E newspaper10252013

Friday, October 25 2013 | Vol. 32, No. 43

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Indo American erican News

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

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Packed Ram Leela & Mela A Cultural Extravaganza Comes to Life

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King of Bhangra Rocks Houston

Daler Mehndi Win Free Tickets P24 P5, Photo Collage 30 & 31

Texas Renaissance Festival

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October 25, 2013

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COMMUNITY

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: The Indian American Cancer Network had its latest session this past Sunday afternoon, October 20 in conjunction with Volunteering Together for Service to present the latest information on breast cancer. The session was most appropriate as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and hundreds of people across the country are walking around with pink ribbon furls pinned to their clothes or wearing pink to mark the event.

The session was held in the large hall off the main sanctuary of the Ashtalakshmi Temple on Synott Road and about 40 people attended the session that featured panelists Dr. Tamara Ortiz-Perez, an Assistant Professor at the Baylor College of Medicine and specialist in Breast Cancer; Dr. Polly Niravath, Assistant Professor at the Baylor College of Medicine’s Lester & Sue Smith Breast Cancer Center and Mona Bangia, a breast cancer survivor who has been in remission for the past three years.

IACAN Board member Dr. Julie Nangia moderated the two-hour session.

Prior to the session, IACAN President Kanchan Kabad explained that the mission of the 4 year-old organization was to make sure that no Indian American will be alone on their journey with cancer treatment and to educate and disseminate information about the dreaded disease. She also gave details of the South Asian Health Needs Assessment survey that the group has been conducting at different venues across the city since its launch in August to collect data that would allow applying for funding and other benefits to accrue towards the South Asian community (see IAN August 16, 2013). Out of the 1,500 respondents needed for the survey, about 500 have been collected so far.

Dr. Aparna Tamarisa, the daughter of long-time Houstonian gynecologist Dr. Chari Tamarisa gave

October 25, 2013

Breast Cancer Explained in the Indian Context

The panelists with the Board of the IACAN, Board of AVT Seva and several guests after the end of the seminar.

Photos: Bijay Dixit

a short video presentation on Volunteering Together for Service or VT Seva, the group she is actively involved with which works in India with the visually impaired, educating the rural population for free, providing healthcare and environment and disaster relief.

Along with others in her group, she passed out canvas bags and mugs from VTSeva’s partnership with United Airlines EcoSkies program.

Dr. Ortiz-Perez explained the statistics of breast cancer occurrence and survival rates as well as the ways to test for it, which include a physical exam, mammography, ultrasound and MRIs. Mammograms had a sensitivity of 70 to 90 per cent detection and 50 per cent with denser breasts. Cancer rates increase with age to 60 to 80 per cent for women between the ages of 50 and 69. If cancer is found, two types of biopsies – fine needle and core needle guided by ultrasound help in confirming the diagnosis. She explained that the amount of radiation in dose thera-

IACAN President Kanchan Kabad speaks before the start of the seminar on breast cancer last Sunday, October 20 at the Ashtalakshmi Temple.

py treatments usually is one-tenth of the radiation that normally falls on Earth.

Dr. Niravath focused in on the other factors that can contribute to the incidence of breast cancer and the treatments that can be followed. Contributors include

obesity, lack of physical activity, alcohol intake, hormonal therapy, a family history, age and race.

She noted that Indians tended to increase their risk after migrating to the US, which she theorized had much to do lifestyles like less walking and diet. She counseled

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that changes in these lifestyle habits could help reduce the risk as well as increase in folic acid intake.

Women who breast-fed longer had lower incidences of breast cancer.

Treatments differed with the types of breast cancer found and ranged from chemotherapy and radiation before proceeding with lumpectomy to mastectomy. Some hormonal therapy that blocked estrogen was sometimes beneficial.

The last speaker was Mona Bangia who chose to speak about her diagnosis of breast cancer at the age of 56 four years ago. She recalled how she first got word of it when she was on vacation in Denver and how her family and friends became a support group to help her through the treatment that resulted in a mastectomy and removal of the affected lymph nodes in her right arm. The former 30-year Worldwide SAP Technical Lead for Hewlett-Packard found the determination to develop a compression stocking to reduce the resulting swelling of that arm and also a vest when the ones available on the local stores did not work, She dedicated herself to having a prototype and later a manufacturing line made in her native India and has set about marketing it in India where most people had never heard of the compression vests, and in the US, to other cancer survivors.

“I would like to do a seminar in India”, she said, “to show people that they can have a life, just like I did, even after having cancer”, The seminar elicited many questions from the audience regarding many misconceptions about causes of breast cancer. Dr. Chari Tamarisa threw out the hypothesis from his years of experience in OB-GYN that the lack of use of an organ contributed to the onset of cancer, giving the example of cows udders, which he said, normally never develop the disease, as a way to emphasize that long duration breast feeding to reduce the possibility of having breast cancer.

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October 25, 2013

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COMMUNITY

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA SUGAR LAND: At the end of the Ram Leela, just as Ravana lay dead on the stage, a cheer went up through the thousands strong audience seated in the stadium; a cheer to mark their appreciation of the production of the epic story of the victory of Good over Evil which had never before been played out in Texas in the open air.

It was as much a cheer for those who are used to watching open air Ram Leelas staged all over North India, and especially the most popular and famous one in New Delhi.

And it was especially a proud moment for Dr. Arun Verma and his wife Vinni whose original idea was to have just this very moment when they first worked on a Ram Leela production three years ago. ”This is all due to His guidance,” said Arun Verma, ever mindful that the success was coming from his faith in Lord Ram, who, he believed, made the weather clear up from the night before when it had rained heavily in parts of town.

This year’s Ram Leela production by the Sita Ram Foundation was rolled into a celebration of Dusserah - the culmination of the nine days of Navratri, marked on the tenth day of the tenth month, Ashwin, of the Hindu calender when Ram killed Ravana – and Diwali – which occurs three days later, on the thirteenth day, as it marks the return of Ram to his home after fourteen years of exile.

Diwali and its five day festival begins this year on November 3.

Due to the rush of other groups wishing to celebrate it and on available venues, the SRF held their event this past Saturday, October 19 once again at Skeeters Stadium off Highway 6 in Sugar Land. The festivities followed a familiar setup, with a Diwali Mela featuring booths selling merchandise, food from several restaurants, games for kids and the activities of other community organizations.

But by rolling three celebrations into one, the event opened earlier, at 4 pm and ended with a massive fireworks display around 10:30

October 25, 2013

Outdoor Ram Leela Packs Stadium with a Religious Revival of Culture, Pageantry, Food

Dr. Arun Verma

that night.

“We had to condense the Ram Leela production into two hours”, explained a tired but delighted Arun Verma as he spoke by phone two days later. “We had to condense a four-hour stage show so that we could meet the deadline imposed by the fire department for the release of the fireworks”.

This forced the last minute deletion of the final scene of the story, when Ram, Sita and Lakshman are reunited in the royal court of Ayodhya.

By embarking on this ambitious effort to bring a cultural extravaganza to the Houston area, the organizers added another element to this year’s show, a parade of religious and cultural floats and performers highlighting the multicultural diversity and inclusiveness inherent in daily life in India.

The parade started right after the Ram Leela ended and before the lighting of the effigies of Ravan, his son and his brother and the celebratory fireworks. It began with flags of the US, India and the crim-

son color flag of Lord Ram with motif of three sham vriksha leaves carried by a troop of Ismaili Boy Scouts. They were followed by the Govindji Gaudiya Matha group playing drums, dhol and cymbals; five floats depicting scenes from the Ram Leela; the Nishani group of female bhangra dancers; Kirtan dancers and celebrants from the Hare Krishna Temple; the Tassa group band; the U of H Garba group; Goddess Saraswati by the U of H group; an American band from HBU; the famous Wells Fargo stagecoach; Lord Kartikey by the Meenakshi temple; the Mysore Maharaja group by the Kanada Vrinda; Lord Jagannath’s Rath by

the Orissa Cultural Center and the Ismaili Bagpipes Band coming at the rear.

The parade was a huge success and drew many people to the front to take pictures as the marchers and floats walked by the edge of the seats. The elaborate floats depicting religious figures – Durga Maata; Shiva and Parvati; Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghanath; Ram Parivar; and Lakshmi Narayan – were all made by the SRF and featured live people in costume and there was a rush to get photos of these.

“We are overjoyed that people enjoyed the parade so much”, said Verma, adding that the parade was supposed to go around the grounds

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twice but had to be cut back due to the firm deadline for the fireworks.

He promised that the lessons learnt from this year would only make next year’s event even better. “We had 8,000 people there, according to the count kept at the entrance turnstiles”, explained Verma. “The parking lots were full and there are reports that 500 to 600 cars were sent back due to overflowing of the lots”. Many people who left early before the Ram Leela made room for others coming in.

This pained Verma and he is already considering a larger venue so that people would not be turned away from celebrating the glory of his deity, Lord Ram. As the event evolves, he has learnt how hard it is to manage 400 volunteers and adhere to a stringent deadline and format. This year’s Ram Leela was choreographed and directed

by Ratna Kumar and her Anjali School of Performing Arts.

The stage show included preview events by other groups, introductions and speeches by prominent personalities and key supporters, a running narrative by Sangeeta Pasrija and the undeflatable Nik Nikam whose commentary was almost non-stop, and a raffle drawing (for which the parade was asked to pause) for two free tickets on Turkish Airlines by its General Manager. It was indeed heartening to see thousands of people standing in the aisles and at their seats for the aarti, LED diyas in their hands.

