Friday, November 07, 2014 | Vol. 33, No. 45
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Indo American erican News
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Melodious
APPRECIATION
Desis in Costumes P17
P5 The Board of Directors of the India Culture Center along with the Board of Trustees at the Donor Appreciation Dinner held on Saturday, November 1 at India House.
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Reception, Lectures on Zoroastrianism by Leading Expert Stewart Draws Wide Attendance
Sarosh Maneckshaw (left) and Aban Rustomji flank Dr. Sarah Stewart who gave lectures on Zoroastranism in Houston this past weekend.
HOUSTON: The Zoroastrian Association of Houston invited Dr. Sarah Stewart to give the 11th Annual Library Lecture Series at their Center on Saturday, November 1. Entitled Pictures at an Exhibition, Voices of the People, her first lecture was based on The Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination exhibition at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) that ran from October to December 2013. She attended an informal reception at the Center that same evening, which included songs and dances by community members. Her second lecture was held the next day at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and drew on her re-
cent research on Zoroastrianism in Iran. Stewart is a lecturer in Zoroastrianism at SOAS, which is the world’s leading institution for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East and had flown in from the UK the evening before. She is co-editor of the six-volume series Idea of Iran. She was the lead curator of the Everlasting Flame exhibition, which was the first of its kind to give visual expression to Zoroastrian history, culture, and religion. It also explored the wide reach of the religion in the ancient world and its influence on the major religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The ZAH lecture drew a wide audience from among community
Performers doing a Texan ditty at the reception held at the Zoroastrian Community Center on West Airport on Saturday, November 1. Photos: Jawahar Malhotra
members as well as the general public. In the evening reception, there was a traditional Zoroastrian dinner and entertainment provided by ZAH dance and choir group that was enthusiastically received by one and all. The theme of the evening entertainment was “From Bollywood to Broadway” which included three generations of performers. The following morning there was an informal educational session in the ZAH Library where attendees had a chance to have a “conversation” with Stewart. The talk at the MFAH was again very well attended and was followed by a reception. In this talk Sarah was able to draw on some of the exhibits from the MFAH’s Al Sabah collection adding a local
context to her talk. The story of Zoroastrianism today, according to Stewart, is one of the interweaving of three traditions: the Iranian tradition that gave birth to the religion, the Parsi tradition established in India once Iran became a Muslim land, and the Western pre-dominantly academic – tradition that emerged when Zoroastrian religious texts became the focus of Oriental Studies in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Aban Rustomji, the Chairperson of the Zoroastrian Center Library Committee, who helped organize Stewart’s Houston events, said that libraries are the archives of civilization, a repository of existing knowledge and the place where you can read and discover new
knowledge. “They are sources of strength; and because of their special roles throughout history, they have been targets for vandals. We hope that our effort to collect and preserve the growing source of knowledge will be recognized as a repository that fosters the awareness and study of our Zarthushti religion, history, traditions and culture”, she added. Rustomji went on to state that “the information that we collect in both print and nonprint media will be one that we can pass on to the next generation of our young Zoroastrians.” Located in the Zoroastrian Association of Houston at 8787 West Airport Boulevard, Houston, Tex-
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ICC Woos its Donors with a Classy, Heartfelt, Musical Embrace
The Donor Appreciation Dinner that the ICC held this past Saturday, November 1 at India House featured a live musical program by Mahalakshmi Krishnan, Hardik Jani, Kamaal Haji, and Darshak Thakkar. Photo: Vanshika Vipin
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA AND VANSHIKA VIPIN HOUSTON: In the four decades that the India Culture Center has been around in the Bayou City, it has focused on bringing together a diverse and growing Indian community, which has mushroomed, into multiple groups with varying agendas. Trying several approaches, even when it has been sometimes hampered by dissenting views, the ICC has struck true to its roots in bringing culture to the masses by attracting all area wide organizations under its vision of a unifying umbrella to make sure that the spark of connection to the Motherland stays lit. That was the essence of the Donor Appreciation Dinner that the ICC held this past Saturday, November 1 at India House, as the Directors and Trustees of the organization welcomed and serenaded its major donors with an elegantly laid out banquet hall and a live
musical program by Mahalakshmi Krishnan and Hardik Jani. Their backup band featured Kamaal Haji, a self-taught musician, on the synthesizer, and the energetic drummer Darshak Thakkar whose Krishna Sounds provided the sound system. The event was catered by Daawat, whose co-owner, Mahesh Shah was attentive to the roomful of guests. They were welcomed by ICC Director Dr. Raj Bhalla, who can never resist telling a funny joke or two, and President Charlie Patel who announced next year’s Republic Day event set for January 31, followed by Chief Trustee Swapan Dhairyawan; all of whom echoed the same sentiments of the ICC’s inclusiveness and legacy of community service, notably the Indian Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations, which are its two signature events. “The Donor Appreciation is tantamount to a Gala that the ICC holds every two years”, explained Dhairyawan before yielding the
floor to the musical program. Years ago, the ICC used to hold an annual celebratory dinner in various settings, most notably the elegant and colorful one at the Conrad Hilton at the University of Houston during the Presidency of Dr. Susan Jacob in the mid ‘90s. The ICC pulled out all stops to add the same elegance for this event, replete with satin tablecloths, covered and bowed chairs, centerpieces and a small, dice-dotted white goodie bag. A slide presentation highlighted the ICC’s major events through 2014 and later a live auction was held to generate funds from bids on eight donated items, two of which were Tanjore gold-foil paintings by Houston’s resident artist Anju Mittal and Rajiv Bhavsar and the rest a picture made of 3,500 pins by Ismaili artist and Houston resident Barkat Khowja; an Indian land travel package by TravelGuzs; an iPad by Dhairyawan; a diamond pendant by Karat 22 Jewelers; a 6-day stay at Summer Bay
From left: Chief Trustee Swapan Dhairyawan, Parul Fernandes, Ketki Shah from TravelGuzs, and ICC President Charlie Patel.
Elegantly laid out banquet hall.
Photo: Jawahar Malhotra
Exploria Resorts donated by Parul Fernandes and a basket of cosmetics donated by Nidhika Mehta. Dr. Subodh Buchhar worked the crowd as the auctioneer, netting $10,000 for the ICC.
The musical program for the evening proved to be the most memorable portion of the program with Mahalakshmi and Hardik
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Sri Meenakshi Temple’s Main Temple Renovation Project Bhoomi Puja (Ground-breaking Ceremony) BY DR. VENUGOPAL MENON PEARLAND: It was another auspicious inauguration, another stride in the celestial course of the inspiring chronicle of Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland. It was the Bhoomi Puja of its Main Temple expansion on Sunday, November 2. On a serenely bright and balmy morning, about 300 devotees were blessed to participate in the once-in-a-lifetime sacred observance of initiating the second stage of the temple’s revered evolution. Adhering to all the time-honored, devout conventions prescribed by the Agamic traditions, Sri Meenakshi Temple celebrated the Groundbreaking ceremony on the weekend that saved an hour with the daylight savings. Thirty-five years ago, Houston Hindus were blessed with Sri Meenakshi Temple, the first Shakthi Temple outside of India. It was a promising beginning and a propitious trend that followed with the establishment of several hundred temples in the continental United States. To accommodate the ever growing needs of its devotees, a new Lakshmi Sanctum, Prakarams around the three main deities (Sri Meenakshi, Sri Sundareswara and Sri Venkateswara) and overall extension of space are included as the objectives of this project. The auspicious initiation of any new construction is the traditional and customary ‘Bhoomi Puja’ (Ground-breaking cer-
COMMUN
emony), in which devotees request and get permission from Mother Earth to build on her sacred grounds and to ask for forgiveness for the disruption of living beings on the land. The event started at 8.30 am with Ganapathy Homam, and Abhishekam for Prasanna Ganapathy. Following the Puja, devotees
proceeded in a procession around the outer prakaram, entering through the Rajagopuram, doing Aarthi at all the four main sanctums. This was followed by the Bhoomi Puja on the north side of the temple, at the site where the future Mahalakshmi Sanctum is to be constructed. All the priests participated in the Puja and placed the Navarthnas, the nine jewels and the Navadhanyam, the nine grains symbolizing auspiciousness, abundance and prosperity in any endeavor. Honorable Mayor of Pearland Tom Reid was present for the whole event. A unique feature of the event was the participation of the Vedic Heritage School students of MTS, over 100 of them arriving through the West Gopuram guided by their Gurus, and offering flowers at the site. Afterwards, they joined the group and recited the stanzas of sacred ‘Manthra Pushpam’, from Yajur Veda, normally sung as a chorus after pujas. This was followed by Devi Sthuthi in
praise of Goddess Meenakshi, recited by the priests and repeated by all the devotees. After the conclusion of the Puja, the Ground-breaking Ceremony was conducted in which devotees participated by digging up a piece of the earth using the sanctified shovel. To be involved in the construction of a temple, breaking the ground and offering the Navadhanyam in Bhoomi Puja, is considered to be the ultimate Karma for a Hindu. By noon , there were 550 people participating in the event. The Pujas concluded with Maha Aarthi to Goddess Meenakshi inside the main temple. A traditional, delicious feast was served at the Youth Center after the conclusion of the religious observance. The Construction Committee is finalizing the meticulous details of the plans and the project is expecting to be completed within a year.
