Friday, January 3, 2025 | Vol. 44, No. 1
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January 3, 2025
Indo American News
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Published weekly from Houston, TX
www.indoamerican-news.com
Special Reports Community Briefs Local Politics South Asians in the News
2470 Dairy Ashford, Houston, TX 77077 • 713.789.NEWS (6397) • indoamericannews@yahoo.com
P2 Bapsi Sidhwa: South Asia’s Voice
Guru Gobind Singh Ji Jayanti
MAGA Uproar Over H-1B Visa
Houston-based Voice of South Asian literature passes In 2025 Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti will be celebrated on Donald Trump’s supporters are locked in a public row about away at age 86. -- PAGE 3 January 6, 2025. -- PAGES 6-8 skilled immigration and H-1B visas. -- PAGE 9
WEDDINGS, SPECIAL EVENTS, TENTED EVENTS, OUTDOOR COURTYARD
3 3 3 0 F M 1 4 6 3 | K a t y, T X 7 7 4 9 4 | 8 3 2 . 8 5 5 . 5 5 2 0 | p a l m r o y a l v i l l a . c o m Indo-American News • Friday, january 3, 2024 • www.indoamerican-news.com
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COMMUNITY
January 3, 2025
Global Population of 8.09 Billion Celebrates the Start of Year 2025
New Year 2025 celebrations at Times Square in New York City and fireworks display over the downtown Houston skyline.
Washington DC: Record-breaking celebration! 8.09 billion people rang in 2025! The global population reached a record 8.09 billion by the end of 2024, marking an increase of over 71 million people during the year, according to estimates from the US Census Bureau. The 0.9% growth rate is a slight dip compared to 2023, when the world added 75 million people. In January 2025, global demographic trends are expected to continue with an average of 4.2 births and 2.0 deaths every second, leading to a steady net increase in population. India tops India maintained its position as the world’s most populous nation in 2024, with an estimated 1.41 billion people (1,409,128,296). It narrowly surpassed China, which had 1.41 billion (1,407,929,929) as of July. The United States ranked third with a projected population of 341.1 million on New year’s day 2025, up by 2.6 million people (0.78%) over the year. World population clock At the end of each year, the Census Bureau uses a revised series of population estimates to update the short-term projections for the population clock. Once the updated monthly projections are completed, daily population clock values are derived by interpolation. Within each calendar month, the daily numerical population change is assumed to be constant, subject to negligible differences caused by rounding, the statement read. US trends In January 2025, the US population is projected to grow by one person every 21.2 seconds, combining one birth every 9 seconds, one death every 9.4 seconds, and an international migrant added every 23.2 seconds.
Indo-American News • Friday, january 3, 2024 • www.indoamerican-news
3 Houston-based Bapsi Sidhwa: A Voice of South Asian Literature
OBITUARY
January 3, 2025
By Feroze Bhandara Houston: Bapsi Sidhwa is a celebrated Pakistani author whose works have left a profound impact on South Asian literature and beyond. Born in Karachi in 1938 and raised in Lahore, she belongs to the Parsi community, a religious minority in South Asia. Her unique position as a Parsi woman in a predominantly Muslim country has given her a distinctive lens through which she explores themes of identity, cultural conflict, and societal change. Her personal experiences, including witnessing the Partition of India and its aftermath, have deeply influenced her storytelling. Sidhwa’s literary works are a powerful blend of historical narratives and personal struggles. Her novel Cracking India (originally titled Ice-Candy Man) is among her most famous, offering a child’s-eye view of the Partition of 1947. Through the protagonist Lenny, a young girl from Lahore, Sidhwa delves into the communal violence and human suffering of this historical event. The novel’s vivid descriptions and poignant characters highlight the devastating consequences of political decisions on everyday lives. This work gained international acclaim and was adapted into the award-winning film Earth by Deepa Mehta, further amplifying Sidhwa’s voice
on global platforms. Another notable novel, The Pakistani Bride, examines the intersection of tradition, gender, and freedom. It tells the story of a young woman trapped in a rigid patri-
archal society, shedding light on the oppressive customs that many women face in rural Pakistan. Sidhwa’s ability to weave compelling narratives around women’s issues has made her an important femi-
nist voice in literature. Sidhwa’s work is characterized by rich storytelling, sharp social commentary, and a deep empathy for her characters. Her writing bridges the gap between Eastern and Western audiences, offering insights into South Asian culture while addressing universal themes such as love, loss, and resilience. Her contributions to literature have earned her numerous accolades, including the Sitara-iImtiaz, Pakistan’s highest civilian honor. Through her novels, Bapsi Sidhwa has preserved and shared the stories of her region, giving voice to the marginalized and forgotten. She remains an influential figure in contemporary literature, inspir-
Indo-American News • Friday, january 3, 2024 • www.indoamerican-news.com
ing generations of readers and writers to explore the complexities of history and identity with compassion and honest
Indo-American News joins the Parsi community in Houston and the literary community worldwide in mourning the loss of our good friend. Sidhwa’s book, The Bride, was serialized in Indo-American News when the novel was published in 1983. She was a familiar figure in both international and Houston’s own literary circles. She contributed several times to the Jaipur Literary Festival’s editions in Jaipur and Houston. -- Pramod Kulkarni
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January 3, 2025
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COMMUNITY
January 3, 2025
Celebrating the 359th Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji In 2025 Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti will be celebrated on January 6, 2025. It will be the 359th birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru. This festival is observed by Sikhs with various rituals, including prayers and community meals (Langar) at Gurudwaras. The celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti are rich in cultural activities. Sikhs around the world engage in various forms of worship, including prayers, hymns, and poetry recitations that celebrate the life and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Special dishes are prepared, and community gatherings often feature processions through local markets where people sing devotional songs and share sweets. This communal aspect shows unity and devotion among Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born on December 22, 1666, in Patna, Bihar. He became the leader of the Sikhs at just nine years old after his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, was martyred for standing against forced conversions to Islam.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji is renowned for founding the Khalsa Panth in 1699, which established a community based on principles
such as equality, courage, and service. The Khalsa introduced the Five Ks—Kesh (uncut hair),
Kara (bracelet), Kanga (comb), Kachera (undergarment), and Kirpan (sword); which symbolise commitment to these values.
Happy Gurpurabh ! Congratulations to all on the 359th Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji May Waheguru bless you and your family with joy, peace & happiness!!
Indo-American News • Friday, january 3, 2024 • www.indoamerican-news
Celebrating Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti serves as a reminder for Sikhs to uphold these principles in their daily lives. Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is observed by Sikh communities worldwide, but mainly celebrated in India. The festival fosters a sense of identity and belonging among Sikhs globally, as they gather in Gurudwaras (Sikh temples) for prayers and community meals. During this observance, some places hold parades or special events that highlight local customs while maintaining core elements of spirituality for Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s teachings. On this special day, Sikhs celebrate with various activities such as prayers, processions, and community gatherings. These celebrations reflect the values that Guru Gobind Singh taught, including equality, bravery, and selflessness. As people around the world remember this day, they also commit to his ideals of justice and unity, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire future generations.
COMMUNITY
January 3, 2025
Congratulations to all on Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s 359th Birthday!
Indo-American News • Friday, january 3, 2024 • www.indoamerican-news.com
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COMMUNITY
January 3, 2025
Congratulations to the Sikh Community on the 359th Birth Anniversary of
Guru Gobind Singh Ji FOR TIRE DEALERS: Please e-mail to tires@jeetires.com
Best Wishes to the Houston Sikh Sangat on Guru Gobind Singh’s 359th Birthday Licensed Agent
Indo-American News • Friday, january 3, 2024 • www.indoamerican-news
COMMUNITY
January 3, 2025
MAGA Uproar Over H-1B Visa Washington DC: Weeks before he returns as US President, Donald Trump’s supporters are locked in a public row about skilled immigration and H-1B visas. The infighting was triggered by the appointment of Chennai-born Sriram Krishnan as Trump’s top AI adviser earlier this month, after which a post by Krishnan on X in November, which had called for “unlock[ing] skilled immigration”, went viral on social media — inviting the ire of many in Trump’s staunchly anti-immigration base. The outrage of the MAGA crowd — the most vocal supporters of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan — was directed specifically towards the H-1B visa program, which allows American businesses to employ “skilled” foreign nationals, and which has been a highly desired pathway for Indians to migrate to the US. The criticism of H-1B visas, however, was met with strong pushback from within the Trump camp, including from the likes of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the two chairs of the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the incoming administration. Here is a brief overview of the controversy that has divided the American right, and the H-1B visa program at its heart. Immigration is one of the most polarising political issues in the US. According to a YouGov poll from October, 14.6% registered voters felt it was the most important issue in the (then) upcoming election. This number was only 2.1% in 2012. Much of the election-time anti-immigration rhetoric focused on low-skilled labour migration. Besides the intrinsic racism, this rhetoric is fuelled by the belief that such immigration depresses wages, and takes away jobs that would have otherwise gone to the American working class — which has long been hit by high unemployment, low wages, inflation, a housing crisis, and other economic problems.
Trump has successfully cashed in on such sentiments, promising to make conditions better for the average working class American by curbing immigration. The current controversy involves many of the same themes as Trump’s “Mexicans-arestealing-American-jobs” rhetoric — only this time in the context of immigration into the US of skilled personnel for higher paying jobs. The H-1B visa program allows American employers to hire immigrant workers in occupations that require “a high level of skill” and “at least a bachelor’s degree”, according to the US Department of Labour. The program was started in 1990, with the intention of helping “employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the US workforce by authorising the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorised to work in the United States”. An H-1B visa can be issued for a maximum of six years at a stretch, after which the visa holder has to either leave the US for a period of at least 12 months before returning, or apply for and receive permanent residence (“Green Card”). Currently, there is an annual numerical limit (regular cap) of 65,000 new statuses/ visas under this program each fiscal year, with an extra 20,000 visas available to those with a master’s degree or higher from a US university. However, not all H-1B petitions are subject to the annual cap. The number of petitions approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, a part of the US Department of Homeland Security, is thus far higher than the annual cap. Notably, petitions for “continuing employment” do not fall under the cap. In the fiscal year 2023, for instance, USCIS approved 118,948 petitions for initial employment, and 267,370 petitions for continuing employment. -- IE
Indo-American News • Friday, january 3, 2024 • www.indoamerican-news.com
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ENTERTAINMENT
January 3, 2025
Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
‘Baby John”: Varun Dhawan Impresses By Dhaval Roy
Story: Story: A former cop leads a double life to protect his daughter from an old enemy. When his identity is compromised, he must ensure his little girl’s safety while taking the nemesis down. Review: Bakery owner John D’Silva (Varun Dhawan) is a loving single dad to Khushi (Zara Zyanna). When her teacher, Tara (Wamiqa Gabbi), saves a young girl from being trafficked and takes her to the police station in John’s van, she unwittingly unravels John’s past as a fearless cop, DCP Satya Verma. His real identity exposed, John must confront his nemesis, a dreaded criminal Nana (Jackie Shroff), who seeks revenge for his son’s death. As Khushi’s life is put in danger, John is forced to step back into his past to protect her. John and Khushi’s endearing bond sets the tone for the movie, with lighthearted moments featuring Tara. However, the promising narrative turns uneven when delving into the flashback of John’s life as a supercop. Atlee, Sumit Arora and Kalees’s story sticks to a triedand-tested formula, with familiar tropes like kidnappers exploiting children and a hero rising against crime. Even Satya’s romance with a doctor, Meera (Keerthy Suresh), feels formulaic. The story gains steam once Nana’s son abducts a young girl and Satya brings him to justice. Throughout its runtime of two hours and forty-one minutes, the tracks of John’s past and presentday struggles don’t always feel cohesive, affecting the movie’s overall engagement. That said, the film offers entertaining moments, including playful self-references like Satya asking a goon about the fastest animal, to which the response is, “Bhediya, aapko toh pata hoga,” a nod to Varun’s horror-comedy. As an action entertainer, the stunt choreography offers some exciting sequences, as Kiran Koushik’s cinematography adds flair with pyrotechnics and sleek camera angles.
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Send us the correct answer before January 7, 2024. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com. Please send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published.
Solution Next Week
Varun Dhawan impresses, balancing a dual role as a caring father and a fearless cop. His performance adds depth and conviction to the otherwise predictable narrative. Wamiqa Gabbi impresses with her screen presence, though her character’s background as an undercover cop remains unexplored. Rajpal Yadav as constable
Sevakram and Jacky, John’s trusted aide, is a delightful surprise, offering more than just comic relief. Jackie Shroff’s menacing Nana leaves a lasting impression, making the most of his screen time. The movie has its moments as an actioner, but in terms of content and narrative, it could have been more impactful..-- ToI
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Kumud Athavale, Krishna R. Vuddagiri, Sanchali Basu, Prabha Barvalia, Ramana Vadrevu, Yudhveer Bagga, Arup Gupta, Sunil Sharma, Murthy Mudigonda
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