Dec 16 Pages 1-26

Friday, December 16 2011 | Vol. 30, No. 50

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December 16, 2011

Arzan Gonda, Artistic Director

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One Hundred years of History

Indo American Chamber of Commerce Hosts Business Expo

By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: Top bracket representatives from major city and state organizations and public service enterprises shared wisdom, knowledge, and advice to small business owners at an outreach expo hosted by the Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) at India House on December 3, 2011. The event, sponsored by Citibank, was yet another endeavor by IACCGH to encourage would-be entrepreneurs to think outside the box, to enter more culturally diverse business climates, to increase their visibility at networking forums to establish trust with future clients, and to boldly utilize government and state resources to grow successful businesses. Resource partners in collaboration with IACCGH included the Houston Airport System Office of Building Development, US Small Business Administration, City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Business Opportunity, Accion Texas, Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Metro, Port of Houston, Houston Business Development, Houston Minority Business Enterprise Center, Community Health Choice. Inc, and Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance, to name a few.

In her welcome address, President of IACCGH Mona Parikh told gatherees that the organization was formed to help small businesses to survive.

“The economic recession devastated families, caused losses of

IACCGH President elect Ajit Thakur, CPA presents Cleveland Baker, introduced by Richard Huebner, with a memento that read you made a world of difference Photos: Bijay Dixit

jobs, and closed down big businesses,” said Parikh, a young attorney based in this city. “Some opened small enterprises, which is the most optimistic decision an individual can make as it requires a state of readiness. Today, together with our resource partners, we share a common goal of helping empower small businesses,” added Parikh.

Intrepid Founder/ Executive Director of IACCGH Jagdip Ahluwalia, who has raised the bar on the organization’s stature as authoritative and effective in the past 12 years since inception, told gatherees that anyone with a “glimmer of an idea of what they want to do” would be guided on their journey to identify and find what they have an aptitude for.

Don Burback of Citibank officially declared the Expo open; he added that other venues citywide had been identified for similar outreach events.

Ken Janda, President and CEO of Community Health Choice.

Inc, (CHC) delivered the keynote speech and talked extensively on a groundbreaking health insurance 3-Share Plan developed by CHC for small businesses with 2 – 50 employees; the plan is less expensive than those drafted by private insurers, and premiers are subsidized by Harris County.

Following a luncheon underwritten by CHC, President-Elect of IACCGH Ajit Thakur and Ahluwalia feted honoree Cleveland Baker, the Lead Business Development Specialist at US Small Business Administration’ local

“Small businesses constitute the engine that drives the US economy,” said Ahluwalia.

A recent survey conducted by the Small Business Administration found that small businesses provide about 50% of the total jobs in the US economy. Ahluwalia introduced speakers from the various participating organizations that stepped forward and briefly made presentations on their areas of expertise. Representatives were also at booths set up by the organizations to talk to and address any questions by interested parties.

Audience with the resource partner leaders in the front row

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district office, who retired after 43 years. Baker received a plaque from IACCGH that recognized his service as exemplary.

The expo began at 9.30am and continued until nearly 2.30pm, with about 160 guests through the course of the event.

“We had such high level representatives from the various bureaus, but I really wished for a larger response from the Indo American community,” said Ahluwalia. “We had the potential to accommodate about 600 people. I wish more had taken advantage of this opportunity,” he added.

Other dates/venues for future outreach programs will be announced in the local media and at the organization’s website.

For more information about IACCGH, visit www.iaccgh.com.

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December 16, 2011

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COMMUNITY

December 16, 2011

Aw welcome Adjustment of ears and m mind to Pure(er) Hindi

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: “The last time I heard the word ‘nivedan’,” quipped someone, “was in conjunction with ‘kursi ki petti’!” He was referring of course to the Air India directions just before take-off to ‘Please, tie your seat belts’.

This past Friday night, December 9, at the banquet facility of Madras Pavilion in Sugar Land, Sangeeta Pasrija used it to get people up and go to the buffet table. ““Aap sub se nivedan hai ki aap khana le lijiye,” Pasrija said into the microphone and didn’t have to wait much for the just over 140 people to form a line that snaked through the tables.

They had come to listen to poetry spoken in one of the official Mother Tongues of India, Hindi, and help celebrate this year’s Hindi Divas (Day), which actually falls on September 14 every year, but is celebrated later in the Fall, “as it conflicts with all the Galas

From left: Sangeeta Pasrija (Event Organizer) with Swapan Dhairyawan (Program Coordinator)

happening at that time,” explained Swapan Dhairyawan, the other program coordinator along with Pasrija, who organized the event which was co-sponsored by the India Culture Center and the International Hindi Association’s Houston Chapter.

The Chapter, along with the ICC, has held an annual Hasya Kavi Sammellan (Laugh-

Poets with organizers of the event

ter Poetry Gathering) since 2008 and has planned next year’s event on Sunday, April 29 at India House.

“And what better way than to express Hindi than in poetry,” added Pasrija, “a Kavita ki Shaam (Evening of Poetry), that features works by some of the finest Hindi speakers in the city.” Among them was the emcee for the evening, Abha Dwivedi who has also emceed the last two Rama Leelas with Hindi perfection.

Although the IHA has been in Houston for many years, and especially active since 2007, this was its first attempt to put together a recital of poetry by 12 local poets: Om Gupta, Usha Mehra, Krishan Sharma, K. D. Upadhaya, Nausha Asrar, Sangeeta Pasrija, Fateh Ali Chatur, Sanjay Sohoni, Swa-

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Photos: Jawahar Malhotra

pan Dhairyawan, Arun Prakash, Ramesh Dwivedi and Dr Kamlesh Lulla.

And for the next two hours, the complicated words and rhyming structures that tumbled out of the mouths of these poets gripped the minds of the mostly middleaged and older audience and took them by wing to a time far away in their youths when English was seldom used on a daily basis.

The poets presented Bhakti ras, Shringar ras, Veer ras and Vyang ras verses much to the delight and “wah, waahs” from the audience. Since this wasn’t a competition, all the poets received certificate awards from Dr. Satish Jhingran, a pre-eminent Radiologist and Swatantra Jain, President of Prathem and active in the JVB Preksha Meditation Center.

5

Facebook Loosing Us Users Us

BANGALORE (SI): Facebook, the world’s largest social network site with more than 800 million active users around the world and roughly 200 million in the United States or two-thirds of the population, as of December 2011. According to Inside Facebook, a leading source of news and analysis on Facebook’s global growth says, Facebook in the U.S. has lost nearly 6 million users, falling from 155.2 million at the start of May 2011 to 149.4 million at the end of it.

This is the first time that Facebook has lost the U.S. users.

Even Canada also fell significantly, by 1.52 million down, although it has been fluctuating around that number. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, Norway and Russia all posted losses of more than 100,000 users.

Facebook has prepared most-expected public offering and it is eager to show off its thrust by building on its huge membership. But the company is still losing its users in U.S. Some people just refuse to participate and including people who have given it a try.

A study from eMarketer has released expressing user’s dissatisfaction over recent changes in Facebook. Many of the users mentioned concerns about privacy settings, confusing changes to the newsfeed. The study also reveals that 42 percent of users will use Facebook less than what they used to do and with 17 percent claiming they are stopped Facebook outright. Despite the possible losses, Facebook is still growing with more than 800 million users, having reached 687 million monthly actives.

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COMMUNITY

December 16, 2011

dance, Just Bollywood dance, to energize e your Body and soul! y s

By Jawahar Malhotra STAFFORD: While the older generation was readjusting their ears to the sounds of Hindi in verse (see page 5), 10 miles across town, screaming youngsters and their cheering families and friends were readjusting the insides of the Old Stafford Civic Center with a type of energy that the older set only wished they could bottle and use on a slow, rainy day!

And the dynamo that had lit the fuse under the 300 feet that pranced and jumped across the stage last Friday night, December 9 was just as energetic at the beginning of the 90-minute show as when she danced the finale with several other performers at the first annual Just Dance show produced

by Rhythm India.

She was none other than Arzan Gonda, 34, Rhythm India’s Artistic and Executive Director, a gift to Houston’s performing arts scene thanks to a romance that started in Bombay, flourished during trips to Houston and finally culminated in marriage to a Houston-based Parsi businessman in January 2003.

“I have to thanks all of you,” Gonda said, as she turned to the performers, “but especially to my wildly supportive husband Ruzbeh.”

Gonda had put together this evening to showcase the performances of her class of dancers, from young kids, like the ones she led by hand onstage in a line-up,

Arzan Gonda

to the young women who danced the thumping Bollywood re-mix beat in bright sequined costumes of silver, yellows, blacks, reds and a rainbow of other colors. The Just Dance logo for the evening was projected on the sidewalls and the stage and the outside lobby were decorated by Sapana Patel of Elegant Events.

The delight in the steps of the performers was all too obvious as each of 18 dances swept across the stage, with emcee Sara Kumar, dressed in a turquoise outfit kept the show moving along in good time. During the Bollywood “Then and Now” portion, Kumar played off Kamalrukh Gandhi, clad in jeans, who walked onstage to defend the music and dance of yesteryear. Armed with two troupes –

one dancing yesteryear music and the other its modern remix – a battle of dances took place much to the delight of the crowd. Although Kumar and Gandhi graciously called it a draw, it seemed that the modern re-mix set got the loudest roars of approval.

Gonda entered the desi performing arts scene almost immediately after she moved here in September 2002. “I was just swept away 3 months after I got here,” she explained, “first with the Shunya Theatre and then performing at other galas, finally opening up Rhythm India in September 2004, with studios at four locations around the Bayou City.