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ICC Woos its Donors with a Classy, Heartfelt, Musical Embrace
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opening up with the ghazal, “Dil Cheez Kya Hai, Aap Meri Jaan Ligiye” and then mixing it up with new melodies like the latest song from Dabangg 2 “Dagabaaz” and from Parineeta, “Piyu Bole” with old classics like “Chaudavi Ka Chand” and “Aaja Aaja, Mein Hoon Pyaar Tera” which got people swaying in their seats. Ma-
halakshmi cajoled the audience to come onstage and sing, with an enthusiastic Manisha Gandhi venturing to perform a Sufi song from the movie Dirty Picture. Though most people didn’t want the music to end, it came to a close with “Damadum Mast Kalander” which got everyone dancing in
front of the stage. As the guests left, they had a final bit of memorabilia to take back: their portraits, which were taken early on arrival, in a cardboard frame, from the photographer Raghu Thakkar or Image & Motions; superimposed on different graphics.
Reception, Lectures on Zoroastrianism by Leading Expert Stewart Draws Wide Attendance CONTINUED FROM PAGE
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Saturday morningS with rJ guddi Shah on 1480am HumTum radio 7:00 - 10:00am
Request your favorite songs! print and electronic form, primarily pertaining to the Zarathushti faith, culture and history.
as, the Library is the home of FEZANA Information Research education System (www.fires-fezana.
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org) whose mission is to establish and provide global access to a centralized collection of materials in
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November 07, 2014
Free Community Health Fair on Nov 15 with Screenings, Consultations and Vaccines
Kids with new helmets on
Volunteer helping a 95-year-old participant
MANVEL: The fourth annual ‘Life and Soul’ free health fair will be held on Nov 15 from 8 am to 1 pm at New Life Plaza (Sai Primary Care), 3945 CR 58, Manvel, TX. Organized by nonprofit community-based charity organizations Love to Share Foundation America (LTSFA) and Global organization for Divinity (G.O.D.), it is open to all with no prior registrations. Mayor Delores Martin of Manvel and Mayor Tom Reid of Pearland will kick-off the event at 8 am. Given the rapid growth in community and its relative lack of resources, projects like Life and Soul with its free screenings, education, immunization and safety campaigns are indispensable in supporting mainstream medicine in the community. Screenings for this year at the fair include BMI, BP, Glucose, Cholesterol, Lung Function, Pulse Oximetry, EKG, Bone Density and Vision. 8-10 hours fasting is
required for labs. Physicians will provide free consultations. Free flu and pneumonia shots will be made available to eligible candidates, thanks to TMA’s Be Wise - Immunize program. Free helmets will be given to children and adults to prevent head injury. Sponsors include Frost Bank, TMA, HEB Plus, Gale Pharmacy, Walgreens, Sanofi Aventis, ACC, Texas Eye Institute, Pearland Best Coupons, Pearland MRI, Proactive Physical Therapy and Bay Area Printing. Over 50 volunteers, including physicians, nurses, medical students, high school students and others work selflessly to make this event a possibility. Volunteers at LTSFA and G.O.D work at grass roots levels to lend a helping hand to the under privileged, to empower individuals with accessible healthcare, education, leadership skills, and clean environment thus enhancing the quality of life and paving way for sustain-
able communities. On Nov 13, 12-1 pm, LTSFA will present a session focusing on ‘inner’ health by its lead speaker Mr. M. K. Ramanujam - “Benefits of Mindfulness for Busy Professionals” - at University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. This session is open to all. To register call 281-402-6585. G.O.D aims to promote peace, harmony and universal love amid cultural diversity. It is involved in several spiritual, cultural and social activities in the Houston area as well as in several cities in the USA and other countries. A m o n g G.O.D.’s upcoming programs in Houston are Bhoomi pooja and Mahamantra Mass Prayer at Namadwaar Prayer House on Nov 8, and a grand 7-day Madhura Utsav and Srimad Bhagavata Saptaham from Dec 20-27. For further info about these events call 281-402-6585 or email houston. god@godivinity. org.
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COMMUNITY
Hindu Temple of The Woodlands Holds Diwali Event for Seniors
BY BETH KULKARNI THE WOODLANDS: Hindu Temple of The Woodlands held a Diwali Party for seniors at the temple on Wednesday, October 29. The seniors enjoyed hearing a musical program and playing Diwali Games. This was followed by Dandiya Raas with volunteers teaching the basic steps to some who had never learned the popular folk dance. The party ended with a delicious lunch with a great variety of sweet and savory items prepared by the seniors and the volunteers. There were even “goody bags” to take home. This event was an addition to the bi-weekly meetings held at the temple located at
7601 S. Forestgate in The Woodlands on the first and third Wednesdays from 10:30 am to 2 pm. The meetings are open to all who consider themselves seniors. The meetings include a chair-based yoga session, a laughing yoga session, a talk or presentation on a topic of interest, a light lunch, and time for socializing. Some of the recent programs have been “Fall Prevention”, Indian music and how to find it on the internet, Music Therapy, and more. Members’ input is sought for upcoming programs. All Indian-American seniors in the area and their friends are invited to attend. For further information, email info@ woodlandshindutemple.org.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
November 07, 2014
Asia Society Names Pratham Co-Founder Madhav Chavan 2014 Asia Game Changer
Dr. Madhav Chavan receiving the Asia Game Changer Award from Asia Society Trustee Lulu Wang. Photo: Ann Billingsley/Asia Society
HOUSTON: Dr. Madhav Chavan, co-founder of Pratham, was recognized for bringing the gift of literacy to millions of Indians by the Asia Society at the United Nations in New York City on October 16. Chavan has empowered millions of children across India through his organization, whose mission is to have every child in school and learning well. His efforts were recognized by the Asia Society, America’s leading institution dedicated to educating Americans about Asia, when he was bestowed a 2014 Asia Game Changer Award that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the future of the continent. “The Asia Game Changer Awards are designed to fill a glaring gap—a lack of recognition of people who are transforming ideas into action and improving lives in Asia,” said Asia Society President Josette Sheeran. Dr. Chavan has brought scientific rigor and innovation to his life’s mission of providing quality education to underprivileged children. The results are impressive. Pratham’s flagship Read India program, which imparts basic reading and arithmetic skills, has touched the lives of over 34 million children since its inception. Through its unique partnership with local schools and governments
and community stakeholders, Pratham is able to make a significant impact through its operations in 20 of India’s 29 states. Dr. Chavan believes local volunteers have enabled Pratham’s success and scale. “I believe in people, and I trust them to do the right thing and the amazing thing is that when you trust people, they don’t let you down. Plus, it gets the job done,” he said. “It is an honor to be recognized by the Asia Society, especially alongside the luminaries this year,” said Dr. Chavan. “More importantly, I hope that this sheds more light on our ongoing pursuit to bring quality education to every child in India.” In addition to its programs in the areas of early childhood and primary education, Pratham offers vocational skills training and job placement to young adults and educational support to girls and women who have dropped out of school. It also conducts the Annual Status of Education Report, the largest citizen-led survey of children’s enrollment and learning levels in India. Learn more about Pratham at www. prathamusa.org and about the Asia Society Game Changer Awards at www.asiasociety.org/asia-game-changers.
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14 November 07, 2014
COMMUNITY
TCC Taped Ball Tournament Fall 2014: Spantrans Winners, SLCC Runners Up
Rajeshwari Antani, former India team player honored by TCC.
