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Friday, October 14 2011 | Vol. 30, No. 41

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Galvanizing Garba

The festival of Navratri, nine nights dedicated to Divine Mother Shakti, is the longest of celebrated Indian festivities. A unique feature of this festival is Garba, a graceful dance that is associated with the raas lila of Lord Krishna and the gopis. The word garba is derived from “garbha deep” meaning a lamp placed inside a perforated earthen pot. The light inside the pot symbolised embryonic life. The dance is usually performed by women during Navaratri, Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, Holi and other such festive occasions. Over the last two weeks, Indo Americans from all over the city observed Navratri with prayers, kolu, and of course garba.

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Farewell Friend!

Soul Man Jagjit Singh Passes Away

By Sreeram Chaulia (HT): Ever since his first album The Unforgettables was released in 1976, Jagjit Singh became a soother of frayed nerves, a rebuilder of broken homes, a fallback for the jilted, and a solace for those agitated by the multiple ironies of the human condition. His compositions broke music industry records and penetrated listeners’ hearts. Jagjit often responded to his legions of ardent fans by carving new chapters in his astonishingly productive career. When the ghazal-loving public asked for less philosophical and more romantic output, or less arcane Urdu poetry and more everyday Urdu lyrics, Jagjit heard them and moulded his oeuvre accordingly. There are phases in which he leaned towards one type of ghazal rendition, only to move on to a new terrain with altered emphases. The Jagjit of the 1980s and the Jagjit of the last decade were radically different, not only in the ageing of his vintage voice, but also in topical choice and innovation. Best remembered as the reviver of the ghazal from declining mass popularity, Jagjit was a believer in substance rather than form. He never hesitated to experiment with western instruments. A ghazal maestro clad in white pumps and jeans sounds incongruous. But Jagjit pulled it off with élan and dignity. He was always a jovial Punjabi whose penchant for humour and

By Dr. Virendra Mathur HOUSTON: It is with a very heavy heart that I am trying to write a few words about someone whose skills, talent, liveliness, humor, personality and optimism have had such a powerful impact on my life. Ever since we learnt about his serious illness two weeks ago, I, like millions more have been praying for his recovery even though I realized the gravity of the situation. Today, learning of his passing away was still a terrible shock. This is a loss that cannot be fathomed, for the millions and millions of music lovers spread over Jagjit Singh with wife Chitra Singh

ability to weave it into his music endeared him to even those uninitiated into Indian classical and semi-classical music. A Sikh who rose from humble origins and dazzled pundits and plebians alike, his creative interpretation of specific words and phrases came straight from the soil of Punjab. While his contribution to preserving Urdu verse is obvious, Jagjit was also a peerless exponent of Punjabi as a sweet and hummable language, not the rough-hewn tongue it is notorious for. Jagjit epitomised values of decency and humanity. In his later compositions, he chose poetry that poured scorn on the constraints of modernity. He did expose the false morality of the ‘waaiz’ (preacher) and the ‘sheikh’ (cleric) in keep-

ing with traditional ghazal ideology. But he also sang couplets on everyday realities of inflation and lying politicians. He pithily captured inter-personal and social dilemmas, packaging them into finished gems of music. The ‘dard’ (pain) and ‘gham’ (pathos) that sprung from his personal losses were transposed onto the wider world’s travails. Alas, there will be no more soultugging concerts or new albums from Jagjit Singh, but what he has left is enough. As long as the languages he beautified through music survive, he will remain literally Jagjit, the winner of the world.

On his most recent Houston visit, Jagjit Singh jokingly checks good friend, Dr. Virendra Mathur’s heart worrying that the doctor is neglecting his own while taking care of everyone else’s

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all the continents that have been mesmerized and enchanted by his extremely sweet and melodious voice. I still remember like yesterday the evening of May 3, 1980 when in Cullen Hall of University of Houston, Meena Datt introduced the very exciting, young and romantic couple from India “Jagjit and Chitra Singh” and Houston heard for the first time the most wonderful and melodious voice of this great singer. He was not very much known in Houston at that time and therefore his impact was unbelievable. Each and everyone became his fan instantly and we all have enjoyed his live concerts throughout the last 30 years besides his recordings on LPs, Cassettes, Videos and CDs. I used to purchase every new recording that was released in the 80s as soon as I heard about it and some of his live recordings were absolutely fabulous and are true gems even today. Soon after his arrival on the scene, the world of Indian music changed, the Ghazals which were considered to be interesting only for a select few overnight became the “in” thing for the commoners as well as for the elites and he transformed the Ghazals in such a fashion that they became the most popular form of Hindustani music. He owned the undisputed title of “The King of Ghazals”. He has created music, composed for many movies and trained and continued on page

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October 14, 2011

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October 14, 2011

Farewell Jagjit, my Friend

Pakistan Grieves Jagjit singh’s death By reZaul h laSKar ISLAMABAD (Outlook): Pakistanis today reacted with an outpouring of grief at the death of ghazal king Jagjit Singh with the news dominating TV channels and websites even as thousands of his fans here expressed their sorrow on social networking sites. 70-year-old Singh had numerous fans across the border, who had been closely following the news of his illness. Such was his popularity that TV channels led their news bulletins with reports on his death while some aired special programmes on his music.

Dr. Denton Cooley (third from right ) listening to Jagjit Singh in real Indian style in Mumbai continued FRoM page

helped many young emerging musicians to launch their careers. The first record that made Talat Aziz, who was in Houston recently, famous was “Jagjit Singh presents Talat Aziz” I had the good fortune to know him quite well and every time he came to Houston and many times in India, I not only enjoyed his live concert but had the occasion to spend some time with him and that is where I learnt how simple and down to earth this world famous legend was. Even when his health condition challenged him, he always had a very optimistic outlook and never revealed any real anxiety if he had it at all. As you probably know, he was scheduled for a concert in Mumbai, the day he got sick and hospitalized. During one of his recent visits to Houston

in 2009, during a lunch with a small gathering, everyone was getting his photo taken with him and when I was standing with him, he says “you check the hearts of everyone, but who checks your heart ?; he promptly proceeded to check my heart by placing his hand over my heart and feeling my pulse”. That was Jagjit Singh ! As I was driving him back to his hotel another time, he noticed that five of the CDs in my car were those of his Bhajans, which I love besides his Ghazals, he did not hesitate to ask me why not all six and I had no answer and he laughed profusely. I will miss his music very much and it is such an irony that God took him away from us when he was still at his prime. However, I take solace in the thought that music never dies and Jagjit Singh will live forever through his music.

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Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh

Tina Sani, one of Pakistan’s best known ghazal singers who had performed with Singh in India earlier this year, was among musicians and artists who expressed shock at the passing of the maestro. “It’s a sad day and it’s been more of a shock for me as I performed with Jagjit sahab in India in February and March during a series of concerts organised to mark the centenary celebration of (Urdu poet) Faiz Ahmed Faiz,” Sani told PTI on phone from Karachi. State-run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said Singh’s “silky” voice ruled during early 80’s in films like Prem Geet, Saath Saath and Arth. “However, his major work is spread over more than 60 filmy and non filmy albums,” it said. Incidentally, Singh was admitted to hospital just hours before he was to perform with Pakistani ghazal maestro, Ghulam Ali, in Mumbai on September 23. “It’s a huge loss because Jagjit Singh was

instrumental in bringing ghazals to my generation. When we were younger, we heard the ghazals of Mehdi Hassan and Begum Akhtar but that wasn’t really our music. It was in the 1970s that Jagjit Singh took everybody by storm and swept us off our feet,” Sani said. Singh’s albums released in the 1970s and 1980s, which revived and popularised the traditional ghazal genre by featuring modern musical instruments alongside Indian classical ones, continue to sell even today in cities across Pakistan. Pakistanis also took to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to express grief at Singh’s death, describing it as a great loss for the world of music. A comment posted in response to a news report on Singh’s death on the website of The Express Tribune newspaper said: “Go well, Jagjit Singh. Thanks for the memories and melody!” On Twitter, Afghan journalist and blogger Ahmad Shuja wrote: “Jagjit’s death has saddened Pakistanis and Afghans as much as it has Indians. That’s true strategic depth.” Following reports of Singh’s illness, a popular cafe in Islamabad had paid a special tribute to the maestro by playing his songs and wishing him well. “Our hearts just missed a beat,” read special paper mats that were placed on all tables at Chaaye Khana cafe. Singh had visited Pakistan in 2004, when he performed several concerts to promote peace between India and Pakistan and to raise funds for ailing ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan. The music maestro, who rediscovered the ghazal genre for common Indian in 70s and 80s, was admitted to the Lilavati hospital. He underwent surgery but did not recover and was kept on life support. He passed away at 8.10 am after having a “terrible hemorrhage”. Credited with freeing ghazal from the shackles of complexity, Singh brought a simplicity and lyrical quality to the genre, which was uniquely his own and instantly acclaimed by music lovers. Sani said Singh had made plans to tour Pakistan in December along with composer Gulzar before he fell ill. “When we performed together in India earlier this year, I asked Jagjit sahab why he hadn’t performed the compositions of Ghalib when he came to Pakistan. He responded by asking me if people would want to listen to such compositions. I told him people would love to hear him perform the compositions of Ghalib and he said he would do so when he came to Pakistan next,” Sani said.

