Friday, June 19, 2015 • Vol. 34, No. 25
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
Like Indo-American News on Facebook
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Wrap-2
June 19, 2015
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Friday, June 19 2015 | Vol. 34, No. 25
$1
Indo American erican News
www.indoamerican-news.com Published weekly from Houston, TX
7457 Harwin Dr, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036 713.789.NEWS (6397) • Fax: 713.789.6399 • indoamericannews@yahoo.com
Partnered & Syndicated with Times of India, Sulekha.com, Google, Yahoo & Bing
Bless this Samaj Bhoomi !!
P28
Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Community Center took place on Saturday, June 13, at 9550 West Bellfort Ave, Houston, TX 77031.
Win Free Tickets Movie
Review P23
P22
MITRA / CAMDEN TRAVEL Consolidators for Turkish Airlines and Asiana Airlines
We have completed 20 successful years 12375 Bissonnet, Ste. B Houston, TX 77099
We have special low fares on Emirates Indo-American News © 2014
WHOLESALER FOR S MAJOR AIR CARRIER • Emirates • Gulf Airways • Kingfisher • Singapore Airlines • Jet Airways • Sahara Airlines • Indian Airlines • Eva Airlines • Asiana Airlines • Qatar Airways • PIA • Air India • Royal Jordanian • China Airlines
281-530-3000, 1-888-811-LESS Please call us to get these special fares
WHOLESALE CONSOLIDATOR OF QATAR & EMIRATES AIRLINES Call us for competitive and confirmed seats on all major cities in Texas to any city in India.Call us for Summer and December seats now
Last minute fares to Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore,
Calcutta and many more...
For December fares please call us now.
Special Student and Teacher discounts www.faregurus.com/ camdentravel@aol.com
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
2
June 19, 2015
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
June 19, 2015
Serenity by Samia
HOUSTON: Houston’s popular public figure Samia Adil launched her clothing line Serenity by Samia last Thursday on June 11, at The Marque in City Center. It was an intimate, exclusive event attended by a diverse crowd of socialites, bloggers, fashionistas, entrepreneurs and her well-wishers. Samia decided to kick off her clothing line with main focus on Saree’s because of her “love affair” with the epitome of femininity. When asked about her inspiration she replied, “My friends make fun of me because I love Bollywood, and the romance personified in Bollywood movies, Yash Chopra movies to be specific, which truly is my inspiration. (she laughs) The chiffon’s, the solid colors, the simplicity, I've always loved Saree's because I feel that though you are covered in six yards of fabric, yet, it’s elegant, graceful, feminine and classic. It’s like having a LBD (little black dress) in your closet, when in doubt, wear it and you can’t go wrong” . Samia is a strong believer of women empowerment and believes that “a strong, confident woman supports other women and takes them along to accomplish great things in life. Life is too short to be insecure.” Her models were real women, Indian, Hispanic, Caucasian, and Asian who walked the ramp to show that her designs are for every woman irrespective of her race, culture or size. With so many brands in the market already, how is Serenity by Samia different I asked, “What sets my clothes apart from others is the simplicity. I personally don’t like outfits with a lot of work on them and believe that glamour is how a woman carries herself. Too much hurts the eyes and the senses. You must have noticed how I worked with fabrics like Chiffon, Pure silk and Banarsi fabric because there’s romance in it, they have character,
3
Photos: Meedu’s fotografy
you don’t have to explain, the fabric speaks to you” (she smiles with a twinkle in her eyes). You are known as the fashion icon, the trend setter in H-Town and you certainly lived up to it with your gorgeous long Banarsi skirts and crop tops. Was that catering towards the non-South Asian clientele? “Oh no, it’s for women who love experimenting with their looks
and want to stand out in the crowd by wearing something simple, yet make a statement when she walks into a room.” When asked where do you see Serenity by Samia in the next five years, she replied, “I have big plans, hopefully God and I are on the same page, everyone else needs to wait and watch” (she winked & laughed). The always laughing and smiling Samia that Houston knows had tears in her eyes on stage, a side we have never seen. “Well it was a big day for me, an emotional, stressful day and for it to have finally happened with the help of my family and friends, with my daughter by my side, I guess the inevitable happened.” You thanked a lot of people but mentioned three specifically, “There’s always some special ones who mean the world to you and without them one cannot
pull it off. Dua, Jamal Nasir and Sameera Faridi were those who played an influential part in my decision to launch Serenity. They believed in me, my potential and I owe it to them.
Serenity by Samia designs will be available at your local boutique soon; she can be contacted via info@serenitybysamia.com. The Indo American News teamwishes her all the best .
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
- IAN Correspondent
4
June 19, 2015
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
June 19, 2015
5
Malayalee Community Seeks Answers, Redress for Home Invasions
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA STAFFORD: The turnout by the area’s Malayalee community surprised even the organizers themselves, making more than one of the invited police chiefs and elected officials exclaim at the number of people who showed up at the Knanaya Catholic Center in Missouri City. More than one said the crowd of nearly 400 who showed up on a Sunday afternoon was “stunning” and “impressive”. The event was organized by the Center in association with the Malayalee Association of Greater Houston and the 2-year-old South Indian US Chamber of Commerce, to seek redress for the series of home invasions which has plagued the Missouri City area, with two Malayalee families in Riverstone and Olympia Lakes subdivisions being victims in the past month. But if the crowd came seeking better protection and solutions, they received only grandstanding, words of assurance and explanations of current procedures from the group of politicians and police chiefs who were seated on chairs on the raised stage in the large assembly hall. One by one, they came to the podium to explain who they were and what their offices did; stressing how they were doing the best they could with the resources they had and offering no new initiatives to satisfy the crowd which was convinced that the Malayalee community was being targeted. The event was emceed by Ajith Antony with the Knanaya Catholic Center who briefly introduced each speaker; and after a brief welcome by SICC spokesman George Eappen, started with opening remarks by FBISD School Trustee K. P. George who acted as spokesman for the pent-up frustration and anger of the 7,000 families that make up the area’s Malayalee community. He said the object was to learn from the experts on how to be aware and how the system works. This was followed by the national anthems of the US, sung by Sneha George and Indian Anthem by Sheeba George (K.P.’s daughter and wife). After each speaker was introduced and strode to take his chair, Fort Bend District Attorney John Healey was first to express
his department’s concern for all dweller’s safety, even if they are undocumented. His office has 51 prosecutors and has to place the facts before the police chiefs “so that the truth will come out”. “Ft. Bend County is the safest in the area,” he continued, “due to the finest police force.” He added to have faith in the police and urged witnesses to come forward, that “the police is your friend.” This was a common refrain among all the speakers who came forward. Allan Owen, the Mayor of Missouri City for the past 25 years was amazed at the 94 languages spoken in his ethnically diverse city and said that criminals will stake you out not because “you are Indian but because you are a hard working individual”. Leonard Scarcella, the Mayor for the City of Stafford for the past 45 years defended the police and expressed outrage at the way they were being vilified in the media over recent incidents. Missouri City Police Chief Michael Berezin released an artist’s sketch of one of the suspects in the most recent home invasion and assured the audience that the police force were not concerned about the ethnicity of the tax-payer; that Indians were not being targeted; and that he was in talking phases in hiring an Indian officer. He advised people to change their work patterns to avoid being followed; businesses to use a service for making deposits and gave tips of avoiding tailing cars.
FBISD Trustee K.P. George made opening remarks as the elected officials and police chiefs of Ft. Bend County, Missouri City, Stafford and Sugar Land listened.
City of Stafford Police Chief Bonny Krahn agreed that the criminal activity was not directed at any particular group and offered for hid officers to come to homes to give ideas to make them more secure. Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Rodney Glendening said his office has raised its crime solving from 4% to 22% through pro-active investigations, like using tracking devices to follow suspects. Ft Bend County Constable Trevor Nehls (whose brother Troy is Sheriff) urged that the best effort is teamwork with the public in partnership. Latecomer Dist. 27 State Rep. Ron Reynolds agreed that people should know who their neighbors are and keep an eye out for each other. A poignant moment of the event came when Abraham Joseph relate how a gang of three smashed through the backdoor and invaded his house at 3am on May 28. He continued to tell about his family’s 2-hour ordeal at gunpoint while the gang ransacked all the rooms, taking all the valuables and left him, his wife and two teenage girls tied up with neckties and electric cords. The event ended with a panel of Sheba George, K.P. George and George Eappen asking five questions from among Abraham Joseph, who suffered a home invasion early this year, spoke about his the many submitted in writing by the audience ordeal as they entered the hall
and the speakers answering them, with Haley taking the lead. On the question of how many home inva-
sions had taken place in the recent past, they said they did not have the statistics with them to respond.