HOUSTON: It was a perfect game of Finals (10/18/2014) to end another highly competitive tournament with 18 participating teams. Spartans won the toss and elected to bat first. Spartans openers Manne (29) and Kaushik (20) gave a great start and added 36 runs in 4 mandatory power play overs. Srini joined Manne and both of them continued the run flow with continued great shots. After Manne got out in an attempt to accelerate, Jeeva and Srini started playing sensibly to rebuild the innings before Jeeva got run out. The score after 10 overs was 80/3. SLCC slowed down the proceedings in the next 10 overs and got wickets at regular intervals. Srini (22), Visu (29) and Venky (9*) from Spartans made useful contributions to take the score to 141/9 in 20 overs. Top bowlers for SLCC were Thusitha and Gihan with each of them picking 2 wickets. SLCC had a poor start and lost both their openers by the 3rd over due to great bowling by Nattu and Chaitanya. SLCC captain Thilan (30) and Ramesh (20) resurrected SLCC innings after the early loss with shots all around the ground. Thilan got out trying to accelerate. Ramesh was playing sensibly and holding on to one end but the wickets were falling on the other end regularly. Once Ramesh got out, Dushan (37) kept SLCC interested with big shots and support from other players. Nattu took the crucial wicket of Dushan in the 18th over and that sealed the match. In the end SLCC were all out for 127 and lost the game by 14 runs. Nattu from Spartans was declared MVP for picking up the wickets at crucial moment of the game. He was well supported by Aradhya with 3 wickets. The complete match details is available at: www.sportstatz.com/ss/web. asp?club=779&mode=100&match=21500 It was a comfortable win for Spartans who won their sixth tournament in six finals. For SLCC it was the 4th loss in 4 finals. The game had high quality umpiring from Rattlers and Houston Arrows. The game was followed by a well-organized prize distribution ceremony arranged by TCC and attended by number of friends
and family members who had come to support the teams. Everyone was honored with the presence of a former India woman player Rajeshwari Antani with an illustrious record for India which included representing India in 3 world cups as the chief Guest. The other members were Surya Saladi, founder member and member of Board of Directors, President Nanda Kumar, Vice President Krishna Shikaram, Secretary Nataraja Rao, member of Board of Directors Venky Rao. Jagadish Biradar, organizer of TCC Taped Ball tournament coordinated the presentation ceremony. Rajeshwari Antani was presented with a plaque by Nanda Kumar for her contribution to cricket in Houston. Nataraja Rao, the captain of Spartans was presented with the championship trophy and Thilan, the captain of SLCC was presented with the runners up trophy. The players of the winners and runners up received
individual trophies. Man of the match for the finals was Nataraja Rao from Spartans for a match winning bowling performance with figures of 4-0-18-4. Thilan from SLCC won the Best Batsman trophy with 350 runs. Satish Adapa from HJCC won the Best Bowler trophy with a record 28 wickets and Kunal Manocha from Strikers won the best All-Rounder trophy with 212 runs and 14 wickets. Trophies were also given to the man of the match for Semi Finals and Quarter Finals. Visu from Spartans and Thilan from SLCC were the recipients of the man of the match for Semi Finals. Yesu from HJCC, Krishnan from Grady, Krishna from Spartans and Dushan from SLCC were the recipients of the man of the match for Quarter Finals. Special prizes were given to Wasif Khan from RCC for a century, Sampath from SLCC for a Hattrick and Kunal from Strikers for a Hattrick.
Spartans Winners with Chief Guest Rajeshwari Antani
SLCC Runners up with Chief Guest Rajeshwari Antani
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
November 07, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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COMMUNITY
Viacom18 Rings in the Festive Season with ‘Rishtey’ in US & Canada Markets ~ Channel available to viewers on Dish and Dishworld in US and Rogers Cable in Canada~ MUMBAI: After its successful launch in the UK and India, Viacom18 and IndiaCast announce the launch of the Hindi general entertainment channel ‘Rishtey’ in the US and Canada. Adding the festive fervor for viewers in the region, Rishtey is now available to the US audiences on Dish and Dishworld on channel 699 and to Canada viewers on Rogers Cable on channel 924. As Viacom18’s second general entertainment channel, Rishtey is geared to offer an engaging mix of exciting shows, movies and entertainment from a wide spectrum of genres. With seven channels already available in North America, IndiaCast currently has a comprehensive portfolio of brands in the region that covers a wide range of entertainment offerings. Rishtey is the eighth channel in the region and will be available on a paid subscription format. With the launch of the Rishtey on Dish and Dishworld, the channel will now be available to around 160K households in the US. Commenting on Rishtey’s foray into the US & Canada, Gaurav Gandhi – Group COO IndiaCast said, “US and Canada are the most important international markets for South Asian entertainment and we are delighted to launch our second Hindi entertainment channel, Rishtey, in this region. Our flagship brand Aapka COLORS has seen unprecedented success in the region over the last 4 years. With the launch of Rishtey, we address the audience’s need for variety entertainment and Rishtey will be the classic ‘family channel’ with something
for everyone in the South Asian household. Over the last two years, the Rishtey, in its different avatars, has developed a strong foothold in the UK and in India and we are extremely confident that the brand will be a huge success here as well” Rishtey, for the North America region, is a customized Pay TV service that promises to engage viewers with a plethora of content ranging from scripted dramas from the subcontinent (both India & Pakistan), Indian Kids content, Youth programming, Lifestyle as well as Bollywood content. The channel is a true variety entertainment service with “something for everyone” in the family. Elaborating on the launch, Sameer Goswami- Senior Vice President & Head of North America business for IndiaCast said, “Launch of Rishtey in North America adds another dimension to our stellar portfolio of channels in the region. For each market that we launch Rishtey in, our content and distribution strategy is customized as per the relevant audience consumption and that’s exactly what we have done here. US & Canada are the first markets where this brand will be a Pay-Tv service. With 8 services in the region, which includes 2 Hindi GECs, a world class News Service, an iconic youth & music service as well as 4 regional (language) entertainment channels, we truly have the most comprehensive portfolio in the South Asian space.”
About Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd. is a joint venture operation in India between Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B, world’s leading entertainment content company, comprising brands like BET, MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures) (www.viacom.com) and the Network18 (www.network18online.com) Group, the group operates news channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, CNN-IBN, IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat (a Marathi regional news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group). Viacom18 is India’s fastest growing entertainment network of iconic brands offering multi-platform, multi – generational and multicultural brand experiences across television, film, digital media and LIVE events. Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd. includes the vibrant youth brand - MTV (www.mtvindia. com), the fastest growing kids cluster - Nick (www.nickindia.com), Nick Jr, Nick Teen & Sonic, India’s premier International Entertainment channel - Vh1, India’s only English Entertainment Comedy Channel – Comedy Central, India’s only linear film production & distribution banner - Viacom18 Motion Pictures, COLORS (www.colorstv.in) one of India’s leading Hindi General Entertainment channel. This apart, Viacom18 also runs Viacom’s consumer products business in India and also a brand solutions offering Integrated Network Solutions (INS).
About IndiaCast ‘IndiaCast’ is India’s first multi-platform ‘Content Asset Monetization’ entity, jointly owned by TV18 & Viacom18. IndiaCast mandate includes Domestic Distribution, Placement Services, International Channel Distribution & Advertising Sales, New Media (digital) distribution and Content Syndication for all the group company channels & content. In India, IndiaCast manages subscription & placement services for 45 channels from TV18, Viacom18, A+E Networks | TV18, ETV channels & Disney UTV groups. Internationally, IndiaCast has a portfolio of over 10 channels (including Colors, MTV India International, Rishtey, News 18 India and 6 ETV regional Services) that are viewed in over 80 countries as linear services. With a rich content library of 15000 hours across genres, IndiaCast also syndicates content in over 100 countries in 20+ languages (including Hebrew, Russian, Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian, Macedonian, Croatian, Azeri, Kazakh, Swahili, English among others). IndiaCast also delivers a wide range of content to various new media platforms including content from over 20 channels from the group across News, Music, Youth & Lifestyle, General Entertainment & Infotainment genre in multiple languages. Apart from Television shows & series, IndiaCast also offers Indian feature films (both Bollywood & Regional) on digital platforms in India and overseas markets. For more information on IndiaCast, log on to www.indiacast.com
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Desi’s Get into Halloween Spirit with Costumes, Parties HOUSTON: The local community celebrated Halloween with a spirit (no pun intended) this year that showed that they were finally getting integrated with the mainstream community,
with costume parties going on all across town for the young, old and much older alike. It wasn’t just the candy seekers dressed as goblins and ghouls who made the rounds this year. In sharp contrast,
November 07, 2014
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many more people got into the revelry at the office and into wild parties with crazy looking makeup and costumes. Here’s a good cross section of the merry makers around town.
Cardiology Center of Houston celebrated Halloween with the entire staff coming into work in costumes. Dr. Randeep Suneja (center in bloodied scrubs) was joined by Dr. Desikan (in coat) and the rest of the nursing and support staff. Dr. Pai, the Center’s third doctor, was not available for the picture.
Above: On Friday, October 31, Houston party goers had an opportunity to witness a live performance by Mumbai’s Legendary DJ, DJ Notorious for the 3rd time in Houston at Nightmare on Main St. organized by Sunny Taj of ABCDHouston alongside DJ Scoop, DJ Masti & DJ Ramping. The event was sponsored by Arshad Ramji of Ramji & Associates. Photos: AK Lodi.
Right: Unique Group of companies Celebrated it’s first annual Unique Halloween Costume Contest on Friday, October 31, with style. Best costume contest was held and each employee was allowed one vote. At the end of the day everyone gathered at the newly built volleyball court and with light snacks and refreshments, winners were announced. First prize $300, second prize $200 and third prize $100.
