April 15 2011 1-24 by Indo American News

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Friday, April 15 2011 | Vol. 30, No. 15

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ek disha donates $25,000 to Benefit Prajwala Projects

This Week Inside

Hyderabad’s Messiah of Mercy Raises Awareness of Sex Trafficking

By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: She is diminutive at 4 feet 8 inches, but Dr. Sunitha Krishnan’s physical height belies her towering stature as a humanitarian of international repute. Brutally gang-raped at the age of 15, she made a conscious decision not to feel and think like a victim. Instead, she channeled her rage into something productive. Armed with a good education in mental health and social science, she went out into the streets of Hyderabad to help liberate, rescue, and rehabilitate women and children as young as three years of age traumatized by the scourge of sex trafficking. Through her visionary organization Prajwala (meaning Eternal Flame), which she founded in

Dr. Sunitha Krishnan receiving the cheque from Ek Disha Foundation members Rick Pal and Martha Blackwelder

Adrian Garcia, Guru Reddy Don Wolterman

April 6 at the Hilton Hotel on Post Oak with finger food catered by Madras Pavilion. Wolterman was the main speaker at the IACCGH which also honored Dr. Guru Reddy on his appointment as the110th President of the Harris County Medical Society this past January with a special award presented at the reception by Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia who also made some brief remarks. IACCGH President Mona Parikh, an attorney affiliated with continued on page

NEW DELHI (TOI) : The Congress offensive against Anna Hazare escalated with the party over two days saying his methods were discrediting the political class and the Centre, forcing the Gandhian to clarify that he was only targetting corruption and not any government or individual. Congress, after giving in to his demand on the Lokpal Bill, ratcheted up pressure. It regretted that the agitation, which paralysed the Centre for four days, was dangerous for democracy because it was against politicians. His praise for Narendra Modi also led to finger-pointing about the political bias. After AICC spokesman Manish Tewari followed up on general secretary Digvijay Singh’s statement criticizing Hazare’s praise for Modi and advising him to exercise caution, the antigraft crusader issued a statement warning of a conspiracy to break the ranks of the Lokpal Bill campaigners through misinformation. Expressing his gratitude to countrymen for their “indisputable” success in forcing the government to involve civil society in the drafting of the Lokpal Bill,

Pg 5

IAA Hosts Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and Edgar Meyer in Concert

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Classic Dance Director Rathna Kumar Releases NATA Newsletter

round I to Anna Hazare, now congress strikes Back

IACCGH Also Honors Dr. Guru Reddy

By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: It was refreshing to hear the CEO of one of the nation’s largest hospital chains bring his assessment of the status of healthcare in the US. “Healthcare as it has been practiced in the US is a train wreck that has been waiting to happen,” said Dan Wolterman, President and CEO of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System as he addressed the nearly 100 people who came to the reception organized by the Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston last Wednesday evening,

1996, she has reached out and freed several thousand women and children from degradation and abuse. This past week, the prolific Dr. Krishnan was in this city as a guest of the local non-profit philanthropic foundation Ek Disha who hosted a benefit luncheon in her honor at the Westin Galleria on April 7. Power-couple Jugal and Raj Malani underwrote the event that was co-hosted by the Asia Society Texas Center (ASTC), Daya, and Asians Against Domestic Abuse (AADA). In his introduction of Dr. Krishnan, local businessman and entrepreneur Rick Pal, who founded Ek Disha in 2005, also told the 150 guests a little about his brainchild. continued on page

the Healthcare Bill, from a Hospital’s Perspective

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2011 Houston International Festival Presents The Silk Road

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Successful Hasya Kavi-Samellan fills Audience With Laughter

Social activist Anna Hazare said, “My fast was not with any prejudice against any government or individual but against corruption which has burdened the common man.”

the veteran agitator warned that “our success has in the last few days activated some forces to break our unity”. The first meeting of the committee comprising central ministers and civil society representatives to draft the Lokpal Bill is scheduled for Saturday. “Actually even before committee meets, everybody is giving their point of view and suggestions and drawing lines beyond which they will not retreat. I think it is not good for a negotiating atmosphere,” he said.

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IACF Annual Walkathon Slated for April 30

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Houston Science Group Meets

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rahat Fateh Ali Khan concert rocks Star Will Return for Encore Presentation

popularized by his late uncle and mentor Ustad Nusrat Fateh Khan. Sajda from the film My Name Is Khan, Dil To Baccha Hai Ji from Ishqiya, Tuzhe Dekh Dekh Sona from Kalyug, Tere Mast Mast Do Nain from Dabangg, all eased their way into a repertoire that showcased Khan’s distinctive vocals with its acrobatic negotiability born of a classical music background. For those seated a distance away from the stage, cameras streamed live footage onto two high definition television screens that showed

Arena Theater on May 19. For over four hours Khan drew cheers and applause as he delivered a stellar line-up of songs he had recorded for Bollywood movies, and Qawwali, the devotional music of Sufism. In a rich tribute, Khan rendered the beautifully lyrical Afreen Afreen, and Ye Jo Halka Halka Suroor, songs that were

Khan’s smiling face, his interaction with his musicians, and candid shots of the audience. Psychedelic beams constantly traversed the arena; flaring pyrotechnics, unexpected showers of colorful confetti, and thousands of glow-sticks amplified the upbeat ethos of the event. This was a concert with a difference; aiming to please, the

“There were rumors that homeland security wouldn’t give Khan Sahib clearance, but I had the confidence that he would make it here,” said Rehan Siddiqi. “In the last four days, we had ourselves a sold-out show,” he added elatedly. For more information on upcoming concerts, visit http://www. humtumcity.com.

Photos: Krishna Giri

By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: Blessed with a voice that is pure magic, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan rocked the Reliant Arena on April 10 with yet another unforgettable concert that saw the 8,800- strong audience spiritedly singing along. The singer and his ensemble, currently on a world tour, were brought here by Hum Tum City Radio’s Rehan Siddiqi and Shaks Entertainment’s Amir Makhani and Iqbal Jiwani. So successful was the concert that the organizers have negotiated to host an encore presentation at the

organizers handed out over 8000 roses to attendees and wooed VVP guests with hors d’oeuvres and drinks during the concert. “Even though I’m saying this at the beginning of my concert, and this my third concert this tour, I already know that this is the biggest and the best organized during my US tour. Thank you Rehan Siddiqi,” said Khan to tumultuous applause. Rahim Ali, president of Apna Energy, told IANews that he was proud to be one of the show’s sponsors. “The organizational skills and efforts of Rehan Siddiqi were unbelievable and we never expected such an awesome response and record crowd, ” enthused Ali. These were sentiments reiterated by Irfan Moosa of Seven Seas Promotions. “It was too good, mind-blowing! Rehan and his team did an excellent job,” said Moosa. However, until four days before the show, organizers were uncertain whether the artiste would get clearance for travel, as Khan was detained at New Delhi’s Gandhi Airport after being found carrying undisclosed foreign currency worth more than $100,000.

Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

Kishan Vs Kanhaiya! Paresh rawal is Back

Hello Houston ! Paresh Rawal is back with his super hit Hindi drama KRISHAN VS KANHAIYA. He is the master of acting ! He is the master of comedy ! He is a great entertainer ! It is a comedy play, It will make you laugh and it will make you think . It is battle between an ordinary man KISHAN and God KANHAIYA. The story becomes really sensationally shocking when KISHAN drags the God KANHAIYA into the court for a case. The conversation between KISHAN and God KANHAIYA is very interesting. Superb storyline, superb star cast and superb acting make this drama unforgettable.Ticket are $25, $35, $50, $75, VIP & VVIP available at www.namaskaar.org and also at Parivar Grocers, Patel Brothers and Keemat Grocers. For more information, call us at 281 240 3333 or visit www.namaskaar.org

the Importance of mentorship

By DharM har inDer er DarGan HOUSTON: Like many Indians who made their way to the United States, I arrived here, a good twenty years ago with little money and big dreams. I dreamt that I would become a world class physician and thereby help the country I left behind. That dream was to fructify in due course but that course was long and winded. Why? Because, I had no real access to a good mentor. Having a proper mentor at the time would have helped shape my career choices and shaved years off of my planning. Some folks are lucky or smart enough to get a mentor within their family or friends or are mature enough to seek one out. I was not. And this has prompted me to reach out and help someone whenever they ask for help. Over time, I have come to realize that waiting for others to ask for guidance is merely being passive and allow the events to dictate what I can contribute. One needed to be more active and seek out knowledge seekers. That plan is coming together in Hindu Khel Divas, an event that Hindu Mahasabha of America, Houston chapter is organizing on April 24th this year at Arya Samaj and Durgabari (hinduportsday.hmsamerica.org) As part of the event, a number of mentorship sessions are being organized. The standard physician and scientist contingent will certainly be there, but I am more excited about people like Indranil Choudhury, a prominent patent attorney, Kulwinder S. Bajwa of the U.S. Army, Veer Vashisht who gave up a lucrative corporate career to start his own business and many others like them outside the usual stereotype of the successful Hindu. That extra nudge that is sometimes needed, the small inspiration that lights a spark, the acceptance that possibilities are endless and ever unfolding are the joys that a mentor can impart to a mentee. Of course, Hindu Mahasabha’s commitment to the mentees does not end after the pep talk given on Khel Divas but extends beyond, to lend a leg up. In this therefore, the Hindu community can feel most proud that such a program is starting. Truly, the mentors are the real karmayogis and live the words of the Gita: “karmanyevadhikaraste mafaleshu kadachanam”. For more details contact Even Coordinator –Dharminder Dargan -713855-9818. For more details and register for mentorship sessions go to hindusportsday.hmsamerica.org

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Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

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the Healthcare Bill, from a Hospital’s Perspective t

continued from page

the Jones, Mays & Ramsey law firm welcomed the guests and set the tone for Wolterman’s ensuing talk. She recounted how the present Healthcare Bill has been struck down by two Federal courts and upheld by three and seems to be headed to the US Supreme Court for resolution, even as certain provisions of it have already started to be implemented. She introduced IACCGH Board member Dr. Subodh Bucchar,

who spoke of his association with Wolterman while they both served on the Board of the Memorial Hospital System in 1999. Bucchar briefly outlined Wolterman’s resume and accomplishments in welcoming him onstage. From the onset, Wolterman acknowledged that the healthcare system in the US is fundamentally broken down and needs immediate changes, citing the over 50 million people without insurance, spiraling costs and that the

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From left: Mona Parikh Dan Wolterman and Gopal Savjani Photos: Bijay Dixit

health of the people is not good in comparison with other developed countries, despite the enormous amounts spent per capita. “The costs are out of control,” he said, “and are expected to rise dramatically to $4.4 trillion by 2020.” “I think the American system is the best in the world in rescue healthcare and how to restore your quality of life,” Wolterman pointed out, “but we need healthcare for the masses,” citing teen pregnancies, mothers without prenatal care, high obesity and diabetes rates. “We are not serving patients well and our system is doomed to fail and the insurance will become unaffordable,” he added. “More co-pay and premiums by employ-

ees does not produce healthcare insurance. In fact, we are underinsured.” However, Wolterman had issues with the massive 2,000 page Healthcare Bill which he said was poorly written, hard to follow, high on regulation and does not deal with cost side or access to healthcare, but is really an insurance bill. His major objection to the bill are the numbers used to pay for the insurance premiums and that it did not cover all of the uninsured, but just half of them. Furthermore, with penalties for employers who did not offer insurance, and employees who could opt out for much less penalty, Wolterman has concluded that the Bill, as it stands

now, will only cost the country many billions more after it really has to start paying benefits in the 11th year. “It is faulty math that has been sold to the public,” said Wolterman. Another provision of the Bill that rankles Wolterman is that insurers cannot deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. He predicts that if the Bill goes through as is, this provision will have the effect of letting people who have opted out of insurance coverage to buy the best possible coverage just after they find out about a major illness, benefit from it, and then drop it again, raising the specter of massive losses to the insuring companies. While calling the bill a first step in addressing a growing problem in the US, Wolterman would like to see more progress. “We need another bill that reforms the delivery system,” he said “to treat people in a healthy, efficient and quality manner.” If you receive your paper more than four days after the dateline, please file a complaint with your post office or call the USPS Consumer Affairs Office at 713-226-3442

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Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

The Confluence of Great Musical Minds

IAA Hosts Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and edgar m meyer in concert

By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: What happens when three world-class musicians coalesce? Well, Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and Edgar Meyer turned the Wortham Center into a hushed cathedral where the language of worship was music. Intense, and replete with unusual tempos, subliminally improvised riffs, and lyrical pieces, the ensemble played to

demonstrated why he is so venerated globally as the doyen of tabla and Indian percussion; with flying hands and nimble fingers, he ran the gamut of beats, textures, and tones on the tabla and the kanjira. Together, they reached into their rich cache of repertoires and selected pieces from the Fleck/ Meyer award-winning albums, Perpetual Motion, and Pile-Up, and from The Melody

Bela Fleck (left), Edgar Meyer with Zakir Hussain (center)

a diverse audience of music lovers on April 10. Held under the auspices of the Indo American Association (IAA), the jazz and blues event was yet another feather in the cap for the organization’s founder/president Hari Dayal who is committed to promoting the cultural arts of India in an American context. The program, that started punctually, was dedicated purely to music with the maestros introducing each other during the performance. With twelve Grammys and nominations in more categories than any other musician in the history of the Grammys, Fleck, with his salt/pepper hair, and laidback in jeans and sneakers, showed his wizardry on the banjo as he traversed jazz, blues, classical Western and Indian genres. With encouragement from Hussain, Fleck did an impeccable piece in Raga Hamsadhvani, staying stringently within the parameters of the strict note coding of the raga. Grammy award winning virtuoso Meyer cut a dashing fifties kind of figure in a bow tie and dress shoes as he alternately brandished a bow or strummed masterfully on the double bass. Hussain, dapper in a pink kurta, and also a multiple Grammy recipient, again

of Rhythm – Triple Concerto and Music for Tour with Hussain. They made a formidable team as they performed their own compositions and adapted, innovated, and deferred to each other musically. So engrossed was the audience that there was an almost spiritual silence in the hall; they stirred only to applaud, and to enjoy the humorous banter among the musicians. To label their recital as “fusion” would be oversubscribing to a word that defines commonality. Rather, it was a sensitive and elegant exposé of the endless possibilities when brilliant minds collaborate. IAA has previously showcased worldrenowned maestros in the ilk of Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, and Shubha Mudgal. The organization will host Comedy Bonanza featuring Bollywood’s Raju Shrivastav and Indo American standup comic Daniel Nainan at the Wortham Center on April 17. Another program to look out for is Ghazal Ka Safar featuring singers Dattaprasad Ranade and Saavani Ravindra to be held at the Wortham Center on May 1. For more information visit www.iaahouston.com.