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COMMUNITY

October 14, 2011

Bhuchar Among Three conservatives Vying for state rep. district 26 seat By JaWahar malhOtra SUGAR LAND: At a hastily arranged event to meet the community and the desi press, the Indo American Political Action Committee presented the final slate of candidates vying for the State Representative seat for District 26, which comprises all of Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford, Pecan Grove, New Territory and unincorporated parts of Harris and Fort Bend counties, generally south of West Bellfort and on both sides of Highway 6. The race for the seat had been intensified by the announcement of the current office holder, Charlie Howard who has held the seat since 1994, not to seek re-election. The slate became finalized when another hopeful, Sugar Land Councilman At-Large Posi-

candidates and mingle with them. Most of the IAPAC Board of Directors were present, although President Mini Timmaraju could not attend, and Rick Pal emceed the event. Apart from Bhuchar, the two announced candidates for this seat are Jacquie Baly Chaumette, currently serving her second term as Sugar Land Councilwoman and the city’s Mayor Pro Tem since July 19 and Rick Miller who tendered his resignation as chairman of the Fort Bend County Republican Party on August 3, a post he held since November 2007, to pursue this position. In the last Sugar Land Council election between Harish Jajoo (who eventually won) and Farah Ahmed (both of whom attended the event), Miller responded to a divisive mailer by saying that “voters should

The three candidates at the IAPAC function. From left: Sonal Bhuchar, Jacquie Baly Chaumette and Rick Miller

tion 1, Tom Abraham announced the day before that he was dropping out of contention “after prayerful and careful consideration.” It was well-known that he had his eye on the District 26 seat, but after another IndoAmerican, Sonal Bhuchar had announced her candidacy earlier this summer, Abraham decided to opt out and not dilute the vote for a South Asian candidate. IAPAC held the presentation in the evening on Tuesday, October 11 at the Ft. Bend Chamber of Commerce office’s meeting room off Diary Ashford and Highway 90A and about 60 people showed up to partake of light desi snacks and wine, listen to the three

look into the allegations on the flier before they make their own decisions about how to vote.” The three candidates spoke about their personal histories and their intense affection for Sugar Land, where they all have lived for two decades or more. Bhuchar was the first to speak and explain her expertise in the healthcare field as a physical therapist and also in education as a mother involved in her kids’ schools and later as a Ft. Bend ISD Trustee for the sixth year now. “Texas needs to grow the economy, but we must hold the line on taxes,” she said, even as she continued on page

Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, ocToBer 14, 2011 • onlIne edITIon: www.IndoAmerIcAn-news.com

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October 14, 2011

Avi Vir Breaks Boards for Black Belt

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HOUSTON: Avi Vir was tested for his Black Belt in Taekwondo (TKD) on September 23. He has been training at SMK Martial Arts Academy in Spring Branch. His teacher is Master Lee from Korea, who is a 6th Dan (degree) Black Belt. He is also a 3rd generation Black Belt Master. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and combines elements of combat, self-defense, sport, exercise, meditation and philosophy. It is also an Olympic sport. The Black Belt test for Avi was the culmination of 5 years of practice in the sport. It was the final test in a line of 16 belts, each incorporating 4 colored stripes of progression. As part of his testing he had to do 50 push-ups in one minute, 50 sit-ups in one minute, form routines, sparring with 1 and 2 opponents. The culmination was breaking two wooden boards each 3/4” thick, laid back to back one on top of the other, with his hands and feet. The event was attended by students and families of the Academy and followed by a short celebration. “I was nervous about the testing at first, but I gained confidence as the testing went on” Said Avi who is 9 years old. “I am proud to see Avi develop into a confident and disciplined boy.” said Master Lee. Avi is the son of Arti and Atul Vir, Promoters of Shangri-La Contemporary Art Foundation. “I was biting my fingernails watching Avi break the wood with his bare hands and feet

HOUSTON: India Culture Center Houston (ICC) and India House (IH) in collaboration with major Indo American organizations will be celebrating “Diwali- The Festival of Lights” on Sunday, October 30 at the India House. In its regular tradition of celebrating the Joint events; this year ICC and IH have collaborated for a city wide celebration of Diwali to showcase the celebrations as they are done in various states of India. ICC has been conducting these celebrations since 2008 in Downtown Houston to bring the awareness of such celebrations to the Mainstream. But this year it has partnered with IH and would be showcasing the celebrations at “our own house”.

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and worried that he would break a bone! But he was perfectly fine!” Said Mom Arti. Atul added, “We are very proud of Avi for his dedication and persistence in a program that has taken more than half his life to complete. Even though he is our young child, we respect him for his achievement”.

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Avi Vir with his trainer, Master Lee

The program will be an informal free event for public. The program will constitute cultural performances from local dance & music schools. The IH facility will be decorated elegantly & various organizations/ groups will be displaying the “Diwali Cultural Heritage” as celebrated in various States of India. There would also be a Rangoli Competition, face painting and Diya coloring for kids. There would be sweets and snacks for all the attendees. The attendees would be treated to culinary delight of India and the event is an open where people would intermingle with friends and families. Ethnic wear is preferred. For more information call Falguni Gandhi at 281-844-4604 or Yolanda Benoit at 713-9291905 or visit www.icchouston.org

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COMMUNITY

lladró signing event at Karat 22

Rosa Lladró presents a new piece inspired by The World of Tango NEW YORK: Rosa Lladró, President of Lladró, the world renowned creator of fine porcelain art, will visit Karat 22 Jewelers in Houston on October 19 to meet Lladró aficionados and sign their purchases. At the event, Rosa Lladró will celebrate the sensuality of one of the most beautiful dance styles in the word with the new sculpture Passionate Tango. This limited edition piece of 3,000 units is as expressive and intricate as the iconic choreography that inspired it, and perfectly captures the sensuality and passion of this spectacularly romantic and complex dance. The elegant red dress of the woman matches the color of the flower arrangement of her hairdo and contrasts with the sobriety of the man’s suit. Not only the movements and details of their bodies have been faithfully reproduced, but also their outfits. This piece, one of the most sensual and original creations of the brand, is a timeless expression of passionate love.

Rosa Lladró is the President of Lladró and has been a member of the Lladró Board of Directors since 1984. She is the daughter of Juan Lladró, the eldest of the three founding brothers. Together with her father and her sister Ángeles, Rosa sits on Lladró’s Creativity Committee, the decision-making body for artistic issues. She also represents the brand at many cultural and social events around the world.

As a gift with purchase, guests will receive a CD recording of a selection of rhythms and themes of this impassioned and highly unique dance. About Lladró: Lladró was established by the brothers Juan, José and Vicente Lladró in 1953 in Valencia, Spain. Since then, the brand has undergone an amazing metamorphosis from an artisan workshop to a huge firm that holds a presence in over 120 countries and is at the forefront of contemporary porcelain design. All Lladró pieces are the fruit of a painstaking handmade process of creation, still carried out entirely in the workshops of The City of Porcelain, in Valencia. The highest artistic and technical quality is achieved in each phase of this process. For more information on Lladró, visit www.lladro.com.

October 14, 2011

JVB Preksha meditation center to celebrate its 2nd Anniversary HOUSTON: A daylong event has been planned to mark the celebration of JVB Preksha Meditation Center’s 2nd anniversary on Sunday, October 16 with an exciting program which includes Adhar Abhishek Pooja, Workshop on Tolerance, Bhajans, cultural programs and pravachan by Samani Ji. The program will start at 8am with Adhar Abhishek to Lord Mahavir under the expert guidance of Jayesh Khona. The JVB Center was opened in the year 2009 and includes a unique “cardinal pyramid” shaped meditation hall. The unique shape of the meditation hall attracts highest amount of cosmic energy which helps a meditator in achieving “thoughtless” state (Nirmal Stithi) roughly three times faster than otherwise. The JVB Center is dedicated to instilling physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health by utilizing Preksha Meditation techniques under the guidance of Samani Akshay Pragyaji and Parimal Pragyaji. The center conducts monthly workshops in Preksha Meditation and less frequently on other topics of interest to the community. For example: Stress Management, Tolerance

etc. along with training in non-violence. These workshops are open to people from all walks of life. Samaniji’s (Jain female renunciates) continuous presence in the center has been instrumental in spreading valuable ancient knowledge to the community and in bringing about transformational changes in people’s lives Preksha Meditation is a meditation technique for attitudinal change, behavioral modification and integrated development of personality. It is practiced to purify emotions, conscious, and to realize one’s own self. Started in India in 1970, Preksha Meditation is a result of the untiring efforts of Ganadhipati Tulsi and Acharya Mahapragya. Acharya Mahapragya researched and experimented for twenty years to rediscover this art of meditation, as it was practiced by Bhagwan Mahavir. Preksha meditation is for everyone, irrespective of race, religion, language, color, gender and belief. JVB Houston also conducts yoga classes, Swadhyaya, Gyanshala for Children, Discourse & Bhajan at the center located at 14102 Schiller Road, Houston, TX 77082. For more information, visit www.JVBHouston.org; or call 281-596-9642.

Join us October 19 from 6 to 8 pm at Karat 22 Jewelers, 5623 Hillcroft Avenue, Houston, Texas for an exclusive Signing Event with Rosa Lladro. Please RSVP to 713-783-0808 or email rachna@karat22.com

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COMMUNITY

community Prayer marked with a Unique ritual SUGAR LAND: A local Hindu priest will conduct a rare prayer ceremony to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva on October 30, 2011. Veda Pundit Udhayakumar Sharma will perform the Rudra Abhishek for 25,000 Shiva Lingas with the participation of 25 families. Lord Shiva, worshipped as Sri Uma Pardhiveswara, is said to bring devotees spiritual bliss, prosperity, and closeness to Lord Shiva. The prayer event will take place at Sankalp Mandap Hall, 16338 Kensington, at Sugarland, 77479. The public is invited to attend this special prayer that commences at 8am, and enjoy lunch (Maha Prasad) sponsored by Sankalp Restaurant.

