Farida Meguid teaching at Discovery Green. PAGE 2
10th International Yoga Day (IDY) Celebrations in Houston
By Thara NarasimhaN
One of the most significant events blending with summer solstice, the longest day of the year is the International Day of Yoga. (IDY) Yoga invites people from around the world to come together in their communities for yoga sessions.. IDY aims to raise awareness leading to a stressfree life, tranquility of a calm mind and the vitality of a strong body. This year marks the 10th year of the IDY event collectively connecting many of our Yoga enthusiasts, Temples and Organizations.
Hindus of Greater Houston aim is to endorse and promote this healthy initiative, as the Hon’ble PM of India, Shri Narendra Modi’s relentless efforts, June 21 was declared as the International Yoga Day since 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly. The event always has always been a partnership with the Consulate General of India, Houston. HGH has been promoting IDY from the day of its inception.
Yajat Bhargav, youth intern HGH, goes back to trace history to 2015 our first grand event, “We had one big event at George Brown convention center 3500 people attended this event.” The Yoga Day became very popular in Houston, that it attracts many ethnically diverse participants all through the years.
In 2024 over 30 events have been organized.. This also includes 7 outdoor events. For first time City of Fulshear has organized successful event on June 21st.
There are over 2500 yoga teachers in the greater Houston area. This year Svyasa and HGH will honor and recognize a large group of Yoga teachers for first time. HGH will recognize and give awards to 12 yoga teachers who have done outstanding work. The last time we gave such awards at the IDY 2015
Hindus of Greater Houston jointly with SVYSA will hold an event on June 30th at VPSS Haveli
Three practicing Yogi’s will share their experience of how Yoga has helped in their life. As a group all attendees can join in a brief Meditation session by Mark Ram . Light Vegetarian snacks will be served. Robert Boustony has been teaching yoga for over 50 years. He will give brief History of Yoga in Houston. Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh youth will demonstrate Yoga Postures.
We will have Yoga Asana demonstrations by 24 participants with age ranging from 6 to 82 years. One of the goals to have listing of all the Yoga teachers and studios in Houston for future reference. SVYASA Houston has played a crucial role in training and mentoring hundreds of yoga teachers with commitment and under the leadership of Vishwarup Nanjundappa and his team of dedicated faculty members.
Partnering organizations are Syasa, Hindus of Greater Houston, Union is Creation, VPSS, India House, IMAGH, ICC , AOL, Isha foundation . More information visit hindusofhouston.org
Group photo at the IDY celebration at Discovery Green on June 21.
India Airports Introducing Fast Track Immigration for ‘Trusted Travellers’
New deLhi: In a bid to streamline international travel and enhance passenger convenience, the Indian government has launched the Fast Track Immigration –Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. This initiative, inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Terminal 3, marks a significant step towards modernising immigration processes for Indian nationals and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs).
The FTI-TTP is expected to expedite immigration clearance.
Upon arrival at the airport, passengers enrolled in the programme can proceed through dedicated egates where their biometric data, including fingerprints and facial recognition, is instantly verified against a secure database. This automated verification process minimises the need for manual checks, significantly reducing wait times and enhancing overall travel efficiency.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the system captures and stores passenger
biometrics securely, ensuring realtime authentication without compromising on security measures. The implementation of e-gates at Delhi’s Terminal 3 is the first phase of a broader rollout that will extend to major airports across India, including Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. Future phases will progressively include additional airports and eventually encompass foreign nationals, aiming to provide a seamless immi-
gration experience for all international travellers.
Registration for the FTI-TTP is conducted through an online portal managed by the Bureau of Immigration. Eligible applicants, including Indian citizens and OCI cardholders, are required to upload necessary documents for verification. Once approved, travellers receive a “trusted traveller” status and gain access to the expedited immigration lanes equipped with e-gates.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the programme as a cornerstone of the government’s commitment to enhancing travel convenience and efficiency under the ‘Viksit Bharat at 2047’ vision. By modernising immigration facilities and reducing bureaucratic hurdles, the FTI-TTP aims to promote India as a preferred destination for international travel and business.
