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Friday, February 06 2015 | Vol. 34, No. 06

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Indo American erican News

www.indoamerican-news.com Published weekly from Houston, TX

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Flags, Business, Cultural Fair P9 R-Day Reaches Houstonians

To celebrate India’s 66th Republic Day, Flag Hoisting and Open House for Indian nationals and friends of India was held on January 26, 2015 at the residence of P. Harish, Consul General of India, Houston. In photo, unfurling of National Flag by Consul General at his residence and next to him is Congressman Pete Olson.

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Consul General P Harish was given a silver plaque by ICC, as a ws Distinguished Recognition for his community service to the Greater Houston n Ne Supplement a c i r nza community at the 66th Republic Day Celebrations Ame s avaga Indo el / Vacation Extr & TravacaeltioGnsu&zmore at Stafford Center on January 31. av e dV ruary , Feb Friday

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February 06, 2015

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

3 February 06, 2015 COMMUNITY University of Houston Reaches out to India House

BY VANSHIKA VIPIN HOUSTON: India House, a comprehensive community center dedicated to providing the large IndoAmerican community in Houston a plethora of services including cultural, educational, healthcare, vocational and legal advisory, cohosted an introductory evening with the University of Houston on January 29, at its O.P Jindal building. The bridge-building event was aimed at providing insights on the courses offered at the University of Houston, its fee structure, the faculties and the campus life to an audience of about 250 prospective students seeking admissions.

The welcome address was delivered by Jugal Malani, India House President, wherein he encouraged students not only to dream, but to do so with a conviction to achieve despite the real world obstacles.

Dr. Richard Walker, the emcee for the programme, invited Dr. Renu Khator, Chancellor UH System, University of Houston to share her experiences as the chancellor of one of the finest universities of Houston.

‘The rich history of University of Houston dates back to its foundation in 1927. Through the years, it achieved excellence in education through the wide range of courses that it kept offering, ranging from conventional subjects like business, law, architecture and pharmacy to artistic subjects like liberal studies, art, music to pure sciences like Mathematics and Natural Science. With more than 300 undergraduate and graduate programmes budding under their 12 academic colleges, University of Houston is a major public re-

From left: Dr. Richard Walker, Vipin Kumar, Dr. Renu Khator, and Jugal Malani.

Photos: Bijay Dixit.

search and a teaching institution catering to more than 40000 students annually’ said Dr. Khator while elaborating on the legacy of the university in her keynote address.

The UH team took over the programme later by familiarising the prospective students on various courses available, their USP, financial structure and availability of various scholarships and grants.

Anushah Ahmed from UH, guided the students on the financial structures and aids while Jeff Fuller, team UH, gave a quick heads up on the admission procedure. The representatives from the division of students’ affairs shared the de-

tails on the vibrant campus life at University of Houston that included its sporting tradition, a diverse art and cultural scene and social life beyond the curriculum.

Widely known for its multiple cougar traditions, University of Houston is a thriving hub of sporting activities.

In an exclusive conversation with Dr. Renu Khator, she shared “We came to India House with a team of 40 staff members to impart information on the courses available at University of Houston. Community engagement has been at the forefront of the value system of our university. We believe in providing quality educa-

tion that not only makes our students exceptionally skilled in the domains of their choice but also makes them ready to face the real world situations. Houston is the 4th largest city in the USA and has a robust economy. It is only natural for the city students to select a reputed university like UH in the same city”.

The prospective students not only received a thorough orientation of the academic programmes at the various information booths but were also pleasantly surprised to receive four door prizes that were sponsored jointly by Jugal Malani and the University of Houston. The dinner was provided

by Dawat Catering, a division of Madras Pavilion. At the end of the successful evening, India House President, Jugal Malani said, “Students indeed gained significant information on the admissions, courses, fee structure, aids and the robust campus life at the University of Houston.”

Photo Courtesy: Carlos Pena

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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February 06, 2015

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

February 06, 2015

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A Community Gets Together to Renew Ties Centered Around Indian Culture

Photos: Jawahar Malhotra, Raghu Thakkar, Jasleen Kaur.

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA STAFFORD: It turns out that moving the start of the event to 3 in the afternoon may have been the best thing that happened to the annual Indian Republic Day celebration in a long time. It was tried last August for Independence Day and true to its outcome then, IFair 2015 as it was billed, brought in more people who lingered for longer. Perhaps the program could have ended a little earlier instead of 10 pm, so as not to interfere with other Saturday night programs.

And the second thing that worked was just a little tweaking – turning the overhead lights down a tad – that brought a different dimension to the performances, not to mention help see the 15 foot long LED screen that was the backdrop of the stage.

It brought down the distraction of people moving around and helped to focus on the stage show performances, which were nonstop and awesome. Even the usual 36-page souvenir booklet (coordinated by Swapan Dhairyawan and Sanjay Sohoni) had a more polished look to it this year. And over 43 booths, including food, were set up around the back end of the hall and the lobby.

It was certainly a sign of the India Culture Center’s Board putting their hearts out to pull together a show last Saturday, January

31 at the Stafford Civic Centre which mimicked, in spirit, the cultural extravaganza that the Republic Day parade that is held in New Delhi each year. As pictures of India and India’s past heroes flashed over the screen (LED screen and slideshow coordinated by Nisha Mirani and Ajit and Yagnesh Patel), the ICC Board came out in costumes reflecting these leaders and did a short skit and dance. Swapan Dhairyawan and Manisha Gandhi emceed the program.

The 23 dances and performances that formed the bulk of the stage show were from students ranging from 4 to 85 years old of local dance schools and several partnering community organizations., among them the Sunanda School of Performing Arts, Infused Dance, JVB Center, Abhinaya, IHA, Kannada Vrinda, BKM, Ismaili Golden Club, Bollywood Shake and Katy Kalaakar.

Midway through the program, the Indian Consul General Parvathaneni Harish addressed the crowd, emphasizing the ICC’s role over the years in holding its two annual community-wide events. Stafford City Mayor Leonard Scarcella and Mayor Pro-tem of Sugar Land congratulated the ICC and the community and offered proclamations. ICC President Charlie Patel and Event Chair Falguni Gandhi welcomed the audience and explained the organizations role and mission. The CG’s wife, Nandita Harish lit the

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ceremonial lamps and her daughter, Amaani Harish, who is learning classical dance, performed a Kuchipudi number devoted to Ganesh Kautukam.

The emphasis of this year’s event was “Synergy – US India Relations” in light of the Modi-Obama recently meeting held in India. Accordingly, the ICC bestowed awards to two individuals - IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia and local businessman and community activist Abeezar Tyebji - who have worked tirelessly and passionately to promote commerce and trade between the US and India, and received their plaques from CG Harish. On behalf of the ICC, Harish also presented a gift to Scarcella.

The highlight of the program was the Elite Dance Competition, coordinated by ICC Director Jasmeeta Singh who has worked tirelessly in arranging such performances over the past several ICC events. She brought together eight college and dance groups for a high-energy and exciting competition which was emceed by Jasleen Singh and assessed by a panel of seven judges (see box for a list of winners).

A karaoke program “Kal aaj aur kal” followed, coordinated by Falguni Gandhi, featuring Oldies and new pop songs performed

by Sarada Akunuri, Sanjeev Kumar and

Alpa Shah, which got the audience singing along.

Deep Foods gave out free fruit drinks to all the estimated 3,200 people who walked in the doors. ISS Director Rajiv Bhavsar coordinated the effort to get the Gold Sponsor Red Oak Hospital and Silver sponsors Wallis State Bank, Discount Power, Paradise Gifts, MD & Associates. The sound and PA system was coordinated by Darshak Thakkar and photography by Raghu Thakkar.