Left: The Halloween costume party at Blaunsch in Sugar Land was Organized by Masala Radio and hosted by Sunil T. on Friday, October 31. The DJ’s were AV, ZEE, RIZZ, GEO, and DHOLI TAMIM. $1000 best costume contest was won by Ashka Din and Mehran Younis Din (picture on the right). Photos: Meedu Photografy. INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
18 November 07, 2014
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Go for Growth
IST—Indian Staring Time It’s a common sight, anywhere in the country. There’s been a minor road accident. No one’s been hurt. Little damage done to the vehicles involved. No road rage. Nothing dramatic. But a sizeable crowd will collect to see what’s happening. Even though nothing is happening. It can be an altercation between two people. Or a couple of workmen digging a hole by the side of the road. Or a pair of street dogs fighting over a scrap of food. The chances are that the nonhappening, whatever it is, will draw a crowd of spectators who’ll hang around, digging their noses and generally doing time-pass. “What’s this life so full of care, if we have no time to stand and stare,” goes the old rhyme. In idle India, we seem to have all the time in the world to just stand and stare at the most trivial of things. Unemployment is a huge economic and social problem in India. But underemployment — not enough work to do even for those who are employed — is an almost equally big problem. Take a look at any town or city street in the middle of the working day. You’ll see hordes of people, mostly men, generally young, hanging around doing nothing. Not all of them are jobless. It’s just that they don’t have work enough to do in the time they have to do it. So they loiter about hoping to witness some tamasha or other, which is of no concern to them whatsoever other than helping them to while away an idle moment or hour. India has one of the largest — and lowest paid — labor forces in the world. It also has one of the least productive labor forces in the world, with each underemployed worker’s output being significantly less than that of the worker’s counterpart in any other developing country. Which means that though Indian workers, in the unorganized sector, are among the lowest paid in the world, Indian labor as a whole is expensive as compared with other countries because a larger number of people have to be hired to do a piece of work, which could be done by half the number in another society. Even as the government tackles the problem of unemployment, it should also look at the problem of unproductive underemployment, where so many people have nothing better to do than stand and stare. In idle India, IST doesn’t mean Indian Standard Time; it means Indian Staring Time.—Jug Suraiya in Times of India.
BY RUPA REGE NITSURE Amid rising jitters over global growth and heightened volatility in financial markets, emerging markets (EMs) appear to be better placed to weather the storm. Despite the fact that capital flows to EMs have been choppy over the past six months, the Institute of International Finance (IIF), Washington, projects a gradual rise in capital flows to EMs. The IIF expects net private capital inflows to India to be around $ 90 billion in 2014-15 and 2015-16 each. The bolstering of investor and creditor confidence in India is primarily thanks to the shrinking of its current account deficit, a credible inflationfighting regime at the RBI and the business-friendly image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yet, the euphoria seen in financial markets between March and July cooled in subsequent months as Indian policymakers were seen to be taking the easy way out by plucking the low-hanging fruit, while market participants expected big-ticket reforms. Investors, as well as economists, were disappointed with the government’s first budget and the painfully slow action on critical issues that had stalled revival in the real sector. In its “Outlook for India’s Markets (September, 2014)”, the BlackRock Investment Institute had said, “A clear roadmap is needed to move from promise to performance”. In fact, FIIs turned net sellers of Indian equities in the month of October. The message from all major investment firms was loud and clear: the government’s pace of reform would be the key determinant in sustaining investor interest. The recent victory of the BJP in Haryana and Maharashtra has added to the Central government’s power to initiate reforms. BJP-ruled states now account for nearly half of India’s GDP. This victory seems to have prompted the Centre to forge ahead on key structural reforms without losing any time. Even before the results were announced, the PM reshuffled his team of civil servants and hired Arvind Subramanian, seen to be reformist, as his chief economic advisor. His
Investors need to see India’s reform process as sustainable, without the possibility of a sudden reversal. This requires a consistent fiscal deficit reduction programme with a sustained focus on trimming the fuel and fertiliser subsidies and rationalising the consumption of these commodities. government went on to announce two major energy reforms — the much talked about diesel price deregulation was made effective from October 18 and natural gas prices were hiked by 33.6 per cent to $ 5.61/ mmBtu, starting November 1, with a promise to revise them every six months. The government also relaunched the direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme for the LPG subsidy in 54 districts. While the deregulation of diesel prices will soften inflation (as fuel prices have crashed globally), the rise in gas prices will raise the prices of basic goods like fertilisers and electricity, which have strong forward linkages with many other sectors. However, the overall impact on electricity prices will be relatively muted because the proportion of gasbased power projects is quite low at 8.92 per cent. On the labour-law front, the government took steps to end the “inspector raj”, reduce the number of forms, introduce a single-window labour portal etc. The plan is to align India’s labour laws with the globally accepted framework to make manufacturing more competitive. While these are all steps in the right direction, one cannot expect a sudden and strong revival in growth. Our twin deficit problems (high current account and fiscal deficits) and persis-
tently high inflation have deep roots. It is essential to remember that besides a strong political mandate, favourable global conditions like softening oil prices have enabled the Centre to implement politically sensitive fuel price reforms. It will be a challenge to continue with these policies once oil prices start rising. It is essential to have a consistent commitment to these reform initiatives in the interest of macroeconomic stability. It is not going to be easy, given that the nation has lived with distorted price signals for more than 67 years. Investors need to see India’s reform process as sustainable, without the possibility of a sudden reversal. This requires a consistent fiscal deficit reduction programme with a sustained focus on trimming the fuel and fertiliser subsidies and rationalising the consumption of these commodities; a firm commitment to the RBI’s newly recommended monetary policy framework to prevent any resurgence of inflation (India still has one of the highest levels of inflation in the world, that too despite an economic slowdown); and an exchange rate policy to keep the real effective rate stable at a competitive level. In the short to medium term, the Indian government needs to focus more on domestic market-driven production sectors because weak global growth is expected to translate into limp trade growth for the next few years. However, once we create sufficient capacities in the manufacturing sector and as global demand for Indian goods and services revives, we can enter export markets in a big way. Strong and sustained growth in exports is the only way to reduce India’s current account deficit. But for this, it is necessary to manage a competitive exchange rate, as was done by our East Asian peers to build their manufacturing sectors. As global investors are looking for consistent policies and decent returns on investment on a sustainable basis, the challenge is not just to create an optimal policy mix but also to develop politically neutral foundations for sustainable economic growth. The writer is chief economist and general manager, Bank of Baroda
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HOUSTON: MALAY VYAS INDIA: RAJ KANWAR, ASEEM KULKARNI ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 4 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
November 07, 2014
Houston Takes a Step to End Global Poverty at Partnership Walk/Run
HOUSTON: On Saturday, November 15, around 7,000 participants will race to end global poverty in the annual Houston Partnership Walk at Sam Houston Park. The Houston Partnership Walk/Run is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. (AKF USA) to raise awareness and funds that reduce poverty, hunger, illiteracy and poor health in Africa and Asia. Last year’s event raised $1.4 million for AKF programs to reduce poverty. 100% of the funds raised at Partnership Walk go directly to projects supported by the Foundation; not a cent is spent on administration. The event is a day of fun for the whole family and one that Houstonians look forward to every year. The Walk features lively entertainment and activities for all ages celebrating a rich diversity of cultures. One of the most inspiring features of Partnership Walk is the Village in Action, where participants can enjoy interactive exhibits spotlighting the Foundation’s practical solutions for alleviating poverty from Afghanistan to Zanzibar. To register, view the Walk / Run Day schedule, learn more about the event, volunteer, become a sponsor or make a donation, visit www.partnershipsinaction.org/houston. This year marks the 20th anniversary for Partnership Walk / Run events, which will be held in nine major U.S. cities. Since 1995, PartnershipsInAction activities including the annual Partnership Walk, Run and Golf events have attracted over 440,000 participants and raised over $63 million for poverty alleviation projects supported by AKF USA.
Participants help communities in some of the poorest areas of Africa and Asia to create longterm, self-help solutions to lift themselves out of poverty. These contributions make a tremendous impact in creating opportunities for girls in Afghanistan to go to school, for farmers in Mali to feed their families, and mothers in India to lead healthy lives. AKF USA, established in 1981, is a private, non-denominational, not-for-profit international development organization committed to alleviating poverty, hunger, illiteracy and poor health. AKF USA works to address the root causes of poverty by supporting and sharing innovative solutions in the areas of health, education, rural development, civil society, and the environment. AKF USA is a non-profit, taxexempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. AKF USA is part of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org), a network of private, non-denominational, development agencies around the world, established by His Highness the Aga Khan to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, improve living conditions and opportunities. The Network’s agencies work for the common good of all citizens, regardless of their gender, origin or religion and its underlying impulse is the ethic of compassion for the vulnerable in society. For further information, contact: Munira Panjwani at 713-298-3073 or email: munirapanjwani@aol.com
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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COMMUNITY
MassMutual Honors Diwali and Business Tradition of Chopda Pujan
SPRINGFIELD: Almost three millionAsian Indians in the United States celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights, on Oct. 23. For the more than 300,000 Asian-Indian owned firms* in the U.S., the holiday takes on an added dimension, as the celebration marks the beginning of a new business year. To help business owners prepare for the New Year ahead, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) is offering a series of free, no-obligation business seminars in five cities across the country this Diwali. In a special Diwali ritual for busi-
cial planning for their business is very important, only 43 percent are concerned about who will run their businesses if they or another owner leaves, becomes disabled or dies; only 46 percent have a formal retirement plan. “Entrepreneurial businesses are vital to our growing economic recovery, so it is concerning that so many business owners seem to be sacrificing their own and their family’s financial future,” says Nimesh Trivedi, AsianIndian Market lead at MassMutual. “With help, business owners can look past the seemingly overwhelming
No-Cost Seminars Help Business Owners Secure Their Futures and Protect the Next Generation unexpected, the death of an owner, retaining key employees, and proper estate and retirement planning. Seminars addressing these topics critical to Asian Indian business owners were presented in the following cities across the country this Diwali: Houston, Oct. 14 Atlanta: Oct. 18 San Jose, Calif.: Oct. 24 Edison, N.J.: Oct. 29
MassMutual sponsored Atlanta Diwali Event. (GAPI)
certain Economy, conducted by GfK Custom Research North America for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), 2011.