9 Ways to Make Your Home Less of a Crime Victim Here are some ideas from IAN to increase your safety at home.
1.Get a dog as a pet. 2.Get a security alarm service and turn it on when you sleep. 3.Put on lights around the house to come on with motion sensors 4.Put cameras inside the house to monitor the entrances 5.Petition the city to close off some subdivision entrance streets as they do in other countries to limit access to the area. 6.Insist your subdivision contracts with a security patrol 7.Call the security patrol first as they respond faster 8.Report suspicious activity to the security patrol 9.Cut down any large bushes near your home entrances
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. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Indo American News,7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036 INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
6
COMMUNITY
June 19, 2015
Convention Allows Alumni to Renew Ties with Aligarh University BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: Usually held by rotation in different cities in North America, the Bayou City was fortunate enough to once again be the host to the 14th Annual Convention of the Federation of Aligarh Alumni Associations after an absence of just one year. “It’s usually held according to city where the Federation president is from,” explained event coordinator Latafath Hussain, “and it just so happened that Perwaiz Jafri of Houston was selected this year.” The president for the 2013 convention was Houstonian Dr. Tahir Hussain. This year’s convention once again was held at the Crowne Plaza Houston River Oaks on the Southwest Freeway at Kirby and featured dinner catered by Mezban restaurant. The entertainment for the closing night featured ghazals by Monidipa Sharma, a well-known artist based in Torrance, California who flew in for the occasion and was appreciated by a rapt audience after dinner. She has sung before for the New England and Atlanta associations’ annual functions too. Nearly a hundred delegates from across the city and the country attended this year’s event from June 12 through 14 and during the three days they discussed the state of each of the associations in the 15 cities in the US and Toronto, Canada. Conventioneers then heard reports on advancing educational opportunities for girls and women and empowering women and establishing educational institutions for the underprivi-
The Houston organizers of the 14th Annual Convention of the Federation of Aligarh Alumni Associations along with featured speakers, and their wives. From left: Ishrat Afreen, Ayesha and Shumsheer Sheriff, Director of Rajya Sabha in India; Federation President Perwaiz Jafri; Houston President Irfan Jafri; Pro-Vice Chancellor of AMU Syed Ahmad Ali; Padma Shri Prof. Akhtarul Wasey; Indian Consul General Parvathaneni Harish and Houston coordinator Latafath Hussain. Photos: Jawahar Malhotra
leged in India, spearheaded by a featured guest and speaker Padma Shri Prof. Akhtar Wasey, the Commissioner for Minorities in the Indian Government. Activities for Saturday, June 13 ended with a banquet dinner followed by entertainment, when the delegates and guests heard from Wasey, the Indian Consul General Parvathaneni Harish and the chief guest, the retired Brigadier Syed Ahmad Ali who was elected as Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University three years ago by the University Board after he retired in 2012. CONTINUED ON PAGE
9
Houston Association President Perwaiz Jafri receiving a momento photo of Strachey Hall at AMU from chief guest Pro-Vice Chancellor of AMU Syed Ahmad Ali
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
June 19, 2015
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
7
8
COMMUNITY
June 19, 2015
Houston’s Mayor Parker Appoints Sanjay Ramabhadran to the METRO Board
Swearing in Sanjay Ram and Barron Wallace
LAW OFFICES OF ZAINAB K. RIZVI DEDICATED DEPENDABLE & PERSONAL ATTENTION IMMIGRATION LAW Non Immigration and Immigrant Visa, Family & Employment Immigration. Citizenship/Naturalization, Asylum,VAWA
WILLS/TRUSTS
Power of Attorney, Estate Planning
BUSINESS FORMATION Partnerships, LLC, LLP
WE ALSO SPEAK URDU & HINDI CALL TODAY FOR FREE CONSULTATION
713-297-9131 www.zkrlaw.com
2425 WEST LOOP SOUTH SUITE 200, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77027 Principal office located in Houston, Texas
HOUSTON: Houston Mayor Annise Parker has appointed Sanjay Ramabhadran to the Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) and the appointment was confirmed by Houston City Council on May 27, 2015. He becomes the first Indian-American to serve on the METRO Board. METRO operates a regional multimodal transportation system across 1,300 square miles with 2,663 route miles, a 22.7 mile light rail system, 20 Transit Centers, 29 Park & Ride Facilities, HOV/HOT lanes and the complementary paratransit service, METROLift. Sanjay Ramabhadran, a registered Professional Engineer, has provided engineering and master planning services to the Industrial and Governmental market segments for 20 years. As Vice President at CP&Y, he directed a Corporate Practice focused on water and infrastructure across the firm’s offices. Previously, he was Principal-In-Charge of a $1 billion global consulting firm, where he managed a Business Practice for Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. He has been an invited speaker at the US-India Infrastructure Summit in New Delhi. His civic involvement has included serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of LEADERSHIP HOUSTON; Director in the Texas Lyceum – a state-wide leadership group focused on public policy issues impacting Texas; Steering Committee Member – Houston General Plan; Senior Fellow – American Leadership Forum; President of the HESS Club (Houston's oldest engineering organization); President of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston; Chairperson of the Houston Mayor’s International Trade & Development Council (South Asia); City of Houston – Building & Standards Commission; Greater Houston Partnership’s Public Safety Task Force; Connecting Communities Initiative at Rice University’s Kinder Institute; Co-Chair of the Civic Engagement Advisory Committee for the City of Houston – Public Library; Advisory Council – Houston Arts Alliance; Past-President of the Indo-American Political Action Committee; and Board of Directors of the Indo-American Charity Foundation. Sanjay Ram was honored as one of the 2012 Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA) by the United States Junior Chamber. He was previously selected as one of Five Outstanding Young Texans in 2011 by the Texas Jaycees and one of Five Outstanding Young Houstonians for the year 2010 by
the Houston Jaycees. Selected as an ASIA 21 Young Leader, he represent the United States at the 2010 Global Asia 21 Leadership Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. Communities that are part of the METRO area include the cities of Houston, Bellaire, Bunker Hill Village, El Lago, Hedwig Village, Hilshire Village, Humble, Hunters Creek, Katy, Missouri City, Piney Point, Southside Place, Spring Valley, Taylor Lake Village and West University Place. Major portions of unincorporated Harris County are also included. With a total annual ridership of over 11.3 million, METRORail ranks as the second most-travelled light rail system in the Southern United States and the 12th most-traveled light rail system in the United States, with the third highest ridership per track mile. The METRORail system consists of three light-rail lines and a fleet of 66 rail cars: The Red Line (North), Green Line (East End) and the Purple Line (Southeast). The Red Line is a 13-mile line that originally opened in 2004 as the Main Street Line. The Green Line runs through the historic East End with seven stations, including Magnolia Park Transit Center, BBVA Stadium and the Theater District. The Purple Line runs through Southeast Houston with 11 stops that include the University of Houston, Third Ward, the Convention District and Theater District. METRO has 1,230 buses and is paving the way for a cleaner Houston with 443 transit diesel-hybrid buses in operation. METROLift is a complementary paratransit service offered by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County in accordance with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes operate on the Southwest, Gulf, North, Eastex and Northwest freeways. Since 2001, METRO also has been operating concurrent-flow Diamond HOV Lanes, located on the Katy Freeway between Texas Highway 6 and Texas Highway 99 (Grand Parkway) in Katy. METRO has 29 Park & Ride lots with more than 33,000 available parking spaces. Direct nonstop service to Downtown, the Texas Medical Center or other major employment centers in the METRO service area is available from Park & Ride lots. METRO's 20 Transit Centers serve as efficient "hubs" to allow bus and/or METRORail riders from various locations to assemble at a central point to take advantage of express trips or other route-to-route transfers.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
June 19, 2015
9
Convention Allows Alumni to Renew Ties with Aligarh University CONTINUED FROM PAGE
6
Ali is the second former military commander elected to the AMU leadership: the Vice Chancellor is retired Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah who attended the convention in 2013. “Since we have to be good administrators in the military,” explained Ali, “being recommended for the administration spot at a university is a natural fit.” The AMU was founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, a reformer and Indian nationalist, who patterned the Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College in 1875 after Oxford and Cambridge universities, in tune with British education but without compromising Islamic values. The MAO College became the AMU in 1920 and is now funded by the Government of India. Akhtar Wasey, who is a fiery orator, expanded on the secular vision of Sir Syed and how he had been ahead of the times in focusing on interfaith dialogue, even writing a commentary on the Bible. AMU is spread over 1,180 acres; has 108 departments and 12 faculties and 38,000 students, 2,000 teachers and 7,000 support staff. “AMU is one of the largest universities in India and is the cheapest,” declared Ali. “It has been declared a Center of National Importance, along with Benares Hindu University and Delhi University.” AMU was the alma mater of India’s third President Dr. Zakir Hussain and
established professionals, especially engineers, take a few months sabbatical from work to go and teach at the universities in India, which are short staffed. The evening concluded with Lifetime Achievement Awards handed out by Ali to Shakeel Ansari, Habib Zubari, Latafath Hussain and Moosa Dakri. Dakri is the founder of Wallis State Bank who has donated generously for building a museum which bears his name at AMU and houses artifacts that were once scattered around the campus. Indian Consul General Parvathaneni Harish was The closing night of the convention featured ghazals a featured speaker at the closing night by Moni Dipa Sharma who flew in from California
has also generated other global political leaders. Ali continued that AMU has MOUs signed with four American universities: Mercer in Atlanta, Ohio State, South Carolina and Moorehouse and has some exchange students there. “My one regret is that I didn’t study at AMU,” lamented Ali in his speech, “but it was a great feeling that I went there a week after I retired. We must take AMU to number 1 in India and into the top 20 universities in the world by 2020 and you can play a role in this.” He added that AMU offers women students great freedom of movement and study and will continue to promote their role, echoing the sentiments expressed
by Vice Chancellor Shah two years ago. Harish started his speech in Urdu, expressing his appreciation to the FAAA, later switching to English. He elaborated on the great capital India has invested in their educated class – engineers, doctors, technology graduates – who have immigrated to the US, saying over 30,000 come every year and only a few go back. He implored that
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
10 June 19, 2015
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
June 19, 2015
Samskriti to Present Award-Winning Documentary, Cosmic Connection
Seetha Ratnakar
