IAPAC Gala Addresses America’s Mental Health Crisis
Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passed away Sunday at a hospital in San Francisco -- PAGE 3
Gigi Lee (Chief of International Affairs, City of Houston) along with IAPAC board members (including past presidents and founding members Jagat Kamdar, Randhir Sahni and Ravi Ratnala (representing his father the late Rao Ratnala).
IAPAC Gala Addresses the Mental Health Crisis in America
Houston: The Indian American Public Affairs Council (IAPAC) hosted its annual gala at the Junior League of Houston, focusing on the urgent issue of mental health in America. Themed “Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in America,” the event brought together over 220 attendees, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders, to foster dialogue and inspire collective action in tackling this critical challenge.
The evening opened with a stirring rendition of the U.S. and Indian national anthems by Sharan Thind, followed by a warm welcome from Dr. Roopa Gir, President of IAPAC. Dr. Gir highlighted the importance of reducing stigma and creating culturally relevant solutions to address the mental health challenges facing diverse communities.
A keynote address, delivered via video by Dr. Rahul Gupta, National Director for Drug Policy at the White House, set the tone for the evening. Dr. Gupta’s remarks explored the intersection of mental health and substance use, emphasizing the urgency of tackling these issues with both compassion and immediate action. His call to action resonated deeply with the audience, establishing a strong foundation for the evening’s discussions.
The emotional highlight of the evening came from Anagha Surendran, who courageously shared her personal journey of overcoming OCD and mental health struggles. Her powerful account deeply moved attendees, underscoring the critical need for support, understanding, and expanded access to mental health care. A standing ovation followed, reflecting the profound impact of her story.
A panel discussion featuring Senator Manka Dhingra, Wayne Young (CEO of the Harris Center for Mental Health), and Stephen Glazier, Ph.D. (Behavioral Health Expert, UT Health), focused on actionable solutions for reducing stigma and improving mental health care. Dr. Young remarked, “Fostering conversations about mental health is exactly how we reduce stigma and help individuals seek support when they need it most.”
Senator Dhingra emphasized the importance of addressing mental health within the Indian American community, stating, “Mental health is as important to discuss as other health issues like cholesterol or heart disease.”
The evening also featured a creative fashion show inspired by the “nine rasas” (human emotions), with models wearing traditional designs by VIVA. This artistic performance visually captured the emotional spectrum of mental health, offering a profound reflection on the complexity of human emotions.
To add levity to the evening, Dr. Shehzaad Batliwala’s stand-up comedy act entertained guests while also promoting themes of acceptance and belonging.
IAPAC also honored the outstanding contributions of Ashok Mago, Sonal Shah, and Senator Manka Dhingra for their tireless advocacy and leadership. Their efforts have made a lasting impact on the community and continue to inspire positive change.
Anagha Surendran displays extraordinary courage as she opens up about her mental health illness.
Additionally, special recognition was given to the founders of IAPAC—Jagat Kamdar, Randhir Sahni, and the late Rao Ratnala—for their visionary leadership and lasting contributions to the organization’s mission and success.
The evening concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks from Naveen Kochoth, IAPAC Board Member, who expressed gratitude for the participation and support of all attendees.
The success of the gala was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including Blume Foundation and Karavalli Capital & Ventures, whose platinum sponsorship played a pivotal role in bringing the event to life. Dr. Roopa Gir reflected, “This evening demonstrated the power of community and collaboration. Together, we are breaking the silence around mental health and building a more compassionate, equitable future.”
IAPAC President Roopa Gir (left) with Senator Manka Dhingra, Randhir Sahni, Ashok Mago, Sonal Shah and Jagat Kamdar.
Indo-American Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain Passes Away at 73
san Francisco: Tabla maestro and five-time Grammy Award winner Zakir Hussain passed away Sunday at a hospital in San Francisco, his family said. Hussain was hospitalised and subsequently succumbed to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola; his daughters, Anisa Qureshi (her husband, Taylor Phillips, and their daughter, Zara) and Isabella Qureshi; his brothers, Taufiq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi; and his sister, Khurshid Aulia.He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an infl uence that will resonate for generations to come,” the family said in a statement Sunday, requesting privacy.
