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COMMUNITY

February 03, 2017

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A Cozy, Personal R-Day at CG’s, No Matter the Evening Chill

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA

HOUSTON: On the backyard

brick porch of the Consul General’s house on Thursday January 26, a group of adults and children from Pt. Suman Ghosh’s Saadhana Pariwar sang the Indian and US national anthems as the audience sat on chairs laid out on the paved backyard besides the swimming pool. The slight chill of a late January, was in the air but those gathered had shrugged it off as they settled in for the 90-minute program that started just shy of 6pm. More people straggled in after fighting off the late evening rush of traffic, and midway through the crowd had grown to over 200, by Indian Consul General Anupam Ray’s estimate, far exceeding the expected numbers.

Ray chose to celebrate the Indian Republic Day at his house – and in the evening, a departure from the early morning flag hoisting of years past – like it used to be done before the more elaborate functions held at the Hilton on Post Oak for the past six years during the tenures of his predecessors Harish and Arora. It was a throwback to a more intimate, cozy and casual affair that seems to fit the personality and style of Ray and his wife Amit Goldberg. They have hosted several functions this way since Ray took over his post last April and their informality has endeared them to everyone they have come across. This – and the Facebook posts that Ray frequently makes – marks a decided refreshing turn form the stiff upper lip of many government bureaucrats.

True to form, dressed in a long black achkan and white pajama, Ray opened up the program without much fuzz and in a departure from the usual reading of the Indian President’s traditional speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi. Ray said that he wanted to make the evening a “brand Houston building exercise for India to promote the education of Indians abroad and their ability to create wealth and innovate wherever they might be.” He introduced two such individuals and two Americans who have close ties to the Indian community.

Harris County Commissioners Court Judge Ed Emmett was first to speak about his numerous experiences with India during his frequent trips there. “India and I

are the same age,” he said with a grin. He noted that as businesses relocate to the area, many set up offices in the unincorporated areas of Harris County. He announced that he would be setting up an Economic Development Advising Committee and surprised everyone by asking Jagdip Ahluwalia (the Executive Director of the Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston) to head it up.

“We have forgotten the person-toperson aspect of economic development,” Emmett said.

Bhavesh Patel, Chairman and CEO of LyondellBasell Industries spoke about his humble beginnings in Mumbai from where he came as a 10-year-old boy to Cleveland, Ohio and then to Houston in 1989. “I am a beneficiary of international trade,” he said. “We should not forget that the world is inter-connected.” He noted that trade between Houston and India had doubled in the last 10 years.

Dr. John Mendelsohn, a former president of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer

The speakers at the Republic Day reception with Dr. Anupam Ray and his wife Dr. Amit Goldberg Ray, from left, Judge Ed Emmett, Dr. John Mendelsohn, Jerry Davis , Ashok Belani and Bhavesh Patel.

Photo: Jawahar Malhotra

A group from Pt. Suman Ghosh’s Saadhana Pariwar performed the Indian and US national anthems.

Photos: Vanshika Vipin Varma

Isha Parupudi and Samyuktha Hari from Rathna Kumar’s Anjali School of Performing Arts performed afterwards.

Center in Houston, spoke affectionately of his several trips to India and the places he visited. “We will know what we aspire to be as a country when we produce doctors like India,” he said, applauding their skills, and remembering Dr. Durga Das Agarwal, a local industrialist and Malcom Gillis, the sixth president of Rice University, for introducing him to India. He recalled an episode when he was asked to join in as the ninth member to help celebrate the Jewish Sabbath at a synagogue in Cochin,

Turner was unable to attend, Vice Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Davis read the City Proclamation and handed it to Ray. The program concluded with dances by Isha Parupudi and Samyuktha Hari from Rathna Kumar’s Anjali School of Performing Arts and concluding sangeets (classical songs) by Pt. Suman Ghosh. The sumptuous dinner was once again “made at home by our marvelous cooks,” said Amit Ray, again a departure from past years, when it has been catered.

Kerela.

Ashok Belani, Executive VP at Schlumberger, and a former IIT graduate on 1947, said he was proud of the way India was progressing and of his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said his conversations with common people in India, encouraged him that they were willing to put up with hardships like the recent demonetization for the long term progress and benefit of the country.

As Houston Mayor Sylvester

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February 03, 2017

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COMMUNITY

February 03, 2017

Houstonians Salute Good Health with the Health for Humanity Yogathon

BY VANSHIKA VIPIN VARMA

SUGAR LAND: Believed to have origi-

nated several centuries ago, Surya Namaskars or Sun Salutations is a yoga warm up routine based on a sequence of gracefully linked asanas. Practicing sun salutations is one way to honor the sun and bring its power into your heart as it helps create a full body workout. It was therefore not surprising when over 350 yoga enthusiasts showed up last Sunday, on January 29, for the concluding day of the Tenth annual Health for Humanity Yogathon, conducted by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, Inc. (HSS), at the Sugar Land Town Square.

The cold weather could not deter the teens, the youth and the young at heart senior citizens from participating, and they were present in full enthusiasm at the venue by 10:00 am. The 16-day event, which was held from January 14 - 29 aimed to create awareness about Yoga and its advantages in achieving a healthy body, mind and spirit. As a part of this nationwide event, Surya Namaskar Yajna (SNY) marked the culmination of this annual Yogathon. Various dignitaries performed the inaugural lamp lighting ceremony. The ceremony was graced by Sugar Land Pro Tem Mayor Himesh Gandhi, India’s deputy Consul General Surendra Adhana, Sugar Land City Manager Allen Bogard, Jamie Pilloff from Awakening Yoga, HSS USA President Subhash Gupta, and Shekhar Agrawal.

Several Yoga gurus participated and conducted various yoga and relaxation sessions.

Daksha Shah of Om Yoga conducted the warm up session. Participants performed Salutations to the Sun, under the guidance of Madhukar Adi and Hashita Karthick, from Houston HSS. They highlighted the 10-step Surya Namaskar process that Hindu Swayamsevak Sang follows. The participants energized themselves and reached 9100 repetitions of the Surya Namaskar and this session lasted for one and a half hour.

Savitri Maskeri of HSS conducted brief Pranayama session, while Maya of ‘Yoga

by Maya’ and Robert Boustany of ‘Pralay Yoga’ conducted relaxation sessions.

Dr. Neeta Shukla, a practicing Anesthesiologist at Memorial Hermann of The Woodlands, shared her perspective of the benefits of the Sun Salutations to all the participants.

She stated in a simple yet impactful manner that Surya Namaskar integrates simple Yoga postures in 10-steps that, along with easy breathing techniques, can provide immense health benefits to both the body and the mind for everyone. Dr. Karuna Posani, a practicing board certified Internal Medicine physician at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land presented key tips and guidance to the participants. One of her most appreciated tip was that everyone must know their body limit, respect it and ensure not to cross over that limit during yoga sessions.

Sugarland Pro Tem Mayor Himesh Gandhi mentioned, “The City of Sugar Land is very proud to support an active and healthy lifestyle. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh’s promotion and awareness is admirable and the City of Sugar Land enjoyed playing hosts to the hundreds of people in attendance”.

Surendra Adhana described the event as an extraordinary experience and reminded the audience about the upcoming International Yoga Day on June 21, to be held at Discovery Green in Houston. Anant Samdhani, Houston HSS chapter public relation in charge and the coordinator of the event said that the event was also successful in terms of reaching out to the society as a whole, without any barrier of race, nationality or personal faith.

One of the key highlights of the event was the demonstration of sun salutation by three 75 plus year old senior citizens- Baru Goyal, Kishan Gupta and Dilip Mehta. These young at heart defied the odds and inspired many with their strength, determination and positivity. Participants could be later seen flocking to the free booths that were promoting Yoga and Healthy Lifestyle. With the success of this event, the organizers sincerely hope that participants will continue CONTINUED ON PAGE

Lamp Lighting Ceremony

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Photos: Bijay Dixit

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers

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HSS recognizing the Yoga teachers

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February 03, 2017

HEALTHY LIVING

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Well-woman exams help doctors detect diseases in earlier stages

COMMUNITY India’s Republic Day Celebration at India House

Q: Why are well-woman exams important? well-woman exams help detect A: “Regular many serious health conditions in the earlier stages when we have more treatment options with a greater chance for positive patient outcomes,” says Asma Ali, M.D., a board-certified Obstetrics and Gynecology specialist at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. “These exams are individualized depending on a patient’s age, symptoms and medical history.”

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What does the exam include?

Dr. Ali says well-woman exams include a breast exam and evaluating vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. There may also be a pelvic exam and Pap test to help detect precancerous changes in cervical cells and check for evidence of human papillomavirus.