She and her group performed for the Rockets at half-time, and will again April 13 next year. Now, she was so immersed with teaching kids – she also has a company called “Showkids”that teaches over 100 kids in 7 different private schools – that she relishes the chance to be with them. Ironically, she has no children of her own.

“I just can’t imagine life elsewhere now,” Gonda said with a slight grin. And she doesn’t miss the TV gameshow host, model, actress and full-time artist that she was in Mumbai before destiny took her on a different trajectory.

And Houston kids are the better off for that twist of fate.

r Khanna seeks ro s support of s diaspora for congressional run r

By haider KaziM HOUSTON: Rohit “Ro” Khanna sought the support of IndianAmerican community on Tuesday for his prospective run for Congress from the 13th Congressional District which runs from Alameda to Fremont in California.

Addressing a group of IndiaAmericans at a fundraiser organized by Dr. Haku Israni, Khanna gave details of his economic growth platform and his political career to show that he stands a very good chance of being elected to Congress whenever that opportunity comes. .

Khanna, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration, has the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who recently showed up at a recent fundraiser for him at the home of venture capitalist Vinod Khosla. The fundraiser is reported to have raised close to $440,000.

A major cause for Khanna’s optimism is the fact that the district is staunchly Democratic and has nearly 35 percent Asian-American population, of which South Asians constitute a strong segment.

He is touring cities with sizable continued on page

7

From left: Ankit Loya, Sonny Mehta, Ro Khanna, Kavita Pallod and Bharat Pallod

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December 16, 2011

ro Khanna seeks r s support of diaspora s

continued from page

6

Indian-American population to muster support of the diaspora. He was here at the invitation of Rakhi Singh, daughter of Dr. Israni, who happened to attend one of Khanna’s fundraiser and was highly impressed by his strong credentials.

“Nationwide support (for Khanna) is important for getting support from his own party,” Dr. Israni said during introductory remarks.

He said that Indian-Americans had done well professionally and financially but had no political representation. The lesson from history is that “if you have financial strength, you must have political cover.”

Dr. Israni said that Khanna was the kind of person who would fight for India and the India-Americans.

“I think Rohit is one of the best Indian candidates I have seen in a very, very long time. It is in the interest of the community that we have a person like him in Congress,” Dr. Israni told this correspondent after the fundraiser.

“There are three million Hindus in America and I would love to see a Hindu in Congress to voice our views,” Vijay Pallod, a prominent community activist, said after the event. “I want to have such overwhelming support that no one else runs for that seat,”

Khanna said during his speech.

He said that the community should make full use of this opportunity which would open the gates for other Indian-American candidates.

Khanna said his economic agenda was in the center and explained policies that would help create jobs and reduce the skill gap.

Khanna, who was born in the US, said his grandfather was a freedom fighter who told him stories of India’s independence struggle during his visit to India in his early childhood. His parents also instilled in him strong work ethics through a rigorous training during his school days.

A question and answer session followed in which he explained his position on foreign, energy and economic policies.

Rakhi Singh offered a vote of thanks.

Khanna served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for two years during which he managed 108 domestic Commerce offices which help companies export products. He was named to the White House Business Council. In this capacity, he met with business and labor leaders across the country and worked tirelessly for policies to make the US more competitive in the global economy. He is a graduate in economics from the University of Chicago, and a graduate of Yale Law School.

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COMMUNITY

December 16, 2011

Gita Jayanthi and swami s dayananda’s Birthday c celebrations at Keshav smrithi s

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HOUSTON: Arsha Vidya Satsanga celebrated the Bhagavad Gita Jayanthi and the 80th birthday of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswathi on December 4 at Keshav Smrithi. The event consisted of a laghu pooja to Lord Krishna, Gita chanting, singing and dancing of classical compositions of Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, a video about the life of Pujya Swamiji, recognition of key people of Arsha Vidya Satsanga( AVS), and prasada bhojanam.

Gita jayanti is the day on which Lord Krishna taught Bhagavad Gita to the pandava prince Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This day is celebrated by all spiritual seekers as the day of rededication to the study of the song divine- Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. It falls on the Shukla Ekadashi of the Mrigashira Masa.

On this occasion, Pandit Viswasankaran Kartick led the chanting of 108 names of Lord Krishna- Krishna Ashothara namavali. This was followed by the brief veda parayanam and a vedic arathi. Then, a group of children who are learning Bhagavad Gita at AVS chanted the Dyana shlokam of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. It was very encouraging to see kids who are American born achieve a good degree of proper Samskruth Pronunciation. Then, the members of the various AVS Gita home study groups chanted the 10th and 15th chapters of the Bhagwat Gita. AVS conducts Gita home study courses in Sugar Land, Bellaire, Clearlake, and Jersey Village.

Tt was also time to celebrate the eightieth birthday of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a world renowed teacher of Vedanta, and the main inspiration behind AVS. Swamiji completed 80 years in August and this was celebrated by his devotees in a grand manner in India and in the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. The event is called Satabhishekam in vedic parlance and comprises of pujas, yagnas, and other rituals to celebrate the joyous occasion.

Swami Dayananda among his many multifaceted activities is a scholar and lover of

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both classical music and classical samskrutam. Hence, it comes as no surprise that he has composed many songs on the dieties of the Hindu pantheon as well as on Vedanta.

These are set to mellifluous music and have been popularized by many leading classical musicians in India and US. The highlight of these compositions are the harmonious synergy between concepts, words, music, and the emotions (bhava) sought to be conveyed by the song. A group of Houston based singers and musicians got together to learn and perform these compositions as their personal tribute to Swamiji. The songs presented include Bhaje Vignarajam( Hamsadhwani), Dakshinamurte Amurte( Ranjani) and many others. This was followed by a dance performance of Swamiji’s composition by the students of Guru Padmini Chari.

This was followed by a short video about the life of Swami Dayananda Saraswathi. It was remarkable to watch the many achievements of Swamiji. He has been a traditional teacher of Vedanta teaching several students, founder of the All India Movement for SEVA, the founder of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, given sanyasa diksha to several sadhakas, convener of Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, a composer of songs, a writer of several books, a counseller to several people, and above all, a compassionate person. The organizers then recognized the students, teachers, and the patrons of AVS. This was followed by Gita Arathi and prasad.

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AsGH’s As sGH’s collection drive for Houston Food Bank

HOUSTON: In keeping with its motto of ““Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam”, i.e. to “Make the Whole World Noble”, Arya Samaj is always looking for ways it can undertake activities which align with this objective. It started as a reform movement to revive the core values embodied in the Vedas which includes the tenet of ‘social well being for all’.

Arya Samaj Greater Houston (ASGH) constantly engages in social initiatives to serve its local community, as well as serve its community outreach activities in India.

In 2010, ASGH began an initiative to conduct a seasonal food drive in partnership with Houston Food Bank and to extend the generosity and helping spirit of ASGH members and community, to support local communities and community service through the efforts of the Houston Food Bank.

This year, starting in November, ASGH and DAV school community conducted a very successful food bank drive, collecting over 400 lbs. of canned and dry goods, as well as cash contributions of over $1,100. The collections were delivered to Houston Food Bank collection center on Dec 6 by Jai

organizing a camp at ASGH for Lifesaver training and distributing CPR kits to Houstonians, to partnering with Meals on Wheels and delivering meals to the senior citizens during Thanksgiving, AYM youth are doing their ASGH Food Drive collections ready to be part in living delivered at HEB and propagating the core values Agrawal, who coordinated the espoused by Arya Samaj.

ASGH has already kicked off the collection drive.

ASGH has played a leading annual Read-a-thon fundraising role in several other social and drive by the DAV school children, community service initiatives to raise funds for supporting the in Houston, from helping the operations of Jeevan Prabhat in Bhutanese refugee families find India – a project whose objective their footing and settling down is to provide care and ongoing in Houston, to hosting a Blood support for those orphaned in the Donation drive in September in Boxer Day Tsunami in 2004 and partnership with the St. Luke’s before that in the January 2001 earthquake in Gujarat.

Hospital.

These and other ongoing ASGH youth also undertake community service through their initiatives of ASGH clearly Arya Yuvak Mandal (AYM) evidence the stellar role played organization ranging from by the organization in shaping a supporting Mayor Anise Parker’s Noble Society (‘Arya Samaj’) in Houston Service initiative by the Houston community.

December 16, 2011

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A Fond Farewell to JVB Preksha samnijis s

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: The JVB Preksha Meditation Center bid a fond farewell to its two Samnijis at an event on Sunday, January 4 at the Center.

The Samnijis reached India safely and will participate in the Maradha Mahutsov for nuns and saints, which is held once a year in Rajasthan.

Samniji Akhsay Pragya had been in Houston for 12 years and with the Center for eight, the last 5 years continuously.

Samniji Perimal Pragya had been with the Center for a year and once before also, many years ago.

The announcement of new Samnijis will be made by

Acharya Mahashramanji in late January, and they are expected to join the Center in early February.

The Center also announced the new Executive Committee to serve and lead the organization for the next two years. These are Vivek Jain, President; Ashok Jain, Vice President 1; Sachin Jain, Vice President 2; Jainesh Mehta, Treasurer 1; Kirti Jain, Treasurer 2; Shashank Jain, Secretary; Ajay Khater, Activity Development Coordinator; Shashi Jain, Gyanshala Coordinator; Hasmukh Shah, Facility Manager 1; Subhahsh Jain Facility Manager 2; and Nishant Jain, Youth Coordinator.