In the aisles behind the stands, there was elbow room only as the throngs made their way to the food court which featured quick, vegetarian snacks from one of the many food booths that catered samosas with chickpeas, chaat, freshly made hot dosas, sugar cane juice and masala tea among others. Muttered first time festival goer Kiran Bhimarao as he carried plates of food back to his family, “I love it, this is great. Reminds me of Delhi”, as he passed by people in Indian attire and many speaking in Hindi or their mother tongue.

It would have pleased Verma to hear this as the cultural extravaganza and reconnection with Indian roots was exactly what he had hoped the event would have recreated.

SEE PHOTO COLLAGE ON PG 30-31

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COMMUNITY

October 25, 2013

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: The pretty girl who would greet you with a warm smile and hello finally tied the knot with her Prince Charming two weeks ago at an elaborate wedding and a unique reception that evoked the feel of the Caribbean where her new husband and his family are from.

Rachna Patel, the daughter of Aku and Meena Patel who are synonymous with gold jewelry in the Houston area due to their decades old store, 22 Karat Jewelers on Hillcroft, got married on Saturday, October 12 in the morning at the BAPS Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Stafford. It was the bride’s wish to be married in front of the ornate white temple and a sea of chairs had been set out for 600 people. The richly draped mandap was covered with red roses but the scripted wedding ceremony was severely abbreviated by a mighty thundershower that sent the guests scampering for cover indoors.

Rachna was undeterred though, and with the white temple set against dark grey thunderclouds, the wedding was performed with the immediate family under large umbrellas. She was betrothed to Sanjay Alwani, a young man whose family is also in the jewelry business on the island of St. Maarten and has lived there since his grandfather settled there in 1975. His family traces its roots back to India, which his great grandfather left in 1865 to migrate to Lebanon. The young couple met while studying in college in the northeast through some mutual friends. After the wedding, they will make their home in St. Maarten.

The reception was an affair to remember as it brought together the Indian, Texan and Caribbean cultures for a truly unique experience for the 1,200 invited guests at the

Newlyweds Rachna Patel and Sanjay Alwani

The newlyweds Rachna and Sanjay Alwani after the The newlyweds with their parents after the wedding ceremony at the BAPS wedding ceremony on Saturday, October 12.

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir.

Photos: Michal Ross Photos

Hilton Americas Hotel on the same evening of the 12th. In the reception area, a fourman steel drum band was played out Caribbean tunes, while bamboo and palm frond thatched stalls served out drinks and later ice cream and deserts. Waiters served fresh young coconut juice, and among the Indian

appetizers, sweet, light creamy desert was served in a martini glass.

The real treat was inside the vast Ballroom on the second floor which had been converted with skillful colored lighting and tall shimmering white drapes into a Caribbean seaside resort. As you entered, the chirping of birds mingled with soft music and the lapping of waves breaking on rocks in a video projected on three huge video screens, recreating a Caribbean Isle shore. On either side, a large porthole gave the illusion of peering out at the rolling sea going below.

With minimum words and no formal emcee for the evening, save a Black Caribbean guy in dreadlocks and a yellow colored knitted cap who described in a West Indian accent the dancers who performed the Caribbean shimmy and rolls from Carnival, complete with two on stilts and in the headgear of a horse. They were followed by a Las Vegas style routine with girls wearing colored feather head dresses and a Hula Hoop Champion who showed her skilss by

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strutting her body to make a huge stack of LED illuminated hoops twirl around her.

A well-edited video showed how the young couple – they are both 31 - met and the courtship that followed; later it focused on the days-long festivities that preceded the wedding in St. Maarten and in Houston.

Both of them showed up onstage clutching dandias, surrounded by their families. Aku Patel made a brief brides father’s speech and Sanjay’s dad added a short few sentences to it.

An opening sweet plate of frozen custard in clean, hardened shells of tough skinned fruits like oranges and mangoes was intriguing. The buffet lines for dinner – catered by Bombay Brasserie - were opened up to the huge hall, while a pop jazz band played inside. At the end of the very long day, a DJ spun pumped up Indian contemporary dance music which was irresistible to the many who stayed till the wee hours of the morning.

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October 25, 2013

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COMMUNITY

October 25, 2013

Councilman Harish Jajoo Honored

LAW OFFICES OF ZAINAB K. RIZVI

HOUSTON: Councilman Harish Jajoo was honored at the 2013 Statesman of the Year Banquet hosted by Texas Asian Republican Club (TARC) on Wednesday 23 October at Kim Son Restaurant, 10603 Bellaire Blvd., Houston. Councilman Jajoo represents District 4 on Sugar Land’s City Council. Now in his second term, Harish had rolled up his sleeves from early on and is actively working on projects that will continue to enhance District 4 and Sugar Land. Harish is the consummate professional, dedicated family man and committed councilman.

After serving City of Houston and Public Works Department for 29 years, Harish re-

tired in 2010 and is currently a consulting engineer. A Certified Floodplain Manager and Registered Professional Engineer, Jajoo understands what it takes to get things done for a municipality – be it infrastructure, inter-governmental agency coordination, city council considerations, stretching capital investment dollars or interacting with citizens to explain complex budgetary and technological issues.

A graduate of the University of Windsor, Jajoo did his post-graduate work in Environmental Engineering at the University of Houston. He is a graduate of Fort Bend Leadership and will join American Leadership Forum (ALF) as a fellow in class of 2014. He serves on several boards and committees including Sugar Land Development Corporation, Sugar Land 4B Corporation, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 4 (TIRZ), Transportation Policy Council under H-GAC, Finance and Audit Committee to name a few.

A twenty-eight year resident of Sugar Land, Harish is married to Shashi Jajoo, Lab Manager at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital. Harish and Shashi have two sons who graduated from Clements High School.

Rishi recently married to Zeba, is continuing his education in the PhD program at Harvard University. Sid is a University of Houston business school graduate and is currently working in Sugar Land.

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COMMUNITY

October 25, 2013

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Houston Goes “Balle Balle” with Daler Mehndi

Photo : Vanshika Vipin

BY VANSHIKA VIPIN HOUSTON: A decade later, Houstonians once again danced to the tunes of the King of Bhangra, Daler Mehndi in a concert presented by Rehan Siddiqi at the Stereo Live on Friday, October 18. Inspite of a heavy downpour, the concert was a sold out and the show started at 9 pm sharp.

Mehndi is an Indian recording artist, musician, songwriter, author, record producer, performer and environmentalist. He is credited with making bhangra beats hot around the globe and setting up a parallel non-film music industry. The Indian Pop music icon known for his energetic dance songs, distinctive powerful voice, diamond studded turbans and long flowing robes has influenced many musicians and is considered the Father of the Indian Pop Music industry. He was a student of traditional Punjabi music

four continuous hours, making the Houston audience who had waited for thirteen long years to return and perform.

He beautifully sang most of his famous songs, like Zor ka Jhatka; Tunak Tunak, Na Na Na Na Na Re; Bolo Ta Ra Ra; Dardi Rab Rab; Ho Jayegi Balle Balle, along with other Bollywood hits from the ‘60’s to 2013. He was accompanied by a band of musicians and backup singers.

An important part of the show was the dance performance by Meera, a Pakistani film actress, television presenter, model and philanthropist who is also a Bollywood actress. Houston’s local dance group, Bollywood Shake, accompanied her for the dance performance.

After a quick intermission, Mehndi returned on stage with Siddiqi and Samia Adil, the host of the evening to thank the sponsors along with the technical team, which included Arif Memon. They also officially announced that Daler Mehndi’s 2014 Nation Tour would be with Siddiqi.

Soon after, Mehndi took back the stage and the songs continued and the audience danced nonstop till the wee hours of the morning.

People kept asking for more, and he ended the night with the sooth-

ing Ek Onkaar Satnam, which filled everyone with a positive energy as they left.

“Many promoters tried to bring Daler Mehndi but were not successful’, said Siddiqi after the show. “Fortunately I got this opportunity to present him in front of the Houston audience. I am

happy to see such a great response to the show. This motivates me to continue bringing more shows that make our audience happy.”

For further details about the show and for upcoming showscontact Rehan Siddiqi at 713545-4115.

and his first album broke sales records in India. Since 1995 he has recorded several albums in India and has been a playback singer for several Hindi movies. He is also well known as a philanthropist, funding beautification projects in New Delhi and aiding earthquake victims.

Rehan Siddiqi of Hum Tum Shows has brought many successful shows to Houston in the past including the recent Adnan Sami and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan shows, held earlier this year. Both shows were sold out events. It was exactly the same scenario for this show as the venue was fully packed, and the audience danced non-stop during the four-hour performance.

Daler Mehndi entered the stage exactly at 9 pm, dressed in his trademark diamond studded turban and black and blue sherwani (long coat), and performed for

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October 25, 2013

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COMMUNITY

October 25, 2013

Diwali & Govardhan Puja at ISKCON, Hare Krishna Dham, Houston

HOUSTON: In the Sanskrit language, “Deepawali” means a row or array of lights. Symbolizing the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, Deepawali (also known as Diwali) is celebrated all over the world with slightly different flavors. The ultimate message of the Lord’s unconditional mercy, grace, and love in protecting His devotees, however, remains undiluted.

In the northern part of India, Deepawali signifies the triumphant return of Lord Rama along with His consort Sita-devi, and brother Lakshmana, after they had spent nearly 14 years in exile and having overcome nearly impossible obstacles, finally culminating in the utter destruction of the demon-king Ravana along with his kingdom, Lanka. Ravana, an evil king who ruled Lanka, kidnapped Sita-devi and subsequently refused to hand Her over to the Lord, upon which a huge campaign was waged against his island-kingdom, resulting in Lord Rama emerging victorious and rescuing Sita-devi.

