E newspaper04112014

Friday, April 11 2014 | Vol. 33, No. 15

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Indo American erican News

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

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Pratham Scores Big for Kids Education!

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Pratham Houston Board and Gala Chairs and Co Chairs.

Happy Vaisakhi P24

Puzzles/Recipe

Movie Review

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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3 April 11, 2014 COMMUNITY Exhuberant Holi Celebrations at Arya Samaj

Friends and family had a blast throwing dry gulal of every shade of the rainbow, at the Arya Samaj Greater Houston, gathered to celebrate Holi on Sunday, March 16.

BY ROMA S. NAYYAR HOUSTON: Neither rain nor wind could keep away the spirit of Holi at Arya Samaj this year. Despite the rain and windy weather conditions, the Arya Samaj Greater Houston community gathered to celebrate Holi with friends and family on Sunday, March 16. Everyone had a blast throwing dry gulal of every shade of the rainbow.

The day started with havan and Acharya Suryananda ji gave his

weekly sermon on Holi, on how one should try to experience all the colors of life. The children also had their weekly prayer and attended their moral education and Hindi classes at the DAV Sanskriti School (“DAVSS”). Everyone was treated to a wonderful performance prepared by DAVSS dance students to celebrate Holi. This was followed by a delicious meal of warm, fresh aloo puri, pulau, raita, red pumpkin, halwa, multicolored guldana, topped off with

hot tea, thandai as well as a cookie cake for the kids, before the Holi celebrations started.

Once the Holi celebrations kicked off, there was no stopping the festive spirit, and in a matter of minutes, everyone was smeared with every color imaginable. Pink, red, blue, green, purple, and yellow gulal filled the air along with the cry of Happy Holi, as everyone embraced and smeared color on one another. Lively music kept everyone’s energy up, and all were

treated to delicious, fresh Jalebi, made right on the spot. The young and old gathered to dance to the peppy beats of the dhol delivered

by Sh. Chidanand, smear each other with color, and celebrate Holi together.

The outstanding efforts of the AYM team were much appreciated for set-up and clean-up and many of the members had arrived at Arya Samaj an hour early to help get ready for the day’s celebrations.

The AYM volunteers worked tire-

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

lessly to coordinate and serve food, distribute colors, set everything up and deliver steaming hot cups of chai and freshly made jalebi and cake to all attending the Holi celebrations. All the hard work of the volunteers and AYM was rewarded with an amazing Holi and lots of fun for everyone. If you were unable to attend the exciting celebration this year, make sure not to miss colorful Holi at Arya Samaj in 2015!

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April 11, 2014

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

April 11, 2014

5

No Pretensions in Pratham Gala for Raising Money for Kids Education

From left: Dr. Atul Varadhachary, Outgoing President, Pratham USA, Julius and Michelle Young, Wells Fargo, Dinny Devitre, Chairman Pratham USA, Dr. Marie Goradia, President, Pratham Houston, Vijay Goradia, Founder Pratham USA, Mike Schmittlein, Wells Fargo, Dr. Madhav Chavan, Founder, Pratham India.

Gala Chair Amit Bhandari (right) gives a trophy to Keynote Speaker Leo Linbeck, III. Photos: Bijay Dixit

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: It seems like it was only yesterday when Pratham Houston held its annual Gala but here it was this past Saturday night, April 5, once again at the Hilton Americas, marking the herald of the Gala season among Indo-American charities across the Metroplex. True to its superlative calling and tremendous outreach, this year’s Gala drew out a huge crowd of about 700 guests of the brightest luminaries of the desi philanthropic society.

This year’s Gala borrowed its script from last year’s which also drew slightly less than 800, but whereas last year’s was high in theatrics with lasers shooting from the stage and bouncing off the ceiling, this year’s was decidedly less flamboyant and more subdued in keeping with the personal style and direction of the organization’s current President Dr. Marie Goradia who emphasized her goal of directing all the funds raised towards the education of the poor and deserving kids of India.

As in the past three years, this year’s Gala’s sound, lighting and projected logo arrangements were made by Brij Kathuria who has dazzled audiences with his clever

unable to see his family for three years. “Pratham convinced the factory owners to allow it to come and teach the kids once a week”, said Goradia to a rapt audience, “and then Saroj saw a glimmer of hope and wanted to read”. She explained how Pratham’s unique program teaches the illiterate to read and do simple math within two months. “ Soon, he was reading entire books from Pratham’s library … and after two years went to the School for Gifted and Talented kids and wants to be a teacher.

“Pratham opened the door for freedom for Saroj”, exclaimed Goradia, asking, “How does Pratham work this magic”? She explained that the Read India program costs only $10 per child per year and that Pratham just received the sixth annual BBVA Foundation Frontier of Knowledge Award in Madrid last month as a vote of confidence in its success in India. She passed the mike to the Keynote Speaker for the evening, Leo Linbeck, IIIrd whose family has been in the contracting and construction business in the Bayou City for three generations.

Linbeck described his encounter with the works of two researchers

and creative arrangements in several huge events and wedding receptions last year.

Pratham Houston once again had reason to be proud of its stellar track record of raising huge amounts for its cause by announcing that it had collected a record $1.4 million through this year’s Gala, just $100,000 over last year’s mark. Pratham continues to be among the top five of the 25 highest grossing charities in the Bayou City, a point driven home by the presence of the Chairman of Pratham USA, Dinny Devitre and Dr. Madhav Chavan, the CEO and founder of Pratham India, both of whom had flown in for the occasion.

“In fact, I hand carried the NRI of the Year award that is to be presented to Vijay Goradia tonight”, quipped Chavan as he stepped on the stage to say a few words.

He introduced Devitre to present the award made by India-based Times NOW Television. Vijay is the founder and chairman of Vinmar International, a distributor of chemical and polymers, but is the founder and past Chairman of Pratham USA. “I’d like to thank the Academy for this award”, quipped an elated Goradia bor-

rowing a line from the Oscars, as he clutched the slender, angelic looking gold-colored statue.

After the hub-bub of the social hour over hors de’ourves by Dawat Catering, who also catered the dinner, the crowded second floor lobby spilled into the adjoining large main banquet hall and without fanfare were entertained by the dancers of Naach Houston in an energetic Bollywood dance number choreographed by the team headed by its Artistic Director Mahesh Mahbubani. The other entertainment for the evening after dinner was by the Fred Astaire Dance Studio which performed several numbers, including a tango.

After a brief welcome by emcee Rekha Muddaraj – who also did last year’s Gala – the KHOU Channel 11 news anchor, the major speech of the evening was delivered by Marie Goradia who related the story of a young, poor boy Saroj, who typifies the type of child that Pratham has helped over its existence for 20 years.

Goradia tugged at the heartstrings as she narrated the tale of Saroj from the lap of a happy, loving family which couldn’t make ends meet to his brutal treatment as a factory worker in the slums,

in the functioning of the brain and how he related it to the work that Pratham was doing. In an amusing and often rambling way, Linbeck explained how the brain latches onto a System One – which is fast and lazy, akin to robodriving to your house - to grasp easier ideas and a System Two – which is slow but rational - for the more complicated ones. “Pratham gives opportunities too participate in governance from which people would be locked out – this is scaleable and replicable and is System One”, he explained. “System Two centralizes power but education pulls back the control over their lives”, he added as the thrust of his hypothesis.

The evening gave out an award to the retiring Pratham USA President Dr. Atul Varadhachary for his immense, dedicated efforts for the organization. When Goradia opened the floor for a pledge drive and live auction, almost $50,000 was raised to add to the Gala’s total. The event ended with the Gala Chairs, Arpita and Amit Bhandari expressing their thanks for the huge outpouring of support for the event and recognition of all twenty-eight of Pratham Houston’s Board members.

