E newspaper10042013

Friday, October 04 2013 | Vol. 32, No. 40

Indo American erican News

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Texas Renaissance Festival P5 From left : Houston attorney Rajneesh Chaudry; Ram Jethmalani; Lata Krishnamurthy and attorney John Lunstroth during a meeting with the press.

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COMMUNITY

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Daya Seminar Offers Insights on Immigration Reform, Race Relations

Expert panelists for the seminar were Damaris Nicholson (left) Gordon Quan, Wafa Abdin, Deepa Iyer and Cherry Steinwender. Mustafa Tameez (far right) served as the moderator. While Quan, Abdin and Iyer participated in the first panel on immigration reform, Nicholson and Steinwinder joined Iyer for the second panel on race relations.

Deepa Iyer is DC-based executive director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT).

BY PRAMOD KULKARNI HOUSTON: Daya’s mission is to help South Asian families in crisis. At this year’s annual seminar, Daya focused on two public policy issues that have a direct impact on South Asian families dealing with issues of domestic violence: immigration reform and race relations.

Titled “White House to Hillcroft”, the seminar featured insightful presentations and discussions by two sets of subject matter experts. The seminar was held Saturday, September 28 morning at the Hilton Southwest.

The experts for the Immigration Reform panel were Deepa Iyer, Executive Director of Washington DC-based SAALT (South Asian Americans Leading Together), a national, non-profit organization that addresses issues affecting South Asians through a social justice lense.

Local experts, who joined Iyer, were Attorneys Gordon Quan, Co-Chair of immigration law firm Foster Quan and former Mayor Pro-Terrm, City of Houston; and Wafa Abdin, Vice President, Immigration Legal Services, Catholic Charities.

Joining Iyer for the Race Relations panel were local experts: Cherry Steinwender, Executive Director, Center for the Healing of Racism; and Damaris Nicholson, Disproportionality Specialist, Texas Health & Human Services Commission, Austin. Mustafa Tameez, Founder and Managing

plight of the South Asians with the title of her presentation, “Spelling bee champions, Miss Americas and Terrorist Threats?”

Iyer described a long line of racial attacks on South Asians since the killing of Navroj Modi by Dotbusters in the 1980s. Most attackers do not know the difference between Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus, Iyer explained. Blacks struggled with racism until the 1965 civil rights act. Similarly, 9/11 schooled us in racism in America. Panelist Damaris Nicholson explained her Ausin role as a disproportionality specialist. Unique in the entire nation, her office examines state programs such as foster care and welfare and check to make sure one minority is not the subject of discrimination.

Perhaps the most passionate of speakers was Cherry Steinwender.

After reading a poem about the polarization in America after 9/11 with the Statue of Liberty shedding a tear. Steinwender got to the crux of the racsim by asking the audience how many of them had invited somone of another race home for dinner.

The program concluded with a vote of thanks from Presidentelect Jyoti Kulkarni and a commitment from current President Padmini Nathan to continue advocacy programs in associations such as SAALT. Daya’s next event is “One Voice Against Domestic Violence’, scheduled Saturday, October 26 at Hillcroft from 10 am to 1 pm.

Director of Outreach Strategies in Houston, served as the moderator with a great sense of humor and sensibility.

In her welcome address, Daya Board Member Leona Christy explained how two out of every five South Asian families are affected by domestic violence. “Daya answers over 4,000 phone calls for help in one of 16 languages and has helped 315 clients through various types of assistance, including legal and job counseling and temporary shelter.”

Dr. Klineberg set the stage for the discussion by presenting demographic data on the four surveys Asians in greater Houston area through surveys conducted under his direction. Dr. Klineberg explained how the 1965 immigration reform act triggered the immigration of people from outside of Europe.

Painting a positive picture of the Asian community, Dr. Klineberg explained that 71% of South Asians in the Houston and Fort Bend countries have college degrees, compared to only 37% of Anglo Americans. “Over 36% of South Asians have income over $71,000 per year,” he said Dr. Klineberg also explained the rise of a new generation of Asian Americans. “In 1995, only 10% of the Asians in Houston were U.S. born, In 2011, the number had risen to 31%.”

Interestingly, 61% of the younger generation are romantically involved with a person of different

Dr. Stephen Klineberg, Co-Director, Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, presented his demographic research on the rise of the Asian communities in Houston.

race. “By 2050, the U.S. will have the same demographic composition that Fort Bend county now has—25% white, 25% black, 25% hispanic and 25% Asian. The U.S. will have become a minority majority nation.”

Explaining how the racial composition has changed already, Dr. Klineberg revealed, “Mitt Romney would have been elected president just eight years ago, as he had won 60% of the white vote. However, he lost 70% of the Asian and Hispanic vote and over 90% of the black vote.”

During the panel discussion on Immigration Reform, Deepa Iyer said while the South Asian community is successful at large, there is a large minority of South Asians, who are unemployed and struggling with lack of insurance and legal status. “Of the 3.4 million South Asians in the U.S.,, 1.8

million are waiting for family reunification. About 7% are illegal immigrants,” Iyer said. “There are also issues associated with people, who are working as domestic servants in the informal sector.”

Gordon Quan urged Asians to speak out on immigration reform.

“We’re stereotyped as being quiet.

We can make a difference by making our views known. Plus, there are economic benefits of bringing into the workforce 11-million young, taxpaying population.”

Iyer said the U.S. Senate has passed Bill S744, which clears the immigration backlog, but has many limitations. The U.S House is yet to consider as many as 11 proposals. “A majority of the representatives are undecideds,” Iyer said. “Your letters and phone calls to your representatives will have an impact.” In the second panel on race relations, Iyer revealed the

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COMMUNITY

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Feared and Respected Politician and Lawyer is a Teacher of the Young at Heart

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: Not a minute into the meeting and Ram Jethmalani had jumped into the episode in his life 42 years ago that had galvanized his role as the conscience of the country from which he had gone into a brief exile.

“I have always had a special affection for the US ever since that time during the Emergency Rule in India (1975-1977) when I spent ten months in the US”, recalled Jethmalani during a two day stopover in the Bayou City two weeks ago. During that time, he was able to indulge in a passion: teach a short course to a younger generation of lawyers at a local institution.

The memory of that period is still very clear for Jethmalani as he became known as a firebrand who would take on the Central Government of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During a speech in Kerela in front of the bench of five judges in closing arguments for men who had been detained, Jethmalani had railed against the judges, roaring that the same Draconian laws they were upholding would be used against them as they had in a case in Ghana where the Chief Justice had upheld a similar law only to be the first to be killed.

“The Indian Democracy is lying in the coffin,” he recalled saying, “but still not dead. The government wants you to shut the lid, but won’t do it. They want you to nail it shut yourself”.

For these flagrant remarks, the Central Government issued an arrest warrant against him by the time he was back in Bombay. “The Chief of Police was a friend who refused to carry it through till the warrant was physically delivered to him”, Jethmalani recalled with a chuckle. “Instead, he escorted me onto a plane that night and I took off for Canada and then came to

Member of Indian Rajya Sabha Ram Jethmalani.

Photo: Jawahar Malhotra

Detroit where I had some family”.

The 90 year-old Jethmalani was in town at the urging of a former junior colleague and recent transplant to Houston, Rajneesh Chaudry an attorney and his partner John Lunstroth who invited him to share his recollections and observations on Indian law and politics during the two-day whirlwind stopover in Houston where he addressed the Asia Society (see IAN September 27, 2013); the University of Houston Law Center and had dinner at the house of a prominent community member and admirer, Dr. Arun Verma (see page 8). He was escorted on the brief trip, which included a stopover in Greenville, S. Carolina, by Lata Krishnamurthy a lawyer in

the Supreme Court and his partner for the past four years.

Over breakfast on a Monday morning, Jethmalani shared his views on US-India relations, the law, democracy and politics in which he has been deeply immersed since he first got elected to the Indian Parliament in 1980. “We are the world’s most prominent democracies”, he said about the US and India, “but the relationship is not the best”. He worried about the connection between religious fundamentalism and terrorism and what was taught in schools to young people. “My grievance is that these times are threatened by a medieval menace”, he said, adding “Freedom of speech is not about what thought you like, but about what thought you hate”.

Born in Shikhar-

pur, British India, Jethmalani was a prodigy who received his law degree at the age of 17 and started to practice law in Karachi. His family migrated to Bombay after the Partition and he established a practice that has grown immensely due to the high-profile defense cases he took on. He came to the spotlight in the famous case of Nanavati vs. the State of Maharashtra in 1959 with Yashwant Vishnu Chandrachud. In the 1960s, he took on the defense of a string of smugglers.

Among those are his defense of the infamous Harshad Mehta and Ketan Parekh who were involved in the Bombay stock market manipulations; Afzal Guru, the Pakistani convicted of the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, Rajiv Gandhi’s killers, the underworld don Haji Mastan, Manu Sharma in Jessica Lall’s murder case and L.K. Advani in the Hawala Scam.

Asked why he took these cases and the reputation that followed he was once known as the “smuggler’s lawyer” - he responded that he had to make his livelihood from law and that “no lawyer shall refuse to defend a person even though others may believe them to be guilty”, adding that “the best guarantee of finding the truth is by extreme arguments in an adversarial system”.

This tact has often placed Jethmalani at odds with the judicial system, politicians and even the public, as his recent utterances in the Asaram Bapu case have shown. But Jethmalani has never shied away from controversy, in fact it seems he thrives on it, taking on subjects that others wouldn’t touch. This facet of his personality has made him a maverick in law as well as in politics which he has been involved in since his first seat in 1980.

He is currently a member of the Rajya Sabha or Upper House (akin to the Senate in the US system) of Parliament having been elected on the BJP ticket from Rajasthan.

He has been a Law Minister in the Vajpayee administration, split with the BJP and launched his own party twice, run as an independent and recently mended fences with the aging outspoken BJP stalwart Advani over the nomination of Narendra Modi to the party’s ticket as PM in the forthcoming national elections.

Asked about his love-hate relationship with the BJP and his role as a politician, he said he was not so proud of politicians, but more proud of teaching law to the young.

“It is the duty of every individual in a democracy to get involved”, he declared. He defended Modi’s role during the riots in Gujarat where many people were killed, saying that Modi was only four months into his administration and that mob violence and retaliation was the root cause of the deaths.

“I am a BJP rebel”, he said, “and my conscience will not submit to party politics. I was invited back to the BJP in 2010”.