About MassMutual Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyowners consistently since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company’s strong and growing network of fi-
Massmutual event in Edison, New Jersey held on October 29.
nesses known as Chopda Pujan, new account books are opened and blessed. Business owners use this time to reflect on the past year while looking ahead to new opportunities for prosperity and wealth. It is said the goddess of wealth, known as Lakshmi, visits the homes of devotees on this day, and lamps light the way to welcome her. A MassMutual study** found that although 77 percent of Asian Indian business owners believe finan-
day-to-day demands of running their businesses and establish and meet their long-term financial goals.” To help Asian Indian business owners open their new books this Diwali and plan for a prosperous new year, MassMutual is offering a series of free video-based seminars featuring stories shared by real business owners. The vignettes explore critical business planning topics, such as passing ownership on from one generation to the next, preparing for the
The Seminar in Chicago has been scheduled for November 6, 2014 For more information on the multicity business owner seminar tour, contact Nimesh Trivedi, 413.744.1244. For more information on planning for your businesses’ and families’ financial futures, visit massmutual. com/asianindian *2007 Survey of Business Owners Summaries of Findings, U.S. Census Bureau. This information is the most current data available. **MassMutual’s Business Owner Perspectives: 2011 Insights in an Un-
From left: Nimesh Trivedi, Lalit Jallan, Adam Segal and Vikesh Amin. MassMutual sponsored Houston Diwali Event.
First Ever
24 Hour
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nancial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term. MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB. For more information, visit www. massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+ and Pinterest.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
November 07, 2014
21
Award Winning Debut Film Chittagong Screens at Katy Mills
HOUSTON: The Indie movie “Chittagong” will be screened on Saturday, November 8 at 2 pm at AMC Katy Mills 20 (5000 Katy Mills Circle in Katy) and will be followed by an interaction with the director Bedabrata Pain. The movie is being presented by the presented by the Tagore Society of Houston and tickets are $10 can be purchased in advance by calling Partha Chatterjee at 713-829-5449 or Raja Banga at 281-627-2533. Bedabrata Pain is
also a fellow IIT-ian and hall-mate of Houston resident and engineer Gopal Mohapatra. Chittagong is the debut-film of Bedabrata Pain, who is an awardwinning NASA scientist, an inductee to the US Space Technology Hall of Fame, an inventor of the digital camera technologies and holder of 87 patents. He quit NASA after 16 years to follow his passion - film-making - and created this award-winning film. Chittagong is an uplifting action-
drama of an improbable triumph by a reluctant teenager.This Indian historical war drama film stars Manoj Bajpai in the lead role and is based upon actual events of British India’s (Bangladesh) Chittagong Uprising. The cast includes three nationalaward winning actors Nawazuddin Siddique, Rajkumar, Vega Tamotia and introduces Delzad Hiwale. The film features music by trio ShankarEhsaan-Loy, lyrics by Prasoon Joshi, sound by Oscar winner Resul Pookutty and cinematography by Eric Zimmerman. Dubbed as the “Gandhi of our age” by the Huffington Post, Chittagong` has won many hearts and much critical acclaim from all over the world. MSN ranked Chittagong in the top of 10 Bollywood films of 2012 which shouldn’t be missed. This film is the winner of Golden Lotus in the Indian National Award, 2013, winner of several international film festivals including Florence Film Festival 2012, Sedona International Film Festival 2013, Jaipur International Film Festival 2014 (best film, best screenplay) and Washington DC Film Festival 2014 (best film, best director).
Sewa Collaborates with City of Houston to Manage and Control Diabetes
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Melanie Gilmore, (Health Planning Chief at City of Houston) with VYASA and Sewa Volunteers outside the DAWN center where SDM camp is starting this week.
Stop Diabetes Camp using Yoga Therapy at City Of Houston DAWN Center HOUSTON: VYASA and Sewa International are starting the 4th SDM (Stop Diabetes Movement) Camp at D.A.W.N. center of City of Houston in downtown Houston from this week in partnership with Health department of City of Houston. The camp will offer free classes covering Integrated approach of Yoga Therapy to manage and control Diabetes for 20 hours. More than 15 participants are expected to take benefit of this camp
starting on November 6. Earlier, successful camps were conducted in Katy, Alief and Woodlands area where more than 60 participants have been benefited so far. Sewa International, a non-profit organization servicing Houston Community (www.sewausa.org) is offering this camp with expertise of VYASA. Stop Diabetes Movement originated at SVYASA, Yoga University in Bangalore, India. Through systematic research of 30 years, comprehensive yoga modules have been estab-
lished that have shown measurable improvement in the various complications associated with Diabetes. The program has been proven to reduce cholesterol and reduce dependence on medicines as well as reduce anxiety and depression associated with the disease. Sewa International and VYASA centers in Houston, Los Angeles and Boston have started similar programs on a pilot basis. Based on the efficacy and success of this program in these cities, it will be expanded to other cities in USA.
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NEW DELHI (HT):Edavaleth Kakkat Janaki Ammal (1897-1984) lived a life only a handful of other women of her time lived. She was ‘unique’. How else would you describe a woman who went to the United States to pursue her MS, years before India achieved independence, when ‘crossing the seven seas’ was a taboo even for men and women were treated merely as child bearing machines. She was ‘courageous’. How else would you describe a woman who calmly went on with her research work in England between 1940 to 1945 when German planes were bombing London. She was ‘dedicated’. Ammal never married, maintained Indian ‘attire’ and habits and led a Gandhian life. On her birth anniversary, let us take a look at some facets of her illustrious career. A bit of her life Ammal was born in Tellichery, Kerala in a middle class family on November 4, 1897. Not much is known about her personal life except that her father worked as a sub-judge and she had six brothers and five sisters. After finishing her school in Kerala, she went to Madras Presidency (Chennai) to obtain her Bachelor’s degree from Queen Mary’s College and honours degree in botany from Presidency College in 1921. She was teaching at Women’s Christian College when she got the prestigious Barbour scholarship from the University of Michigan in the US where she did her Masters in 1925. She was just 28 then. Ammal again went to Michigan in 1931 to pursue her doctoral thesis. Dr EK Janaki Ammal then returned to India and taught botany at Trivandrum’s Maharaja’s College of Science for two years. Women at that time and age were either expected to bear children or be confined to their kitchens. Ammal braved a largely patriarchal, ultra-conservative society and went abroad not once but multiple times and there are a few questions worth pondering. Were her parents broad-minded enough to send their daughter thou-
sands of kilometers away in pursuit of education? Or did she struggle to get their approval? How did she escape the societal compulsions to get married? Work in India and abroad It was in 1934 that she started her work as a geneticist in the Sugarcane Breeding Institute at Coimbatore. In 1935, the famous scientist and Noble laureate Sir CV Raman founded the Indian Academy of Sciences and selected Ammal as a research fellow in its very first year. After working for five years at the Academy, she went to England in 1940. Just two months before her arrival, England had declared war on Germany. Nothing swayed Ammal and her commitment and courage were exemplary. In England she worked for over a decade as an assistant cytologist at the John Innes Horticultural Institution in London, and then as a cytologist at the Royal Horticultural Society in Wisley. It was in 1951, the then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru personally invited her to work in restructuring the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). She also headed the BSI after working in different parts of India in various capacities. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1957. Breaking societal norms CV Subramanian, a famous scholar in mycology, plant pathology and evolution, has chronicled Ammal’s professional life in detail in Resonance - a journal of science education published by the Indian Academy of Sciences. He also worked with Ammal at the Centre for Advanced Study in Botany in Madras (now Chennai) and was her close acquaintance during those years. In his essay, Subramaniam speculates that India’s former defence minister Krishna Menon may have helped Ammal during her stay in England and also may have been behind Nehru’s invitation to her to work at the BSI. “My conjecture is that India’s freedom fighter in Britain, Krishna Menon, only a year older to her, and her contemporary in Tellicherry and at Presidency college, could have been instrumental. Menon was also probably link to her acquaintance
with India’s first prime minister - I do not know for certain,” Subramaniam writes in his essay. This conjecture may be close to the truth as Menon was also pursuing his education in England in the later part of the 1920s and ventured into politics in the UK in the late 1930s. He was also a close friend and confidant of former PM Nehru. Subramaniam also gives a clue as to how Ammal may have broken the rigorous social commitments that existed on those days. According to him, in Kerala’s matrilineal families women normally had much more freedom and privilege than their counterparts in many other parts of India. They were encouraged to engage in intellectual pursuits. Thus giving us a hint as to how Ammal’s family may have supported her throughout her education and career. Sweetening sugarcane D Balasubramanian of the LV Prasad Eye Institute, in an article in Hindu, has written about Ammal’s research in sugarcane. Balasubramanian writes that though India produced sugarcane in abundance, they were not as sweet as those grown in the Far East. India in fact imported sugarcane from Java and the Far East. According to Balasubramanian, it was freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya who suggested in the 1910s that India should start a research and improve the quality of the sugarcane produced in the country. Two scientists, CA Barber and TS Venkataraman started the Sugarcane Breeding Station at Coimbatore and began their experiments by crossbreeding different types of sugarcane. Their work was so successful that in just five years the production of sugarcane doubled in India. Ammal joined Venkataraman in Coimbatore and started her research in sugarcane. Her research led to a better understanding of sugarcane breeds, thus in turn leading to better cross-breeds of sweeter variety. It also helped analyse the geographical distribution of sugarcane across India. As CV Subramanium rightly summarises in his essay, Ammal lived up to her own definition of greatness which combined virtue in life and passion in the pursuit of her science.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