Indo American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly every Friday (for a subscription of $40 per year) by IndoAmerican News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036., tel: 713-789-6397, fax:713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com.

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April 11, 2014

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and private sector including Houston Mayor Annise Parker and the City of Houston’s Chief Procurement Officer and Director of the Office of Business Opportunity. Jagdip Ahluwalia is also a Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum, a Rotarian and a graduate of Leadership Houston.

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April 11, 2014

9

Indian Muslims Association of Greater Houston Launches Youth Alliance

HOUSTON: The South Asian Youth Alliance (SAYA) is a secular organization being launched on April 27, under the umbrella of the Indian Muslims Association of Greater Houston (IMAGH).

IMAGH was organized with three main objectives; community outreach, serve senior citizens, and assist young adults become important contributors to society.

SAYA, will be the first organization, run FOR and BY the young adults of the South Asian community. It is anticipated that 16 to 25 year olds will be its members and 25+year olds will run the organization.

The goal is to make this group as effective and attractive for young adults as possible. It will help develop leadership skills, have a South Asian peer network, and

learn about its roots and cultural heritage. The main criterion is to learn while having fun.

GOALS & EVENTS The major focus of SAYA will be to engage young adults to promote social, educational, and cultural responsibilities by becoming more involved in the community activities. Members of SAYA will be planning and executing most of its activities, as it is intended to be an organization run for and by the youth. Some of the activities planned include the following: Story/Video Project One of their visions is to develop a relationship between the youth and the seniors of the South Asian community. This opportunity will provide educational opportunities that benefit all age groups. The youth will document the experi-

ences of the seniors and eventually showcase their presentation at a formal event.

Cultural Roots In addition to the story/video project, SAYA would like to provide opportunities for today’s youth to learn about their cultural heritage, history, native language

and other culturally driven aspects via informal events and workshops.

Education & Social Mentorship SAYA aims to create a dialogue between the youth and slightly older young adults who have just completed college or have been in the workforce for a few years. This will allow the youth to ask questions directly to those who have recently gone through the process.

Peer Support Group Most importantly, SAYA’s main aim is to make it a fun-filled interactive group, where young adults of South Asian heritage can meet and socialize with similar and like-

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minded individuals.

SAYA will be launched on Sunday, April 27. Entrepreneur, Rahil Jafry is the motivational speaker and Comedian Sai Ranade will provide the entertainment.

Dr. Moyeen Haque is the Chair of SAYA, while Irfana Hussain, Mohammed Khan, Khushboo Bansal, Adeelah Nasser, Hafeeza Shaik, Joel Kurien, and Zain Hussain are the young adults providing the leadership.

For further information, call Latafath at 713-269-6171 or Email: saya@imagh.org or find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SAYouthAlliance

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COMMUNITY

April 11, 2014

11

Chaai Pe Charcha Comes to Houston

Chaai Pe Charcha at Shekhar Agarwal’s residence.

BY MALAY VYAS HOUSTON: The Biggest Democracy returns to the voting booth. Ballots are ready, candidates’ names have been printed and election officials are ready to mark the dark dot on about a few million fore fingers as India votes in 2014. If there’s an election jamboree in India, how can Houston’s NRI community be far behind?

Shekhar Agrawal, the president of Patanjali Yogpith USA has his fingers on the pulse of the Indian election scenario. Avid follower of Swami Ramdev, Agrawal hosted a “Chai Pe Charcha� political meet at his residence. “Chai Pe Charcha� or “Discussion over tea� has

become a political forum in India overflowing on to NRI’s all over the world. Centered on Narendra Modi’s candidature as the future Prime Minister of India, Chaai Pe Charcha groups support the BJP’s effort in this general election.

The Chai Pe Charcha group in Houston supports Narendra Modi and believes in having a corruption free government in India. There are over a thousand volunteers in Houston itself who support this Political forum and want Modi as the next Prime Minister of India.

Going a step further, there are a few Houstonians who have taken time off their work and gone to In-

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dia to support the political party of their choice.

The Chaai Pe Charcha at Shekhar Agarwal’s residence included Ramesh Bhutada, Gitesh Desai (National Coordinator) and Sharad Amin (Houston coordinator) along with other friends and supporters.

The general idea was to garner support for BJP and Modi as the prime minister by calling up their friends and relatives in India.

One thing is for sure, whatever party comes into power – the people of India are the ultimate winners as they continue to exercise their basic right – the right to vote.

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12 April 11, 2014 COMMUNITY Ketaki Kushari Dyson Speaks for TSH Fundraiser

BY SANCHALI BASU HOUSTON: The tone for the evening was set with a very soothing opening devotional Rabindra hymn by Shyama Mishra and as guests helped themselves to Fish Amritsari, vegetable kababs and wine, the Tagore Society of Houston’s (TSH) annual fundraiser got off to a good start at India House on April 5.

Following the welcoming speech by President Ruma Acharya thanking all the donors, dignitaries and well-wishers, the keynote speaker Ketaki Kushari Dyson was introduced by emcee Sanchali Basu. Due to health challenges she was unable to fly to Houston from London, but had sent her recorded speech for viewing. Ketaki Kushari Dyson, a poet, novelist, playwright, essayist, translator, scholar, and critic was born

in Calcutta in 1940 and has First Class degrees in English Literature from both Calcutta and Oxford. She also holds a doctorate from Oxford. She settled in England after her marriage to an Englishman, but did not give up writing in her first language. She has maintained links with Bengal’s literary life for over half a century and is regarded as an outstanding Bengali writer of her generation. She is the author of over thirty titles in her two languages, including works on Tagore.

She referred to Tagore as the colossus still emitting energy, and the extent to which he had impacted her life. Tagore’s last year on this earth coincided with her birth year. The legacy that he has left behind has become part of her identity. She mentioned how his words came as easily as leaves to trees and how relevant he still is to the modern world.

His poetry sprang from the inner depths of his soul and was an expansion of his core identity. That he was a thinker and activist, his paintings, novels, dance dramas, music, philosophy and politics, all stemmed from the fact that he was a poet first. He definitely needs more international recognition and language has no international profile and should not be a barrier. She emphasized the need to look at Tagore’s life and work holistically, when we present him in an international context and not view him in fragments.

She was available for a lively discussion via skype from London and was able to answer questions from the audience.

Chandana Guha did a brief overview of the society’s activities over the past year, the highlight being the unveiling of the Tagore statue at the Tagore grove in the energy corridor of Houston. Besides the various cultural programs including classical music nights, the Passport scholarship program was discussed. The essay contest on a Tagore quote for high school students last year had a huge response and drew contestants from all over the country.

An excellent audio visual put together by Sailaja Bandyopadhyay, about the plight of the “Baul” community in Bengal, who the society is trying to help was presented while a 6 course dinner was served. The future plans of the society were discussed. Asoke Dey Sarkar and Ruma Acharya provided updates on the Baul project. After their visit to West Bengal, the government there is willing to help in procuring land to build a Baul village to provide basic amenities, sanitation, treatment and self-sustaining facilities for the very needy community. TSH is planning on starting by sending crates of clothes to them.

The next dream project of the society is to build a Tagore Center in the heart of Houston, which will house Tagore’s art, have its own library and presentation hall/auditorium. TSH is in the process of finding a suitable location and a grant from the county.

The fundraising dynamic duo of Gopendu Chakrabarti and Jayanta Bandyopadhyay did a fantastic job of raising money to meet the needs of the society to embrace Tagore‘s vision of building a world where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.

