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Friday, January 23 2015 | Vol. 34, No. 04

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January 23, 2015

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 23, 2015

Desi Runners Test their Mettle at the Chevron Houston Marathon

From left: Dr Desikan, Dr. Suneja, and Dr Pai.

From left: Nach Nachiappan, Pankaj Desai, Tara Rao, Bala Balakrishnan, Jyoti Rao, Soni Vaswani, Kanchan Kabad and Sesh Bala.

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: This past Sunday was the testing point for all the strenuous training and diet that many runners in the Bayou City had been working towards for the past several months as an estimated 25,000 converged on the George R. Brown Convention Center to participate in the annual Chevron Houston Marathon.

The Chevron Houston Marathon is a world-class event and attracts athletes from around the globe.

This year there were 13,000 in Full Marathon (26.2 miles) and 12,000 in Half Marathon (13.1 miles) runners registered. The 5K race was held the previous day for better crowd control and management. There were thousands of volunteers and over 250,000 spectators. The Marathon starts and ends at the George R. Brown Convention Center downtown.

Each year the organizers make some changes, usually for the better. This year the route saw some changes from the 2014 route, and included stretches on West Gray, Inwood, Upper Kirby, Bissonnet and the Museum District.

Among them were a number of desi runners, some of them ran in teams, a group that has been

growing in number each year as more and more of them take up the sport. “I think marathon running is quite addictive,” said Kanchan Kabad who ran the entire 26.2 mile course across the city and has already signed up for the 2016 run.

She ran the course in 5:52 hours for her favourite charity CanCare, a cancer fighting group and was met at the end by her family and friends.

Others like Dr. Sanjay Sharma ran the 13.1 mile half marathon because he has grown accustomed to running in order to keep in shape.

Sharma ran the course in 2:13:36 hours for his favourite charity, Citizens for Animal Protection.

Among the many other desi runners were Sahana Rao, Sesh Bala, Nach Nachiappan, Pankaj Desai, Tara Rao, Bala Balakrishnan, Jyoti Rao and Soni Vaswani.

On the other hand, Dr. Kuldip Kaul didn’t have a charity in mind when he registered for the half marathon, finishing in 2:07 hrs, just 8 minutes slower than his pace last year. Kaul runs for the fun of it and this was his fourth Chevron Houston half marathon. He has run several others including the Santa Hustle and the Turkey Trot.

In addition, Kaul has done the MS 150 from Houston to Austin eight

times!

And the team of cardiologists from Katy, all partners in the Cardiology Center of Houston, were all heart when they ran the half marathon together. Drs. Randeep Suneja, Ramamanohara Pai and Kamalakannan Desikan ran for their favourite charities, Houston Habitat for Humanity, Houston Food Bank and the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund. Suneja finished in 2:33 hrs; Pai in 2:17 hrs and Desikan in 2:22 hrs.

Sesh Bala contributed to the story

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January 23, 2015

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January 23, 2015

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A Victim of its Own Success, Kite Flying Festival Considers Future Options

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: The weather couldn’t have been better. After two weeks of being boxed inside their homes while rain and a cold Artic blast engulfed the area, two days of sunshine drove people outside by the thousands to attend the Makar Sankranti kite flying festival at George Bush Park on the city’s western fringe. That was just the beginning of a long, and for some tedious, day for many who ventured out there.

The festival has been arranged by the local chapter of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad for the past 20 years to mark the end of winter and the beginning of the Hindu month of Magh Sangrand. In northern India, it is usually accompanied by a kite flying festival since the days are bright with sunshine and gentle breezes. All across cities many of young body and heart take to the fields, parks and rooftops to let loose with high flying kites. In the ensuing kite fights and those that are wind-torn, these fluttering birds and falling yards of manja – the starched strings used to guide them - drift to the ground and get entangled in anything that sticks up. It’s not uncommon to see remnants of past kite flying festivals on poles, electrical lines, trees and even buildings months and years later in India.

This same situation is not completely unexpected at the event held in Bush Park each year but has been handled in the past without any problem. But this past weekend, on Sunday, January 18, the park was

overwhelmed as an estimated 5,500 people showed up, much to the organizer’s pleasant surprise. But the park and adjacent parking is only designed for about 1,000 people.

“The festival has been growing each year, but in the past three years we have seen more people participating,” said Girish Naik, President of the VHP. “Each year, we have been contracting another off-duty police officer for the event, and this year we had 18, which is our biggest expense,” he added of the festival which is free to the public. The VHP makes some money, but not enough to cover costs, from kite and string-spool sales as well as tea and khichiddi, a typical dish eaten to mark the new month. “But, now people are bringing their own kites, strings and food, so we don’t make much money,” Naik lamented. “For them, it’s a big picnic!”

The festival is the VHP’s signature local event, so they were certainly pleased with the turnout. But, the lack of parking forced many people to drive around in circles for hours. Some who parked at the Kroger at Westheimer Parkway and others to distant lots walked half a mile to get to the site.

Others parked on the grass and were towed away. What’s worse is that, when some of them arrived, they heard an announcement that the festival was being closed down around 2 pm due to too many people in the park! The VHP had two buses ferrying people from a distant high school, but these were caught up in the huge traffic jam.

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What happened next gave the organizers – and our desi community – a black eye. Being Martin Luther King’s Birthday, the next day was a holiday for schoolkids and some families came to the park to play, only to find it was overrun with torn kites, string and leftover plastic bottles, juice boxes and food from the day before. Their complaints made the 6pm news on KHOU TV Channel 11 and Fox News Channel 26, which featured comments from Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack and Naik. Caught red-faced, Naik and a group of 18 volunteers spent the entire next day, Tuesday, cleaning up the mess.

Said a shaken Naik, “We were taken aback

by the callous way that our people threw trash around and disregarded basic cleanliness, leaving the park in such a mess. The Commissioner was naturally upset, but the County did help us clean up next day.” And now, the VHP is reconsidering their options for next year’s festival – where and which shape it may take, and how to better handle traffic and parking. It’s a nice problem to have, but they aren’t sure how to convince people to keep the site clean. Ironically, this echoes the same frustration that people experience in India and that the Modi government there is dealing with. Could it be that you can take a desi out of the country but, you can’t take the country out of the desi?!

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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January 23, 2015

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COMMUNITY

January 23, 2015

Enlightening Series of Lectures by Swami Sarvapriyananda, the Best is Yet to Come

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HOUSTON:Joy of the Vedanta Society of Greater Houston (VSGH) devotees knew no bounds when Swami Sarvapriyananda was in their midst from January 17-19. Swami Sarvapriyananda is a dynamic young monk of the Ramakrishna Math. At present he is an acharya at the monastic probationers training centre at Belur Math. His interests are in the fields of spirituality, philosophy, management science and education. His reputation as a speaker preceded him and some of the youtube links to his lectures have drawn more than 350,000 hits.

His series of lectures began with, “Spiritualizing everyday life” on the evening of January 17 where he emphasized that by knowing the infinite being, one can transcend death and suffering. If one deifies the world, one has an uninterrupted vision of God. Once work is spiritualized, one can concentrate and meditate and, it is important to remember that “Work is Worship.”

The morning of January 18 was dedicated to the worship of Swami Vivekananda to commemorate his birthday. Sw. Sarvapriyananda performed the puja with extreme devotion and the devotees got to enjoy the melodious singing accompaniment by the VSGH choir.

A delicious lunch followed and the perfect weather allowed the devotees to savor the food sitting outdoors on the verandah.

“Practical Vedanta” was the topic of the lecture the same afternoon, where he mentioned that the source of knowledge of the Upanishads is Vedanta. Vedanta has to enter every part of our lives, not just the spiritual and one has to elevate one’s life to the ideal

and not drag the ideal down. He stressed that, “To labor is to pray, and having a goal in life is very important.”

Jan 19, Monday morning, he conducted a class on “The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna” where he discussed that one can purify the mind only through “Nishkama karma.”

Then one can meditate on the eternal truth and Bhakti – the love for God overcomes worldly desires.

“Who am I,” concluded the first round of his series of talks the same evening and drew a significant crowd considering it was a weekday evening. The central teaching of Advaita Vedanta that, “You are divine” was elaborated by quoting mahavakyas from the 4 Vedas and 4 Upanishads. 8 verses of the Panchadashi were used to explain Sat-chitananda, the definition of Brahman (God).

If chit (existence) is sat (an intrinsic property), ananda (bliss), the atma a continuous source of the greatest happiness will last forever.

The next series of lectures will restart on Friday, January 23 and will include a 4 session retreat on the text, “Drg, Drsya, Viveka,” and a lecture on, “Managing stress” The main attraction of his 2 week visit will be the Youth Convention to be held at the center on January 24 from 1 -7:30 PM. A talk on “Education and Powers of Mind,” will be followed by an interactive group discussion session and a guided technique of concentration. A multimedia presentation contest by 2 youth groups will be judged by a panel of 3 judges. Prizes will be handed out at the end of the contest and dinner will be served. All information is available at www.houstonvedanta.org.