Elite Dance Competition Winners 1st prize: SMU Raas from Dallas $1000 - Sponsored by Jasmeeta Singh of Jaz Creations 2nd Prize: Nishani Bhangra from University of Houston $500 - Sponsored by Sahiba Chadda, an owner of Dukessa and Citadel Event Center 3rd Prize: Studio Mudra $300- Sponsored by Jasleen Kaur Photography

For photo collage, see pages 14-15

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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February 06, 2015

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February 06, 2015

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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February 06, 2015

COMMUNITY Akshaya Patra USA (AP-USA) Welcomes Manisha Gandhi

As a Director of Development – Southeast

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STONEHAM, MA: Akshaya Patra USA CEO, Emily Rosenbaum stated: “We are excited to welcome on Manisha Gandhi as our newest Director of Development who will be supporting the AP-USA chapters and volunteer leaders in Houston, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Washington, DC. Manisha’s passion for the program is self-evident and with it she brings a great mixture of skills and experience that will greatly enhance the work of local leaders to grow the Akshaya Patra movement.”

Manisha, who worked on a documentary for Houston Television Network and TV Asia about Akshaya Patra, shared: “I am honored to join Akshaya Patra and be someone who can further grow the movement of "Unlimited food for education,” an undeniably noble goal. This new opportunity is fully aligned with my hopes for making a difference in the lives of millions of children in India each day”.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker commented: “Manisha will be a terrific asset to the organization. She is someone who is both very well respected and very engaged in service to the community. I look forward to being able to visit an Akshaya Patra kitchen and see the very impressive work they are doing on such a tremendous scale.”

Akshaya Patra operates the largest NGOrun school meal programs in the world and serves over 1.4 million children daily in over 10,661 schools through 24 locations in ten states in India. With just $15 from a private

donor, Akshaya Patra feeds a child for an entire academic year. The meals serve as an incentive for children to come to school and attend school daily, where they receive the tools they need to succeed in life.

Akshaya Patra, a public-private partnership, delivers school lunches at a fraction of the cost of similar programs in other parts of the world. The hallmark of the Akshaya Patra program is the centralized kitchen facilities that have been designed and engineered by its founders to optimize quality and minimize cost, time, and labor. Appropriate technological considerations have governed all phases of the design and process. Akshaya Patra is a unique pioneering program that leverages technology both in cooking and delivery.

AP-USA was founded in order to help augment the growth of Akshaya Patra, and to provide an outlet for caring individuals and socially conscious corporations and institutions in the US to become part of the Akshaya Patra movement. AP-USA raises funds and awareness for Akshaya Patra in the US and contributes approximately 10% of Akshaya Patra’s annual operating budget of $35 million per year. One-third of the funds raised in the US are contributed by corporate and individual donors and family foundations. The remaining two-thirds come from grass root campaigns led by volunteer Chapters across the US. Akshaya Patra USA is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). The CGI has provided additional visibility to Akshaya Patra which has helped AP-USA raise fundsPresident Bill Clinton visited the Akshaya Patra kitchen and a government school in Jaipur, India on July 16, 2014, choosing Akshaya Patra as a program he wanted to highlight from among thousands of CGI initiatives in Asia.

In 2014, Akshaya Patra USA launched a new initiative to cultivate the leadership of young people. The Youth Ambassador Program is an elite program that empowers high-school students to act as Ambassadors for Akshaya Patra in their communities.

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COMMUNITY

February 06, 2015

9

India’s Flag Flutters in Morning Breeze, Goals Unveiled in Evening Reception

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: The early morning chill couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the many who came to the Indian Consul General’s home for the traditional flag hoisting and reading of the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee’s address to the nation to honor India’s Republic Day. Despite it being a workday Monday, a crowd of people - and some children who skipped school to perform – attended the unfurling of the Indian Tricolor in a tradition that has become widely anticipated by the community ever since the Consul General moved to his residence off Chimney Rock and Woodway. Udipi Café catered the morning snacks as well as the evening dinner and owner Satish Rao was visible making sure things went off smoothly.

Chief among the guests was Republican Congressman Pete Olson (TX, 22nd Dist) who made it a point to attend despite having to rush to the airport to catch a flight back to Washington DC for the session of Congress. It was a gesture of his growing admiration of

India’s achievements and personal relation with Consul General Parvathaneni Harish and the local Indian community as a whole that made Olson make the brief stop and make some remarks on the occasion.

Olson has been a steady featured guest at many Indian functions, especially in Ft. Bend County where his office is located. He recently completed an official trip to India and came back with favorable impressions, which he recollected for the audience which crowded the main living room, foyer and outdoor patio of the CG’s residence.

Olson lauded the growing warm relations between India and the US, as demonstrated by expansion in bilateral trade and culminating in the export of LNG to India, anticipated to start in 2016. Harish was deeply involved in pursuing deal in the final months leading upto Congressional approval, when he first arrived to take up his post in 2012. Olson went on to commend Harish for building friendly relations between India, Houston and America “which is exciting and special”. Harish presented Olson with a shawl and in

Executive Chef Needed

To celebrate India’s 66th Republic Day, Consul General P. Harish and Nandita Parvathaneni hosted a Republic Day Reception on 26 January. The Honorable Mayor Annise D. Parker, City of Houston; First Lady Kathy Hubbard, The Honorable Harris County Judge Ed Emmett attended the Reception with over 350 invited guests. In photo, Consul General presenting a key shaped flash drive with MAKE IN INDIA logo containing all digital information of the Make in India campaign.

Photos: Bijay Dixit, S. Sriram

return, Olson presented Harish with a framed picture of himself presenting a cowboy hat to Prime Minister Narender Modi during his trip to India.

Again by recent tradition, later

that day, in the evening the Indian Consulate held its Republic Day reception to an invited list of over 250 guests at the Hilton Post Oak with speeches and a short entertainment program featuring lo-

cal talent of students of the Anjali School of Performing Arts, whose Director Ratna Kumar was on hand and a musical performance by Pt.

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

CONTINUED ON PAGE

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COMMUNITY

10 February 06, 2015

Shoba Joshi’s

Geetanjali Radio Fundraiser & Gala

Kal Ke Geet Aaj Ke Geet Mal Mal Se Geet Pal Pal Ke Geet When:

Saturday, February 28 at 7.00 PM Where:

India House, 8888 W Bellfort Ave Houston, TX 77031

7:00 pm Social Hour / 8:00 pm Program Starts

This year, we are featuring live entertainment and dance. Come wine and dine with us at India House, along with the soulful voice of Bansi Chabria who will be performing live on stage along with local Houston talent.

Shoba, Rakesh, Hiren Joshi - 832 878 4338 Meet and Greet with us For Tickets please call 832-878-4338 or 281-909-0825 Limited Seating : You can sponsor a Table.

Sponsors: Raj & Jugal Malani, Kohinoor diamonds, Udipi Cafe, ABC Travel, KRISHA Impex, DB Daughters Event Planners, Darshak Thacker, Dave, Sudhakar Roy Chinasumala, Vipin Kumar, Vanshika Vipin.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

February 06, 2015

SEWA Houston Felicitates their Good Samaritans

Award recipients with the Sewa Team

Emcee and Intern Utsav Nigam recognized by Ramesh Bhutada.

BY VANSHIKA VIPIN SUGAR LAND: SEWA International USA, a grass-root nonprofit organization, having about 38 chapters in USA including one in Houston, hosted its Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the T.E. Harman Center on Friday, January 30, to felicitate the humanitarian volunteers who have whole heartedly contributed their time, money and skills to the NGO throughout the year 2014.

SEWA Houston is among the top most chapters of SEWA International USA, owing to its diverse range of volunteers belonging to different fields, thus reducing the over-heads and increasing the efficacy of any project.