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COMMUNITY

Kanya Sutra: The Essence of Womanhood

Gopika Balakrisha

KATY: Kanya Sutra, The poetry of womanhood took place on Saturday April 5 in Katy. On an evening where fine arts lovers had plenty of other choices, the program drew a large eclectic crowd of music, dance and theater enthusiasts. The Bharatnatyam dance theater production is the first ever to explore parallels between a woman’s life hundreds of years ago, and the present. By weaving a tapestry of various strands, music, dance, poetry and contemporary narrative, Kanya Sutra took its audience on a journey both nostalgic and futuristic by asking the age old question “What has changed?”

This novel idea conceptualized by Gopika Balakrisha explored a woman’s journey starting with the innocent freedom of childhood and coming full circle in the freedom of peace in solitude. The presentation shifted the spotlight between the right and left sides of the stage, alternating the viewer‘s

Neeta Patwardhan

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attention between ancient poetry in the form of Bharatnatyam dance delivered with masterful finesse by Gopika Balakrishna and compelling contemporary narrative by Neeta Patwardhan. Comparing the past and present through various life stages, Kanya Sutra rendered a vivid mosaic, illustrating the essence of womanhood.

Drawing on poetry from the 15th through 19th century and a relevant debate on the role of social media in the lives of teenagers and mothers in 2014, the intelligently crafted performance highlighted love as a common thread that stitches various chapters of womanhood into one common book of essential truths.

The program also included traditional Nritta items Jaithiswaram and Thillana, the hallmark of a traditional Bharatnatyam performance.

Visual images rendered compassionately through the subtle nuances of Abhinaya by Gopika Balakrishna and thought provoking prose by Neeta Patwardhan complemented and contrasted each other deftly.

Luckmi Pawa made an enthusiastic and engaging emcee for the evening.

The event was in support of Ekal Vidyalaya.

April 11, 2014

17

ੴ ਸਿਤਗੁਰ ਪ�ਸਾਿਦ ॥

Many Congratulations on the occasion of Khalsa Foundation Day and Vaisakhi

Kirtan Program and Sports Events On the occasion of Khalsa Foundation Day Sikh National Center will hold Kirtan Diwans.

Builder: Turner Construction Architects of Record: P.G.A.L (Houston, TX)

Design Architect: Mandeep S. Kohli (India) Area: 38,000 Sq. Ft.

Akhand Path Seva by: Sampuran Singh, Gurminder Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Padda Family, Kamaljit Singh Rai, Gurbir Singh Boparai, Balwant Singh and Hitpal Singh Sandhar, Harjit Singh Galhotra, Jasvir Singh Soodan, Mann Family, Satbir Singh Rana, Gurmeet Singh Saini, Navdeep and Daljit Randhawa, Neena and Parminder Gill, Jaswinder and Mandeep Cheema, Bhinder and Inder Cheema, Harjit and Gurdeep Mundi, Gurjit and Vikram Cheema, Asha and Ram Hooda, Satwant Baasi and family, Simarpal Singh Grewal and Family, Narinder Kaur Brar, Daljit Singh, Shamsher Singh, Aman Singh Sidhu, Charanjit Singh Sandhu, Balkar Singh Hayer, Dr. Satbir Singh Chhina, Inderpal Singh, Gajjan Singh, Narinder Singh Nagra, Amarjit Singh Kalkat, Dr. Hardam Azad, Sumer Singh Pinglia, Mohan Singh Grewal, Manjit Singh Dhindsa, Hardev Singh Mand, Teerath Singh Khera, Jagar Singh Jassar, Kamal Otal, Terlochan Singh, Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Rajwant Singh Gill, Gurdev Singh Sidhu, Gagan Singh Mann INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

18 April 11, 2014

EDITORIAL

Power of the Ballot

The 2014 general election kicked off in India on April 7 in the country’s North-East (NE) and the region gave the country a robust and rollicking start.

On Monday, nearly 6 million people cast their votes in six constituencies in Assam and Tripura. The voter turnout was 74% in Assam and 85% in Tripura and is expected to rise once the final numbers come in.

Interestingly, the first day of the polling, April 7, has a different legacy: On this day in 1979, the rebel group United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) was formed in the state and at the height of insurgency, the outfit would exhort people — and often use violence to put pressure on them – to boycott polls.

But today, free from the threat of Ulfa, the people of Assam have shown what they firmly believe: The power of the ballot.

It is also heartening to hear what people had to say in Tripura, which is thousands of kilometres from the political hotspot of Delhi and has only two MPs, on why they voted so enthusiastically: For continued peace in the state and that it is their moral and political duty to vote.

Encouraging words indeed and many parts of India, especially the urban areas, can surely learn from them.

In an ongoing e-debate on why Indians have started voting in large numbers, London School of Economics academics Mukulika Banerjee and Sumantra Bose say that people’s motivations to vote can be divided between”instrumental reasons” and”expressive reasons”.

The instrumentality of patronage, the desire to vote for politicians in order to secure development projects, these are all strong motivators.

But then, according to the two, there are more qualitative reasons too. And these become apparent when voters say things like”my vote is my weapon”, or when they use their ballots to punish politicians.

But finally, they say, all this fervor could boil down to one single issue: They vote to experience one aspect of democracy that is only “apparent in India on voting day—equality”.

Hindustan Times

World According to BJP and Congress

BY C. RAJA MOHAN Foreign policy is rarely central to elections anywhere in the world. It is no surprise, then, that the foreign policy sections in the manifestos put out by the Congress and BJP seem an after-thought. Both end up with a long laundry list of disparate propositions. Marginal though they are, the manifestos do offer a peep into the dominant worldview of the Congress and the BJP. Both are disappointing in their inability to comprehend the central imperative of India’s foreign policy—the extraordinary international interdependence that defines India’s contemporary condition.

Nearly a quarter of a century after the launch of economic reforms, more than 50% of the Indian economy is tied up to imports and exports. India imports 90% of its hydrocarbon requirements and a growing share of its coal consumption from abroad. The welfare and progress of the Indian people have never depended so much on what happens beyond its borders. And as the 10th-largest economy, India too matters to the world more than ever before. That is one reason why there is so much global interest in these elections.

Yet, the assumptions guiding the Congress and the BJP are rooted in a different era. The challenge for India is no longer about preventing the world from impinging on its choices, but to using its growing economic and political weight to shape the external environment to its benefit.

The foreign policy section of the Congress manifesto is bizarre in its talk about solidarity with “socialist” countries and reveals the make-believe world of the party’s leadership. The BJP manifesto is not up to speed either. Although some of the new ideas outlined by the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, over the last few months did find their way in, the manifesto is quite clearly a triumph for the old guard that is so out of touch with the world.

One new theme in the BJP manifesto is the call, articulated often

by Modi, to make the states part-

The challenge for India is no longer about preventing the world from impinging on its choices, but using its growing economic and political weight to shape the external environment to its benefit. ners in the execution of Indian foreign policy. Coming from the BJP, with its traditional emphasis on centralisation, the emphasis on the role of states is somewhat counter-intuitive. It comes amid mounting concerns in Delhi’s foreign policy establishment that the Congress party has weakened the Centre’s hand and ceded a veto to the states, especially Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

The Congress reserves its longest paragraph in the foreign policy section to Sri Lanka as a bow to pressures from Tamil Nadu. Rather than attack the Congress for its appeasement of states, Modi wants to make the state chief ministers allies in boosting Indian diplomacy.

The proposition holds much promise, but needs to be fleshed out in greater detail.

