May 2 at the Old Stafford Civeic Center. From left Atul Kumar, the director, Manish Bharadwaj, Vinay Pathak, Sheeba Chaddha, Ranvir Shorey and Rajat Kapoor.

Photos: Jawahar Malhotra

spitball, then jerked her head back in mischievous amusement. Copying her, Pathak, who is infatuated by her in this vignette from his childhood, follows suit and the two giggle as they run away.

The scene encapsulated what thousands of kids growing up in India have probably done to poor, unsuspecting pedestrians on the sidewalk below. It rang home with this audience who had come to see The Blue Mug performed by the same troupe that had conceived and produced the play 7

their own.

“It was over 15 years ago that I ran into the Director Atul Kumar, who had not yet started The Company Theatre or launched his huge career,” said Surinder Talwar, the local promoter who brought the play to Houston, “and I asked him what could we do together here.

Well,” he added with a grin, “all these years later, The Blue Mug finally has landed!”

It sure did this past Sunday evening, at the Old Stafford Civic Center with nearly 800 people in

Inside, this Week .......

IACCGH Launches 2010 Legal Series with Seminar on Employment Law Story on Pg 8

IACF Walkathon Sun, May 9 2010, Lost Creek Park 8:30am to 12:30pm

Tyagaraja Festival Showcases Work of Luminary Composers

Story on Pg 13

Lady Pilot from Punjab Gets Her Wings Story on Pg 25

Pratham Gala Raises $635, 000 to Benefit Education in India

with appendicitis in New Jersey upon arrival from India and had to be hospitalized and have surgery, much to the disappointment of the many who adore her and came to see her.

Still, the actors moved along and improvised Sharma’s role as the doctor (through a off-stage voice narrator) in the skit, in three parts with a patient Joginder Chauhan (played aptly by Ranvir Shorey, down to the Ludhiana Punjabi accented Hindi) who has developed continued on page

10 Honorary Chair Nidhika Mehta and Andrea White lighting the lamp

By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: Just as recently as a year ago, ten-year-old Kusum could barely recognize the letters of the alphabet. Now, not only can she read with ease, she has also discovered that she has a natural aptitude for arithmetic. Some day Kusum hopes to become a teacher.

Young Tulsi Shyamlal Dhakal escaped from the harrowing perils of living in a violence-prone village on the Indo-Nepali border. Once he reached Mumbai, he was dragged inexorably into the nightmarish abyss of child labor, working gru-

eling hours at a tea stall. Tulsi was one of the lucky ones rescued by Pratham and given shelter and the motivation to make something of his life. Today he is a college student with the promise of a bright future.

These two young people are beneficiaries of Pratham, a movement rendered international through its effectiveness in helping stanch the tide of hopelessness and despair by illuminating the paths of children in India through education.

Pratham adheres to the dictum of

continued on page 3 ON THE WEB • Read Articles • PostIndo Comments • VIEW E-NEWSPAPER • Share Event • Become a Fan onwww.indoamerican-news.com Facebook • Picture Gallery• VISIT OUR WEBSTORE indoaMerican-news.com American News • Friday, MaY 07 ,Pictures 2010 • Online Edition:

2

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

society

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

Pratham Empowering India’s Children with Education

continued from page

1

every child in school and learning well. Founded by a former Houston resident Dr. Madhav Chavan in 1994, the organization’s aim is to reach the 100 million children in India who cannot read or write.

Powered by a vast infrastructure of committed volunteers constituting chapters within the USA and globally, Pratham currently serves the education needs of underprivileged children across 21 of India’s 28 states.

The visionary Dr. Chavan was a special guest at the Pratham Gala 2010 held at the Westin Galleria on May 1. The event, that garnered a whopping $635, 000 to benefit Pratham’s education programs, drew 700 supporters from a cross-section of this city’s communities. Chief Guest for the evening was former mayor Bill White who attended along with his wife Andrea. Evoking the emphasis on books, learning, and education, the theme of the event was A Passage to India, possibly in reference to E. M. Forster’s classic novel. Gala Chairs for the event were radio personality Meena Datt and Simran Rihal.

Following a cocktail reception in the foyer, guests moved to the cavernous ballroom where the theme of the evening was reiterated in the elegiac table centerpieces, the juxtaposition of children’s books cradled gently amid stark branch arrangements. Against the stage

ment sponsored schools with nearly one-half of the children unable to read or do simple arithmetic, energized the program.

The nationwide program, sponsored by the Hewlett and Gates Foundations, has achieved tremendous results at extremely low cost,” added Anand. Read India reached 21 million children in 2007-08 and 34 million children in 200809. She lauded the philanthropy of longtime supPratham Houston Board Members at the Gala held last Staurday, May 1. porters of Pratham such as Vijay and Marie backdrop showing India’s iconic Goradia, Avinash and architectural masterpiece, the Taj Peggy Ahuja, Hemant Mahal, Meena Datt and television and Indrani Goradia, anchor Rachel McNeill served as Swatantra and Bimla Mistresses of Ceremonies. They Jain, Heera and Gurwelcomed gatherees and invited deep Sethi, Manmeet Andrea White and Honorary Gala and Paul Likhari, NiChair Nidhika Mehta to light the dhika and Pershant traditional lamps. Pratham HousMehta, and Vasumati ton Chapter President Sonu Anand Deshpande, to name a told eloquently of the organizafew. tion’s crucial role in helping eradiDr. Chavan thanked cate illiteracy.

“Dr Madhav Chavan’s task was Pratham Founder Dr Madhav Chavan and the Pratham - Houston for helping further his vitruly daunting. The goal was re- Houston chapter President, Sonu Anand sion for the children markably ambitious in scope – Photos: Jenny Antill Photography of India. He informed each one of 100 million children in school and learning well,” said India’s urban slums in 2009. Over guests that Pratham was selected Anand. Since then, said Anand, 234,000 children borrowed books for the prestigious CNN-IBN Indian of the Year Award in the public Pratham has grown in size and from its community libraries.

“In 2007, Pratham launched a service category for its outstanding scope. Its direct delivery programs, including pre-schools program called Read India. The contribution in the field of literacy. and remedial learning programs, finding that despite enrolment Pratham also received an internareached over 350,000 children in levels in excess of 94% in govern- tional recognition as the recipient

A-ONE INTERNATIONAL Amazing deals, Best packages in town

Call us!

281-493-1888 aonedishnetwork.com

Send your important documents to INDIA • PAKISTAN • BANGLADESH

By FedEx for

$29.95 (

Up to 8oz

(

Major Metro Areas

PACK N’SHIP

14601 Bellaire Blvd, Near Hwy 6

281-498-9934

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

3

of the 2010 Henry R. Kravis Prize, which carries a $250, 000 award for extraordinary accomplishment and bold leadership in the nonprofit sector.

“As you may know, actress Waheeda Rehman has been a Pratham ambassador. We’ve added two more names – Anupam Kher and Juhi Chawla. They will be representing Pratham in this city in September,” Dr. Chavan added.

Former mayor Bill White briefly addressed gatherees.

“My mother taught me that some people are givers while others are takers. This room is filled with givers,” White said. “Pratham is giving children the blessing of an education, broadening their horizons through the world of books.

And you are helping Pratham by giving,” he added.

Interspersed between speakers were vibrant interludes of dance by the Rhythm India Junior Dance Company (choreographer Arzan Gonda), Anjali Center for Performing Arts (choreographer Mahesh Mahbubani, and the Natya Upasana Dance Academy (tutored

by Uma Nagarsheth). Dr. Subodh Bhuchar, wielding the gavel, made for an entertaining and lively auctioneer for the evening. Funds raised from ticket sales, pledges, and auction will be channeled into Pratham’s literacy programs.

For information about Pratham visit www.prathamusa.org.