People welcome back Lord Rama with a splendid display of beautifully-lit diyas, or earthern lamps.

They clean and tidy their homes in anticipation of the Lord’s visit, prepare delicious sweets and savories, and light firecrackers to celebrate the joyous occasion.

In the southern part of India, Deepawali is about Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, a notorious demon who would imprison devotees and torture them.

Desperate and with nobody else to save them, they worshiped the Lord in full faith and He did not let them down. As Narakasura lay dying, the Lord, in His infinite mercy, asked him if he had a last wish, to which Narakasura replied, let this day be celebrated like no other. The Lord granted his wish and thus the day marks both Lord Krishna’s victory and liberation of the imprisoned devotees as well as a fulfillment of Narakasura’s last wish. Celebrations are quite similar to the North: people burst fire crackers, prepare sumptuous meals and traditional sweets, and immerse themselves in the spiritual nature of the occasion.

Jains and Sikhs also celebrate Deepawali, adding their own lovely touch in the process. This is what makes the entire country come alive – the melding of different faiths in the shared ecstasy of glorifying the Supreme.

In certain parts of India (such as Gujarat), the New Year is also welcomed on Deepawali day. In order to have an auspicious beginning to the New Year and start it with the blessings of Sri Sri Radha-NilaMadhava, hundreds of devotees traditionally attend the Mangal Aarti (at 4:30 AM) the following day (Monday, Nov 4, 2013).

Day after Deepawali, there is another major festival known as Govardhan Puja (also known as Anna Koot – meaning a mountain of food). This is mainly celebrated in the northern part of India, and is once again about how the Lord goes to great lengths to protect His devotees and those that have faith in Him. The story goes that the residents of Gokul used to worship Lord Indra, a demigod, so they’d be blessed with proper rains for their crops and cattle.

Lord Krishna, observing the preparations for the worship of Indra, asked for an explanation. When informed that everyone depends on rains and Indra is the one who provides timely and nourishing rains, Lord Krishna said that in reality one ought to worship Govardhana, a hill in Vraj, Mathura, as it was both a source of food to the cows, a place for picnicking, and also one of the reasons the rains arrived on time. Upon His insistence, a fire-sacrifice was organized to worship Govardhan. Observing this, Indra became angry, and in a show of his fury, brought down a deluge upon the whole area. The terrified people sought the protection of Lord Krishna, who calmed them, and then simply lifted the entire hill with the little finger of His left hand! Under that huge “umbrella” the citizens were saved from the rising waters. Indra continued to display his great anger for seven days before finally giving up. Lord Krishna in the meantime merrily continued to hold up the hill while

the people continued to go about their daily duties. Finally, realizing his folly, Indra apologized deeply to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna, who, of course, forgave Indra’s folly. Since then, celebrating the importance of the sacred hill, people have to continue to worship Govardhan, who is just another manifestation of the Lord Himself. This is how the Lord came to acquire the name Giridhari (the one who held the Govardhan).

At ISKCON Hare Krishna Dham, both Deepawali (Nov 3, 2013, 5:30pm) and Govardhan Puja (Nov 4, 2013, 6:30pm) are celebrated with much enthusiasm!. And also there is public function on Nov 10, 5:00pm with drama, cultural events, Abhishek, candlelight aarti, melodious and spiritually uplifting kirtans and a discourse, followed by lovingly prepared prasadam. Featuring a very large number of bhoga (offering of food) to the Lord, this is the only day when food cooked by devotees is offered directly to their Lordships.

There is no charge for any of these, but donations are most welcome.

Sponsorships are available for those interested: D i w a l i Aarti: $201 Anna Koota Aarti: $251 G i r i r a j Aarti: $501 Hare Krishna Dham, 1320 W 34th St, Houston, Texas – 77018, Ph: (713) 686–4482, http://www.iskconhouston.org See ad on Page 16

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COMMUNITY

October 25, 2013

Sewa International Helps Cyclone Victims

HOUSTON: A severe hurricane the size of Katrina, called Cyclone Phailin, hit the eastern coastal state of Odisha, India, with winds over 125 mph on the night of Oct. 12.

The State government had evacuated over 800,000 people along coastal Odisha to safer zones before Phailin struck, minimizing human casualties.

The hurricane, however, caused severe damage to four districts - Ganjam, Khurdha, Puri and Jagatshingpur.

In Ganjam, the worst affected district, 30 villages are submerged under water and 12 casualties were reported by

5 p.m. India time on Oct 13.

Sewa International is working with partner NGO Utkal Bi-

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panna Sahayata Samiti (UBSS) and has set up eight relief centers at Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chatrapur providing shelter to over 2,000 cyclone victims.

The post cyclone flood situation is grave in four more districts - Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur of North Odisha.

Mayurbhanj is experiencing this kind of flood after 1973. At least 35 people have died here.

People have lost much property as they couldn’t take away their clothes and valuables due to the unexpected situation.

Volunteers from Sewa International and its partner organization UBSS are already on high alert and are reaching out to

trapped people with dry foods.

UBSS is providing all possible support to the affected areas. Health services teams are being formed to visit different places. Emergency relief medical teams will visit the sites as required.

A senior member of the Sewa team has reached Ganjam to guide the local Sewa volunteers and speed up the relief operation.

Sewa team will visit other affected districts in the next couple of days to assess the damage and plan for relief operation. Based on the survey reports, Sewa plans to adopt some villages for rehabilitation.

Over the next few days, the relief centers will focus to supply: safe drinking water, emer-

gency medical supplies, cooked and dry food, and, fodder and temporary shelters for cattle.

In this hour of need, Sewa International appeals to all to come forward and donate for the relief operations. Your donations will provide immediate help to victims and help reduce their sufferings.

Send your generous donations by donating online at www. sewausa.org or via check to Sewa International, P.O. BOX 820867, Houston, TX 77282-0867.

For further information, call SwadeshKatochon(404)935 -8893 About Sewa International USA Sewa International USA is a Hindu faith based nonprofit charity registered under the Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3). Mission of Sewa is to serve humanity in distress, aid local communities, and promote volunteerism. Sewa volunteers across 38 chapters in 22 states performed more than 100,000 hours of community work in 2012.

Sewa runs disaster relief/rehabilitation projects (Hurricane Katrina (2005), Super Storm Sandy (2012), Maharashtra Drought (2013)), development projects in India, Sri Lanka, Peru, Guyana, and Kenya. In the US, community service projects include Bhutanese Refugee Empowerment, Family Services, Adopt-ahighway, Habitat for Humanity, and Diwali Food Drive among others. Yuwa for Sewa summer internships for youth, and, Get Inspired summer internships for high school and college students promote volunteerism among youth.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

October 25, 2013

INDO AMERICAN NEWS 2013_Q2_Con2_Fall_FP_AI_FP_Hou_IAN_REV103_Final.indd 1

• FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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10/4/13 10:50 AM

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COMMUNITY

October 25, 2013

Nishtha Sharma Receives GS Gold Award by Girl Scouts

Nishtha Sharma

HOUSTON: Nishtha Sharma is a senior at Clear Horizons Early College High School (CHECHS) and she will be graduating this year not only with her High School diploma but also with her Associates degree in Life Sciences. She has been involved in Girl Scouts as a young Daisy, Brownie and Junior in Pittsburgh, PA. Six years ago she moved to Houston, with her parents and little sister and became a GS Senior and Ambassador of Rebecca Grime’s troop # 586.

When Nishtha was a sophomore she watched an inspiring documentary called “The Science of Healing with Dr. Esther Sternberg”.

This documentary studies the connection between the mind and body in order to understand how our brains, emotions and environment influence healing. After watching this documentary, Nishtha decided to apply learning’s from documentary to real life applications such as to improve the healthcare facilities environment.

Nishtha’s Gold award project dealt with the interfacial area of art, environmental beautification, human psychology, recovery from sickness and attitude toward physical settings.

She tried to address an issue in healthcare sector which seems simple, therefor ignored sometime but it is extremely important to create highly refined, satisfying and pleasing background in hospital facilities and infrastructure. Normally, during health condition people have no choice but to visit doctor and/or hospital.

When it comes to Doctor’s offices and/or hospital(s), there are several factors which can impact society/patients. She picked up highly interesting, psychological and meaningful element of a hospital’s architecture i.e. interior design of a healthcare facility.

Based on many statistical and factual data,

Nishtha carefully reviewed and assessed the neighborhood healthcare facilities and hospitals. Based on her research she concluded that hospitals need to add more colors to their walls for a positive, patient friendly surrounding for the speedy recovery of their patients. After careful considerations of all of her explorations and assessments of the various hospitals in the community, she decided to innovate and design unique, pleasant, fitting and colorful multiple canvas paintings for the state of the art facility of Cancer Center at Memorial Hermann Hospital since its patient recovery area was lacking satiating and patient friendly surroundings. These multiple exceptional and high quality canvas paintings were hung inside the patient recovery area of the Cancer Center, for the breast cancer patients, so they could feel confident about their inner beauty and embrace their natural body after their chemotherapy was completed. The strong, motivating, encouraging, positive and powerful quotes on one the paintings will also help these patients greatly. These famous quotes will remind them about their high level of confidence and desire to live and fulfill their life dream(s). Since every patient and family member prefers speedy recovery, Nishtha is confident that patients will feel better psychologically, and they can recover from their illness faster. Nishtha Sharma completed her Gold Award Project on June 2013. Overall, it took her approximately 6-7 months of time to complete the project. She received the notification of her Gold Award from Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council on August of 2013.