A second innovation in the BJP manifesto is the idea of crafting a “web of alliances” to boost India’s weight on the global stage. It stands in contrast to Congress’s obsession with the traditional conception of non-alignment. To be sure, the BJP seems to share the Congress’s aversion to alliances with big powers like the United States. In fact, neither party mentions relations with the US. The Congress talks about improving relations with all major powers and the BJP says Indian foreign policy will not be led by the big powers.

But what about alliances with middle powers and smaller states

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that are seeking greater security cooperation with India? Delhi established treaty-based alliances with its smaller Himalayan neighbours and defence cooperation with middle powers like Indonesia and Egypt in the Nehru years.

More recently, India has signed up for strategic partnerships with a number of countries in the extended neighborhood.

The UPA government has talked the talk, but has been afraid to walk the walk. The reluctance of the defence ministry under A.K. Antony has prevented a vigorous pursuit of military diplomacy. The drift in the economic ministries has undermined Delhi’s ability to develop significant strategic economic cooperation with India’s partners. Building a web of Indian alliances in Africa, Asia and the Indian Ocean is a big idea whose time has come.

A third important element, a strategic conception of the subcontinent, finds some expression in the Congress manifesto, which says deeper economic engagement with the neighbours is “critical for realising the true potential of the region”. The BJP criticises the Congress for the recent drift in the relations with the neighbours, but offers little more than the assertion that it will “pursue friendly relations” with all neighbours.

The emphasis is on projecting a muscular regional policy: “where required we will not hesitate from taking strong stand and steps”.

But bravado is not a substitute for a comprehensive neighbourhood strategy. One would have assumed that the BJP would highlight the regional dimensions of Modi’s domestic focus on economic development. Instead, the BJP has spewed tough rhetoric on illegal migration from Bangladesh, is unwilling to back a transformation in the ties with Dhaka that the Congress pursued but could not finish, and is unable to focus on trans-border connectivity and regional economic integration. The manifesto has only revealed the BJP’s lack of a grand strategy for the region. Indian Express

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20 April 11, 2014

COMMUNITY

Fighting Diabetes Through Yoga

National Movement Launch by Sewa International and SVYASA

HOUSTON: Sewa International in partnership with SVYASA-USA (Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana) Houston center, had launched the Stop Diabetes Movement (SDM) – a fight against diabetes through Yoga.

In the first of the series of six camps that concluded at Katy, Houston, 11 pre-diabetic and diabetic participants attended the 20 hour yoga therapy sessions over a ten day period. The sessions were conducted by trained yoga therapists under the guidance of Dr. Sudha Rajan, president of SVYASA-USA. In addition to yoga, participants were also taken through specially designed practices for managing diabetes, and, guided through personalized changes in diet and lifestyle.

The spirit and enthusiasm of the participants was very encouraging and has reinforced the purpose with which the program was conceived

and planned. Speaking on the occasion, Arun Kankani, Executive VP and COO of Sewa International, said “This program has given us immense confidence and we are all set to make the remaining five programs in Houston even more successful with a larger participation” By adhering to the simple regime, easy to perform exercises and practices, the participants saw significant improvements towards the end of the program. Pre and post workshop results of participants showed a visible change in their Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) and Post Prandial Blood sugar (PPBS) levels. The average FBS and PPBS levels of participants improved by 4.4% and 8.8% respectively.

A phenomenal improvement in pre and post workshop results was observed in one participant: 34% in FBS and 37 % in PPBS levels.

Stop Diabetes Movement origi-

nated at SVYASA, Yoga University in Bangalore, India. Through systematic research of 30 years, comprehensive yoga modules have been established that have shown measurable improvement in the various complications associated with Diabetes. The program has been proven to reduce cholesterol and reduce dependence on medicines as well as reduce anxiety and depression associated with the disease. VYASA centers in Houston and Los Angeles have started similar programs on a pilot basis this month. Based on the efficacy and success of this program in these cities, it will be expanded to other cities in USA. Next SDM at Keshav Smruti in Houston starts on Friday May 23.

Contact info-sdm@sewausa.org for further information and preregistration.

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HOUSTON: India House is a nonprofit 510 (C) (3) organization and to “Promote diversity - Create a place where Indians and non-Indians are welcome regardless of their regional and socioeconomic background”, India House in partnership with the Chao Center for Asian Studies at Rice University, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Korean American Society of Houston will be screening an award winning English Film “Koryo Saram – The Unreliable People” at O.P. Jindal Center, 8888 West Bellfort, Houston TX 77031 on Tuesday, April 15 at 6:00 pm.

The filmmaker, director, and artist Y. David Chung will give a talk on the making of Koryo Saram. This screening is part of My Voice Would Reach You: Capital.Art.Culture: Contem-

porary Art and Asia, a festival of arts, poetry, and exhibitions in Houston, April 10-21, 2014. It is a free event and all are welcome. Registration is required at http://www.indiahouseinc.org/events The India House vision is universal.

Instigated to “promote Indian culture and values by providing social, cultural, recreational and community programs, thereby showcasing the Indian community, and raising awareness about Indian culture in the local community,” For further details about their weekly activities visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/indiahouse or email at info@indiahouseinc.org or call: 713-929-1900. They are located at 8888 West Bellfort, Houston, TX 77031.

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Read us online at www.indoamerican-news.com INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

TRAVEL

April 11, 2014

21

India’s Micro Entrepreneurs Run the Daily Service Economy

A cycle rickshaw wallah

The watch repair wallah

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA NEW DELHI, India: In India, one realizes that there are as many possibilities to eke out a living as there are desires in the realm of the imagination. And since the vast majority of the population is below the poverty level and serves the economic classes above them, they have discovered ways to make money by breaking many chores down to the basics and offering them at a palatable price. It is a division of labor in the micro-entrepreneurial cosmos that is mostly selffinanced on a shoe-string or is commission or fee based and the game of getting the most rupees for the day’s work is played out every moment of the day on the streets in plain sight without pretensions or shame.

Take our apartment complex, for example, which is not unlike many others which are made of tall buildings and inside a brick property wall.

Several nokranis (maids) provide domestic help in cleaning and making meals on an hourly basis and have their appointed flats. There are two presswallahs (ironing people) who send their kids around every morning to all the flats to see if they have clothes to iron. The man outside the wall with a small slapped together kiosk sells small knick-knacks and snacks that you might need. Next to him is the sabziwallah (vegetable man) with his own rolling cart. In the corner is a Mother Diary kiosk – barely 6 by 5 ft run by a man and his son, selling milk, butter, bread and other refrigerated items.

On the other side of the gate is a mochi (cobbler), under the shade of a tree and behind him a darzi (tailor) who rolls his machine under the tree at night. A few men wipe cars clean with wet rags every morning and the priest in the small room in the front

conducts prayers and services a few times a day. A scavenger – we call him kabadiwallah – comes by once a week to pick through the discarded items to see what can be salvaged and sold. He also offers money for old throwaway items as well as paper and cardboard. The bartanwallah (utensils man) carries a wicker basket full of steel pots, pans, plates and glasses which he trades and sells for old clothes and utensils.

By the Metro Rail Station, the rickshaw wallahs come in several varieties – cycle, battery and scooter – each with their own rate per kilometer and estimates of fares and the eggwallah makes boiled eggs, omlettes and batter fried toasts; across from him, the chaiwallah (tea man) brews hot cups from an enormous aluminum tea kettle over a gas stove. Across the road, the roadside mini-mechanic fixes punctured tire and does brake jobs, next to the service station that sells petrol and CNG (compressed natural gas).