HOUSTON: COSMIC CONNECTION is not just a runof-the-mill documentary, but a labor of love, conceived and directed with meticulous care by Seetha Ratnakar, a freelance film director and artistic consultant for dance productions, and former Assistant Station Director, Doordarshan (Indian Television Network). COSMIC CONNECTION won a Golden Remi (Ethnic/Culture) Award at the 2014 WorldFest International Film Festival, Houston. COSMIC CONNECTION explores the correlation between the Cosmos, the Cosmic Dancer, and the Dance. Shiva is Nataraja, the Supreme Dancer, whose dance symbolizes the eternal cycles of life and death. The exquisite postures of His elegant dance have been immortalized in the stone sculptures of Sri Sabanayagar temple at Chidambaram. The divine art of dance offered in temples as one of the sixteen rituals of worship was abolished in the early twentieth century. In 1981 a group of visionaries started the first Natyanjali Dance Festival in Chidambaram, to bring back dance to the temples where it belonged. This has evolved into a five day annual event commencing on the auspicious day of Mahasivaratri. Drawing from this example, many other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu have started conducting similar dance festivals, making Natyanjali a glorious paean to the Lord of the Dance by dancers who come from all over the world to make their humble offerings (anjali) to Nataraja through their dance (natya). COSMIC CONNECTION captures the vibrant ambiance of the temple dance festivals and the spiritual experience of the dancers. Seetha Ratnakar has over forty years of experience in media, starting her career as a copywriter in an advertising agency before moving on to directing programs for Doordarshan, from 1975. Seetha is a trained classical dancer, having studied Bharatanatyam under Guru
"Kalaimamani" K. J. Sarasa and Kuchipudi from Padma Bhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, and had performed all over India and abroad for over a decade, before switching gears and transitioning into dance programming. At Doordarshan, she had the privilege of directing the performances of almost all the leading dancers of India and these recordings have been preserved in the Doordarshan Archives. She has also directed several dance ballets for Television, notable among them being "Rasavrishti", a thematic dance picturisation on the many facets of Lord Krishna, which was India’s official entry at the Golden Prague Festival in 1985. A true testament to her artistic vision is the documentary "A Tryst with Tradition", about the iconic founder-director of Kalakshetra, the legendary dancer Rukmini Arundale. During her career span at the Doordarshan, Seetha has contributed greatly to the development and preservation of dance through aesthetically designed recordings and in-depth coverages of dance festivals, among them the famed Natyanjali Festival of Chidambaram, which she covered for twenty-five years. Her most memorable experience was the millennium celebration of the Brahadeeswara temple in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu in 2011, where over a thousand dancers performed together in glorious harmony. Spending long hours admiring the majestic architecture of the temple and watching dancers perform with single minded devotion had a profound influence on her. "Cosmic Connection" is her homage to Lord Nataraja, for being her guiding force as a dancer and director and keeping her connected with amazing art and culture all these years. Following the screening of the documentary, there will be a short Bharatanatyam performance by visiting artist K. Shanmugam, Director, Sarasalaya, Chennai, and a featured performer in the film. Shanmugam, originally from Malaysia, moved to Chennai to study Bharatanatyam in the graceful and dynamic Vazhuvoor baani under one of its most famous teachers, Kalaimamani K. J. Sarasa. A brilliant and insightful dancer with
Shanmuga Sundaram
a tremendous flair for rhythm as well as expression, Shanmugam has made a name for himself as one of the leading male dancers in India. Teaming with Odissi dancer Ramli Ibrahim, Artistic Director of Sutra Dance Theatre, Malaysia, Shanmugam has conducted the much touted “Narthaka Festival”, specially geared towards male dancers practicing different forms of Indian classical dance. Shanmugam has performed all over the world, at prestigious dance festivals and venues, and regularly conducts workshops in Bharatanatyam in Germany, San Francisco and Houston. He is currently the Director of his Guru’s dance institute, Sarasalaya, in Chennai. THIS EVENT IS FREE to the public and will take place from 4 – 6 pm, Sunday, June 28, at the Kaplan Theater, Evelyn Rubinstein Jewish Community Center, 5601 S. Braeswood Blvd, Houston, TX 77096. For further information, please call 832 275 9658. This program is funded in part by grants from the Texas Commission on the Arts and the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and through a generous donation from Schlumberger.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
11
12 June 19, 2015
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
June 19, 2015
Deva Snana, Bathing Ceremony of Lord Jagannath
Photos: Thejas K R.
HOUSTON: As part of the “Greater Houston Rath Yatra” celebrations, Deva Snana, bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra was celebrated at ISKCON temple on Sunday, June 14, with much pomp and ceremony. Deva Snana is the first occasion in the year when the deities are brought out from the sanctum sanctorum at Puri and taken in a procession to Snana Mandap (bathing altar), where they are ceremonially bathed with 108 pitchers of water from a well inside the Jagannath Temple. After the bathing rituals, the deities are decorated in Gaja Vesha or elephant headgear. In keeping with this tradition, the deities, specially built and brought from Puri were bathed with 108 pitchers of water in a ceremony led by H.H. Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Ji, Kamalamukha Prabhu Ji and Saranga Thakura Prabhu Ji. All devotes present in the temple participated in the bathing ceremony by pouring water on their beloved God. After the bathing ceremony, the deities were dressed in Gaja Vesha. All the while, soulful Kirtan was being performed by the ISKCON devotees. This was followed by Pravachan by H.H. Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Ji on the significance of
Deva Snana and Naba Kalebara. This was followed by Maha Arati and Prasadam. After the ceremony, the deities were placed in Anabasara, where the devotees can’t see them until Rath Yatra, which will be celebrated on July 11, at Discovery Green from 6pm to 10pm. This event is being organized jointly by Char Dham Hindu Temple, SKAI Foundation, ISKCON Houston and Masala Radio and is being supported by various organizations including Hindus of Greater Houston, India Culture Center and the Gujrati Samaj of Houston. The organizers are anticipating a big crowd packing the Discovery Green and surrounding streets to see and seek blessings from Lord Jagannath, Lord of the Universe. Festivities will include procession of 3 chariots in Jagannath Puri style, Cultural entertainment featuring a high-flying drum and dance spectacular by the World famous Mayapuris, Indian bazaar, Food booths, Maha Arati and Open air Zee Dandiya Raas. Admission is completely free and devotees will get free Prasad. For further information, visit http://greaterhoustonrathyatra.org/. To volunteer, sponsor or participate, e-mail events@masalaradio. com.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
13
14 June 19, 2015
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
June 19, 2015
15
Center For Gayatri Consciousness: A Temple of Ma Gayatri Along with this, we will also have space for various activities that will help the devotees in sculpting their personalities and developing themselves into what truly can be called a divine human being, because we believe that “Apna sudhaar hi sansaar ki sabse badi seva hai (reforming oneself is the biggest service to the world)”. These are some of the activities we are planning to organize at our new temple: Bal-sanskar classes for kids for ages 4-15 Workshops & Seminars for youth and working professionals Spiritual discourses, meditation & Gita classes A platform to celebrate Indian cultural festivals Gayatri Havan, Satyanarayan katha Punsavan, Naamkaran, Vidya-aarambha, Annpraashan & other sanskars
HOUSTON: Gayatri Pariwar Houston cordially invites all the members of local community for the opening ceremonies of the “Center for Gayatri Consciousness”, a temple of Ma Gayatri. The opening ceremonies commence with a seven day Bhagvat Puran katha by Resp. Pragya Putri Rashmiben Patel from June 17, Wednesday. The Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the idols of Ma Gayatri, Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesha will take place on June 26 and June 27 in the divine presence of Adarniya Dr. Pranav Pandyaji, the current head of All World Gayatri Pariwar. Adarniya Dr. Pranav Pandyaji, MD (Medicine) Director & Head All World Gayatri Pariwar Director - Brahmavarchas Research Institute Chancellor - Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya Editor - Akhand Jyoti Magazine. Dr. Pranav Pandya is a close and direct disciple of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, the founder of Gayatri Pariwar. He is world renowned as a pioneer of scientific spirituality. He is a shining example of a holistic, purposeful, selfless life lived in the true Vedic spirit and is an inspiration for millions of young and talented individuals all over the world. Under his dynamic leadership, the Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (D.S.V.V) at Haridwar, is touching new milestones and reforming the face of modern education. D.S.V.V. aims to re-establish fundamental values of Indian culture and works to bring in a cultural & spiritual renaissance in the world. He has done intense research and conducted many studies in the field of Ayurveda, scientific aspect of spirituality & meditation etc. and authored more than 50 books. Some Honors & Awards Distinguished scientist & reformer by NASA in 1996 "Hindu of the Year" 1999 award by F.I.A. (Federation of Indian Association) and F.H.A. (Federation of Hindu Association) Honor of addressing a joint session of the House of Lords and the House of Commons in London, U.K. in February 1992. Gayatri Pariwar Gayatri Pariwar aims to bring heaven on earth by awakening divinity in man and is inspired by the motto “Hum badlenge, yug badlega (when we transform, the world transforms)” In order to achieve this goal we are building a unique place which will be a place of worship as well as a place to learn the skills required to transform one’s personality. With this in mind, we have planned to install the idol of Ma Gayatri, the goddess of righteous intellect, Lord Hanuman, the highest ideal of devotion and Lord Ganesh, the giver of discriminatory knowledge. INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
16 June 19, 2015 Hiba Kazim Weds Hadi Mirza
The newlyweds, Hiba Kazim and Hadi Mirza, with the bride’s parents; Haider (left) and Asra at the wedding reception on Friday, June 12. Photo: Jawahar Malhotra
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: For this young, modern Muslim couple born and brought up in the USA, the road to their wedding started almost a year in a most traditional manner. A family friend of the boy’s family who lives in San Francisco suggested to his parents that a suitable girl lived in Houston. A message was sent to the girl’s parents and they in turn suggested that she contact him. Internet conversations led to phonecalls between the couple and they finally met seven months ago. Four months later they were engaged. This past week, on Thursday, June 11, Hiba Kazim
and Hadi Mirza made it official and were married in Houston in a Muslim nikah ceremony with Hyderabad-style sanchak mehndi celebrations. It was a colorful mixture of Indian and Muslim cultural traditions found in Uttar Pradesh and Hyderabad in India, complete with dhol, music, singing and dancing. A large reception was held in their honor the next day on June 12 at the Marriott Westchase, attended by nearly 500 people, including guests from India, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Canada as well as friends and relatives from New Jersey, Florida, Washington State, Indiana and Illinois. The Muslim traditional valeema (reception by
11000 Richmond Ave, Ste 300 Houston, TX 77042
the boy’s family) ceremony followed the next day. Hiba, 26, is an attorney working with Greenberg Taurig, an international law firm, at its offices in Houston. After graduating from Texas A & M University, she went to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, to obtain her law degree in 2013. She is the daughter of Haider Kazim, a veteran journalist who has worked in several newspapers in India, the Middle East and the United States, including this newspaper. Her mother Asra is a former school-teacher who currently owns and operates a daycare, Little Scholars Learning Center, on Westheimer. Hiba has a younger brother, Saif. Hadi, 27 is a marketing executive with Lending Club, the world’s largest peer-to-peer lending company, at its offices in San Francisco. California. He obtained his MBA Finance degree from California State University in 2015. His parents are from Hyderabad, India and have been in the US for 40 years. His father Khursheed Mirza, is a software consultant and his mother Meraj is a home maker and they have another son and daughter. After a honeymoon in Thailand, Hadi will relocate from California and the couple intends to make their home in Houston.
