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Friday, April 08 2011 | Vol. 30, No. 14
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This Week Inside
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On the Rajdhani Express Railway!
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Poonam’s Bare Only for Team India
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9pm
Stafford Civic Center (old) 1415 Constitution Ave Stafford, TX 77477
281-240-3333
“Spreading our Wings”
Gala raises $60,000 to Benefit daya survivors
By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: Over 350 from this city’s diverse communities gathered to fete and lend support to Daya when the non-profit organization hosted its 15th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Fundraiser Gala at the Chateau Crystale on April 3. The themed event, Spreading Our Wings, raked in $60,000 to benefit Daya’s ongoing mission in helping survivors of domestic violence rebuild their lives. The funds included a donation of $7,500 from the organization’s major benefactor, the Indo American Charity Foundation, and from pledges and a silent auction. Unique this year was the real life survivors of abuse who courageously came forward to share with the audience, their personal stories of terror and ultimate triumph. Dignitaries attending were Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee who delivered the keynote speech, Consul General of India Hon. Sanjiv Arora, Harris County Judge Steven Kirkland, and Fort Bend County District Attorney
John Healey. “Tonight is a celebration of the strength of our survivors, of the joy we feel in building happy, peaceful families, of the surprising ways in which friends and strangers reach out to help those in need,” said Nighat Ahmed, President of Daya. “Tonight is also a celebration of how our community has carried Daya from inception to the pillar of the community it is today.” Ahmed also announced Daya’s recent acquisition of a four-bedroom transitional home, Harmony House, which was procured last year for $200,000, with $60,000 from the organization’s operational reserves and a bank loan of $140,000. The house that can accommodate up to ten people at a time is in an undisclosed location to ensure the safety of Daya’s clients. With community support, Daya hopes to own the house free and clear by the end of this year. Unlike mainstream shelters that offer a room for only one month, Harmony House will be the safe continued on page
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Daya President Nighat Ahmed receiving a Proclamation from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Photo: Shamim Syed
trust Blamed for Isolating Ailing satya saibaba
An Indian child looks at portraits of Spirtual Leader Sri Satya Sai Baba at a shop near Prashanthi Nilayam at Puttaparthi, some 470kms south-west of Hyderabad on April 6. One of India’s bestknown spiritual leaders, known for his apparent miracles and long list of influential followers, is on life support in hospital.
HYDERABAD (ToI): While Satya Saibaba continues to be on life support, thousands of devotees who are converging at his Prasanthi Nilayam ashram praying for him and local villagers of
April
Indo American News • Friday, April 08, 2011
Puttaparthi have kicked up a furore against the all-powerful Satya Sai Central Trust for creating a wedge between them and Saibaba. With doctors revealing little about his health condition, the
devout are getting restless and blaming the trust for emerging as a ‘wall’ between them and Saibaba. “Lakhs of devotees in India and abroad are waiting anxiously to hear about Saibaba’s health. The authorities should allow at least one devotee to go and see Saibaba,” said Gopala Shastri, leading a group of devotees from Guntur district. Sources said even the locals were angry with the trust members, particularly secretary K Chakravarthi. Chakravarthi, an IAS officer of AP cadre, first came in contact with Saibaba in 1975 and became close to him when he worked as collector of Anantapur district. He was made registrar of Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in 1981 after he quit his service. He gained the godman’s confidence and soon became a member of the trust and within no time its secretary. Sources said whenever there was a problem in Puttaparthi and surrounding villages, Saibaba’s
younger brother Janakiram used to take the villagers to him and solve their problems. “Saibaba would offer assistance to locals and people of the surrounding villages,” a source said. But after the death of Janakiram, who was a trust member, Chakravarthi started wielding complete control over the trust. “After his death five years ago, the wedge between Saibaba and devout widened with the trust is now calling the shots in Prasanthi Nilayam,” sources said. Janakiram’s son R J Ratnakar was made member of the trust only last year after much furore. “But he wields no influence in the trust matters,”sources said. While Chakravarthi is in-charge of the cash-rich trust, Indulal Shah is chief convenor of Satya Sai Organisations, M Srinivasan heads the social and charity work arms, while Justice (retired) P N Bhagwati is a member. With police stopping the devotees trying to break through the barricades outside the hospital
Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, Ay, APrIL 08, 2011 • on A onLI nLIne LIne edIt ItI It tIon: www.IndoAmerIcAn-news.com
where Saibaba is admitted, there is a growing apprehension among devotees about a protracted struggle to control Saibaba by the powerful trust. “Even VVIPs like chief ministers, governors and foreign dignitaries are made to wait for hours by the trust when they come for darshan,” sources said. After November 23 birthday celebrations last year, Saibaba has limited his darshans to 2-3 times a week. “Several tests were conducted. But the matter was kept secret by the trust,” sources said. A special chopper carrying an expert medical team was recently made to wait for over an hour with a senior trust member stopping them from giving treatment on the ruse that they had landed during ‘rahu kaalam’ (bad muhurtham). Sources said Saibaba stopped eating solid food five months ago. He always takes food prepared by Janakiram’s widow. “He likes ragi sankati, ragi mudda and a bowl of green leaf curry,’’ sources said.