Even now, Jethmalani relishes his role as a loose canon, and age has not slowed him down. “I feel like I am living in the departure lounge of an airport”, he joked, “but the flight has been delayed”! His skill as a negotiator and debater has provided him well, and he feels that he has a debt to repay to India that has been good to him. He has started his own paper, the Sunday Guardian, with M.J. Akhtar as its editor and published in Delhi and Chandigarh. He founded the Ram Jethmalani Foundation in 2005, with five trustees, to serve the public in the areas of education, health and the environment.

His colleague Krishnamurthy best summed up what others think about Jethmalani, who is considered an icon in Indian law circles.

“He is a one man army. He is very inspiring, has remarkable courage”, she said. “You have to hear him in court and learn from the arguments of the cases he presents”.

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COMMUNITY

October 04, 2013

SOS Launches the Hidden Gems Program

Bill Jackson, Nita Jackson, Ajay Sarpeshkar

Farida Hasanali, Ajit John

Raj Malani, Vivek Mehta, Jugal Malani

Sayli Kulkarni, Qusai Mahesri

From left: Ajay Sarpeshkar, Vivek Mehta, Radhika Kudchadkar, Swapan Dubey, Sayli Kulkarni, Biki Mohindra, Briseida Luna, Qusai Mahesri, Amit Patil, Farida Hasanali, Zarir Mehta.

BY FARIDA HASANALI HOUSTON: On Wednesday, September 19, the Share Our Secrets (SOS) Group launched its Hidden Gems Program at the River Oaks Country Club. The audience included SOS Members from the current class year, alumni, Circle of Influence members, Connect members and a few select guests that embodied the spirit of being a hidden gem.

The Hidden gems program was created to identify and highlight accomplished people who have either affected our lives or have the potential to help the next generation which includes both members of SOS as well as people of our larger community. The program features people who make a difference and are willing to pay it forward. Award recipients are identified locally as well as in small towns surrounding the Houston metropolitan area.

This year five very special people were honoured. Bob Flexon, CEO of Dynegy was honoured by Parthesh Kalathia, an SOS current year student. Jugal and Raj Malani, owners, Unique Industrial Product Company and Valerie Gibbs, city president for Bank of Texas were honoured by Vivek Mehta, Chairman of SOS, Qusai Mahesri, president, Xpediant Solutions was honoured by Sayli Kulkarni, an SOS alumni and current treasurer, and Bill Jackson, executive director/county budget officer was honoured by Ajay Sarpeshar, also

an SOS alumni and current Media Relations Director.

“As CEO of Dynegy, Bob is at least 5 levels above me, but I’ve never felt that gap. Bob saw through the levels, gave me credit for my efforts, and believed in my potential. When an opportunity arose to do what I have always wanted to do, Bob expressed his support in my abilities when no one else did. Thank You for being the Hidden Gem in my life,” said Parthesh as he handed Flexon a crystal gem award as a token of his gratitude.

For Sayli Kulkarni, Qusai Mahesri has been more than just a boss. He is her mentor in her professional and personal life. Sayli’s thirst for knowledge and her desire to grow as a person is what encouraged Qusai to support her. Over the past two years he has guided Sayli on finding and building inner strength and courage, which has allowed her to tackle difficult emotional issues with grace and courage. “Qusai, thank you for helping me grow as an employee, a mother, a wife, and a daughter. I am very grateful for your presence in mine and my family’s life,” said Sayli gratefully.

Jugal and Raj Malani barely need an introduction in the Indian community. They are kind hearted and always ready to help anyone in need. Their philanthropic endeavours are selfless and they remain humble and respectful to everyone whose lives they touch.

Parthesh Kalathia, Bob Flexon

Val Gibbs, Vivek Mehta “These qualities are what really attracted me to nominate them for this award,” said Vivek Mehta.

“Valerie Gibbs is my role model,” said Vivek of his second nominee.

Valerie is a dynamic banker and has made a name in the financial industry at a seniority level that has been ruled by men. She has broken the barriers of entry and is a role model not just for women but everyone who wants to climb the corporate ladder in life.

Ajay Sarpeshkar’s message for Bill Jackson was heartfelt. “Bill embodies the vision of a CEO, discipline of a COO, business acumen of a CFO, and most importantly the compassion of a leader,” said Ajay as he thanked Bill for his kindness and humility.

Last but certainly not least, the SOS community recognized someone very special. Ajit John, partner at Wheatstone Resources Group was honoured for his support of SOS for the past three years. Ajit has generously shared his office conference room for three years to allow SOS to hold its classes.

He was always there to ensure we were comfortable…we couldn’t have done it without you Ajit…

The SOS Family.

For further information on the SOS Program visit www.shareoursecrets.org or leave a message at info@shareoursecrets.org if you are interested in becoming a member.

From left: Back Row: Ami Desai, Brandon Clark, Meher Rustomji, Parthesh Kalathia, Kunal Dora, Radhika Kudchadkar,Swapan Dubey, Payal Channa, Kalpita Shah, Sandra Barbarella-Liu, Nikki Desai, Nilima Bembalkar, Sundeep Makker. Front row, from left: Rishi Goswami, Sonya Mehta, Rozat Fidvi.

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Distinguished Member of Parliament and Lawyer Ram Jethmalani Visits Houston

From left: Dr. Karl Robinson; Rajneesh Chaudhary; Dr. Arun Verma; Prof. John Lunstroth; Member of Indian Rajya Sabha Ram Jethmalani; Dr. Durga Agrawal; Vinni Verma and Charles Foster.

Photo : Bijay Dixit

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BY JOHN LUNSTROTH HOUSTON: Ram Jethmalani, a Member of Parliament in India, visited Houston on September 22 and 23 to give two lectures at the University of Houston Law Center (organized by Professors Raymond Nimmer and John Lunstroth) and a discussion at the Asia Society of Houston (see IAN September 27, 2013) conducted by Charles Foster, Partner of FosterQuan, LLP and Chairman of the Houston Chapter of the Asia Society. Rajneesh Chaudhary, attorney and his law partner John Lunstroth, of Lunstroth & Chaudhary organized Jethmalani’s visit to Houston.

Jethmalani also met the Indian community at a lavish dinner thrown in his honor

by Vinni Verma and her husband, Dr. Arun Verma. The dinner was attended by eminent Houstonians who were impressed with Jethmalani’s sharp intellect and energy even at the age of 90. Jethmalani spoke on the need to fight terrorism and preserve democracy.

He shared his experiences during the Emergency period of 1975-1977 in which constitutional and human rights were suspended.

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He stated that he felt young because of the three professions that he practices, law, politics and law teaching, he enjoyed teaching the most.

Dr. Verma recalled how as a child his father would tell him of the development of the famous Nanavati case which ended the jury system in India and in which Jethmalani played a fundamental role. Dr. Verma was fascinated by the personalities in the story, resulting in a life-long interest in the career of Jethmalani and making this opportunity to host him a very special event indeed.

Also attending the dinner last Monday night were Foster and Thomas Riley of the Asia Society; Nimmer and Tasha Willis of the University of Houston Law School; University of Houston India Studies Program’s Lois Zamora, Anjali Kanojia and Kim Howard; local community activist Durga Das Agrawal; K Mahesh, Special Commissioner of Industries of the Govt. of National Capital Territory of Delhi, India and Lata Krishnamurti, Jethmalani’s law partner who accompanied him to Houston.

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COMMUNITY

October 04, 2013

Swami Ramdev’s USA Visit

Swami Ramdevji speaking where Vivekanand spoke in Chicago.

BY MANU SHAH HOUSTON: The evening of September 26, reflected the enormous appeal that Swami Ramdev has with the masses - in India and abroad. And Houston was no exception. Despite being a working day, more than 1000 people eagerly gathered to see and hear Swamiji’s electric talk on “Yoga and its benefits”, at VPSS Haveli jointly organized by Patanjali Yogpeeth(USA), Bharat Swabhiman Overseas and Hindus of Greater Houston.

Baba Ramdev, received a rousing reception when he entered the

hall and greeted everyone humbly.

The program started with lighting of the lamp after which Swamiji blessed the audience and observed a two-minute silence for the victims of the terrorist attack in Kenya.

Epitomizing calmness and discipline, Baba Ramdev addressed the gathering with his customary simplicity, childlike innocence and down to earth humor. For two hours, he expounded on the Gita, truth (satya), courage, nonviolence (ahimsa), meditation and yoga. The audience listened in rapt attention and spellbound silence

Photos : Vijay Pallod

broken only by laughter and applause at his candid remarks and veiled references to the political scenario in India.

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COMMUNITY

October 04, 2013

Hindu Americans in Houston Celebrate a Decade of Advocacy

HOUSTON: Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA) joined over 200 Houstonians in celebrating the Hindu American Foundation’s (HAF) tenth anniversary of advocacy on Saturday, September 21 at the India House in Houston.

The only Indian-American currently serving in Congress, Congressman Bera lauded the HAF for its important advocacy efforts on behalf of the community while urging the younger attendees to consider a career as a US Representative.

“My legacy is not measured by anything I’m going to accomplish,” said Congressman Bera.

“My legacy is going to be measured in what that next generation accomplishes...I see high school kids in the audience, I see college kids in the audience. What I’d like to see in this next decade would be four or five Indian-American Congressmen and Congresswomen.

What I’d like to see in this generation is our first Indian-American Senator. That would be remarkable.”

Sharing the dais with Congress-

man Bera was HAF’s Director of Education and Curriculum Reform, Murali Balaji, PhD, who energized the crowd with his presentation on the Foundation’s efforts, both nationally and locally, to improve the manner in which Hinduism is taught about in public school classrooms.

“This isn’t teaching religion,” Balaji said. “This is teaching about religion in a way that gives Hinduism parity with other faith traditions. We want African-American children, Latino children, white children, and Vietnamese-American children to all have the same basics about Hinduism as they have with every other religion taught in our schools.”

The evening began with a Hindu prayer sung by Sanghamitra Misra, a classically trained musician, while Congressman Bera and Houston’s own Congressman Gene Green (D-TX) lit the two diyas adorning the stage.

Houston native Rishi Bhutada, who serves on HAF’s Board of Directors, and Sheetal Shah, HAF’s Senior Director, updated the au-

dience on the Foundation’s latest multi-faceted advocacy efforts, from providing assistance to Pakistani Hindu refugees to speaking up against a controversial decision by the Council of a Parliament of the World’s Religion to withdraw support of a Hindu-sponsored event.