“As your OB/GYN, I would also evaluate the need for additional health screenings such as glucose testing, colonoscopy, bone density tests and mammography,” she says. “The American Cancer Society recommends an annual mammogram for most women 45 and older – or earlier, if their medical history puts them at greater risk.”

Col. Vipin Kumar and Dr. Virendra Mathur.

Photo: Vanshika Vipin Varma

Be your own healthcare advocate.

“Be smart; schedule a well-woman exam. And remember, women past child-bearing years also need regular checkups because the risk for breast and reproductive cancers increases with age,” concludes Dr. Ali, who cares for patients at Kelsey-Seybold’s The Vintage Clinic located at 10701Vintage Preserve Parkway.

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Hemant Bhavsar and Rucha Sheth

Dr. Ali speaks English, Hindi and Urdu and is accepting new patients.

Her clinical interests include well-woman care and minimally invasive surgery. Kelsey-Seybold accepts 50 health insurance plans, including Cigna, KelseyCare, UnitedHealthCare and Humana.

Kruthi Bhat and Keerthana Bhat sang the national anthems.

HOUSTON: Indian diaspora and friends

Call 713-442-7587 to schedule an appointment or to ÀQG D SK\VLFLDQ DW .HOVH\ 6H\EROG &OLQLF This health information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or a guaranty of treatment, outcome or cure, nor is it intended to create a physician-patient relationship between Kelsey-Seybold Clinic or any other physician and the reader. Consult with your healthcare provider for specific medical advice.

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of India gathered at India House on January 26. at 10:00 am to celebrate India’s 68th Republic day. Flags of United States, India, Texas and India House were hoisted in the premises of India House, O.P. Jindal Center. The United States flag was hoisted

by Virendra Mathur, one of the Trustees of India House. The Indian, Texas and India House flags were hoisted by Board Members of India House, Kul Bhushan Uppal, Nagraj Eleswarapu and Devi Prasad Rungta respectively. People from different cultures and ethnicities had gathered on the occasion and together they embodied the patriotic spirit of independent India. The U.S Na-

tional Anthem was sung by Kruthi Bhat and Keerthana Bhat sisters, and everyone present proudly joined them in singing the National Anthem of India. The attendees were then invited to the banquet hall for a brief formal ceremony. After Virendra Mathur read out President of India’s message, a couple of Indian patriotic songs were sung

by Hemant Bhavsar and Rucha Sheth that led the attendees to a nostalgic trip down the memory lane, reminding everyone of the courageous spirit and sacrifices of India’s freedom fighters. The fellowship continued, as all present enjoyed light refreshment catered from Café India, Sugar Land.

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COMMUNITY

February 03, 2017

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Kai Po Che on the Skies of Houston!

Photos: Gautam Jani & Vanshika Vipin Varma

BY VANSHIKA VIPIN VARMA

R

ICHMOND: Popping colors, riotous celebration and loads of excitement along with the triumphant yell- Kai Po Che, the atmosphere at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Richmond, Texas experienced all of this and more on Saturday, January 28. Yes, it was the Makar Sankranti – Kite Flying event hosted by the Gujarati Samaj of Houston (GSH) along with the support of major Indo-American organizations.

Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti is a festival celebrated in various parts of the Indian subcontinent to observe the day, which marks the shift of the sun into ever-lengthening days. The festival is a seasonal observance as well as a religious celebration. People fly kites on this day and by doing it, knowingly or otherwise, they receive the benefits of sun exposure.

At the Sardar Patel Stadium, with the crowd of over 1200 people, it seemed like people dropped everything just to be able to tug at the manjha (kite string) and cut their opponent’s kite. Heavy

rains and flooding had caused this mega-event to be postponed twice earlier. But this time nothing could stop the Houstonians from attending, not even the cold weather.

Measures were taken to avoid blocking the traffic. There was an arrangement for a pick up and drop facility. Three buses were put to service to the venue and they shuttled from the nearby high school where people parked their vehicles.

The event began from 11:00 am and visitors mingled between the various booths that were set up to keep the festival spirit rolling till

around 6:00 pm. While GSH sold Indian and American kites and manjha, a feast of food and drink booths were also part of the lineup. Bhojan Restaurant and Chowpatty Chaat Express ensured there was enough for people to indulge in their spectacular range of lipsmacking dishes. Sardar Patel Stadium, originally a cricket stadium, also witnessed some men sneaking to the pitch to immerse in their passion for cricket.

The visitors appreciated and adored the event to the fullest, participating in the extravaganza of kite flying while bragging about

their favorite kites, embracing cricket and indulging in their favorite food. This event was a sight of mesmerizing emotions and served as the perfect host to the spirit of India.

Amee Patel, President of GSH thanked the community for their patience and support. She mentioned that they faced many hurdles for this event, but because of the sheer dedication and hard work of the entire team they could pull it off.

For further details and for upcoming events visit www.gshouston.org

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

10 February 03, 2017

COMMUNITY

Top Healthcare Executives Share Some Life Lessons at IACCGH Meet

BY MANU SHAH

HOUSTON: A woman powered

leadership panel dispensed some compelling work/life advice at the IACCGH Business of Medicine Women’s Executive Leadership Panel on January 17, at the Hess Club. Sponsored by CHI St. Luke’s Health, the event saw an unprecedented turnout of over 150 members and guests with representatives from CHI St Luke’s Health, MD Anderson, Memorial Hermann, Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor and Kindred Healthcare.

Eminent Indo American Doctors such as the President of the Indian Doctors Association Dr. Manish Gandhi, National Treasurer of AAPI Dr. Manju Sachdeva, Cardiologists Dr. Randeep Suneja and Dr. Harish Chandna and Obama honoree Dr. Hardeep Singh were among the attendees.

Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia welcomed the gathering of “leaders and decision makers” and brought attention to the “different things IACCGH is to different people” from young entrepreneurs to professionals to businesses. Immediate Past President Joya Shukla, who chairs the Healthcare Series, highlighted the strong inroads made in the medical community in 2016 by launching the Business of

From left: Sanjay Ram, Jagdip Ahluwalia, Indira Vishnampet, Janice Lamy, Jenny Sarpalius, Gay Nord, Lorie Shoemaker, Consul General Dr. Anupam Ray, Dr. Amit Goldberg Ray, Joya Shukla, and Aku Patel.

Photos: Bijay Dixit

Medicine Series Senior VP at Xtivia and Board Chair CHI St Luke’s Sugar Land Indira Vishnampet, who played a key role in helping the launch of this Series, moderated the panel moving briskly with the panelists from Baylor Hospital President Gay Nord, VP, Marketing and Communications Janice Lamy, VP and CFO Jenny Sarpalius and VP

and Chief Nursing Officer Lorie Shoemaker.

The panelists addressed issues ranging from the importance of networking, facing gender bias, work life balance, cultural competency to transitioning into leadership positions.

Some inspiring takeaways from the evening: • Face to face networking not

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For a work life balance, set boundaries and develop high performance teams.

Moderator Indira Vishnampet wrapped up the event by thanking the panelists for their time and revealed that it took “6 months to work out the dates for the event.”

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CONTINUED ON PAGE

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COMMUNITY

February 03, 2017

Pradeep Sulhan, P.C.

Zafar “Zaf” Tahir Appointed to the Planning Commission (Houston Airports Commission) by Mayor Turner

HOUSTON:

According to Mayor of Houston TX 2017 Planning Commission Appointment Letter dated January 10, 2017, Honorable Mayor Sylvester Turner requested for approval by the City Council appointment of Zafar “Zaf” Tahir to Position Three of Planning Commission of the City of Houston.

This confirmation from the City of Houston (CoH) came as Agenda Item # 3 during the Wednesday, January 25, City Council Meeting, where in the presence of more than 200 family members, friends, and well-wishers of Zaf Tahir, the historic affirmation of Zaf Tahir to the topmost Commission of CoH (Planning) took place.

Several City Councilperson and Mayor spoke highly of Zaf Tahir and his abilities as Engineer, Businessperson, and Lawyer to serve on the Commission in the

most diligent manner.

Zaf Tahir said that he is proud of having served Houston in the past, and is grateful to the city leadership for opportunities provided. He thanked the diverse Houston Community, where people from several facets and backgrounds had packed the City Council Chamber to witness this occasion. He added that this position does not belong only to him, but the position also belongs to all the many accomplished businesspersons, engineers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, and others present in the City Council Room that morning, whose good advice and support will be needed to accomplish the objectives of this position for the betterment of City of Houston.

