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Indo American News • Friday, October 22 , 2010

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Friday, October 22 2010 | Vol. 29, No. 43

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n to s u o H ip h r e d a e l meets India House !

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A Full stomach makes for a smiling, receptive student

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: A new charity that will add to the others with Houston chapters – like Pratham, Ekal Vidalaya and Save a Mother - that serve needs in India launched its inaugural fund raising efforts at a gala held at the Westin Oaks Hotel last Sunday evening, October 17 and attended by about 500 people.

The gala was organized in large part by the dedicated and untiring efforts of the head of Akshaya Patra’s Houston Chapter, retired gastroenterologist and community supporter, Dr. K. T. Shah, who has put together a team of volunteers with the same fervor as his own in an incredibly short period of time.

In opening up the gala, Shah recalled how in 1997, he tried to find some projects to do in India to serve the mass of poor human-

ity there, first offering free endoscopies, but soon realized that this didn’t solve many problems for many, that the real problem was poverty and the solution was education. When he and his wife, Vasant then visited a school, they noticed rampant malnutrition and understood that a hungry child could not focus on studies.

“Then I saw an article by Talveen Singh in Indo-American News,” Shah said, “about a group called Akshaya Patra in Bangalore which was feeding 1,500 hungry kids in rural schools and this opened my eyes.” Shah visited some of these schools and ate with the kids and saw the smiles that the meal brought to the faces and knew that this was to be his Life’s mission from then on.

Shah quit his medical practice

of 27 years in 2004 and jumped headlong into helping AP. He met with C.C. Dasa and M. P. Dasa, the two swamis who took over the program in 2000 and admired their abilities. “These swamis are both trained engineers and don’t go around citing the scriptures or doing pujas,” Shah quipped, “but use their knowledge of technology and management to expand the reach of AP.” Now AP has expanded to serving 1.2 million meals a day from 20 kitchens and 18 different cities, employing hygienic, mechanized supply chain management that allow each kitchen to produce 40,000 chappatis an hour and serve hot meals from insulated trucks that go to each school. Shah had shared his experience, and a

FEATURED INSIDE

Story on Pg 19

The organizers of the wonderful evening at the India House, from left Dr. Raj Bhalla, Treasurer; Jugal Malani, President; Surender Talwar who worked on the layout and arrangements; and Brig Agarwal, VP of Finance.

Photos: Krishna Giri

reinventing Himself Pervez Musharraf Seeks Support from Pakistani American Community

continued on page 3

Chairman of Infosys, Narayana Murthy (center) was the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the Akshaya Patra gala this past Sunday, October 17. With him are AP USA Foundation Chairman Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande and President & CEO, Madhu Sridhar.

Photos: Paresh Shah

Five Days of Celebration at Durga Bari Draws Thousands

ge 14

Full story on pa

Sewa International Intervenes to Teach the Ropes of American Life Story on Pg 20

By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: His inherent faith unmistakable, former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf began his speech with a benediction to Allah. Then, dapper in a dark suit instead of his trademark general’s regalia, he announced the formation of his new political party, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), and delineated his strategy for a triumphant re-emergence in that country in time for the 2013 elections. Talking to a diverse audience at a luncheon hosted by the Asia Society at the Omni Hotel on October 19, the former military leader who is in the city this week to woo the support of the largely affluent local Pakistani American community, said that Pakistan did not lack resources or potential to stand on its own feet; rather, he said that it was consistent failure in leadership that had brought that country down.

“We need thought and action to unify bureaucracy, the military, and the people,” said Musharraf, who came into power in a nonviolent military coup in 1999 and

led Pakistan for eight years until he resigned under impeachment pressure in 2008. “When I come in with a mandate for the people, I can have the legitimacy that I did not previously have. Because I wore a uniform, the world saw me as a dictator, which I was not,” he added. He said that he was cognizant of the rocky uphill struggle to victory, if any, but hoped to win the trust of the people, particularly the youth of Pakistan who are mired in “despondency and hopelessness, and yearn for change”. And that change would be democracy, he added.

This week, Musharraf met with the community at private and public gatherings peppered all over this city. His itinerary also included visits with former US president George H. W. Bush, and local socialite, political activist, and former honorary consul general to Pakistan and Morocco, Joanne Herring, whose support he hoped to garner. Aside from financial backing for his campaign, he reiterated that the influential Paki-

continued on page 5

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A Full stomach makes for a smiling, receptive student continued from page 1

10-minute video that was shown later in the gala, with many influential Houstonians at a dinner held at the VPSS in July and a precursor to this gala, at which he promised to bring the Chairman of Infosys, Narayana Murthy.

And after many months of calling sponsors and donors, organizing and cajoling, Shah was ready to deliver. Murthy, who has been compared to Bill Gates as he heads up India’s largest software consulting company, has been a longtime supporter of AP and flew in from Bangalore especially for the two galas held this past weekend: first the one in Dallas on Saturday and then this one in Houston, before heading onto the AP USA offices in Boston. He started Infosys in 1981 with $250 and now the company has offices in 33 cities worldwide, with 115,000 employees and $6 billion in assets.

Infosys is an especially employeefriendly company and is most admired for many social causes and humanitarian initiatives that it has supported.

So, it was no surprise that there was such a keen interest in attending the gala and hearing from a legend in the business and technology world. Along with him came Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande who “is a serial entrepreneur,” said the emcee for the gala, Ashok Rao as he introduced the duo to the stage that they shared through the eve-

ning. Deshpande, who has headed several large high-tech companies in the US , is Murthy’s brother-inlaw and is also the Chairman of the Akshaya Patra Foundation USA . The Foundation’s President & CEO, Madhu Sridhar also came to the Houston gala.

The evening really belonged to Murthy, who spoke about a multitude of items, all of which narrowed down to the support of AP’s work.

He acknowledged that Non-resident Indians had supported India and still had tremendous concern and caring for their Motherland and were proud of developments there. He then enumerated India ’s GDP and tremendous foreign exchange reserves now, as compared to the precarious levels of just 20 years ago. But he also talked about the problems in tackling poverty, illiteracy, sanitation and hygiene, despite the progress. “Compassionate capitalism is the only way forward,” Murthy said.

“You really don’t know what real hunger can do to people,” Murthy said, alluding to the ability to concentrate on an empty stomach and then recalled an anecdote from his youth when he hitchhiking and was forced to stay hungry for several days in eastern Europe and was eventually detained by the authorities and sent off to Turkey . “Hungry people will abhor the system, the country,” he exclaimed, “so it is important that no child goes hungry.”

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This set the stage for a variety of questions posed to the two guests of honor. One dealt with the inability of India to deal with the population explosion, which Murthy said was actually contained to less than replacement ratios, at least in the South. When responding to another question why NRIs should support the AP program when in fact India had budget surpluses and a growing wealthy class, Murthy chided that it was the NRIs moral obligation, since India had nurtured and educated the NRIs in their youth.

The AP runs on a $40 million annual budget, $25m of which comes from local and state governments and $15 from individual donors. The US Foundation has set a goal of raising $2.5m in the US , and when asked why Indian corporations did not do more to support charitable works, Deshpande responded that there was still no culture of giving in India , that it had to be inculcated.

After the Q&A session, the gala opened up for pledges, with many going to support the opportunities listed on a flyer: $20,650 for a small truck, $4,050 for a rice cauldron, $44,000 for a roti machine, from $4,200 to $12,600 to sponsor a school. Within 30 minutes, the enthusiastic crowd was able to raise over $200,000 with two corporations pledging $40,000 each.

Murthy and Deshpande threw in $125,000 apiece and after ac-

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Dr. K. T. Shah, President of Akshaya Patra’s Houston Chapter addresses the guests at the Gala last Sunday, October 17.

counting for the pre-gala pledges, over $650,000 was collected for the AP Houston Chapter, although final tallies are still to be made, according to Shah who left the next day for an out-of-town medical conference.

The gala had mass appeal and was short on the pomp and celebratory entertainment that are common to large fundraisers. The food, which was catered by Mumbai Spice, was simple, and for some reason, the meager portions served were less than copious. And the absence of a cash bar limited the offerings to soft drinks and jal jeera from a punch bowl. Still, for a Sunday evening affair, the turnout spoke as much to the draw of Murthy as it did to the persistence of Dr. Shah and his zeal to bring a

smile on the faces of school kids.

