April 20 Pages 1-40

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Friday, April 20 2012 | Vol. 31, No. 16

Indo American erican News

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April 20, 2012

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Asia Society Launches New Home with Colorfully Diverse and Dazzling Tiger Ball Four-day celebration marks the unveiling of Asia Society’s elegant new Texas Center

BY KALYANI GIRI HOUSTON: The mist rose ethereally from an elevated water garden, lending an almost otherworldly mysticism to Asia Society Texas Center’s (ASTC) new abode on Southmore in the museum district. Silhouetted against the gloaming city skyline, the 40,000 square foot building, a magnificent and strikingly timeless creation of Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi, was the cynosure of all eyes as over 1,000 guests arrived to fête its unveiling at the Tiger Ball 2012 held on April 12. Seemingly as inscrutable as its creator, the Center outwardly exhibited no secrets until you walked up to the pavement and examined its breathtakingly uncluttered exterior replete with intriguing and unexpected flourishes.

As cars spilled glamorously outfitted attendees onto the red carpet leading to the huge front doors, a local Indonesian music ensemble entertained, while dapper wait-staff handed out flutes of champagne. At the cocktails and hors d’oeuvres reception held inside the building, gatherees got the opportunity to linger and peruse the interior of the Center in all its dramatic elegance, and to step into the Sarofim Gallery for a closer look at the traditional Asian art from the Rockefeller Collection at Asia Society New York. Then, ushered by Chinese dancing lions, guests traipsed across the street to the ASTC parking lot where a cavernous temporary pavilion had been constructed, and enjoyed a delicious dinner while serenaded by the illustrious Iranian vocal-

Gina and Devinder Bhatia

Photo: Gary Fountain

Pershant and Nidhika Mehta

Photo: Jenny Antill

Charles Foster (left), Nancy Allen, Yoshio Taniguchi and Martha Blackwelder Photo: Jeff Fantich

Chris and Divya Brown

Photo: Gary Fountain

ist Shahram Nazeri and the Rumi Symphony Project. The Tiger Ball, a dazzling talk-of-the-town event rich in colorful diversity, raised $1.4 million to support the Texas Center’s many programs and operations. Chairing the event were Margaret Alkek Williams, Sushila and Dr. Durga Agrawal, David Leebron and Y. Ping Sun, and Judy and Scott Nyquist.

A clearly elated Martha Blackwelder, Texas Center’s young Executive Director, and Charles C. Foster, Board Chairman, welcomed guests and briefly described the ASTC’s history since its inception in 1979. They also recognized the Tiger Ball’s honorary co-chairs that included former President

George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush, former Secretary of State James A. Baker III and Susan Baker, U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller and Sharon Rockefeller, and former Iranian Ambassador to the United States Hushang Ansary and Shahla Ansary. Dignitaries in attendance were Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, Charles Rockefeller, son of Asia Society founder John D. Rockefeller and Blanchette Rockefeller. Grand patron to Texas Center, Nancy C. Allen, and architect Taniguchi thanked the audience for its support. Foster presented Allen with the Chairman’s Award for Extraordinary Service in recognition of her many contributions.

“This wonderful building was designed by Taniguchi, but there was one mother who made that possible,” Foster told the crowd.

“We would not have had that wonderful design by Yoshio Taniguchi, but for Nancy Allen. She was so involved that our builder gave her her own hardhat. It said, ‘Big Boss’,” added Foster.

The official opening festivities that kicked off with the Tiger Ball continued over the next three days with revelry, art workshops, yoga lessons, Tai chi, music and dance performances and other unique cultural events. On Friday, April 13, chairs Divya and Chris Brown hosted Spotlight Asia, a cocktail and cultural fusion evening that drew a very chic and diverse crowd. Over cocktails and sushi and a plethora of other delica-

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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COMMUNITY

April 20, 2012

When Nepalis Celebrate Baisakhi, It’s a Family Affair!

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: The Nepali community in the Metroplex has been growing quietly, but steadily over the past decade, but in numbers and in stature through the building of some institutions unique to it like the Pashupatinath Temple in deep Fort Bend County on FM 752, just two miles south of the George Ranch.

And then there are the major Hindu festivals that are dear to the Nepali heart and mind, celebrated several times a year. Baisakhi is one of them, the celebration of the Hindu New Year and each year the Nepalese Association of Houston has organized a large party to bring its community together, held since last year at the Taj Hall, off Harwin Drive and Hillcroft.

This year, once again, on Saturday, April 14, the Baisakhi celebration brought together about 300 people, who came with their children to enjoy a piece of Nepal once again – music, the language and most of all camaraderie, with no pretenses of grandeur. The focus of the entertainment once again continued to be the children who performed songs, dances and walked the stage for a fashion show featuring traditional Nepali garb.

And it was heartwarming to see the little tykes running across the dance floor, sometimes sitting cross-legged with the older kids looking wide-eyed at the 8-year old doing a take on Michael Jackson’s “Beat it”, clambering around the stage even as a singer sang a number or in the arms of their dad as he did a folkdance alone on the floor. Then there were the teenagers and college kids bunched together at a table, pumping out text messages across the room.

The hall was decorated with streamers, wrapped chairs and traditional thankas, a Tibetan silk painting with embroidery depicting a Buddhist scene and the festivities to mark the advent of the

Nepalese Association of Houston President Madhukar Amatya welcomed the 300 people who attended the celebration on Saturday, April 14.

Little kids performed the Nepalese national anthem

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ral and Rachna Rauniar, with the NAH Secretary Rupak Rauniar to honor NAH Treasurer Sanjeev Shrestha for his contributions.

Amatya also reported on the Nepal Day Soccer Tournament held in Memorial Park on April 7, and on all the people who had participated in making the evening a success, including Nirmal Shrestha, Dinker Amatya, Vishnu Nepal, Sameer Rawal, Santosh Sitaula, Samjhana Rawal, Nayana Amatya and the rest of the organizing team members.

The Nepalese Association of Houston can be reached through its President, Madhukar Amatya at 832-704-6363 or amatya@sbcglobal.net

From left: Emcee Rachna Rauniar. NAH Secretary Rupak Rauniar, NAH President Madhukar Amatya and emcee Tara Baral presented a plaque to NAH Treasurer Sanjeev Shrestha for his contributions.

Photos: Jawahar Malhotra

year 2069 and also the 2nd Nepal Day in Houston continued on till 2am, with plenty of sumptuous food served buffet style.

“It is wonderful to see so many people attend this evening’s celebrations,” said NAH President Madhukar Amatya, “and we especially enjoy the children.” He appreciated the message of congrat-

ulations sent by Houston Mayor Annise Parker and the Nepalese Ambassador Dr. Shanker Prashad Sharma and then joined the emcees for the evening Tara Ba-

The dancing began soon after the dinner was over.

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April 20, 2012 Photos: lazypicture.com Navin Mediwala

Houston Rock-it’s Feet to Rhythm India ance on m r fo r e P ia d n I Rhythm Center ta o y o T t a 2 1 0 2 , Friday April 13 ckets vs. Suns Game Half Time Ro

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COMMUNITY

April 20, 2012

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IDCA Organizes Second South Regional Conference on Poverty Eradication, Mitigating Climate Change HOUSTON: Second South Regional Conference on Poverty Eradication in India will be held by India Development Coalition of America (IDCA) at India House on May 6 from 9am to 6pm. IDCA promotes networking, Collaboration, Learning, Giving, and Volunteering in the India American community to help eradicate poverty in India. The theme of the conference is Working Together to Eradicate Poverty and Mitigate Climate Change in India.

11-12, 2012. IDCA also held the First South India regional Conference in Hyderabad on February 3-4, and First Mewar Area conference on February 18 in Udaipur.

Following the conference in Houston, IDCA plans for the next conference in Toronto in June and DC conference on August 11.

IDCA is a not-for-profit organization registered in the state of Illinois since 2004.

Since 2004, IDCA has been promoting sus-

Invited Speakers Include, Anil K. Matta, Deputy Counsel General of India, Houston; Dr. Kirtikumar Shah, IDCA, Chair Houston Chapter; Anjani Kothari, Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development, Houston; Sam Kannappan, GOPIO, Houston, Texas; Shekhar Agarwal, General Secretary, Bharat Swabhiman Trust Overseas Inc., Houston and Porus Dadabhoy, Program Chair, and past president, IDCA Recently IDCA organized Eighth International conference in Jaipur on January

tainable development in India to eradicate poverty and minimize damage to environment. It promotes networking, collaboration, learning, giving, and volunteering both in US and India to support its members and partner organizations so as to help eradicate poverty.

For more information about the conference, visit http://idc-america.org or call IDCA office at 630-303-9592 or Sam Kannappan at 281-484-2270 or Dr. K.T. Shah at 281-772-4139

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COMMUNITY

April 20, 2012

Houston Rock-it’s Feet to Rhythm India

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: With a full house of 18,300 packing the Toyota Center last Friday evening, April 13, there couldn’t have been a better stage in the Bayou City to showcase the musical and dancing prowess of the desi community. It was a stark case of the colorful costumes and Bollywood beats contrasting with the mundane and routine fare that makes up a basketball arena. And better still; the first minute of their performance was carried on national television.

And it was this confluence of the two that appealed to the Houston Rockets management as they asked Arzan Gonda, the artistic director and founder of the Rhythm India

prayer and she pepped them up. “More than anything else”, she said, “have a lot of fun.”

They broke out with a scream and marched down three flights of stairs; the occasional dhol beat blasting the air, and strode across to the entrance to the court, below the bleachers, waiting for the half-time buzzer.

“And now, give a big hand to a half-time performance by Rhythm India ….” Said the announcer as the dancers took their positions on court. The arena filled with dhol beats, piped in Bollywood music and the girls flew through their steps energetically for four minutes. It seemed like it was over in a flash and the performers screamed in delight, rushing off the court.

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dance troupe to perform at during half-time of the game with the Phoenix Suns, just as they had in February 2011 during the halftime between the Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks.

“It was wonderful being asked again,” gushed an excited Gonda as she prepared her troupe with a last minute rehearsal in the Bell entrance atrium, pacing through the entire routine as she called out the beat in numbers. Every so often, the five dhol players of Dhol Beat International – Jupji Singh, B. J. Josan, Akash Singh, Gurcharan Singh and Chris Adlakha – let loose a blast of dhol beats that reverberated through the glass partition.

“It all started two years ago when some Rockets management people saw us perform at an event,” explained Gonda between steps, “and a parent connected us with them.” That led to making a video over the weekend of their performance, and the Rockets asking them to dance postgame in April 2010.

But every time is special and nerve wracking and this was no different. Gonda and the troupe held hands in a circle, said a little

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COMMUNITY Piyush Pandey: First South Asian to Receive

April 20, 2012

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Prestigious Clio Advertising Industry Award

NEW YORK: The CLIO Awards, one of the world’s most recognized awards competitions honoring excellence in advertising, design and communications, named Piyush Pandey as the recipient of the 2012 CLIO Lifetime Achievement Award.

Pandey, the Executive Chairman and Creative Director of South Asia for Ogilvy & Mather India, will be the first person from the region to receive the distinction. With a prolific advertising career spanning three decades, Pandey is often revered as “the godfather of Indian advertising” by peers. He will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 53rd annual CLIO Awards ceremony, taking place on Tuesday, May 15 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The CLIO Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the most prestigious honors in the advertising industry, recognizes the outstanding creative contributions of an individual who leads the advertising community forward.

“Piyush truly embodies the spirit of this award,” said CLIO director, Karl Vontz. “He not only possesses wonderful creative vision, but he is a great leader who motivates everyone around him with his enthusiasm and passion.

We look forward to celebrating his body of work and his ongoing contributions in the field of advertising.”

Pandey, the recipient of the 2010 Advertising Agencies Association of India Lifetime Achievement Award, has won five CLIO Awards to date. With more than 600 international awards to its credit, O&M India is ranked among the most

Piyush Pandey, the recipient of the 2012 Clio Lifetime Achievement Award.

creative offices in the entire O&M network. Under Pandey’s stewardship, O&M India weathered the storm of the 2009 worldwide financial crisis and won Media Magazine’s Office Of The Year Award. In the same year, Pandey unveiled mobile service provider Vodafone’s popular ZooZoo characters, a social phenomenon that swept India.

CLIO established its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. For more information, visit www.clioawards.com.

About The CLIO Awards: The CLIO Awards is one of the world’s most recognized awards competitions for advertising, design and communications. The CLIO Awards has maintained its original commitment to celebrate and reward creative excellence, honoring a powerful form of communication and its impact on modern culture. At the same time, the CLIO Awards remains focused on evolving with the industry in order to acknowledge the most current, breakthrough work. To this day, CLIO’s iconic statue is the most widely recognized and coveted symbol of the industry’s creative accomplishments.

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COMMUNITY Woh Jab Yaad Aaye Celebrates its 100 Show th

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HOUSTON: On April 16, Woh Jab Yaad Aaye hosted by Arif Memon celebrated its100th show mark. There was a small cake cutting ceremony in the studios of HumTum Radio. This was the first time that the listeners of the show had an open microphone.

Lights on the telephone system were blinking incessantly, making it difficult to answer all the calls. Arif also had some of his friends from the film industry call in to congratulate him. Among them were Pankaj Udhas, Mohd Morani (Morani Brothers), Nina Arora (ex movie editor), and Shiraz Ahmed (writer of films, Wanted, Race, etc.).