The SEWA movement began in India in 1989 with the Hindu philosophy of selfless service at its core and gradually spread its wings across the globe. Currently SEWA movement is active in 17 countries including India, USA, Australia, UK, Canada, Guyana, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad and To-

bago. SEWA International USA, founded in the year 2003, now boasts of 38 chapters spanning 20 metros in the 25 states of the USA. As a gesture of appreciation, SEWA International each year hosts an appreciation dinner for its volunteers and felicitates these selfless fellow beings who strive each day to help others, irrespective of the race, caste, creed, color or religion.

Last year, more than 200 volunteers contributed to a total of 1000 man hours dedicated to the selfless services spread by the SEWA Houston chapter.

They have five main project teams led by the team leaders and a group of volunteers - SEWA Family Services, SEWA Refugee Youth empowerment, SEWA Refugee Adult empowerment programs, SEWA Local Volunteering events and SEWA fundraising team. Under the guidance of these team leaders and with the active cooperation of the volunteers, SEWA reaches out to the youth, women and senior citizens to promote the concept of philanthropy.

These 200 plus volunteers were felicitated at the Appreciation dinner with plaques and certificates, thus acknowledging their contribution to the society at large. The event hosted by SEWA International at Houston also served the purpose of motivating other fence sitters to cross over and join this selfless service movement.

Based on the Hindu tradition of service before self, SEWA works to spread the message of service to the low income families of Houston.

Whether it is a disaster or a daily struggle for an average person, committed volunteers of SEWA take that extra mile to ensure that a helping hand and a loving heart is not away from the individuals in need, wherever they are and whenever they need it.

After all, the world needs more hugs.

(If you are interested in volunteering with SEWA International or interested in Local/ International Internship opportunities for high school and college students, Please reach out to K a v i t a Te wary @educationhouston@ sewausa.org or call 713-3034253)

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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12 February 06, 2015 COMMUNITY Ragini Bahl Weds Veeral Gajjar

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA

SUGAR LAND: Most wedding receptions usually feature a slideshow collage of the highpoints in the lives of the newlyweds, from shots of them as tiny tots and racing up through the years till they meet and start dating and spending time together. This couple decided to turn the formula on its head by adding a humorous twist to their first date and how they became inseparable.

According to the bride’s mom, the short video clip shown at the reception in Sugar Land was

pretty much on the mark, with a few creative embellishments. The bride, Ragini, is shown rejecting suitors and the nagging voice of her father’s Punjabi protestations of missing the opportune time to settle down. The groom, Veeral prefers workouts to taking time to find a girl of his mother’s choosing, rejecting Gujarati girls while ogling others on his way to the gym. Till one day, succumbing to pressure, they meet on shaadi. com and go out on their first date.

Needless to say, the two are captivated to each other and date for two years.

The bride Ragini Bahl and groom Veral Gajjar with their parents Saroj and Vishwa Bahl on the right and Harshad and Parmila Gajjar on the left.

Ragini and Veeral finally decided to tie the knot at an elaborate ceremony at a venue of their choice, the San Diego Air & Space Museum for the sangeet and the Hilton San Diego Bayfront for the wedding and follow-up reception, since they both live in Los Angeles. The wedding took place on November 1, 2014 and several weeks later, on January 17, 2015, the bride, who was born and raised in Houston, and her parents, threw a reception for over 400 family’s friends and relatives at the Sweetwater Country Club, where a video collage was shown of the wedding and festivities.

Ragini Bahl, 34, is the daughter of Vishwa and Saroj Bahl, wellknown in Houston among Punjabi and Hindu circles due to their activism in both. Ragini received her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Texas, Austin and moved in 2007 to Los Angeles where she works as an executive marketing director for Nielson’s, the global information and measurement company dealing with understanding consumer behavior. Her father Vishwa, is a civil engineer and co-owner of the consulting firm Ratnala & Bahl Engineers. Her mother Saroj has a PhD in nutrition and Is a professor at the University of Texas Houston School of Dentistry. In addition, Saroj has been the past president of the Punjabi Culture Club. Ragini’s older brother Rahuk owns and operates two hotels in Austin and Clear Lake.

Veeraj Gajjar, also 34, is a physician who received his medical degree in California and works in the department of medical affairs at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. His father Harshad is a pharmacist in Los Angeles and his mother Parmila is a homemaker.

Veeral’s sister, Payel is married, also into a Punjabi family – the Tandons - of the vintage Tandon Magnetic Corp. PC and hard drive manufacturer’s fame.

The newlyweds have been too busy with work to go on a honeymoon right now. They are also pre-occupied with filming of their entire Indian courtship, Hindu wedding and receptions by the FYI TV channel which is producing a documentary on them, in addition to a Gypsy and Baptist couple, exploring comparative cultural and religious issues between the three. The documentary will be aired sometime in March on the FYI channel, which is part of the A+E Network.

For advertising Call: Vanshika Vipin 713.789.NEWS (6397) INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

February 06, 2015

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14 February 06, 2015

“Congratulations to ICC for a great 66th Republic Day Celebrations Event” From: ICC Chief Trustee Swapan Dhairyawan

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In Association with Major In

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February 06, 2015

C on a successful event ”

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15 15

“A Successful Event, Thanks to the entire ICC Team and our Wonderful Sponsors” From: ICC President Charlie Patel

ure Center

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AY CELEBRATIONS

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Photos: Jawahar Malhotra & Raghu Thakkar INDOAMERICAN AMERICANNEWS NEWS• •FRIDAY, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY AUGUST 22, INDO 06, 2014 2015 •• ONLINE ONLINEEDITION: EDITION:WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

16 February 06, 2015

COMMUNITY

India’s Flag Flutters in Morning Breeze, Goals Unveiled in Evening Reception CONTINUED FROM PAGE

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Suman Ghosh.

The emphasis this year was on the Make in India drive that the new Prime Minister has initiated and hopes to make a rallying cry to entice foreign investment into the country. A cardboard cutout featuring a the silhouette of a lion with the logo emblazoned on it and an Indian tricolor were placed at the entrance to the ballroom and another tall display with digital graphic features showing India’s potential in manufacturing was prominent on one side of the vast space.

Tall display banners of the PM’s other initiative, the Namami Gange (Integrated Ganga) Conservation Mission were prominent on the stage to bring attention to the movement to clean the holy river through a six-point program that, at its heart, stressed personal and corporate commitment.

Consul General Harish welcomed the guests on the auspicious day commemorating the adoption of India’s Constitution 66 years ago, and noted that this year’s celebrations were unique due a series of firsts: the first US President to have visited India twice during his tenure; the first US President to be Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade; the first Indian Prime Min-

ister to have been born in free India and also is the first to be elected by a majority in 30 years.

He elaborated on the new vision for India of the new government in its two campaigns on display at the event and stressed that Modi has spoken of the harnessing the energy of the youth, enterprise of businesses and the energy of its farmers. India hopes to produce millions of jobs through the Make in India campaign by focusing on intellectual property and innovation. Modi has already made a target of opening 110,000 bank accounts for those who have never had any before. Modi also wants to revitalize the train network, rejuvenate the Holy Ganga which nurtures 500 million people and add 600,000 villages to the World Wide Web. “The visit of President Obama has been a great boon to India,” added Harish, “but it has also been a reminder that we still have millions of Indians who have yet to reach their full potential.”

Harish introduced Dr. Kamlesh Lulla, a research scientist who has worked at NASA for 30 years and was recognized by the Paravasi Bharatiya Divas Samman (Overseas Indian Day Conference) held in January in New Delhi with an award for his outstanding efforts.

After he was draped with an honorary shawl by Harish, a jubilant Lulla spoke about his janam

Students from Anjali Center for Performing Arts at the Reception.

bhoomi (birth place) of India and his karam bhoomi (work place) of the US, crediting both with

his success. He spoke about his visit to Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, on the birth

anniversary of the revered Indian leader, noting that he himself was from nearby Baroda.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker made a rare appearance at a Consular Corps event, noting that she would be leading a trade delegation in mid-April to India to promote business ties, which was being arranged by the Indo American Chamber of Greater Houston, and noted the roles played by her close advisors on Indo-American affairs, Bobby Singh and Karun Sreerama. She was sure that there were countless business opportunities for the 80,000 Indo-Americans in Houston and hoped that this would take the Bayou City to greater heights. Harish all draped her with an honorary shawl and gave her an outsized cardboard key and USB drive “containing valuable information she will need for her trip to India.”