“Visit a school, share a meal, talk to the children,” his gala souvenir brochure encouraged. “You will not need any more convincing about this organization.”

Akshaya Patra can be reached through www.akshayapatrausa. org or by calling Dr. K.T. Shah at 281-772-4139.

Indo-American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly on every Friday (for a subscription price of $30 per year) by Indo-American News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036, Tel: 713-789-6397, Fax: 713-789-6399, Email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com.

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Reinventing Himself – Pervez Musharraf Seeks Support from Pakistani American Community continued from page

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stani community in the diaspora is a valuable resource in helping to get him back in office. He has been visiting many cities within the US and Canada that boast large Pakistani communities.

Yet Pakistan, reeling in the throes of crippling poverty, flood relief, an internal war against extremists, ineffective governance, and a host of other significant problems, may very well be a minefield to Musharraf who had already his shot at governance and failed. His reentering public office in that embattled country seem at the very least, remote, as he has lost credibility and will have a challenge on hand convincing the people that he has the solutions to put the country back on track, observers say.

During his presidency, through the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance he granted amnesty to politicians and bureaucrats accused of corruption and other crimes, another black mark against him. And adding to his woes are criminal cases initiated against him in Pakistani courts and the possibility of assassination if he returns to the country of his birth. Much of his jockeying to be in the running will have to be done

At the Asia Society luncheon lecture event are from left, Indian Consul General Sanjiv Arora, Chhaya Arora, Sehba Musharraf and Pervez Musharraf Photo: Jamil Siddiqui

long distance and by proxy.

But the man whose favorite pastime is singing qawwali and composing Urdu poetry, is optimistic about reinventing himself for the betterment of Pakistan. Musharraf deems himself a “man of war but a man for peace” and sees his role as a crusader eradicating illiteracy and poverty. He wants to invest in the youth by providing them with vocational skills. He will work to-

ward increasing export, fostering a stable socio-economic climate and controlling the fiscal deficit, he said.

Addressing the thorny issue of Afghanistan and the Taliban, Musharraf said that after 9/11, Pakistan was criticized for not doing enough in the war against terrorism.

“The misconception is that Pakistan is the problem. They may be

coming into Pakistan, they have sanctuaries in Pakistan, but most are in Afghanistan,” he said. “Negative handling of Afghanistan began long before, in 1979 when the Soviets invaded and the world ignored the plight of 4 million refugees in that region. Now we cannot afford to quit before bringing a legitimate stable government to Afghanistan, or it will cost the world heavily,” he said.

In India, extremism among Muslim youth is on the rise and developing excessively, observed Musharraf.

“We need to adopt a holistic approach and neutralize the situation without breaking links with Indian Muslims,” he added.

India and Pakistan have been on a confrontation course for 60 years and extremists and terrorists are fueling dissent because they do not want peace between the two countries, he said.

“Punishing Pakistan with counter attacks are irresponsible and war will be inevitable. We must stop the hysteria and leaders on both sides must continue with cogent dialogue,” said Musharraf.

For Musharraf, politics is greater than self.

“For those that love Pakistan, we cannot let go because we will become international orphans and lose our identity. Only progress and development will ensure the wellbeing of my people of Pakistan,” he said.

When asked about Musharraf’s chances at the polls, well-known local businessman Ghulam Bombaywala smiled and said: “You never know. It’s too early to predict.”

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2010 Festival of l lights for Indian community ommunity comes with ram r leela l

By Usha Mehra HOUSTON: The Hindu community of Houston gathers talent, resources and technology to present a three hour performance of Ram Leela, with more than 100 performers at the Cullen Performance Hall at the University of Houston on October 23, 2010. This event marks the precipitation of a vision for many first generation Hindu immigrants, particularly those from Northern India, who A Folk Opera performance about the life of the God, lived their childhood watch- King Ram, incarnation of Vishnu, and the epic story of ing Ram Leela year after his return from exile and victory over evil. year, performed in their local neighborhoods as well as at their respec- experience and revitalization of moral stantive city grand performance grounds. Ram dards that Ram’s life demonstrates. Ram is Leela is primarily an outdoor event, begin- recognized as Vishnu, God personified to ning in mid October, where local parks are exemplify and set models for obedience, prepared with huge canopies, elevated stag- diligence, compassion, love and care in rees, far-reaching audio systems and vendors lationships with teachers, parents, siblings, with food, toys and tricks --- a grand fair spouse, friends and subjects. It is regarded of sorts filled with family entertainment and as a great privilege to be capable of seeing education. The events last for ten days, with Ram Leela every year – similar to how a late evening performances and fanfare. This pilgrimage fulfills spiritual desire for great year Houston’s Ram Leela event starts as a masses of people – and has become a living single indoor event with visions of outdoor tradition.

Ram Leela was recognized as a UNESCO performances in later years.Special stage effects of outdoor performances are being cultural festival in the year 2005 and is perplanned for the October 23rd event , using formed in many countries, such as South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Canada, Guyana, local area licensed pyrotechnicians.

During Ram Leela, the epic happenings Trinidad and Tobago, England, Australia of Ramayana are enacted in the form of a and Thailand. In the United State, it is perplay and folk opera, with hundreds of thou- formed in Virginia, New York, New Jersey sands of spectators gathered to take in the and now in Houston, Texas.

Tagore s society Presents Another o outstanding Bengali Film

HOUSTON: Reinventing the Satyajit Ray classic Paraspathar (Touchstone), by highlighting the spirit of the common man, young director Gaurav Pandey is keyed up for ascertaining the success of Shukno Lanka, the first Bengali film to be premiered for three successive days in three metros.

“While in the Ray classic, veteran Bengali actor Tulsi Chakraborty was the common man in pursuit of the elusive ‘paraspathar’ (touchstone), I have contemporized the theme, but the spirit remains the same.

I would rather call it my tribute to Ray,” Pandey told PTI at the film’s premiere in Kolkata.

“I am very inspired by the people who stay in the background and make a difference to out lives. For example, this pavement is cleaned everyday by somebody whom we dont know but we need him nevertheless,” says Gaurav Pandey , the director.

Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, who plays the protagonist in Bengali movie ‘Shukno Lanka’, says the film is about the dream of a common man, a nobody whose presence is hardly acknowledged. “’Shukno Lanka’ is about the dream of a common man, its not about me. The life of a common man is just like dry red chillies which do not have a taste of their own but are used to add flavour to the dish being prepared,” said Mithun.

The film also has Australian actress Emma Brown Garett playing an actress-turned-producer who comes to India from Germany to produce the film.

This is Brown’s first Bengali film and she says the experience was exciting despite not understanding the language at all.

The film will be screened in Houston on Sunday, October 31 at 3 pm at Fun Plex Theatre.

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Shunya Theatre Announces its 2011 Season Shunya, Houston’s South Asian theatre troupe, announces its 2011 season. Shunya will present Anuvab Pal’s comedy “1-888-DIAL-INDIA,” a timely comedy about outsourcing from the Indian perspective, as well as its first children’s production, Aditi Kapil’s “The Adventures of Hanuman.”

This is Shunya’s ninth year and is a milestone for South Asian theatre in the US. As one of the most active South Asian theatre troupes in the country, Shunya has consistently presented regional and world premieres of work written by or concerning South Asians. “From it’s creation, Shunya has striven to fill a void in Houston’s otherwise rich theater scene, by producing innovative work that provides insight into the South Asian experience,” says Shunya’s founder, Soham Mehta.

The new season begins with Shunya’s February 2011 production of “Dial 1-888-INDIA,” a comic look at the outsourcing phenomenon centered on the bold and outrageous Arun Gupta, who navigates skeptical investors and naive employees on his quest to become a millionaire. His business plan? To outsource a suicide hotline. “‘1-888-DIAL-INDIA’ is a loud, brash and hilarious play that takes the modern ‘world

is flat’ pop business theories and stretches them to their ultimate farcical extreme,” says Sanjay Mediwala, Shunya’s Managing Director, “We are thrilled to be presenting such an audacious and clever play as Shunya’s twelfth full length production.”