Nishtha sincerely thanks her Gold Award

Advisor Terri Castillo, project advisor Coleen White, her troop leader Rebecca Grimes and project team comprising several of Clear Horizons Early College High School Art Club members and Teachers. By completing this project, Nishtha has contributed significantly towards improving the Cancer Center’s settings and ultimately added towards speedy recovery of cancer patients at Memorial Hermann Hospitals Cancer Center. She very much enjoyed doing this Girl Scouts project. Upon the completion of this project, she considers that this project helped me greatly in the development of strong leadership and organization qualities and allowed her to grow her team player and interpersonal skills. Finally, she feels a sigh of satisfaction and honor while helping her own community and society.

In recognition of this GS Gold Award Nishtha Sharma has also received multiple congratulatory letters from various Government officials including President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Governor Rick Perry, Mayor Annise Parker, and Mayor Timothy Paulissen.

About GS Gold Award: The Girl Scout Leadership Experience engages girls in discovering self, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place. Discover, Connect, and Take Action are the three keys to Leadership. Since 1916, Girl Scouts’ highest award has stood for excellence and leadership for girls everywhere. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award that Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors can earn.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

October 25, 2013

Happy Diwali and Happy New Year

SATURDAY, NOV 2 ND, 2013

Program Highlights #SJOH ZPVS GSJFOET BOE GBNJMZ UP FYQFSJFODF UIF TUPSZ PG #IBLUB 1SBIMBE UISPVHIอ MBTFS BOJNBUJPOT BOEอ รถSFXPSLT อ อ " NVTU TFF PG IPX B ZPVOH DIJME XIP TIPXDBTFT *OEJBhT BODJFOU TFDSFU PG JOOFS MJHIU CZ EJTQMBZJOH EFWPUJPO DPVSBHF BOE GBJUI JO UIF GBDF PG BEWFSTJUJFT %POhU NJTT UIJT CSFBUIUBLJOH BOE FODIBOUJOH NVTJDBM %JXBMJ QSPHSBN %IBKว 'BSLว WP

SATURDAY, NOV 2 ND, 2013 QN QN 1SF 1SPHSBN "DUJWJUJFT QN QN i%IBKว 'BSLว WPw BO 0VUEPPS %JXBMJ 1SPHSBN Please note that this hour long program will incorporate ereworks throughout the program and thus you will want to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the program

Diwali and New Year Events KALI CHAUDAS SATURDAY, NOV 2 ND 2013 11:45 - 12:15 - Hanuman Puja

NUTAN VARSH MONDAY, NOV 4 TH 2013 7:30 am - 8:30 am - Maha Arti & Sneh Milan 9:00 am - 11:00 am - New Yearโ s Sabha 11:15 am - 12:00 pm - Annakut Thaal & Arti 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Annakut Darshan

DIWALI SUNDAY, NOV 3 RD 2013

SHAKOTSAV WEDNESDAY, NOV 13 TH 2013

3:30 pm - 4:15 pm - Sharda Pujan (Chopda Pujan) 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm - Diwali Samaiyo

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm - Shakotsav Darshan

7:00 pm - Diwali Arti 7:45 pm - Diwali Arti 2

INDO AMERICAN NEWS โ ข FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 โ ข ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

17

18 October 25, 2013 Killing the Golden Goose The proximate risks of roiling investor sentiments are two principal factors: policy inconsistency and political instability.

Investors want hassle-free entry into any economy to park their funds in.

India continues to be seen as a dodgy destination for anyone wanting to do business there, a fact that any government can ignore only at its own peril. Red-tape and inter-ministerial differences are resulting in delayed decision-making, which in turn has hurt business sentiment. India ranks towards the bottom of the World Bank’s latest ‘Doing Business’ report.

Investment decisions are well thought out and are predicated on a variety of factors including global perceptions about the destination country. Importantly, we cannot lose sight of the fact that India will be competing with other emerging nations to attract from the same pool of dollars.

From a foreign investors’ darling to a slowing economy prone to risky policy flip-flops, the turnabout of India’s image has been rapid. Stalled reforms, policy missteps, mounting deficits, galloping inflation, fractious politics and creaky infrastructure — the rough edges are coming off.

Deepening economic gloom is causing unease among business.

For millions of Indians the last 12 months of high prices and low income growth have hurt. That has slowed consumption and corporate spending and sparked a series of slowdown cycles. Costly borrowing and inputs have dampened investment activity.

India’s policy-makers have been hemmed in global criticism of delayed reforms and growing internal concerns of policy paralysis in the backdrop of a slowing, high inflation economy.

Global agencies have also been unsparing in their criticism about the government’s economic management. Consistent policies and reforms, as was seen two decades ago, can herald entrepreneurship, employment, income and spending. For a better part over the last three years, policy gridlock hadn’t done India’s reputation any good. It would be in India’s best interests to soothe the frayed nerves of investors through some brave and bold steps that are needed to turn the tide.

Indian Express

Of Human Bondage India seems to have acquired the dubious distinction of being the leader of many demeaning trends, be it child labor, underage marriages and now we learn slavery. Although the practice had been abolished long ago, a new study shows that an estimated 29.8 million people live in slavery around the world. And nearly half this number is in India. Fourteen million Indians, the highest number in the world, live in conditions of slavery.

There should be strict implementation of existing laws that will ensure that people who perpetuate modern-day slavery are severely punished.

Hindustan Times

EDITORIAL

Cyclone Phailin: Storm Untossed

BY SHAILAJA BAJPAI

Mercifully, Phailin was not as bad as the coverage on news TV had led us to believe They did not fail to show up for Cyclone Phailin. By Saturday morning, TV reporters were scattered across Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, awaiting its landfall.

Shielded by transparent raincoats, armed with microphones, they were, nevertheless, tossed from side to side, along with the trees, the boats and the homes. But they were never tossed aside or swept away by the enormity of what had hit them and the villages they visited.

On Saturday evening in Behrampur, Headlines Today’s Jugal Purohit found the torrential rainfall and high wind-speed ominous: “Things will get worse,” he feared — and they did. CNN-IBN’s Karma Paljor got a rain-lashing across his face as it poured down — he was keeping his fingers crossed. Aaj Tak/ Headlines Today had editor-at-large Rahul Kanwal in the eye of the storm in Gopalpur. Children were wailing and the sound of window panes breaking reminded him of “Diwali crackers”, a somewhat infelicitous comparison for a cyclone that was destroying thousands of homes and flooding the land.

Blame Cyclone Phailin for it.

NDTV’s female reporter in Behrampur found it difficult to move but she wasn’t going to allow a little thing like “India’s Katrina”, with wind gusts up to 200 kmph, separate her from her microphone. She and others like her from ABP, Times Now, CNN-IBN, Aaj Tak in Bhadrak, Balasore, Puri and Srikakulam brought us “minute by minute updates” on the gathering storm and the developing story.

CNN was duly impressed by India’s coping mechanisms: “India riding out potentially catastrophic storm,” said its reporter Lonzo Cook in Bhubaneswar.

Some news channels, however, remained unimpressed. So much so that News 24 preferred to report on Asaram Bapu’s shenanigans (why must they show videos of him prancing about in an insane dance, all the time?). And India News featured a “genius” quiz for young children at 11.45 pm on Saturday, an odd choice for a news channel when there was genuine breaking news. Then, just after midnight, it ran an advertorial, while News 24 went teleshopping.

Sunday morning saw the lull after the storm and you heard the relief in the correspondents’ voices, despite the devastation

NDTV’s female reporter in Behrampur found it difficult to move but she wasn’t going to allow a little thing like “India’s Katrina”, with wind gusts up to 200 kmph, separate her from her microphone. they witnessed. We were equally relieved: such had been the intensity of coverage on news TV throughout Saturday, with visuals of ferocious waves, bludgeoned trees and ghost villages, that we had been led to believe it would be much, much worse.

On to entertainment TV. It’s interesting to see how many mythological/ historical dramas are currently on air with more than glancing references to issues of governance and statehood: Mahabharat (Star Plus), Buddha (DD National and Zee), Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap (Sony), Devon ke Dev Mahadev (Life OK), Jodha Akbar (Zee). The last time Mahabharat was on air (1988-90), it coincided with the rise of the BJP, so there’s something to think about.

New serial Deshi ki Beti Nandini (Sony) concerns politics: the Raghuvanshis are an established political family in Mumbai. Enter son Rajbir, who is being thrust into the limelight by his widowed mother. But he is a reluctant recruit — sound familiar? Nandini is a middle-class girl with an active social conscience. The twain has already met, and the story is heading towards the girl’s initiation into politics. Nandini and 24 (Colors) are the first signs of politics and entertainment melding with each other on Indian TV, that too in an election year. Hmmmn.

Speaking of politics, acclaimed Ameri-

can political drama The West Wing (FX) began recently, and by a curious twist of fate, the American president had been contemplating the bombing of Syria.

An effort to be more topical and contemporary is also being seen in Kehta Hai Dil Jee Le Zara (Sony). Here, the lead character, Saachi, is the breadwinner for her family of grandmothers and siblings.

More importantly, she is single and in her mid-30s. Enter Dhruv, single and in his late 20s. Love is blossoming between them, and last seen, they were about to exchange their first embrace. Monday’s episode saw the two of them on a bus and Saachi being harassed by two men — shades of December 16? Dhruv beats the pulp out of them only to fall prey to the police — one of the reasons why people are reluctant to step forward in these kinds of cases. By dealing with such incidents, TV shows like Kehta Hai Dil Jee Le Zara will hopefully raise awareness and become more meaningful.

Nehru Family Seat?