After the City Council ratification of Zaf Tahir to the Planning Commission, all the guest gathered on the first floor of City of Houston building, where Honor-

able Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee joined everyone to present Zaf Tahir Special Congressional Proclamation on the occasion of his appointment to the Planning Commission of the City of Houston.

In a Facebook message, Zaf Tahir said: “You and I and We - are in this together. Our plans, dreams, desires, fears, and apprehensions are all here.

We will watch each other’s back and lift each other on our shoulders. My appointment: It’s a journey on which all of us are participating and moving forward. May this be good for all of us, our children, this city and this region.”

Present on the occasion were Honorable Sultan Bin Abdullah AL-Angary (Counsel General of Saudi Arabia); Honorable Ferhat Alkan (Counsel General of Turkey); Honorable Aisha Farooqui (Counsel General of Pakistan); Zaf Tahir’s wife and two sons; and many other community persons.

This nomination by Mayor Turner is in accordance to the State of Texas Local Government Code, Chapters 211 and 212; City of Houston, Texas Code. Members of the Planning Commission also serve as members of the Airport Commission.

In the past, Zaf Tahir has worked as the Co-Chair of Mayor Lee P. Brown’s Transition Team (1997); Public Works Citizens’ Commission (19982003); Chair of Mayor White’s Taskforce Safety and Security for Small Retail (2007); and Mayor’s International Advisory on Trade under Mayors Brown, White, and Parker (1998-2015).

Top Healthcare Executives Share Some Life Lessons at IACCGH Meet CONTINUED FROM PAGE

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Consul General Dr. Anupam Ray and his wife Dr. Amit Goldberg Ray, a renowned oncologist were also present. In his address, the CG welcomed the association between the Chamber and CHI St Luke’s and described Healthcare as the “next bridge” (after IT) between India and Houston. He also stated that a country can aspire to greatness only if its citizens are healthy and treat women on an equal footing and India would

like to follow in the footsteps of the US in this aspect.

The Consul General also did the honors of presenting plaques of appreciation to the panelists.

(Upcoming events: February 13th, a Distinguished Lecture with Keynote by Ambassador Rinzing Wangdi at the Consulate General of India February 19th: A free seminar on American Tax Laws as applicable to taxpayers who own/con-

trol overseas assets, Obamacare and what’s next, Outsourcing, Retirement planning and other relevant tax laws at India House.

Please visit www.iaccgh.com for more details and registration)

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COMMUNITY

Houston India Conference Launches “Make in India – The Inside Story” on March 24-25

HOUSTON: Houston India con-

ference is hosting first of the series conference on March 24 – 25 in Houston. The topic of 2017 conference is “Make in India – The Inside Story”. The conference is organized by Consulate General of India in Houston, India House, Asia Society Texas Center, Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston, US India Skills and Education Council, University of Houston, and World Affairs Council of Dallas/ Ft Worth.

Texas has a large concentration of constituencies interested in doing business with India. The GDP of Texas at US$ 1.7 trillion would make it the 10th largest economy in the world if it was an independent nation. Texas is home to 54 (or 11%) of Fortune 500 companies. Houston alone does an annual trade of around $3.2 billion with India. There is a strong presence of Indians in Industry, businesses, educational, medical and research institutes that Houston is renowned for.

Houston India Conference is designed to bring together the various constituencies that have an interest in India, and discuss with them the latest developments and the best practices of doing business in India.

USA and India are true global partners -- both in strengthening economies and strong democra-

cies. That’s why President Obama visited India twice while in office, while PM Modi visited USA four times in last two years. Soft Bank of Japan committed to investing $10 billion into India over the next several years. Domino’s Pizza stated that they sell more pies in India than any other country other than the United States. Boeing has been building long-term partnerships with Indian companies that are helping create the indigenous aerospace and defense infrastructure envisioned through “Make in India.” Dennis Swanson, Vice President, Boeing Defense, Space & Security in India said in an interview with Economic Times, “India

is one of the most important markets for Boeing internationally.”

While some companies will do very well in India, some do not.

Dallas-based Mary Kay exited from India after six years in 2003 while Amway and L’Oreal thrived in the same market.

Keeping above in mind, the central focus of the Houston India conference is to provide a collaboration platform and share today’s India story with the audience in Texas who are interested in investing in India, by the people who are playing an important role in shaping up the modern. This conference will not only bring together individuals and organi-

zations in Texas or India that have an interest in collaborating but will also catalyze the emergence of a major network in Texas interested in doing business in India.

The conference on March 24th, 2017 will be based around a number of panels with carefully chosen speakers. Finale of the conference will be at India House annual gala event on March 25th, 2017.

“We have speakers who have expanded brands in India, journalists, foreign policy experts, and movers and shakers who are writing story of today’s India. This event presents a chance to learn lessons from them on what it takes to do business in India and with India. We expect the

audience to include top businessmen; active investors and money managers; a collection of business school and public policy school deans; and local government leadership”, said Dr. Anupam Ray, the Consulate General of India.

Delegate attendance at the Houston India Conference is by invitation only, limited to qualified titles (usually Chairman, Vice Chairman, CEO and President from global headquarters) and is at the discretion of the Houston India Conference organizers.

For further information, please visit http://www.houstonindiaconference.com

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

February 03, 2017

13

3 Community Organization Partner to Present Workshop on Diabetes & Yoga

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BY NIKHIL JAIN

HOUSTON: Sewa International

along with JVB Preksha Meditation Center & VYASA organized a free community workshop “Multifaceted holistic approach to Diabetes through Yoga” on January 28. It was attended by over 100 people and was conducted by Dr. Sudha Rajan who has been practicing in the Clear Lake area for the past 30 years.

The workshop started with JVB President & host Seema Jain welcoming the participants and informing them about JVB and its activities. Thereafter Sachin Dabir of Sewa & Jayachandran Chandrasekaran of VYASA talked briefly about the activities of their respective organization. It was heartfelt to see three of the active community organizations joining hands to bring this program and the community members responding so well.

Dr. Sudha Rajan gave a presentation on yoga therapy as a treatment protocol for diabetes, a global pandemic. She outlined eight major causative defects in the human system—and how yoga therapy addresses each of these defects. Dr. Rajan stressed that lifestyle changes in diet, exercise and the deep relaxation of major organs through yoga can arrest pre-diabetes or even reverse diabetes. Chronic stress, she said, from the demands of modern life causes serious, deleterious effects in the human body. However, yoga therapy is an effective treatment for stress, diabetes or not. Audience was surprised to learn that a company in Israeli has developed a machine to assist in managing one’s breath rate, thus managing blood pressure effectively.

On the related topic, Nikhil Jain shared about the upcoming Stop

Diabetes Movement (SDM) Yoga camps being conducted by the certified therapist and medical doctors. Sewa USA has been conducting these camps in Houston area since 2014 and over 100 people have participated. This camp provides holistic approach to managing Diabetes through Yoga and diet control. Several participants registered for the upcoming SDM camps on site itself.

A big thank you to Dr. Rajan and all the volunteers of these 3 organizations starting with Seema Jain, Gaurav Jhaveri, Deepesh Jain, Ritu Jain, Anuja Deshpande, Vibhuti Shah, Naina Patel, Noopur Sapatnekar, Sachin Dabir, Jay Chandrasekaran & Roshmi Dalal for putting things together. The workshop ended with nutritious snacks & tea served to everyone.

These SDM yoga camp have been extremely successful with over 100+ participants already have attended these in Houston during the past 1 year. The tenday camp included daily yoga routine, lectures from doctors and specialist on diabetes, stress, food habits, and, how to manage better.

Sewa & VYASA will conduct the next set of camps in Katy, Sugarland, West Houston & Cypress simultaneously, from Feb 24th to March 5th. These camps are free of charge, they have a deposit which is refunded once participants complete all the sessions. For those who want to know more & register for these SDM Diabetes Yoga camp, please contact info-sdm@ sewausa.org or (713)834-4909 / (281) 546-8202. The last day to register for the camp is February 15th, 2017.

Sewa USA is 501 (c) (3) Hindu faith-based non-profit, charitable organization.

All donations (cash, cars, clothes, securities, etc.) are taxdeductible. (Tax Id# 20-0638718).

Sewa serves humanity regardless of race, religion, color, gender or nationality.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

14 February 03, 2017

Taped Ball

Cricket Tournament

G 2017 N I R SP All matches are played: -On full pitches and full ground -With a semi -hard ball

Tournament starts from

03/04/2017

Contact Jagadish Biradar

(jaggub@hotmail.com) for registration.