Shunya’s second production of the season will be Aditi Kapil’s “The Adventures of Hanuman,” and will mark Shunya’s first ever children’s production. This is a musical production that will be presented with original music and choreography in Summer 2011.

In addition to their full length productions, Shunya will also be hosting a writing workshop series wherein participants will hone their writing over six months and present their work in a summer showcase.

Shunya has brought English language South Asian theatre to Houston audiences since 2003, and 2011 promises to be another exciting year. Auditions for “1-888-DIALINDIA” will take place on October 23 and October 26 from 6-8 pm at the Anjali Center for Performing Arts in Sugar Land.

More information about Shunya’s auditions, production season and writing workshop series is available at www.ShunyaTheatre.org, or by emailing info@shunyatheatre.org.

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stoRy of MahatMa Gandhi

dandi salt s satyagraha s s nation stirs

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In 1924, Gandhi fell ill. He was suffering from appendicitis and was in great pain. The government was alarmed. What would happen if Gandhi died in prison? An ur urgent operation was arranged, and Gandhi agreed. The operation was successful, but his recovery was very slow. The government thought it best to release him, so he was set free. He went to Juhu, near Bombay, for recovery. Read on: Congress leaders were thinking of participating in the Municipal and Provincial Councils which Gandhi had advised them to boycott. Gandhi was not dismayed or discouraged. He decided to leave politics for the time being and spend his time in bringing about Hindu-Muslim unity and the removal of untouchability.

So for nearly six years Gandhi had little to do with politics. But he wrote, he lectured, and he prayed.

He travelled all over India. His influence among the people was steadily growing. Gandhi had not given up the idea of nonviolent resistance to British rule. He was merely waiting for the right moment.

Jawaharlal Nehru joined Gandhi in many of his travels. Everywhere they were greeted with great enthusiasm. Nehru was the hope of the younger generation. In 1928 the Viceroy invited Gandhi to see him. He informed Gandhi of the appointment of an official British Commission, led by Sir John Simon, which would study Indian conditions and recommend political reforms.

“Will there be any Indians on the Commission?” asked Gandhi.

“No,” replied the Viceroy.

“That is absurd,” said Gandhi.

“We must boycott it.” Gandhi advised the people to boycott the Simon Commission, and when it arrived in Bombay a hartal (strike) was observed all over India. On its tour through the Indian cities the Commission was greeted with black-flag demonstrations.

The people shouted, “Simon, go back!”

At many places there were cane charges and shooting. The same year the peasants of Bardoli, in Gujarat, were agitated by the enhancement of land taxes. Gandhi studied their grievances and advised them to resort to satyagraha and not pay taxes. But they must be nonviolent, he insisted. Vallabhbhai Patel took charge of organizing the resistance.

The government tried all its usual measures to terrorize the people, but had to climb down. An enquiry into the grievances was ordered.

Vallabhbhai demanded certain concessions. Negotiations were going on when Gandhi arrived in Bardoli. Within a short period the government came to terms with the organizers and a settlement was reached.

Now political tension again

the dumb millions by a system of progressive exploitation, and by a ruinously expensive military and civil administration which the country can never afford. It has reduced us politically to serfdom. It has sapped the foundations of our culture.”

He requested the Viceroy to see him and discuss the matter with him in person.

“But if you cannot see your way to deal with these evils,” he went on, “and my letter makes no appeal to your heart, on the eleventh day of this month I shall proceed, with such co-workers of the ashram as I can take, to disregard the provisions of the salt laws. “It is, I know, open to you to frustrate my design by arresting me. I hope there will be tens of thousands ready, in a disciplined manner, to take up the work after me.”

Lord Irwin did not answer Gandhi but sent a message through his secretary expressing regret that Gandhi had chosen a course which involved breaking the law of the land and which would be a danger to public peace.

The whole of India was agitated over Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha. On March 12, at 6.30 in the morning, thousands of people watched as Gandhi started from his ashrama with 78 volunteers on a march to Dandi, a village on the sea coast 241 miles away.

There, it was announced, the salt law would be broken. Gandhi led the march through village after village, stopping at each place to talk to the peasants and advise them on the necessity of social reforms.

For twenty-four days the eyes of India and the world followed Gandhi as he marched towards the sea. The government did not take the risk of arresting Gandhi. With each passing day the campaign grew. Hundreds and thousands of people joined the procession.

Men, women, and children lined the route, offering flowers and shouting slogans for the victory of the march.

Newspaper reporters from every corner of the world were there to report the progress of Gandhi’s march. The salt march ended on April 5 at Dandi village. Gandhi and his selected followers went to the sea shore and broke the salt law by picking up salt left on the shore by the sea.

Gandhi then gave a signal to all Indians to break the salt law and prepare to resist the police action in a nonviolent manner.

— To be Continued

gained momentum. People everywhere were preparing for a mass struggle.

The Viceroy called a meeting of the Indian leaders. He made the announcement that India would get dominion status, similar to that of Canada. Gandhi wanted an immediate plan for the framing of the Constitution. “Gentlemen,” the Viceroy said, “I have no power to promise such things.”

Everybody then realized that England was still marking time and was not really willing to part with power. A new determination to force the government to act filled the minds of the people.

Jawaharlal Nehru was elected President of the Congress at the instance of Gandhi. A Congress session was held in Lahore on December 31, 1929. A resolution announcing that full independence was India’s goal was passed at this session of the Congress. Disappointed at her failure to get dominion status, India now demanded full independence.

The whole country was excited.

Everybody was waiting for the lead from Gandhi. After two months of suspense, a Salt Satyagraha was announced by Gandhi.

This would be the beginning of a civil disobedience campaign in which laws made by the State would be broken. Civil disobedience would begin by breaking the salt law. “Salt suddenly became a mysterious word, a word of power,” Nehru said.

The government had put an excise tax on salt which brought an enormous amount of money to the treasury . Moreover, the government had the monopoly of manufacturing salt.

The salt tax was to be attacked and the salt laws were to be broken. The very simplicity of Gandhi’s choice made the issue more dramatic.

On March 2, 1930, WrIterS ...

Gandhi wrote a long letter to the new Vice- take NOtICe roy, Lord Irwin, about the deplorable condiWriters are requested to limit their words to 500 The deadline for advertising and articles tion of India under is 5 pm on Tuesday of each week. For more British rule. information, Call 713-789-6397 or email us at: “British rule,” he indoamericannews@yahoo.com said, has impoverished

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Indo American News • Friday, October 22 , 2010

c culmination of navarathri Festival with Vidyarambham at s sri Guruvayurappan Temple

By Chittoor raMaChandran HOUSTON: The much celebrated nine nights of Swathi Thirunal Navaratri Music Festival dedicated to Mother Goddess concluded on October 16. The nine compositions of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal specifically composed to sing each day during the festival were the focus on each concert presented. According to the traditions, Durgashtami (8th day of Navarathri) was the night in which many devotees brought in their books and tools for Saraswathi pooja. They were placed in front of Bhagavathy for pooja on the next day. On the 10th day (vijaya Dashami day) at sunrise, the books and the tools were taken out by the priest after the final pooja.

There was a surge of devotees and families with young children to Sri Guruvayurappan Temple at dawn on vijayadashami day. As a tradition, vijayadashami is auspicious for vidyaarambham (initiation of learning), Goddess Saraswathi, being the presiding deity for this ritual.

The ritual of vidyarambham is very graceful and symbolically very appropriate. Children above three years of age are eligible for vidyaarambham. The child is seated in the lap of the parent or the Acharya in front of a lighted oil lamp (representing Agni). Following the initial manthras, Acharya writes the auspicious manthra ‘ Hari-Sri-Ganapathaye namh: avighnamasthu’ on the tonge of the child with a gold ring..( It is also a practice to write a sarasawathi manthra in milk with a gold ring and let the child drink the milk). This mantra is a prayer to

the Lord Sri Vishnu, Sri Lakshmi and Sri Ganesha for protecting the child from any confrontation with obstacles in his(her) life. The use of gold in writing also represents the wish that, as the child grows, whatever he(she) speaks shall be as precious as gold. As the Acharya continues the ritual, he holds the child’s finger and make him (her) write a prayer on uncooked

the temple was a blessing, especially on the day of aksharabhyasam.

