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Friday, January 04, 2019 | Vol. 38, No. 01

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Indo American erican News Happy Gurpurab www.indoamerican-news.com Published biweekly from Houston, TX

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New Year’s Eve Party P5

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KP George Sworn in as Fort Bend County Judge P6

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January 04, 2019

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January 04, 2019

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COMMUNITY

January 04, 2019

High School Seniors Raise Funds for Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic

surpassing the amount we had expected to raise in donations.

Being able to accomplish this goal as a team was the most rewarding part of our service to the community. Knowing that we are helping to sustain the amazing volunteer work of these doctors and management who dedicate their time to providing free services to various patients, regardless of who they are, is a priceless feeling.

We hope to continue this mission of donating to the Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic for years to come and help bring much needed healthcare service to those in need.

BY KRISHA TRIPATHY

C

LEAR LAKE, TX: Bruce Lee once said, “Real living is living for others.” It is this altruistic nature of the field of medicine that drew me to donating to the Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic.

Currently, I am a senior at Clear Lake High School, and I involve myself in debate, orchestra, Red Cross, DECA, student government, Indian Culture Club, and many more clubs at my school. I have always had a desire to leave my mark on the communities I am involved in, whether it is by involving myself in school activities or playing an active role in my city. Giving back to the communities that have given me a place to grow and learn, and contributing to the greater good of society has been the main priority for me.

After hearing about the selfless mission of the Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic, I knew that it was the perfect opportunity to make an impact on others’ lives. Supporting a clinic that believes access to medical care is a human right, regardless of the ability to afford it, was invaluable

Clear Lake High School Senior Krisha Tripathy donating a check for $750 to India Doctors Charity Clinic President K.C. Mehta.

to me. My desire to promote this noble service was my motivation for working hard to raise funds throughout the year.

As President of the Youth Committee in the local Indian Center of Clear Lake, I had the goal of finding a balance between immersing the youth in cultural activities and simultaneously pushing community service. With the

help of the very supportive Executive Committee under the leadership of ICCCL President Kalpesh Patel, we planned numerous events throughout the year- including a kite-flying festival, Holi, Garba, Diwali, a car wash, and a restaurant fundraiser, where we actively tried to raise funds.

We also held different charity events, such as a canned food

drive and a clothing drive, which we used to help those in need by working with the Clear Lake Baptist Church.

Over the course of the year, we raised over $1,350, the most the Youth Committee has ever raised.After working so hard to raise this amount, we decided to donate $750 of the net revenue to the Indian Doctor’s Charity Clinic, fulfilling our goal from the beginning of 2018, and

Krisha Tripathy is the 2018 President of the India Center of Clear Lake Youth Committee.

She is a high school senior from Clear Lake High School, who raised funds in 2018 and donated $750 of that fund towards the Indian Doctors Charity Clinic, an act which is inspirational to other students in the community. She is the daughter of Dr. Ashok Tripathy, a family medicine practitioner in Webster-Clear Lake.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 04, 2019 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 04, 2019

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Houston’s Elite Celebrate the New Year with Grand Party at India House H

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OUSTON: India House held its annual New Year’s Eve party in grand style with more than 200 of elite members of IndoAmerican community and their guests enjoying the festivities.

“The event was sold out,” exclaimed Col. Vipin Kumar (retired), Executive Director of India House. “We were forced to refuse 80 guests, who had called on the phone. We even had to turn away some gate crashers.”

The evening began with sumptuous appetizers at 8 pm and then dinner was served from 9:30 to 11 pm, catered by Bombay Brasserie. A separate room was provided for young children, where they watched movies and cartoons under the watchful eye of India House attendants.

Bollywood singer Atanu Das of Atlanta performed live to the delight of the audience. His performance was arranged by MB entertainment. DJ Scoop played dance music that catered to the tastes of ages, mixing old and new songs to keep the guests on their feet.

A large dance floor accommodated all the dancing guests at one time. Guests joined the DJ in the countdown at the strike of 12 midnight. A colorful balloon drop provided a spectacular welcome to 2019. A champagne toast, raised at midnight, was served free of charge to each adult guest.

Among other offering at the party included a free photo booth courtesy Trans America, prizes sponsored by Manyawar were awarded for the Best Dressed and Best Dancing couples.

Decorations were arranged by Touch of Elegance and raffle prizes sponsored by HumTum Desi/ Nirvana Restaurant.

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COMMUNITY

January 04, 2019

HOUSTON:

Indian-American KP George sworn in as the Fort Bend County Judge on January 1, becoming the first person from the community to hold the office of one of America’s most diverse counties.

Mr George, 53, a Democrat and Fort Bend Independent School District Board trustee, defeated Republican Judge Robert Hebert in November polls. In the US, county judges’ duties vary from state to state. Depending upon the size of the county, they perform a wide range of judicial and administrative duties.

The Fort Bend County has a sizeable population of IndianAmericans. According to the latest census, Fort Bend is now the most diverse county in Texas, and among the most diverse in the country with 35 per cent Anglos, 24 per cent Hispanics, 21 per cent Asians and others; and 20 per cent African-Americans. KP George, who hails from Kerala’s Kakkodu city, said his father, a truck driver, earned only a couple of US dollars a day. He studied using a kerosene lamp.

He said that community engagement will be the top priority for his administration.

“I will continue spreading the word of county services and involving all people into the process. It is a historic moment for me as well as for the county. “We will continue to have an open-door policy for the most diverse county which represents people who

Indian-American Sworn In As Fort Bend County Judge In Texas

speak over 100 languages. We are here to represent each one of them and ensure a better place for residents and children of this county,” Mr George said. While in India, George grew up speaking Malayalam and lived in a straw-thatch hut. When he was 15, his family moved to a bigger city where he attended college. After his graduation, he got a job in Mumbai, where for the first time he started speaking English. He worked in the Middle East before moving to New York in 1993 to work for a financial firm. Later, he moved to Texas and has been living in the Fort Bend county ever since along with his family.

“I strongly believe that success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It is what you do for others,” Mr George said. He first ran for office in 2010, hoping to be elected as the county treasurer.

“People asked me in Richmond

and Rosenberg, ‘Why are you run-

like me, brown in color, with no political power, no name recognition. I’d say, ‘Because I can. I’m not a felon. I’m a citizen. Thank you, USA! I hold your values close to my heart.