A Kailasa Prasthara, an abode for Lord Shiva, will be constructed with 1116 Shiva Lingas arranged in accordance to the Vedic tradi-

tion; the lingas will be createdout of clay and blended with saffron, turmeric, red sandalwood powder, and sesame powder, to name a few of the ingredients. Items offered in the ritualistic bathing of the lingas will include rosewater, milk, ghee, sandalwood paste, grape juice, and honey. Powerful mantras for Lord Shiva and other gods will be chanted during the archana starting with the Ganapati Upanishad. Participants and devotees are urged to wear traditional Indian clothes and to bring copies of the prayers to join in the chanting. Sponsorship for the pooja is $216,00 per participating family. For more information call 713933-8821.

Solution in Challenging Time, the event willthis year emphasize on celebrating the true spirit through a spectacular fashion show, music, dance and irresistible food,” said Nalini Goyal, board member, MAFS. “Apart from the most revered leaders from India, another dignitary, Karnataka Congress president Raghunaath V Deshpandey also has agreed to grace the occasion as the Guest of Honour. Other formidable leaders including Maharashtra Congress president RanjeetDeshmukh and Deputy Speaker of Vidhan Sabha Delhi Amrish Gautham have consented to be the Special Invitees for the evening,” said Kumar. “About 1,500eminent personalities from education, medical, and most adored seniors are likely to participate. “All proceeds from the event will support Metropolitan Asian Family Services Mission, which aims to promote the wellbeing of South Asians immigrants through services that facilitate their adjustment, integration, and friendship with the wider society, nurture their sense of belongings to new environment of America,” Kumar added. The list of sponsors of the event

is getting longer. Prominent companies like Turkish Airline, Air India, Kingfisher, Light Point Hospitality Group and many others stepped forward to partner with the MAFS. “We are also collaborating with many South Asian organizations to support our mission. This year’s program is shaping up to be our strongest yet,” Goyal said. Many community organizations including Delhi Association, Rajasthan Association, Indo-American Democratic organization, Federation of Indian Association, UP Cultural Association and Lions Club of Chicago extended their help for this year’s festival. The press meet was attended by Nand Kapoor, Ramesh Soparawala, Hemant Brahmbhatt, Bhailal Patel and other members of ethnic media Other board members who were in the conference were Naren Patel, Beena Patel, Nalini Goyal, Firdaus Jafri, Shahida Khan, Noor Tejany and others. The event concluded with scrumptious snacks served by MAFS boards and staff . For tickets, sponsorship or vendor Booth booking detail, call Santosh Kumar at 847-312-3106 or visit www.mafsinc.com

Indian luminaries to make mAFs event Grand CHICAGO: ‘Work, earn and serve people in need’ seems to be the new mantra of expatriates in Illinois. A whole lot of luminaries from their motherland – India- are coming to grace the 19th annual fundraising dinner to be hosted by Metropolitan Asian Family Service (MAFS) at India House, Schaumburg, on October 15. Announcing the surprise in store, Executive Director of MAFS Santosh Kumar said the Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit and former chief minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje Sindhia would be present to boost the philanthropic mindset of Indians in the US. Santosh Kumar, addressing the media at the Western Ave Centre of MAFS on September 26, said the board of directors and staff are leaving no stone unturned to make the event one of the largest cultural and historical extravaganzas of the year.“Community has a great opportunity to meet these leaders who believe in unity and dignity. We are eager to bring the community together in celebration of one of the most vibrant events of this year,” she said. “We are excited to bring the 19th annual fundraising event this fall in Chicago. With the theme Finding

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Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, ocToBer 14 , 2011 • onlIne edITIon: www.IndoAmerIcAn-news.com

COMMUNITY

October 14, 2011

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are being sought. In addition, nearly 24 defendants are variously charged in six indictments with burglaries and robberies throughout Queens County. “This is by far the largest and certainly among the most sophisticated identity theft/credit card fraud cases that law enforcement has come across,” Queens district attorney Richard Brown said. Brown said credit card fraud and identity theft are two of the fastest growing crimes in the US,

afflicting millions of victims and costing billions of dollars in losses to businesses. According to the indictments, between May 2010 and September 2011 counterfeit cards were given to teams of “shoppers” who were sent out on shopping expeditions in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Los Angeles. They bought Apple iPads, iPhones, computers, watches and fancy handbags from Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Rolexe and Breitling. The groups would %then resell the merchandise oversees to locations in China, Europe and the Middle East. pti They are also alleged to have used forged credit cards to rent such luxurious automobiles as Lamborghinis and Porsches. The investigation involved intelligence gathering and electronic eavesdropping on dozens of different telephones in which thousands of conversations in Russian, Mandarin and Arabic were intercepted. Brown said as part of the investigation, search warrants were executed earlier this week at 15 locations throughout New York City and Long Island. Among the items allegedly recovered were approximately USD 650,000 in cash, seven handguns, computers, card readers, embossers, blank credit cards and fake identifications.

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the necessary raw material - lists of credit card account numbers and various blank credit cards. Among the Indian-origin people charged are Vishnu Harilal, Ravindra Singh, Amar Singh, Neha Punjabi Singh, Ravi Ramroop and Kamal Sanasi. Eighty-six of the defendants are in custody and 25

Fondren

NEW YORK: In the biggest identity theft scam in the US history, 111 people, including at least 13 of Indian origin, have been charged by federal authorities for stealing credit card data of thousands of customers to buy highend products worth over $13 million, including Apple gadgets and fancy bags from Gucci. Among those indicted in ‘Operation Swiper’ are bank tellers, store employees and restaurant workers who allegedly skimmed customers’ personal IDs. Many of the defendants are accused of going on nationwide shopping sprees, staying at five-star hotels, renting luxury automobiles and private jets with forged credit cards that contained the account information of unsuspecting American and European consumers. The defendants are members of five organized forged credit card and identity theft rings based in Queens County and have ties to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Charged in 10 indictments, the defendants perpetrated fraud that cost financial institutions and retail businesses more than $13 million in losses over 16 months. The indictments charge that Imran Khan, Ali Khweiss, Anthony Martin, Sanjay Deowsarran and Amar Singh were “bosses” of criminal enterprises and received

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Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, ocToBer 14, 2011 • onlIne edITIon: www.IndoAmerIcAn-news.com

COMMUNITY

12 October 14, 2011

resplendent navarathri celebration Attracts Hundreds of Hindus to sri meenakshi Temple

By ChittOOr ramaChanDran & tuPil naraSiman PEARLAND, TX: In Hindu tradition, the endless ways to worship Almighty include many forms of music and dances. This is pertinent especially when we celebrate the majesty of the Goddess Saraswati during the season of Navarathri. Hindus recognize the Goddess, called Shakti, as the emanating power, the essence and the creative manifestation of the Supreme Being. This belief makes Navarathri one of the largest festivals dedicated to the Goddess. This yearly festival is celebrated for nine nights (or ten days) in the lunar month of Ashvina (September-October). Hindus observe this festival in a wide variety of ways, with regional and traditional variation. During the nine nights, the Mother Goddess is worshipped as Saraswati - the deity of all learning and arts, Lakshmi - the Goddess of wealth, and Durga - the embodiment of courage and power. The festival culminates on the night of Mahanavami that preceedes the day of Vijaya Dashami, an auspicious day to initiate learning with the blessing of Goddess Saraswati. In general, in order to have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, with nine nights of worship. Much variation can be seen in the ways Navarathri is celebrated by Hindus living in various parts of India. In the northern regions of India, Navarathri is observed with much fervor by fasting on all nine days and worshipping the Mother Goddess in her different forms whereas in some other areas, this time of year calls for joyful exhibition of artistic talent, feasting, and merrymaking. The nine (days of) Navarathri festival ( September 28- October 6) at Sri Meenakshi Temple was not only spectacular to the eyes but also was a true demonstration of the multitudes of ways Mother Goddess have been described repeatedly in ancient scriptures. Devimahatmyam and Brahmandapuranam are the two

Suvanis in Puja at Sri Meenakshi Temple

inspiring major sources of work that have described the greatness of Shakti that prompted great souls like Adi Shankara, Kalidasa, Muthuswamy Dikshithar, Shyama Shasthri etc to elaborate a few aspects of Her majesty through their compositions. Lalitha Sahasranamam conveys the conceptual description of Devi in a simplified form for everyday to use for Devi upasana. At Sri Meenakshi Temple, where the way of worship is according to Agama shashtra, Lalitha sahasranamam is used very frequently in aradhana. At Sri Meenakshi Temple, navarathri provided an exclusive occasion to express the love and respect to the Goddess. The spectacular display of Golu (kolu) is an essential feature during navarathri in south Indian tradition. Sri Meenakshi temple impressively decorated Sri Ganesha sannidhi to this year to display its large collection of the dolls of Gods and Goddesses. Golu provided the alluring ambiance to present many sessions of classical dances and concerts in all the nine days. Students from many dance schools and music schools presented their art forms as offerings to the goddess. Especially interesting was the scholarly upanyasam on Devi mahatmyam delivered by Dr. Vivek Natarajan and Vyajayanthi Vivek. One of the major rituals conducted during navarathri at Sri Meenakshi temple is navaavarana pooja . This pooja is based on the