BY COOMI KAPOOR Last week a website that puts out news about the Congress and Gandhi family displayed photographs of Priyanka Gandhi at Rae Bareli with the caption ‘Priyanka in her constituency’. Whether the caption was a slip or intentional, it has further fuelled rumours in Rae Bareli that in 2014 Priyanka will contest from the constituency and not her mother. Sonia has nominated her daughter as her representative in the district-level monitoring and vigilance committees. Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, has replaced the long-time party in charge in Amethi, Kishori Lal, with Chandrakant Dube. Sharma who has been officially kicked upstairs as party secretary in Delhi has very little work to do and is sulking. The party’s media chief, Ajay Maken, denied reports that Priyanka would be campaigning all over the country in the elections. But the denial did not preclude the possibility of Priyanka standing from Rae Bareli.

Another suggestion is that Priyanka contest from Phulpur in Allahabad, a seat which was held by family patriarch Jawaharlal Nehru.

Indian Express

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

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

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

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

October 25, 2013

Sakoon - A Novel

SUGAR LAND: Nishith Vasavada, a resident of Sugar Land, has recently published a novel titled Sakoon on Amazon.com as an ebook (no hard copies). When we asked him what inspired him to write a novel, he said that , “Sakoon is a sincere attempt to explore my late mother’s yearning for the Karachi she was forced to leave during partition of India in 1947.

My grandfather realized that staying there was too dangerous due to their ethnicity.” Nishith further explains that these victims of ethnic cleansing--Hindus, Sikh, and Muslims--were left to wonder what happened to their former homes afterwards and why they had to leave? “I have witnessed the conversations my late mother had here in the United States with the Pakistanis who also had to make a torturous journey, like her, but in the opposite direction.

Their sense of loss has touched me in a way that is hard to describe.”

Without give away too much, Sakoon is the story of one young woman’s courage to raise her voice against tyranny and injustice. The time is the early 1980s.

Dictator General Zia-ul-Haq turns to religion and jihad as the twin saviors of the state under the threat of Soviet invasion. Growing up in Karachi, Pakistan, Sakeena is a carefree girl who falls in love with Rohan, her brother’s best friend.

Sakeena and Rohan are caught un-

expectedly in the erupting ethnic conflict due to events beyond their control. Rohan makes a haunting choice when he is caught suddenly in the middle of a terrible situation. Sakeena exposes violence on her campus, landing her in trouble with the powerful Islamists. Their only potential savior is an ISI spy, who is seeking his own redemption for his family’s shameful past As for the audience that Sakoon should appeal to, Nishith believes that the human urge for liberty is a universal theme that should resonate with most readers. The story also has its share of romance, suspense, and history of Pakistan after its birth in 1947. As for his writing experience, “I had to stick to my dream,” he explains.

“My first novel took six years to complete and turned out to be a practice novel. Sakoon is my second novel, and it took seven years to finish. Story telling is a craft.” When asked what he found the most difficult aspect of writing a novel, he mentions rewriting and editing, cutting out what he thought was really good stuff, as a few examples. As far as Sakoon is concerned, he says, “The hardest part was to write from the viewpoint of a young woman.”

When asked how he managed to write with a full-time job that also requires him to travel internationally, he said, “If you’re passionate enough to stay awake thinking about something late into the night, then you have a story to tell.

The story compelled me to write. I wanted to take my mother back to the place she could not visit again.”

Sakoon is available only as an e-book via Amazon.com.

For further details email at sakoon.novel@yahoo.com, or visit the Facebook page at fansofsakoon.

19

Harry Patel Earns Member Status with ACFEI SPRINGFIELD, MO – Hasmukh (Harry) Patel of Houston, has been awarded as a member of the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute (ACFEI).

The ACFEI is the world’s largest forensic science association, and a part of its mission is to recognize the experience, education, and dedication of professionals who maintain the highest of ethical and forensic service standards.

About ACFEI: The ACFEI covers a broad range of forensic specialties. The association actively promotes raising forensic science awareness, and it supports its members as they work to advance their fields.

The ACFEI also contributes to raising the standards of forensic science by producing educational programs and encouraging continuing education in the many

Hasmukh (Harry) Patel

forensic science disciplines.

ACFEI serves as the national center for this purpose and circulates information through its journal, The Forensic Examiner, lectures, seminars, conferences, workshops, continuing education courses, and home-study courses.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

20 October 25, 2013 LEARN TO DRIVE TODAY!

Ganesh Anand Catering Services Pure Vegetarian South & North Indian Dishes.

Chaat & Snacks Contact Babulbhai: 832-891-1421 13180 West Park Dr. @ Synott Houston, TX 77082

COMMUNITY

IACCGH “Networking Works” HOUSTON: The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston networking reception and dinner held on October 1, at Narin’s Bombay Brasserie was again a full house. The Chamber President Pankaj Dhume welcomed over 80 attendees who presented themselves and their businesses through 30 second introduction speeches. The group included the Mayor of the City of Bellaire , officials from the City of Houston and past Chairs of Mayor Parkers International Trade Development Councils for Europe and Africa, the local Rotary Club, the British American Business Council, Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and other local business organizations giving the members a wider networking opportunity.

In the words of some of the guests: • “This was my first time attending an event like this.

The format was very good, especially the introductions/elevator pitch. The crowd was wonderful and set to know various business people. I strongly recommend to anyone to join the chamber!” -Malla Mittakani, • “This gathering is an excellent opportunity to network with a great group of people from all types of businesses. It was a very warm welcome-Thank You!”Keri Schmidt, President of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce • “IACCGH has tremendous power as a union of excellent minds, great hospitable friendly members and guest. A great organization and a splendid tradition.” -Serge Lomako, Past Chair, MITDC-Europe and a prospective IACCGH member.

• “The Chamber leadership is always ready to guide members- The Chamber offers excellent programs and contacts for business development. Thank You.” -Bhaskar Patel(Cybersoft) Member of IACCGH

Pankaj Dhume, President IACCGH addressing the audience which included Board members and President Keri of the Fort Bend Chamber, Becci Himes of the British American Business Council and the President of the Indian Cancer Network IACAN Kanchan Kabad.

Photos: Bijay Dixit

The Chamber serves to strive in connecting small business over the greater Houston area to promote the success of the business community. The “Networking Works” event held on October 1, allowed for attendees to explain their business and learn more about other attendee’s doing business in the city and continue networking over dinner.

President Pankaj Dhume and Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia highlighted the upcoming events for the year which include the Women in Leadership Series, an event where the women members of the Chamber community are able to engage, learn and take

away means to be successful. The November 13 “Women in Leadership” event will feature Dr. Latha Ramchand , Dean of the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. Another major event was the 5th annual IACCGH/ Pratham Golf Tournament on Oct 30, at Tour 18.

The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce aims to promote opportunities to businesses over the Houston area in order promote trade within the Greater Houston Area.

To learn more about the chamber visit www.iaccgh. com or email info@iaccgh.com

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COMMUNITY

SONY MAX to Premiere “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani” on October 27

NEW YORK: Sony Entertainment Network is pleased to present a world television premiere of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani on SONY MAX. The movie will air Sunday, October 27, at 3:00 PM & 9:00PM ET. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is a 2013 Indian coming-of-age romantic comedy film, directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Karan Johar. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in lead roles. Madhuri Dixit appears in an item number titled “Gha-

gra” with Ranbir Kapoor in the film. Initially set for a March 2013 opening, the film was released on 31 May 2013 and went on to be a huge box office success. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani has become the fourth highest grossing Bollywood film of all time in India and worldwide. The film is also the seventh highest grossing Bollywood film in overseas markets.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is the story of the relationship between two characters, Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) & Naina (Deepika Padu-

October 25, 2013 kone), at two separate but defining periods of their lives. The first is when they are just out of college and standing on the crossroads of multiple decisions that will shape who and what they become. The next is in their late-twenties when they meet again, holding on to certain fulfilled and certain unfulfilled dreams, at a crossroads of another nature this time. How these two characters affect, change, befriend and eventually fall in love with each other, is the journey the film aspires to take us on.

Don’t Miss the premiere of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani on October 27 at 3 pm & 9 pm ET!

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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22 October 25, 2013

COMMUNITY

Abhishek Raghuram Captures the Heart of Music lovers

BY THARA NARASIMHAN HOUSTON: Abhishek Raghuram captures the heart of Music lovers at the inaugural concert of HYMA USA. The organization of Houston Youth Music association aptly presented a young gifted musician from India with accompaniments of expert Violinist B.U. Ganesh Prasad and Mridangist Neyveli Narayanan. Kruthi Bhat accompanied on the Tampura.

HYMA USA is a youth organization of music lovers formed by Board Members Kruthi Bhat, San-

jana Rao, Satya Pappu, Keerthana Bhat, Viji Vishwanathan, Uma Ranganathan, Shobana Srinivasan, Vasuprada Vasudevan and Sribharath Kainkaryam. Vidushi Rajarajeshwary Bhat is the Advisory Board Member of HYMA USA. Vittal Ramamurthy as the Promoter was present on the occasion and commended the organizers for their enthusiasm and energy to establish this organization formed of the youth, for the youth and by the youth. He congratulated them for making

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meticulous arrangements and to promote the art of Classical music.