“I honestly believe this is the time for me to do public service rather than complain. I am taking responsibility to get involved and work for the US, the country that has given me everything I’ve dreamed of,” Mr George added. -ndtv.com

ning?’ It’s not easy for a person

KP George Selects Fort Bend County Fire Marshal as New HOUSTON: Fort Bend County Emergency Management Coordinator Judge, KP George announced that the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal Mark Flathouse will be the Interim Emergency Management Coordinator at the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) starting on January 2. Judge George said, “Emergency Management is a top responsibility in which we must constantly strive to innovate and improve. Fire Marshal Flathouse will work to prepare a longterm, forward-thinking vision that strives to improve our communication with the public, coordinate better with partner entities, and build community confidence in an effective emergency management operation.”

With this change, Interim Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Flathouse will begin con-

ducting an analysis to comprehensively evaluate the current situation and map the strategic outlook of the department within the first 100 days of the New Administration. Mark Flathouse has been Fire Marshal of Fort Bend County since 2013. Fire Marshal Flathouse has over twenty years of experience in public service: eight years in the United States Coast Guard with a focus on search and rescue coordination and over twelve years as a Firefighter/ Peace Officer and EMT. His last assignment prior to Fort Bend was in the Victoria Fire Department as the Assistant Fire Marshal. Fire Marshal Flathouse holds a Master of Criminal Justice Management and Leadership from Sam Houston State University, a Bachelor of Emergency Man-

agement Administration graduating Cum Laude from West Texas A&M, and an Associate of Fire Protection Technology from Austin Community College. He currently holds Master Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, and Arson Investigator certifications from the State of Texas; Master Peace Officer TCLOSE certification; Hazmat incident Command and maintains all NIMS level training.

“I have been deeply appreciative of Jeff Braun’s county government service dating back to 2003. I know that Fire Marshal Mark Flathouse will be an exceptional interim coordinator and Fort Bend County leader moving the department forward to lead the region in Emergency Preparedness and Management,” said Judge George.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 04, 2019 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

January 04, 2019

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COMMUNITY

January 04, 2019

Modesty and Moxie: The Inspiring Story of Judge Sandhill

BY SAIVACHAN PONNAPALLI

HOUSTON: Walking in to the Harris

County Civil Courthouse, I instantly knew that this YLDP session was going to be an unforgettable experience. The sheer grandeur of the Courthouse astounded me, and I was really looking forward to the session.

The session with Judge Ravi Kumar Sandhill, renowned in Houston for coveted accomplishments and making Indo-Americans proud, taught me unforgettable and ever-ushering lessons for the rest of my life.

Judge Sandhill kept his interesting story simple. After reiterating the topic of the session, Humility and Resolve, he delineated it through his life story, which inspired the whole class. His story was a mélange of pain, courage, surprise, disappointment, happiness and left us in awe of his brilliant resilience. As we travelled through his childhood travails, we could empathize his sufferings when he was thrown in alien environments repeatedly and when he was forced to go to business school. The story

touched a personal soft spot when we sailed through his cancer story. Having lost a few family members to the menace of cancer, I instantly connected to his account of his journey with cancer I am sure all audience were completely engaged.

We learnt many important lessons from Judge Sandhill that day, but the most important one was his resolve and humility. In an age where we worry over trivial matters, Judge Sandhill went through some of the most difficult obstacles ever. Yet he never relented.

After so much, as a class we could not believe that this man was fighting every single time, coming back twice as stronger. Even after he reaped many rewards, he stayed humble.

His simplicity after achieving so much was truly encouraging to us. Not once did Judge Sandhill make us feel detached and distant.

His story and demeanor let all of us connect to Judge Sandhill instantly. In the end, I felt highly motivated. Not just me, but our whole class had garnered many brilliant lessons that we could use in our day-to-day life to become better leaders, and better people overall.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 04, 2019 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

January 04, 2019

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 04, 2019 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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COMMUNITY TiE Houston Celebrates 2018 Accomplishments!

January 04, 2019

HOUSTON: Before the year

could come to an end, TiE Houston wanted to host one more networking social to celebrate all of their accomplishments from 2018 and have to look forward to in 2019. The event was held on December 20, at one of Houston’s newest restaurants, Poitin, which has great food, ambiance, and view of Houston’s incredible skyline.

TiE Houston President, Dr. Arun Pasrija welcomed all the guests and debuted their promotional video which was created

by TiE Houston member, Namrata Singh of Misfit Communications. It highlights the history, mission, and diversity of the global TiE organization and how Houston’s chapter works hard to uphold it’s pillars of education, networking, mentoring, incubating, and funding.

After the video, TiE Houston Executive Director, Ana Rojas Bastidas, presented an overview of all of the year’s events.

It included the many organizations TiE partnered with, such as The Cannon, HAN, TMCx, and Station Houston to bring unique events to Houston.

Events included expert panel discussions on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Energy.

She highlighted the progress of

TiE Houston Past Presidents, from left: Dr. Arun Pasrija, Aruna Viswanathan, Dr. Atul Varadhachary (incoming), and Dr. Shri Iyer

their TiE Young Entrepreneur program which is currently running with 25 high school students from underserved HISD schools.

TiE’s mission is to foster entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, and education.

TiE has 56 chapters across 17 countries with 11,000 members and 2,800 charter members.

Charter Members, who are successful entrepreneurs and/or business executives, make the pillars of each chapters. They commit their time to help next

Ana Rojas Bastidas (left), TiE Houston Executive Director and Pradeep Anand, long time TiE Houston member.

generation of entrepreneurs - a “leveraged give back” which creates jobs, economic activities and wealth in the community. Houston chapter has a strong and vibrant charter member community helping meet’s TiE’s mission and making it a meaningful part of Houston’s start up eco system.

For more information on TiE upcoming events visit www.houston.tie.org Picture on right: View from Poitin Bar + Kitchen

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 04, 2019 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 04, 2019

CricRealty Announces Cricket Stadiums in 8 Major Cities

A

LLEN, Texas: The CricRealty Company, Dallas announced that the town of Allen, TX has been selected as one of 8 proposed sites for professional cricket stadiums. The multi-use facility will serve the growing need of pro-cricket while bringing urbanization and development to the area.

The two phased project has a 35-acre stadium facility that plans to house an International Cricket Council (ICC) certified Cricket ground, Training Facilities & Club house and a 25-acre parcel which will have a multi-use facility of offices, residences, commercial, entertainment centers and hotels.

The CricRealty Company has been working with strategic partners including Donnie Nelson & Thakkar Developers to develop the Cricket stadium &the multiuse facility.

The CricRealty Company has also been working with JLL since 2016, to identify and develop cutting edge Cricket infrastructure in the United States. The group is developing similar stadiums in other markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Orlando, Washington DC, New Jersey, New York and California.

The group is looking to position itself as the key player in developing Cricket

infrastructure in the United States.