Hussain held numerous live performances for audiences in Houston. He was always open to his fans and expressed himself in a jovial manner.
Hussain was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002, and Padma Vibhushan in 2023. “He was also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, India’s most prestigious honor for performing artists, and later the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, a lifetime honor awarded to only 40 artists at a time. In the United States, Zakir Hussain was awarded the National Heritage
Fellowship in 1999 by the National Endowment for the Arts, the nation’s highest lifetime honor for traditional artists. In 2017, he was honored with SFJazz’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his ‘unparalleled contribution to the world of music.’ In 2022, he was awarded the Aga Khan Award for his “enduring contributions to the musical heritage of humanity, peerless musical mastery and sus-
tained social impact,” the statement read.
The child prodigy — son of tabla master Ustad Allarakha also won the Grammy in the Contemporary World Music Album category in 2009. He is well-known for his collaborations with several Western musicians, including The Beatles.
At the 66th Grammy Awards this year, he became the first Indian
to win three trophies in a single night.
Zakir Hussain, the son of legendary tabla master Ustad Allarakha, is widely regarded as the greatest Tabla player of this generation. Hussain collaborated with some of the greatest Indian performers of all time, including Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan and Shivkumar Sharma. He also brought Indian classi-
cal music to an international audience through his collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mickey Hart, George Harrison, and John McLaughlin.
His mastery of rhythm allowed him to cross borders freely and create authentic connections between different genres of music.
The tabla maestro was a prolific composer, creating concerts, scoring for films, and collaborating with dance companies such as Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet and The Mark Morris Dance Group.
“His prolific work as a teacher, mentor, and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time,” the statement added.
Social media was flooded with tributes to tabla maestro Zakir Hussain Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Anup Jalota who had worked with the late artist, and toured with him in various countries expressed his grief during his exclusive conversation with us.
“His passing is a huge loss because the truth is, such a tabla player has never existed, nor will there ever be one. Playing the tabla in such an effective and interesting way, he made it so engaging.” -- ToI
Total Rs 22,280 Crore Returned to Banks from Multiple Scams
new DelHi: FM Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday informed Lok Sabha that ED has so far restituted Rs 22,280 crore worth of assets to victims of various scams, including return of over Rs 14,000 crore to various banks from the sale of assets of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, and Rs 1,053 crore of diamond merchant Nirav Modi.
ED and the banks have together moved a special court in Mumbai for the sale of assets of another diamantaire, Mehul Choksi, who along with Nirav Modi had laundered over Rs 13,000 crore of Punjab National Bank funds and fled the country.
The special court has allowed ED to carry out valuation and auction of the attached and seized properties worth Rs 2,566 crore and deposit the sale proceeds in the fixed deposit accounts of PNB and other liquidators.
Replying to the supplementary demands for grants, Sitharaman said: “ED has made significant progress in restoring assets to the legitimate owners of properties under the legal framework of PMLA, which stipulates that assets may be returned to bona fide claimants once trial commences, specifically after charges are framed by the special court.”
She said ED was effectively using PMLA sections 8(7) and 8(8),
which allow for the restoration of assets to rightful owners when it is determined that the properties were initially acquired through illicit means but ultimately belong to innocent parties.
The Finance Minister noted that it is important to recognise that the government has not left anybody in economic offences.
“We are after them. We will ensure that money that has to go to the banks goes back,” she added in a post on X.
From Vijay Mallya to Nirav Modi — ED restores over Rs. 22,000 crore worth assets from high-profile cases. Check full list
National Spot Exchange (NSEL) Scam: Rs.17.47 crore has been obtained and given to the banks.
SRS Group: Rs. 20.15 crores
Rose Valley Group: Rs.19.40 crore
Surya Pharmaceuticals: Rs.185.13 crore
Nowhera Sheikh and Others (Heera Group): Rs. 226 crore
Naidu Amrutesh Reddy and Others: Rs.12.73 crore
Mehul Choksi and Others: Rs. 2,565.90 crore
Nafisa Overseas and Others: Rs. 25.38 crore
Bhushan Power and Steel (BPSL): The Supreme Court ordered the restitution of assets worth Rs. 4,025 crores to JSW vide its December order.