Registration ends 02/17/2017 http://www.triggerscricket.com/index.php/about-tb

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

February 03, 2017

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

15

16 February 03, 2017 HOUSTON: With the warmer

than usual Winter, youth cricket season in Greater Houston area has started off with all 4 clubs conducting their opening day in January. These clubs are KYC & ECC in Katy Area, NWCC in North West Houston and SLYCC in greater Southwest Houston areas. More than fifty children under the age of 16 participated in various levels of Cricket training at SLYCC’s Duhacsek Park fields in Sugar Land. SLYCC players also thanked their 2016 Sponsors namely CapSpire Inc., WestPark Springs, Susan Greer & Group, Houston Animal Hospital, Kidzone Dental and Speedypost Sugarland for their continued support to the cause of youth cricket.

2017 is earmarked to be a watershed year for Youth Cricket in Houston with the arrival of internationally recognized Coach Peter Wellings from the UK. Coach Wello is a Level 3 Coach and has more than 25 years of coaching experience and runs one of UK’s biggest kids cricket academy – Coaching Cricket Excellence. He

COMMUNITY

Cricket 2017 Kicks Off!

has conducted coaching sessions in the UK, South Africa, France as well as India. Coach Wello has moved to Houston with his family with a sole aim of Coaching Cricket in the USA. He will be in charge of training the leather-ball teams at

Sugar Land Youth Cricket Club on a weekly basis. Coach Wello will be available for small group training as well as one-on-one training with Cricketers. More information on Coach Wello at www.coachingcricketexcellence.co.uk.

SLYCC is a Non Profit (501c3) organization involved in devel-

oping integrity amongst kids via the game of Cricket. Lessons are offered for Girls & Boys in Tennis Ball (6-7 Year Olds), Taped Tennis Ball (8-10 Year olds) and Leatherball (10 to 16 year olds).

All training sessions and practices are conducted with child safety as foremost. SLYCC is thankful to

the City of Sugar Land for providing the Duhacsek Park (17034 Old Richmond Road, Sugarland, 77478) for the sole purpose of Youth Cricket. To join Sugar Land Youth Cricket Club, please visit www.slycc.org for more information, new teams are forming now.

Houstonians Salute Good Health with the Health for Humanity Yogathon CONTINUED FROM PAGE

05

performing Surya Namaskar as part of their routine, thereby committing to staying healthy.

What few participants had to say: “It was cold but lots of fun doing Yoga at Town Square. I have learnt the benefits of doing Suryanamaskar”. -Nata Polyushkevich of Expansion Wellness Center.

“Getting to participate in the public program for Suyra Namaskar at Sugar Land’s Town Square was a wonderful experience, despite the chilly weather.

To have so many different people come together from all walks of life, to share a common practice, brought home how universal Yoga truly is.” -Brian Hood from Swashta Yoga Studio.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, commonly known as Sangh, is a US based, non-profit, social and cultural organization. It aims to promote community spirit and ideals among Hindus residing in the United States. HSS initiated this

health awareness project in 2006.

Since its inception, participants from 40 states have participated and collectively performed over 4 million Surya Namaskars. The United States Congress has recognized these efforts and endorsed HSS this year.

For further information about participating in the Health for Humanity Yogathon including training resources and advertising aids visit www.hssus.org/sny or email at sny@hssus.org

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

February 03, 2017

Shaam E Ghazal: An Evening of Poetry

HOUSTON: International HindiAssociation, Houston Chapter (IHA) and India Culture

Center (ICC) proudly presents on Friday February 10, an evening filled of joy, entertainment and love by our own Houstonian Nausha Asrar and Archana Panda from California.

This wonderful duo of poets will take you to a new height with their soft, passionate and absorbing Ghazals. In addition to this there will be interactive games and prizes to be won on Valentine’s weekend. To top it all there will be a melodious singer who will take the audience to another level with his soulful Bollywood Ghazals.

To make it more memorable this all comes with complimentary wine, sumptuous dinner and take away pictures at the program.

Also, when you attend this program you are furthering the cause of Hindi in America as this is a fund-raising event for IHA and proceeds from this program will be entirely used for ‘Prasar’ and ‘Prachar’ of Hindi at the newly started classes at VVM. Do not miss this wonderful opportunity to enjoy and at the same time enhance the cause of ‘Hindi’ language.

Contact 281-3830348 for more information.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

17

18 February 03, 2017

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Hooliganism against Padmavati

US, Me and Myself

Deng Xiaoping was highly skilled, but he had something more valu-

able: Luck. Starting his economic reforms in 1978 meant that China caught a 30-year supercycle of global economic growth, manufacturing offshoring and global trade liberalisation. Low wage workers were uneasy but for a while, their hesitations were blunted by their joy in lower prices as consumers. No longer; they asserted their rights as citizens in Trump’s election.

Trump’s inauguration speech promised to follow “two simple rules; we will buy American and hire American” and his visa blacklist suggests he knows who elected him. Giving American voters the benefit of doubt that Trump’s victory was driven by economics rather than race and religion, what does it mean for Indian IT companies and policymakers?

In 2014, India was the largest source of new immigrants to America (1,47,000), higher than China (1,32,000), and Mexico (1,30,000) but as a group, Indian immigrants have so far “not been perceived as problematic” because they are “not poor, segregated, unemployed, illegal, criminal or culturally different”.

India’s software export industry is vulnerable to Trump’s “me, myself and I” economic thought world. Will he extend the country ban? Will he shut off onsite visas? Will he impose a tariff on offshore delivery? Will he enforce a local sourcing requirement? Will his “buy American” fatwa be enforced in people or dollars? Will this fatwa distinguish between American-owned offshore centres and service providers? Most importantly, will he risk America’s technology monopoly — an important source of their soft power and military prowess — by diminishing Silicon Valley’s ability to confiscate the best people in the world?

The only answer is that it is too early to tell. But despite worries of automation and protection, the wind is at India’s back because all hardware of the future needs a software layer, offshore delivery is maturing and becoming easier, India produces more engineers than China and the US combined, and captive software centres in India (Facebook, Amazon, Google, Uber,Airbnb, Expedia, KPMG, JP Morgan, etc.) are accelerating Indian hiring as technology becomes a core competence. I’m willing to wager that predictions of India’s software decline are premature and total employment in software will rise from the current 3.7 million to more than 5 million in five years.

India’s problem is not jobs but wages and living wages won’t come from regulatory fatwas but formalisation (our 60 million informal enterprises don’t have the productivity to pay the wage premium), urbanisation (2 lakh of our 6 lakh villages have less than 200 people and can’t become job magnets), and industrialisation (the only way to help farmers is to have less of them).

The most interesting question of our times is not whether the world is better off thinking itself as one unit or every country should first think about itself, but whether it’s politically possible to think of the world as one unit. Unlike economists, the tension between humanity and community is obvious to politicians because “all politics is local”. India and the US face very different problems — we are trying to pull people out of poverty while they are trying to prevent people from falling into poverty.

America’s problem is more difficult — a $30,000 annual income is a lot of money depending on which side you are coming from — and therefore, their politics will get more toxic before any healing can start.

America’s genius has been stealing the best people in the world but my 12-year-old daughter came back from school saying that Trump winning was good for India because the smart Indians who left will have to come back and can then help build India. I think she is wrong, but after the visa order, I can’t be sure. The world is changing in ways that make dealing with India’s formal job emergency more difficult. And urgent. IE -Manish Sabharwal, Chairman, Teamlease Services.

BY RADHIKA IYENGAR

A

new brand of hooliganism is emerging in India and, we’re allowing it. Recently, the right-wing fringe outfit, Rajput Karni Sena came into the spotlight for physically assaulting filmmaker, Sanjay Leela Bhansali on the sets of his film, ‘Padmavati’. In its defense, Karni Sena argued that Bhansali was “distorting history” by showing Padmawati (who incidentally, was a Hindu) indulging in an intimate relationship with emperor Alauddin Khilji.

This incident raises a few questions though: First, even if Bhansali did take a few dramatic liberties and ‘meddled’ with history, does it give a band of goons (or anyone else for that matter) the right to assault him? Two, Padmavati is a legendary figure—a fictional character that over time merged into the books of history. According to experts, there is even a possibility that she did not exist (http://bit.ly/2klFax7). Must we make a hue and cry therefore, over a character whose very existence is questionable?

Let’s cut through veneer of Karni Sena claiming that Bhansali was tampering with history. While the Sena may deny it, but Bhansali was beaten up primarily to receive considerable media attention. Until a few days ago, the Karni Sena existed at the periphery. No one had ever heard of it. However, when it brandished its muscle and assaulted Bhansali, instantly it catapulted itself into mainstream conversations.