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett rounded out the program with his experiences from his recent nineday trade delegation to India, also arranged by the IACCGH. He recalled running into the Dalai Lama in a hotel in Mumbai.

“There’s something magical about India,” he said about his 20th trip there, “its diversity, clinging to the past and keeping eyes on the future. I look forward to my next trip there.”

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

February 06, 2015

Gujarati Samaj Center Closer to Reality

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: If you drive down West Bellfort west towards the Beltway 8 or north along the feeder road, you might catch the big yellow sign proclaiming the coming of a Community Center and Sports Complex.

Just below, is a silhouette of the map of Gujarat and the name of the Gujarati Samaj of Houston.

The sign’s been up for about nine months but the building project is getting closer to fruition, according to Suresh Patel, the tireless Treasurer and Director of the GSH. “We have received the building permits from the City and are now getting bids from contractors,” he said. “We expect to finish within 18 months.”

The $6.5 million project will include a 1,000 person state-of-the-art auditorium, parking lot and landscap-

ing, as well as a serving kitchen only, for outside caterers to use. Phase two will include other elements that will fill up the site, including the Sports Complex. The architect for the facility is Siu-Hong Cheung, with support by by Dr. Banawalker and

Vimal Parikh. Of Vertika Structural Engineers aho have worked on the VPSS Haveli. Civil engineering is

by A. Rana and MEP engineering is by Infra Structure, led by Vasant Hariayani, formelrly of Baroda.

Create Your Own Fate through MahaVastu Houston Centre HOUSTON: Renowned worldwide for giving effective and scientific Vastu solutions, MahaVastu Corporation which visions to set up 240 centres across the globe in the near future launched its latest international centre in Houston, USA on February 5. The inauguration was done by VastuShastri Khushdeep Bansal, Chinmaya Mission Houston Acharya Gaurang Nanavati, MahaVastu Global Operations Head Sapna Sehgal and CEO of MahaVastu Houston Centre Chetan Patel at Holiday Inn -Westchase.

After launching successfully in the financial capital of India- Mumbai, Chhatisgarh’s capital city – Raipur, city of joy- Kolkata and San RamonCalifornia, MahaVastu is going to launch its new centre in Houston which is the biggest industrial city of America. MahaVastu has taken a big step towards fulfilment of its mission of spreading more money, love, prosperity and happiness in every home of Houston. Vastu Shastra is an ancient Indian art of creating happiness in buildings, and has always been in huge demand in Texas.

Citing the rising interest of people in Vastu, Chetan Patel, CEO - MahaVastu Houston Centre says that he has decided to open MahaVastu centre due to its USP of delivering

immediate and successful results sans demolition. Now, through scientific Vastu of MahaVastu, people of Houston will get the most effective Vastu solutions and reap amazing benefits of Vastu without making demolitions in their beautiful Homes.

Informing about the 2-days Vastu Foundation Course, Patel says that the MahaVastu Houston centre will soon host a 2-day course where one will get to learn how to select a Vastu compliant new Home, ideal colour themes as per Vastu, beneficial application of Pyramids, Vastu remedies and books. Apart from these, they will also get practical training on how to see directions with magnetic compass. These will help the people of Texas to live with more money, love and happiness.

Most of the persons who availed MahaVastu solutions and remedies for their homes, offices and industries in last 20 years, are now achieving

highest levels of success. MahaVastu centre also provides scientific Vastu Checkup Reports, Vastu perfect designs for new buildings, tested Vastu remedies and advanced courses on Vastu and Numerology. Hundreds of Interior Designers, Architects, House wives, Businessmen,Astrologers and Vastu enthusiasts have done MahaVastu Course and are providing professional Vastu services across the globe as certified Vastu experts.

This Houston centre, a new link in the chain of 240 Centres of MahaVastu Corporation will facilitate construction of Vastu perfect buildings, flats and factories in Texas also.

Starting with a negligible investment, the expected turnover of a MahaVastu Centre can be in billions.

Today’s scientific and practical Vastu Shastra – MahaVastu is an outcome of documented research on Vastu based on over 12,000 successful Vastu case studies done in the past two decades by Vastu Guru Khushdeep Bansal, author of the World’s biggest book on Vastu Shastra – MahaVastu Handbook. For more information contact:Phone: 832-269-9000, 832-412-2827 Email: ask.hou@mahavastu.com www.mahavastu.com

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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18 February 06, 2015 Good Growth Forecast for India

Amid sputtering global conditions, India is set to become the world’s fastest-growing major economy by 2016 ahead of populous neighbour China, which is battling an industrial deceleration.

According to the International Monetary Fund’s latest forecast, India is expected to grow at 6.3% this year and 6.5% in 2016 by when it is likely to cross China’s projected growth rate of 6.5%. China’s economy has been grappling with a slowing property market, and overcapacity in its export-dependent factories hit by weakening shipment orders from slowing European and other economies. The Chinese economy, however, will continue to be big in size as its GDP reached $10.4 trillion this year, more than five times India’s nearly $2 trillion GDP. Importantly, the IMF has said slower growth in China will also affect growth in most emerging countries, but in India a raft of recent reforms are to likely push investment and demand. The biggest threat to a new government is sometimes the unrealistic expectations that come with a landslide victory. In the case of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, these expectations are based on a few assumptions. First, there is a dominant argument that the economy was in the boondocks because the UPA government accorded greater premium to political risk-management than reforms. Second, Mr Modi led a high-octane ‘achhe din aane wale hain’ poll campaign promising to usher in good days. Third, and more importantly, the current government enjoys a majority in the Lok Sabha, which should ensure a smoother passage of key legislation in Parliament. Over the last eight months the government has demonstrated its intent to walk the talk on its poll pledges. It has laid out the red-carpet for foreign investors with a string of initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, aimed at turning India into a manufacturing powerhouse and iron out procedural and bureaucratic irritants that are often cited as holding back investments.

It has also been a pleasant sight to spot a flurry of reformist intent, if not downright action. Fuel prices have been decontrolled; foreign investment norms in insurance have been eased; disinvestment is on track with the promise of more floating shares in our stock exchanges; a new coal allocation policy is in place; and the Centre is in the last stage of discussions with states for a unified goods and services tax. If indeed an opportunity is presenting itself, the government has shown its willingness to exploit it prudently. Having begun well, the government will now have to go the distance to decisively shift the policy mix. If gradualism was more sensible in the last few years, this should be the year of a big-bang approach. Hindustan Times

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Two R-Days, Two Truths

BY ANOOP KOHLI With no intentions of making this piece a method in politics for the Delhi elections, I think that the maroon sweater, no matter how strategic, and how real, and the same remarks for the striped suit, are the two truths of today’s India. We need to pull up our manufacturing, trade, and economics, and we need to keep in mind that like every country, the success and political stability shall remain if the common man is well nourished, well employed, and with these two essentials, enthusiastic to contribute. For it is he who gives more than he takes, and the compiled margin, is a significant proportion of national wealth.

No statistics of unprecedented GDP, no political philosophy shall ever survive if the entity called the ‘common man’ is set aside.

Beyond the above stated symbolisms, for that is politics too, comes a matter of perceptions. How unjustly was the maroon ‘marooned’, and needs to be restored by its supporters, and a different perception that this “sher ka chehra”, in stripes is a good hearted tiger that has the resources, power and vision to make the lesser animals of the jungle, less prone to prey and pray for a comfortable happy existence. Will he be a “jaanbaaz”, who on a single vehicle can carry two dozen on his shoulders, provided they learn to balance on a single fulcrum! President Obama had a special mention for the “Jaanbaaz”.