COMMUNITY
Sikh Wins Right to Wear Beard, Turban in ROTC MINEOLA, NY: US District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled last week that the Army violated a Sikh college student, Iknoor Singh’s rights when it refused to let him compete for a spot as a contracted member of his college’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Singh, a 20-year-old student at New York’s Hofstra University, was faced with having to remove his turban, shave his beard and cut his hair -- all acts that are prohibited by Singh’s religion -- in accordance with military rules, before he would have been allowed to apply for a waiver on religious grounds. Singh will now be able to enroll in the ROTC without compromising his religious beliefs. “I’m very grateful that the freedom of religion our country fought so hard for will allow me to pursue my dream career -- serving my country -- without violating my faith,” Singh said in a statement. The decision in Singh’s favor referred to the principles of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The act was designed “to protect personal religious expression and practices so long as they do not harm third parties,” according to the ACLU.
15950 N Dallas Pkwy, Ste 400 Dallas, TX 75248
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
This exception had to be made to comply with the act, especially as the Army has previously made more than 197,000 exceptions for secular grooming issues. But according to Sikh activists, Singh’s victory in court doesn’t necessarily mean full inclusion in the military. Although the Army broadened its grooming guidelines earlier this year, certain people -- such as those with body art or facial hair, or who wear turbans -- must seek specific approval before enrollment. In effect this results in a “blanket ban” against religious minorities who want to serve the country while wearing their articles of faith, according to Simran Jeet Singh, senior religion fellow at the Sikh Coalition.
COMMUNITY
June 19, 2015
17
Gandhi Returns Home, Meets Tilak, Gokhale
Great Summer Project For children! Enter Mahatma Gandhi Week 2015 Essay, I-Tribute, Poster and Speech contests. Visit gandhilibrary. org for registration and more information. All school going children can participate! These contests are being organized to create higher awareness of the inspiring life and work of Mahatma Gandhi to promote universal values of Truth, Non-Violence, Love and Service. The story thus far…In South Africa, Gandhi saw how the Indians were treated as inferiors, only allowed to work the soil but not permitted to own land. Under the law enacted in the Orange Free State in 1888, Indians had been deprived of their rights. In Transvaal, they had to pay a poll tax of 3 pounds if they wanted to stay in that state. Gandhi gathered the community together and drew their awareness to the deficiencies in their statuses and advised them unite for justice. The Indians, as advised by Gandhi, now realized what was at stake but they were at a loss at to what to do. They requested Gandhi to postpone his departure and help them. He agreed to stay on for another month and organize resistance to the new bill. Late that night the Indians held a meeting at Abdulla Seth’s house under the stewardship of Seth Haji Muhammad, the most influential Indian merchant there. They resolved to oppose the Franchise Bill with all their might. Telegrams were sent to the Speaker of the Assembly and the Premier of Natal requesting them to postpone further discussion on the bill. The Speaker promptly replied that the discussion would be put off for two days. The Natal Indians then drew up a petition to the Legislative Assembly pleading against the bill. They followed up with another petition to Lord Ripon, the then Secretary of State for the Colonies. More than ten thousand Indians signed the bill. Copies of the petition were circulated in South Africa, England, and India. There was much sympathy for the Natal Indians’ plight, but the campaign had started too late to stop the bill becoming law. However, the campaign did some good. For the first time, the people of India came to know of the conditions in Natal. An even more important result was the new spirit that was now awakened with the Indians in South Africa. The Natal Indians pressed Gandhi to remain and guide them for a little longer. Gandhi told them that he was prepared to stay on if the Indian community would provide him with sufficient legal work. They gladly agreed to do this. Twenty merchants turned over all their legal business to him. When Gandhi applied for enrolment as an attorney to argue his caseload in court, the entire bar, composed of white lawyers, strongly opposed him. The Supreme Court of Natal overruled the objection, and he was allowed to practice. Soon Gandhi became one of the busiest lawyers in Durban; but to him law was a subordinate occupation. His main interest was his public work. He felt that merely sending in petitions and
When Gandhi applied for enrolment as an attorney to argue cases in court, the entire bar, composed of white lawyers, strongly opposed him. The Supreme Court of Natal overruled the objection, however, and he was allowed to practise. protests would not help the Indians much. He felt the need to organize a sustained agitation. So he proposed the formation of a permanent organization to safeguard the interests of Indians. A meeting was called to discuss this matter. The spacious hall in Dada Abdulla’s house was packed. It was there, on that occasion that the Natal Indian Congress was formed. In 1894 the Natal Government sought to impose an annual poll tax on the indentured Indians. These were laborers who had been recruited from India on a five-year contract, but on a pittance. Under the contract they could not leave their employer. They were treated practically as slaves. These men had been taken to South Africa to help the white colonizers in agricultural work. The Indians did more than had been expected of them. They worked hard, purchased land, and started cultivating their own fields. Their enterprise did not end there. They soon built houses and raised themselves far above the status of laborers. The white people did not like this. They wanted the Indian workers to return to India at the end of the contract period. To make things much harder for them, the Government now imposed an annual poll-tax of £25. The Natal Indian Congress started a strong agitation against this. Later, at the intervention of Lord Elgin, the then Viceroy of India, the tax was reduced to £3. Still Gandhi considered it an atrocious tax, unknown anywhere else in the world. The Natal Indian Congress continued its agitation, but it was 20 years before the poll-tax was finally withdrawn. In three years in South Africa, Gandhi had become a well-known figure. And his practice was well established. He realized that he was in for a long stay. He knew that the people there wanted him with them, so in 1896 he asked their permission to go home and bring his wife and children to South Africa. Besides, a visit to India would be useful in gaining more support for the Indians in South Africa. He had arranged his work so well that he could look
forward to six months’ leave. In the middle of 1896 Gandhi sailed for India, and after 24 days landed at Calcutta. From there he went to Rajkot. It was a happy family reunion when Kasturbai welcomed him with their two sons. But the plight of the Indians in South Africa was so much on his mind that he could not be content to enjoy domestic bliss in peace. He therefore launched a campaign to acquaint the people of India with the real condition of the Indians in South Africa. He met the editors of influential newspapers and important Indian leaders, including Lokamanya B. G. Tilak, the hero of Maharashtra, and Gopal Krishna Gokhale who, like Gandhi, was already famous at the age of 27. Wherever Gandhi went, he tried to make the people aware of the lot of their compatriots in South Africa. Many newspapers published his views and strongly condemned the South African government. Summaries of these newspaper reports and comments reached South Africa long before Gandhi returned there. Meanwhile, plague broke out in Bombay and threatened to spread to neighboring areas. In Rajkot Gandhi volunteered to join a group who tried to educate the people about the need for sanitation and other measures to prevent the spread of the disease. At the end of November, however, Gandhi received an urgent message from Natal asking him to return immediately. There were some developments which required his presence there. So Gandhi set sail for South Africa once more, this time taking with him Kasturbai and their two sons and the only son of his widowed sister. However, a message reached Gandhi advising him not to land with the others but to wait until evening, as there was an angry mob of whites at the dock. Kasturbai and the children were sent to the house of Gandhi’s Parsee friend, Rustomji. Later, accompanied by Jason Laughton, the legal adviser of Dada, Abdulla & Co., Gandhi went ashore. The scene looked peaceful, but some youths recognized him and shouted, “Look, there goes Gandhi.” Soon there was a rush and much shouting. As Gandhi and his friends proceeded, the crowd began to swell until it was impossible to go any further. Suddenly Laughton was pushed aside and the mob set upon Gandhi. They pelted him with stones, sticks, bricks, and rotten eggs. Someone snatched away his turban, others kicked him until the frail figure collapsed. He clung to the railing of a house. The fury of the white mob was unabated and they continued to beat him and kick him. “Stop, you cowards,” cried a feminine voice. “Stop attacking the poor man.” It was the wife of the Superintendent of police. She came up and opened her parasol and held it between Gandhi and the crowd. This checked the mob. Soon the police arrived and dispersed the crowd. — To be Continued
“IT HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA”
Stay tuned every Sunday,
HIREN JOSHI
to from 2.30pm to 3.30pm
832-646-2116 hjoshi7@hotmail.com
www.shobajoshi.com
SHOBA JOSHI OWNER, PROMOTER AND HOST OF
Geetanjali Radio AM 1320 Sat & Sun 2-6 PM For your business ads
Tel: 281-909-0825 713-545-4749 Cell: 832-878-4338 shobajoshi999@gmail.com
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
18 June 19, 2015 Making India a Travel Destination
To say that India’s tourism potential is enormous and the country has not been able to cash on it is to state the obvious. According to the ministry of tourism, in 2013, 6.97 million foreign tourists came to India. The number is paltry if you pit it against the number coming to, say, Thailand, which in 2013 was 26.7 million. India does not lack the sights and sounds that could make it a great tourist destination. But it certainly cannot be called “tourist friendly”, an umbrella term that includes the various challenges visitors face in the country: Badly kept monuments, lack of any basic facilities for tourists and tardy security for visitors, especially female visitors. Even the best-known of monuments like the Taj Mahal are not spared: On Monday, tourists at the monument were found wading in the central water pool to beat the heat. It was simply the absence of security that encouraged them to break the rules. When the Archeological Survey of India chief issued a show cause notice to the CISF and other officials, everyone started passing the buck. While the Taj Mahal has been more or less free of heritage marauders, other monuments have not been so lucky. Then there are other problems like lack of drinking water facilities. Foreign tourists have a long recurring grouse: They have to pay much more, in some places almost 150% more than what Indian tourists do. This gate-fee could be rationalised to entice more foreign tourists to India. Tourism is one of the key focus areas of the NDA government. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked for travel experiences of tourists in India, and within minutes he received thousands of messages on social media. In keeping with this aim to boost tourism, the government is set to make lighthouses that dot the coastal area a major tourist attraction. This is good news but what is not is the way the areas around the lighthouses will be used to make them major tourist attractions. According to the plan, there will be resorts, cafés, water sports, etc near these places. The impact of such development on old structures could be enormous. So whatever the plan of the government is, adequate resources must be deployed so that the pristine beach areas are not destroyed by unmanageable human activity. Hindustan Times