Around the corner, the narialwallah (coconut man) sells green coconuts, splitting them open to drink; another man sells watermelons; a raydiwallah (cartman) sells cooked chickpeas and fried bread and a bansuriwallah (flute man) plays a bamboo flute from the stack he sells. At the corner is a phoolwallah (flower man) who sells fresh flowers and bouquets and garlands. Further up, a nai (barber) has set up his chair and mirror under a tarp. A different kabadiwallah only collects scraps of cloth and takes it to some sewing houses to be made into sheets and quilts. The juicewallah (juice man) sells a variety of freshly squeezed juices at his stand; but a different one squeezes five-foot long sugar cane stalks at his rolling cart for juice through huge, dangerous looking gear driven wheels. A distance away, a talewallah (locksmith) sells a huge variety of locks, chains and keys and next to him, a loyewallah (metalsmith) will weld and bend all sorts of metals.

A few provide even more personal services. Every evening, Kanti Lal goes to different flats to give Indian style body and head massages, from 7 in the morning till 10 at night, with a four hour afternoon snooze in between. Lata has a busy schedule doing hairdesigns, and nails in her client’s homes. In the center of the city, a man offers his services to clean ears and another sells secondhand books, on which he’ll refund 50 per cent of the cost once they are returned.

And, the all-important and ubiquitous tutors will guide your child through school, giving tuitions either at your home or their own.

In the Indian landscape – as in many undeveloped and impoverished countries - the great sublimer of Life is the realization that one has an obligation to allow everyone to exist within the walks and norms of the strata of society into which you CONTINUED ON PAGE

Read us online at www.indoamerican-news.com

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22 April 11, 2014

COMMUNITY/TRAVEL

Zeeshan On Air Hits the Air Waves

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HOUSTON: Zeeshan On Air radio was launched with much enthusiasm and exceptional response on Saturday, April 5 at 6pm on 95.1 FM and 1460 AM. Zeeshan Ishaq is back on air waves after a hiatus of several years as he was out of state due to his Corporate job. Zeeshan was pleased and escatatic as he received a lot of welcome back messages on/off air, SMS text messages including in person studio visits.

Zeeshan thanked everyone including all great businesses who

have trusted him over 19 years ago for more than a decade during his first gig on radio as founder of Radio Naya Andaz.

Zeeshan said that every radio host, RJ is doing a wonderful job and that’s why they have people listening to them. However, Zeeshan On Air on the other hand will be a game changer in the radio business and airwaves due to Zeeshan’s creative and dynamic personality and proffessional radio programming because this is not a typical commercial radio that we get to hear in our great space city

Houston.

He has already started a 15 to 20 minutes Current Affairs and Talk Show that he likes to call “CATS” with Zeeshan On Air with a panel of five professional common men who held a very unique discussion with factual details about current Indian elections at 7pm on 95.1 FM / 1460 AM. CATS will be continued on an ongoing basis as community response was overwhelming.

“This is just the begining and we are just getting our engines started”, said Zeeshan. Zeeshan On Air radio has music, unique style of radio hosting with complete audience interaction and not to mention a radio program on Houston’s first and only FM station 95.1 Zeeshan On Air is an Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, South Asian community radio show that airs every Saturday and Sunday from 6pm till 9pm. With Zeeshan’s radio magic, he is already uniting our community once again. So, welcome back Zeeshan and best of luck in your complete new style of sensible radio programming for common person while hosting Zeeshan On Air radio!

For further details visit ZeeshanOnAir.com or call Zeeshan Ishaq at 713-835-5552.

India’s Micro Entrepreneurs Run the Daily Service Economy

A sugracane juice wallah

The moochi or cobbler CONTINUED FROM PAGE

21

are born and then say prayers for the Lord’s benedictions and protection.

You comprehend that, even within the daily drudgery and grind, through

every day of an unceasing cycle of seasons, repetitive events create a comfort zone in which everybody accepts their lot and plays their part in the unending drama and spectacle

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

of Life.

Out in the streets, the main ingredient in the urban Indian landscape is people and the interactions between them; and the acceptance that Indians cannot live without the reassurance, dialogue and comfort of these connections. It is a universal truth that people beget more people, that they congregate wherever there is a crowd, that someone this coalescence of the body public makes others feel alive, whether it is a plaza in Paris or Times Square or a mall in Manila. This holds doubly true for India, where people never stop showing up at all places, at any time and the streets are full of those who sleep (and live) there at night and those who are packing up shop for the day.

This huge block of people is at once India’s strength: with so many minds thinking up solutions to the all sorts of problems, and working on the means to produce wealth at all levels of the economy, it is no wonder that Indians are brilliant at finances and highly creative in the arts. But it is also India’s weakness, with nearly 40 per cent of the population 30 years and younger, so many young people seek opportunities that they cannot realize for lack of jobs, lack of money and tough access for upward mobility.

This is why so many – as estimated 35 million – Indians live overseas and many more yearn to work in foreign lands. And for those who can’t get the opportunity, Bollywood weaves elaborate song and dance fantasy movies for the masses to, at least for a few hours, glimpse and vicariously live the good life.

23

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PUZZLES/ RECIPE

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Mama’s Punjabi Recipes

Shalgam di Kurry (Turnip Curry) Very few people actually enjoy eating turnips, because they say they don’t like the slightly radish taste and smell or the texture that is between cooked squash, onion and sweet potato. For this reason, it is really hard to make many people eat shalgam (turnips) without adding more spices to help to remove some of its offsetting taste.

In fact, when my children were little, we would read a short kid’s story called “Shalgam, shalgam Phir Bhi Na Ukada” (The Dear Little Turnip Just Couldn’t be Yanked Out) about a family which all pulls together, down to the family cat and house mouse to pull out a huge turnip from the ground. They still quote it whenever I make turnips, which they associate as an undesirable vegetable! But they have gotten used to eating this dish and the shredded turnips dish.

Turnips are a hardy root vegetable that is tolerant of harsh, extreme weather conditions and is found growing wild in some places like Siberia, where it is cooked in many local dishes. Turnips are high in vitamins and antioxidants and are said to control and reduce the risk of certain cancers and also decrease the chances of diabetes, hypertension and obesity. It is also great for the digestive system.

The most popular way to eat turnips in North India is in a pickle with gajjar (carrots) and gobi (cauliflower).

The mustard seed oil, along with fennel seeds and other spices adds tenderness and flavor. In the Punjab, turnips can be cooked shredded or as a curry, but as they cook very easily and quickly, it is important that the curry version does not turn to mush, which is the reason why so many people refuse to eat this dish.

Ingredients: • 5 medium shalgam (turnips) • 2 medium pyaaz (onion) – peeled and finely chopped • 1 tablespoon adrak (ginger) – peeled and finely chopped • 2 cloves lasan (garlic) – peeled and finely chopped • 1 small tamater (tomato) – soft, cut in cubes • 6 tablespoons of vegetable

turnips and add to the masala, stirring thoroughly, adding a half cup of water and cover over medium heat. Check frequently if the turnips have become tender.

4. When they are quite tender, add a cup of water to and let the turnips boil for 5 minutes. Now turn the heat to low and let it simmer for 10 minutes so that the curry thickens, stirring occasionally.

•

or olive oil Spices (to taste): namak (salt), mirch (red pepper), haldi (turmeric), dhania (coriander) powder

Directions: 1.

Wash and dry the turnips, then peel and cut them into small 1 inch cubes and place them in a bowl of water to keep from turning color.

2. Heat 4 tablespoons of oil over medium heat in a kadai (wok) or skillet, then add the tomato onions, garlic and ginger and stir continuously to make sure it doesn’t burn. The garlic and ginger bring out the full flavor of the turnips. When the mixture is slightly brown, add the spices and stir well.