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Harvard removes r courses Taught by s subramanian s swamy NEW YORK (SI): Harvard University has decided to remove courses taught by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy at its annual summer school session, terming his views as “ reprehensible” in a controversial piece he wrote on Islamic terrorism in India.

At a meeting of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, faculty members voted with an “overwhelming majority” to remove two economics courses - ‘Quantitative Methods in Economics and Business’ and ‘Economic Development in India and East Asia’ - that Swamy teaches at the three-month Harvard Summer School session.

The faculty meeting, convened to approve the 2012 Summer School course catalogue, resulted

Dr. Subramanian Swamy

in a “heated debate” when Comparative Religion Professor Diana Eck proposed an amendment to exclude Swamy’s courses from the catalogue, the Harvard Crimson reported.

In a July op-ed piece for an Indian publication, Swamy had recommended demolishing hundreds of mosques and suggested

that only Muslims in India who “acknowledge that their ancestors were Hindus” should be allowed to vote.

Eck said Swamy’s op-ed “clearly crosses the line by demonising an entire religious community and calling for violence against their sacred places,” adding that Harvard has a moral responsibility not to affiliate itself with anyone who expresses hatred towards a minority group.

“There is a distinction between unpopular and unwelcome political views,” Eck said.

Earlier, more than 400 students had signed a petition calling for Swamy’s removal after Harvard had decided to stand by him, af affirming its commitment to free speech principles.

Obama names another indianindian-a ndian-american american to Key Post WASHINGTON (TOI): President Barack Obama has named Indian-American, Preeta D. Bansal, as a member of an independent agency promoting improvements in the efficiency, adequacy, and fairness of government procedures.

“I am proud to appoint such impressive individuals to these important roles, and I am grateful they have agreed to lend their considerable talents to this Administration,” he said naming two members of the Advisory Council of the Administrative Conference of the US. “I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

Bansal joins over two dozen Indian-Americans serving the Obama administration in high places. By far the highest ranking Indian-American in any presidential administration is USAID ad-

Preeta D. Bansal

ministrator Rajiv Shah.

As the General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Management and Budget from 2009 to 2011, Bansal was also a government member of the Coun-

cil, serving as vice chair from 2010 until 2011.

A Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Bansal was a partner and head of the Appellate Litigation Practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, LLP, in New York City, prior to joining the Obama Administration.

She is the former solicitor general of the State of New York and a former law clerk to US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

From 2003 to 2009, while in private law practice, Bansal also was a commissioner of the bipartisan US Commission on International Religious Freedom, serving as its Chair from 2004 to 2005.

Bansal received a J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School and an A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard-Radcliffe College.

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WASHINGTON: Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, the first turbaned US Sikh soldier in last 30 years has received Bronze Star Medal, the fourth-highest combat award for his meritorious services in Af Afghanistan.

Kalsi, a doctor by profession, received the medal for “exceptionally meritorious service as an emergency medicine physician” while deployed in Afghanistan during the first half of 2011, the Sikh Coalition said in a statement yesterday.

He was the first Sikh to be allowed to go on active duty with a turban, beard and unshorn hair in more than 20 years.

Working for the rights of Sikhs in the US, Sikh Coalition was instrumental in Kalsi joining the US Army after he was refused an en-

Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi

try on religious grounds.

Among other reasons for receiving the Bronze Star, an official recommendation from Major Kalsi’s superiors cites his resusci-

tation back to life of two patients who were clinically dead on arrival; his “expert” emergency care of over 750 soldiers and nationals; coordination of 5 mass casualty exercises. Major Kalsi had set up camp-wide Internet access for over 200 soldiers at Camp Dwyer in Helmand, Afghanistan where he was deployed.

After his service, he was promoted from Captain to Major. “It continues to be a tremendous honour to serve my country,” said Kalsi.

At present, US military policy forces Sikhs to remove their religiously-required turbans and facial hair in order to join the military.

Over the past two years, the Army granted Major Kalsi and two other Sikh soldiers individual accommodations, which allow only them to maintain turbans and beards.

Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16, 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

COMMUNITY

11

December 16, 2011

Krishna and Lakshmi Vavilala’s 50th w wedding Anniversary

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: Krishna and Lakshmi Vavilala celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, November 19 at the Chateau Crystale banquet hall on the Westside with a gathering of 200 friends and family.

The evening was organized by the couple’s daughters Amanda, who lives with her husband Richard and children Ashwin, Ariana, and Anand and her older sister Monica of Seattle, Washington where she lives with her husband Arun and son Rajiv. The family was joined by Lakshmi’s sister who had flown in for the occasion from India.

The Vavilalas have been active in the desi community ever since

Lakshmi and Krishna Vavilala

they moved to New York from India in July 1974 and later to Houston in August 1981. Originally born in Andhra Pradesh, the two

moved in 1964 to the UK, where both their daughters were born.

They return to India in 1970 for four years to take care of aged parents.

Krishna has had a long career as an Electrical Engineer, but his heart has been in philanthropy and volunteer work. His two pet projects have developed high profiles: the Mahatma Gandhi statue, installed in October 2004 in the Rose Garden in Hermann Park and the Foundation for India Studies Program at the University of Houston which has developed into a full degree curriculum.

At present, Krishna is pursuing the Oral History Project in conjunction with the Houston Public Library.

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Over 600 leaders of the civil rights, legal, business, and arts communities are expected to attend AALDEF’s 2012 Lunar New Year Gala celebrating the Year of the Dragon.

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FREMONT (SI): Fareed Zakaria, CNN host and Time editor-atlarge will be honored with “justice in action” award on 8 Feb, 2012.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund will honor him with this award in New York City.

Fareed Zakaria is a frequent commentator and author about issues related to international relations, trade and American foreign policy.

In January 2010, Zakaria was given the Padma Bhushan award by the Indian government for his contribution to the field of journalism.

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INDIA

12 December 16, 2011

Learning by r rote Prevalent in Top s schools too

Some children are showing a disturbing insensitivity to social issues, says a WIPRO-EI study

By K. VenKatara K Katara Man (Hindu) Among Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, who is still alive? Only a little over a third of class 4 students interviewed as part of a five-city school survey in India got this one right, with a small percentage saying it is Mahatma Gandhi. As many as two-thirds of students, also from class 4, who were asked to state the length of a pencil — placed against a ruler — could not give the right answer.

Nearly half the students in classes 4, 6 and 8 thought the shape of a square object would change if it is tilted. And about 45 per cent of students in these classes seemed to believe that a spider has six legs, despite the arthropod being described or named as ‘eight-legged’ in almost all Indian languages.

These findings are not based on responses from underprivileged children going to State-funded schools in rural areas. These are drawn from 89 of the country’s top schools, each of which had a library, a laboratory and enough computers, and 93 per cent stated they had internet facilities. And 63 per cent of the parents of these children hold a degree, post-graduate degree or doctorate, and more than 41 per cent of the fathers were into their own business.

The significance of this study is that it shows that even the country’s top schools exhibit signs of rote learning. And in their formative years, children in primary and upper primary classes show “lower sensitivity” and “demonstrate lack of progressive thought” on issues related to gender equality, acceptance of diversity and in civic responsibilities.

In a telling instance, 40-43 per cent of students in classes 4, 6 and 8 felt that education for a girl is not as important as her responsibility towards her family; and in another, nearly 60 per cent of students showed less acceptance towards immigrants from other States, as they felt that “immigrants have to conform to the State’s traditions, take away jobs from natives and also are a source of communal disagreements.”

On the academic side, the per-

Salient Features • Even top schools exhibit rote learning • Performance of class 4 below international average, but class 8 on a par • Students perform better on procedural questions, but not conceptual ones • Misconceptions of lower classes carried through to higher classes • Fall in learning/performance since previous study in 2006 • Some students show lower sensitivity on social issues such as gender equality and religious/cultural diversity • Signs of bias that may grow over time into prejudices • Awareness campaign recommended in schools to dislodge biases • Classrooms where physical punishment is not practised show higher performance formance of class 4 students was below international average, but by the time they reach class 8, they are on a par with the global average. And even here, it is due to doing better in answering questions that require straightforward use of techniques or learnt procedures and not those that tested their conceptual understanding. Another significant finding is that misconceptions acquired in lower classes continue in higher classes without any correction.

The extent of the study These are some of the findings of a ‘Quality Education Study’ (QES) by Wipro and Educational Initiatives (EI), covering 23,000 students, 790 teachers and 54 principals from 89 schools across the country. While the study aimed at expanding the understanding of ‘quality’ in school education and attributes of a sound learning environment, it has thrown up interesting insights into learning outcomes both in terms of scholastic performance and student attitudes

towards various social issues.

Eighty-three ‘top schools’ from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore, as identified in a public opinion survey in 2006

by Wipro-EI as part of their ‘Students’ Learning in Metros Study’ in these five cities were chosen for the study. Six more schools, out of 10 identified by experts, as learning environments that needed to be included, were also roped in.

These 89 had agreed to participate

Are children like them getting quality education in India?

in the study out of 255 that the study team approached. A subsample of 16 schools was chosen for focus group discussions.

Another salient feature of the QES is that student performance seems to have fallen since 2006, when a study on learning in the metros was done. While 64 schools were common to both studies, students performed lower in QES, with the fall being more pronounced in mathematics (in both classes 4 and 6) and English (class 8).