4

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

Society

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

Pt. Suman Ghosh’s Concerts give Houston the Desired Presence in India

By Sunil Pangarkar HOUSTON: Since 2005 I have been following the emergence of Houston as a Hindustani classical music destination amongst stalwarts of the genre. The development of a critical mass of audience and connoisseurs in a fine art such as this is a slow process. It requires the confluence of a myriad of aspects such as an active learning environment, top grade artists, audiences, organizers, patrons and most importantly a genuine word of mouth publicity to start the buzz. I make a categorical distinction between traditional publicity through all the traditional channels and word of mouth publicity mainly because of the lasting power of the latter. The word of mouth publicity relies on the impact on the audience created by the purity and creativity of the fine art. The further ashore this impact is felt, the more permanent is the effect.

If one looks at just 2010, one Houstonian who through his work is making the impact felt even in the birth place of this genre of music is Pandit Suman Ghosh. After the absolutely stunning opening concert for 2010 session of the Indian Music Society of Houston in March, he has already been twice

Pandit Suman Ghosh

to India for three different, respected concerts there. In addition, he is performing in this country at three different venues this month. This is besides his pioneering work in the city of Houston and around in increasing awareness, understanding, knowledge and skills in this

art through intense and consistent training.

I cannot help but say a few words about the Houston concert which I had the pleasure of attending, even at the cost of going slightly off-topic. The concert and the selection of Raagas was itself a recognition by the artist of the level to which the audience has come in terms of understanding the nuances of this genre. He started with an evening melody Marwa – a difficult Raag to handle and create a mood.

Many artists, particularly vocalists avoid this Raag because of this very aspect. Then, he moved to Basant, the seasonal delight, which is very tricky to establish after Marwa. After the interval, he sang Raag Darbari Kannada , yet another Raag that in general is treated with care and expanse. But to keep the mood and momentum of the concert, the composition was deliberately sung in medium

and fast tempos. The Hindol Bahar that followed left long lasting goose pimples on connoisseurs and finally the classic Om Namo Bhagavate – a bhajan based on Raag Bhimpalasi that is probably the most popular of the current Mewati gharana renditions all over the world, was the finale.

Pt. Ghosh was invited on 7th April for performing at the Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroha in the holy city of Benaras. This is one of the few prestigious music conferences where stalwarts such as Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Sangeet Martand Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Ronu Majumdar, Pt. Niladri Kumar etc had also performed this year. It draws an audience of around 4000 every day for the five days. The music following in Benaras is obviously very large – thanks to work of legends like Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Pt. Kishan Maharaj , Pt. Samta Prasad, just to name a few. This makes the conference both special for Houston, since Pt.Suman Ghosh was representing not only his Gharana and his Gurus, but also Houston!

Pt. Ghosh’s next concert was in New Delhi. India Habitat center had organized a concert on 8th April where he was accompanied

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

5

on Harmonium by Ustad Mahmoud Dholpuri and on Tabla by Ustad Hafiz Ahmed. The concert lasted several hours with special requests coming from the audience.

Perhaps the most touching for Pt. Suman Ghosh was the invitation by the prestigious Ramakrishna Mission’s Institute of Culture where he sang on 22nd April at the Vivekananda hall accompanied by Pt Samar Saha on Tabla and Pt. Sanatan Goswami on Harmonium.

Kolkata is steeped in this genre of music; the institute has a lineage that befits the genre of this music.

The organizers and the audience have a spiritual connection with music and with Pt. Ghosh. The large audience in spite of the semi finals of IPL was a testimony to the Kolkata’s discerning audience.

Pt. Suman Ghosh was requested by his ex-principal to sing a Raag Bhairavee based composition that Pt. Ghosh had composed as a student! But especially important for us, the audience heard not just great music, but the announcement of Houston.

Houston’s desire to hear good Hindustani music is perhaps closely linked with Houstonians being heard in India!

6

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

SOCIETY

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

A Community Rushes to Support Free Healthcare STAFFORD: The Indian Doctors Charity Clinic held a fundraiser in conjunction with the comedy show The Blue Mug (see related story on left). The IDCC is a nonprofit organization that was started in 1999 to help Houstonians in dire need of healthcare at no cost.

“We have raised more than $100,000 in donations, largely from individuals, physicians, and commitments from the health facilities, including the Woman’s Hospital of Texas,” explained Dr. Rakesh Mangal, the President of the Board of IDCC. A short presentation just before the show explained the growth and work of the clinic. Dr. Mangal welcomed the past presidents of the Indian Doctors Association, all of whom donated generously. Also in attendance was former Houston Mayor Bill White, who spoke

briefly about his current run for Governor and his close associaton with the Indian community.

The clinic provides primary care services as well as dental, psychological, and dietary counseling as needed. The clinic has arrangements for patients to get free lab work and diagnostic studies and some have even received surgery at no cost.

“During the past two India Festc, the IDCC had a booth and saw more than 1400 people for free,” recalled Mangal. “We have established a link with the Gateway to Care, which provides hospital services and other medical services to those who come to IDCC.” White praised the Indian medical community for their contribution to the Houston. He remebered the initiative taken by the IDA under the leadership of Dr. Rakesh ManThe Presidents of the Indian Doctor’s Association pose for a picture at a recent ceremony. The commitment made by the former and current presidents and of other doctors and supporters has allowed the Indian Doctors Charity Clinic to raise $100,000 in their fundraiser efforts held this past month, culminating in the star-studded play, The Blue Mug, held this past Sunday at the Old Stafford Civic Center.

Portions of the proceeds from the play went to support the IDCC. “These are our solid backbone whom we can depend on,” said Dr. Rakesh Mangal, President of the IDCC.

gal during the Hurricane Katrina calamity in 2005.

Dr. Nik Nikam, was the emcee for the presentation and shared that the IDCC, since its inception, had served more than 10,000 patients.

He presented a pre-recorded message from Dr. James Rohack, the president of the American Medical Association who expressed his appreciation for contributing time and financial resources for the IDCC. “As humans, the best exercise for our heart is to lend a hand to lift a fellow human being up,” he said.

Dr. Sunita Moonat, one of the founding members of the IDCC, presented an appreciation award

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

to Advanced Diagnostic Healthcare for providing free diagnostic services to the IDCC patients.

Beverly Gor, a Director of the the Houston Wellness Association and with the Asian Chamber of Commerce presented a special recognition award to the IDCC for its outstanding contributions. The HWA will present the award at a luncheon on May 12 at 11:30am at the Hilton Garden Inn. The Indian Doctors Charity Clinic is located at 6550 Mapleridge, Suite 229, Houston, TX 77081.

Open Saturdays at 8:30am, call 713-410-7052 for more details.

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

dallas society

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

7

TANA and TANTEX Jointly Hosted a Mesmerizing Musical Night in Dallas DALLAS: “Uncover the musical aptitude by empowering the new generation of singers” is the theme of the evening gathered at the L. D. Bell High School in Hurst, TX as a part of the “Navataram Swaramadhuri” musical concert hosted by the Telugu Association of North Prasasd Thotakura, TANA Executive Vice President and Chandra Kanneganti, TANTEX President felicitating Veteran Music Director and Singer G. Anand.

America (TANA) From L-R - Narasimha Reddy Urimindi, Murali Vennam, Bhuvana Kruthi, Cahndra Kanneganti, G. Anand, Prasad Thotakura, Prasad Thotakura, Dilip Kuchipudi, on Saturday, May Ravi, NMS Reddy, Deepu, Ram Yalamanchili, Anjana Sowmya and Pranavi.

1. thanked the audience for their sup- of one of the popular TANA Foun- President, Ram Yalamanchali, 8) studios in Dallas, TX. TANA, founded in 1977, is one port.