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY The Noodle Test
BY MADHAVI GORADIA DIVAN The value of their endorsement contracts may be the best indicator of a celebrity’s popularity, better than their performance at the box office or on the playing field. So well paid are endorsements, that often, a celebrity’s earnings from professional pursuits are just a small fraction of those from endorsements. The right to advertise, also known as the right to commercial speech, is a facet of the freedom of speech protected under Article 19 of the Constitution. In the landmark Tata Press case, the Supreme Court shed its earlier reluctance to recognise speech for commercial gain as free speech protected by the Constitution. Commercial speech covers advertising, modelling and celebrity endorsements. Celebrities also enjoy image rights or rights of publicity. These give them control over their public persona and enable the commercial exploitation of their star status. The law affords protection against unauthorised exploitation by others of the goodwill of a celebrity. If a celebrity finds their image being commercially exploited without authorisation or compensation, they have every right to sue, not only for illegal commercial use but also for damage to their reputation. Some international sports stars even have trademarks registered in their names and have sued others for
infringement. Publicity rights are, therefore, valuable. But they come at a price. When celebrities endorse a product, they do so knowing that their endorsement will persuade people to buy it. Given the power and influence they exercise over the mind of the consumer, particularly impressionable children, celebrities cannot shrug off the duty of care to their consumers. Under the law of tort, there exists a duty of care because the endorser knows that the product will be purchased on the strength of their popularity, goodwill and reputation. But modelling and endorsement are two different things. A model cannot be held liable for a product that turns out to be harmful, but a celebrity who endorses a harmful product can — because the consumer is persuaded to buy the product by an identifiable individual who enjoys a reputation and the trust of the buyer. While the endorser cannot be responsible for a one-off defect, if the product itself is harmful, the case may be different. Can celebrities be permitted to commercially exploit their status and enrich themselves at the expense of consumers without any corresponding duty? Probably not. Once we accept that a celebrityendorser has a duty of care to the consumer, the question is: How far
Indo American News FOUNDER: DR. K.L. SINDWANI PUBLISHER: JAWAHAR MALHOTRA EDITOR: PRAMOD KULKARNI BUSINESS & PRODUCTION MANAGER: VANSHIKA VIPIN GRAPHIC DESIGN: BHUMI PARMAR CORRESPONDENTS
HOUSTON: MALAY VYAS CHICAGO: NAND KAPOOR INDIA: RAJ KANWAR, ASEEM KULKARNI ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 4 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
does this duty extend? If they have endorsed a food product that is certified to be safe by the statutory authorities, the endorser has a perfect defence — they acted with reasonable care by ensuring that safety standards were met. Beyond that, the endorser ordinarily may not have the expertise to delve into the nitty gritty of nutrition. But the consumer must also act reasonably. A product may be harmless if consumed in moderation — a can of aerated cola, for example. But 10 cans a day could be toxic. The celebrity who endorsed the cola cannot be held liable for the perils of excess consumption. A celebrity-endorser is entitled to indulge in a little puffery or exaggeration, so long as it is not stretched to blatant untruth. It is one thing to say that a product tastes fabulous. It is quite another to say that it makes the healthiest breakfast. An endorser cannot be held liable for saying the former but could be if, contrary to her claims, the product is found to be harmful. In India, the endorsements industry has grown manifold. Individual stars sign contracts worth billions of rupees. But the extent of their liability is yet to be determined. Maggi may just be the test case. IE The writer is an advocate and author of ‘Facets of Media Law’.
COMMUNITY
June 19, 2015
19
The “Nabakalebara” of the Lord of the Universe tees are allowed to carry their beloved Lords on to the chariot, the chariot pulling by thousands of devotees, devotional kirtans and bhajans, Kids activities, maha arati and Maha Prasad Dinner for all assembled devotees. The admission and parking are free. Celebration of this festival is possible by generous support of participating organizations and individuals. The event is partially funded by a grant from Houston City Arts Alliance. We cordially invite everyone from Houston and
neighboring cities to participate in this year’s chariot festival and experience the oneness that binds all humanity. For further information, visit houstonrathyatra.org or call 832-225-2376 or e-mail at rathyatra.hou@gmail.com. You may connect on https://facebook.com/HoustonRathYatra Tickets to Pt. Jasraj Concert: http://events. sulekha.com/rathyatra-2015_event-in_houston-tx_300419
HOUSTON: “Vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya, navani grhnati naro parani, tatha sarirani vihaya jirnany, anyani samyati navani dehi” So says the Bhagbat Gita. The most fundamental belief system of the “Sanatana Dharma” that puts human birth and death into a cycle is the essence of the above verse. As if to remind us of this truth, Lord Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe, makes it no exception for Himself and discards His old body and takes on a new one again in the form of “Daru Brahma” once every twelve or nineteen years. This year is a special year for the devotees of Lord Jagannath all over the world. The three deities along with the Sudarshana Chakra residing in the temple at the city of Puri, on the east cost of India, will go through the human cycle of birth and death and birth. Every 12~19 years, the deities in the form of "Daru Brahma" change into new forms carved out of the logs of special Neem Tree. This event is known as the "Naba Kalebara" or literally the new bodies. Thus, this year's Chariot Festival is a special event as it coincides with the "Naba Kalebara (Installation of new deities)". This important ritual has been successfully performed under the guidance of Dr. Debananda Pati, president of OCC with the help of four priests, Pundit Bibhudutta Mishra and Atchuta R Mankali of Houston, Sidharth Dev Sarangi of Austin and Hrusikesh Panda of College Station. Samadhi of the old deities and installation of new deities was carried out on June 15, after a day of offerings and fire worship or “yagna.” Participation in this ritual was limited to public as it requires strict observance of austerity measures for one full week. On the occasion of Lord’s Sradha, a public feast has been sponsored by the Jagannath Devotees of Houston area on June 28, Sunday at 7pm at the ISKON temple. All are welcome to this auspicious event to partake the offerings to the Lord in the form of Mahaprasad dinner. This year’s chariot festival will be celebrated on Saturday, July 18, at the VPSS Haveli, 11715 Bellfort Village Drive, Houston, TX, 77031. The event is organized by OCC with the help of Shree Sitaram Foundation and many other religious organizations of Greater Houston area. This year OCC is proud to present a live vocal devotional concert by the world renowned classical vocalist Padma Bibhusana Sangeet Martanda Pt. Jarsraj Ji. Tickets to the concert are available at a very reasonable rate at Maharani Music, 5901 Hilcroft Av, Suite B4A, Houston, TX 77036 and Vishala Grocers, 5205 S Mason Rd, Katy, TX 77450. Tickets can also be purchased online by visiting http://events.sulekha.com/rathyatra-2015_event-in_houston-tx_300419 The major attractions of the Chariot festival are planned for the afternoon hours and evening include spiritual Bhajan presentation by the assembled devotees, “Pahandi” where all devoINDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
20 June 19, 2015
COMMUNITY/LITERATURE Transitioning from the Backyard to the Schoolyard
Best in Class Education Center offers tips for parents and students to make the shift between schools as smooth as possible
As the dog days of summer start to cool and the beginning of the school year peeks over the horizon, yet another “first day of school” comes to the forefront of both students’ and parents’ minds. Some first days are more memorable than others, but it’s important to support your children throughout every stage of their education, especially during transitional times. Best in Class Education Center has some tips on making that rite of passage as smooth as possible for both parent and student: •Establish a routine, and start it early. Children thrive off of routine, so start building a framework for the school year early. Adjust bed-
ALEXANDER P. MATHEWS, CPA For Services In:
INDIVIDUAL & BUSINESS TAXES • BUSINESS TAX CONSULTATION INCORPORATION, FORMATION OF LLC CERTIFIED QUICK BOOK ADVISOR AVAILABLE
25 Years in Public Accounting 11104 West Airport, Ste 114, Stafford, TX 77477
(281) 564-9500
13100 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478
www.testmasters.com
281-564-7700
times and wake-up calls to coincide with your child’s new schedule to establish a sense of readiness for the year to come. • Take advantage of “visit days”. If your child’s school offers “visit days”, make a field trip to see your child’s new stomping grounds. This early immersion will provide your child with a chance to become acclimated to the new environment and eliminate any mystery surrounding the day. • Address change in a positive way. Face your child’s fear head-on with them; don’t brush your child’s weariness aside. By candidly discussing your child’s preoccupation with his or her first day of school, you can more easily keep fears at bay. • Clear your schedule. Free up as much time as possible so that you can be present as a calm and positive force for your child. Sharing the time before and after school will lend your child a source of stability and reassurance during the transition. • Build a network of friends
and educators. Through extracurricular programs and tutoring centers, your child can form friendships and strengthen his or her social skills in an educational environment. These centers, like Best in Class Education Center, can help children be at their boldest and brightest for the first day—and every day—of school. Best in Class offers a variety of customized, supplemental enrichment courses and tutoring options to ensure your students are equipped with the tools they need to exceed their academic goals this school year. For more information about Best in Class services for your student, or about current franchising opportunities, visit www.bestinclasseducation.com or call toll free at 1.888.683.8108. Best in Class is targeting the addition of 20 more units in 2015. The state of Texas has been identified as a key state for growth. The current team behind Best in Class is looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to join this premier franchise family and ensure our youth will excel academically.