3.

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 WHAT TO DO WITH SPOILT MILK Sometimes, you might find that the milk has gone bad in the refrigerator and has curdled. You could be tempted to throw it away, but there is a silver lining to this, especially if it is whole milk. This is an old Indian cooking trick that many young people here are probably not familiar with, and the older people just can’t be bothered with, but with a little patience and effort you can make use of that bad milk.

Take the bad milk from the jug and pour it into a large pot or wok. Place it over high heat and let it come to a simmer, stirring constantly. Add half a cup of white vinegar and stir some more for 5 minutes. The milk will separate into paneer and a thin, yellowish fluid. Place a soft, porous muslin or cotton cloth over a sieve and secure the edges so that they do not fall in. Now pour the mixture through the cloth and let the liquid drain, catching all the cheese, and let it drain for a few minutes. Gather all the ends of the cloth and tie together, forming a ball with a tight knot and let the ball drain over a pot or in an undisturbed area. Once no more liquid drains, open the cloth and you will have white paneer!

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Now throw in the cubed

5. Turn the heat off and let the pot sit covered for 10 minutes.

The shalgam di kurry is ready to eat. It tastes best with tandoori roti or crispy plain paranthas.

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ENTERTAINMENT Movie Review: Main Tera Hero

BY ANUPAMA CHOPRA I like to tell people that I was a fan of David Dhawan movies long before it was cool to be a fan of David Dhawan movies. I truly enjoyed the inspired lunacy, the nonsensical narrative, the determinedly cheesy sensibility and of course Govinda, who was a riot of colours and expressions.

So my ardent hope was that in Main Tera Hero, David, working for the first time with his talented son Varun, would recreate some of that madness and magic. There are a few moments in the film that took me back to the good old days — there is a running gag about a dreaded gangster, played by Anupam Kher, talking in echoes because he grew up in the mountains.

There’s also a superbly funny moment when the gangster’s sexy fiancée thinks that two men in her house are gay. But mostly, Main Tera Hero is loud and tiring. The film is undemanding but also deflating. You laugh sporadically but you leave the theatre exhausted instead

of energised.

Main Tera Hero is dumbed down by design. I have no issues with that.

My problem is that the frenzied plot didn’t deliver enough funny lines.

The burden of making this enterprise work rests mostly with Varun, who is as hyper as a helium-filled energiser bunny. He romances, dances, punches and does comedy like his life depended on it. Meanwhile, the two svelte heroines — Ileana D’Cruz and Nargis Fakhri — simper about looking sexy.

David believes in equal-opportunity objectification, so the camera caresses the girls as much as it does Varun’s six-pack abs. They are all lovely to look at. I just wish it had been more interesting. At the end of the film, the gangster’s sidekick exclaims: “Jaise ghar ki chhatt ko roof kehte hain, jaise saboot ko English mein proof kehte hain, vaise har language main aap jaison ko bewaqoof kehte hain.” Bewakoof aptly describes us viewers.

-Hindustantimes

April 11, 2014

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Review: Sonu Nigam Mesmerises Dubai

BY MANJARI SAXENA When you are asked to review an artist’s show for the third time, you wonder what new things can you talk about. But if it is Sonu Nigam and you are promised ‘a rollercoaster ride’, you know you’ll come out of it with a head reeling with excitement.

At the Dubai Tennis Stadium, with the Klose To My Soul show organised by Oberoi Middle East — an offshoot of last year’s sold out Klose to My Heart at the same venue — the Indian National Award-winning Bollywood singer took the audience on a ‘soulful’ journey with his rocking tribute to his country’s singing legends and only a few of his own Bollywood numbers.

The evening was opened by Canadian singer Jonita Gandhi, who broke into Bollywood with Chennai Express last year. Gandhi alternated with Nigam’s younger sister Teesha, who sang the title song of Singh Sahab The Great (2013), singing Asha Bhosle hits Aao Huzoor Tumko (Kismat, 1968), Aaiye Meherbaan (Howrah Bridge, 1958), Raat Akeli Hai (Jewel Thief, 1967) and O Mere Sona Re (Teesri Manzil, 1966). I was expecting Gandhi and Teesha to continue for another quarter of an hour but 15 minutes into the show, the star was on the stage, launching straight into Taron Mein Sajke Apne Suraj Se Milne, a forgotten song — must remember to update my collection — sung by Mukesh in the film Jal Bin Machchli Nritya Bin Bijli (1971), quickly following this soulful number with Moham-

mad Rafi’s peppy Gulabi Aankhen Jo Teri Dekheen (The Train, 1970) and Kishore Kumar’s romantic Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat (Teen Deviyan, 1965).

Nigam sang several hit numbers back to back by the three legends, rarely breaking for breath. The cheering audience couldn’t seem to get enough of him, singing along with him when he put the microphone towards them and clapping when he gestured.

He then called his sister to sing Chup Chup Ke from Bunty Aur Babli (2005) and Chori Chori Chupke Se Aake Meri Aankhon Mein Sama Ja (Lucky, 2005) with Gandhi — two numbers he claimed he’d not sung on stage before.

“I wonder why I didn’t include these in my list before,” he said as he began to sing Jaane Nahin Denge from the 2009 mega blockbuster 3 Idiots. “Guess I was waiting a for a Klose To My Soul to sing them.

“I’ve chosen to sing these [old] songs not just as a tribute to the legends of Indian film music but because many of these songs have been originally played by the members of my band. I am honoured to be performing with musicians of such calibre.”

The tribute continued with special sections for R.D. Burman, where Nigam recreated the magic by singing songs the composer had sung himself, such as Samundar Mein Naha Ke (Pukar, 1983) and Mehbooba Mehbooba (Sholay, 1975) and after the interval to Manna Dey with Laga Chunri Mein Daag (Dil Hi To

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Hai, 1963) and Poochho Na Kaise Maine Rayn Bitai (Meri Surat Teri Aankhen, 1963) and Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli (Anand, 1971).

But not before he remembered his mother, who passed away last year. She attended all his shows in Dubai. “I have my two sisters, my wife, my children, my father all sitting here. But I don’t have my mother. She’s my soul,” said a tearful Nigam, singing Mujhe Tum Yaad Aaye (originally sung by Mohammad Rafi in Taqdeer, 1971, and sung by Nigam in his tribute album to Rafi) and leaving many in the audience dewy-eyed, before “getting back to work!”

What pleasantly surprised me was him singing Lata Mangeshkar’s Ruke Ruke Se Qadam (Mausam, 1975) and Mai Ri Main Kaise Kahoon (Dastak, 1970). He also sang the duet Aaj Ki Raat (Don, 2006) in both the male and female voices, proving he’s truly the ‘lord of the chords’.

The last half-hour of the show was dedicated to fans’ requests and Nigam ended the show by obliging them with his all-time hits Suraj Hua Madham (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, 2001), Tumko Bhi Hai Pata and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006), Tanhai (Dil Chahta Hai, 2001), Abhi Mujhme Kahin Baki Thodi Si Hai Zindagi (Agneepath, 2012) and the epic Kal Ho Na Ho (2003).

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Pakistani Innovation Project Wins Top Prize at Global Contest A government driven innovation in Pakistan has won the top prize at Making All Voices Count’s Global Innovation Competition.

The Bahawalpur Service Delivery Unit (BSDU) emerged as the winner of competition, led by Imran Baloch, the District Coordination Officer (DCO) of Punjab’s Bahawalpur district, and Asim Fayaz.

The project aims to improve service delivery in under-resourced, conflict areas with lack of data-driven performance management systems.