“Our vision is to identify strategic locations to build such complexes and thus provide hi-end, easy access venues across the country to facilitate the game”, said Steven V Maksin, of Moonbeam Capital, a key member of The CricRealty Company.

“My goal is to make America fall in love with cricket,” said Jay Pandya, Chairman of The CricRealty Company. “Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world. There are an estimated 20 million cricket fans in the United States. Plus, the growing Indian-American population in North Texas makes this project a perfect location for professional cricket.”

The launch of a professional league in the United States will require stadiums where games are played and practiced during off season. An existing infrastructure will help the eventual league save infrastructure costs and focus on developing the sport in the US. “As we began planning this project, we identified an unmet need in North Texas for a stadium designed for global sports such as cricket,” Sam Thakkar, CEO of the Perfect Group of Business, which includes Thakkar Developers. “We

connected with The CricRealty Company and learnt about their plans to bring the first professional cricket stadium to Texas.”

“We’re thrilled to enter into this private-public partnership with The CricRealty Company, Dallas and Thakkar Developers to bring this unique project to Allen,” said Allen Mayor Stephen Terrell. “With a new international visitor base, we look forward to a big boost in tourism spending— which benefits businesses and residents alike.”

In addition to professional cricket, the stadium will also be suitable for Rugby, LaCrosse and Soccer. Construction on the site is expected to begin in 2019, with the first phase, including the stadium, expected to be completed in 2021.

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With a mission to bring communities – people and businesses – together to achieve a greater good, Thakkar strives for developments that create a sense of place and build community, and projects that leverage public-private partnerships to engender pride of ownership and create a lasting legacy.

ABOUT The CricRealty Company The CricRealty Company, LLC is dedicated to acquiring, building, and strengthening a network of branded participatory and experience-based businesses engaged in sports & training. CricRealty focuses on emphasizing a positive consumer experience and instilling the core values of discipline, teamwork, safety, respect and integrity.

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INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 04, 2019 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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COMMUNITY

January 04, 2019

Dr. Syamal Poddar 2018 Elected Chair of AIChE Fellows Council New Chair invites upcoming generation of chemical engineers to join path of future leaders of the institute

Dr. Syamal Poddar with the plaque presented to him in appreciation of his contributions as the 2018 Chair of Fellows Council.

BY PRAMOD KULKARNI

HOUSTON: A 40-year member

of the AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers), Dr. Syamal Poddar has been elected Chair of AIChE’s Fellows Council for 2018. Dr. Poddar served as the Chair Elect in 2017.

Dr. Poddar has progressed through the ranks of AiChE during his 40year career as a chemical engineer from regular member to Senior Member to, most recently, as an Emeritus

Job Posting:

Member. Along the way, through his recognized contributions to the chemical engineering profession via industrial and academic engagements, Dr. Poddar was elected a Fellow of the institute about 20 years ago. Based on his commitments and passion to closely work with his peers as a team, he was elected to the Fellows Council of the Institute a few years ago.

Dr. Poddar has demonstrated a keen interest to create a pool of young professionals with the potential to become future leaders of the Institute which is over 60,000strong. It is the global home of chemical engineers. As the institute celebrates its 110 years of prolonged and effective existence, Dr. Poddar has steered the Fellows Council to create diversity and in-

clusion by nominating and encouraging new Fellows to be proactive in impacting society at large.

“I’ve been involved with AiChE’s Doing A World of Good since its inception about five years ago,” revealed Dr. Poddar. Together with his wife, Dr. Susmita Poddar, Dr. Syamal Poddar has made and continues to make donations to the institute’s Foundation. Jointly, they have reached the highest level of recognized donor. He is an active member of the Foundation Board of Trustees of the Institute.

This husband wife team has also been recognized by the Institute as Philanthropist of the year for two consecutive years, 2016 and 2017. His volunteer contribution touched the Institute’s largest local section, South Texas section, as the elected Chairman for 2016.

“I believe it is essential to attract a new generation of chemical engineer volunteers to the Institute to continue the process of positively impacting society at large and help the underprivileged by opening the door for them via mentoring with passion and encouragement,” said Dr. Poddar.

Dr. Poddar believes in the true meaning of volunteerism whereby one does volunteer projects without expecting anything in return.

Besides the professional organizations, he has all along been engaged with social organizations as well. He was the elected Chair of Indian Culture Center of Clearlake (ICCL Clear Lake) in 1991and later as the Chief Trustee of its Board of Trustees. During his tenure as the Chair, ICCL organization achieved phenomenal, growth-oriented transformation.

With a patron status, Dr. Poddar supports two key organizations: Asia Society of Texas and Space Center of Houston.

Broadcast and IT Systems Specialist

KTRK-TVABC13, theABC OwnedTVStation located in Houston,TX is seeking an experienced Broadcast and IT Systems Specialist. Responsibilities include providing technical and IT troubleshooting, installing, configuring, and maintaining broadcast & IT equipment, interfacing with third party vendors as well as responding to help desk inquiries. Other duties include testing and updating software, leading projects for new system installations and facility support.

Must be a self-starter and able to learn quickly in a fast paced environment, working both independently and as part of a diverse team. Must be an ability to work a schedule that may include weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays and be willing to be on call or work OT. Strong troubleshooting skills for computer workstations, laptops, software, broadcast systems, and servers is required as is excellent organizational and documentation skills. Qualified candidates must be able to lift 50 pounds.

Preferred qualifications include an advanced knowledge of new and traditional TV broadcast equipment and systems including but not limited to master control, newsroom automation, routers, asset management systems, non-linear editing systems, and networked storage systems. Knowledge of IT networks, enterprise software platforms, switches, cloud technologies, and virtual machines as well as experience in installation and implementation of broadcast and IT systems. A proven track record managing projects and experience using AutoCAD and Microsoft Visio are preferred. Associate degree in a TV, engineering, or IT related field, or at least five years’ experience in TV or IT related industry is required.