Going Digital with the Indian Classics BY ASEEM KULKARNI BOSTON: Diversity in India is nothing new. Whether it is language, religion, cuisine, etc., diversity is celebrated. The same can be said about the Indian classics. And in an effort to preserve and venerate this idea, Harvard University Press, along with the Infosys Murthy family, have teamed up to create the digital Murty Classical Library of India. The Murty Classical Library of India aims to make available the great literary works of India from the past two millennia. Many classic Indic texts have never reached a global audience, while others are becoming increasingly inaccessible even to Indian readers. The creation of a classical library of India is intended to reintroduce these works to a new generation of readers. The library was funded by Dr. Rohan Narayana Murty. Even though Dr. Murty has studied and focused on complex computing systems and wireless networking, he has maintained his interests and commitment to history, language, and the Classics. So, in 2010, while he was studying for his Phd in computer science, he came to the aid of Professor Sheldon Pollock in founding the library. Dr. Murty is the son of Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty of Bangalore, India. The family has a long history of supporting education and scholarship in India and abroad. Professor Sheldon Pollock will
Among the Murty Classical literary works is Sufi Lyrics: Bulleh Shah, selected and translated by Christopher Shackle.
Rohan Murty (center) with his parents Sudha and Narayana Murthy.
serve as General Editor of the library. Professor Pollock is the Arvind Raghunathan Professor of Sanskrit and South Asian Studies at Columbia University. He has not only authored numerous books about South Asian culture and Sanskrit language, but has also received several awards and titles
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
including the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and, from the Government of India, both the Presidential Certificate of Honour for Sanskrit and the Padma Shri. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Murty Classical Library of India, which has now already released nine multi-language classics, will include not only Sanskrit texts but also works in Bangla, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Persian, Prakrit, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and other languages. Projected to reach some 500 books over the next century, the series is to encompass poetry and prose, history and philosophy, Buddhist and Muslim texts as well as Hindu ones, and familiar works alongside those that have been all but unavailable to non-specialists. So for those of you interested in taking a break from books on the Indian economy, Gandhi biographies, etc and go back to the classics, check out the Murty Classical Library of India. Not only will you be able to read in your own language, you will be treated to classic works that have survived invasion, colonialization, globalization, and have captured the true diversity of India. For more information about the Murty Classical Library of India, visit http://www.hup.harvard.edu/collection.php?cpk=2015
June 19, 2015
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
21
22 June 19, 2015
PUZZLES/RECIPES
SUDOKU
Place a Number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine. Send us the correct answer before June 24, 2015. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036.
Win free tickets to the upcoming Skeeters Game (for first three entrees only & 1 submission per month).
Solution Next Week
L��� W���’� SUDOKU S�������
Mama’s Punjabi Recipes
Jalebi (Fried Sweet Flour Spirals) Some dishes that originated in Northern India have been so widely accepted that they are available all around the country now, especially the sweet desserts. Gulab jamun (fried rose colored ball); rus gullas (syrup soaked sponge balls); burfi (evaporated milk wedges); ladoos (chickpea flour balls) are just some of these. To this list, you must add jalebis, the delectable deep-fried, soft flour spirals. You can find jalebis being made in a large kadai (wok) full of hot oil at any corner halwai’s (confectioner) shop in the evenings and many people will stop by to buy some piping hot ones to eat with their chai. Jalebis are especially popular at weddings and birthdays and during the Ramadan, Dusserah and Diwali seasons. They are really popular on cold, winter days when they are dipped in warm milk and devoured! Jalebis are popular in other countries too, in the Middle East, Libya, Egypt, Iran, Africa and the Maldives. The dish was brought to India in the 15th century by Persian invaders, and is called zulbia in Farsi. Although it may seem easy to make good jalebis, it is really an art of perfect flour mix; syrup consistency and timing to get them out of the deep-fry with the crunchy crispiness that makes chewing them a delight. It is one of the few dishes that require two people to make. If the jalebis are taken out too quickly, they become soft, limp and taste a little mushy. During the festival season, it is best to make some extra chasni (syrup) and keep it aside for quick use in making jalebis. Ingredients: 2 cups maida - (bleached white flour) 2 cups chinni (sugar) 2 cups pani (water) Vegetable or sunflower oil for frying 1 tsp orange food coloring 1 tsp baking soda Small clean muslin or cotton cloth
L��� W���’� SUDOKU W������
1) Krishnan Iyer 2) Sudha Sharma 3) Ashok Raj
Directions: 1. To make the chasni, pour the sugar into a wide saucepan, add the water and orange coloring and mix thoroughly with a spoon. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes then turn off the
heat and keep to the side.
and after 1 minute, take them out with a strainer to drip.
2. Mix in the water and baking soda into the maida so that the dough is a paste, but not runny.
7. Break into smaller spirals and serve hot with milk or chai.
3. Make a small ¼ inch hole in the cloth. Pour some dough paste in the middle, then fold the cloth around it in the shape of a fat ball. 4. Heat the oil on high in the kadai and when hot, squeeze some of the paste in from the cloth in spirals till the surface is full. 5. The other person should quickly take the fried spirals out once it is a golden color. The first person then squeezes out more dough into the hot oil to repeat the process. 6. Dip the hot spirals into the chasni
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 FOR FASTER JALEBIS, USE BAKING POWDER Jalebis taste really good if they are fresh, fluffy, light and crisp; almost like a fried light wafer. Their crunchiness is an important part of the experience of eating jalebis, but if there are large pieces of flour lumped together, then these taste soft and chewy. The trick is to make the batter fluffy, and to do this quickly, it is necessary to add some baking soda when the paste is being made. The other way is organic but requires better preparation. Mix the paste without the baking soda and then let it set in a warm spot, like inside the oven, for two days. It will rise by itself and be naturally light.
For advertising contact: Vanshika Vipin at 713.789.6397 INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
June 19, 2015
ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT
Movie Review: Hamari Adhuri Kahani
23
Shahid Kapoor's July Wedding in Delhi Confirmed
BY MEENA IYER So a seeped-in-tradition, middleclass florist Vasudha is married off to a boorish tourist taxi-driver, Hari by her priest father. The father is a two-faced man; a pujari outside and a 'wife-beater' at home. Despite a word of caution from her mother, Vasudha, who is brain-washed to believe that pati is indeed parmeshwar(husband is God); continues putting up a world of make-believe for her young son Saanjh. An arrangement of white Lilys in Aarav's suite plays cupid between the Vasudha and Richie Rich. He literally follows the fragrance and finds that besides the scent, even the florist has a heady effect! Since Hari, the husband is in no hurry to return, Aarav offers Vasudha a job and eventually his hand. Tempted by the sunshine, she gives in. But before she can bask in the glory of Aarav's love, her husband, who is falsely accused of being a 'terrorist', comes home to raise hell. Torn between husband and paramour; Vasudha walks the tight rope of emotions. As does the audience, whose patience is wearing thin. The plot offers the viewer a whirlwind tour of scenic locations. But to what avail? Emraan's back-story lacks depth. While middle-class values are to be
lauded; the writing of HAK comes unstuck. A long-suffering women like Vasudha, who finally walks away wastes too many years in finding her identity. At a time when we are celebrating a thinking Piku, a rebellious Tanu and her spirited twin Datto; why
do we need women characters who whimper? HAK's moments come from its lead cast who pitch in their best for the most part. The music is a soothing balm. Suri should know that even cinema Goliaths cannot rise above the written word. -TimesofIndia
NEW DELHI:Shahid Kapoor’s fans were under the impression that his wedding to Mira Rajput would take place in Greece in June. However, a source has told a Mumbai tabloid that the wedding will be in Delhi, in July. "Shahid is definitely getting married in July. We’ve all been asked to be free that time," the source said. Earlier, on March 26 actor Shahid Kapoor had confirmed that marriage, to Delhi-girl Mira, was "on the cards sometime towards the end of the year." "She is a normal girl and I am a normal guy, and we should treat it
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-
Commercial Real Estate Loans, Construction Loans, Equipment Loans, Working Capital Loans, International Trade Finance and more...
Jack Kuo Lending Officer, V.P. 713-995-3201
Winston Nguyen Lending Officer, V.P. 713-995-3226
Sally Li Lending Officer, V.P. 713-272-5027
Catherine Liang Lending Officer, V.P. 713-995-3210
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
like something normal and regular. It’s my personal space and I won’t get into the details. I’m just happy to announce it," Shahid added. Mira is currently pursuing her graduation degree and has completed her schooling from Vasant Valley School. Apparently, Shahid met Mira through the religious group Radha Soami Satsang Beas. From Bali to Greece, rumours about the wedding destination were doing the rounds ever since the 34-year old actor confirmed the marriage, which is said to be an arranged one. -HindustanTimes
24 June 19, 2015
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Friday, June 10, 5 2011 m 9, 201 ws.co June 1 y a id an-ne Fr c i r e m indoa www.