On critical thinking Drawing a correlation between the students’ lack of critical thinking and their views on social issues, the study says, “Rote learning is often deceptive and passes off as apparent learning, but does not let students develop higher order thinking skills such as critical thinking, creativity and application. Students who do not develop these skills also will not be able to

think rationally and discriminate between what is good or bad in various social and ecological issues being faced today.”

Responding to a question on HIV infection, nearly 40 per cent of students of class 8 either said HIV positive people should be avoided as one could get infected by going near them or that they should not be allowed to use public facilities such as pumps and toilets. Only 37.5 per cent said HIV positive people are capable of participating in everyday life like those with any other disease.

In a question related to citizenship issues, 18.6 per cent of students said they would vote on the basis of caste affiliation, while 60 per cent chose either a candidate who promised development or one who worked for the underprivileged.

In similar questions concerning the environment and traffic rules, the ideal answer that would show that students are aware of their civic responsibilities eluded more than half the students interviewed.

Of course, the trend improves as one moved to the higher classes, but the study’s authors feel that schools are not doing enough to address the problem. It was possible that the students are not evolving their own thinking and discrimination, or that they are mimicking opinions that society or their families may have on social issues. “Some of them indicate a bias that may over time grow into prejudices,” warns the report.

The study recommends a largescale awareness campaign among schools on notions of quality, as “while there may be many notions on what constitutes quality education, there is likely to be unanimous agreement in that schools should be places where students develop holistically.” It suggests a structured process of speaking to children and carefully listening to their answers to understand the thinking behind student responses to different social, cultural, civic and ecological issues.

Recalling that the National Curriculum Framework says education must promote and nourish a wide range of capabilities in our children such as the perform-

ing arts, painting, crafts, literary abilities and ability to bond with nature, the study says: “schools are not able to devote more than 19 per cent of school time to coscholastic activities. Principals confirmed that while co-scholastic areas are very relevant, in practice, not much emphasis is placed on these in the curriculum.”

Takeaway from the study Sreekanth Sreedharan, Manager, WIPRO Applying Thought in Schools, a WIPRO initiative for school education reform, concedes that some negativity flows from the report, and agrees that students should not be judged too harshly based on this study. However, after the study, one gets a feel of what kind of education one gets in the elite schools in the country. “In the public discourse, there is a feeling that everything is fine in private schools, but this study helps us understand where we stand on three aspects: how our students tackle conceptual questions, how they fare in comparison with international standards, and whether learning has improved or fallen over a period of time within the country.”

He says the questions were framed in line with international standards and on a par with similar studies abroad. “They are assessed age-appropriately. In fact, we are comparing the best in India with the average in OECD countries,” he says, referring to studies such as the ‘Progress in Reading Literacy Study’ (PIRLS).

The first step Vyjayanthi Sankar, a Vice President in Educational Initiatives, who led the research and analysis team that executed the study for EI, an educational research organisation, says: “What is meant by quality education? Do children in our schools learn with understanding, are they developing holistically and also acquiring values like sensitivity and concern for others?

What would one find in quality learning environments in terms of school leadership, teaching learning practices, classroom climate, etc? The study was a first step towards addressing some of these concerns.”

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INDIA December 16, 2011

Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16, 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

13

14 December 16, 2011

COMMUNITY

The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi

Anti-rowlatt r rowlatt stir and Jalianwala Bagh carnage s

Open 7 days a week

The Story thus far…A separate institution named Satyagraha Sabha was formed with head headquarters in Bombay. There were agitations everywhere against the Rowlatt Committee’s report. But the government was determined to implement the Rowlatt recommendations and in 1919, the Rowlatt Bill was introduced. When the bill was debated in India’s Legislative Chamber, Gandhi attended as a visitor.

In spite of the diehard opposition from nationalists, the Rowlatt bill became law. At this time, Gandhi got an invitation from activists in Madras to visit the city. He went there, though still weak, along with Mahadev Desai. That was Gandhi’s first meeting with another stalwart of India’s freedom struggle, C. Rajagopalachari, a man of towering intellect and firm convictions. A small conference of leaders was held and Gandhi explained to them the implications of the Rowalatt act. While these talks were being held news was received that the Rowlatt Bill had been published as an act.

It was also in Madras that Gandhi first conceived the idea of an all-India hartaal (strike) as the beginning of the satyagraha movement. The leaders at once took up the suggestion and gave much publicity to the forthcoming action. The date was first fixed for March 30, 1919, but was later changed to April 6. The masses had received only short notice for the hartaal, but it turned out to be most successful.

That was the first great awakening of India in her struggle towards independence.

Gandhi left Madras and went to Bombay to join in the hartaal there on April 6. Meanwhile in Delhi, Lahore, and Amritsar, the hartaal had been observed on March 30.

In Delhi the police did not allow free movement to the demonstrators and firing by police caused a number of casualties. Gandhi was requested to go to Delhi and he replied that he would do so after the hartaal in Bombay on April 6.

In Bombay the hartaal was a great

success. All over India the hartaal was observed. Gandhi had asked the people again and again to be peaceful and not to be provoked to violence by the Government’s actions. In spite of this, violence broke out in many places. There were disturbances in Ahmedabad and also in the Punjab and he decided to go to these places to propagate nonviolence.

On the way to the Punjab he was arrested at a wayside station called Palwal and sent back to Bombay.

The news of his arrest inflamed the entire population of Bombay.

There was an enormous crowd awaiting his arrival there. When he reached Bombay he was set free.

The crowd was getting impatient.

“Only you can control the crowds,” said a friend to Gandhi.

“Come, I shall take you to the spot.”

The crowd greeted Gandhi with frenzied joy. A huge procession started but the police barred its progress. A company of mounted police was ordered to charge the crowds. Piercing screams and cries from women and children filled the air as the horsemen plunged forward with lowered lances. People ran to escape the fury of the police.

Gandhi was shocked by the police brutality. He went and met the Commissioner. The official was boiling with rage. “We, the police, know better than you the effect of

your preaching on the people. If we had not taken drastic measures the situation would have gone out of our hands. I have no doubt about your intentions, but the people do not understand them. They only follow their natural instincts.”

“The people are not violent by nature; they are peaceful,” countered Gandhi.

“You wanted to go to the Punjab,” said the Commissioner. “Do you know what is happening in Ahmedabad, the Punjab, and Delhi? You are responsible for all these disturbances.”

Gandhi was pained to hear of the disturbances and said that he would certainly take the responsibility upon himself if he was convinced that it was his. Gandhi went to Ahmedabad. On the way he learned in detail about the happenings there.

Ahmedabad was under martial law. A police officer was waiting for him at the railway station to escort him to the Commissioner.

This commissioner too was in a rage. Gandhi expressed his regret for the disturbances and promised complete cooperation in restoring peace. Gandhi then asked for permission to hold a public meeting on the grounds of the Sabarmati Ashram. The officer liked the idea. At the meeting Gandhi announced with great sorrow the suspension of civil disobedience.

He said he would fast for three days as a penance and he appealed to all the people to fast for one day.

He asked those who were guilty of violence to confess their guilt.

He expressed his regret at having started civil disobedience too early without giving sufficient training to the people.

“I have made a Himalayan miscalculation,” he said. Many people jeered at Gandhi for saying that.

Many of his friends and followers were furious at his stopping satyagraha. Gandhi then started teaching people the true meaning of satyagraha and how it should be conducted. Through writing and speeches he wanted to drive home to the people the essence of his new creed.

In the Punjab the situation was very critical. It was true that there were disturbances on the part of the people, but the measures adopted by the Government to check the disturbances were too The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi is brought to you courtesy Mahatma Gandhi Library. www.gandhilibrary.org severe. The leaders were trying to keep the people peaceful, but the measures of repression taken by the authorities had few parallels in history. In Amritsar the people were not allowed to move about freely. A proclamation was issued forbidding all gatherings and meetings. Only a few had the chance to know about the proclamation, however, because it was not announced widely, and it was

Shraddhanjali to Mahatma Gandhi

Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Rose Garden Hermann Park

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It was announced that a meeting was to be held in a garden called Jallianwala Bagh, to protest against the Government’s actions.

General Dyer took no measures to prevent the meeting. He reached the place soon after the meeting began and he took with him armored cars and troops. Without giving any warning he ordered, “Fire till the bullets are finished.”

The garden was surrounded by walls and buildings and had only one exit. At the first shot the exit was jammed and there was no hope of escape for the crowd.

There were between eight and ten thousand people attending the meeting. The soldiers fired 1600 rounds into that unarmed mass of people.

Once a park, Jallianwala Bagh was now a scene of the most brutal massacre of hundreds.

— To be Continued

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Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16, 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

December 16, 2011

15

Hilton North, 12400 Greenspoint Drive, Houston, TX 77060.

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Convention Highlights 

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Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16, 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

16 December 16, 2011 s shuchi desai w weds Arhaanth reddy r

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: Shuchi Desai, 26 of Houston and Arhaanth Reddy, also 26 and of Austin were married in a Hindu ceremony officiated by Prafull Purohit over Thanksgiving weekend on Saturday, November 26, 2011 in front of 300 family and friends at Vargo’s on Westheimer and Fondren. The reception that followed for 400 people was held at Hotel ZaZa (the former Warwick Hotel) in the Museum district.

Shuchi received her MD from University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, where she met Araanth (who goes

by Ari), also an MD from the same school. Both have taken up residency at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri – Shuchi in Ob/Gyn and Ari in Internal Medicine and hope to continue on with Fellowships there. The couple met a water park in Dallas and coincidentally, Ari proposed by the shores of Lake Travis in Austin.

Shuchi is the daughter of Sadhana and Gitesh Desai.