To be considered all interested applicants must apply online at disneycareers.com, reference job # 623547BR. Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references. No Telephone Calls Please KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 04, 2019 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

Happy Gurpurab

Guru Gobind Singh Ji

The

tenth and the last Guru or Prophe t teacher of the S i k h faith, was born Gobind Rai Sodhi on Poh 7, 1723 sk/22 December 1666 at Patna, in Bihar. His father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, the Ninth Guru, was then travelling across Bengal and Assam. Returning to Patna in 1670, he directed his family to return to the Punjab. On the site of the house at Patna in which Gobind Rai was born and where he spent his early childhood now stands a sacred shrine, Takht Sri Harimandar Sahib, one of the five most honoured seats of religious authority (takht) for the Sikhs. Gobind Rai was escorted to Anandpur (then known as Chakk Nanaki)on the foothills of the Sivaliks where he reached in March 1672 and where his early education included reading and writing of Punjabi, Braj, Sanskrit and Persian. He was barely nine years of age when a sudden turn came in his life as well as in the life of tile community he was destined to lead. Early in 1675, a group Kashmiri Brahmans, drivels to desperation by the religious fanaticism of the Mughals General, Iftikar Khan, visited Anandpur to

seek Guru Tegh Bahadur’s intercession. As the Guru sat reflecting what to do, young Gobind Rai, arriving there in company with his playmates, asked Why he looked so preoccupied. The father, as records Kuir Singh in his Gurbilas Patshahi 10, replied, “Grave are the burdens the earth bears. She will be redeemed only if a truly worthy person comes forward to lay down his head. Distress will then be expunged and happiness ushered in.” “None could be worthier than yourself to make such a sacrifice,” remarked Gobind Rai in his innocent manner. Guru Tegh Bahadur soon aftenwards proceeded to the imperial capital, Delhi, and courted death on 11 November 1675.

Guru Gobind Singh was formally installed Guru on the Baisakhi day of 1733 Bk/29 March 1676. In the midst of his engagement with the concerns of the community, he gave attention to the mastery of physical skills and literary accomplishment. He had grown into a comely youth spare, lithe of limb and energetic. He had a natural genius for poetic composition and his early years were assiduously given to this pursuit. The Var Sri Bhagauti Ji Ki, popularly called Chandi di Var. written in 1684, was his first composition and his only major work in the Punjabi language. The poem depicted the legendary contest between the gods

and the demons as described in the Markandeya Purana. The choice of a warlike theme for this and a number of his later compositions such as the two Chandi Charitras, mostly in Braj, was made to infuse martial spirit among his followers

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hile the teachings of warrior, saint and poet Guru Gobind Singh were rich in their detail and focus, he also laid out 52 simple ‘Hukams’(instructions) that every Sikh should follow. From these, we picked out the ten most relevant for our day to day, office/ college going, partying on the weekend lives.

1. When you might get a LOT of money by conning somebody Dharam dee kirat karnee: Make a living doing honest work 2. When your girl just won’t listen Istree da mooh nahee phitkaarna: Do not subject your wife to cursing or verbal abuse.

3. When you feel lazy in the first year of your professional life Kum karan vich daridar nahee karnaa: Work hard and don’t be lazy. This is a work ethic that will stay with you for the rest of your

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rification sword itself which January 04,of the 2019

to prepare them to stand up against injustice and tyranny. Much of Guru Gobind Singh’s creative literary work was done at Paonta he had founded on the banks of the River Yamuna and to which site he had temporarily shifted in April 1685. He preached the worship of the One Supreme Being, deprecating idolatry and superstitious beliefs and observances. The glo-

he eulogized as Bhaguati was to secure fulfilment of God’sjustice.

The sword was never meant as a symbol of aggression, and it was never to be used for self-aggrandizement. It was the emblem of manliness and self-respect and was to be used only in self-defence, as a last resort.

-sikh-history.com

10 Teachings of Guru Gobind Singh for Many Tricky Life Situations life.

4. When you feel like showing off everything you owe to make people jealous Dhan, javaanee, tae kul jaat da abhiman naee karnaa: Do not be proud of riches, youthfulness or lineage.

5. When things aren’t working out, and the first thing you want to do is get into a fight Dushman naal saam, daam, bhaed, aadiak, upaa vartnae ate uprant udh karna: When dealing with enemies, practice diplomacy, employ a variety of tactics, and exhaust all techniques before engaging in warfare.

6. When you want to bitch about someone during your sutta break Kisae di ninda, chugali, atae eirkha nahi karni: Do not engage in slander, gossip or spite anyone

7. When you see a helpless foreigner about to get ripped off heavily on the cab fare because they don’t know the local rates Pardaesi, lorvaan, dukhi, apung manukh di yataahshkat sewa karni: Do as much sewa as you can for the needy and the troubled 8. When you’re feeling lazy about helping out someone after promising you would Bachan karkae paalnaa: Fulfill all promises that are made 9. When you’re feeling lazy about working out Shaster vidyaa atae ghorhae di savaari da abhiaas karna: this literally translates to “Practice the knowledge of weaponry and horse riding”, Let’s get our exercise where we can afford it!

10. When you’re trying to quit, or feeling confused about taking that first drag Jagat-jootth tambaaku bikhiaa da tiaag karna: In simple words, don’t smoke. No, smoking is not cool.

-indiatimes.com

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 04, 2019 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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HAPPY GURPURAB

January 04, 2019

Best Wishes to the Houston Sikh Sangat on the 352nd Birth Anniversary of

Guru Gobind Singh Ji Ruben Bains & Dr. Amrita Bains vwhu vwhu goibMd isMG Awpy guru cylw

Congratulations to the entire Houston Sikh Sangat on

Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s 352nd Birthday on Jan 5, 2019!!

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HAPPY GURPURAB

January 04, 2019

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HAPPY GURPURAB

January 04, 2019

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January 04, 2019

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HAPPY GURPURAB Best wishes to the Houston Sikh Sangat on the 352nd Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji

January 04, 2019

23

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24

January 04, 2019 Hasina’s Triumph

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party was always going to win last Sunday’s parliamentary election. She remains immensely popular, her government sought a fresh mandate with a formidable record of economic growth and social progress and her party, the Awami League, set the agenda for the election and dominated the campaign.

Still, the scale of the victory would have taken even her supporters by surprise. The party’s Grand Alliance won 288 of the 299 seats contested, more than the 234 seats it won in 2014 when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted the poll. This time, the Opposition coalition Jatiya Oikya Front, led by the BNP, secured only seven seats.

But there are conflicting claims about the way the election was conducted. As soon as the results were known, Kamal Hossain, the leader of the Opposition coalition, called it a farcical election and demanded that the Election Commission call a fresh poll. More than 40 Opposition candidates pulled out of the race after voting began on Sunday, alleging rigging.

However, the Election Monitoring Forum and the SAARC Human Rights Foundation, which includes both local and international observers, said in its preliminary evaluation that the election was “much freer and fairer” than previous ones.

In the past, Bangladesh had seen governments declining to hold elections, one being cancelled and called again, and others being delayed amid violence. This time the election was called on time. Participation was higher, with the turnout at 66%, compared to 51% in 2014.

The challenge before Ms. Hasina is daunting. To begin with, she has to heal a country rattled by political divisions and violence. The government and the Election Commission could have held the election without being open to charges that it was manipulated. There was a crackdown on the Opposition in the run-up to polling day. Pro-Opposition websites were taken down, thousands of activists were jailed, and political violence was unleashed to target BNP members. The situation was so grave that even one of the election commissioners said there was no level playing field.

The Election Commission should conduct a fair investigation into allegations of rigging to restore faith in the poll process. Ms. Hasina should reach out to the Opposition. Her otherwise impressive record has been marred by her government’s authoritarian character. The victory is a chance for Ms. Hasina to mend her ways, to be more inclusive and run a government that respects the rule of law, the basic rights of citizens and institutional freedom.

For India, Ms. Hasina’s victory is good news. New Delhi and Dhaka have deepened economic, security and strategic ties under her leadership. This should continue, no matter what the general election outcome in India in 2019. -- The Hindu

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY

What Do They Know of Women’s Cricket?

BY SURESH MENON Many years ago, when the men were struggling during a Test match at the KSCA Stadium in Bengaluru, a section of the crowd began the chant: “We want Shantha, we want Shantha.” This was Shantha Rangaswamy, the best-known woman player, maker of India’s first Test century. She was (and continues to be) articulate and a beacon for the sport.

At a talk she gave soon after, someone asked: “What’s the difference between men’s and women’s cricket?”

“That’s easy,” she replied, deadpan.

“Women don’t need to wear boxes.”

Women needed a sense of humour to survive then. Things are different now — although not quite hunkydory yet — with the Board of Control for Cricket in India having taken over the administration, and players now under annual contracts.

It is a sign of progress that Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur have the confidence to go public with their grievances. Not so long ago, an Indian captain was slapped by an official for no fault of her own. Another captain, the well-spoken Mamatha Maben was dropped for ten years for missing a catch!

Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171 in the World Cup against Australia has already assumed legendary, even mythical proportions. She had, according to The Fire Burns Blue, walked out to bat “with a serious expression, a clear mind, an aching shoulder and a borrowed bat.”

The marvellous economy, the telling detail and the research implied in that short sentence make for a wonderful introduction to the book. The qualities are sustained through this, the first history of women’s cricket in India. It is, in fact, the finest book written on cricket history in India, men’s or women’s.

The authors Karunya Keshav and Siddhanta Patnaik might well be asking, “What do they know of women’s cricket who only women’s cricket know?” For women’s cricket needs to be seen in the context of sport, women’s sport, the place of women in society, the challenges of breaking through the hardened cultural and psychological barriers and much more.

Mithali Raj (left) and Harmanpreet Kaur.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171 in the World Cup against Australia has already assumed legendary, even mythical proportions. She had, according to The Fire Burns Blue, walked out to bat “with a serious expression, a clear mind, an aching shoulder and a borrowed bat.”

The marvellous economy, the telling detail and the research implied make for a wonderful introduction to the book.

“When we started out reporting on women’s cricket,” say the authors, “it was hard to ignore how almost every person of any relevance was single.”

It means when the large issues are discussed, they gain significance in the story of the individual, while an individual’s story illustrates a bigger point.

The Fire Burns Blue is the story of the players great and small and the gradual emergence of a sport from the sexist cartoons (“All they want during the drinks break is the make-up kit”) to the back pages to the front pages and live television and the highest sign of acceptance today – social media trolling.

Thestoriesofstruggle—“Thoughts of suicide crossed my mind”, confesses one player — and the sacrifices of the pioneers make the turnaround that much more rewarding and heart-

warming.

It is a far cry today from when the women travelled in unreserved train compartments, learnt how to pull the chain without getting caught (to help those who rushed in late where the train stopped for a very short while) and time their run to the food carts on the platforms so they didn’t have to get a teammate to pull the chain. There was little administrative interest, hardly any money, few matches, fewer international engagements, but as one official said, “The girls just wanted to play.” Still the fire burned.

At one point in the book, former captain Purnima Rau says, “Initially we had great individuals: Shantha, Shubhangi (Kulkarni), Diana (Eduljee), but India never gelled as a team.” That could have been taken straight from a history of men’s cricket, when despite some great players: C K Nayudu, Amar Singh, Vijay Merchant, Vijay Hazare, Lala Amarnath, “India never jelled as a team.”

Perhaps that is the Indian way. Perhaps that is the burden pioneers have to bear. A reading of the history of women’s cricket informs our understanding of men’s cricket too.

The Fire Burns Blue is a book of unexpected gifts. Virginia Woolf puts in an appearance, as does Emily Dickinson. Mandira’s Bedi’s role and women’s issues seldom spoken about are discussed intelligently: menstruation, pregnancy, sexual harassment, sexual preferences. There is a plea for a progressive pregnancy policy.

Post-career counseling is crucial too, as another former captain Pramila Bhatt says.

Of India’s narrow defeat in the final of the 2017 World Cup, the authors say, “The Japanese art form of kingtsugi repairs broken and flawed pottery with gold, silver or platinum.

It doesn’t hide the cracks, but embraces them, seeing them as integral to the object’s history, and rebuilds something new. (Had India won), the cracks would have remained unexposed. The margin (nine runs) is the perfect mirror to look back at the gains, learnings and areas that still need work.”

It is an unusual but thought-provoking take from two finest writers on women’s cricket. It puts that 171 in perspective. -- The Hindu

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COMMUNITY

January 04, 2019

25

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Hotstar has an attractive annual subscription for $99.99, which will give consumers complete access to the entertainment library and cricket calendar throughout the year. Log onto us.hotstar. com and use promo code HOTSTAR40 to get 40% off on the annual pack.

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INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 04, 2019 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

26

PUZZLES / RECIPES

January 04, 2019

SUDOKU 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.

Mama’s Punjabi Recipes Badam Wala Dudh (Hot Almond Milk Tonic) Directions: 1. Cover the almonds with a muslin cloth and smash them with a pallet.

You can also crush them in a blender, but make sure not to powder them.

Send us the correct answer before January 14, 2019.

Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 212, Houston, TX 77036.

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

2. In a small saucepan, heat the ghee over medium setting, then throw in the crushed almonds and roast them till slightly brown but no more than a minute.

Solution Next Week W

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L��� W���’� SUDOKU W������ 1) Kumud Athavale 2) Nikhil Mehta 3) Riyaaz Karim

ith the advent of cold weather, it is the season for sweets, nuts, hot drinks to warm you up and wonderful aromas. Below is a reprint of Mama’s Badam Wala Dudh recipe, which is a filling night time drink that helps you stay warm and sleep soundly during the winter months. It is reprinted with some additional information and directions.

This recipe can’t really be called a dish as it is more of a remedy that can cure flu and cold symptoms.

But, it was a drink that my children, nieces and nephews liked so much that they would ask for it during the cold months like a hot sweetened milkshake. It is considered a tonic to help those who have to study hard or do work requiring mental concentration.

But the truth is that this was the tumbler of hot, sweetened milk that we would drink during the frigidly cold months of winter in the western Punjab plains while sitting around the warmth of the chulla (clay hearth) and exchanging gossip about the day’s happenings with the extended family. We grew up by the banks of the River Chenab in the small town of Jhang, Sargodha Division, close to our lands which were farmed by leaseholders. In the winters, our storage rooms would be full of the produce of grains and nuts from the harvests.

This Badam Wala Dudh (hot almond milk) drink has its origins in the farms of West Punjab but was influenced by the far Northwest Frontier provinces where the winters are even harsher and longer. The whole area was – and still is - known for its trade in dried fruits. Our nani (maternal grandmother) would make this hot milk drink with cracked whole almonds roasted in gheyo (clarified butter).

3. Pour in the milk and as the mixture comes to a boil, throw in the sugar and mix.

Nani would tell us the hot almond milk would melt the frozen portions of our sinus passages, unclog our heads and free up our lungs by giving us a boost of energy. She would quote a Punjabi folk saying: Dudh peetheyan budh vadde (Drinking milk increases the brain), Teh ghee khaade khopadri (and eating ghee the head); Maas khaade maas vadde (Eating meat expands the fleshy body), Teh gyuon khadde ohjadri (and eating flour increases the stomach).

These days, people may say it is high in calories due to the gheyo, so you should drink it sparingly in the winters. But it is a great warmerupper for those really cold winter nights!

Ingredients: • 2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter) • 15 badam (almonds), unpeeled • 1 cup doodh (milk, preferably whole fat) • 1 tsp chinni (sugar) to taste

4. Turn off the heat, pour into a tall cup and sip. You may need a spoon to get the almonds, and also later to scoop them out and eat them.

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, India (since renamed Faisalabad) before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. 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 her delectable Punjabi recipes for future generations.

MAMA’S TIP O F THE

W

EEK FOR NATURALL Y SWEETENED D ESSERT, TRY A FEW KHAJOORS (DAT ES)

After a meal – and temptation to finish especially if it is a satisfying one – ther it of are very high in suga f with something sweet. Most desserts e is the or r or other sweetener and pack a lot of ca s like high fructose cookies corn syrup lories. Pastries and ch you, especially if yo u are middle-aged. ocolates are equally bad for A better option is ea in carbohydrates, ha ting two or three dates which are na turally rich ve a natural sweeten er you and the sugar is quickly metabolized that is not as detrimental for . One of the most po are the Medjool va riety pular dates and many other vitam which contains 66 calories (or 16 gm s of sugar) ins. Dates also relie ve low metabolism, po or vision and osteo poor digestion, constipation, porosis.

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January 04, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS

27

Simmba: Rohit Shetty’s Been There, Done That

Movie cast: Ranveer Singh, Sonu Sood, Ashutosh Rana, Sara Ali Khan, Nandu Madhav, Ashwini Kalsekar Movie director: Rohit Shetty Movie rating: 2 stars In Singham Returns Again, oops, sorry, Simmba, a police officer sloughs off his rough-and-ready skin and emerges as the savior of the poor and meek. Wait, haven’t we seen that before? Bad question, because this one could just as well have been called Singham part 3.

Except it’s Ranveer Singh, not Ajay Devgn, who plays Sangram Bhalerao aka Simmba, street-smart orphan turned cop, who shows up

in a Goa police station to do the following: a) eye pretty lasses b) mouth ‘taali-seeti’ dialogue c) play around with the baddies before thumping ’em good d) mouth ‘taali-seeti’ dialogues. Wait, we said that before.

And we’ve seen it all before. The set-pieces are familiar. The clashes between the bad guys and the cops coated with the ‘vardi-ki-aan-shaanbaan’ lines are the same. The background music which drowns out everything is right there. To remind us of ‘before’, actors who own popular hit songs are rustled up to shake a leg, and to top it all, the original cop-whowalks-slo-mo-like-a-panther comes on to tell the rookie how it’s done.

Gully Boy: Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt Look Street-Smart as Street Rappers Zoya Akhtar directorial Gully Boy starring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh is all set to hit the theaters on February 14, 2019. While the audience is waiting to watch Ranveer and Alia together on the celluloid for the first time, the makers have teased them with the posters of the movie.

On Wednesday, Simmba actor Ranveer took to his official Twitter handle and shared a poster of himself from Gully Boy. He plays the role of a street rapper in the movie.

The poster has Ranveer standing in a street wearing the same hoodie which we saw in the first few photos from the sets of the film. The lyrics which are probably written by Ranveer’s character are also inscribed on the poster. The tagline of the film reads, “Apna Time Aayega (Our time will come)”.

Sharing the poster, Ranveer wrote, “The voice of the streets. #GullyBoy #14thFeb.” A few minutes later he shared another poster which features female lead of the film Alia Bhatt as well. The poster looks impressive as both Alia and Ranveer are immersed in their characters.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Alia shared the first poster of the movie which had Ranveer’s back facing the camera and the lyrics of rap were written all over it. “Apna Time Aayega! #GullyBoy #14thFeb #2019,” she

captioned the poster.

The film is inspired by the rappers from the slums of Dharavi in Mumbai. Naezy and Divine, of the Mere Gully Mein fame, are two literally gully (lane)-grown local talents, whose rap-to-riches stories are truly inspiring.

This duo, together and individually, redefined Indian rap and hip-hop, dragging it out of the cliches around cars, girls and alcohol, to the real stories of the streets, dipped in politics

and poverty.

In 2014, Naved aka Naezy unleashed his musical wrath, Aafat shot on zero-budget on an iPad, amassing more than 30 lakh views on YouTube.

Naezy soon became the subject of a documentary Bombay 70, and he landed himself a deal with Only Much Louder, which is one of India’s most prominent alternative culture promoter and management agencies.

Talking about his upcoming films in detail, Ranveer told IANS, “I have just completed shooting of ‘Gully Boy’. It is a very special story, one that I am closely attached to. It is set against the backdrop of flourishing desi hip hop scene coming out of Bombay (Mumbai).”

“It is the story which represents Mumbai in its true sense and the city is my home town, these are my people, this is my language so this is the story I am really attached to.”

Upcoming in 2019: Uri, Gully Boy, Manikarnika

The year 2018 was a good one for the Hindi film industry. Small budget films from different genres like Stree, Badhaai Ho, Raazi, Mulk and Andhadhun held the top spot. The audience rejected star vehicles Race 3, Thugs of Hindostan and Zero.

Ranveer Singh’s Simmba gave the year a perfect ending. And now, Bollywood is all set to step into 2019 with a bang as it offers an interesting line up of films.

After ruling 2018 with films like Raazi, Sanju, Lust Stories and Manmarziyaan, Vicky Kaushal is all set to impress cinephiles in his all-new avatar of an army officer in Aditya Dhar’s military drama Uri. Kangana Ranaut’s much-awaited historical drama Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi is all set to arrive in theaters on January 25, after much delay. Kangana plays the role of feisty Rani Laxmi Bai who takes on the East India Company.

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 04, 2019 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

28

SPORTS

January 04, 2019

Bumrah with 9 as India Retain Border-Gavaskar Trophy

BY ANDREW MCGLASHAN MELBOURNE (ESPN Crickinfo): India 7 for 443 dec. (Pujara 106, Kohli 82, Agarwal 76, Rohit 63*) and 8 for 106 dec (Cummins 6-27) beat Australia 151 (Bumrah 6-33) and 261 (Cummins 63) by 137 runs The first session was washed out, Google Trends for ‘Melbourne weather’ from India went through the roof but in the end, it took them just 27 balls to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

Jasprit Bumrah claimed his ninth wicket of the match, the first India quick to reach such heights in Australia, when Pat Cummins’ fine innings ended with a catch to first slip. Then in the next over, Ishant Sharma found Nathan Lyon’s top edge as he hooked and with that, it was all over.

“The credit has to go to our bowlers, especially Jasprit, they have been outstanding,” Kohli said after the game.

“The way Jasprit bowled in Perth it was almost criminal not to get wickets, but the management told him they would come in bunches.”

Australia had managed to take the match into the final day and the first part of Sunday was spent with the teams kicking their heels in the dressing room as showers scudded across the ground. Any early lunch was taken at 12.15pm but during the interval, the skies cleared to allow India to resume their quest.

The new-ball was only five overs old and was in the hands of Ishant and Bumrah, the latter immediately making life uncomfortable with his angle and bounce as he has throughout the match.

Cummins had put Australia’s top order to shame with his display, but hopes of a maiden Test hundred - or something even greater - vanished when Bumrah found the outside edge and Cheteshwar Pujara, the man who set this all up for India, grasped a good low catch at first slip.

There was no final-wicket stand to annoy India when Ishant sent down a bouncer to Lyon who hooked and sent the top edge to Rishabh Pant to allow the celebrations to begin.

The Border-Gavaskar trophy has been retained, a wonderful end to 2018 for India, but an even bigger prize awaits in Sydney at the start of the New Year. “Nothing will distract us from winning that last Test,” Kohli

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates Aaron Finch’s dismissal.

said, “we’ve worked really hard for this.”

Struggling opener Aaron Finch appears likely to stay at the top of the Australian batting order for the final Test of the series against India at the SCG through a lack of other options in the squad. Coach Justin Langer insisted the white-ball captain would “be better” for learning how to juggle three formats after the fashion of Steven Smith and David Warner.

In adding yet another middle-order batsman to the Sydney squad in Marnus Labuschagne, the Australian selectors left themselves short of top-order options. Among the eight batsman now available, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, and Finch have experience as openers. Should Khawaja be moved up to open with Harris in place of Finch, this would create another issue as all

of Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh and Labuschagne prefer to bat at Nos. 4, 5 or 6.

With this in mind, Langer was left to state that Finch needed to take on the lessons of the series so far, where his technical wherewithal to deal with the likes of Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah has been tested to its very limits and beyond. An ill-advised attempt to cut at Bumrah second ball he faced in Australia’s second innings summed up the accumulated mental toll of the series on minds that are unseasoned as to the wages of extended Test match jousting.

“Something we’re talking about obviously,” Langer said of Finch’s position. “He’s having a bit of a lean run of it although he’s got a couple of 50s. Got a 100 run partnership one Test match ago and that set up the whole Test match for us. Finch is really good player, we know that, he’s great in the team, he’s working harder probably than he’s ever worked and as I’ve said to him for some time he’s in this uncharted territory where he’s the only guy playing all three forms of the game.

Olivier, Amla, Elgar Shine as S. Africa Go 1-0 Up CENTURION: South Africa 223 (Bavuma 53, Amir 4-62, Afridi 4-64) and 151 for 4 (Amla 63*, Elgar 50) beat Pakistan 181 (Babar 71, Olivier 6-37) and 190 (Masood 65, Imam 57, Olivier 5-59) by six wickets An unbeaten 63 from HashimAmla - his first fifty in 11 innings - helped South Africa to a 1-0 series lead over Pakistan with a six-wicket win in the first Test in Centurion. Alongside Dean Elgar, who contributed 50 to a 119-run stand, Amla weathered an intense first hour on Friday morning and then slowly but surely reversed the pressure to gain control of the innings after the early dismissal of Aiden Markram to the second ball he faced. Amla and Elgar’s partnership set a new South African record for the second wicket against Pakistan in Tests, and secured a win inside three days in a fast-moving match.

Both men enjoyed slices of luck during a thoroughly absorbing morning session, and in the early exchanges, every ball was an event. Elgar was kept on nought for 18 deliveries and Amla wasn’t able to score until his

Mehidy Hasan Miraz took three wickets on the second day.

Babar Azam avoids a bouncer while batting.

14th, and even once they started to score the chances kept coming.

Elgar was off the mark with a thick edge that flew directly between the third slip and gully fielders, and in Hasan Ali’s next over, Amla flashed a thick edge hard and straight to Fakhar Zaman at third slip, the ball bouncing off his chest and dropping to the ground in front of the sprawling fielder.

While Pakistan’s quicks bowled admirably, this was South Africa’s Test: starting with Dale Steyn’s record 422nd wicket on day one, through Duanne Olivier’s maiden five-for (and 11 in the match), Kagiso Rabada’s 50th Test wicket in the calendar year, and a welcome return to form for Amla in testing conditions, the hosts will head to Cape Town as very much the happier team.

JOB AVAILABLE

Bengaluru Bulls Seal Final Spot in Pro Kabaddi League KOCHI: Rohit Kumar put in a solid all-round performance to guide Bengaluru Bulls to a dominating 41-29 win over Gujarat Fortunegiants in the first qualifier and storm into the finals of Pro Kabaddi League Season 6 in Kochi on Monday.

Pawan Sehrawat continued his fine run of form and top scored for the Bengaluru Bulls with 13 raid points, while skipper Rohit Kumar amassed 11 points at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium here.

Sachin got yet another super 10 for Gujarat Fortunegiants and was ably supported by Prapanjan who scored 5 raid points but it was not enough in the end.

While Bengaluru Bulls have qualified for the final, Gujarat still have a chance to make it the finals when they play in the second qualifier against the winner between UP Yoddha and Dabang Delhi.

Pawan opened Bengaluru’ account with a running hand touch in the second minute while Sachin got a two-point raid for Gujarat.

It was Sachin who kept the Fortunegiants going in the initial period of the match by picking bonus and raid points.

After seven minutes of play both teams were level on 7 points apiece as Prapanjan made a successful raid for Gujarat, whose famed defence was having a quiet first half and took 11 minutes to score their first tackle point. It was an extremely cagey affair with both teams playing with a bit of caution.

Bengaluru Bulls were reduced to just three men when substitute Sumit Singh made a crucial do-or-die raid.

At the end of the first half, Gujarat Fortunegiants held a slender onepoint advantage to lead 14-13.

The first part of the second half was a close affair yet again with the biggest surprise being Parvesh Bhainswal and Sunil Kumar struggling to get a tackle point.

Bengaluru Bulls have stormed into the PKL finals.

Positions available: 1) Full- time or part-time cashier / counter (must be able to speak English and understand Hindi) 2) Full-time kitchen help.

3) Full-time sales girl for Sari store (must be able to speak English and understand Hindi) Anyone interested in this opportunity, please contact Ramesh Lulla at 713-819-1820 after 2 pm or Aakash Lulla at 832-715-8328 after 2 pm INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 04, 2019 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 04, 2019

Airplane Assault Lands Indian in Prison for Nine Years

DETROIT: Bruce Lee once said,

“Real living is living for An Indian man living in the U.S. on a work visa was sentenced to nine years in prison Dec. 13 for sexually assaulting a sleeping woman during an overnight flight to Detroit.

Prabhu Ramamoorthy was in a middle seat between the victim and his wife when he assaulted the woman on an overnight Spirit Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Detroit on Jan. 3. As she slept in the window seat next to him, the 23-year-old victim said Ramamoorthy unbuttoned her top, fondled her breasts, unzipped her pants and digitally penetrated her. His wife sat in the aisle seat adjacent to his.

Prosecutors asked for a sentence of nearly 11 years, but U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg settled on a nineyear term. He said he hoped it would be “grave enough” to deter others from committing similar crimes.

Ramamoorthy was convicted by a jury in August after a five-day trial.

The jury deliberated approximately 3 1/2 hours before returning the guilty verdict. He will be deported to India after serving his sentence.

Ramamoorthy, has lived in suburban Detroit since arriving in the U.S. on a work visa in 2015. He and his wife were returning to Detroit on the Las Vegas flight after a trip to the Grand Canyon.

According to the Detroit Free

Press, 35-year-old Ramamoorthy, who is in the U.S. from India on a work visa with his wife, declined to speak at the sentencing hearing.

He hung his head and cried as he shuffled out of the courtroom in shackles.The victim, a model, declined an opportunity to speak in court. She watched the hearing from the first row with her boyfriend and a support dog.

At trial, she testified that she woke up during the flight and “saw his hands inside me.” She said she felt “petrified, frozen.”

“Everyone has the right to be secure and safe when they travel on

airplanes,” U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said in a statement on Thursday. “ We will not tolerate the behavior of anyone who takes advantage of victims who are in a vulnerable p o s i t i o n . We appreciate the victim in this case for her courage to speak out,” Schneider added.

Speaking through a Tamil interpreter, Ramamoorthy said he didn’t want to make a statement before getting his sentence. Defense attorney James Amberg asked for a prison sentence of less than 10 years.

He said the conviction will bring “severe and lifelong consequences” to Ramamoorthy and his wife when they return to southern India.

Amberg also said that his client had already been assaulted in prison since his arrest months ago, and that he faces a lifetime of shunning when he returns to India. “He will suffer long after this sentence is done,’ Amberg said.”

Mary Philip, Nurse, Cook and Loving Mother, 81 H

OUSTON: Bruce Lee Mary Philip, a long-time resident of Houston, passed away on Monday, December 17, 2018 surrounded by family in Manchester, New Hampshire. She had moved there in 2015 with her husband to be live with her youngest daughter Annie and her family.

She was born on July 13, 1937, in Kozencherry, Kerala, India to Theketh-Valluparambil House, to T.M. Thomas, a teacher and Annamma Thomas. She attended St. Mary’s High School and then Scudder Memorial Nursing School, in Tamil Nadu, India.

She and her husband, Rev. Fr. M. T. Philip had three children, while living in Kuwait. In 1973, the family moved to the US. She was known as “Kochamma” in all the Malankara Orthodox Church parishes across the US, where Rev. Philip started churches.

Despite working full time as a registered nurse, their home was always known for her constant hospitality to all who entered. Her cooking was so renowned, she wrote a cookbook and shared the book with anyone who asked for her favorite recipes. She retired from Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas as Assistant Head Nurse, in 2001.

Mary Philip, will be lovingly missed by her husband, Fr. M.

T. Philip, her 3 children – Rachel Vargehese of Houston, Rev. Dr. Thomas Philip of Greenville, South Carolina and Dr. Annie Mathew of Manchester - their spouses, eight grandchildren and the extended families of Manon and Theketh Valuparampil, numerous relatives and close friends. The family wishes to thank all those who cared for her over the years and showed their love, during this difficult time. Her love endures in every life she touched.

The Wake and Visitation was held on Friday, December 21, 2018 at the Connor-Healy Funeral Home in Manchester. Funeral Services were held on Saturday, December 22 at St. Mary’s Indian Orthodox Church in Maynard, Massachusetts with Interment Service directly afterwards at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Manchester.

Vajpayee Statue Unveiled in Debra Bazar, West Medinipur, India

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est Bengal State BJP president Shri Dilip Ghosh and Dr Bishnupada Goswami of Hous-

ton, USA unveiled the statue of former Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Debra Bazar, West Bengal on occasion of 94th birthday anniversary on December 25, 2018.

Addressing the people after the inauguration of the statue by video conference, Dr Goswami said that the statue has been erected here to keep Atal Bihari Vajpayee memories alive and make people realize his contributions to the country. As Prime Minister, Va-

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jpayee implemented many welfare schemes and developed the country in all aspects. He was conferred India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee in 2015.

The administration of Narendra Modi declared in 2014 that Vajpayee’s birthday, 25 December, would be marked as Good Governance Day. He died on 16 August 2018 due to age-related illness.

Earlier BJP district president Mrs. Antara Bhattacharya, Ghatal Lok Sabha observer Mr. Anup Chakraborty and other dignitaries like Chaya Bera & Asim Hui garlanded the statue and offered their tributes.

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