That is a different philosophy. Although, accolades would naturally go to the pilot rider, in case of a mishap, those at the flanks of the third storey of human structure, are more prone to lose life and limb!

Delhi,historicallyhasbeentheplace essential to rule whether conquests came from the west, east, or south.

That accounts for the Mahabharata, the battles of Panipat (the last between the Marathas from the mainland, and Abdali), and the British storming in reinforcements from the east after

Still holding on the two truths, this election for the capital has rightly converted into a challenges of promises with a strong rider of “do ability”, which is a step beyond “feasibility”, or the oft repeated phrase, “if wishes were horses” the 1857 revolution. Its population is a mixture of many invasions and settlers, the government machinery, the migrant skilled manpower, as well as speculators, businessmen and even unskilled labor from the surrounding states. There may be amalgams on basis of clannish migration, regional loyalties to the state of belonging, but by and large, there are no such committed groups. Everyone has faced various governments, and no one is particularly sore over one happening or the other. The sole issue is the attention, facilities and exploitation of the weaker sections. That perhaps was well demonstrated in the upheaval we saw last year. To be honest, it was a revolution ignited by the middle classes for the elevation of the lower classes, with hidden incentives, that the middle classes may get a hand at their own micro governance, with much neater results.

It’s a pity we could not see the com-

plete experiment of the common man’s rule, the fulfillment of promises sufficiently to firm our opinions, because of stress and jugglery to expand the philosophy by taking on a political juggernaut in the making. Is instant bravado, ambition, the ultimate folly for a one time unseeded champion? Does the urge to display scruples so unguardedly an in built folly of the allegedly true and honest?

Finally, does instant honor give way to indiscretion, for a standby CM designate could have been put in place, before the battle of Varanasi?

Still holding on the two truths, this election for the capital has rightly converted into a challenges of promises with a strong rider of “do ability”, which is a step beyond “feasibility”, or the oft repeated phrase, “if wishes were horses” This is what shall make the next six days exciting for the capital and the rest of the country watching it. The citizens are bright enough to work out their advantages with the alternatives at the level of their needs.

People are now getting wary of the word “free”. “Affordable” sounds better, but at the hustings needs to be defined more convincingly, for instincts and mob mania can take an unspecified course.

Rarely would an election have been fought with the “two truths” of society in such close juxta-position in time, in the same place, with exactly the same electorate.

The one who can put the two truths together, convince that it is “actionable”, may perhaps have the upper hand!

So said Faiz: “Dil se to har mo-aamla karke chale saaf hum, Kehne ko unke saamne, baat badal-badal gayee” ( I left with clarity on every happening, but while rendering before her, the topic kept on changing!)

Anoop Kohli is a senior consultant neurologist at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi. His interests go far beyond his chosen profession.

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

HOUSTON: MALAY VYAS CHICAGO: NAND KAPOOR INDIA: RAJ KANWAR, ASEEM KULKARNI ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 4 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036.

Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

February 06, 2015

Kausthub Kumar Marries Deepa Raghunathan

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law online from New York University, hoping to get it in 2017.His father Seshadari, is a journalist who publishes the Ft. Bend Independent and his mother, Kamala is a revenue agent with the IRS. He has a younger brother, Keshav, 26 who is an assistant manager at Dynamic Fitness.

Deepa, 27, is a resident in internal medicine at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and hopes to finish in May, then do a fellowship in cardiology in Houston. She received her Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas in Austin and finished her medical school at Texas A&M in Temple.

Her father Srinivasan is a researcher in x-ray chromatography at UT Southwestern in Dallas and her mother is a homemaker. She has a younger brother, Srini who works for Citibank in Dallas.

The couple hopes to go on a honeymoon to Switzerland later this summer and will make their home here in Houston.

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: Fewer and fewer unions among young Indian couples - now even in the Old Country - seem to follow the arranged marriage footsteps of their parent’s generation; with most families opting to introduce their adult children and take a wait-and-see attitude. Among young Indian-Americans who are of the marriageable age the reverse, it seems, is more often the case, as they introduce their parents to the ones they have chosen.

So, it is refreshing to see a young couple who have taken their parents suggestion and followed roughly along a traditional path of courtship that led to marriage. “We met through common friends of our parents, who didn’t really know each other,” explained Kausthub Kumar after the reception held at the Texas Safari Ranch on Saturday, January 31. “I called her up and was pleasantly surprised that she was so cheerful and laughed all the time.”

At that time, Deepa Raghunathan was living at home in Dallas, studying for her Medical Board exams and getting ready for a residency program. Kausthub drove up to meet her a few times, but mostly it was her who came down to Houston for the whole year that they dated.

“And then, I proposed in March 2014,” remembers Kausthub.

Almost eight months later, in November, the couple was married in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Chennai, India where both families have many elderly relatives who would not have been able to travel to attend. At the Houston reception, before dinner, they showed a short video of the entire wedding ceremonies to a huge outpouring of friends and family.

The groom’s best friend, Sonny Berry, bearded and with shoulder-length hair tried to rib the couple and inject humor into the event.

And then another close friend, Sunil Gadgil, a soprano saxophone teacher and performer, and his musician friends dating to UT Austin – Billy McPHail on alto saxophone, Djamel Mami on tenor saxophone and Michael Hertel on baritone saxophone – played favorite songs from the Beatles and a few classical pieces from Johann Sebastian Bach. A typically South Indian dinner buffet and an Italian pasta station were catered by Dawat Catering.

Kausthub, 31, is an international tax attorney working in internal restructuring and mergers and acquisitions at Price Waterhouse Coopers.

He has a Bachelors in Business, specializing in accounting, an MBA in Finance and a Law degree, all from the University of Houston and is currently pursuing an Executive LLM in tax INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

20 February 06, 2015 Greater Houston Tamil School Students Revel in Traditional “Thai Pongal” Celebrations HOUSTON: Greater Houston Tamil School students celebrated “Thai Pongal”, the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, a southern state in India, with fervor and joy.

With more than 750 people participating in the functions at the various locations, this was yet another successful attempt by the Greater Houston Tamil School to bring its 350 students closer to Tamil culture and traditions Pongal, a festival of thanksgiving to nature has been embedded in Tamil culture for centuries. In India, this festival is celebrated with a big family and lasts for almost a week. The students, teachers and parents helped to bring back that same wonderful feeling of family and joy. Coincidentally, this four-day festival was celebrated on four different days by the five branches of Greater Houston Tamil School (Katy, Westheimer, Sugarland, Woodlands and Pearland).

• • • •

COMMUNITY

Pongal. A debate on “Who is more important for student success – strict teachers or kind teachers?” enthralled the audience.

The event locations wore a festive look with traditional decorations such as freshly harvested sugarcanes, “Pongal Pot” and “Kolam”. People also came dressed in traditional clothes (Vetti and Selai). One felt that the celebrations were happening in the beautiful villages of Tamil Nadu.

To symbolize the harvest festival’s “Virundhombal” (act of offering food) parents brought food to share with others. The feast included the traditional “Sarkkarai Pongal” and “Ven pongal” and

Katy Tamil School kicked off the celebrations by participating in the Tamil community New Year celebrations on January 3, at the Durga Bari Temple, Houston, TX. The students stole the show with their singing, dancing and instrumentals to the pride of their hard working teachers. The school is planning another cultural event in February.

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ebrated Pongal on January 17 at the school premises. The students demonstrated their knowledge about the festival with the help of art, speech, costume shows and dance performances.

The folks dances with traditional folk dance costumes and accessories mesmerized everyone.

Sugarland Tamil School continued the celebrations that afternoon at its school premises with the younger kids performing first. This was followed by traditional Bharathanatyam dances, music and singing of Bharathiar songs. A musical skit which combined the music, acting, speech and dancing skills of the students was a unique at-

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tempt and got everyone’s attention.

Woodlands Tamil School celebrations were on January 18th at the Hindu Temple of the Woodlands. The students put up a show about Tamilnadu and some of its important cities. The information given about by the senior students intertwined with various dance performances by the younger kids representing each city was a wonderful treat to see, hear and cherish.

Pearland Tamil School completed the celebrations on January 25 at the Silver Lake clubhouse. The students recited poems, Thirukkurals, performed traditional dances and also talked about the significance of the four days of

was served on banana leaves. A food drive was also conducted to encourage students to participate in the act of helping those in need.

As the Tamil saying “Thai piranthal vazhi pirakkum” goes, the events culminated with everyone brimming with joy and wishing each other happiness and prosperity! Isn’t that what festivals and celebrations are for?

Great Houston Tamil School is a non-profit school run entirely by volunteers. For further information, please visit http://houstontamilschools.org/

News Anchor/Reporter

KTRK-TV, the ABC/Disney owned station in Houston, TX is looking for an outstanding News Anchor/Reporter.

The ideal candidate should have at least 3 years experience as a News Anchor and 5 years experience as a General Assignment Reporter. Must display excellent, dynamic, creative live reporting skills. Must be able to develop contacts, enterprise good, hard news stories and respond well to spot news. This position requires outstanding writing skills for both broadcast and digital platforms. Needs to be very active on social media. Must be willing to work weekends.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a first-class station and live in a fun and affordable city. To be considered candidates must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file. Reference Job ID: 247104BR on all materials submitted. Email a sample of your most recent work to mailto: ktrk.hr@abc.com or send a non-returnable sample to: Human Resources, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet; Houston, TX 77005.

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KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

HEALTH Women and Heart Disease

BY DR. NIK NIKAM Heart disease is a leading cause of death among women (483,842 deaths in 2003), and accounts for 32% of all deaths. Nearly 500,000 women have heart attack each year.

How are women different?

Younger women have a lower incidence of heart disease compared to men, due to the hormonal protection against arterial blockage and high HDL cholesterol levels. However, after menopause, the incidence of heart disease among women is equal to that seen in men.

Thirty percent of the women are likely die following a heart attack in the first year in comparison to 25% of the men.

Women generally have smaller coronary arteries. As a result, women are twice as likely as men to have complications following cardiac surgery.

Women have microvascular disease that involves very tiny arteries that cannot be treated with angioplasty or bypass. None the less, they cause chest pain and shortness of breath.

The treatment would include modification of risk factors to minimize the blockages in the small arteries.

Birth control pills can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, especially in women with high blood pressure, diabetes and other risk factors.

There is lack of relative knowledge among physicians regarding the magnitude and the seriousness of heart disease among women. As a result, often, women are undertreated.

History: Most women do not have a classical exertion related chest pain.

There is also a tendency in the medical field to attribute their symptoms to gastrointestinal problems such as gall stones, peptic ulcer, or stress. However, as an educated consumer, you want to ask your doctor to evaluate you for the heart disease risk factors and recommend tests to rule out heart disease.

Risk factors: The risk factors are cholesterol, diabetes, smo-king, overweight, hypertension, and sedentary lifestyle.

Cholesterol: Cholesterol is the number one risk factor for heart disease both in men and women.

The total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg or less than 160 mg in patients with diabetes. The LDL or the bad cholesterol must be close to 70 mg to 80 mg. The HDL or the good cholesterol is usually high in younger women. It should be more than 40 mg.

Triglycerides: Elevated tri-glycerides are considered an independent

risk factor for heart disease among women. Elevated triglycerides are commonly seen in association with diabetes. When diabetes is controlled, the triglyceride levels come down.

Other conditions that lead to elevated triglycerides would include excess carbohydrate or fatty diets and alcohol.

Smoking: Smoking doubles the risk of heart disease. The risk of heart disease drops by 50% percent after one year of quitting smoking.

Blood pressure: The normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. You can reduce your blood pressure

CT angiography is a noninvasive study that can detect coronary artery disease with a 98% specificity.

That means, if the CT angiography is normal, the chances of having significant coronary artery disease is less than 2%.

The ultimate approach would be cardiac catheterization which is considered the gold standard.

Treatment: American Heart Association recommends that women with heart disease should receive aspirin (165 mg), beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, in addition to cholesterol lowering drugs, multivitamins, and mineral therapy.

Hormone therapy has not been shown to reduce the incidence of heart disease.

If hormones are primarily used for control of post menopausal symptoms, your physician may consider a lower dose hormone for the shortest possible duration.

Routine use of folic acid has not been shown to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events.

February 06, 2015

21

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with salt restriction, weight control, and exercise before you need any medicines.

Overweight: It also can increase the risk of heart disease. It increases the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Weight control reduces most of the above mentioned risk factors. Keep you BMI below 25.

Diabetes: It is considered a very strong risk factor for heart disease.

Strict control of diabetes can delay the rate at which most complications progress, including the development of heart disease symptoms.

Non invasive studies: Electrocardiograms are of limited value in accurately diagnosing heart disease Even regular treadmill stress test is not very helpful in excluding the heart disease, since 50% of the results can be false positive.

Nuclear stress test is more accurate in the diagnosis of heart disease. It also has limitations. Most women may not be able to reach the desired target heart rate during exercise. Additionally, the breast shadows may create artifacts interfering with the proper interpretation of the scans.

Positron Emission Tomo-graphy (PET) may be useful in detecting microvascular disease.

Keep calorie intake to 12001500 calories. Cut carbs.

Reduce fat intake to less than 30% of total calories.

Saturated fat should be less than 10% of total calories Lean meat intake should be less than 8 ounce/day.

Exercise 20 to 30 min, 3-4 time per week Use skim milk and vegetables Consider Omega-3 such as fish oil or Flax seeds/oil supplements Fish: Salmon, mackerel, tuna 2-3 servings per week A glass of red wine per day Watch comedy channel Quit smoking Drink 8 glasses of water per day Grilled meat in place of gravies Niacin 500 to 1000 mg /day Avoid egg yolk, organ meat, solid fats, canned foods Salt intake less than 1 tsp/d Useful websites for more information on heart disease among women are: www.americanheart.org www.hartforwomen.org www.womenheart.org

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PUZZLES/RECIPES

SUDOKU

Mama’s Punjabi Recipes

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

Send us the correct answer before February 11, 2015 to

win two complimentary tickets to Houston Museum of Natural Science. (for first three entrees only) Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036.

Solution Next Week

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Aloo Mutter (Potatoe & Peas Curry) This has to be one of the most basic curries made in north India. The one made without the peas is even more basic and is often served with puris at temples or gurdwaras after services. But, although very basic, this classic dish is a great comfort food that reminds you of being back in the rustic villages of the Punjab, especially when it is served with a couple of slices of green mango pickles with the saunf (fennel seed) masala in sarson (mustard) seed oil.

Aloo (potatoes) are the most commonly used vegetable in Indian cuisine, perhaps because they are so readily available to the rich and poor alike, but also because they are satisfying, filling and can be made into many dishes from chaats to samosas to cutlets to paranthas. This dish is easy, simple and quick to make, especially if you are caught in a pinch.

This traditional dish really stands out because it combines the soft texture of the potatoes with nutty flavor of peas. But the real success of this dish is when the peas and cubed potatoes are not mashed up but still stand out individually and the turri (curry) is red and flavorful. It is best eaten, Punjabi style, with hot rotis, though many people also serve it with basmati rice.

The secret to a good dish of aloo mutter turri is in the spices that are used to bring out the flavor in each piece of roti. And also the consistency of the turri, which should not be too thick and especially not thin like water. It should bring out the full flavor of the spices that are then absorbed into the potatoes.

Ingredients:

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4 medium size aloo (potatoes) 1 cup mutter (peas) – if frozen, do not thaw 2 medium pyaaz (onion) – peeled and finely chopped 2 medium tamater (tomato) – soft ones are best, chopped 4 cloves of lasan (garlic) – peeled and finely chopped 1 tablespoon adrak (ginger) – peeled and finely chopped 2 tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil 2 cups of water Spices (to taste): namak (salt), mirch (red pepper), haldi (turmeric), dhania (coriander), garam masala

Directions: 1.Peel the potatoes and cut them into medium sized quarters.

Leave them in a bowl of water so that they do not turn a dark color.

2. Shell the fresh peas and place in a bowl of water. If frozen, do not thaw.

3.In a medium saucepan prepare the masala in a medium frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat, then first add the red pepper to bring out the color and cook while stiring. Then add the onions, ginger, garlic and tomatoes. Stir well to make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom. When the mixture is slightly brown, add the rest of the spices and stir well.

4.Take the potatoes and peas out of the water and add them into the masala. If frozen peas are used, first put in the potatoes and cook for 10 minutes, then add the peas and stir for 5 minutes.

5.When the potatoes are slightly

cooked add two cups of warm water and cover the pot and bring the curry to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook for five minutes. Do not overcook the potatoes as they need to be solid, not smashed.

6.Before serving, sprinkle with garam masala. The dish is ready to eat, usually with roti, rice or any variety of bread.

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 HOW TO MAKE ROTIS FLUFF UP

I have seen many women, especially the younger ones, struggle with making atte di roti (wheat flour flatbread) on the tava. They either make the rotis tough or burn them while cooking. Most do not know how to make the rotis fluff up while these are on the tava.

The secret to making rotis that can stay soft even for a whole day is in the amount of water used in making the dough and how the dough in kneaded and then left before being used. If the dough is too soft, the rotis will fall apart, but if not enough, then they will be hard. When cooking, make sure the tava is not too hot after the first few minutes of use. To make the rotis fluff up, after turning them over once, push down gently on one side of the bread to make the hot air rise to the other side. Then push on the risen side softly to force the air to the other side and the whole roti will pop up like a balloon!

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ENTERTAINMENT

February 06, 2015

Queen Wins Big at Filmfare Awards; Shahid, Kangana Best Actors

MUMBAI:Vikas Bahl’s coming-of-age drama Queen triumphed at the 60th Filmfare awards, winning in key categories including best film, best director and best actress for its lead star Kangana Ranaut.

The film bagged six honours in total - best editing to Abhijit Kokate and Anurag Kashyap, best cinematography (Bobby Singh and Siddharth Diwan) and and best background score for Amit Trivedi.

Kangana, who saw off competition from Alia Bhatt, Madhuri Dixit, Priyanka Chopra, Rani Mukerji and Sonam Kapoor in the best actress category, was not present to accept her award.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s Shakespearean tale Haider closely followed Queen with five wins which includes a black lady for Shahid Kapoor in the best actor category and best supporting honours for Tabu and Kay Kay Menon.

Haider triumphed in the technical categories as well, with Dolly Ahluwalia winning best costume designer and Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray topping the best production design list.

The lifetime achievement award was given to veteran actress Kamini Kaushal for her outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

Young star Alia Bhatt bagged the best actress (Critics) trophy for Highway and Sanjay Mishra won the best actor (Critics) for his outstanding performance in Ankhon Dekhi, which also earned director-writer Rajat Kapoor the best story gong.

Kriti Sanon won best debut female award

for Heropanti, while Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan won the best debut male award for Khoobsurat.

Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi won for PK in the best screenplay and best dialogue categories, which were the only wins for the Aamir Khan-starrer film.

In the music categories, Ankit Tiwari won best male playback singer for Galiyaan from Ek Villain and Kanika Kapoor was named best female playback singer for Baby Doll from Ragini MMS 2.

Trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy won best music director for their work in 2 States. Best lyrics honour went to Rashmi Singh for Muskurane from ‘CityLights’ Anil Kumar Konakandla and Prabal Pradhan won the best sound design honour for Mardaani. Sham Kaushal won an award for best action in Gunday. Best choreography honour was handed out to Ahmed Khan for the song Jumme Ki Raat from Salman Khan’s Kick.

The evening saw performances from Salman Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and was attended by B-Town celebrities like Rekha, Kajol, Manisha Koirala, Neha Dhupia, Subhash Ghai, Vidya Balan among others.

The ceremony held at Yash Raj Studios was hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar and stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma.

-Hindustan Times

Last week’s edition can be found online. Issue dated June 27,2014. inyour Small Continuing, freeSpecializing radicals are made in body as byproducts of natural processes, called Business Commercial Loans oxidative processes. In the same way that car exhaust is created when you run an engine to power the car, free radicals are formed by the oxidative processes to power your body.

Although these processes are very efficient, free radical formation is inevitable in small amounts—even the most efficient engine will produce exhaust.

There are many healthy roles for free radicals, though. For instance, nitric oxide is a free radical that is used by cells to communicate with other cells. In fact it is necessary for proper nervous system function and blood pressure control.

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India Grew 6.9% Last Year. But No One’s Sure What that Means

BY SANDRINE RASTELLO & JEANETTE RODRIGUES India changed its gross domestic product (GDP) calculations and caught everyone by surprise on Friday evening, with the revisions suggesting Asia’s third-largest economy is in much better shape than we thought it was. Or is it? Subdued expansion was at the heart of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election win last May, when he promised to jump-start growth from a near decade-low. Now we’re told the economy wasn’t actually sputtering along at 4.7% last fiscal year through March 2014; instead, it was surging 6.9%. The revision takes India closer to China’s 7.4%, the fastest-growing major economy

in the world, but without a breakdown to show how. The input data for these numbers isn’t available beyond a few years, so even though the government has promised more details by the end of February, we probably could be left with incomparable figures.

The new methodology uses market prices rather than factor costs, and a larger dataset that includes reporting from more companies and government bodies. The input data for these numbers is unavailable beyond a few years. While a part of the new method—using prices from purchasers rather than producers— brings the Indian data in line with the International Monetary Fund and global counterparts, economists appear divided: HSBC Holdings Plc’s

The new methodology uses market prices rather than factor costs, and a larger dataset that includes reporting from more companies and government bodies. The input data for these numbers is unavailable beyond a few years.

Pranjul Bhandari and UBS Group’s Ed Teather lament the lack of historical numbers, while Morgan Stanley’s

Chetan Ahya questions the quality of the data. DBS Bank’s Radhika Rao and Capital Economics’s Shilan Shah

say the revisions appear out of sync with other indicators such as factory output. Goldman Sachs, on the other hand, says the new dataset’s manufacturing boost was a needed correction.

The consequences of the inability to accurately chart a trend could be immediate. The central bank, which meets tomorrow to decide whether to cut rates for a second time in three weeks, had forecast growth of 5.5 percent for the current fiscal year.

Based on that, it had predicted inflation will stay below-target until January 2016. Now, no one’s sure. “GDP revised up or down?’’ Citigroup Inc. economist Rohini Malkani wrote in a report on Monday. “Depends on how one looks at it.”

-livemint.com

Rupee Recoups Losses, Closes 7 Paise Stronger at 61.80 a Dollar The rupee recoups early losses to close stronger against the dollar, tracking the domestic stock market

BY RAVINDRA SONAVANE

Investors are also cautious ahead of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy review on Tuesday.

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MUMBAI: The Indian rupee recovered from early losses on Monday after the domestic stock market recouped much of its morning losses.

The rupee ended at 61.80 a dollar, up 0.11% from its previous close of 61.87. The local currency had opened at 62 per dollar in the morning. Investors are also cautious ahead of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy review on Tuesday. India’s benchmark Sensex ended at 29,122.27 points, down 0.21%. After falling over 200 points, the benchmark 30share Sensex erased most of the losses and closed marginally lower,

helped by gains in consumer durables, capital goods and IT companies.

Most Asian currencies ended weaker against the dollar. The South Korean won was down 0.87%, Taiwan dollar 0.33%, Chinese renminbi 0.15%, Malaysian ringgit 0.12%, Indonesian rupiah 0.11%, Japanese yen 0.10%, and Philippines peso declined 0.1%.

However, Thai baht was up 0.57%, China offshore 0.18% and Singapore dollar rose 0.17%. Since the beginning of this year, the rupee has strengthened 2.03% against the dollar, while foreign institutional investors have bought $2.02 billion during the period from local equity markets

and $3.34 billion from debt markets.

The dollar index, which measures the US currency’s strength against major currencies, was trading at 94.66, down 0.15% from its previous close of 94.804. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will present its bi-monthly policy review on 3 February at 11am, where it is largely expected to keep interest rates unchanged after a cut in January. The yield on India’s 10-year benchmark bond stood at 7.653% compared with its Friday’s close of 7.692%. It touched a low of 7.646% last level seen on 15 July 2013. Bond yields and prices move in opposite directions.

-livemint.com

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26 February 06, 2015 World Cup 2015: Dhoni Hinting Four Frontline Bowlers

BY SIDHARTH MONGA order also looks quite PERTH (ESPN Cricstrong. info): MS Dhoni has “You have to see dropped strong hints that ultimately the whole in order to strengthen strength of the squad. their batting India might I know individuals play with just the four love to bat at a certain frontline bowlers in the slot. If you don’t have World Cup, with Stuart people who can float Binny having to fill in around in the batting as the third seam bowler. order, it becomes very In India’s last two comdifficult. I know a lot pleted games Binny has of teams are not very opened the bowling, flexible. They want which was being seen as their respective playa test run for him to be ers to bat at a certain used as more than just a slot but cricket I feel part-timer. Dhoni conhas evolved. It’s the firmed that after India number of overs that lost their final match of is more relative to the Stuart Binny celebrates after dismissing Ravi Bopara, England v India, Carlton Mid Tri- game. For example, the Australia tour.

India have gone win- series, Perth, January 30, 2015. if you have a Super level. That’s why we gave [Rav- to 10 days - will help us.” less on the tour. They Over, you don’t really Dhoni said that the team will send your openers. In a normal were expected to do better in the indra] Jadeja ample time and now triangular ODI series, but their slowly he has graduated to that stay as far away from the actual game, you will send your openbatting has let them down often. level where he can do that job cricket as it can during this break. ers but in the Super Over, you With the current ODI regulations to some extent. Axar [Patel], we “Lock the kitbag. Keep it some- will send somebody who can slog - two balls and only four men know he can bat but with more ex- where you don’t even want to see and hit the ball. You have to adapt outside the circle - dictating that posure and more matches, he will it. Completely switch off from yourself according to the demands teams play five full-time bowlers, get better because international cricket,” he said. “What you are of the game.”

India’s batting has suffered on this cricket is very different compared asking [how to lift the team] I can’t Dhoni was asked how Rayudu tour. Dhoni has repeated in almost to the first-class level. We need to tell you in the press conference. is taking this situation where he is every press conference that the get our batting strong. The lower- It will be handled accordingly. It sent to do the hard job, and when specialist batsmen have failed to order contribution is something won’t be handled on the cricket the going is relatively easier the bat with freedom because the hit- that is a key factor. We can’t re- field because I feel a break is more big boys come out to bat. “Rayudu ting prowess after No. 6 is quite ally have four to five batsmen in important than coming back and is someone who is willing to do thin. To play Binny is an attempt the lower order that will get out doing some practice. Because we that,” Dhoni said. “Not everyto add some meat to Nos. 7, 8 and quickly because you want to make have been here for more than two one can do that. But ultimately the most of 50 overs.” months so we know the conditions you find a couple of people who 9.

Apart from this “positive”, there pretty well. What is important are able to do that. It just adds to Dhoni said that emergence of this new combination was one of have been quite a few negatives, right now is a break. Completely the strength of the team. It is just the positives to have come out of the biggest of which is not get- switch off from the cricket. Just do easy to say that I can’t bat at that whatever the think-tank has tried ting into a winning habit. More a bit of thinking on what needs to number but ultimately if the team in this series. “With Bhuvi [Bhu- than two months without a win be done.” wants you to bat at that number, India’s batting order has been a you will have to. vneshwar Kumar] struggling a can bring the confidence of a side bit, it just puts that added pressure down, but Dhoni said he wasn’t bit of a mess with Virat Kohli bat“Also, a lot of players, when you on the bowling line-up because too concerned about that. “I think ting at No. 3 only if a wicket is are grooming them, you have to frankly we can’t really afford to from the confidence point of view lost after 10 overs, and with Dhoni bat them slightly up in the order play with three fast bowlers and we are quite good,” Dhoni said. himself preferring to come in to bat because when you are playing in two spinners because our batting “Because again we try to give with about 15 overs left. Too much the subcontinent, if you are batting becomes just too light for it,” Dho- more emphasis on what needs to theorising can complicate matters, 5 and 6, you won’t score 50-60 or ni said. “If you lose the toss and be done as to proper planning and but Dhoni said it was something 80 runs. He will score 20 not out you are batting on a surface that executing. Also we have been in the team needed to do. “Today, or 15 out. He will remain that way. assists the fast bowlers, if you lose this situation. We know how ex- Virat was supposed to bat at 3, ir- It’s important to give them chance a couple of wickets, then you are actly it feels and how to overcome respective of when the wicket falls at 3 and 4. Some of the experithat feeling. We were able to over- because with this batting line up enced players, they will have to just doing the catching-up job.

“If you see the good sides, they come that in the England series - okay, we didn’t score too many take the responsibility of playing bat quite deep. Even with the kind when we came back strongly. It’s runs - but this batting line-up we 5 and 6. That’s what it’s all about. of batsmen that we have, we know something the boys know how to can afford to have him at 3 because Ultimately, you have to see the inthey can bat but how they can bat get out of. It’s a bit of a challenge. I am there in the lower order, then terests of the team.” at the first-class level is not how Yes it is because it has been a long Binny is there and Jadeja has also Sidharth Monga is an assistant they will bat at the international tour so far, but this break now - six come back. Relatively, the lower editor at ESPNcricinfo

SPORTS

What Are Pakistan’s Chances in WC 15?

BY UMAR FAROOQ A lot has happened in the 23 years since Pakistan lifted their first and only World Cup trophy, also in Australia.

The current Pakistan team is not blessed with cricketers of the calibre of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad or Inzamam-ul-Haq. Most of this team is made up of young developing players. Given their inexperience, they may look like one of the World Cup’s weakest frontline teams. But Pakistan’s unpredictability, their defining trait over decades, means that the opposition will not underestimate them.

Saeed Ajmal’s withdrawal from the World Cup squad, to work on his bowling action after he was suspended in September, was a big blow to the side and that was compounded by Mohammad Hafeez’s suspension due to an illegal action. Hafeez will have his action officially re-tested on February 6 and the PCB hopes that he will be cleared in time for the tournament.

Pakistan have had some success in their search for part-time spinners to fill the gap left by Ajmal and Hafeez, but given the conditions, their pace battery remains their biggest strength. The loss of Junaid Khan to injury, however, has depleted an attack that also includes Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz. Pakistan’s chances will depend more on how their batsmen fare. Most members of the team have not played any international cricket in Australia.

Pakistan can be expected to move past the group stage but given the inexperience, the knockouts will be tougher.

Younis Khan was nowhere close to a spot in the ODI squad until six months back, but has made a place in the World Cup team after an exceptional Test run-feast against Australia and New Zealand in the UAE. His selection has prompted much debate but in an inexperienced line-up, the seasoned campaigner can be seen as a mainstay in the middle order. Apart from Misbah and Afridi, this World Cup could well be his last.

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