concept that Mother Goddess is at the center of Sri Chakra which is constituted by nine avaranas( enclosures).Sri Chakra Navavarana pooja is highly honored pooja in SriVidya Upasana. It should be performed by only those who have taken Shiva deeksha. MTS has the tradition of conducting this pooja by qualified priests. It was conducted by Sri Kalyana Sundara Bhattar as practiced tradition established at Madurai Sri Meenakshi temple. It is believed that this pooja is beneficial for the prosperity. Sri Meenakshi Temple’s creative displays of dioramas were magnificent. The priests Sri Manicka Bhattar and Sri Santhana Bhattar exhibited their talents to make visually appealing displays of many episodes from Saivaite and Vaishnavaite legends. Both for young and adults, these creative exhibits were educational as each day they narrated a story in praise of the goddess we adore. Special credit goes to priest Doraiswamy Bhattar for his creation of the Serpent which looked very authentic and was appreciated by one and all. Every year, during Navarathri, Sri Meenaski temple performs a special pooja for women, known as Suvasinis pooja, on a Navarathri Friday. On this occasion, a special pooja is done by women, about three hundred of them, and at the end of the pooja the temple gives out a special gift. This year’s gift was

a saree. Over seven hundred people attended the function and the temple with the help of our food coordinator, Malar Narayanan, provided a sumptuous meal that evening to all those who attended the function. It was a spiritually elated evening enjoyed by all. Lalitha sahasranamam glorifies Lalitha as ‘ Ajnana dhwantha Deepika’ meaning that she is the light for ending the darkness of ignorance. The elaborate deepa poojas like Suvasini pooja is a symbolic worship to illuminate the lives of her devotees. Mother goddess is also described as ‘ Suvasinyarchana preetha’ , (meaning the Goddess likes the worship by married women for the happiness in their life). There was an unprecedented interest in Suvasini pooja this year for this worship. The meticulous arrangement for this deserves credit to the volunteers. . Following the grand festive nine days and nights of Navarathri, the celebrations were concluded on the

morning of October 6 on the Vijaya Dashami day, the auspicious day to invoke Goddess Saraswathi . Many young children accompanied their parents innocently going through the rituals of vidyarambham, the initiation of the learning with the blessings of the goddess. This year’s Navarathri program was coordinated by MTS religious committee coordinator Parthiban Dhanabalan and Special Festival Coordinator Roopa Bala who put in many hours to make this function a grand success with the help of many volunteers who came to set up the Golus, prepare flowers for the occasion and to organize every day’s events. Overall, it was a great team effort that resulted in an extraordinary event. To conclude, the enormous fortune we enjoy from the presence of Sri Meenakshi as a protector for all of us is indescribable. Let us all have the faith that at the time of distress we can count on our mother to save us.

Three conservatives Vying for state rep. district 26 seat continued FRoM page

cautioned that the population was projected to continue to increase. “It is imperative to have good healthcare and an educated workforce,” she added. Bhuchar said she had the hands-on experience in healthcare and education to be an effective representative. Chaumette explained how she had immigrated to the US from St. Croix, US Virgin Islands when she was 7 and how her parents impressed upon her the value of an education. “I am an extremely conservative candidate,” she said, “and I was the only one to ever vote against the current city budget because I didn’t agree with some of the expenditures.” Chaumette has worked as a regional planner for the Houston-Galveston Area Council; as a city planner in Sugar Land and served on many boards, but her passion is government policy. She believes her role as a legislative liaison with Austin will serve her well in running for this office. Rick Miller described his background having grown up in the Navy and becoming a Navy pilot, and his three boys, the eldest who is a Navy pilot like his dad. He did three tours of duty at the Pentagon and was chosen to design the charter for plans for the Navy 30 to 40 years in the future. “We need a strong conservative voice in Austin,” he said, “and I will be a collaborative, full-time partner.” He promised to communicate well and be a servant leader, especially since he was well-connected in Austin after being the local Party Chair. All three candidates fielded questions from the audience, many of whom were South Asians. The Republican Primary election is slated for Tuesday, November 8.

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Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, ocToBer 14 , 2011 • onlIne edITIon: www.IndoAmerIcAn-news.com

October 14, 2011 The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi suffers racial Insults in south Africa

The story thus far: Gandhi, having studied well and completed his law degree in England, returns to India. He misses England but is happy to be reunited with his family. He begins practicing law in Rajkot. Upon return to India, Gandhi started to practice law in Rajkot, but he was soon deeply disgusted at the greed and dishonesty of many of his fellow professionals. After some time, he got an offer to work in South Africa from Dada Abdulla & Co who owned big business concerns there. He was to be a legal adviser to the firm that had filed a lawsuit against another company seeking damages of 400,000 dollars. They hired Gandhi for his fluency in the English language and his knowledge of English law. He was contracted for one year and was promised a substantial salary and first class passage to South Africa. The lure of seeing a different country and meeting new people piqued Gandhi’s interest. He accepted the offer, even though it was difficult to be apart from his wife and young son. In April 1893 he left Bombay for South Africa. He reached the port of Natal at the end of May 1893. In South Africa, he noticed that Indians were treated with little respect. They were called “coolies”, a derogatory term. Within a week of his arrival, he visited the

court with Abdulla Seth of Dada Abdulla & Co. No sooner had he sat down that the magistrate pointed his plump finger at him and said “You must remove your turban”. Gandhi was surprised. He looked around. There were several Muslim and Parsi men wearing

turbans. He could not understand why he was being singled out. “I see no reason why I should remove my turban. I refuse to do so,” said Gandhi. When the magistrate insisted that he remove his turban, Gandhi walked out of the court. Abdulla Seth ran after him and caught him by the arm. “You don’t understand,” said Seth. “These white people consider Indians inferior and address them as coolie or sami. Parsis and Muslims are allowed to wear turbans as the turban is thought to have religious significance,” added Seth. “The magistrate insulted me,” Gandhi said angrily. “Any such rule is an insult to a free man. I shall write at once to the Durban Press to protest such insulting rules.” And Gandhi did write. The letter was published and it led to unexpected debate and discussion. At the same time, some other papers described Gandhi as a troublemaker and unwelcome visitor. After a week in Durban, he left for Pretoria to attend to the case for which he was engaged. With a first class ticket, he boarded the train. At the next stop, an Englishman got into the compartment. He was traveling to Pretoria too, in the first class compartment. He looked at Gandhi with contempt and called the conductor.

“Take this coolie out and put him in a lower class!” he ordered. The conductor turned to Gandhi and said, “Hey Sami, come along with me to the next compartment.” Insulted, Gandhi refused to move saying that he had purchased a first class seat and was entitled to be there. The conductor called a policeman who pushed him off the train The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi is brought to you courtesy Mahatma Gandhi Library. www.gandhilibrary.org with his bag and baggage. The train left and Gandhi spent the night shivering in the cold. This incident changed the whole course of his life. He decided to fight all such injustices. He sent a note of protest to the general manager of the railways, but the official only supported the rail employees. More trouble was in store for him. The next morning, he went to Charlestown by train. He had now to travel by a stagecoach to Johannesburg, but he was not allowed to sit inside the coach with white passengers. To avoid confrontation Gandhi sat outside on the coach-box behind the coachman. After some time the conductor asked him to sit on a

dirty sack on the step below. Gandhi refused. The conductor began to pull him down and beat him. At this time, some of the passengers came to Gandhi’s rescue and he was allowed to sit with them. Gandhi reached Johannesburg the next night, quite shaken by the experiences on the way. He had the address of a Muslim merchant’s house, where he spent the night. The next day he bought a first class ticket and continued his train journey to Pretoria. The only other passenger in the compartment was a well-dressed Englishman. A little later, a conductor entered and Gandhi quickly showed him the ticket. “Your ticket does not matter,” growled the conductor. “Go to the third class compartment at once!” Before Gandhi could reply, the Englishman said, “Why are you harassing this gentleman? His ticket gives him a right to be here.” And then turning to Gandhi, he told him to make himself comfortable. Thanking him warmly, Gandhi settled down with a book. It was late in the evening when the train pulled into Pretoria. He stayed at a hotel that night and moved into a lodge the next day. There he began to study the Abdulla lawsuit. Even while he was working on it, he found time to call a meeting of the Indians in Pretoria. continued next week

Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, ocToBer 14, 2011 • onlIne edITIon: www.IndoAmerIcAn-news.com

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16 October 14, 2011

whole life Insurance: An overlooked Foundation of Business succession Planning?

When its owner for more than four decades passed away suddenly, Troy Belting and Supply Co. in Watervliet, NY, could have collapsed, as do many family businesses that lose their leaders. Instead, the company continued to operate and grow, thanks in part to a succession plan funded by life insurance. “We were able to keep operating the company and retain every one of our workers because my father had the foresight to put a succession plan in place that protected not only his family but also the livelihoods of all of our employees,” said Jason Smith, who succeeded his late father in 2003. “Whole life insurance was a critical part of that plan.” Whole life insurance and business succession “Most business owners realize that they will be forced to deal with issues such as business succession at some point, which is why they want to have a plan that’s guaranteed to be there when they need it,” says Kelley Gay, assistant vice president, market development, U.S. Insurance Group at MassMutual. “The versatility, guarantees, and permanence of whole life insurance can help solve some of these inevitable challenges.” Whole life insurance can, for example: • Protect a business or business owner from financial loss – including the loss of control of a part of the business – as a result of the death of a partner or co-owner. As part of a buy-sell agreement, the policy’s death benefit can be used to help purchase the deceased partner’s shares from his or her estate. • Protect a business from loss as a result