Bhutada, along with a team of 26 committed volunteers, has organized the annual HAF dinner in Houston for the past five years, raising just over $100,000 this year alone. This dinner also saw the establishment of a HAF chapter for the Houston area.

“This dinner event was a wonderful way to celebrate a decade of HAF’s achievements,” said Bhutada. “Congressman Bera’s personal story was inspiring to all and illustrative of the importance for the Hindu American community to engage on public policy issues.

The Houston Hindu community has shown its support for HAF time after time, and I am thankful they did it again tonight.”

Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA) speaks at the annual HAF Awareness and Fundraising Dinner.

HAF Houston Chapter Team celebrates a successful event. Top row (from left): Chirag Randeria, Vinay Sarda, Kirit Mehta. Bottom row: Aarti Randeria, Shradha Bhutada, Rishi Bhutada, Rahul Pandit.

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Baba Ramdev fleetingly referred to his experience of Heathrow Airport in London, where he was questioned by custom officials, declaring that, “truth has won and will always win.” He brushed away all his troubles with the Indian government and stated that to be content, a person needs only two sets of clothes, two yards of land (do gaz zameen) and two meals a day!

The two hour talk interspersed with melodious soul stirring bhajans concluded with Baba Ramdev leading the gathering in singing the bhajan“Mere daata ke darbar me, sab logo ka khata”.

He was accompanied by the Sangeet mandali of Smriti, Nupur, Rajani and Govind. Swamiji also promised to teach more yoga techniques the following morning and appreciated the efforts of the board members, organizers and donors as well as Sanjay Jain who was the coordinator of the entire event.

He summed up the evening by encouraging the gathering to “connect” to Aastha TV as it would improve “their connection with the Supreme Being,” and assured the gathering that he would visit Houston more often.

A booth set up by Patanjali Store displayed Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. brand products like Aloe Vera juice, Indian gooseberry (amla) juice, multi-grain biscuits, digestives and amla candy, herbal and dietary supplements, herbal cos-

Swami Ramdev’s USA Visit

Lamp lightning in Chicago Garlanding Vivekanand statue in Chicago

metics that garnered much interest and brisk sales.

The next morning Swamiji guided Patanjali members and yoga teachers through different yoga poses, pranayama and meditation for more than two hours, once again enumerating the benefits of yoga and its role in healing and slowing down the aging process.

Swami Ramdev also addressed huge crowds of eager followers in Chicago, New Jersey and Atlanta.

On 28th September, the history repeated itself as he deliver historic discourse from Fullerton hall, Art Institute Chicago. It’s same place from which Swami Vivekananda delivered the world famous speech to the World Congress of Religions

120 years ago. He spoke at Jain temple to a 1700 strong crowd that like all great rishis and spiritual leaders, Swami Vivekananda never sought to convert people to Hinduism but to make them better human beings. Religious conversions only lead to religious wars and if Swami Vivekananda’s words had been heeded the world would have been better place. VHP of America organized this event. On the 29th, Baba Ramdev was the keynote speaker at the “Dharma and Yoga Fest” in New Jersey where he explained the meaning of dharma (the laws of the universe), why it is the need of the hour and the importance of imbibing the teachings of Swami Vivekananda in one’s daily life. Over 2000 people attended

Swami Ramdev ji yoga session in Houston.

this event. The Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh organized this event.

On the 30th, Baba Ramdev spoke to a crowd of 1400 people at the Global Mall in Atlanta, an event that was organized by Patanjali Yogpeeth (USA) Trust and Bharat

Swabhiman Overseas and also held a yoga camp (shivir) on October1st after which he left for India to continue his Bharat Yarta to inspire the people of India to fight against corruption, black money and injustice.

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October 04, 2013

A Time for Peace Looking at our present world it seems that there are struggles and discordance everywhere. The din of confrontation and threats of violence are all around – among nations, within societies and especially within individual. World leaders as well as the common citizen long for a time for peace that must come. But how, from where, and what kind of peace?

Mahatma Gandhi, the most universally quoted man in the United Nations, is broadly heralded as the philosopher of peace for the modern world. He is more than that.

Surrounded by violence he was yet an architect of peace. He knew and lived peace so that he could apply it to violence and emerge victorious. His method was perfect according to the laws of the cosmic nature as he observed them, and therefore his peace is a peace practicable by the human nature which is parcel of it. But like the profoundest and simplest of philosophical truths, Gandhi’s is too often misunderstood, misapplied or altogether ignored.

The popular misunderstanding about peace is that it is a group contrivance-that it can be legislated or physically enforced. Even with respect to present day “satyagrahis” there has been exploitation of the “peaceful” means Gandhi employed as some seemingly sincere followers have used “noncooperation” as a kind of political blackmail. Gandhi admonished against the use of nonviolence as such coercion which makes adversaries of the parties and then becomes a kind of punishment.

What Gandhi comprehended, advocated and----most importantlived, is a complete yoga of peace.

The truth of it, as he confessed, is “as old as the hills”. The idea of returning love and forgiveness for hatred and injury was not, of course, invented by Gandhi.

Krishna revealed to Arjuna that he who mortifies or abuses the body does injustice to the Self residing within. Buddha taught directly that ahimsa(noninjury) is the highest dharma(principle) of life.

Patanjali’s first percept of yama which includes abstention from injurious thought, word or deed.

Gandhi himself referred often to

the teachings of Christ to “Love thy neighbor as thyself;” to “resist not evil;” and to “bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.”

At the time of the Second Round Table Conference in London (1933), an English lady observed it “strange that Christians should feel that the best Christian in the world today is Hindu.” In a “Christian world” it seems that from the of Christ few have understood his teachings of how to meet evil. No great leader of the Christian Church has ever proclaimed nonviolence as the WAY to salvation.

The ethical validity for using moral force rather than brute force was preached by Leo Tolstoy whom Gandhi called the greatest apostle of nonviolence that the modern age had produced, Thoreau’s “Essay on Civil Disobedience” influenced Gandhi’s design for peace, and the phrase and the concept, “the moral equivalent of war,” was introduced by William James. But Gandhi’s life is a pro-

found marriage of the metaphysical realities of peace and its meaningful human manifestation. In fact, Gandhi stands as a landmark towards which our evolving consciousness of peace will progress: “The greatest power in the world is that of the Soul. Peace is its highest expression. To attain peace, first we must acquire greater mastery over ourselves. We secure then an atmosphere of perfect peace, calm and goodwill that protects and fortifies ourselves and bless others around us.”

“Peace requires one first to BE brave enough to love another, to tolerate another, and to trust another. That requires faith in oneself. One has not the strength to be peaceful if he is fighting the internal duel of selfish desires. Good can never result from evil desires or actions; hence, the GITA’s central teaching of the oneness of the means and ends. The practice of peace is thus a test of the sincerity of our hearts; it requires solid and silent self-sacrifice, honesty and the capacity for diligent work, but must be realized first in its source within.”

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Gandhi of course decried the physical violence of war, but his motivation was the perfection of human nature and character.

“Behind the death-dealing bomb there is the human hand that releases it, and behind that still is the heart that sets the hand in motion……Human nature will find itself only when it realizes that to be human it has to cease to be beastly or brutal.”

War is glorification of brute force, and therefore it is essentially degrading and demoralizing to the human spirit. Gandhi wanted to see us train ourselves in the realization of soul-force daily through the common actions of self-restraint, unselfishness and patience. “these are the flowers,” he said, “which spring beneath the feet of those who accept but refuse to impose suffering.”

“A Time for Peace” addresses not only our global issues, but also our individual cultivation of peace as the first requisite to world peace. Gandhi himself exemplified this in several ways, especially by acknowledging his heeding of the “still small voice”

of his consciousness of peace within. He also set the practice of daily prayer meetings and, though a man of intense and almost continuous action, he tried to observe one day of silent self-examination per week to establish his own inner peace. Even though his practice of vegetarianism, which he originally followed only out of acceptance of a cast injunction, he evolved to a belief in man’s responsibility to care for lower animals and thus to uphold God’s plan for a peaceable kingdom throughout nature.

Gandhi demonstrated that it is not necessary or even desirable to lead a life apart from responsibilities, associations, and activities in order to find stillness and peace.

The “cloistered” life is not a full and natural one. For most, retiring to cave-like seclusion in order to find inner peace would mean disaster. Their minds would still be whirring with thoughts, impressions and desires from their involvements with the bustling world they left. The way to leave the world is not to reject it! Furthermore, love and service in the cave of solitude?

Gandhiji heeded these teachings of BHAGAVAD GITA he so loved: “…..the man who has attained perfect control over his mind and complete mastery over his senses, who is free from attachment and aversion, while living in the world of sense objects, he realizes peace.

Impossible is the attainment of wisdom by the uncontrolled mind.

Impossible is meditation for the restless. Peace can never be attained without meditation. And unless one has realized peace within, where else can one find it?”

(Ch , II, verses 64 and 66) Translation by Swami Premananda From Mahatma Gandhi – An American Profile by Srimati Kamala To pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, please join Gandhi Jayanti celebrated as 1000 Lights for Peace on Sunday, October 6 at Miller Outdoor Theatre from 6 PM to 8 PM. For further information, visit www.gandhilibrary.org or call 713-829-6979.

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October 04, 2013

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October 04, 2013

The Life Beyond Myself

BY LALITA SRIVASTA HOUSTON: I have always wondered what it must have been like to have lived in Vrindavan during Shri Radhe Krishna’s time on earth in the human form. What must it have been like to perceive that level of existence with my own five senses. For the first time in my life I felt I had been transported to Shri Radhe Krishna’s Vrindavan to experience the life beyond myself!

The week of September 11 through September 17 at Bhagwat-Katha by Guruji (Acharya Mridul Krishna Goswamiji) was not only amazing and mesmerizing but also unexplainable. It took place at the Sri Radha Krishna Temple at Beechnut.

I saw and felt a glimpse of heaven for the first time when Shri Bhagwat Bhagwan (Shri Krishna) with his chosen devotee (Guru Ji) arrived in “Pushpak Viman” and showered us (devotees) with petals of roses.The shower of flowers seemed endless. The feeling of being in heaven became even stronger when we looked around us and found ourselves covered with flowers while standing on a beautiful sea of flowers.

Darshan of Shri Bhagwat Bhagwan as he arrived in “Pushpak Viman” was beyond words. Devotional dancing, singing, and simply being in for seven days was simply exhilarating.

Come and experience yourself God’s undoubted presence each and every day. Love Shri Krishna unconditionally and experience the bliss!