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Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

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r renowned c classic dance director rathna Kumar releases r r nAt nA AtA tA newsletter n

HOUSTON: The first issue of the NATA (North American Telugu Association) Newsletter was released on April 2nd at the Houston NATA Awareness meeting held in the Mayuri restaurent by Rathna Kumar, an internationally renowned Indian classic dancer, teacher and choreographer, and the Founder-Director of the ANJALI Center for Performing Arts in Houston. The NATA Newsletter “Naata-Maata”, edited by Dr. Samba Reddy, is a bimonthly publication of news, reports, events and related informa-

have hundreds of volunteers who are eager and willing to offer their services to serve the community, and NATA is providing a platform to fulfill these volunteers’ wishes”, said AVN Reddy. In the inaugural address, AVN Reddy emphasized that NATA is a “Different by Design” organization that strives to be service oriented, nonpolitical, and function in a fair and transparent fashion. In his media presentation, he illustrated NATA’s main objectives and purposes,

Rathna Kumar, AVN Reddy & Chitten Raju releasing NATA Newsletter

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tion showcasing the NATA’s service to the Telugu community in America. It is now available online: http://nataus.org/images/ NATA-Newsletter-March-2011.pdf The NATA Houston meeting was organized by President AVN Reddy and the local team comprising of Jithender Reddy (Convener), Dr. Samba Reddy (Media Chair), Harinath Medi (Co-convener), Dr. Janardhana Reddy Vinta (Coordinator), Chitten Raju (Board of Director), Manohar Medi (Regional vice-president), Dr. Ram Reddy (Telugu Library chair) and Regional coordinators Sanjeeva Reddy, Raghavender Nednur, Siva Konduri and Rajender Aparasu, who are promoting charitable activities in the Houston greater metropolitan area. The meeting was attended by over 100 members from the Houston and nearby towns, including several notable persons from medical, business, and cultural arts sectors. “NATA is spearheading to do quite a few community service activities here in the US and back home in India”, said AVN Reddy in his welcome address. In his presidential remarks, AVN Reddy announced the formation of NATA and responded to questions on why we need another Telugu organization. “We have close to 400,000 Telugus in USA and 80 million back home; every organization including ours will have plenty of opportunities to serve Telugus here and back home”, he said. “We are fortunate to

membership categories, organizational structure, office bearers, and current and future charitable activities. “NATA is providing assistance to students, helping families affected by accidents or tragic deaths, supporting needy patients for specialty treatments, and making plans for SEVA DAYS in AP to provide services like health camps, eye camps, vaccination drives and promote local arts”, said AVN Reddy. NATA is seeking sponsors to provide basic facilities in villages like safe drinking water facilities, building primary schools, homes for poor and new roads. In their message in the Newsletter, advisory council members Drs. Prem Reddy and Malla Reddy, MS Reddy, Mohan Mallam and Arjun Reddy appreciated teams that are working hard in developing NATA as one of the premier associations of the Telugu community in the US. AVN Reddy has narrated NATA’s recent help to students affected by the Tri-Valley incident including setting up of “student fund” for legal aid. He said that NATA members have sponsored five safe drinking water facilities. Dr. Prem Reddy has under taken a charitable project in his village in the Nelloor district to build roads, schools and homes for poor. The first phase of this project, a $500,000 budget is being funded through NATA, said AVN Reddy.

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Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

nAt nA AtA tA newsletter n r released continued from page

Rathna Kumar, a recipient of India’s prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy 2010 award, was felicitated by NATA officials for her outstanding contribution to two major styles of Indian classical dance, Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi. The entire audience in the banquet hall honored her with a standing ovation in recognition of her continued services to Indian Arts. She appreciated NATA’s effort promoting Telugu culture and dances in America, and vowed to be part of the NATA national cultural team. Chitten Raju Vanguri (Board of Director & renowned Telugu poet) welcomed the guests and suggested members to do more cultural activities and strove to preserve the Telugu language and historical places. He lauded the extraordinary services of Rathna Kumar in teaching Indian classic dance to thousands of young children in America. As part of its mission to promote Telugu heritage, NATA is working to host the biannual convention, said Convener Jithender Reddy. The NATA Convention is set to be held at George Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, from June 29 to July 1, 2012. The NATA convention is envisaged as one of the world’s largest Telugu cultural meetings. Dr. Vinta Janardhana Reddy (Coordinator) and Harinath Medi (Co-convener) are making plans to enrich the meeting with beautiful cultural programs and delicious food with a southern twist. “Everyone attending this convention will be treated as our personal guest” said Jithender Reddy. In his brief address, Dr. Samba Reddy

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(Media chair) said that motivation is important for enjoyable team service with high performance and innovation, and explained the need for motivating the young people. He stated that there are thousands of young talented Telugus in the US and suggested to untap the potential of these people for NATA services. He requested members to circulate the NATA newsletter, which is available online: http://nataus.org/images/ NATA-Newsletter-March-2011.pdf Sarada Akunuri, President of Telugu Cultural Association (TCA), has invited everyone to participate in the NATA-sponsored Ugadi celebrations on April 23rd and witness the rich Telugu talent in Houston. She thanked the NATA team for supporting local cultural programs and has become a member of NATA. Local media and business leaders Krishna Giri (Indo-American News), Prasad Kalva (Andhra Radio Mirchi), Sridhar Dadi (Radio Hungama), Dayakar Reddy (Mayuri restaurant), and Achyuth Pavirala (Abhiruchi restaurant) have expressed full support in promoting NATA events. The meeting guests were delighted with melodious vocal tunes of prominent Telugu singers, Manikyamba Shastri, Rajarajeshwari Kalaga, and Sarada Akunuri. Harinath Medi (Regional Vice-president) thanked all attendees for making this meeting a grand success despite busy weekend schedule, especially such a great India victory winning the Cricket World Cup. Several other speakers from attendees spoke enthusiastically to support NATA and its convention next year.

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2011 Houston International Festival Presents t silk the s r road: Journey Across Asia

HOUSTON: Thousands will converge on the streets of Downtown Houston in April, as the 41st annual Houston International Festival spotlights The Silk Road: Journey Across Asia April 30-May 1 and May 7-8, 2011, with world musical performances, international arts and crafts markets, artisan demonstrations, interactive exhibits and plenty of food and fun for all ages. The 2011 Houston International Festival (iFest) follows the route of Marco Polo with a focus on China , India and other cultures of the Silk Road . iFest brings the unique flavors, sights and sounds of the many cultures to downtown Houston for two weekends. Stretching across 16 acres of downtown parks and streets including City Hall, Bagby Street , and Tranquility and Sam Houston Parks , iFest features entertainment-themed zones including: Silk Road, Kids, Latin, International, Louisiana , Jamaican and African/Caribbean Zones. An outdoor international art gallery and shopping experience of offering numerous arts markets and international craft demonstrations featuring works from more than 500 artists from all over the globe. The Houston International Festival continues its tradition as one of the largest presenters of internationally-acclaimed artists from around the globe. Each year, iFest puts the best of world music next to the finest national and regional roots music to demonstrate how music and dance can communicate across cultural and linguistic barriers. This year’s line up of national, regional and local musicians and performance groups entertain throughout the day on ten stages. 2011 highlights include: The Golden Dragon Acrobats from China along with the Best of Bollywood, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Jonny Lang, Lucinda Williams, Keb’ Mo’, Robert Cray Band, Joe Ely Reunion Band, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Jimmie Vaughan, Buckwheat Zydeco, Rootz Underground, Red Baraat, Rahim Alhaj & Little Earth Orchestra, Atash, Mayapuris, Riyaaz Qawwali, Kora Konnection, Cedric Watson, Glen David Andrews, Soul Rebels, Honey Island Swamp Band, J. Paul Jr., Step Rideau, Lil Brian & The Travelers, Los Skarnales, Kyle Turner, Jud Johnson Band, Emory Quinn, Mike Stinson, The Blaggards, Karina Nistal, Norma Zenteno, Rainel Pino Salsa Orchestra, Chango Man, Buxton, Space City Gamelan, Free Radicals, Moodafaruka, among others. In addition, iFest will host a special Friday night concert featuring Kronos Quartet, Homayun Sakhi, and the Houston Grand Opera (April 29) The Chevron Silk Road Living Museum is the centerpiece of the 2011 festival and features a variety