People who grew up listening to Vivid Bharti, Akashwani and Binaca Geet Mala in the early 60’s and 70’s seem to have found a show that reminds them of those radio shows back home. It all started on January 4 when Rehan Siddiqi, the

CEO of HumTum Radio, met with Arif Memon. Rehan told Arif to start a radio show, different from the others that aired. Siddiqi had complete confidence in Arif’s talent, and his knowledge of music and films, since Arif has been a part of the Hindi film industry for over 30 years.

Arif started the show, Woh Jab Yaad Aaye, which features songs

of the golden era of music, going down the memory lane to the 40’s and 50’s enabling listeners to travel back to those melodious years.

His knowledge of the Hindi film industry helped him dig through the archives and get some rare gems of music.

Every morning at 10, 1480 HumTum Radio airs the show. Arif repeatedly tells listeners that he is not an RJ but their Dost (friend) that he extends his hand in friendship to all his listeners.

Rehan Siddiqi felicitating Arif, on air, on this occasion, praised the way he conducts the show. Arif was also involved as the Technical Director for HumTum shows during the recent Pankaj Udhas concerts. He has been actively involved with various non profit associations like APAHA, SACC, and International Trade Center to name a few and has helped them with their events.

HOUSTON: The Consulate General of India, (CGI), Houston has been regularly interacting with Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin in a pro-active, helpful manner, addressing a broad range of issues. The Consulate continues to efficiently render a very large number of consular services (1,33,766 in 2011) and has taken several steps to serve the community: All relevant contact details (Address, Phone, Fax, Email) have been widely publicized.

Consulate officials have been readily acceding to requests for meetings to discuss specific consular problems during the visiting hours of the Consular Section

(accessible from the entrance at O’Reilly Street) from 9am-12.30pm and 4pm–5pm on all working days. A room in the Consular Hall has been earmarked for such meetings.

The Consulate’s 24x7 Help Line (832-283-1568) for consular emergencies has been functioning since December 2008. This is a service for attending to emergency cases, especially outside the Consulate’s working hours and on holidays.

A number of Information Events on consular services have been held at various places.

As a part of its pro-active and helpful outreach to the Indian community, the Consulate is taking further steps as follows:

• Anil K. Matta, Consul (Consular, E-mail: consulcgihouston@ swbell.net, Phone: 713-407-5678, Fax: 713-993-9347 / 713-6272034) has been designated as the nodal officer to address specific consular problems of Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin.

• Specific consular problems may be personally discussed with Consul (Consular) from 4-5pm every Wednesday in the meeting room of the Consular Hall. Precise facts may also be given in writing.

• Consul General Sanjiv Arora would supervise the Open Day sessions mentioned above once a fortnight.

NEW YORK: The Dirty Picture has received a mind-blowing opening at the Box Office as it collected an unprecedented 36 crores opening weekend. The Dirty Picture’ is a landmark for Vidya Balan’s career. Playing the role of an eighties screen bomb, Silk Smitha, was the toughest role yet. Sony Entertainment Television (SET) will be premiering the extremely successful blockbuster ‘The Dirty Picture” on Sunday, April 22 at 12 and 8pm.

“The Dirty Picture” is about a girl who is passionate about cinema and making her way to the big screen as an actress. The mingling rise and fall tale of a B-grade actress, Reshma later named as Silk (Vidya Balan) shows you her struggle and how she becomes a bold dancer to achieve her dream job. She echoes her state of mind and what she really is looking for.

The film is full of art and creativity stuffed with interesting bold scenes and catchy songs like – ooh

la la la, Ishq Sufiyana and Honeymoon Ki Raat. Directed by Milan Luthria, Vidya Balan’s electrifying performance leaves the rest gasping for breath.You fall in love with the character she portrays and

ing performance.

About Sony Entertainment Television Asia: Since its launch on the Indian subcontinent in 1995, Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has enjoyed rapid success, leading to the establishment of European, North American and African feeds known as SET Asia. SET and SET Asia are now available in over 150 countries. The channels offer their viewers a distinctive blend of entertainment programs twenty four hours a day, including, soap operas, dramas, sitcoms, concerts, movies, and game shows.

Besides SET Asia, SET also has three other leading channels: MAX, India’s #1 premier movies and special events channel, SAB, the only dedicated comedy channel and Aath, the only dedicated Bengali Movie channel.

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sympathize with her. The director played by Emraan Hashmi draws young hearts to the big screens because of his fervent charm and charismatic screenplay. Naseeruddin Shah also gracefully blends into the background as the ‘Hero’ takes Centre stage with a captivat-

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

April 20, 2012

Asia Society Launches New Texas Center

CONTINUED FROM PAGE

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cies, guests gathered at the upper garden level of the building to listen to music, dance, or enjoy the balmy breeze on the patio.

On Saturday the Dedication Ceremony took place in front of the Center, with remarks by Mayor Parker and Co-Chairs of the Asia Society Board of Trustees, Ronnie Chan and Henrietta H. Fore. After the event, the free First Look Festival began with the Center welcoming the public to revel in the outstanding ambiance of the building and to tour its hallways and state-of-the-art auditorium that promise to be sought-after venues for art exhibits, performances, lectures, and parties. Saturday and Sunday, two performance stages

11

Pradeep Sulhan, P.C.

at the pavilion in the parking lot offered back-to-back programs of Indian classical dance, Appalachian and Nepali folk music, Sufi music, Australian Aboriginal music, to name a few. Both days, the Naniwa Tobi Dento Hozonkai, an Osaka-based troupe that performs acrobatic feats on a 23-foot tall ladder in homage to the firefighters of the Edo-period Japan, drew wide awed audiences.

Presenting a glimpse of Indian culture were author Chitra Divakaruni, who read her poetry on immigrant experiences and Bharathanatyam danseuse Dr. Rathna Kumar, who through the medium of dance, enacted the poems.

Shipra Mehrotra enchanted the gathering with her performance of

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Over the celebratory four days the Center saw more than 9,000 guests pass through its portals.

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The attorneys at Donnelly-Ashby & Nguyen PLLC combine have over fifteen years of immigration experience.

•Temporary Nonimmigrant Classifications The law firm of Donnelly-Ashby & Nguyen, PLLC provides immigration assistance and legal counsel to corporations wishing to bring foreign national workers to work in the United States on a temporary basis, such as the E-1, E-2, E-3, B-1 in lieu of H-1B, L-1, TN nonimmigrant classifications, to name a few.

•Immigrant Classifications Donnelly-Ashby & Nguyen, PLLC also provides legal advice to corporations wishing to sponsor foreign nationals to become permanent residents as multinational managers or executive or through the Labor Certification process. Further, the attorneys dedicate considerable time to assisting individuals in family based cases and those who proceed

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12 April 20, 2012

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• Summit Helicopter Flightseeing • Calgary Tower admission • Rail station transfers and more

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

April 20, 2012

13

Science Beyond Science - A Meditation and Healing Camp in New Jersey

NEW JERSEY: His Holiness Avdhoot Baba Shivanandji conducted a 12-day workshop (Mar 30 – Apr 6) at Royal Albert’s Palace in New Jersey.

This shivir (camp) was designed to enable participants to do meditations, and to help them realize its benefits. About 800 people participated in the program, which included fundamental and advanced

enlightened spiritual masters in India). While Shiv Yog was gaining popularity in all parts of India and abroad, because of its unique powerful message of self empowerment, it was largely seen as a program that empowered and encouraged people to tap into their innate healing talents and capabilities. Babaji has been progressively and regularly revealing the multiple layers, mysteries and secrets of Shiv Yog. His Holiness Avdhoot Baba Shivanandji will be vising America in November 2012 to enlighten doctors on the secrets of infinite healing. His son Acharya Ishan Shivanandji will be visiting Houston to conduct Prati Prasav Sadhna

Shiv means infinite & Yog means Union, Shivyog is merging with the infinite or emerging infinite meditation techniques.

Prior to the commencement of camp and after its completion, Babaji invited doctors and medical professionals to carry out comprehensive diagnostic tests on randomly chosen camp participants.

This was done to eventually have a scientific measure of the results and benefits of the camp.

Interviews with the random sample brought out a wide spectrum of health conditions ranging from normal, near normal to highly complex medical conditions.

From this sample group affected by medical conditions, an Ultra Sound of three Sadhaks (someone who follows a particular sādhana) was done before the camp. It was

Avdhoot Baba Shivanandji

found that one of the Sadhak was suffering from brain tumor and the other two were suffering from gall stones.

By the grace of Babaji a live healing session was conducted for the three ailing volunteers. By the end of the healing session, doctors/medical professionals were amazed to note that the brain tumor, and gall stones which were first visible on the ultra sound were no more visible. They had simply disappeared!

His Holiness Avdhoot Baba Shivanandji used the phrase, Science Beyond Science to describe Shiv Yog, (merging with the infinite).

EK....

The only thing that is your’s is Unconditional Love - Avdhoot Baba Shivanandji (releasing of unrealized issues of this or past life) in July 2012.

For more information, visit www.shivyog.com. In Houston, the weekly meditations of Shiv Yog are conducted in Sugar Land. Call 281-565-6186 for more details.

Watch Babaji’s program, Srimad Bhagwat Katha on Zee TV from Monday to Wednesday at 4:30am and from Thursday to Sunday at 7.:30am.

You are the creator of your own destiny As the deeper significance of this description was not so obvious, the phrase was greeted with part curiosity and part skepticism. It was logical for the scientific community to ask, what could possibly be beyond science itself? Science was always perceived by scientists as their domain and not that of the spiritual Gurus.

Until Science Beyond Science was coined, Shiv Yog was looked at as a spiritual program taught by a Siddha Master (a lineage of

An English Musical Play on the Life of

“MASALA WOK IS HOT. IT’S COOL, IT’S WOW” Dallas Morning News

“THIS WOK ROCKS WITH INDIAN AND CHINESE FLAVORS” SAYS THE GUIDE

Shri Shirdi Sai Baba

Brought to you by: Media Circle & Art Promotions

Sunday, May 6, 2012, 5-7 PM Stafford Civic Center (Old) ($25, $35, $50, $75, & $100)

Tickets available at:www.tickets2events.com or www.sulekha.com For further information please call:

Surender Talwar at: (713) 668-2948 or (832) 538-2765

LOCATION

10001 Westheimer Road. Houston, TX 77042 Phone: 713-784-8811 www.MasalaWok.com

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

14 April 20, 2012

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

April 20, 2012

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

15

16 April 20, 2012

SATNAM SAKHI SANT SAMAGAM SAM NAHIN, SADAHN KO JAG MAHIN KAHE TEON BIN HARI KRIPA, SATSANG MILTA NAHI With blessings of Satguru Swami Teoonram Ji Maharaj, Houston Prem Prakash Mandli is delighted to inform you that Guru of Prem Prakash Panth, Swami Bhagat Prakash Maharaj Ji along with his Sant Mandli will be visiting Houston.

Prem Prakash Mandal was founded by Satguru Swami Teoonram Maharaj in Sindh, Pakistan. After partition his successor Swami Sarvanand Maharaj established the new Darbar known as AMRAPUR DARBAR in Jaipur, India. Current guru of Prem Prakash Mandal, Swami Bhagat Prakash Ji Maharaj is the fifth successor of Sai Teoonram Maharaj.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY Richest Indian in U.S. Commits 90%

of 5-Hour Energy Earnings to Charity

NEW DELHI (SI): Manoj Bhargava, the richest Indian in America who remained unknown to the world till one month ago has hit the top news once again by announcing that 90 percent of his earnings will go to charity.

“I have made a lot of money in the West and I do not believe in much of personal consumption,” says Bhargava, reports Economic Times.

Moreover, he has established Hans Foundation, an Indian based non-profit organization which mainly focuses on charity work. The foundation has provided financial support to more than 400 charity projects.

The Multi-Billion Dollar Brand, 5-hour Energy, a flavoured energy drink under his company ‘Living Essential has helped Bhargava to become what he is now and the brand is now ruling the market of energy shots with profits that accounts to billions of dollars.

When asked about his biggest challenge, Bhargava told Economic Times, in an exclusive interview at Taj Mansingh hotel in Delhi, “The biggest challenge is always the governments

EK....

April 20, 2012

17

An English Musical Play the life & Times

Shri Shirdi Sai Baba

Manoj Bhargava

- they try to stop all good things. I try to stay away from them as much as I can, as I know if someone can destroy something good, it’s the government!”

‘Humble’ is the apt word to describe this modest personality who takes pride in his economical lifestyle and is satisfied with his ancient flip phone, not-so-expensive office furniture and two-storey house.

SC Governor Nikki Haley Says ‘No’ to VP Post COLUMBIA (SI): Indian American Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley says that she won’t accept an offer to be the nominee for the post of Mitt Romney’s vice president, neither is she ready to be a part of his administration initially, if he is elected as the President of America.

Haley, who has been campaigning for Romney, said that she plans to continue to be the Governor of South Carolina, till she finishes her four- year- term.

"If offered any position by Gov. Romney, I would say no’’, said Haley. She also said

that "The people of South Carolina gave me a chance. I have a job to do and I'm not going to leave my job for anything."

Haley, who was elected to her current post in the year 2010, is the first woman to become the Governor of South Carolina and Second Indian American Governor in the country. Apart from Haley, another Indian American, Bobby Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana was also considered as the possible vice-presidential running mate of Mitt Romney; but he denied the offer. CBS has named both Jindal and Haley in the list of 10 possible running mates of Romney.