The day of arrival of Shrimad Bhagwat Bhagwan (Shri Krishna ) in the “Pushpak Viman”, beneath a shower of flowers, along-

side the Kalashyatral (where ladies carrying kalash followed by beautifully decorated horse chariot) is absolutely unforgettable!

The 2nd day Shri Radha Ji’s “Prakatya” on her birthday was gorgeous! Her appearance in the huge lotus flower was soul quenching.

On the third day of katha ,God himself embodied Shri Narsingh Bhagwan’s awatar.

The roles of Shri Narsingh Bhagwan and Hirnaykashipu were performed with great conviction. The Bhakta Prahalad was ex-

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cellent!

The scene in which Shri Narsingh Bhagwan appeared from the pillar was incredibly believable.The pillar looked very real.

Finally the long awaited Lord Krishna’s Janam Din arrived. Baby Krishna was not less than of being God himself. The happiness at Nandbaba’s house was divine. The scene in which Nandbaba requested Maa Yashoda to show her lala’s face was precious!

On the 5th day of the katha, Shri Giriraj

Pujan surely killed Indra devta’s pride. Lord Shri Krishna appeared himself to give darshan to all his devotees. Several kind of food items were offered to Girirajji.

Finally the grand celebration of our Krishna’s wedding with Rukminiji arrived! He arrived grand and ornate, and on a real horse - no imitation!

Shri Dwarikadhish appeared on the real decorated horse, he came and took Rukmaniji away on the horse like a whirlwind!

Latthamar Holi was highly entertaining to watch the Gopas were trying to save themselves from the Gopies lathies.

The showering of flowers on Shri Radha and Krishna until they were completely covered was a highlight of the evening and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Dandia raas turned the hall into true-tolife Rass Leela in Vrindavan.

Pujya Guruji’s powerful voice, magnetic personality ,style of katha and beautiful bhajans just kept us glued to the katha. Shri Bihariji’s marvelous swroop is embedded in every soul.

The stage upon which Shrimad Bhagwat Katha took place was grand ,elegant and illuminated by Bihariji’s breath taking presence. The stage was admired and adored by all.

Shri Banke Bihari Pariwar would like to thank Guruji, each and every supporter, volunteer and participant from the bottom of their hearts.

For further information contact Shri Banke Bihari Pariwar @ bankebihariji@ yahoo.com.

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October 04, 2013

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9/20/13 12:19 PM

18 October 04, 2013 Look Who’s Talking: Dehaati Aurat It turns out the star of both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s trip to the US and Narendra Modi’s Delhi rally is the dehaati aurat (village woman). After rumours spread on Sunday that Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif had compared Singh with said person, Modi shook his fists at the perceived insult to his “nation’s prime minister”. But it was soon clarified that Sharif had been trying his hand at allegory, not analogy. His parable featured a fight between two villagers, one of whom was a woman. The moral of the story was — do not bring in a third party to settle disputes. In other words, leave the US out of Indo-Pak issues.

Sharif is not the first politician whose storytelling or literary flourish has fallen flat. Inside every neta seems to be a poet, under many a starchy white kurta beats an ardent heart. Except, perhaps from long disuse, the metaphors often tend to get away from them. So former Union coal minister, Sriprakash Jaiswal, got into trouble for saying cricket victories, like new wives, lost their charm over time. ExternalAffairs Minister Salman Khurshid turned unexpectedly lookist, describing Chinese incursions into Ladakh as the “acne” of adolescent bilateral ties. And Modi, with a vikas purush’s contempt for physical weakness, railed at the “diabetic” governance of the Congress on Sunday.

But where is the insult in “dehaati aurat”? Taking exception to the word dehaati, or rustic, reflects an innate snobbery — the same kind of citified disdain that buys into the stereotypes of “cattle class” and “anpadh gawaar”. Taking exception to “aurat” only reveals the many shades of misogyny that still colour our politics. Still, the dehaati aurat has achieved what the UPA could not — she has opposition leaders leaping to defend the PM.

Ordinance Ordeal A day before the meeting of the Union Cabinet called to consider withdrawing the controversial ordinance on convicted MPs and MLAs, the ruling UPA was a divided house on Tuesday, with many partners taking a dig at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for trying to dictate to the government.

The NCP and the National Conference have already demanded that the UPA coordination committee meeting be convened to discuss this issue.

“Tomorrow, we have to see whether Rahul Gandhi is at the top or the Prime Minister of India is at the top,” said Samajwadi Party general secretary and MP Naresh Agarwal, when asked whether his party was in favour of withdrawing the proposed ordinance.

The rumblings in the ruling dispensation came as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returned from his eventful trip to the United States and is due to preside over the Cabinet meeting Wednesday evening to discuss the fate of the ordinance.

Ahead of the Cabinet meeting, Singh is also scheduled to call on President Pranab Mukherjee. Rahul had last week trashed the ordinance and called it “complete nonsense”, undermining the PM’s position and triggering a political crisis. Indian Express

EDITORIAL

The Son Also Rises

BY SHEKHAR GUPTA What does September 27, 2013 have in common with January 20, 1987? And why should we call it a most stunning example of history repeating itself? Except, while it triggered the decline of the father in spite of his unprecedented majority, it has pretty much finished whatever remained of the prestige and authority of what the son described as “my government” in this afternoon’s remarkable political turning point, designed for televised flourish.

Rahul Gandhi, in short, had discovered his A.P. Venkateswaran moment. At a press conference at Vigyan Bhawan, a Pakistani journalist said to Rajiv Gandhi that there was some contradiction in his statement and his foreign secretary’s (Venkateswaran) about when he was likely to visit Islamabad. Rajiv Gandhi said, quite nonchalantly in fact, “Soon, you will be talking to a new foreign secretary.”

Venkat, widely respected and utterly a proper establishment man, was taken by surprise. Unwilling to take that public humiliation, he resigned the same afternoon.

This Friday afternoon’s drama played out at the Press Club of India, just about a kilometer up the same Lutyen’s avenue, in pretty much the same manner. Rahul Gandhi, as the party’s vice president, has delivered a similar blow (we are not calling it a sacking as yet as we do not know what next week has in store) several ranks upwards, at least in the constitutional scheme of things, to his own party’s prime minister. It is up to the prime minister now to decide whether he wants to close this loop of history by following Venkat’s brave example.

Or, stoop to carry on as a “loyal soldier”, thereby furthering the sycophantic tradition of his party.

What is more important, if he carries on, he would not merely demean himself personally, but also destroy whatever respect and authority still survives with the office of the prime minister. The prime minister’s oath of office also has an implicit responsibility to protect the preeminent decisionmaking authority and dignity of that office. And it is so difficult to see how Manmohan Singh would be persuaded to go down in history as

The die is now cast. Rahul should now follow this by taking over responsibility. He should either move into the prime minister’s chair, or get this government dissolved and advance general elections to November. somebody who so damaged it.

He also knows better than all of us that what happened now was no isolated incident. This process of pitting his government against the party, of undermining him and his office, began just as UPA 2 was sworn in.

His first foreign policy initiative, the Sharm el-Sheikh joint statement with his Pakistani counterpart, was vetoed in public by his own party. He resiled in his first public humiliation by his own party (filling in quite nicely the role the Left played in UPA 1).

Several party “loyalists” in his cabinet took the cue immediately, and blocked projects and decisions in areas ranging from environment, agricultural research, mining, tribal affairs, industry and so on, ruining his stellar record on economic reform and growth. All this led to the current economic and monetary crisis, while the man supposedly in charge, and the one Angela Merkel often describes as the only leader who really understands the global economic crisis, watched helplessly from the sidelines. It’s time now he said to all of them, enough. You win. Find yourselves another prime minister, or advance the polls.

And what about Rahul Gandhi?

The best thing is that he has finally spoken out, taken a stand on something. So far, he has promised to be tribal ka sipahi on one day, and kisan’s or commuter’s or migratory laborer’s or Dalits’ on other days at random, leading to unkind comments like, if

he is indeed a soldier, he must be a soldier of the parachute regiment.

He is also right in principle on this one. The way this law was being pushed through the ordinance route was immoral, unconstitutional and unsustainable.

This bill — even ordinance — has been under discussion at several cabinet and party and multi-party forums, and in Parliament, for quite some time now. Rahul had every opportunity through these months to intervene forcefully. It is difficult to imagine how his “dissent” would not have prevailed. But even if he was resisted, or vetoed, he had every right to go out and upbraid “my government” in public. But the time to do that was not now. Not when the cabinet has cleared the ordinance, senior ministers and your personal loyalists are defending it in public and, most importantly, when the prime minister is overseas and set for two key minisummits. And politically, to do this 48 hours before Narendra Modi’s public meeting in Delhi?

The die is now cast. So it is, in a manner of speaking, progress. He should now follow this by taking over responsibility. He should either move into the prime minister’s chair, or get this government dissolved and advance general elections to November, along with the five state assemblies. A leader at his level cannot do a hit-and-run. And in any case, the rules of engagement have now been redefined. If his coalition were to win, and another lesser mortal appointed prime minister, he and the rest of us citizens will also have to be mindful of the precedent already set: that he and his cabinet could be similarly flogged in public by a higher power within the party, the Constitution notwithstanding. India cannot survive another term under a Prime Minister Lite. So it is imperative that Rahul now unequivocally declare himself as the party’s candidate for prime minister in the next election, and give the voters a clear choice. Or, who knows, this will end up as another likely Congress story, with one side expressing qualified regrets and the other, unqualified gratitude, so status quo prevails, even if the status of each is greatly diminished. IE

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October 04, 2013

Club 65 Members Go on A Picnic

From left: Fateh Ali, Paru McGuire, Farida Jinnah, Club 65 volunteers, Parveen Shaikh, Paru Parvin Shaikh, Roja Pakal, Rahat Kalle and Karim McGuire, Fateh Ali and Roja Pakal playing Maknojia Antakshari.

Volunteer Rahat Kalle with Members Taiyeb Shipchandler, Kamaruddin, (oldest members of Club 65) planning a walk.

At lunch, Parvin Shaikh and Paru McGuire helping Members Fouzia Rawat, Rabea Effendi, Noor Pasha.

HOUSTON: On Sunday, September 29, fifty members of Club 65 , went to Lake Conroe for an outdoor picnic. They had breakfast at Laziza Restaurant on Hillcroft and boarded a bus for the trip to Lake Conroe.

On the way they had fun playing Antakshari and telling jokes, and the one and half hour journey seemed to fly fast. On the way though, there were some anxious moments, as it was raining cats and dogs in Conroe. The bbq on –site was scrapped in favor of getting it cooked at a restaurant.