This incident is reminiscent of the debacle that surrounded Karan Johar a few months ago. In October 2016, a few weeks before Johar’s film, ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ starring the Pakistani actor, Fawad Khan was to be released, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) created an uproar.

They found the idea of a Pakistani actor starring in an Indian film, ludicrous. Johar was questioned about his sense of patriotism and derided as an anti-national.

But the commotion held a magnifying glass over a few important issues. To calm the MNS down, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a private meeting in his office between MNS leader Raj

Thackeray and Johar. That meeting organised by Fadnavis himself, made a telling statement: instead of arresting the MNS goons, not only did Fadnavis support and encourage the party’s puerile bullying by inviting Thackeray to his office, but he handed over Thackeray (a man not elected into power) the clout to bully Johar and extort five crores (under the veneer of ‘voluntary donation’ for the Indian army). Fadnavis caved in to Thackeray’s hooliganism, instead of standing up to it.

That kind of puppet-performance conveyed how weak and biased our law and order apparatus is. It also conveyed the inefficacy of an elected representative like Fadnavis. At that time, Thackeray’s men who unconstitutionally threatened Johar weren’t arrested. Today, nothing much has changed. The Karni Sena’s men who beat up Bhansali have not been jailed.

And here’s the blatant irony:The police has been quick to arrest ordinary citizens marching in peaceful protests – like Najeeb Ahmed’s mother, who was manhandled and dragged into a police bus for participating in a protest that demanded the officials to find her missing son. The police however, will almost never hunt down and imprison bullies who belong to the violent, chest-thumping extreme outfits.

More importantly, this is a democracy. Free speech and the ability to make films, and to take certain dramatic liberties in art – as long as the artist is not hurting a race, religion or a community – is a right. To allow farright fundamentalists to wreck havoc

at whim and to not penalize them for it is problematic. It challenges the very nature of our democracy.

This isn’t the first time self-proclaimed right-wing vigilantes have created an uproar around a film.

Back in 2010, the Shiv Sena clawed its way into the limelight by ostensibly delaying the release of the Shah Rukh Khan starrer film, ‘My Name Is Khan’, because the actor wanted to include Pakistani players in his IPL team. Even the veteran painter, M.F. Husain was forced to live in self-imposed exile, because he received death threats for portraying Indian goddesses in the nude. But here’s the thing: If these right-wing fundamentalists felt enraged that the modesty of the goddesses was being undermined, I wonder where they are when women in India get molested, raped and sexually assaulted on the streets? Where is their rage then?

This brand of hooliganism needs to be suppressed, not encouraged.

For Fadnavis to play the silent mediator between Thackeray and Johar, and for Bhansali’s team to issue a statement that there are and will be no intimacy scenes in ‘Padmavati’, indicates a threat not only to freedom of expression, but underscores that right-wing fundamentalists can muscle their way into making ridiculous demands – and get away with it. It throws in some uncomfortable questions onto the table that need to be addressed. For starters, why aren’t these rowdy, law-breaking goons in jail yet? Indian Express.

Radhika is a Senior Sub Editor with the indianexpress.com She is an alumna of Columbia University.

Indo American News FOUNDER: DR. K.L. SINDWANI PUBLISHER: JAWAHAR MALHOTRA EDITOR: PRAMOD KULKARNI BUSINESS & PRODUCTION MANAGER: VANSHIKA VIPIN VARMA GRAPHIC DESIGN: BHUMI PARMAR OFFICE ASSISTANT: MANSI THAKKAR CORRESPONDENTS

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INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

OBITUARY

February 03, 2017

19

Ramesh Manek, 68, an Architect for whom Family Came First

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA

HOUSTON: There is a picture

of Ramesh Manek in a white shirt, smiling broadly besides a yellow sign on a busy street in Abu Dhabi in the middle of the afternoon.

“Men at Work” reads the sign, but it may as well have been referring to Manek, who was the hardest working expat for his company Bechtel who was building a port project. Come the weekend, Manek would still steal away for a short while to the project site, even though his wife Manju protested that “the other expat guys never go!”

The man who was all go and never tired lost a battle with pulmonary fibrosis a week ago on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at the UCLA Westwood Hospital in Los Angeles, California where he had gone for treatment.

He was 68, just shy of his birthday on February 3.

But Manek was that kind of driven guy, who thrived on work and putting a lot of stress on himself to get the job done right. He had been with Bechtel almost his entire professional career as an architect, project engineer and construction manager and he knew how to navigate the labyrinth firm for juicy, long-term projects, some of which took him out of the Bayou City and across the country.

During the days when things were slow in Houston, he had gone around the country first to Bay City, Texas and then on single status for three years to rebuild airports in Atlanta, Georgia and Panama City, Florida all the while flying in on weekends to be with his wife and kids. When the op-

portunity to go overseas came up, he travelled with his wife on assignment to New Mumbai for six months, Abu Dhabi for over seven years and after that to Perth, Australia on a three year project on the western seaboard.

The two finally returned to Houston last April 2017 and settled in before Manek retired in September. But he was hampered by the lung condition which left him short of breath and dependent on supplemental oxygen all day.

Ramesh Mangaldas Manek was born in Mumbai in 1948 and till the tenth grade went to the Matunga Premier High School, and finished high school at the SIES College in Sion, both Mumbai neighborhoods.

He received his Bachelors in Architecture in 1971 from the Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda, and then left for pursue a Masters in the field at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, receiving his degree in 1973.

On a short visit to his family in 1974, he met a shy young woman, Manju Unadcath at a wedding and soon their families arranged for the two to be betrothed and they were

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married two weeks later. Manju’s family had been settled in Teheran, Iran for a generation and the couple moved there for four years while Ramesh worked with a local architectural company. Just as the Iranian Revolution was beginning in 1979, Manek took a job with the giant American multinational engineering and construction firm Bechtel and moved to Houston. He stayed with the firm for 38 years.

Besides his wife Manju, Manek is survived by his son Neil, a nephrologist who has recently moved to Los Angeles to practice and his daughter Sheila, a mechanical engineer who lives and works in New York City.

Though he never complained about working hard, Manek held his family and friends close to his heart and would always berate others that “family comes first.” He enjoyed visitors and opened up his heart and home to them, greeting them loudly with open arms and huge hugs. “Kyon pyaare! Kaise ho?

(So, my dear! How are you?)” was his favorite catchphrase when he sat you down to chat. And then he would listen intently.

Funeral services for Ramesh Manek will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at Chapel of Eternal Peace at Forest Park (2454 S. Dairy Ashford, Houston, Texas 77077, 281-5318180). Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11am with the funeral from 1am to noon. A memorial service with bhajans will be conducted on Monday, February 6, 2017 at 6:30pm at the Arya Samaj of Greater Houston, 14375 Schiller Rd, Houston, Texas 77082, 281-752-0200 followed by dinner.rectly afterwards.

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February 03, 2017

21

Legendary Entertainment Pioneer, “Dastaan” Farooq Ahmed Khan Passes

HOUSTON: For many old-time

desis who came to the Bayou City in the early 70s, the first real connection with the Old Country in an age of analog media – (not the digital internet one we know now) – was at the two-screen Desi Cinema at the corner of Westheimer and Fondren. Shalimar theater was the brainchild of Farooq Khan a slightly built, mustached man who you would see standing behind the counter wearing a smile on his face eagerly greeting and chatting with the movie goers.

Khan passed away on Thursday, January 12, 2017 after a brief illness and with him passed a legend in the South Asian entertainment industry.

Born in Lahore, Pakistan on December 23, 1943, Farooq Ahmed Khan always had dreams of making his own path, as all entrepreneurs do. The dedication and hard work ethic that he had learned at a young age were lessons that he carried on into his adult life.

Khan met the love of his lifeAsma at an early age and they fell in love.

He described their love as a “old world romance” “a fairy tale” of “two young desis” who fell in love at “a beautiful time and place” in the world.

With the rocky economic climate in Pakistan he decided to migrate to the United States with his wife and two children in 1973 with the dream of carving out his own path.

With a leap of faith and determination he landed in Chicago, Illinois and found a job with Rand McNally as a computer programmer.

While living in Chicago Khan and Asma soon began to miss their Pakistani culture and “the feeling of belonging to a community” and this eventually drove him to find his “path”. But when Khan came down with pneumonia, his doctor advised him to “go to a warmer climate”, which brought him to Houston in 1978.

Khan moved to Houston and wanted to find a path he could be happy with, and the light bulb “the

feeling of belonging to a community” went off in his head. He was now determined to create a place where the community of South Asians could gather and “feel at home again”.