Swami Amitananda and other senior members of the temple served as Acharya to help many children initiate their learning. This tradition is called Ezhuthinu vekkal. (a malayalam word equivalent to Aksharabhyasam).

The practice of considering vijayadashami as a day of new beginning is an age old tradition. The power of Mother Goddess winning over the adharmic actions of evil forces to preserve righteousness is the message of vijayadashami.

At Guruvayurappan temple on vijayadashami day, both young and adult (previously initiated) sat in front of the Goddess and wrote “Hari Sri Ganapathaye namah” on sand Vishnu Hari being initiated by Chittoor Raspread on a plate. This is machandran while Gowri is waiting for her turn the annual solemn plead to Goddess Saraswathi for rice spread on a plate. Rice ( dhHer continued blessings throughanyam) is the symbol of prosperity and Hari’s ( Vishnu) blessings to out the year for the intellect at the the living being. Symbolically this start of any venture.

Goddess Saraswathi, being step in vidyaarambham is a wish Vidya pradayini, people especially that this child should earn prosperity (Sree) through knowledge students exhibit their talents on (jnanam), and dhanyam through Vijaya dashami. Many children effort (kriya shakthi). A quality who are students of music and in a gentleman everyone respects dance performed briefly in front is ‘ He Speaks what he thinks and of Bhagavathy as an expression of does what he speaks ‘. Rituals in their devotion. A spectacular muvidyarambham is parents’ wish sic concert by prominent musicians just for that quality as the child as entertained the audience. This was followed by a grand feast.. he grows up.

With noble will power, thoughts, The distinguished guest of the events at Sri Guruvayurappan and actions, let us pray to move Temple was Swami Amitananda, a forward in our journey and lead vedic scholar from India who was the young generation to the future on a visit to the US .His presence at for attaining a prosperous life.

Hundreds w witness the Ground Breaking c ceremony of s sri Guruvayurappan Temple

By Chittoor raMaChandran HOUSTON: Enthusiasm, devotion, hope, excitement and gratitude conquered the minds of hundreds of devotees as they witnessed the ground breaking ceremony of the main temple for Sri Guruvayurappan temple on October 17, the day of Vijaya dashami according to Hindu calendar.

Tears of joy flowed on the faces of ardent devotees as they

were crossing a major milestone in the history. An elaborate Saraswathi pooja preceded the three days at the temple according to the tradition by the priests Sri Unnikrishnan Nambuthiri and Sri Narayanan Nambuthiri. The magic manthram of Narayana dominated the scene, as the crowd of nearly two hundred families waited for their turn to tilt the soil with the tools brought in after Ayudha pooja. The triumphant shankha naa-

dam represented the presence of the Lord. It was a moment of ecstasy. As a prelude to the ground breaking ceremony, the temple hosted Swathi Thirunal Navarathri Music festival that featured more than 50 carnatic musicians in 10 sessions of concerts. The spectacular event concluded with the recital of Ramayanam , a ragamalika composed by Sri Swathi Thirunal. For more information, visit www.guruvayur.us.

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From Houston to Hollywood: outsourced with Guru singh

By taMara levine HOUSTON: “Outsourced” is NBC’s new comedy about a man from the Midwest who gets sent to India to run a call center. The talented cast includes two Houston actors, Ben Rappaport and thirtyyear-old Guru Singh, who plays the role of the enigmatic character, Ajeet.

Born in Spring Branch, Texas, Guru was raised by loving grandparents in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India, while his parents focused on their careers in the states. At six years of age he returned to Houston, ready to begin kindergarten. Punjabi is his first language and because of his rich childhood experiences, he is a man firmly rooted in both cultures.

Guru fell in love with performing at an early age. A singer and musician, Guru played brass instruments in junior high band as well as in the Klein Forest High School Orchestra. But Guru didn’t choose acting; acting chose him.

The Houston native credits his first acting break to the close proximity of the band and theatre classrooms in the Fine Arts wing at Klein. After hearing from a theatre friend that the teacher wanted to see him about a part in a show, Guru auditioned and landed a supporting role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. “It was for the part of Chief, a six foot huge Indian. Go figure that he picked me.

I think he typecast me.”

Photo: Harper Smith/NBC

Playing the role of Chief made a lasting impression and Guru’s experiences at Klein Forest ultimately inspired him to pursue a career in entertainment. “The Texas education system is awesome for Fine Arts, encouragement, availability and access for students.”

However, life wasn’t all play. At his mother’s insistence, Guru balanced part-time computer-related work with his passion for the stage during high school.

These strong values not only instilled discipline, they also helped pave the road to success.

Following high school, Guru enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied acting. Eventually he transferred to the University of Houston, where he earned a B.B.A. in Theatre and Management Information Systems. Along the way, his family provided endless support and encouragement, especially his mother. “As long as I was getting good grades […] as long as I did a business major also, she was happy.”

Never one to rest on his laurels, Guru also tried on the role of director prior to graduation. “After we came back from the University of Texas Austin, my good friend Solham Mehta pioneered an Indian acting company called Shunya.”

The duo self-produced two pieces written by Solham then progressed to other works such as The Indian

Wants the Bronx by Israel Horovitz, which Guru directed at Diverse Works in 2004.

Not everything came easy, though. Throughout college, there were countless times where solid auditions reaped no rewards. Yet true to style, Guru didn’t let the experiences deter him. If anything, the rejection helped prepare him.

When Guru moved to Los Angeles, he knew he wouldn’t get cast in every show he wanted, but he was determined nonetheless.

One of the secrets to his success has been a great attitude. “I did not worry about it at all.” Secure with the knowledge that acting would always be there, Guru ran his computer business during the day and attended acting workshops at night to continue developing his craft. “I never really had a point in my life where I was like all-or-nothing. I’ve never been an all-or-nothing kind of guy.”

While many actors spend years auditioning with little or no results, Guru landed the role of Ajeet within his first year of going on regular auditions. “I was called because they [the casting director] put out an APB on a Sikh male.”

Regarding the hard lessons he’s learned during his acting career, Guru admits there haven’t been too many. “It is arduous in the way that it is so selective as far as your look is concerned. I wouldn’t have this gig if I didn’t have this turban on my head, plain and

simple.” In addition, he has yet to enjoy a steady stream of acting work. Nevertheless, he deals with these challenges by nurturing his art. He’s always working on some aspect of the business, whether it’s reading plays, taking classes or producing web series.

For Guru, the best part about playing Ajeet on Outsourced lies in the possibilities. “It’s a blank slate. I get to decide what actions I do. It’s great. It’s like I’m in improv class again except I can do whatever I want. It’s the best job ever.”

Beside its entertainment value and being the best job ever, Guru thinks Outsourced might break some barriers too. At the end of the day, it’s a progressive show that transcends superficial oneliners about the food or the smell.

It’s about the characters and their relationships, things we can all relate too.

As far as encouraging words for other aspiring actors, Guru of offers this advice: Stay busy. “The only way you’ll get booked for anything is if you book yourself, whether it’s a play or for a show you’re writing or producing yourself.”

Now that Outsourced’s run has been extended into a full season, there will be many opportunities to enjoy Guru Singh’s work. Be sure to check out his performance of Ajeet every Thursday night this fall at 8:30 on NBC.

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What an Evening! And India House Shines Radiantly!!

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: It is not very often that the parking lot of India House, the community's unofficial homeaway-from-home, is filled to capacity and then some, spilling over to the grassy lawn.

But then, the evening of Tuesday, October 19 was an indeed a very special occasion as India House played host to Leadership Houston's 2010 class and alumni in its Passport to Progress series that visited the culture, business protocol and cuisine of four countries: Turkey, Australia, Mexico and now India.

LH has been holding classes for 50 individuals every year since 1980 to experience an intensive education in "Who's Who and What's What" in Houston. When approached by LH's executive committee, the Executive Board of India House quickly realized that it would be an ideal venue to showcase the facility as well as India.

"India has so much to offer," said IH President Jugal Malani, recalling that meeting. "The hospitality, culture, the colors and rich traditions, the food." So he spun into action and along with IH's VP of Finance, Brig Agarwal, both agreed to personally underwrite the entire event. Smaller contributions were made by Sita World Travels and Leadership Houston.

The handwork then began as another Board member and Treasurer, the affable Dr. Raj Bhalla and local entrepreneur Surender Talwar, who has been in the Indian antiques and event promotions businesses, swung into action and the four developed a game plan that took 2 months to materialize into a well-executed, colorful event, which is exactly what they had envisioned.

The event was attended by over 250 people and started at 5pm with sitar music played during the reception by Srinivas Koumounduri and followed by a video presentation of the tourist destinations of India by Sita Travels' Ravin Mehra and Deepi Metha of Travel Leaders, professionals in the travel industry for many years.

To get to the back hall to see the video, the guests had to step along a red-carpeted archway, past a red rickshaw (which we all know be-

longs to Sunil Thacker of Masala Radio) on a pedestal, get a tilak on their forehead, walk around a rangoli map of India (created by Sangeeta Bhutada) and get their nametags next to a gigantic black enameled Natraj. On the other side of the main lobby, Talwar had created a museum setting of beautiful artifacts and antique pieces, with explanations of each.

After the reception and presentation, the guests were escorted for drinks that included wine and Indian beer, to the main hall where round tables were covered in scarlet stain tablecloths and green satin covered chairs for the other presentations, and later dinner.

The serving line was broken into four Rajasthani-print-covered islands with tandoors, fryers and tavas for cooking breads and other items. The food was catered by Kiran's Restaurant and Madras Pavillion Sugar Land, with both Kiran and Rajan present to supervise the North, South, Goan and Bengali dishes that were served.

The whole area was encased in a white tent, set up right against the back exit doors of the hall, with wool rugs on the floor.

Inside, the proceeding turned to a panel discussion about Indian businesses in Houston, with Jagdip Ahluwalia, Executive Director of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce who, true to his words, is a man of few words but presented a 10-minute video on the Chamber, which highlighted several Indian businesses in the Metroplex.

He was followed by Indian Consul General Sanjiv Arora who spoke at great length of the Indian economy, growth rates and elaborated on other detailed facts of the business climate in India.

Latha Ramchand, an Associate Dean at the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston guided the discussions on the business climate and opportunities in India.

Other panelists included Ashok Rao, President of TiE Houston and an entrepreneur in the hightech industry and also an earnest film maker and spoke about both fields.

Rounding it out was Ramesh Gupta, President of Unique Indus-

trial Products speaking of his experience in importing from India and China and the pitfalls to watch out for.

The whole evening was emceed

by Sanjay Ram, who is in the current Leadership Houston class and welcomed the guests for the second half of the evening.

Richard Huebner, Executive Director of the Houston Minority Business Council spoke about the number of times he had visited India House, "but I have never seen it like this, so elegant," he said.

"This outpouring of hospitality is indeed a show of respect for us."

To close off the evening, the guests were treated to entertainment in the form of Bhangra dances by a troupe of students, some who had come all the way from Austin. Heads could be seen bopping and some could barely contain themselves in their seats as the evening succumbed to the aromas of from the dining tent and slid into dinner.

Concluding the event was raffle draw of two tickets to India from Continental Airlines, and as the guests left, they received a party favor bag containing a book on Indian furnishings and could pick up some Indian snacks from boxes lined up outside.

An exhausted Talwar smiled in relief, even though the dinner had to be delayed 40 minutes due to the lengthy presentations by the panel.

“It all went off pretty smoothly, he said, looking at the amount of ar-

tifacts that he would have to truck back to his warehouse. “But we managed to showcase India House, which is what this was all about!”

From top: The Executive Boards of Leadership Houston and India House pose before the dining tent; Sangeeta Bhutada with the rangoli she made in the lobby; the bhangra dholukwala warmed the crowd before the dancing started.

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Indo American News • Friday, October 22 , 2010

“Bells for Biodiversity” Ring at Houston Temple

HOUSTON: In what is believed to be a global first, bells rang at Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Houston in tune with the United Nations on September 22nd to mark crucial international talks on biodiversity. The event was facilitated by Dr. Kusum Vyas of the Living Planet Foundation of Houston.

The Temple reverberated with sounds of an assortment of bells, drums, conches and chanting of sacred hymns. Devotees of all ages took part in singing and playing the instruments. Dr. Vyas set the tone of the service, speaking on the key theme of “Bells for Biodiversity” which is a reminder that life on Earth is under threat as never before. She pointed out that ancient Hindu sages were well versed in subjects of ecology and biodiversity. which they considered important for the survival of life on earth. Mrs. Sabitree Ramnarayan recited specific verses from Ramayana that describe the rich ecology and biodiversity of “Chitrakut” forest where Lord Ram stayed at the invitation of Sage Valmiki. The service concluded with “Shanti Mantra”.

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) promoted the ringing of bells all over the world as an urgent ‘memo’ to rouse the world to take action to stop the loss of species. Dr. Vyas also facilitated bell ringing at South Asian Religion and Philosophy class at the University of North Texas.

“Changes in temperatures, global warming and changes in patterns of

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Head Priest blowing conch & ringing bell at Houston Temple Photo: Kusum Vyas

rainfall are having a powerful impact on biodiversity,” said Dr. Kusum Vyas, Founder of the Living Planet Foundation. “The ringing of bells will not only remind the world of the need to preserve our environment but it will also inspire the protection of the species that still survive.”

Vishnu Ramnarayan, President of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir said, “Having the special service for biodiversity was a historic first for our Temple. We hope to promote the message of environmental protection through our temple and would be taking part in future bell ringing services. We must do all we can to protect the environment and help stop mass species extinction and loss of biodiversity.”

For more information on the Living Planet Foundation, visit www. livingplanetfoundation.org

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Indo American News • Friday, October 22 , 2010

After the Razzle Dazzle Those who believe that notoriety is better than anonymity, will agree that the mucky run-up to perhaps the most well-publicised Commonwealth Games in in history served to market this anachronistic tribute to the erstwhile British Empire better than any public relations firm could have.

But what was expected to be a damp squib, thanks to CWG Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi and Co.’s shenanigans, is ending with a bang for Indian sports.

And it’s not just our athletes who deserve that march to the podium, but also ordinary Dilliwallahs who, rather surprisingly, stuck to the script — and their lanes — much to their own surprise. From standing up for other countries’ national anthems to bringing down the house every time India’s was played, sports fans showed a sporting solidarity rarely on display beyond the cricketing pitch before. In fact, the biggest loser in the game was the sarkari babu. Right from expecting a 16,000-capacity stadium crowd to stand in hour-long queues for water from a meagre booth or two, to withholding tickets for major events; from making a big deal about stray comments in the foreign press to swatting genuine problems of volunteers and spectators aside, the State’s lack of imagination was directly proportional to the common man’s enthusiasm for joining in the Great Indian Gold Rush.

Scandals and scams aside, sports were in the spotlight like never before, as India cheered for previously unsung heroes who found their mark and shot, wrestled, served and volleyed their way into history and record books alike. So, as the curtain comes down on the razzle dazzle, a befitting tribute to their achievements would be to deal squarely with the ugliness that has been brushed temporarily under the carpet, and deal with all that did — and could have — gone horribly wrong. Hindustan Times

Swing of the Pendulum German chancellor Angela Merkel’s strong remarks about the utter failure of multiculturalism in Germany are symptomatic of a wider, uncomfortable trend sweeping across Europe. From the UK to France, from Spain to Italy, positions about immigration and the integration of foreign-born workers into the mainstream are becoming more strident.

Contributing factors include the post-9/11 rise of Islamophobia, the surge to power of right-wing parties and a battered European economy. This in turn has cultivated an ‘us-versus-them’ mentality as manifest in several issues such as the French ban on the burqa or the Swiss ban on minarets.

For Germany, which has a significant Turkish migrant population, the political articulation of the anti-immigration sentiment was just a matter of time. However, it is shaky ground. As an ageing society, Germany depends on skilled migrant workers to fulfil its economic needs. Any policy that imposes German Christian values on immigrants is bound to create flashpoints and hurt the German economy. Multiculturalism is a boon that Europe would do well to preserve.

Having said that, multiculturalism does not mean creating cultural ghettos. The demand of certain British Muslim groups of having separate sharia courts for England’s Muslim citizens or the refusal of some to learn the local language is what strengthens the anti-immigration logic. Some degree of acceptance of the cultural ethos of the host country is inherent in a multicultural set-up. Learning the local language and submitting to the law of the land are the bare minimums expected of immigrants. It would be best to realise that multiculturalism is a far more nuanced, give-andtake concept than earlier thought one that political jingoism won’t help to unravel. Times of India

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26/11: What US Knew & Didn’t Tell

By Kuldip Nayar WASHINGTON, Oct. 16: The Mumbai leg of President Barack Obama’s visit next month, already entangled in a web of intractable issues, has been further complicated by a revelation here that three years before the November 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai, US officials knew that coconspirator David Coleman Headley was undergoing training with the Lashkare-Toiba, which plotted the attack.

In September 2005, officers of no less than New York’s joint terrorism task force investigated a tip-off from Headley’s American wife, who showed them audio cassettes and described his emails and phone conversations with those in Pakistan who want to create mayhem in India.

The new details, product of an investigation by ProPublica, an independent non-governmental organisation which “focuses exclusively on truly important stories with moral force”, suggest that the repeated warnings from the US to India of an attack on Mumbai were prompted by what they knew and did not share with New Delhi at that stage about Headley.

It is unlikely that India would have given a visa to Headley for his repeated visits to Mumbai to scout Lashkar targets if his photographs had been shared with India to be put on an immigration blacklist.

“The warnings included details such as a threat to the iconic Taj Mahal hotel, which became a target,” the investigation by ProPublica said. It raised the question “whether a different response to the tip about Headley might have averted the Mumbai attacks”.

The American media is already being deluged during the weekend by the revelations, not because any tears are being shed here for Mumbai but because several US citizens were killed in the 2008 terror attacks in the city.

The expose is being viewed by the

Obama administration to be damaging enough for their President’s coming visit. The US ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer, took the unusual step of issuing a weekend statement that “we are looking into published reports about possible information related to David Headley that goes back before the Mumbai attacks and how such information may have been handled”.

Roemer’s pre-emptive statement to control potential damage before the revelations spread in India said: “When we have determined exactly what transpired, we will be in a position to speak to the specific claims made in the... media reports.”

The ambassador recalled: “We have also provided Indian authorities with access to Headley in US custody so that the Government of India could put questions directly to him.”

What Roemer did not address at this stage was whether the Indians were ever told about the critical role played by Headley’s wife in tracing her husband’s links with Lashkar or whether any access to her was provided to Indian investigators.

The fear here is that such information may reveal that the US did not do all that it could have done to prevent the attack on Mumbai.

It has been officially acknowledged here after Headley’s arrest that he was an informant for the US drug

enforcement administration in the 1990s. It is believed that he later became a double agent.

Possibly because of fears that his intelligence connections with the US government would be exposed, Headley was not detained until almost a year after the attack on Mumbai. He was detained only after it became known to British intelligence that he was plotting similar attacks with al Qaida in Europe.

The latest Headley saga revealed by ProPublica begins on August 25, 2005, when the Lashkar conspirator’s wife demanded a divorce after learning that he had another wife and children in Pakistan.

“They argued... and she filed an assault complaint alleging that he ‘struck her several times in the face’,” according to new accounts.

“She phoned a tip line of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York, an FBI-led, multi-agency unit with hundreds of investigators. Her tip was assigned an FBI lead number under guidelines developed after the September 11 attacks.”

The New York police department confirmed that on August 31, 2005, Headley, still going by his original Pakistani name of Daood Gilani, was arrested on the wife’s complaint for alleged misdemeanour and assault, but was never prosecuted for reasons that can only be speculated on.

“Not long after the arrest, task force investigators met three times with his wife. In addition to a detailed account of his activity with Lashkar, she showed them audio cassettes and ideological material and described his emails and calls from Pakistan and to individuals whom she thought to be extremists,” the new revelations said. ProPublica was a recipient of this year’s Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. It is led by Paul Steiger, the renowned former managing editor of The Wall Street Journal, and its team includes credible top American investigative reporters. Calcutta Telegraph

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Indo American News • Friday, October 22 , 2010

Grand Navarathri Festival Culminates with a Great Religious Fervor at MTS

By Chittoor Ramachandran tar and Sri Thathachari exhibited deepam placed on Chakra drawn on PEARLAND: Vijaya dashami on their talents to make visually appeal- the floor. It is believed that this highly October 17 marked the culmination ing displays of many episodes from sophisticated tantric system for Devi of a tradition of Devi worship during Saivaite and Vaishnavaite legends. pooja has been in existence during the nine nights that preceded. The Both for young and adults, these Adi Shankara. Sri vidya upasakas nine (days of) Navarathri festival creative exhibits were educational usually use this to invoke and worat Sri Meenakshi Temple was not as each day they narrated a story in ship Mother goddess. Devotees of Sri Meenakshi Temple are appreciative only spectacular to the eyes but also praise of the goddess we adore. was a true demonstration of the mulDuring each day of navarathri, the for including Bhagavathi seva during titudes of ways Mother Goddess most auspicious nava-avarana pooja navarathri.

The premises of the temple behave been described repeatedly in of Sri Chakra was conducted. Acancient scriptures. Devimahatmyam cording to Devi upasakas, nava-av- came vibrant with classical music and Brahmandapuranam are the two arana pooja is an elaborate ritualistic in the scheduled programs. Nearly inspiring major sources of work that worship. Only those individuals initi- 70 performers of different levels have described the greatness of Shak- ated into the Sri Vidya are allowed to of accomplishment participated in thi that prompted great souls like Adi perform this pooja. It is believed that the music festival during the nine Shankara, Kalidasa, Muthuswamy this pooja is beneficial for the pros- days. They all did it with devotion Dikshithar, Shyama Shasthri etc to perity. According to the shashtras, as offering to goddess as she is deelaborate a few aspects of Her majes- Lord Shiva’s consort Devi resides at scribed to be sangeetha rasika. Nuty through their compositions. Lalitha the central point of Sri chakra which merable students of music or those who were passionate about Sahasranamam conveys the music made their offerings conceptual description of Devi in front of Sri Meenakshi in a simplified form for everyduring the festival. Some of day to use for Devi upasana. At the special renditions includSri Meenakshi Temple, where ed Kamalamba navavarna the way of worship is accordkrithis, Abhayamba krithis, ing to Agama shashtra, Lalitha Soundarya lahari (ragamasahasranamam is used very lika), Devi krithis, Lalitha frequently in aradhana. sahasranamam in ragamaAt Sri Meenakshi Temple, lika, compositions of Papanavarathri provided an exclunasham Sivan and Shyama sive occasion to express our Shastri were all noteworthy. love and respect to the GodMany local music teachdess. I attempted to dissect ers organized group preseneach aspect of the celebration tations of their students or with a curiosity to reason their Display of Bommai golu at Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland performed solo as a way origin. to express their devotion.

The spectacular display of Golu (kolu) has become an essen- has nine avaranas (layers). We are They all created a great ambiance tial feature during navarathri. Sri fortunate that our priests are qualified in the temple premises. The dancing Meenakshi temple has an impres- to conduct such poojas for the benefit schools of Houston expressed their devotion in a superb show at Kalyana sively large collection of the clay of our community. dolls of Gods and Goddesses. The Lalitha sahasranamam glorifies La- mandapam. For the students as well practice of the display of golu is litha as ‘ Ajnana dhwantha Deepika’ as for the public, navarathri days at common in many households during meaning that she is the light for end- MTS became a celebrative spot for navarathri. The most logical answer ing the darkness of ignorance. The enjoyment.

Following the grand festive nine to my enquiry on its origin was from elaborate deepa poojas like Suvasini Srimati Pattammal Krishnamoorthy, pooja is a symbolic worship to illumi- days and nights of Navarathri, the a senior visitor whom I interviewed. nate the lives of her devotees. Mother celebrations were concluded on the She said “the name Lalitha means the goddess is also described as ‘ Suvas- morning of October 17 on the Vijaya one who plays. All creation, manifes- inyarchana preetha’ , (meaning the Dashami day, the auspicious day to tation and dissolution are considered Goddess likes the worship by married invoke Goddess Saraswathi . Many to be a play of Devi. She is also de- women for the happiness in their life). young children accompanied their scribed as Bala Tripura sundari. One There was an unprecedented interest parents innocently going through the can consider these dolls are just the in Suvasini pooja this year for this rituals of vidyarambham, the initiatoys for her to play”. Perhaps navara- worship. The meticulous arrange- tion of the learning with the blessings thri provided a stage for people to be ment for this was directed by Roopa of the goddess.