The plan for boating too was cancelled, as it would have been too dangerous to go out in the rain.

However, when the bus reached Conroe, rain had stopped. The oldest member of Club 65, at 80+, Tyeb Shipchandler, said it was due to the power of his and other Club 65 member’s prayers. They know that a lot of work had been done in planning the picnic, ordering the food, selecting the games, and mo-

bilizing the Club 65 members. And they too wanted to have fun, and just wanted to get outside the city, so they prayed for the rain to stop, and their prayers were answered.

The gentle breeze was laden with moisture, thick dark clouds still hung in the sky, but the lake and the Lighthouse, created a very serene and tranquil atmosphere.

Chairman of Club 65, Fakhruddin Sabir, owns a condo on the lake and was able to reserve the Clubhouse, for the exclusive use of the group.

They had tea and snacks to shake off the journey and then in small groups, they all went off to either explore the Lighthouse or just sauntered to the edge of the lake to watch the fish, or just wanted the breeze to brush their cheeks while they walked and talked about life experiences.

The musical chairs’ was hilarious because of the competitive spirit of the seniors and the sexes: wives would not yield to husbands and vice versa. Some played Scrabble, others hit-the-hole, while some sat in small circles and reminisced about their younger days!

Roja Pakal was the Coordinator of Volunteers. She and her team consisting of Rahat Kalle, Paru McGuire, Parveen Shaikh, Farida Jinnah, Rosemin Premji and Farida Abjani,monitoredthegames,served lunch, and cleaned up the place.

After lunch the group did selfintroduction and were amazed to find out the collective brain-power in the group. There were retired doctors, engineers, ceo’s in the group. One doctor had been the personal physician of the King of Abu Dhabi while another doctor had treated four Presidents and numerous dignitaries. Each member had such rich experiences of life that all were so mesmerized by the others accomplishments.

Fateh Ali Chatur is the Coordinator of Club 65 and his passion for serving the seniors was evidenced in everything. Latafath Hussain and Karim Maknojia, the President and Vice-President of Indian Muslims Association of Greater Houston, also accompanied the group, and helped in planning the trip.

For further information on IMAGH and Club 65, visit, www. imagh.org or call Latafath at 713-269-6171 or email at Latafath@imagh.org.

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20 October 04, 2013 LEARN TO DRIVE TODAY!

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Annual Speech Contest at Arya Samaj Greater Houston

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HOUSTON: Mahatma Gandhi Library held its annual Speech Contest on Saturday, September 28 at Arya Samaj Greater Houston.

To put it mildly the children were impressive.

The topics for the contest were as follows: Children 10 and Under -Nonviolence is bravery Children 11 and over-Is pen mightier than sword?

Both age groups children had put in their heart and soul into the preparation of their speeches.

Especially the older children had done a lot of research, organization of thoughts and worked diligently on memorizing their speeches.

All present had the same feeling, this was one of the best Speech Contests they had attended.

Even the judges, Dr. Madhusudan Choudhary, Anshuman Desai and Atul Kothari unanimously agreed that they had learned from the children on these topics.

Given below are some of the quotations from the speeches.

Non-Violence and bravery complement each other, like science and math. You cannot do science without math because you will run into numbers and patterns.

The pen eventually harnesses the sword to its own will thus; the pen is mightier than sword Edward Bulwar, Lytton, used the phrase “Beneath the rule of Men entirely great, the Pen is Mightier than the Sword Malaya Yousufzai who was attacked for promoting education

in Afghanistan in her speech at the UN at age of 16 said, “The extremists are afraid of pen, and its power frightens them.”

Mahatma Gandhi said,”Man is born free; hence insult to a free man through a law is intolerable.”

To listen to the winning speeches please be sure to attend Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at Miller Outdoor Theatre on Sunday, October 6 from 6 PM to 8 PM. For further information please visit www.gandhilibrary.org.

Hearty Congratulations to Ravikant Choudhary and Sanjay Jain, Coordinators of 2013 Speech Contest. Many thanks to Harish Kapoor for taking pictures and Aditya Jain for keeping the time.

FIS Honors Ram Jetmalani

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From left: Asia Society-Texas Center Chairman Charles Foster, Foundation for India Studies (FIS) Chairman Krishna Vavilala, FIS Secretary Vatsa Kumar, FIS Vice-Chair Parul Fernandes, Distinguished Speaker Ram Jethmalani holding the memento presented by FIS Chair, Krishna Vavilala and FIS’s new board member Dr. Tara C. Nuwal.

HOUSTON: On September 24, Foundation for India Studies (FIS) presented a Memento to Ram Jethmalani, an eminent Lawyer, Member of Parliament and a for-

mer Minister of Law and Justice for his “Lifelong efforts to uphold India’s laws and Constitution, and Social Justice”. Ram Jethmalani, during a short trip to Houston

visited the University of Houston Law Center and spoke on “Secularism under Indian Constitution”.

In the evening, he was interviewed in Asia Society-Texas Center by its Chairman, Charles Foster on the “Rule of law in India and the country’s changing social dynamics in an emerging world”.

FIS Chair, Krishna Vavilala presented Jethmalani with a Memento in the evening session held in Asia Society auditorium which was a ticketed event. This was the second time FIS and Asia Society-Texas had partnered in an event since 2009 when Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan’s lecture was jointly presented in United Way facility located at 50 Waugh Drive, which was also a ticketed event.

Asia Society-Texas Center Chairman, Charles Foster wrote to Krishna Vavilala:”Thank you very much for supporting our program with Ram Jethmalani on September 24th. We are most pleased to partner with you and we hope to do so again on future programs”.

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BY PRADEEP ANAND On September 28, 2013, our dear friend David Raj, also known as Dorai and Gnanadorai Sathiaraj, son of Dr. (Mrs.) Stella Soundararaj and Dr. G. Soundararaj, passed away, peacefully, in Chennai, India. He had been ill for a while and his cousin/sister, Cheruba, and her husband, Dr. Santhosham, had convinced him that they had the heart and the resources to help him live his last days painlessly, in their home. His loving caretakers appeared like angels, to ease his pain before his ascent to Heaven.

Like a diamond, David had many facets. Of these, many will remember him for his passionate benevolence. He had the biggest heart of all. He gave the greatest proportion of the time and money he possessed to the benefit of others. He gave his heart and soul with every check he wrote and with every moment he spent on any philanthropic activity.

Educating the underprivileged captured his imagination. He helped first by contributing educational charities and efforts, such as those of IIT Alumni of Greater Houston, IndoAmerican Charity Foundation, and many others.

October 04, 2013

David Raj—RIP

He then transcended to giving his time and resources to educating children at Crockett Elementary School in Houston, which has now grown into the iEducate initiative.

Many others may remember him for his other public face— his love of Rock music. He loved his guitar and his performance gear—his black-on-black outfit, combined with his Stevie Ray Vaughn hat, and his flashy tie. His long hair added to his rock star persona. During performances, his bright white teeth shone when he smiled shyly, as he looked at an admiring audience that was applauding a guitar solo that he had just played masterfully.

His last gig was on August 24, 2013, at the Houston Zoroastrian Center, where “David Raj and Friends”performed attheParsiNavroze celebration. Boy, did he and his friends get the crowd rocking.

On that day, he was in pain. Yet, he performed with aplomb. Many, who had heard his wizardry on the guitar before, knew that it was his Swan Song. He played his guitar

like he had never played it before.

We knew he was in pain and the words of this Bob Dylan song rang loud and clear above the raucous celebration: “Mama, take this badge off of me,I can’t use it anymore.

It’s getting’ dark, too dark to see,I feel like I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door.”

And the next day, angels carried

him awayontheirwings,toChennai.

And then there were these lesser known facets of his being an entrepreneur, a Scotch connoisseur, a great friend, and good Christian.

David was an entrepreneur at heart but only India Coffee House bubbled up into reality. His passion helped create a concept that will endure.

He was a connoisseur of Single Malts. His Scotch tasting events yielded imbibers with equally sensitive palates. Of course, after a while his compatriots became his merry band.

He was that dedicated, loyal friend that we all dream of but rarely experience. Many were blessed by his embrace and anointed by his love.

Above all he was a good Christian. He worshipped in the spirit of Christ and gloried in Christ.

Being Christian is being “Christlike”. He lived in the doctrine of love, helping others by not only doing voluntary work in the community but also taking leadership in these efforts, that too without seeking the spotlight and

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without fanfare; just like he was with his guitar on stage, focused on his craft, not the adulation.

I lost a brother in his human form. But I am glad that he was released from his pain. However, he, his passion, his love and his effervescent, jubilant personality will always remain with me.

The immediacy of our daily lives and our gradually declining neural networks may fade our memories but we all have triggers that will instantly bring back David in our midst, right next to us, urging us to do the right thing, to leave the world a better place than the one we inherited.

David is gone but will never be forgotten.

Yet, with all the sorrow that surrounds his departure, when I think about what David would be doing in Heaven, I imagine him with his guitar, laughing at the somber crowd of mourners, readying himself to play the lead in a Neil Young song for us: “My my hey hey Rock and roll is here to stay It’s better to burn out Than to fade away My my hey hey” Rest in Peace, bro.

Ram Leela: A Great Indian Epic Story, at Skeeter’s Stadium on Oct. 19

BY DR. NIK NIKAM HOUSTON: Great Sage Valmiki wrote the first transcripts of Ramayan, which constrained 24,000 Sanskrit verses. Sage Tulsi Das translated that into 16,000 Dohas (Shlokas or poetry) in Hindi.

In the late nineteen eighties (late 1980s), Ramanand Sagar created a series of 78 TV episodes in Hindi, that captivated the Indian nation and millions of people around the globe. It became the most watched TV series in India.

The Ramacharitmas by Sage Tulsi Das divides Ramayan into seven chapters called Kaands: Bal Kaand Ayodhya Kaand Aranya Kaand Kishkindha Kaand

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Sunder Kaand Lanka Kaand Uttar Kaand Bal Kaand describes the birth of Lord Ram, his childhood and his marriage to Sita.

The Ayodhya Kaand describes the preparations for Lord Ram’s coronation and his subsequent exile into the forest.

Aranya Kaand talks about Lord Ram’s life in the forest during exile and the kidnapping of Sita by the Demon King, Ravan.

Kishkindha Kaand describes the meeting of Hanuman with Lord Ram, destruction of Vanara King, Bali, and the coronation of Bali’s younger brother, Sugriv, for the Kingdom of Kishkindha.