Sunday, May 6, 2012, 5-7 PM Stafford Civic Center (Old) Brought to you by: Media Circle & Art Promotions Tickets available at: www.tickets2events.com or www.sulekha.com For further information please call:

Surender Talwar at: (713) 668-2948 or (832) 538-2765

Spiritual Discourse & Darshan Thursday, April 19th 7 pm Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple 10098 Synott Road Sugar Land, TX 77498

One Day Meditation Retreat Saturday, April 21st 8 am - 6 pm Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple 10098 Synott Road Sugar Land, TX 77498

Individual Blessings & Saraswati Diksha Friday, April 20th 10 am - 1:30 pm Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple 10098 Synott Road Sugar Land, TX 77498

Homa - Sacred Fire Ceremony Sunday, April 22nd 9 am - 1 pm All programs are free except the meditation retreat, which requires advance registration and a fee.

Saraswati Diksha initiation is only offered to students ages 4-24. People ofall faiths are invited.

For the latest information visit our website www.karunamayi.org, or contact: (713) 515-4340, (281) 300-5353 or send email to Houston@karunamayi.org

Center Point 1920 Hollister Street Sugar Land, TX 77080

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20 , 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

EDITORIAL

18 April 20, 2012

Terror Games

Asia in Texas

Indo-American News congratulates the Asia Society of Texas for building an exquisite Texas Center. We were proud to participate in the society’s “First Look” festival as a media sponsor.

During the festival, thousands of Houstonians had the opportunity to take an upclose and personal tour of the remarkable building.

Designed by Japan-born architect Yoshio Taniguchi, the lowprofile building has an understated Asian elegance with its serene reflection pool, and tranquil Zen garden. The walls are made from Jura limestone quarried in Bavaria, wall paneling of American Cherry wood, and Appalachian White Oak wood, plus Basaltina Italian stone flooring. There’s a charming garden in the back of Chinese character.

Not to quibble, but we wish Mr. Taniguchi had used some Texas limestone facing to reflect a local touch, included some Makrana marble paneling from India (used to build the Taj Mahal), or created a Mughal garden like the ones in Kashmir. For that to happen, it would have been necessary to have a major corporate patron such as Reliance, Tata or Infosys.

People of South Asia have some difficulty fitting in either the Middle East or the Orient. Hindus of South India share a common, ancient background with the countries of Southeast Asia, and our North Indian communities share a bond with the cultures of Iran and Central Asia. The best approach, perhaps, is to appreciate all cultures through bridges created across neighboring countries of the East as well as the West.

Pramod Kulkarni

A Tale of Two Cities With 100 days to go before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, everything was falling apart in the Indian capital. The Games Village was half done, and one corruption scandal after the other was rocking the games preparations. Even the world leaders had expressed concern over India’s ability and preparedness to host the Games.

Forced to intervene in the chaotic situation, the prime minister constituted a core committee to do damage control.

Now with 100 days to go before the Olympic Games begin in London on July 27, the city is already geared up to becoming the cynosure of the world’s gaze. Having seen the games preparations over the last few days, it’s evident that London is almost ready to host the spectacular sporting event.

The impact of the Games is already perceptible. Not so long ago, East London had appeared completely run down, especially in contrast to West London. East London has now been completely transformed during the course of the preparations. As you emerge from the Canary Wharf underground Metro station, the newly revamped East End greets you. The East London authorities believe that the area’s redevelopment will constitute the games’ central and enduring legacy.

There are, no doubt, apprehensions over the post-games rehabilitation plans in East London. But for the moment, the civic authorities can breathe easy over a job done well.

Times of India

BY FARUKH DHONDY Abu Hamza, who has set himself up in Britain as one of the most vociferous People of the Book, is universally known here as a person of the Hook. Hamza, who has been in a British jail for the last eight years, has a missing eye and an amputated right hand, which has been replaced by a hook. He has been convicted of inciting racial hatred and murder from a platform as an Islamist preacher in Finsbury Park.

The British government has just won a case in the European Union’s (EU) Court of human rights in Strasbourg, allowing it to deport Hamza and four other people to stand trial on terrorist charges in America. Three of the five are British citizens, the other two are Egyptian nationals, but are in Britain as political asylum seekers. One of the British citizens, Babar Ahmed, has been held in a British jail for nearly eight years without being openly tried or convicted in a British court.

Hamza is accused in America of conspiracy to kidnap 16 hostages in Yemen in 1998, of promoting violent jihad in Afghanistan in 2001 and conspiring to set up a ‘jihad training camp’ in Oregon, US. The others are variously accused of laundering money for the Taliban, conspiring to commit terrorist offences abroad and in America and two of them are accused of participating in bomb attacks on US embassies in Africa.

Needless to say, if they are convicted they face life terms or jail sentences which can be up to or longer than 30 years at Uncle Sam’s discretion. The lawyer fighting their extradition to the US argued that the accused, if convicted in the States could face prison terms and conditions which would expose them to “torture and to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. The human rights judges ruled that this was not so, concluding that a conviction and sentence in the US, notwithstanding the possibility of 23 hours a day solitary confinement doesn’t amount to torture or a violation of

Britain was being taken for a very long ride by terrorist-wallahs who seek political asylum, live off the British State, getting it to pay for them and their families to live fairly comfortable lives for no work and then go around plotting terror and preaching hatred against the British population and State.

their human rights.

The reaction of British politicians and public is very much in favour of the extradition. Two months ago, another terrorist, one Abu Qatada, was convicted of similar terrorist conspiracy and advocating racial hatred and murder charges. Qatada is a Jordanian citizen who is in Britain on an asylum ticket. He is wanted in Jordan for several terrorismrelated crimes but thus far cannot be deported to that country under EU Human Rights laws, as the EU court ruled that he might be tried using evidence that had been obtained from others under torture.

The ruling caused wide dismay in Britain. The general opinion, and one with which common sense must agree, was that Britain was being taken for a very long ride by terrorist-wallahs who turn up from other countries, seek political asylum, live off the British State, getting it to pay for them and their families to live fairly comfortable lives for no work and then go around plotting terror and preaching hatred against the British population and State. A regular and shameless namak haram game.

British home secretary Theresa May has now sought assurances

Indo American News FOUNDER: DR. K.L. SINDWANI

EDITOR: PRAMOD KULKARNI BUSINESS MANAGER: JAWAHAR MALHOTRA MANAGING PARTNER: KRISHNA GIRI COMMUNITY REPORTER: KALYANI GIRI COMMUNITY EDITOR: MANASI GOKHALE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER: VANSHIKA VIPIN GRAPHIC DESIGN: SAQIB RANA CORRESPONDENTS CHICAGO: NAND KAPOOR, UK: ASEEM KULKARNI NEW DELHI: RAJ KANWAR ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 5 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL20 , 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

from the Jordanian government that if Qatada is extradited he will be given a fair trial and no evidence obtained through torture will be presented against him Other European countries have no such human rights qualms.

France regularly deports people who have been found to advocate, plan or perpetrate terror. The French State openly defies Strasbourg and on the last occasion was fined £12,000 for defying its ruling and sending a terrorist back to Algeria whence he came — much cheaper than respecting the human rights of someone like Qatada and spending £3 million doing it.

Britain has, correctly, taken the view that staying this side of the law, however costly, is a more moral position and so there is understandable jubilation at the verdict to allow the deportation of Hamza and the other four. There should only be two cheers for the decision because one of the potential deportees, Babar Ahmad, a 37-year-old computer operator, has been held without trial for eight years and should, as a British citizen, stand trial for any alleged offences he may have committed here.

Not quite apart from being an advocate of terror, Abu Hamza is a liar. Part of his reputation among the impressionable who listened to his diatribes at the Finsbury Park mosque was that he was a hero of the anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan and lost a hand an eye doing it.

This claim is manifestly untrue, as a filmmaker and TV producer friend of mine has an interview with Hamza on tape in which he has both fully functional hands and eyes. The interview was recorded nearly two years after the complete withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Hamza, one may conclude, blew up his own hand and eye in Pakistan playing or plotting with explosives and had both of them patched up by the medical expertise available there.

Farrukh Dhondy is an author, screenplay writer and columnist based in London

COMMUNITY

106 Representatives Co-sponsor Bill Against Outsourcing of Call Centres

WASHINGTON (HT): A Congressional bill that bars US companies outsourcing call centre jobs from receiving federal grants and loans now has over 100 co-sponsors, its promoter has said. The US Call Centre and Consumer Protection Act (HR 3596), introduced in the US House of Representatives by Congressman Tim Bishop now has as many as 106 lawmakers as its co-sponsors.

In a statement, Bishop said that he hoped this would compel a hearing on the legislation in the committee on energy and commerce.

The US Call Centre and Consumer Protection Act, if passed by the Congress and signed into law, would require the US Department of Labour to track firms that move call centre jobs overseas; the firms would then become ineligible for any direct or in-

direct federal loans or loan guarantees for five years.

“The provision is partially a response to the practice of companies taking millions in incentives from local taxpayers to open call centres in the US, only to offshore their operations later and leave local communities devastated and still paying the bill,” said Bishop.

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20-yr-old Indian-American Shot Dead in California WASHINGTON: A 20-year-old Indian-American has been shot dead in Fremont, California, sending shock waves in the community.

Rohit Sharma, who migrated to the US from Jalandhar along with his parents some seven year ago, was shot in the head while standing in a driveway of his apartment complex in Fremont, California on April 5, police said.

He was pronounced dead at Regional Medical Center of San Jose.

The reason for his killing is not clear yet.

The Fremont Police this week re-

leased the sketch of a suspect, who has been described as a black male in his 20’s, wearing a white t-shirt and earings in both ears.

Rahul was working toward his GED at the Fremont school district’s Adult and Continuing Education programme.

“My son was a good boy who wanted to go to school and do good things,” said his mother, Davinder Sharma, in an emailed statement from the family to the Jan Jose Mercury News.

Rahul was living with his par-

19

ents Pran Sharma, mother Davinder Sharma, two sisters Mehak (18) and Deepti (22) and a one-year-old brother.

In a statement, the North American Punjabi Association condemned the murder and demanded a high-level inquiry into it.

Association president Satnam Singh Chahal said that racial discrimination towards the Punjabi community exists throughout the US and people from community were facing racial discrimination and such attacks there every day.

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Read us online at

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Join Us for a Discussion on the Future of Education Be part of an important dialogue on the higher education opportunities in our community. Houston Community College plays a vital role in providing access to quality education and in significantly impacting our region’s economy.

HCC leadership will present its Long-Range Facilities and Finance Plan to enhance programs and services. The following HCC leaders will be in attendance: Trustees, Chancellor, Deputy Chancellor and COO, Presidents and Master Planner. We welcome your input on the plan for our community as we work together to fulfill our vision for the future.

community forum 2012

Plan to attend one of the following Community Forums to be held throughout the HCC District: Wednesday, April 25, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

West Loop Campus 5601 West Loop South, Houston, TX 77081 Thursday, April 26, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

South Campus 1990 Airport Blvd., Houston, TX, 77051

Friday, April 27, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Alief Campus 2811 Hayes Rd., Houston, TX 77082

Thursday, May 3, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Northline Campus 8001 Fulton, Houston, TX 77022

Tuesday, May 1, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Central Learning HUB 1300 Holman Street, Houston, TX 77004

Tuesday, May 8, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Midtown/Medical Center Area Third Ward Multi-Service Center 3611 Ennis, Houston, TX 77004

Open 7 days a week

Visit hccs.edu/forums to learn about our Long-Range Plan and provide input.

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COMMUNITY

Shah Rukh ‘Detained’ at White Plains Airport, Delaying His Chubb Lecture Yale University

BY RAJ KANWAR IAN INDIA CORRESPONDENT India’s movie Badshah, Shah Rukh Khan seems to have developed a special kind of ‘relationship’ with the US immigration supervisors. Each time he visits the United States, his name seems to attract extraordinary attention. This time around the India’s top movie star was ‘detained’ and questioned for over two hours at New York’s White Plains airport when he landed here on April 12 in a special private aircraft accompanied by several others including Neeta Ambani, wife of India’s richest industrialist Mukesh Ambani.

Shah Rukh Khan was on a brief visit to the US where he was to be honored as a Chubb Fellow at Yale University.

He was eventually allowed to go when the hosts strongly took up the issue with the department of Homeland Security in Washington. This is the second time that Shah Rukh received this ‘special treatment’ from the US immigration authorities. In August 2009, he had received a similar treatment at the Newark Airport and was released only after the intervention of the Indian Consulate in New York.

In a way, Shah Rukh was literally ‘dishonored’ at White Plains airport by immigration authorities and then greatly honored at Yale University two hours later.

The Indian government has reacted strongly to the unwarranted ‘detention’ of Shah Rukh by the US immigration authorities, and has also lodged a formal protest even though the US customs and border protection authorities have expressed ‘profound apologies’. Interestingly, it was only Shah Rukh Khan who was singled out for this ‘special treatment’ in the large party that had travelled to the US; the authorities did not bother even to say ‘hi’ to Neeta Ambani and others in the party. India’s foreign minister SM Krishna made a succinct statement saying that “it has become a policy of ‘detention and apology’ for the US authorities and that attitude could not be continued.”

In a statement, Mark Toner, a spokesperson of the State department, made a tongue-a-cheek suggestion that Shah Rukh Khan was not “detained” but “simply delayed”.