A rendering of the Living Village showing the China, India and Turkey Zone

of educational and cultural exhibits covering the history of the Silk Road . Highlights include: Great Wall of China: The journey begins with a 100-foot-long winding reproduction of the Great Wall of China . Guests walk along the wall and view a range of information about the history of Chinese dynasties, cultural information and a photography exhibit about China . Climb a staircase to the top of one of the towers and look out over the festival grounds. Inside the two 12-foot-tall towers, see Chinese opera masks and other cultural items. Additional cultural exhibits include: Chinese Silk exhibit: Explore the history of silk production, or sericulture, with displays of silkworms and their cocoons. Also included will be various types of silk on display and demonstrations of hand weaving by the Houston Handweavers Association. Demonstrations of traditional silk embroidery are also planned. Chinese Calligraphy exhibit: Written information about the history of calligraphy in China featuring live demonstrations of calligraphy and the opportunity for the public to have their name written in Chinese. Traditional Chinese paper cutting designs will also be demonstrated. Chinese Teahouse: Traditional Chinese tea ceremony Gateway of India: A reproduction of the famous structure in Mumbai, which incorporates Islamic architecture with Hindu iconography, will house a variety of information on the history of India and its importance on the Silk Road , with a particular focus on the maritime routes. India Zone: Arts and cultural exhibits representing the distinct areas of the northern, southern, eastern and western regions of India presented by local Indian community. The local Hare Krishna temple will present exhibits on traditional ayurvedic medicine, traditional dress and a spice exhibit housed in an Indian village setting. Trojan Horse: The journey continues to a reproduction of the famous Trojan Horse from the ancient city of Troy , which was

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located in Turkey , an important stop along the Silk Road . Visitors can climb into the horse and look through windows in the structure. A variety of arts and cultural exhibits on the history of Turkey and its importance along the eastern end of the Silk Road will be presented by the local Turkish community. Arts and Culture of the Silk Road: Exhibit featuring information on the artistic, musical, religious, architectural and other cultural aspects of the Silk Road countries. Venetian Bridge and Gondola: The journey along the Silk Road ends with a stop in Venice , the Western end of trade route where silks and other exotic items made their way to the rest of Europe and western goods made their way back through Central Asia to China . Stand atop a Venetian-style bridge or climb into a reproduction of an elaborate gondola and imagine they are floating down the Grand Canal . The 2011 Houston International Festival is open from 12 -10 p.m. Saturdays, 12 - 8 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are on sale at the festival website at www.ifest.org and participating H-E-B Grocery locations. Prices are $12 in advance, $18 at the gate, with kids 12 and under admitted free on Sunday, May 8, courtesy of ConocoPhillips. On the other days, children’s tickets are $3. Weekend Passport packages, which include four tickets and two parking passes, are available at $60. Seating in the shaded iFest Lounge can be purchased as either individual tickets or as an option with the Weekend Passport, exclusively at the festival website. Discount ticket rates are available to groups of 20 or more. All proceeds benefit the Festival arts and education program, presented in partnership with HISD, featuring a Teacher’s Curriculum Guide, underwritten by Chevron and produced by the Houston International Festival. The guide is distributed to 1471 campuses in 54 schools districts in 7 counties including HISD, Harris, Galveston and Fort Bend Counties . For more information, call 713654-8808 or access the Festival’s official website at www.ifest.org.

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HOUSTON: International Hindi Association and India Culture Center Houston brought yet another Hindi Hasya KaviSammelan past Saturday, April 2nd, at India House. People were already intoxicated with the cricket match win, and the poets from India provided further entertainment. Everyone enjoyed the delicious snacks and tea catered by Mayuri Restaurant, before be- Top row left to right: ICC president Mr. Bhalla, IHA Houston President Sangeeta ing seated. The Pasrija, Mr. Bobby Singh, Mr. Rafi Ansar, Past-president ICC Mr. Swapan Dhairyavan. program started And sitting in the front row are the poets from India from Left to right: Dr. Sarvesh on time & the Aasthana, Dr. Vishnu Saxena and Dr. Praveen Shukla organizers had icchouston.org made very good effort to pull a big pay the rent by burning herself to Quotes from audience: death the moment she got the cue and enthusiastic crowd. We enjoyed the evening filled Swapan Dhairyawan of ICC wel- from in-laws, so that they could with laughter. We were entertained comed the guests and requested increase ‘their son’s rent’ before by three different talent in one Sangeeta Pasrija of IHA to intro- leasing him again. evening. All three Kavi presented Before a brief intermission, ICC duce the poets: Dr. Vishnu Saxena, their creativity and talent in front Dr Praveen Shukla and Dr Sarvesh Director Rajiv Bhavsar felicitated of the audience with funny jokes, Aasthana. Mrs. Kanwal Bhalla the poets and Past President of beautiful poetry and sentimental was escorted by ICC Director Rafi IACF Bobby Singh thanked the patriotic poem in the end. You all Ansar to light the lamp and San- sponsors and supporters. Swaare doing a great job. geeta handed over the stage to the pan Dhairyawan made some an- Anju Mittal nouncements about the upcoming poets. Program was well conceived, Dr. Aasthaana invited Dr. Vishnu events and then the program reorganised and executed. Snacks Saxena whose melodious songs re- sumed. The last presentation was were sufficient and properly manally touched the heart of listeners. a combined effort from all three aged. The poets were learned and Dr. Praveen Shukla’s jovial lines poets who penned a patriotic poem honored in their fields. were hilarious and Sarvesh Aast- with all of us, the NRI’s in mind. - Saundarya Sohoni hana had such a meaningful, sad It was well received as everyone Anju and I enjoyed the program satire hidden in his poetry where sang along with Vishnu Saxena. thoroughly. Please pass our comhis father advertises his son ‘for Program ended with the India’s pliments to Sangeeta ji as well, rent’ and a ‘Gareeb baap’ responds national anthem. and let her know how much we For more information vist www. saying that his daughter will reappreciate her leadership role in promoting and preserving the value of Hindi as a language and culture. - Pramod and Anju Bengani

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IAcF Annual walkathon slated for April 30 HOUSTON: The Indo-American Charity Foundation directors are humming with enthusiasm as they gear up for the Annual IACF Walkathon that is planned for April 30, at Lost Creek Park in Sugar Land. Tickets for the event are $20 for individuals, $50 for a family and $10 for senior citizens and students. Just like last year, this year’s walkathon is being organized as a community event with the active participation and support of

over 15 Indo-American organizations, like the ICC, Daya, India House, IAPAC, Sewa International, IACCGH, Indo American Forum and IITAGH just to name a few. IACF hopes to generate great enthusiasm for this year’s Walkathon, expecting over 500 participants. As in past years, many elected and community leaders are expected to participate in the 2K to 5K walk in the beautiful park located in Sugar Land, and will run from 8:30 am till 12:30 pm. Manisha Mehta, the Walkathon Chair explained that the Walkathon is planned as a true family outing with activities for all ages including live music, painting contests, children games, face painting and yoga in-

structions as well as assorted snacks, fruits, tea and other refreshments. Again as in past years, the IACF asks that walkathon participants bring at least 10 non perishable items along with them, which will be donated to the Houston Food Bank in order to fight hunger in the local areas. The Walkathon is a way to share the IACF Vision, which is to foster a local community whose basic needs are met and where everyone could lead enriched lives through better health, education and growth opportunities. This year’s event will earmark half of the proceeds to the Japanese earthquake and Tsunami victims. This year, the IACF has embarked on an invigorated way to reach out further, raise more funds for local charities and hold more events throughout the year to show its commitment to the community. With this year’s new Board, a new Executive Director, Surender Talwar has been appointed to help meet the stated goals.