Like many desi’s Khan and Asma grew up watching Bollywood films which enchanted the large crowds of people who watched them. The cinema was a place where the people would gather to watch wonderful films and socialize, a place where all the people felt at home, and this was the feeling the Khan’s were missing.

Determined to recreate this feeling of “belonging”, Khan set out to open the first fully desi movie theater in the US. He struck a deal with the famous comedian Jerry Lewis to rent a twoscreen movie theater located on Westheimer and Fondren. The Shalimar theater was huge hit and many desi’s expressed their happiness and feeling of “belonging again” to Farooq.

Khan was the first to bring many Bollywood mega celebrities to the US for shows such as Ambitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar and with whom Khan stayed friendly, especially Bachchan who would send him birthday cards for many years. Khan also invited Pakistani President Zia ul Haq to the US and stayed in contact with him long after his visit to the US. Continuing on his “path”, a few years later Khan opened Shalimar Grill, “a high-end” desi restaurant where the community would gather to eat and socialize.

Even though the restaurant was success, the movie business was always his first passion and in 1987, Khan opened the six screen Plitt Bollywood Theatre located on Bellaire and Hwy 6. This marked the return of the second golden age of Bollywood cinema which he spearheaded in the US. The theatre was a huge success, however the center was eventually sold to HEB. Determined to create a bigger and better facility for his community, in 1996 the Khans purchased the FunPlex complex on Beechnut. Funplex was one of the largest indoor family entertainment centers in the US with over 200,000sf of indoor capacity and housed a three screen Bollywood cinema, party hall, bowling alley, roller skating rink, 3 story Ferris wheel, go cart track, bumper cars, kids train and many other attractions.

This extremely large facility was a perfect venue for South Asian and American community events, desi concerts, Islamic prayers, fund raisers, high school proms, and other charity events.

Funplex hosted many events which included desi music artist Junoon, desi fashion shows with designers HSY and Nilofer Shahid. Funplex also hosted many legendary American artist such Run DMC, Method Man, Lil Romeo, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Bad Boy Bill, and DJ Irene. Many celebrities including Beyoncé were visitors at the venue and always created a frenzy when they would arrive.

With the Bollywood movies popularity quickly rising again, the threescreen cinema at FunPlex reached its capacity very quickly. To keep up with the demand Khan opened another six-screen cinema on Hwy 6 and Richmond, The Bollywood Six Cinema was a huge success and quickly became the staple movie destination for the South Asian community.

Farooq was a true pioneer, but the motive behind his many entrepreneurial ventures was to unite his people. He believed their common background, art, and history would be a uniting factor for the Southeast Asian community and the cinemas would help his people find a little piece of the home they left abroad.

After a long successful career as an entertainment pioneer, Farooq’s dream was to retire and enjoy his life with his beautiful family. With great hesitation, he eventually sold the Bollywood 6 Cinema and the Funplex Entertainment Mall. He then refocused his career towards commercial real estate, eventually purchasing the 20+ acre lot on Hwy 59 on the southwest near the Beltway that now houses Direct Auto.

Along the way, he made many great friends and he was proud to personally mentor and foster many newlyarrived people. Always willing to help and tirelessly work as a representative for his people.

Khan was very proud of his friendship and closeness to everyone in his community and he would lovingly refer to them as his “family”. He loved his community dearly and truly loved helping them feel at home again!

Through the first desi cinema he started a spark in the community that was infectious, a feeling that all foreigners long for when they are far away from their roots “a feeling of belonging”. He believed by bringing them a piece of the Old Country they left behind through films, he could unite the Asian community, and he was right!!! Through his “desi” cinemas he created a family for everyone.

He had truly found his path!!!

Khan paved the way for many other desi entrepreneurs but for him, his greatest accomplishment was his family. He loved his wife Asma immensely and they were always inseparable. He loved his four children Ali, Abbas, Umer and Hassan very much, he gave them everything while paving the way for their success. He was a loving grandfather and adored his eight grandchildren.

Khan’s old-school charm, infectious attitude and kind heart made him easy to love. He touched many people lives in a way that he could have never imagined. He will be remembered as a ‘legend” - a true pioneer of the desi community. The lasting effect he had on the community for nearly forty years will not be forgotten, but missed greatly. To his family, he will be remembered as the greatest husband, father and grandfather and he will be dearly missed.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

22 February 03, 2017

PUZZLES / RECIPES

SUDOKU

Mama’s Punjabi Recipes

Place a Number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Send us the correct answer before February 07, 2017.

Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036.

Send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published (for first three entrees only & 1 submission per month).

Aasan Tarike ki Dahin (Easy Homemade Yogurt)

Solution Next Week

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ogurt or dahin has had a sacred significance in the daily lives of Hindus since the very inception of Hinduism, and by extension, of Hindustani culture. Cows and cow’s milk have a special place in Hinduism as both are intertwined with the story of the young Lord Krishna. Dahin is also one of the panchamitras (the five nectars - the others being honey, sugar, milk and ghee (clarified butter)) used in Hindu worship and puja. Being cleansed by dahin is considered an ablution that washes away many sins.

For Indians, dahin sprinkled with spices is often also eaten as a dish with rice or with hot stuffed paranthas. And when made into a raita (thinned yogurt with added vegetables or dumplings), the dahin takes on a completely different flavor. Dahin is even used as an ingredient to marinade meats, in making gravies like in kaddi (fritters in sour curry) and a cooling summer drink.

Whole milk yogurt contains 81% water, 9% protein, 5% fat and 4% carbohydrates (including sugars). It is rich in vitamin B12 and riboflavin (B2), with moderate amounts of phosphorous, potassium and sodium.

It is often associated as a probiotic which has positive effects on immune, cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Yogurt is produced by bacteria fermentation of lactose which produces lactic acid which, in turn, acts on milk protein to give yogurt its texture and tang. Yogurt can be made from milk from water buffalo goats, ewes, mares, camels and yaks and results are quite different whether the milk is homogenized or not. First the milk is heated to about 185 deg F to denature the proteins, then it is allowed to cool to 113 deg F, the culture is mixed in

and the milk is allowed for ferment, undisturbed, for four to seven hours at 113 deg F. Most homemade yogurt uses this tried and true method, but a modern cooking appliance, the microwave, can assist in making yogurt so much faster and easier. You don’t have to wrap the mixture to keep it warm and the yogurt is sure to ferment and form.

milk slowly come to a boil. As it does, a soft skin will form over the top and it will start to puff up and rise. Take it off and let it cool down.

3. Take the 2 tbsp of yogurt out of the fridge and let it sit outside to warm up. Don’t use it cold as the fermentation will not take hold easily.

4. Once the milk is lukewarm to the touch, pour in the starter, mix in thoroughly and pour in a microwave bowl.

5. Now cover the bowl with a lid, and place it in the microwave and heat on full power for 50 seconds.

6. After the timer has run out, leave the liquid in the microwave and let it sit undisturbed for at least 7 hours.

7. Take the bowl out and check the dahin: it should be well-formed, curdled and ready to serve. You can keep a small amount as a starter for the next batch of yogurt.

Ingredients: • •

4 cups saada doodh (whole milk) – or low fat, if desired 2 tbsp dahin (plain yogurt) – for the starter

Directions: 1. Pour two tablespoons of water in a pot to coat it, preferably one with a heavy base, then pour the milk in.

2. Place it over low heat and let the

Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the oldfashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur (since renamed Faisalabad), India before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her late-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share some of her delectable recipes.

MAMA’S TIP OF THE WEE USE CHINA TO M K AKE SU RE MILK

DOESN’T STICK W Boiling milk can be HEN BOILED tricky business and you have to keep an doesn’t boil over. An ey e out so that it d if you leave it on high and forget it, milk will stick to the chances are that the bottom and give off a burnt smell which the rest of the milk will run through so that you usually have to throw it aw pot later is a difficu ay. And cleaning the lt chore!

To avoid this, I have found that if you fi rst place a small pie bottom of the pot be ce of china on the fore pouring the mi lk, this will keep the to the bottom and bu milk from sticking rning. Keep the he at very low and occa while getting hot in sionally stir the milk order to move the po rtion that is closest thin skin forms over to the heat. When a the top and starts to puff up, this means boil. You can leave the milk is ready to the china in the po t and remove it aft down. er the milk has coole d

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February 03, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS

Shah Rukh Khan is the Indian Pablo Escobar

A

boy with humble beginnings sets up an empire by smuggling contraband. All he has going for him are his wits and insatiable ambition.

He has a loyal sidekick, a brother, almost. As he grows powerful, he makes rivals. He wants to head a “syndicate” of other more-despicable smugglers. He bribes, kills, goes to jail, turns benevolent towards locals, and decides to run for elections.