This explanation is nothing but display of officialese and nitpicking. The expression ‘detained’ means to ‘keep in custody or temporary confinement’ and Shah Rukh Khan could easily have sued the American immigration authorities and claim damages for illegally detaining him. Hence, this naïve explanation that Shah Rukh was “simply delayed” and not detained. One might legitimately ask why Shah Rukh alone in that large party was “simply delayed” and that also for more than two hours. An explanation was given that Shah Rukh’s name was ‘flagged’ in the system and that the airport staff needed approval of senior official to clear him. Shah Rukh is a very common name and there must be scores of Shah Rukh Khans in the world and also in the US

Shah Rukh Khan, who became the first Bollywood personality to be honoured with the prestigious Chubb Fellowship at Yale University, delivered his lecture as a Fellow amidst cheering fans and students on April 12.

immigration system. Even, if it was that, then why the computer data was not updated after his first ‘encounter’ with the immigration authorities way back in August 2009? The question arises why Shah Rukh was detained for two hours and then allowed to go without giving any apology or even an explanation whatsoever. Whether his detention was deliberate or a mistake, the immigration authorities at the airports in the US are either, to say the least, incompetent or insolent.

Though, as a result of this ‘action’ at White Plains airport, Shah Rukh Khan’s scheduled program at the Yale University was considerably delayed, it nevertheless went off very well. Shah Rukh was much upset by his unpleasant experience at the airport, yet he made light of his ‘detention’, telling the student gathering that “Whenever I start feeling too arrogant

about myself I always take a trip to America. The immigration guys kick the ‘star’ out of my stardom.”

Interestingly, Shah Rukh was formally introduced to the gathering by Ambanis’ 20-year old daughter, Isha who is a sophomore at Yale and has Psychology and South Asian Studies as her ‘majors’. Incidentally, Isha is the president of South Asian Society at the university and is one of the youngest billionaire heiresses in the world with reported stake of nearly 80 million dollars in Reliance Industries alone. Mother Neeta was in seven heavens and visibly proud when her daughter came to the stage to welcome Shah Rukh. Neeta proudly gushed and said that “Shah Rukh has been a dear friend for many years. It is wonderful to be here especially since it is my daughter’s university,” Neeta Ambani said after the lecture.

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL20 , 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

April 20, 2012

NATA Launches Convention Registration Drive

HOUSTON: North American Telugu Association (NATA) launched the convention registration drive with a kickoff dinner on April 13 at the Mayuri restaurant in Houston. The NATA team also held two such events earlier in Austin and San Antonio as part of the greater effort towards the NATA first convention and related Telugu events in Houston.

The event was very successful with over 100 registrations done onsite or promised to do so online, said the organizing team lead by RVP Manohar Medi and Dr. Samba Reddy. This event was sponsored

by Manohar Medi and regional coordinators Durga Prasad, Vinod Madadi and Venkat Bontha.

For the last two months, the NATA Houston team has been very successfully organizing such community outreach events with the help of regional coordinators team comprising Dr. Rajender Aparasu, Durga Prasad Seloj, Sanjeeva Reddy,

Girish RamiReddy, Raghavender Nednur, Siva Konduri, Dr. Manchi Reddy, Narayan Reddy Indurty, Sivarama Sakamuri, Umakanth Potula, Arvind Reddy, Ranapratap Reddy, Chanakya Swamy, Narayana Reddy Gandra, Sai Kumar Mamandur, Srini Peddigari, Ramana Kondapalli, Chandrasekhar Sripadam, and Babu Rajendra.

RVP Manohar Medi welcomed the guests, RCs, and Chairs & co-chairs of various Convention Committees and explained the ongoing efforts for the NATA convention. Prasad Kalva outlined a brief cultural program. Convener Jithender Reddy and co-convener Harinath Medi also addressed the gathering explaining convention program and registrations.

Registration team assisted members with onsite registrations.

Food is part of every NATA event and the team arranged a delicious Andhra bhojanam to all participants, including several

EK....

21

NATA to Kick Off Cultural Event on April 28

BY PRASAD MARAGANI HOUSTON: NATA has organized a kick-off event in Houston on April HELPLakes WANTED 28, 2012 at the Seven High School (9251 South Fry Road), in Katy.

The event will act as a curtain raiser for the 2012 convention and also give Family inaSugar Land is kind seeking helpthat with cooking glimpse of the of talent the event willmeals, showcase. The kick-off event will involve cultural programs by the participating house cleaning and part time care of a 2 year old boy. teams from around Texas. The event features dance competitions, musical programs and fashion shows for various categories. The event is free and open for all. NATA Live in preferred, withthe a nice room, food and amenities team welcomes Telugu community to come and enjoy the event. If you kidsIfwish to perform at this kick offyour event,own pleasecar. send your entry providedor foryour free. non-live in, should have to natakickoff@gmail.com. NATA Kick off event will start at 1pm and will Must be clean, hard working and reliable. Call 713-459continue to enthrall the audience with its fun packed program line up. For 9823. booths and business partnerships, email convenor@nata2012.org For details about the upcoming convention, visit www.nata2012.org children.

The two main objectives of NATA are to provide community services and to advance the Telugu culture worldwide, said Media chair Dr. Samba Reddy. The Association has been formed to provide a platform to develop and SUGAR CREEK MONTESSORI IS HIRING! strengthen the Telugu community identity; to promote the rich Telugu culture among the youth Sugar Creek Montessori school, a high standard private of the community and facilitate Montessori school with locations in the Sugar Land and interactions with homeland India.

Katy areas is now hiring. We are looking to fill various This year, the association will positions, including Montessori Certified teachers, be conducting the First Mega assistant teachers (p/t and f/t) and management positions.

Convention in Houston from Jun 29 to July 1 at George Brown Email careers@sugarcreekmontessori.com or call the Convention Center. Guests and numbers below. members are encouraged to take advantage of this convention Katy location is from 12 months – KG, Sugar Land is in hometown Houston, from 12 months – 3rd Grade. We offer authentic and help NATA in doing Montessori programs of the highest standards. Come join community services such as health a winning team of talented and dedicated educators. camps, educational, immigration and business seminars. Houston is home to over 15, 000 Telugus.

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22 April 20, 2012

COMMUNITY

Record Breaking Recitals by Ghazal Singer Pankaj Udhas

BY KALYANI GIRI HOUSTON: Storied, award-winning ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas performed to capacity crowds at two concerts in this city on April 7 and April 12 at the New Stafford Center on Cash Road. The world-renowned vocalist proved that he was still on top of his game as he held fans enthralled with his melodious voice, with many enthusiastically singing along with the maestro as he rendered his repertoire of hits that included Chitti aayi hai, Chandi jaisa rang, Ghunguroo toot gaye, Sharab cheez hi ayse hai, and App jinke qareeb hote hai. Brought to Houston by young impresario Rehan Siddiqi, the first concert was a sold-out show, with fans demanding for an encore presentation. Siddiqi complied and arranged with the international promoter of Udhas’s World Tour 2012, Mayur Ganger, for the musician to perform here again. Both shows drew record audiences and the attention of Udhas who praised and thanked Siddiqi lavishly and lauded him for his creativity, hard work, and professionalism. While in this city, Udhas also made appearances at Bombay Sweets and Maharani Music Store on Hillcroft and Harwin to meet with fans, untiringly signing autographs and posing for pictures with each and everyone that requested. He, along with his entourage, also dined at Shahnaz Irani’s Nizam’s Kitchen after the first concert.

Set against a backdrop designed meticulously

by DB Event Planners, the concert started (almost) on time. Warm and personable, Udhas easily established a rapport with the audience.

He has won the respect of his peers for helping make ghazals du jour at a time when it was losing its foothold to westernized Indian music.

Udhas’s odyssey to success started at the tender age of five when he realized his ability to sing.

But it was only after his first stage performance

Bombay Sweets’ Mukhtar Singh and his family with Pankaj Udhas on his autograph signing visit to the eatery on the eve of his first concert.

Photo: Krishna Giri

when he sang Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon and won a prize of Rs. 51 that he made a firm decision to take up music professionally. He began studying Hindustani classical music and then decided to break into the film industry. Once Pankaj heard his brother Manhar’s Urdu teacher listen to Mehdi Hassan and Begum Akhtar. So much was he attracted to this form of music that he went on to learn Urdu to be able to grasp the nuances of ghazals. And the rest, as they would say, is history.

Siddiqi has successfully promoted and hosted big name stars such as Sonu Nigam, Atif Aslam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sukwinder Singh, Anu Ma-

lik, and Ali Zafar. He has brought Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to this city on trip concert tours on three occasions and drew over 8,000 attendees at the Reliant Arena in 2011. Siddiqi also runs

the largest desi radio network in this city called HumTum Radio 24/7 on 1480AM. He also broadcasts simultaneously on 1110AM Saturdays and Sundays.

“Promoting good music through great artistes is truly a blessing,” said Siddiqi. “With the right ambiance, quality sound and light, they are bound to put forward inspired performances. To me, that it the only way to show due respect to the artiste and the audience,” he added.

Riding on the successes of Pankaj Udhas’s record-breaking concerts, Siddiqi announced upcoming performances by Kailash Kher, Sonu Nigam, Sabri Brothers and Amanat Ali in weeks and months to come. He is also planning a major international tour in 2013 with Bollywood celebrities.

Over 25 corporate companies were instrumental in supporting Siddiqi’s endeavor. His able team professionally managed logistics such as behind-the-scenes hospitality and security. Technical Director of Hum Tum Shows Arif Memon and Hum Tum Show’s Director of Operations Carlos Carmona ironed out any possible kinks and the show ran smoothly. Participating restaurants included Nizam’s Kitchen and Durrani’s Restaurant.

For more information about HumTum Radio and HumTum Shows, visit www.humtumradio.com or call 713-545-4115.

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April 20, 2012

Message from Sadhguru: “To Be An Emperor Within Yourself”

BY SADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV To be spiritual means to be an emperor within yourself. This is the only way to be. Is there any other way to be? Consciously, would anybody choose to seek something from someone or something else?

Maybe out of his helplessness he seeks, but consciously would anybody choose to do this? Wouldn’t every human being want to be that way, where he is one hundred percent within himself? It doesn’t mean you have to become totally self-sufficient. Always there is interdependence, but within yourself everything is there: you don’t have to seek outside. Even somebody’s company is not needed for you. If another person needs it, you will give it, but by yourself, you don’t need anybody’s company. This means you’re no more a beggar within.

Only for external things, maybe you will have to go to the world outside.

This is ultimate freedom.

Spirituality is not for pussycats.

You cannot do anything else in your life, but think you can be spiritual, this is not so. Only if you can take up and do anything in this world, then there is a possibility that you may be fit for spirituality, not otherwise. If you have the strength and the courage to just take up anything in the world and do it well, then maybe you can be spiritual. This is not for people who cannot do anything else. Right now, this is the impression that the whole country has - probably the whole world has

- that only useless, good-for-nothing people become spiritual people, because the so- called spiritual people have become like that. People who are incapable of doing anything or people who cannot bear the ups and downs of life, all they have to do is to wear the ochre clothes and sit in front of the temple and their life is made. That’s not spirituality. That’s just begging in uniform. If you have to conquer your consciousness, if you have to reach the peak of your consciousness, as a beggar you can never reach there.

There are two kinds of beggars.

Gautama, the Buddha, and people of that order are the highest kind of beggars. All others are plain beggars.

I would say the beggar on the street and the king sitting on the throne are both beggars. They are continuously asking for something from the outside. The beggar on the street might be asking for money, food or shelter. The king might be asking for happiness, or conquering another kingdom or some such nonsense. Do you see, everybody is begging for something? Gautama begged only for his food, for the rest he was selfsufficient. All others, the only thing they don’t beg for is food. For everything else they beg. Their whole life is begging. Only food they earn.

A spiritual person has earned everything else from within, only for food he begs. Whichever way you think is better, be that way. Whichever way you think is a more powerful way to live, live that way.

The way we think is the way we become. Whatever you hold as the highest, naturally all your energies get drawn towards that Once it is like this, this person leads a different way of life. Once there is no hankering, once there is no need within him, only then he knows what love is, only then he knows what joy is, only then he knows what it means to really share. Now, sharing is, “You don’t have to give me anything because I don’t need anything from you, but anyway, I will share this with you.” Setting up a whole life of barter may be convenient, but it is the way of the weak. This weakness is the first thing that has to go if you want to meet Shiva. If you want to meet Him , you better be on His terms. He is not going to come and meet a mere beggar. You either need to learn to meet Him on His terms or dissolve; these are the only two ways.

Gnana and bhakthi mean just this.

Bhakthi means you make yourself a zero, then you meet Him. Gnana means you meet Him on His terms: you become infinite. Otherwise, there is no chance of a meeting.

Love, or bhakthi, looks like a much easier path. It is, but there are more pitfalls on that path than in gnana.

With gnana you know where you are going, you know if you fall. In bhakthi, you don’t know. Even if you have fallen into a pit you will not know; that is the way it is. Even if

you’re trapped byyour own illusions, you will not know. In gnana, it is not like this. Every step that you take, you know. Every step of growth, you know; every step backwards, you also know Everybody has the capacity to do it if they rise above their limitations. It is just about whether they are willing to do it or not, that is all. I cannot say it is a hard path, but it’s the path of the courageous, not of the weaklings. The weaklings can never make it, but everybody has the possibility of making it.