Her father is a structural engineer with Mustang engineering and has been involved in community affairs for many years. He was a President of IAPAC and currently is on the Board of the Indo American Charity Foundation.

Ari is the son of Dr. Shobha Reddy, MD and Dr. Surender Reddy, a computer software researcher who live in Austin. Ari will become the fourth generation physician in his family.

The couple hopes to come back to Texas after finishing their Fellowships.

COMMUNITY

Anuradha “nikki” n nikki” dhingra weds w manmeet s singh Vedi

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: Anuradha Dhingra, 28 (universally known as Nikki) and Manmeet Singh Vedi, 31 (who usually goes by Manny) were married on Saturday, November 26, 2011 in front on their family and friends in separate Hindu and Sikh weddings. Over 800 people later attended the reception, which was held at the Hilton of the Americas near the Convention Center where Nikki’s older sister Anu also had her reception a year earlier.

Nikki is the daughter of Ashok and Vijay Dhingra who have been prominently involved in community affairs for many years and who also own Expotech USA, an award winning supplier of scientific, industrial and medical supplies and instruments. Ashok, a former architect, has served as President of India House and was instrumental in its construction. Nikki is graduated this past May with a Law degree from South Texas

College of Law. Manmeet is the son of Jaspinderpal and Harenderjit Vedi of New Delhi. He is a graduate of IIT-Delhi, has Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Rice University. He has been in the US for 6 years and works for Ernst and Young.

The couple met through family friends and will make their home in Houston.

Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16, 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

INDIA

December 16, 2011

mario, who embodied Goan ethos, is no more

PANAJI (Hindu) : Eminent cartoonist Mario de Miranda, 85, died in sleep at his ancestral home at Loutolim in south Goa in the early hours of Sunday.

He is survived by wife Habiba and sons Rahul and Rishad.

Besides being a popular cartoonist, Mario, as he was affectionately known, defined the way in which Goa was perceived by the outside world. His early cartoons reflected Goan village life.

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and the Padma Shri in 1988. The Goa government honoured him with its State Cultural Award in 2008 and the ‘State Reward’ for receiving the Padma Bhushan.

Besides cartooning, Miranda has done murals on various buildings in Goa and other parts of the country, taking to painting, as he did, in the later years of life.

Books Miranda has several books to his credit, including Laugh it Off , Goa with Love , and Germany in Wintertime . Besides his own books, Mr. Miranda has illustrated the books of Dom Moraes ( A Journey to Goa ), Manohar Malgaonkar ( Inside Goa ) and Mario Cabral e Sa’s ( Legends of Goa ). He has also illustrated many children’s books and designed several.

In 2008, the Goa-based architect, Gerard da Cunha, made an impressive compilation of his artistic output, from the works of his formative years in Goa to his well-known Mumbai cartoons and the finely detailed and nuanced sketches of cities around the world made in recent years, sourcing more than 8,000 pieces from collectors and the artist’s friends for three years.

“It’s unfortunate that Mario’s reputation as a car cartoonist has denied him recognition as a great artist.

Hopefully, this book will finally put him where he belongs,” Mr. da Cunha, who moved the archive to his private museum at north Goa’s Porvorim for per permanent display, had said at the release of his book.

“With Mario Miranda’s passing, I have lost a dear friend, Goa its best ambassador, the art world a gifted artist, and India a national treasure,” said fashion designer Wendell Rodricks. “I am so sad and devastated. May his legacy endure for all cartoonists as an inspiration and ideal.”

Writer Maria Aurora Couto, who knew Mr. Miranda for almost 60 years, said: “It is a great personal loss” as well as “a great loss for the country.”

Recalling the great relationship her late husband Alban Couto, Sanskrit scholar Jose Periera and Mario Miranda shared from 1950 onwards, she said they deeply loved Goa and its unique identity, but had a cosmopolitan vision and wanted Goa to join the Indian mainstream intellectually and culturally.

In 1951, when Mulk Raj Anand edited the magazine Marg , Mario, Alban and Pereira came together and brought out a special issue focussing on Goa’s art and culture, she said.

“Mario was a quintessential Goan first, but with a broad cosmopolitan outlook and vision of pan-India. One who deeply believed in the thought of Nehruvian secularism that strengthened our roots.

17

Mario Miranda works on a cartoon at a Crossword bookstall in Bangalore Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

That is why, it is a great loss.”

He always discussed and integrated in his art all that was beautiful about Goa. He was humane and gentle, Couto said. “He was such an iconic figure, who, through his innumerable murals, actually took Goa to India and brought India to Goans.”

Governor K. Sankaranarayanan described . Miranda as a “Goan artist of international repute.” “In his demise, our country has lost a great cartoonist. He was undoubtedly a genius whose contribution to the world of art will always be remembered.”

Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16 , 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

18 December 16, 2011 cash vs. christmas c

We know how fond human resource departments of other companies are of our advice. But this time round, we want people much closer home to heed what we have to say. It’s official — at least in the United States: most employees would prefer money to parties or gifts this Christmas-New Year season. In a poll conducted in the US, 3/4th of the 2,574 workers surveyed said they would opt for a cash bonus, followed by 62% who would prefer a salary increase and 32% who wanted more paid leave. In other words, it’s about the money, honey and the rousing words from the boss won’t work any more.

If America needed an economic downturn to figure out that nugget of wisdom, we desis, working for cost-cutting, who-needs-quality-whenwe-can-get-quantity firms for years, always knew that there’s nothing called a free Diwali mithai gift box. If we’re smiling that only 4% Americans in the survey put a Christmas party on the top of their holiday

demand, it’s only because we’ve had our fair share of spirited parties before a dispiriting e-mail reached our inboxes telling us that despite the great job done, it’s been a hard year, so there won’t be any raises, yada yada yada. Twenty-first century employee morale-boosters such as having an office gym or off-sites (not in Macau but in Manesar) or a whole day of ‘fun activities’ (management lessons in disguise) would be all very fine as long as the Real McCoy keeps coming. But in the absence of the only incentive that matters — money — these become frills that all of us can do without.

In India, one of the best kept secrets in all offices used to be the old veteran who helped the HR department to keep monetary aspirations artificially low by telling younger colleagues, “In my time, we used to work twice as much for one-third the pay.” This man functioned as an official ‘shamer’ to folks hankering for more. Now that he has been assigned to the office dustbin, it’s glaringly obvious that cold cash or variants of it is what we, blue, white or frilly-collared workers of the world, want both on and off festival seasons. As for year-end office parties or other exciting ruses, give employees that extra money and they’ll set them up themselves.

- Hindustan Times

EDITORIAL

Fearing the Global economy

By Sagarika ghoSe Are we Indians still afraid of change?

Do we lack leaders who can chart a vision of change? Are we trapped, as a distinguished editor has written, in the “dangerous romance of nostalgia” by which we hark constantly to an imagined era of the ‘good old days’, wallow in per perpetual hatred of the present and have no collective dream of the future? Today, an overload of shallow nostalgia (rather than an informed sense of history) is becoming an obstacle to change.

The government’s announcement of 51% foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail saw the BJP and the left raise the old bogey of the ‘foreigner’ entering India. Images of the 17th century East India Company embarking on a new era of plunder was invoked. A stark picture was painted of helpless Indians at the mercy of cruel foreign forces. Politicians, who send their children to ‘foreign’ lands for higher studies and who represent voters many of whose children are excelling in ‘foreign’ careers, nevertheless propagated the ageold fear of ‘foreign exploiters’ to prove their nationalist grass-roots credentials.

The globalisation of the economy—now a two decade-old process — has not produced an accompanying intellectual maturity about the West. Uma Bharti’s announcement that she would set fire to Walmart showed the extent to which the Sangh continues to pander to knee-jerk, immature anti-westernism.

The left is known for its hatred of everything American and can be relied upon to oppose everything from Walmart to the nuclear deal. But why should a right-wing party like the BJP, too, uphold leftist economics? Apart from considerations of small retailer vote banks, in terms of rhetoric, the BJP’s and the Sangh parivar’s relationship with the west or with ‘foreigners’ is in need of drastic and immediate overhaul. The close relations with the US, forged at the time of the Vajpayee interregnum, has sadly not created a more reasonable relationship with ‘the foreigner’ in the Sangh mindset.

India’s cultural right has embraced an

ersatz westernisation of malls and fashion shows and has seized upon that American invention, the internet, to disseminate its views. But it has still not hit upon the combination of cultural traditionalism and economic modernity that mark modern right-wing movements.

The foreigner as ‘enemy’ is an idea the Sangh parivar has to change and change fast. To rail against foreign governments, pour scorn on degrees from Oxford and Harvard and block economic reforms on the grounds that they will re-institute the East India Company is not only to wilfully and fatally misunderstand the interdependent global economy but also

a resounding failure to grapple, intellectually and politically, with the massive changes marking the 21st century.

The BJP is not the only party resisting a thoroughgoing systematic intellectual transformation. If the BJP is trapped in a static view of cultural nationalism, the Congress is failing to grasp the idea of a modern government. Failing to engage with Anna Hazare in a public debate on the lokpal, seeking to police social media, treating 24x7 television as the mortal enemy and visualising ‘real India’ as an unchanging Pather Panchali-type rural idyll — where mobs of faithful voters will line up to greet dynastic rajas and ranis who hand out sops by way of free food and loans — shows that the Congress too has failed to understand that information, aspiration and quest for equality are the dominant features of a fast-changing country.