The astonishing musical condation Projects, namely “Opera- Treasurer, Murali Vennam, Reof the oldest and largest IndoIt was a breath taking perfor- tion Envision”, serving the rural gional Director-South West, Dilip cert came to an end with the vote American national-level organiza- mance by the Swaramadhuri team areas of India by conducting the Kuchipudi, Treasurer TANA Foun- of thanks to the audience for their tions with its charter to perpetuate, presenting a good mix of songs much needed eye camps. After a dation and the TANTEX team lead attendance, volunteers who spent integrate, and assimilate the cul- from old and new movies with a brief video footage of the recent by Chandra Kanneganti, President countless hours of valuable time, tural heritage of the Telugu-speak- variety of themes by each singer eye camps, Dilip Kuchipudi, Trea- and NMS Reddy, President-Elect. LD Bell High School manageing people of the North American in their own style. The audience surer of TANA Foundation invited The felicitation ended with a spe- ment, and most importantly for continent into the mainstream were enthralled and taken in by volunteers and sponsors to expand cial recognition and presentation the financial support of the sponof the cultural heritage of North every song and could really feel the project. of the Certificate of Excellence to sors; Horizon Travel, Aahar Indian America. the passion of the singers. There The “Swaramadhuri” team was the 10-year old Chetan Reddy of restaurant, Aries Tours & Travel, This program is co-hosted by the were also moments of loud cheers recognized and felicitated with a Plano, TX who recently secured Masala Wok, Flavors, Pasand, Telugu Association of North Texas from the audience whenever their Certificate of Appreciation and a 1st place in the 52nd Annual Dallas Our Place, Lawson Travel, PBM (TANTEX), founded in 1986 as a favorite item was performed. bouquet of flowers by the TANA Morning News Regional Spelling Academy, Unicon Travels, The non-profit, non-religious organiPrasad Thotakura, Executive executive team starting with Bee competitions held on March Law offices of Sherin Thawer and zation to maintain, preserve and Vice President of TANA reiterated Prasad Thotakura, Executive Vice 21, 2010 at WFAA-TV (Channel Discover Travel perpetuate the cultural heritage of TANA’s continued focus on serving Telugu speaking people of North the Telugu community with result Texas. oriented programs and enabling a Murali Vennam, Regional Direc- new breed of ambassadors to bring tor, South West Region of TANA the community together. He comextended a warm welcome to the mended G. Anand for conducting visiting guests and over five hun- over 6500 musical programs all dred local Telugu community over the world while encouraging members in attendance. Murali new talent every time. introduced the emcees of the eveEarlier in the day the “Top Singning Rajeswari Challa and Subba- er” competitions for the South rao Ponnuru, Chair, Cultural Com- West region were held at the same mittee of TANTEX. venue, where about fifteen active The major attraction of the participants performed under the night, the “Navataram Swarama- supervision of the “Swaramadhudhuri” concert is lead by the vet- ri” team. G. Anand, Pranavi, Aneran singer and music director G. jana Sowmya, Deepu, Ravi were Anand and the upcoming stars: the Judges for this competition.

Pranavi, playback singer; Anjana Vikram Gandikota and Gopinath Sowmya, Super Singers MAA TV Peturi were the two finalists who Winner; Deepu, playback singer; performed on the stage again in Ravi, Super Singers, MAA TV the evening. In the end Vikram Runner; Bhuvana Kruthi, Zee Gandikota is the declared Winner Sarigama Runner. There was a of the competition and Gopinath special appearance of the famous Peturi, the Runner. Speaking on MAA TV cooking show “Mavoori the occasion G, Anand congratuVanta” team lead by the anchor lated all the participants.

Chitra Lekha who spoke at length Seeing is believing and give the about the focus of the program and gift of clear eyesight is the motto

Upto 3% BACK to home buyers!

NATIONAL REALTY & ABLE MORTGAGE

One place for all Residential & Commercial deals / 24-hr pre-qualification & fast closing We will beat any real mortgage deal - Good & Bad Credit - No Origination / No Cost Options We can Find, Finance & Build Apartment, Gas Station, Shopping Strip, Office Building, Church & Motel

281-733-4242 / 281-242-8500

www.ablemortgageloans.com

TX Mortgage Broker #: 2874

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

8

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

ALEXANDER P. MATHEWS, CPA For Services In:

INDIVIDUAL & BUSINESS TAXES • BUSINESS TAX CONSULTATION INCORPORATION, FORMATION OF LLC CERTIFIED QUICK BOOK ADVISOR AVAILABLE

25 Years in Public Accounting 11104 West Airport, Ste 114, Stafford, TX 77477

(281) 564-9500

society

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

IACCGH Launches 2010 Legal Series with Seminar on Employment Law

By Jagdip Ahluwalia HOUSTON: The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston hosted a seminar on employment law on March 17, 2010, at India House. The seminar featured presentations by attorneys Amit Misra and Nitin Sud and introduced business owners to various issues in the employment

competition and trade secrets. For example, he suggested that employers limit liability for harassment claims by administering policies which require the prompt and thorough investigation of complaints and the taking of appropriate remedial measures. Moreover, Mr. Misra explained that employers can use covenants not to comAmit Misra, principal attorney at the Misra Legal Group and Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Nitin Sud, an associate attorney Mendelson

relationship which could expose them to legal liability.

Mr. Misra, principal attorney at the Misra Legal Group and Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, presented key points in the areas of discrimination and harassment and unfair

pete to prevent a former employee from engaging in unfair competition by misappropriating trade secrets.

Mr. Sud, an associate attorney with Littler Mendelson, acquainted the audience with the basic rules regarding overtime pay and family and medical leave. For example, he explained that unless an employer sets duties that qualify an employee for exempt status as an adminiswith Littler trative, executive, or professional employee, the employee should receive overtime pay for working more than 40 hours in a workweek. Additionally, Mr. Sud expounded on the requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act, including that it covers only employers with fifty or more employees.

Both attorneys emphasized that

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

any aspect of the employment relationship – from basic items such as the hours of work and the rate of pay to more complicated items such as promotion, discipline, and termination – could present circumstances where an employer could face legal liability. Mr. Sud raised the point that even if an employer and employee agree to certain terms as a matter of contract, federal or state law may supersede their agreement. As a result, an employer’s intentions or ignorance will not avoid legal liability.

The IACCGH hosted the seminar in association with the IndianAmerican Lawyers of Houston.

The organizations intend to conduct a series of legal seminars in an effort to educate business owners and entrepreneurs in the Indian-American community about the prevailing legal landscape and to highlight attorneys in the Indian-American community with expertise in areas outside of immigration law.

The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston is the voice of the Indo-American business community. IACCGH is committed to facilitating commerce between the U.S. and India.

The Chamber strives to use its good will to enable Indo-American businesses to succeed while facilitating access to its’ members and to the Indo-American market.

IACCGH actively supports its members by offering a mentoring program for small businesses, networking events, lecture series, and presenting visibility at events with partners including Government Procurement Connections, Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance Expo, Houston Minority Business Council Expo and Diversity Summit. For the benefit of member businesses, valuable alliances have been created with complimentary organizations such as the Greater Houston Partnership and the Houston Minority Business Council.

To find out more about membership in the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston, contact Jagdip@iaccgh. com or call the office at: 713-6247131.

society

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

Indian Professor Named Harvard B-school Dean WASHINGTON: An India-born professor and IIT alumnus who has long championed a pledge for organizational leaders and managers on the lines of the Hippocratic Oath for doctors to enhance accountability in the corporate world has been named Dean of the prestigious Harvard Business School.

Nitin Nohria, who is currently the Richard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School (HBS), will become the School’s 10th dean, Harvard President Drew Faust announced on Tuesday, May 4.

Nohria is the first Indian, and in-

Nitin Nohria

deed the first non-white, to become the dean of the 102-year old institution that typically ranks among the top three business-schools in the world. Nohria, who will take up his new role on July 1.

Nohria received his bachelor of technology degree in chemical engineering in 1984 from the IIT, Bombay, which awarded him its distinguished alumnus medal in 2007. He received his Ph.D. in management in 1988 from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, where he earned the outstanding doctoral thesis award in behavioral and policy sciences.

ICC - Incredible India Booth Draws Huge Crowd at iFest 2010 HOUSTON: This year’s Houston International festival in Downtown Houston, highlighting the Caribbean region was spread over two weekends of April 17,18 & 24,25th. India Culture Center, Houston had a prime area booth which was elegantly & patriotically decorated. It had informational literature provided by the Consulate General of India and artifacts, videos, books and live music.

The saree tying concept was very well received by the main stream community young and seniors both.

ICC utilized this golden opportunity to educate the main stream about Indian culture through their cultural program and the booth displays.

Dance and music covering traditional Indian classical dances and bollywood were performed on the

Sister Cities International stage and kept the audience in awe till the end.

Performers included Prana School of Music, Telugu Cultural Association, Lasya Group from Rice University, Mahira Dance Company, Abhinaya School of Performing Arts, Akanksha Music Group and Nrithyashri Dance School.

ICC had put in a lot of effort and plenty of voluntary hours to make this event a grand success to showcase Indian art and culture. This well coordinated effort was spearheaded by Nimmi Vale, Director and Board Secretary with the full support of the entire Board of Directors, Trustees of ICC and several volunteers. More information and pictures are available at www.icchouston.org.

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

9

10

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

society

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

A Stroll Down Memory Lane (Blemishes Included) continued from page

Left top: Ranvir Shorey with fom left: Surinder Talwar, Dr. Suresh Moonat, Dr. Rakesh Mangal, Dr. Sunita Moonat, Mrs. Mangal, Rita Talwar. Left bottom: Sheeba Chaddha mingled with the audience. Bottom: Mayor Bill White (with Dr. Moonat and Dr. Jhingran) spoke for a few minutes before the show.

1

a mental that leaves him in 1983, at the age of 20, with no recollection of the events that happened in between. This is an adaptation of the essay The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat by the author and neurologist Oliver Sacks who has written several books based on his medical experience and which have been adapted to the stage or the movies, like Awakenings.

In a memorable scene, Joginder relates how his older brother had tricked him into drinking beer.

“Bhai baada harami hai (brother’s really a scoundrel),” he says and after his mother catches him, “unna ne vat ke thappar maraya! (she bopped me outside the head).”

The other four actors played out anecdotes from their lives. Rajat Kapoor explained how he had received a blue mug from Universal Studios and kept it till some years later it broke when some dishes fell. Vinnay Pathak played out the moments when his aloof Dad came to visit him in boarding school and took after his standard three questions, leaving him shattered, which Rajat, as a school chum, blew off.

Sheeba related the days in Saharanpur when she visited and met her narcissist grandfather Pitaji and her scowling grandmother Chaiji who hurled Punjabi abuse.

Manish Bharadwaj remembered the time he was pushed around by a bully, whom he was able to outwit in the toilet as the bully peered in on a teacher thinking it was the

for its activities (see related story on page 1).

As the Q&A ended, the promoters came onstage to give the actors uniquely Texan presents: cowboy hats for each, which they posed for photographs with the adoring fans who had lingered on. Some

youngster.

Throughout the night, the actors peppered their time onstage with more stories from their lives, played out in effortless synchrony and brimming with mirth. They came together in key moments to

show that memories can be shared and towards the end, they asked ensemble, “It all came to pass. Life fell into my hands like a five petal leaf, but there has to be more.”

After the play ended, the actors, and director Kumar sat on the steps

of the stage to take questions from the audience, most of who were in awe of the performances they had witnessed. For Surinder Talwar and his wife Rita, and his partners Ash and Ekta Malhotra and son Sameer Talwar and his wife Rupa, this was their first venture into event promotions, and they shared the limelight with the India Doctors Charity Clinic which used the occasion to hold a Gala Fundraiser

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

lingered even so far as to join the actors for a post play dinner at P.F. Chang’s in Sugar Land!

The Blue Mug is on a US tour since April 22 with performances in Connecticut, New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin and Raleigh. They have a performance after Houston in Brazil. For more information, visit www.thecompanytheatre.net

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

11

12

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

society

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

13

Tyagaraja Festival Showcases Works of Luminary Composers

By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: The Sri Tyagaraja this year came into its own with a level of sophistication hitherto unprecedented. Presented for the 33rd year by the Classical Arts Society of Houston and the Sri Meenakshi Temple Society (MTS) at the MTS Kalyana Mandapam in Pearland over the weekend of April 16 – 18, 2010, the event veered away from the predictable and instead, trained the spotlight on and venerated the late G. N. Balasubramaniam’s (GNB) prolific contributions to Carnatic music as a composer and guru nonpareil. This year marks GNB’s birth centenary. To honor the memory of the luminary artiste, the organizers invited those who had received the beneficence of his tutelage to share anecdotes and to sing his exquisite compositions.

Under the caring ministrations of Artistic Director for the event, Kalaimamani Smt. Charumathi Ramachandran, and her husband Padma Bhushan Sri Trichur Ramachandran, the festival’s main featured artiste, gather-

Musicians and organizers at the Tyagaraja Festival with Mayor of Pearland Tom Reid.

ees were offered rare glimpses into the man beyond the music, a musician so replete with artistry that he inspired his students to become internationally-renowned trailblazers in their own right.

The Unchavritti procession with devotees bearing a palanquin with the colorfully garbed gods Sri Rama and Sri Sita from the temple to the Kalyana Mandapam on Saturday morning marked the traditional commencement of the weekend’s events.

Following an invocatory prayer, founding member of the Tyagaraja Festival and cultural activist Prabha Bala delivered the welcome address, lauding the Ramachandran family for their participation in this year’s festival. The Ramachandrans along with local music gurus, musicians, and students rendered Swamy Tyagaraja’s Pancharatna Kritis.

The onus was upon Artistic Director Smt. Charumathi Ramachandran to select a theme for the festival; fittingly, she decided on Endaro Mahanubhavulu in direct reference to GNB. “This year in addition to Tyagaraja we are celebrating another great Mahaniya, Sri GNB, a great maestro and innovator, who combined the nadaswaram of Rajaratnam Pillai with the Hindustani music of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.

He added a base of Sri Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar and created a brand new baani within the traditional framework but entirely new, full of verve and speed,” said Smt. Charumathi in her festival overview. Smt. Charumathi intuitively spun the theme in her own lecture demonstration, Chatur Stree Ratnas, as she paid tribute to the four all-time great women musicians, M. S. Subbalakshmi, M. L. Vasanthakumari, D. K. Pattammal, and the Brinda-Muktha team. As the first female Artistic Director of the festival, her choice of title and subject was fitting.

In Sri Ramachandran’s lecture/demonstration, My Illustrious Guru GNB and his Compositions, the couple’s inordinately gifted daughter Subhasri, joined her father on stage. With a voice richly imbued with untold nuances, she complemented Sri Ramachandran’s recital of his guru’s songs.

Sri Ramachandran told gatherees that only 200 of GNB’s compositions were published. GNB also invented the raga Saranga Tharingini and wrote songs in the Telugu, Tamil, and Sanskrit languages. Through a close friendship with the legendary exponent of the

Hindustani classical music tradition, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, GNB brought that style of music to South India, added Sri Ramachandran.

“My guru GNB was always a thinker, he liked doing something different. He was innovative, creative, yet deeply traditional,” said Sri Ramachandran, the only living disciple of GNB. “He was a bridge between the old and new generations. I had the great fortune to have been his sishya,” added Sri Ramachandran, who also gave the grand finale concert on Sunday night.

This year, the festival hosted three concerts beginning Friday night with Bharat Sundar, the winner of Jaya Television’s Carnatic Music Idol contest. Gayathri Venkataraghavan gave her performance on Saturday night.

Accompanying artists for all concerts, including Sri Ramachandran’s, were violinist Sri Jayshankar Balan, and Kalladaikuruchi Shiva Kumar on the mridangam.

Houston’s own local talent shone bigger and brighter this year with more youngsters learning Carnatic music, more new comers arriving in this city, and organizers allocating more time to encourage their participation.

The festival accorded a forum for an hourlong concert format presented by youngsters guided by music guru Smt. Rajarajeshwary Bhat. She also coordinated an adult group recital of Tyagaraja kritis. Vadya Vrinda, an orchestra recital conducted by Mahesh Aiyer, and comprising of Houston area artistes was a delightful interlude and well received by the audience. Smt. Anuradha Subramanian, a well-known local vocalist and teacher, coordinated a presentation of songs by a group of women.

For the first time in the history of the festival, a new dimension was introduced by way of dance. Music and dance are closely related arts and in the temple context, they are an integral form of worship. Local danseuse and teacher Dr. Rathna Kumar authoritatively coordinated the dance angle. In a well-researched informative speech, she discussed Tyagaraja’s compositions from a dancer’s perspective.

“There is no dance without music, dance is inherent in music,” said Dr. Kumar. “Tygaraja must have been influenced by dance or why else would he have penned two beautiful dance dramas?” she added.

She was joined by fellow dance gurus Padmini Chari and Indrani Parthasarathy in beautifully choreographed dances that accompanied her lecture.

Smt. Prabha Bala was delighted with the outcome of the event. “This year’s Tyagaraja Utsavam reflected the cerebral and intellectual approach to music that Charumathi is known for. True to its title Endaro Mahanubhavulu it brought focus to a variety of contemporary musical giants,” said Prabha Bala. “Variety extended also to the festival’s stage offerings such video screenings, dance demos, academic paper presentations and the new group concert format presentations by youngsters, The lec-dems were long and in depth making this year’s festival a very substantive musical and learning experience,” she added.

Special mention must be made of the team throwing the heft of their support behind Smt. Prabha Bala; they were Nalini Sadagopan, Chitra Dharmarajan, Vivek Shankar, Sheila Sriram, Ray Ramakrishnan, Mahesh Aiyer, Anuradha Subramaniam, Rajeswary Bhatt, Sesh Bala, and the overall leadership of the Classical Arts Board Chair Sri Vatsa Kumar, to name but a few.

Kudos once again goes to Smt. Prabha Bala for a festival well executed.

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

14

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

society

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

Summer Internship at The White House for Malhotra

HOUSTON: Sanjay Stefan Malhotra, a student at the University of Texas Health Science Center at the Texas Medical Center will be leaving for a three month internship at The White House in Washington, DC. Malhotra is finishing his last year of a Master’s degree in Environmental and Health Policy and is expected to be working with the Executive Director for Environmental Policy. He is one of 20 interns chosen nationwide this summer for this program at The White House.

Sanjay, who goes by Stefan, is a past grad-

uate of the Michael DeBakey High School for the Health Sciences and has a Bachelor’s in Biology from the University of Texas in Austin.

He is an ardent environmentalist and is looking forward to working on some of the pressing issues facing the nation right now, including the giant oil spill in the Gulf.

Malhotra is widely traveled and has spent the summers in Paris, France. He is fluent in French and Hindi. He is the son of IndoAmerican News Business Manager Jawahar Malhotra

Indo American News • Friday, MaY 07 , 2010 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

SOCIETY

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

15

Times Square Suspect Caught After Boarding UAE Flight

WA S H I N G TON: The no-fly list failed to keep the Times Square suspect off the plane.

Faisal Shahzad had boarded a jetliner bound for the United Arab Emirates Monday night before federal authorities pulled him back.

The night’s events, gradually Faisal Shahzad was removed from the intercoming to light, un- national flight by federal agents shortly after derscored the flaws he paid cash Monday night for his ticket to in the nation’s avia- freedom - two days after the botched bombing, tion security sys- officials said.

After authorities pulled Shahzad tem, which despite its technologies, lists and information off the plane, he admitted he was sharing, often comes down to some- behind the crude Times Square car bomb, officials said. He also claimed one making a right call.

As federal agents closed in, Faisal to have been trained at a terror camp Shahzad was aboard Emirates Flight in Pakistan’s lawless tribal region of 202. He reserved a ticket on the way Waziristan, according to court docuto John F. Kennedy International ments. That raised increased concern Airport, paid cash on arrival and that the bombing was an international walked through security without be- terror plot.

Shahzad, a Pakistani-born U.S. ing stopped. By the time Customs and Border Protection officials spot- citizen, was charged Tuesday with ted Shahzad’s name on the passenger terrorism and attempting to use a list and recognized him as the bomb- weapon of mass destruction in Sating suspect they were looking for, urday evening’s failed Times Square he was in his seat and the plane was bombing. According to a federal complaint, he confessed to buying preparing to leave the gate.

But it didn’t. At the last minute, the an SUV, rigging it with a homemade pilot was notified, the jetliner’s door bomb and driving it into the busy area was opened and Shahzad was taken where he tried to detonate it. into custody. continued on page 16

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MAY 07 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

16

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

High Profile at OTC When you’re about to buy a new car, say a Lexus, you tend to only see Lexuses on the road. In like manner, it is common for South Asians to look for other South Asian faces in a mainstream setting. So it is at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) currently taking place at the Reliant Center. This is my 35th OTC. Other fixtures include Sudhir Puranik’s Worldwide Oilfield Machinery (WOM), Rajani Shah & TJ Sinha at American Block, and Arun Karle with Askari. This year, I also met a professor from Colorado, who is on the OTC board, and several construction specialists of Indian origin, who are currently working in the Middle East. Vimal Kothari was there with a high profile for booth for his Systel company. I didn’t see any ONGC or Reliance visitors, but Additional Secretary Sudhir Bhargava represented the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. Pramod Kulkarni

Superior Waist is OK Hyperbole seems to be the hallmark of Americans. Having waged a relentless war against the slightest hint of anything adipose, those of comfortable proportions are now being viewed as security threats by the US Army top brass. Obesity, they say, is the single largest factor for potential military recruits being turned down. Their theory is that with a few extra kilos about you, your abilities to plunge into combat may be compromised. We agree that if you had to race up and down the Hindu Kush in pursuit of nimble al-Qaeda lads, this may weigh you down. But with electronic warfare being so advanced, we hardly think that an ample rear would come in the way of pushing a few buttons.

The Americans should learn from us that you can pound your beat with several extra pounds. The Gurgaon police, who have come under the scale for their inch-by-inch approach to security, are a case in point. They have been asked to tone down. But our question is why should they become shadows of their former selves? They are doing a good job of frightening the daylights out of law-abiding citizens with their frequent checks. Now tell us, if they weren’t on their toes with all the agility of a circus pachyderm, would they be able to stop your car, peer into your boot and write out that incriminating challan? Would they be able to discern the minutiae of the lease agreement people have on commercial properties and work out smart means to let you hang onto your premises and in the process collect enough for themselves to join a fitness club and spa? So the Americans must learn from us instead of being so fat between the ears.

We have been weighed in the balance on many occasions and hardly found wanting. So the US army should open its arms, albeit widely, to those whose chests may have slipped. HT

e d ito r i a l

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

IPL: Hand Deep in Glove

By Indrajit Hazra The Congress Party is a funny bunny. Just when you thought that it can’t do politics because it’s busy being good by feeding people, playing Robin Hood (even as some critics think that it is really the opposite, a Dooh Nibor, stealing from the poor to pay the rich), making India the proudest planet in the galaxy, and growing a stubble, the Grand Old Party pulls not one, but three furry things out of its venerable salt-stained armpits.

First, there was the breathless commentary of the IPL cockadoodledoo. I promised Ma Sheetola, the patron deity of smallpox, after she cured me of a gang of warts in some unsavoury place, that I wouldn’t write about the IPL again. But when Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel started squirming just that wee bit inside their bush shirts after lies, damned lies and palliatives about the alleged ‘involvement’ of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Lalit Modi’s game, I initially expected Congress President Sonia Gandhi to pick up the phone and give the former Congress MP from Baramati (and present ally in Maharashtra) a piece of her mind.

She did nothing of the sort.

After all, you don’t conduct the Heimlich manoeuvre on someone choking on his food if you were forced to invite him to supper for reasons nothing to do with friendship. Also, in these times when mothers are listening in on phone conversations their daughters have with their male friends, who wants to pick up the phone anyway?

If the Congress, from its safe vantage point, was admiring the view of volcanic ash falling on the NCP like dandruff on a sunny day, it also got to see its old adversary, the Bharatiya Jantarmantar Party, splutter in Parliament as if a casteless tribal had just stepped on a Brahmin’s shadow.

The BJP, to be fair to my favourite triple-lettered party without an S in the middle, has been a

The new ChanakyaMachiavelli image of Manmohan-Sonia will help the Congress correct its image of being a goodie-goodie who can’t get its elbows in the mud and knees into groins. shadow of its former look-whatthe-cat’s-dragged-in-again self.