Jimmy Abraham is a financial representative with Strategic Financial Group, LLP, a MassMutual agency who represents Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and other companies, courtesy of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) © 2010 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Springfield, MA of the death of a key employee. The policy’s death benefit can provide a cushion that enables the company to continue operating while seeking a replacement. • Be used as a highly valued employee benefit for key personnel whose loved ones can benefit from permanent, guaranteed coverage in the event of the employee’s death. In addition, the employee may be

able to draw upon the policy’s cash value through loans to help supplement income in retirement.* Financial flexibility Furthermore, as long as the policy is kept in force, the cash value of a whole life insurance policy can give businesses the flexibility to manage through the ups and downs of the business life cycle by providing funds to respond to expected and unexpected challenges and opportunities. A whole life insurance policy’s cash value can be used as: • A source of cash when credit is tight for circumstantial or external reasons. • A source of emergency funds to pay for replacement or temporary talent if a key employee leaves, becomes disabled or retires. • A “bookable” asset on the company’s balance sheet. And it’s not an all-or-nothing decision. Many smaller or younger businesses may opt for quality, convertible term life insurance, so that as they grow and additional cash becomes available, they’re able to bridge to the broader benefits of whole life. To view Jason Smith and his mother tell the Troy Belting and Supply Co. story, and

for more information on how whole life insurance can help business owners, visit www.massmutual.com/customervoices/ business. © 2010 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Distributions under the policy (including cash dividends and partial/full surrenders) are not subject to taxation up to the amount paid into the policy (cost basis). If the policy is a Modified Endowment Contract, policy loans and/or distributions are taxable to the extent of gain and are subject to a 10% tax penalty. While the policy allows for loans, you should know that there may be little to no cash value available for loans in the policy’s early years. Access to cash values through borrowing or partial surrenders will reduce the policy’s cash value and death benefit, increase the chance the policy will lapse, and may result in a tax liability if the policy terminates before the death of the insured. Jimmy Abraham is insurance licensed in limited localities CRN201112-128790

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October 14, 2011

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18 October 14, 2011

Connecting the Dots

Steve Jobs died last week after giving the world iPod, iPhone and iPad. These communications technologies put the world’s entire knowledge and entertainment base at the touch of our finger tips. His name may have been ‘jobs’ but he inspired us to find an endeavor that gives us passion. He said it is only possible to connect the dots while looking back. He connected his dots by indulging in studying subjects that interested him, which included a spiritual journey to India. He even took a course in typography, which didn’t fit his career plan at the time, but ended up resulting in beautiful type design for all the Apple products.May Steve Jobs’ life inspire you to connect the dots in your own passionate life’s journey. Perhaps someone or some team passionate about medical research can find a cure for pancreatic cancer. - Pramod Kulkarni

The Halo Will Dim

Arvind Kejriwal, Hazareite-in-chief, is asking people to vote against the Congress in Hisar, Haryana.Anna, who’s pitched as a man of strong spiritual and moral beliefs, keeps away from these overtly political demonstrations. During Anna’s anti-graft movement earlier this year, spiritual leaders like Ramdev, Sri Sri Ravi Shanakr and a little-known figure called Bhaiyyuji Maharaj hogged many hours of television time. Are today’s spiritual leaders trying to cross over to the decidedly material plane of active politics? Many spiritual leaders have flirted with politics in the past. In the mid-1970s, Dhirendra Brahmachari, the yoga teacher of Indira Gandhi, was assumed to wield enormous political clout, never more so than during 1975-77 while the Emergency was in force. Indira was also a devotee of Anandamoyee Ma from Bengal, who had no apparent political ambitions and never wielded any clout in her durbar. The ashrams of Chandra-swami became go-to places for folks in search of higher connections after PV Narasimha Rao became prime minister in 1991. The swami was Rao’s most trusted astrologer. By the time India adopted democracy with everyone voting, there was no automatic link between spiritual authority and political power. Spiritual figures derive legitimacy from divinity or scriptural mastery; politicians derive theirs from the people. Every five years or less, politicians need to prostrate themselves before the very people they’re supposed to govern, to ask for another term in office. One suspects Anna senses this. That’s why he stays out of the hardscrabble campaign for anti-votes, leaving minions to do the dirty work. Why keep spiritual leaders out of the contest? Yogi Adityanath, the MP from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, proved they can win elections. He inherits his spiritual cachet from his father, who was head priest of the temple there. Adityanath runs a private army called the Hindu Yuva Vahini. He’s been jailed for rioting which started in Gorakhpur and spread to six districts of the state. When his party, the BJP, said to vote to reserve seats for women in legislatures, he said no. Nothing keeps a spiritual leader from contesting elections and winning political power. But with success, the halo will dim. - Times of India

EDITORIAL

We Live in Interesting Times

BY PRATIK KANJILAL Every day, I open the newspaper and I’m reminded of the famous Chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times.” Actually, I don’t think it’s Chinese at all. I attribute it to the ﬁctional storyteller Kai Lung, the sutradhar in Ernest Bramah’s (1868-1942) humor writing. We do live in interesting times. We have witnessed the death of communism and global bipolar disorder. I even own a piece of the Berlin Wall, a tourist’s trophy from Checkpoint Charlie. And now, we are witnessing the death of capitalism and the global migraine of unipolarity. Next time I’m in NYC, I plan to pry loose some Wall Street paving to take home. Never know when it’ll become another hot tourist attraction. After World War II, the greenback became the global currency and riding its power to attract wealth, the US took control of world affairs. Now, the capacity of the US to maintain a healthy dollar is in doubt, Europeans have laughed off its lectures about the troubled Euro and the Palestinians have brushed aside its objections and applied for full UN membership. And this Tuesday India, Brazil and South Africa humiliated the US in

the Security Council. This is the apocalyptic moment that communists had been promised, when capitalism would collapse on its “inner contradictions”. Unfortunately, in the meantime, Mother Russia and the Chairman’s China have turned capitalist, having collapsed on their own contradictions. Which, actually, are the same as the capitalist contradiction. Both political theories have a childlike belief in our capacity to build utopias when in reality, the world just muddles along. Communism was doomed to failure because it tried to build a future utopia by denying human nature. But US-led capitalism was sold as a present utopia driven by natural human instincts. It was supposed to be good for you, like organic apples. But the propaganda ignored the worm in the apple: human greed. It’s perfectly natural, and it is bringing a global political system to its knees. So, with both the great political philosophies going to pot, what’s left? What’s right for the future? Not socialism - we Indians have seen something of its effects. What, then? The void beckons, grinning. Which reminds me of Kai Lung’s second curse, which I don’t think he ever

actually uttered: “May you come to the attention of the powerful.” Into the void has stepped a slew of anti-establishment protest movements like the Arab Spring, Anna Hazare’s agitation and Occupy Wall Street. They address disparate issues - dictatorship, corruption and the obscene power of money. But I think of them as a class because they exhibit fundamental similarities. They are amorphous, democratically invalid and yet valid, somehow, because they connect directly with public anger against hegemonies. And they affirm that people should do the talking, not money. They’re unsettling because they depart from democratic norms but that’s precisely why we should take them seriously. If orthodox power structures are failing, we should consider alternatives. Which brings us to Kai Lung’s third and final curse: “May your wishes be fulfilled.” Will a decent, humane alternative emerge from the politics of mass protest? Or will another monster be born? Whatever, at least we’ll be able to say that we’ve lived in interesting times. - Hindustan Times Pratik Kanjilal is publisher of The Little Magazine

Lal Krishna Advani is in the news again. And this time, for a decent reason. Embarking on his 38-day Jan Chetna Yatra from Bihar, Advani plans to highlight the UPA government’s ‘failings’ in tackling corruption. Frankly, not much more needs to be highlighted, considering the UPA government itself has been regularly feeding itself to the bonﬁre. The civil society representatives gathered around the vocal ﬁgure of Anna Hazare are doing a good job of keeping the issue alive and kicking. So why Advani’s latest expedition? What he hopes is to turn emotions into votes, into a mandate against the central government and its outposts in the various states that go to the polls next year. In setting off on another roadshow — his sixth in 21 years — the 83-year-old BJP leader wants to encash the nation’s anti-corruption chips. While on paper this sounds commendable, the yatra could, ironically, prove to be the digression that the

BJP doesn’t want and the UPA has been clamouring for without much success for a while. If all things go according to plan, Advani will be the political lightning rod for those tired of an India pummelled by corruption. That he didn’t spare his own party when he mentioned on Tuesday that “if there is graft in my party, I will weed it out too” suggests that he has the best of intentions. But the real question, of course, is whether Advani is in any position to weed out graft from his own party, never mind elsewhere. If he had a strong opinion about the rampant corruption sloshing about in the BJP government in Karnataka, we certainly didn’t see much in evidence. The truth about Mr Advani and his latest yatra lies elsewhere. Pardon the mixed metaphor, but ever the yatri and never the proverbial bride, it isn’t difﬁcult to gauge that this is Advani having his last shot at the post of prime minister. The BJP, on its part, has very valid reasons to

be uncomfortable about his latest adventures. If it clicks, the BJP could end up with a prime ministerial candidate most of its members don’t want. But if the yatra is a damp squib, the BJP’s image as a serious national Opposition party will be dented. In a way, the BJP’s problem with Advani is diametrically opposite to that of the Congress with Rahul Gandhi. Both parties are trying to usurp the anti-corruption momentum from ‘outsiders’ spearheaded by Hazare. But while the Congress continues to be wary of thrusting Gandhi into the electoral bathtub that hasn’t reached the right temperature lest the perennial ‘prime minister-in-waiting’ scalds himself, the BJP has been making a virtue out of not having a prime ministerial candidate in order to keep Advani away from the helm of possibly happy affairs in the future. Because for the BJP, it’s about the destination, not the journey. - Hindustan Times