The way we think is the way we become. Whatever you hold as the highest, naturally all your energies get drawn towards that. A person who wants to walk the spiritual path has to make it that way in his mind, that this is the highest, that “this is the first and last thing that I want in my life.” So, naturally all his energies are oriented towards it. Only then the moment-to-moment struggle is gone and you don’t have to struggle to correct yourself.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev is a yogi,

23

profound mystic of our times, and visionary humanitarian. His presence creates an extraordinary opportunity to break through limitations into one’s natural state of freedom, love and joy. Named one of “India’s 50 Most Powerful People” by India Today magazine, Sadhguru has touched the lives of millions of people worldwide, contributing to his vision of raising human consciousness.

Sadhguru will be conducting a 3-day Inner Engineering Program in Houston from May 4-6. Inner Engineering is a program gleaned from the yogic sciences that offers tools to rejuvenate and achieve health, peace, joy and success. This program includes guided meditations, interactive discussions, asanas and the transmission of the sacred Shambhavi Mahamudra, which is a powerful and purifying energy technique that incorporates the breath. To learn more, watch Sadhguru’s videos or experience a free guided meditation, visit www.BeBreatheBlossom.com or call 832-408-0663

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20 , 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

OPINION COMMUNITY

24 April 20, 2012

Seeking to Clear a Path Between Yoga and Islam

N O OW PE N

BY SARAH MASLIN NIR NEW YORK (NYT): As a community activist in Queens, Muhammad Rashid has fought for the rights of immigrants held in detention, sought the preservation of local movie theaters and held a street fair to promote diversity.

But few of those causes brought him anywhere near as much grief and controversy as his stance on yoga.

Rashid, a Muslim, said he had long believed that practicing yoga was tantamount to “denouncing my religion.”

“Yoga is not for Muslims,” he said. “It was forbidden.”

But after moving to New York in 1997 from Bahrain, he slowly began to rethink his stance.

Now Rashid, 56, has come full circle: not only has he adopted yoga into his daily routine, but he has also encouraged other Muslims to do so — putting himself squarely against those who consider yoga a sin against Islam.

In New York City, where yoga has become as secular an activity as spinning or step aerobics, the potential sins of yoga are not typically debated by those clad in Lululemon leggings. But in some predominantly Muslim pockets like Jackson Heights, Queens, yoga has been slow to catch on, especially among first-generation immigrants, newly arrived from cultures where yoga is considered Hindu worship.

When Rashid, who also tutors children, had his students learn yoga to help improve their concentration, three Muslim students quit after a few yoga sessions, he said, in part, he believed, because of their families’ stance toward the practice. “I am putting them in something extra that is not in the Muslim religion,” he said. “The parents did not accept it.”

The religious opposition to yoga also extends

Mimi Borda adjusted some classes at her yoga studio in Jackson Heights, Queens, to address the concerns of Muslim students. Photos: Kirsten Luce

to some Christian sects. One widely publicized clash came in 2010, when R. Albert Mohler Jr., an evangelical leader and the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, declared the practice of yoga blasphemous because of what he said were its pantheistic roots.

In India, near-annual pushes by members of Parliament to make yoga compulsory in schools have riled Muslim parents who feel it bridges on indoctrination. When a member of Parliament proposed to insert yoga into most curriculums in 2010, wording was included to exempt things like madrasas, or Islamic schools.

Four years ago, a council of Malaysian Muslim clerics issued a fatwa against yoga, declaring it haram, or forbidden by Islamic law.

The ruling followed similar edicts in Egypt and Singapore, where one of the earliest bans was issued in the early 1980s.

The fatwas typically cited the Sanskrit chants

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that often flowed through yoga sessions and which are considered Hindu prayer by some Musli According to “Yoga in the Hindu Scriptures” by H. Kumar Kaul, yogic principles were first described in the Vedas, the Sanskrit scriptures that form the backbone of Hinduism, and are considered to be over 10,000 years old.

Even the word “namaste,” which is often used to open and close a yoga session, invokes the divine.

Given that cultural history, it was understandable that when Mohd A. Qayyoom, an imam who runs the Muhammadi Community Center of Jackson Heights, joined a yoga demonstration at an interfaith festival in Jackson Heights last summer, it did not go unnoticed.

His participation drew instant reproach from the community, he said. “As soon as we finished our event, they said, ‘Imam, what is that, why are you doing that?’ ” he said. “ ‘This is not within our Islam.’ ” But Imam Qayyoom said he had come to believe that Islam and yoga could be compatible — if the Sanskrit benedictions are left out, he said, and women’s skin-tight yoga gear is traded for more conservative garments. “Reformed, it will be more popular” among Muslims, he said.

“It will not contradict with Islamic religion.”

Others are less convinced.

Anwar Hassan, 27, who is from Bangladesh and works in the Queen of Sheba grocery in Jackson Heights, said yoga’s roots were irreconcilable with his faith.

“When I came here, I see there is yoga and everything, but we don’t go,” Hassan said. “A lot of people, they are new to it so they think it’s a gym class, or something. But Hindu people started it, and I think it’s Hindu religion, so I don’t go.”

When Alex Eingorn prescribed yoga recently to a Bangladeshi woman who came to him with spinal pain at his Better Health Chiropractic

clinic in Midtown Manhattan, “she looked at me in horror,” he said. “She said, ‘I’m a Muslim, I can’t practice a different religion.’ ” Eingorn persuaded her to try it, he said, by saying that in New York, it is considered a secular practice.

Mimi Borda, 46, who runs MiMi for Me Yoga, a serene studio in Jackson Heights that is one of the neighborhood’s only yoga centers, has had to make similar allowances. “If there is a little chanting going on, right away this is a turn- off” for some of the Muslims who sign up for her sessions, she said. “Often they won’t come back.”

In response, Borda has tailored certain classes, cutting out Sanskrit chants if she thinks it will upset certain students. “Emphasizing the physical, they’re kind of cool with it,” she says.

“They feel safe.”

For Borda, who has taught yoga to a variety of audiences, including Hasidic women in Brooklyn, it came as a shock, when shortly after opening a previous studio in the area eight years ago she was approached by a Muslim student who voiced concerns with customary chants like “ohm.” She found herself fielding questions like “ ‘Is ‘ohm’ God? Is ‘ohm’Allah?’ ” she said.

Borda adapted her classes for her new clientele, either omitting chanting, or adding both “shalom” and “amen” to the sign-off of namaste.

“A lot of us in the Western world, we look at it as anything that is going to enhance the way we look aesthetically,” she said. Some Muslim students, she added, were “not looking at the physical aspect, they’re looking at the spiritual aspect.” For many immersed in a culture where vinyasa yoga is more readily associated with a New York Sports Club than a Hindu temple, the origin matters little. And for some of the devout living here, the American conception has overridden the beliefs with which they were raised.

When Rashid finally took up yoga, he said there were more similarities with his faith than contradictions. In salat, the five-times daily Muslim prayers, which entail a meditationlike centering of focus and several kneeling bows, he felt there were echoes of yogic poses.

“I discovered whatever I’m doing in yoga, I’m doing five times a day in prayer,” said Rashid, who is from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

During the daylong yoga class at the festival that Rashid helped organize in Jackson Heights last summer, classes were halted for salat. Imam Qayyoom and others performed those prayers on their yoga mats.

It dawned on him then, the imam said, that many Muslims, in a sense, practice yogic postures several times a day. “Maybe they’re getting that same benefit in their prayers,” he said.

“Maybe they don’t need to do yoga.”

Muhammad Rashid, left, has had mixed results trying to get other Muslims in Jackson Heights to practice yoga

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SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 centrate on your work is likely - Dec 22: Now is the time to become sharper. Therefore, when the harmony you have you will manage to focus on been seeking will begin to the right things, speeding up manifest itself. As you make your progress, in turn. This shall bring an material progress at a fast clip, enhanced clarity in your thoughts and plans, and you shall feel more proactive, energised there will simultaneously be a feeling of great and motivated. Love shall enter your life with stability too. Life is rolling smoothly without a bang, now. Your love interest may keep you you consciously making any effort. The progoccupied. On the flip side, this may lead to a ress you may be making at all levels in all fields deeper hole in your pocket. be careful against may have put you in a different zone altogether. unnecessary and flamboyant expenses Overall, Make the best of these good times, for they may an extremely eventful period is ahead for you. not last forever. One of the great secrets of life is CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 23: to fully enjoy, while living in the Now. CAPRICORN Dec 23 As you look for newer av- Jan 20: The alignment enues to enhance your income, of stars this week foretells you may be attracted to some that there will be consistent get-rich-quick schemes, such progress on all fronts. Most as betting, speculative transacof your aspirations will be tions and even gambling. But stay well within your limits. In this week, you may also explore achieved now, giving you a great sense of satthe possibility of some lucrative job offers or isfaction. The positive vibes will radiate from joint venture opportunities. On the personal your being to all those around you. And, you front, in spite of getting the support of your will not forget to be grateful to the almighty for family and friends, you may feel depressed, showering his blessings on you, and making especially when their support is not as readily your world such a happy place to live in. For forthcoming as it ought to be. Learn to be happy singles, love affairs could be elevated to the next level. A long-term commitment to settle down in your own mind and body.

LEO July 24 - Aug 23: in life is also a possibility.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb Since you are in a mood to 19: You will be in high spirits relax and have a good time, you now, and shall feel confident won’t like if your work suffers. of successfully dealing with You will make sincere efforts to whatever life throws at you. strike a balance between your You may already have acwork and leisure. Many of the projects may be nearing completion, and are likely to give you complished a plenty, and you do deserve some expected results. This kind of equanimity in the time off to celebrate your success. Sharing the face of success or failure will lead you to the resultant happiness with your family members greater peace of mind. However, when a person at home is a good idea. Or, you may take to succeeds, his success gives birth to jealousy in partying in full flow. If your family ties have hit the minds of the people around him. Similarly, a rough patch lately, due to some random reason, your accomplishments may make your col- now is the best time to do some patch-up work.

Reinforce your relationships with your near and leagues and peers jealous.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23: dear ones by being open and generous.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar Astrologically, the planets are 20: The trend changes totally aligned in such way that they this week, as you get into top will bring an all-round improvegear professionally, and are ment in your personal as well as ready to slog your heart out. professional life. Now is the Whether you are in a job, a right time for you to chalk out long-term plans and set them in motion. However, it won’t be as business or are involved in a partnership, you easy as it sounds. In order to achieve your goals, will take on the lead role. You shall carry your you will need to be disciplined, organised, and team along with you towards achieving the most importantly, self-motivated. Domestic life common objectives and goals. Your affectionwill become smoother as a recent illness, either ate nature, charisma and positive outlook will be yours or someone else’s in the family, will abate, of great help in overcoming any obstacles on the way to success, which is sure to be yours. changing things for the better.

April 20, 2012

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IndoAmerican News

Business IndoAmerican News

STOCKS • FINANCE • SOUTH ASIAN MARKETS • TECHNOLOGY

Infosys Legal Woes Tarnish India’s Outsourcing Industry HONG KONG / MUMBAI (HT): Infosys’ legal troubles in the United States may complicate life for India’s feted outsourcing industry. Outsourcers have been a relative bright spot in a market dogged by worries about India’s growth prospects. But an investigation into allegations Infosys broke visa rules to get Indian employees into the United States will put them on eggshells. Until the air clears, this is another reason to avoid Indian stocks.

Indian outsourcers have been a shelter of sorts for investors, offering a way to play the India theme without the worries about domestic growth and political paralysis. They had a recession-proof appeal: companies eager to cut costs in good times would be more desperate to do so in bad times. As a result, Infosys shares had fallen only 8% in 2012 up to April 13, while market heavyweight Reliance Industries had slid 26%.

Yet Infosys shares have plunged 15% since April 13, when the technology group predicted that this year’s revenue growth might slip below 10%, and warned that the visa investigations could affect earnings -- the first time the case appeared in its financial statements since the allegations emerged in early 2011.

Shares of competitors Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro fell 5% and 4% respectively.

All this comes at a sensitive time.

The upcoming US election year means politicians may feel obliged to be tough over immigration issues.

India has also challenged rising US visa fees in the World Trade Organization. The industry is maturing, too. While once it could rely on moving jobs from expensive

America to cheap India, many big companies now want services performed locally, which puts Infosys up against the likes of IBM and Accenture. The Indian group now has 15,000 employees - 10% of its workforce - in the United States.

However the investigation turns out, India’s outsourcers will now find US revenues come at greater expense. Even if a legal crackdown or political backlash doesn’t make it harder to bring Indian workers in, making sure the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed is likely to raise costs and put a brake on expansion.

For global investors, that’s likely to reduce India’s allure even further.

Infosys shares slid 13% on April 13 after the company forecast slower-than-expected revenue growth in its current fiscal year. The technology and outsourcing company reported a 27% increase in fourth quarter net profits, to 23 billion rupees. But it said it expected revenues in the year ending March 31, 2013, to grow between 8% and 10% to as much as $7.7 billion.

In its financial statement, the company said it had been notified by the US Attorney’s Office that it and certain employees were targets of an investigation over its use of business visas. It said it was also being reviewed by the US Department of Homeland Security, and that the department had found errors in its employee documentation which may be subject to fines and penalties.

Infosys has denied the allegations and issued a statement April 13 saying: “Any allegation or assertion that there is or was a corporate policy of evading the law in conjunction with the B-1 visa program is simply untrue.”

Ajay Banga to Head Business Council, Plans to Boost U.S. and India Trade Ties WASHINGTON (HT) By electing Ajay Banga as Chairman of the US India Business Council (USIBC), Corporate America hopes to steer its India ship at a time when political environment in the two countries is making it tough for them to rapidly expand their trade ties. Indian American, Banga is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MasterCard.

USIBC announced that it has elected Banga, 50, as its chairman. He replaces Harold “Terry” McGraw III, of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

“It is an exceptional honour to be entrusted with such a legacy and I look forward to building on their successes as USIBC’s next Chairman,” Banga said in a statement.

Under him, USIBS hopes to take the US-India economic relationship to a whole new level.

“Given the challenging political scenarios evolving in both countries as the US prepares for the November presidential elections and as India looks to 2014 for the next national polls, to have someone of Ajay’s stature and background at USIBC’s helm... (It) will help member-com-

MasterCard CEO and president Ajay Banga has been elected the next chairman of US-India Business Council (USIBC).

panies succeed in this very complex environment despite political distractions likely to arise on both sides,” a top USIBC official said.

Son of a decorated Indian Army General, Harbhajan Singh Banga, the MasterCard CEO was born in Pune.

Alumni of IIM, Ahmedabad, he has worked at Citibank and PepsiCo. “He knows the pulse of India as well as the United States. Ajay has that rare pedigree to be as comfortable in Rashtrapati Bhawan as he is in the White House,” the USIBC official said.

“This combination experience

brings to USIBC a leader who possesses a knowledge of India and the corporate world that is rare, unique, almost unparalleled,” he said.

The coveted post was also occupied earlier by Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo. The official said Banga’s unique heritage and business background will ensure that USIBC’s membercompanies fully perform on their collective vision and mandate: to deepen two-way trade and strengthen US-India commercial ties between the world’s largest free-market democracies.

In a statement, the outgoing USIBC Chairman McGraw said that by expanding the partnership between the two nations over the next several years, including passage of a bilateral investment treaty, India and the US can move from USD 100 billion in two-way trade to USD 500 billion by the end of the decade.

“MasterCard’s activities in India empowering people via financial inclusion and making available to every segment of Indian society innovative payment solutions are central to the future US-India growth story,” said USIBC President Ron Somers.

New iPad to Arrive in India on April 27 NEW DELHI (HT): After months of waiting, Apple fans have reason to rejoice. Reportedly, Apple is all set to launch the New iPad in India on April 27.

The new iPad features new Retina™ display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight® camera with advanced optics for capturing amazing photos and 1080p HD video. The new iPad still delivers the same all-day 10 hour battery life* while remaining amazingly thin and light.

While Apple iPad 2 is available at just 20,619, the range for New iPad starts at 30,500. Available in black or white, the iPad model with Wi-Fi 16GB is available for Rs. 30,500, the 32GB for Rs. 36,500, and the 64GB for Rs. 42,500.

New iPad tablets are seen in a window The new iPad will be sold through the Apple Online Store display in an Apple store in Sydney.

Photo: Reuters/Tim Wimborne (www.apple.com) and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

127

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Dalit Beef Festival Organizers at Osmania Results in an Intended Political Backlash

BY VENKY VEMBU HYDERABAD(Firstpost): For all the disingenuous claims of the organisers of the Beef Festival at Osmania University, the event was a foolish provocation aimed at castebaiting. When the alliance of beefeaters, Dalits, Muslims and Christians resorted to this curious form of protest to advance their demand that the university hostel serve beef, it was their unstated intention to provoke upper-caste Hindus for whom the cow is an object of veneration.

Yet, the point of contention is not the beef, which is eaten all the time, including by many Hindus, although it’s perhaps done surreptitiously in certain places. In Delhi, for instance, a few Keralite restaurants that serve beef advertise their bill of fare, but the operative word ‘beef’ is written in Malayalam. This gives it a ‘private club’feel to it, and the business thrives without any protests from right-wing political formations.

So it wasn’t about the beef. What the Beef Festival organizers did was to make a provocative public show of their eating beef – and figuratively grind the faces of cow-worshippers in the beef biryani. The underlying motive was entirely political, so for them to cry foul over the political backlash from the ABVP is more than a little disingenuous.

But what the Beef Festival organisers overlook is that this is a dangerous game that two sides can play, and given that food taboos and sensitivities exist in other communities too, it is a recipe for communal polarisation and worse.

As Farzana Versey points out: “Dalits, Muslims, Christians can eat what they wish to. But to celebrate it is plain politics.” Pointing to the doublestandards in the claims about fighting “food fascism”, she observes: “These Dalits will not have a pork festival at the Anjuman-e-Islam institute.”

Secular historian Irfan Habib, who has himself frequently challenged right-wing Hindutva elements, wondered: “What sort of festivity is this?

This is pure and simple mischief clothed in ideology and freedom of choice.”

Yet, it appears that the Beef Festival organisers may have been mere pawns who had been deliberately inflamed by stoking the deepest insecurities of their caste identity and used

Over 200 students and teachers attended the beef festival at Osmania University in Hyderabad.

for bigger political games.

The Osmania University campus has in recent months been the hotbed of student political activism over the Telangana issue, and there had been near-unanimous support among the students for the cause of statehood for Telangana.

That student solidarity stands demolished today, after caste and communal identities have been whipped up. Indian Express reports that the BeefFestival may have had its roots in a “power struggle that’s going on among student wings in the university ever since the Telangana agitation started.”

The report claimed that socially and economically backward sections among the students have accused the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Telangana Joint Action Committee, ABVP and National Students Union of India of excluding or sidelining the weaker sections from the Telangana movement.

Dalit organisations had recently protested that the TRS calls for bandhs whenever an upper caste student commits suicide over the Telangana issue, but remains silent when students from Dalit or OBC background similarly commit suicide, the report added. In fact, a Dalit student leader who did not support the festival is quoted as saying that most students who were active in the Beef Festival do not eat it in their homes.

“This is a gimmick to gain the upper hand in campus politics by creating a wedge between different castes.”

But who gains from a split in the student movement for a Telangana state? Given that the Congress is perceived to be the party that has

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played dirty with Telangana politics for over 50 years, it faces a near total rout in the areas that come under the Telangana region. That gives the Congress a motive to break up the student movement.

That endeavour has an ally in the form of Kancha Ilaiah, academician and Dalit activist who specialises in spewing hypercritical diatribes directed at Hinduism in general and against upper castes in particular. (In a 2006 interview, for instance, he thundered that IITs and IIMs should be shut down “as they pander to the upper-caste economy of the country.

Those who pass out from these institutes use their technical and managerial skills to earn dollars abroad.”)

Ilaiah has said that he opposes the Telangana movement because its leaders had said that there was no place for others in the region. Such arguments, he said, “should be opposed” – and he was even ready to give up his life in the fight.

The Beef Festival bears the mark of Ilaiah’s provocative politics, as outlined in his recent talk in Hyderabad on “Beef, BJP and Food Rights of People.”

Put the pieces together, and it appears that the Beef Festival organisers have been led like sheep into launching a provocative campaign that inflames caste identities all around, but equally significantly, disrupts the students’ solidarity and torpedoes the Telangana movement.

Far from being proud participants in a movement for the assertion of their “food rights”, they have been led like lambs to the slaughter – while their political patrons backstage harvest the fruits of their folly.

29

India to Test Agni-V Long-Range Missile NEW DELHI (ET): India hopes this week to join the select group of countries with intercontinental missiles by holding the first test flight of a new long-range nuclear-capable rocket, officials said Monday.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has scheduled a maiden launch of the Agni-V missile, which has a range of more than 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles), between Wednesday and Friday.

The exact launch date is flexible “because this is our longest-range missile and there are many logistics issues and hence we don’t plan for one day,” DRDO spokesman Ravi Gupta told AFP.

Defence Weekly forecasting its total purchases between 2011 and 2015 will top $100 billion.

It traditionally sees neighbours Pakistan and China as its prime external threats.

Military spending was boosted by 17 percent to $40 billion in last month’s budget, following a 12 percent increase the previous year.

India has fought three wars with arch-rival Pakistan since independence in 1947, but China is now viewed as the main focus of India’s ambitious military plans.

The border between India and China has been the subject of inconclusive diplomatic talks since the 1980s after the two nations fought a brief but

In the latest display of India’s growing military might, the test of the indigenously-developed Agni-V will be carried out from a coastal range in the eastern state of Orissa.

“Agni-V is a 5,000-plus kilometre range missile and it is to meet our present-day threat perceptions, which are determined by our defence forces and other agencies,” Gupta said from the test site.

The planned launch comes four months after India successfully tested the Agni-IV missile, which is capable of travelling 3,500 kilometres.

India is among the world’s top 10 military spenders, with Jane’s

brutal war in 1962.

TheAgni-V would in theory be able to strike targets across Asia and some parts of Europe.

Only China, Russia, France, the United States, Great Britain and Israel are thought to have such longdistance missiles. India conducted a string of atomic detonations in 1998 and declared itself a nuclear-weapons state but it refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The test plan has not attracted the international criticism aimed at reclusive North Korea, which last week carried out a rocket test that ended in failure.

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April 20, 2012

Tata Steel to Invest up to 250 Mn Pounds in UK Facility

NEW DELHI (ET): Tata Steel will invest up to 250 million pounds (about Rs 2,000 crore) in its Port Talbot facility in the UK in the nearterm, including 185 million pounds for rebuilding a blast furnace.

“Tata Steel’s key near-term investment in Wales is 185 million pounds to be spent on rebuilding the Number Four blast furnace at Port Talbot, work on which is scheduled to start in June,” it said in a statement.

“Other near-term investment projects take the investment committed at Port Talbot to almost 250 million pounds,” it added.

The Port Talbot plant in Wales is

one of the largest steel plants in the UK. It has about five million tonnes of steel slab per annum. The company, however, did not specified a time line for its proposed investment.

“At this stage it is not possible for us to be more specific about any further investment projects before the details have been finalised and approved,” it said.

A statement issued in UK earlier today by First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones has said that Tata Steel will invest up to 800 million pounds in Wales over the next five years.

The statement of Jones was issued following a Welsh assembly trade

mission to India few days back, where the minister had met Tata Steel’s Vice Chairman B Muthuraman.

“Tata steel plans to invest up to 800 million pounds over the next five years in their Welsh facilities. This substantial investment will be used to improve production, product mix, quality and product range at their plants in Wales,” Jones said in the statement.

Stating that a blast furnace is normally relined every 10 to 20 years, Tata Steel said the rebuilding of the blast furnace at Port Talbot facility is “an investment with a similarly longterm horizon”.

NEW DELHI (HT): The overall inflation in March eased to 6.89% on account of sharp decline in prices of onions, fruits and protein-based items, even as vegetables and pulses turned costlier. Inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), was 6.95% in February. In March last year, it was 9.68%.

As per the official data released on Monday, inflation in food items was 9.94% in March, as against 6.07% in February.

Onion prices declined by (-)24.23% in March. The rate of decline was (-)48.50% in February.

Besides, eggs, meat and fish prices rose 17.71% during the month, lower from 20% in February.

Pulses turned expensive by 10.05% and vegetables by 30.57% during

March. In February, the rate of price rise in vegetables was 1.52%.

Milk became expensive by 15.29%, while rice and cereals turned costlier by 4.73% and 4.41% respectively.

Prices of potato too rose by 11.60%.

Food articles have 14.3% share in the WPI basket.

The manufactured goods showed moderation in inflation to 4.87%, from 5.75%. This may have a bearing on the annual monetary policy to

be announced by the Reserve bank tomorrow.

The inflation number for March remained marginally above the projections made by finance ministry, which had expected it to be around 6.5%.

The headline inflation number for January was revised upwards to 6.89 %, up from the provisional estimate of 6.55%.

India’s Overall Inflation Declines to 6.89% in March

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Supreme Court OKs Children’s Rights

BY J. VENKATESAN (The Hindu) The Supreme Court on Thursday by a majority of 2:1 upheld the constitutional validity of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which provides for free and compulsory education to children between the age of 6 and 14 years and mandates government/aided/and non-minority unaided schools to reserve 25 per cent of the seats for these children.

A Bench of Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia and Justice Swatanter Kumar while upholding the law, however, held that it would not be applicable to unaided minority schools. Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan, gave a dissenting judgment.

The majority judgment said: “We hold that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 is constitutionally valid and shall apply to a school established, owned or controlled by the appropriate Government or a local authority; an aided school including aided minority school(s) receiving aid or grants to meet whole or part of its expenses from the appropriate Government or the local authority; a school belonging to specified category; and an unaided non-minority school not receiving any kind of aid or grants to meet its expenses from the appropriate Government or the local authority.”

The CJI who wrote the judgment said: “It will operate from today. In other words, this will apply from the academic year 2012-13. However, admissions given by unaided minority schools prior to the pronouncement of this judgment shall not be reopened. “By judicial decisions, right to education has been read into right to life in Article 21. A child who is denied right to access education is not only deprived of his right to live with dignity, he is also deprived of his right to freedom of speech and expression enshrined in Article 19(1) (a). The 2009 Act seeks to remove all those barriers including financial

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The Court said the RTE Act seeks to remove all barriers that a “child belonging to the weaker section and disadvantaged group has to face while seeking admission”. File photo: K.R. Deepak

and psychological barriers which a child belonging to the weaker section and disadvantaged group has to face while seeking admission.”

The Bench said: “It is true that, as held in the T.M.A. Pai Foundation as well as the P.A. Inamdar judgments, the right to establish and administer an educational institution is a fundamental right, as long as the activity remains charitable under Article 19(1) (g). However, in the said two decisions the correlation between Articles 21 and 21A, on the one hand, and Article 19(1) (g), on the other, was not under consideration.