Add tapped phones and kids who act as eyes on the ground.

Seem familiar? This isn’t the skeleton for Narcos, but Rahul Dholakia’s Raees, a film that seems so remarkably inspired by the TV series on Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar that it is impossible to analyse it in isolation. Swap Medellin with Fatehpura (a village in Gujarat), cocaine with alcohol, and a trump

card: Shah Rukh Khan as Raees, the Escobar of Gujarat. But it also feels like 20 episodes squeezed into three hours. In that, plots and characters are often left without rhyme or reason.

The film opens with a brief childhood sequence, a ’70s set piece. The young Raees is street-smart, and with a headstart into criminal activity. Yes, he’s poor. And overtly touchy about being called “Battery”, slang for someone who wears spectacles. But there’s no scarring humiliation or tragedy, or “Mera baap chor hai” tattoo.

When he grows up, in one broad stroke, he’s out to conquer the world with two basic lessons: mommy said “No business is small”. And smuggling mentor Jayraj Seth (Atul Kulkarni) said he has “baniye ki dimag, aur Miyabhai ki daring”. The first lesson he interprets as a license to break the law. The latter, if you think about it, comes from a person who’s hardly a role model.

But though Raees is creative at getting illegal shipments past cops (so was Escobar), he isn’t the smartest businessman around. He bungles up his effort to get seed money, trusts the wrong people, and picks fights for every slight.

But in that, Raees is a typical ’80s potboiler. Disturbingly, like commercial cinema from that period, the moral compass is a bit off. As Raees breaks up a political rally with

flaming bottles of spirit, it sanctions violence. And it is borderline misogynistic, with the female lead (Mahira Khan) little more than a prop: a love interest he marries, keeps at home to bring up his child, and either yells at or romances.As an actor, SRK brings to Raees his usual screen presence.

You must also give the man credit for powering through the dance and action routines at 51.

Dholakia couldn’t have found a stronger support cast. The cop, Majmudar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), has the best lines, and is a worthy screen rival. As he meets Raees for the first time, he sits filling a fountain pen, and offers tea: the tension palpable, but each trying to show no signs of it.

But in films starring SRK, other characters often exist only in context to him.

Raees also deserves credit for going with a principal set of Muslim protagonists, a rarity for present-day Bollywood, and even SRK. In the intolerant times we live in, that is a statement on its own.

Yet, the problem is fundamental: the writing is shoddy and unoriginal.

And by the time it wades into certain true events, it is left with too little time and meaning. Raees perhaps works only as an SRK showcase. But we’ve seen many of those already.

-hindustantimes.com

KAABIL

23

Hrithik Roshan saves it from becoming ordinary

Specially-abled people often strug-

gle with the system, particularly societal injustice and apathy.

Few dare to confront their antagonists head on. But desperate times demand desperate measures.

And so in Kaabil, that chosen one is Rohan Bhatnagar (Hrithik Roshan), who is blind and has an evolved sense of smell and directions. He is a terrific voice-over artist who takes mental notes of English dialogues and then translates them to Hindi in real time.

His self deprecating humour doesn’t look absurd when he meets Supriya (Yami Gautam), also a visually impaired person, and declares ‘it’s love at first sight.’ They get married but don’t live happily ever after, because the local corporator Madhavrao Shellar’s (Ronit Roy) brother Amit (Rohit Roy) decides to take advantage of Supriya’s lack of sight.

Kaabil begins to strike a chord here, because rape of people, including men and women, with special needs is something we often hear and read about. But can they strike back?

Here, Hrithik requires the expertise of Sanjay Gupta, who has a penchant

for saturated colours and Korean thrillers. He believes revenge is best served cold, and blind.

In Kaabil, he makes Rohan and his folks believable. They are suspicious of the bad neighbourhood and police.

On top of that, Ronit Roy makes sure the audience dislikes him from the very first scene. The tone of the film takes a hit because of the emphasis on the love story. The flashbacks are also restrictive. Kaabil embellishes Hrithik credential as a fine action hero. Kaabil is not extraordinary, but it has all the elements of a ‘masala’ potboiler. The catch is that it’s been dished out in a typical Bollywood style. But there isn’t any particular reason for not watching it.-hindistantimes.com

Urmila Matondkar February 04, 1974

Abhishek Bachchan February 05, 1976

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

24 February 03, 2017 2nd T20I: Jasprit Bumrah’s Kiss of Death Levels Series

BY ALAN GARDNER

N

AGPUR: (ESPN Cricinfo): Jasprit Bumrah conceded just two runs and took two wickets in the final over to secure India a nerve-shredding victory in the second T20 in Nagpur and level the series at 1-1. Jos Buttler seemed to have struck the decisive blows when he hit the last three balls of the penultimate over for 12 runs, but both he and Joe Root were dismissed by Bumrah as England fell short.

With Root and Ben Stokes well-set and 32 required off the last four, India broke through via Ashish Nehra.

Bumrah then conceded three runs off the 18th over, as his slower ball proved almost impossible to hit. Nehra’s final over was taken for 16, Buttler just clearing Virat Kohli’s jump at longon for a six that brought England’s requirement down to eight from six balls, before Bumrah provided the kiss of death.

England could have sealed the series, but, as the pitch slowed down, so did they. Root anchored the chase, as he did in Kanpur, but again struggled for fluency, although he had cause to feel aggrieved after being given out lbw despite an inside edge. Bumrah then removed Buttler’s leg stump and Moeen Ali swiped at thin air with six needed off the final ball as India held on in front of a tense home crowd at the VCA Stadium.

KL Rahul was the only player to record a fifty in the match, and his 47ball 71 featured some of the most fluent batting of the night. Rahul was one of only three India batsmen to reach double-figures as they struggled to break free, with Chris Jordan claiming three key wickets for England, but their total of 144 for 8 ultimately proved to be enough.

As in the first T20, England’s attack put in an intelligent performance to prevent India from reaching 150.

Moeen did not concede a boundary during an immaculate four-over spell, and Jordan removed Rahul, as well as the twin pillars of Kohli and MS Dhoni, to finish with 3 for 22. His final over, during which there were two run-outs, cost just five runs as he repeatedly thwarted Dhoni - though Bumrah’s finishing was even better.

Recognising this was a slower sur-

Hardik Pandya hit a belligerent half-century, India v England, 3rd ODI, Kolkata, Jasprit Bumrah rejoices during his match-winning final over, India v England, 2nd T20, Nagpur, January 29, 2017

face - Eoin Morgan called it “a really Indian wicket” at the toss - England included a third spinner in Liam Dawson and both sides tailored their plans accordingly. Dawson opened the bowling for England with an over that cost just five, while Yuvzendra Chahal sent down three-quarters of his allocation in the Powerplay.

Sam Billings and Jason Roy each struck Chahal for six in the third over of the chase, but England’s openers were dismissed by consecutive deliveries from Nehra. Kohli then focused on spin to try and push up the asking rate, before dew rendered the ball difficult to grip, with Amit Mishra and Suresh Raina delivering eight overs in tandem. Mishra had Morgan caught at the boundary, but then committed a cardinal sin as Stokes survived what would have been a golden duck thanks to a frontfoot no-ball.

Still, like India’s batsmen before them, England were finding run-scoring hard. Of the 10 T20Is previously played at the VCA Stadium, only three had been won by the chasing side; India had themselves fallen victim a year ago, in their opening match at the World T20, when New Zealand defended a meagre-looking total of 126 with room to spare.

England’s advantage seemed to be in the power at their disposal and Stokes’ reprieve was put into sharper focus when he struck Raina down

the ground for six and four to start the 14th over, just as the required rate had gone above nine an over.

Another muscular heave off Chahal comfortably cleared long-on to bring up England’s hundred, but Nehra trapped him with a slower ball to precipitate the late slide.

That the bowlers would hold greater sway in Nagpur was evident early on. Kohli targeted a fast start and struck three boundaries - including one imperious six off Tymal Mills but should have been given out lbw on 7 when Jordan pinned him in front of middle and leg. He departed soon after, trying to clear the infield again, having scored 21 of the first 30.

Rahul’s initial contributions had been limited to nudges for one or two but he registered his first four from Jordan’s next ball, rifling a drive over extra cover, and began to find his touch against the spinners. India had finished the Powerplay reasonably well-placed on 46 for 1, but Moeen and Adil Rashid followed up with three boundary-less overs, which also saw the removal of Raina to an ungainly slog-sweep. Rahul broke the shackles by smacking a Rashid full toss into the crowd.

India stalled again as Moeen gave Yuvraj Singh a working over before dismissing him lbw, but Rahul struck Dawson for six and four in an over that cost 15, then took two more boundaries off Rashid to bring up the

hundred in the 14th over. Rahul and Manish Pandey added 56 together, but the going was tough as England reverted to seam and the full chocolate box of variations.

The last six overs saw England concede just two boundaries - one a thick-edged Rahul four off Stokes, the other Pandey crashing Mills over long-on - as India added 39 for 5. Rahul picked out deep midwicket trying to kick on and Pandey was bowled by Mills’ slower ball but, even though Jordan silenced Dhoni, Bumrah had the final word.

It is not often that India have to contend with their batting being a weakness but ahead of the deciding T20I in Bangalore - which only gained that status courtesy Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling - that seems to be the case.

India haven’t yet won a bilateral T20 series against England, with their two-match series in 2012-13 ending in a stalemate, and England coming out on top in three previous one-off clashes. This record may have stayed intact, but an umpiring error “shifted momentum” away from the visitors.

Eoin Morgan has raised the issue with the match referee, but might do his talking on the field so that England can return home with one piece of silverware after a long and difficult tour.

Alan Gardner is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick

SPORTS

PV Sindhu: Glad to Start 2017 with Major Victories

L

UCKNOW (ToI): Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu is ecstatic to begin the new season with a victory at the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold tournament and will look to get back to her best ahead of the important tournaments such as All England and World Championship.

“I am very happy to win this trophy as this is the first international tournament in 2017 for me. I am glad to start this year with victories -- first the PBL and now this GPG. (Gregoria) Mariska is an upcoming player and she also played well,” Sindhu, who cantered to a 21-13, 21-14 win over the young Indonesian in the women’s singles finals, told PTI. Sindhu had come close to winning the trophy in 2014, but suffered a loss against compatriot and former World No. 1 Saina Nehwal in the finals.

“After this tournament there will be All England. I will have to prepare for that as well and I will have to work harder to be at my best shape. It is a big tournament,” she had said earlier.

“There is also World Championship and many other Super Series events, so I would want to take it step by step. My coach will decide what events I will play after Syed Modi as fitness wise also you have to strategise because every tournament is important for me.”

National champion Sameer Verma was also on cloud nine after laying claim to his maiden Grand Prix Gold title here.

PV Sindhu is happy to start on a winning streak.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

February 03, 2017

25

Jyoti Bansal: Meet the IIT-Delhi Alumnus who Sold his Start-up for $3.7 Billion Jyoti Bansal stepped down as the Chief Executive Officer in September 2015, handing over day-today operations to David Wadhwan.

N

EW DELHI: Indian-American entrepreneur Jyoti Bansal has agreed to sell his application intelligence venture AppDynamics to Cisco Systems for a $3.7 billion (Rs 25,150 crore approx) deal. The announcement has come a day before AppDynamics was to launch its initial public offer (IPO), which valued the company at $2 billion.

Here are some key facts related to

B

the deal and AppDynamics founder Jyoti Bansal: ■ Jyoti Bansal earned his BS degree in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in 1999.

■ He arrived in America on 4 July 2000. He gets an H-1B visa and started working for startup companies, while also working on plans to launch his own company.

■ In 2005, Bansal joined Wily Technology as an architect. It was bought by Computer Associates in 2006.

■ Bansal received an employment authorization document (EAD) as part of the green card process in 2007. Soon after, he left CA to start AppDynamics in 2008.

■ AppDynamics reportedly employs over 1,200 people, according to CNBC. ■ AppDynamics had $158.4 mil-

lion in revenue in the nine months ended 31 October, an increase of more than 50% from the same period a year earlier, according to an IPO filing last month.

■ AppDynamics describes its service as the equivalent of a 24 hour/7 days a week MRI for an organization’s website, picking up small problems before they debilitate a business and anger consumers.

■ Bansal stepped down as the Chief Executive Officer in September 2015, handing over day-to-day operations to David Wadhwani, and taking over the role of chairman on the board.

■ Bansal reportedly owns 14% of the company, after having diluted his stake to many venture funds over the years. So he’ll receive about $520 million (Rs 3,400 crore), according to a report in Times of India.

■ Greylock Partners and Lightspeed Venture Partners, two early

backers, each hold 21% of AppDynamics, according to Bloomberg.

Institutional Venture Partners had 8.3% of the shares and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers held 7.1%.

■ The acquisition is expected to close by April 2017, subject to customary closing conditions. This is one of Cisco’s largest acquisition after its 2013 acquisition of USbased security company Sourcefire for $2.7 billion, and 2012 acquisition of video software maker NDS for $5 billion, according to Forbes and CNBC reports.

■ When asked about his future, Jyoti said, “I’m not done creating companies. I want to keep creating companies and solving problems for the rest of my life,” as quoted

by Forbes.

■ In his career, Bansal has received more than 30 patents related to complex software systems.

-livemint.com

Uber to Expand Engineering Team in Hyderabad

ENGALURU: Uber Technologies Inc. will expand its engineering team in Hyderabad to develop tools that will help the company determine fares and driver incentives, as well as support its food and hyperlocal delivery service businesses around the world.

Uber did not give details of the number of people it wants to hire. The Hyderabad team, currently 25-strong , will provide technology support for its food delivery service UberEATS and hyperlocal delivery service UberRUSH. “The Hyderabad engineering team is ramping up at a fast pace to help support our global operations,” a spokesperson for Uber in India said in an emailed response to a query. “It is working on fintech platform and are building tools that are used across

Uber worldwide. India is just one of the over 70 countries it serving.”

In July 2015, Uber signed a memorandum of understanding with the Telangana government to set up a technology and innovation centre in Hyderabad at an investment of $50 million over a period of five years.

That centre currently employs 400 people.

Uber also launched a technology centre in March last year in Bengaluru, where a team of 50-odd engineers are working on products around payments, vehicle intelligence and mapping, among other areas, Mint reported on 9 December.

India has become an attractive destination for global companies to set up engineering centres. The long list of companies that have done this includes multinationals Apple Inc,

Uber’s Hyderabad engineering team is ramping up at a fast pace to help support the online taxi firm’s global operations.

Target Corp, Amazon.com Inc, JC Penney Co. Inc, Salesforce.com Inc and Twitter Inc., as well as start-ups such as Indonesia-based Go-Jek. Factors such as the availability and cost make India an attractive destination for companies wanting to set up technology centres according to a September 2015 study by researcher Zinnov.

India has emerged as one of the most important markets for Uber after selling its China business to local rival Didi Chuxing.

-livemint.com

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

26 February 03, 2017

Trump Says India is a ‘True Friend’, Invites Modi to US W

ASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has invited PM Narendra Modi for a visit sometime later this year. The invitation was made during a phone conversation between the two in which both pledged to stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” in the global fight against terrorism, the White House said on Tuesday.

A White House read-out on the call was largely anodyne, saying, “President Trump emphasised that the United States considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world.”

The two discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the US and India in broad areas such as the economy and defence, it added.

According to the White House, they also discussed security in south and central Asia, without explicitly mentioning any country, even as the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), its dissing of Nato, and its general disengagement from global affairs is unnerving many countries that see Washington ceding influence

to China.

There was a cautious element to the read-out, which contained none of the gushing superlatives Trump plied on India and Modi during his campaign, and none of the comical hyperbole that was reported by Pakistan in Trump’s conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after Trump’s win.

The fact that the Trump administration chose to identify India as a “friend and a partner” suggested continuity, was consonant with the terminology of the Obama and Bush era, and New Delhi’s own outlook, despite the desire in some quarters to elevate the relationship to an “alliance.”

Calling New Delhi ahead of other capitals also appears to point to the relatively uncomplicated nature of US-India ties, despite some of Trump’s nationalistic campaign rhetoric presaging tough times for New Delhi on the trade and economic front, particularly where it concerns work visas and off-shore manufacturing.

Much of US-India trade and com-

merce in the coming years was premised on more relaxed trade borders and New Delhi’s “Make-in-India” campaign that was expected to draw more American manufacturing to India, including in areas of defense and security.

But Trump’s America First campaign, which enjoins that American companies manufacture in the US or risk punitive tariffs, could effectively come in conflict with the commitments and plans of US companies in India.

The White House did not elaborate on the precise nature of the discussion the readout referred to on “strengthening the partnership ... in broad areas such as the economy and defense,” but it is obvious that there will be a lot on the table when the two sides meet - and it will look very different from what was on the table during the Bush-Obama years.

Trump’s immediate foreign engagements though will be with British Prime Minister Theresa May, starting Thursday, and with Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto, next week.

-timesofindia.com

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February 03, 2017

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February 03, 2017

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