Yatra without a Pilgrimage

IndoAmerican News FOUNDER: DR. K.L. SINDWANI EDITOR: PRAMOD KULKARNI BUSINESS MANAGER: JAWAHAR MALHOTRA MANAGING PARTNER: KRISHNA GIRI COMMUNITY REPORTER: KALYANI GIRI COMMUNITY EDITOR: MANASI GOKHALE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER: VANSHIKA VIPIN BUSINESS & RECREATION: JACOB DAVID GRAPHIC DESIGN: SAQIB RANA CORRESPONDENTS CHICAGO: NAND KAPOOR, UK: ASEEM KULKARNI NEW DELHI: RAJ KANWAR ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 5 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

HEALTH

October 14, 2011

The World’s Best Vada Pav

BY SHIVANI VORA (NYT) There’s something in the genetic makeup of every Indian which sparks nagging pangs for street food. On a late summer morning, as a strong breeze softened the stifling humidity, my husband Mahir and I had our cravings fulfilled on the Williamsburg waterfront. Our vado pav sandwich was a perfectly balanced mix of spicy, tangy, crispy and chewy, and took my husband back to his childhood in Mumbai, where he grew up spending his spare rupees on this snack. We’d had vada pav only a handful of times stateside, at restaurants in Edison, New Jersey and Jackson Heights, Queens, but the combination of the civilized sit-down setting and reheated vada did little to sate our urges for a taste of home. Street food, of course, is meant to be eaten on the street. Here, we paid $5 for our made- to- order breakfast and savored it on flimsy paper plates with chutney and cilantro bits falling down our chin. We were surrounded by boats packing the East River and a crowd of a few hundred, including the hipster set the neighborhood is known for and parents pushing

Bugaboo strollers. The confetti of sounds and sights that came with the food was as close to authentic as we had seen – which was ironic, because the food was created by Yoshi Yamada, a 38 year-old American chef who has cooked at illustrious eateries like Babbo. He became entranced by Indian street food after an Indian friend invited him to his house to try it. Then, he went

Ganesh. “It was revelatory how good his vada pav was,” he said. This summer, Yamada debuted his take at Smorgasburg, a weekend food market in Williamsburg where more than a 100 vendors hawk everything from local produce to Korean barbeque. The market is open until November, and Yamada will continue to sell there through October. The taste was the real deal, but had nontraditional touches. Ganesh only seasoned his potatoes with salt and pepper, but Yamada threw in turmeric, cilantro and red chili powder. Yamada also used rice flour in the batter instead of only besan, or chick pea flour, to give it more crispiness. Besides the toppings of tamarind and green chutney and cilantro, his version included jalapeno and green onion slivers. Vada Pav from a Mumbai stall Our one nitpick came with the pav- the beloved chewy bread cradling the to Mumbai on a Fulbright scholar- fillings was replaced by a potato roll, ship so he could learn how to make which was no match for the distinct it himself. taste and texture of the original. YaWhile there, he found the inspira- mada said this was the best substitute tion for his stall from an unassuming he could find, and assured us that he street stand run by a man named is working on baking his own.

That Plastic Smile Won’t Do!

Plastic pollutes the adult body too but is more damaging to children BY RUJUTA DIWEKAR (Outlook) You want to give your children the very best, so you buy them fancy lunchboxes and make sure they drink bottled mineral water. You buy their vegetables, fruits, dals and atta from a mall and never from a downmarket kirana or bania or those sabzi mandis—after all, supermarket food must be hygienic, right? Your kitchen is full of expensive, transparent containers that are dishwasher- and microwave-friendly. Wow! You’re joining the ranks of modern-day parents who are polluting, albeit unknowingly, their children’s endocrine (hormonal) system, making them vulnerable not just to obesity but also to irritability, diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. All with the single act of bringing plastic in close contact with food and water kids consume. Plastic contains chemicals whose molecules are similar to estrogen, the female hormone. This manmade substance is called xenohormone, and has a hormone-like effect. Plastic is man-made—it is not organic and not even biodegradable. We buy bottled water thinking it’s hygienic, but overlook the toxicity the plastic bottle adds. Which would you prefer, your child coming down with a bad tummy or him/her battling hormonal disorders stemming from long-term exposure? Even milk bottles for kids are made of plastic—so exposure begins sooner than you know. Plastic contaminates far more dangerously than most microbes do; yet we’re unaware of this pollution of our food, and through it, of our systems. It pollutes the adult body too but is more damaging to children. The choice is yours—make your kitchen, lunchboxes and water bottles plastic-free; protect your family from exposure to xenohormones.

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

20 October 14, 2011

LIFE & STYLE

The Fork in Thy Hand

As the new-age executive plays catch up, finishing schools flourish

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BY ARPITA BASU (Outlook) Ever tried mastering chopsticks watching YouTube videos? Well, Roop Atwal did but it left her with two sticks and not a lot of noodle. The would-be-entrepreneur from Chandigarh, however, wasn’t deterred. She even mulled flying off to a Swiss finishing school for a hands-on course, and she had her reasons. Apparently, a friend had “stuck out like a sore thumb among Japanese clients because he was the only one not using chopsticks.” That too, at an official dinner. “I don’t ever want to be at a loss like that,” the twentysomething reasoned. But amid visions of Swiss cheeses and a Maria Von Trapp looking askance, Roop came across an option much closer home. Grace Finishing Classes was just a stone’s throw from her house. Owner Harleen Sekhon has seen it all—she’s handheld many aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals like Roop through corporate niceties. She even has a module specifically made for them, CorporateSmart. “It’s not enough to be technically sound and qualified— employees today must look the part, fit into the work culture, walk and talk right to connect with customers and develop relationships at the workplace,” Harleen says. As she spreads out no-fuss shirts, scarves, skirts, trousers and shoes, she rattles off a no-do list: no gaudy make-up, party heels or see-through clothes. And after class, Harleen duly assigns homework: study the family dinner scenes in—there’s no escaping it— Sound of Music. Not so long ago, finishing schools used to be for shy brides-to-be, rich wives and glamour girls, for allimportant “polish”. Today, it’s laptoplugging, BlackBerry-toting professionals from KPOs, BPOs, IT cos and a range of sectors that are walking into them. On cue, the number of institutes offering corporate etiquette training is also growing; and not just in metros. Many of Harleen’s students come from places like Patiala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Panchkula. “I take them out for practical sessions, say a lunch, and they ask me, ‘Am I holding the cup and saucer correctly, should I hold my wine glass by the stem?’” says Harleen. InAhmedabad,RuchiSharmakeeps getting similar queries. Founder-director of My Aura: Image, Etiquette and Business Consultants, she has trained 500-odd people to date—and she’s only been in business for a year. (“These are not superficial makeover tips,” she says gravely.) Cross country to the east, Calcutta-based Neena Jha, programme manager at Shivam Knowledge Solutions, explains their strategy, “While there’s a large number of institutions offering professional degrees, there is a need now to produce industry-ready professionals.” Sensing an opportunity, her firm is opening three finishing schools in the next few months, in Calcutta, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati.

Harleen demonstrates the involved protocol for handling different wine glasses. (Photograph by Tribhuvan Tiwari)

‘EQ’ has taken a giant leap from the Emotional Quotient of yesterday to today’s Etiquette Quotient.

says. Naturally, methods and goals of training differ. “For a trainee, we start from scratch—choosing the right clothes, grooming, presentation and conversation skills, body language and the dos and don’ts of corporate protocol. A senior person, on the other hand, already has the exposure. All he needs is to polish it up a bit: he might

You Know You’ve Goofed Up If... You start off with that Indianism — ‘What’s your good name?’ You stand too close to or backslap your counterparts from Europe You don’t shake hands with women members of the team You assume that a woman accompanying a client is his wife You cut your noodles, or pair the wrong wine with the wrong food You team black shoes with a brown belt, or turn up in sneakers You offer to pay when you are a guest — Kauser Khan, Protocol Image is clearly serious business for India Inc. No wonder then that international bigwigs Lynne Marks of London Image Institute and Christina Ong of Image Mastery Academy, Singapore, both master image trainers, consider this a right time to test Indian waters. The duo will be in Delhi this November with their ImageAsia programme, a 12-day $12,000-per-person course to train image consultants. Arwen Mullikin, project manager for India (www.londonimageinstitute.com), says, “The customised coaching will include an ‘Indian dress day’and a colour analysis specific to Asian skin tones.” The Indian dress day, informs Arwen, will cover dress codes for the Indian entrepreneur starting and marketing a business, students at their first job, even suggest how to dress for special events like media appearances. Corporate codes like these have kept Minocher Patel occupied ever since he set up Ecole Solitaire, a residential finishing school in Pune, in 1998. But back then, people would respondwithanartless“What’sthat?” when the term ‘etiquette training’ came up. “Now, we don’t even have to market ourselves,” Patel says. Everyone worth his white collar, from CEOs to the newbie trainee, is up for a lesson or two in image styling, he

have a rough tongue, for instance, so you’ll work on communication.” Communication, in fact, is the Achilles’ heel for most job hopefuls, says Vatsala Bhat, dean of Mysore’s Raman International Institute of Information Technology (RiiiT), a full-fledged residential IT finishing school. “We use audio-visual aids, role plays, quizzes, to draw out students, especially those from rural Karnataka.” The occasional Barack Obama video helps too. After all, it’s the little things that matter. “Corporate etiquette is super-specialised now,” declares Kauser Khan, founder of the Bangalore-based Protocol. “Etiquette today doesn’t stop at crockery, cutlery and five-course meals. You must know how to be a host, a guest, what small talk to make at a formal dinner...for example, a decision is taken only at the end of the meal, over coffee. If you’re a guest, you should never offer to pay. Your guest should be seated to your right and not opposite you, which is confrontational.” ‘EQ’, she says, has taken a giant leap from Emotional Quotient to Etiquette Quotient. It’s no surprise that Kauser’s ‘Competent Corporate Woman’module is a runaway hit. “Our cultural and social conditioning is such that women in