Abhishek Raghuram’s vibrant rendition of Krithis followed one another starting with Varnam “Evvari Bodhana” followed by “Tulasi Dalamulachesi”, “Makelara Vicharamu” , “Maravairi Ramani” in Nasikabhooshani, “Samikku Sari Evvare”, “Kannanai Pani Maname.” The Ragam Tanam Pallavi piece “Radha Sametha Krishna, Brindhavana Govinda Murare” was a masterpiece that the raga Yaman Kalyani in Khanda Jaati Triputa Talam in Tishra nadai was rendered extensively enthralling the audience. He was literally playing around with the variations of the Ragas and intricate kalpana swaras, alapana that was concise and crisp and niraval rendered with so much ease and plethora of precise improvisations. The concluding pieces were Ramachandrudithadu in Dwijavanthi Raga and Rama Rama, a Puradaradasa Krithi.

Abhishek said he was in fact very delighted to be invited to perform for the inaugural concert and said he would continue his unstinted support to the organizers of HYMA USA. As a surprise move he invited Vittal Ramamurthy to join in vocal singing a Purandaradasa bhajan “Vittala Salaho Swami “ in Raga Desh. Houston’s audiences were treated to a refreshing duet by Violinist Vittal Ramamurthy singing along with Abishek Raghuram that concluded the evening concert with Mangalam.

Uma Ranganathan welcomed the gathering, Sribharath Kainkaryam

Vocalist Abhishek Raghuram, Violinist B.U. Ganesh Prasad, Mridangist Neyveli Narayanan. Kruthi Bhat on the Tampura.

Artists with the HYMA USA organizers.

introduced the artists, Kruthi Bhat rendered the Prayer song and Viji Vishwanath as the emcee thanked everyone and Vidhushi RajaRajeswary Bhat honored the artists for an outstanding performance.

Throughout the concert I realized that a young artist was performing on the stage but to me when I closed my eyes it seemed that a veteran artist was performing. Personally as a young child I was raised in the heart of Chennai exposed to Carnatic music ren-

dered by stalwarts like Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Madurai Mani Iyer, Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer and Semmagudi Srinivasa Iyer both at Madras Music Academy as well as the Mylapore Fine Arts Club from the early 1950s through 70s. I was re-living those moments when listening to Abhishek Raghuram’s Manodharma sangitham (innovation and improvisation) that was parallel to legendary artistes in the days of yore.

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BY SUNREDRA ULLAL CHICAGO: Close on the heels of news that University of Chicago has established Vivekananda Chair, reports reach here that one of the most prestigious center of learning not only in USA but the world across, the New Have based Yale University, has now a “Hindu Prayer Room”.

This “Hindu Prayer Room” includes a traditional temple hanging bell; images of Swami Vivekananda, Nataraja statue; Hindu deity, etc.; and is open Sunday to Thursday 7-11pm in the basement of Bingham Hall.

Yale University on a 342-acre campus in New Haven (Connecticut), founded in 1701, with an operating budget of $2.82 billion, has about 15 million volumes in

its library and its acceptance rate is 7.1%. About 12,000 students attend Yale, whose undergraduate tuition, room and board cost $55,300. Joseph R. Crespo, Peter Salovey and Sharon M.K.Kugler are Trustees Chair, President and Chaplain respectively.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA. Indians across Chicago land and Midwest have welcomed there urgent interest in Hinduism and as put by Sonhan Joshi, president of National Federation of Indian Associations, this gives a shot in arm to Indians across the world to shore up their activities in promot-

ing Indian culture and thoughts globally. Applauding Yale for provision of “Hindu Prayer Room”, Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, described it as “a step in the right direction”. Zed commended Yale for recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education, which was important in Hinduism.

Nand Kapoor, former chief of Association of Indians in America joined Rajan in urging USA universities and colleges, both public and private, to respond to the spiritual needs of diverse student body and provide dedicated Hindu prayer/meditation room for quiet reflection, festivals and spiritual exercise; which would help in their personal growth.

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Mama’s Punjabi Recipes

Kulfi Aur Gur Galef Kharrot (Kulfi & Molasses Coated Walnuts) Punjabis, just like the rest of Indians, love those really sweet dishes that make the end of a meal so enjoyable. There are some unique Punjabi sweets like gajjar da halwa (carrot pudding), or sooji da halwa (cream of wheat pudding) or atte da kadda (wheat pudding) which are best when they contain some nuts.

Nuts of all types are also a favorite of Punjabis, and especially piste (pistachios), badam (almonds) or kaju (cashews). I remember when I was growing up in Lyallpur in the region of West Punjab made fertile by the Chenab River that my grandfather would bring home jute bags full of nuts of all sorts which we would enjoy eating during the winter months as we sat around an anghiti (wood burning clay bucket stove) in the courtyard of our ancestral home.

Nuts of all types are still favored during the winter months in the Punjab – chilgoze (pine nuts), kharot (walnuts) and roasted mumfli (peanuts) are also eaten commonly, along with kishmish (raisins). These mewah (dried fruits) are very often used in all types of mithai (sweetmeats), even though dried fruits have become quite expensive in India and are out of the reach of many people.

Even so, the halwai (confectioners) shops are packed everyday.

With the Holiday Season coming upon us, these two timely recipes will come in handy. These are fairly easy to make, and as any sweets loving Punjabi will declare, they are hard to resist. The kulfi recipe is not the traditional one but the much simpler American version which tastes just as good.

Too many walnuts can irritate the palate but the gur coating makes them much tastier. It is a treat during the monsoons or winter months and is also very beneficial because it is not as heavy as other sweets are.

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Kulfi (Condensed Milk Ice Cream) Ingredients: • 1 pint (473ml) Ultra pasteurized Heavy Whipping Cream • 1 can (14 oz) Sweetened Fat Free Condensed Milk • 1can(12oz)EvaporatedMilk • 15-20 shelled piste (pistachios) shredded into small pieces

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Gur Galef Kharott (Molasses Coated Walnuts) Ingredients: • 500gm kharott giri (shelled walnuts). You can substitute pecans if preferred • 500gm gur (rock molasses) • ¼ tsp saunf (fennel seed) • ¼ cup pani (water) Directions: 1. Chop the walnuts into halves.

2. Break the gur into smaller pieces. Place a frying pan over high heat and when it is nice and hot, throw in the gur pieces and let them melt.

3. Add the fennel seed and

BOMBAY SWEETS & Pure Vegetarian Restaurant Mouth watering Indian dishes & Chats Catering available for all occasions 100+ varities of sweets

Directions: 1. In a bowl, open the evaporated milk, condensed milk and whipping cream and mix well with a wisk. Add the pistachios and mix further.

2. Pour into icicle containers or in small plastic cups.

3. Place the cups in the freezer overnight. The kulfi will be ready to eat in the morning. stir well for 5 minutes.

Test the melted gur to see if it runs a sticky ribbon when stirred and touched.

Turn the heat off and throw in the walnut pieces and stir well and quickly to coat them and make sure the walnuts aren’t clumped together.

Place on a plate to let the walnuts cool off; when cool place in an air-tight jar so that they don’t become humid.

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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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

ENTERTAINMENT

October 25, 2013

Movie Review : Shahid

BY MADHUREETA MUKHERJEE Story: A story based on real-life human-rights and criminal lawyer, Shahid Azmi, who was slain while defending the wrongly accused by the law in terrorist activities.

Review: You can escape a terror attack. You can fight terrorism. But what happens when you are branded a ‘Terrorist’ for life? On the grounds that your name reads ‘Zahir’, ‘Faheem’, ‘Khan’, ‘Shaikh’ (and not Matthew or Donald? God help!).

Even if you’re acquitted, the right to live a life in fairness and dignity is permanently adjourned.

Case closed! The story of ‘Shahid’ (fact remixed with fiction) confronts us with hard-hitting ques-

tions on religious fundamentalism, flawed legal investigations, and injustices suffered by the underdogs.

In his teens, Shahid (Raj Kumar) witnesses the savagery of religious antagonism during the 1993 Mumbai riots. Shattered and shaken, he escapes from his ‘slumdog’ existence to Kashmir to join the militants. Unnerved with lessons in jihad and jingoism, he returns to a brief life of normalcy in Mumbai.

The past catches up. He’s arrested and thrown into prison under Mumbai’s anti-terror laws. During his term he meets co-quaidi and mentor who shows him light in the dark cells of his tormented existence. Shahid begins studying in jail, once acquitted, he gets

his law degree and amidst much resentment, humiliation (often called jihadiyon ka Gandhi) and life-threatening challenges, he becomes a fearless champion for his cause. He remarkably wins some of the most controversial terrorism cases (including defending the prime accused in 2008 Mumbai terror attack). One fateful night Shahid is gunned down. His case files reopen.

Mehta’s film is brutally honest, brave and above all a fascinating humane story. Nothing distracts the dark and disturbing subject, the narrative is not found guilty of over-dramatizations; indulgence or loaded lines (like ‘tareek pe tareek’ and ‘Milord’, here). He finds a perfect pitch at crucial points - The courtroom interrogations, Shahid’s subtle romance with Mariam (Prabhleen), and moments shared with Arifbhai (Mohammed, in a fine performance) are subtle, but stirring.

Raj Kumar is superb; he peels layers to strip to the core of his character. He magnifies the most intense scenes with sheer brilliance of an understated, realistic performance. It warrants applause. And an unadulterated encore. Catch it if real cinema is what you crave.

Note: You might not like this film if gritty, real-life dramas are not your idea of entertaining cinema.

-Timesofindia

25

Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra Set to Promote Sholay 3D

BY SHALVI MANGAOKAR Cult classic Sholay (1975) is finally set to return to the big screen 38 years later, in a new 3D format.

And even though it may not have director Ramesh Sippy’s support, the upcoming release has found the backing of its lead actors, Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra.

We have been informed that both the actors have given the heads-up to participate in the film’s promotions as and when they begin.

A source close to the production house reveals, “Bachchan and Dharmendra will be a constant feature in the promotional activities. They have extended support towards the film.”

Apparently, neither actor had any hesitation before giving their consent “Sholay is a very important film

for both of them, and they have many memories attached to it.

They readily agreed to participate when they were approached,” says the source, adding, “For every actor who was part of the cast, this is a special film. And over the years, it has become one of the most memorable films of Indian cinema.”

When contacted, Jayantilal Gada, who is presenting the film, confirms the news saying, “We are requesting each and every person associated with the iconic Sholay to participate. Principally, both Bachchan and Dharmendra have agreed.”

Sippy had confirmed in a recent interview that he will not participate in any activities relating to the 3D release of the film.

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IndoAmerican News

Business IndoAmerican News

STOCKS • FINANCE • SOUTH ASIAN MARKETS • TECHNOLOGY

BHP Gives up Nine Oil and Gas Exploration Blocks in India

MUMBAI: BHP Billiton is walking away from almost all of its oil and gas interests in India, citing an inability to carry out exploration operations there and dealing the latest setback to the country in its efforts to draw foreign investments.

The Anglo-Australian resources company would not confirm the reason for its decision to relinquish its interest in nine oil and gas exploration blocks in India, but media reports said it was withdrawing because of delays in clearances.

BHP had earlier said it was facing delays in receiving permits from India’s defence ministry to conduct necessary exploration activities.

The pullback comes as India has been looking to attract foreign investment to bolster flagging economic growth and ahead of a likely fresh round of energy block auctions in January, which the government hopes will attract foreign energy firms.

“This is a sad story for India’s

E&P (exploration and production) sector. Sentiments are already negative and exit of BHP Billiton is going to do more harm,” said RS Sharma, former chairman of staterun Oil and Natural Gas Corp.

In 2010 Norway’s Statoil and Brazil’s Petrobras decided against joining blocks operated

by ONGC after showing initial interest as they could not get necessary approvals on time.

“They did not come on board because of such apprehensions and delays in getting approvals,” Sharma, who was the ONGC chairman then, told Reuters on Monday.

India, beset by energy shortages that make power cuts common and fetter industrial growth, is the world’s fourth-biggest importer of fuel.

It has tried to attract foreign investment in the oil and gas sector to boost stagnant domestic output but global majors have tended to take a pass on opportunities due

to a perceived lack of clarity in policy and bureaucratic hurdles.

In recent years, the only major foreign investments into the sector have been London-listed Vedanta Resources’ acquisition of a controlling stake in explorer Cairn India and BP’s $7.2 billion deal to buy 30 per cent stake in some blocks operated by Reliance Industries.

Exploration efforts, however, have so far brought little in the way of major finds partly because of the delays over permissions but also in some areas because of geological factors.

BHP will give up its interest in six blocks in which it held 26 per cent interest and local company GVK held 74 per cent, as well as three blocks in which it held 100 percent interest. It had acquired interests in the blocks between 2008 and 2010. BHP Billiton will keep its 50 per cent interest in one block, operated by BG Group.

-Indianexpress

Rupee Looks up But Not Out of the Woods Yet

NEW DELHI: The rupee’s brief flirtation with sub-61 to a dollar level on Friday rekindled the debate about whether the worst was over for the Indian currency.

From the being the worst-performing currency between May and August, the rupee has made a smart rebound since the beginning of last month, aided by a host of internal and external factors.

A dovish US Federal Reserve that postponed “tapering” of its easy money policy and a raft of measures taken by Reserve Bank of India such as restricting gold imports attracting foreign currency non-resident (FCNR) funds and tightening the monetary policy have helped the rupee.

The biggest impact, however, has been from RBI’s decision to allow oil companies to buy dollars through a special window. This has reduced the daily demand of up to $500 million in daily spot markets, aiding the rupee sharp recovery.

While it may be tempting to conclude that the bottom may not be far away for the battered

rupee, analysts cautioned that global and domestic events over the the next couple of months will have to bring in fairly good numbers for the volatility to reduce.

“Linked to fiscal challenges is India’s dependence on oil imports. A $10 per barrel rise in oil prices increases the domestic fuel subsidy by $5.8 billion (0.3% of GDP), assuming local fuel prices are unchanged,” investment banking major Morgan Stanley said.

127

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-Hindustantimes

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COMMUNITY

October 25, 2013

29

Houston Exhibition Says, Drop-off Your Skin-lightening Creams and Powders

HOUSTON: Artists collaborate on a public exhibit Putting the U in Color to challenge existing biases against dark-skinned girls and women (and men) within the South Asian community. The show aims to challenge the light-is-beautifuland-smart stereotypes, showcase cinema’s obsession with lightskin, and encourage conversation about this silent issue. Supported

by The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, this exhibition asks South Asians to reevaluate the effectiveness of skin-lightening products. If ineffective, they suggest dropping-off jars and bottles at this exhibit. In addition to original artist works, media artifacts such as vintage Bollywood material will be on display. The exhibit will be on at The Doshi House in Houston’s Third Ward from November 7-30 For further information visit https://www.facebook.com/ thecolourismproject or email praveenalakshmanan@gmail. com The social impact of skin col-

or discrimination within a race -- also known as colorism -- is well-researched and discussed in African American culture. It was first described in the 1982 by author-activist Alice Walker who coined the the term and defined it as “prejudicial or preferential treatment of same-race people based solely on their color.”

In South Asia, the entry of a variety of skin-lightening products has sparked criticism in some sections of society. However, usage continues to grow at 20-30% in the skinlightening product industry alone.

According to usage statistics from India, one in five individuals above the age of 12, uses an off-the-shelf

skin-lightening product today.

Needless to say, this implicit bias for lighter skin has existed in these home countries for several centuries. It has migrated to become a part of diasporic subcultures in the U.S. and across the world.

To interject, intercept, and redefine these conversations around colorism in the South Asian community the exhibition uses a multi-disciplinary approach and draws from graphic design, video, and new media.

Broad-ranging techniques from old-school journalism to visual art, film-making to personal storytelling, writing to photography will be utilized. This is also a call to the community to reevaluate the need for and effectiveness of skin-lightening products.

The exhibition will open on November 7 with a reception, followed by a interactive events including talks, Q&A, film screening, and reading in the days that follow. An all day photography event Bring the Color, Leave the ‘tude will be held on Saturday, November 9, inviting participation from the community to click and submit photographs that broaden the range of skin colors

seen in everyday media images.

For more information log on to Facebook and search for The Colorism Project facebook page. Search for the events tab and click for event information, attendee list and other interesting posts on the subject.

Putting the U in Color is free and open to the public, starting with an opening reception on Thursday, Nov. 7, 5 p.m. through Saturday Nov. 30, 10 p.m. (Sundays closed) Detailed information regarding participating artists and 6-day program schedule are available on facebook.com/thecolourismproject.

Putting the U in Color is a fiscally sponsored project of Fresh Arts.

STAR India Announces DISH as the Exclusive Satellite TV Provider of Leading Hindi Programming in U.S. ENGLEWOOD: STAR India, a leading media and entertainment company in India, today announced DISH as the exclusive satellite-TV provider of STAR Plus HD, Life OK and Movies OK to customers in the U.S. STAR Plus HD and Life OK are currently available on DISH channels 696 and 698, respectively; Movies OK is scheduled to launch later this month. DISH is the only pay-TV provider with nationwide coverage to offer these channels, and the only platform in the U.S. with STAR Plus in high definition.

“We’re very excited to strengthen our long-standing relationship with DISH by making them our exclusive satellite partner in the U.S.,” said Rajan Singh, STAR India’s executive vice president of international business. “DISH is now the only satellite provider where U.S. viewers can watch popular STAR Plus and Life OK series, as well as their favorite Bollywood movies on the soon-to-launch movie channel, Movies OK.”

“As the exclusive satellite-TV provider for STAR India, DISH is strengthening our status as the leader in international programming among all major pay-TV providers in the U.S.,” said Sruta Vootukuru, DISH director of programming. “DISH and STAR India are committed to delivering the best South Asian content to customers interested in programming from their home country.”

For further information or to order, call 855-318-4535 or visit www.DISHHindiTV.com STAR Plus HD: Rated no. 1 in India’s official Hindi-TV ratings, Star Plus is a 24/7 general entertainment channel. It offers a mix of the best Indian family dramas, innovative format series, mythological epics, groundbreaking music and dance reality shows, celebrity chat shows, Bollywood blockbusters and special events. Popular programming includes Mahabharat, Saraswatichandra, Diya Aur Baati Hum, Meri Bhabhi, Pyar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara

Pyaara and Ek Veer Ki Ardaas.

Life OK: Life OK is an entertainment channel that tells unique and poignant stories in dramas, crime and reality shows. Titles like Mahadev, Savdhaan India, Police Dial 100 and Kaisa Yeh Ishq Hai aim to remind viewers to cherish life’s important moments.

Movies OK: A new Hindi movie channel the whole family can enjoy, Movies OK features a variety of Bollywood films and news.

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32 October 25, 2013 Indian Bowlers Under Pressure vs. Australia

BY ABHISHEK PUROHIT RANCHI (ESPN Cricinfo): Big Picture India’s bowlers are usually a much scrutinised lot. As the ODI series moves east to their captain’s hometown, Ranchi, the spotlight will shine ever brighter on them.

They have conceded more than 300 every time they have bowled in this series. MS Dhoni has warned that one cannot expect his batsmen, powerful as they are, to score that many in every match.

The cricketing world has been conspiring against ODI bowlers for years now, but lamenting about one less deep fielder won’t help India. Even nine fielders on the leg-side boundary would not have helped them in Mohali during Ishant Sharma’s 30-run over, because James Faulkner’s sixes would have cleared them easily.