“Our initiative, by enabling monitors to report through smart phones and by simply ringing parents, saw teacher AND student attendance increase from 78 per cent to 92 per cent,” explained Baloch at the Global Innovation Gala where the ten selected finalists made their final pitch.

The Pakistani project emerged as the winner among a total of 196 entries submitted from across the world.

Following an online voting system, 31 semi-finalists were drawn from the top 27 voted ideas along with 4 wildcards.

A £65,000 (pounds) grant was

information systems and governance, together with other peers, shortlisted 10 finalists drawn from eight countries: Kenya, Indonesia, South Africa, Pakistan, Ghana, Bangladesh, Tanzania and Mozambique.

The two runner-ups, a team from South Africa and another from Indonesia, each received a £35,000 grant plus expert mentorship over a six-month period.

The Global Innovation Competition recognises and rewards creative and cutting-edge innovations that enhance government transparency and accountability.

It is part of Making All Voices Count, which is backed by the Department for International Development (DFID), US Agency for International Development (USAID), Omidyar Network (ON) and other funders.

-Dawn.com Photo shows winners Imran Baloch and Asim Fayaz receiving the £65,000 grant at the ceremony.

awarded to the winning team.

“Technology was an enabler in this process; not the end result. We want to use this £65,000 grant to extend our initiative into health, livestock, &

agriculture,” added Baloch.

Dr. Sheila Ochugboju, the chair of the jury, explained, “this performance management system [BSDU] has three components: its results based,

focuses on inclusion and uses tested technology. In addition, this is a model that can be replicated outside of Pakistan.”

The jury comprised of experts in

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Sun Pharma to Acquire Ranbaxy in $4 Billion Transaction

BY GAURAV CHOUDHURY NEW DELHI: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd on Monday announced that they have entered into definitive agreements pursuant to which Sun Pharma will acquire 100% of Ranbaxy in an all-stock transaction.

The combination of Sun Pharma and Ranbaxy creates the fifth-largest specialty generics company in the world and the largest pharmaceutical company in India.

The combined entity will have operations in 65 countries, 47 manufacturing facilities across 5 continents, and a significant platform of specialty and generic products marketed glob-

ally, including 629 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs).

The combined entity’s revenues are estimated at $ 4.2 billion.

Dilip Shanghvi, Managing Director of Sun Pharma said, “Ranbaxy has a significant presence in the Indian pharma market and in the US where it offers a broad portfolio of ANDAs and first-to-file opportunities. In highgrowth emerging markets, it provides a strong platform which is highly complementary to Sun Pharma’s strengths. We see tremendous growth opportunities and are excited with the prospects to create lasting value for both our shareholders through a successful combination of our fran-

chises.”

“We believe this transaction brings significant value to all Ranbaxy shareholders. Sun Pharma has a proven track record of creating significant long-term shareholder value and successfully integrating acquisitions into its growing portfolio of assets. We

are confident that Sun Pharma is the ideal partner to help us realize our full potential and are excited to participate in future value creation opportunities,” stated Arun Sahwney, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ranbaxy.The proposed transaction has been unanimously

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

approved by the Boards of Directors of Sun Pharma, Ranbaxy, and Ranbaxy’s controlling shareholder, Daiichi Sankyo. Ranbaxy’s board and Sun Pharma’s board have recommended approval of the transaction to their respective shareholders.

-Hindustantimes

28 April 11, 2014 SPORTS World T20: Sri Lankans Break Jinx, Beat India and Yuvraj

BY SIDHARTH MONGA Sri Lanka’s plan MIRPUR (ESPN Cricinhad come off, fo): Sri Lanka 134 for 4 bowling full and (Sangakkara 52*, Jayawarwide, just inside dene 24) beat India 130 for the tram lines, sti4 (Kohli 77) by 6 wickets fling India. Kohli Winning world events and Dhoni tried is an ugly business. Even their best, but aspiring to win is. Ask Mawere second-best hela Jayawardene and Kuto the execution mar Sangakkara. Before

by Malinga and tonight they had reached Kulasekara. Kohli finals four times, wantfaced only eight ing desperately to win, balls in the last and ended up with broken four overs. Only hearts each time. On a 19 came off them, night that these two chamand if this had not pion players finally got that been a final and if monkey off their backs - in this had not been their last Twenty20 interSri Lanka, it was national match - another game over right champion player played there. a poignant, cagey innings Sri Lanka, that cost his side the final. though, were enYuvraj Singh, India’s limtering unchartered ited-overs talisman for so territory. The fear long, came in at 64 for 2 in of winning does the 11th over, scored 11 off strange things.

21, denied the unstoppable They looked for Virat Kohli the strike, and the easy route. that spell of play resulted Kusal Perera tried in the lowest first-innings The Sri Lankan team lifts the World T20 trophy, India v Sri Lanka, final, World T20, Mirpur to smash everytotal in a World Twenty20 thing, smashed which is why he was still part of a single to Kohli first ball. Then final and the second-lowest score the team in the final. MS Dhoni came a yorker outside off. The one out of the first six, and went for the loss of only four wickets. trusted his match-winner, and sent dugout began to become edgy by out to the seventh. Jayawardene Title matches consume the van- him in ahead of Suresh Raina and now. They badly needed Yuvraj brought sanity to proceedings quished. This final may have put himself. Kohli, now the leading to come off now, and make up for with a tickle here, a nudge there, down one of the all-time limited- run-scorer in any World Twenty20, the 9 off 17 he had made till now. and with the required run-rate in overs greats, but just ask Jayawar- had just begun to put behind him a You can’t even begin to imagine grasp it began to become a stroll, dene and Sangakkara, the re- slow start against disciplined Sri what it would have been like being until R Ashwin, the bowler of the demption didn’t come easy. India Lankan bowling. He had even Kohli there, the best batsman of tournament, produced a top edge defended the small total admirably, been dropped by opposition cap- the tournament, but now without from Tillakaratne Dilshan, which preying on the Sri Lankan nerves, tain Lasith Malinga on 11. He was the strike to make the difference. was caught excellently by Kohli fielding everything down, spin- in a mood to make them pay.

When Kohli got the strike fourth at the square-leg boundary. Two ning a web around the batsmen, Sri Lanka, though, kept their ball, Malinga again produced a men who didn’t deserve to be on but the two champions somehow wits, and gave Yuvraj nothing to low wide one that he couldn’t get the losing side were keeping India had enough in them to take their score off. That too after Kohli had under, and went on to bowl an- alive. side over the line. Under palpable laced the otherwise frugal Nuwan other dot to Yuvraj before the over Jayawardene and Sangakpressure, against a shrewd limited- Kulasekara for six, four and six in ended. That dot was a yorker wide kara then added a run-a-ball 24. overs captain, Jayawardene settled the 16th over to make it 111 for 2. outside off, which went past and Jayawardene began to toy around the early nerves with a run-a-ball That over featured another slip in very near Yuvraj’s outside edge, with the fields. Cricket lovers all 24, and Sangakkara saw the chase the fielding when the fielder at cow and that Sangakkara didn’t appeal around the world now began to through with an ice-cool unbeaten corner was lobbed after misjudg- loudly for it said all you needed to dream of a fairy-tale finish. What 52 off 35. could be better than these two staling a catch. Normally you would know about Yuvraj’s innings.

Big finals are a cruel business, expect teams to fall apart at these When Yuvraj finally hit a full warts, much like Arjuna and Arathough, and history will remember times, but Sri Lanka produced four toss down the throat of long-off, vinda 18 years ago, being there in Yuvraj’s knock as much as it will superb overs.