Further, the content of Article 21A flows from Article 45 (as it then stood). The 2009 Act has been enacted to give effect toArticle 21A. For the above reasons, since the Article 19(1) (g) right is not an absolute right as Article 30(1), the 2009 Act cannot

be termed as unreasonable.”

The Bench said: “To put an obligation on the unaided non-minority school to admit 25 per cent children in class I under Section 12(1) (c) cannot be termed as an unreasonable restriction. Such a law cannot be said to transgress any constitutional limitation. The object of the 2009 Act is to remove the barriers faced by a child who seeks admission to class I and not to restrict the freedom under Article 19(1) (g). “From the scheme of Article 21A and the 2009 Act, it is clear that the primary obligation is of the State to provide for free and compulsory education to children between the age of 6 and 14 years and, particularly, to children who are likely to be prevented from pursuing and completing the elementary education due to inability to afford fees or charges.”

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Auto Strike Hits Commuters in Mumbai MUMBAI (Outlook): Commuters had a hard time getting to their offices in Mumbai due to the strike by the Sharad Rao-led Mumbai Autorickshawmen’s Union, seeking a hike in minimum fares.

Office-goers and students appearing for their final exams found the commute extended as autos kept off the roads. The auto unions led by Shiv Sena and MNS did not participate in the one-day strike.

The Rao-led union went ahead with the strike despite the one rupee hike in minimum fare, from Rs 11 to Rs 12, announced by the Regional Transport Authority last week.

The BEST management deployed extra buses in view of the strike. Some political parties also operated free drop facility for suburban commuters to prominent railway stations.

The autorickshawmen’s union last week rejected the one-man committee of former bureaucrat PMA

A auto driver sits inside his auto rickshaw, during the day-long auto strikein Mumbai to protest against lower than expected hike in fares.

Hakim, set up to decide the fare hike formula.

The Autorickshaw Malak-Chalak Sanghatana Sanyukta Kriti Samiti, headed by Rao, said Hakeem had

been detrimental to the autorickshawmen over the last 14 years.

The fare for auto-rickshaws and taxis was fixed using a single formula, drawn as per recommendations of the

Hakim Committee in 1996.

The city’s transport authority recently increased fares for the first 1.6 kilometres by a rupee, effective from April 20. The Mumbai Autorickshawmen’s Union said the hike is not sufficient, in view of the overall price rise. The union wants an increase of five rupees in the minimum fare, and a hike of two rupees for every additional kilometre.

Rao, who met deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on the issue of auto strike,

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

told reporters that Pawar has assured him to hold a meeting to discuss demands of the automen, after the budget session of legislature.

Members of the union held a “peaceful demonstration” outside the office of the transport commissioner in Bandra, he said.

“The Sena and MNS tried hard to disrupt our strike but 15 lakh auto owners and drivers in the state observed the day-long strike peacefully,” Rao said.

32

SPORTS OPINION

April 20, 2012

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SPORTS

Contenders Eye Olympic Ranking Points in Asian Badminton Championship in Delhi

Badminton players Saina Nehwal (right) and Ashwini Ponnappa at a press conference in New Delhi. File photo

NEW DELHI (The Hindu): With just two tournaments to go before the Olympic qualification, contenders would look to rack up enough ranking points when they go all-out to earn a Games berth during the Asian badminton Championship beginning at Qingdao in China on Tuesday.

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal is already assured of a berth but five of her compatriots are still in the running for a berth in the London Olympics and would look for a productive run in this tournament as well as the subsequent India Open, to be held from April 24 to April 29, before the May 3 deadline.

Saina, the world number five Indian is on a mission to earn some psychological mileage by defeating the top Chinese shuttlers and would start her campaign against Japan’s Kaori Imabeppu.

The 22-year-old has a reasonable draw and is likely to meet second seed Chinese Xin Wang in the quarterfinals. This would be an important tournament for the Indian ace as she

would look to test her speed after her recent 5-kilo weight loss.

In the men’s singles, it is a two-way battle between world number 27 Ajay Jayaram and P Kashyap, ranked 31st and the duo would start their campaign against Chinese Taipei’s Jen Hao Hsu and second seed Chen Long of China, respectively.

Top Indian doubles player Jwala Gutta is in running for an Olympic berth in two categories – women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

The 28-year-old from Hyderabad will pair up with Ashwini Ponnappa in women’s doubles as the World number 20 combo opens their campaign against Vita Marissa and Nadya Melati of Indonesia.

“We have been practising with Arif Sir and it has been a good session.

We worked hard and we would look to be just calm mentally on court,” Ashwini said. Jwala will also combine with her mixed doubles partner V Diju to take on Indonesian pair of Riky Widianto and Puspita Richi Dili in their tournament-opener.

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April 20, 2012 Indian Premier League 2012

33

Clinical Kolkata Knight Riders Trounce Punjab

BY KANISHKAA BALACHANDRAN MOHALI (Cricinfo): In one of the more one-sided games of the tournament, Kolkata Knight Riders breezed to an eight-wicket win and made amends for fluffing a chase against the same opponents, Kings XI Punjab, three days ago. A deflated Kings XI limped to 124 on their home surface after winning the toss but there were no twists as Knight Riders, led by Gautam Gambhir, attained the target with a risk-free approach.

The pitch had a layer of grass and offered movement off the seam, but it didn’t have the kind of moisture that gave the bowlers an edge in the previous Mohali game, against Pune Warriors. Nevertheless, the batsmen didn’t have the freedom to hit through the line - a staple fare in the plenty of games so far in the IPL. None of the Kings XI batsmen could bat through. Adam Gilchrist kept the momentum going with a couple of boundaries through the on side, but pulled a hamstring while completing a quick single. He had to retire, and his untimely departure in the sixth over dented the run-rate.

Kings XI were going along at 7.50 but post-Gilchrist, it had declined to as low as 5.93. The Knight Riders bowlers didn’t allow any big partnerships to develop, nothing higher than 24.

Much depended on Marsh to give the team momentum, but he departed for 33, albeit in controversial circumstances. He chased a wide delivery from Lee shaping away and got a thick outside edge which dipped to the wicketkeeper, but Manvinder Bisla immediately claimed the catch. The umpires conferred and took Bisla’s word, but replays couldn’t confirm if he had his gloves underneath the ball. Marsh accepted the ruling, but the team owner Preity Zinta didn’t appear too pleased with the decision, querying one of the match officials before Gilchrist stepped in to restore calm.

It triggered off a steady collapse as David Hussey fell shortly after due

to bad calling, before Dimitri Mascarenhas and Paras Dogra perished going for the big shots. Gilchrist returned in the 17th over to pick up the pieces and he struck the only six of the innings, in the final over. That Kings XI managed only three boundaries in the last ten overs showed how Knight Riders tightened the noose.

Brendon McCullum got the chase off the blocks with forceful pulls to the on side, but ironically fell to an embarrassing shot in the same region.

Piyush Chawla bowled a long hop way down the leg side but somehow, McCullum contrived to find short fine leg, prompting a disbelieving grin from Chawla.

Gambhir remained strong square of the wicket on both sides, cutting when given width and nudging away deliveries on the pads.

Bisla launched Harmeet Singh for a six over mid-off but was bowled dragging one on to his stumps just before the halfway stage. With a paltry target to defend, Kings XI could have attacked more, kept a slip or a couple of men in close catching positions to force a mistake. Gambhir had the freedom to use his feet against the spinners, getting to his half-century off 36 balls.

Gambhir had earlier demanded more application from his middle order. Today, he led by example.

took the second place at 62.40m, while Russ Winger, also of the US, came third at 61.98m.

Gowda continues to top the world lists with his 66.28, followed by Yennifer Frank Casanas of Spain (66.25), Jorge Fernandez of Cuba (66.05), Jason Morgan of Jamaica (65.61) and Winger (65.46).

The top discus throwers of the world, including Beijing Olympics champion Gerd Kanter of Estonia, reigning world champion Robert Harting of Germany, last year’s leader Zoltan Kovago of Hungary (69.50) and two-time Olympic champion Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania, are yet to begin their outdoor season.

Gautam Gambhir led by example with an unbeaten 66. Photo: AP

Discus Thrower Vikas Gowda Wins Another Title

NEW DELHI (The Hindu): Discus thrower Vikas Gowda took his third title on the trot in the US but could not reproduce last Thursday’s form at the John Jacobs invitational meet at Norman, Oklahoma, on Saturday.

Having touched a National record of 66.28m just two days earlier at the same venue that helped him win the title and also go to the top of the world charts for the season, Gowda could have been expected to be in the 65-66m region.

But he settled for 64.50m while still beating the field by a fair margin — he had a series of 61.10, foul, 61.80, 58.67, 61.15 and 64.50.

Gowda has six career marks over 64.68 including his national record.

He had opened the season with a win at Mesa, Arizona, with a 63.05m.

American Ian Waltz, who was fifth at the 2005 World championships,

Pak Azhar Mahmood’s Visa Issues Resolved

Azhar Mahmood, the former Pakistan allrounder, has received a visa to play across Indian cities in the IPL for Kings XI Punjab. He had initially experienced a delay in receiving his visa, and then got one that was valid only for Delhi and Chandigarh.

Mahmood confirmed the news in a tweet. Mahmood, who is now a British citizen, had said that the issue was not political and was likely to be solved quickly.

Mahmood was bought by Kings XI at the auction in February for $200,000.

He was expected to be available for selection from the beginning of the IPL but missed the franchise’s first four games due to the visa issues. He will be available for their fifth game on Wednesday evening against Kolkata Knight Riders at home.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

34

SOUTH ASIA

April 20, 2012

SONAL

BHUCHAR REPUBLICAN FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE District 26

Dear Friends,

Sonal Bhuchar

First, thank you for your continued support and encouragement within the community. I could not be at this stage of the campaign without you, from ing thousands of residents in House District 26, I am truly blessed to have you on my team.

SONAL

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REPUBLICAN FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE

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26 REPUBLICAN District FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE District 26

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w.SonalforTexas.com www.SonalforTexas.com

Election Day May 29 Early Voting May 14 - May 25 For More Information call (832) 814-4902 or visit www.SonalforTexas.com

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IMPORTANT DATES

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

Pd Political Adv. by IAPAC

For More Information call (832) 814-4902 or visit

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you on my team.

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April 20, 2012

35

India Development Coalition of America Inform, Inspire, Empower, Impact

India Development Conference InvitationCoalition of America

Saluting NRI/PIO Leaders Dedicated Serve Poor in India Inform, Inspire,toEmpower, Impact

Conference Invitation India Development Coalition of America Coalition of America India Development Second South Regional Conference Inspire, Empower, Impact Saluting Inform, NRI/PIO Leaders Dedicated toInspire, Serve Poor in India Inform, Empower, Impact WorkingInvitation Together to Eradicate Poverty Conference Conference Invitation ment CoalitionSaluting of America and MitigatetoClimate Change in India NRI/PIO Leaders Dedicated Serve Poor in India

Second South Regional Conference

Saluting NRI/PIO Leaders Dedicated to Serve Poor in India nspire, Empower, Impact Date: May 6, 2012, Time: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Conference Venue nference Invitation Second South Regional Working Together to Eradicate Poverty Conference Second South Regional Conference India Together House Houston, ders Dedicated to Serve Poor in India Working to Eradicate Poverty and Mitigate Climate Change in India

and Mitigate Climate Change in India

Working Together to Eradicate Poverty Sandeep Mody: 414-248-4319 8888,West Bellfort, Houston, TX 77031 Phone: 713-929-1906 Date: May 6, 2012, Time: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Mr. Sam Kannappan: 281-284-2270, Dr. K. T. Shah: 281-772-4139—Co IndiaPM House Houston, Date: May 6,Change 2012, Conference Time: 9:00 Venue, AM to 8:00 and Mitigate Climate inChairs India

econd South Regional Conference Sandeep Mody: 414-248-4319 8888,West Date: May 6, 2012, Time: AM to 8:00 PMBellfort, Houston, TX 77031 Phone: 713-929-1906 Some Invited Speakers: Dr. Renu Khator, Chancellor, Univ. of Houston; Deputy9:00 Counsel General

ConferenceDr. Venue Mr.USA; Sam 281-284-2270, K. T. Shah: 281-772-4139—Co Chairs Working Together toMr.Eradicate Poverty Hon. Anil K. Matta; Ramesh Shah, Chairman, Ekal Foundation Dr.Kannappan: Kirtikumar Shah, Conference Venue Chair, IDCA, Houston; Dr. Vijaya Cherukuri , Director, Chinmaya Organization for Rural India House Houston, and Mitigate Change in India India House Houston, Some InvitedClimate Speakers: Deputy Counsel General Hon. Anil Houston K. Matta;Chapter; Mr. Ashok Danda, President, Ekal Vidya Foundation, USA; Mr. Dev Mahajan, President, Arya Samaj, HousDevelopment, USA, Houston; Mr. Sam Kannappan, GOPIO, Mr. Shekhar

Sandeep Mody: 414-248-4319 8888,West Bellfort, Houston, TX Phone: Date: May 6, 2012, Time: 9:00 AMUSA, to8888,West 8:00 PM ton; Mr.Vasudev Singh, Vice president, Houston Chapter, Sewa International, Dr.77031 Kirtikumar Shah,713-929-1906 Chair, IDCA, Houston; Ms. Anjani Kothari, Chinmaya Organization for Sandeep Mody: 414-248-4319 Bellfort, Houston, TX president 77031 USA; Phone: 713-929-1906 Agarwal, Bharat Swabhiman Trust, Houston; Mr. Swatantra Jain, Houston Mr. Sam Kannappan: 281-284-2270, Dr. K. T. Shah: 281-772-4139—Co Chairs Chapter, Pratham, USA; Mr. Krishna Vavilala, president, India Studies Foundation, Houston.