To conclude, the enormous fortune creative in making dolls for display Bala who deserves credit. and thereby to please their Goddess Bhagavathi seva ( conducted on we enjoy from the presence of Sri worshipped as a young girl.

October 15) was distinct from the Meenakshi as a protector for all of us Sri Meenakshi Temple’s creative rest of the tradition as it is not based is indescribable. Let us all have the displays of dioramas were magnifi- on Agama shastras. In this tantric faith that at the time of distress we can cent. The priests Sri Manicka Bhat- style of pooja, Devi is invoked onto count on our mother to save us.

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Indo American News • Friday, October 22 , 2010

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Indo American News • Friday, October 22 , 2010

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Five Days of Celebration at Durga Bari Draws Thousands HOUSTON: The Durga Bari Temple on Schiller Road on the far Westside celebrated its 10th Annual Durga Puja over a five-day affair starting Sunday, October 10 and continuing on to the following week, ending on Sunday, October 17. The Puja was billed as something special this year and exceeded all expectations of the organizers, and created a new standard of excellence for the facility. as a record crowd of 8,000 thronged the six-acre site.

The Mahalaya program with live musicians, singers and narrators recreated a special extravaganza on Sunday, October 10, followed by Ananda Mela in which gourmet Bengali food was served. A prelude to the nostalgic Mahalaya was also played on Radio Masti.

The actual Puja started with a bang on Shasthi day (the sixth day of Navaratri) by welcoming Maa Durga to Earth. Five priests, led by Dr. Bishnupada Goswami, performed the elaborate Pujas with complete set of rituals and religious chanting and brought out a tremendous somber religious atmosphere.

On each of the following days Saptami, Ashtami and Navami - Mahasnan, Puja, Bhog, Arati and Anjali were performed. On Dashami there was the Aparajita Puja and Bishorjan. Finally, on Sunday, there was an elaborate immersion ceremony with hundreds of people dancing to the rhythmic beating of dhaak (drums) and cymbals, which were also used at every aarti.

This year’s Puja celebrations had

fantastic lighting by BrightStar bringing a Las Vegas look to the abode of Durga.

There were colorful umbrellas all over to relax under; a kid’s stage with magic shows and all sorts of games and a kid’s Muktia Mela – a kaleidoscope of kid’s talents.

At a special lounge tent, there was live music, late night parties and a place to hangout throughout the day. Music blaring from the speakers throughout the site recreated the Kolkata “pandal” atmosphere. The mouthwatering food were catered

by Gourmet India and Madras Pavilion and delicious lunches were prepared by the volunteers. There was even a fabulous shopping mall selling from sarees to jewellery to framed pictures of the Gods.

Cultural and entertainment programs were truly enjoyable. Swagatalakshmi, the famous Rabindrasangeet singer, regaled the audience on Thursday; Avra-Sumana, the duo like Manna Dey/ Sandhya, were just superb on Friday.

Saptasura, the live musical and dance extravaganza directed and performed by local artists and directors, really showcased the depth of local talent and the showed the immaculate planning, direction and coordination.

But, the cream of the whole entertainment was Answesha, a 17-year

old artist who has won lots of awards in India and sings just like a younger Shreya Ghosal. Answesha’s rocking performance mesmerized the whole crowd with songs from Golden Oldies to modern pop. The five-day gala ended with a lively fusion/classic rock show by Horizon, a local group of Indian and Western talent, who

brought out memories of college fests and bygone days.

This year’s Puja created a new bar by exemplifing what proper planning, execution and delivery can produce. It mixed high quality and the humility of service with a wide array of amenities and glitz that brought out nostalgic feelings of Puja in India.

This has to be attributed to the dynamic Puja committee, led by Tapan Das and Subrata Dasgupta, the entire organization, under Partha S. Chatterjee, Head Priest, Dr. Bishnupada Goswami, and most importantly, the legions of volunteers, donors and sponsors.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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Indo American News • Friday, October 22 , 2010

society

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Sewa International Intervenes to Teach the Ropes of American Life

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: They took their places on the small stage, these young girls in short, red lungis and checkered tops and kept pace in a dance with intricate hand movements to the rhythmic beat of the music of their homeland, Bhutan. A little selfconscious, they smiled as they ended in a pose and tried to scurry off, but were held back to introduce themselves. In nervous, halting, heavily accented English, a little too softly to make out, they started, each with different proficiency. “My name is ….” and added the year level and name of their high school, Shy and demure, they posed for a picture, and fumbled with the flower bouquet the emcee Shradha Bensari gave them. “But wait a minute,” she added, “we have these ..” as the coemcee Arushi Garg lugged over a stack of thick softbound books, “…

SAT practice books for you to study for your soon to come exams!” They tittered, took one apiece and scurried away.

The girls showcased the progress that was being made by Sewa International in helping the 1,000 Bhutanese refugees which the organization has taken under its wing to help resettle and integrate into American society ever since they arrived in the Bayou City two years ago. A little later on, Dinesh Shah introduced a middle-aged woman, clad in salwar kameez, who was learning to drive.

“My name is Leela,” she stammered nervously in broken English, “I learn to drive …I have no education….”

She smiled and stopped and handed back the mike. “She will be taking her driving exam soon,” Shah proudly continued, “so she can get around in this large city and work and we will help her get a car.”

Throughout the evening, the volunteer organizers – most of them young and new unfamiliar faces in among the usual desi philanthropic scene and four middle-aged advisors (of which community activist Vijay Pallod was one) – which make up the thrust of SI’s Houston Chapter explained how they were working with the refugees in their homes across five apartment complexes in the southwest area to learn the basics of life on their own.

After spending nearly two decades in refugee camps in Bhutan – some who were born there know no other world

– they are struggling with modern America life and presumably would have floundered had SI not stepped in.

Over the past 12 months, the refugees have popped up noticeably in several functions around town, in their distinctive Bhutanese attire as they stay bunched up together.

The volunteers also spoke of their own experience in helping to transform the refugees – a Pygmalion story in the making – and help the young to resist drifting off into bad habits and drugs in high school, especially as their parents had little communication skills to intervene should they stray.

“They couldn’t even understand the message on the phone,” explained Rohit Shankaran, a volunteer, “if the school called in an unexcused absence.”

This modern day My Fair Lady has required countless hours of foster caring from the team of dedicated volunteers who stood before the nearly 150 invited guests for a fund-raising benefit this past Friday, October 15 at India House. A 10-minute video showed how the refugees lived in their apartments: participating in group religious ceremonies, learning English from a volunteer, learning to make printed t-shirts (they could make upto 300 within a few days as a small business enterprise), children playing together on the lawn. The apartment owners have allowed them spaces for a temple where they can all congregate. Satisfied that the refugees are well on their way, SI held this first benefit in order to pay for professional help in taking their progress further along.

“I am being straight forward,” said Vasudev Singh, Vice President of SI, as he spoke earnestly at the podium, weighing in on the need to raise $100,000 for the future efforts over a year, of which $50,000 - or $500 per child - will go towards getting after school tutors for the kids.

It was a point that was hammered in to the guests continually by speaker after speaker as they took to the podium, each from their own perspective. Ramesh Bhutada, President of Star Pipes, a company that is located on Westpark and Eldridge and well known for supporting many charitable causes, spoke of his renewed commitment by pledging $10,000, even as his company provides office space and logistics for SI, “”We are

fortunate to help these refugees who have lived in camps for 18 years,” he said. “You can make a living by what you get, you can make a life by what you give.”

As the names of those who pledged were called out, along with the amounts and checks they donated, and more persuasive testimonials were given, this benefit that was less about pomp and more an old-fashioned pledge-drive managed to raise just over $50,000 before a buffet dinner catered in by Bombay Brasserie was served. Laura Olivera, an intern from the University of St. Thomas – one of several who have worked with SI over the past two summers – spoke of her work teaching ESL. Rohan Rungta, a budding young classical pianist for ten years offered the sales from his CD at $5 each and totaling $800 to the group.

Dr. Raj Bhalla, the witty and cultivated spokesman and Director of India House welcomed the guests to the event and acknowledged the record of service – literally Sewa in Hindi – of SI in helping to deliver assistance during floods, earthquakes and other calamities. “We at India House are happy to collaborate with you,” he said, while adding a plug for supporting IH. The current SI President, Manju Gupta explained that another 5,000 refugees would be entering the US over the next 5 years, and many would be sent to Houston. “They have many commonalities with Indians,” she explained, “and our project is to help settle them here, to empower them.” And surely, this latest com-

munity to arrive from the Indian Subcontinent would add another color to the rainbow of ethnicities that make up the desi diaspora in Texas.

Info on Sewa International at www. sewausa.org or by calling the President, Manju Gupta at 713-376-3887

From top down: The lighting of the lamps by the Board and sponsors; volunteers introduce themselves; Dr. Raj Bhalla, IH Treasurer; Ramesh Bhutada, a SI sponsor; Bhutanese girls doing a folk dance; Vasudev Singh, VP of SI; classical dance from an Anjali Arts pupil. Photos: Jawahar Malhotra

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22 , 2010 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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society

Priyadarsini Govind – Bharatanatyam Dancer Par Excellence

HOUSTON: “Suddenly there comes a performance which opens the mind and heart afresh to the full aesthetic potential of solo classical dance. Priyadarshini’s ability to sustain a repose and tranquility in the art form in an unhurried tempo, while bringing out the emotional depths, is all too rare among dancers of the day”. So said one of India’s most read and respected newspapers, The Hindu, about the supremely talented dancer, Priyadarsini Govind.

According to Priyadarsini, “dance is such a complete line with visuals, poetry, drama, music…you use your whole body to communicate all of this”. A graduate in commerce from the University of Madras, Priyadarsini holds a diploma in Mass Communication, but Bharatanatyam has been her first love since she was six. Priyadarsini specialized in abhinaya under ‘Padma Bhushan’ Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan from the age of nine and received advanced training in Bharatanatyam under Guru Swamimalai K. Rajaratnam, exponent of the famous Vazhuvoor School, from the age of ten, imbibing the best from both her teachers. Priyadarsini also underwent training in Carnatic vocal music, Kalaripayattu, the martial art form of Kerala, and Nattuvangam (conducting for classical dance) from the Kalakshetra. Intense and naturally talented, her special interest however, still remains Abhinaya (facial expression), which sets her apart from other dancers of her generation.

Tall and slim, this Chennai based dancer is a delight to watch, the strong lines of her dance brought alive by the unusually mesmerizing quality of her abhinaya. Selected to dance at the prestigious Festival of India in Paris in 1985 at the young age of 20, Priyadarsini had several occasions after that to showcase her talent the Swarna Samaroh, celebrating 50 years of Indian Independence, organized by the Sangeet Natak Academy, the Khajuraho Dance Festival, performances at the Narada Gana Sabha, receiving the Vasanthalakshmi-Narsimhachari award from the maestros themselves, as also the Yuva Kala Bharathi from the Bharat Kalachar, Chennai, in 2000. Priyadarsini has been giving recitals from the age of sixteen, and has performed

extensively all over the US, Tunisia, South Africa and even Afghanistan, as a cultural ambassador of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and on invitation by the French Government at the Parc de Villette Festival in Paris.

Priyadarsini holds the titles of Kalaimamani, awarded by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1998, and Nritya Choodamani from the Krishna Gana Sabha, both of which are prestigious awards given for artistic excellence. For her the excitement of performing in public is an unending inspiration. “It is like devotion.

You want to excel each time you perform, and you do it not for your ego or money, but to thank the dance that has given you endless joy, and honor your teachers, who have put their faith in you.”

The incomparable Priyadarsini Govind will be performing at the Kaplan Theater, Jewish Community Center, 5601 S. Braeswood Blvd, Houston, TX 77096, on Sunday, October 24, 2010, 3.30 PM. The show is being presented by SAMSKRITI, which has pioneered the effort of bringing great artists to Houston since 1994. This program has been funded in part by the Houston Arts Alliance. Tickets - $25, $15 & $10 – are available at www.tickets2events. com or at the Anjali Center in Sugar Land.

For more information call 281265 ARTS, 832-275-9656, 832-2759658 or 979-240- 6765.

Indo American News • Friday, October 22 , 2010

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Houston Rockets Host Launch Week Blood Drive

Tuesday, October 26

The Houston Rockets will host their annual Launch Week Blood Drive benefiting the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center at Toyota Center on Tuesday, October 26 from 7am-2pm. (Free parking for blood donors in the Tundra Garage, Enter on Bell Street) Everyone who donates or attempts to donate will receive a commemorative T-shirt and a chance to win tickets to a future Rockets game. Donors will also get to meet and greet with Rockets Power Dancers for autographs and photos throughout the day. Visit Rockets.com for more details or call Jennifer Davenport at 713-758-7329

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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Indo American News • Friday, October 22 , 2010

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“ When Harry Tries To Marry” to be Screened at Austin Film Festival NEW YORK: “When Harry Tries To Marry,” a cross-cultural romantic comedy directed by Nayan Padrai in his filmmaking debut, will make its world premiere as a Marquee Screening at the Austin Film Festival on Friday, October 22 at 9 p.m. The screening will be held at the Rollins Theater in Austin, Texas, and will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s star, Rahul Rai, and Padrai, who also produces and co-wrote the the film.

Other members of the cast, producer Sheetal Vyas, co-producer Bhushan Thakkar, co-writer and co-producer Ralph Stein and several members of the filmmaking team will also participate in the Q&A. “When Harry Tries To Marry” is

the story of Harry -- or Harish, as his Indian parents named him --a modern guy about to graduate from college in New York. In an effort to avoid being disappointed by love like his bitterly divorced parents, he decides to have an arranged marriage, despite everyone’s horrified objections. Just as Harry thinks he’s found the perfect Indian bride, though, he begins to wonder if his friendship with a lovely American student isn’t something more. But the wedding plans are underway and even Harry’s parents are getting into the swing of things. Can anyone protect themselves from a broken heart by leaving the romance out of marriage? And, when all is said and done, does Harry

really want to?

Director of photography Nick Taylor, cast members Stefanie Estes, Caitlin Gold, Osvaldo Hernandez Chavez, Tony Mirrcandani, Grant Kretchik and Kanti Pandya, and musicians from the sound track including Sarah Sharp, Ter’ell Shahid, the June Junes (formerly

Rahul Rai as Harry in When Harry Tries to Marry

Max & Sam), Andrea Perry, Craig Marshall and Rachel Loy, as well as Executive Producers Lisa Madison and Kanti Gala of Britt Worldwide.

“We are thrilled to be making our world premiere at the Austin Film Festival, where Ralph and I met and where our script was given so much encouragement and was

named a quarter-finalist in the screenplay competition,” said Padrai. “We have so many creative connections with the community of film-lovers there, and we are proud to present our movie in this outstanding setting.” Tickets and more information about the festival can be found at http://aff.bside.com/2010/films/ whenharrytriestomarry_aff2010.

More information about the film is available at www.facebook.com/ whenharrytriestomarry “When Harry Tries To Marry” is directed by Nayan Padrai from an original script by Ralph Stein & Padrai. Padrai, Sheetal Vyas and Ritu Ahuja produce under Padrai’s 108 Production banner. Stein and

Bhushan Thakkar co-produce. The film was shot by Nick Taylor; Jade Gloria Healy served as production designer; Ciera Wells was costume designer; Sarah Sharp was music supervisor and Siddharth Kashyap was the composer and music producer.

Rahul Rai and Stefanie Estes star, along with Freishia Bomanbehram.

Osvaldo Hernandez Chavez, Caitlin Gold, Tony Mirrcandani, Zenobia Shroff, Kanti Pandya, Micky Makhija, Grant Kretchik, Lauren LoGuidice and Jagdish Patel play supporting roles. The film was shot on location in New York and Kutch, India. Pace University’s downtown NYC campus served as a key setting of the film.

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