www.indoamerican-news.com
June 19, 2015
25
IndoAmerican News
Business IndoAmerican News
STOCKS • FINANCE • SOUTH ASIAN MARKETS • TECHNOLOGY
Big-Ticket IT Deals get Rarer for Outsourcers Firms cut their budgets to maintain the back-end technology and plough the savings in work that can help them improve their business operations BY VARUN SOOD BENGALURU: Information technology deals are getting smaller and scarcer by the year. Not a single order exceeding $1 billion has been awarded since January, compared with one such deal in the year-ago period and five in 2013, according to consulting firm Everest Group. Outsourcing deals are getting shrunk both in value and duration, as companies ranging from banks to retailers cut their budgets to maintain the back-end technology and plough the savings in work that can help them improve their business operations. The shift has prompted IT vendors, including Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd, to invest in automation, design thinking and intelligent technology platforms, to help clients and generate more business. “Deals, in general, are smaller,” said Joe Frampus, partner at Avasant, a US-based technology advisory firm. “Automation and digital strategies are beginning to rise and it will cost a client less. Several years ago, the cost may have been over $1 billion but because of improved technologies the spend is not there.” Experts say IT companies will have to compete for smaller orders and one way they could do this effectively is by investing more in new technologies, including making their clients more socially enabled and offering solutions on mobile, cloud computing and big data problems—if they want to grow at a faster pace. “Revenue growth will not correlate
to FTE (revenue generated by the employees working on a project) growth and a higher percentage of revenues will be based on the application of automation, process improvement and analytics,” said Bill Huber, managing director at Alsbridge, a US-based outsourcing advisory firm. IT outsourcing advisory firms do not sub-categorize technology deals but take $1 billion contracts as a proxy to reflect the deal activity in the industry. Everest Group estimates that seven deals exceeding $1 billion each in value were awarded in 2014 and 10 in 2013.At least three advisory firms estimate that in the coming 1218 months many of the 1,200 other deals, each more than $50 million in annual revenue, which come up for rebidding, are likely to get split between multiple vendors with smaller deal duration and value. “Buyers now have greater flexibility to switch vendors and don’t want to get locked with a single provider for all their requirements. Larger deals (both in terms of total contract value and deal duration) have been, therefore, broken down into smaller deals with multiple service providers,” said Ritika Dhingra, an analyst at Everest Group. Huber of Alsbridge said that deal terms are becoming shorter because of an expectation that new technologies will continue to emerge throughout the life of a long-term agreement, and it is difficult to anticipate specific contractual parameters to define how processes will be affected by these new technologies. Both Frampus and Alsbridge said
smaller outsourcing deals do not imply that IT vendors’ margins will take a hit as most companies have already started investing in tools that can do away with an army of engineers engaged in traditional low-end work. “The use of automation is really playing havoc on labour arbitrage. (But) I do not believe margins are being affected. So the IT vendors may be sacrificing the topline but they are opening up more opportunities as they get to work more inside the businesses of the companies they support,” said Frampus. Understandably, Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka is trying to bring a “cultural mindset change” in the way the country’s second largest software
exporter has emerged to become an $8.7 billion firm since it was set up in 1981. Design thinking, a user-centric approach to enable the firm’s 180,000 employees to write simple codes, is one such initiative. Wipro, too, is banking on its artificial intelligence platform, Holmes, while India’s largest IT firm, TCS, showcased its first AI-powered technology platform, Ignio, earlier this month in New York. “It is the best time to be a buyer… it’s a buyer’s market,” Wipro CEO T.K. Kurien said earlier this year, referring to how IT companies’ clients are in a “sweet spot” as they are able to dictate prices. “There is pressure in commoditized deals… There are
127
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
fewer large deals and the only way you can grow is if you invest in automation and in other technology areas,” said Kurien, whose firm won a $1.2-billion outsourcing contract from a Canadian utility—its biggest order—last July. “Overall, we are not seeing any increase in the spend,” Infosys chief operating officer U.B. Pravin Rao said in a Morgan Stanley-sponsored analyst event on 11 June. “There is tremendous cutting cost in some part of the business and reinvesting back in the discretionary spend…we are doing multiple things to get a larger share of this spending.” -Livemint.com
26 June 19, 2015 Ashwin’s Five-for-87 is the Bright Spot in a Damp Draw
BY SIDHARTH MONGA FATULLAH (ESPN Cricinfo): India 462 for 6 decl. (Dhawan 173, Vijay 150, Rahane 98, Shakib 4-105) drew with Bangladesh 256 (Kayes 72, Ashwin 5-87, Harbhajan 3-64) and (f/o) 23 for 0 Once the first session of the final day was washed out, the draw was inevitable, but India gave a glimpse into the possibilities had this match not lost 248 overs to rain by bowling Bangladesh out for 256 and enforcing a followon. Though he couldn’t help India avoid slipping to fourth in the ICC rankings thanks to this draw, the most impressive player of the match, R Ashwin, registered his first five-wicket haul outside India. Bangladesh will be disappointed their first innings lasted only 65.5 overs on a pitch that India batted comfortably and lost wickets only when their batsmen went out of their way to score quick runs. The final day’s play began with Bangladesh needing 152 to avoid the follow-on with seven wickets in hand. A maximum of 67 overs could have been bowled on the day. Had Bangladesh batted sensibly they would have avoided the drama of having to bat again and hanging in grimly. Confronted with some excellent bowling from Ashwin but little else, Bangladesh failed to do so although theirs was
a general air of just having a good time without having to worry about the result because it had been ruled out. In a live Test they might well have shown more application. Shakib Al Hasan fell manufacturing a cut, Imrul Kayes and Mohammad Shahid jumped out of the crease to Harbhajan Singh - all three of the returning offspinners’ victims were batsmen outside their crease - and Soumya Sarkar and others kept swinging away even when not quite in control of the shots. Ashwin, though, was in a different league, relying on his offbreak, getting it to drift and dip, drawing sharp turn and bounce, and brought some excitement into a match dulled by poor scheduling: the first in monsoon June in Bangladesh. Even after Shakib fell early on in the day, the shots kept coming. Some of them came off - Sarkar managed an ungainly 37 - but they brought about wickets. The bright spot for Bangladesh was debutant Litton Das’ 44 off 45, but he too struggled as Ashwin drifted the ball away from him. After having found himself away from the pitch of the ball, Das eventually gloved one bouncing offbreak to backward short leg. Das’ wicket made it 232 for 8, and it was followed by a poor shot from Mohammad Shahid and poor running from Taijul Islam and Jubair Hossain.
Intent to give it every possible shot, Virat Kohli asked Bangladesh to bat again, but there was never going to be enough time to force a result. Hands were shaken the moment Bangladesh had batted out 15 overs in the second innings and the mandatory overs became due. Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
India at Full Strength
Suresh Raina has said India arriving at full-strength for the three ODIs against Bangladesh is an indication of “how important a series this is for us.” There had been considerable attention given to the Indian squad the last time they were in Bangladesh. In June 2014, eight firstchoice players were rested for a three-ODI tour and seven of them are part of this one. The seven players - MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar - were kept busy in the nets at the academy ground of the Shere Bangla National Stadium two days out from the first game. Last year, Raina had to juggle a comeback into the national side while captaining it. He had to explain that the men who were picked had proven themselves in domestic cricket. There was no such need this time.
SPORTS
Pak vs. SL: Familiar Opponents in Transition GALLE: If familiarity breeds contempt, no one told Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The teams now embark on their seventh bilateral series in as many years, and as Ahmer Naqvi says, this relationship has the hallmarks of an arranged marriage and there is genuine warmth there too. Perhaps no two boards back each other quite as unequivocally at the ICC table. SLC chairman Sidath Wettimuny has made two trips to Pakistan in the last month alone. Yet for all the mutual backscratching, Pakistan’s most successful Test captain is yet to win a match on the island. Pakistan’s last three Test series in Sri Lanka have brought results of 0-2 (2009), 0-1 (2012) and 0-2 (2014). With Sri Lanka in heavy transition, and Kumar Sangakkara likely to play only the first two Tests, Misbahul-Haq might feel this is his best chance yet to win a game here maybe even a series. Pakistan are in something of a transition too, but having had more cricket in recent months, their side feels better meshed. Greater responsibility has settled well on Azhar Ali’s shoulders, and Yasir Shah is marching quickly towards a menacing Test record. Wahab Riaz and Junaid Khan have tasted success in Sri Lanka as well. The hosts have plenty of batsmen pressing for a middle-order place. Kusal Perera’s four brisk centuries and two fifties against Pakistan A make him the likeliest option, but Kithuruwan Vithanage waits in the wings, and a reinvented Jehan Mubarak is back for another crack at the top level. Injuries to the two frontline quicks have opened up opportunities for seamers more often seen in away Tests, as well. Neither captain is renowned for attacking play, though Angelo Mathews has taken small steps away from the safety-first outlook that defined the early months of his captaincy. How he does in his first home series without Mahela Jayawardene’s support may give clues to his development as a strategist. As ever, the Galle Test should ease the hosts into the series, with several key batsmen and bowlers often at their peak at this
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Misbah-ul-Haq takes a breather during Pakistan’s practice session, Galle.