Will the India bowlers be able to keep their cool at the death? Even in Pune, Australia were 264 for 7 in the 47th over before Faulkner took them to 304.

It seems an age ago, going by their current form, but in January, India’s bowlers dismissed England for 155 in 42.2 overs in Ranchi’s first international match. The fast bowlers found some movement, and the spinners some turn. Dhoni got the chance to hit the winning runs, making it a “perfect script” for him in his hometown. As long as India manage to square the series, he won’t care about ideal endings this time. Falling 1-2 behind means India have to win three of four games to take the series.

Australia will know that it was the contributions from the lower order that pushed them past 300 in both their wins. They have started solidly but have lost wickets regularly in the middle. In Mohali, they were tied down by Ravindra Jadeja, who has conceded only 4.60 runs an over this series. With only four men allowed in the deep, the odd pressure-releasing boundary shouldn’t be too hard to find.

In the spotlight Various ODI captains have spoken of the need to preserve wickets against the two new balls and build for an onslaught later. In this context, a strong opening partner-

pressing reason why they would want to tinker with their combination.

Australia (probable) 1 Aaron Finch, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Shane Watson, 4 George Bailey (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 James Faulkner, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Xavier Doherty Stats and trivia R Ashwin has a higher economyrate (6.03) than Xavier Doherty (5.63) in this series.

Australia’s victory in Mohali was their 25th against India in India, the most by any team. West Indies are second with 24 Quotes “Ishant has been a quality bowler around the world for a number of years. We respect that but we just came up trumps against him.”

Phillip Hughes “We have bats in hand to counter their bowling, and balls in hand when they bat. You just have to stay positive.”

Suresh Raina Abhishek Purohit is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

Bangladesh Leads NZ

Ishant Sharma looks dejected after giving away 30 runs in an over, India v Australia, 3rd ODI, Mohali, October 19, 2013.

ship becomes even more important.

Australia’s openers have put on 56, 110, 74 and 68 so far on the tour.

India’s openers, in comparison, have managed 12, 26, 176 and 14.

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have established themselves at the top this year, and now India need them to be more consistent.

Glenn Maxwell has threatened to cause much damage with a couple of fearsome cameos, as his 53 off 32 in Jaipur highlighted. He’s also been involved in a couple of mixups that have led to him being runout. “I need to work on that,” Maxwell said. “It’s something that’s happened to me a few times in the past. Hopefully it stops very soon.”

Australia will want him to kick on tomorrow.

Team news Now that the selectors have

persisted with Ishant for the rest of the series, the big question is whether he will play in Ranchi. “I hope he will come back strongly tomorrow,” Suresh Raina said of his team-mate in the pre-match press conference. If one goes by that statement, Ishant will keep his place. Considering how much Dhoni supported Rohit during his horror run in 2012, backing Ishant for a few more games won’t be much of a stretch.

India (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Vinay Kumar 11 Ishant Sharma/Jaydev Unadkat Australia, like India, have played the same XI for the first three games, and there seems to be no

MIRPUR: New Zealand 107 for 3 (Taylor 37*, Williamson 28*, Shakib 3-25) trail Bangladesh 282 (Tamim 95, Wagner 5-64) by 175 runs The fall of eight wickets during the 53.3 overs possible, particularly New Zealand’s three, had kept the contest on an even keel before the afternoon rain forced an early end for the second day in succession. Earlier it was Neil Wagner’s maiden five-wicket haul that handed the tourists the advantage.

Bangladesh’s 282 was nowhere near a decent first innings total in Mirpur, but New Zealand conceded some of that advantage, losing three wickets for 107 in 33.3 overs. At 1:44pm local time, the players walked off as the drizzle turned into an outright downpour.

Shakib Al Hasan did much of the damage, picking up all three wickets to fall. The home side had a poor morning session, losing their last five wickets for just 54 runs in 20.1 overs.

SPORTS

Pakistan Ahead 1-0 ABU DHABI: Pakistan 442 (Manzoor 146, Misbah 100) and 45 for 3 beat South Africa 249 (Amla 118, Irfan 3-44) and 232 (de Villiers 90, Ajmal 4-74) by seven wickets The seven-wicket victory was Pakistan’s fourth win in 22 Tests against South Africa. South Africa won 11, and seven ended in a draw. Pakistan have now won four consecutive Tests in the UAE and have not been beaten in the country in nine consecutive Tests. The last time they lost was to Australia in Sharjah in 2002.

The defeat was South Africa’s first in 16 Tests. The last time they lost a Test was to Sri Lanka in Durban in 2011. The 15-Test sequence was South Africa’s longest undefeated run in Tests.

Before this Test, South Africa had won six consecutive matches, beginning with their win against Australia in Perth in November 2012.

Misbah-ul-Haq is now the thirdhighest run scorer in 2013, firstclass, list-A and Twenty20 matches included. Shan Masood became only the third Pakistan batsman and 28th overall to score a halfcentury and a duck on Test debut.

Masood is also the 13th Test debutant from Pakistan to make a fiftyplus score in a winning cause.

The word ‘unpredictable’ has often been used to describe Pakistan sides over the decades. A month after the gloom in Harare, with questions hanging over batting capabilities in Test cricket, they nearly beat the world’s No.1 Test side by an innings in Abu Dhabi.

Misbah-ul-Haq launches the ball over the top.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

October 25, 2013

After Russia Visit, PM Eyes India-China Border Pact

BY ALOKE TIKKU MOSCOW: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is leaving for Beijing on Tuesday morning on the second - and the challenging part of his two-nation visit - to seal a new border management pact and ask China to walk the talk on reducing the burgeoning trade deficit between the two countries.

Singh’s visit is counted as historic because this is the first time since 1954 that prime ministers of the two countries would travel to each other’s country in the same year.

“It is of great importance to deepen China-India strategic partnership as the visit follows the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to India in May,” China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying had announced in Beijing on Monday.

Singh will reach Beijing late Tuesday evening and will have two banquets hosted by both Premier Li and Presi-

dent Xi Jinping on Wednesday.

Among the pacts expected to be signed during the visit is the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA), the draft of which was cleared by the Indian cabinet.

The BDCA involves setting up a hotline between commanders at tactical level and more frequent meetings. It would also have provisions restraining security forces on both sides from not following the other in case of inadvertent crossing due to differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

It is perceived as a major confidence-building measure by both countries, which had to grapple in 2013 with a series of Chinese incursions along the LAC that triggered serious tensions.

A much awaited agreement on liberalising the visa regime was reportedly dropped as India’s cabinet did not clear it because of reservations over Chinese visa procedures, like issuing stapled visas

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for residents of Arunachal Pradesh that led to two Indian archers missing a competition in Beijing.

A agreement on establishing Chinese industrial parks in India, expected to bring in investment from China, too is unlikely to be signed as a Chinese team is still scouting sites in India.

Agreements on promoting culture and people-to-people contacts are expected to be signed.

Besides welcoming Singh at the Great Hall of the People overlooking the historic Tiananmen Square, Li will hold talks with him on a host of issues.

Later, they will jointly address business leaders attending the second India-China CEO Forum being held on the sidelines of Singh?s visit.

Ten top Indian industrialists, headed by Reliance Anil Dhirubai Ambani Group chief Anil Ambani, and prominent Chinese industrialists will be part of the business meet.

33

Unnao Treasure Hunt Yield so Far: Shards, Bangles, Brick Wall

BY HAIDAR NAQVI AND VANITA SRIVASTAVA NEW DELHI: The search for gold in the 19th century Buxar fort in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh has so far yielded shards, broken glass bangles and hopscotch toys among other things, officials said on Monday.

The Archeological Survey of India, which started digging for gold treasure on the basis of a dream by seer Shoban Sarkar in Daundia Khera village, said these artifacts were found after digging 48cm into the ground over the past two days.

The ASI plans to ascertain the age of these finds through dating techniques. For that purpose, it will be sending them to Lucknow.

“A brick wall, shards, pieces of glass bangles, hopscotch toys and a mud floor. These have been predicted to date back to 17th-19th centuries, but shards could be older,” said ASI additional director general DR Mani in New Delhi.

“We are looking for artifacts and antiques and it is likely to take a minimum of two to three weeks to reach the reported level of deposits,” he added.

Much to the chagrin of the seer and his followers, the ASI had decided to dig slowly so that any historical artifact that lies buried is not damaged, a possibility if it had resorted to unscientific excavation methods.

In the first phase of excavation, the ASI plans to dig five

metres before going deeper.

The findings have mellowed Sarkar. His emissary Swami Om said the seer had no issue with the ASI methodology.

“The excavation is being carried out on the basis of scientific findings (a geological survey) and the maps we have given to the ASI,” Om said.

Pravin Srivastava, ASI director general, meanwhile said it was “somewhat difficult” to find 1,000kg of gold, as prophesied by the seer, during such excavations and there is no precedent to give such a hope.

“The maximum quantity of gold ASI has so far recovered was about 12kg 10 years ago in Mandi area of western Uttar Pradesh. And that too was a chance finding on Ganga banks, not a find during a regular excavation,” Srivastava said.

He maintained the ASI was not searching for the gold and the hunt was based on scientific facts and historical aspects of the site.

“The Geological Survey of India had indicated possibility of a nonconducting, metallic content and/ or some alloys at the depth of 5-20 metres. Our search is based on the report of GSI. Besides, the site is reported to be an ancient settlement. Therefore it has potential of being an important archaeological location,” Srivastava said.

-Hindustantimes

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