Darren Sammy tweeted, “Not sure the end? This, though, would take Sangakkara’s. He has won India In the 17th, Yuvraj faced two this catch needed to be taken.” You more sweat and tears yet. Jayawarmatches from nowhere on innu- dots from Sachithra Senanayake, felt for the batsman who would dene toe-ended a sweep off partmerable occasions, he has bur- who gave him no pace or room to once have put these in the stands timer Suresh Raina, and Ashwin ied sides with his cameos, he has work with. Malinga bowled the blindfolded and with one arm tied produced a diving catch at midturned around games in 10 balls, next over, and was happy with behind his back. This time, though, wicket. Soon Dhoni took a sen-

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

sational low catch to send Lahiru Thirimanne back. Dhoni’s team had never lost a world final; it was now sensing the kill at 78 for 4 in the 13th over.

This was tense stuff. Wouldn’t the dugout have revisited that familiar sick feeling of coming so close and finishing second-best?

They tried the desperate now. Not having the emotional strength left to take this to the deep bitter end, they sent in the big hitter Thisara Perera ahead of Angelo Mathews.

They were banking on the fact that India would soon have to bowl spinners that would bring the ball in to the left-hand batsmen.

Sangakkara had been going smoothly at one end, but it was the other end that was causing the trouble. The risk was taken. You couldn’t change it even if you wanted to, with Perera scoring just two off the first six, and with 47 still required off the last six overs.

This was the moment, though.

Mishra, two overs for four runs till now, was bowling to two left-hand batsmen. The first ball Perera got from Mishra, he shimmied down a touch and let out an almighty swing. As it flew into the night sky and over long-on, relief came back into the camp. The cool Sangakkara then guided Mishra past fine leg, and this was now turning Sri Lanka’s way.

In the next over, Sangakkara played probably the shot of the match. India had relied on Ashwin’s accuracy through the day and had got themselves an extra fielder by not placing a fine-leg at all. This time, though, Sangakkara moved inside the line of one, took it in front of middle, and closed the face at the exact moment to tickle it through that fine-leg gap for four. Now some luck appeared too with edges landing safely in the home stretch. You couldn’t fault Sangakkara for wondering where the hell this luck had been when Gilchrist, Gambhir, Afridi and Samuels had broken his heart.

This night, though, was for him to rejoice. All those defeats will hurt a little less now.

Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

April 11, 2014

29

Iran Parliament Approves Bill on Accord with Pakistan TEHRAN: Iranian parliament approved on Sunday the Tehran-Islamabad enhanced security cooperation act.

According to Iranian news agency Irna, the bill is intended to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorist groups operating in border areas.

Terrorist groups have carried out several attacks on Iranian border guards deployed along the border between Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province and Pakistan since 2004.

The capture of Iranian border guards earlier this month, along with the killing of 14 Iranian soldiers last November, was claimed by the terrorist group Jaish al-Adl. The Iranian parliament approved general terms of the bill with 187 votes in favour, 14 against and six abstentions.

A picture released by the Irna news agency shows Iranian guards, (centre in white) being welcomed by local officials and armed forces personnel as they return home after their release by a militant group that had kidnapped them.

It had earlier been adopted by the Iranian cabinet and submitted to parliament on March 31 last year.

The bill contains working methods, costs and other issues.

PakistanandIransignedtheaccord

in February last year to take stringent measures to combat terrorism and human and drug trafficking.

Meanwhile, four Iranian soldiers abducted by rebels returned home after being held for two months.

Four of the abducted border guards had returned home, the Iranian intelligence ministry said in a statement.

It did not address the fate of Jamshid Danayifar, a fifth soldier abducted along with the other guards on Feb 6.

The Jaish al-Adl group said Danayifar had been slain in late March.

PAKISTAN NAVY VESSELS: Pakistani naval vessels have arrived at the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas for a naval manoeuvre.

Irna quoted Rear Admiral Shahram Irani as saying the fleet would have presence in the

manoeuvre beginning on Tuesday east of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

Pakistani vessels which reached Iranian waters include a warship, a submarine and a logistics vessel.

The fleet will leave after four days. In the past, regional countries have attended similar Iranian manoeuvres as observers.

“The most important activity of the Pakistani fleet during its stay in Bandar Abbas is to launch joint manoeuvres with selected units of Iran’s navy in eastern waters of the Hormuz Strait,” Admiral Irani said.

The joint exercises were aimed at promoting military cooperation between Pakistan and Iran, the news agency said.--Agencies -Dawn.com

Voting begins in First Phase of LS polls; Assam Records 12% Polling in First 2 Hours

BY PRABIN KALITA GUWAHATI: People queued up at polling booths in Assam's five constituencies as balloting began in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election on Monday. The state recorded 12 percent voting in the first two hours, officials said here.

The polling started at 7am in most of the polling stations, barring a few polling booths under Kaliabor and Tezpur Lok Sabha constituencies where the process was delayed due to some technical snags in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

People were seen queuing up at most of the 8,588 polling booths since early hours in the morning.

An estimated 6.4 million people are eligible to vote in Tezpur, Jorhat, Kaliabor, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur constituencies.

A total of 51 candidates are in the fray in the first phase.

Among Monday's candidates are lottery baron Mani Kumar Subba (independent) from Tezpur constituency, chief minister Tarun Gogoi's son Gourav Gogoi who is contesting from Kaliabor constituency, outgoing Congress MP Bijoy Krishna

Handique and veteran Communist leader Drupad Borgohain in Jorhat constituency.

BJP state president Sarbananda Sonowal and Union minister of state for tribal sffairs Ranee Narah is contesting in Lakhimpur constituency and Union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar (Congress) and Rameswar

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Teli of the BJP and AGP's Anoop Phukan are in the fray in Dibrugarh constituency.

More than 76 lakh voters from six constituencies — five in Assam and one in Tripura — kicked off the country's nine-phase general elections, as weeks of hectic campaigning came to an end on Saturday evening.

In the first phase, voters in five constituencies in Assam will elect their MPs. A total of 1,221 polling stations will be in operation, out of which 8,588 are hypersensitive and will see a higher deployment of security forces.

In Tripura West constituency, state chief electoral officer Ashutosh Jindal said a three-tier security arrangement has been made across the state for peaceful election. The IndoBangladesh international border in Tripura has been sealed to prevent any cross-border infiltration during the election process.

The Election Commission has pressed a team of engineers from Electronics Corporation of India Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited for foolproof re-checking of all EVMs after several were found to be malfunctioning. One EVM in Jorhat left authorities flummoxed last week after every button which was pressed registered a vote in favour of BJP. The machine has been replaced.

Three more such EVMs were found in Jorhat on Friday.

"We have ordered re-checking of all EVMs to detect any malfunction.

Defective pieces will not be sent for polling," state chief electoral officer Vijyandra said.

"We are all ready for polls," Assam additional chief electoral officer R C Jain told TOI. "The 1,221 hypersensitive polling stations will have static forces deployed. The other polling stations will be covered by mobile patrol parties.

The ECI has also categorized 2,710 polling stations as 'critical' as these have a record of polling over 90% votes, with 75% going in favour of one candidate. These stations also have a history of poll-related violence, with a high gap between the number of voters having their photo identity card and the number of absentees. In Tripura, Jindal said the duration of polling has been extended by an hour, ie from 7am to 5pm. The timings apply across the northeast, except in Manipur and Nagaland.

Assam will vote in two more phases. Three constituencies will vote on April 12 and the remaining six will vote on April 24. Polling for the East Tripura (ST Reserve) seat will be held on April 12.

-Times of India

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