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For more information, call 713.789.NEWS (6397) or email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 23, 2015

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Esthetics Confidant to Many, Apsara Houston Celebrates its 15th Year

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA

HOUSTON: To many of her clientele it looks like she’s always on the go between the two Apsara Houston salon’s she owns and operates. Thankfully, they are located conveniently close by: one in the Galleria area at Sage and Hidalgo and the other just north of Westpark at Hillcroft, though, in traffic, the distance feels greater. Just this past Friday, January 16, Apsara celebrated its 15th year with an open house and lunch for clients at the Hillcroft location.

But that doesn’t deter Sangeeta Dua as she makes the rounds between the two Apsara Houston locations. “The client mix is totally different. The Galleria location is primarily mainstream while the Hillcroft salon handles mostly a desi clientele,” explained Dua of the business she founded in 2001.

“But I really enjoy being able to deal with the demands of both types of clientele.”

Dua started off in her apartment by simply doing hair for friends and soon news spread about her talents. Two years later she opened her first shop at 5645 Hillcroft next to the Sai Baba Mandir where she

Apsara Houston celebrated its 15th anniversary with an open house at its Hillcroft location. Joining owner Sangeeta Dua (right, in front of cake) were her mother (in white coat) and many well-wishers who dropped by.

stayed till just last year when she opened the new, 2,500 sf salon and training center right across from Channel 39 TV’s studios. Six years ago, in 2009, she opened up the 800 sf Galleria location where five hairdressers handle a steady stream of clients.

As a young woman with a growing family, Dua wanted to make use of her beauticians degree from the Maharani Bagh Polytechnic in

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New Delhi and additional training she received when she lived in New York from the renowned Christine Valmy International School of Esthetics. She ventured out on her own, raising two children and overcoming huge obstacles, but she was determined to succeed.

Along the way, she also received training as a makeup artist, chemical peels, micro dermabrasion, and air brush makeup. A few years

ago, she received certification from the International School of Esthetics as an instructor and now, with all her training and experience, Dua has started to offer classes at the Hillcroft location to young students wanting to get into the business. She has even launched her own brand of products and was one of the first Auryavedic Shiryudhara oil head treatment services in a salon setting in the city. Her specialties are skin treatments, bridal makeup and eyebrows. “I guarantee that I can fix any eyebrows in three months,” she said confidently.

Dua’s sense of aesthetics is quite obvious in her stylish attire and the way she carries herself, not to mention her easy smile and generous attitude, part of which comes from her Punjabi background and desire to strive for better. Her gregarious nature drove her, along with two other friends, in 2011 to launch a television program, Dua TV, on channel 28.2 KUGB TV, where she was both onscreen as well as behind the cameras. Though it folded after ten months, she still loves the tug of the media and hopes, one

Sangeeta Dua

day, to get back into it too.

Ambitious and hard working as she is, Dua still makes time to support many local causes and especially the Sai Baba Mandir and other Hindu temples as she attributes her success to her anchor in her religious background.

But the other part is pure confidence in her abilities and integrity.

“I don’t compromise my ethics; not just to make money,” she said.

“Whatever I do, it’s from the heart and I want to build long-term clients who appreciate what my salons can do for them.”

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

10 January 23, 2015

Shoba Joshi’s

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 23, 2015

FIS at the MLK Parade

From left: Raghu Nednur, Atul Kothari, Suresh Shah in Mahatma Gandhi dress, Apoorv Nednur (10), Veena Ponnaganti, Krishna Vavilala and Ariana Morales (10), Not in the picture: Anand Morales(8).

Photo: Amanda Vavilala

HOUSTON: As in the previous years, FIS participated in MLK Grande parade on January 19 in Mid-town, Houston to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. First time participants like Veena Ponnaganti, Apoorv Nednur (10), Ariana Morales (10) and Anand Morales (8) distributed fliers spreading the message of on-violence and Peace to the cheering crowds who lined up on both sides of the mile long parade route.

Under the gorgeous sunny morning skies, Suresh Shah of

Kingwood donned the attire of Mahatma Gandhi and walked ahead of the FIS group.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had never met Gandhi ji even though he followed Gandhi ji’s philosophy of non-violence in his struggle for civil rights. Dr. King Jr. visited India in 1959 and was quoted as saying “It was a marvelous thing to see the amazing results of a non-violent campaign. The aftermath of hatred and bitterness that usually follows a violent campaign was found nowhere in India...” Later during a

radio interview, he was quoted as saying that more than ever before, a non-violent campaign would be the most powerful weapon for oppressed people.

It is hard to believe that only 50 years ago, separate drinking fountains for whites and blacks and separate balconies in movie theaters had existed and segregation was the order of the day. Thanks to Dr. MLK Jr.’s non-violent agitation, a Civil Rights Act was passed in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration which ended racial segregation in schools and work places and unequal application of laws based on color.

Both Gandhi ji and Dr. MLK Jr. preached and practiced nonviolence, yet became victims of assassin’s bullets. For centuries, Indians and Blacks are victims of prejudices and discrimination.

FIS chose to participate in the Annual MLK Parade as a mark of respect to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and to demonstrate that both our communities have a common cause to work on.

For more information, contact Krishna Vavilala, 713-795-5169.

HMM Celebrates Makar Sankrant

BY NEETA PATWARDHAN HOUSTON: Houston Maharashtra Mandal (HMM) got off to a sizzling start in the New Year by welcoming more than six hundred guests to their annual Makar Sankrant celebration. Held at Durga Bari on January 17, the event celebrated the diverse taste of Maharashtra.

Incoming President, Bhagyashree Dixit thanked the Maharashtrian community for their overwhelming response and expressed gratitude to HMM sponsors. The 2015 platinum sponsors were KT Bombay Bazaar and CGS IT Staffing Services. Gold sponsors included Vishala Grocers and Maharaja Bhog restaurant. Additionally, Aling’s Hakka, KT Bombay Bazaar, Vishala Grocers, Maharaja Bhog, Udipi Café, Radha Ravala and Ayesha’s Salon contributed raffle prizes.

The event, a tour de force of Maharashtrian cuisine included more than twenty stations with enthusiastic participants serving up their favorite family recipes

from “Thalipeeth,” (multigrain pancakes) served with a fiery “Kolaphuri Thecha” to “Panhe,” a sweet, summertime beverage made from raw mangos, and laced with cardamom.

All time chowpatty favorites, “Vada Pav,” “Pani-Puri” and “Bhel” were devoured with delight. As low temperatures hovered outside, these zesty dishes with an explosion of flavors warmed up more than just our hearts. No gastronomic excursion of Maharashtra would be complete without steamed “Modaks” and “Puran Poli,” calming antidotes to otherwise spicy fare.

Ladies were welcomed with timehonored Haldi-Kunku and received “Tilgul” (sesame sweets). All HMM members received “Waan,” a gift of bright candle holders and a copy of Kalnirnay, the best selling calendar that documents festivals and auspicious days.

Younger kids took part in Bor Nhaan, a custom where they are showered with the new crop of the season. The idea behind this ancient practice was to introduce toddlers to new food.

New brides had the opportunity to partake in a long standing Maharashtrian tradition – to be photographed in delicate jewelry made from “Halwa,” (sugar beads).

In popular lore, Makar Sankrant celebrates the harvest and bounty we receive from the earth. In so doing, it should also serve as a gentle reminder to remain conscious in our every day interactions with the planet we inhabit.

More importantly, Sankrant represents movement. Makar Sankrant marks an astrologically significant movement in the skies. This shift in the zodiac brings about a change in the way we embrace the world. We are all travelers after all, moving constantly CONTINUED ON

PAGE 16 INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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12 January 23, 2015

COMMUNITY

Free Flu Vaccinations Brings IACF and FHF Together at Turning Point Center

At the free flu vaccination drive, from left, Kamala Raghavan, Dr. Neera Bhutani, the Turning Point Center General Manager, Panna Bhatia, Dhiren Bhatia, Dr. Vanitha Reddy-Pothuri, Dr. Nalinakshi Rangala and Leela Krishnamurthy

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA SPRING BRANCH: Though January is almost over, the common flu strains that linger know no difference and linger around for many more weeks to come, putting the weakest among us at peril of coming down with terrible symptoms.

Recognising this, the Indo American Charity Foundation teamed up

with Friends Helping Friends, both of them non-profit organizations with outreach into the mainstream community, to help distribute free vaccinations this past Sunday, January 18.

This event was the first in the IACF’s new initiative to joint-venture with other community groups to reach the objectives in its vision statement. Spearheaded at the

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IACF by Dr. Mahendra Jain, Dr. Ajay Jain and Dr. Vanitha Reddy-Pothuri and at FHF by Panna Bhatia and Dr. Neera Bhutani, the two teams of volunteers met at the Turning Point Center located at 1701 Jacquelyn Drive in Spring Branch, which is a 34-unit apartment complex started in 1988 by Isha Salas-Deselle to care for the homeless elderly.

Turning Point residents and others who came to receive the free vaccinations

Other volunteers for IACF were newly-elected Board Director Anand Chauhan and his wife, Dr. Ashima Chauhan and Dr. Nalinakshi Rangala, as well and IACF President Kamala Raghavan; and for FHF Dr. Manek Hussein, Dhiren Bhatia and Leela Krishnamurthy. About 25 free vaccinations were given out and there are still more left over which the two

groups intend to distribute free at other future events.

“This demonstrates that we can do a lot by working together with our partners,” said Raghavan after the event. Salas-Deselle is planning on opening a center for women and children soon and Raghavan believes there would be an opportunity for the IACF to help in that effort.