At the e-gates, registered pas-
sengers undergo a straightforward process: they scan their boarding pass and passport, followed by biometric authentication. Upon successful verification, the gates open automatically, granting swift immigration clearance. The registration under FTI-TTP remains valid until the passport’s expiry or up to five years, with provisions for easy renewal to ensure continuous benefits for frequent travellers. -TNN
India Exports Rockets, Explosives to Israel for Gaza, Documents Reveal
CarTageNa, sPaiN: In the early morning hours of May 15, the cargo vessel Borkum stopped off the Spanish coast, lingering in the waters a short distance from Cartagena. At the port, protesters waved Palestinian flags and called on authorities to inspect the ship based on suspicions that it carried weapons bound for Israel.
Leftist members of the European Parliament sent a letter to Spanish President Pedro Sánchez requesting that the ship be prevented from docking. “Allowing a ship loaded with weapons destined for Israel is to allow the transit of arms to a country currently under investigation for genocide against the Palestinian people,” the group of nine MEPs warned.
Before the Spanish government could take a stand, the Borkum cancelled its planned stopover and continued to the Slovenian port of Koper. “We were right,” Inigo Errejon, the spokesperson for the hard-left Sumar party wrote on X, arguing that the Borkum’s decision to skip Cartagena confirmed the suspicions.
But missed in the debate over whether the ship ought to be allowed to dock in Spain were the unlikely origins of the Borkum’s cargo.
According to documents seen by Al Jazeera, the ship contained explosives loaded in India and was en route to Israel’s port of Ashdod, some 30km (18 miles) from the Gaza Strip. Marine tracking sites show it departed Chennai in southeast India on April 2 and circumnavigated Africa to avoid transiting through the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthis have been attacking vessels in reprisal for Israel’s war.
The identification codes speci-
fied in the documentation, obtained unofficially by the Solidarity Network Against the Palestinian Occupation (RESCOP), suggest the Borkum contained 20 tonnes of rocket engines, 12.5 tonnes of rockets with explosive charges, 1,500kg (3,300 pounds) of explosive substances and 740kg (1,630 pounds) of charges and propellants for cannons.
A paragraph on confidentiality specified that all employees, consultants or other relevant parties
were mandated that “under no circumstances” were they to name IMI Systems or Israel. IMI Systems, a defence firm, was bought by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, in 2018.
The commercial manager of the ship, the German company MLB Manfred Lauterjung Befrachtung, told Al Jazeera in a statement that “the vessel did not load any weapons or any other cargo for the destination Israel”.
A second cargo ship that had departed India was denied entry on May 21 to the port of Cartagena. Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that the Marianne Danica left from India’s port of Chennai and was en route to Israel’s port of Haifa with a cargo of 27 tonnes of explosives. Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares confirmed in a news conference that the vessel was denied entry on the
grounds that it was shipping military cargo to Israel.
These incidents add to mounting evidence that weapon parts from India, a country that has long advocated dialogue over military action in resolving conflicts, are quietly making their way to Israel, including during the ongoing months-long war in Gaza. A lack of transparency on India’s transfers helps them slip under the radar, say analysts.
Zain Hussain, a researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), told Al Jazeera that “the lack of verifiable information makes it hard to determine whether transfers have taken place”.
But “collaboration between India and Israel has been happening for quite a few years now”, Hussain said, therefore “it’s not unfeasible that we may see some madein-India components being used by Israel [in its war on Gaza]”.
On June 6, in the aftermath of Israel’s bombing of a United Nations shelter at the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza, the Quds News Network released a video of the remains of a missile dropped by Israeli warplanes.
Amid the tangled parts, a label clearly read: “Made in India.”
Smartphone Dependency (SPD) Has Deleterious Effects on Our Health
By BhuPiNder siNgh
SPD is not a common acronym but at the rate at which we all are becoming dependent on our phones, this name should become a common acronym in future. The reason for the phenomenal growth of smartphones and making us dependent on them are its convenience, great camera features/functions, easy applications’ installations, and more importantly, it can do most of the computer functions on the go. The truth about smartphone dependency is that people are not addicted to their smartphone, they are actually addicted to the information, entertainment, and personal connections it delivers 24 x 7. The sheer exponential growth in the number of smartphones and our dependency on them has given rise to serious concerns that their deleterious effects on health.
The dependency on smartphones can be observed very easily. When someone comes to visit you in your house or in the workplace, the very first question they ask is what the password for your Wi-Fi is so that they can stay connected. The exchange of pleasantries and hospitality of the visitor takes a back seat. Another way smartphone dependence can be gauged is when we reach the flight gate at the airport. If there is plenty of time before the flight, one can see almost all the passenger’s eyes are looking on their smartphone’s screen or making a phone call. Even the boarding passes for the flights are on the phone. Once you board the flight you can see that the scenario of the passengers glued to their phones has just slightly changed.
The changes are some of them are now trying to sleep or are asleep, plus some others may have taken out another device as laptop/tablet. Even the inflight entertainment is being offered by the airlines on your personal devices and TV monitor behind the seat headrest are fast disappearing.
This is the broad picture of the adults in society, who did not grow up with smartphones, as those came later. Now let us look at the picture of toddlers, kids, school/college students, who are growing up with smartphones. We can see today that even one year olds are holding smartphones in their hands. In fact, phones have become the new baby sitters. Slightly older kids demand smartphones when they are eating, getting hair combed, getting their nails clipped or just to calm down. I am not going to talk about watching their favorite shows as Peppa Pig, Ninjago, Barbie etc.
for attention, and phones are outright winners all the time.
In desperation some have decided to resign and try other options, just not to have to deal with the frustrations it brings about.
In the surveys, one in five rated themselves as totally dependent on their phone; about half agreed that they are overly dependent.
almost every day.
The educators are taking notes and stopping smartphone usage in classrooms. In 2020, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that 77 percent of U.S. schools had moved to prohibit cellphones for nonacademic purposes. In September 2018, French lawmakers outlawed cellphone use for schoolchildren under the age of 15. In China, phones were banned country-wide for schoolchildren last year. As time goes by we will be seeing more measures along those lines.
It has become an essential distraction, a carrot to be dangled to the kids and a bargaining tool as well. Now if we look at the picture of students with smartphones we can see they have become so dependent on their phones that they are not willing to forego their phones even when the teachers require that phones be surrendered so that teaching can take place. The kids are deeply lost in their phones
to shift their attention to the teacher. They have come to believe that if they did not respond back to text messages the friends sending they will assume that they are angry at them. There is a sort of peer pressure for responding right away. Smartphones with their social media apps as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tik- Tok, plus chat and shopping apps are sapping kids’ motivation to learn. The apps are designed to entice people to come to their page then to motivate them to stay longer there, making them additive in nature. The websites are also exposing the kids to adult pornographic content with hardly any oversight or policing. The famous quote by Charlton Heston about guns can be equally applied to phones today. Imagine the plight of teachers, educators and professors who feel drained and at a loss to motivate youngsters. Imagine having to compete with smartphones
More females than males reported feeling safer with their phone than without it. More than half of the freshmen reported that they use their phone as a way of escaping from problems or relieving a bad mood. Students overwhelmingly disagreed that they have a hard time concentrating due to their phone use. The educators are at the opposite end of the spectrum. Teachers are feeling that smartphone culture is bringing about lack of discipline in classrooms and respect for teachers. Research by Twenge and others have found that teenagers’ media use roughly doubled between 2006 and 2016 across gender, race, and class. In competition against the smartphone, the book, the idea of reading, lost significant ground. By 2016, just 16 percent of 12th-grade students read a book or magazine daily. As recently as 1995, 41 percent did. Meanwhile, social media consumption was on the rise. By 2016, about three-quarters of teenagers reported using social media
Now some research has been carried out on the long term impact of SPD, and it appears to be associated with increased anxiety. Benchmark standards for smartphone use might help prevent deleterious health effects. But building consensus and getting the consumer’s buy in will be a challenge, as people will continue to go to great lengths to connect with others. Smartphones provide a portable, instant way to stay informed, entertained, and connected. In today's smartphone world we have become addicted to information and its continuous updates. It is time that we, like the addicts become aware of the first step in the recovery process - Addiction. That step begins with a recognition that we have a problem. Then we will have to come out with pragmatic, and workable ideas for its implementation. Otherwise, this SPD will become a monster to devour the users rendering them to become redundant, unproductive, or less productive economic assets.
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Dr. Kavita Gupta Elected Chair of AAPI Board of Trustees
New yorK: Dr. Kavita Gupta made history as the first-ever physician who was born and raised in the United States, a second-generation Indian American physician to hold a national leadership position in the 44-year-old history of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). Dr. Gupta was elected Secretary of National AAPI in 2013. Now, a decade later, she has been elected as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of AAPI.
Currently, Dr. Gupta is serving a 3-year term on the powerful Board of Trustees of AAPI. She will assume charge as the Chair of AAPI’s BOT during the first-ever World Congress of AAPI in New York on July 20th, 2024.
“I want to congratulate Dr. Kavita Gupta for representing secondgeneration Indian American physicians in this very important role as the BOT Chair of AAPI,” said Dr. Anjana Samadder, current President of AAPI. “With her election to the leadership role in AAPI, the second and successive generations of physicians of Indian Origin at AAPI are poised to continue the tremendous success of our prior leadership and contribute our dynamic talents towards AAPI’s mission.”
Recognizing the need to bring in more second-generation Indian American physicians to AAPI, Dr. Gupta says, “We have to grow with the next generation by its side. I see myself as a true liaison with our younger 2nd generation leaders.” Stating that she brings “a new per-
spective and also a second-generation rationale to the issues we face as Indian American physicians,” Dr. Gupta would like to see “my efforts go to slowly building a strong association focusing on younger leader development and strengthening our professional relations.”
With nearly three decades of excellence and dedicated service to the causes of physicians of Indian origin in the United States, Dr. Kavita Gupta is embarking on her new role, bringing in a wealth of experiences and vision fortified with infectious zeal, and unwavering courage. A woman leader in a predominantly men’s club, Dr. Gupta’s motivation for joining AAPI was that “AAPI needed young charismatic leaders that had the service and leadership qualities needed to unite and bring Indian physicians to new levels in American society.”
“with a mindset to help others.”
Dr. Kavita Gupta is board-certified in pain management, physical medicine, and rehabilitation.
A prominent practicing pain management physician from the southern New Jersey Tri-state region, Dr. Gupta had started as an engineer but pursued a medical degree
Describing her long years of medical practice, Dr. Gupta says, “I’ve been in practice as an interventional pain management for over 20 years, ranging from academic practice and private practice.” Before becoming a physician, Dr. Gupta had a Master’s degree in biomedical engineering from the prestigious Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York and had participated in consulting and advisory roles with pharma, device companies and was mentoring biomedical engineering graduate students.”
After graduating from medical school, Dr. Gupta completed her post-graduate training as a chief resident in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Temple Universi-
ty and completed an anesthesia pain fellowship at Penn State. Previously, Dr. Gupta was an assistant professor and section head of the Interventional Pain Program at UMDNJ Stratford. She has contributed to the publication of several articles and participates in clinical research within the field of pain management. Dr. Gupta lectures nationwide and has a special interest in community education programs on the latest treatments to alleviate pain.
She is an active member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and teaching faculty at Rowan University.
As a student member of AAPI in 1994 Dr. Gupta founded MSRF Chapter at UMDNI, now Rowan/ Virtua, which has had tremendous growth and a robust presence on campus. Ever since she has been an active AAPI member for nearly three decades.
Dr. Gupta grew within AAPI nationally and locally while attending national and local Chapter
meetings. She was elected national Vice President of MSRF, Treasurer of YPS, and later on as YPS president. She has been active in the Philadelphia Indian Physician organization, serving as its Secretary and Vice President. She was elected and served as the national Secretary of AAPI in 2013. In addition, Dr. Gupta has served on various national AAPI Committees- from women’s forum/ academic affairs /CME speaker/ convention committees and under several past presidents/convention teams.
While working towards expanding AAPI’s mission statement to include diversity with the senior visionary members and prospective physicians from abroad and the US, Dr. Gupta wants to “enhance our networking within political arenas, amongst specialty organizations, while embracing technology and media to echo our voices to local and international medical communities.”
The BOT and in her capacity as the Chair, Dr. Gupta says, “We have the responsibility to oversee the financial sustainability of the organization and its future financial growth. As a group, we can monitor the financial health of the organization and accordingly provide our recommendations. BOT has a variety of esteemed leaders that will assist to provide their perspectives to the Board relevant to financial health of our organization.”
Dr. Kavita Gupta, Chair of AAPI Board of Trustees (in red sari) with other trustees.
‘Ishq Vishk Rebound’: A Lighthearted Tale
By dhavaL roy
Story: The line between friendship and love blurs for three best friends as they become entangled in a web of a breakup, a rebound relationship, and self-discovery.
Review: In the era of situationships and breadcrumbing, when most love stories are too complicated for their own good, director Nipun Dharmadhikari’s romantic comedy comes as a breath of fresh air. The latest entry in the Ishq Vishk (2003) franchise is about three childhood best friends: Raghav (Rohit Saraf), Sanya (Pashmina Roshan), and Sahir (Jibraan Khan). Sanya and Sahir’s on-again, off-again relationship constantly drags Raghav into the drama. When the couple breaks up simultaneously with Raghav and Riya (Naila Grrewal), Raghav and Sanya find themselves in a rebound romance. But will this ‘ishq vishk’ fling mess up their lifelong friendship?
Packed with laughs, the first half shows Raghav hilariously juggling
his friendships and new fling. From Raghav stealing Sahir’s dog to him going on a ‘haunting trip’ with Sanya, the delightful sequences are thoroughly entertaining.
Written by Vaishali Naik, Vinay Chhawal, and Ketan Pedgaonkar, the movie is also a window to modern love: Raghav believes relationships are baggage-free transactions, justifying his rebound with Sanya. The narrative also touches upon how familial ties complicate romantic relationships.
For example, Sanya’s broken home makes her confrontational, often causing friction with Sahir, as he is pressured by his iron-fisted and abusive father, causing their break-up. The film advocates for self-discovery and finding happiness beyond romantic entanglement.
The film’s pace slows down in the second half as the group’s complicated relationships become repetitive. The initial premise of Raghav attempting to mirror his story in his film’s script does not land. Some plot points, like Riya’s lingering
jealousy towards the trio’s bond, aren’t fully fleshed out. Although well-choreographed, slick, and foot-tapping, the songs break the narrative flow in the latter half. Rochak Kohli’s melodious Rehmat, and the remakes of Chot Dil Pe Lagi and Ishq Vishk Pyaar Vyaar make for a good soundtrack. Rohit Saraf steals the show with his impeccable comedic timing and effortless delivery. He seamlessly breaks the fourth wall, captivating viewers with his character’s journey. Pashmina Roshan is impactful in the role of a troubled and immature young girl who blames her immaturity on her broken family. Jibraan Khan also performs ably, and Naila Grrewal delivers a serviceable performance in her limited role.
Ishq VIshk Rebound is a film for Gen Z. While older viewers might not fully connect with its portrayal of modern love, the humour, engaging performances, and entertainment value make it a decent one-time watch.. -- TNN
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