Sundar Kaand narrates the hero-

ism of Hanuman in his flight to Lanka and meeting with Sita.

Lanka Kaand describes the battle between the armies of Lord Ram and the Demon King, Ravan.

Uttar Kaand describes the birth of Luv and Kush to Sita, their meeting with Ram and coronation to the throne of Ayodhya, and Lord Ram’s final departure from the world.

BAL KAND: King Dashrath of Kosala (Ayodhya was the capital city) had three queens, namely Kaushalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi.

He had no children for a long time.

He performs a fire sacrifice known as Putra-Kameshti Yagna for enabling him to become a father.

Following the fire- sacrifice, Lord Ram is born to Kaushalya, while Bharat is born to Kaikeyi. Sumitra

gives birth to twins named Lakshman and Shatrughn. The four sons study Vedas, scriptures, religion, politics, and warfare under the guidance of Sage Vashisht. Shri Ram is considered to be a human incarnation of Lord Vishnu himself.

When Shri Ram is sixteen years old, Sage Vishvamitr comes to King Dashrath and asks for help against the Demons disturbing his sacrificial rites. Sage Vishvamitr chooses Shri Ram, who is accompanied by Lakshman for this purpose. Ram and Lakshman destroy the Demons with the weapons and techniques of warfare taught by Sage Vishvamitr.

King Janak of Mithila finds a female child in a deep furrow in a field. The King regards this as a

gift from God and names her Sita, the Sanskrit word for furrow. Sita grows up and King Janak decides to have a Swayamvar for Sita. He places a heavy bow presented to him by Lord Shiva and announces that Sita would marry the person who would tie the bow. Ram and Lakshman attend the Swayamvar, along with Vishvamitr.

Several princes, who had come to the contest, couldn’t even move the heavy bow. Shri Ram, while tying the bow, breaks it. Sita puts the garland around Ram’s neck.

Along with Ram’s marriage, the other sons of King Dashrath also get married to other daughters and nieces of King Janak.

Stay tuned next week for part 2 of this article.

Programming-Marketing Photographer/Editor/Producer

KTRK, the ABC owned station in Houston, Texas has an immediate opening for a Programming-Marketing Photographer/Editor/Producer. Responsibilities include working on a variety of innovative station multi-platform projects both long and short form. Qualified candidates must be extremely detailed and deadline oriented, with a creative knack for compelling storytelling and client/customer messaging through scripts, sound and pictures. Must possess excellent presentation/communication skills and be able to work well with others. Minimum 5 years broadcast television experience required. Must have a valid driver’s license and be flexible to any working shift assigned.

All interested candidates should send a video sample of your best work to be considered.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a first-class station and live in a fun and affordable city. Candidates must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file. Please Reference Job ID: 135798BR on all materials submitted. Send non-returnable DVD or VHS resume tape to the attention of Human Resources, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet; Houston, TX 77005 and include the job reference ID. No phone calls please.

KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V. INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2013 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

22 October 04, 2013

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COMMUNITY

October 04, 2013

Gift from Khator Gives New Energy to UH’s Tier One Scholarship Program

HOUSTON: University of Houston President Renu Khator and her husband, Suresh, associate dean in the UH Cullen College of Engineering, have contributed more than $100,000 to establish the Renu and Suresh Khator UH Tier One Scholarship Endowment. With matching funding, the endowment was augmented to $200,000, giving new energy to the University’s prestigious Tier One Scholarship Program.

The extraordinary program will allow the University to offer as many as 200 new merit-based scholarships for outstanding freshmen each year – fulfilling Khator’s commitment to devote UH’s premier educational resources to student success initiatives.

Established through an anonymous $7 million donation, the program was bolstered by a challenge Khator issued to the UH community, in which new scholarship contributions (of $25,000 or more) are matched dollar-for-dollar.

Creation of a powerful $14 million scholarship endowment is well within reach, as generous donors have helped move the University within $500,000 of achieving the match goal.

While a recent media profile noted Khator enjoys a “celebrity’s welcome” when she steps into a UH classroom and that students “flock to her like adoring fans” when she walks across campus or attends a UH athletic event, it’s what she does behind the scenes that often earns her the greatest affection from students.

The University’s Tier One Scholars, upon learning of the Khators’ donation, say it provides additional motivation to grow academically and personally.

“President Khator’s generous donation only proves her commitment to the students and to building this University,” said Roya Zamani, a biochemistry senior. “To know that we have a chancellor and president who is so supportive of this Tier One class of students is a strong source of motivation for us to do our best and to make her proud.”

Waqaar Diwan, a business and pre-med senior, said the Khators’ support is no surprise.

“I believe the Tier One Scholarship has provided me with the opportunities for a complete education – from on campus living and research opportunities all the way to study abroad opportunities,” Diwan said. “Without all these aspects, I would not have had the opportunities to go to medical school.

“The Khators truly seem to care for the University of Houston and its students. I have so much respect for Dr. Khator, as she leads the University of Houston into the future and continually elevates its goals.”

Each donor gift to date was vital in helping the University attract the 181 Tier One Scholars

Renu Khator

currently on campus, said Paula Myrick Short, senior vice chancellor/senior vice president and provost. The gift from the Khators “provides additional cache, boosting recruiting efforts that could result in even more of the best and brightest students choosing UH over other institutions,” she said.

“I believe this generous gift will allow us to really look at the Tier One Scholarship in terms of adding even more value to the students’ college experience,” Short said. “We want to make sure that being part of the Tier One Scholarship Program that President Khator envisioned is a life-changing experience for these students.

We want to prepare them to be extremely competitive for Rhodes Scholarships and other prestigious opportunities that bring value to these students’ future because it opens so many doors for them.”

The Tier One Scholarship Program’s benefits extend far beyond financial assistance, which includes all tuition and mandatory fees for up to four years of undergraduate study. Being a Tier One Scholar brings with it a sense of pride and prestige. Scholars know they are among the top students of their class – they must have a minimum SAT score of 1300 and be ranked in the top 10 percent of their class – and schol-

arship sponsors know they are contributing to a program that supports future community leaders.

“Great universities are built by engaged and supportive communities,” Khator said. “The generosity of the UH community has brought us to the threshold of fully funding this match opportunity.

I know we can count on continued support so we can help an even greater number of top-flight freshmen, which also will help elevate our overall student profile.

“The University proudly graduated its first Tier One Scholar in 2011. As the program continues to grow and evolve, more scholars will have the opportunity to reach their educational goals, more graduates will enter the workforce practice-ready and poised to succeed, and UH will establish itself further as one of the finest and most accomplished universities in the nation. Suresh and I are proud to contribute in this way to ensure that our talented and driven students are well-prepared leaders who will meet the needs of an increasingly competitive global economy.”

For more information about UH Tier One Scholars, or to make a donation to the scholarship program, visit http:// www.uh.edu/tieronescholars/ meet-our-scholars/index.php AbouttheUniversityofHouston The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation’s fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 39,500 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.

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Mama’s Punjabi Recipes Gobi ki Sabzi (Sauteed Cauliflower) By virtue of its soft yet nutty taste and the ease with which it can be cooked, phul gobi or cauliflower - or simply gobi - is one of the most favorite vegetables that can be cooked in the Punjabi kitchen.

It can easily be grated into crumbs and cooked as a stuffing for paranthas; sautéed by itself or with small chunks of potatoes, fried in batter as pakoras or pickled with other vegetables in a particularly Punjabi meetha (sweet) achaar.

Of course, there is another gobi too – bund gobi (literally “closed cauliflower”) or cabbage and I will give the recipe for that later, as it is not cooked the same way. Many desi restaurants take the easy way and place frozen florets of cauliflower into a pan of small chunks of frozen vegetables and serve it with a little sauce, but that is nowhere close to any Indian or Punjabi dish that I know. For gobi ki sabzi to be delicious, it must be soft but firm, and especially not watery. In my opinion, adding potatoes only fills the mass of the sabzi, but doesn’t enhance the taste of the gobi.

One interesting and completely Punjabi variation is to cook only the unpeeled central stalk of the gobi (you will need several heads of gobi) or dandal which, when cooked, are like eating scrapped meat off a bone.

Interestingly, there are four major groups of cauliflower: the Italian, Northwest European biennial, Northern European annuals and Asian (which was developed in India in the 19th century) and hundreds of varieties. Cauliflower is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus as well as vitamin C. There is only one secret to making gobi that is firm, not mushy, and still is loaded with the flavor of spices and has that slight nutty taste, and that is to let it cook in its own steam and not to add any water. You do not add onions to the gobi as they make the dish sweeter.

Ingredients: • 1 medium sized phul gobi (cauliflower) • 1 medium piece of adrak (ginger root) • ¼ cup tael (olive oil or veg etable oil) • ½ tsp haldi (turmeric powder) (too much will make the dish bitter) • Spices (to taste): namak (salt), mirch (red pepper), garam masala, dhania patta (coriander leaves) Directions: 1. Remove the outer stalks of the gobi and then cut the florets into 1 to 1.5 inch thick pieces.

You can even leave small florets whole. If the florets are too big, then some parts of the gobi will cook unevenly and be less done than others. You can even peel the rough central stalk to take out the soft core and put these in the dish.

2. Wash the cut gobi and let it drain in a sieve. In the meanwhile, peel the ginger root, cut into small pieces and set aside.

3. Heat the oil in a karai or wok and add the ginger and brown it a little.

4. Now add the turmeric and then add the cut pieces of gobi.

Mix well and cover over medium

high heat for five minutes. Do not open the cover as the gobi will cook in its own steam, stirring gently occasionally to make sure it does not stick or start to burn.

5. Open the cover just a crack so that the remaining water evaporates and let the gobi cook some more for another five minutes, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to break the florets.

6. When tender, turn the heat off and sprinkle with garam masala and coriander leaves and leave uncovered for five minutes. Punjabis prefer to eat gobi with hot rotis, but it goes well with warm rice and yogurt too.

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.

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OBITUARY

Sudesh Mehta

October 04, 2013

David Raj

(1938 - 2013)

Sudesh Mehta, a tireless and ardent supporter of Punjabi culture who helped organize many functions over the years for the appropriately named Punjabi Culture Club along with her husband, the late Dr. Paul Mehta, passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2013. She was 75 years old and had been in ill health for some time with various ailments.

Born Sudesh Sharma in Jullundur, Punjab in India in 1938, she received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Punjab University in 1957 and followed it up with a Master in Arts in English in 1960 and a Master of Arts in History in 1962, both from Punjab University. Soon thereafter, she married Mohinder Paul Mehta on January 16, 1963 and their daughter, Samita, was born in late 1964.

Around that time, the Mehtas moved from India to Canada, where Paul served as the Assistant Principal and Sudesh as an English teacher for Leask High School in Saskatchewan. Later, while Paul worked on his Doctorate in Education at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana, she concurrently obtained a Master of Arts in Library Science from the same university.

In 1970, they moved to Minot, North Dakota where Paul joined the faculty of Minot State University as a professor. Their son, Neal, was born that same year. Sudesh worked at the Minot Public Library where she served as a Reference Librarian and Adult Programming Coordinator for many years.

The family moved to Houston in 1986 when Paul assumed the position of Dean of Education at Prairie View A&M University, and Sudesh returned to the classroom as a Special Education teacher in the Klein School District, until her retirement in 1997.

After the death of Paul on April 1, 2012, Sudesh’s greatest joy was her remaining family and countless friends throughout the U.S., India, Canada, and England, all who will miss her dearly. She valued all of them and always made the effort to keep in touch regardless of the distance and passing years. She also volunteered tirelessly to the Indo-American community by supporting the India Culture Center and Punjabi Culture Club.

Sudesh is survived by her daughter Samita Mehta; son-in-law Utpal Mehta both attorneys and their son, Naren Mehta; and son Neal Mehta a Middle School teacher in Austin; daughterin-law Monique Rodriguez Mehta; and their daughter Nicola Mehta.

The funeral service was held on Saturday, September 28 at Garden Oaks Funeral Home on Bellaire and Eldridge and was conducted by Pundit Bibhudutt Misra to a hall full of people.

Samita, also known as Seema, shared her recollections, as did Neal and Naren, who had flown in early that morning from college, as well as by Sudesh’s nephew Dr. Rohit Sharma who visited her often during the past year. Close friends Khush Basra, Saroj Bahl, Kiran Bhatia and Dr. Patricia Smith also paid their respects.

25

(1951 - 2013)

David Raj, a community minded activist and financial advisor, passed away on Saturday, September 28 in Chennai, India where he had returned to four weeks earlier to be in the care of his sister and her family. He had suffered with stomach cancer for the past two years.

Raj was born on November 29, 1951 in Chennai where his father Gmanamirthraj was the General Secretary of the YMCA and his mother Stella Soundarraj was a Professor at Queen Mary’s College. In Chennai, Raj studied at the Christian College High School, then got a BA in English Literature from Loyola College followed by a MA in English from Presley College. He came to the Braniff School of Management at the University of Dallas in Irving to get

his MBA in 1976.

He returned to India and worked at the Indian Overseas Bank in New Delhi and was transferred to Hong Kong in 1987, quitting after two years to work as the General Manager for a Sindhi import-export company for six years, dealing with China, South America, Australia and Europe. When he saw an opportunity, he went into business for himself, shipping breakable cargo of granite from India to China and Hong Kong.

After he received his Green Card in 2001, Raj decided to come to New York and came to Houston six months later and joined AXA Insurance. He later joined American Express, which spun him off with the new Ameriprise Financial Services in 2003. He later moved to Merrill Lynch.

Though he participated in community functions, it wasn’t till 2010 when he became a Director of the Indo American Charity Foundation that he channeled all his energy into helping those less fortunate. He served as the President of IACF in 2012 and started the Education Initiative, and also later a non-profit called iEducate which he launched this August to mentor young elementary school students in their classrooms in math and science.

About the same time, two years ago, David learnt that he had Stage 4B stomach cancer and went through a radical procedure that effectively removed the majority of his stomach. He continued his life with his usual passion and gusto: playing guitar with his band at his 60th birthday party two years ago in November, visiting friends and relatives overseas; traveling to foreign destinations. And always with his infectious laugh, with sparkling white teeth, the shoulder length hair he preferred and wide brimmed eyes.

He is survived by his daughter Hera of Sydney, Australia; brother Daniel in Houston and sisters in India. He also leaves behind a Houston community full of friends who will remember him for his generous heart and the humanitarian that he was. A memorial service to Raj is planned on Sunday, October 6 at 6pm at India House, 8888 West Bellfort, Houston, TX 77031.

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IndoAmerican News

Business IndoAmerican News

STOCKS • FINANCE • SOUTH ASIAN MARKETS • TECHNOLOGY

Chidambaram Says Rs 59 - 60 to Dollar is Right Value for Rupee

MUMBAI: Finance minister P Chidambaram today said the right value of the rupee is 59-60 to a dollar and it should not overshoot that level.

According to the real effective exchange rate of the rupee, “the right level of the rupee should be at 59-60 to American dollar and the currency should not overshoot that level,” he said.

Chidambaram was talking to reporters after meeting exporters in Mumbai late afternoon.

The rupee closed at 62.51 to the dollar on Friday. When asked what he has offered to exporters, Chidambaram said export credit should be treated like priority sector lending and his Ministry is talking to RBI about this.

“The finance ministry supports the idea of treating bank credit to exporters as priority sector lending; the Ministry is talking to the Reserve Bank on this.”

Currently, priority sector lending (PSL), which comes at a cheaper rate, is limited to agriculture and

other segments like MSMEs. RBI mandates domestic banks to set aside as much as 42 per cent of their total loan book towards PSL. The rupee had been one of the worst-hit currencies amongst emerging markets and lost over 20 per cent against the dollar since the beginning of the fiscal. Late last month, it plunged to a life-time low of 68.85 to the greenback.

The rupee’s trouble began after the US Federal Reserve hinted in late May that it may stop its USD 85 billion bond buyback programme sooner than expected, which led to a flight of capital back to the American shores from emerging markets, including India.

However, within the first fortnight of the new RBI governor Raghuram Rajan taking charge, the domestic unit regained more than 10 per cent of its lost value, only to lose a part of it, following the 0.25 per cent hike in repo rate on September 20.

-Hindustan times

Five Years After Daiichi Buyout, Fresh Doubts Loom Over Ranbaxy

BY GAURAV CHOUDHURY NEW DELHI: Repeated runins with global drug watchdogs could be just one among many festering wounds that Ranbaxy Laboratories — Indian pharmaceutical industry’s one-time poster boy — is struggling to heal.

The company has issued pinkslips to more than 400 employees in the last two months, and sources said lay-off notices were being readied for a similar number of people who are likely to be asked to leave the firm in the next three months.

The company, sources said, plans to bring down its employee strength by about 10% from its current base of 14,600 employees over the next 12 months.

There are also murmurs of a possible difference between the top management of the company’s India operations and those of Daiichi Sankyo, the Japanese parents of the drug firm.

Ranbaxy chairman Tsutomu Une was unexpectedly removed from the Board of Daiichi Sankyo in May, days before the company agreed to pay $500 million (about Rs. 2,750 crore) as penalty for selling adulterated medicines in the US and lying about it to authorities.

Ranbaxy CEO and managing director Arun Sawhney did not respondtoHT’squestionsforthisstory.

Earlier this month, the US drug regulator, US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), blacklisted Ranbaxy Laboratories’ Mohali plant—the company’s third factory to face such an import ban — effectively stopping shipments of 11 medicines, including the generic version of blood-pressure drug Diovan, produced in the plant.

This has raised questions about

the violation of hygiene and manufacturing norms even by Daiichi Sankyo, although In May, it had blamed the company’s former Indian owners for concealing and misrepresenting critical information about US investigation into the sale of adulterated drugs, and said it will pursue legal remedies.

“It has now been over 5 years since we exited Ranbaxy as promoter family. We are not involved in the affairs of the company and we would not like to make any comment,” Malvinder Mohan Singh, executive chairman of Fortis Healthcare, and former promoter of Ranbaxy, told HT. The Mohali plant was commissioned in 2011, three years after the Japanese drug maker bought Ranbaxy for an eye-popping $4.6 billion (about `20,000 crore then).

Analysts said the Mohali plant, billed by the new management as a panacea for Ranbaxy’s ills with the state-of-the-art facility, accounts for more than half of the 36 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) that Ranbaxy has filed with the USFDA over the past three years.

The filings from its US facility in Ohm and Mohali total around $6 billion of current brand value and these new facilities were expected to contribute more than 75% to the firm’s business.

Ranbaxy’s version of Diovan, for which it earned 180-day exclusivity rights in the US, was due for launch in September 2012, but its introduction has been delayed.

There is speculation that a generic Diovan would directly compete with Daiichi’s Benicar, its largest-selling drug that had $2.44 billion sales in 2012, whose

patent expires in October 2016.

Questions are also being raised about why Ranbaxy did not inform stock exchanges about an USFDA inspection in the Mohali plant in September 2012.

“The company was issued Form 483 for Mohali in 2012.

This means there were manufacturing practices that the USFDA had already pointed out ... and the company had time to comply, which it failed to,” said Sarabjit Kour Nangra, of Angel Broking.

In 2008, the USFDA banned 30 generics produced by Ranbaxy at its Dewas and Paonta Sahib units for gross violation of manufacturing norms. The company had admitted to improprieties.

There have been murmurs of discontent among a section of employees over discriminatory human resource practices.

“Due to the lack of import alert specifics from the USFDA, it is difficult to ascertain the seriousness of the issue of application integrity,” Vivek Kumar, analyst at SBI Cap Securities said in a research note.

127

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28 October 04, 2013 Champions League T20: Royals Get Home Semi-final

BY K. BALACHANDRAN JAIPUR (ESPNCricinfo): Fancy beating Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur? Forget it. Royals extended their winning streak at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium to 12, beating the confident Otago by four wickets to keep the semi-final options open in Group A. Royals progressed briskly initially in their chase of a middling 140, stuttered after their middle order fell to rash strokes, before Brad Hodge played the rescue act with an electric 52 to stall Otago’s spirited recovery. Though Royals had already booked their place in the knockouts, there was still some context in this match, for this victory means they will stay back in Jaipur for their semi-final.

A further 15-20 runs could have made the difference for Otago.

Having scored a mammoth 242 earlier in the tournament, their impressive top order was blown away by the relatively unknown Rahul Shukla. The Jharkhand seamer came in as a replacement for Vikramjeet Malik and in the space of six balls, he proved it to be an inspired selection. Bowling the fourth over, he struck with his first ball, removing Hamish Rutherford’s middle stump as the batsman looked to play across the line. Two balls later, he got rid of the captain Brendon McCullum trapped in front with one that came in. There was room for one more wicket in the over and it came via a bizarre shot by Derek de Boorder.