Partymen are behaving as if they belong to one party, so what if its new president bears a ‘faint resemblance’ if too long in the sun.

Which is why it was a bummer to see the BJP come out last week with a new dose of bad PR. Shibu Soren, dazzled perhaps by the presence of the righteous in Parliament, voted against the cut motions co-sponsored by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s ally in Ranchi, the venerable BJP. Once again, the Congress did nothing. Well, with Mayawati helping out in the kitchen, it jolly well could afford to — and ignore the Thompson and Thomson Yadav duo desperately trying to get noticed that they didn’t go with the bad, bad BJP during the cut motions votes. With the BJP now wondering whether to tow in the wooden horse of leading the Jharkhand government that a penitent Soren has offered in Ranchi, the party is rattled rather than injured.

The new Chanakya-Machiavelli image of Manmohan-Sonia will help the Congress correct its image of being a goodie-goodie who can’t get its elbows in the mud and knees into groins. We’ll know how much the UPA has lost its baby fat when we see the three ladies heading the Congress, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and

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

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, mAY 07 , 2010 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

the BSP handle their moment of big differences. In Uttar Pradesh, it’ll have to be over more than just iPod-on-shuffle CBI investigations and playing misty with experimental Dalits.

In Bengal, the TMC may have planned to have gone into the Kolkata civic polls holding hands and singing Rabindrasangeet with the Congress. But local Congressmen are holding out, not wanting any district-level alliance either. In any case, knowing Mamata Banerjee’s talent at governing a state, all the Congress has to do is do nothing and wait till there’s a clamour for some professional help.

Finally, there’s another ‘friendly outsider’ the Congress can try its new nip-and-tuck skills on. DMK chief M. Karunanidhi meets Sonia Gandhi tomorrow My bet is that Phone Operator A. Raja won’t be led up the Tharoor path.

By doing nothing, the Grand Old Party can get the DMK to realise that it’s the Congress that’s doing it a favour and not the other way round. A soft chuckle is all that’s required to remind allies like the NCP, the TMC and the DMK of who’s their daddy now. HT

Reader Feedback

Congress has to remain in power.

Some regional parties supporting and with them are giving some sort of trouble here and there. Fearing facing elections, Congress is doing tight rope walk. As Shri Tharur is from Congress, he is not in the cabinet. Congress is setting example to alliance partners that corrupt will be sent out. Congress has to gain more majority to apply them for alliance partners. Congress is facing tough task before the public.

R. V. Jayaraman ongress is protecting corrupt and criminal elements for thier own gain and thats nothing to be proud of. Also the communal tag is getting a bit tired.

Whenever genuine issues are raised the ;secular’ , communal tags are raised and supported by media and congress politicians. Shame on India for believing this BS.

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

society

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

17

Club 24’s Philantrophy Reaches Charities

By Sangeeta Pasrija KATY: Club 24 celebrated its first major event of the year in the lavish home of Dr. Randeep and Seema Suneja in Katy last Saturday, April 24. It was a philanthropy event where many members of the Club 24 made a combined donation of $50,000 to local charities, as well as charities in India.

The evening in the romantic gardens started with the Club 24 members mingling with the invited local community representatives, while waiters served drinks and appetizers. TV Asia’s Ruchi Mukherjee interviewed the Event Chair Sangeeta Pasrija as well as the hosts. Biki Mohendra, one of the founders of the Club, called the event to order and Pasrija welcomed the gathering, thanking the rain gods for not making good on their threats.

Dr. Kavadi, the past president of Club 24 stated the mission and goals of the Club and stood in for the current President of Club 24, who was not able to attend. He asked everyone to be generous when writing checks to their favorite charity.

These were donations by Dr. Randeep and Seema Suneja to ARTreach; Jugal and Raj Malani and Pradeep and Kiran Gupta.to Ekal Vidyalay; Dr. Katy and Vasant Shah to Akshay Patra; Dr. Jay and Viji Raman to Anand Aashram; Rakesh and Kiran Verma, Bank of Texas and Vivek and Sonya Mehta to Kipps Houston; Ashok and Prabha Garg, Aku and Meena Patel, Biki and Prita Mohendra, Cliff and Judy McFarland, Sanjaya and Renu Sood and Arun and Sangeeta Pasrija to Literacy Advance of Houston.

The Rotary Club of MemorialSpring Branch received donations from Ashok and Prabha Garg, Dr. Rudy and Linda Ramos, Dr. Eric and Sandra Liu, Dr. K. T. and Vasant Shah, Venu and Elsie Rao, Vivek and Sonya Mehta, Aku and Meena Patel and Mansukh and Leela Vaghela.

Dr. Kavadi also took the opportunity to reiterate some of Club 24’s goals to continue to advocate outreach and

asked that the members work to pass along these values to the next generation. Mohendra encouraged the Club 24 members to apply for the George Foundation’s one year program at Rice and commended three members who graduated this year.

The evening came to a close with songs by the melodious voice of the talented Keka Kar after a succulent meal by Bombay Brasserie.

Times Square Suspect had Explosives Training continued from page 15

The Obama administration played down the fact that Shahzad, a U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, had made it aboard the plane. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wouldn’t talk about it, other than to say Customs officials prevented the plane from taking off. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the security system has fallback procedures in place for times like this, and they worked.

And Attorney General Eric Holder said he “was never in any fear that we were in danger of losing him.”

But it seemed clear the airline

either never saw or ignored key information that would kept Shahzad off the plane, a fact that dampened what was otherwise hailed as a fast, successful law enforcement operation.

The no-fly list is supposed to mean just that. And Shahzad’s name was added to the list early Monday afternoon as a result of breaking developments in the investigation, according to a law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.

But when Emirates sold the ticket, it was working off an outdated list. Airline officials would have had to check a Web forum where updates are sent

if it were to flag him. Because they didn’t, law enforcement officials were not aware of his travel plans until they received the passenger list 30 minutes before takeoff, the official said.

By that time, passengers are usually on board.

Gibbs blamed the airline but emphasized a more positive bottom line: U.S. authorities did get Shahzad on the no-fly list and he never took off.

“There’s a series of built-in redundancies, this being one of them,” Gibbs said. “If there’s a mistake by a carrier, it can be double-checked.

con

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MAY 07 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

18

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, mAY 07 , 2010 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

society

Houston Kannada Vrinda Celebrates Ugadi HOUSTON: Houston Kannada Vrinda celebrated its Annual Ugadi event on April 17th, 2010 at the Stafford Civic center. The event registered a record turnout despite two

by Satyan). The sound of the Chandamela reverberated throughout the auditorium and set the stage perfectly for the dance drama to unfold.

The opening act appropriately called

of how as responsible humans we can bring a change to the society we live in. This humungous production incorporated dance styles of Bharatanatyam, Folk, Salsa, Merengue and

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

HElP WaNTEd

A Motel owner in Lake Jackson/Freeport area is looking for a couple who can stay, manage and operate the motel. Salary plus commission.

Excellent opportunities.

Abdul Panjwani (713) 502-8523

Yamuna who is well known in the Houston circle for her huge dance productions produced yet another masterpiece which thrilled the audience.

other events in the city that day. The pièce de résistance of the event was the Mega Production called “Karunaada Koduge” - A dance drama featuring the contribution of people from Karnataka in the field of Literature, Mythology, History, Technology, and last but not the least Movie Industry (Sandalwood). This mega production which had over 100 participants was choreographed and Directed by Yamuna Srinidhi. Yamuna Srinidhi wanted to deliver this master piece as her parting gift (from her President ship of Houston Kannada Vrinda) for the support and encouragement she received from the Kannada community.

This dance drama kicked off with a colorful and vibrant procession for goddesses Bhuvaneshwari (Bhuvaneshwari Meravannige) accompanied by thumping beats of the live Chandamela (Conducted

Swagatha was a classical item set to fusion classical music, the show then paid a tribute to Vachana Sahithya, Dasa sahithya and works of some of Karnataka’s great poets/writers like Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, Dr. Da ra Bendre, Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar, T. P. Kailasam. The audience were then taken back in time to witness snippets of Karnataka’s history - freedom fighters like Kittur Chennamma and “Tiger of Mysore” Tippu Sultan and world famous Chamundeshwari Devi from our popular mythology was carefully woven into this drama.

The strides Karnataka state has made in the field of technology and the ever green movie industry was presented in the form of beautifully crafted modern dance medley which has folk art infusions as well. The challenges we face in the areas of pollution, crime, hygiene are depicted and the dance drama carries a social message

19

Sandalwood style had a record of over 100 participants with 225 costumes and lasted about 80 minutes.

The entire show was well crafted, directed, choreographed and executed flawlessly without even a second’s break between scenes. At the end of the show the audience erupted into a thunderous applause and gave Yamuna a standing ovation. Yamuna who is well known in the Houston circle for her huge dance productions produced yet another masterpiece which thrilled the audience. Another interesting fact to mention is Yamuna’s diction of Kannada language which is very pristine, mellifluous and pleasing to hear. She introduced the item herself and explained the entire sequence for the benefit of the audience.

Sumptuous dinner was served by Udipi restaurant and a hilarious drama “Hi-Ha” followed soon after.

The Gillman Companies Announces New Chrysler/ Jeep/Dodge/Ram Dealership HOUSTON: The Gillman Companies announced the grand opening of their new Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram dealership. This latest Gillman facility, is located on West Sam Houston Parkway in Houston is sited between the present Gillman Honda and Subaru dealerships.

According to Stacey Gillman Wimbish, President of the Gillman Companies, “Our newest location which is now opened, has a full line of Chryslers, Jeeps, Dodges, Ram Trucks, parts and accessories. Our service technicians are undergoing Chrysler training, which will allow us to provide the level of attention our customers expect from a Gillman Service Department.”

The Gillman Companies is a family-owned and operated chain of retail automobile dealerships. They currently have 14 locations in Texas, including stores in Houston, San Antonio, Fort Bend County, and the Rio Grande Valley.

Headquartered in Houston, the group was founded by Frank Gillman more than 70 years ago. His son, Ramsay Gillman, currently Chairman of the Board, is a past President of the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Chrysler will become the eighth manufacturer represented by the firm. The dealership is physically located at 10585 West Sam Houston Parkway South just inside Beltway 8 between the Galleria and Sugarland.

Read us online at www.indoamerican-news.com

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MAY 07 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

20

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

SOCIETY

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

Houston Desis Cycling Team Does it Again with MS150

By Sakina Ali HOUSTON: On April 17 and 18, nearly forty riders of the Houston Desis Cycling Team completed the MS150 bike ride from Houston to Austin. This event is a fundraiser for research for Multiple Sclerosis, a debilitating disease that affects millions of people all over the world. The Houston Desis were among the 13,000 riders who were committed to the cause of raising awareness for Multiple Scelerosis. MS-150 has allowed the Desi families to be physically active, to spend quality time with each other, make new friends, enjoy Desi food and entertainment and all this while achieving a worthwhile goal. In the team, there were several youngsters who did a commendable job. Here are the experiences relayed by some of the youth: This was my first year of riding the BP MS150 from Houston to Austin from April 17th to April 18th.

Biking the MS 150 has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. It tested my physical and mental stregnth. Many times along the way I felt as if I could bike no more, but every time I would become close to getting off the bike, random strangers would tell me that I was a hero and that I was helping so many people.

My friends and family stayed by my side and gave me the stregnth to finish the ride. Although I had struggled more than I ever had before, it was completely worth it. My perseverance paid off at the end. When I crossed the finish line, I was so proud of myself that I could not stop smiling. The MS 150 was a wondeful, although challenging, experiece for me.

-Cimron Kashyap The BP Houston-Austin MS150 is an enjoyable way to help the community, and the individual, where thousands of cyclists come together to help those with multiple sclerosis.

2010 was my first year riding the MS150. I had heard of it through my friends and I thought it was a good way to do my share for the community. After several months of training, I successfully came across the finish line in Austin, with the Houston Desis. The ride itself had been fun, and I felt glad that 13,000 people could donate one weekend to community service, although it lacked one thing. People under the age of 18, or KIDS. I saw many adults, many young adults, many seniors, and even one person who was handicapped and was riding his bike with his hands. I just wanted to request the teenagers out there to perhaps set aside the game controller and the TV for one weekend and grab a bike, some water, and a helmet instead. Honestly, the MS150 is MUCH more fun than sitting in front of a screen and pressing buttons.

All in all, the BP Houston-Austin MS150 is an amazing way to spend the weekend and to help the community. The adults can shake off some of the stress, and the kids can develop an appreciation for Mother Nature.

-Anjay Batra Even though I had done the MS150, the previous year, I was very nervous starting this one. My lack of preparation for the 150 mile endeavor was starting to divulge itself once I had gotten to the fifty-mile break point on the first day.

Luckily, I was not burdened with cramps and I made it to the overnight stay in La Grange. On the second day, the situation was different. Even though the wind would stay behind us most of the ride, the hills on the second day made the finish line seem a eternity away. I was able to finish the MS150 without taking a single sag, or walking any hills. At each rest stop I took a thirty second break, and then hopped on my bike to ride another ten miles. The camaraderie displayed amongst my fellow teammates drove

me to the finish line, and I was greeted by several volunteers who congratulated me and my team in our strenuous efforts to contribute towards others. I strongly urge the my audience to join the next MS150. But remember, the MS150 requires lots of dedication. I would start training from mid-January and at the same time work on collecting the $400 required of me. In the 2010 MS150, the participants raised a total of $17 million. You can be one of the participants next year. But overall, despite the training, and the donations, the best feeling I received in the MS150 was when I rode past a person with MS and they said “Thank you, son. Thank you, so much.”

-Rohan Shah My biking expeience during MS 150 on 4/17-4/18 was something I had never experienced before. Even though I was little nervous and not so sure initially, as the ride started I was more at ease. Actually as we rode along, I started enjoying it. By the time the tiredness and hunger started sneaking up on us, it was already half way through. There were so many people cheering and encouraging us through the ride all along. I really got more enery and motivation when I saw some of the handicaped and elderly people riding along.

Even though sleeping on a tiny, hard bed after a long day was challanging, I was determined to finish the second day. The hills on second day were really beautiful but challenging as well.

During the ride I did make some new friends.

My dad who also rode with me tried to keep up my spirits. In fact this helped my dad and I to have fun together.

At the end of the ride, even though I was kind of relieved, it gave me a sence of accomplishment and I was proud of myself. I am planning to do next year again.

-Venkat Reddy This was my second year doing the MS-150.

I was really looking forward to riding this year because I wanted to try my new bike on

Restaurant

the hills of Austin.

Since I’m 12-yearsold, I have to ride under my dad’s supervision. It was a great experience to ride from Houston to Austin with my dad because he showed me how to draft behind many different teams. Drafting behind someone allows you to conserve energy and ride efficiently. At the end of the ride, on both days, we got to enjoy our Desi food in our tent and share a good time with family and friends. Next year, I hope my cousins and more of my friends will join our team to have good time and also help in the cause of fighting Multiple Sclerosis.

-Adam Ali This year’s ride was my second, and it had all the benefits to make the ride joyful and not totally exhausting.

First, we had a tail wind 90% of the time, so it gave us quite a bit of acceleration to our speed, letting us ride faster.

Second, the rain; now no one likes riding with wet clothes, am I right? Well the funny thing is that it rained before the ride on the first day, during the overnight stay at LaGrange, and on the way back to Houston (driving), but never during the actual cycling time! Which is a good thing. Our team is composed of a vast number of parents and kids! Which makes it easier and fun to do [bicycling] knowing that my friends are cycling with me. At the campground at LaGrange, there were thousands of cyclists who were also participating in the ride; it was like a huge fiesta. In our team’s tent, our team provided us with Indian and American food, which we ate heartily. I had an ecstatic time this year and will for sure participate next year in the MS 150!

-Sagar Mulchandani

“The passage to Culinary Delight”

Happy Mother’s Day from Us to All Moms The people of a world-renowned chain of fine Indian Restaurants, who gave the most consistent and best Indian food in town for over 20 years - have now moved to:

Open 7 Days Everyday Lunch Buffet 11 AM - 2:30 PM Dinner 5:30 PM - 10:30 PM

13155 Westheimer (One Block East of Eldridge)

Come and rediscover Gourmet India

281-493-5435 or 281-493-5366 Contact Ajoy Bhattacharya or Chef Lakha for all your catering needs Both In-House and Outdoor • www.GourmetIndiaHouston.com INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, mAY 07 , 2010 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

SOCIETY

Ustad Balkar Singh Set to Enthrall in Classical Concert

By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: This city boasts a vibrant cultural tapestry of the arts.

There are performers and artistes that are well-known, veritable household names in the Indo American community. And then there is Ustad Balkar Singh, an accomplished yet unassuming young Hindustani classical vocalist and teacher who leads a quiet life away from the public eye.

Singh hails from the Patiala Gharana founded by the legendary musicians Ustad Ali Bukhsh Khan and Ustad Fateh Ali Khan. He will give a free solo vocal recital at the Anjali Center for Performing Arts in Sugar Land at 5.30pm on May 8, 2010. The adroit Pandit Shantilal Shah will accompany Singh on the tabla.

The concert, organized by Singh’s senior students, will showcase a repertoire replete with traditional em-

solfege. Exponents of the style are also well versed in the rendition of thumris and ghazals.

Ustad Balkar Singh is a gold medalist with postgraduate degrees in music from the University of Punjab and has consistently topped the list as an A-Grade artiste with All India Radio. He lives with his family in Houston and Ustad Balkar Singh is a gold medalist with teaches advanced classes post-graduate degrees in music from the to students already converUniversity of Punjab sant with Hindustani classical music. The concert is bellishments from the Gwalior and free to music lovers.

Delhi styles of music. Characteristic For more information call Raman of the Patiala Gharana is the clear at (281) 630 6075 or Rini at (281) 693 voice reproduction, elaborate rhythm 0380. The Anjali Center is located patterns, and sargam, which is the at 2615 Cordes Rd., Sugar Land, Tx Hindustani equivalent to the western 77479.

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

Convenience Store for Sale • Good Gross Income With High Margin • Cheap Rent With Lease Option • Free Standing Store And Huge Parking Area • Located at Intersection, Good neigbhbors, 100% Mexican • Great Opportunity To Own a Business

Serious Buyers only, please call 713-679-3753

RESTAURANT FOR SALE Selling Restaurant located in the heart of Hillcroft, seating capacity for 90 people

For more information Call 832-367-1831

India Business Coference to be Held in Chicago CHICAGO: The Annual India Business Conference at the Kellogg School of Management (KSM) is being held on 8th May 2010 at the Donald P. Jacobs Center. This is the 16th India Business Conference at the Kellogg School of Management.

The 2010 Kellogg India Business Conference - India: Remarkable, Resilient, Relevant - will bring together business and thought leaders to dissect the forces shaping India’s future - a young and entrepreneurial workforce, maturing institutions, an

21

evolving democracy - and explore the insights India has to offer. The 2010 Kellogg India Business Conference will highlight the opportunities and challenges that will shape India’s role in the emerging world order. The conference will be an excellent forum for all those who desire to understand India and the conference theme “India – Remarkable, Resilient, Relevant” aptly sums up the contents of the program.

For more information, visit http:// kelloggindiaconference.com

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MAY 07 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

22

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

SOCIETY

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

SEWA International Announces New Executive Team

HOUSTON: For the past few years, SEWA International has been promoting service and providing assistance to the community at large.

A great number of individuals have joined SEWA’s undertaking as volunteers and are contributing within the organization in numerous ways: teaching English to Bhutanese refugees, extending homework support to kids, offering computer classes, providing employment assistance for low income families and women’s empowerment programs among

other initiatives.

April 9th at Bhojan restaurant, watching the cheerful faces of about 100 volunteers and committee members, who could make it there, was definitely a satisfactory sight to see for an organization that started in Houston for only 5 years ago.

Mrs. Manju Gupta is the new president of Houston chapter of SEWA International. The chapter team includes Suryansh Purwar as Secretary, Vasudev Singh as Vice President, Mrs. Rashmi Shah as Treasurer and

Hilton Americas Hosts the 14th Bibi Bridal Show

HOUSTON: April 25, 2010, The Grand Ballroom at the Hilton Americas was transformed into a festival of South Asian weddings as Bibi Magazine held its 14th Biannual Bridal Show geared towards luxurious South Asian weddings. A record number of 170 brides along with 350 guests attend the event where they met with the best of best Bridal vendors who specialize in South Asian weddings.

The Hilton Americas, presenting partner in this Bibi Bridal Show, has the largest and most elegant ballroom in all of Houston with a 2500 maximum capacity. Hence, it makes it an ideal choice of the usually large South Asian weddings.

Additional to the Hotel’s in-house cuisine, the venue also allows for outside catering, a deciding point for most South Asian brides. On the day of the show, the Grand Ballroom was decorated with four styles of mandaps and decoration along with LED lighting, flowers and delicious bridal cuisine and cakes.

Six lucky brides pre-selected by Bibi Editors received a glamorous makeover during the course of the event. The brides-to-be included Nailah, Lopa, Sonia, Binny, Anisa and Poonam, all of whom are getting married in the upcoming year.

Outfitted in the stunning saris of Caarma Boutique of Sugarland, each bride was made over to reflect her own personal style by The Transformation Studio, Fashion Face and Derma Treats. Accompanying the onstage makeovers, were two fashion shows by The Dress to Impress and Nazia’s Couture.

Publisher of Bibi Magazine, Ayesha Hakki says, “We’ve really groomed this bridal show to reflect luxurious South Asian weddings.

Therefore, we hand select our vendors so that they represent the best of the best in their respective fields. It’s a one-stop-shopping experience for couples planning their weddings.”

Zeb Mamsa, Bibi Bridal show Coordinator adds, “The top venues in Houston are keen to partner with Bibi Magazine because ours is the longest running bridal show in Houston. Our track record has consistently attracted the most upscale vendors along with the most number of brides. We keep refining the show to make it even better than before, and the quality really shows.”

Bibi Bridal shows occur twice a year in the Greater Houston area.The next Bibi Bridal Show will be held in October, 2010. More information can be found at BibiMagazine.com or SouthAsianBridal.com.

eight members of the executive committee including Parthesh Brahmbhatt, Shivangi Tomar, Seeta Brar, Asha Chakrabarty, Rohit Shankaran, Rishi Gohil, Ramya Ravi and Aruna Chakrabarty.

Mr. Dinesh Shah,Advisor of SEWA Houston, summed up SEWA’s mission best as he urged the audience to “work with love and dedication towards SEWA’s goal of service” and reaffirmed his support for the Bhutanese Empowerment Project.

His passion, since SEWA Houston’s inception, has guided the organization through many rough patches.

President of SEWA Houston, Mrs. Manju Gupta, concluded the night on a positive note as she reflected on her past experiences with SEWA and the Bhutanese Empowerment Project and envisioned a prosperous path for this venture. She offered words of gratitude and encouragement for the SEWA membership, expressing

Front Row,From Left: Suryansh Purwar, Aruna Chakrabarty, Asha Chakrabarty, Mrs. Manju Gupta, Shivangi Tomar, Mrs. Rashmi Shah Back Row, From Left: Parthesh Brahmbhatt, Vasudev Singh, Rohit Shankaran, Rishi Gohil

her confidence in the organization’s future success. She blessed the new leadership that constituted the Executive Committee and requested the audience to maintain the alacrity with which they support the project in the future.

Win FREE tickets to shows,concerts Read Indo-American News Every Week online and print edition

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, mAY 07 , 2010 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

Among many other projects, SEWA members are helping Bhutanese refugees in Houston by teaching English and computer classes; help with finding employment and facilitating youth mentorship programs.

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MAY 07 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

23

24

Indo American News • Friday, May 07 , 2010

online edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, mAY 07 , 2010 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM