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Indo American News • Friday, October 01 , 2010

Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

Friday, October 01 2010 | Vol. 29, No. 40

Indo American News

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Fire on the Ramp Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra fired up the ramp as she walked down displaying a creation by designer Manish Malhotra for their upcoming film Anjaana Anjaani on the final day of Lakme Fashion Week.

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India on Edge Over Ayodhya HC Verdict

A Hero’s Welcome for Sri Lankan President Rajapakasa

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his wife Shiranthi paid a quick visit to the Bayou City this past weekend.

The event was organized by the Sri Lankan American Association of Houston but included many people who had driven in from Austin, Dallas-Ft.. Worth, San Antonio and surrounding areas. Nearly 450 people came to the Westin Oaks Hotel in the Galleria.

The event was held under tight security under the watchful eye of the Secret Service. A video clip showing the progress of the Sri Lankan and its re-emergence as a tourist destination was shown before and after the speeches. continued on page 5

Joint community prayers were held throughout India to appeal for peace.

The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa (left) next to his wife Shiranthi, was welcomed to Houston by a large gathering of Sri Lankans at the Westin Oaks Hotel this past Saturday, September 25. He is shown durirng the playing of the national anthems of Sri Lanka and the US along with Congresswoman Shiela Jackson Lee, the local organizers, including Dr. Wijay and attorney George Willy and Sanjiv Arora, Consul General of India.

Second Annual Indian Film Festival: A Delightful Treat HOUSTON: Houstonians were once again treated to a taste of film, food and fantasy during the Second Annual Indian Film Festival of Houston (IFFH) from September 22 to 26 at Studio Movie Grill. Fans of Indian cinema had the opportunity to see many awardwinning films In the picture at the left taken at the awards night show (from left) Vikramaditya Motwane

(Director of Best Feature Film Udaan); Dilip Mehta (Special recognition award for Cooking with Stella); Carolyn Farb (Philanthropy Award); Sumit Chadha on behalf of Amit Khanna (Leadership Award); Festival Founder and Director Sutapa Ghosh; and Mohammed Iqbal Khan (Accepted the award on behalf of Kiran Deol for the Best Documentary Woman Rebel) Photo: Navin Medivala

continued on page 3

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Spiritual Healer Brings Hope, Succor, to the Hapless

“ Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha”...

Coming Soon to H Town Story on Pg 6

Balavihar Begins with the Worship of Learning Story on Pg 14

Rising Yamuna River Threatens Floods Near Taj

AYODHYA (HT): With the central and state governments having taken adequate security measures ahead of the verdict on the title suits in the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi case in Lucknow on Thursday, Home Minister P Chidambaram expressed confidence there would be no trouble after the judgment. Chidambaram said he did not “foresee any problems” as almost all political parties, religious groups and those associated with the dispute, have said they would respect the verdict of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court.

Notwithstanding the confidence that there would not be any problems, Chidambaram said the government had taken the necessary measures and deployed adequate security forces all over the country. The Centre has placed forces at 16 locations — half of them near Indian Air Force stations — to enable quick movement if an emergency breaks out.

India is a Magical Place : Julia Roberts

Story on Pg 32 Story on Pg 43

Story on Pg 9

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Second Annual Indian Film Festival of Houston HOUSTON: The city was once again treated to a taste of film, food and fantasy during the Second Annual Indian Film Festival of Houston (IFFH) from September 22 to 26. Feature films, documentaries and shorts were screened for four nights at the Studio Movie Grill.

The Opening Night VIP Reception at Straits Restaurant set the tone for the evening. Guests then walked over to see Dilip Mehta’s “Cooking with Stella,” a film about diplomats in Delhi and their Indian staff.

Throughout the four days, several directors were present to participate in Q & A sessions after their films had ended. They continued to talk with film buffs outside the theater, giving their time and insights about their work.

Sutapa Ghosh, the Festival Founder and Director, had dreamed of developing a non-profit organization devoted to creating a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing quality films.

Last year that dream came true.

By honoring entertainment industry performers and film makers, the general public had an opportunity to see diverse perspectives of the Indian Diaspora. “Slumdog Millionaire” opened the eyes of film-goers whose only concept

A hit with fans of Indian cinema

Dr. Carolyn Farb won the first Indian Film Festival of Houston Philanthropy Award for her years of charitable work, and Amit Khanna, Chairman of Reliance Big Entertainment, received the first Indian Film Festival of Houston Leadership Award. Sumit Chadha flew from New York to accept it for him.

Sutapa credited the team who worked with her—Ellen Goldberg, Atul Badwal, Brent Ghosh among others—for helping to make the festival an outstanding event.

The organizers are looking forward to bringing the best of avant gadge Indian cinema to Houston audiences next year.

A group of guests at the opening night VIP reception at Straits Restaurant Photo: Navin Mediwala

of Indian movies was Bollywood musicals. Few were aware of India’s regional films or broad range of genres, and they were ready for a new experience.

Word of last year’s success spread to India, and seventy-five filmmakers sent submissions, many of which had also gone to film festivals in Cannes, Berlin and Toronto. Of those, fifteen

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of the best were selected. They proved to be the good choices.

Guests who attended the IFFH Award Night at the Royal Oaks Country Club on September 26 felt they were transported to exotic India. The decor, music by Hidden Veil—a division of Moodafaruka—delicious cuisine, and beautiful live auction items created a festive mood.

Roseann Rogers and Mohammed Iqbal Khan were the emcees for the Oscar-like presentations. Winners were: Best Feature: Udaan, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane; Best Short: You Can’t Curry Love, directed by Reid Waterer; Best Documentary: Woman Rebel, directed by Kiran Deol; and Special Recognition: Cooking with Stella, directed by Dilip Mehta.

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A Hero’s Welcome for Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa continued from page

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The president was escorted at the door of the ballroom by a troupe, which performed a dance and garlanded him.

He then lit the traditional oil lamp and met with the other dignitaries: Congresswoman Shiela Jackson Lee; a representative of Congressman Al Green, who could not attend; Indian Consul General Sanjiv Arora and the other members of the organizing committee of the SLAAH. After the national anthems of the two countries, the event was emceed by Rukshan Wijeratne who introduced the Rev. Kamburagalle Nanda of the Buddhist Center off Telephone Road behind Hobby Airport to give blessings in Sinhalese.

He was followed by a welcome speech

by George Willy, an immigration attorney for many years and a community activist.

Willy thanked the president for his heroic efforts in ending the devastating civil war that had ravaged the country for three decades.

Willy also offered some advice, citing from a tale of yore from Sri Lanka’s past, of being magnanimous and bringing the Tamil language and people into a closer fold.

Congresswoman Lee also lauded Rajapaksa for his act of valor and heroism in bringing the war to a close and stability to the country and offered him a Congressio-

nal Award. She was followed onstage by Dr. Bandula Wijay who spoke long and arduously of the strides made by the Sri Lankan economy since the war has ended and the ambitious projects in store to restore its position in international standing.

The President then strode to the podium, dressed in his characteristic lungi and long-sleeved white kurta. He spoke in his deep, sonorous voice, first in English, then in Sinhalese, about the end of hostilities in Sri Lanka and how he planned to make sure that the country moved forward.

As dinner started, young girls performed an entertaining hour of dances, and songs, both in Tamil and Sinhalese, much to the delight of the president and his wife.

President Rajapaksa and his wife were escorted to the stage by a dancing troupe. The ceremonies were opened by (clockwise from top left) the emcee, Rukshan Wijeratne; blessings from Rev. Kamburagalie Nanda; a keynote address by Dr. Bandula Wijay and a welcome speech by George Willy. As part of the entertaining cultural show, a troupe performed a Tamil dance. Many other children and young people performed Sinhalese songs and dances on the floor in front of the president and his party.

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“Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha” Play to Come to Houston with Kher

HOUSTON: One of the best and critically most acclaimed actors of Bollywood Padma Shri Anupam Kher is coming to Houston for entertaining thousands of theatre aficionados with his latest play “Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha”. Kher, who has received critical applause worldwide over the past three decades, is renowned not only for his acting skills, but also his versatility in performing in different roles with the greatest of ease. He will perform in many cities across the United States and Canada, and will kick-off his tour in Houston. Rajender Singh of Star Promotions Inc., who also

Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, 1942: A Love Story, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara and Khosla Ka Ghosla. He has also received two National Film Awards for his roles in Daddy andMaine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara. In spite of being famous and highly successful, Kher, who was born in Simla, India, remains very polite, humble and philosophical about his achievements. “Once you know what you are good at, you need a lot of honesty and hard work. I would add that persistence is equally important”, says Anupam.

Prior to his latest play “Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha”, Kher has toured the United

Anupam Kher with Rajender Singh of Star Promotions Inc. The actor was in Houston recently as Goodwill Ambassador for Pratham, the largest non governmental organization working to provide quality education to the underprevileged children of India

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happens to be a close friend of Kher, will be the International promoter and organizer of this tour. Mr. Rajender has organized over 60 major local shows and five international tours promoted worldwide.

After beginning his career in Bollywood in 1982 with the film Aagman, Anupam Kher acted in the 1984 film Saaransh. Kher received a Filmfare award for Best Actor for his role as a retired man who has lost his son. After that, his career took off and he has never looked back since. He has acted in several successful movies where his roles were appreciated, including Vijay, Ram Lakhan, Daddy, Lamhe, Dil, Saudagar, Darr, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,

States with his previous plays named “Saalgirah” and “Kuchh Bhi Ho Sakta Hai”. The tours for both these plays were hugely successful and were also organized by Rajender Singh. He will be accompanied on stage by his wife and renowned actress Kiron Kher, and a renowned actor and writer, Rakesh Bedi. The play is written by Rakesh Bedi himself. “Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha” is a story of two individuals, who meet several years down the line and share their love stories, the ups and downs and the journey of their lives with each other through humor and emotions. The play promises to be a highly entertaining show with strong performances by talented artistes.

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Pearls Infrastructure Shows Off Its Real Estate Holdings

Residential real estate projects built by the Pearls Infrastructure Projects Ltd were showcased in a roadshow held this past weekend at the Marriott Energy Corridor on the Katy Freeway. The show attracted between 40 to 50 people who were shown the properties and terms of the purchase by Satya Agarwal (above right) of India Property Inc, the North American promoter and Nita Chauhan, the local Houston area representative.

Photos: Jawahar Malhotra

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IAPAC Brings Candidate Bill White to a Meet and Greet at India House

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By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: The Indo-American Political Action Committee is already bringing the major gubernatorial candidates to meet the Indo-American community and explain their positions on major issues, regardless of whether the candidates meet in a televised debate later next month.

The first salvo was a reception for Bill White, the former Mayor of Houston and the underdog in the race against incumbent Governor Rick Perry. A poll showed that White still trails by 6 percentage points, although other private polls run by the Democratic Party show the race is neck-to-neck and that the race is now among those considered a toss-up on the national scene.

White was introduced by community activist and Open Forum Radio Show host Jagat Kamdar to the nearly 170 people who attended the function this past Sunday, September 26. Appetizers from Mint Cafe, the new restaurant in Sugar Land were served before the reception started.

“This is another job interview for me,” quipped White to the mostly friendly crowd. “Politics is just so much theatre, where some other candidate use speech as an accomplishment!”

He said that Texas needed a Governor who is proud of the diverse population in the State, the fourth largest concentration in the US. He lambasted the ranking of the State in a recent poll for being among the lowest in SAT scores and said that the state needed to promote thinking, vocational schools and technical programs.

Bill White, the former Mayor of Houston and the underdog in the gubernatorial race against incumbent Governor Rick Perry met with the Indo-American community at a reception held last Sunday, September 26 at India House by the Indo-American Political Action Committee.

“I would run the state like a business,” White continued, counting on his years in the private sector.

“Under the present Governor, we have harvested but not sown.”

He added that the current selections to statewide Boards and Commissions is at Perry’s discretion, not on merit alone, and recalled how he had nominated nearly 15% Asian Americans to similar

city positions when he was Mayor.

He said he would stop the practise of appointing people to Boards and Commissions “just to have them solicit funds for the election campaign.” According to White, two-thirds of Texans are ready for a new governor who shows inclusiveness to diversity.

Other politicos in attendance were HCC Trustee Neeta Sane, Harris County Democratic Party Chairman Gary Grinsberg and Maurice Overstreet who, is running for Supreme Court Justice.

At the brief question and answer period that followed White’s talk, many in the crowd wanted to know his views on education and the teaching of tolerance towards religions in schools.

White was also quizzed on how he would handle the projected $21 billion shortfall in the budget for next year. “The legislature and the Governor have known about this for two years,” he replied, “as they saw the shortfall in sales taxes.”

He said he would attack it in the same way that he had tackled a similar challenge as Mayor. He cited the example of the growth in advertising spending by the state for tourism dollars from $6 million to $23 million during the two terms of Rick Perry as a wasteful expenditure.

In concluding the reception the IAPAC showed off the portion of the Bill White for Texas website that is devoted to Indo Americans and how one could navigate through it and even make calls to others to canvas for votes.

The IAPAC intends to hold similar reception for Governor Perry in the near future.

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Members of the Indo American community with gubernatorial candidate Bill White, the former Mayor of Houston. Photos: Jawahar Malhotra

Gandhi Jayanti 2010 Celebration as 1000 Lights for Peace 5 pm: Sunday, October 3, 2010,at Miller Outdoor Theatre To register for “Walk For Peace” at Gandhi Jayanti celebrations, visit www.gandhilibrary.org.

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Spiritual Healer Chirag Bharti Brings Hope and Succor to the Hapless

Indo American News • Friday, October 01 , 2010

By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: Hailing from a lineage of spiritual healers and astrologers, Chirag Bharti understood from a very young age that this special field of mysticism and science was in his blood and was an inevitable part of his future. As a teenager growing up in his native Haryana state, the cradle of the Indus Valley, he had a recurring dream of being approached by a mysterious figure clad in a billowing white cloak. The figure, bathed in unmistakably positive energy, repeatedly conveyed to Bharti through gesture in slow motion, that he was imbued with a rare gift. The young man understood instinctively what was expected of him; he was, in his own humble way, to help others with his abilities as a seer. Bharti

knew that in addition to be being able to gaze into the future, he also needed the necessary tools to steer seekers on the right path to happy, fulfilled lives.

At age 19, Bharti had the fortuitous good fortune to meet two men who would become his mentors in the likes of Shankar Dayal Shastri and Ali Mohammed, and they trained him in numerology,

palmistry, astrology, ridhisidhi (prayer and meditation), and the healing techniques of Ilme Noorani and Ilme Rehamani. He also predicts lucky numbers and colors.

“When people have difficulties and come to me, I use the knowledge I have to find solutions,” said Bharti who very recently moved to this city from Chicago where he’s left behind a large following of believers. “If I am able to help, it’s only through the grace of god.

I share my gift and do not expect to be paid for it. If my work proves effective, people come back and give me a token of appreciation or refer family or colleagues to me” added Bharti. He likes the challenge of solving a diverse range of issues and takes pride in his sin-

cerity at solving them.

An economics graduate from Panipat University in Haryana, Bharti grew up in a household always teeming with people queuing up to meet with his parents.

“Like my parents and grandparents before me, I find answers when I meditate. I see godly images and they guide me. In astrology I am able see a person’s life path, and through prayer and healing for everyday problems, find ways to mitigate bad phases,” said Bharti.

People come to him with myriad problems, he confided, such as marriage issues, childlessness, jobs, business - people desperate for aid and succor. He also has a short radio program on Hum Tum City on Tuesday mornings.

In this day and age where fakirs and faux spiritualists are prevalent, and the public quite jaded and unbelieving, what are his expectations of this community that truly has seen it all, I asked?

“I am here to help, and expect nothing in return. I shall do my best,” said Bharti. “I believe in the power of prayer. I always keep a positive mind.”

For appointments with Chirag Bharti, call (832) 274 2866 between 10.00am and 10.00pm weekdays.

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Gandhi Jayanti Celebration at Hermann Park on Oct. 2 India Culture Center Houston with the MG Library will honor Mahatma Gandhi on his Jayanti(Birthday)Oct 2nd, 2010. It gives us great pleasure in inviting the entire Indo American community on this occasion. The Consulate General of India Office will be represented to garland Gandhiji’s statue and event shall have representation from various community leaders and wellwishers. Kindly mark your calendars and devote just 50 minutes of your schedule to honor our beloved Bapu.

This year Oct 2nd is falling on a Saturday, so we want a huge participation from our community. Kindly spread the word about this event.

Day, Date, Time: Saturday, October 2nd, 11:00 AM Location: Mahatma Gandhi Statue, Rose Garden, Hermann Park Directions: www.hermannpark.org

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Balavihar Begins with the Worship of Learning

By Padmashree Rao HOUSTON: Over 650 Bala Vihar children of Chinmaya Mission, Houston, gathered on Sep.12, Sunday morning, to begin a new calendar year of cultural and spiritual learning with a symbolic puja (worship) to the Hindu Goddess of Learning, Ma Sarasvati.

Children from the ages of four to seventeen arrived into the Sarasvati Nilayam of Chinmaya Prabha in festive colors and with excitement.

The teachers welcomed them and seated the eager children before neat rows themed on the Indian tricolor. On each row, before every child was a carefully wrapped book, a few rose petals, a green paper leaf, a pencil and a coin offering. All the kids sat facing the beautiful idol of the Mother Saras-

on Lord Ganesa and Pujya Gurudeva Swami Chinmayananda.

Then Shobha Ravishankar methodically guided the children in step with Sri Ganesh, the priest of Sri Over 650 Bala Vihar children begin a new calen- S a u m y a k a s i dar year of cultural and spiritual learning with a Sivalaya who symbolic puja (worship) to the Hindu Goddess of conducted the Learning, Ma Sarasvati. Photo: Nilesh Shah traditional puja vati whose divinity seemed to fill on behalf of all. The children were taught how each step of the Vedic the room.

The day began with one of the puja to Goddess Sarasvati was like teachers Manasa Kethireddipalli the heartfelt process of welcoming leading the children in bhajanas and adoring a most revered guest

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into our homes.

It was clear that each child got involved in this special way of invoking the divine power of learning. It was fulfilling to see the children offer rose petals to the book in front of them, write the Goddess’ name on the paper leaf and then offer the coin with devotion.

At the end of the puja, the children were joyous to be gifted with the very book they worshiped. Each one of them got the illustrated life story of Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda!

It was a special coincidence that the opening day was also the birthday of Acarya Darshanaben and the children sang a special birthday song to her. As the children celebrated, Acarya Gauranbhai motivated the parents. In his opening day message, he reminded all parents about letting kids grow up in purity. He emphasized how

the good impressions in children happen due to exposure to divine chants and the scriptures. He also reminded how the goal of life is to rediscover our divine Nature and respect the God in all.

Every year the opening day is planned with great attention to detail, from the spirit of opening the doors to higher learning to the structure of a disciplined presentation. The inspiration behind this is the hard work of several dedicated volunteers led by the Acaryas Darshana Nanavaty and Acarya Gaurangbhai Nanavaty. And when Bala Vihar opens in Houston, every volunteer wears a happy smile that the children are ready to climb a higher step in learning!

For more information visit www. chinmayahouston.org or call Bharati Sutaria at 281-933-0233 or Jay Deshmukh at 832-541-0059.

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Obama Appoints Three Indians to President’s Advisory Commission WASHINGTON (IANS): President Barack Obama has named three Indian-Americans to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, a body to help them get increased access to and participation in federal programmes.

“Our nation will be well-served by the skill and dedication these men and women bring to their new roles. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead,” Obama said Wednesday announcing the appointment of 16 members of the advisory body.

Obama appoints 3 Indians to the President’s Advisory Commission The three Indian Americans are Farooq Kathwari, Sunil Puri and Amardeep Singh.

According to the White House, one of the three, Farooq Kathwari, a Kashmir University graduate, is the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ethan Allen Interiors.

He has been president of the company since 1985, and chairman and chief executive officer since 1988.

Kathwari serves on many non-forprofit organisations, including the chair of the Kashmir Study Group, member of the Council on Foreign Relations, director of the International Rescue Committee and the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University as well as director and former chairman of Refugees International.

Telugu Community picnic organized by Houston Telugu Cultural Association on October 2, 10am-6pm at Bear Creek Park, Pavillion 6, War Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77084.

For more information call Raghava Solipuram at 781-367-9367 or email at info@teluguhouston.org

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Creativity at Its Best

South Asians in Houston had the opportunity to witness two unique aspects of creativity. The first was the A.R. Rahman concert. The master composer presented the incredible variety of his compositions from Roja to Jodha Akbar. He won Oscar acclaim for Jai Ho in Slumdog Millionaire, but each of us has a favorite tube, mine being Tu Hi Ray from the movie Bombay. The live concert displayed Rahman’s talent in delivering a fascinating tale of his life through song.

In a hit song, you need a delightful composition wedded to moving lyrics, powerful singers and professional musicians. In a movie, the creativity quotient goes up several notches. You need a great story, masterful direction, moving performances and powerful music. One of the best examples of a special film was Aparna Sen’s The Japanese Wife, screened at the Indian Film Festival of Houston held last weekend. While the movie is slow to reveal its poignant love story, the viewers with patience are rewarded with a rich emotional experience. The cast of Rahul Bose, Raima Sen, Chigasu Takaku and Moushmi Chatterjee have put in outstanding performances.

Few of us have the creative genius. At least we have the opportunity to enjoy the remarkable results.

Pramod Kulkarni

No Looking Back

It is still a glimmer at the end of the tunnel, but the fact that schools and colleges have opened in Kashmir after three months suggests that people are willing to explore alternatives to the continuing violence in the state. The government has held out an olive branch in the form of an eight-point package and the promise of one or more interlocutors who will be acceptable all round. Though curfew has been reimposed in Baramulla, Sopore, Srinagar and Kupwara, Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s appeal to parents to end the disruption of education has been heeded to, even though partially. Part of the reason for students staying away from schools and colleges is the constant calls for strikes by hardliners like Syed Ali Shah Geelani who seem to have a singlepoint agenda — to oppose any move that could bring peace and normalcy to the troubled state.

The Centre, to its credit, has gone the extra mile in asking the state government to release students and youths arrested for stonepelting. This with development funds, ex-gratia payments to the kin of those killed in civil disturbances and the appointment of task forces, among other things, should serve to cool temperatures Given the sensitivities involved in the conduct of the security forces, the government, both at the Centre and state, has to ensure that they behave with utmost restraint.

Hindustan Times

editorial

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Old India Fails New India

By Vir Sanghvi These days we hear a lot about the clash of the two Indias — the India of the villages vs the India of the cities; deprived India vs shining India, etc.

This conflict is undeniable but we are neglecting another clash between two other Indias which is subtler but no less significant.

The unprecedented level of public anger over the screw-ups in the preparations of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) can be best understood if we see it as a clash between two Indias.

The people in charge of the Games typify old India: corrupt, slothful, incompetent, chaotic, unconcerned with the pursuit of excellence, unwilling to benchmark against global standards and convinced that in India, sab chalta hai.

The people who are most angered and horrified by the CWG mess are those who believe that we are creating a new India: one that can do things to global standards, whose competence and intelligence are highly regarded all over the world, an India where people work hard, where there are high levels of accountability and where commitments are treated as sacred.

When Indians talk about ourselves these days, it is this new India we allude to. It is the new India that is an emerging superpower. It is the new India that is the rival of a resurgent China. It is the new India that the world is rushing to befriend and to invest in.

But just as we begin to believe the hype about the new India, the old India comes back and bites us in the arse.

One reason why there is so much public outrage over the CWG mess is because we perceive the old India as having failed the new India. On the one hand, we talk about competing with China. On the other, we can never ever dream of matching up to the standard of the spectacular Chinese Olympics. In fact, as long as the old India types are in charge, we can’t even organise the Commonwealth Games, a relatively minor league event.

In the eyes of the world, we are now a laughing stock. We can brag as

The most horrifying aspect of the CWG fiasco is that the guys at the top still don’t get it.

You and I may think we are building a new India. But the old geezers who are still in charge are content to live in the old India. much as we like about the new India.

But when it comes to delivering on an international commitment, we are no China. We are still corrupt, slothful old India.

The most horrifying aspect of the CWG fiasco is that the guys at the top still don’t get it. You and I may think we are building a new India. But the old geezers who are still in charge are content to live in the old India.

Take sports minister, M.S. Gill (age: 74), a retired babu and the man who must take the rap for many of the screw-ups. Gill’s view is that the Commonwealth Games are like an Indian wedding. There will be disasters. There will be chaos. There will be confusion. But somehow, it will work out in the end. This is India, yaar, he suggested, this is our way of doing things.

It is hard to think of an attitude that is more out of tune with today’s times. Forget about systems, forget about delivery dates and forget about accountability. It’s like a shaadi, yaar.

Ho jayega. Somehow!

Or take Jaipal Reddy (at only 68, the baby of this Cabinet). After Suresh Kalmadi fell into disrepute, Reddy was moved in by the government to keep an eye on things. Much of the faulty construction is the responsibility of his ministry.

What do you suppose Reddy’s at-

titude to the recent foul-ups is? The collapse of the overbridge that injured several workmen. The false ceiling that caved in, etc.

These are minor matters, he says.

Why focus so much on them? These things happen, he suggests. And finally, there is the inevitable appeal to patriotism, always the last refuge of the politician. All of us should focus on the positive aspects of the Games and not draw attention to the disasters.

Because India’s prestige is at stake.

And who do you suppose put our prestige at stake? The people who oversaw the collapsing bridges? Or you and I who worry about this disaster in the making?

When the Cabinet is full of people who operate in a chalta hai environment, can you be surprised by the attitude of the organising committee?

Every Indian I know was deeply ashamed to see the pictures of the filth in the Games Village and to read the reports about the state of the athletes’ accommodation: human crap on the floor, paan stains on the wall, dirty loos, and animal footprints on the beds.

And yet, how did the organising committee react? According to Lalit Bhanot, the problem was merely one of the differing standards of western hygiene and Indian hygiene.

With that single response, Bhanot summed up the difference between his India and ours. In his India, it’s all right if people crap on the floors of bedrooms meant for athletes. If anybody complains, then they are just using western standards of cleanliness.

This clash between the two Indias runs through almost every aspect of the CWG fiasco. In the old India, it is unthinkable for officials to disperse hundreds of crores of rupees without pocketing substantial kickbacks for themselves.

So it is with the CWG organisers.

Forget about the over-priced equipment purchased for the Games or the dodgy companies hired at huge cost to perform meaningless tasks. Even the contracts for constructing buildings and roads have been awarded on the kickback principle. Why else

IndoAmerican News Founder: 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 Reporter: Jacob David Production Manager: Hussain Mandviwala 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

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Madurai Temple Chairman Visits MTS

PEARLAND: Karumuttu T. Kannan, Chairman of Madurai Meenakshi Temple, Madurai visited Sri Meenakshi Temple, Pearland, on Sunday, September 19. Sri Meenakshi Temple Society, Pearland, popularly known as “MTS”, is modeled after the well known Madurai temple located in Madurai, Tamilnadu. MTS follows the Madurai temple traditions in their day to day religious activities and for special functions such as the annual utsavams. The board of trustees of MTS welcomed Kannan with a Poorna Kumbhum. Kannan, accompanied by the trustees, visited the various buildings including the new Visitors’ Center and the newly constructed silver ratham. Following the visit, a public forum was held at the Visitors’Center. Tupil Narasiman, the Public Relations Coordinator for MTS welcomed the guests. Dr. Gopalakrishna, chairman of MTS, formally introduced Kannan. Tom Reid, Mayor of Pearland, honored Kannan with a welcome certificate from the City of Pearland. “MTS is my temple too!!” said the Mayor as he has seen the temple grow from a small building to this magnificent edifice. He said that contributions by talented Indo-Americans to Pearland are very much appreciated in Pearland.

T. Kannan hails from the well known Thiagarajan Chettiar Family in Tamilnadu. He is the Managing Director of Thiagarajar Mills Ltd. Kappalur, an export oriented high quality yarn manufacturing Textile Corporation which has won several awards for product quality, industrial safety and human resource management. He is a member of the TamilNadu State Planning Commission, Chennai. In addition to being the Chairperson of the Trustees that

T. Kannan with devotees in front of the main temple.

governs Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswara Temple, Madurai, he is also a member of the Planning Board of Madurai Kamaraj University. He also serves on several prestigious bodies which promote industrial development and human skill enhancement for societal change. An industrialist par excellence and a seasoned educationalist with over 30 years of experience in college administration, Karumuttu T. Kannan combines in him entrepreneurial leadership and professional philanthropy. An ardent practitioner of Indian Culture, he is also a conservator of Indian tradition, art and heritage. Kannan deliverd an inspiring speech to the MTS audience. He talked about the great Madurai Meenakshi Temple and the hundreds of years of history behind it. He referred to the temple Goddess in Tamil as “PESUM DEIVAM and PESADHA DEIVAM” meaning the temple goddess is one with great expressions giving a message to devotees (PESUM DEIVAM) and at the same time She is a statue just like that of gods similar to other temples

(PESADHA DEIVAM). With photographs, he described the Consecration (Kumbhabhisekam) held in a grand manner on April 2010 in Madurai. He narrated the difficult and risky task undertaken to repair and replace several damaged granite beams at the temple. The audience enjoyed the simple yet inspiring speech filled with humor and substance. Gnanam, MTS Treasurer honored Kannan with mementos from the temple while Parthiban Dhanabalan, MTS Joint Treasurer, honored N.S. Raman who accompanied Kannan.

Sharma Tadepalli, the MTS secretary proposed the vote of thanks thanking Mr. Kannan for taking time amidst his busy schedule to visit the temple. Sharma also thanked Sam Kannappan who was primarily responsible for organizing this visit.

A sumptuous lunch prepared by MTS kitchen staff directed by our food committee coordinator Malar Narayanan was served at the event.

Special thanks to Dr. Nat Annamalai who ensured that the entire program was on schedule.

Commentary: Old India Fails New India continued from page 16

do you suppose the infrastructure is so shoddy? Why else would bridges fall, buildings remain incomplete and ceilings cave in?

The tragedy of the Commonwealth Games is that it did not have to turn out like this. If we had assigned the Games preparations to the private sector — to any of the infrastructural companies that run airports, build hotels etc — budgets would have been adhered to, deadlines would have been kept and the construction

wouldn’t have been sub-standard.

Moreover, there would have been accountability. If the private sector fails, then it doesn’t get paid.

Alternatively,thegovernmentcould have displayed some leadership. In 1980, Indira Gandhi recognised that the Asian Games would be a fiasco unless the government got involved at the highest level. Rajiv Gandhi oversaw the preparations, deadlines were kept, the infrastructure survives till today and the Games served as an advertisement for India.

But what this government has given us is a complete repudiation of Rajiv’s legacy. The preparations have been handed over to people like Suresh Kalmadi and when ministers have got involved, the task has been left to incompetent windbags. Nor has there been any attempt to find an alternative private sector model.

Is it any wonder that we are all so angry? As hard as we try to build a new India, this fiasco reminds us that old India still has the power to humiliate and embarrass us. HT

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Lladro’s Story of Collectible Art Unfolds at Karat 22

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: With collectible art soaring in popularity and prices reaching level’s that are still spectacular when compared to the bust in other investments in this down economy, the interest in limited series artwork was evident at the demonstration held at Karat 22 Jewelers this past Thursday, September 23.

About 60 people with a discerning eye came to see the porcelain art pieces sold by the House of Llardo based in Valencia, Spain.

Started by Juan, Jose and Vivente Llardo in 1953, the company has added to its line of sculptures over the years, with pieces based upon icons of world religions being a prominent part. The team of Cristina Egido, PR and Events Coordinator and Jose Santaeulalia, the young resident sculptor out of 30 others who create their inspirations in the workshop in Valencia, came to demonstrate how the process works.

“Many people study with us to become resient sculptors, and we chose just a few, most who are with Llardo for many years. Each piece is unique and after a limited series is produced, the mold is broken,” said Egido as she stood in front of the guests in Karat 22’s main showroom, just in front of the enormous sculptured pieces showing a scene from some Arabian Night sequence on a dhow on the water, a piece, with multiple figurines, which could run into six-figures.

Scattered around the showroom were many Ganesha figures in various poses, but most of the artwork was already sold before the evening was over. “The difference between the softer, china hued figures and the shinier, glazed pieces is the way they are made and the price,” said Egido, pointing to them. The glazed pieces are cheaper.

And while she spoke and described the technique of creating the artwork, from con-

ception to the final work, Jose made a standing figure from white model plaster as the audience watched in delight and awe.

Asked about the appreciation in the Llardo pieces, an appreciative guest chipped in that he had eight Ganesha figurines, the oldest bought about eight years ago.

“You will be amazed that the price I can get, even on Ebay, is over 10 times what I paid for it,” he explained.

The market for Llardo’s artwork has really caught on in India, with many collectors in the major cities picking up religious iconic figurines at over 30 outlets. “Price is not a problem,” said Egido with a wave of the hand, “In fact, India has been a great and growing market for us.”

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

The team of Cristina Egido, PR and Events Coordinator and Jose Santaeulalia, the young resident sculptor from the Llardo workshop in Valencia, Spain visited Karat 22 Jewelers last Thursday, September 23, to show off the Indian religious sculptures made

by Lalrdo that have grown in popularity. Many of the Ganesha figurines quickly sold out to the nearly 60 invited guests who attended the demonstartion of making porcelain figurines.

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Local Pakistani Youth Rally for Flood Victims

The Youth Carnival held on September 19 at Hillcroft attracted 500 people from different backgrounds and vocations. $10,000 was collected by the Pakistani youth for flood victims in Pakistan

By Hussain Evershine HOUSTON: A call to help the flood victims in Pakistan! It's a message heard loud and clear from various organizations. Now, the message has come from the Houston Youth. On September 19, under the banner of Fatimah Charitable Foundation, 80 young members of the Pakistani community raised funds for flood victims in Pakistan.

The goal of the carnival was to create awareness among the people about the condition of flood victims in Pakistan. It was also a means to gather members of the community to become more involved with the youth and arm them with knowledge about the recent conditions in Pakistan. It was conducted to motivate the Pakistani youth to make a difference and be part of the solution and encourage adults to lend a helping hand to the youth.

The organizers of the carnival said the youth wanted to do something special for the victims. "It started with a simple idea to help by a 13 year old - Hina Khan, a student of Fort Settlement Middle School, who thought similar fundraiser events that happen in her

school can also be done to help support the people in Pakistan which became this great fundraiser," said an organizer.

Attendance was impressive as more than 500 people attended the event from very different backgrounds and vocations: which included members of the Indian community as well. The reason for such a strong and diverse attendance was due to the generous promotion by various media organizations and members of the community. Despite the rain, the youth managed to raise $1000 in an hour on Hillcroft. The total funds collected were $10,000 (promised) which will be donated to the Say-

lani Welfare Trust International in Pakistan. "We are all well aware of the tragedy in Pakistan. No one of us has ever witnessed this magnitude of destruction in our lifetime. While each one of us have been involved in every aspect of the relief activities, the need is still enormous, people of Pakistan needs support now, not tomorrow - today," said one youth.

Pakistan has experienced its worst flooding since 1929. With 20 million people affected, the number is considered to be the worst more than the 2005 South Asian Tsunami, Pakistan Earthquake and 2010 Haiti Earthquake combined.

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Shanti Niketan Sells Out Phase I Announces Launch of Phase II

NEW YORK, September 18:‘ShantiNiketan’ (a unit of Bharat Vilas – www.bharatvilas.com) is the first of its kind - a retirement community for South Asians based on the philosophy that as one ages, they would like to be around their own kind of people, food, culture etc.

bedroom condo. 2 single seniors or one couple will share a 2 bedroom condo. The $1,000 includes rent, utilities, condo fees, and vegetarian food.

Indian Vegetarian food is one of the major attractions at ShantiNiketan.

Shorter term rentals are $1,500 per person per month.

Located in sunny Florida, the project Daily Yoga, Meditation, Bhajans, was started in 2008 and is nearing etc keep the residents occupied. Durcompletion now. ing the day a game of Teen Patti and Iggy Ignatius, CEO of ShantiNi- Bridge or caroms or chess is a comketan, announced today at the NFIA mon time-pass for the residents. conference, that they are getting ready For more information, visit www. to launch Phase 2 of the project. Phase ShnatiNiketan2.com or call Iggy Ig1 with 54 condos has been sold out natius at 352-508-7060. and the final units are being finished now. Phase 1 will be completed by February IndoAmerican News 2011.

“ShantiNiketan2 will Everything is in the numbers! consist of approximately 100+ condos with a mix of We are audited every year by the 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom Circulation Verification Council condos”, Iggy said.

We reach 120 locations all around Prices for ShantiNiketan 2 will start at $160,000 for Houston and nearby cities. a 2 bedroom, 1 car garage 29 years in publication, condo. ShantiNiketan also chosen 1st by readers offers a rental program, where for $1,000 per month Thanks for giving us the lead! per person (on a 12 month Thank you for all your support! lease), they get a one bed- Call: 713-789-NEWS room bath attached in a 2

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Indian Flavored Series Reach U.S. Small Screen

By Uttara Choudhury NEWYORK (DNA): India-themed comedies are the flavor of the month on US television with Nirvana on Fox and Outsourced on NBC. The controversial NBC office sitcom has a plot aimed straight at the heart ofAmerican workplace angst — outsourcing of US jobs to India.

“Where am I calling? Is this India?” an irritable American novelty goods catalogue shopper snaps at Indian call centre worker Manmeet. “Am I calling freakin’ India to get a mug that says, ‘America’s Number 1!?’”

“No,” Manmeet flubs. “We’re in Detroit. The city of motors and black people!” Click.

Those lines are scripted, but with America bleeding jobs, it is believable that there are versions of that scene playing out in the real world.

Outsourced sets its stage quickly.

American call centre manager Todd Dempsy is shipped off to India to “polish up” a ragtag group of Indian customer service representatives. Indians will cringe at the Indian stereotypes perpetuated by some of the customer service reps.

There is also the usual mirch masala of an office romance between the American expat and Asha, played by Rebecca Hazlewood, a gifted Shakespearean actress from England who is sadly stuck in this series with a bad Indian accent.

Outsourced, which is set in a Mumbai call centre, is getting attention because it touches on a hot-button issue.

“Will it help humanise Indian workers for US audiences, or reinforce stereotypes?” asked Computerworld.

NBC has billed the series as “the Midwest meets the exotic East in a hilarious culture clash”, but the Wash-

ington Post is not so convinced. It has panned the sitcom for being nothing more than “a bunch of lame jokes about sacred cows and curry-related bouts of diarrhoea”.Outsourced has set off visceral reactions. “My wife, a mother of two kids, lost her job of 10 years due to outsourcing to India.

Since then I have been working two jobs to make ends meet. For a network to think this is funny at all makes me want to puke. I will never watch this show and will boycott NBC,” an American wrote on the NBC website.

Director Ken Kwapis has defended Outsourced, saying it will connect with audiences: “This is really a show about America as seen outside of America. It is unique and, at the same time, relatable. Unique, because how often do you get to see a comedy set in another country? And relatable because we all have had the experience

of talking with a call centre worker.

It’s an important aspect of our lives, but we don’t see what is on the other side of the phone.” Indian-American writer-director Ajay Sahgal’s comedy Nirvana is an ensemble comedy about two grown-up sons, their Indian parents and their friends, including one of the son’s Caucasian girlfriends. “It’s

about how their lives intersect in often polarising ways and about the clash of the old Indian values and the new American values,” Sahgal who is is married to Lie to Me co-star Kelli Williams, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The show is based loosely on his experiences. “Outsourced” premiered last Thursday night.

NBC has billed the series as “the Midwest meets the exotic East in a hilarious culture clash.

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Nursing Profession: The Most Noble, Priceless and Secure Job in the Country

By Dr. Nik Nikam, M.D. I spent the last three years, working toward my Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA), at the Texas Woman’s University, in addition to having already spent more than a quarter century in cardiology and medicine.

During my portfolio presentation when Dr. Mosley, The director of the MHA program at Texas Woman’s’ University (TWU), asked me how I was going to use my new training and skills, it just came from the heart, “I would like to see the number of nursing students double in this country in the next five years.” It was strange; I had not planned or rehearsed that statement.

The single most important economic issue that is gripping this nation and the rest of the world, is the creation of new jobs. It is ironic, that we have a national unemployment rate that has exceeded 10%, while at the same time we have a 13% vacancy in nursing jobs. This shortage could climb to 20% by the end of 2010.

It is inconceivable how we have overlooked such a golden opportunity to retrain our existing labor force that has no future in the field of their lost careers. If you are a software engineer, you could take a few more

tional year of training. It is important to enquire whether the program has both the ADN and BSN, so you can complete your training at one place.

This is also important, as some of the credits may not be transferrable from one institution to another. That means you may have to repeat some of the courses.

I was talking to Tara, an RN, a new nurse who had graduated from UTMB. She told me that she had already completed a 4-year bachelor’s degree before she decided to go into nursing. She could transfer a lot of her credits from the bachelor’s course and she was able to enter an accelerclasses and work as an information technology officer at a hospital.

The nursing salaries are excellent, the benefits are great, and the job has the best security.

As a nurse, there are numerous ways you can use your talents. You can work in a medical office, Ambulatory Surgery Center, ER, or work as a flight nurse, nurse manager, director, educator, traveling nurse, anesthetist, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or as a surgical assistant.

What prerequisites do you need to join a nursing school?

You will be amazed to know that

Community Joins IAC to Celebrate 20 Years of Serving the Community at its Annual Benefit Gala CHICAGO, IL: On September 19, at The Oak Brook Marriott Hotel, 400 Indo-American Center (IAC) supporters gathered to celebrate IAC’s 20th anniversary. The space expansion decision for IAC’s needs was discussed.

IAC has transformed and grown exponentially to serve the needs of the community. There are 8 developed programs: Citizenship and Immigration Assistance, Public Benefits Assistance, an Adult Literacy Program, a Youth Development Program, Civics and American History courses, Computer classes, a Seniors’ Program and the Cyriac D. Kappil Legal Clinic.

In her address to the audience, former IAC President of 2000, Lakshmi Menon, said IAC has always “stayed true to the vision of its founders.” Attendees responded generously to the opportunities to support the IAC: silent auctions along with the dollar for dollar Matching Program for a maximum of $50,000.

About $135,000 was raised at the event. Speaking to the theme of the evening, “Connecting the Community,” IAC Executive Director, Jay Luthra, said, “We are so pleased to have hosted a very successful event, especially in light of the economy and thanked the community’s resolve to give regardless of the circumstances.”

Keynote speaker, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Cisco Systems, Inc., Ms. Padmasree Warrior, explained the personal and cultural struggle of assimilating into advancing communities, while maintaining a sense of cultural identity.

if you have completed a high school education, and achieved more than 19 point on your ACT score, you are eligible to enroll in a nursing program at the Wharton Junior College, in an associates nursing program!

Some nursing schools may require a pre-admission test called the National League for Nursing (NLN) pre-admission Exam.

The entry level nursing programs are divided into Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN). Once you complete the training, you can sit for the RN examination.

After graduation, you must complete the NCLEX-RN® or NCLEXPN® license examination to become a licensed nurse. For more information about nurse licensure and public protection, consult the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (www.nscbn.org).

The associate’s degree requires 24 months of training and may cost $15,000 in a community college. The Bachelor’s degree requires an addi-

ated program that took her 12 months to complete. This is a real option for all those who have had a career after their college and can’t find a job.

Imagine, by spending 12 months and perhaps $10,000 to $12,000, you could have a guaranteed job for life.

In doing so, you have added one more job to this country’s economy. It is a WIN-WIN situation.

Bob, who was pursuing nursing as a second career, after not being able to find a job in his primary specialty, pointed out several pertinent facts which are worth considering. As an experienced person, you bring a lot of outside talent to the nursing profession, even before you begin your first class. You bring the real-life experience of dealing in the business world, which adds to reality to the situation.

You bring talent, knowledge, wisdom and a more matured outlook to the profession. You are more likely to be committed to the program, as your livelihood depends on it and you are excited about the fact that in 12 months you will be embarking on a

job that can serve you a lifetime.

Don’t let your talents go to waste, and don’t wait for the job market to turn around for you. Why not complete an application online, and start attending classes--NOW! You may be entitled to a loan or a scholarship depending on your background and you may not have to spend a dime for your nursing education.

Once you complete your basic RN degree, you have many post-graduate opportunities to complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or a PhD in nursing.

How do I get started?

Visit a local university or a community college and get all the information you can gather. Talk to a freshman graduate who has completed a year of training, to get more important current academic information. Have a dialog with an experienced nurse to get some views on long-term plans.

Whatever you decide, first get started!

After you enter the college campus, you can gather a wealth of more practical information. Later, you can make more meaningful decisions.

Future Between now and 2020, we will have to train 600,000 new nurses to meet the demands. This can only be accomplished if rural area hospitals, the state & federal governments, and local nursing schools create a national scholarship to encourage high school students to pursue a career in nursing education and for re-training the disheartened labor force, so they could provide the best quality healthcare to fellow human beings.

If you realize that your $15,000 donation could create a new job that can last a life-time for an individual and for this country, your contribution could be infinitely more valuable, noble, and worthy of your good will.

If you are a hospital or an institution, who would like to sponsor a nursing student, who in turn can commit to provide services at your facility for a stipulated period of time, after the completion of the training, you may be interested in this project.

If you would like to learn more about this project and would like to contribute, time, knowledge, donations, and resources, please contact Dr. Nikam at nikam@windsream.net

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