It got worse for Otago when the in-form Neil Broom perished to a top edge off Shane Watson, leaving them reeling at 21 for 4. Otago’s progress in the tournament was orchestrated by meaty contributions by the top order. Now they found themselves in a situation they weren’t accustomed to, and it was up to the lower order to cover the slack.

James Neesham gave the innings some impetus with a quick 32, but he was lucky to have been let off on 0, when the umpire Paul Reiffel failed to notice a thick inside edge on the way to the keeper. Nathan McCullum and Ian Butler ensured Otago played out 20 overs, their

Rahane passed his fifty but fell chipping a full toss to mid-off.

The boundaries dried up and the drought lasted five overs before Hodge released the pressure with a boundary over cover. Two balls later, he slogged a slower ball and got a lucky top edge that cleared the keeper.

Hodge ensured at least one boundary off every over. He made room to James McMillan and carved a six over third man and in the same over smashed one over extra cover, beating Neesham’s dive. With 24 needed off the last three overs, it was still even and Ian Butler did well conceding only four runs off the first four balls. Hodge changed the complexion of the over with a six and four off consecutive balls to bring the equation firmly back in Royals’ favour.

Dravid later described it as a nerve-wracking period in the game, but it was Hodge’s experience that made the difference.

As for Otago’s semi-final hopes, they will wait on the result of the Mumbai Indians-Perth Scorchers match on Wednesday. If Mumbai win, it will come down to a net run rate scenario between Mumbai and Otago.

Mumbai vs. Perth

Opener Ajinkya Rahane’s 52 gave the chase early impetus, Rajasthan Royals v Otago, Champions League 2013, Jaipur, October 1, 2013

cameos pushing the score to 139.

While it was below par, from 21 for 4, it was an improvement.

Ajinkya Rahane got Royals off to a rapid start with some exquisite shots through the off side off the seamers. Rahane got his timing and placement perfect, taking Royals to 43 at the end of the Powerplay. Nathan McCullum’s sharp reflexes at point, running

backwards to pluck a catch to send back Rahul Dravid, was temporary relief, but Rahane’s was the wicket they needed.

The middle order needed to bat around Rahane but Royals put pressure on themselves with some questionable shots. Sanju Samson played on to his stumps and both Shane Watson and Stuart Binny departed quickly edging behind.

MUMBAI: Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bowl in a game Mumbai Indians not only must win, but win by a good margin to secure their place in the semi-final.

Rohit said his team was aware that they would have to chase the target with at least six overs to spare to be safe.

Mumbai made just one change to their line-up, swapping the fast bowler Mitchell Johnson for fellow Australia allrounder Glenn Maxwell. If Mumbai qualify, Otago will be knocked out.

Defeat for Mumbai will knock them out of the competition and should that happen, it will be Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell match for Mumbai. Tendulkar announced at the end of the IPL final this year that it was his last match in the IPL but committed to the ongoing Champions League.

SPORTS

Sports Illustrated India Honors Saina Nehwal GURGAON: Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal was declared Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year while her mentor and India coach Pulella Gopichand was given the Coach of the Year award for nurturing new crop of talented young shuttlers. This is the Indian edition of the U.S. sports magazine.

The event was organised by the sports magazine to honor good performances of the year 2012.

Saina had also bagged this award in the inaugural edition in 2009.

The 14 categories in which the awards were presented include Young Player of the Year award, won by U-19 world cup winning captain Unmukt Chand, while Athlete of the Year was presented to young India cricketer Virat Kohli.

Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, the Indian batting stalwarts, who retired from international cricket last year were given the Lifetime Achievement Award for their contribution to thesport.

Wrestler Sushil Kumar, who won became the first Indian to win back-to-back individual Olympic medals, was adjudged the ' Gamechanger of the Year' for bagging a silver medal at London Games.

Team of the Year award was given to India U-19 Cricket Team for winning country's third ICC Under-19 World Cup in Australia.

Paralympic high jumper H N Girisha's silver medal winning effort at Paralympic last year was awarded 'Sporting moment of the Year'.

The list also included Asian champion Sawarn Singh Virk (Rowing) and race walker KT Irfan as 'Surprise Package of the Year'.

The other awardees include footballer Uttam Rai (Sportskid of the Year), Service Sports Control Board (Administrator of the Year) and Services (Domestic Performance of the Year).

This is the fourth year of the India awards, which are inspired by the world's most prestigious sports awards, the Sportsman of the Year, established by Sports Illustrated in 1954.

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INDIA / ENTERTAINMENT

October 04, 2013

29

Lalu Prasad Convicted in Fodder Scam Case, Sent to Jail

BIHAR: Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad today suffered a major blow when a special CBI court convicted him in a 17year-old fodder scam case of corruption that disqualifies him from Parliament and will keep him out of electoral arena for at least six years.

Also convicted was a sitting JD(U) MP from Jahanabad Jagadish Sharma, who becomes the third MP to be disqualified in the wake of a Supreme Court judgement striking down a provision in the electoral law that deferred immediate disqualification of lawmakers on conviction.

Less than a fortnight ago, former Union Health Minister and sitting Rajya Sabha member Rasheed Masood was convicted in a corruption case and faces disqualification.

Another 43 accused, including former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra, five politicians and four IAS officers, were also convicted by the court of Pravas Kumar Singh for fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore from Chaibasa treasury.

The court fixed October 3 for pronouncement of sentence against Yadav, Mishra and others.

While BJP and JD(U), rivals of RJD in Bihar, welcomed the judgement, its ally Congress merely said the law has taken its course.

JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a one time associate of Lalu, declined to comment on the judgement.

The RJD said they would challenge the judgement while party leaders said they would discuss the strategy to steer the party in the absence of Prasad.

Accompanied by his son Tejaswi to the court, 65-year-old Prasad

declined to react to the judgement. He appeared calm while his car sped away to the Birsa Munda Central Jail located on the outskirts of Ranchi straight from the court.

The court sentenced IAS officer K Arumugam, former Bihar AHD and Labour Minister Vidya Sagar Nishad and former MLA Dhruv Bhagat and five fodder suppliers for up to three years.

Earlier, Prasad, who arrived in the court by a white Ambassador car, appeared relaxed and waved to his party supporters. He sat in the second row in the court room as the judge began reading out the judgement against him.

The RJD chief, elected from Saran in Bihar and Sharma face immediate disqualification as Lok Sabha members under a recent Supreme Court order that an MP or MLA would stand disqualified immediately if convicted by a court for crimes with punishment of two years or more and under some other laws even without jail sentence.

The July judgement of the Supreme Court struck down a provision in the electoral law that provided protection to sitting MPs and MLAs by allowing them to continue in their posts if they appeal against a lower court conviction and secure a stay of the order.

Lalu would have got protection from disqualification if the ordinance promulgated by the Centre was cleared by President Pranab Mukherjee but he is said to have some reservations and raised questions over it.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi compounded problems by attacking the ordinance and calling for its withdrawal, virtually sealing its fate.

RJD Spokesperson Manoj

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Jha said they would challenge the order in a higher court after the sentence is known.

All the 45 convicted persons were found guilty under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of a valuable security/will or authority to make or transfer any valuable security/receive any money), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 477A (fraudulently destroying or defacing, or attempting to destroy or deface, or secreting a will).

They were also found guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The court had on September 17 set today’s date to pass orders in the case.

Prasad had begun arguments on September 9 and ended it on September 17 after the Supreme Court turned down his request to change the current special court to another court after he ap-

prehended political conspiracy.

Following the Animal Husbandry scam, popularly known as the Fodder Scam, Prasad had to resign as chief minister of Bihar.

After installing his wife Rabri Devi as the chief minister, Yadav had surrendered before a court in Patna on July 31, 1997.

Later, he came to Ranchi following a court order that Ranchi had the jurisdiction of the case.

The Becon Guest House was converted to a camp jail in Ranchi before he was shifted to the old Birsa Munda Jail at Circular road here.

After Jharkhand’s bifurcation on November 15, 2000, the litigations were brought before the Supreme Court whether the Patna High Court had the jurisdiction on the cases in this part of the undivided Bihar and trial was stayed till December 2000 to December 2001.

The SC had said in November,

BY ANUPAMA CHOPRA The Lunchbox is my favourite love story of the year. It’s sweet, sad and deeply aching. Debutant director Ritesh Batra captures the harrowing loneliness that a metropolis like Mumbai fosters, the hope of happiness that glimmers and enables us to go on.

The Lunchbox is about two desolate individuals who make a tenuous connection when the famed Mumbai dabbawallas mess up and deliver lunch to the wrong man.

Saajan, played by Irrfan Khan, is a widower on the verge of retirement.

Ila, played by Nimrat Kaur, is a housewife, frayed by neglect. Their

relationship – expressed entirely through notes exchanged in the lunchbox – develops into love. Every detail in this lovely film speaks of the care with which it has been crafted. So, as Ila does the household laundry, she listens to recipes of paneer do pyaaza on the radio.

Saajan, who is Catholic, writes to her that he has been offered a vertical burial plot – “I’ve spent my life standing in trains and buses,” he says, “now I will have to stand even when I’m dead.” The writing is enhanced by terrific performances. This film is a triumph for all its leads – Irrfan, Nimrat and Nawazuddin Siddiqui who

2001 that trial would be conducted by special courts in Ranchi.

Trial in Ranchi began in March, 2002 by seven special courts. The case was posted for defence of Prasad from May 15 and Prasad’s counsel examined 29 witnesses in his defence.

But when the defence continued to skip dates, the court fixed July 15 to deliver the judgement and asked the accused to complete arguments by July 1.

Subsequently, Prasad moved the Supreme Court pleading shifting of his case from the court of Pravas Kumar Singh on the ground of political conspiracy, which the apex court struck down, paving the way for the first judgement against Prasad.

-Outlook India

Movie Review: The Lunchbox

is endearing as Saajan’s junior.

Irrfan, who also co-produced the film, is its backbone. His gait, eyes, even his slight smile, captures Saajan’s melancholy. Irrfan and Nawaz are two of the finest actors working today but this film wouldn’t be what it is without Nimrat’s heartbreaking performance.

The Lunchbox is poignant and powerful. It will make you laugh and cry. And it will also make you hungry – I was dying to eat paneer kofta and bhindi when it finished.

I absolutely insist that you see it.

-Hindustan Times

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