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 23, 2015

Classical Arts Society Held 38th Tyagaraja Aradhana at MTS

Unchavrithi - Enactment of the daily routine of Saint Tyagaraja door to door singing Sankeerthanam

Group rendition of the majestic Pancharathna keerthanam

BY CHITTOOR RAMACHANDRAN PEARLAND: Classical Arts Society together with Sri Meenakshi Devasthanam presented the enthralling first part of the 38th annual Tyagaraja Aradhana last weekend (Jan 10 11) at MTS Kalyanamandapam. Carnatic musicians of Greater Houston, youth and adults, trained at various levels offered their respect to the composer- Saint Tyagaraja by rendering his compositions.

The event began with traditional Unchavrithi, an enactment of the daily routine of the saint Tyagaraja going door to door along with his disciples singing devotional songs. (Note. Respectfully offering a fistful of grains to the singing bards used to be considered a moral deed). Several musicians joined the procession singing Tyagaraja’s devotional compositions along with the accomplished musician Sri Vatsa Kumar dressed as Tyagaraja.

The 2015 Aradhana commenced with an invocatory puja by the priest followed by a welcome speech by Smt. Prabha Bala, CAS Founding member and Board President and a brief inaugural address by the MTS Board chairman Dr.Vadugunathan. The CAS Board member Dr. Ganesh Balasubramanian, introduced as the coordinator of the 2015 Tyagaraja Aradhana was in charge henceforth.

The well-coordinated joint rendition of Tyagaraja’s majestic Ghana raga Pancharatna Krithis by dozens of vocalists, violinists and percussionists filled the air with bhakthi as the first event.

The two-day Aradhana gave opportunities for more than two hundred individuals to pay tribute to Saint Tyagaraja by singing one of his compositions.

The melodious Tyagaraja krithis played

by Smt. Manjula Rao (violin) and Charan Rajan ( mridangam) added vigor to the festive ambiance. The first day concluded with a splendid mini concert of Uma Ranganathan who made an impact in the audience very quickly. By the time she reached anu-

pallavi of Anuragamule (Raga Saraswathi) the audience had already been mesmerized with her extraordinary style. Uma elaborated Kaligiyunte (Keeravani) followed

by Muthuswamy Dikshtar krithi Mamava Pattabhirama (Manirang), and concluded with the serene Geetharthamu in Surutti.

The seasoned violinist Smt. Manjula Rao was in her best form in the concert. The amazingly talented Karun Salvady (mridangam) enhanced the concert noticeably well. Uma introduced periodic narration of brief incidents in the Saint’s life related to the krithi which made her presentation informative and enjoyable.

The vocal concert presented (on Day 2) by the accomplished youth Shilpa Sadagopan was delightful. Her inherent talent, superb training by top notch teachers and passion for music were all visible during her hour-long rendition. Starting with the krithi in Poorvikalyani (Gnanamo sagarada) Shilpa proceeded with a great confidence and elaborated the krithi Kadanavariki (Thodi). That was followed by Telisi Rama (Poornachandrika), Gurulekha (Gowri manohari) and a Dasar krithi in Ameer kalyani. Her distinctly melodious concert was a treat. The violinist Deepa Ramachandran added much to the quality of the concert. Karun Salvady provided excellent support.

Sandhya Raghunathan’s choreography of Tyagaraja compositions was remarkably ingenious. She could convey the meaning of several krithis instantaneously and effortlessly to the audience very effectively.

With her high quality of abhinaya and perfection in dancing, Sandhya enchanted the audience.

Second part of the Aradhana will be held as a grand Musical Fiesta in April (Sat 24 and Sun 25). The world class performers scheduled are Malladi Brothers and Sanjay Subramanian. For more information: www. classicalartsocietyhouston.org.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

13

14 January 23, 2015

COMMUNITY

Pratham - Second Chance

BY FORAM MEHTA HOUSTON: For better or for worse, 2014 elevated the conversation about girls’ education to a global stage. It was a year of juxtaposing headlines: Where a terrorist group abducted hundreds of schoolgirls in Africa and a young woman from Pakistan made history as the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Girls’ education has been on the minds and tongues of people around the world, with most agreeing: It needs to get better.

For thousands of girls in India — like Preeti from Rajasthan — things are getting better. While daily headlines suggest a bleak reality, untold stories of India’s relentless fighters tell another tale. A victim of India’s infamous caste system, 18-year-old Preeti was born into a family of street sweepers with limited possibility for a different future until the day Pratham volunteers told her she could go back to school. Preeti embraced this opportunity and worked harder than ever to learn everything she had missed since dropping out to work. Today, Preeti feels like she is in a place where she belongs. She sees a very real possibility of a brighter future and is setting a new precedent for her family of street sweepers.

Pratham, one of India’s largest NGOs is a prominent voice in the global conversation about universal education, and through programs like this, ensuring that a new generation of Indian girls like Preeti will never have to fight for a chance to learn.

Established in 2011 as a pilot program in Maharashtra to help girls finish school, POSE, or “Second Chance,” has evolved and now operates in 31 centers. Targeting women in underserved communities who are at risk of dropping out or have left school, it offers girls 16 and up education through a combination of textbook learning with self-esteem building.

“India is victim to many socio-cultural divides of the basis of caste, religion, and sects.” says Anamara Baig, from Pratham India. “The unique opportunity that the girls get is breaking these socio-cultural barriers. Girls learn together, eat together, and in many centers, live together, forcing them to think about these differences and their relevance.”

Programs like Second Chance are more important than ever for India. A recent report by UNESCO named the country as the home of the world’s most illiterate, with 287 million people, as functionally unable to read or write. Furthermore, the literacy rate for women between 15 and 24 is 14% lower than for men according to the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative.

“If you educate a girl,” says Sarita Gupta, Senior Advisor for Development at Pratham USA, “you are by extension ensuring that her children will be educated, breaking this cycle of illiteracy from one generation to the next.

“I think it’s more critical to educate the girls who are going to become the mothers.

It’s a double investment. It’s an investment in the girl at this time and it’s an investment in the future generation as well.”

For more information on Pratham USA, visit www.prathamusa.org . Tel: 713 774 9599

Sewa International Organizes Stop Diabetes Camp in Sugar Land Stop Diabetes Movement (SDM) originated at SVYASA, Yoga University in Bangalore, India. Through systematic research of 30 years, comprehensive yoga modules have been established that have shown measurable improvement in the various complications associated with Diabetes. The program has been proven to reduce cholesterol and reduce dependence on medicines as well as reduce anxiety and depression associated with the disease.There are many aspects to diabetes management, SDM provides yoga breathing and postures, presentations about diet and nutrition, stress management, and personal consultation from medical doctors.

VYASA centers in Houston with help of Sewa International has conducted SDM camps in different part of the city with help of local organizations since beginning of the year.

The Sewa Team that conducts these workshops comprises of volunteers Doctors Yoga Therapists and community leaders who have worked tirelessly for the community.

The next workshop is in Sugarland Texas.

Pre Registration Information: Enroll before 25 January 2015 For registration contact: Screening Date: February 1st Sunday, 2015 Walk –ins are not acceptable Registration fee - $350 Event Information Venue: Unique Group of Companies 12510 Cardinal Meadow Sugar Land, TX 77478 Dates: February 6 to Feb 15, 2015 Time: Everyday 6:30pm-8:30pm Saturdays & Sundays : 4:00 to 7:00pm Follow up sessions every Saturday for 10 weeks from 10am to 11:30am (all the sessions are Compulsory)

For Advertising Call 713-789-6397 INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 23, 2015

15

2015 New Year, New Studio and New Station Change

BY THARA NARASIMHAN RICHMOND :The beginning the New Year 2015 brings new changes to the first of its kind Hinduism Radio program in North America.

We thank all the listeners who have supported, participated and listened to our program,” Voice of Sanatan Hinduism” for the past 21 years. The broadcast station can now be heard on Houston Radio dial FM 106.1 or FM 102.1 (HD 3) in Houston. The new FM station has broader outreach and better transmission and the HD digital audio broadcasting comes with less noise and better sound quality.

One can listen online http://tunein.com/radio/KBREEZE-10611021-s238101/ - Broadcast Every Sunday from 9-00am to 12 noon With change of station dial comes the new studio established

by Padmakant Khambhati from the media room of his home to a true Radio Media Room. The new station location will be as follows: 10007 Mystic Spring Lane, Richmond, TX 77407. You are invited to the new studio anytime during broadcast hours. This studio has finely built in equipment that was rendered possible by the help of Rakesh Parikh and ably supported

by Kanti Patel. The program continues to present many segments and one of the highlights being Sri Meenakshi Temple Society radio program from 10-30am to 11-00am, presented by Thara Narasimhan.

We do have a discussion segment from 11-00 am to 11-30am to give opportunity to anyone listening to share their views on certain chosen topic of the day. Vishwesh Shukla presents and participates in youth topics of discussion. Any-

one can call in to participate on a dedicated telephone line 832398-5410 or 281-389-6987. We do have team members associated with the program who enliven our show occasionally, Sujathy Murali and Geetha Ravula to name a few.

The Hinduism Radio program has now been broadcast for over 16 years. The producers of the radio program give their free time in promoting the cause of Hindu Dharma and have been volunteering their time and efforts in depicting the true value and essence of Hinduism to a wider audience.

Giving back to community is an essential part of Hindu Dharma and that selfless service to mankind will contribute to the welfare of the world.

The program supported by donors and listeners support with no commercials. We were able to sustain this many years and we thank all those who have helped and donated generously in the past. You can send your donations to Sanatan Hindu Center, 10007 Mystic Spring Lane, Richmond, TX 77407. Telephone no.281-4590866.

Your financial support ensures that you can listen at the convenience of your home, car or internet the selective choices of unique and favorite Bhajans, Music and Hindu news around the world on Voice of Sanatan Hinduism radio program.

Get-Together 2015 PEC University of Technology, Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh Alumni - Texas Get-together 2015 is being organized on Jan 30, 2015 (Friday) at 7:30PM. If you have any association with the college, please plan to attend.

Even if you cannot attend, please contact us.

Dinner will be served.

Location : 11522 N. Lou Al Ct, Houston TX 77024.

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

16 January 23, 2015 HMM Celebrates Makar Sankrant CONTINUED FROM PAGE

11

in search of new places, meaningful experiences and wisdom that might further enrich our journeys.

This festival marks the beginning of spring, with a renewed promise of warmer and longer days ahead.

At the end of a chilly spell, when Houstonians were more than ready to let go of our unusually cold winter, the warmth of HMM’s 2015 Makar Sankrant was definitely one to be savored.

COMMUNITY

Republic Day Flag Hoisting

Flag Hoisting ceremony on India’s 66th Republic Day will be held on Monday, 26 January, 2015 at 8.30 AM at Consul General’s Residence.

(5634 Briar Drive, Houston, TX 77056) Consul General Parvathaneni Harish will read President of India’s Address on this occasion.

Refreshments will be served.

Indian nationals, members of the Indian American community, friends of India and their families along with children are cordially invited to the function.

Participants are requested to assemble at Consul General’s Residence by 8.15 AM. Kindly bring a photo ID.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 23, 2015

17

Major Indian Channels Removed from Chitram TV App

In a major break-through, sending a strong message to organised pirates of content in the digital space, certain members of Indian Broadcasting Foundation (“IBF”) have succeeded in their efforts to remove their channels from recently launched android and ios applications of ‘Chitram TV’ on Google and Apple play stores.

Chitram TV is an IPTV/OTT service provider which has been illegally broadcasting the signals of the Indian origin channels Zee, MSM (Sony), Star and Viacom and certain other regional Indian television networks which are members of IBF) for quite some time. Recently Chitram TV launched its mobile application on android and ios devices in an attempt to widen its distribution and reach.

The broadcasters took up the issue of Chitram’s illegal broadcast andApple and Google have now removed these

channels from their ios and Android platforms. This is a major victory for the members of IBF in their fight against online piracy.

These Indian broadcasters, who have joined hands to collectively fight digital piracy, are considering initiating legal proceedings against Chitram TV and other pirate platforms in multiple jurisdictions outside. None of the members of IBF (viz. Zee, MSM (Sony), Star and Viacom) has authorised Chitram TV to carry their channels on any media platform let alone digital. IBF understands that Chitram TV continues to distribute the Indian channels via IPTV/OTT particularly outside India. IBF members have buckled up to fight the pirates like Chitram TV to preserve the integrity of their channels and content.

With the rapid advent of technol-

ogy enabling the dissemination of content across digital platforms, there are enormous revenue opportunities for broadcasters and other content owners. The Indian channels which are available in more than 100 countries around the world are extremely popular amongst the South Asian diaspora. All of these channels have launched their own digital platforms and mobile apps but piracy has been a major stumbling block in revenue monetisation. Isolated efforts of the broadcasters could have achieved little. Now that the Indian broadcasters stand united in their fight against digital piracy, their efforts will provide a greater impetus in the global effort to combat digital piracy.

More information about IBF and its members can be obtained by visiting its website www.ibfindia.com

Pongal Celebrations at Sri Meenakshi Temple

BY PONNI SIVARAMAN

Ladies gather in front of Rajagopuram to partake in the procession before offering Pongal to the deities.

Surya Namaskar at Sri Meenakshi Temple started the Pongal celebration.

Traditional Sarkarai Pongal was cooked in village style Clay pot at MTS

PEARLAND: Thai Pongal or Makara Sankranthi is a harvest festival that is celebrated on a grand scale by the all over India, especially in South India.

Makara Sankranthi marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Makara rashi (Capricorn) which is also believed to mark the arrival of spring. Pongal is a four-day festival of Thanksgiving, celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month “Thai” to honor the Sun God for a bountiful harvest.

This year, the Devotees from different Indian states gathered at Sri Meenakshi Temple on January 17, to welcome and celebrate Pongal in a very traditional village style.

Nearly 200 devotees, many with their families, dressed in traditional South Indian attire prepared the sweet or “Sarkarai Pongal “in brass pots over earthen wood stoves. The word, “Pongal “ is derived from the Tamil word “ Pongu” meaning to boil over or to be bountiful, and as such the most auspicious moment of “ boiling over of the milk” is considered to be a sign of abundance in the coming year.

The sun was up bright and towering over the Raja Gopuram and the celebration started with the Surya Namaskar,; with Achalesh Amar of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and Hasita Karthik from Vyasa ( Vivekanada Yoga Anusandana Samasthana) leading the enthusiastic Yoga group.

This was followed by prayers and sangalpam by Sri Manikka Bhattar.

It was an awesome experience to see several ladies helped by their spouses and children making Pongal in the traditional way. Greetings of “PONGALO PONGAL”, and wishes for a bountiful life were then exchanged by the participants as the sweet pongal was being cooked. Pongal greetings were shared in different Indian lanCONTINUED ON PAGE

21

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

18 January 23, 2015 True US-India Potential

As New Delhi gears up to welcome US President Obama this Sunday, his visit could be a game changer for India-US relations in more ways than one. Apart from the sheer symbolism of India brushing away obsolete legacies by inviting an American president as chief guest at Republic Day, the visit must also be used to catalyse crucial deliverables in the relationship, encompassing trade and investment as well as defence and security cooperation.

In the short time since he took office Prime Minister Modi has already met President Obama thrice and expectations are high from this fourth meeting.

While Washington wants greater clarity on the nuts and bolts of ‘Make in India’, changes in land acquisition laws, retrospective taxation and pending big-ticket reforms, New Delhi will be looking for greater investment and technology cooperation.

India still has to convince foreign investors about how the Modi gove r n m e n t ’s ‘open for business’ pitch is being translated into action and must tackle investor concerns over legislation such as the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act. But the wish list from the Modi-Obama meeting cannot be a one-way street. The ongoing US immigration debate is worrying. While NASSCOM has welcomed Obama’s recent moves on immigration reform, concerns remain over another proposed law that would severely disadvantage Indian IT companies. This law, seeking to double the cost of H1-B professional visas and restricting the ability of companies to hire foreign workers, was passed by the Senate but still has to go through the House of Representatives. If it goes through in the current form it could lead to annual losses as high as $30 billion for India’s economy.

Such strong protectionism combines with nasty India-baiting in US institutions that was revealed by the Devyani Khobragade affair. Washington must address these concerns.

Apart from pushing the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative for co-production of military equipment, Delhi must also press for greater counter-terrorism cooperation. As the Pakistan Army’s largest funder, Washington retains substantial influence over Islamabad. It must use this to rein in anti-India terror, especially at a time when US troops are leaving a security vacuum in Afghanistan. Obama, who desires to leave a foreign policy legacy, is the first US president to visit India twice in office. Both Obama and Modi must make strategic calls so that tangible deliverables outweigh photo ops. Times of India

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Ten Years and Waiting

BY SHEEL KANT SHARMA It will soon be 10 years since the India-US joint statement of July 18, 2005, which marked a breakthrough, ending many wasted decades in the bilateral relationship. It had set the stage for a comprehensive and qualitative upgrade of the content of this relationship. A mutual understanding on the nuclear issue lay at its core, and it spawned a series of bilateral and multilateral steps to bring India into the global nuclear mainstream The ambitious bilateral trajectory that commenced in 2005 attracted attention at the highest levels — internationally as well as nationally, not only in government but also Parliament, civil society, academia, business and industry. Naturally, issues in the nuclear field came under close scrutiny as never before. The democratic polity in both countries examined in detail the process set in motion, as also the major milestones on the way to its culmination — the adoption of India-specific safeguards on separated civil nuclear facilities, exemption to India by the Nuclear Suppliers group (NSG), and the Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between the US and India in 2008.

As high politics surrounding nuclear technology yielded place to global nuclear commerce with India, powerful lobbies and interests too became active.

India’s advanced but modest nuclear industry was exposed to media glare and publicity. There was much commentary, not without a measure of dilettantism, on the minutiae of the ongoing dynamic. This has had a mixed impact.

The rules and procedures of global nuclear commerce and the implications of nuclear cooperation agreements came under a sharp public gaze. At the same time, the strategic significance of India’s inclusion in the evolving global dynamic rankled with some powerful international players. The autonomy of the stewards of nuclear India was forced open, even as it pursued engagement with the global nuclear arena.

Major nuclear-technology countries like the US, Russia, France, Canada, Germany, the UK and South

The nuclear renaissance that was round the corner in 200405 has all but vanished due to low oil prices and the shadow of the Fukushima disaster.

Korea, and their collaborators within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), have more than a half century of accumulated practical experience in this regard. Their approaches are informed by a sense of pragmatism, in government and the corporate sector, acquired over decades, as international practices with respect to perhaps the most controversial technology of the past century have evolved. Its entry to this group notwithstanding, India’s public perception showed an uneven grasp of these international practices.

Public perception of issues like nuclear safety, security, liability and associated insurance tended to be fluid and intangible. The promise of opening up to global commerce is yet to bear fruit. The Kudankulam nuclear plant was commissioned between governments, even before the Indo-US nuclear deal. While an abstract and all-encompassing public debate goes on almost as an end in itself, the global scenario, in contrast, has changed rapidly over this past decade. The nuclear renaissance that was round the corner in 2004-05 has all but vanished as crude oil prices plummet from three-digit highs to below $50, and the shadow cast by the Fukushima disaster in Japan endures.

Those that have moved on nonetheless are China and Japan, whose governments realize the value of nuclear power in energy optimisation.

China commenced and has already commissioned quite a number of nuclear power reactors over the past

decade. Their output is much more than the total nuclear power output in India, where the gestation period for nuclear power plants is increasing. Japan, under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is slowly getting out of the post-Fukushima nuclear freeze.

South Korea is building nuclear reactors, including in the oil rich deserts of the UAE, where money, so far, is no problem. The UAE is building reactors without the experience of man-hours in reactors or of reactor years in operation. It is able to see the horizon beyond hydrocarbons.

So do China, Japan and South Korea, which, in contrast, are well advanced in reactor years of operation and trained personnel, just like India.

China has big plans to gatecrash into the global nuclear reactor market, with tested and standard designs beyond the four it has already contracted with Pakistan.

Where does the Indian debate take such a dénouement on board? Could the catapulting of nuclear power issues onto the minefield of domestic politics trigger a stagnation worse than what the NSG enforced? Does India assume that it has already arrived at the global scene and has all the time it wants to make up its mind?

Or that it is at the stage of Germany or other Scandinavian states, which spurn nuclear power? Solar power alternatives pursued by these countries still demand baseload support of gas-fired plants. Besides, “load following” or problems in coping with large loads and a variable power-mix worry their grid management, where the nuclear component figures better than gas or hydro.

A severe mismatch in the energy planning of diverse economies, thus, compounds the energy confusion.

In this situation, what clean and sustainable energy future awaits India?

Its urban habitations have several hundred millions who lack assured power and are subsisting on polluting diesel generators and rechargeable inverters. Can India afford to defer indefinitely the far-reaching openings promised by the India-US nuclear deal?

The writer is India’s former ambassador to the IAEA

Indo American News FOUNDER: DR. K.L. SINDWANI PUBLISHER: JAWAHAR MALHOTRA EDITOR: PRAMOD KULKARNI BUSINESS & PRODUCTION MANAGER: VANSHIKA VIPIN CORRESPONDENTS

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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HEALTH

Essential Nutrients Every Woman Needs

BY ZEENIA BARIA

Calcium: Women have a tendency to suffer from weak bones, especially as they age. This is why calcium is so very important to build strong bones. An estimated 30 million women suffer from osteoporosis in India. And while awareness has increased in recent years, women still need to wake up to the importance of calcium in their diet. Ensure you consume plenty of dairy products. Fortified juice, yogurt and soy milk are great sources of calcium.

Iron:

A deficiency in iron can cause anaemia — a very common problem among women. Iron gets oxygen to your cells and a lack of it makes you lethargic and tired.

Include lean meat like chicken and turkey as well as fortified cereals and beans in your diet.

Vitamin D: The calcium you consume will be useless if your body does not produce adequate vitamin

red meat, fish and nuts, studies say that women require at least 45 grams of protein daily.

D, which helps your body absorb calcium. Vitamin D is found in fish like tuna and salmon as well as in fortified orange juice.

Folic acid: While folic acid is very important for pregnant women, it is essential for the rest as well.

Experts say that folic acid helps your cells divide and is found in green, leafy vegetables, juices, beans, fortified cereal and nuts.

Protein: An important nutrient in building healthy bones and muscles, protein also fights germs, breaks down everything you eat and controls your metabolism. Found in poultry,

Fibre: Not only does fibre keep your blood sugar and cholesterol levels in check, it also help you digest your food better. Fibre is found in vegetables, fruits, whole-grain breads and cereals, nuts and beans.

Vitamin C: Want healthy bones and glowing skin? Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin C. Stock up on red pepper, broccoli and citrus fruits. Drink orange juice at least thrice a week.

Omega-3fattyacids:Omega-3 fatty acids are ‘good’ fats known to reduce the risk of heart disease. And you can find it in fish like sardines, salmon, herring, trout and mackerel.

Walnuts and flaxseeds also contain omega-3 fatty acids.

-Times of India

6 Asanas to Boost Fat-Burning Ability

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Six asanas that will boost your fatburning ability and improve your health As we age and our lifestyles catch up with us (read increased hours sitting on the desk and staring at the computer, eating fast food mindlessly and ODing on caffeine to keep the eyes open) the first thing to crash is our metabolism — the process through which the body breaks down food into nutrients and decides what to keep and what not to.

A slow metabolism (aka hypothyroidism) means that the body stores more fat and absorbs less nutrients.

Not just does this leave you on the wrong side of the weighing scale, but also in danger of suffering from high cholesterol, high blood sugar and high blood pressure and poor blood circulation. Try yoga which will not only get you in great shape but also boost your overall health (a slow metabolism is linked to poor immune system).

Yoga asanas focus on different areas in the body, helping you target the systems that are holding your metabolism back. Here are six asanas that will do just that for you:

Garudasana

Stand with knees slightly bent.

Now lift your right leg and cross it over your left thigh, and hook your foot behind your left calf. Now, sink your hips down as you would if you were sitting on a chair. Cross your arms at your elbows and wrists in front of your chest. Hold for 45 seconds and return to start position and then switch sides. In addition to building strong, lean leg muscles, this pose energises the entire body and helps with digestion.

Matsyasana

Lie on your back. Place your palms under your buttocks. Raise your elbows and lean on them by

pressing them into the floor. Lift your chest up toward the ceiling so your back is arched. Bring your elbows towards each other and drop your head back towards the floor. This pose stretches the front of the neck and calms the body.

to your shoulders. Beginners should stay in the pose for 30 seconds and gradually increase the time until it is comfortable to stay for five minutes.

This pose stimulates your thyroid gland and stretches your neck and spine.

Lie on your back with knees bent, legs placed slightly apart and feet flat on the floor. Try to touch your heels with your fingertips. If not, bring your heels closer. Now, lift your hips up towards the ceiling. Bring your arms underneath your body and try to clasp your hands together. Hold for 45 seconds. Release and roll slowly back to the floor. Repeat twice. Because the chest is lifted up towards the chin, the thyroid gland is massaged.

Lie down on your stomach with arms next to your body. Slowly, lift your head, upper body, arms, and legs off the floor, as high as you can.

Hold for 45 seconds before releasing. Slowly return to start position.

Repeat thrice. This helps improve your metabolism by strengthening the muscles in your legs and lower back.

Setu Bandhasana

Sarvangasana

Lie on your back with arms along the body, palms facing the floor.

Lift your legs and bring them to the Halasana pose.

Bring your hands to your lower back for support, ensuring that your fingers are spread wide. Slowly, lift your legs to the ceiling, one leg at a time. Try to get them as straight as possible by placing your hands close

Salabhasana

Halasana

Lie on your back and lift your legs.

Bring your arms alongside your body with palms down. Press into your hands and lift your legs over your head. Hold for 30 seconds.

This pose increases circulation in your thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands. This helps send out feelgood endorphins and hormones throughout your body, balancing your metabolic system.

-Times of India

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

DIASPORA/FESTIVAL

Indian Kitchen Goes Global, ‘Keema’, ‘Papad’ Now English Words

Over the years, around 900-1,000 Indian words have found its place in the Oxford dictionary.

KOLKATA: Reflecting the global popularity of Indian food, a number of Indian words like “keema” and “papad” have been accepted in the Oxford English dictionary for the first time.

The ninth edition of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, released here on Monday, has included

over 240 words from Indian English.

Many of these new words are commonly used in Indian kitchens such as “keema” (finely chopped meat), “papad” (thin wafer) and cooking ingredients like “curry leaf”.

“English is a global language and carries influences from all over the

world. Indian food is popular all over the world. We did these inclusions in the dictionary to reflect the global usage of words,” Patrick White, head of ELT Dictionaries and Reference Grammar at Oxford University Press, said during the launch.

Over 60 per cent of the new Indian English words come from Hindi.

These new words were selected based on the frequency of their use and are assessed by experts from all over the world.

“We scan new words from all over the world and then select which ones deserve a mention based on the frequency of its usage,” said White who leads a team of 20 editors and technicians responsible for creating all ELT (English language teaching) dictionary and reference grammar products.

Over the years, around 900-1,000 Indian words have found its place in the Oxford dictionary.

“But this time the number of inclusions is huge,” he said.

The ninth edition of the dictionary has over 900 new words.

About 20 per cent of the new words are from the world of online and social media activities like troll, catfish, twitterati, tweetable, tweetheart, unfriend, selfie, etc.

-Times of India

January 23, 2015

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Basant Panchami

As ‘Diwali’ – the festival of light is to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, and ‘Navaratri’ is to Durga, goddess of power and valor, Vasant Panchami is to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts. This festival is celebrated every year on the 5th day or ‘Panchami’ of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magha, which falls during January-February, (see calendar). ‘Vasant’ comes from the word ‘spring’ as this festival heralds the beginning of the spring season.

It is believed that on this day goddess Saraswati was born. Hindus celebrate Vasant Panchami with great fervor in temples, homes and even schools and colleges. Saraswati’s favorite color white assumes special significance on this day. Statues of the goddess are dressed in white clothes and are worshiped by devotees adorning white garments. Saraswati is offered sweets

which are given away as ‘prasad’ to all people attending the ritual worship. There is also a custom of ancestor worship, known as ‘Pitri-Tarpan’ in many parts of India during Vasant Panchami.

During Vasant Panchami, the advent of spring is felt in the air as the season

undergoes change. New leaves and blossoms appear in the trees with the promise of new life and hope. Vasant Panchami also announces the arrival of another big springtime event in the Hindu calendar - Holi, the festival of colors.

-hinduism.about.com

Pongal Celebrations at Sri Meenakshi Temple CONTINUED FROM PAGE

17

guages- Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannda, Hindi, Gujarathi, Marati, Kashmiri, Punjabi and even in Nepali. It felt like you were in an Indian village. This Neivedhyam was then offered to the Gods with a final aarti and the Prasadam was distributed

to all.

It was a feeling of Joy, Happiness and Nostalgia that was felt on that beautiful sunny day. All this was made possible by coordinators Nach Vaduganathan, Bhargavi Golla and Meera Srikanth. Cultural programs

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were also scheduled by the Teulugu association on the same day with Tamil Association celebration, the following day. All the Temple staff worked hard before and after to ensure the Pongal celebration was memorable to all devotees.

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PUZZLES/RECIPE

Mama’s Punjabi Recipes Samose (Fried Stuffed Pastries)

Here is another North Indian snack that has migrated not just to the rest of India but around the world. It is perhaps the most popular Indian snack due to its neat triangular appearance, variety of stuffings and flaky texture when cooked right. In India, the corner store halweis (confectioners) generally make samosas for an afternoon tea snack, but in larger stores they are available all day.

Samoasas run from inexpensive to expensive, depending on the stuffings, fame of the confection shop and the area of town you live in. They are usually fried; and though a few people try to bake them, the taste is just not the same.

In India, some people will sometimes eat a whole meal of samosas rolled up in a roti, with a little chutney or with semi-dry chole (garbanzos) as a heavy appetizer.

Samosas are usually made with maida (finely milled, refined and bleached wheat flour), like puffpastries. Just like pakoras, they are satisfying because they can be made stuffed with aloo (potatoes) and mutter (peas), various minced meats and even with chopped paneer (Indian semi soft cheese).

Although most people associate samosas with India, it may come as a surprise to learn that, just like sone halwa which came from Turkey, samosas originated before the 10th century in the Middle East where they are known as sambosa. They were introduced to India in the 13th or 14th century

by Arab traders and are mentioned in the Mughal courts as sambusak.

Samosas are generally served hot and eaten with mint or imbli (tamarind) chutney. They now come in small bite size to serve with cocktails and of course, the large Punjabi style, usually stuffed with potatoes and peas.

Many people make samosas with mashed potatoes, but their squishy taste is not at all pleasing.

Ingredients: 1. cup maida (fine bleached wheat flour) 2. ½ cup pani (water) – enough to make the dough 3. ¼ cup tael (vegetable oil) 4. 1 lb aloo (potatoes) – avoid russet as the mash easily 5. ¼ cup mutter (peas) - if frozen, then defrost first 6. Spices to taste: namak (salt), mirch (red pepper), garam masala, dhania (coriander)

Directions: 1. Place the aloo in a medium pot full of water and bring them to a boil. When tender (but not mushy), remove the aloo, discard the water and let the aloo cool down.

2. Peel the aloo and chop into small pieces. Pour a tablespoon of oil into a skillet over medium heat and stir fry the pota-

toes till they are a little brown.

Stir in the namak, mirch, dhania and garam masala to taste.

3. For the samosas shells, in a bowl, pour in the maida then add the oil and sprinkle in some warm water, mixing well to make the dough. Judge the amount of water needed so that the dough is semi-hard and not too soft otherwise the samosa shell will fall apart. Cover the dough and leave it covered for at least 30 minutes.

4. Take an inch round piece of dough and make a ball out of it. Now roll it out like a 1/8 inch thick roti and cut into half.

5. With your hand, form a holder between your fingers and your thumb. Place the half-cut dough in this cavity and then close the straight ends by pinching them off to make a cone.

6. Take a spoonful of the aloomutter mixture and place it in the cone. Now pinch off the open top end. Repeat till all the dough is finished and place the filled cones on a tray. Sprinkle the bottom of the tray with some dry maida so that the filled cones do not stick.

7. Heat some frying oil in a karahi (wok) over high heat. Throw in a small dab of dough to make sure

the oil is very hot, and then turn the heat to medium. Take a filled cone and release it into the hot oil.

Keep doing this till the surface of the oil is covered with filled cones.

8. When one side is slightly brown, turn it over using a sieved spatula and turn over a few times to make sure both sides are cooked. Be careful that they do not become dark brown.

Take them out and place on a paper towel to absorb the extra oil.

9. Samosas are best when served hot with some tomato ketchup or mint chutney. they do not become dark brown.

Take them out and place on a paper towel to absorb the extra oil.

Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India 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 mid-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share some of her delectable Punjabi recipes.

MAMA’S TIP OF THE WEEK GREASE THE PALMS WHEN MAKING SAMOSAS, PINNIS AND OTHER PASTRIES

One of the things many young and inexperienced cooks ask is that when they make the dough balls, cones for samosas, pinnis or laddus, the atta (flour) sticks to their hands. Some try to use a little water on their palms to make the atta stick less, but this usually makes matters worse. Also, it is recommended for pinnis and laddus which can be kept for long periods without refrigeration, but the moment some water is added to them they will begin to spoil.

The best thing to do dab your palms with a little bit of oil and keep replenishing as often as you need to.

This works most of the time, and as they say, “if you want to cook well, you have to get your hands oily”!! born) and sing, expecting a treat of sweets or money in return.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

ENTERTAINMENT Movie Review: Alone

BY MEENA IYER So what happens when conjoined twins Anjana and Sanjana (Bipasha Basu) make the same man, Kabir (Karan Singh Grover) the object of their desire? No prizes for guessing.

The sisters end up despising one another and can hardly wait to go their separate ways (pun intended).

Unaware of the undercurrent of this emotion, Kabir, an advertising executive, (who ironically isn’t shown doing a single day’s work in the film), is working his butt off in Mumbai to give his dear wife Sanjana a luxuri-

ous lifestyle. However, wifey-dear is perpetually miffed with him for not spending any time with her. Tut, tut.

The couple feels that their shift from Kerala to Mumbai is pointless if they cannot even spend quality time together. And even though her mother (Neena Gupta) resides there, Sanjana’s not keen on returning to Kerala because of some skeletons left behind.

When circumstances take this young couple to a sprawling mansion in God’ own country, the spook fest begins.

Inspired by a 2007 Thai film by the

same name, this Bollywood adaptation depends too heavily on creaking doors and a shrieking Sanjana to send a chill down your spine. She, who sees ghosts in every nook and corner of her childhood home, psyches herself and her wide-eyed husband. From taking his wife to a spiritual healer to making out with her in the idyllic locales, Kabir does everything in his power to drive away her fears.

When Sanjana saunters into the outhouse where Anjana and she played in their childhood, she is possessed

by Anjana’s spirit. Post interval, it’s the ghost’s turn to romance the hero with the chiselled physique. In fact, the ghost lucks out - unlike Sanjana in the first half, the ghost even shares raunchy scenes with Kabir. Till this point, Alone indulges you.

The lovemaking scenes between Bipasha and Karan are racy. The supernatural turn in the conflict between the sisters does give you goosebumps. But the limited expertise of director Bhushan Patel (1920, Evil Returns, Ragini MMS) and actress Bipasha Basu (Raaz, Creature 3D) in spite of their many ventures in this genre - allows Alone to deliver only superficial chills. The prolonged climax though it is full of twists, leaves you cold because it is too contrived.

When you scratch the surface, you don’t end up scared shitless. And isn’t that what Alone is meant to do?

-Times of India

January 23, 2015 Akshay Kumar Out of ‘Hera Pheri 3’ Demanding Rs 50 crore

Amitabh Bachchan Thanks Salim-Javed for Script of Deewar on 40th Anniversary

NEW DELHI: Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, who has been a part of the first two ‘Hera Pheri’ movies, will not be a part of the third film. According to a Mid-Day report, Akhay Kumar has apparently demanded a whopping Rs 50 crore as fees.

The report further suggests that the actor was offered ‘Hera Pheri 3′ but the producers could not agree to the exorbitant fees Khiladi Kumar was asking for.

Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal will continue to be a part of the third film. It will also feature Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham in the lead.

Directed by Priyadarshan – ‘Hera Pheri’ had Tabu, Suniel Shetty and Akshay Kumar along with Paresh Rawal and was a major hit. The second movie ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ was directed by Neeraj Vora and was also an instant hit.

-Indian express

MUMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan thankedwritersSalimKhanandJaved Akhtar for the “perfect script” of 1975 hit Deewar on Wednesday, when the movie completed 40-years.

Bachchan, 72, emerged as the ‘angry young man’ of Bollywood after the film, which told the story of two brothers, who get thrown opposite each other by fate.

“40 years! 40 years ago, this day, Deewar was released! 21st Jan 1975..

Thank you Salim-Javed Saheb for the most perfect script,” Bachchan tweeted.

The film was directed by Yash Chopra, who later became famous as the ‘king of romance. Shashi Kapoor, Parveen Babi and Neetu Kapoor also starred in the movie. The film is known for its memorable dialogues like ‘Mere Pass maa hai’, ‘Uff tumhare usool, tumhare adarsh’ among others.Amitabh will be next seen in Shamitabh, Piku and Wazir.

-Hindustan Times

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24 January 23, 2015

Kiran Bedi will be Declared CM Candidate in Delhi, Says top BJP Leader

BY SIDDHARTHA RAI NEW DELHI: While speculation remains rife over Kiran Bedi’s role in Delhi assembly elections, senior party leader Anil Jain confirmed the party would take the electoral plunge after declaring the former top cop as its chief ministerial face.

According to Jain, who is also the member of BJP’s core committee handling Delhi polls, the dominant view within the party was to let Bedi not only be the vanguard of party’s campaign in Delhi, but also to declare her as the CM candidate.

The party will also finalise on Monday the list of star campaigners as Jain said the BJP has planned over 200 rallies and sabhas in the capital. The leader also confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rallies would start immediately after January 26.

“I had, along with some others, suggested party president Amit Shah that Delhi is an altogether different ballgame than Haryana, Maharashtra or Jharkhand where going faceless gave us a clear advantage and we were able to post historic victories.

The demography of Delhi is different and the electorate will appreciate a concrete CM face,” said Jain, who is largely considered as one of the chief architects of BJP’s victory in Haryana.

Another senior Delhi BJP leader hinted at the reason that informed the shift in the party’s strategy away from going faceless so far in other

assembly elections.

He said having a CM candidate was a political safety valve in case the Aam Aadmi party (AAP) performs well or goes past the BJP’s tally of seats with the contest being projected as one directly between Arvind Kejriwal and Prime Minister Modi.

“The scenario of AAP bagging more seats or a number comparable to us is exceptionally remote, but if that happens for any reason with the BJP projecting Delhi as a referendum between Kejriwal and Modi, we will have suffered a huge loss,” the leader said.

BJP sources said while the party was aware of Bedi’s meteoric image, she was expected to follow party line without rocking the current BJP juggernaut.

The much-awaited list is likely to be made public after the BJP’s Central Election Committee meeting where senior leaders including Prime Minister Modi and Shah are expected to deliberate on the poll strategy.

The fight for Delhi is crucial for the BJP and a win here would cap off a brilliant run in assembly elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and J-K. But senior party leaders are worried the selection chaos could affect the results.

However, with less than three weeks to go for the elections, the Delhi BJP seems to be in disarray, and has been dogged by infighting and lack of clarity. A south Delhi rally by Shah had to be cancelled on

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Saturday due to lack of coordination in the party’s city unit.

Confusion over the CM nominee and lack of movement on candidate selection has created chaos in the city unit, BJP sources said.

According to a section of party leaders, the induction of Bedi has made matters murkier as she is being positioned as the face of the party without officially being named its CM pick.

However, another section feels the BJP now has a prominent face in Delhi who can woo the youth, women, middle-class and service class as well as Sikh voters in the national capital.

BJP parliamentarian (northeast Delhi) and Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari said the local unit will work with the person chosen as the CM pick by the high command.

“Party is doing well. We are happy that people are joining us. We will all fight with ‘Chalo Chale Modi’ slogan.”

BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi said, “People in Delhi have three options: corrupt Congress, anarchist AAP or BJP, which does work.”

The BJP is still the party to beat in the polls, and is ahead of the rival AAP in surveys. But the lack of clarity is what is making party workers increasingly confused and de-motivated, sources said.

On the other hand, BJP leaders pointed out, the AAP and the Congress have already declared their candidates, many of whom have started campaigning and filed their nominations. For the December 2013 polls, the BJP had wrapped up its candidate selection a month in advance.

Elections to 70-member Delhi assembly will be held on February 7 and results would be announced on February 10. Nominations can be filed up to January 22.

The BJP is likely to contest majority of the total of 70 seats, leaving some to its ally Akali Dal. Last time, it had fought for 66 seats and gave four to Akali Dal. -Hindustan Times

Arrested IS Suspects in Bangladesh ClaimTraining in Pakistan

Reports of the growing influence of Islamic State, which controls territory in Syria and Iraq, have raised alarm bells across South Asia.

DHAKA: Bangladeshi police arrested four suspected members of Islamic State in the capital, Dhaka, on Monday, including a regional coordinator for the militant group who told police they had been trained in Pakistan.

Reports of the growing influence of Islamic State, which controls territory in Syria and Iraq, have raised alarm bells across South Asia, though it remains unclear whether militants organising under the Islamic State name in the region are acting on their own or as part of a centralised initiative coming out of the Middle East.

“We arrested them in the city early on Monday, carrying a huge number of leaflets related to militancy for training, a laptop and other materials,” Shaikh Nazmul Alam, deputy police commissioner with Dhaka’s detective and criminal intelligence division, told reporters.

The suspected coordinator, whom police identified as Mohammad Sakhawatul Kabir, told police that he and the other three men had received training in Pakistan, Alam said.

The Pakistani authorities were not immediately available for comment.

Alam said Kabir told police while under interrogation that the cell he ran

from Dhaka was planning to collect funds and weapons for attacks on Bangladesh government targets.

“The aim of the attacks was to establish a caliphate state in Bangladesh,” Alam said.

Police in Bangladesh, which has been in the throes of a political crisis since controversial elections last January, have arrested eight people for suspected involvement with Islamic State in the past year.

“Of course this is a growing concern, particularly at a time when the country has been experiencing a politically unstable situation,” said Sakhawat Hussain, a retired army brigadier and a security analyst in Dhaka.

Bangladesh’s leading daily newspaper The Daily Star released a photo of the arrested militants, stating that the group leaders have been put on a five-day remand after being arrested last night.

The report further mentioned that the suspects were identified before the media as Sakhawatul Kabir, regional commander of IS Bangladesh chapter, Nazrul Alam, a financier, Anwar Hossain, a convict of an explosions case, and Rabiul Islam.

-Dawn.com

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Tamil Nadu to Set up Incubator for Startups

BY RAJESH CHANDRAMOULI CHENNAI: To attract start-ups and project a business-friendly face, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to set aside dedicated areas or warehouses for start-ups to grow with guidance from Nasscom, the industry body for software companies, the first of which will become operational at Tidel Park in Chennai.

“As a major step to support young entrepreneurs, from 2014-15 onwards, this government will make available 10% of space exclusively for Information Technology Incubation Centres as ‘Warehouses for Startups’ in all information technology parks developed by the government. These centres will promote new ventures and assist upcoming entrepreneurs by creating an appropriate ecosystem,” reads an order from the government.

To begin with, a ‘Startup Warehouse’ will be set up in Tidel Park in the heart of Chennai with Nasscom as its knowledge partner. The centre will have 10,000sqft of carpet area, fully functional plug-and-play office space with 60 to 80 workstations and at least four conference rooms. It will have 100% power back-up, central air-conditioning, leased internet lines, cafeteria and basement car park.

Once the Chennai centre becomes operational, IT parks promoted by the

state government in Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and Hosur will have dedicated hubs for start-ups in those regions.

The warehouse programme will help create awareness amongst entrepreneurs, build entrepreneurial capability through events and link investors and mentors with start-ups.

The warehouse will incubate and accelerate quality start-ups in partnership with the best incubators in the country. Nasscom has announced a 10,000 start-up programme across India. “The startup warehouses in Tamil Nadu will be integrated into ‘the 10,000 start-up’ programme,” sources said.

Nasscom will be responsible for end-to-end programme management of the warehouse. “This will be achieved by hiring a dedicated professional team to staff the warehouse to ensure smooth day-to-day operations of the Startup Warehouse,” the order said.

“It is a great opportunity for Nasscom to be associated with the government to create an ecosystem for tech start-ups in Tamil Nadu. We will build all our warehouse activities through this and bring Tamil Nadu under the start-up radar,” K Purushothaman, senior director, Nasscom, said.

A dedicated board will be set up which will comprise two Nasscom representatives, one leader from the Tamil Nadu start-up community and one or more representatives from the Tamil Nadu government. The representatives of the state government will include state IT secretary and managing director of ELCOT. Tamil Nadu is the third state after Karnataka and West Bengal to plan dedicated start-up warehouses.

-Times of India

Luxury Realty Market Sizzles Despite Price Surge

BY SHUBHRA TANDON MUMBAI: Prices aren’t holding back anyone who wants to own an upmarket condominium. In Mumbai, where space is perhaps the costliest anywhere in the world, luxury apartments worth R10,000 crore have been sold in the ten months to October. That’s across nearly 500 units costing an average of R20 crore, data from PropEquity shows.

A luxury residence could cost as much as R100 crore in Mumbai and more posh locations in New Delhi but the bulk of the transactions, real estate watchers say, are in the range of R20-25 crore.

The tab could be slightly smaller in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai or Kolkata where a luxury home can be bought for even R5 crore though really nice places can set you back by R15 crore.

The action in the luxury space hasn’t been restricted to Mumbai.

In the NCR, for instance, 368 apartments costing between R4-40 crore were sold between January and VGOctober while in Bengaluru 302 of the 311 units launched were sold.

Relatively young buyers, aspiring for a luxurious lifestyle, are lured by properties built by local developers often in collaboration with marquee international names like American

real estate baron Donald J Trump and designer Jade Jagger. Around 340 new units in the luxury segment with an average cost of R20 crore were launched in Mumbai between January-September 2014.

Avnish Bajaj, managing director of venture fund Matrix Partners, recently bought an apartment overlooking the Arabian Sea in Four Seasons’ upcoming private residence project in the upscale neighbourhood of Worli, in South Mumbai. The apartments here are priced upwards of R30 crore and cost as much as R100 crore for a 7,000 sq ft duplex apartment “What started off as being a good investment opportunity will now be my home,” says 43-year-old Bajaj, who made his fortune by selling his portal Bazee.com for about R250 crore in 2004. Bajaj likes the fact that it’s a classy offering that one doesn’t get in a large scale project.

The growing interest in luxury spaces is visible from the recent interest in the Lodha Group’s ‘World One’ and ‘World Crest’ properties in central Mumbai.

The developer was able to notch up sales of Rs 500 crore by selling 30 units in the first two weeks after bookings re-opened in November and is now roping in Jade Jagger for a project in the western suburb of Goregaon. The Trump Organisation

has also partnered with Lodha in Mumbai.

The sale of ubèr-luxury residences could continue to be driven by the $12 billion e-commerce and mobile phone industry which is churning out many millionaires. Indeed, buying luxury apartments is no longer the sole domain of people with “old money”, says Mudassir Zaidi, national director, Knight Frank India.

“Apart from promoters who have made money in IT, financial services and pharmaceuticals, CEO-level professionals and even lawyers are the new buyers of luxury real estate,” Zaidi points out.

Ajjay Agarwal, CMD of handset maker, Maxx Mobile, is one such promoter, who aspires to own a luxury home some day; his firm is tipped to clock a turnover of Rs 600 crore by March 2015 Rs1,500 crore by end of 2017. “Like any promoter who has achieved a certain business target, the next step is to invest in high-end real estate and luxury cars,” Agarwal says.

Meanwhile, established business persons continue to be in the market for luxury homes. Shiv Nadar chairman of tech-giant HCL is understood to have bought a bungalow for Rs 115 crore in South Delhi. Nimesh Kampani, chairman of financial services firm JM Financial is said to have bought an apartment in upcoming Signature Island in Bandra Kurla Complex, where ticket sizes range from Rs 35 crore to Rs 60 crore.

Adarsh Jatia, managing director of Provenance Land, who is spearheading the joint venture with Four Seasons for private residences says demand for privacy and greater space in houses is important to buyers of luxury residences.

-Indian Express

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26 January 23, 2015 England’s Bowlers Finn, Anderson Run through India

BY SIDHARTH and Finn conceded MONGA just the one run in GABBA (ESPN the 35th over. AnCricinfo): England derson dropped 1 for 156 (Bell 88*, a return offering Taylor 56*) beat from Dhoni first India 153 (Binny ball into his second 44, Finn 5-33, Anspell but, concedderson 4-18) by 9 ing just a single, he wickets. ensured the presIt was here in the sure was on. nets at the Gabba Finn came back a year and four to clean Dhoni up days ago that Stewith a bouncer that ven Finn couldn’t was gloved to the land the ball on keeper. Next ball the strip. He was he moved round fatigued and down the wicket to burst on confidence. He through the dewas offered an fence of Akshar early leave from Patel, who now has what was a trying two ducks in two tour of Australia. innings in AustraHe took the offer. lia. Bhuvneshwar In the match that Kumar avoided followed, an Engthe hat-trick, but land attack lacking couldn’t save the a tall bowler helptop of his off stump lessly saw James from Anderson in Faulkner pull of a the next over. Two heist with No. 11 Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed by James Anderson for 1, England v India, Carlton Mid Tri-series, good catches - by Brisbane, January 20, 2015. for company.

Eoin Morgan runA year and three ning back from days later, Finn announced his chance. It only seemed a matter of spite the presence of a slip. Finn’s mid-off and by Moeen circling uncomeback to top-flight cricket time that Anderson would get one extra bounce again did the trick. der a swirling ball at the edge of with a maiden five-for that ripped right and Dhawan would nick off. Kohli’s movement deep into the the midwicket boundary - ended apart India’s batting order after It happened the first time Ander- crease just before Finn had deliv- the Indian innings in a hurry. they had recovered from a shaky son bowled to Dhawan. By the ered hinted at desperation, at how India’s innings ended so early start. Finn’s charge turned 1 for 57 time Anderson finished the over in difficult scoring runs had been.

England got six overs to bat beinto 5 for 67, and 5 for 137 into which Dhawan got out, his figures Suresh Raina, who scored a fore the supper break. It was time 153, their lowest all-out score read 2-2-0-1. half-century in Melbourne to res- enough for Bell to get off to a against England. That after InRahane and Ambati Rayudu - cue India, provided a reminder fluent start even as Moeen fell to dia had decided to bat on a hard the replacement for Rohit - batted of how difficult India had found a slower ball from Binny, who Gabba surface only to be undone edgily but stayed together for 12 Moeen Ali in the English sum- opened the innings. The rest of the by the extra bounce on the pitch. overs, adding 56 runs. They had mer, walking past an offbreak. The innings was all about Bell stylishly Ian Bell helped England chase the seen off the threat of Anderson and movement out of the crease again knocking off the runs and Binny target down in 27.3 overs, claim- scored well against Stuart Broad, came too early. Soon Rayudu, too, getting an extended spell possibly ing the crucial bonus point and a who didn’t seem to be at his most failed to handle Finn’s bounce as as India’s endeavour to test him big net run rate boost. intense. There were no easy runs he looked to run one down to third out now that the match was lost.

India had to contend with in- on offer, though. The two had to man.

For some time it seemed Bell auspicious news just before the repeatedly leave their crease to India had lost four wickets in could get to a century even in the match. Their centurion from the try to put the England bowlers off the space of 27 deliveries, but MS meagre chase, but it was too fanMCG ODI, Rohit Sharma, had their lengths, but they succeeded Dhoni and Stuart Binny - playing ciful a thought. Bell finished with to pull out with a sore hamstring, too infrequently. When Rahane in the place of R Ashwin - stalled an unbeaten 88 off 91 balls, James which meant Ajnikya Rahane was tried to do the same to Finn, the the momentum with a 70-run Taylor got a third ODI fifty, and required to fill in as opener again. ball got too big, and the inevitable partnership. Binny ended up with the match was over even before It is, however, the other opener top edge appeared. the top score of 44. Yet when In- it got dark in Brisbane. After one that has been India’s problem on Virat Kohli, who for some reason dia called for the Powerplay one round of matches, England sat this tour. Against a rejuvenated has given up the No. 3 slot despite over before the mandatory 36th second in the triangular with five and accurate James Anderson, having been the best ODI No. 3 over, they were staring at Finn and points, behind Australia’s nine. who was returning from injury in the world, soon edged to the Anderson again. With the field Sidharth Monga is an assistant himself, Shikhar Dhawan stood no keeper, playing a nothing dab de- coming in, the singles dried up, editor at ESPNcricinfo

SPORTS After Tough Losses, India to Stay Fresh

India have been in Australia for nearly two months. If they go the distance in the World Cup, they will have spent another two months and nine days away from home. Players such as Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have played every game on tour so far. Schedule changes because of Phillip Hughes’ death meant they have played three back-to-back Tests.

Ishant Sharma has got injured, Rohit Sharma has got injured, Ravindra Jadeja is out of action for the moment, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has only just come out of injury, and MS Dhoni has retired from Tests.

When a team spends two months fighting to stay afloat as India have, and especially when they don’t have a win to show for their efforts, it can be draining - mentally more than physically. After India were dismissed for their lowest total against England, and lost heavily in Brisbane, their captain Dhoni spoke of the importance of staying fresh and not getting worn out.

Dhoni was asked about India’s failure to cope with the pace and bounce in the Gabba pitch, and he said this: “When we don’t do well, there is a lot of criticism. I feel that is part and parcel but not to forget it was the same batting line-up that won us the Champions Trophy, and that was in England that we played.

“Long Test series take a lot out of you. Four-Test series and then getting into the tri-series also.

There is a lot of pressure. When you score runs, you put in a lot of effort. When you don’t score runs, you actually put in more effort than the guys who are scoring runs. It does drain you out. After that, you need a bit of time off and then you can get into the groove again.”

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January 23, 2015

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28 January 23, 2015

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