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

CONTINUED ON PAGE

October 14, 2011

Business Etiquette

CONTINUED FROM PAGE

India carry their social image into their professional image. But the corporate environment isn’t man vs woman. One should know what nonverbal signals one is sending out—in the UK, for instance, holding eye contact for more than a minute sends wrong messages.” Decoding signals, in fact, is vital in international interactions. Cultural sensitisation, it seems, is a must for those travelling abroad or dealing with foreigners. Minocher Patel elaborates, “An American might encourage an informal atmosphere at a meeting and crack a few jokes. But you won’t ﬁnd a German doing this, though in the after hours, he will open up!” Ruchi recalls her tips for a businessman headed for Tokyo, “In Japan, it’s considered disrespectful to slip someone’s business card into

your back pocket or scribble on it, because in their culture, it’s equivalent to writing on the face.” Kauser adds another pointer, “In China, it’s offensive to scratch your nose.” Power networking on the virtual plane has its own set of rules too. Ruchi’s rule of thumb is to avoid tweeting or posting remarks on religion, caste and politics. Of course, all this acquired business sense doesn’t come cheap. A daylong session for entry-level IT employees could cost Rs 15,000-20,000, going up to the mid-level Rs 20,00025,000; while 20 hours of power talk over 10 days could set you back by Rs 5,000 in a group, and Rs 10,000 in a one-to-one session. It’s evidently a small price to pay for those scaling professional peaks. For ﬁlling those shiny corporate shoes the best you can makes all the difference.

Recipe Corner Hello Readers, Karvachauth is around the corner and all of you must be busy booking beauty parlors, buying new clothes, bangles, makeup for this special day when you are going to fast all day for your beloved husband’s long life. You would also be thinking what all to eat during Sargi (before sunrise meal). Are you thinking of making some sweet yourself to eat during sargi? You can definitely do that. Or may be some husbands are looking to surprise their wives by making something nice for them to eat once they break their day long fast in the night. Guys! These coconut laddoos are super easy to make and taste heavenly. Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups grated coconut (1/4 cup is for the final flaky cover) 1/2 cup+ 1 tbsp sweetened condensed milk (or a little more if you like too sweet) 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 20-25 golden raisins 3/4 tsp cardamom powder Method 1. Lightly toast 2 cups of coconut in a pan on low to medium heat, until it starts giving sweet aroma. It doesn’t need to be all brown. Light golden color is good. 2. Add the heavy cream and the condensed milk. Keep stirring on low until it starts to leave the sides of the pan.

Karvachauth Special

Coconut Laddoos

3. Turn off the gas and remove it in a bowl. Add cardamom powder and raisins to it and mix well. 4. Let the mixture cool down a bit so you can handle it with bare hands. 5. Meanwhile, spread the 1/4 cup of coconut that we kept aside in a plate. 6. Now, divide the mixture in 18-20 portions and shape them into small round balls. 7. Dip and roll each ball into the dry coconut thats spread on the plate. This will give the ladoo a nice ﬂaky coconut cover. 8. Let them cool completely over the counter and refrigerate for 1 hour. This makes ladoo set completely. Serve at the room temperature.

Store in an airtight container For more recipes, visit www. zestyflavors.com or visit https:// Recipe by w w w. f a Vaishali Sharma cebook. com/pages/ Zestyflavors-Adding-Zest-to-yourCooking/145518712165348 Please send your feedback to indoamericannews@yahoo.com

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COMMUNITY

October 14, 2011

Second Grand Ramleela Performance to be Held on Nov. 13

BY USHA MEHRA HOUSTON: The second Grand Ramleela performance by 100 plus performers from our very own Houston Indian community will be held on November 13, Sunday at the Cullen Auditorium of University of Houston. The Houston Ramleela is carefully planned in November between the Hindu festivals Dusshera and Diwali to be enjoyed beyond any scheduling conflicts from numerous celebrations of Durga Poojas, Garbas during the sharad Durga Navratra in the month of October and Diwali celebrations in later part of November. In most cities in India, Ramleela 2011 has started on September 27 and ended on October 6 with Vijayadashami, the culmination day of Navaratri. Ramleela is a stage play of epic happenings from life of Hindu God Ram enacted in the form of a play and folk opera. The performers who play the role of Lord Ram and Lakshman set the fire through an arrow to the huge effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakaran and Meghanath on Vijaya Dashami day and the skies light up with sparkles and fireworks of sorts. Watching Ramleela constitutes a divine experience for the planners, viewers and the performers -- all. The performing characters manifest divinity through the play by the viewing public. The Ramleela episodes reinforce noble character, family values of obedience, respect, and reverence for elders and holy men, and victory of good over evil. Watching Ramleela together is a memorable family event. In most Ramleelas, particularly those played in North India, Ramcharitmanas, written by the 16th century saint Gos-

wami Tulsidas is recited as dialogue as well as recited by priests from specially erected platforms. In most traditional versions, open-air productions are staged by local Rameela committees in centrally located permanent Ramleela grounds. Ramleela is an institution of some age and wide geographic spread beyond the bounds of the Indian continent. In areas where it is enacted it draws largest public attendance of all festivals as well as creates a non-sectarian appeal. At international level, as of year 2005, Ramleela has the honor of being a UNESCO cultural festival and is also performed in many countries like South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Canada, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, England and other Great British countries, Australia and Thailand. The plot story of Ramleela is simple; Ram, the incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu, born to King Dasarath of Ayodhya upon performance of vedic rites (yagna), dem-

“MASALA WOK IS HOT. IT’S COOL, IT’S WOW” Dallas Morning News

onstrates divinity and perfect character at an early age. By sixteen he performs many supernatural acts of valour and marries Sita, daughter of King Janak. Being the favored son of the King for taking over the kingdom of Ayodhya, when the time for Ram’s coronation comes, Kekayi, one of the three queens to the King, begins to get worried that Ram may prove less than

filial to her son, Bharat. Based on advice from her favorite maid Manthara, queen Kekayi invokes a long forgotten boon granted her by Dasarath, and forces the old king to banish Ram to the forest for 14 years while the throne would go to her son, Bharat. Ram leaves for the forest cheerfully fulfilling his father’s commitment created by the grant of the boons. His wife Sita and half-brother, Lakshman dutifully join him for the years of exile. Ram lives in forests, visits holy men (Rishis), and kills off demons along his journey on foot through the exile years. Back at Ayodhya, the king dies from separation of son Ram and Bharat refuses to accept a throne that was gained by deceiving an elder brother he worshipped as a god. Ram refuses to come back to Ayodhya inspite of sincere requests from Bharat and the constitutents of Ayodhya. The commitment of a king cannot be altered as it would dishonor the king’s dynasty. Bharat rules the kingdom as a regent for Ram. One of the exploits Ram encounters during his exile is demoness Sroopnakha, demon king Ravan’s sister who is attracted to the two brothers. She is punished by Laksman and carries her wounds and inflammatory tales to her brother Ravan who is a supreme scholar and warrior. Ravan plans to avenge his

sister’s insult by kidnapping Sita while Ram and lakshman are away. While searching for Sita, Ram makes friends with the Vanar-King Sugriva and gains assistance of great Hanuman, a highly revered character in all Hindu mythology. Known as the son of the wind God, wiser than the wisest and yet always a humble servant to Ram, Hanuman leads a search for Sita and comes back with news of her location. Ram builds a bridge across the ocean to Ravan’s island of Lanka and attacks with help of an army of vanar soldiers. Ravana’s arrogance and lust for Sita results in demise of all his sons and brothers except for Vibhishan, who defected from Ravan before the war and ultimately revealed to Ram the secret location for attack for Ravan’s death in battle. After crowning Vibhishan at Lanka, Ram returns to Ayodhya with Sita and brother Lakshman in a ﬂying chariot, in time to be crowned as king of Ayodhya as his exile period ends on Diwali day. In Houston, you have an excellent opportunity for a heartfelt family experience with your children, grandchildren and friends on November 13, Sunday from 3-6pm at the Cullen Auditorium of University of Houston. Historical records suggest that Ramleela in theatrical format has been staged for at least 300 or so years. Over the centuries, it has helped bring traditional Hindu ideals to the young generations and preserve the Hindu culture in periods of stressful and difﬁcult era of foreign rule in Northern India. For more information, call Usha Mehra at 281-550-5877 or email at arunverma@bvm-group.com.

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10001 Westheimer Road. Houston, TX 77042 Phone: 713-784-8811 www.MasalaWok.com INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

SENIOR HEALTH

24 October 14, 2011

Understanding Your Options: What is Best for You? Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Supplement and Part D Drug Plan?

BY SUDHIR MATHURIA This article we will talk about Medicare Supplement options and how it works. Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Policies Original Medicare pays for many, but not all, health care services and supplies. A Medicare Supplement Insurance policy, sold by private companies, can help pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Medicare Supplement Insurance policies are also called Medigap policies. Some Medigap policies also offer coverage for services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like medical care when you travel outside the U.S. If you have Original Medicare and you buy a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicareapproved amount for covered health care costs. Then your Medigap policy pays its share. You have to pay the premiums for a Medigap policy. Every Medigap policy must follow Federal and state laws designed to protect you, and it must be clearly identified as “Medicare Supplement Insurance.” Insurance companies can sell you only a “standardized” policy identified in most states by letters A–N.All policies offer the same basic benefits but some offer additional benefits, so you can choose which one meets your needs. In Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, Medigap policies are standardized in a different way. Note: Plans E, H, I, and J are no longer available to buy, but if you already have one of those policies, you can keep it. Contact your insurance company for more information. Different insurance companies may charge different premiums for the same exact policy. As you shop for a policy, be sure you’re comparing the same policy (for example, compare Plan A from one company with Plan A from another company). In some states, you may be able to buy another type of Medigap policy called Medicare SELECT (a policy that requires you to use specific hospitals and, in some cases, specific doctors or other health care providers to get full coverage). If you buy a

State Insurance Department if this happens to you. If you want to switch to Original Medicare and buy a Medigap policy, contact your Medicare Advantage Plan to disenroll. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan for the ﬁrst time, and you aren’t happy with the plan, you will have special rights to buy a Medigap policy if you return to Original Medicare within 12 months of joining. — If you had a Medigap policy before you joined, you may be able to get the same policy back if the company still sells it. If it isn’t available, you can buy another Medigap policy. — The Medigap policy can no longer have prescription drug coverage even if you had it before, but you may be able to join a Medicare PrescripMedigap SELECT policy, you have the right to change your mind within 12 months and switch to a standard Medigap policy. Important Facts You must have Part A and Part B. You pay a monthly premium for your Medigap policy in addition to your monthly Part B premium. A Medigap policy only covers one person. Spouses must buy separate policies. You can’t have prescription drug coverage in both your Medigap policy and a Medicare drug plan. See page 95. It’s important to compare Medigap policies since the costs can vary and may go up as you get older. Some states limit Medigap costs. When to Buy The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during the 6-month period that begins on the ﬁrst day of the month in which you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. (Some states have additional open enrollment periods.) After this enrollment period, your option to buy a Medigap policy may be limited and it may cost more. For example, if you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B in June, the best time for you to buy a Medigap policy is from June to November. If you have group health coverage based on your (or your spouse’s) current employment, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period will start when you sign up for Part B. Federal law doesn’t require insurance companies to sell Medigap

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for the year 2012 Begins Oct 15 and Ends Dec 07, 2011

Call Today: 713.771.2900 policies to people under 65. If you’re under 65, you might not be able to buy the Medigap policy you want, or any Medigap policy, until you turn 65. However, some states require Medigap insurance companies to sell you a Medigap policy, even if you’re under 65. If You’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan If you have a Medigap policy and join a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), you may want to drop your Medigap policy. Your Medigap policy can’t be used to pay your Medicare Advantage Plan copayments, deductibles, and premiums. If you want to cancel your Medigap policy, contact your insurance company. In most cases, if you drop your Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you won’t be able to get it back. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, it’s illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy unless you’re switching back to Original Medicare. Contact your

tion Drug Plan. — If you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan when you were ﬁrst eligible for Medicare, you can choose from any Medigap policy. (For Medicare Advantage Plans please check last week article) Ways to Get Medicare Drug Coverage There are two ways to get Medicare prescription drug coverage: 1. Medicare Prescription Drug Plans: These plans (sometimes called “PDPs”) add drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans. 2. Medicare Advantage Plans (like an HMO or PPO) or other Medicare health plans that offer Medicare prescription drug

There are over 50 different Medicare Health Plans in Harris and surrounding counties

coverage: You get all of your Part A and Part B coverage, and prescription drug coverage (Part D), through these plans. Medicare Advantage Plans with prescription drug coverage are sometimes called “MA-PDs.” You must have Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage Plan. What You Pay for Medicare Drug Coverage You’ll make these payments throughout the year in a Medicare drug plan: • Monthly premium • Yearly deductible • Copayments or coinsurance • Costs in the coverage gap • Costs if you get Extra Help • Costs if you pay a Late Enrollment Penalty Your actual drug plan costs will vary depending on: The prescriptions you use and whether your plan covers them The plan you choose Whether you go to a pharmacy in your plan’s network Whether your drugs are on your plan’s formulary Whether you get Extra Help paying your Part D costs Look for speciﬁc Medicare drug plan costs, and then call the plans you’re interested in to get more details. (To be continued)

Sudhir Mathuria, a Houstonian for over 30 years, has been an active participant in various community associations. He is a licensed proffesional for Medicare and Medicaid related health care plans. He can be reached by phone at 713-771-2900 or via email at sudhir@ MyMedicarePlanning.com. For more information, visit: www. MyMedicarePlanning.com

Medicare Advantage Plan for Medicare/Medicaid member or Suplement Plan with Plan D Do you know your Medicare Choices? Do you have right plan that serves your need? Is your Medicare Plan competitive and cost effective? Review your current Medicare Health Plan. Call me today for your best 2012 Medicare options

Sudhir Mathuria Mathuria Associates

sudhir@MyMedicarePlanning.com

713-771-2900

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

HOROSCOPE ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20: Determined and charged up, you are going to make all the efforts to sustain the progress you made last week. You may bite off more than you can chew. It’s time to set your priorities right and make most of the favorable times the full moon brings you. In order to move nearer to your goals, you’re likely to exert yourself and lose energy when you need it the most. Determine your limits and the resources you have. If you feel drained, spend time with children or pets, or spare time for your hobbies, you’ll surely feel refreshed. TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 You will become more professional in your approach towards work and see a noticeable improvement in the results. Although you are ready to explore unknown territories, you will not risk life and limb just for anything. This unmatchable approach will help you take up challenging projects and fetch business for your organization. There’s more good news- you may become the ‘Employee of the Quarter’! However, there may be some hurdles in your path. Health issues or the death of a loved one may distract you. Have patience and hope. GEMINI May 22 - Jun 21: Walking the path of honesty, hard-work, and integrity is not easy. Your determination has helped reach your destination. You deserve a pat on your back for not opting for a short-cut to success. Your accomplishments are going to be long-lived. Family and friends have always been your priority and support-system, and this week you will make efforts to strengthen the bond. Jovial and youthful, you are one of the major reasons why there are no tiffs at home. Continue being cheerful it comes naturally to you. CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 23: Your enthusiasm will help form new associations, work hard, travel, arrange for finances, and leave no stone unturned in order to ensure success. Nobody likes a dull personality and a dirty home. More than for anyone else, you’ll now concentrate on your appearance for yourself. Starting with new clothes, accessories, and hair style, you’ll join a gym and/or follow a diet plan for a leaner body. You will decorate your office and home as well. Your hard-work will work wonders for you. Nothing can stop you Crabs! LEO July 24 - Aug 23: You’re keen to make plans for the future but you and your partner are not always on the same page. A harmonious relationship is necessary to move forward. For the conflicts you face, you need to sit together and find solutions now. If there is anything else bothering you, try to solve it as soon as possible. Give importance to family and friends, they deserve your attention this week. Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise, they say. You’ll plan out a fitness regimen for a leaner and healthier body. You are on the right track! VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23: Sleepless nights, thanks to the workload, are responsible for the dark circles under your eyes. This week, the times will improve but not entirely. Your decisions will turn out to be beneficial, but something is still missing. You will take a break and give yourself a chance to rejuvenate. You’ll be regular at parties, spend time with friends, play your favourite sport, go to a Spa and try to divert your mind. You feel weak and if you won’t hold yourself back, you may fall prey to

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the influence of bad habits. LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23: This week you will be inclined towards medicare, nursing bodies and minds, helping the needy, and social welfare. Your newfound interest will take up a lot of your time. You will happily devote time and energy for it. You will also be introspective. You have made significant progress so far and when you look back, you will feel satisfied about your journey. There may be a brief lull; however, there is nothing to worry about it. Keep your calm, be prepared for a hectic schedule ahead. SCORPIO Oct 24 - Nov 22: You will continue to showcase your talents and improve your efficiency. As a result, your capabilities will receive accolades from superiors, coworkers, family and friends. But don’t get over-confident. You don’t want to lose everything you’ve earned due to a silly mistake. Keep your feet firmly on the ground. Egotism can spoil your party, big time. Maintain a low-key lifestyle and don’t go on boasting about your accomplishments. You will generate positivity in all your dealings. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 22: The growth is visible now, but the journey is far from over. Those around you will be surprised with your performance and will hold you in high esteem. Success and recognition will refuel your energies and you will continue with the same zest. Your wealth of wisdom will make your growth sustainable. Unresolved problems will not be strong enough to make the Archer lose his focus. You are doing extremely well for yourself. Keep the spirit alive, and it will surely help you accomplish a lot of things. CAPRICORN Dec 23 - Jan 20: Recreational activities done in the past week will turn out to be beneficial for the Goat. You’ve recharged your batteries and now ready for the challenges coming your way. Your courage, self-belief and patience have been tested time and again, but they have shown remarkable resilience, every time. There may be some disappointments but they will not be able to deter you from moving forward. Be ready to loosen up your purse strings, as you will now concentrate on your appearance and make conscious efforts to improve it. AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19: You will continue to work hard from last week. Seniors and co-workers will encourage you for your accomplishments. You will think out-ofthe-box to execute your plans successfully.All the accolades will work like an energybooster. You will be busy shopping, wining, dining, and maybe romancing. You may have a love affair at work, which may disturb peace in your life. It will not affect your vision to succeed. You are firing all cylinders to reach the targets you have set for yourself. Good going! PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20: The good time will continue to keep you in a cheerful mood this week as well. Problems will not be able to undermine your confidence, especially when you have supportive friends around to help you out. You will sort out a lot of issues and create a harmonious atmosphere at work and home. Networking and travelling are on the cards. New relations and associations will be beneficial for you. Opportunity does not knock twice. Grab every opportunity that comes your way to make the most of the favorable times.

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