The discourse of royalty-among-thepeople, refusal to communicate as equals, standing on ceremony with civil society ‘upstarts’ are indicators of the Congress’ failure to effect full scale intellectual reform even as it attempts to push economic reform. Uma Bharti is nostalgic for an India of small shops and swadeshi; Rahul Gandhi is nostalgic for an India without 24x7 media and an aggressive middle-class.

Dalitbahujan scholar Kancha Ilaiah once said that to radically change Indian society and attitudes, the Rig Vedic hymn, the Purusa-sukta, should be publicly rewritten. This is the verse that says different castes were born from different body parts of Brahma. According to Ilaiah, only a complete excising of such a hymn would rid India of the evils of birth-based hierarchy.

Similarly, citizens and leaders alike have to be prepared to junk past prescriptions and urgently embrace the idea of change. Harking back to the old days of the third world economy when there were no ‘sinful’ page-three parties, to an imagined era of nationalism when we fought the East India Company, wistfully dreaming of an allpowerful State and public sector, yearning for the days when there was no oh-so-terrible 24x7 media — the outpouring of nostalgia is an exercise in preachy moralism and not remotely constructive.

Nostalgia is a wonderful indulgence among friends and family. But if nostalgia becomes a principle of governance or a plank of opposition, it can become dangerously destructive.

In our preference for nostalgia over dreams of the future, we forget that politicians were often far less accountable then than they are now; the media much more hand-in-glove with the establishment then, than now. Indians then were afraid to look a ‘foreigner’ in the eye. All of that has now disappeared but the tentacles of nostalgia shackle us to the past. As 2011 ends, and recession looms, it is time to snap those tentacles and effect a mental re-birth. As a duty to future generations, the time for nostalgia is gone. The time for mental transformation starts now. HT Sagarika Ghose is deputy editor, CNNIBN.

I Indo Am 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 BuSineSS & reCreation: JaCoB david 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, A decemBer 16 , 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

INDIA

December 16, 2011

why India is not a Great sscientific Power w

By V.N. MukuN ukuNdaraja NdarajaN darajaN (Hindu) The economic growth of the last one decade has prompted Indians to nurse ambitions of achieving the status of a great and exceptional power. The size of the GDP is important, but it alone cannot guarantee that India will be recognised as a world power. It is the robustness of scientific research and innovation that sets apart great powers from the mediocre ones.

We have good scientists, but why has India not produced outstanding scientists who make path-breaking discoveries that will make the world sit up and take notice? Should we continue to be satisfied with tweaking borrowed technologies? Is reverse engineer engineering an innovative phenomenon?

All debates about scientific research inevitably end up zeroing in on the deficiencies of our educational system as the root cause of the abysmal record in scientific research. This is only part of the story.

A nation’s culture — belief systems, values, attitudes — plays a significant role in determining the quality of scientific research. The Oriental attitudes differ from the Occidental values in many respects. Asian societies are basically collectivist, that is, the collective good of society ranks higher than individual happiness and achievements. People do not ask what they can do for their country; they are always asking what the country will do for them. They look up to the state for guidance, leadership and direction.

There is no burning individual ambition to excel and achieve something new.

In the West, individuals try to achieve their potential through their own efforts, aided and facilitated by enabling laws and

institutions. Self-reliance is the key objective of life. An independent life requires a free and questioning mindset that takes nothing for granted and constantly challenges conventional wisdom. Children are encouraged to push the frontiers of knowledge by self-examination and

open-minded enquiry. It is only a sceptical and dissenting mind that often thinks out of the box to explore new vistas of knowledge.

Collectivism promotes conformism and deference to authority whether it is parents, elders, teachers or the government. It is heresy to question established values and customs.

We pass on our passivity and uncritical attitudes to our children. No wonder, the educational system encourages rote learning and unquestioning acceptance of what is taught in the classrooms and stated in the textbooks. How can we expect our children to suddenly develop an enquiring and inquisitive attitude when they have

been brought up in a milieu that discour discourages ‘disruptive’ thoughts?

India and China were once advanced nations before foreign rule drained their resources and sapped their willpower and scientific traditions. Cultures tend to become conservative and defensive when subjected to long spells of colonial exploitation.

Indians are great believers in destiny. But our tradition does not frown upon free will and individual excellence. We must realise that our ability for free action remains unhampered despite what destiny may hold in store for us.

FEAR OF FAILURE Another flaw in our culture that prevents individual excellence is the fear of failure. The stigma associated with failure makes our children riskaverse while choosing their courses and careers.

Scientific research is a long-drawn war on received wisdom that requires many battles before it can be won.

Science was not built in a day. Some of the battles can end in defeat. In the West, they celebrate failure as a stepping stone to success.

Educational reforms must be preceded by mental deconditioning of parents, teachers, educationists and policymakers — throwing away the cobwebs of uncritical submissiveness to conventional knowledge. Let us bring up a generation that will not hesitate to ask inconvenient questions. This generation will be the torch-bearer of a scientific revolution that will unleash cutting-edge research to make the Nobel Prize committee sit up and take notice. We have nothing to lose except our passivity and fatalism. Let us not wait for things to happen. Let us make things happen.

(Hindu) The rupee on Tuesday breached the 53-level for the first time in its history against the dollar on sustained capital outlfows amid compounding woes of Indian economy.

The local currency resumed lower at 53.10/11 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market and immediately tumbled to an alltime low of Rs 53.51. It partially recovered to settle the day at 53.23/24 per dollar, a sharp loss of 39 paise from its last close. On Monday, the local unit had plunged by 81 paise on signs of capital outlfows after the news of industrial output declining 5.1 per cent in October came out.

Foreign exchange dealers said the local currency was weighed down on the dollar gaining strength in the over overseas market, particularly against euro, amid the lingering eurozone crisis.

The U.S. dollar gained against major currencies in New York market yesterday, while the euro fell to its lowest level in two weeks amid renewed concerns that European leaders aren’t doing enough to contain the region’s sovereign-debt crisis. They added that investors also remained deeply worried about India’s growth story.

Economic slowdown, rising fiscal deficit and widening current account deficit (CAD) have dented investor

confidence, they added. “The rupee’s fall today is driven by the strengthening of dollar across global markets and continuous weakening of the euro. The Indian currency is going to witness sustained pressure in the coming days,” Ramesh Krishnan, head of treasury operations, Dhanlakshmi Bank said. The only positive, which can uplift the rupee is if the Reserve Bank does not take any rate action in its mid-quarterly monetary policy review on December 16, he added. Meanwhile, the stock markets surged with the BSE Sensex moving up 132 points to regain crucial 16,000-level.

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Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16 , 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

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By Saritha rai (NYT) It was a different kind of shopping trip for Pallavi Rao, 24, a trendy human-resources consultant who normally picks up things like sunglasses, bags and short jackets.

After work last week, she browsed among dozens of stalls at Bangalore’s annual book fair and carefully selected a handful of titles on management and leadership.

“Books are my personal mentors, they inspire me to do better at work,” said Rao. Indian readers, particularly young ones, have been devouring books on business, management, careers and money in recent years. In storefront displays and airport bookstores across India, these tomes get pride of place, relegating fiction and books about politics to the back row.

Bangalore’s annual book fair, which was held over 10 days this month in the grounds of the Bangalore Palace, a Windsor Castle lookalike from the Raj days, attracted dozens of business-focused publishers and retailers with catchy names like Success and Genius, as well as more than 200,000 attendees. Young Indians graduating from management schools “are voracious readers of nonfiction, they read to get a competitive edge,” says Krishan Chopa, chief editor for nonfiction at HarperCollins Publishers India.

India’s growing economy has accelerated changes in business and at the workplace, he said, and authors who write about these changes are popular because the “country’s book-reading public is eager to stay updated.”

Bestsellers in India do not sell in the millions, as some do in the West; the most popular titles sell about 50,000 copies the year they are released.

(Walter Issacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, by comparison, sold more than 379,000 copies in its first week in the United States). India’s publishing market, when compared to the West’s, is still tiny, fractured and hard to measure.

But more people are reading, which, along with a competitive printing industry, appears to be fueling a publishing boom. As literacy rates climb (to 74 percent, according to the latest census) and as expenditure for private consumption grows (projected to rise 7.5 percent in the fiscal year ending March 2012, according to the Center for Monitoring the Indian Economy) , book buying is expected to ascend as well.

India’s educated, savvy middle class has caused the market for business and management books to “explode,” said the Bangalore-based IT entrepreneur Subroto Bagchi, an author and the vice chairman of MindTree, a Bangalore base software services firm. This is especially true in smaller Indian cities, he said. Bagchi’s three books include “The Professional” and “The High-Performance Entrepreneur,’’ both published by Penguin; together they sold more than 150,000 copies. With his fourth book, “Busi-

People look at books displayed during the Bangalore Book Fair. Photo: The View Finder

ness at 16,” Bagchi hopes to get teenagers interested in business, partly by using fictional anecdotes, including boy-meets-girl stories.

Business biographies and management guides are a top-selling category at the online retailer FlipKart, whether the author is Indian or foreign, said the company’s chief executive, Sachin Bansal. “Successful entrepreneurs are young India’s role models and their narratives offer valuable lessons,” he said.

Sales of such books on FlipKart are up 191 percent in the first ten months of 2011 compared to the entire year before, he said. Among the current chart toppers is Rashmi Bansal’s “I Have a Dream,” on social entrepreneurs. Penguin Allen Lane launched a separate imprint for business books called Penguin Portfolio in India in 2006, when readership for the genre began accelerating. “Indian readers are more informed, curious and proactive than ever,” says Udayan Mitra, publisher of Penguin’s Allen Lane and Portfolio.“There is a desire to read in and around the area people work in.”