November 07, 2014
Shunya Ends 2014 with Bhopal
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HOUSTON: Shunya Theatre, Houston’s non-profit South Asian dramatic organization, ends its 2014 season with the regional opening of “Bhopal,” a drama that is set against the backdrop of the worst industrial tragedy in history. While thirty years ago the Bhopal tragedy shocked the world when it killed thousands and maimed hundreds of thousands, today it continues to affect Bhopal’s citizens and their progeny. Through his intricate portrayal of various characters, playwright Varma explores the very personal ways that the event had an impact across all layers of society. Director Dianne K Webb believes that because Varma spins a fictional tale amidst this very real event, it provides the audience with an opportunity “to join the characters in their emotional and revelatory journey.” Varma’s success lies in creating
characters that are not purely good or evil, but complex heroes that give the actors a chance to really dig in to bring them to life on the stage. Director Dianne K Webb says she was drawn to the script that playwright Varma wrote as he “captured the layers and tensions across cultures and circumstances” along with “the politics that conspired to create the tragedy that is and remains Bhopal” through his story telling focused on the varied players as well as the survivors and their experience. Webb believes the play will give viewers the chance “to deepen and broaden their perspective on humanity.” While the play may focus on a true event, the play’s success lies in the fact that through its fictional characters it gives a new context to a global event that deserves to be remembered in the pages of history.
Guest director Dianne K. Webb, from Houston’s Next Iteration Theater, brings together Shunya actors who are old favorites—Deeba Ashraf as Izzat, Karthik Chander as Devraj Sarthi, Prateek Karkal as Jaganlal and some new faces including Charanya Ravikumar as Madiha, Sam Stengler as Warren Anderson, Laura Schlecht as Dr. Sonya Labonte and Brandon Hobratschk as Sauvé Pascal. Bhagreshi Karkal will open the show with a traditional dance while Jason Zinn will provide live tabla playing throughout the show. “Bhopal” plays at the Spring Street Studio 101, 1824 Spring Street, 77007, from November 13 through November 23, Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Preview show is Thursday November 13. For further information visit the Shunya Theater website at http:// shunyatheatre.org.
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PUZZLES/ RECIPE
Mama’s Punjabi Recipes
Sabudana Khichdi (Tapioca & Potatoes) Khichdi is usually made from rice and dal (lentils) and is commonly considered an easy-to-cook comfort food, but it can also be made from sabudana (tapioca) in much the same way as making sabudana kheer, except the khichdi is salty instead of sweet. It is made mostly during fasts or during the navaratri season by the devout as it contains no onions or garlic. Sabudana is a starchy substance and comes in tiny thin or thick pellets, sometimes called pearls. Because it is high in carbohydrates (86 grams of carbs in each 100 gm), sabudana is used to provide an energy-boost in dishes. Just as the rice version, this khichdi is quick and easy to make and is great nourishment for those people who are recovering from a sickness. This served just like regular khichdi, when someone suffers from stomach problems as it is easily digestible and it is made for the elderly or as a first solid food for babies. Although this is a rather bland, starchy dish, it can be perked up with some black pepper and olive oil. It becomes tastier with some achaar (pickles), especially nimbu (lemon) and some yogurt. However, for those wanting to experiment, sabudana khichdi can it can be easily added onto with other ingredients and made into a comforting snack food. Ingredients: • 1 cup sabudana (sago or tapioca) • 4 cups pani (water) • 2 medium aaloo (potatoes – white, thin skinned, chopped) • 1 tbspn olive oil • Spices: namak (salt), mirch (pepper) – to your taste
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Directions: 1. Pour the sabudana in a bowl full of water, cover and let it soak overnight so that it swells up. 2. Pour the 4 cups of water in a saucepan or small pot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Throw in the potatoes and the spices and bring to a second boil.
3. Pour the sabudana through a strainer to drain the water, then pour it into the boiling water. Add the oil and stir. 4. After 10 minutes, turn the heat off and let the khichdi sit with the cover on. 5. Sprinkle the top of the khichdi with black pepper and serve while still hot. This dish tastes good with nimbu ka achaar (lemon pickle) and some plain yogurt.
Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her mid-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share some of her delectable Punjabi recipes.
MAMA’S TIP OF THE WEEK TO CUT OUT THE SMELL OF COOKING, BOIL SOME ROSE WATER After cooking desi food, there is often a lingering smell of the prepared dishes which can be hard to get rid of, especially if you are expecting company. There is an easy and cheap way to eliminate this odor. Simply pour 3 cups of water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil then add two tablespoons of rose water. Turn the heat to low and let the mixture simmer uncovered. In a short while, the food odors will disappear and the delicate smell of roses will fill the air. If you prefer other types of natural smells (like jasmine or vanilla), you can experiment with these too, but vary the quantity added to the water.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
ENTERTAINMENT
November 07, 2014
Movie Review: Super Nani
BYANUPAMA CHOPRA NEW DELHI: Bad movies rarely startle Hindi film critics. Our job requires us to sit through some staggeringly awful cinema. I’ve watched Mallika Sherawat turn into a snake in Hisss and India’s hilarious answer to Brokeback Mountain – Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyun... I thought I had seen it all. Until I saw director Indra Kumar’s ode to women empowerment – Super Nani. Super Nani stars Rekha as Bharti Bhatia, a painfully pious, wholly selfeffacing mother and wife. Bharti is the doormat to beat all doormats. She worships her obnoxious husband, loves her rude daughter-in-law, will fast on behalf of her selfish son and is full of concern for her unmarried daughter. Bharti is such a maternal goddess that she even reduces goons to tears by feeding them ghar ka
khana. Of course her family takes all of this for granted and treats her like dirt. Her husband calls her ‘a bloody zero,’ and tells her ‘tumhara kaam hai kitchen sambhalna.’ Her screechy daughter-in-law refuses to help with the housework and insists on personal space. But the masterstroke is her daughter, who wants – horror of horrors - a live-in relationship with a married man who has children. Who can save Bharti from this hell? Her NRI grandson Mann, played by Sharman Joshi. And how does he rescue her? By giving her a makeover and turning her into a super-model. Yes ladies, you heard that right – the answer to all your problems is a new hair-do and copious amounts of eyeshadow. Before you know it, Bharti is selling soap and washing powder, going on international assignments and winning ‘Woman of Substance’
awards. Mann insists that she become, and I quote here, ‘Mother Mary se Ma Durga.’ Eventually each member of this hellish family realizes his or her mistake. Even the wayward daughter understands that a live-in relationship is the ‘ghalat raasta.’ I cannot tell you how Nani and Mann bring about this change of heart – you have to see it to believe it. Super Nani is based on the Gujarati play Baa Ae Maari Boundary. I don’t know how much writer Vipul Mehta has deviated from the original source but the film is painfully dated. Under the wafer-thin garb of women empowerment, Super Nani is offensively regressive. That is, if you can stop laughing long enough to take offense. The ludicrous script forces fine actors like Anupam Kher and Sharman Joshi to behave like over-animated jokers. Poor Randhir Kapoor has the thankless job of playing Bharti’s CEO husband who is constantly barking at her to get back into the kitchen. And at the centre is Rekha – with a face still creaseless and beauteous. She’s been acting for over forty years and is still compelling to watch. But here she is either weeping or posturing in ornate jewelry and costumes. There is little sign of the actor who beguiled generations of viewers. Super Nani is a special kind of awful. -Hindustan Times
Shah Rukh Khan’s Happy New Year Inches Closer to Rs. 200 Crore Mark
NEW DELHI (HT): The journey of Happy New Year has continued to be quite happy during its second week too. So far, the entertainer has netted almost Rs.180 crore at the Indian box office. Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. Monday announced that Happy New Year had a strong showing at the domestic box office in its second weekend as it collected Rs.22.23 crore for a total Rs.179.80 crore so far. “The positive trends in collections across India show that the audience have loved Happy New Year and the families have gone to the theatres to get fully entertained,” Venky Mysore, CEO, Red Chillies Entertainment, said in a statement. A musical heist drama directed by Farah Khan, Happy New Year is a multi-starrer with a cast that includes Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padu-
kone, Abhishek Bachchan, Boman Irani, Sonu Sood, Jackie Shroff and Vivaan Shah. The film became the quickest to make Rs.100 crore, said a statement. Exhibitors are happy that the movie has found resonance with audiences of all age groups. “The film, after completing seven-day run, became the most preferred for the families in the second weekend too. The number of Friday was bettered by Saturday, and Sunday was 40 percent better than Saturday - which only goes on to give the indication that families and people who couldn’t catch the film in the first week came to the theatres,” Anand Vishal, head (Sales and Operations), Fun Cinemas, said in a statement. There were also audience members who came to see the film on repeat value, Vishal said, and added: “We feel that the film will stay in the forefront for the next 10 days or so.” Anant Verma of DT Cinemas said: “The film has held well again over the weekend with 60-65 percent occupancy.”
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IIT-B Develops 10-inch Netbook that Costs Less than $100
The device is aimed primarily at programmers, students and teachers in government-run colleges and institutions BY LESLIE D’MONTE MUMBAI: Despite India’s poor track record in sustaining low-cost computing devices such as the Simputer handheld and Aakash tablet, the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government is taking another shot at introducing such a device. Funded by the National Mission on Education through ICT (NMICT) that is run by the ministry of human resource development (MHRD), the Indian Institute of TechnologyBombay (IIT-B) has developed a prototype of a 10.1-inch netbook that costs less than $100 or Rs.6,000 including taxes. The device is aimed primarily at programmers, students and teachers in government-run colleges and institutions. But unlike its earlier experiments with the Aakash tablet that failed to enthuse users, the government plans to get the netbook tested thoroughly to “demonstrate its usefulness” before asking institutions to adopt it. As a result, IIT-B plans to give 1,000 such devices to students across the country as part of an estimated six-month pilot programme, beginning 1 November. “This device, similar toAakash, is part of our plan to have low-cost computing devices, especially for those who have to do input work like writing a programme,”
said Kannan M. Moudgalya, professor of chemical engineering at IIT-B and the co-principal investigator on the Aakash project. “This (the device) is almost like a laptop. We want to see if this can meet the requirements of our students who need a device for programming. It has good battery life. We have seen HD TV playing with Wi-Fi access.” IIT-B is yet to name the device that is Wi-Fi-enabled, has a full keyboard with touchpad, weighs just 700g and is equipped with a 1GHz dual core processor, 1GB of memory and 8GB Nand Flash—a type of storage technology that does not require power to retain data. The device has no hard disk or CD drive, but comes with two USB ports, a network port, an HDMI port that can help connect the laptop to a television or projector, an SD card, a front camera, and a 5,000 MAH battery. IIT-B plans to do the pilot in various settings. Some projects will take place in schools, some in colleges, others in polytechnics, e-governance projects, and maybe in rural and urban settings, and “we will see if we can provide an ecosystem to support it. More importantly, we want to be in a position to access the machine remotely, so that if a person in a farflung area gets stuck with the device, we can repair it from anywhere”, said
Moudgalya. “We already have about 300 remote centres for our Aakash project, and they are the people who can contribute to this project, too. We expect at least 100 people from around the country to work on this device,” said Moudgalya. If a user chooses to install Android instead of Linux on the device, he will be able to download any Android app from Google Play or choose to install those from aakashlabs.org that include a DiaSlate—drawing slate for school children, proxiMITY—access to the institute’s lectures, and Converse— an app that allows for video, audio and text conferencing, according to Moudgalya. Low-cost initiatives, primarily tied to education, have thus far run out of steam because of lack of content and distribution, according to analysts. For instance, introduced in 2002 by the Simputer Trust—a nonprofit organization formed by seven Indian scientists and engineers—the Simputer was touted as a device that would change the low-cost computing ecosystem in the country. The project failed and the device has faded from public memory. In 2011, former human resources minister Kapil Sibal aggressively promoted the approximately Rs.1,500 Aakash tablet. Supplied by Canada-based Datawind Ltd, the first version faced criticism
Kannan M. Moudgalya, professor of chemical engineering at IIT-B, with the netbook developed by the institute.
from students and experts for poor quality and performance. Aakash 2, launched a year later also failed to impress. There was no Aakash 3. The next upgrade, called UbiSlate 7C+, was sold by Datawind. Aakash 4, which is yet to see the light of day, is expected to be a much-improved version with inbuilt support for WiFi, bluetooth (also a wireless technology), support for external devices including a storage device, keyboard, mouse, data connectivity (2G and 3G) dongles in India, a scratch and impact-resistant 7-inch LCD (liquid crystal display) screen and extended battery support. The project, earlier with IIT-Jodhpur, is now being handled by IIT-B. “DGS&D (Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals) is in the process of finalising its release,” said Moudgalya who also heads the project. Meanwhile, the world has moved on. About 70% of the tablets sold in India currently retail below Rs.10,000, compared with just 10% when Aakash was commercially made available in October 2011. And full-fledged laptops are available for less than Rs.12,000. When asked to comment on the specs of the netbook, Jayanth Kolla, founder and
partner of research firm Convergence Catalyst, likened the device to “thin clients that are available in Taiwan and China”. “It does not have too much of memory and is more like a Chromebook and most important, it will lack file management system. It’s good as a cloud-computing device. If the content, etc. is tailored for this device, it will be an optimised device. The Indian Institute of TechnologyBombay (IIT-B) has developed a prototype of a 10.1-inch netbook that costs less than $100 or Rs6,000 including taxes. “If the government or universities are bearing the cost of the device, then the move makes a lot of sense since this device will do one thing and do it rightly, and it won’t be open to misuse for other purposes. But if cost is pushed on to the user, it would seem to be an inadequate device,” said Kolla. Globally, too, low-cost computing has not managed to hold on to price targets. The XO from Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the One Laptop per Child project, was initially priced at around $100. The laptops, which now sell in 40 countries including India, are priced in excess of $200. -Livemint.com
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28 November 07, 2014 Pak Spinners Sign Off On Australia’s Humiliation BY DANIEL BRETTIG ABU DHABI (ESPN Cricinfo): Pakistan 570 for 6 dec (Younis 213, Azhar 109, Misbah 101) and 293 for 3 dec (Misbah 101*, Azhar 100*) beat Australia 261 (Marsh 87) and 238 for 5 (Smith 97, Warner 58, Zulfiqar Babar 5-120) by 356 runs Twenty years of Pakistan defeats at Australian hands were erased in little more than 20 minutes. The last five wickets belonging to Michael Clarke’s befuddled team tumbled for eight runs in 46 balls after lunch, rather summing up the gulf between the two sides in a series Australia had expected to win. Instead it was Misbah-ul-Haq’s team that was triumphant, not just beating Australia but totally obliterating them. The Abu Dhabi result was Pakistan’s biggest ever victory margin by runs. In terms of average differential (batting average minus bowling average) this was Australia’s worst series of all time. Australia have the Ashes, but that’s all. The final spoils were rightly shared by Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah, the little-known spin duo which did not merely cover for Saeed Ajmal’s absence but took advantage of it. Australia spent most of the preceding six months preparing for mystery offspin and doosras, even hiring Muttiah Muralitharan. Instead they were flummoxed by classical left-arm orthodox and legspin. Following their 2-0 thumping of Australia, Pakistan have moved up to No. 3 in the ICC’s Test ranking, leapfrogging England, Sri Lanka and India. This is Pakistan’s best ranking since January 2007, when they had claimed third after winning a Test against South Africa in South Africa - the hosts won that series 2-1. Australia have not dropped out of second place despite being whitewashed, but the gap to South Africa at No. 1 has widened. Other garlands were rightfully saved for Younis Khan, the prolific and cultured runmaker who built the wall Australia’s bowlers
Pakistan’s players pose with the trophy after completing a 2-0 whitewash, Pakistan v Australia, 2nd Test, Abu Dhabi, 5th day, November 3, 2014.
were never anywhere near tearing down. Then there was the captain Misbah, who showed Hotal composure throughout the series before giving free rein to his skills with the equal-fastest Test century of all time. Above all else, Australia’s display demonstrated how they will be illegitimate contenders for the title of best team in the world until they can find a way to thrive on the slow, low and turning pitches set-up to blunt their speedy brand of the game in Asia and elsewhere. Clarke in particular must wear a share of blame for the result, as he failed completely to set a batting example for less experienced team-mates. For most of the morning Steven Smith and Mitchell Marsh at least showed some evidence of learning how to cope with these climes, too late to change the series but perhaps an attempt to salvage some vestige of self-respect. Smith used his feet smartly and also defended stoutly in a fine display, but he lost the assistance of Marsh when the allrounder glanced Mohammad Hafeez straight to leg slip. Marsh had played doggedly
and well, but he will regret not either leaving or hitting out harder at a delivery that was short and down the leg side. That ended a stand of 107 over more than two hours, and brought the pained Brad Haddin to the middle, still favouring his right shoulder after jarring and bruising it heavily on the first day of the Test. Haddin winced repeatedly when playing the ball but showed great determination in doing so, and Smith cuffed a pair of bound-
aries in the final over of the morning to reach the cusp of a fighting century. But two balls into the afternoon he became yet another batsman to play presumptuously for spin where none existed, pinned in front by a Yasir delivery that skidded on. Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon melted away within minutes, allowing Pakistan to celebrate. It’s been a while. Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo.