venue. Seems like an anomaly, because he has the temperament to flourish in the long format. Groomed for a while now to take up Sangakkara’s No. 3 spot, he will have to increase his output dramatically to be an adequate replacement. Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar have stepped up over the months to cover the absence of Saeed Ajmal. The left-arm spinner and wrist spinner combination will have an important contribution to make. Both of them had a decent practice match in Colombo, with Babar taking 6 for 31 while Shah picked up two at a decent economy rate. Kusal looks likeliest to bat at No. 6, with Dinesh Chandimal taking the gloves and batting at No. 7. Sri Lanka may also be tempted to play 22-year-old offspinner Tharindu Kaushal who, with his flight and variation, may be an effective foil for Rangana Herath. Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Kaushal Silva, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Lahiru Thirimanne, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Kusal Perera, 7 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 8 Dhammika Prasad, 9 Tharindu Kaushal/ Dilruwan Perera, 10 Rangana Herath, 11 Nuwan Pradeep Pakistan (probable): 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt.), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Junaid Khan, 10 Yasir Shah, 11 Zulfiqar Babar
TRAVEL
June 19, 2015
27
Discarded People Find a Welcoming Home Tucked Away, Out of Sight
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA NEW DELHI: In this megacity of over 20 million people, for the forlorn and clueless; those who have been discarded by society as unstable, mentally ill, unfit and unwanted, even after they are dead and the bodies lie unclaimed; for those whose families have deemed them to be more of a bother and inconvenience; for the women who have gone crazy after being molested and raped; for the refuse of society that Delhiites reject and do not treat well, there are very few places where to find refuge and to live out their years in dignity. The NCR – National Capital Region – runs through three states, from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh to Bhiwadi in Haryana Pradesh and Rohtak and Najafgar in Haryana to the west, a vast area that accounts for an estimated 55 million densely packed people. Although in New Delhi there are clean bureaucratic government buildings and housing; tall apartment buildings; new fourstory townhomes where bungalows once stood; gleaming opulent malls and an elevated Metro system that is the envy of the nation; outside in the heat, on the filthy streets and traffic congested roads lies a mess of humanity trying to eke out a meager living in a thousand different ways. Some are clueless on how to fend for themselves. This city is teeming with government run hospitals and private clinics all too ill-prepared to handle the avalanche of people affected by life’s vagrancies; and the few mental health centers are private and charge enormous amounts of money that the destitute and those unable cannot afford. But in all of the NCR’s megapolis, there is only one place where even the police bring in the rejected they find; a place that turns no one away and charges no money but offers hope and a caring heart. Going southwest on the National Highway 8 to Jaipur, due west of the Indira Gandhi International Airport and almost behind the 80-foot-tall statue of Shiva and the Shiv Murti mandir that sits at its feet is the Earth Saviours Foundation, about a quarter mile away along jutted and negligible roads, through a pop-up village of mostly Bangladeshi refugees and mounds of trash on the horizon. The Gurukul or safe haven sits on 2.5 acres of land leased out free by a kindred benefactor after shifting there when a disastrous fire in April last year destroyed the previous shelter
At the Earth Saviours Foundation shelter outside New Delhi, standing among residents, from left, Rakhi Sharma, Administrative Manager; founder Ravi Kalra, and IAN Publisher Jawahar Malhotra. Photos: Jawahar Malhotra
that was closer to the city. According to Ravi Kalra, the founder of ESF, there are plans to buy 3.5 acres of land on the Mehalpur-Faridabad road with hopes to build “the world’s biggest charitable temple of humanity” that could accommodate 600 to 800 people. The present site can handle a maximum of 250 residents and has a staff of 35, mostly volunteers who came as patients years ago and stayed on to serve, two paid staffers who handle paperwork and a paid cook. Kalra recalls being horrified to see a young child eat from the same city garbage heap as a mongrel dog. In response, he opened up the first shelter in 2007, feeling that serving the destitute was his true calling in life. He gave up his comfortable lifestyle, business and eventually his wife and children to devote himself to this cause full time. “I have vowed to help the destitute and unwanted; have cleaned their vomit, changed their diapers, helped to rid them of maggots on them,” described Kalra of his daily routine on a recent visit through Houston last year (see IAN dated Sept. 26, 2014) on a fundraising drive to three US cities. He even performs the last rites for those who are brought dead from the streets, some decapitated and dismembered; others who die while in his care. As I toured the shelter with Kalra, I met with some residents who came to give him an affectionate
Job Opportunity
Capricorn Travel Requires Full Time Experienced Travel Agent. For Appointment: Please Call: 713-339-2222
Residents sleep on beds lined up inside three steel-frame buildings,
Residents warming themselves in the April sun in the entrance courtyard
hug, touch or kind word while they warmed themselves in the April sun. An Indian-origin woman from South Africa with her baby had taken refuge for a few months; another middleagedAfrican woman had taken haven for a year. But most of those who arrived each day were the penniless and witless, picked off the streets and brought by one of the four make-shift ambulances that were donated to the shelter. And there were many women who had been raped, lost their minds and were weeping, or locked into their cocoons and a few screaming at anyone who walked by; like the woman who shouted angry obscenities about her man’s betrayals. Others included a brilliant Bengali man who ran a small, part-time asset management business but Parkinson’s disease, not revealing what made him seek shelter here; an octogenarian in a worn-out suit and a shock of white hair suffering from the onset of Alzheimer’s was being processed in as his family could not take care of him and had dropped him off and an elderly judge from a rich family likewise brought her by his relatives to spend his final days here. Kalra, 46, spends most of his days in the midst of this maelstrom, having spent his savings to start and run the shelter on a shoestring budget, depending on the charity of those who have come to learn about it and the benefactors who drop in over the week to see what they can do, bringing old clothes, food and donating money. “Most Indian corporations do not support us; it’s all through word of mouth,” explained Kalra of the Rs. 1,000,000 to 14,000,000 (about $22,000) a month that it takes to run the shelter. He was able to raise some contributions during his US trip, but many pledges lie unfulfilled. The ESF has been publicized in the media but is still relatively unknown. A family which had just lost their breadwinner father and husband came to donate a day’s meals. A small band of students came to help the residents who sleep on donated beds and live in three steel-framed buildings, with open restrooms and bathing areas in the courtyard. Occasionally, a foreign European or American will spend a few weeks helping with the care. Through this all, Kalra remains undaunted; saying he could not turn his back on the helpless and ruined people who have become his life’s work and for whom, he has become a lifeline.
Award Winning Customer Service & Best Rates in Town Proudly Serving For Best Rates to: India, Europe, Cruises & Vacation Packages South Asian Community Toll Free: 1-866-956-0758 - Tel:713-339-2222 for Past 3939 Hillcroft Ave, Suite# 110, Houston, TX 77057 30 Years
CAPRICORN TRAVEL
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
28 June 19, 2015 Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this month, Muslims observe a complete fast from dawn until sunset. The observance of the sawm Ramadan, considered to be the fourth pillar of Islam, is detailed in the Qur’an: “Ramadan is the (month) in which was set down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.” (Surah 2:185, King Fahd trans.) The fast of Ramadan encourages self-restraint, God-consciousness, compassion, and collective worship. During the daylight hours,
Ramadan Kareem Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual activity, while striving to avoid all evil speech and any bad thoughts or actions. As the Bulletin of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York explained in their 1994 Ramadan issue, the fast must be understood as more than abstention from food and drink, “It also means abstention from the illegitimate use of our minds,
of charity throughout the month, and especially on this day. Portland, Oregon’s Muslim Educational Trust coordinates an annual Eid Toy Drive, collecting toys for needy children. Eid al-Fitr is also a time to visit friends and relatives, and many Muslims celebrate with their families for two or three days. Children receive new clothes, jewelry, toys and other gifts, and parents teach the next generation the importance of following the Islamic obligations of fasting, prayer and reading the Qur’an. -www.pluralism.org
The Significance of Eating Dates During Ramadan
First Ever
24 Hour
Telugu Radio in Houston
Online at www.radiohungama.net & Every Sunday 12 PM to 3 PM CST On
KCHN AM 1050 Contact: Sridhar Dadi at
281-217-9736
houstonradio@yahoo.com
Job Posting:
our tongues, and our hearts.” Meals are taken before dawn and after sunset, known respectively as suhoor and iftar. At dusk, many gather to break the fast by eating dates and drinking water, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad. The nights of Ramadan are a time for families and friends, often a festive occasion with special foods. Many
FESTIVAL
mosques (masajid) offer a Qur’anic recitation nightly during Ramadan, such as the Islamic Society of Greater Houston’s Southwest Zone mosque. On Lailat al-Qadr, the “Night of Majesty” on which Muhammad received the first revelation, much of the community gathers in the mosque to listen to the recitation of the Qur’an; many others stay up all night praying and reading the Qur’an at home. At the end of the month of fasting, Muslims gather in large groups to perform the prayers of Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Fast-breaking. In Atlanta, the imams of ten local masajid gather to coordinate the observance; in Houston, Muslims gather at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston at a celebration organized by the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH). Some Muslims, in addition to paying the obligatory zakat al-fitr, a special offering for the needy, perform acts
The tradition of eating dates during Ramadan dates back to the 7th century when it is said that the prophet (PBUH) used the dates to break his fast. When fresh dates weren't available, he would use dried dates. The purpose of the dates is that at 12 to 15 minutes after sunset, an odd number of dates are eaten to break the fast. The dates are the way that Muslims begin the daily celebration of Iftar, the evening meal at which they break the fast. Eating one to three dates and drinking two glasses of water is considered the healthy way to break the fast. All over the Muslim world, street vendors and markets stock lots of dates so that people can make sure that they have enough dates to break their fast each day.
Sr. Project Manager, News & Digital
KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned Television station in Houston, TX is looking for a full time hands-on manager capable of juggling big station projects on both broadcast and digital platforms. Will also help with daily coordination of staff and resources so candidates need to have some assignments desk experience. Must be able to oversee newscasts and special programming AND step in as solo producer when needed. Shooting and editing skills a plus. Needs to have vast knowledge in producing and publishing digital content. The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator, manager, and show doctor. Candidates must be willing to constantly adjust work schedule based on project and station needs. To be considered interested applicants apply on-line at www. disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Please reference Job Req ID 277438BR. No Telephone Calls KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
HEALTH BENEFITS: The health benefits of dates are incomparable. Ripe dates contain about 80% sugar. These sugars are natural sugars. Sugar travels to the liver faster than anything else, and the sugars are converted to energy faster than other nutrients. Simple sugars are not healthy. Dates contain sugars that come from a complex carbohydrate. A DIGESTIVE AID: Eating a date after fasting all day helps the body start the digestive process and it gives the body the energy it needs to deal with more complex foods. Dates are also very high in fiber, and fiber will fill one up faster than other foods, and this may help prevent over eating. SOURCE OF IMPORTANT VITAMINS AND MINERALS: Dates are high in vitamins A, B6, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, iron and natural sodium. They also contain a small amount of protein, some good fats, and additional minerals including copper, sulphur and fluoric acid. They are extremely beneficial for the stomach and for the digestive tract because they can prevent bad parasites and bacteria from infiltrating the digestive tract and causing all sorts of digestive and intestinal problems. AS A DAILY MULTI VITAMIN: For Muslims who eat dates to break the fast prior to Iftar during Ramadan,theyareessentiallytaking a multiple vitamin that will replace some of the important vitamins that have been lost because of the fast all day. Additionally, Ramadan fasting stipulates that the fast must be a total fast, and therefore, one cannot even drink water. In areas where the weather is extraordinarily hot, by not even drinking water, dehydration is always possible. In short, eating a date may be significant because of tradition, but the greater importance lies in the abundance of nutrients that they provide, making the process of breaking the fast and eating the full meal substantially easier -Sunniforum.net
June 19, 2015
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Wrap-3
June 19, 2015
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM