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Friday, March 13, 2015 • Vol. 34, No. 11

Indo American News READ US ONLINE at www.indoamerican-news.com | Published weekly from Houston, Texas. USA 7457 Harwin Dr, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036 • PH: 713 789 6397 • Fax: 713 789 6399 • indoamericannews@yahoo.com

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Gaura Purnima Festival at ISKCON of Houston

HOUSTON: It was a Thursday night unlike any other this last week where one of the loudest and happening parties took place under the light of the gorgeous full moon as the devotees at Iskcon of Houston hosted the Gaura Purnima Festival. Gaura Purnima marks the appearance of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This day is one of the most celebrated festivals for the Gaudiya Vaishnavas and is celebrated worldwide as a testament of love, life, happiness and devotion to the Supreme Lord, Krishna.

Devotees crowded into the new and spacious temple room to glance their lordships taking their sacred bath in a ceremony known as Abhishek and joining in the roaring kirtan that filled the hearts of its listeners with joy. Hous-

ton congregation members were joined by two Hindu Monks - His Holiness Rtadhvaja Swami and Jayadvaita Swami, who spoke on such relevant and practical topics such as how one can apply devotion to Krishna in their everyday life. One attendee of the program, Nandini Patel, a student, shared that the poignancy of the discourse given by Rtadhvaja Swami pierced the hearts of the students and youth. Swami spoke on topics such as the GPA, or God Point Average, instilling in them the need to connect with their culture and their relationship with God on a deeper level. Like the best parties, the Thursday festival ended with a mouthwatering feast.

If you missed Thursday’s party, you had a second chance to experience the beauty of the festival

at the public celebration this past Sunday at Iskcon of Houston. This festival coincided with weekly Sunday love feast program and

was highlighted with multiple cultural presentations from Sri Hari School of Kathak Dance and the temple’s very own Sunday school.

The Sunday school children, from age 4 to 14, presented various topics in multiple formats from songs to dramas to an interactive game show! Talking about the performances of these children, Sobhana Murate, one of the figureheads in the Indo-American community of greater Houston, said that she could see the divinity in these performances and that these children were a step above the rest.

For more information on upcoming festivals, activities, and Sunday school and its programs please visit us:ISKCON of Houston 1320 West 34th St. Houston, TX 77018 www.iskconhouston.org

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March 13, 2015

All About 7th Annual IFFH, 2015

From left: Mohammed Iqbal Khan (Actor), Ananth Mahadevan (Actor and Director), Sutapa Ghosh (Founder and Festival Director), Viveck Vaswani (Actor, Director and Producer).

Roopa Barua whose Riders of the Mist,” was a documentary about the bareback racing tradition in AsHOUSTON: It was back in 2009 sam, India, gave us insight about when Sutapa Ghosh established the 100 year-old tradition. This the Indian Film Festival of Houswas another well appreciated and ton (IFFH). Initially some people liked documentary of the night. wondered whether the idea of havAfter this Producer Viveck Vasing IFFH would really work or not wani and director Ananth Narayan because most of the Indians who Mahadevan took the center stage made trips back home could have to introduce their thought-provokwatched the films there and talking film “Rough Book” about the ing about non-Indians they are just educational system in contempoaware of the Bollywood musicals rary India. nothing else. After all the strugThis was not it for the event as gles and hiccups finally IFFH was there were many more to come. voted as the “Best Film Festival of Other films presented at the event Houston-2014” by Houston Press. were “Jai Ho” a documentary about IFFH today is stronger than ever, one of the greatest musicians of the with audiences from the diverse world, A.R.Rahman. “Dum Dum cultural communities of our city.

Deega Deega” happened to be one On March 3, 4, and 5, the 7th anof the most impressive short films nual event was held at the Studio that were presented at the event and got great reIndo American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly every sponse from the audiences. It is Friday (for a subscription of $40 per year) by truly an inspirIndoAmerican News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX ing story about a beggar child with 77036., tel: 713-789-6397, big dreams. This was followed fax:713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com. by “Cloth Paper Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Dreams” another short film about

BY VANSHIKA VIPIN

Movie Grill in City Center.

Filmmakers from different backgrounds and genres were present at the event with their cinematic creations for the audiences. Every Indian short film, documentary and feature film presented at the event was very unique in its own approach and had a deep meaning along with lot of learnings for the audience. All the directors of the films were one by one presenting and introducing their creation to the audience and then gave a Q&A after that. Starting with Director Rucha Humnabadkar, introduced “For Here or to Go?” about a young Silicon Valley software engineer trying to get his visa extended. The film was a hit and got Opening Night Audiences. This was then followed by Director

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the people who come to Kumbh Mela every twelve years at the confluence of the three holiest rivers. The showdown of films and movies was concluded by another

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well made short film “Int. Cafe Night” a short about two couples— one old and one young.

After all the films were presented it was time for the most awaited moment of the night the Awards Ceremony. Awards were presented after the Closing Night film. “Cloth Paper Dreams” was shortlisted as the Best Short Film of the night and the Best Documentary went to “Riders of the Mist.” Award for the Best Feature Film was grabbed

by Ananth Narayan Mahadevan’s “Rough Book.” Several winners at the event previously have gone on to win Oscars, National Awards and critical acclaims at various International Film Festivals.

The Indian Film Festival of Houston (IFFH) Inc. Is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to education in the fields of film and television and in creating greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing quality films that honor entertainment industry performers and filmmakers while promoting diverse perspectives of the Indian Diaspora through an annual event. The event truly happened to be a big success and a great appreciation night for quality Filmmaking.

For further information, visit http://iffhinc.org

Consul General Mr. P. Harish with Roopa Barua (Director)

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Houston Habitat Receives Funding from Wallis State Bank

Leela Krishnamurthy (extreme left) standing with Executive Director Allison Hay (right) to receive check from Wallis State Bank.

Asif Dakri is fifth from the right.

HOUSTON: A recent conversation with Asif Dakri , Vice Chairman and CEO at Wallis State Bank and Leela Krishnamurthy, Family Service Chairman for the Houston Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, resulted in a 5 year com-

mitment to the communities Wallis Bank serves.

Leela talked about the mission of Habitat, and how they build affordable housing, both locally and globally, and Asif was intrigued.

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ing back to the communities they serve and wanted to get involved.

To support with Houston Habitat’s commitment to revitalize neighborhoods, Wallis Bank has committed $5,000 per year for the next 5 years. Along with their financial

support, the bank employees have committed to volunteer in this area. “It is community leaders like Asif at Wallis State Bank that continue to help us – help hard working families through-

out the Houston area become homeowners,” said Allison Hay, Executive Director of Houston Habitat for Humanity, “We are grateful for this new partnership!” The official check presentation was done at the Wallis State Bank offices in Houston last month.

ABOUT HOUSTON HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Houston Habitat for Humanity, with community minded sponsors and volunteers, has built almost 1,000 homes with hard-working, lowincome Houstonians in mind. Habitat Partner Families contribute 300 hours of “sweat equity” including financial and home ownership training in helping to build their own homes. They purchase their homes with zero-interest mortgages. For more information about Houston Habitat and the Houston Habitat ReStore – a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center open to the public, go to www.houstonhabitat.org, or call 713-671-9993.

Houston Habitat for Humanity is a tax-exempt 501(C) (3) nonprofit organization. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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10 March 13, 2015

Moid Khan and Irfan Moosa are Back with GENERATION NEXT

BY ARIF MEMON HOUSTON: As they say once you are addicted, it is very hard to get rid of the addiction and especially when it comes to entertaining thousands of people and seeing them get satisfied with it then it is very hard. Bollywood Shows 4 U headed by Moid Khan who has brought in the biggest names in the entertainment industry whether from India or Pakistan has joined hands with Irfan Moosa of Seven Seas Promotion who also does not require any introduction as they have also brought in major artists from all over the world to bring in the first concert of this year called – GENERATION NEXT featuring Ankit Tiwari who has won about 20 music awards for 2014 and 2015 for his songs and compositions. Among his most famous song which has become an anthem for all lovers and music lovers is the song SUN RAHA HAI TU from Aashiqui 2. Along with Ankit the show also features Akriti Kakkar and Shilpa Rao who have also made their mark in playback singing and promise to keep the concert alive and kicking.

When two stalwarts of the Entertainment Industry join hands one should not expect anything less then total entertainment and in full style and glamour.

The GENERATION NEXT concert is on April 11, at the Arena Theater and the demand for the tickets is growing day by day specially among the music lovers who want to experience new talent and some new kind of music.

Tickets are available in the market at Maharani Music, Patel Brothers, Indian Snack and Spices or online at sulekha.com.

For more information on VIP and group ticketing call Moid Khan at 2812354711 or Irfan Moosa at 8326183333 or log on to www.bollywoodshows4u.com.

COMMUNITY BBC Documentary India’s Daughter: People Got it All Wrong

BY HARI DAYAL BBC’s “India’s Daughter” by Leslee Udwin has stirred up unbelievable controversy. To make an independent assessment I watched it on YouTube and came to the conclusion that people who are demonstrating and raising hell have perhaps not even seen the documentary.

I subscribe to the viewpoint that freedom of speech has been oversubscribed by the liberals. For example, rationalizing M.F. Hussain’s nude paintings of Godess Durga on the grounds of freedom of speech was despicable. As such, my defense of India’s Daughter has nothing to do with freedom of speech. It has everything to do with the substance and the message of the documentary.

The chief accusation against the documentary is that it gives a convicted rapist on death row, Mukesh Singh, a platform to present his point of view regarding the heinous act and garner public sympathy. With that in mind, I watched every frame twice to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I hated the scum of the earth orders of magnitude more after I watched the documentary than I did before.

How can anyone even think that

what stupid things the guy said in the interview will persuade anyone to sympathize with him!

In fact, the net effect on me of watching the interview of Mukesh Singh in the documentary was that hanging was not adequate punishment for this evil person. He should be castrated one month before he is hanged!

Mukesh Singh’s stupid statements in the documentary are only surpassed by the statements of the two defense attorneys. It is understandable for an attorney to do everything and pull all kinds of stunts to defend her/his client, no matter what the attorney deep in her/his heart believes to be the truth. But, to spew the venom as these two attorneys have in the documentary puts the legal profession to shame. I am glad the Council is contemplating action against them- I wish it will throw the book at these unscrupulous members of their fraternity.

So, what is the message of the documentary? Is it that, as proclaimed by Mukesh Singh in the interview, rape is justifiable if a young woman is out at 9pm? Is it that likes of Mukesh Singh are worthy of sympathy? Is it that people should respect the out-ofthe-court opinions of socially un-

developed defense attorneys just because they wear a black coat?

Hardly! On the contrary, the message is loud and clear. Rape is a heinous crime against women.

Rapists are arrogant despicable animals who are not above making stupid arguments to justify their acts.

And, for that message Leslee Udwin and BBC deserve congratulations!

Banning the documentary is clearly not the solution; if you don’t let people see it, how would they know what is it all about? I don’t know how many politicians who are making ‘convincing’ accusations against the documentary have objectively seen it. Nevertheless, they have joined the tamasha.

Sweeping the dirt under the rug, as politicians want to do, does not serve the purpose of educating people of the gravity of the problem. Another political reason for banning the documentary is that it might tarnish India’s image in the world. What a sorry excuse!

Why, you ask, the politicians have chosen to react the way they have. Please forgive me for answering a question with a question: Have you ever known a politician who will not do anything and everything for five votes!

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

March 13, 2015

A Magical Experience of Colors at Radha Madhav Dham, Austin

Holi crowd at RMD

AUSTIN, TX: After weeks of cold and gloomy weather, Saturday, March 7, turned out to be a cool spring day – warmed up somewhat with the sun trying to peek in from behind the clouds.

Despite the lingering cold and threats of rain, more than 4,000 people gathered to celebrate the Indian festival of Holi.

The sights, tastes and sounds of India greeted people as they strolled around the 200 acres of beautiful Temple grounds, along with chirping of birds, beautiful peacocks and deer that came to witness the scene. The Holi Mela, hosted by community volunteers, was enjoyed by Indians and Westerners alike, who flocked around the food booths eager to taste the delectable Indian dishes being prepared right in front of them – freshly prepared dosas, paav bhaji, chhole bhature, papdi chaat and samosas, along with mango lassi and sweets like hot jalebis and gulab jamuns, not to mention the delicately spiced garam chai for a cold day. Sunita Lal Email: sunita@radhamadhavdham.org

Kids were transported into a fun world of games, as they rolled around the grass inside a Zorb ball, jumped up and down in the Bounce house, toured the grounds in a mini train, watched funny clowns festooned with painted faces – all were delighted to be spending a fun day with friends and family.

Inside the Prayer Hall, the deities of Radha and Krishn looked stunning in a new Holi Shringar (adornments) with heaps of colorful Holi powder and decorated pichkaris placed at their feet, creating create a colorful depiction of Holi, as played in the land of Braj (Vrindavan) in India, 5000 years ago when Radha Krishna descended on this Earth Planet.

All Temple programs celebrated the spiritual aspect of Holi, enabling loving remembrance of Krishna’s mischief in the play of Holi with Gopis in Vrindaban, and bringing to life the theme of “Braj Style” Holi.

Uplifting Braj kirtans, and fun folk dances showcased Krishna’s naughty leelas. The speech by Swami Nikhilanand Ji explained to the audience how to practically integrate this devotional remembrance into their fun festivities.

At 6:00 p.m. sharp, gulal play began with loud cries of “Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, Holi Hai!”, reverberating throughout the grounds – as it was sung by the live band and repeated by the thousands of participants playing Holi. The atmosphere quickly turned vibrant, exuberant and joyful – bright florescent colors of spring could be seen flying everywhere, creating clouds of pink, purple, blue and red hues in the air. The live band was electrifying as it brought the entire crowd to its feet, dancing in excitement and merriment.

Young and old, male and female, Indian and Western – all opened their hearts, sharing of the joy and in celebration of the human values of compassion, forgiveness and love, which underlies the spirit of this colorful Indian festival called Holi.

In the words of one enthralled visitor, Holi at Radha Madhav Dham was a magical experience - “It’s the best, it’s so magical, I want to thank the temple for letting my children experience our culture in this way” For more on this Holi event, check out their Facebook page for event photos at www.facebook.com/RadhaMadhavDham.

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COMMUNITY

Global Yazidi Delegation Receives Warm Welcome and Support in India HOUSTON: When Houston’s IndianAmerican community stepped forward in solidarity with the Yazidi ethno-religious minority of Iraq, their efforts provided a humanitarian bridge to appeal to the people of India to continue their rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Once numbering 23 million, the Yazidis are on the brink of extinction today, as they have been reduced to barely 800,000 today, due to 74 separate genocides over the centuries. On August 3rd, 2014, the terrorist group called Islamic State (ISIS) attacked the defenseless Yazidis in their Iraqi homeland. At least 7000 Yazidis were killed. Over 6000

Laila Khoudeida, Gulie Khalaf and Yazidi delegates with Smt. Sushma Swaraj, India’s External Affairs Minister

women and girls, as young as 11, were abducted and sold as sex-slaves in open markets for as little as $25, or were gang-raped and forcibly “gifted” to ISIS terrorists for refusing to convert to Islam. 500,000 Yezidis fled overnight to nearby Mount Sinjar, for shelter. Many children and elderly victims perished due to the scorching summer heat and dehydration. The freezing winter continues to take its toll on the refugees living in the open with no food, shelter or warm clothing.

Appalled at the ongoing rampant genocide in Iraq, a global delegation of 15 Yezidi leaders and activists (from USA, Canada, France, Sweden, Armenia and Iraq) toured India for several weeks during JanuaryFebruary 2015. After receiving a warm welcome in New Delhi, the Yazidi delegates had several meetings with representatives of NGOs and officials regarding medical relief teams and scholarships for Yazidi students.

They spoke on several TV-News Media outlets, toured the ISKCON and Malai Murugan temples, and addressed a late-night meeting of 150 students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). In Bengaluru, the delegates visited the Art of Living Ashram, attended Yoga-Meditation sessions and met H.H. Sri Sri Ravishankar to thank him for his ongoing relief efforts in Iraq.

They travelled to Mysore to attend the “International Conference and Gathering of Elders” at the Ganapati Sachchidananda Ashram, organized by International Centre for Cultural Studies (ICCS) where the Yazidis presented their ancient history and religion to 400 participants, hailing from 70 ancient cultures from 40 countries. The delegates received the blessings of “Yoga Rishi” Swami Ramdev at Patanjali Yogpeeth Ashram in Haridwar, and Swami Chidanand Saraswati at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh.

The Yazidi delegates performed the ceremonial Ganga Arati and offered oblations into a sacred fire or Yajna (Havan) on the banks of the holy river Ganga.

Laila Khoudeida, US-based Yazda activist, narrated her experiences in India: “I struggle to put into words my deepest gratitude for the relentless work done by the Hindu brothers and sisters in order to make the Yezidi cries reach the farthest corners of the world, including India. During our meeting with Indian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, she stated that ‘her heart bleeds for our people’. This statement will stay with me forever, as it is a profound statement that came from a person who probably had never met a Yezidi person prior to our meeting. All along our journey in India, I became more aware and more appreciative of every single Indian person that I came across, because they truly regarded us as their own family. Your commitment to helping a vulnerable group of people is no simple task and every single one of us owes you a debt of gratitude. It is these acts of kindness and humbleness that we would have expected from our own blood relatives and for that, I thank you. However, the work does not end here and we will continue to work hand in hand because it is slowly but surely moving in a positive direction”.

Another US-based Yazidi activist, Gulie Khalaf, revealed: “It has been my dream to see India for more than 10 years. My recent experience with India, the Hindus, and Indian Americans have shaken up my percepCONTINUED ON PAGE

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COMMUNITY

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Global Yazidi Delegation Receives Warm Welcome and Support in India

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After a dinner party, Rajender Singh (left), with Chaudhary Birender Singh’s (center) and Iqbal Singh (right).

Mirza Ismail, Laila Khoudeida, Gulie Khalaf and Yazidi delegates at the Ganapati Sachchidananda Ashram in Mysore

tion on living, humanity, and activism. If there is ISIS on one end of the spectrum, then the other end of spectrum includes the Hindu people we have been working with.

While we were in India to raise awareness and seek help for our people, we definitely got more out of our trip than we bargained for.

On behalf of the Yezidi delegation to India, on behalf of the hostages, those who are in camps suffering

in silence, those Yezidis on Mount Sinjar, I thank you for helping us making it possible for them to be heard and for letting their plight visible to the rest of the world.”

Mirza Ismail, North-America based Yezidi activist, underlined the similarities in both religious traditions; and spoke from his heart: “We wish to express our sincere thanks to our Hindu sisters and brothers for all the works

you organized into making our India trip worthwhile, which is extremely appreciated, will always be remembered and will have an everlasting effect on all the Yezidi delegates.”

Visit: www.SewaUSA.org , www.

IAHV.org or www.Yazda.org to help Yazidis this winter. For more info, contact Ravi Raghavan, (c) 281-235-5779, raviraghavan76@ yahoo.com

Rajender Singh, the President and owner of Star Promotion Inc., a popular event management company in Houston, recently visited India and has collaborated with many Bollywood celebrities for future shows in Houston. He has brought quality shows in Houston over the years including Unforgettable in 2008 featuring the Bachchan Family and Madhuri Dixit, the South Asian carnival in 2009 which included Saif Ali

Khan and Shah Rukh Khan and SLAM in 2014.

He recently visited Chaudhary Birender Singh’s residence, an Indian political leader from Haryana, who is currently serving as the Union Minister of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Sanitation & Drinking Water in the Government in India, and also met with Iqbal Singh, I.A.S.

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COMMUNITY

March 13, 2015

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Vandana Tilak, LA Chair, Joins Akshaya Patra USA Advisory Board

STONEHAM: Vandana Tilak, LA Chapter Chair, Ayurveda practitioner and long-time supporter of Akshaya Patra has joined the 2015Akshaya Patra USAAdvisory Board. In this role, Tilak will continue her crucial work of spreading and growing awareness about the work of Akshaya Patra, and building on the organization’s

expansion via new kitchens and the number of children served. Akshaya Patra runs one of the world’s largest school meal programs, serving 1.4 million children daily in 10 states in India. It’s goal is to serve 5 million children by the year 2020.

Commenting on her new role, Vandana Tilak stated, “It is an honor and a privilege to serve India’s children and I uphold it with the utmost love and caring”. Vandana Tilak is the Chair of Akshaya Patra USA’s Los Angeles Chapter, which recently held two very successful events in October 2014 and January this year. The Chapter will continue to build on the momentum gained during the 2015 year, increasing awareness and raising funds for new kitchens in Gujarat, Karnataka and other States.

Emily Rosenbaum, CEO of Akshaya Patra USA welcomed Tilak,

saying, “Vandana’s passion and enthusiasm is like no other. Her contribution is truly being felt in the lives of the millions we serve”.

ChairmanofAkshayaPatra’sBoard of Directors, Desh Deshpande added, “Akshaya Patra is very fortunate to have a caring, compassionate, and genuine leader like Vandana Tilak.

Her dedication to the cause shows in what she contributes to it each and every day”.

Akshaya Patra’s hot, fresh school meals have been linked to increased school enrollment, and improved health and academic performance for the disadvantaged children attending India’s government schools.

For every $15 donated, Akshaya Patra is able to feed a child for an entire academic year. For further information on Akshaya Patra, visit www.foodforeducation.org

Memorable Carnival of Music in The Woodlands Thyagaraja Aradhana

THE WOODLANDS: The Hindu Temple of The Woodlands (HTW) celebrated its third annual Thyagaraja Aradhana music festival on February 28, at the temple facility located on Woodlands Parkway in The Woodlands. Over 350 people from the Greater Houston area attended the event and added to its grandeur this year.

The festival commenced with an open participation segment in the afternoon. Children and music teachers paidhomagetothegreatclassicalpoet, Saint Thyagaraja. It was heartening to see little kids as young as five years, sing Thyagaraja’ s compositions with much devotion and clarity, and help sustain our rich cultural heritage. This segment featured students from six music schools in the area (teachers – Rajarajeswary Bhat, from Sugarland, Aparna Ganti, Bharati Gollapudi and Sangeetha Sundar from Spring/ Cypress, Geetha Jayaraman from Conroe and Preethi Raghav from The Woodlands). Participation also included several students learning Carnatic music through Skype from teachers in India, a growing trend in recent years. In all, there were about 65 children performing at the event, indicating the growing interest to

learn classical music.

The evening program featured mini concerts from some of Houston’s established artists. This segment had a robust opening with Rajarajeswary Bhat, her daughters Keerthana and Kruthi Bhat, leading a community rendition of two of Thyagaraja’s Pancharathnams, Jagadanandakaraka and Saadinchine. With accompanists Karun Salvady on the mridangam and Ganesh on khanjira, the sanctum sanctorum of the beautiful temple reverberated with these timeless songs and had the audience tapping their feet to the music.

Vocalist Sridevi Rakepalli Josyula of Sugarland, accompanied by her a 12-year-old son, Mukund, on the violin, and Karun Salvady on mridangam, regaled the packed hall with her concert. Violinist Mahesh Iyer, with his children, Maya and Kishore, brought forth the beauty of rare ragas in their thematic exposition of Thyagaraja’s compositions. Violinist Deepa Ramachandran, and her 9-year-old disciple Vikrant Shankar, charmed the audience with their concert.

The mini concert portion also starred Uma Ranganathan, Veena and Vaishali Rajan, and Apporva Das, senior disciples of Rajarajeswary Bhat.

Each of them had short presentations of 10 minutes. The evening ended with a group from The Woodlands, presenting popular krithis of Thyagaraja, and ended with the auspicious Thyagaraja mangalam.

Chairman of the HTW, S. R. Pinnapureddy, felicitated all the artists with beautiful shawls and bouquets, as a token of appreciation for their time and performance at this event.

Participation certificates were also provided to everyone in the open segment.

Preparations for this grand event started out almost two months ago, with the event coordinators spreading the word out across Houston and meticulously planning details. A dedicated team of volunteers was in charge of the food preparation and had visitors hobnob at the temple kitchen for delicacies. The overwhelming support from volunteers and The Woodlands community in general, was seen in the smooth execution of the program including stage set-up, decoration and reception.

The program was sponsored by Bharatiya Kalai Manram (BKM) and K Corp, and a few local businesses sponsored door prizes.

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18 March 13, 2015 Violence vs. Women: New Norm?

Gratuitous comments about women being responsible for attacks against them coming from our elected representatives are reprehensible, but coming from a convicted rapist, this is really beyond the pale. The bus driver in the December 16, 2012 Delhi gang-rape has come out with ugly remarks to the effect that the brave girl who valiantly fought her attackers and paid for it with her life should not have been out at night. He also compounded his depravity by saying that she should not have fought back.

As Women’s Day comes around again tomorrow, we will see the usual pledges about creating awareness and safeguarding women.

But, in the end, let us not forget that women have to live in a society where many men, even some women, think that a woman by her conduct, dress and attitude could invite male retribution in the form of physical violence, including rape.

It does not help that many of our political worthies echo these views, giving lumpen youth the sanction to attack women at will.

Khap panchayats have in fact recommended rape as a punishment for women who step out of ‘line’. We keep hearing about how it requires a mindset change in society to ensure that women are not at risk. This is not going to happen overnight.

In fact, as more women become independent, both economically and socially, they seem more at risk of hostility from men.

As a recent high-profile case shows, women in the workplace are extremely vulnerable, both in the organized and unorganized sector, to sexual harassment.

As we have argued so often before, the first port of call for any woman subjected to sexual violence is the local police station.

And it is here that the system fails women so badly. Often, the FIRs are not filed, the evidence is not collected and the woman is often told to make peace with her attackers.

The legal system which follows, even when an FIR is filed, is so slow and painful with the victim having to relive her trauma and in many cases exist in the same locality as her rapists or attackers. The concept of counselling for rape victims is still not very prevalent, rather the victim lives with the stigma, not the rapist.

Violence and discrimination are things many women live with in India to a point where they are considered the norm. Women’s Day might serve to focus attention on the issue, but the real difference has to come in the implementation of the law and the certainty and severity of punishment. Even that does not seem to deter the hardened, as in the case of the noxious bus driver.

Hindustan Times

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Modi’s Sagar Mala

BY C. RAJA MOHAN

As he swings across the Indian Ocean this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s biggest challenge is not about countering China. After all, Beijing is far away and India is right in the middle of the Indian Ocean. In the near term, the tyranny of geography will limit the scope and intensity of Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean. Modi’s real problem is in Delhi, afflicted by a condition called continentalism, which has proved rather difficult to overcome.

Continentalism, marked by an obsession with land frontiers and a sea blindness, has deep roots in Delhi’s political history. A number of factors made independent India even more vulnerable to the affliction. Partition created new boundaries within the subcontinent and turned Delhi’s political energies inward. The emergence of a strong China to the north and the contestation with it along the Indo-Tibetan border has long drained most of India’s strategic attention.

Despite a massive coastline and geographic primacy in the Indian Ocean, India had little time for its vast maritime frontiers. Its continentalist mindset was reinforced by Delhi’s inward economic orientation in the 1950s. If India’s economic footprint spread all across the Indian Ocean under the British Raj, it steadily diminished thanks to the policies of self-reliance and import substitution in the first decades after Independence.

To make matters worse, Delhi’s foreign policy revelled in chasing quixotic ideas rather than play to its inherited strengths in the littoral. On the trade and investment front, India chose high-minded rhetoric at the United Nations on building a new international economic order rather than strengthen economic ties with the ocean neighbours.

In the realm of security, Delhi’s focus was on turning the Indian Ocean into a “zone of peace”, whatever that meant. As Great Britain chose to withdraw from the east of Suez in the late 1960s after two centuries of dominating the Indian Ocean, Delhi believed the UN would help replace British primacy with a system of col-

lective security. While many littoral countries sought a major Indian security role, Delhi was a reluctant partner and declared quite cheerily that talk of a power vacuum was outdated in a post-colonial world.

Delhi’s approach began to change in the 1990s. As India embarked on globalisation and trade, economic connectivity with the Indian Ocean littoral began to come back on Delhi’s agenda. India also inched away from the military isolationism of the nonaligned era. After decades of hectoring the great powers to get out of the Indian Ocean, Delhi began to engage all of them, including the United States. At the multilateral level, it started to de-emphasise the UN and focused on regional institutions. Over the last few years, Delhi has sought to revive the moribund.

Delhi has expanded bilateral and multilateral naval exercises with many of its neighbours in the Indian Ocean. It launched the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, which brings together the chiefs of the navies every two years to discuss naval cooperation. India has also set up a joint mechanism with Sri Lanka and the Maldives for shared maritime domain awareness. The Indian navy has also focused on maritime capacity building, especially in the island states that occupy critical locations in the Indian Ocean.

The problem for Modi is that the change in Delhi’s Indian Ocean policy has been too limited and incremental to cope with the maritime challenges staring at India. Delhi has not been good at tying different, new policy strands into a coherent strategy for the Indian Ocean. Worse still, its political leadership has not had the will or energy to shake the

bureaucratic establishment of its continentalist mindset.

To realise India’s full strategic potential in the Indian Ocean, Modi will need to focus on three things. One is to boost India’s own civilian maritime infrastructure, which has become terribly creaky and utterly inadequate for a country so dependent on the seas for its economic life.

Second, India needs to ramp up its capabilities to take up major maritime projects in other countries. China has stolen a march over India in this area simply because Delhi had gone to sleep. Beijing’s projects in the neighbourhood have given India a wakeup call, but Delhi does not have the capacity or a policy framework to bid for and execute major infrastructure projects in the Indian Ocean littoral.

Third, India needs to lend some vigour to its defence diplomacy in the region. Although Delhi talks the talk on being a “net security provider”, the ministry of defence is not ready to walk the walk. The MoD is a long way from developing the capabilities, systems and attitudes to make India a productive security partner for the countries of the region.

Finally, Delhi is aware of the need for a big idea to frame the government’s plans for a more purposeful maritime engagement in the Indian Ocean. Some have toyed with “Project Mausam” to promote India’s soft power in the littoral. Others have proposed the idea of a “spice route” to capture India’s interest in restoring its historic linkages in the littoral. The prime minister might want to settle on a simple idea that is already a part of Delhi’s lexicon — the “Sagar Mala”.

The concept was first unveiled by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2003. Modi has sought to revitalise that idea. It can easily be extended to promote India’s connectivity in the Indian Ocean, in both economic and security domains. Whatever we may call it, the first step is to get Delhi’s internal act on the Indian Ocean together. IE C. Raja Mohan is consulting editor on foreign affairs for The Indian Express and a distinguished fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. .

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19

Yuva for Sewa

HOUSTON:Sewa International has launched its annual Yuva for Sewa (YFS), 8 to 10-week volunteer summer internship opportunity for college students to travel to India to contribute their time to serve humanity. Since its inception in 2006, 52 YFS youth interns have volunteered their time for health care, education, environment, women’s empowerment, rural development, and microfinance. Interns work with community NGOs to serve and engage in an empowering self-transformative experience to make an impact in their chosen field.

Bhavana Vissapragada, a student at University of Massachusetts, Amherst travelled to Bengaluru, India in 2014 as a YFS intern. She shares her experiences to inspire others to participate in the program.

“In June, I visited an orphanage for girls to interview the NGO administrators as a part of my internship. Later, the girls pulled me into the room next door. At first, I walked in with the expectation of talking to them to get more information on the NGO, but slowly the interview structure degraded, and even with the language barrier, the girls and I were talking about everything.They discovered that I knew Bharatanatyam (a classical dance from South India), and before I knew it, I was performing for them.

As I was leaving, they made me promise that I would come back and visit again. Before I knew it, the day had come when I had to leave Bengaluru back to the US. I remembered the promise I made to those girls. So I got a ride, and visited them. I walked in, and soon the girls were all yelling “Bharathanatyam Akka (elder

sister)! Bharathanatyam Akka!” This exemplifies my experience interning with YFS. I would go places with the intention of just conducting an interview, but I would come back from the experience with a connection, realizing that each interaction was meaningful. The friendships I made stand out with the experience I got out of my internship.”

To know more about the Yuva for Sewa program, log on to http:// www.sewausa.org/ yuva-sewa-appeal.

Interested candidates apply online at http:// www.sewausa.org/yuva-sewa-2015. Admissions are on a rolling basis. The final deadline is April 15th 2015.

Locations of Internships will be in Bengaluru, India.

Sewa International (www.sewausa. org) is a Hindu-faith based, worldwide nonprofit that promotes selfless service to communities around the world regardless of race, color, nationality, religion, or gender. To volunteer, contact info@sewausa.org.

Kriti DograEmail: info@sewausa. org .Web:http://www.sewausa.org

3 Indians Closer to One-way Mars Mission Out of the 100, only four will make the final flight, if and when that happens

BY NIKITA MEHTA MUMBAI: Three Indians have made it to a short list of 100 from an initial pool of more than 200,000 candidates looking for a one-way trip to Mars.

Fifty men and fifty women who successfully passed the second round have been selected to proceed to the next round of the Mars One Astronaut Selection Process. Out of the 100, only four will make the final flight, if and when that happens. The three include Taranjeet Singh Bhatia, 29, pursuing a doctorate in computer sci-

ence in Florida, Ritika Singh, 29, an adventure sports lover who lives in Dubai and sci-fi loving Shraddha Prasad, 19, from Palakkad, Kerala.

The promotional video for Mars One third phase of selectionsays‘who has what it takes to colonize Mars never to return’.

While Bhatia says that as a child he used to gaze at the sky wanting aliens to abduct and take him to space, Prasad wants to pursue a career in space sciences. Going to Mars is Singh’s childhood dream.

Mars One is a Netherlands-based notfor-profit foundation which aims to send four humans to Mars in a spaceship in 2024 who will reach the red planet in 2025. An initial unmanned lander will be sent to Mars in 2018 with payloads including soil extractor and thin film solar demonstrator. “The large cut in candidates is an important step towards finding out who has the

right stuff to go to Mars,” said Bas Lansdorp, co-founder and chief executive officer of Mars One. “These aspiring Martians provide the world with a glimpse into who the modern day explorers will be,” Lansdorp added. The Mars 100 Round Three candidates were selected from a pool of 660 candidates after participating in personal online interviews with Norbert Kraft, chief medical officer.

The candidates are spread out over continents, with 39 from the Americas, 31 from Europe, 16 from Asia, 7 from Africa, and 7 from Oceania. The next selection rounds will focus on forming teams that can endure all the hardships of a permanent settlement on Mars. The candidates will receive their first shot at training in the copy of the Mars Outpost on Earth and will demonstrate their suitability to perform well in a team. “Being one of the best individual candidates does not automatically make you the greatest team player; so I look forward to seeing how the candidates progress and work together in the upcoming challenges,” said Kraft. Initially, 62 people had been shortlisted from India to compete for the one-way mission to Mars among 1,000 people.

-livemint.com

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CANCER CURE & PREVENTION SERIES

Principles of Cancer Treatment: Radiation Oncology

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When a patient is told that they have a diagnosis of cancer, they can be overwhelmed with many emotions. In the midst of these emotions, they have to now learn about the many complexities of the treatments that may be recommended for them. We have made tremendous progress over the last quarter century in the three main modalities of treatment – surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

We have learned more about how best to use these treatments together to achieve better results. In the next series of three articles, we will describe the principles of each cancer treatment modality. In this first article, I will give an overview of all three, and then provide greater detail about radiation oncology.

Cancer treatment is based on the type of cancer, where it is located, where it could be that physicians cannot see, and where it could spread.

Hence we use terms such as primary tumor (where the tumor is, localized cancer), regional disease (neighboring lymph nodes), and metastatic disease (distant spread of cancer to other parts of the body).

The type and stage of the cancer gives us an idea of the level of risk associated with it, and therefore, which treatments to use. Surgery and radiation therapy are both designed to address the local-regional extent of cancer. For example, in breast cancer that would mean the breast and the regional lymph nodes. Chemotherapy is a form of systemic treatment, which means that it covers the whole body.

Other forms of systemic treatment include biological or immunotherapy.

Most patients currently are treated with some combination of these three modalities in order to maximize the chance for cure.

The field of radiation oncology has been around for nearly a century. The doctors who practice this specialty are known as radiation oncologists. Just as a surgeon would remove a tumor in an operation, we use radiation to

destroy the tumor without surgically removing it. High doses of radiation kill cancer cells. The core principle in radiation oncology is to deliver the maximum dose of radiation to the tumor and the least amount of radiation dose to the normal tissues in the area being targeted. Over the past decade, several critical advances have been made in our field. These include our ability to see and then adequately localize the target area with better imaging. We then have very sophisticated technology to design a treatment plan for each unique patient. Finally, the greatest advancements have come in our ability to fine-tune the treatment in a way that delivers a more accurate, targeted course of therapy with less damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

The treatment process begins with a consultation with a radiation oncologist. The doctor will gather the patient’s history, perform a physical examination, review all the records, and review all the imaging. If necessary, additional laboratory or imaging tests may be ordered to further clarify the cancer stage. Once this process is complete, the doctor will determine a treatment plan for the patient. Often this plan must be coordinated with a surgical oncologist or medical oncologist. Some treatments are given sequentially, while others may be delivered concurrently.

The radiation treatment starts with a simulation. During this procedure, the position of the patient, the construction of any devices to help secure the patient in that position, and a CT scan are obtained. The patient then leaves the department and the radiation oncologist works with members of the team, including a physicist and dosimetrist, to design and calculate an optimal treatment plan. This process can take a few days.

Most radiation treatment is given externally using machines known as linear accelerators that generate high energy x-rays or electrons. No radioactivity is used with external

treatment, and it is perfectly safe for the patient to be around others. External radiation is usually given over multiple sessions. Traditionally this has ranged over two to nine weeks.

The accuracy of the treatment needs to be on the order of two to three millimeters, and as such, great care is taken in the delivery.

Another form of radiation is delivered internally with radioactive sources. This is called brachytherapy.

Brachytherapy is routinely used for gynecological cancers and sometimes for other cancers as well.

Radiation oncology continues to evolve with the development of new technologies, improved equipment, and other medical breakthroughs discovered through clinical trials. Techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), and proton therapy allow us to advance our never-ending goal of focusing our treatment on the cancer and sparing healthy tissue. Other advances include stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). These techniques allow us to safely target tumors in the brain, lung, spine, and liver with high doses of radiation in a fewer number of treatments. All of these rapid technological developments and increased clinical knowledge have not only kept our specialty exciting, but primarily have enabled radiation oncologists to more effectively treat our patients.

Dr. Vivek Kavadi is a radiation oncologist at Texas Oncology–Sugar Land, 1350 First Colony Blvd., Sugar Land, Texas; and Texas Oncology–Radiation Oncology Center at Memorial Hermann Memorial City, 925 Gessner Road, Suite 100, Houston, Texas.

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22 March 13, 2015

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ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT Movie Review: Dirty Politics

BY MOHAR BASU A hybrid of political drama and murder mystery, Dirty Politics is a warped tale. Despite flaunting a convoy of seasoned actors, the film fails to hold up its promising premise.

The script’s most potent part is the sex scandal but the writer introduces an array of meaningless sub-plots which dilutes it. Had the story systematically unraveled its myriad facets, it could’ve left a thumping impact.

There is no drama or suspense in the film. The only mystery that remains is why actors like Puri, Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher agreed to be

a part of such muck. A mishmash of dismal performances, terrible editing and an unsurprising plot-line, the film fails to do justice to its core idea of dishing out a political drama where sex plays a powerful role.

Sex is instead used as a prop to titillate in this amateurish story. A top politician cannot keep his libido in control and allows himself to be used as a pawn by his keep whose ‘dirty’ ambitions include attaining political power. Sherawat’s skin show adds no value to the plot. Kher, Shah and Puri manage to better an otherwise dreadful narrative but with a plot this execrable, a better film cannot be

whipped up.

Silly isn’t a term broad enough to encapsulate the zest of this movie.

Stories like these demand a little more sensitivity but the director’s incoherence of understanding the theme make this a wasted attempt. What else can explain the rape sequence in the climax?

Expect to remain unmoved by this film which tries to unleash the morally corrupt face of Indian politics.

The product we have at hand, is a juvenile tryst which focuses on a sexually charged up plot to garner good box office moolah.

-Timesof India.com

March 13, 2015

Shah Rukh Khan to Host ZEE TV’s New Reality Show!

MUMBAI: The newest entrant in the Indian GEC marquee, ZEE TV unveiled its flagship property, ‘India Poochega – Sabse Shaana Kaun?’, adapted from an international format Who’s Asking by Israel based Armoza. India Poochega Sabse Shaana Kaun is an edge-of-the-seat experience with two pairs pitted against each other battling it out to outsmart the other in street smartness. With a little bit of luck and a lot of shaanpatti, the contestants can win a whopping INR. 1 Crore. But it ain’t that easy, as one needs to tread the Koti Ki Choti – a pyramid fully of questions posed by celebrities, very carefully.

And piloting this crazy ride is none

other than Shah Rukh Khan who will be flooring his fans with his wit and charm while helping the contestants with his friendly hand.

Joining him on stage was Mr. Siddharth Basu, producer of the show.

India Poochega Sabse Shaana Kaun? airs starting 14th March Mon-Fri 9:30p ET only on ZEE TV Are you ready to flaunt your Shaanpati?

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.

Of course, this type of process is very tightly controlled.

But nitric oxide is not what has made free radi-

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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.

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PUZZLES ASSIGNMENT EDITOR

KTRK-TV, an ABC O&O located in Houston, TX is looking for an aggressive and motivated Assignment Editor.

Send us the correct answer before March,18 2015 to win

The successful applicant will be responsible for all facets of the assignment desk, which includes but is not limited to making beat-checks, answering phones, monitoring police and fire radios, getting information and developing stories.

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

The candidate should be detail-oriented and able to handle many different responsibilities at the same time. Good news judgment, an even temper, patience and strong communication skills are essential. The candidate must be able to take directions, but should also be able to work without supervision. The candidate should be familiar with the use of social media for news gathering. This position works nights, weekends and be open to a flexible schedule.

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Job Posting:

TEMPORARY NEWS REPORTER

KTRK-TV, the ABC owned station located in Houston, TX, has an opening for a full time temporary News Reporter.

Candidates should have experience in general assignment reporting, including live breaking news. Applicants must be able to develop contacts, enterprise good, hard news stories, and respond well to spot news. Candidates must have outstanding writing skills for both broadcast and digital platforms. Must be willing to work evenings and weekends.

All interested applicants must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Interested applicants should also send video tape samples of your news related work to: Human Resources, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005. Please Reference Job ID: 254642BR on all materials submitted.

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Job Posting:

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India Gets Time Till Sept 30 for Deal on Tax Evasion with US

BY GIREESH CHANDRA PRASAD NEW DELHI:The US has given India time till September 30 to put in place a framework to track down the assets that nationals of each country hold in the other nation without reporting to domestic tax authorities.

Sources told FE that the new information-sharing agreement between the Income-Tax Department and the IRS under the US Foreign Account

Tax ComplianceAct (FATCA) would be signed in New Delhi and come into force from October 1.

The deadline has so far been extended twice, considering the lengthy consultation India has to do with various financial sector regulators.

Under the agreement, insurance, banking, pension and stock-broking firms have to report their US client details to the Income-Tax Department for eventual sharing with its treaty partner.

The idea is to capture details of US taxpayers’ unreported foreign financial accounts, stock, securities, mutual funds and insurance or annuity schemes with a cash value above $50,000. FATCA mandates all US citizens, residents and non-resident citizens to report their foreign accounts at the end of the tax year as America follows a system of taxing the world-wide income of its people.

India, on the other hand, taxes the worldwide income of only its resi-

dents, while non-residents are taxed only on the income sourced from India.

The extension of the deadline removes fears of American financial institutions imposing a FATCA-mandated 30% penal withholding tax on payments made to Indian clients in the absence of the inter-governmental agreement.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who announced a new Bill proposing jail term for Indian nationals failing

to report foreign assets, is preparing a major integration of database available with direct and indirect tax authorities to zero in on instances of evasion.

Central Board of Direct Taxes chairperson Anita Kapur said adoption of GST will provide a nationwide data base of a large number of transactions, which, along with customs and income-tax database, will be made accessible to all departments in a much more intensive manner.

-Indianexpress.com

Green Signal for Two Big-ticket Railway FDI Proposals

NEW DELHI:: In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, railway minister Suresh Prabhu has finally given green signal to two much awaited big-ticket

foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals for setting up diesel and electric locomotive plants in Bihar at a cost of Rs.2,400 crore. Ending the suspense over the fate of Madhepura electric

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locomotive plant and Marhora diesel locomotive plant, the railways has finalized the financial bidding for the high-value joint venture projects after considerable delays, re-thinking

and prolonged due diligence amid repeated revision of bidding documents. The request for proposals (RFP) containing financial bidding documents for both the plants are ready and the shortlisted bidders have been intimated the same, said a senior railway ministry official. While four global firms—Alstom, Siemens, GE and Bombardier—have been shortlisted for the proposed electric locomotive factory at Madhepura, two multinationals—GE and EMD—are vying to bag the diesel locomotive plant at Marhora. The estimated cost of the factories is about Rs.1,200 crore each. The financial bidding will be opened on 31 August and there will be two pre-bid meetings held in between, the official said. With the government allowing 100% FDI in the railway sector, setting up of the two locomotive plants in joint venture model is crucial for Railways to give

a boost to its infrastructure. The two projects are among top eight infrastructure projects being monitored by the PMO. The Madhepura plant will manufacture 800 electric locomotives of 12,000 horse power (HP) over 11 years. While five electric locomotives will be imported, 795 will be manufactured at Madhepura, under the bidding condition. The Marhora plant will produce 4500 HP and 6,000 HP diesel locomotives using state-of-the-art technology. In the course of about 10 years after commissioning, the proposed Marhora plant is expected to manufacture about 1,000 diesel-electric locomotives, or 100 locomotives annually.

While 700 diesel locomotives will be equipped with 4,500 horse power (HP), 300 diesel locomotives will be manufactured with 6,000 HP, said the official.

-livemint.com

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26 March 13, 2015

SPORTS

Ashwin, Dhawan Make It Nine in a Row World Cup 2015 Standings

BY SIDHARTH MONGA obliged to push the India 260 for 2 (Dhascoring. Except that wan 100, Rohit 64) Mohit didn’t provide beat Ireland 259 (N any pace, and PorterO’Brien 75, Porterfield field fell to a slower 67, Shami 3-41) by 8 ball. This wicket was wickets as much Mohit’s as the India confirmed spinners’ who had crethe top spot in their ated the pressure. group, took their winNiall O’Brien wasn’t ning streak in World done yet, though. In the Cup matches to nine, Powerplay he mounted their longest and now another attack, and only behind the great India were tested yet Australian run between again by the 61-run 1999 and 2011, and stand between him and also maintained their Balbirnie. And again record of bowling op- That pose: Shikhar Dhawan’s trademark hundred Ashwin provided the positions out in this celebration, India v Ireland, World Cup 2015, Group B, answers, getting BalbirWorld Cup, claiming Hamilton, March 10, 2015. nie on the sweep in the their 50th wicket in 39th over. Mohammed five matches in the 49th over of over, with the run rate over six and Shami chipped in immediately Ireland’s innings. Ireland scored no wicket down, you would have with Kevin O’Brien’s wicket, and the highest score against India in forgiven a few other established Niall O’Brien found himself under this World Cup, William Porter- captains defensive fields. MS pressure again amid the falling field and Paul Stirling registered Dhoni, the best captain of spin in wickets. When he moved across the best partnership - 89 - against limited-overs cricket, had a slip, the stumps to try to hit Shami into them, Niall O’Brien came within a leg slip, and men saving singles the leg side, he chipped straight one run of the best individual even after the Powerplay was over. to square leg in the 43rd over. It score against their unbeaten oppo- It also asked a lot of the bowlers. was now going to be difficult for nents, but India’s excellent offspin Anything half bad was bound to Ireland to bat out the overs. They bowling and aggressive captaincy go for boundaries. Jadeja was only couldn’t. restricted them to 259, well below half bad in the 14th over, and was To turn this chase into a conpar on a flat pitch, small Seddon taken for a four and a six. Dhoni test, Ireland needed early wickPark boundaries and given Ire- had no qualms taking him off and ets. Dhawan provided them two land’s weak bowling. Shikhar going to Raina immediately. opportunities, but John Mooney Dhawan, with his second hundred Even before Raina came on, and Porterfield dropped him on 5 this World Cup, and Rohit Sharma though, Stirling tried to chip and 10 respectively. Now Dhawan knocked the runs off with ease.

Ashwin over cover. Ashwin had has a sensational record when he Porterfield and Stirling attacked bowled until then 17 balls for 12 is dropped. Even against South the Indian quicks with gusto, runs, giving nothing away. It re- Africa he was dropped by Hashim reaching 57 in nine overs before R quired Stirling to manufacture Amla. At 174 he and Rohit put Ashwin dragged them back. A pe- something. He tried, but could together India’s biggest opening riod of quick overs and slow runs not open the face enough, and stand in World Cups, and their followed, and when Niall O’Brien holed out to long-off. Now Raina partnership aggregate soared to began to pull Ireland back out, and Ashwin began to run through 1760 runs, the fourth-highest for Ashwin came back to start another their overs quite economically. India. slide. Ireland went from 206 for The pressure was palpable. Dhoni Dhawan moved to No. 2 on the 3 to their eventual middling total. could read the batsmen’s minds. runs list this World Cup, second This was the first time any bat- He told Raina Joyce was under behind Kumar Sangakkara. Once ting side tested India. Unlike, say pressure and looking for a big he reached the fifty Dhawan acSouth Africa, India refused to go hit. Raina stayed accurate. Joyce celerated even as Rohit fell to a on the defensive. Ravindra Jadeja looked for a forceful back-foot somewhat lazy dab, playing Stuart didn’t have a great day, but Suresh shot to a full ball. Bowled.

Thompson on. Dhawan went from Raina filled in superbly. He took Overs flew by. When Niall 50 off 54 to 96 off 74 before bringout Ed Joyce to go with Ashwin’s O’Brien took risks against Rohit ing up the hundred with the 84th scalps of Stirling and the in-form Sharma in the 30th over and hit ball he faced and getting out to the Andy Balbirnie. Between them two fours, India had bowled the 85th. However, India needed only Ashwin and Raina bowled 20 15 preceding overs for 45 runs and 70 at that time, and got them withovers for 78 runs. That’s where the surely in under 45 minutes. The out drama. match turned.

Sidharth Monga is an assistant first sign of pace - Mohit Sharma When spin came on in the 10th - in 23 overs meant Ireland felt editor at ESPNcricinfo.

POOL A MatchesWon Lost Pos Team 1 New Zealand 5 5 0 2 Australia 5 3 1 3 Bangladesh 5 3 1 4 Sri Lanka 5 3 2 5 England 5 1 4 6 Afghanistan 5 1 4 7 Scotland 4 0 4

Net RR 3.09 1.597 0.211 -0.15 -1 -1.88 -1.42

For 942/146.3 1286/200.0 1104/198.1 1425/245.4 1226/250.0 933/249.3 854/200.0

Against 835/250.0 837/173.1 1072/200.0 1488/250.0 1238/209.4 1318/234.3 982/172.3

Points 10 7 7 6 2 2 0

For

Against

Points

1156/194.5 1537/247.0 1189/247.0 1386/245.1 1309/248.0 1393/246.0

944/250.0 1176/247.0 1237/247.0 1579/236.5 1349/233.0 1552/248.0

POOL B Pos

Team

1 2 3 4 5 6

India South Africa Pakistan Ireland West Indies Zimbabwe

Matches Won Lost Net RR 5 5 5 5 5 5

5 3 3 3 2 1

0 2 2 2 3 4

2.157 1.462 -0.194 -1.014 -0.511 -0.595

10 6 6 6 4 2

Pak Roars Back with Bowlers

AUCKLAND: This was the game this World Cup needed. This is the team this World Cup needed.

It was getting pretty bland out here without the Pakistan bowlers.

Defending only 231 in 47 overs at the small Eden Park, their leftarm quicks turned it on like only those from that part of the world can. Under pressure of the chase South Africa crumbled yet again - except for one man, captain AB de Villiers, who scored 77 off 58 and threatened to singlehandedly steal the game, but once he became the ninth man to get out with 32 to get, Pakistan were assured of a win. The win gave Pakistan clearer passage to the quarterfinal. They now have two bites at the cherry: they can go through directly with a win over Ireland or, if they lose, they are a good shot to sneak through on net run rate.

In true Pakistan fashion, they tested our patience and tested our patience and then tested it some more until almost everyone had

given up. Everybody knew Sarfraz Ahmed needed to play ahead of somebody. Anybody. Umar Akmal, part-time wicketkeeper, had been dropping at least a catch every match. Pakistan’s team management was the only one that didn’t see it. Until this game.

Sarfraz came in, knocked off a run-a-ball 49 to give them the previously missing purpose and impetus at the start of an innings and followed it up with six catches, including the diving one-handed beauty to send back Hashim Amla after the batsman had successfully taken on every bowler until then.

Sarfraz’s bowlers bowled beautifully to provide him the opportunities to take those six catches.

Right from the first over when Mohammad Irfan got Quinton de Kock with an unplayable delivery - short of a length, on off, seaming away, bouncing extra because of Irfan’s height - the bowlers bowled with craft, aggression and acumen.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

Border Dispute with India Contained: China

Modi is expected to visit China before May 6, around the time when his government completes one year in office.

BEIJING: China today said the border dispute with India has been “contained” and the Indian elephant and Chinese dragon should “do more” to strengthen the bilateral cooperation to facilitate its settlement.

Addressing his annual press conference on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s legislature, Foreign Minis-

ter Wang Yi said a warm welcome awaited Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he makes his first visit to China later this year.

“Last September, President Xi Jinping made an historic visit to India. Picture of the two leaders working at a spinning wheel in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister, has spread far and wide in China,” Wang said in response

to a question from PTI about the India-China relations at a nationally-televised crowded press conference.

“Chinese people believe in reciprocating the courtesy of others.

I am sure when Prime Minister Modi visits China later this year, he will be warmly welcomed by the Chinese government and people,” he said.

Terming the “China-India boundary question, a legacy of history”, Wang said: “We have worked on it for many years and made some progress in the boundary negotiations.

“The dispute has been contained. At the moment, the boundary negotiations is in the process of building up small positive developments. It is like climbing a mountain and the going is tough because we are on the way up.”

“This is all the more reason that we do more to strengthen ChinaIndia cooperation so that we can

enable and facilitate the settlement of the boundary question,” he said.

Invoking one of China’s erstwhile top leaders, Deng Xiaoping who said that unless India and China are developed, there will be no Asian century, Wang said: “China is prepared to work with India to implement important agreements reached by our leaders.”

“Chinese dragon and Indian elephant should join in a duet to work for the early revitalisation of two ancient civilisations, common prosperity of the two emerging markets and amicable co-existence of two large neighbours,” he said.

Modi is expected to visit China before May 6, around the time when his government completes one year in office.

In a reciprocal gesture of a warm welcome accorded by Modi to him during his India visit last year, Xi expected to take the Indian pre-

mier to his home Shaanxi and its provincial capital Xian to showcase its development.

Officials say efforts are on to hold the 18th round of boundary talks between India and China later this month to resolve the dispute.

The talks will be held between Special Representatives, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.

China, which claims Arunachal Pradesh is part of Southern Tibet, says that the border dispute is confined to 2,000 kms mostly in the north-eastern state.

However, India asserts that the dispute covers the western side of the border spanning to about 4,000 kms including Aksai Chin area in Ladakh occupied by China in the 1962 border war.

-Indianexpress.com

Masarat Alam’s Release Not Our Decision, Hadn’t Given Consent to This: BJP

BY ARUN SHARMA JAMMU: A day after the release of senior Hurriyat leader Masarat Alam, the BJP on Sunday warned ally PDP that it would “not tolerate such things”, and asked it to refrain from taking such “unilateral” decisions.

State BJP president Jugal Kishore Sharma said they would lodge a formal protest with the PDP leadership. “We had no prior information or knowledge on his release. This is not our decision and we had not given our consent to this,” he said. “We will ask them to ensure that any decision on such controversial issues is not taken without taking the BJP into confidence as it is a major partner in the coalition government,” said Sharma.

Speaking to the media before a meeting of senior BJP leaders, including its legislators, to discuss the issue, Sharma said: “We will not tolerate such things any more

The BJP despite being a major partner in the coalition govt was not taken into confidence by the PDP in the matter

and this will be conveyed to the PDP leadership… We do not approve of his (Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s) decision to release Masarat Alam.”

Alam’s release came two days after the Chief Minister instructed the state police chief to initiate the process of releasing all political prisoners against whom there were no criminal charges.

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BJP MLA from Nowshera, Ravinder Raina, said Alam’s release was a “threat to national security”.

Accusing the CM of “plunging the state into the darkness of communalism”, he said Alam’s release was “a sinister design to hijack the verdict of the nationalist forces”.

By releasing such people, the CM and his advisors were working as “facilitators of the enemy”, he

said.

He said the BJP was prepared to sacrifice the government for the sake of national integrity and sovereignty. “The BJP will not tolerate any move aimed at playing with national security and social harmony in the already sensitive state,” he said.

However, PDP spokesman and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar told PTI that the decision was in line with the coalition’s common minimum programme. “This (Alam’s release) has to be seen in proper perspective. It is an important part of our common minimum programme to involve all stakeholders in the state, and across the Line of Control, for reconciliation and peace in the state,” he said.

“If you want to have a dialogue with all stakeholders, which includes these leaders, you cannot engage them by keeping them in jail without anything substantial against them,” he added.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers held a protest here demanding Alam’s re-arrest. State BJP secretary Yudhvir Sethi, whose wife Priya Sethi is a minister of state in the coalition government, was also present among the demonstrators.

Alam is alleged to have organised the anti-India protests of 2010 in the Valley that resulted in the death of 112 people.

This is not the first time that the BJP and PDP have differedsince their government was sworn in on March 1. Barely an hour after taking oath, the Chief Minister credited separatists and Pakistan for the smooth conduct of assembly polls in the Valley. Days later, eight PDP legislators described the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru as a “travesty of justice” and demanded the return of his mortal remains.

-Indianexpress.com

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