Nirmala Sitharaman on foreign black money:
— The Black Money Act of 2015 is actually having a deterrent effect on a lot of taxpayers and they come forward on their own to disclose their foreign assets.
— The number of taxpayers disclosing foreign assets has gone up to 2 lakh in 2024-25, from 60,467 in 2021-22.
— Under the Act, as of June 2024, demand of more than Rs. 17,520 crore has been raised in 697 cases. Total 163 prosecutions have been launched.
Hitting back at FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s claim of recovering properties worth Rs. 14,131.6 crore, fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Wednesday said that he is entitled for relief and the agencies should legally justify how they have taken more than two times the debt.
Mallya countered that debt recovery tribunal has adjusted his debt at Rs. 6203 crore, which also includes Rs. 1,200 crore interest, but according to FM Sitharaman’s statement, the Enforcement Directorate and banks have recovered more than two times the debt.
In a social media post on X, questioning his label as an economic offender and demanding relief, Mallya stated “The Debt Recovery Tribunal adjudged the KFA debt at Rs. 6203 crores including Rs. 1200 crores of interest. The FM announced in Parliament that through the ED,Banks have recovered Rs. 14,131.60 crores from me against the judgement debt of Rs. 6203 crores and I am still an economic offender. Unless the ED and Banks can legally justify how they have taken more than two times the debt, I am entitled to relief which I will pursue.” -- Mint
Here’s the full list
Nirav Modi: Rs. 1,052.58 crore has been restored to the Public and Private Sector Banks.
IMMIGRATION
US Categorizes India as ‘Uncooperative’ on Deportation of 18,000 Illegals
wasHington Dc: As the US prepares for President-elect Donald Trump to take office next month, nearly 18,000 undocumented Indians have been identified for deportation, according to recent data from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The list includes 17,940 Indians among the 1.445 million individuals with final orders of removal.
Undocumented Indians in the US face significant hurdles in legalizing their status. Many are entangled in lengthy legal processes, with case hearings scheduled years into the future. ICE reports reveal that over the past three financial years, an average of 90,000 Indians were apprehended while attempting to cross US borders illegally.
India ranks 13th on ICE’s list of 208 nations with undocumented immigrants in the US. While Honduras leads the list with 261,000 undocumented individuals, followed by Guatemala with 253,000, India is among the few Asian countries on the list, alongside China, which has 37,908 undocumented nationals in the US.
ICE has categorized India as “uncooperative,” citing delays in coordination by Indian authorities in verifying citizenship and issuing travel documents. This lack of cooperation complicates the deportation process. ICE expects countries to confirm citizenship, conduct interviews, and facilitate the return of their nationals via commercial or charter flights.
India is one of 15 nations currently classified as uncooperative, alongside countries like Pakistan,
A family from India rests at the U.S/Mexico border in Yuma, Ariz., on May 20, 2022. NBC
China, Iran, and Venezuela.
President-elect Trump has emphasized stricter immigration policies, with a focus on the expedited removal of undocumented immigrants. His administration plans to prioritize deportations for individuals with final orders of removal, including thousands of Indians.
Trump has reiterated his commitment to utilizing the US military to enforce mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, emphasizing his intent to leverage federal resources to their fullest extent.
In an interview with TIME magazine, where he was named “Person of the Year,” Trump described illegal immigration as an “inva-
sion” requiring decisive action. When questioned about the legal restrictions that generally prevent the military from engaging in domestic law enforcement, Trump highlighted the severity of the situation. “I consider it an invasion of our country,” Trump stated. “We’ll get National Guard, and we’ll go as far as I’m allowed to go, according to the laws of our country.
The Posse Comitatus Act, a U.S. law enacted in 1878, typically prohibits the use of federal military personnel in domestic civilian law enforcement. However, Trump has indicated plans to work within legal boundaries to involve military resources, including the
National Guard, in his immigration enforcement strategy.
After securing reelection in November, Trump has doubled down on his campaign promises to curb both legal and illegal immigration. His plans include a significant expansion of deportation efforts, portraying migrants as a threat to national security.
The number of undocumented Indians in the U.S. has been climbing since borders opened postCovid, with 30,662 encountered in the 2021 fiscal year and 63,927 in the 2022 fiscal year.
Out of the nearly 97,000 encounters this year, 30,010 were at the Canadian border and 41,770 at the Southern border.
“The Southern border has just become a staging ground for migrants from all parts of the world to come to the U.S. most quickly,” said Muzaffar Chishti, a lawyer and the director of non-partisan research group Migration Policy Institute’s New York office. “Why would you wait for a visitor visa in Delhi if you can make it faster to the Southern border?”
The Canadian border, on the other hand, has large stretches that are virtually unguarded at times, said Gaurav Khanna, an assistant professor of economics at the University of California at San Diego, whose research concentrates on immigration.
While not all routes look the same, a journey from India to the U.S. might take migrants on several legs, all while being passed among various facilitators.
“People will get you to, let’s say, the Middle East, or people will get you to Europe,” Chishti said. “The next journey from there would be to Africa. If not Africa, maybe then to South America. Then the next person will get you from South America to the south of Mexico. Then from the south of Mexico to the northern cities of Mexico, and then the next person will get you over to the U.S.” CBP told NBC News that families coming to the U.S. illegally will face removal.
“You can easily turn people back to Mexico — that’s their country, ‘make a U-turn,’” Chishti said. “But you can’t deport people to faraway places that easily. Mexico won’t take them. Why would Mexico take an Indian?”
-- ToI, NBC
Lehigh U Reviews Admissions after Indian Student Fudged Marksheets
new DelHi: Rocked by a recent controversy involving one of its Indian students who falsified his Board marksheets for admission and later bragged about it on Reddit, Lehigh University in the US has initiated a review of documents submitted by other international students on campus and is exploring third-party verification of academic transcripts for undergraduate admissions, a senior official told The Indian Express.
Aryan Anand, 19, submitted fabricated documents – including academic transcripts, financial statements, and a fake death certificate for his father – to secure a full scholarship at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The elaborate fraud came to light when Anand detailed it in an anonymous Reddit post on February 23, which was discovered and pieced together by another Redditor, a 19-year-old BTech student from Faridabad.
Anand, a computer science student, was arrested on April 30 and charged with forgery, tampering with records, theft by deception, and theft of services. He pleaded guilty in Northampton County and was deported to India on August 15 this year. According to the US News and World Report rankings, Lehigh University is ranked amongst the top 50 national universities in America.
Speaking about the scandal’s impact, Dr. Sabrina Jedlicka, Deputy Provost for Graduate Education at Lehigh University — who was recently in India to promote
Dr. Sabrina Jedlicka, Deputy
www2.lehigh.edu/)
outreach in partnership with GradRight and increase the university’s Indian student population — described the university’s reaction as one of deep emotional distress and disappointment.
“It was an emotional sadness that students we had so carefully selected from our pool had provided us with fraudulent application documents,” Jedlicka said in an interview with The Indian Express.
“We trust that people, when applying to higher education, should try to get in based on their merits, as opposed to crafting that merit fraudulently. As an institution, we were devastated that these students had done this.”
“It was a very somber day on campus among the admissions teams to face this,” she added. “One of the questions you ask is, why? The attraction of receiving scholarship funds in the US to pursue an education is strong, and if you don’t have the credentials to earn that yourself, I can imagine how tempting that could be to get a leg up in the world.”
Dr. Jedlicka emphasised that the university reviews applications holistically, going beyond just school grades and values genuine contributions from prospective students.
“We want to admit people who are going to contribute to the mission of our university and the stu-
dent body at large. If that message comes through in a student’s application, they can be very attractive even if their grades are slightly lower than expected. We look at everything holistically — from leadership profiles to course backgrounds, not just grades, but also the diversity of courses. I want to hear about a student’s failure moments and how those shaped their trajectory. That, to me, presents a whole human package, not just a series of numbers,” she said.
Lehigh is now taking a measured approach for future admissions, focusing on strengthening existing systems while exploring new verification methods that won’t create
undue barriers for applicants. Among the options being considered is roping in a third-party such as WES or World Education Services to vet and evaluate academic transcripts of applicants. “One of the hesitations that we’ve had with going forward with having (undergraduate) students submit a WES-evaluated transcript or an NACE-evaluated transcript is that it’s a cost to the students. And so right now we are looking to try to work with those organisations to enable those services at a lower cost to the students. That way it’s not a barrier to students having to do that, but it also then provides us with some peace of mind around the educational credentials of the students being valid.”
Asked if the Aryan Anand case had prompted the university to review documents submitted by other international students on campus, Dr. Jedlicka said, “Yes, there was a handful that we pulled and are now going through, but again, I don’t have the outcome of that. We don’t want to call any students into question, but we are doing our due diligence to ensure that this was an anomalous case.”
However, she emphasised that the incident hasn’t made the university distrustful of applicants from India. “We don’t want to distrust people that are putting in applications to the institution. We just don’t want to do that. That’s not who we are. -- Indian Express
Researcher Suchir Balaji’s Suicide Raises Questions about OpenAI
san Francisco: A 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher, Suchir Balaji, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment in recent weeks, CNBC has confirmed.
Balaji left OpenAI earlier this year and raised concerns publicly that the company had allegedly violated U.S. copyright law while developing its popular ChatGPT chatbot.
“The manner of death has been determined to be suicide,” David Serrano Sewell, executive director of San Francisco’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, told CNBC in an email on Friday. He said Balaji’s next of kin have been notified.
The San Francisco Police Department said in an e-mail that on the afternoon of Nov. 26, officers were called to an apartment on Buchanan Street to conduct a “wellbeing check.” They found a deceased adult male, and discovered “no evidence of foul play” in their initial investigation, the department said.
News of Balaji’s death was first reported by the San Jose Mercury News. A family member contacted by the paper requested privacy.
In October, The New York Times published a story about Balaji’s concerns.
“If you believe what I believe, you have to just leave the company,” Balaji told the paper. He reportedly believed that ChatGPT and other chatbots like it would destroy the commercial viability of people and organizations who created the digital data and content now widely used to train AI
systems.
A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed Balaji’s death.
“We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news today and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” the spokesperson said in an email.
OpenAI is currently involved in legal disputes with a number of publishers, authors and artists over alleged use of copyrighted material for AI training data. A
lawsuit filed by news outlets last December seeks to hold OpenAI and principal backer Microsoft accountable for billions of dollars in damages.
“We actually don’t need to train on their data,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said at an event organized by Bloomberg in Davos earlier this year. “I think this is something that people don’t understand. Any one particular training source, it doesn’t move the needle for us that
much.”
In October, the New York Times published an interview with Mr Balaji in which he alleged that OpenAI had violated US copyright law while developing its popular ChatGPT online chatbot.
The article said that after working at the company for four years as a researcher, Mr Balaji had come to the conclusion that “OpenAI’s use of copyrighted data to build ChatGPT violated the law and that technologies like ChatGPT were damaging the internet”.
OpenAI says its models are “trained on publicly available data”.
Mr Balaji left the company in August, telling the New York Times he had since been working on personal projects.
He grew up in Cupertino, California, before going to study computer science at the University of California, Berkeley.
A spokesperson for OpenAI said in a statement cited by CNBC News that it was “devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news today and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time”. -- ToI, BBC
Provost for Graduate Education at Lehigh University. (Photo credits: https://
Former OpenAI employee Suchir Balaji allegedly committed suicide after whistleblowing incident
Deaths in Georgia Affect Families in Punjab
guDauri, georgia: The tragic deaths of 11 Indians due to carbon monoxide poisoning at a restaurant in Gudauri in Georgia have shattered several families across Punjab. As they grapple with the loss, their biggest plea now is to bring back the mortal remains to perform the last rites. For them, closure remains a distant hope until their loved ones return home one final time.
For Gurmukh Singh of Ghall Kalan village in Moga district, the death of his 24-year-old son Gagandeep Singh has brought irreparable loss. Gagandeep had moved to Georgia just four months ago after working in Dubai for over a year.
“On Monday, we were informed that many workers were sleeping in a room with a generator running due to a power outage, which caused the poisoning,” Gurmukh said on Tuesday.
Gurmukh, who has lost two of his three sons and his wife in recent years, is now left alone. “I last spoke to Gagandeep on Dec 12 and he told me he was happy,” he said. The father had taken loans amounting to Rs 5 lakh to send his son abroad, only to now face the crushing grief of losing him.
Ravinder Kala, a resident of Kot Ramdas in Jalandhar, had been away from his family for over seven years, working in Dubai and later Georgia to secure a better life. He was among the deceased.
“He called home around 8.30 the previous night and spoke to our daughters,” said his wife Kanchan.
“He told them about a storm that had knocked out the power and promised to call the next day. That call never came” she said.
“Around 8pm Sunday, we learned he had never woken up, and 12 people had died.”
Kanchan, who lives with her mother-inlaw and brothers-in-law, now faces an uncertain future. “My son, who is seven, was born after Ravinder left for Dubai. He never got to meet his father. We have no means of livelihood now,” she said urging govt to help bring home her husband’s body.
Ravinder Singh, 34, and Gurvinder Kaur, 29, from Sangrur district had relocated to Georgia in March 2023. Ravinder, a carpenter, and Gurvinder, a former banker, had pinned their hopes on Georgia for a better life.
On what would have been their wedding anniversary on Dec 17, their families were instead mourning their loss. Ravinder’s father Amrik Singh, is a bedridden farmer, while his mother passed away five years ago. Gurvinder’s family, too, is devastated by the tragedy.
“They had secured jobs at the restaurant,” said Ravinder’s uncle Kuldeep Singh Bawa. “Just a week ago, Ravinder spoke to me about family matters.”
Ravinder Singh and Gurwinder Kaur died just four days before their marriage anniversary.
Bakshi, Dinesh & Sangeeta
International Hindi Association Hosts ‘Kavita Ki Sham’ for Local Talent
By sanjay soHoni
Houston: On December 6, 2024, the Houston chapter of International Hindi Association celebrated their year-end event ‘Kavita Ki Sham’ with lots of pomp & ceremony. It was the 13th year in the continuation of hosting this much loved, appreciated and awaited event. Every year the Houston chapter hosts this program to offer platforms to upcoming local talent. So far more than 50 local poets have performed on this stage. This year, nine local poets showcased their talent through poetry and song recitation in front of around 75 to 80 audience.
This year’s nine presenters were Kunal Vyas, Dr Sarita Mehta, Sarita Tripathi, Dr Suresh Munnat, Dr Santosh Verma, Fateh Ali Chatur, Punam Bhatnagar, Arun Bhatnagar and Saeed Pathan.
The first presenter Kunal Vyas’s few short poetries were liked and appreciated by the spectators.
The next artist, Dr Sarita Mehta, spread the message of love and brotherhood through her very heartwarming poetries. She urged the people to love each other and discard the hatred.
Sarita Tripathi sang the famous song ‘Swapn jhade Phool Se, Meet Chubhe Shul Se’ written by Shri Gopaldas Saxena, aka ‘Neeraj’ in her melodious and forceful voice. The spectators were spellbound by her recitation, and it encouraged them.
Dr Suresh Munnat, who after retiring from his practice of 43
years, started writing poetries on love, heart and pain of separation. His poetry was full of emotions and love, touched the hearts of all viewers.
Dr Santosh Verma recited two poems written by his sister-in-law, older brother’s wife, Shrimati Su-
shama Verma. The first poem was on the beauty and strength of spider’s web, ‘makadi kaa jaal’ and how the spider keeps on performing his duties. The second poetry titled ‘Daadi ki berang Chiththi’ (A letter without postage stamp) evoked the memories of grand-
mothers and their emotional outburst. The spectators felt a sense of belonging with poetry and became emotional.
On the occasion and in appreciation of 60th birthday of Swapan Dhairyawan, ex-president and current trustee of IHA, Fateh Ali
Chatur recited poetry of renown poet Shri Ashok Chakradhar. The first line ‘the sixty-year male is neither old nor young’ was much appreciated by the spectators with loud applause. The poetry was full of humor and satire was loved by all present.
Shrimati Poonam Bhatnagar presented a poetry on ‘Hamaari Pyaari Hindi Bhasha’ (Hindi is our loved language) which was liked by the spectators.
Mr Arun Bhatnagar, husband of Poonam Bhatnagar, sang a satirical composition on air pollution in Delhi which evoked loud laughter and applause. He presented the serious subject of air pollution in such humorous through his poetry that made the spectator laugh and at the same time think seriously on the subject.
Saeed Pathan presented his creation on our everyday battle and how to face them boldly. The audience conveyed their appreciation by thunderous applaud.
As a token of appreciation and love, all the participants were presented with gifts.
Wholehearted efforts of Swapan Dhairyawan, Charlie Patel, Nisha Mirani, Umang Mehta, Raju Bhavsar, Fateh Ali Chatur made this program very successful. Miss Shubhangi Kedia helped in capturing the video clips and pictures of the event.
As a master of ceremony, Shri Sanjay Sohoni, President of Houston chapter, conducted the event very smoothly.
The program was concluded with the promise to meet again.
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Despatch’: Slow but Gritty Thriller
By DHaval roy
Story: As news rapidly goes digital, a veteran crime journalist finds himself struggling to stay relevant. While chasing a careerdefining scoop, he follows a dangerous investigative story, taking him into Mumbai’s dark. As he digs deeper, he uncovers shocking secrets that threaten to upend everything.
Review: Set against the backdrop of a newsroom on the brink of digitalisation, Despatch follows senior crime journalist, Joy Bag (Manoj Bajpayee), who is trying to keep up. He promises his editor two page-one stories on the 2G and GDR property builders’ scams while following another crime story. However, he stumbles upon a much bigger scandal—a Rs. 8,000 crore scam with far-reaching implications. What starts as a routine case spirals into a dangerous game where a powerful figure and Joy’s own life are at stake. The movie is about whether Joy will unravel the mystery, and at what cost.
Director-writer Kanu Behl and co-writer Ishani Banerjee weave a layered narrative, offering a glimpse into the gritty realms of crime journalism and the city’s underbelly, as well as the industrious world that thrives within its shadows. Joy becomes the common thread connecting these murky worlds. Besides the changing dynamics of journalism, the film also captures the shifting face of crime from the underworld to billiondollar scams. Joy’s life is also on the cusp of changing as he considers divorce with his wife, Shweta (Shahana Goswami), while taking his relationship with his colleague, Prerna (Arrchita Agarwaal) to the next level.
The story unfolds effectively, transitioning from smuggling and contract killing to a high-stakes murder of a vigilance officer and stolen papers. The viewer remains invested as the screenplay crafts intrigue and intricate drama, incorporating a 2G tapes leak with Joy at its center, despite warnings from others, including journalist Noori (Rii Sen). The film
convincingly portrays the world of exclusives and breaking news, highlighting how crime journalists navigate complex relationships with informers and sources, where information can be a matter of life and death.
Cinematographer Siddharth Diwan brings Mumbai’s crime scenes and frenetic newsroom to life with gritty realism. These elements combine to immerse the viewer in the world of crime journalism. Sneha Khanwalker’s edgy, dark score perfectly complements the film’s somber tone, elevating the overall mood. While the tale is intriguing, the film’s deliberate pace and serious approach sometimes make it feel plodding, preventing it from being consistently engaging and captivating.
The film’s true strength lies not in its plot but the protagonist, Joy, masterfully brought to life by Manoj Bajpayee. Joy is a middleaged, often miserable, and misogynistic man, desperate to break stories and prove his worth. From being beaten by a contract killer to botching his cover at the vigilance office, Joy’s bungling nature evokes pity. Despite lacking dynamism, he pursues the story with unrelenting determination. Shahana Goswami (in a short role), Arrchita Agarwaal, and Rii Sen deliver powerful performances. Despatch is effective in its depiction of crime journalism and explores the value of information that can save or end lives. Despite its pace and sombre vein, it’s a worthy one-time watch..-- ToI
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