That segment has seen 100 percent growth in value terms over the last three years, and makes up about one-third of nonfiction sales at his publishing house, Mr. Mitra says.

Two distinct categories have emerged within the segment, Mitra said. High-end corporate biographies, such as the low-cost airline founder G.R. Gopinath’s “Simply Fly” or “The TCS Story . . and Beyond” by the former Tata Consulting Services chief executive S. Ramadorai, and leadership strategy books command a significant slice of one end of the market, as do mass-market

business self-help books.

Over 700 readers crammed into a bookstore at a mall in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj neighborhood recently for the release of the real-estate tycoon K.P. Singh’s autobiography “Whatever the Odds.” The author, founder of the development company DLF, made a video appearance from his Florida home via satellite.

It is an exciting time to be a publisher in India, says Kapish Mehra, managing director of Rupa Publications. Mehra published the retail entrepreneur Kishore Biyani’s autobiography, “It Happened in India,” which sold over 200,000 copies at 99 rupees, or about $2, each. Mehra says his publishing firm will release a dozen new titles on business and management in the next six months.

Chopra of HarperCollins says that even a few years ago, only a couple of his business books sold more than 10,000 copies per year. “These days, a dozen or more sell between 10,000 and 20,000 copies every year,’’ he says. Regional-language publishers find that their own markets are keeping pace. “Small-town Indians want to know how successful people made it, and want to read to pick up lessons from their life and work,” says Badri Seshadri, managing director of the Chennai-based Tamil-language publishing house New Horizon Media, which has published biographies of the outsourcing company founder Azim Premji and Reliance Industries’ founder, the late Dhirubhai Ambani.

But Seshadri’s runaway bestseller has been an initiation into the Indian stock markets, which has sold 100,000 copies and is going into further reprints. The title is “Alla alla Panam,” or “Tons of Money.’’

Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16 , 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

December 16, 2011

Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16 , 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

21

22 December 16, 2011 MOTIVATION “This is Good!” ssays Prakash Iyer It doesn’t help to worry about things you cannot change. Focus instead on what you can change

By PrakaSh iyer Imagine this. You’ve been preparing for an entrance exam. You know getting into that premier institute could make your life. Your parents have been praying for this day, hoping you get admission.

And then when the entrance results are out, you find you haven’t made it. What do you do?

Do you say “Oh, this is terrible. I am doomed!”? Do you worry about it for a long time, and blame your luck and the circumstances that conspired to keep you out? Or do you say, “Wow, this is good!” and move on?

What you say could actually make a difference to the rest of your life. It is a good idea to believe that whatever happens, happens for good. That doesn’t change your past, but it can dramatically alter your future. It doesn’t help to worry about things you cannot change. Focus instead on what you can change.

When you get caught up in looking back at your misfortune, you start looking for someone else to blame. And rather than working on picking up the pieces and building a new future, you start looking for excuses. When one door shuts, there is no point in banging your head against it.

Look out instead for other doors that may be opening up. Next time you find your yourself in that situation, pause, take a deep breath, and smile. And remind yourself about this story of an African king and his dear friend.

The king’s friend was a cheerful person,

very optimistic. Whenever something happened – good or bad – the friend would remark, “This is good!” They would often go on hunting expeditions, and the friend would help prepare the rifles for the king. One day, the friend

made a mistake with one of the guns.

When the king took that gun and pulled the trigger, his thumb got blown off. Seeing what happened, the friend remarked, “This is good!” That infuriated the king and landed his friend in jail.

A few years hence, another hunting expedition took the king to a place, inhabited by cannibals. The cannibals caught him and began celebrating their upcoming feast. The king’s hands were tied and he was being washed to be put into a large earthen pot that was being readied for cooking. Just then, someone noticed that

the king had no thumb. As it happened, these cannibals were a superstitious lot.

They never ate anyone who was less than whole. So the king was set free.

As he headed back to his palace, the king recalled the incident when he had lost his thumb. He realized his dear friend was right in saying, “This is good!” Losing a thumb that day had actually saved his life. He quickly ordered his friend to be set free. He narrated to his friend what had happened and apologized.

“I shouldn’t have put you in prison,” said the king.

“That was bad!”

“No, no. This is good!” said the friend.

“What do you mean,” asked the King.

“How could sending you to jail have been good?”

“Don’t you see?”said the friend, “If I had not been in jail, I would have been out with you. And the cannibals would then have killed and eaten me!”

So, next time you find things are not going your way, think of the king’s thumb.

And whatever happens, just say, “This is good!” Your world will be a better place.

None of us can control external events.

What happens can be good or bad. What you can control is your response, your feelings. You can choose to feel good or you can choose to feel bad. The choice is yours.

When you moan and say this is bad, the mind gets conditioned to look for difficulty in opportunity. And when you say this is good, the mind looks for opportunity in difficulty. And therein lies the difference

between winners and losers.

Just say ‘this is good’. It’s a good mantra to live by.

- Careers360 Prakash Iyer is MD, Kimberly-Clark Lever and Executive Coach. For more inspiring life lessons, read Mr Iyer’s new book The Habit of Winning.

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Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16 , 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

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ENTERTAINMENT I was Born to Entertain:

Ranveer Singh

Actor Ranveer Singh, whose latest release “ Ladies vs Ricky Bahl” has received rave reviews, believes that he was born to entertain and won’t mind performing live if it makes others happy.

“Deep down in my heart I would like to believe that I am born to entertain people.

So I am most happy that I am able to cap off such a wonderful year doing exactly what I love doing the most, which is performing,” he said at a press conference held here for Aamby Valley’s annual New Year bash Glitterati 2012.

“If I can make even one person’s New Year special by performing, then it will give me immense amount of satisfaction,” he added.

Reflecting on 2011, Ranveer, 26, calls it the best year of his life.

“2011 has been the biggest learning curve of my life. What I learned in the past one year, I have not learned cumulatively all my life - the number of things that I have done for the first time in the past year, the number of people I have met,” said Ranveer, who struck stardom with his very fist film “Band Baaja Baaraat” in 2010.

He talked about his growth as an actor and said: “My growth as an artist and as a person has been high at a very rapid pace in the past one year. It’s been a fantastic year for me.”

Ranveer plays a conman in his latest film “Ladies vs Ricky Bahl”.

Ranveer has also

signed “Lootera” opposite Sonakshi Sinha, which is being produced by “Phantom”, a production house jointly started by Vikas Bahl, Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane.

Interview with don 2 star

Priyanka Chopra How is your role in DON 2 different from your role in DON 1?

Don 2 is a cool role for me. It’s an action film of another level in Bollywood. I am more angrier in this one. I’ve done a lot of fist fighting that I didn’t do too much of in the earlier Don. I went through intense rehearsals for my action with guidance from Farhan and Shahrukh who often pulled my leg.

I don’t play a damsel in distress and so missed all the dance and frolic I’ve been doing in my other movies.

Don 2 is one of those rare movies where I have to be serious all the time. I can’t even sport my foot long smile. But that’s what’s good about Don 2. It makes me do things I’ve never done. That’s one advantage of playing a cop but it’s got disadvantages also as I’ve mentioned in the start of the answer.

What is your relationship like with Don? Don cannot be predictable. By that I mean Don as a person. You can never tell what his next move is going to be. He is one bad guy you can’t mess with. Don is cold blooded and such people are really dangerous to deal with. Roma has such a relationship with him, hot and cold as she is hell bent on taking her

December 16, 2011

23

I’m a Global Actress, but Bollywood is my Life:

Mallika Sherawat

Actress Mallika Sherawat has moved to the United States, thanks to her international project, but says her heart resides in Bollywood and that people in the West are curious about the Hindi film industry. “I am more of a global actress now but Bollywood is my life. It is my bread and butter,” said Mallika here at a press

conference to announce her performance at Hotel Tulip Star’s New Year’s Eve show.

Mallika has made United States her second home and has been there for the past two years. The actress, who was last seen in Hollywood flick Politics Of Love, asserts that the West is curious to know more about Bollywood.

“I have signed Lucky Unlucky. I am playing a Jat sprinter in it and I have signed another movie with Vivek Oberoi, Kismat Love Paisa Delhi. It will be directed by Sanjay Khanduri.

Then, there is an international venture that I’m doing.”

“I’m trying to maintain a balance between both America and India.

Right now there is so much curiosity in America about Bollywood and Indian actors,” said Mallika, who is in here to shoot for Khanduri’s film.

The Murder girl dazzled on screen this year in item numbers Jalebi Bai, Razia and Shalu ke thumke.

Mallika debuted in Bollywood with a special appearance in Jeena Sirf Mere Liye and then signed Khwahish, her first film as a lead actress. Then she featured in Pyaar Ke Side Effects and Welcome.

She played an Indian princess in Jackie Chan’s Chinese film The Myth.

INDIA CULTURE CENTER HOUSTON NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL BODY MEETING. DUE TO LACK OF REQUISITE QUORUM, THE PROPOSED BYLAWS PASSED BY ICC BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COULD NOT BE VOTED UPON AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING HELD ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO ALL MEMBERS OF ICC, HOUSTON TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL GENERAL BODY MEETING ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2011 AT 2:00 PM AT INDIA HOUSE, 8888 WEST BELLFORT AVE, HOUSTON TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED BYLAWS. ANY FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO PROPOSED BYLAWS MAY BE RAISED AT THIS MEETING. EACH AMENDMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED AND IMMEDIATELY VOTED UPON.

revenge and wants Don at any cost. It’s a cat and mouse chase.

What is DON 2’s unique selling point?

Don 2 has redefined slick in Bollywood.

It’s suspense to another level too. Music is also rich but the film is so huge in itself that music will stand out once the movie is released. You will get to the groove of the songs once you see the film. Don 2 is Farhan’s best work I have seen.

What sets Shahrukh Khan apart from any other star?

Shahrukh Khan can live up to anything. He is a man who believes in challenges at this point in his career. He puts in more than one needs to put in his movies. There are very few actors who are like that. Don 2 is SRK’s best action movie of 2011 I feel.

ALL MEMBERS OF ICC ARE REQUESTED TO ATTEND. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND, KINDLY SEND YOUR PROXIES (TWO PROXIES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS & ONE PROXY FOR INDIVIDUAL MEMBER).

PROXY FORMS AND PROPOSED BYLAWS CAN BE ACCESSED AT WWW.ICCHOUSTON.ORG PROXIES MAY BE FAXED TO SECREATRY ICC AT 713 466 0852 OR A SCANNED COPY BY EMAIL TO MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR HARSHAD PATEL AT: harshad1229@gmail.com OR

BY MAIL TO MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE C/O ICC, HOUSTON, SUITE 210D, INDIA HOUSE, 8888 WEST BELLFORT AVE, HOUSTON, TX 77031 FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT HARSHAD PATEL, CHAIR BYLAWS COMMITTEE AT Phone: (832) 259-2178 or Email: harshad1229@gmail.com

Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16 , 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

24 December 16, 2011 By rahi gaikwad (Hindu) The Gateway of India stands tall on the waterfront. Little Hormazd liked hopping on to a boat to ride the shimmery waters of Mumbai. He liked sitting on stone benches, looking at balloons. Not just any balloons, but animal-shaped ones. He has memories of the “photograph guy,” the “telescope guy” and the kulfiwallah. At the Gateway of India, there was always something to capture your fancy.

Years later, south-Mumbai resident Hor Hormazd, now 27 years old, has grown up to be a travel buff. The memory of several boat rides at the Gateway remains one of his fondest.

A boat ride is in fact also a link to history.

As the name suggests, the Gateway was an entry point for British officers and royalty to arrive at the Bombay harbour. It was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay. The wide expanse of its open foyer and the grandeur of the arches made the monument a perfect place for ceremonial events.

Welcome arch “The British viceroys would walk through the Gateway for ceremonies. George Wittet, an architect, did a temporary gateway to welcome them. Prior to that it was a pagoda, which was demolished. He then designed a magnificent amphitheatre.

Work on the Gateway was completed in 1924. This monument then became the icon of Bombay,” says Sharada Dwivedi, Mumbai-based historian and researcher.

As per the records, the first major event that took place at the Gateway was the passing of the First Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. They were the last British troops to leave India after indepen-

INDIA

one Hundred years of History o

It was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary of England. Today, the Gateway of India, Mumbai, stands testimony to a versatile, colourful city

dence. The ceremony was conducted on February 28, 1948.

Even today celebrates ‘Navy Day’ at the Gateway with music, operations and colourful pageantry. This yearly event carries much sentimental valur for Ms. Dwivedi.

“Prior to independence,” she says, “the place was popular for performances by bands. Post independence it was a venue for people to get away from their congested city homes and get a breath of fresh air.”

Landmark The monument has a towering arch of approximately 26 metres in height. Yellow basalt and reinforced concrete were used for the construction of the structure. The Indo-Saracenic style architecture used in late 19th century in British India itself reflects the amalgamation of cultures giving a Gothic appeal and using elements from indigenous styles of architecture.

At the top of the monument there is a central dome

and the façade and the arches have intricate latticework reminiscent of Moghul architecture.

Attacks Much of the old-world charm can be found at the Gateway in the boats and catamarans that still ply at the harbour. The decorated horse carriages that line along the pavements and the iconic Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel complete the setting. In the 21st century however, the monument has seen two terror attacks. A blast which took place in 2003 and the 26/11 attacks at the Taj in 2008. Heavy barricading therefore is a reminder of modern times. The area around has been decorated and parking has been regulated. Howeverfor old-timers like Ms. Dwivedi, the renovation is a major put off. “They replaced the ledges with cement concrete. They could have used stone. I don’t like the new plaza. It’s a heritage site, but you have booking offices blocking the view of the statue and the monument till you are near it. Plus, they destroyed a lot of trees,” she rues.

The dead structures infused with history may change with the passage of time. But the ferries, the water and the pigeons that give people company have remained the same.

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HOROSCOPE ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20: Your friends and family are likely to boost your morale this week as you strive to achieve your goals. You certainly want to rise above and prove that you are the best! You may soon discover your inner strength and try to fulfil others’expectations of you. If you are an artist, let your creative juices flow as the week may be highly rewarding. Take good care of yourself as health may play a spoilsport. Don’t get into any illegal or unethical activities.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 You have worked hard, made money, met people and communicated with them!

Now, you may want some time to unwind and to become more introspective. Spiritual and religious books are likely to grab your attention, at this point in time. Taking a break from hectic schedules and reading books may be prove to be a welcome change, this week. If you are into research, writing, software engineering, investigating, or in any other profession that is about working backstage.

GEMINI May 22 - Jun 21: Your interest for community welfare and charity get stronger this week. You may also take a keen interest in religious matters. At work, the authorities are impressed and satisfied with your sincerity and perseverance. Cash inflow is likely to increase and you may earn enough money to meet not only your personal expenditures, but will also be able to set aside some amount for charity. The positive energies are likely to inspire you to put in more hard work to realize your dreams.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 23: Last week was very hectic, this week doesn’t seem to be any different. You may have to communicate with people.

Also, you may opt for higher studies and train yourself to deal with all the pressure that it brings. For some, the pressure to perform works as a motivation and you are one of them. On the professional front, there may be challenges in your path, but you use them as stepping stones to move closer to your goals. And ultimately, you emerge a winner.

However, all the exertion may take a toll on your health. You need to find a way to relax and rejuvenate yourself.

LEO July 24 - Aug 23: Opportunity knocks only once. So make it work for you. Meanwhile, there may be plenty of disruptions, but nothing bothers you. You, with a one track mind, totally focussed on your goals. You realize that family relationships are fragile. While you need to be caring, you also need to see to it that you don’t become over-possessive about your partner. Make efforts to nurture your relationship, not to own it. Conflicts and stress may take a toll on your health. Take proper care, relax or meditate.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23: As far as work is concerned, you tried your best to achieve your targets and now you are a bit relaxed. You may spend time with loved ones and try to make up for lost time. So now, your life is on an even keel. Success is likely to inspire you a lot.

You believe in your abilities, trust your instincts and are ready to give your best shot. And you have your beautiful family and friends to share the joy of success with. What more could you have asked for? Health is likely to be good. In short, there is hardly anything that could spoil the celebrations. Have fun!

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23: You are on the

December 16, 2011

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auto-pilot mode as far as family and finances are concerned. You may feel attracted to a special somebody and it could be the highlight of this week. However, it’s too soon to say whether the relationship will be a committed one or just a fling. Whatever it is, it is likely to demand much of your time and attention. Do not ignore or hurt your near and dear ones because of this relationship. Think twice before you do or speak anything, because maintaining harmony and peace in the family is also your responsibility. Parties, gatherings and plenty of enjoyment are on the cards for you.

SCORPIO Oct 24 - Nov 22: Professionally, your life seems to be smooth and steady.

Health and wealth, too, are likely to be good. There may be a few developments on the personal front. Your charisma and romantic nature may stir your personal life. You attract people towards you. The attention and adulation may take you to cloud nine. But beware, especially if you are married.

A third person may enter your life and damage your blissful marriage. Put the same energy and passion in your married life and strengthen your existing bond. Have a wonderful week ahead!

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 22: You are willing to push your limits to realize your dreams. Travelling for business or pleasure is on the cards, too. But this time around, there may be something new to look forward to. You may meet somebody while you are travelling and form an emotional connection with him/her. It may be too early to predict the course that this association will take, though it is likely to be very passionate. You want to enjoy life and the daily chores don’t seem to be interesting enough. So you’ll live life on your own terms.

CAPRICORN Dec 23 - Jan 20: You may take up challenges head-on. This shows how confident and courageous you are. You may well realise that failure and success are the two sides of the same coin. Therefore, if your plans fail on the work front, you are unlikely to get disheartened.

There may be a lot of travelling and work-related problems, but considering your capabilities, you are likely to deal with them gracefully. However, all the struggle may affect your health adversely.

Your professional life will keep you so occupied and busy. Your family supports you.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19: You are back in your usual mood this week. Confident, cheerful, and charismatic, you may be ready to take challenges head-on. People will appreciate your hard work and achievements. This may motivate you to do your best.

Needless to say, you are likely to accomplish your projects successfully. You may not have time for personal life. You want to achieve more so that you can have a secured future for youself and your family.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20: Throughout the year, you have performed extremely well. You have seen a lot of success and recognition during this phase, and this week it is likely to continue. You are in a festive mood. You are likely to celebrate your success with all your near and dear ones, and they would love to be a part of the celebrations. In short, your family and children are likely to be a source of happiness this week. But you are likely to avoid all backbreaking work. You will try to pass on your work to somebody else, not a very good idea.

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Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16 , 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O

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26 December 16, 2011

Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, A decemBer 16 , 2011 • Online editiOn: Ay, On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O