Rural Development, USA, Houston; Mr. Sam Kannappan, Houston Chapter; Mr. Sam Kannappan: 281-284-2270, Dr.GOPIO, K. T. Shah: 281-772-4139—Co Chairs Conference Venue We urge you to join us for a day of intensive learning and networking; find support for your projects or support interesting

House Houston, Some Invited Speakers: Dr. Renu Khator, Chancellor, Univ.Eradication of Houston; Deputy Counsel GeneralCounsel General Some Invited Speakers: Renu of Houston; Deputy projects; strengthen orIndia build network to Dr. accelerate your project, forChancellor, Poverty in India!

The conference will We urge you to join us for a713-929-1906 dayChairman, ofKhator, intensive learningUniv. and networking; fihave nd support for your projects or support interesting projects; 88,West Bellfort, Houston, TX 77031 Phone: Hon. Anil K. Matta; Mr. Ramesh Shah, Ekal Foundation USA; Kirtikumar Shah, four sessions.

We will discuss about ways to meet the four basic human needs and Mitigating ClimateDr. Change byUSA; renewable energy Hon. Anil K. Matta; Mr. Ramesh Shah, Chairman, Ekal Foundation Dr. Kirtikumar Shah,The conference will have four sessions. We will discuss about strengthen or build network to accelerate your project, for Poverty Eradication in India!

Early $ 50.

April 15 ; $75. after April 15; Includes lunch, 2 Organization tea breaks. Registration forms can be Chair, IDCA, Houston; Dr.before Vijaya Cherukuri , Director, Chinmaya for Rural 1-284-2270, projects Dr. K.. Registration: T. IDCA, Shah: 281-772-4139—Co Chairs Chair, Houston; Dr. Vijaya Cherukuri , Director, Chinmaya Organization for Rural ways to meet four basic human needs and Mitigating Change renewable energy projects . Registration: Early $ 50. before April 27 ; $75. after April 27; Includes downloaded from the website :http://idcoa.cloverpad.org/upcoming.aspx or write orClimate call Houston us so that weChapter; can by email.

Development, USA, Houston; Mr. Sam Kannappan, GOPIO, Mr. Shekhar Development, USA, Houston; Mr. Sam Kannappan, HoustonHouston Chapter; Mr. Shekhar or, Chancellor, Univ. of Bharat Houston; Deputy Counsel General lunch, 2 tea breaks.Swabhiman Registration formsUSA, can be downloaded fromGOPIO, website :http://idcoa.cloverpad.org/upcoming.aspx or write or call us so that we can email.

Agarwal, Trust, Houston; Mr. Swatantra Jain, president Chairman, Ekal Foundation USA;USA; Dr. Kirtikumar Shah, Agarwal, Bharat Swabhiman Trust, USA, Houston; Swatantra Jain, president Houston Chapter, Pratham, Mr. Krishna Vavilala, president, India Mr. Studies Foundation, Houston. kuri , Director,We Chinmaya Organization for Rural Education Water Livelihoods-Energy Health urge you to join us for a dayUSA; of intensive learning andVavilala, networking; find support for your projects or support interesting Chapter, Pratham, Mr. Krishna president, India Studies Foundation, Houston.

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The conference will have sustainable development in India to eradicate individuals and ins@tu@ons, who want to accelerate avilala, president, StudiesEarly Foundation, Houston. projectsIndia . Registration: $ 50. before April 15 ; $75. after April 15; Includes lunch, 2 tea breaks. Registration forms can be fourfind sessions.

We will :http://idcoa.cloverpad.org/upcoming.aspx discuss waysinteresting to meet the fourorpoverty. basic needs and Mitigating Climate by renewable energy a member in one of the categories listed ning and networking; support for your projects about or support We invite inChange this effort and become downloaded from website write orhuman call us so that we canyou email. to join . Registration: Early 50. beforewillApril after April 15; Includes lunch, 2 tea breaks.

Registration formsper can year; be e your project, for projects Poverty Eradication in India!

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Associate: $50.; Student $25., benefit details e four basic human needs and Mitigating Climate Change by renewable energy downloaded from website :http://idcoa.cloverpad.org/upcoming.aspx or write or call us so that we can email.

$75. after April 15; Includes lunch, 2 tea breaks. Registration forms can be Education Water /upcoming.aspx or write or call us so that we can email.

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Water

and Membership form Health available at IDCA Website.

Livelihoods-Energy

Dr. K. T. Shah; Mr. Sam Kannappan, Porus Dadabhoy, IL; Dileep Thatte, IL; Dr. Nilima

EducationSabharwal, Livelihoods-Energy CA; Jay Sehgal (IRRAD),Health India, IA; Ronald Fernandes, IL; Neha Misra, DC Chapter

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Prakasam Tata, past President, IL ; Raj Rajaram, past president, IL; Mohan Jain, Founder , ( Chairman SFF) , Founder Trustee, FL.

Dr. K. T. Shah; Mr. Sam Kannappan, Porus Dadabhoy, IL; Dileep Thatte, IL; Dr. Nilima Sabharwal, CA; Jay Sehgal (IRRAD), India, IA; president and Trustee, IL; Suri Sehgal Ronald Fernandes, IL; Neha Misra, DC Chapter Coordinator, MD; Jiwan Sondhi, MI; R. Rajagopal, (Uni. of Iowa), IA; Arvind Amin (Pratham USA), TX; Nila Vora (IDS); IL; Kamal Bawa (ATREE), MA; Balbir Mathur (Trees for Life), KS; Prakasam Tata, past President, IL ; Raj Rajaram, past president, IL; Mohan Jain, Founder president and Trustee, IL; Suri Sehgal , ( Chairman SFF) , Founder Trustee, FL.

Promoting Learning, Networking, Giving, Sharing, Volunteering and Collaboration.

Promoting !"#$%&'%()%!**&)+&'%,+-./+0.10+2-%3456789%:;:<;0'=&1%+0>()&?(@+)%+/%!)A&()%$:;0&B()%,CDE'F%&)A&G&AH(*'% Learning, Networking, Giving, Sharing, Volunteering and Collaboration. (http://idc-america.org / info@idc-america.org Tel: 630-303-9592, 630-960-2425) you ()A%&)'@-H@+)'F%I=+%I()-%-+%(BB;*;0(-;%'H'-(&)(<*;%A;G;*+1:;)-%&)%!)A&(%-+%;0(A&B(-;%1+G;0-JK We invite (http://idc-america.org / info@idc-america.org Tel: 630-303-9592, 630-960-2425) to join in this effort and become a member in one of the categories listed here: Primary : $500. per year; General : $100. per year; Associate: $50.; Student $25., benefit details and Membership form available at IDCA Website .

AMERICAN • FRIDAY, APRIL 20,India, 2012 Dr. K. T. Shah; Mr. Sam Kannappan, Porus Dadabhoy, IL;INDO Dileep Thatte, IL; Dr. NilimaNEWS Sabharwal, CA; Jay Sehgal (IRRAD), IA; • WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM ;:<;0'=&1%+0>()&?(@+)%+/%!)A&()%$:;0&B()%,CDE'F%&)A&G&AH(*'% Ronald Fernandes, IL; Neha Misra, DC Chapter Coordinator, you Jiwan Sondhi, MI; R. Rajagopal, (Uni. of Iowa), IA; Arvind Amin (Pratham '-(&)(<*;%A;G;*+1:;)-%&)%!)A&(%-+%;0(A&B(-;%1+G;0-JK We invite MD; !"#$%&'%()%!**&)+&'%,+-./+0.10+2-%3456789%:;:<;0'=&1%+0>()&?(@+)%+/%!)A&()%$:;0&B()%,CDE'F%&)A&G&AH(*'% USA), TX; Nila VoraP(IDS); IL; Kamal (ATREE), Balbir rimary : $500Bawa . per year; GMA; eneral : Mathur (Trees for Life), KS; Prakasam Tata, past President, IL ; Raj ne of the categories listed here: ()A%&)'@-H@+)'F%I=+%I()-%-+%(BB;*;0(-;%'H'-(&)(<*;%A;G;*+1:;)-%&)%!)A&(%-+%;0(A&B(-;%1+G;0-JK We invite you

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DIASPORA

April 20, 2012

Naveen Andrews: The Indian Star of the Popular TV Series “Lost”

BY SOWMYA NANDAKUMAR Naveen Andrews, (Naveen William Sidney Andrews), a British actor of Indian origin, born to Syrian Christian parents from Kerala, has established an extremely successful acting career in Britain and USA. He has been acting since 1991 when he was 22 years old, but shot to his pinnacle of fame after appearing in the popular American television series, Lost.

Andrews was born in Lambeth, London in 1969 and expressed a keen inclination to acting when he was just five years old. His parents had moved to England from Kerala in the 1960s and his father worked in the railways and his mom at the post office. They made an effort not to teach Naveen any Indian language so that he wouldn’t develop an accent.

Naveen is the elder of two siblings and he describes his upbringing as having been too authoritarian. In an interview to The Guardian, UK, he elaborates his on his childhood and teens as having been violent. His parents had repressive methods filled with explosions of rage and anger which they called love. While in this day and age that might seem like an outdated way of parenting, Naveen thinks that was the only way they knew to show their love. They always branded him as the delinquent sibling, which never encouraged him to have a healthy and naturally friendly relationship with his younger brother which even in recent times remains an estranged equation.

At 15 years he was thrown out of home apparently due to the violence in his home atmosphere, and went to live with his math teacher, Geraldone Feakins and at 16 he fell in love with her. The actor in him (whom he had realized by the age of five) lived on despite all these disturbances. At 16, he auditioned and

got accepted to London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 1991 he played his first role in Hanif Kureshi’s film London Kills Me, as Bike and in 1992, when he was 23, he had a son Jaisal, with Geraldine. A standard trend in his life seems to have been his attraction to older women. According to Andrews older women know who they are and he finds them infinitely better. Also, since he had a strained relationship with his mother, he inherently found love from an older woman more appealing. A couple of years after his son’s birth, he split up with Geraldine by which time he was an alcoholic and a drug addict.

However, his acting career made tremendous progress. In 1993, the Evening Standard Drama Awards nominated him for, The Most Promising Newcomer, for his role of Zaf in Wild West directed by David Attwood. Again in 1993, he was nominated for the Best Actor in the San

Remo film festival for the BBC’s TV miniseries, The Buddha of Suburbia, in which he plays Karim. In 1996, he played the role of Raj Singh, in Kama Sutra-A Tale of Love, directed by Mira Nair.

In the same year he was Kip in The English Patient, directed

by Anthony Minghella, which pushed him into the limelight.

He remained an alcoholic and a drug addict until he was 29 when he finally gained inspiration from his childhood hero, the English rock guitarist Steve Jones, founder of the punk rock band, Sex Pistols. He noticed at a friend’s party that Steve Jones neither drank nor smoked. This inspired Andrews to a life of sobriety, which has enabled him to connect back with his older son Jaisal, who lives and studies in London but visits his father in LA. He has featured in a variety of roles - Pindi in Mighty Joe Young (1998) directed by Ron Underwood, Balraj in Bride and Prejudice (2004) by Gurinder Chadha, Deepak Ahluwalia in Provoked – A True Story (2006) by Jug Mundhra. His most acclaimed role came in 2004 for the television series LOST playing the character of Sayid Jarrah, an Iraqi Republican Guard torturer. He was extremely convincing as the hard hearted torturer, also portraying with finesse the role of the repenting man waiting for love to lighten his life. His trademarks, the curly

hair, muscular physique, charismatic looks and charmingly expressive eyes probably made quite an impression with the women!

Only the older women get lucky with Naveen!

He met actress Barbara Hershey, (21 years older than him) on the set of the film Drowning on Dry Land (1999), directed by Carl Colpaert.

They were together in Los Angeles until 2005 when they briefly separated. Andrews had another son, Naveen Joshua, with Elene Eustache during his separation from Hershey. Later, Andrews and Hershey reconciled but Andrews was amidst a custody dispute over Naveen Joshua and finally got sole legal and physical custody in January 2009. Since he had a repressive parent-child relationship growing up, he says in an interview to The Guardian that he has learnt one thing from his parents – “how not to parent his child”. In late 2009, Andrews and Hershey called off their relationship.

His greatest accomplishments - winning the “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series” award, in the Screen Actors Guild Awards 2006; nominated in 2006 for the Golden Globe Award for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, MiniSeries or Motion Picture made for Television.

Apart from acting, Naveen Andrews loves country music and has played the guitar since his childhood and hopes to do more with music someday. In 2012, Andrews has the Sindbad series coming up, which is now in post- production. As Sayid Jarrah in Lost he seems to have captivated the audience so much that there is a fan club on Facebook that is rallying for him to be cast as the next James Bond! If that did happen an interesting question that one can’t refrain from asking is who will be that older woman cast opposite Naveen Andrews as James Bond!

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

10w x 13 T

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7:00 to 8:00 p.m.: Registation and Social Hour 8:00 p.m.: Dinner Entertainment by Mahalakshmi Krishnan and Hardik Jani

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Premium Seating for 10 Seating for 10 Premium Seating for 2 Individual Seating

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Contributions payable to Save A Mother mailed to: Nat Murthy 633 Lake Shore Drive Sugarland TX 77478 Save A Mother is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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40 April 20, 2012

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM