March 9 Pages 1-36

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Friday, March 09 2012 | Vol. 31, No. 10

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Nizam’s Kitchen Celebrates Cuisines of Hyderabad and Karachi

BY KALYANI GIRI MISSOURI CITY: Nizam’s Kitchen may be the newest kid on the block, but the establishment, located on bustling Highway 6 near Kirkwood, has garnered a faithful following since throwing open its doors on January 16 this year. Walk in to the cheerful eatery, and you’re warmly welcomed by the very personable proprietress Shahnaaz Irani, who leads you to your table, hands you a menu, and tells you a little about the cuisine.

She’s knowledgeable and engaging, and if you’re not very familiar with the regional dishes, she’s quick to discuss what they are and throws in a bit of the history to boot.

Nizam’s Kitchen hearkens back 400 years

when royalty ruled and flavorful food was concocted for the princely palate; the restaurant triumphantly celebrates the cuisines of Hyderabad and Karachi.

Huge windows front the restaurant with walls in shades of mellow yellow and robinegg blue. Paintings pertinent to the era of the cuisine tastefully create an ambiance in the diner that sits on 29,000 square feet that can comfortably accommodate 110 guests. Iranborn Irani grew up in Nasik, Maharashtra where her father ran a café. Her grandfather back in Iran ran a successful catering business in the local Zoroastrian community.

Irani and her husband Irfan Ali lived in Canada, Kuwait and Australia before putting

Shahnaaz Irani, knowledgeable and engaging proprietress of Nizam’s Kitchen down roots in Houston a little over a year ago. They had helped set up a Hyderabadi cuisine restaurant owned by Ali’s brother back in Australia. So armed with a strong background in the food industry, the couple spent the past year searching for a demographically appropriate area to open a restaurant.

“We wanted a higher per capita area, not too expensive, someplace where we could

Photos: Krishna Giri

charge midway prices for our food,” said Irani. That done, they brought in a chef from Hyderabad who specializes in the cuisines of Hyderabad and Karachi. The menu is a la carte and boasts rich exotic specialty dishes such as Haleem, Nizami Chicken Curry, Dum Ka Murg, Dum Ka Gosht, Mughlai Murg Kabab, and the other labor-intensive gems in the royal crown of Nizam’s Kitch-

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March 09, 2012

BY KALYANI GIRI HOUSTON: Tall, burly, and with the trademark shaven head of many in that profession, Sandeep Sulhan could easily be mistaken for a bouncer at a nightclub. But when I sat down for a chat with Sulhan, aka DJ Dholi Deep, I was immediately struck by his innate gentleness, humility, and soft-spoken manner.

“Music energizes me, it motivates me and is an integral part of my being,” confided DJ Deep softly. “Drums always attracted me. I picked up techniques from attending stage concerts and melas, and from watching Bollywood shows on the television,” added DJ Deep.

Born in Houston and raised in a family of musicians and music lovers, it was inevitable that DJ Deep would follow the trail welltraversed.

A self-taught drummer who is equally adept at the western drums and the dhol, DJ Deep began playing dhol at the age of fifteen. The 27 year old’s talent took him on a global tour with fabled British music-makers, RDB (RhythmDholBass), and featured prominently when the group played at the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Toronto in 2011.

But his great passion is a role he is most comfortable in – being a deejay. In 2009 DJ Deep founded DBN (DesiByNature) Promotions and with cutting edge sound and lighting equipment, he’s been entertaining at weddings, private parties, and also hosts monthly parties

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The Dhol Beats Deep in his Heart

at various clubs in the ilk of the Rice area’s Bambou Lounge and the Belvedere. On March 31, DJ Deep will be spinning discs along with India’s storied No 1 female deejay, DJ Rink, at the Avani Lounge on Hillcroft at Harwin.

“DJ Rink’s better than most guys, really good at what she does,” said DJ Deep, who will host Rink under the auspices of his company DBN. “I really want to establish myself more, I want people to know that I’m not traveling or touring much anymore and that I’m determined to take my

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club events to the next level. I try to keep the music fresh, new, and always want to give our crowds better service at popular, safe locations with large dance floors and of course, plenty of parking space,” he added.

He is conversant with the current western music trends like rap, hip hop, pop, and rock, and is able to successfully entertain at both desi and mainstream events with equal aplomb. He enjoys working in teams, pointing out several gigs shared with local deejay Aziz DJ Scoop Mohammad.

Aside from the positive influence and inspiration that DJ Deep draws from his father, well-known local CPA Pradeep Sulhan, and his siblings Simi, Sid, Samarth, and Suraj (a trombone player studying at Juilliard), his best friend and mentor Rahul Salvi, an engineering consultant, helps keep his career on track.

“Rahul guides me to stay on the right track, not only musically, but also in my life and the direction I am going,” said DJ Deep, gratefully.

The club event with DJ Deep and DJ Rink is on March 31 from 10.00pm to 2.00am at the Avani Lounge.

For more information about DJ Deep, visit www.dholideep.com,

Nizam’s Kitchen....

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en, the Goat Dum Biryani and the Chicken Dum Biryani. Irani prides herself on using fresh, premium ingredients in all her dishes and food is cooked according to specifications of the guest. All meat served is halal, there are no beef dishes on the menu, and the restaurant is a strictly non-alcohol zone.

Acceding to the demands of her diners, Irani will be introducing a lunch buffet with a salad bar.

The kitchen will create delicious spicy fillings for wraps and Irani is adding middle-eastern touches to the buffet menu. She has a Sunday brunch that features popular items. She is ready to cater weddings and other special events and can close the restaurant to accommodate private parties on all days except for Fridays and Saturdays, her busiest nights.

Guests visiting Nizam’s Kitchen were enthusiastic about the food and service.

“We went to Nizam’s soon after it opened and enjoyed the yummy starters and the scrumptious biry-

ani,” said Luckmi Pawa, who visited with her husband Shivi and their children. “Nizam’s Kitchen served up a hearty helping of delectable culinary delights,” Pawa added.

Ramesh Anand is another happy customer.

“I have visited Nizam’s Kitchen few times and also brought food home from the restaurant,” said Anand. “The very first time my wife and I stopped by we were met at the door by an extremely amicable woman, the owner Shahnaaz. Nizam’s is perfect for taking my family and appropriate for a business lunch. My family has been happy with every dish we ordered and all possessed an authentic Hyderbadi touch that we look for. I believe that this is the best thing that happened to Missouri City,” said Anand Nizam’s Kitchen is located at 5211 Hwy 6 South, Suite F, Missouri City, TX 77459. For more information call 832-284-7007 or 281-208-0711, or visit www. nizamskitchen.net.

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March 09, 2012

Mahashivaratri Celebration at MTS

BY VIVEK SHANKAR NATARAJAN PEARLAND: Maha Shivarathri at the Sri Meenakshi temple (MTS) on Monday, February 20, was a spiritual and cultural feast for all the devotees who attended. The night of Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi in the month of Phalguna is the holy festival of Mahashivaratri.

The entire temple was vibrant with the chanting of Rudhram, recitation of slokas, singing of bhajans, melodious rendition of Thevaram and Panchabootha Linga Kshethra Krithis, accompanied by lively dancing at the feet of Lord Nataraja.

At the peak of the festivities between 8 and 9 pm, the main temple was bustling with activities and the parking lot was completely full. As one approached the main temple one beheld a beautiful decoration of the altar complete with 108 sankhus (conches). The hall was teeming with pious devotees who were eagerly praying to Lord Shankara.

In keeping with the tradition, the program started with Ganesha Pooja and Punyahavachanam (The cleansing ceremony). This was followed by a Homam to

propitiate Lord Shiva. There was continuous chanting of the sacred hymn from Krishna Yajur Veda- Shri Rudram by Sri Sriram.

A group of devotees joined the chanting as well . This created an atmosphere filled with great vibrations bringing a sense of peace to all those assembled. The highlight of the evening was the abishekam

to Lord Sundareshwara with the 108 sankhus, followed by the offering of 108 golden Bilva (Bael/ stone-apple leaves) leaves with the chanting of Bilva Ashotharam.

Both the priests- Manickya Bhattar and Kalyanasundara Bhattar did an outstanding job in performing the pooja. Thoroughly moved by this austere ceremony, many of the devotees had goose bumps. Next came the Atmalinga pooja where devotees either individually or as couples, directly performed abhishekam to the Shiva Lingam and got the milk offered as prasa-

dam. Several devotees observed night long vigil during which time there was the four kala pooja to Lord Sundareshwara complete with Abishekam, Archana, and Bhajans.

Five dance schools performed in front of Lord Nataraja, in the Nataraja Sannidhi, a very appropriate samarpanam (gesture of offering with surrender) for this night. It was encouraging to see so many young children participating in the program. This event was well coordinated by Swaroopa Reddy.

The Subramanya Sannidhi was the venue for Bhajans - Namaadwar Bhajan group initially, and then Datta Yoga Center, did bhajans for many hours.

In the Durga Sannidhi, it was music all the way coordinated by Sri Vivek. There were numerous participants in small groups singing, playing violin and chanting Thevaram.The highlight of the evening was the mesmerizing rendition of Panchabhootha Krithis

by Chitra Dharmarajan and her group.

In the Prasadam tent there was continuous distribution of Badam (Almond) milk and fruit salad, fruits and other Prasadam brought in by other devotees. The temple priests, RAC coordinator Roopa Bala, and the many volunteers, all deserve a huge round of applause for putting this great spiritual event together. May they all receive Lord Shiva’s grace.

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Hindu Temple of The Woodlands Celebrates Mahashivaratri

WOODLANDS: Hindu Temple of The Woodlands (HTW), one of the newest temples in the Houston area, held its first Maha Shivaratri celebrations. It was held in a grand scale with the temple being filled to near capacity on February 20, a Monday evening. Adults and children

org.

Devotees, participants in the cultural program, sponsors and volunteers all helped make such a grand event possible. Festivities began on Sunday and concluded on Tuesday morning.

The Akshar Laksha Panchakshara Mahamantram Community Japam which preceded the event was very successful. We are pleased to inform you that the temple has surpassed its goal of 500,000 (5 lakhs) Panchakshara MahamanDevotees Suveena Guglani, Neeta Shukla, Kirti Patel, Smita Mehta and Snehal Mehta singing Shiva tram Japam and reached close to Bhajan at Hindu Temple of The Woodlands.

Photo: Anil Adoni 1,200,000.

In the final alike participated in the three- stages of construction prior to the day festival. All paid homage to installation of Sri Lakshmi and Lord Shiva, sang bhajans and Sri Radha-Krishna in April, the performed dances to invoke his temple will be closed to the pubblessings. The air was resplen- lic for approximately ten days dent with the sounds of “Om due to safety considerations. All Namaha Shivaya” and “Har Har temple programs including SunMahadev” as devotees chanted derkand and Annadanam are on with religious fervor. Our Pan- hold for the next two weeks. ditji did an especially beautiful However, the priest will be Alankaram (adorning) for Lord performing all pujas and abShiva. Please see pictures of the hishekams in ekantam. brightly decorated Shivalingam For more information, visit found on the temple’s website www.woodlandshindutemple. at www.woodlandshindutemple. org.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

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March 09, 2012

Interfaith Dialogue on Religion Held Here

by Vedanta Society as Instrument of Peace

HOUSTON: The Vedanta Society of Greater Houston (VSGH) will celebrate the birth anniversary of its spiritual leader, Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886) on March 10 at its new Center, 14809 Lindita Dr., Houston, TX 77083 (near the corner of Beechnut and Highway 6). After formal worship at 10:30 am, there will be an interfaith dialogue from 4-6pm.

Shri Ramakrishna was the priest of a Kali Temple but also practiced Christianity and Islam among other faiths. He experienced

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firsthand what the Rg Veda , an ancient scripture of India, declared, “Truth is one; sages call it by various names.” Sri Ramakrishna affirmed that every religion has the inherent power to take its followers to the Ultimate Reality. The world’s religions are not contradictory or antagonistic to one another but complementary. No one need change one’s religion for another or persuade others to change their religion. Through both his life and teachings Sri Ramakrishna showed that it is possible to remain faithful to one’s own religion while opening one’s heart to the inspiration that comes from other faiths.

In honor of this universal teaching, the

Vedanta Society has invited speakers from five faith traditions to engage in dialogue on the question, “How Can Religion be Used as an Instrument of Peace?” In today’s world there seems to be continuous conflict between individuals, countries, races and genders, all in the name of religion, using it as a weapon. As a visiting swami at the Vedanta Society recently said, “A knife can be used as a weapon in the hands of a murderer and the same knife used by a skilled surgeon would save lives.”

Speakers at the interfaith dialogue will be Imam Omar Inshanally, Head of the Islamic Scholars Committee of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston; The Reverend Canon Betty C. Adam, Episcopal priest at Christ Church Cathedral and founder of Link2Peace and Compassionate Houston; Bhai Bhupinder Singh Paras Ji, Head Priest at the Gurdwara Sahib of Southwest Houston; Swami Prasannatmananda, Assistant Swami at the Vedanta Society in Berkeley, CA, and a monk of the Ramakrishna Order of India; and Ajit Giani, External Affairs Officer for the Houston Baha’I Community and a member of Interfaith Ministries Board and executive committee.

Pravrajika Brahmaprana ,Resident Minister at Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of North Texas will be the Facilitator of the event.

For more information, visit www. houstonvedanta.org

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March 09, 2012

Bharatanatyam Recital of A. Lakshmanaswamy

BY THARA NARASIMHAN HOUSTON: It was a celebrated occasion as Triveni Sangam (convergence of three organizations), Silambam Houston, Samarpanam and Samskriti, Society of Indian Performing Arts together presented a Bharatanatyam dance recital of Nadanamamani A. Lakshmanaswamy at the Kaplan Theatre, JCC Houston on Feb.26th 2012.

Lakshman’s previous visit to Houston was in 1992 with the memorable dance group that presented “Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum” where he played the lead role of Lord Krishna. This time Lakshman performed in customary style, encompassing the elements of Alarippu, Jathiswaram, Varnam , Ashta-

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From left: L. Subhasri, N.Sigmani, G.R. Praveen, Shakthivel Muruganandam, A.Lakshmanaswamy, Rathna Kumar, Padmini Chari, Lavanya Rajagopalan. Photo: PhotographyByNavin.com

padi and Thillana. Live musical accompaniment was a superb match for the dancer and added grandeur to the recital.

The program started with Alarippu in Tisra Triputa tala, with varied rhythmic patterns which proved to be an extremely impressive introductory piece. One of the star students of Sarasalaya, Lakshman presented a Ragamalika Jathiswaram choreographed by his Late Guru K.J. Sarasa and dedicated his performance to her. What was most evident in the piece was that the dancer used perfectly blended Korvais and Adavus, pieced together flawlessly, in tandem with the melody, and movement.

Varnam the centerpiece of any Bhartanatyam recital amply demonstrated this great artist’s mastery of Abhinaya (expressions) woven with intensive depth of Natya (dance) and Nritta, (conveying the rhythm through dance), in a composition of T. V. Gopalakrishnan, “Vaarana Mukhavaa”.

The Varnam had apt lyrical content with ample scope for abhinaya. It addressed Lord Ganesha, the elephant-faced God and described different episodes connected with the deity. Acclaimed as the best male dancer of present times, Lakshman’s mastery of every nuance of the Natya was exceptionally evident, when he depicted the story of how Ganesha’s elephant head came to be.

He also portrayed the story of the contest

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between Ganesha-Muruga for the coveted mango followed by the incident of Ganesha being instrumental in the union of his younger brother Muruga with Valli.

Jayadeva’s Ashtapadi was remarkably rendered in a manner not witnessed here before in Bharatanatyam as the dancer remained seated throughout the dance piece. It portrayed Sringara Rasa (expression of love) wherein Radha and Krishna are sharing moments of sublime passion. This simple theme of Sringara rasaanubhava was effectively displayed by skilful exposition and underscored the point of Abhinaya. The recital ended with the customary Thillana in Revathi Raga, a composition of Madurai

N.Krishnan, dedicated to Goddess Devi.

Ms L Subhasri wielded the Nattuvangam in adherence to tradition; she is also a notable veena artist. G.R. Praveen was the Vocalist whose mesmerizing music was a core component of the excellence of the evening. Shakthivel Muruganandam on the Mridangam presented extraordinary rhythmic patterns with beat cycles of varying resonance which made for a scintillating experience . Shri. Sigamani played with ease and inimitable style on the violin reflecting his experience of over 25years accompanying almost all of the top dancers in Bharatanatyam.

Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan, Founder of Silambam Houston welcomed the gathering and expertly presented the dance items as the master of ceremonies. Dr. Rathna Kumar, Founder of Samskriti Society of Indian Performing Arts introduced the accompanying artistes and the performer and took pride in her belonging to the same Bharatanatyam school, as both Lakshman and she were students of Late Smt. K.J.Sarasa. Smt. Padmini Chari, Founder of Samarpanam extended the vote of thanks to the artists, audience and all those who made the event possible. Altogether it was a memorable and momentous confluence of three Artistic directors to bring an acclaimed performer to Houston.

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March 09, 2012

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Wealthy New Yorker Annie George Enslaved Mansion Servant for Six Years

BY ERIC PFEIFFER (Yahoo) A wealthy New York woman is facing criminal charges after being accused of keeping an illegal immigrant as an indentured servant and forcing her to live in a closet for nearly six years.

Documents posted on the Smoking Gun allege that Annie George, 39, and her now-deceased husband, Mathai Kolath George, hired an illegal immigrant from the Indian state of Kerala. The immigrant, identified only as “V.M.,” was promised about $1,000 a month in wages to live in the family’s 34room, 30,000-square-foot home, known as Llenroc mansion, which houses a helicopter pad, 15 fireplaces, marble flooring, 24-karat gold gilded ceilings and a glass elevator. V.M. was tasked with taking care of the Georges’ four young children, along with performing household duties in the mansion located about 20 miles north of Albany.

New York’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Even if V.M. had been allowed to leave the residence at the end of a regular 40hour workweek, she would have been entitled to a minimum, pretax income of $290 per week, or $1,160 per month.

Instead, the “forced labor situ-

Photo credit: AP | Annie George, center, at the funeral for her husband and son in Watervliet, N.Y. (June 19, 2009)

An aerial view of Llenroc mansion (thesmokinggun.com)

ation” (as described in the court papers) was even worse than the already-below minimum wage offer of $1,000 month. V.M. received 85 cents an hour, working 17-hour days, seven days a week, over the 67 months she was kept inside the George residence.

All told, V.M. received only

about $29,000 over the five and a half years she was forced to work for the George family.

[Read more on human trafficking] The Smoking Gun reports that immigration agents received a tip from the National Human Trafficking Resource Center last year and

removed V.M. from the George’s property. The U.S. Department of Labor conducted its own investigation and says V.M. is entitled to $206,000 in back wages. She was also allegedly denied health benefits, sick days or any personal time off from her labors.

Annie George, whose husband died in a plane crash in 2009, reportedly called V.M.’s son three times, suggesting he “tell his mother to tell authorities that she was a relative of George’s family and was only staying at George’s house as a guest.” How-

ever, V.M.’s son recorded the calls, which included a plea from Annie George, “If she says anything about working, it would become a big crime. They’ll start adding up all the taxes and everything, for all the time.”

According to the Smoking Gun documents, the George estate had been put up for sale for a reported $30 million.

Annie George appeared in court on Wednesday before a federal magistrate, facing charges of encouraging and inducing an illegal alien to reside in the U.S.

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10 March 09, 2012

Ek – There is only One! Play on Shri Shridi Sai Baba is Complex, Yet Brilliant

BY RAGHUNATH SAPURAM AUSTIN: It was an honor to witness the play Ek, the musical, the magic of the little gaun (village) called Shirdi with the simple villagers, simple hearts, love, gratitude and the irresistible pull of Baba’s presence in the village. It was produced by the Shri Shridi Sai Baba Temple of Austin along with the Natyalaya School of Dance at the Henderson High School Auditorium in Pflugerville, Texas (just north of Austin) on Saturday, February 18.

The play opens with ‘Shirdi’ waking up early in the morning.

As Nature wakes up, so do the people of Shirdi one by one making their appearance at the village center, and building up to song and dance. Shirdi (and the audience) are introduced to young Baba, the yogi! The mystic magic of Baba starts to unfold through the eyes of the village folk and the stories they relate to one another. Who is Baba? A saint, a yogi, an avatar, a prophet, a mystic!

The play beautifully brings out the human aspects - of love, of gratitude, of devotion, of pain, of song and fun! I have often wondered how it would have been if I had lived at the time of Jesus in the village where he grew up, and at the time of Krishna in the village where he played and made music.

Now I have a glimpse of what it

would have been like!

The stage setting and backdrops were amazing. Dwarakamai is the humble masjid where Baba spent most of his life and is a crucial part of the Sai lore. On the stage, a 15 feet high Dwarakamai was recreated. True to life dimensions and eerily lifelike, when assembled it was a slice of Shirdi in Austin.

A stirring Qawwali, powerful dances, moving bhajans, an inspired cast of children, young and senior people – a message of unity, of the One which is within us all and around us all!

The ‘Grinding, Grinding’ piece was very interesting. At first, it was getting to me, and then I real-

ized that this is exactly the point the grinding of life, of Karma, gets us, when we observe with detachment and move through it, it frees us from the bondages.

The audience was moved to a different world, especially in the second half of the play.

Usha Akella, who became the marvelous instrument to conceive, script and produce this musical, and her team, brought out the spirituality and the knowledge through the story, song and dialogue.

Suchitra Lata, the well-known singer, song-writer and musician from Bangalore, composed the music for Ek, and has done a phenomenal job bringing out the Indian mysticism in English and a mix of different styles of music.

Shri Devaguptapu Babu, the Director (and acted as Baba), Vinita Subramaniam, the Choreographer, Kanaka Sathasivan, technical director, Satya Dwivedula, assistant director, Vani Ramgiri, cast director, and Raj Gadde, stage director, did a wonderful job bringing it all together into a visual and aural treat.

Kudos to the cast of over 40 actors and dancers, as well as the support team! Entirely from Texas, I know many of the cast members personally, professionally or socially! Never did I imagine that they had this talent ‘hidden’ in them. Every one of them fell into

their roles and it did not seem like they were acting. There are many magical moments in the play, but there was one special moment for me when all was still with the passing of the saint. A precious moment of silence and stillness!

Check out http://www.ekmu-

sical.org for information on the musical, how to get involved, the team, and other information.

The play will be brought to Houston shortly by Media Circle and Art Promotions.

Call 713-668-2948 for more information.

TNF 2012 Idol Adult Audition Scores Big SUGAR LAND: Amid wide recognition by the community for the TNF 2012 Junior Idol competition, the auditions for the TNF 2012 Adult Idol were conducted on February 26 at First Colony Community Center in Sugar Land. With 25 participants entering the fray, and over 100 people in attendance, the show was a grand success, yet only a pre-cursor to the upcoming semi-finals planned in April.

Karu Manickam initiated the show with a colorful welcome speech in Tamil. Janarthanan (IDOL co-ordinator) summarized the rules and regulations followed by the emcees. Dr. Sivaraman and Raj Thiagarajan (Cultural Cmte. Co-ordinator) ensured that the real time logistics and technical details were seamless. Dr. Saranathan and Rajan Radhakrishnan (Cultural Chair, TNF) were tireless emcees and maintained high excitement and energy levels.

The judging panel consisted of Karthika Mahadev (IDOL co-ordinator), Prahlad Kalidas and Tara Balakrishnan. A variety of popular Tamil songs were sung by enthusiastic contestants showcasing the inherent talent of the local community. Raj Thiagarajan gave the Vote of thanks to conclude the show.

The Adult Idol of Houston will compete against finalists from San Antonio, Austin and Dallas for the TNF Idol title and will be crowned at the three day grand gala – TNF 2012 Convention to be held during the Memorial Day weekend in May 2012 TNF Adult Idol semi-finalists are:

Female: Dhanya Nagarajan, Keerthana Bhat, Janani Hariharan, Rena Janarthanan, Sandhya Ayyar, Preethi Vasudevan, Vaishnavi Narasimhan Male: Barani Krishnan, Kumaran Veeraghavan, Sowmyanarayanan V, Raghavendran Madhavara

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Worship performed by Swami Prasannatmananda, Assistant Minister, Vedanta Society, Berkeley, CA

Lunch - 12:30 -1:30 pm Supper - 6:30 pm President: Swapna Chaudhuri 281-584-0488 832-594-5554

http://www.houstonvedanta.org/ Email: info@houstonvedanta.org

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The Vedanta Society of Greater Houston cordially invites you along with your family & friends to attend 14809 Lindita Drive Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday Celebration Houston, TX 77083 (off SH 6 between Empanada & Beechnut, behind Champion Chevrolet) Saturday, March 10, 2012 Special Worship Interfaith Dialog 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Moderated by Pravrajika Brahmaprana, Resident Minister, Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of North Texas, Irving, TX Speakers Sheikh Omar Inshanally Islam Reverend Betty Adam Christianity Bhai Paras Ji Sikhism Ajit Giani Baha’i Swami Prasannatmananda Vedanta

How can Religion be used as an Instrument of Peace?

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

March 09, 2012

Fifth YLDP Session for Youth Held at India House

HOUSTON: The fifth session of YLDP took place on February 25 at the India House with a magnificent and inspirational guest speaker, Dr. Robert Patterson.

As the VP of Offshore Projects Americas for Shell, Patterson has had the opportunity to serve as the leader of “part of an amazing team that makes dreams come true”.

The Perdido project, which was conceived in 1996, is now an environmentally safe structure that can drill over 8000 ft deep and produce more than 100,000 barrels of oil a day. As Patterson shared the inspiration for such an accomplishment and the various forms of opposition he and his team have had to overcome, the YLDP students gained an understanding of the importance of science and technology and the vast possibilities it has for bettering the lives. He shared why his job is to make Big Dreams become Big Realities. In doing so, Patterson explained the importance of distinguishing between a problem and a dilemma. A dilemma represents intended and unintended consequences that can have both positive and negative impacts.

When talking about science and technology, it is easy to think back to the biology or chemistry class, but Patterson took a step further by showing that science isn’t just about a chemical formula or a classification of a species, but it’s also about what you can do with that

11

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Certified Public Accountant 14340 Torrey Chase Blvd. Suite 110 Houston, Texas 77014 (281) 583-2993 (281) 580-8700 Fax(281) 580-7550 www.sulhancpa.com pradeep@sulhancpa.com YLDP students with Dr. Robert Patterson, VP, Offshore Projects Americas for Shell.

Over 25 year experience

life, and showed how context has such a key role in how people’s lives play out. Patterson not only showed some of the advancements of his company, Shell, but he also showed what it means to be a leader, and sometimes the unconventionality of a leader is what makes them so special.

YLDP students Avanthika Gopal, Keerthana Pakanati, Gaurav Dhume, Khushi Parihar, Tejaswi Veerati, Natasha Kumar, Isha Deo, and Rajni Bhavasar contributed to this article.

knowledge. While accomplishing technological successes, it is important to recognize that our actions affect not only ourselves, but everyone around us, and that it is necessary to be aware of the far reaching consequences of our technological achievements.

Robert Patterson truly inspired the students not only by celebrating technological breakthroughs but also showing how to patiently deal with setbacks. He took them on a journey through his

Information Event on Consular Services Consulate General of India, Houston rendered a total 1,33,766 consular services during 2011. Among several measures taken to help the community, the Consulate has been organizing information events on its consular services in various places serviced by it.

At the request of the Indian-American community in the cities of Pearland and Clear Lake, the Consulate will be organizing an Information Event on Consular Services, in cooperation with Sri Meenakshi Temple Society, on Sunday, March 18 from 3-5pm at Kalyana Mandapam, Sri Meenakshi Temple, 17130 McLean Road, Pearland, TX 77584.

The event is open to all Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin. Attendees are requested to bring a photo ID.

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IACAN Kick Starts 2012 with a Seminar on Lung Cancer

BY MITALI PAUL HOUSTON: Did you know that lung cancer is the number one killer of men and women in the world leading to over 1.4 million deaths each year? Did you know that 85% of the cases are fatal?

Lung cancer ranks second in the estimated new cases that are diagnosed every year, next to prostate cancer in men, and breast cancer in women.

On Sunday February 26, over 65 people gathered at India House to hear Dr. S. R. Venkatesh (Pulmonologist), Dr. Sewa Legha (Oncologist) and Dr. Sunil Krishnan (Radiation Oncologist) talk about lung cancer, early diagnosis, treatment options, and prevention.

This seminar was organized by the Indian American Cancer Network (IACAN).

Dr. Venkatesh shared data with the audience that shows a remarkably steady increase in lung cancer deaths in women since the 1960s which can be directly related to the increased incidence of smoking.

More than 90% of lung cancers are related to cigarette smoking (active or passive). Exposure to radiation, environmental toxins, pulmonary fibrosis, HIV infections, and genetics are other contributing factors that add to an individual’s risk of lung cancer.

Dr. Legha explained that “small cell” and “non-small cell” are the two main types of lung cancer.

There are 4 stages, and treatment options depend on the stage of the disease.

From left: S.R. Venkatesh, M.D.(Pulmonologist), Sunil Krishnan, M.D. (Radiation Oncologist), Sewa Legha, M.D. (Oncologist) Photo: Bijay Dixit

• Stage 1: Early, localized tumor with no local or regional spread.

Surgery would be a good option.

• In Stage 2: Tumor starts to spread into nearby lymph nodes.

Surgery is still a good option.

• Stage 3: Locally advanced tumor spreading into further afar lymph nodes. Surgery or chemoradiation therapy (concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy) are possible options.

• Stage 4: Distant metastases with wide spread cancer. Chemotherapy is recommended.

Dr. Krishnan also shared some compelling data linking smoking prevalence with cancer incidence across the world. He discussed tools such as pulmonary function tests (PFTs) that help with deciding on treatment options, once the disease has been diagnosed. He shared some fascinating technologies and techniques available for radiation treatment.

All three speakers alluded to the fact that treatment of lung cancer is a team approach—a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy or drugs.

Unfortunately, by the time lung cancer symptoms manifest themselves, it is often too widespread or advanced. Despite extensive research being carried out, no proven screening method has emerged as the forerunner. CT scans in high-risk smokers may help with detecting growths in the lungs, but the take-home message that resonated in every speaker’s presentation was the same – if you want to reduce the risk of lung cancer DO NOT SMOKE! The seminar wrapped up with a lively open forum stirring up lots of audience discussion and Q&As. For more information, visit www.iacannetwork.com or email iacannetwork@gmail.com

India House Welcomes Supreme Court of India Justice HOUSTON: In the evening hours of Monday, March 5, India House’s President Jugal Malani welcomed Supreme Court of India Justice Swatanter Kumar to India House, Houston. India House hosted an intimate crowd for a dinner in Justice Kumar’s honor and a talk given by him.

Guests viewed a documentary on the history and mission of India House as they set down to dinner catered by Great W’Kana Café.

The Honorable Consul General Sanjiv Arora gave briefs comments and a warm introduction of India’s Supreme Court Justice Kumar.

Kumar spoke on social aspects of India’s constitution relative to law and marriage and on social concepts and implications of the relations between the United States and India. -He highlighted the history and importance of free education in India, and he discussed legal ramifications and individual rights relative to marriage in India versus the US. Particularly noted were differences in US and India laws on marriage involving property division, infidelity, and religion. Kumar also emphasized the number of cases handled by the court being over

Justice Kumar with India House Board members and other guests

some 40, 000 per day and he answered questions which had been developed by the audience. Audience questions ranged from topics of police brutality to people’s satisfaction with India’s justice system.

Swatanter Kumar was appointed to the Supreme Court of India by President Pratibha Patil in 2009, previously served as Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, and practiced as an advocate in various high courts. Justice Kumar was given notoriety for cases where he took suo moto cognizance of

various issues, particularly a hitand-run case involving laborers (seven killed) sleeping on a footpath at Carter Road in 2006.

Other distinguished guests in attendance include; The People’s Attorney Richard Alderman of University of Houston/ABC 13 News, Dean Ray Nimmer of University of Houston, and University of Houston Carrie Criado.

Closing remarks were given by India House Board Member, Jiten Agarwal, as guests were given an opportunity to mingle and take photos with Justice Kumar after the event.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

March 09, 2012

Color every moment with joy The festival of Holi brings about the celebration of a new season. May yours be safe, spirited and filled with wonderful color. We hope you enjoy every occasion with comfort and peace of mind, knowing that if you need us, we’ll be there.

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13

14 March 09, 2012

COMMUNITY

The Spirit of Holi Pleases Record Festival Crowds

HOUSTON: Facebook posters are calling it the Holi “Rave.” Amanda Hernandez of Sam Houston State University described the event with “Colour flying all around, dancing spirits and high energy allowed the students to be free, let loose and just be happy.” And the almighty sent down the perfect weather for it, 72 degrees and a cloudless sky, so that the light showers transcending from the fommy.com Rain Machince signaled the last hour of Holi 2012. One Masala Radio listener said the Rain Dance Party was “so romantic. I danced for an hour with my husband in the rain, surrounded by all our friends, it was like a Bollywood Movie.”

Yes, by all the positive comments pouring in the following Monday, Sunday’s Holi 2012 organized by Sunil and Sandhya Thakkar of Masala Radio was a spectacular hit.

The Rosenberg Police gave the attendance at between 13,500 to 15,000. 15,000? That would make it by far the largest South Asian Festival attendance in Houston’s history. Of course there is no real head count, as the organizers charged no entrance or parking fee, thanks to the generous support of Grand Sponsors Tara Energy, Aapka Colors, Zing (ZeeTV’s new 24/7 Bollywood Channel), Jugal & Raj Malani, and nearly 70 sponsors.

Naushir and Pervez Merchant exclaimed, “Only Sunil can pull this kind of crowd.”

Bakul Thakkar (leading actor in ZeeTV Serials like Kusum) was in town for a drama, and emphasized, “I don’t see these kind of crowds for Holi in India. This is spectacular.” Co-associates Gujarati Samaj of Houston sold an endless supply of 6 colors of Holi powder and ceremonial coconuts and managed the Holi Pragatya (Bonfire), while Hindus of Greater of Houston warmly invited all Hindu organizers to join in the melee.

Sonal Bhuchar exclaimed “I love the colorful Holi booths, the firecracker balloons; it truly feels like a Festival of Colors!”

The spirit of Holi drew in Holi revelers of all ages and kept them entertained for hours, not an easy task for the discerning Indian with new age electronics to distract them daily. Families enjoyed the non-stop stage entertainment emceed by Sunil T and Preanka Desai. The Chikna Chamela Dance Competition was the highlight on stage, with four guys drawn from the audience dressed like women and strutted their inner feminine side to the hottest Item Girl dances. Masala Radio host and Choreographer Priya Choksi directed the makeover, and even showed the guys a few curvy steps before their performance. Anand Patel dressed like an a harem girl and danced to Sheila Ki Jawani, Dhuval Patel dressed in a hot pink and green Chunia Choli, complete with curves, and danced to Munni Badnam, Malav Desai was more a Hidimba than Chikni Chameli, and Anil Rana looked the demure but un-endowed fisherwoman dancing to the brand new Channo. Judges Nikhil Shukla of Aapka Colors, Malik Jamal of Tara Energy, and Altaf and Neelofar Ali of Kohnioor Diamonds awarded first prize to Dhuval Patel and second place to Anand Patel, both received Fendi Watches valued at $800 each. Chikna Chameli was created over a lunch meeting among the creative Masala Radio management team.

“We have to keep it new, keep it fresh, keep it changing,” said Sunil Thakkar. “I want there to be a surprise element every year!”

And surprise it was when Alings Hakka Cuisine – the new affordable upscale IndoChinese restaurant in Sugarland presented a Bollywood Dragon Dance as nearly 30 Chinese performers and 4 10 foot high Dragons

Sunil Thakkar addressing the crowd at Holi 2012 Photo: Nadirali Patel NP Photography

danced to “Dhoom Again.” Ray Khan of Sky Productions has captured the Stage and spirit of Holi which will be aired in the next few weeks on Aapka Colors.

DJ Zee rocked the audience for five hours straight, from managing the dance act music and sponsor mentions, to a one hour stage dance party that could be heard through the rain and all the way to the food booths with an innovative surround, delay sound system by Ali Durrani of AD Sounds.

Dance Schools were in their colorful best, with sweet traditional and Desh Bhakti performances by Shiva Mathur’s Shivagini School of Dance, red hot numbers by Anu Shrivastav’s Hybrid Rhythms, Neon pulsating beats by the troupe directed by Mahesh Mahbhubhani, and crisp movements by Arzan Gonda’s Rhythm India. Other vibrant performances came from (in order of performance) Masti Express, Swaybody, Sugar Pear, Nachle Dreams, Desi Beatz, Nupur Dance School, Pallavi Dance Academy, Shingari’s School of Rhythm, and Infused Performing Arts. Ajay Chuchu of Top Ten Thursdays on Masala Radio sang a medley with Jai Ho along with the top ten Rodeo Rock Star Komal Agarwal. As a finale act Master Zulfi of Bushi Ban Martial Arts presented champions who even managed to break a board on Sunil’s head. Daya spoke briefly to remind all of the audience that they are available 24/7 to help any familes with a domestic violence situation at dayahouston.org.

While the crowd in front of the stage was a sea of colored families, a smaller but distinct crowd of teens and young adults formed in front of DJ Nishad and DJ Rizz’s booth and danced all afternoon. Some found the teenager inside them and joined in. Govind Kamnani of India Jewelers shouted “with all this color, no one can recognize me or Chandani, Ashish and Ekta Malhotra, so Yes we are partying in the middle of this crowd!’ Bombay Pizza Company supplied 4000 16 OZ sturdy plastic cups, a souvenir quickly snatched up and used soley for the purpose of collecting water and dousing friends. Even though 2 non-stop supplies of water were available from the Water Monsters with 10 taps each, it wasn’t fast enough for the kids who quickly found water from the leaking Rain Machine hose, and found bigger buckets as well. Momemtum BMW provided plastic seat covers as guests were leaving.

What is an Indian event without food?

Every imaginable variety of Indian Cuisine was available from the Holi food court. Fresh Dosas spewed from the grills at Madras Pavilion and Udipi Café Hilcroft.

Alpahaar sold fresh Kasta Kachoris and chaat while Mirch Masala’s Pani Puris became an instant hit. Masala Indian Cuisine

provided North Indian Cuisine while Neeta’s attracted die-hard Gujaratis in search of earthy Kichdi. And the warm clear sky caused an insatiable thirst for Baloch’s Kulfi’s, Faloodas and Fresh queezed Sugar Cane Juice and Natura’s rainbow flavors of Ice Cream. Kids flocked like bees to Three Peppers Pizza, While Sankalp Tast of India lived up to its name with over two dozen varieties of Indian cuisine.

Masala Radio organizers cannot thank enough the unwavering efforts of their team of managers, from the Office Crew Nimi, Amisha, Rinku, and Sharmi, to Radio Crew Preanka, Rajoo, Dilip, Alka, Bijuria, Kashmira, Priya, Priti, and Ajay, to the Holi Crew Shilpi, Shreya, Krupa, Sandeep, and Ninad.

Special Thanks to Philip Thekkekara and UH’s Delta Psi Epsilon and Neal Bhakta and the crew from UH’s Phi Kappa Psi for

Rep. Pete Olson joined thousands of Fort Bend county residents and Indian Americans for the 5th annual Holi Festival. As a first-time participant, Congressman Olson was delighted to join in the festivities including having some color thrown his way.

providing all the muscle for setup and security. Thanks for the amazing efforts of nearly 150 High School volunteers from the Village School, Austin High School, Dulles High School and Bellaire High School. Holi 2012 was captured in a myriad of colors by the excellent photographers Nadirali Patel of NP Photography and Noman Khowaja of Golden Dream Productions, as well as SBR Magazine.

Visit MasalaRadio.com or Facebook.com/ Houston Holi to get a glimpse of the action.

Look for more Holi 2012 pictures in our next issue dated March 16 Cover page photography: Nadirali Patel NP Photography, Navin Mediwala, Noman Khowaja Golden Dream Productions, SBR Magazine

Sewa USA to Offer Internship to Experience India from Within

HOUSTON: As more and more American college students are opting to work in India to get a closer look at this emerging giant, Sewa International USA is offering an exciting internship opportunity to experience India from within.

“Yuva (Youth) For Sewa” (YFS), a 10week long summer internship offered by Sewa, provides students a great opportunity to work in India’s nonprofit sector. Interns will work with some of the highly energetic social service organizations in India.

Transformative Experience Inviting students to submit an application, Professor Sree Sreenath, President of Sewa International USA called the internship a ‘transformative experience’. “Interns are immersed in the community they serve and they love it” Prof. Sreenath remarked.

“YFS started in 2006 and 44 students have served so far in various projects based on their interest and academic training. Health, education, environment and woman and child empowerment are four broad project categories,” Prof. Sreenath elaborated.

“Having seen the positive impact of their work and moved by the love and hospitality of their hosts and the people they serve, YFS interns return home with a longing to go back and a resolve to make selfless service a part of their being” Prof. Sreenath explained.

Application Process “Applications should be submitted online (http://sewausa.org/application-form)

by March 31. YFS interns can also opt to work in a Caribbean country. We select interns through a telephone and an in-person interview”, Darshan Soni, Sewa’s Vice

President for Development outlined the selection process.

“Successful applicants will be high school graduates and 18 years or older.

They are residents of USA or Canada and able to participate in the full 10 week program. Above all, they are enthusiastic and willing to serve people” Mr. Soni summarized program requirements.

“Chosen applicants will be notified by email or phone. Upon accepting the offer, they need to pay a $450 application and administration fee. They will begin their internship on June 4 with a week-long orientation” Darshan explained. Boarding, lodging and local transportation are covered by Sewa during the 10 week period.

Travel expenses to India are borne by the intern.

Cultural Orientation Orientation covers general project training and cultural information. From second week, interns will focus on specific projects and work with other volunteers. For detailed project descriptions, visit: http:// sewausa.org/projects.

For more information on Yuva For Sewa (YFS), visit http://sewausa.org/yuva-sewaappeal. Read about past YFS interns at http://sewausa.org/yuva-sewa-fellows or watch YFS videos at http://sewausa.org/ latest-videos. Email any related questions to yfs@sewausa.org.

About Sewa International Sewa International is a 501 (c)(3) Hindu-faith based charitable non-profit service organization that works with communities in need. Sewa USA believes that “Service to humanity is service to God”. Sewa can be contacted at (708) USASEWA, or at info@sewausa.org and http://www. sewausa.org.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

March 09, 2012

15

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

16 March 09, 2012

BY SHIVANI VORA Growing up in a Punjabi family in which drinking whiskey is a ritual as sacrosanct as a religious ceremony, watching my father, my dadaji (grandfather), and all the uncles from my parents’ social circle sip a glass pre-dinner while nibbling on salted nuts is a memory ingrained in me from my early childhood in India. Though they normally stuck to Scottish brands like Johnny Walker and Glenfiddich, a handful of Indian makers like Royal Challenge worked their way into the mix.

When we moved to the United States, the lack of Indian whiskeys meant that these memories were only resurrected on trips back to Delhi.

More than 25 years later, that’s about to change, as Royal Challenge becomes the first classic Indian whiskey to launch stateside (Bangalore’s Amrut Distilleries, which produces a more Scottishstyle whiskey started shipping to the United States in 2010). Royal Challenge is made by the Bangalore-based United Breweries Group, which also owns Kingfisher Beer and, like flailing Kingfisher airlines, is controlled by Vijay Mallya.

The whiskey has quietly been sold in more than 300 stores in New York, New Jersey and Chicago for the past four months.

Tony Bedi, president of the UB Group in the United States, says that the company wants to sell Royal Challenge in areas where there are large Indian communities, and he plans to expand sales to Houston and parts of California. Besides Indians like my fa-

INDIA

India’s Newest Export: Whiskey

ther, who are sentimental about Royal Challenge because they think of it as the brand from back home, the liquor has found unexpected fans in the Caribbean community in Queens, because of the Royal Challengers Bangalore cricket team in India, named for the liquor. “The biggest interest in the whiskey has come from the Caribbeans who

love cricket and associate it with the sport,” said Bedi.

The Royal Challenge brand has existed for more than 100 years, though United Breweries bought it in 2005 from Indian liquor manufacturer Shaw Wallace & Company. In the United States, a bottle sells for between $14 and $17, slightly higher than the 500 to 600 rupees it goes for in India. United Breweries produces 1.4 million cases of it annually, which is sold mostly within India but also in parts of the Middle East. The number is small compared to the 19 million cases of Bagpiper it produces annually, which is India’s highest-selling whiskey, but the company considers Royal Challenge a more premium brand.

As someone who limits her alcohol consumption to wine and Champagne, I turned to Gabrielle Shayne, a Scotch sommelier with the Scotch Malt Whisky Association of America in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to explain the difference between Scotch and whiskey. Scotch refers to whisky that is made in Scotland (where whisky is always spelled without the “e”), whereas whiskey produced in Ireland or Japan or India is simply called whiskey. Whiskeys produced in the United States are generally called bourbons (made from corn) or ryes, and tend to be sweeter than Scottish whiskeys. The spirit is made from grains like barley, corn and rye and can either be a blend or single malt, which is usually barley. Whiskeys vary in taste from smoky to light and sweet depending on the region they come from.

With this mini-tutorial in-hand, I tried Royal Challenge and found it to be more

sweet than smoky. My father drank it before our family dinner last weekend while he recalled stories about his classmates from St. Stephen’s College in Delhi (with whom he used to share the whiskey) and commented on the smooth texture, while my husband, Mahir, said it had a subtle flavor.

Scotland is the largest whisky-producing region in the world. Rosemary Gallagher, the spokeswoman for the Scotch Whiskey Association, which is the Edinburgh-based trade organization for Scottish whiskey, said that while the group is not a position to give a view on Indian whiskey and how it might be received globally, the brand is registered in the United States as a “Spirit Whisky.’’

“It is our understanding that this would need only contain 5 percent real [Scottish] whisky,” she said.

According to Binod K. Maitin, a United Breweries technician who oversees all the liquor blends for the company, Royal Challenge is grain based and blended with Scotch malts from the regions of Islay, Highlands and Speyside, and also includes Indian malts. The company, however, declined to give the percentage of Scotch whisky.

Bedi just signed the Indian actress Pooja Batra to be the U.S. brand ambassador for Royal Challenge, and plans to officially introduce the whiskey in the United States next month, with a party in New York City.

He has also hired Raghu Ram, an MTV India senior producer, to shoot a commercial, which will start airing on Indian television channels in the United States over the next few months.

Courtesy of United Breweries GroupRoyal Challenge Whiskey

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09, 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

Pratham Houston Gala 2012 to be held April 21

HOUSTON: In 1998, a group of philanthropy-minded Houstonian Indians motivated by Vijay Goradia came together with a vision.

They believed that every child, no matter what his or her economic situation, deserved to be in school and learning well. To facilitate this, they founded Pratham Houston, the first American chapter of an organization that has, in 18 years, grown to become the largest non-profit working in the area of primary education in India.

Pratham serves economically underprivileged children of ages 6-14 years, living in rural areas or urban slums across 21 states in India.

cific Training centers. Currently, there are 32 centers, with more in the pipeline. The average placement rate for graduates is 80%. Pratham aims to triple the number of its trainees in 2012-13.

Pratham’s work has been widely recognized.

It has received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, the Henry R. Kravis Leadership Prize, awards from the World Bank, Indian nonGovernment organizations and the Government of Japan, and grants from the Gates Foundation, Hewlett Packard, Google, GE and Deloitte, among others.

In Urban areas, its direct programs include community pre-school programs for children from low-income families, community libraries, bridge programs that target children who do not attend school or are victims of trafficking and abuse, and vocational training for unemployed and underemployed youth. These direct programs benefit hundreds of thousands of children every year. Through its flagship Read India program, implemented in rural areas, Pratham has reached 34 million children since 2007. Pratham will have an even broader reach as it implements Read India II and III. Pratham’s programs address several barriers to learning, including low enrollments, dropouts, poor teaching in schools, and lack of an environment conducive to learning at home.

Pratham’s recent efforts include providing older children with job skills in Industry Spe-

Pratham USA has been awarded a four Star rating from Charity Navigator, which is the highest possible, for its low overhead and administrative costs.

Pratham has achieved a great deal, but there is a lot more to be done before every child in India gets the education he or she deserves. That is why Pratham Houston is holding a fundraiser gala, titled “We are One World,” on Saturday April 21 at 6pm at Hilton Americas, 1600 Lamar. The keynote speaker for this event is Ajay Banga, President and CEO of MasterCard and a member of its board of directors. Prior to joining MasterCard in 2009, Mr. Banga was CEO of Citigroup Asia Pacific. An update of Pratham activities will be provided by Dr. Rukmini Banerji, the Director of Pratham India.

For more information, visit www.prathamusa. org or call 713 774 9599.

March 09, 2012

17

3 Indians Convicted of Sexually Abusing Their Daughter-in-Law

NEW YORK (TOI): A U.S. court has convicted three members of an Indian family here on charges of sexually abusing their daughter-in-law who came to America after an arranged marriage and was threatened to work as a slave.

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said Vishal Jagota, 34, his mother Parveen Jagota, 57 and sister Rajani Jagota, 31 were found guilty after a bench trial of labour trafficking and assault charges for using intimidation, threats and physical violence to force the young woman into a life of “servitude and sexual abuse”.

Parveen Jagota and Rajani Jagota face up to seven years in state prison when sentenced on May 22, 2012 before Judge William Nelson, while Vishal Jagota faces up to one year in the Rockland County jail.

Assistant District Attorney Arthur Ferraro said the case marked the first indictments, trial and convictions under New York State’s new Labour Trafficking Law. “These convictions underscore our serious commitment to prosecuting those defendants who would prey on vulnerable - and in many cases young - victims,” Zugibe said.

“Human trafficking is a violent and degrading crime that will not be tolerated.”

The victim, now 25-years-old, is an Indian citizen who was brought to the US

five years ago after an arranged marriage with Vishal Jagota.

The family used intimidation, physical and sexual abuse and manipulation to force the victim to work as a “roundthe-clock servant, performing a variety of household chores, cooking, child care and other tasks under threats of violence,” according to court documents.

When the victim, whose name was not revealed, threatened to contact authorities, the Jagotas vowed to concoct “wild stories”, accusing her of committing various types of crime.

On one occasion, the woman’s motherin-law and sister-in-law burned her hand with a hot iron in order to “teach her a lesson” for not washing the clothes properly.

The victim was not allowed to receive medical treatment for the serious burns and was told to treat the open wound with “toothpaste”.

Vishal Jagota is also accused of biting the victim, causing permanent scarring on her cheek. The woman was forced to face her captors for nearly three years, from her arrival in the US in 2008 until September 2010, Zugibe added.

The woman’s father-in-law was accused of touching her sexually but was later acquitted. The Jagotas had also hidden the woman’s green card, passport and other documents that restricted her movement and forced her to comply with her in-laws’ demands, the documents said.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09 , 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

18 March 09, 2012

Price of Arrogance

For both the national parties, BJP and Congress, the results of the ‘mini’ general election would be a big cause for worry. Both have fared miserably in the critically important state of Uttar Pradesh. While the BJP may say that despite anti-incumbency, it still managed to stay abreast of the Congress in Uttarakhand and wrested the state of Goa, it would be little solace for the dwindling fortunes in the state that ultimately matters the most in the national context. It is the Congress, however, that has been bruised, and badly.

It was expecting to wrest Punjab from the ruling SAD-BJP combine and Uttarakhand from the BJP, and put up a very decent show in UP. But while it has been thrashed in Punjab, it will have to do everything possible, from horse trading to perhaps using the office of the governor to threat of CBI on some winners to form the government in Uttarakhand. Of course, nothing can soothe the abysmal performance in UP. Not only is UP the most important state in India from the national power perspective, it is also the state where the party devoted its almost entire strength, energies and star power. By star power, I mean the Gandhi family, especially the heir apparent, Rahul Gandhi. The party’s ‘young’ face addressed over 200 rallies all over UP, including saturation campaigning in their strongholds of Rae Bareli and Amethi. Not just Rahul, even his sister Priyanka and mother Sonia put their weight behind his UP campaign.

What could be the reason behind this shocker for Congress and its most potent vote catcher that it was routed even in its pocket boroughs of Amethi and Rae Bareiley? Congressmen, especially those who were involved with the state and his campaign, cannot understand how could this be possible when he was easily getting the maximum crowds for his rallies. But then, it was exactly the same last time too. People came to see him and the entertainment it provided. They did not turn into voters for Congress candidates.

The real reason, if Rahul and his party genuinely introspect, has been the events that have played out, not in UP, but at the Centre these past couple of years. The Congress may not realise, and if it does, it may not admit it, but what has done it in has been its arrogance in discrediting one constitutional body after the other. As we all know, corruption scandals have been hitting the UPA government at an alarming rate, but instead of damage control, it resorted to targeting constitutional bodies that have immense credibility in the eyes of the general public. The impression that gained ground was that the party does not believe in dissent, is undemocratic and arrogant enough to crush anyone, including constitutional authorities that are not subservient to its needs. Of course, one shouldn’t discount the impact that Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev had on the mood. The general perception is that the unprecedented attack on Baba Ramdev at Ramlila Maidan was undemocratic, and that Anna Hazare was cheated and tricked by this government on the issue of Lokpal.

You guessed it. The party’s poor showing in UP is not because Rahul Gandhi did not work hard enough, but the two gentlemen in Delhi who are a single thread in all that I have listed above as what went wrong, the duo of Kapil Sibal and P Chidambaram. Their arrogance and high-handedness in handling every controversial issue spoilt it all. Rahul Gandhi has to realise the damage the two did to his campaign without even visiting UP. Rajesh Kalra for Times of India

EDITORIAL

Havaai Adda vs. Bus Adda

BY SUDHEENDRA KULKARNI on privately run tempos that defy evAfter spending nearly two months ery measure of passenger density and in Uttar Pradesh for election-related violate all norms of passenger safety. work, I took a flight back from Luc- Although roads have improved on know to New Delhi. The contrast some stretches, they are dangerously between the airports of the national cratered on many others. Not surpriscapital and the capital of India’s ingly, deaths due to road accidents are most populous state is stark. Delhi the highest in UP. now prides itself in having one of One day I travelled from Agra to the biggest and glitziest airports in Aligarh, a distance of 90 kilometres, the world. In comparison, Lucknow and back. It took me four hours each airport looks like how Delhi’s used way. Both times we were caught to be about three or four decades ago. in a traffic jam for half-hour at the One part of our country is now racing railway crossing, because something past the First World. Another part, as basic as a railway over-bridge exemplified by UP (minus Noida has not been constructed on a road and Ghaziabad, which are now part that connects two globally known of Greater Delhi), is still struggling to cities in UP. There are no railway shed the Third World tag. However, over-bridges even in the biggest city this visual contrast between the two in state, Kanpur, which typifies both havaai addas doesn’t reveal the full UP’s de-industrialisation and its urtruth about the metaphorical con- ban degradation. trast between “India” and “Bharat”.

What is evident in UP, and in other For that, you have to Delhi’s new luxurious T3 terminal visit the bus addas of the towns and cities in UP, and also travel by the state’s government-run buses.

The horrific state of public transport in UP will make you realise that a large part of its population is condemned to live in conditions comparable to LDCs (Least Developed Countries) in Africa. This Indian states as well, is how the rich conclusion is reinforced by other de- and the powerful, backed by the velopment parameters—severely in- government, seek to improve living adequate power supply, government- conditions for themselves by ignorrun schools and hospitals that are in ing, and often at the expense of, the a state of collapse, poor sanitation, needs of the poor and the middle non-existent sewage system, the con- classes. One only has to look at the sequent pollution of rivers including stark inequity in the planning and the Holy Ganga and Yamuna, etc. use of urban land, a public resource In almost all the places that I vis- that is being privatised and coloited, I made it a point to go to the bus nised at an alarming rate. Real estate adda. The experience was depressing development—the biggest source of beyond description. Overcrowded. corruption, black money and political Chaotic. Full of stench. Public toilets funding—is completely skewed in are few in number and ill-maintained. favour of the demands of the rich. As Next to no amenities for passengers, in Delhi, Mumbai and other Indian many of whom have to squat on the cities, hideous hoardings advertising ground. This is the condition not only private housing projects for the local in smaller towns but even in cities like rich disfigure the urban landscape in Kanpur, Jhansi, Bareilly and Aligarh. UP. The political and government esMost buses in the road transport fleet tablishments show no concern whatare in a pathetic state. As a result, soever for the integrated, aesthetic and common people are forced to travel scientifically planned development of

housing and public amenities for the benefit of all sections of society. Why have we come to tolerate so much squalour and ugliness in the land of Taj Mahal?

The physical indicators of UP’s poverty and picchadapan (backwardness) are less worrying than—indeed, they are the consequence of—the poverty of values and vision of its political establishment. UP’s misfortune is that its politics has come to be dominated by short-sighted, familycentred, and caste—and communityoriented political leaders who are incapable of looking at the needs of UP holistically and in a long-term manner. And politics is such an assuredly corrupting profession that, if you and your organisation are not solidly and uncompromisingly pro-poor in ideology, policies and practice, you end up being pro-rich. You manipulate to get the votes of the majority class, but in effect serve as a representative of the ruling elite class. For you have yourself become a part of this class, irrespective of whether you are a Brahmin, a Muslim, a Yadav or a Dalit. You may mouth the slogans of ‘inclusive development’ and ‘garibi hatao’ (Congress), Pandit Deendayal Upadhayaya’s ‘antyodaya’ (BJP, my party), Dr Ram Manohar Lohia’s ‘socialism’ (Samajwadi Party) and Kanshi Ram’s ‘bahujan/sarvajan hitaya’, but you essentially prioritise the wants of the ‘havaai adda’ class over the pressing needs of the ‘bus adda’ class. You forget that all development that pays lip service to the problems of the aam aadmi is fake development, faulty and unsustainable.

What UP needs—and indeed what all of India needs—is de-pollution of its politics. It needs honest, incorruptible, ethically guided and dynamically capable public servants who genuinely feel, care and work for the poor within a broader matrix of integral development. With high voter turnout affirming the people’s unshakeable faith in the democratic process, any party or coalition that comes to power in Lucknow next week has a duty to promote this new kind of politics that is clean, corruption-free and rises above caste and communal considerations.

Indian Express

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09 , 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

INDIA

March 09, 2012

Return of the Harvard Boy, Raj Kondur

BANGALORE (SI): The cofounder of ChrysCapital and an investor of dotcom past make news again as he makes a comeback to deal making with the largest start up funding for any customer internet venture in India. Kondur of Ascent Capital is leading a $10-million, first-round funding for e-grocer BigBasket, a Bangalore-based internet start-up with ambitious farm-to-fork retailing plans.

The promoters for Bigbasket includes entrepreneur duo K Ganesh and Meena Ganesh and founders of Fabmart and Fabmall. As of now, the e-grocer launched its operations in Bangalore and looking forward to expand it to the top five metros by the year end. Kondur, a former tennis player who was ranked sixth in the country during the eighties, told The Times Of India, “Grocery retailing is complex and our plans are ambitious.

That’s why Ascent is investing $10 million, which is the largest firstround funding for any e-commerce in India.”

According to E-commerce watchers, BigBasket is one of the bravest ventures to come up in the recent history of consumer internet stories, and its accomplishment could re-arrange the grocery retail game in urban

India. Kondur has also worked with Morgan Stanley and management consulting firm AT Kearney in the U.S. He was also a part of $1 billion Princes Gate Fund and was in charge for the firm’s M&A activities.

Though India is a country that provide vital support to the internet engines of global giants like Wal-Mart and Tesco, nothing much significant has been done in regard to online sales by leading grocers in retail like Reliance Fresh, Food Bazaar and star Bazaar. Last year the digital consumer industry in India attracted $1-billion investment but Ascent Capital and Kondur are entering when some investors have started to hold back

investments. BigBasket supply 300 daily transactions with average billing of Rs 1,200. V S Sudhakar, one of the co-founders of BigBasket said, “The ramp-up has been faster than we anticipated.

The inertia of spending on the internet is no longer there, and technology platforms are more robust and much cheaper.” The e-grocer accumulates about 7,000 stock-keeping units and has private labels for most staples with direct sourcing deals, providing it better margins to offer discounts.

What stands as a challenge is to replace the sourcing and distribution ecosystem nationally. It handles its own network which relies on a fleet of Omni vans, 50 in Bangalore right now, servicing door steps within six hours of online orders.

Around $4 million was invested in Fabmart by Kondur and ChrysCapital, which turned out to be the most prominent face of India’s first dotcom boom. Kondur started off with a BPO firm Nirvana Business Solutions with investors like StanChart CEO Rana Talwar, Citigroup’s Victor Menezes and Morgan Stanley chairman Richard Fisher and he left ChrysCapital in 2002. Ascent is investing $10 million as grocery retailing is complex and our plans are ambitious.

BY SACHIN PARASHAR NEW DELHI (TOI): Indians have often been at the receiving end of UK visa regulations in the recent past but New Delhi for once has managed to tame the British authorities. In yet another visa row between the two countries - this time around in a third country - India has forced the UK to roll back its decision to bar Indians to apply for UK visas from Belgium.

In what is being described by officials as a strange decision, British authorities stopped issuing visas to Indians in Belgium and instead asked them to travel to Paris to apply for the same.

With its new-found assertiveness, the foreign ministry retaliated by not just issuing a note verbale to British authorities to protest the decision but also immediately stopped issuing visas to UK nationals seeking Indian visa in Brussels. They were asked to go back to London and apply for Indian visa there.

Highly placed sources told TOI

that the decision forced the UK to beat a quick retreat. Now, London has approached India, formally communicating its decision to roll back its decision and ensure visa facility to Indians from Brussels.

The Indian retaliation though was not limited to restricting UK nationals from applying for visa in Brussels. It also increased the visa fee, bringing it on par with the money charged from Indians for UK visa.

“Now that they have given in, we have also decided to restore visa facilities for UK nationals in Belgium.

There will be no change in the visa cost though,” said a source. Apparently, the number of UK nationals seeking Indian visa in Brussels was more than the other way round.

The UK decision not to issue visa to Indians inconvenienced not only diplomats and other Indians based in Belgium, but also many Indian travellers, including VIPs, who wished to fly to London and did not have a visa.

Belgian capital Brussels is not only

a travel hub in Europe, but also one of the main centres of international politics.

Besides, Britain announced further restrictions in its immigration system this week that could severely impact Indians planning to settle there. British immigration minister Damian Green declared that the changes in the UK immigration system will mean that migrant workers coming to the UK on a skilled worker visa will no longer be able to settle in the UK based on the amount of time they have spent in the country.

Breaking the link between coming to the UK to work and staying forever, the new rules will ensure that only “exceptionally talented people, investors and entrepreneurs” will have the option to stay in the UK. “Skilled temporary workers who want to apply for settlement will have to earn at least £35,000, or the going rate for their job, whichever is higher,” said the British High Commission in a statement.

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Jaspal Singh Bindra: Long-Distance Runner

BY JOEL REBELLO & ARUN JANARDHAN (Mint) It’s the rooftop of the Trident hotel in Mumbai on a surprisingly cool Saturday afternoon in mid-January. Jaspal Singh Bindra, group executive director and CEO (Asia) of Standard Chartered Bank, is whipping up some pasta in front of 100-odd people, including bank colleagues, reporters, photographers, two actors, and a bunch of international athletes.

The setting was perhaps unconventional for Bindra, who, contrarily, swears by conservatism, which is also the philosophy of his employers. He may owe his sporting spirit to years of decent-level college cricket, which allows him to embrace an opportunity of doing something atypical, like making Italian food with actor Rahul Bose. Ultimately, that was the need of the hour for him, to mix bonhomie with conservatism, as the pasta-making programme was a promotional event for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon to be held the next day on 15 January.

Bindra, 51, is wearing a suitably casual striped Lacoste T-shirt, underneath the apron, which comes off before he steps into the conference room. He has bravely pushed back his lunch for this meeting, despite having dealt with pans and pastas for the last many minutes. The bright sunlight streaming in through the large glass windows that expose a vast expanse of the city from the 35th floor, adds to a general mood of affability that exists in Mumbai only for a few winter weeks.

Hong Kong-based Bindra is also a member of the board of Standard Chartered Plc since January 2010, the only Indian on the board (which also has a Singaporean of Indian origin).

Perhaps it’s an endorsement of the bank’s strong presence in Asia; it’s definitely a validation of his position in the company he joined in 1998 as a time when it was not really a “talent magnet”.

“In the last four years,” he says, “when the industry is troubled, we have become a talent magnet. We can pick people at will, from Goldman Sachs, McKinsey and Co., Citibank, Blackstone…which wasn’t possible in 1998 when I joined. Only stray guys like me were keen to join. The reputation we enjoy today is as architects of restructuring.”

Standard Chartered was 100th in size (market capitalization) when Bindra joined them; they are in the top 25 now across all markets. They have now a full-fledged consumer bank, unlike 1998; they also have diversified a lot and are present in 70 markets with India being the single largest employer across the bank globally. In 2000, Standard Chartered bought out the Indian business of the erstwhile ANZ Grindlays Bank, which was then the largest foreign bank operating in India, with 56 branches. That acquisition has fuelled its ascent in India where it today has 94 branches, the highest among foreign banks.

Bindra says what’s made it possible for them is largely the diversifica-

The CEO of Standard Chartered Asia says their focus has always been long-term, whether with the bank or the marathon

tion. “The fact is that we are the only international bank that has got rated upwards by all the rating agencies during the period of crisis alone.

Everyone (else) has, at best, stayed where they are,” says Bindra.

Here again, the conservatism comes into play. He says lessons from the Asian crisis from the 1990s stood them in good stead. “It was tempting in 2003-04 when the world was booming to say why we should stay 80% secure when there is no credit problem. The world is growing, you could go 70% and make a huge difference to the profit but we said no, so all credit to the management.”

Standard Chartered became the first and only overseas firm to have listed Indian depository receipts (IDRs) in the local stock market in May 2010, in what the bank termed was a reinforcement of its commitment to India.

IDRs are securities that represent an ownership interest in a fixed number of underlying equity shares of the issuing company. One Standard Chartered share is equal to 10 IDRs. Standard Chartered’s profit before tax in India fell 33% in the year ended December because of lower income as interest rates rose and economic growth slowed. The bank also had to set aside $112 million (around Rs. 547 crore) anticipating rise in bad loans. Profit before tax in JanuaryDecember 2011 at $804 million was 33% lower than what the UK-based bank earned in the same period last year—$1.19 billion—making its India operations the fifth placed contributor among eight regions, down from first place in 2010.

Bindra acknowledges that 2011 was difficult but points out that the bank’s investments in the country have still grown by 15% over 2010.

“Every year, we have some markets that show uncertainty. The IDR issue took our chairman, CEO, finance

director and Asia CEO one month of travelling the roads in Baroda, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Gurgaon for just $500 million, which we could have raised easily with one phone call. We did this because we have not lost our comfort or confidence in India.

“Our view is that India will be a rich source of raising capital and at that stage, we want to say we saw this coming. It’s like the marathon, when we, nine years ago, said we will pay millions of dollars to sponsor it in a city which doesn’t wake up early, doesn’t believe in running. It was a pretty difficult decision and today, it’s an envious property to own.”

Under Bindra’s stewardship, the British bank has not let go of any opportunity to make an acquisition in India without taking a hard look.

“We have succeeded in acquisitions or have passed them. We passed RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland’s India business was up for sale in 2009). (But) every transaction that a foreign bank could do we have done, starting with Grindlays Bank, the first and the biggest,” Bindra says.

Bindra’s early years were spent in West Bengal, including Goethals Memorial School, a boarding school near Darjeeling, because his father’s transferable job would not have otherwise given him a steady base. He would not trade boarding school for anything because in hindsight, he says, it gave him independence without the protection of a home.

His affection for Kolkata stems from these early years, of his parents living there, studying in St Xavier’s College, of his son being born there and of his first day of work in Bank of America. “The bank I work for today started on 12 April 1858 in Calcutta. There are many milestones which will always remain extremely significant. No city will match it in terms of clubs and culture; plus my parents-in-law live there, so I have both reason and obligation to visit,” he says, smiling.

After Bindra had finished chartered accounting and was auditing for Citibank, the glamour of a foreign bank got to him. The flavour of the time was an MBA; it was a ticket to a job in a foreign bank, which “incentivized” him suitably. He chose XLRI School of Business & Human Resources, Jamshedpur, because with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta, not being available, it allowed him to be closer home. At the end of the MBA, he says he got more rational about his career; but then as destiny would have it, the highest paying job on campus and one that gave him a posting in Kolkata (where his parents lived) was Bank of America in 1984.

“I hadn’t lived with my parents since class II and the appeal to live with them was quite strong. Because I lost my parents so soon after, I am grateful I could spend some extra time there,” he says.

“Plus, it was a great time to be a young (foreign) banker in 1984 Calcutta. That was the hottest thing happening for girls.”

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09 , 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

OPINION

BY DR. H.V. EASWER CHENNAI (Hindu) Often, during a medical call, I received lessons in health and wellness from the most unlikely of people. No textbook in the world would ever contain these ‘tutorials.’An evening in the late 1980s, a few days after Diwali in late October, on the banks of the Karamana river, was one such time when a popular local character, Chuppayyan (Subbayyan), opened up a new vista of well-being.

Karamana was a quaint, sleepy, and nondescript suburb in Trivandrum city and it was here that Chuppayyan wandered around without a home to call his own. He was an orphan but I would disagree if you say Chuppayyan was a beggar as he did many odd jobs. Also, unlike the scraggy looks of a destitute, he was a little plump and had a cherubic face. He would seek alms only when his earnings failed to satisfy his hunger.

If there was someone that he was close to, it was Valliamma the old woman who sold vegetables door-to-door in a basket made of palm leaves. Nobody knew how they were related but then Chuppayyan could be seen at her side helping her. Valliamma would sell small unripe mangoes for making pickles from January to March and every child at Karamana was familiar with her Kanni maanggai (unripe mangoes) chant as she went around with the basket on her head.

Chuppayyan would follow her for a while and then wander off as she sat on the thinnai (pyol) of a house and measured her mangoes with a pakkah, a measuring jar of those times.

March 09, 2012

Forgive & Forget... and Get on with Life

This incident occurred as I was returning home with a friend after attending a medical call at the house of an old lady who was incapacitated by a stroke.

We took a shorter path along the dyke constructed along the Karamana river. A canopy of coconut trees lent the evening a darker shade than it really was and we could see the silhouette of Chuppayyan ahead of us. There was a place where the dyke took an undulating turn and we could see some people sitting in a circle and playing cards. There were empty bottles littered around, revealing that the game of cards was accompanied by some fun with fresh toddy.

As Chuppayan neared them, one of the card players started taunting him.

As if on cue, others joined him and started making disparaging remarks about Chuppayyan’s parents, especially his mother. Chuppayyan passed them without uttering a word and his head was held low. Emboldened by his passivity, one of the card players got up and came close to him menacingly though he was too drunk to progress further. It was at this point that we reached the inebriated players and my friend, a member of a cadre-based political party, raised his voice and threatened them. Seeing my friend’s reaction, the more sober of the card players rushed to pull back their friend, who was intending to harm Chuppayyan.

My friend turned to Chuppayyan and berated him for being silent. “Why didn’t you react,” he asked as we resumed our walk back to our homes. Chuppayyan replied: “Avangalukku puriyadhu” (they are all so drunk that they will not understand).

My friend, who was known for his firebrand temperament, persisted: “But then

they were abusing your parents, weren’t they? One should hit back if one’s parents are made fun off.” I was watching Chuppayyan, who replied very calmly: “Anna [brother], I do not know who my parents are and hence it does not make any difference.” I was surprised by his rather calm demeanour and obvious lack of ill feelings towards his tormentors. I was also puzzled by his nonchalance and promised myself to seek the truth from Valliamma.

Some months passed and came summer. I had forgotten Chuppayyyan as I busied myself with life and the challenges

on its professional and personal fronts.

On a hot summer noon in May, I found Valliamma on my doorstep with a minor medical problem. After prescribing her medication, I broached the subject of Chuppayyan’s paternity with her. “Where are his parents? Is he your son?” She was surprised but answered clearly: “Chuppayyan knows who his parents are. They are a family of rich traders in Bhoothapandi. When the boy was young he had epileptic fits and the parents got scared and abandoned him on the banks of the Karamana.

When he grew up, they got in touch with him again, but he told them that he was happy with me as I raised him after I lost my husband in my younger days.”

I looked back on the day when Chuppayyan was harassed and taunted on account of his paternity. His response to his tormentors and his parents who abandoned him was indeed the most unexpected from a vagabond. He scored high that day for his emotional quotient, in stark contrast to many of us who would seethe in anger at the slightest provocation and perception of unfairness in our lives. We hit back losing more in the process. Our roads are the best examples of the latter group which whip itself into a frenzy at the slightest provocation from fellow-drivers. They lose all reason and harm themselves in the process of flying into road rage.

That was the day when I learnt an

21

important lesson for good health: one should always engineer one’s perceptions in a way that does not hurt us — learning to forget, forgive, and get on with the journey of life; simply because there are too many things around us which we cannot change.

We humans are perhaps the most insecure among the animal species as we live our lives, going to great lengths to ensure that our health and wellbeing are not adversely affected during our spell on this planet. It is this insecurity that drives endeavours as varied as astrology, the bullion markets and, of course, the big business — religion — as we seek to secure our future. In our times, even the ‘medical industry,’ which includes investigatory tools such as CT and MR scans and the countless blood tests, is sometimes used in this human quest for reassurance.

If you ask the ‘wise,’ they would say that the key to wellbeing lies in the mind and it is the mind’s reactions to events that determine our health and happiness.

What do you think of the man who had a heart attack when his favourite team lost a cricket match? Or a boy who decided that the world ended because he did not qualify in the medical entrance exam.

Then there was a businessman who had a heart attack after he lost a bid for a lucrative contract. Why does this lady run her BP up when she meets her brother who cheated her in the division of their paternal property? The wise would say that all these are the result of the way we perceive these events. It is here that many of us could learn from Chuppayyan.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09 , 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

22 March 09, 2012

INDIA

Is Mumbai Growing Anymore?

Contrary to popular imagination, there are not that many migrants coming to Mumbai in search of jobs anymore. Planners and politicians need to introspect on why the change

BY DARRYL D’MONTE MUMBAI (IT): Experts and the media persist in referring to the explosive growth of cities in this country, with hordes of unwanted migrants pouring into them every day. The truth is somewhat different. India’s urban growth, by international standards, is not very great compared to Latin American and some African cities. What is more, as the National Commission on Urbanisation, headed by eminent Mumbai architect Charles Correa, observed in its report in 1988, unlike our Asia neighbours, which have “primate cities” like Dhaka, Colombo and Kathmandu, India’s cities are fairly evenly spread, with a number of towns to absorb some of the spillover from the countryside.

In 2007, the International Institute for Environment and Development in London released a report titled The Transition to a Predominantly Urban World, which listed just 11 Indian cities out of the 100 with the most rapidly growing in population in the world; among big cities, only Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore figured.

Mumbai is a classic case in point. Even urban researchers, not to mention politicians and the public, conflate the population of Greater Mumbai - the city’s municipal limits - with the very much larger metropolitan region. This region includes areas of the twin city of Navi Mumbai across the harbour, outlying townships (some now cities in their own right), and villages, comprising 4,355 sq km. The city proper is only 466 sq km and its population is variously described as being 15 to 16 million, while the metropolitan region is around 18 million. This urban agglomeration is estimated to grow into one of the biggest in the world in 2020, with nearly 29 million people.

Before the 2001 census figures came out, even demographers from the Mumbai-based International Institute of Population Studies (IIPS) estimated that Greater Mumbai would have between 14.5 and 15 million inhabitants by 2011,

as against 11.9 million a decade earlier in 2001. However, the census now authoritatively puts the city’s population at only 12.4 million. It was during the recent Greater Mumbai municipal elections that the confusion was compounded, with the State Election Committee asserting that there were 10.3 million voters. This would amount to this many being over 18 years old and only 2.1 million Mumbaikars who are below the voting age, which is plainly impossible.

The IIPS estimates that a full quarter of the total population is under 14 and this would mean that the number under 18 would evidently be higher. There is obviously an over-estimation by the poll administration about the size of the electorate. Incidentally, this would mean that the low turnout of around 46 per cent in the municipal election would need to be revised upwards.

What is happening in Mumbai is nothing short of a structural transformation.

Contrary to everybody’s expectation, the city’s population has only increased by half a million between 2001 and 2011.

There has been an absolute decline in the island city, the oldest part, which straddles 100 sq km. This is the area south of Sion on the east of the Greater Mumbai peninsula and south of Bandra on the west.

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According to the IIPS, the widening of roads - and the virtual decimation of pavements in certain crowded areas to accommodate more parking for cars combined with the drives by the municipal corporation and police against new slums have contributed to the deceleration of population growth in what used to be the industrial capital of the country and continues to be the nation’s financial nerve centre. Demographers cite a station on the Central Railway like Govandi which is now open on both sides, with slum dwellers being evicted or resettled.

A similar pattern has been discerned at Mankhurd station on the Harbour Line.

There has also been a slew of huge infrastructure projects, like the Metro, which have displaced squatters.

The new central business district (CBD) of Parel-Lalbaug in central Mumbai has converted what used to be predominantly mills and mill workers’tenements, known as chawls, into high-rise glass and concrete office buildings and some high-end multi-storeyed housing estates, driving the old residents to cheaper accommodation northwards. Similarly, the BandraKurla complex is the newest district, which has come up on mangroves, and has transformed the pattern of employment and transport. Near this complex, the redevelopment of Dharavi, said to be Asia’s largest slum, has been put on hold for a variety of reasons, including the current reluctance of global investors.

While real estate development appears to be never-ending, what is not so visible is its slowing down, which is presumably true of other big cities like Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. According to industry sources, interest rates for loans have risen and the global recession has taken its toll as well. In 2011, seven cities in the country, including Mumbai, witnessed a demand for 35 million sq ft of office space. This year, this is expected to dip to 30 million sq ft.

Although this is still better than the rapid downturn in 2009, the future is by no means certain.

A recent report on Mumbai by property consultants CB Richard Ellis showed that in 2011, occupancy rates and rentals for commercial real estate remained low in such prime areas as Nariman Point (till a few years ago, the city’s sole CBD), Parel-Lalbaug, Bandra-Kurla Complex and the outlying township

of Thane. This has put many projects on hold. When these properties come into the market this year, it will only further worsen rentals and increase vacancy levels. Another real estate consultancy, Jones Lang Lasalle, has surveyed the supply of new residential property in seven cities. Between October and December last year, Mumbai accounted for only 15 per cent of the new “launches” in these cities. In the same quarter in 2010, they were 27 per cent of the total, almost twice as much.

The other urban areas were the National Capital Region (NCR) with Delhi as its hub, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

While Mumbai faced a decline in new residential property coming into the market, Gurgaon and Noida saw a massive increase in supply, amounting to half the country’s total. Another Mumbai trend, which is probably mirrored elsewhere, is that most newly built apartments are super-deluxe, with few one-bedroom flats. This, inspite of the recent estimate by the Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry that there is a shortfall of nearly 27 million homes in the country’s urban areas.

The latest confirmation of a Mumbai pattern comes from a report titled “Office Space Across the World 2012” by yet another foreign consultancy based in India, Cushman and Wakefield. Nariman Point, which figured eighth in the world in 2010, has dropped to 15th place a year later. The index was the average rental a month, which decreased from Rs 300 per sq ft per month in 2010 to Rs 275 last year.

This puts it on par with Bandra-Kurla in 2011, which rose from Rs 260 per sq ft in 2010. This gives a good idea of the tectonic shift in business activity northwards in the city.

The city with the highest rentals globally in December last year remains Hong Kong with US $244 per sq ft per year, followed by London, Tokyo and, surprisingly, Moscow.

Midtown New York figured only sixth, with $120 per year, while Nariman Point - still described as “Mumbai CBD” - dropped 8 per cent to $73 a year.

The ten most expensive locations in India in December were headed

by Bandra-Kurla and Nariman Point, followed by Worli in midtown Mumbai. Four of these topmost areas were in the NCR, with Kolkata’s Park and Camac streets figuring ninth. Lower

Parel, the heart of the former cotton mill district, ranked fifth andAndheriKurla in the north of Mumbai, tenth.

According to Cushman & Wakefield, Nariman Point declined due to its high rentals, as also the ageing construction and growing commuting distances from the northern suburbs.

The newer areas cited in the ten most expensive ranking provide newer and better office space, as well as shorter commuting time.

It would be fair to speculate that the trends in Mumbai would be replicated in other cities, even allowing for its distinctive geography. With a north-south axis for commuters, who comprise almost half the total population if students are included, these rank among the largest absolute number of daily passengers in the world. Mumbai is paying the price for its past prosperity, but employment is fast shrinking. Demographers believe that three-quarters of the jobs in the city are in the so-called informal sector, with no permanence or social benefits.

Not only have cotton mills downed their shutters and made way for real estate (including the shift from “mills to malls”), but so have heavy engineering, petro-chemical and other manufacturing industries. The finance and IT service sector cannot accommodate all those who have lost their jobs or even their progeny, due to the inability of former employees in the formal sector to educate their children adequately.

For this reason, contrary to popular perception, migration to Mumbai is declining as a percentage of the city’s population increase, contributing to the deceleration of its overall demographic growth. In the 1960s, some 60 per cent of the increase was due to migrants in search of livelihoods and the rest due to natural increase.

By the 1990s, this ratio was reversed, with natural increase accounting for by far the greater number.

It is common sense that people will stop coming to Mumbai if there are no jobs, even in the tertiary sector.

Political parties have made much of the nuisance caused by migrants, but they are off the mark. The Shiv Sena and its breakaway MNS party in particular capitalise on raising this bogey (of “North Indians”) and this periodically heightens tensions. They would do well to introspect on why things in the commercial capital are no longer what they once were.

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09 , 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

Balaji Temple’s Hinduism Summit to Present Hinduism’s Science, Denigration and Digestion

BRIDGEWATER, New Jersey: Recent surveys showed that a majority of Americans are leaning towards Hindu thought. At the same time, a study indicates that over 1/3rd of youth from Hindu families in America may be converting out of Hinduism. While the growing interest in Hinduism is a testimony to Hinduism’s science and universal nature, the counter trend shows ignorance about Hinduism’s uniqueness among many born Hindus. The Hinduism Summit (Dharmajagruti Sabha), to be held in Balaji Temple Community Hall in Bridgewater on Saturday, March 10 from 2 to 5:15pm, aims to address these trends as well as threats to Hinduism from direct assaults, denigration and ‘digestion’, and to provide guidance on the Hindu spiritual way of life. The organizers, the Bridgewater Balaji Temple and Forum for Hindu Awakening, welcome everyone interested in Hinduism to this event.

The Hinduism Summit is a free event. It will commence in a traditional Hindu way, with Vedic recitations, lighting of an auspicious oil lamp and blowing of a conch. There will be eye opening presentations. Hindu activist, Jitendra Oulkar will speak on ‘Know denigration: preserve Hinduism’ while spiritual seeker, Shilpa Kudtarkar will present spiritual research on ‘Spiritual dimension underlying Hindu concepts and issues’.

Rajiv Malhotra, Indian American researcher and the main speaker at this event will speak on the subjects of his latest books, ‘Breaking India - Western Interventions in Dravidian and Dalit

Faultlines’ and ‘Being Different - An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism’. Bhavna Shinde Hurley, spokesperson of Forum for Hindu Awakening will conclude the presentations with a speech on ‘Understanding, living and preserving Hinduism’.

Since the first Hinduism Summit held in July 2009 in Virginia, 12 Hinduism Summits have been held in North America, UK and Australia, considering the overwhelmingly positive response to the Summits. The Summits conclude with lively discussions between the presenters and attendees over Hindu vegetarian refreshments. The discussions can answer myriad questions like ‘What are the basic tenets of Hinduism and Hindu spirituality?’, ‘How to reverse the gaze of Western criticism on Hinduism?’, ‘Why should one not enter a Hindu temple wearing black, during menses or after consuming alcohol/non-vegetarian food?’, ‘Spiritual healing remedies in Hinduism - e.g. how to identify and remedy departed ancestors’ trouble?’ and ‘Depicting Hindu Deities sexually or trivially denigration or freedom of speech?’

The exhibition of posters and books at the Hinduism Summit will showcase Hindu spirituality, Hinduism’s spiritual science and Rajiv Malhotra’s research.

For more information, visit www.hinduawakening.org/events/njsummit or Call 1-877-3033FHA (1-877-303-3342) or email Info@ForumforHinduAwakening.org

March 09, 2012

23

Gads Co-host Candidate Event for Michael Landrum KATY: Sangeeta and Pralhad Gad co-hosted a Meet-the-Candidate event in Katy at the home of former Katy ISD Trustee Chris Crockett and husband Dave. The occasion was the introduction of Michael Landrum, a Republican candidate for judge of the 129th Civil District Court of Harris County. Also in attendance and pictured were Geeta and Hanumant Torgal and Nandan and Christina Lim Gad. Everyone appreciates the role that criminal courts play in public safety. Michael Landrum emphasized that the civil courts are equally important because this is where the rules of business and commerce are enforced. Our free market economy depends on well-established rules. And it is the duty of civil courts to assure that those rules are followed. Landrum stated that our economy prospers because businesses people can rely on the impartial enforcement of civil law. Commerce suffers in places where there is uncertainty about the outcome of disputes. When court decisions depend on influence or inconsistent applica-

tion of law, one cannot engage in business with confidence.

The separation of powers in the American system requires that judges not become lawmakers. Other attorneys at the event emphasized that for a judge to accurately apply the law, he must know the law, and they praised Michael Landrum for his scholarship, experience and reputation for honesty and hard work. Learn more about Michael Landrum through his website, at www.michaellandrumforjudge.com.

Civil District courts are those that decide disputes of all kinds between people and businesses. These courts conduct trials to resolve disagreements about such things as real estate ownership, breach of contract, employment matters, debt, physical injury, consumer claims and many other matters where money and property are at issue. Landrum is an expert attorney who is certified as a specialist in civil trial law and civil appellate law. He explained the importance of the civil courts and why we need the best qualified judges.

From left: Nandan Gad, Christina Lim Gad, Geeta Torgal, Mary Grace Landrum, Michael Landrum, Hanumant Torgal, Sangeeta Gad (In front) and Pralhad Gad.

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 09 , 2012 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

24 March 09, 2012

Let’s Bring Down the Walls in the Family

BY C. DEEPALAKSHMI CHENNAI (Hindu): I received an email that said FAMILY is an acronym for Father And Mother, I Love You. How many of us have lately done something to prove it? I very well remember the moral science lessons taught in my school every week. One such lesson was about family bonding which said: A family that prays together, works together; A family that laughs together, grows together; A family that learns together earns together; A family that eats together, stays together.

Leave alone praying together, can you spot all the members of a family together on any day, be it a working day or holiday? On working days, the father leaves home at 7.30 a.m. to avoid heavy traffic jams and to reach his office the latest by 9.30 a.m.. The children browse through their textbooks, reference books, etc., for homework till the last minute. The mother is busy packing lunch boxes and on special occasions like exams or tests, she manages to apply the vermilion (kumkum) and vibhuti (sacred ash) on her child’s forehead, chanting slokas in her mind. In case the mother is working, then she too has to rush to her office after her chores.

After school, some children have the privilege of coming home to freshen up and head for their (various) classes, while the others are taken care of at the (omnipotent) day-care centres and have to wait till they are picked up by their parents. It is disheartening to know that some kids (I know) wish to fall ill so that their mothers apply for a day’s leave and spend time with them. And if you thought that the family members would get together on festivals, I beg to differ as no two companies have the same list of holidays. If the mother has an off, the father has duty, vice versa and, if the kids have a holiday, the parents are working. Even otherwise, do we have fervour

I visited my friend a fortnight ago.

Her son was busy with his phone, her husband with his laptop, the daughter humming tunes with her iPad, all of them oblivious of the fact that there is a visitor at home in the celebration of festivals these days? The essence of togetherness is missing. Therefore, for such families only Work is Worship.

Laughing together is a far-fetched dream in a home where there is hardly an opportunity to smile at each other. Every countenance is grim.

The mother, busy with her household chores is worrying about the soaring prices of vegetables and the grocery, while children are preparing for their school and tuition tests and burdened with loads of assignments and projects and the father is always in a pensive or attacking mood.

I have stopped calling my husband on his cellphone, for the normal protocol of hello has changed to a frustrated “What’s it?”

One can sense the haste in ending the call. It is sometimes advisable not to open one’s mouth lest one become the target for the displacement of anger. I doubt if he is the same man who spoke to me for hours together on the phone during our courtship days! The conversations with children (who were once glib talkers) become laconic as they grow older. The smiles and the laughter are trapped in the inside the photo frames nailed to the wall, taken on a trip sometime in the past!!

The scope for learning together is no more relevant in this age of tablets and BlackBerries.

At the click of a mouse or a key of the mobile phone you can upload and download loads of information, karlo duniya muthi mein. I visited my friend a fortnight ago and what a sight it was!

Her son was busy with his phone, her husband was immersed into the screen of his laptop, the daughter humming tunes – (distance la moon, moon.) with her I-pad , all of them oblivious of the fact that there is a visitor at home and my friend was glued to the television. I was surprised that there was no tug of war for the remote control but I wondered, “What a learned family indeed!”

Each one is busy learning something in his/ her own way without any supervision, the kids

OPINION

especially. For all you know they may be very interactive with each other on some networking sites. ... I remember playing many indoor games with my parents in my childhood, especially ludo, cards, scramble and chess. But today, parents don’t even have the time to read out a story book to their children: however, they can afford their substitutes — animated VCDs and DVDs of stories available aplenty in the market. Well, it is the time for Angry Birds and Farmville, etc., (games on the internet). I personally feel indoor games should be renamed e-games. So learning is no longer a family affair!

As far as eating, where does one come across a family that has food together at the dining table?

(It is merely used as a stand for keeping some unwanted papers). I agree that on working days it is impossible to dine together but on holidays too it is the same plight. In some families, I have observed that the grandparents (if staying together — a rarity now), sometimes even the father wants only gruel/ oats as breakfast , while the daughter, (a strong contender for the next Miss World, I guess) an anorexic, survives only on an apple and the son is in deep slumber till 11.30 a.m. and has categorically warned his mother not to wake him up; only the aroma of a Chinese dish or Mexican delicacy can wake him up, and I am sure in most of the families the breakfast/even lunch is yesterday’s leftover food (courtesy price rise). Extended working hours, different shift timings, touring jobs, jobs abroad and many such genuine reasons make it difficult for families to even stay together. So, let’s not wait for January 1, Global family Day and May 15 International Family day to unite with our family members but have a wonderful outing this weekend itself, taking a break from the monotonous life and express our love for each other.

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HOROSCOPE

(Sun Sign)

www.GaneshaSpeaks.com Visit us Online www.indoamerican-news.com ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20: ings this week. Health of a family member or You may be happy with your your own health may keep you worried. Morecurrent work and designation. over, unexpected expenses may drill a hole in But, you may feel a deep need your pocket. You may need someone who can to explore newer avenues this be by your side and help you face the situation month. Taking up freelance courageously and, your beloved/spouse will be projects or part-time jobs to earn extra bucks your greatest strength. Soon, you may feel that is a distinct possibility, says Ganesha. This will life is getting back to its normal course.

SCORPIO Oct 24 - Nov 22: The trend of also be the time when you will depend a lot on the modern technology, internet or social net- the last week will continue, as your activities working sites for your work. In a way, you will shall remain family-centric. You will not only lay a strong foundation for your future during provide warmth and comfort to your family, but also emotional and financial this favourable period. Moreover, health of an security to your loved ones. elderly family member may become a cause of Being a responsible member concern for you. of the family, you will not TAURUS Apr 21 - May mind sacrificing your priori21 You will be loaded with ties to fulfil the demands of personal and professional reyour loved ones. Your spouse sponsibilities this week. The work may be unending, and too, will enjoy all the attention he/she receives. you may hardly find any time You will enjoy cordial relations with your to relax. Loans, EMIs, legal documents and parents and kids. You will realise that besides paperwork, and financial transactions will take professional success, personal happiness and up most of your time. But you are too strong to contentment too give a feeling of achievegive up, and shall do your best to sail through. ment.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 Make a list of activities, plan meticulously and - Dec 22: Ganesha foresees a think how to go about it. smile on your face throughout GEMINI May 22 - Jun the week. You will be spread21: This week, you will have ing happiness all around. Your your hands full with various near and dear ones will feel activities. On the professional front, you may be busy setting fortunate to be around you. Optimistic as you up your business, and leading are, this will be the perfect time to start new your team. You are all charged up to take up ventures or take new projects. But, don’t bite huge projects and to complete the tasks on time. more than you can chew . Learn to say no, and Those of you who are in a position of authority stop trying to please everyone. However, once will need to be calm and handle the matters tact- you accomplish the task, money will pour in fully. On the personal front, Ganesha foresees from all the sides.

CAPRICORN Dec 23 - Jan 20: In pursuit of blooming of new relationships that may last for the life time. Apart from making time for family, happiness, you will divert your mind from marelatives and friends, you shall also be occupied terialistic things to attaining mental peace. You will prefer to have a quality life with a comfortwith the renovation of home or office. able lifestyle in harmonious CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 23: This week is environment. Thus, being likely to yield benefits for all surrounded by your family, those who know how to make friends and relatives shall the most of a favourable phase. score over slogging at office Your energy levels are likely to for you, otherwise workabe on an all time high. So, you holic, Goats. The bonding will be able to meet domestic as well as professional requirements with ease. and bonhomie at home will get your energy Financial gains are on the cards too. Ganesha levels soaring. There are chances that you may gives a pat on your back, but advises you to not bump into your soul mate during this phase. So, let your success go to your head. Businessmen you may have one more reason to rejoice your shouldn’t over-burden themselves with work, romantic relationship.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19: You may as it may affect their health.

LEO July 24 -Aug 23: Your come across a Eureka moment this week! foresight, systematic planning Finding solutions to long pending issues will be easy for you. However, as you and discipline will help your resolve these issues, there are business soar during this lucky more challenges waiting for period. Your creativity is likely you. A feeling of restlessness to bring out the best in you. You may surround you. But, nothwill be successful in all your endeavours. Last ing to worry about, as you will week, you were busy expanding your social network. But, this week, you may opt for quality manage it fine. The credit also goes to your stars of friends rather than quantity. You may realise for showering luck upon you. At work, you will that only the person who understands you and find many people sharing their problems with you. Leaving aside your troubles, you will be shares emotional bond can be your friend.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23: busy giving them advises and solutions for a Your belligerent mood is likely better tomorrow.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar to continue this week. You may 20: Matters related to money feel stressed out by the chalwill be the highlight of the lenges that life throws at you. week. Being extra cautious Nevertheless, your ‘never say about your finances and indie’ attitude may do the trick. You will face the vestments, you will pay more situation with great vigour and emerge a winner.

So, bid adieu to all the tension and worries for attention to them. Buying and selling of assets now. You become optimistic and may change or property, loans, funds and capital will keep your outlook towards life. By doing so, you may you active throughout the week. This phase may also favour investment in realty or stock feel the change.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23: market. To earn more, you may even put in Some incidents will make extra hours at work or take up freelance work. you feel ecstatic, while some To be precise, it’s raining money for the Pisces of them may put you under natives! Home front too looks peaceful and stress. No wonder, you may harmonious. This is the perfect time to make be going through mixed feel- your dreams come true.

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Rupee Hits 6-Week Low on Import Payments, Shares; Ends at 49.83=$ MUMBAI (ET) : The rupee slipped to a six-week low on Monday weighed by persistent dollar demand from importers for oil payments as well as defence equipment purchases and weak local shares.

But, dealers expect the local currency to find support from dollar sales by exporters and possibly the Reserve Bank of India, whose policy is to smoothen sharp volatility in the rupee. The rupee ended at 49.835/845 to the dollar, after dipping to 49.9550, a level last seen

on Jan. 25, Thomson Reuters data showed. The currency closed at 49.50/51 on Friday.

“Global sentiment is weak and oil prices may stay under pressure,” said Naveen Raghuvanshi, associate vice president of foreign exchange trading at Development Credit Bank. These two factors could keep the demand for dollars strong.

Negative local stocks and subdued risk appetite in global financial markets due to a slowing Chinese economy and the risks surrounding Greece’s debt crisis weighed on the rupee. India imports more than 80 percent of its oil requirements to fuel its economy, the third largest in Asia, thereby making the local oil refiners the biggest buyers of dollars in the domestic currency market. “But the rupee is expected to witness strong support around 50 levels,” Raghuvanshi said. Dealers

said the RBI may have sold dollars through state-owned banks above 49.90 levels to help limit the rupee’s slide on Monday. However, this can be confirmed only after the RBI releases its data on forex intervention, after around 45 days. The central bank has actively intervened in the local currency market over the last few months, selling dollars while simultaneously resorting to a flurry of steps aimed at cutting speculation and improving dollar inflows.

In December, the RBI sold more than $9 billion in the spot and forwards markets, its biggest intervention in nearly three-and-half years, data released by the RBI in February showed.

Indian shares logged their lowest closing level in more than a month on Monday on worries that a lower-than-expected showing by the Congress party in a key state poll could hamper any move by the Congress-led federal government to revive stalled reforms. The onemonth offshore non-deliverable forward contracts were at 50.28.

In the currency futures market, the most-traded near-month dollar-rupee contracts on the National Stock Exchange, the MCX-SX and the United Stock Exchange all ended around 50.16, on a total volume of $4.7 billion.

Rich Indians among Top Philanthropists

BY MALIA POLITZER NEW DELHI (Mint): Wealthy Indians are among the top philanthropists in emerging economies and some of them are even devising giving strategies to maximize impact, a study has found.

“Philanthropy in India is at a nascent stage,” said Nidhi M. Reddy, one of the writers of the report titled “Catalytic Philanthropy in India”.

“Philanthropists are still geared towards a charity mindset, rather than where they can play a role in engineering large-scale social change.”

The study surveyed 200 high net worth Indian families and conducted in-depth interviews with 45 individuals . It was conducted by the Centre for Emerging Markets Solutions at the Indian School of Business (ISB) and FSG Social Impact Consultants.

Indian philanthropy suffers from some redundancy, the study found, with most philanthropists preferring to set up programmes through their own foundations, rather than investing in pre-existing non-governmental organizations, or programmes already in place that tackle social issues.

To be sure, there are many who differ, the study said.

Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro Ltd; Anji Reddy, founder-chairman

Wealthy Indians are among the top philanthropists in emerging economies.

Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro Ltd

of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd; Rohini Nilekani, wife of Infosys Ltd co-founder Nandan Nilekani; and Hemendra Kothari, chairman of DSP BlackRock; and their foundations are cited in the study as examples of philanthropists who have adopted strategies that have the potential to catalyse large-scale social impact on issues such as public education, skills development, water and wildlife conservation.

Some of the strategies common among the so-called catalytic prac-

tices included collaboration across sectors, particularly the government, use of non-traditional tools such as mass media and research and development projects, and use of data to drive and measure change.

“The size of issues in India can be very daunting, and a lot of people default to ‘what can I really do?”

Lalitha Vaidyanathan, managing director of FSG, said at the launch of the report. “But by taking this approach, philanthropy is uniquely positioned to create large-scale change.”

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INDIA

March 09, 2012

Indian Government Bans Cotton Exports, Global Prices Jump

India bans exports to ensure supply for local texile mills; International cotton prices jumps nearly 5%; Ban may spur China to buy more U.S. cotton MUMBAI (Mint): Indian government said on Monday it had banned cotton exports with immediate effect, boosting global prices by about 5% on fears that the absence of shipments from the world’s second-largest producer will reduce supplies.

India had already exported 8.5 million bales, higher than the export quota of 8.4 million bales the government had set in January, due to strong demand from China. Each bale is 170 kg.

This increase led India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to ban shipments, to ensure steady supplies for the local textile industry, the country’s second-largest employer and which accounts for some 4% of GDP. Benchmark US May cotton futures climbed over 4.5% on Monday to their highest level since 29 Feb after the announcement, erasing a fall of 2.13% last week which was driven by a stronger dollar and ample global supplies.

Prices in China, India’s top customer and the world’s largest user of the fibre, gained over 1%.

“Export of cotton has been prohibited till further orders,” the DGFT said in a statement. “Export against registration certificates already issued will also not be allowed.”

The ban could spur China to buy more cotton from the United States, the world’s biggest exporter, and further boost prices. But analysts said

sapped by weak demand from the country’s textile industry.

Plentifulglobalcottonsupplieshave kept prices in India’s domestic market hovering around Rs. 34,000-35,000 ($690-710) per candy of 356 kg each, a little over half the record high of Rs. 61,700 per candy reached in March 2011. The export ban pushed down the key March cotton contract on the Multi Commodity Exchange by 4%, the maximum permissible limit, to

plentiful global supplies -- and weak demand for textile mills -- would put a cap on prices and purchases.

“India’s export ban is going to direct demand back to the US and that is going to help to put a floor on how low prices can go this year,” said Abah Ofon, analyst at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore.

But he added: “US stocks are comfortable and I don’t see this ban adding huge upside pressure on prices.

What it will probably do is limit the decline in prices.”

China will cut its cotton imports by 1 million bales to 16 million bales of cotton in 2012/13 from the previous year, the US Agriculture Department said. India is one of China’s major cotton suppliers , but analysts said the ban was unlikely to have much of an effect, because Chinese traders have already bought over 80% of the

Indian cotton they signed deals for in the current marketing year that will end in September 2012.

Demand from cotton mills was also low due to the global economic downturn, which meant China’s cotton stocks were plentiful, said Dong Shuangwei, a senior researcher with Beijing Capital Futures.

“China has already imported about 800,000 tonnes of cotton since September from India,” Dong said, adding that China had planned to buy 1.3 million tonnes from India.

“That means the ban will only impact between 300,000 to 350,000 tonnes of cotton, which have not been loaded. China’s downstream demand is poor and there is still a large amount of cotton stocks at ports,” he added.

Cotton prices in China have fallen more than 35% from a record high about a year ago,

Rs. 16,470 per bale. Dhiren N. Sheth, president of the Cotton Association of India, which groups cotton exporters and traders, said he had appealed to the government to review the ban immediately.

“It’s a very regretful decision and this will permanently damage the reputation of India in the international market,” Sheth said. “Prices are likely to touch support price levels very soon.”

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March 09, 2012

India’s Falling Poverty Count

The sharp drop in extreme poverty in India since 2005 is linked to the growth acceleration in the first decade of this century.

(Mint) Last week, the World Bank released its latest estimates of global poverty that show how the scourge is finally in retreat in all regions of the world despite the financial crisis and the sharp increase in food and fuel prices.

The World Bank estimates global poverty numbers for every three years. The new data provides estimates for 2008, the latest year for which global averages can be calculated because the most recent comparable data for low-income countries is not yet available. Extreme poverty is in decline in South Asia as well.

What about India? The World Bank website provides Indian data for 2010. This data shows that around 67 million Indians were pulled out of poverty in the five years after 2005.

But there is also a sobering truth: our poverty headcount ratio --- or the proportion of Indians living below the global poverty line of $1.25 a day, calculated in terms of purchasing power parity dollars at 2005 prices --- is higher than in neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Nepal.

So a lot of work still needs to be done, especially if poverty data is combined with other social indicators such as adequate nutrition and access to public services such as health and education.

The fact that poverty reduction has accelerated over the past five years

is especially heartening. Here are the numbers. The headcount ratio fell by 13.87 percentage points over the 24 years between 1981 and 2005. It fell by another 8.97 percentage points in the five subsequent years. At least part of this should be because of the magnificent growth acceleration in the first decade of this century.

There has been heated debate on the impact of economic reforms on poverty, and the statistical trends are undoubtedly mixed. But the success in reducing poverty since 2005 despite a slight increase in inequality does strengthen the case of those who argue that faster economic growth is the best anti-poverty measure. The stunning collapse in Chinese poverty, with an astonishing 660 million pulled out of poverty since 1981, is almost surely a result of its 30-year economic boom.

Faster economic growth is not the only thing that matters. The experience in many Latin American countries in recent years shows that well-run social programmes are also an important part of the attack on poverty. But both the stunning success in China and the faster drop in poverty rates in India since 2005 show that rapid economic growth is perhaps even more important.

There is no long-term trade-off between economic growth and poverty reduction.

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Photo finish likely in Uttarakhand

Samajwadi Party Wins UP and Akalis Punjab

Akhilesh Singh Yadav

Mulayam Singh Yadav

BY RAJ KANWAR IAN INDIA CORRESPONDEN Political analysts and soothsayers and opinion polls on the general elections to the five state assemblies in India were quite off the mark, especially in the case of the Punjab. The results available till 4 p.m. Tuesday for the 690 seats spread across these states show that Akali Dal-BJP combine has secured an absolute majority in the 117-member state assembly defying anti-incumbency mood and conventional wisdom which had it that no ruling party returned to power in the 46-year history of the Punjab. Thus it is for the first time that the Akali Dal alliance led by octogenarian Parkash Singh Badal will once again form the government. Later in the day, the Congress leader Capt. Amarinder Singh boldly owned his own responsibility for the party’s defeat.

The opinion polls and forecasts about Uttar Pradesh too went awry.

Contrary to the forecasts that had indicated a fractured mandate, the Samajwadi Party (SP) headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav secured a comfortable majority with its leader aiming to become for the third time the chief minister of the state. Much of the credit for SP’s victory would certainly go to the patriarch’s son, Akhilesh Singh who had unleashed a tireless and indefatigable election campaign throughout the state. The incumbent chief minister Mayawati went to Raj Bhawan late Tuesday afternoon and submitted her resignation. Mayawati had ruled the state for five years with an iron hand and in her characteristic style, but had won notoriety for getting scores of statues of elephants (the election symbol of her party) and her own self erected in the state capital and elsewhere. Her party came a distant second. Both the national parties

viz BJP and Congress fared poorly and just managed to secure seats in forties and thirties respectively.

T h e electoral Parkash battle in Singh Badal the mountainous state of Uttarakhand has been tantalizingly close and the leads changed hands several times since the morning when the counting began.

At 4 p.m., BJP had won 15 and was leading in 17 seats while the Congress was declared a victor in 15 and led in other 16 in a House of 70. The ‘others’ have won 3 and were leading in the four remaining seats. This two-horse race is literally neck-to-neck and would in all probability result in a photo-finish.

Interestingly, BJP had brought the retired army general Khanduri as chief minister a few months ago replacing Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in order to give a more acceptable face to the party. This gamble may succeed if it wins a majority even by a whisker.

The displaced Nishank is still nursing his humiliation and charges were exchanged between him and the general

accusing each other of sabotaging the others’ electoral prospects. That means even if BJP manages to retain the power, it will have to wrestle with the egos of its quarrelsome leaders within its ranks. In this context, history may repeat itself with BJP again being forced by its internecine leaders to changing its chief minister in the middle of his term.

If the Congress becomes the largest single party, and is able to wrest the reins of power from the clutches of BJP, it will have on its hand nearly half a dozen chief ministerial aspirants.

The main question is who should be the chief minister? There are candidates galore for the top post and it will indeed be a ticklish knot to untie. The foremost in the race is Harish Rawat, currently a minister of state in the Central government and an official spokesman of the party on TV news channel. I have often watched Rawat indulging in verbal ‘skirmishes’ and coming up with an ace against rivals from other political parties on discussions and debates on numerous subjects. During the TV discussions, he has been cool and collected and did not ever lose his temper like his political opponents. Vijay Bahuguna, who is a member of the Parliament from Tehri constituency, too is nursing chief ministerial ambitions but he is virtually a new comer to Uttarakhand political landscape. Though, Vijay claims to be son of the soil thanks to his late father Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, being a prominent leader, he himself was born, raised and studied in Allahabad. In a way, Bahuguna is perceived to be a non-Uttarakhandi despite his lineage. There are other potential candidates in the fray but much will depend if the Congress win this photo-finish race.

The elections in Manipur state went in favor of the Congress as expected.

In Goa, BJP however managed to secure an absolute majority, displacing the Congress.

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March 09, 2012

17 Charged in Bhanwari’s Murder Case

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BY RAJ KANWAR IAN INDIA CORRESPONDENT The several-month long investigations into the kidnapping and murder of Bhanwari Devi reached its finale last week when the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) formally framed charges under different sections of Indian Penal Code against 17 accused including Amar Chand, the husband of the murdered nurse. The charge sheet was filed last week in a packed Jodhpur CBI court.

The 17 persons named in the charge sheet include Mahipal Maderna, a dismissed minister in the current Congress government in Rajasthan and Malkhan Singh Bishnoi, a Congress legislator.

Eight of the persons including Mahipal Maderna and Malkhan Singh Bishnoi were charged with serious offences such like murder, criminal conspiracy, abduction, destroying of evidence, giving false information as also offences under the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act. The last named law is peculiar to India in order to protect the honor and dignity of Indians belonging to such low castes. Bhanwari’s husband too has been charged under all these sections except the murder and antischeduled castes and tribes Act. Incidentally, this the second charge sheet filed by CBI; the first one was filed in December last year against

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Sohan Lal Bishnoi, Shahbuddin and Kumbha Ram alias Balia.

The involvement of politicians of stature in this bizarre kidnapping and murder caused a political stir which eventually led to the dismissal of minister Maderna. The fact that the kidnapped and murdered nurse was young and beautiful with a permissive demeanor added much spice and sexual overtones to the episode. What added further interest to the disappearance of the nurse was the circula-

tion of CDs showing Maderna and Bhanwari in, what is called, ‘a compromising position’. All this fanned speculation about the involvement of powerful politicians in the disappearance of the victim.

Investigations are still continuing against some more people including Indira Bishnoi, a sister of Malkhan Singh. Indira is absconding, and the high court has stayed her arrest till Monday.

Bhanwari Devi (36) had disappeared from Bilara area of Jodhpur on September 1 last. Her husband had then filed a habeas corpus application in the high court following which the state government ordered a CBI inquiry. The charge sheet says that both Mahipal Maderna and Congress legislator Bishnoi were fond of wine and woman. For the first time, Bhanwari had first met Bishnoi in 2002 in order to get a transfer to another place. Soon, she realized the ‘power’ of the powerful people and began befriending officials and politicians. The charge sheet further alleges that Bhanwari had made two recordings of her intimate postures with Mederna. The first of these recordings made in a hotel room in Jaipur did not come out nicely; hence the need to make another recording.

According to the charge sheet, Bhanwari was strangulated and her body subsequently burnt, and the remains thrown in a nearby canal.

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SPORTS

March 09, 2012

Bhupathi-Bopanna Lift First Doubles Title

Pleasant Surprise for Yuvraj Singh BOSTON (The Hindu): Recovering from a malignant tumour, India’s World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh was in for a pleasant surprise when some fans met him outside his apartment in Boston and wished him a speedy recovery.

Yuvraj posted the picture of fans clapping and cheering him on ‘Twitter’, where the cricketer was seen wearing a blue jacket, cap and sunglasses.

Touched by their gesture, Yuvraj, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy in Boston for rare germ cell cancer between his lungs, wrote on the site, “Local students and fans came to wish me just outside my app! Felt like I was in India! Sweet of them.”

Earlier replying to a post by the legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne, Yuvraj wrote, “hey you legend! Thanks mate I’m doing good staying positive! Hope you

Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi in action against Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski of Poland during their doubles final at the Emirates Dubai ATP Tennis Championships

DUBAI (HT): Veteran Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi clinched his 50th career title and his first with Rohan Bopanna when the duo outwitted Poles Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski to lift the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships doubles men’s trophy.

The Fourth-seeded Indians prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 10-5 in 69 minutes to capture their first ATP World Tour doubles title together.

Bhupathi and Bopanna joined forces full time at the beginning of the season and came into Dubai having reached the semi-finals at the Aircel Chennai Open and the Open 13 in Marseille.

“It’s my first ATP (World Tour) 500 title,” said Bopanna.

“This is great, and obviously it’s great to play with Mahesh. All that 17 years of experience on court I think really helps in those close matches and these big moments.

“It’s a good opportunity for me to play with him, alongside him. I couldn’t have asked for anything better than winning this title.”

The 37-year-old Bhupathi captured his fourth title at this ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tennis tournament.bThe right-hander previously triumphed in 1998 (with Leander Paes), 2004 (Fabrice Vetea Santoro) and 2008 (with Mark Knowles).bThe 31-year-old Bopanna clinched his sixth ATP World Tour doubles title.

“It’s amazing. It’s even better than playing at home, because the stadium here is bigger than Chennai. For me, fortunately, it’s my fifth final I think and it’s always like this on Saturday. It’s amazing, so many Indians,” said Bhupathi.

Competing in their 32nd tour-level final together, Fyrstenberg and Matkowski were chasing their first title since triumphing at the AEGON International in Eastbourne in June 2010.

Defeated Team India makes a Quiet Return

NEW DELHI (TOI): India’s vanquished cricketers returned home after a demoralising tour of Australia during which they were whitewashed in the Test series and proved no good in the ODI triseries that followed.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Praveen Kumar and Rahul Sharma arrived at the Indira Gandhi International airport from Brisbane via Singapore early Sunday morning. The players landed much later than their scheduled arrival and chose to make quiet exits from the airport without talking to the waiting media persons.

The Mumbai-based group of Sachin Ten-

dulkar, Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, while spinner Ravichandran Ashwin landed in Chennai on Saturday.

While Zaheer and Yadav have been rested for India’s next engagement -- the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, Tendulkar and Rohit are part of the squad to take part in the event commencing March 11. Rohit has also been named in the Mumbai squad to take part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day inter-zonal tournament in Delhi from next week. India had a disastrous tour of Australia losing the Test series 0-4 and failing to make the finals of the triangular ODIs.

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Cricketer Yuvraj Singh undergoing treatment for cancer in U.S, hospital poses with a fan-Agency.

and family are well, cheers!” Warne had tweeted, “Hey buddy thinking of you lots my friend and hope you are smiling and fighting champion!!! Here if you need anything...”

India Rejoice at Olympic Comeback

NEW DELHI (Dawn): India celebrated the national field hockey team’s return to the Olympics, but their coach warned that the fight back to the top had just begun.

Once the masters of the sport with eight Olympic gold medals, India failed to qualify for the Beijing Games four years ago, missing the event for the first time since 1928.

They booked a place in the London Olympics with an 8-1 demolition of France in Sunday’s final of the qualifying tournament at home in New Delhi, led by Sandeep Singh’s five penalty corner goals.

The cricket-obsessed nation, deflated by Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s under-performing team in Australia, finally have something to cheer about.

The hockey victory was splashed on the front pages of leading newspapers, with experts predicting a bright future in what is officially India’s national sport.

Their Australian coach Michael Nobbs, however, said a lot of hard work still remained to be done if the team was to compete against the best in the world.

Nobbs said it might be unrealistic to expect

the team to win a medal in London. His goal was to make India world-beaters by the 2016 Olympics.

“Miracles don’t happen overnight,” said Nobbs, who took over as coach last June for a five-year period.

“Qualifying for the Olympics was very important for the team but is only a good start. My main goal is that after five years the team should be confident of a podium finish.”

India dominated the qualifying tournament against lesser-ranked teams, pumping in 44 goals in six matches, 16 of them though Sandeep’s penalty corners.

“This win could be the start of a new chapter,” said former captain Pargat Singh. “Now that a spot has been sealed in the Olympics, the focus should shift on winning a medal in London.”

Former Olympian Jagbir Singh said the selfbelief in the team gave him hope that India could perform well in London.

“It was heartening to see India at its attacking best in the qualifiers,”he said. “There is still time till July (when the Olympics start) to rectify any shortcomings.

“But I am confident this team will go far.”

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