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Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

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Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

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Ek Disha Donates $25,000 to Benefit Prajwala Projects continued from page

“Ek Disha came about because small/medium sized projects needed help,” said Pal. “Ek Disha supports lots of high-impact humanitarian projects in India through a yearly budget of $100,000 and operates by recognizing and resolving fundamental human needs. I assure you that 100% of funds raised goes to the many causes we support,” he added. Last year Ek Disha donated $100,000 to benefit Prajwala. At the luncheon Pal and fellow board member Martha Blackwelder handed Dr. Krishnan a cheque from Ek Disha in the amount of $25,000. Also, an estimated $20,000 that was raised at the event will further aid the Prajwala vision. Through a series of searing and heart-rending vignettes, Hyderabad’s messiah of mercy described the unimaginably cruel and agonizing circumstances under which women and children were forced to live. There was nary a dry eye in the room as Dr. Krishnan, a former nun, told of children losing their innocence as young as 3 and 4 years, raped, and living a nightmare with their bodies perishing from the ravages of HIV Aids. She cited the reasons for human trafficking: adoption, organ trade, labor, begging, domestic work, and camel jockeying. In 2003, Dr. Krishnan rescued children from a

sive, “worst, and invisible” crimes with huge markets in Europe and the USA. “Sexual degradation demolishes, destroys a person and takes away the soul,” said Dr. Krishnan. “We are also directly responsible because of a culture of silence. Silence creates perpetrators. We tolerate all kinds of rubbish in this world. I appeal to you to be the agent of change for all children, not just in India,” Dr. Krishnan exhorted gatherees. Through Prajwala, Dr. Sugar Land City Councilman Thomas Abraham, Dr. Sunitha Krishnan, Fort Krishnan has sparked Bend County DA John Healey, and Ek Disha Founder Rick Pal India’s anti-trafficking Photos: Bijay Dixit movement by collaboglass bangle factory where they and treated like social pariahs. rating with government, had been toiling in tiny cubicles. Each year more than two million the police department, corporaWhen taken to a safe place, the women and children are bought tions and NGOs. Her organizachildren were reluctant to go in- and sold. Human trafficking is a tion rescues women from brothels doors as they hadn’t seen daylight transnational crime with sex tour- and educates their children to stop in over two years. Every year ism thriving at pilgrimage sites generational prostitution. Prajwala 44,000 children go missing in In- and at escort agencies bringing runs 17 schools for over 6000 dia. Some 10,000 may be found, in big money for the perpetrators. children all over Hyderabad. Dr. while the others suffered unknown Victims feel optionless, vulner- Krishnan has personally rescued fates. able, and are thrust into exploit- more than 3000 women from prosDr. Krishnan’s oft-harrowing ative structures through marriage, titution, often at great risk to hermission began in 1996 when a promises of jobs abroad, or just self. Traffickers have attacked her red light district in Hyderabad promises of a better life. Hardly and her shelter damaged. was dismantled and the prostitutes 7% of victims get rescued, added “It’s like a James Bond advendisplaced. She helped rehabilitate Dr. Krishnan. Pornography, she ture,” she joked. “It is easy enough the women who were ostracized added, is among the most perva- with the help of the police to res-

Indo American News • Friday, APRIL 15 , 2011 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

cue women. The tough part is rehabilitation. Our end goal is to help them assimilate seamlessly back into society,” added Dr. Krishnan, whose recommendations for rehabilitating sex victims have been passed into state legislation. At Prajwala’s Asha Niketan Center Women are taught useful trade skills; some are welders, carpenters, masons, cab drivers, and security officers. Dr. Krishnan recently formed Men Against Demand (MAD), a global movement against violence. “We have to make men be a part of the solution,” said Dr. Krishnan. Ek Disha will be launching their next initiative, to provide free prosthetic limbs to those in need but are unable to afford. The first camp will be held at Kolkata on May 7 in partnership with Mahavir Seva Sadan. Similar camps will be held in different parts of India. Rick Pal, Ek Disha’s founder has also created, ‘Pal - Make a Difference” endowment at his alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin, to award an annual scholarship to students making a difference in their community. For more information about Prajwala visit www.prajwalaindia. com. For information or to donate to Ek Disha, visit www.ekdisha. org. Ek Disha is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ekdisha.

Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

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Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

Be a Part of the Solution

By Suhel Seth If I were to believe every TV commentator during the last week then India has had two major victories: in the cricket World Cup and the people’s movement, dubbed by many a Bollywood actor as the ‘peacock revolution’. I find it silly, and the tragedy is that many of my friends in the electronic media didn’t have the courage to carry a contrarian view. I have been amused by the many tweets I received imploring me to be at Jantar Mantar. Ironically, I saw the same kind of group at the Gateway of India that I had seen post-26/11. Except this time they were singing Gandhian bhajans and not lighting candles. Yes, the same people who are good at cleansing their guilt-filled souls and come out on such occasions, believing they’ve done their bit as citizens, but perhaps never come out and vote. So what has Anna Hazare taught me? That there is genuine anger against the establishment and it would be unfair to target only this government. We’ve seen corruption everywhere, including at the state level. Hazare has captured a sentiment and spun it brilliantly. What he also taught me is the latent disenchantment among Indians, especially the youth, and their rising angst. But then just letting them vent, as Hazare did, is only a part of the solution. How do you harness this angst to work for the people? We can’t, as Hazare expects, be a nation of protesters hereafter. I fear that Hazare has lit a ticking timebomb, which will haunt our democracy in the days to come. But the most critical thing Hazare has taught me is that the civil society movement has now been hijacked by another set of people. Earlier it was the Left, which got co-opted by Sonia Gandhi in the National Advisory Council (NAC). Today, it’s a different set of people and, sadly, it is a bit like the George Bush syndrome: either you’re with Hazare or you are not a patriot. Now that Hazare has so many followers singing his paeans, why doesn’t he float a political party and fight elections? I will vote for him. You can’t live in a democracy, take

advantage of the freedom of speech and then subvert it in the manner that has happened. Many can ask who is Hazare to decide who will represent civil society in the committee that will work jointly with the government on the Lokpal Bill. The question that begs an answer is: have we created a different form of governance model over the last one week? Will these protests stop with the adoption of the Bill? I am afraid not. This, as Hazare rightly said, is only the beginning. Does this augur well for a functioning democracy? Why doesn’t Hazare take the cause to its lowest common denominator? In my conversations with SY Qureshi, the chief election commissioner, I have come away convinced that the movement against corruption must be a deterrent to people getting a ticket from their party to contest elections. Qureshi rightly says it is better to stop corrupt people from getting into Parliament than getting them to exit. So why don’t we actually create a citizen audit, which puts pressure on the leadership of various parties to deny tickets to people with criminal records? While there is no disagreement with the cause, I have reservations over the means we’ve adopted. They smack in the face of institutionalised democracy. In the last week, we shifted the centre of power from Parliament to Jantar Mantar. Where does it leave our democratic process? I wish Hazare had (and still does) focused on corruption at every level, which would mean not just identifying political parties but also people outside, who we know have created business empires by fixing the system. The silence against them is baffling. It will not help us get rid of this scourge of corruption. In sum, it is a great movement but, like anything in India, it is fuelled by hype and tokenism without a clear strategy of what’s next and how best to work with governments rather than against them. We can’t ever have a situation where we put governments into a corner and blackmail them into involving the citizen in either policyformation or nation-building. That would be disastrous. And not quite cricket! - Hindustan Times

editorial

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Phew, that was Some Week!

By Pritish Nandy Anna Hazare, a little known player in mainstream politics, arrived in Delhi quietly with his little known Jan Lokpal campaign and almost miraculously emerged as India’s most powerful rallying point for the battle against corruption. For an entire week, thousands streamed in from all over the country to support and join his fast. Many of them, like school kids and rural folk didn’t have a clue what the Jan Lokpal Bill was all about. But that didn’t stop them from lining up behind Anna and, suddenly, he became the strongest moral force India has seen since JP led the students of Bihar in 1977 to upstage Indira Gandhi and dismantle the axis of evil that imposed Emergency on us. Many are comparing Anna to Gandhi. They call his campaign our second freedom struggle: Freedom from corruption that has corroded our nation and destroyed its spirit and purpose. What specially defines this campaign is that young people have joined it in droves and the social media, particularly Facebook and Twitter were widely used by them to show their support for Anna. The Government, as usual, began by ignoring the fast, pretending it was hogwash. Then it used its twits to deride it. It even persuaded sections of the media to write it off as a movement ridden by internal dissensions. Cynics joked about it. How can a 72 old man with no money, no political party to back him, no powerful supporters in Delhi ever hope to fight the mighty Government? With a fast unto death! Are we joking? They had not accounted for people power. In three days, Anna’s fast snowballed into a huge political movement. Indians all over the world joined it. Opinion leaders started to back it. So did some business leaders. Seeing this, the Opposition tried to rush in but were firmly turned back by those at the gate. They saw it as their own movement, didn’t want it hijacked. Insinuations that the RSS was behind it were met with contempt. Twitter saw millions of tweets. An unauthorized tweet became the most popular slogan on social media: Mera neta chor hai. Hazare later

formed to frame the bill. He knew Anna would not give in. That was the first victory. The second came when Sonia wrote Anna a letter, urging him to give up his fast, saying the Government would consider his requests. He politely refused. He asked for an official notification instead, before ending his fast. He was not prepared to be tricked. The rest is well chronicled. The Government finally gave in, conceding every demand. The victory of the people was total. All the pomposity, the hubris, the smart one-liners on TV by Congress spokespeople vanished when it was announced that the Government had surrendered on every issue and will see the bill through Parliament in the coming monsoon session. For those who were not around in 1947 or 1977, this is the first time a people’s movement has actually sucCtivist Anna Hazare ended his fast-untoceeded. The youth that death at Jantar Mantar, in Amritsar on April Rahul Gandhi tried so 10, 2011. Hazare said he would tour the entire hard to bring together country to campaign against corruption and have now got together promised more struggles ahead after breakfor Anna Hazare. I ing his 98-hour hunger strike on April 9. saw them everywhere said that politicians shouldn’t be sent I went last week. In Jantar Mantar. In away. Everyone has the right to join Azad Maidan. At the Gateway of Inthe campaign. But the people there dia. On the streets of every city, on TV didn’t want their movement politi- channels, speaking their hearts out. It cised. It belonged to the common was the biggest battle ever fought— man, they said. and won, in less than a week. Like The Government initially dug in every Indian who played a tiny part its heels, refused to give an inch. in it, I feel proud and empowered. In a democracy, what is Parliament We have regained faith in our ability there for, what are ministers for if to change India. We have also proved people were to directly participate in that the young and the old can share framing laws? How cheeky can this the same dream. demand be, that the Prime Minister’s I never compare my heroes. Ganoffice should be brought within the dhi, for me, will always be Gandhi, Lokpal’s purview? Who are these the father of this great nation. JP people who think they represent the will remain JP, the bravest of men, nation when elected representatives who won an impossible battle which are around? So what if the Govern- restored us the freedom to write, ment has been sitting on the bill for speak and dream again. And now, 42 years? So what if scams happen? there’s Anna Hazare who has taught Isn’t Raja in jail? This farce went on us that nothing is impossible. Howfor a while till Sharad Pawar, a wiser ever powerful a Government may man and an old adversary of Anna, be, it has to bow before the people’s saw the writing on the wall. He re- wishes. Let no cynic convince you signed from the Group of Ministers otherwise.- Times of India

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Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

OPEN Houston to Conduct Conference

HOUSTON: OPEN Houston’s 2nd annual conference is scheduled for May 7, 2011 at the OMNI-Houston Hotel from 8:00AM - 4:30PM. Topic is “Innovations through process, product and people”. Please register online at www.open-houston.org. For more information please contact Sehar Javed at 832 668 9765 or at sjaved@open-houston.org. Houston has been at the forefront of Innovation for the past several decades. As our star cast of speakers will attest, its companies and citizens are world leaders, particularly in the Oil & Gas and Allied Industries. This conference will focus on these innovators. Our three panels will speak on the three “Ps” of Innovation – Product, Process and People. Speakers include leaders, visionaries and innovators from a broad range of industries. Brad Freels, Chairman & CEO Midway

Holdings, our keynote speaker, successfully transformed the face of Houston by converting a failed real estate property through flair, imagination, creativity and a lot of gusto into a vibrant and dynamic Houston City Centre during the

most difficult economic environment this country has faced in generations. Nadeem Babar (CEO, Orient Power Company Ltd., Pakistan) and Paul Dickerson (Partner at Haynes and Boone) boast experience in government, policy making & regulation in the developing and the developed world respectively on top of their rich back-

grounds in the private sector. Many others are CEOs in industries as diverse as oil & gas, power, information technology and infrastructure. Still others bring expertise in legal, consulting, training and education. While these leaders come from diverse backgrounds, one thread runs through all of them – they dreamt big, explored new dimensions, pioneered innovative products, created novel solutions and in the process generated tremendous value for their countries, communities, investors and themselves. Come and meet successful innovators and leaders. Learn from their experiences and be informed, inspired and encouraged by their success stories. Look for mentors and expand your network by meeting successful professionals, entrepreneurs, social leaders and academics.

Houston Science Group Meets

13 HOUSTON: The second meeting of the Houston Science Group took place on March 26, 2011. Among those present were Dr. Sen Pathak (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center), Dr. Kamlesh Lulla (NASA), Dr. Jim Lester (HARC, The Woodlands), Dr. Kapil Mehta (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center), Dr. Raj Chhikara (University of Houston Clear Lake), Dr. Vishakha Shembekar (Houston Community College), Dr. Satish Mehta (NASA), and Dr. Krishna Dronamraju (Foundation for Genetic Research). The meeting was hosted by Dr. Krishna Dronamraju and Mrs. Michele Dronamraju. Primary focus of the discussion centered on the state of science in India and exploring ways of improving its quality and diversity. The group was specially interested in finding ways of improving the culture of science which would bring it closer to the standards of American science. The two main areas of concern are quality and productivity. It has been noted that China greatly exceeds India in the number of scientific patents produced per year. The Indian Patent Office ranks 9th in the number of patents filed

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and 12th in the number of patents granted, according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) latest data. Patents: The total number of patents filed in India amounted to 28,940, according to the Genevabased organisation’s recently released World Intellectual Property Indicators-2009 report. This was behind the US (4,56,154), Japan (3,96,291), China (2,45,161), the Republic of Korea (1,72,469), European Patent Office (1,40,763), Germany (60,992), Canada (40,131) and the Russian Federation (39,439). In terms of the number of patents granted, India (at 7,539) stood behind Japan (1,64,954), the US (1,57,283), the Republic of Korea (1,23,705), China (67,948), European Patent Office (54,699), the Russian Federation (23,028), Canada (18,550), Germany (17,739), France (12,112), Australia (11,236) and Mexico (9,957). Dr. Pathak, described a major concern, the rapidly increasing incidence of cancers, especially cancer of the blood (leukemia), breast, tongue, gall bladder and lungs. The etiology is not understood. Collaborations with M.D. Anderson cancer center in Houston and the

National Cancer Institute in Washington D.C. are in progress. The participants came up with various solutions aimed at improving the situation, such as working with NGOs and private foundations targeting specific areas of specialization and different geographic regions, educating the younger generation who are more likely to be receptive to new ideas, enlist the support of influential social leaders such as spiritual and community leaders and collaborating with international scientific organizations. Several individuals shared their experiences in relation to science in India, including Dr. Jim Lester from the Houston Area Research Consortium (HARC) who has spent some time in India, Dr. Sen Pathak in cancer research and prevention, Dr. Raj Chhikara and Dr. Dronamraju about the Science Congress, as well as all others (Dr. Kapil Mehta, Dr. Satish Mehta, Dr. Vishakha Shembekar). Dr. Lulla and others suggested that holding smaller meetings on specific scientific topics could help deliver better results measured in terms of progress.The meeting adjourned with the decision to continue discussion in larger future meetings.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 15 , 2011• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

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Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

Three Holiest Cities of Gujarat Nominated to A New Global Network Of Green Pilgrim Cities Dwarka, Somnath and Ambaji in Gujarat have been nominated to a new global network of Green Pilgrim Cities. The three cities are sacred for Hindus. The announcement was made at CM House, Gandhinagar on Friday, February 25 during a meeting between Gujarat Chief Minister Nar Narendra Modi and representatives from the Green Pilgrim Cities Network. The team included Kusum Vyas, for the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), David Cadman President of International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), Emani Kumar, Executive Director of ICLEI’s South Asia Secretariat and Yogesh Vyas and Aditya Nawab of Living Planet Foundation. During the meeting, Modi highlighted some of the green projects already initiated in Gujarat, where work is led by the Yatra Dham Vikas Board (Pilgrim Places Development Board). The Board ensures that environmental issues are addressed at every level of policy, especially in the context of local faith and traditional culture. Innovative concepts such as solar parks and tree planting are being implemented in each of these three cities and could be models for other cities in India and elsewhere. “Our pilgrim cities will be models of care and respect for the environment that will showcase environmentally sound technologies and practices and in doing so pilgrims, local officials, faith leaders and millions of faithful around the world will be inspired to be part of an unprecedented collaboration to combat climate change and loss of biodiversity,” Mr Modi said, adding that he wanted to make gardens in each city. “Gujarat is uniquely positioned to implement green initiatives. ARC is delighted that these three important Hindu cities are joining this pilgrim cities initiative,” Ms Vyas said. The next steps include a possible conference in Gujarat to highlight the Green Pilgrim Cities initiative and for extensive meetings to be held with the Yatra Dham Vikas Board, which has shown interest in the proposal. Other pilot Green Pilgrim Cities include Amritsar for Sikhs, Assisi for Catholics, Etchmiadzin for Armenian Orthodox Christians, Haifa for Baha’is, Jerusalem for Jews, Christians and Muslims and Trondheim for Norwegian Lutherans and other Christians Action plans for each city will be unveiled at the Sacred Land summit in November 2011 at which the Green Pilgrim Cities initiative will be launched. This unprecedented event will be hosted by ARC in Xi’an, the traditional gateway for Daoist pilgrimages to sacred mountains in Central China and for Buddhist pilgrims travelling to India. It will be supported by the Chinese State Administration for Religious Affairs and supported by a number of key bodies including the Norwegian Government. About the Green Pilgrim Cities Network In 2001, more than 60 million

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From left: Narendra Modi, Kusum Vyas, David Cadman, Yogesh Vyas, Emani Kumar & Aditya Nawab Photo: Living Planet Foundation

Hindu pilgrims attended the Maha Kumbh Mela, a festival held every 144 years in Prayag, Allahabad. This was the largest human gathering in recorded history. Even on any ordinary day of the year, hundreds of thousands of people around the world are on pilgrimage. Every year at least 100 million people become pilgrims, whether for a few hours, days, weeks or even months. Each is undergoing this journey to experience something sacred. It is as if whole cities are on the move, waiting to be transformed. Imagine what could be achieved if pilgrims and pilgrim cities were to become models of care and respect for the environment, reflecting the deep values of the world’s faith traditions. Imagine the good that could be done for the people and places on pilgrimage routes, and in the cities and sacred places at the end of the journeys. Imagine a network of Green Pilgrim Cities, inspiring environmental care all along the great pilgrimage routes, and encouraging all pilgrims to leave a ‘positive footprint’ on their journeys and in their destinations. The Green Pilgrim Cities Network Initiative is facilitated by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), in partnership with Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI). ARC has worked with the environmental side of sacred sites and pilgrimage routes for more than 20 years. In November 2009, in cooperation with the UNDP, ARC held a major event at Windsor Castle, England. Nine major world religions launched long term commitments to environmental action in what the UN described as “potentially the world’s largest civil society movement on climate change”. At Windsor, several faith leaders responded enthusiastically to the idea of setting up a global network of green pilgrimage cities of all faiths. Every year at least 100 million people become pilgrims. Now the aim is to help faiths green their holy cities according to their own theology and understanding and for pilgrims and pilgrim cities to leave a positive footprint on the Earth. Most faiths have now identified their pilot pilgrim cities. Plans to green these cities will be drawn up by each local faith community, in co-operation with the local author author-

ity, mayor or city council; several of these commitments include greening pilgrimage cities and routes. Several cities have come forward as pilot Green Pilgrim Cities. Plans to green these cities will be drawn up by each local faith community, in cooperation with the local authority, mayor or city council, starting with the question: “What would your city be like if it were a sustainable green city?” Faith leaders will commit to work with their own cities and will join a network to share information, support and technical knowledge. The network will engage secular as well as faith partnerships – academic institutions, NGOs, entrepreneurs, local authorities and others. It is par particularly important for the Mayor and City Council to commit to the goals of the network. The Green Pilgrim Cities Network Initiative is facilitated by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), in partnership with Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI). Details About the Secular Part Partners ICLEI: Founded in 1990, ICLEI provides technical consulting, training, and information services to build capacity, share knowledge, and support local government in the implementation of sustainable development of locally designed initiatives can provide an effective and cost-ef cost-efficient way to achieve local, national, and global sustainability objectives. www.iclei.org/ Living Planet Foundation, USA, is leading the effort to form a partner partnership with a working team in Gujarat and help develop an interim plan leading to the design and implementation of the Green Pilgrim Cities Network initiative in Ambaji, Dwarka and Somnath. http://www.livingplanetfoundation.org/ The Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) is an international secular organization founded in 1995 to work with the world’s major religions to help them develop environmental programmes based on their own core teachings, beliefs and practices. It also helps secular environment organizations work with the faiths to protect the natural world. www.arcworld.org To read details of this programme and download a leaflet, visit Link to http://www.arcworld.org/projects. asp?projectID=521

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Researchers Find India Water Bug

NEW DELHI (BBC): It is the first time the bacteria, found in the drinking water supply of Delhi, have been located in the wider environment outside a hospital. The bacteria include species which cause cholera and dysentery. India’s Health Ministry dismissed the report as a waste of time. The ministry said the core issue was not whether the water was in any way harmful, which it said it was not, but why the Cardiff University

cine, called the results “extremely worrying”. “We found resistant bacteria in public water used for drinking, washing and food preparation and also in pools and rivulets in heavily-populated areas where children play,” he said. “The spread of resistance to cholera and to a potential-untreatable strain of dysentery is also a cause for extreme concern.” The Indian Health Ministry, how-

evidence that anyone had been made ill. ‘More studies needed’ Researchers say a recent United Nations report showed 650 million Indian citizens do not have access to a flush toilet and even more probably have no clean water. The Delhi sewage system is also reported to be unable to cater for the city’s population. The research team said it believes that temperatures and monsoon flooding make Delhi ideal

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ever, questioned the motives of the scientists who wrote it. It said the study was unsupported by clinical and epidemiological evidence and patients were responding well to medical and post-surgical antibiotic treatment. “The environmental presence of NDM-1 gene carrying bacteria is not a significant finding,” a Health Ministry statement said. A ministry spokesman, RK Srivastava, added that bacteria existed naturally everywhere and there was no

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researchers wanted to “put the heat on India”. Last year, India rejected reports that the NDM-1 “superbug” had originated in the country’s hospitals. India’s medical tourism industry is growing rapidly and is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The full findings of the Cardiff University study are published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. ‘Worrying’ Cardiff scientists were the first to identify the NDM-1 gene which makes bacteria resistant to a large range of antibiotics. Their research was extended when it was discovered that while most patients with the bacteria had recently spent time in hospital in India, some cases had occurred without recent hospital treatment. This then prompted the team to test the wider environment in Delhi. They collected 171 swabs of seepage water and 50 public tap water samples from sites within a 12km radius of central Delhi between September and October 2010. The NDM-1 gene was found in two of the 50 drinking-water samples and 51 of 171 seepage samples. Researchers then identified 11 new species of bacteria carrying the NDM-1 gene, including strains which cause cholera and dysentery. Antibiotics are used to reduce excretion of bacteria in cholera patients, and to reduce the duration and sever severity of dysentery. Study leader, Prof Tim Walsh, from Cardiff University’s School of Medi-

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        

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  INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 15 , 2011• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 15 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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weekly horoscope

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE www.GaneshaSpeaks.com a romance brewing during this period. You look to broaden your outlook and to get acquainted with new ideas and philosophies. You will spend a lot of time socializing and meeting all kinds of people. All your projects will run smoothly and your life is running successfully. LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23: You will be as busy this week. While finances will be the highlight of this period, romance will also be equally prominent. Surrounded by friends and family, the togetherness, socialisation, parties will add happiness to your life. You will work towards building a better future, and leading a peaceful and satisfactory life. Surely, the full moon in your own sign works like a charm for you. Legal issues, settlements and negotiations are on the cards. SCORPIO Oct 24 - Nov 22: You are like a phoenix. The successful encounters with challenges have taken your confidence to another level, your achievements have made you a lot more positive. Now, you will want to socialise, meet new people, travel and enjoy life to make up for the time spent in negativity and tension. Financial front looks positive as well. Renovation of your house and/or office and major purchases will be a testimony to your upbeat mood. You love to keep yourself surrounded with a happy environment, and it shows. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 22: The remarkable progress you have been making is a result of positive attitude. You understand that no one is perfect and there are bound to be human errors and imperfections. This realization fills happiness in the lives of those around you. All is not well though. Your high level of confusion can play a spoilsport! It may distract your associates and colleagues from their path Apart from this, you may have to deal with some unexpected expenses and health issues CAPRICORN Dec 23 - Jan 20: Do not fall in love; rise in love,’ they say. Cupid has struck and you are all set to paint the town red! Your beloved’s wish is your command, and you don’t mind emptying your pockets for him/her. You’ve always wanted your home and office to be the world’s envy and owner’s pride. It’s time to spruce up the interiors by adding colour & glitter to your comfort zone, go for it! Partnerships & collaborations develop successfully. AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19: Meeting new people and interacting with them seems to have become your passion, as you gracefully continue making new contacts. Widening your horizons, you involve yourself in intellectual conversations . It’s a balmy week as far as decorating home and office is concerned. Be ready to empty your pockets to get that exclusive look for your home & office, both. While shopping for the interiors, you realise that you have an eye for object d’art. PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20: A period for luxurious indulgences, splurging, the time to wine and dine is just around the corner. At work, you are likely to get loaded with tons of activities and projects; rest assured, the on-hand experience that you get from it is worth gaining. After all there is no gain without pain. After a hectic week, don’t forget to treat yourself and your family with a weekend getaway. Enjoy the highs of life while you are in the zone!

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ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20: Your pursuit of materialistic concerns has likely claimed a heavy toll on your relationships. Those issues will come into sharp focus during this week, with emotions being the predominant theme. Romantic affairs are a possibility, and you will bond well with your partner. Colleagues, co-workers, subordinates, friends and relatives will find you to be a much more cheerful and warm person to be around. You are a fountain of cheer, and the joy that you feel will undoubtedly translate into an enhanced sense of health as well TAURUS Apr 21 - The full moon in Libra reminds you of the importance of the strong and solid relationships in your life. Your partner will reciprocate your affections ten-fold and will display understanding and care. The harmonious environment at home will also help you excel in work. You come up with creative, innovative and ingenious ways of dealing with work-related issues and will win applause for your efforts. Legal matters could crop up which may require a measure of travelling. Maintain a balanced approach to both your personal and professional issues in life. GEMINI May 22 - Jun 21: You are willing to take your foot off the gas and will be content to simply coast along for a while. Fortunately for you, your co-workers and colleagues will provide the necessary impetus to keep the gears of progress turning. Matters at home will require your immediate attention. You bestow and receive love and affection, and earn a lot of goodwill for your kindness and acts of charity. You will be keen to take up new projects or activities that add to your income streams. However, do not let the additional workload put a spanner in the works, when it comes to your health. CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 23: You look to settle down into a comfortable life. Some issues requiring decisions with far-ranging impacts will call for your attention, but you will be hesitant to make a choice. In such matters you must be practical and pragmatic. Finances are in focus during this period, and accordingly you juggle matters such as funds, loans, insurance etc. Having never been the fiercely ambitious sort, you refuse to be yoked like a bull forever. In such circumstances, you are much like a turtle, retreating into your own private shell as you ponder over the best possible alternative. Have faith and everything will turn out for the best. LEO July 24 - Aug 23: You wake up to the startling realization that there has been a sea-change in your outlook, but the change seemingly happened without your realizing it. You now know that you can tap into immense reserves of power within you that you barely suspected of being in possession of. Now is a time of great improvement and progress in all spheres of your life. Socially also, your standing will rise, as you gain appreciation for your impeccable hospitality, gracious charm and sizzling wit. Remember, if something doesn?t work out in one way, there is always another path to take. VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23: Expenses will skyrocket. You are on a purchase and acquisition spree, as you make myriad purchases for your home and office. You may refurbish your wardrobe, join an exclusive club and start activities like working out, yoga, meditation etc. For those who are single, there is the possibility of

Indo American News • Friday, April 15, 2011

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 15 , 2011• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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