Stuart Binny Replaces Injured Varun Aaron MUMBAI: Injured fast bowler Varun Aaron has been replaced by allrounder Stuart Binny in India’s squad for the second and third ODIs against Sri Lanka. Aaron had injured the quadriceps muscle in his right leg while bowling his fifth over in the first ODI in Cuttack. “Varun is with the team. He will be monitored by the physios, and based on the assessment at the moment he will recover in two weeks’ time,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel told ESPN-
cricinfo. “We have decided to let him remain with the team only so that the physio can take care of him. That’s why in place of him, we have picked Binny.” The replacement decision was taken at a meeting of India’s national selectors at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Tuesday The selectors were also scheduled to pick the squads for the fourth and fifth ODIs against Sri Lanka, and the Test series in Australia, but that selection was “postponed”, the BCCI said in a release.
SPORTS
Laxman Backs Sachin Against Greg Chappell
MUMBAI: Former India batsman VVS Laxman has backed up Sachin Tendulkar’s criticism of the way Greg Chappell treated senior players during his tenure as coach between 2005 and 2007, saying he “took Indian cricket backwards.” In his autobiography Playing It My Way, Tendulkar had claimed Chappell made a veiled threat about dropping Laxman when the batsmen said he did not want to open the innings. “This happened in 2006 at the Wankhede Stadium when India were playing England,” Laxman told NDTV. “Yuvraj Singh was picked ahead of me and five bowlers were fielded. We were going to the West Indies for a four-Test series after that and he asked me if I would open. “I mentioned that back in 2000, I had decided I would not open anymore after it didn’t work for me in the first four years. I was consistent in the middle order. Chappell asked me my age and said - Don’t you think 31 is too young an age to sit at home? I had a very good run under him. I was the second highest run-scorer under him.” Laxman said the team environment created by Chappell was poor. “In 2006, it was the worst dressing-room I was part of,” he said. “I have played under various coaches and captains for 16 years but that year was the worst atmosphere in a dressing-room. “More than anything else, it was very evident that there was an attempt to create a rift. A cricket team is like a family and there is no point in creating a divide between seniors and juniors. It was very unfortunate. The seniors felt very insecure. We never understood why Chappell thought that way when the seniors were playing well.”
Sachin writes in his book about Chappell offering captaincy to him in place of Dravid (right).
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
November 07, 2014
Govt Cuts Costs: No First-class Travel for Babus BY ALOKE TIKKU NEW DELHI (HT): The Narendra Modi government on Thursday ordered a ban on first-class air travel by top bureaucrats as part of its austerity drive to cut down on unnecessary expenditure and make the most of available resources. The government also told ministries to reduce non-plan expenditure, barring them from making new financial commitments, purchasing new vehicles, creating new posts and holding conferences at five-star hotels. Government expenditure is classified under two broad heads — plan and non-plan. Funds spent on creating assets through programmes and schemes come under plan expenditure, while non-plan expenditure refers to all spending, including establishment and maintenance activities
of the government and the small-bore measures are aimed at cutting discretionary spending by 10% in the fiscal year to March 2015. “In the context of the current fiscal situation, there is a need to continue to rationalise expenditure and optimise available resources,” said an order issued by expenditure secretary RN Watal that clamped down on secretaries flying first-class while travelling abroad. Last year’s austerity drive had advised them to avoid first-class travel, but quite a few ignored the suggestion. Containing expenditure is central to the government’s aim to keep the fiscal deficit — shorthand for the amount of money the government borrows to fund its expenses — within the budgeted 4.1% of GDP in 2014-15. The move comes a month after Prime Minister Modi frowned at sec-
Pakistan Rakes up Kashmir Issue at UN, India Retorts
UNITED NATIONS (IE): India and Pakistan faced off Monday at the UN as Islamabad brought up Kashmir in its renewed campaign to internationalise the issue. Diyar Khan, a counsellor at Pakistan’s UN Mission, said his country regretted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been deprived of their right to self-determination. Self-determination did not lapse with the passage of time, he said. Nor could it be “set aside” by charges of terrorism. In his address to the UNGA committee that deals with social, humanitarian and cultural affairs, India’s Mayank Joshi dismissed as
unsolicited Pakistan’s comments about Kashmir and said they were factually incorrect. Free, fair and open elections were regularly held in that state at all levels, he said. Exercising the right of reply, Pakistan’s delegate escalated the issue, questioning New Delhi calling Kashmir a part of India and citing UN Security Council resolutions describing Kashmir a disputed territory. Regarding elections in Kashmir, he asserted that polls conducted by the Indian authorities could not be a substitute for a UN plebiscite. The Indian delegate pointed out that the elections in Kashmir had been held under the scrutiny of international media, which had not faulted those elections. Going for another round, the Pakistani representative claimed that the elections were held under what he said was foreign occupation and could not be impartial. In reply, India’s representative said that the Pakistani delegation’s references to foreign occupation were out of context as Kashmir was a part of India.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects the Guard of Honour at INS Hansa airbase at Dabolim in Goa.
retary-rank officers going on frequent foreign trips, saying they should travel only if sending a joint secretary- or additional secretary-rank officer does not serve the purpose.
However, the government made a few changes to earlier versions of the austerity drive to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and paperwork. For instance, it exempted security
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forces from the ban on buying new vehicles. In the past, security forces had to seek the finance ministry’s approval for every purchase. “This rule was a big impediment and slowed down our expansion,” said a central reserve police force officer. The finance ministry also relaxed the rule forcing all officers except secretaries to travel by economy-class, which will now allow officers of the rank of joint secretary and above to travel business-class. The ministry, while striking down the earlier rule that was often criticised as unnecessary, said departments would, however, not be given any more money than what is already budgeted. “However, there would no bookings in first-class,” Watal’s memorandum said. The government will also not entertain proposals for participation in study tours or conferences abroad except those that are fully funded by the sponsoring agencies.
Wagah Attack: Ahrar Claim of Responsibility Appears More Credible
BY ISMAIL KHAN PESHAWAR (Dawn.com): There were times when there was just one main militant group, the Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan which used to have one spokesman. Any major militant attack and a statement by the spokesman would be taken at face value. But all that changed when the TTP opened its franchises and branches all over Fata and in districts where it had its influence, with their own spokesmen who often issued conflicting statements. Things became murkier when many shadow groups emerged, some of them serving as front organisations for the existing ones to deflect responsibility as peace talks were held.
The September 22, 2013, suicide bombing at the All Saints Church in Peshawar is a classic example. Having taken place in the wake of peace overtures made by the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the (then) TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid quickly denied involvement of his outfit. A shadowy Jandullah, led by a Marwat, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that had killed 127 people. But Mufti Hassan, a TTP commander, held a news conference immediately afterwards to claim responsibility for the attack. Today, Mufti Hassan is one of the five former TTP commanders who have openly pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS). It turns out that Mufti Hassan and Shahidullah Shahid are close friends and associates. The bottom line is — the militancy scene in Pakistan is so spread and complex that at times one militant group would not know which of the other groups carried out an action. Repudiating and rebuking each other is common and the wrangling over the Wagah border attack that left 60 people dead was not the only case. There is plenty of intelligence to corroborate this. Consider Ehsanullah Ehsan’s statement. He sent an email to claim responsibility for the attack. Ehsan was the chief spokesman for the TTP before he was stripped off the responsibility in July last year for speaking out against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. He has denied the charge. The now spokesman for the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan Jamaatul Ahrar said in his email to media: “TTPJA claims responsibility for the Wagah border attack. Our friend Hanifullah operated this attack. “This is the start of attacks of TTPJA and Inshaallah we will continue such attacks in the future,” he wrote.
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