Friday, September 16 2011 | Vol. 30, No. 37
Indo American erican News
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Reaches Houston
Blaze consumes 1,500 acres and scares residents in West Houston before being contained.
HOUSTON: Around 3:17 pm, Tuesday, September 13, a wild brush fire broke out in George Bush Park in West Houston. The fire has been effectively controlled and 95% of the fire is contained. Fortunately, nearby neighborhood homes have not suffered any damage. The fire broke out by Westheimer Parkway and Westheimer. It was a mile south of Interstate 10. The fire consumed about 1,500 acres of dry grass land. Over 175 fire fighter crew from over ten fire departments with 50 pieces of fire equipment, four bulldozers, and an aerial water drop have been actively working in putting the fire out. The dry spell Texas has been facing over the last several months have been responsible for several fires across Texas including the worst of them being the Bastrop fire in Austin. It has destroyed over 34,068 acres and destroyed 1554 homes. Over 5,000 residents were asked to evacuate and 17 people are reported missing. The Bastrop fire is only 50% contained so far. Over 190 wild fires have been raging throughout the stae of Texas. The severe drought that is responsible for all the fires has been brought on by the soaring three-digit temperatures over the last four months. There has been no rain and there is no relief in sight.
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September 16, 2011
No Rain in Houston, but Mausam Coming
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Shahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor starer movie Mausam has released their second trailer. In trailer you can clearly see chemistry between Shahid and Sonam. Mausam movie is made by four season, four colours, and story is based on four historical events. This movie will be released on September 16
Samarakshana Fundraiser Draws $80,000 for MTS Projects
By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: The iconic and venerable Sri Meenakshi Temple Society (MTS) embellishes and adds value to the Pearland skyline with its soaring beauty. At a fundraising banquet, Samarakshana, hosted at the MTS Youth Center on September 10, 2011, devotees and guests contributed $80,000 toward the many ongoing endeavors to maintain the temple’s beauty, preserve the temple structure, and to make the premises eco-friendly and technologically contemporary. Special invitees to the event included the Mayor of Pearland Tom Reid, Frost Bank Marketing President Mike Clements, and City of Sugar Land Councilman Thomas Abraham and his wife Sarah. Serving as Mistresses of Ceremonies for the event were Surabi Veeraragavan and Veena Sundar. In his welcome address, MTS Chairman Dr. G. S. Gopalakrishnan reminded gatherees of those that lost their lives in the terrorist attack of 9/11, and asked for a minute of silence in tribute to their memory. He told of the crucial need to invest in the temple for the future generations. Dr. Gopalakrishnan also asked guests to contribute generously to the Sri Rajarathna Bhattar Scholarship Fund instituted in honor of the temple’s late Priest Emeritus; the scholarship will help fund the education of deserving students. The MTS, established in 1977, and inaugurated in 1979, reclines on about 30 acres of land. MTS Treasurer Gnanasundaram outlined the immediate and future projects to be undertaken by the MTS Board of Directors. “We have buildings that are 30 years old and some just a year old. Some of the buildings are built to
of land, the Ganesh temple, will be renovated to increase its capacity, said MTS Adjunct Director, Karu Muthuswamy. Walls currently dividing the kitchen and dining area from the temple would be taken down to present devotees with a better view of the prayers offered to the deity. Preceding the banquet, a silent
auction coordinated by Roopa Balakrishnan and Malar Narayanan was held at the Kalyana Mandapam. Guests bid on sarees, jewelry, and artwork. Entertainment for the evening was music by Houston Ragas. For more information on the Sri Meenakshi Temple, visit www. meenakshi.org.
Daya Houston Receives Award from Asian American Attorneys
Mayor of Pearland Tom Reid, Mike Clements (Frost Bank Executive), Sam Kanappan, MTS Treasurer Gnanasundaram, Sugar Land City Councilman Thomas Abraham. Photos: Milind Patel
old codes and need to be upgraded. We have over 35 air conditioning units that require routine maintenance,” said Gnanasundaram. “We have been advised that a facility of this size and operations needs backup electricity generators for emergency situations,” he added. The lack of rain has also impacted the temple that sees hundreds of visitors every week, and thousands on special prayer days and Deepavalli, said Joint Treasurer D. Parthiban. The temple has three bore holes, but the ever-increasing consumption and government regulations on water usage will necessitate the construction of storage tanks on the premises, added Parthiban. The temple, youth center, Kalyana Mandapam, and other buildings on site will also get a technology make-over. “With multiple wireless N/G networks and using our own internal fiber-optic cables, all our
computers, printers and other devices can be connected. This gives us the ability to show, project audio, video images from the main temple to the other buildings,” said Parthiban. “We plan to add web cameras, that would enable all to watch events and weddings from anywhere around the world through the internet. And web cameras can be used as security monitors.” Continuing the presentation on technology, Vice President of MTS, Tupil Narasiman told gatherees that communication systems were transitioning from e-Meenakshi.org to HOMA 3.5, a software that is easy to use and will improve productivity. All temple reports, priest profiles and assignments, membership, pledges, all data related to the temple, would be accessible online, added Narasiman. The original structure on the plot
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HOUSTON: In recognition of its services to the community, Daya received a grant of $2,000 from AABF (Asian American Bar Foundation), the philanthropic wing of AABA (Asian American Bar Association) of Houston at their 27th annual banquet held on Sept. 9. AABA is a voluntary organization of attorneys, judges, and law students of Asian heritage or who have Asian American interests. The grant money will support Daya’s legal clinic operating with the help of 25 pro-bono family law and immigration attorneys. Daya provides advocacy, free consultation and, in some cases, court costs and attorney fees to clients in need of legal services. Daya promotes healthy family relationships in the South-Asian community by providing services that include counseling, referrals, legal advocacy, and financial support to women and children affected by family violence and sexual assault. Daya also is known for its proactive outreach and education services. On Saturday Sep 17, 2011, Daya will hold its annual free seminar, “She nags, He snores: How to communicate without conflict,” at 9am at Hilton Southwest (6780 Southwest Freeway) near Hillcroft. Registration and more information are at www. dayahouston.org. Daya’s hotline phone number is 713-981-7645. Besides Daya, AABF also awarded $2,000 each to Asian America Family Services, Asians Against Domestic Abuse, Boat People SOS, and VN Teamwork.
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COMMUNITY
September 16, 2011
sewa’s local chapter shows Upward mobility in Gala
By JaWaHar MalHOTra HOUSTON: Two years ago, the local chapter of Sewa International took on a challenge to help a small group of Bhutanese Hindu refugees to resettle in the Houston area. It was a loosely based group, developing the methodology needed to provide for their chosen project, but what they lacked in the still-evolving organization they more than made up with zeal and determination. Fast forward two years and the gala that the group held this past Saturday, September 10, showed how far all that determination had brought the fledgling organization. In sharp contrast to the loosely assembled fundraiser of last year, with a performance on the small stage at India House, this year’s gala was a sort of graduation party all of its own, held as it was in the large ballroom at the University Center at the University of Houston’s main campus. For some (including this reporter) in the estimated 300 people who came to the gala, it was a sort of homecoming all its own. “I remember spending days here at the international student luncheons,” grinned Durga Das Agrawal, recalling his college days. “We would walk over to the music rooms there,” he added pointing across the courtyard, “and listen to desi songs!” Gone was the large canvas of Walt Disney extending a finger to Mickey, echoing Michelangelo’s 1511 painting of God giving life to Adam, but the rectangular groupings of sofas were still there in the area that was the reception space for the gala and for the tava samosas and chicpeas appetizers that were served along with sodas. Many among the guests were donors who support the refugee project as well as the involvement of many younger people in running the affairs of the chapter, albeit with guidance from several community stalwarts like Vijay Pallod and Ramesh Bhutada. Sewa International is a non-profit organization inspired by the Hindu tradition of service before self, working for promoting voluntarism internationally. It is headquartered in New Delhi, India and has 38 chapters across the US and others in 15 countries worldwide. “It is the only faith-based Indian organization in Houston doing this kind of work,” said Manju Gupta, President of the Houston chapter, which leads the rest of the US chapters in its activity. The gala netted the chapter $60,000 in donations and another $40,000 from one overseas donor for a hospital in Nairobi and $15,000 from another for education projects in India, both of which were pledged prior to the gala. At its core, the US chapters attract many young people, as evidenced from the Sewa USA Facebook page, who want to have hands-on involvement with a project they can see tangible results from. Even the emcees Shraddha Belsare and Arushi Garg and the presentation team of Chapter VP Vasudev Singh, Chapter Coordinator Suryansh Peshwar and ASPIRE co-Chair Kriti Dogra were young volunteers committed to the program. Singh explained the chapter got its first boost from helping out during Hurricane Ike in 2008 and received another boost from the Bhutanese refugee resettlement program in 2009. In aiding the refugees, the chapter Indo American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly every Friday (for a subscription of $30 per year) by IndoAmerican News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036, tel: 713-789-6397, fax:713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Indo American News, 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036
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Clockwise from top left: A troupe of Bhutanese refugee girls performed a folk dance; Sewa Intl Houston Chapter Vice President Vasudev SIngh (left) with Sam Merchant, the Asian Liaison for Congressman Al Green; a Rajasthani dance group; the local Sewa Board with VIP donors: from left Hari Gupta, Dr. Jay Raman, Durga Das Agrawal, Saroj and Subhash Gupta, Sugar Land Councilman Harish Jajoo and his wife Shashi, Viji Raman, Sushila Agrawal and Sewa Intl Houston Chapter President Manju Gupta (hidden); Kusum Sharma, Director of Shree Natraj School of Dance performed a Bharat Natyam dance to Ganesh; emcees Shraddha Belsare and Arushi Garg on stage. Photos: Melody Stevenson.
has learnt many lessons in preparing them to stand on their own feet: teaching them working skills, English as a Second Language, and survival techniques as simple as using the phone and driving a car. This in turn has led the chapter to develop ASPIRE, an after school program; Get Inspired Houston, a summer internship for college students; and Lead Houston which helps the interns to develop leadership skills. This year, Dr. Jay Raman provided a
scholarship for four-years at a public university. “Of all the wealth you can have,” said Raman as he gave the scholarship to 18-year old Komal, a Bhutanese refugee in the aerospace engineering program at UT, “the most important is education.” Komal spoke onstage, in jeans and sneakers, in English of his desire to study through to a PhD. The gala had dances by Kusum Sharma, Director of the Shree Natyam School of
Dance; a troupe of Bhutanese girls and a Rajasthani dance. In addition, Sam Merchant spoke on behalf of Congressman Al Green and Sonal Bhuchar, a candidate for Texas state representative spoke for a few minutes. In the end, just before dinner (catered by Madras Pavilion of Sugar Land), winners of the Lil’ Champs contest presented songs that captivated the crowd and the effervescent Surender Talwar belted out some Punjabi tunes to the beat of a dhol.
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IAMNEWS
September 16, 2011
Jewel Thieves nabbed, Hillcroft merchant Association celebrates
By JaCOB DaViD HILLCROFT: Two of three jewel thieves have been nabbed in just under five months, after they made off with $6 million jewelryfrom Karat 22 located on the 5600 block of Hillcroft, Houston. Jason Clay Kennedy 40, and John Dewayne O’Brien, 47, are behind bars. Kelvin Lynn O’Brien 44, is still on the run, the police hot on his trail. The FBI and the Houston Police Department teamed up to nab these thieves who have been robbing jewelery in Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma and Florida for over 10 years. Their car had a Dallas registration, the police found. Aku Patel, owner of Karat 22 says, “I am extremely delighted that these jewel thieves are caught. We are praying that the third guy also gets his due justice.” The robbery took place on February 5, a week before Valentine’s just on Superbowl Sunday week. “The Hillcroft Merchants Association has been very helpful. The Indo American Chamber of Commerce offered their immediate help with helping us after the loss. The HPD has been excellent in that they assigned a special Major Offenders Crime Division with Sergeant Frank Quinn to head the case.” Patel added. “The entire community has been very supportive. All the merchants here in the Hillcroft area have been very helpful by submitting their video footage for the past several weeks before February to
track patterns of visitors.” says Rachna Patel, daughter to the owner. “They offered all the help and cooperation that the Houston Police Department needed. This helped the Houston Police do their job effectively and capture the offenders in just five months.” she added. “I have to thank the Houston Police Department, especially Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland and the entire department for such a fabulous investigative job.” Aku Patel says. With less than 30% insured, the Patel family has suffered a huge loss of capital and inventory, over 70% of jewelry with unique designs and even their personal and family jewelry has gone for good. The thieves, two of whom are brothers have been in the gold business. They melted most of their stolen jewelry and exchanged it for cash. There were rumors spread and snide remarks made that the job was an inside job done to make good on insurance money. Today those theories and remarks have been proved wrong. Aku Patel is a happy man. “Those remarks crossed our ears as well, they were hurtful at a time when we had lost so much.” he says. It is hard to stop the judgements being passed by few people who do not have the slightest idea of what is going on and when they don’t have proof to back up such rumors. “The entire community showed us their support when we
Now
Jason Clay Kennedy Photos: HPD / HC, Jacob David
John Dewayne O’Brien
Kelvin Lynn O’Brien is still on the run, the police on his tracks.
The thieves cut a hole through the concrete roof and en- Aku Patel was role model and strength to tered the safe. They left a circular saw which proved as his family members, who were not used to valuable piece of evidence to track them. a jewelry heist of this magnitude
opened up in our seventh week, by the end of March. They came to our store and bought jewelry,” Rachna says beaming a smile. “Our suppliers were kind to us, they have helped us get back on our feet by offering us long term dating - extended credit on jewels supplied. The Lord Almighty has
been extremely kind to us to have taken us smoothly through this crisis.” Aku says. “We are glad we did not have any major health related concerns due to this event,” Rachna adds. “We have helped educate the HPD on the entire process involved in the gold jewelry trade, the line of suppliers in-
volved and the middle men. This will help them nab thieves faster in the future, though we don’t want this to ever happen again.” Rachna says. The jewelry heist was reported by Indo American News in February. Karat 22 is now open for business as usual.
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COMMUNITY
September 16, 2011
Public safety meeting Addresses concerns of Hillcroft merchants
By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: The Greater Sharpstown Management District Committee (GSMDC) hosted a public safety meeting at the East West International premises at Hillcroft on September 9, 2011, drawing representation from business owners in the Little India area, Indo American organizations, and from law enforcement agencies. The forum, chaired by GSMDC’s Kenneth Lee, and moderated by Richard Rodriguez, Director of Community Services, was a safety initiative, which focused on improving communication and cooperation among property owners, tenants, and public safety departments to maintain and enhance the district’s levels of safety. Business owners voiced their concerns to the panel in the wake of burglaries perpetrated on two area jewelry stores in recent
er Houston, had other issues that he voiced to the committee. “We have more than 200 businesses in this area, it’s more like India Town,” said Kathuria. “We need better drainage on our streets as it disrupts business. And we want Hillcroft to be aesthetically enhanced,” he added. India Culture Center representative Col. Raj Bhalla asked for the committee’s support in renaming the Hillcroft area as Mahatma Gandhi District. Laura Cahill, Assistant Count Attorney, said that her office prosecutes places that harbor crime, such as some apartment complexes in the area that promote prostitution, drugs, and robbery. “We work closely with the HPD in identifying premises where there are these bad elements and that reduces the crimes that have
Brij Kathuria (left), former president of IACCGH explains as Ronnie Patel, Insurance Solutions of America; Aku Patel, Karat 22; Hasmukh Kachhala, Meera Jewelers, Gobind Kamnani, India Jewelers, Sam, Suits USA; Altaf Ali, Kohinoor Diamonds and Kiran Oberoi of Keemat Grocers turn apt listeners. Photos: Krishna Giri
months. Rodriguez recommended that surveillance cameras placed strategically outside businesses would deter criminals. He suggested programs that would supplement law-enforcement patrols where necessary, and to develop a plan in conjunction with energy providers and the City of Houston to increase and maintain consistent street lighting in public areas. The Houston Police Department (HPD) has a storefront on Regency Square and Harwin. Brij Kathuria, former president of the Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Great-
a ripple effect all over this ten mile radius,” said Cahill. The district subscribes to the NIXLE service which allows for community alerts to be sent out via text message to members of the community. This could be availed of free of cost at www.sharpstowndistrict.com. Interactive community and law enforcement meetings take place every third Wednesday of the month at 7.00pm at the HPD storefront at 7277 Regency Square, Houston, Texas, 77036.
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COMMUNITY
September 16, 2011
commentary: world Peace through spirituality
HOUSTON: Today man has conquered nature with his scientific knowledge. He is even thinking of setting up colonies on other planets. But, alas, the planet he inhabits is riddled with strife, conflict and tension. Some try to relieve tension and establish peace. They organize international conferences and seminars to find ways and means to eradicate hatred and violence from the world, but with what results? A few fiery speeches, and high-sounding orations, a few lofty resolutions, but all without tangible result. Thus, despite their earnest and best efforts, they fail in their mission. Cause Let us ponder over the real cause of the pervasive strife and violence, including religious conflicts. Unless the root is eliminated, the feeling of hatred and jealousy cannot be eradicated. History bears witness that even in the past, many great souls, tried their best to dispel hatred and alienation. Some of them sacrificed their all, and even staked their lives for this noble cause. Such noble beings are worthy of the highest reverence. Even today, some are dedicated to this lofty and noble goal. Our good wishes are all with them. We should, however, see if they are really striking at the root-malady or merely pruning the leaves and branches of the poisonous tree, which after some time sprouts and spreads more wildly again. Every war generally ends with a peace treaty, only to be followed by another war, much more devastating and horrible. Mutual distrust and fear is the real cause of the mad race of dangerous and deadly arms.
Mind source and strife Now let us locate the source and center of mutual distrust, hatred, ill-will, suspicion, and fear. We have also to devise an effective check against generation of base feelings. All feelings, good or bad, of love or hatred, emanate ultimately from the human mind. Thus, mind is the real source and center- the villain of the peace. Our perverted feelings, which are exploited by the vested interests in the name of religion, community or country, create all tensions, conflicts and violence. If we really and sincerely aspire for world peace, we shall have to purge our mind of such narrow and base feelings by divine enlightenment. Today, the Nirankari Mission is ceaselessly striving to liberate the human mind from the sordid and stinking sentiments and instinct, and instead inculcate a broad and tolerant vision through spiritual enlightenment. Let all the well-wishers of humanity join this crusade against the fatal feeling of hatred, ill will, and ignorance, in order to usher in an era of peace, tranquility, and amity. To have the spiritual enlightenment, it had always been necessary in the past and is imperative at present and will be in future too to have guidance of a spiritual Professor/Master who will initiate a thirsty soul in few minute at the very first meeting just for asking. Hence, please do come to receive the divine blessings and hear Parvachans of His Holiness Baba Hardev Singhji Maharaj, Head Sant Nirankari Mission, from 6 to 9 PM on September 16 at India House, 8888 W. Bellfort Street, Houston, TX 77031.
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The drummer procession bringing King Maveli lined up by a host of dancers holding lamps and flowers on a decorated plate
BY JACOB DAVID STAFFORD, TX: The Malayalee Association of Greater Houston celebrated Onam at the Stafford Banquet Hall on September 17, Saturday. A larger crowd of malayalees numbering 300+ showed up to the event which started at 11 am slated to begin at 10:30 am. The program lasted till 3 PM. The traditional Onam lunch was served on a synthetic banana leaf, Kerala custom requires it. It involves a three course meal of smaller appetizers, rice, sambar, dal with ghee, and sweets. Dance programs were organized by Sunanda’s Performing Arts and Shingari Rhythm of Arts dance schools. The Thirvathira main dance event that is a traditional dance was a good performance organized by Sunanda’s Performing Arts. It involves Kai kotti Kali (playing dance by clapping of hands and going in slow circles around a grain harvest metal barrel called the Para). Onam is the main festival in Kerala, a time of celebration for all Keralites. Mythology has it that King Mahabali visits his subjects once a year, a boon granted by Lord Vishnu. The Gods were envious of King Mahabali’s rule in Kerala where all his subjects lived content. They wanted to end his prosperous rule. Lord Vishnu took the shape of a dwarf, Vamana, and asked King Mahabali for 3 steps of land. The king granted the dwarf’s wish. Suddenly the dwarf grew into a giant, and took two steps, covering the earth and the heavens. For the third step, King Mahabali offered his own head. Lord Vishnu pushed King Mahabali into the earth. But Lord Vishnu allowed King Mahabali to visit his subjects once every year. Keralites the world over, celebrate King Mahabali’s return each year by having a grand King Maveli inaugurated the fundraiser event to raise funds for the Malayalee Center, located on 1415 Packer Lane.
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COMMUNITY
September 16, 2011
11
She Nags; He Snores
daya’s 2011 seminar Focuses on enhancing communication HOUSTON: Everyone can talk but not everyone can communicate. It is true because talking is merely a method of communication; communication involves listening, comprehending and responding appropriately to the issue being discussed. Good communication fosters understanding and respect, whether you agree or disagree with the other person. This is why communication is at the core of all successful relationships. Daya is holding a free seminar, “She Nags; He Snores: How to communicate without conflict” on Sept. 17th at Hilton Southwest. As the title suggests, the seminar will focus on helping couples and family members to be better communicators. The morning sessions (9:30am to 12:30pm) will be open to all and explore communication as the foundation for a good relationship beginning with finding the right person, maintaining family support, navigating the intricacies of inter-cultural unions as
well as raising children in multicultural homes. In the afternoon (1pm – 3pm) couples-only workshop, trained facilitators will guide couples into learning communication tech-
niques that will lessen conflict and promote harmony in their relationships. The presence of both partners and participation of men are integral to get the most out of this interactive session. Speakers include matchmaker, dating coach and relationship col-
umnist Jasbina Ahluwalia (www. intersectionsmatch.com); founder of MySahana (www.mysahana. org, a forum that answers to South Asian mental and emotional health needs) Parijat Deshpande; seasoned marriage counselor Damian Duplechain (www.houstoncounselingmarriage.com); and veteran psychologist Dr. Partick Brady. Registration is required and attendees will be included in drawings to win free ipods and two Atif Aslam tickets in the morning and an ipad in the afternoon. Winners must be present. Serving the South Asian community since 1996, the free seminar is a part of Daya’s education and outreach program, the aim of which is to promote awareness and provide strategies to live emotionally fulfilling lives. Daya’s previous seminar topics include teen depression and suicide; economic empowerment for women; and alcohol and drug abuse among South Asian teens. For information and registration, visit, www.dayahouston.org or call 713-981-7645.
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COMMUNITY
12 September 16, 2011
swami’s youth lecture Brings to light India’s Treasures
HOUSTON: The youth and children of Indian Diaspora living in America were inspired by what is behind the rich temple and architectural heritage of India. Swami Vidyadhishananda, the Himalayan saint and yogi who is well known to the Houston community, set out to illustrate this richness in a discourse given on Monday, August 29th at the Durga Bari Society temple. Entitled “Inspiring Treasures of the Vedic Heritage”, his superb slideshow presentation was part of the Youth Program at the temple premises. Before the lecture, children and youth gave a performance of classical music and dance. As well as children and their parents, the lecture attracted a packed audience. Using rare photos, many dating from the 19th century, His Holiness Swami Vidyadhishananda showed examples of the magic and precision of Vedic architecture and monuments. He showed how Vedic temples capture the subtle expression of the cosmos and our world. Encoded into the temple structures and carvings is knowledge about the universe and how to build with sacred geometry. He explained how this knowhow is correlated to our worship and adds more meaning to our life and learning. The lecture began with the Jagannath temple in Puri where the architectural elements of the spire are placed at a magic angle related to the celestial movements in our solar system. The connection with the universe is even more apparent at temples like Gavi-Gandhareshwara in Bangalore where the altar of Lord Shiva is at the bottom of a shallow cave. On only one day of the year, the rising sun shines down the cave and bathes the Shiva-lingam in light. This is the day when the sun enters Capricorn, thus the temple’s alignment is attuned to the dynam-
Gopura or pagodas of Madurai Meenaxi temple from 1905 captured in one view
Swami Vidyadhishananda
ic soli-lunar c a l e n d a r, the Swami pointed out. A similar example was shown from Kolhapur in Maharashtra where the rising sun enters a long corridor in the Maha-Laxmi temple
on two separate occasions of the year in winter months, each time spanning three days, to light up Maha-Laxmi herself. The time of the winter solstice in December is thus precisely calculated by finding the date halfway between these two periods. These temple events continuously adjust key defining junctures of the Vedic soli-lunar calendar which in turn defines the muhurta or auspicious days and times for vows and meditation. Swami Vidyadhishananda has visited pouranic temples throughout India as part of his monastic offering known as jirnoddhara, which involves the revival of temple structures and traditions including the
supervision of priestly rituals. He has witnessed with his own eyes many miraculous happenings at the natural self-manifested altars. He mentioned about the healing tradition of the temple waters. In Himavat-Gopalaswami temple south of Mysore, drops of water mysteriously appear on the crown of Lord Krishna. As the altar is covered by a roof, the water appears from nowhere. The water is collected and offered by priests as a divine drink for pilgrims. Surrounding the temple is natural hilly terrain hiding some 70 lakes each with healing power for a specific disease where ailing devotees take ritual baths. Another case study showed the Maha-Nandishwara temple in Andhra Pradesh, where water gushes out from beneath the altar of Lord Shiva, not only in copious amounts for holy dips but enough to irrigate the farmland of the surrounding communities spanning a huge acreage. Swami Vidyadhishananda gave the audience an insight into an age when magical altars and exquisite temple structures not only uplifted the devotee but also created a forum for comprehensive learning. They still do today in India but the knowhow and craftsmanship to build such structures and monuments are rapidly being lost. The Nonprofit, Self Enquiry Life Fellowship of which Swami Vidyadhishananda is the founder, preserves and disseminates the indigenous knowledge of India and safeguards Vedic fine arts and crafts. At the end of the talk, Swami Vidyadhishananda honored Dr. N. R. Joshi for his research on the natural sound origins of the Sanskrit letters. He also met privately with some members of the Indian youth community to inspire the younger generation. For more information, email quest@swamahiman.org or call 909-543-6003.
classical dance Arangetram by Varenya ranjani Hariharan By CHiTra DHarMaraJan HOUSTON: On August 20, as the guests arrived at the Jewish Community Centre, they were greeted by an archway of brightly colored flowers. Inside the premises, the grandly decorated foyer was a visual treat indeed. Was it a wedding? As they proceeded towards the Kaplan Theatre their senses were in for a treat. Varenya Hariharan’s debut dance program, Arangetram, began with a prayer by the MTS priest Sri Manicka Bhattar. Surrounded by her parents, brother, grandparents, aunts and uncles, she received blessings from her Guru Padmini Chari and elders as she began her evening program. A junior at the Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, Varenya began her recital with an invocatory shloka on Lord Ganesha, followed by Thirupugazh in praise of Lord Muruga. The next item, a rhythmical Jathiswaram set the pace for the rest of the program. Her training in the demanding dance style of Bharatanatyam for over nine years had prepared her well for the main item, the Varnam. For about 30 to 40 minutes, Varenya kept the audience engaged by her foot work as she responded to the intricate jatis enunciated by her Guru. With excellent abhinaya, the emotive expressions, she embodied the character she was depicting. She became the Nayaki entreating Lord Shiva to come to her. Her training in Drama at school certainly aided her in her rendition. With a costume change, the pleasantly smiling Varenya was transformed into the beautiful Saint and Poetess Aandal. The choice of costume and the accessories
were excellent. It was as if Aandal herself was on stage to delineate the meaning of a few verses from her composition, Thiruppavai, through her graceful movements. The next item, Ranjani Mala, was an appropriate selection with Varenya’s middle name being Ranjani! The lyrical piece set to different Ranjani Ragas describing the qualities of Devi was eloquently brought to life by the young dancer. The majestic piece Bho Shambho on Lord Siva, a composition by Swami Dayananda, was well received by the packed auditorium of friends and relatives. The frequent rounds of applause throughout her arangetram were a measure
Photos: Navin Mediwala
of the enthusiastic audience appreciation of Varenya’s commendable performance. The penultimate item before the Mangalam was the fast paced Tillana in Kadanakutoohalam which set the audience in a happy mood indeed. The backbone support for all dance programs is the music. The team from Bangalore, India, did an exceptional job in supporting Varenya. The duo of the mother
and daughter singers, Pustakam Ramaa and Deepti, were well supported by the accompanying instrumentalists.Sri Jayaraman, Pradyumna and Janardana Rao. Their musical interlude during the dance interval was an added attraction of the evening. Smt Padmini Chari needs no introduction to the Houston population. As a disciple of the famed Adyar Lakshmanan, she has the honor of belonging to the prestigious lineage of the Kalakshetra school in Chennai. Her Nritya School of Dance, which has produced several ballets and performed at various events, is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year. It is indeed a blessing to have a good Guru –Sishya chemistry. It was quite apparent that this teacher and her disciple were a good team. The evening’s program that lasted about two hours flowed smoothly in the able hands of the emcee, Dr. Latha Ramchand, a danseuse herself. Dr. Ramchand’s explanation and glimpses about the history of this dance art form were certainly enlightening and informative, especially to those not familiar to this classical dance art form from India. The evening included interesting speeches by Varenya’s brother, teachers and friends. Kudos to the parents Drs Radhika and Ramesh Hariharan for supporting their daughter’s artistic endeavors. Besides the wonderful dance recital enjoyed by all who came, the Hariharans topped off the evening by treating their guests to an excellent and sumptuous dinner!
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September 16, 2011
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14 September 16, 2011
People in the news
Pravas Sud: Pravas Sud has been named director of LNG services in the Houston office of Pace Global Energy Services, a Fairfax, VA based company. Sud has over 10 years of executive-level experience in the U.S., Asia, and European markets. His expertise ranges from business
development, global supply chain/ logistics, and risk management to LNG negotiation/arbitrage/trading and natural gas origination. Sud previously worked at Energy Finance and LNG Commercial Development, Repsol YPF, Enron, UPS, and The Hyundai Group of South Korea. In his new role, Sud will be working with energy, utility, and industrial clients worldwide on upstream natural gas and LNG projects. He is a graduate of the India
Institute of Technology, New Delhi and Rice University. Pravas Sud, Director, LNG Services 1415 Louisiana St. Suite 3550 Houston, TX 77002 USA Phone: 713.577.7809 E-mail: Pravas.Sud@paceglobal. com Pratima Rangarajan
Pratima Rangarajan has been named senior vice president of global research and innovation for Vestas, a provider of wind power systems. Rangarajan was born in India and came to the US at the age of 19. She has a bachelors in Chemical Engineering from MIT and a PhD from Princeton and has worked previously at Exxon and General Electric.
COMMUNITY
Bobby Kapur: director of center for Globalization
HOUSTON: Dr. Bobby Kapur, assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and associate chief of emergency medicine at Ben Taub General Hospital, has been named director of the Center for Globalization at BCM. Catalyst for collaborations The center, created in March, acts as a catalyst for new collaborations and partnerships with the international community as well as an umbrella to the many international partnerships and research projects already in place at BCM. “Dr. Kapur has an excellent vision for the Center for Globalization,” said BCM President and CEO Dr. Paul Klotman. “With this center, the College will expand its reach around the world in all of our focus areas – education and training, patient care and research and development.” The first academic partnership created under the Center for Globalization was with Max India Group, a leading, comprehensive provider of healthcare services focusing on patient care, scientific research and medical education. Free flow of ideas “The Center for Globalization is about more than just providing global health care, it is about ex-
Bobby Kapur
changing ideas in health care with other cultures and communities around the world,” said Kapur. “Our goals include a free flow of ideas allowing us to teach and learn from multiple countries to better serve our patients. We have much to gain from learning about health care systems and teaching methods from other countries and vice versa” Kapur said advancing health care involves complex issues, so looking for solutions outside medicine towards engineering, social sciences, or even humanities might then open doors to find answers. “We will search beyond our dis-
ciplines in medicine and bring together innovations here at the center,” Kapur said. “By doing this we are not only discovering ways to improve patient care now, we are also improving patient care in the future by inspiring and sharing with the new generation of doctors and students.” Global partners Collaborating with global partners allows doctors and researchers to transcend their daily practice and research by giving them the opportunity to share their work globally, he said. Kapur received his bachelor’s degree from Rice University and medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. He completed residency training in emergency medicine at Yale University and completed a master’s of public health at Harvard School of Public Health. He also completed an International Emergency Medicine Fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Brigham Women’s Hospital. Kapur’s research interests include emergency public health, international health systems development, bombing events and blast injuries, and injury prevention. The Center for Globalization was launched with a generous gift from BCM Trustee Wallace S. Wilson.
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FINANCE
16 September 16, 2011
Ten Questions when Planning for Financial security
By JiMMy aBraHaM Ten questions and answers When thinking about how to protect your livelihood or build the financial resources you will need to live life as desired, answer these 10 questions first. 1. What is important to me? Before thinking about the right financial products for your needs, clarify what’s truly important to you – the people you care about, the aspirations you have, the things you want to protect, and the support you’d like to give to others. Whether you reflect on this question by yourself, with family members, or alongside a financial professional – answer this first, as it will create the framework around which your financial strategy can be built. 2. Who depends on me today and who might depend on me tomorrow? This question should be at the core of your decision making process and should be answered well before you consider what financial products you need and in what amount. Spouses and children are often thought of as the most obvious dependents; however, there can be others – for example, parents, in-laws or siblings who, due to age, disability, or other circumstances, may be unable to care for themselves. Even individuals without a family have dependents – namely, themselves – since their well-being depends on their own ability to earn an income. With your list of current and potential dependents in hand, you will be better prepared to plot your course toward greater financial security. 3. Who is providing for my dependents now? Does someone in your family provide valuable non-financial support to those you
care about? Think of the stay-at-home parent – they may not support their family with earned income, but the support they do provide is just as valuable as any paycheck. If a stay-at-home parent were unable to provide that support, it would surely be expensive to replace. Account for all who provide essential financial or non-financial support to your dependents. 4. What risks have I overlooked or not fully considered? People may concentrate on the risk of premature or accidental death and overlook other risks to their well-being and livelihood (for example, a breadwinner unable to work due to illness, an aging parent unable to care for themselves, a retiree dealing with rising healthcare costs, a business owner faced with a succession problem). As you work to construct your strategy, be sure to think broadly about the financial risks you face today, or may face in the future. 5. Are my plans flexible enough? There are ways that financial product solutions can be structured to provide future flexibility and adjust with your evolving needs. When speaking with your financial professional, ask about flexible solutions that can be upgraded (or downsized) as events in your life unfold. 6. How do I pick the right financial professional? When choosing a financial professional, work with someone who is not only competent, but also inspires your trust and confidence. The best financial professionals are good listeners who seek to fully understand your circumstances and financial objectives before proposing possible solutions. They should have access to product solutions from many fine companies, should clearly
explain how they get paid for their services, and should provide references upon request. Make sure your financial professional has a solid support network behind them since those affiliated with a strong, reputable firm will likely have access to better resources to support your changing needs. 7. How do I pick the right financial services company? Based on your specific needs, your financial professional should present product solutions from companies that they highly regard and with which they have had positive experience. Just as you will want to align yourself with a strong, reputable financial professional, you will want to do the same with regard to financial services companies. In many cases, products will be used to address financial needs and objectives that last for decades, if not a lifetime. To help ensure that your financial product providers will be there when you (or loved ones) need them, work with strong, stable companies that have received high marks from independent ratings agencies such as A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch. 8. What if I already have a plan? Even the best financial strategies should be revisited and updated regularly, generally at least once a year. Common life events such as marriage, having children, changing jobs, or even moving, can affect your existing approach. So, too, can just having another birthday – particularly if it means you have reached a financial milestone, such as the year you can begin collecting Social Security, receiving Medicare benefits, or taking distributions from your retirement accounts. An experienced financial professional should regularly review your strategy with you, to help ensure that it remains
aligned with your objectives and appropriate for your circumstances. 9. What is the downside of putting this off? Developing a financial strategy is a critically important activity that should not be rushed; however, there is a fine line between not rushing the process and not focusing on it at all. By putting this off, we expose ourselves and our families to unnecessary risks and lost opportunities – be it by not safeguarding our lifestyle from unexpected events, by not insuring our livelihood and legacy while in a position of health and strength, or by not capitalizing on even one extra day to build and protect our retirement nest egg. By actively focusing on this process, you can help protect your interests and shape your future. 10. What am I waiting for? You should now know what to consider as you develop your financial strategy and how to secure the best resources to turn that strategy into a reality. Perhaps most importantly, you should now understand how to avoid common pitfalls that lead some to take what may be the greatest risk of all – the risk of doing nothing. Take the next step by doing additional research on your own or seeking guidance from an experienced financial professional. 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 CRN201204-133551
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September 16, 2011
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
17
18 September 16, 2011
Ostrich Sarkar
The ostrich is a very peculiar creature. When faced with danger, it buries its head in the ground. The reasoning is that if the ostrich can no longer see the source of danger then the source of danger can no longer see the ostrich. Those with a cynical bent of mind might be tempted to compare the Indian sarkar - not just this current government, but previous governments as well - to the ostrich in that, like that bird, our sarkar has a similar response to danger. What did the government do immediately after the most recent bomb blast in Delhi? It shut up shop by closing Parliament. The ostensible reason was that of security. If Parliament was shut, the security personnel attendant there could be deployed to other potential targets of terror, such as marketplaces and law courts. This reasoning is flawed, not least because the residences of MPs - where presumably the worthies retired following the closure of Parliament - have their own dedicated security personnel who in no circumstances can be posted elsewhere. Symbolically, however, the closure of Parliament was in perfect consonance with ostrich-like behaviour: the best way to deal with threat is to shut your eyes to it. Repeated terror attacks are a more deadly and vicious threat to our society than all-pervasive corruption. But, as in the case of corruption, successive sarkars have done virtually nothing to protect the country from this dire menace. This failure indicates more than sheer bungling and gross inefficiency; it suggests a wilful blindness to a clear and present danger. Terror attacks have become more predictable in India than monsoon rain. So how come nothing seems to get done to prevent this recurrent horror from repeating itself over and over? Parliament was shut but netas’ mouths were open, voicing the same ritual phrases which have long lost all meaning; the ‘scourge of terror would not be tolerated’, ‘this cowardly act’ was to be ‘thoroughly condemned’. As someone remarked, in future politicians should use recorded messages to save their breath. In the meantime, the only ones who really were thoroughly condemned were common citizens: thoroughly condemned to live under the threat of terror thanks to a sarkar which could spend thousands of crores - much of it misappropriated - for a Commonwealth Games tamasha but couldn’t find a few lakhs for the installation of CCTV cameras in public places which might help prevent future attacks. As ritualistic as the stock phrases denouncing terror, is the blame game that follows an attack. As always in these cases, failure is like a parcel you pass around in the game called Pass-the-parcel: the moment it lands on your lap, you pass it on to the next person so that the failure is always someone else’s, never yours. Anew - yet another - intelligence agency, the National Investigation Agency has been set up to tackle terror. Will this proliferation of agencies - IB, CBI, RAW, not to mention local police forces - help or hinder anti-terror operations, as each tries to protect its own turf? Silly question. Obviously the more intelligence agencies you have the more intelligent they’ll be. Right? Right as the ostrich who knows it’s perfectly safe so long as it keeps its head firmly underground. And its backside exposed to full enemy view. TOI
EDITORIAL
The Kautilya Cause BY AJAY CHIBBER The issue of corruption has captured the imagination of a wide section of Indians. But if India (currently ranked 87th in the global corruption index of Transparency International) wants to make a major dent on corruption, it will need measures other than the lokpal. Countries that have tackled corruption rarely did so by relying on one instrument only. Corruption is a symptom of a dysfunctional interface between the government and society. A lokpal is a good instrument for monitoring and investigation, and getting this office set-up right is of critical importance. But the moment also provides us an opportunity to initiate wider reforms to tackle corruption. First, we have to consider the issue of how much discretionary power the government should have and where it should be placed. As James Madison, a founding fathers of the American Constitution wrote in the Federalist, ‘In framing a government to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this; you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.’ In India, the discretionary power of the executive has, over time, become too great. Laws and rules, contradicting each other, and accumulated over the years are open to interpretation by officials. Second, corruption can be reduced through greater competition or contestability. If the services that people need are provided in a contestable way, corruption will decline. This has been proved in the case of telecommunications. Twenty years ago, every household in India wanted a telephone and people paid bribes to get ahead in the queue for connections. With the arrival of mobiles, no one bothered about fixed-line connections but corruption moved to a higher level to procure 2G spectrum licences. India got it right with 3G licences, which shows that more competition and careful design can reduce corruption. The opportunity for corruption exists wherever there are excessive controls and public
Twenty years ago, every household in India wanted a telephone and people paid bribes to get ahead in the queue for connections. With the arrival of mobiles, no one bothered about fixed-line connections, but corruption moved to a higher level to procure 2G spectrum licences.
monopolies. Easing access to these services will reduce corruption. Third, greater transparency is needed wherever major financial resources are involved. ‘Follow the money’ is a good guide to look for places to prioritise. Procurement, licensing and other major public transactions are all areas in need of greater public scrutiny and transparency. The procurement and mining laws, where public funds and assets are involved, need major upgrading to bring them to global standards. The Citizen Information Act has been a significant milestone. But its use is not easy and public officials find many ways to withhold information. E-services are an effective step forward and wherever introduced, they have helped citizens meet their basic services in a transparent manner. Fourth, we need incentives against corruption. Singapore had one of the most corrupt customs services in the
world. It realised that to be a trade and service centre for the region, it would have to root out corruption. It now pays its civil servants the equivalent of private sector wages. Public sector wages have risen over the years in India as well and while not equivalent to private sector levels, they are nevertheless competitive. But the public sector requires more merit-based hiring to dispense with the system of paying bribes to get stable public sector jobs. Fifth, election financing is a major reason cited for political corruption. The US faced the same problem around 150 years ago. Meaningful election financing reform could be enacted only in the 1970s, which has been further strengthened over the last 40 years. Two areas to start reforms on would be raising funds for electioneering as well as alleged vote-buying schemes. Sixth, India needs a serious judicial reform to ease the backlog of cases. We also need more predictability in outcomes, both in the judiciary and in the administration. Seventh, the bribe-giver must share as much blame as the bribe-taker. Clearing a bribe-giver of his guilt if he reveals the crime will only make the system more secretive. India signed the UN Convention Against Corruption that sets global standards on tackling corruption this year. But it still has a long way to go to meet global best practices. The passionate response to corruption has sent a strong message to the government that citizens demand serious and urgent action. Such reforms aren’t easy as they will be opposed by narrow interests that have much to gain from the status quo. If Kautilya in the Arthshastra could lay down the methods of dealing with corruption, surely modern India, with ambitions of becoming a global power, can take on the scourge of corruption. All developed countries had to tackle corruption systematically at some point. India now has a historic opportunity to do the same. HT Ajay Chhibber is UN Assistant secretary General and UNDP’s regional director for Asia-Pacific.
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, SEPTEMBER 16 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
IAMNEWS
Missing Indian-Origin Woman Doctor in California is Likely Dead, Police Indicate
FREMONT (SI): A 70-year-old woman doctor of Indian origin, who disappeared nearly six months ago, is believed to be dead, according to police, who have zeroed in on her eldest son as a possible suspect in the case. Promila Mehta-Paul, a northwest Indiana-based ophthalmologist, was last seen on the evening of March 21 and did not show up at the office the next day despite having several appointments. Police said Promila’s 38-year-old son Paresh Paul was with her when she disappeared. He has made “several inconsistent statements when questioned by officers, they said. According to the Chicago Tribune, police named Paresh “a person of interest”, or someone who may have been involved in the case, after they conducted several searches of Promila’s residence leading them to believe that “foul play is likely to have occurred.” Police now believe that Promila is dead. Another newspaper Chicago SunTimes quoted Munster police chief Stephen Scheckel as saying that Paresh was living with his mother at the time of her disappearance on March 21 and also vanished from that date until he was found crossing the border into the United States from
Promila Mehta-Paul, a northwest Indiana-based ophthalmologist, was last seen on the evening of March 21
Mexico on foot on March 26. He was detained by US Border Patrol in San Ysidro, California, after a national alert had been issued. Detectives from Munster and Highland then attempted to interview Paresh in California, but he refused to talk and hired a lawyer. “We’ve narrowed the investigation down to just him,” Scheckel said, adding that police have eliminated other family members from involvement in the case.
Promila’s ex-husband Shashi Daman Paul, an MD, and their other two sons have been eliminated as possible suspects. “Our focus is now on the son (Paresh),” Scheckel said. He declined to disclose any potential motive, but noted that in July Paresh filed to seek guardianship to become the legal executor of Promila’s estate. A September 15 hearing is planned in Lake County court, with Paresh claiming in court documents that his mother is incapacitated and her whereabouts are unknown. “No one has had any contact with her (Promila)” since her disappearance, Sgt Steven Kovacik, a spokesman for the Munster Police Department, was quoted as saying by Chicago Tribune. “No, we have not found her body,” he added. Police are also trying to verify the travel schedules from March 21-27 of Paresh, who also goes by the names of Paul Fountaine, Omar Ahmend and Paul Asconte. According to public records, Paresh’s last address was in Los Angeles. There, in 2009, the Internal Revenue Service placed a federal tax lien against him for $536,550. A tax lien is a form of security interest that may be imposed for failure to pay income taxes or delinquent taxes owed on real or personal property.
September 16, 2011
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Rise in Indian Sudents Seeking Admision in the U.S
WASHINGTON (SI): Bucking recent trends, prospective Indian students seeking admission in graduate-level courses in the US have registered an eight percent increase this year. “Students from India saw an eight percent increase, the first gain since 2007,” the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) said in its latest survey report on admission trends. The overall foreign graduate admissions rose by 11 percent from 2010 to 2011, the largest increase since 2006. Last year the increase was just three percent. Among foreign countries, China topped the list with a record increase of 23 percent, the report said. The growth was driven substantially by a 23 percent increase in offers of admission to prospective students from China, the sixth year in a row of doubledigit gains, said the CGS.
“Offers of admission to students from the Middle East and Turkey rose 16 per cent, the fourth consecutive year of significant growth. Students from India saw an eight per cent increase, the first gain since 2007, and offers of admission to prospective South Korean students remained flat after four consecutive years of declines,” the report said. “While the growth in admissions is driven in large part by increases from China, it also reflects a broader trend as evidenced by strong numbers from the Middle East and India and a stabilization in the numbers from South Korea,” said Debra W Stewart, CGS President. This kind of strong growth in international student applications and admissions is “a real testament” to the quality of the US graduate institutions in an increasingly competitive marketplace, she said. According to the report, the changes
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in offers of admission to prospective international students vary by field of study and institution type. Admissions increased in all eight broad fields. The largest increases were seen in business (16 percent) and physical and earth sciences (15 percent) while social sciences and psychology saw the smallest increase at three percent. Offers of admission increased at nearly the same rate at both private, not-for-profit institutions (12 percent) and public institutions (11 percent), the report said. Offers of admission by US graduate schools to prospective international students increased in all four major regions of the United States this year. The West saw the most growth (13 percent), the South and Midwest both increased by 11 percent and the Northeast grew by 10 percent, it said.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
20 September 16, 2011
INDIA
An Eye for Empowerment
Mritunjay Tiwary has brought eyesight to tens of thousands of people through his eye hospital in rural Bihar. But his vision of development extends much farther BY RUCHI CHOUDHARY (IT) Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital is the biggest eye hospital in eastern India. Set up in Mastichak, the hospital identifies and treats the poor and needy people for eye ailments. It started out only in 2005, and treated 10,000 patients for free in the first year itself. Mritunjay Tiwary, who established it, is a successful businessman in Kolkata, with an MBA from XLRI. He decided he would positively contribute to society, and picked rural Bihar - from where his family had migrated to the city. In his neatly furnished drawing room in suburban Kolkata, overlooking an open terrace scattered with plants, Tiwary talks candidly about the project. It is difficult to imagine a
entire blind population in the state, Tiways estimates. And the hospital too should be able to stand on its own legs thereafter - treating 70 per cent of its patients for free, and charging the remaining 30 per cent. Tiwary has brought the lessons from his corporate environment to the hospital too. The staff and management are kept updated with the best industry practices. The hospital’s records are fully digitised, and all transactions are noted on the computer network. Lectures from experts on general management, health care etc. are regularly organised. The balance sheets are audited by a firm in Mumbai, who can see details of every transaction as soon as it goes online. Tiwary also plans to introduce
Tiwary (in the last row) with the soccer- and opportunityempowered girls.
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yellow Adidas t-shirt and beige track pants-adorned businessman starting such a venture in rural Bihar. So my first question to him, naturally, is “what prompted you to do this?” Tiwary traces the genesis of the idea - “I was born and brought up in Kolkata, and used to visit my ancestral place in Bihar about once a year. During one such visit, I happened to go to Kishanganj, where I heard from the rural folk about the kidnapping, selling and siphoning off of young kids to Dubai for trafficking. This was the first time I had seen something of this kind. And I could not sleep for seven days. I think that was the wake up call for me to do something.” “Bihar is where my roots are. And the state has earned such a bad reputation for itself due to poverty, corruption, the law and order situation that I think the need to do something is there. I discussed with my father and guru, who asked me to take up an issue and start working towards this. That’s when I decided to focus on blindness, and started this venture in my home district Chappra”. He isn’t just the founder; each month he spend about twenty days in Mastichak, and is deeply involved in the day-to-day activities of the Trust that runs the hospital. Although the hospital is primarily a charitable institution, he aims to make it self-sustaining in the long run - in order to do away with the uncertainty of remaining dependent on external funding. The target is to treat 800,000 patients by 2020. By then, he should be able to reach the
‘balanced scorecards’- to monitor the work of staff and management - in the system in the coming year. And most importantly, the next rung of leadership in the hospital is ready to steer its way towards taking over from him. The rigour with which the hospital is run is amazing. Tiwary lets me in on the secret of effective management, “In my opinion, there are three things which are absolutely necessary. You need to have the passion; you just can’t do without it. When you roam about in the muddy paths and scorching sun, knowing that you have left behind a comfortable lifestyle, it is the passion which will keep you going.” “Next, of course, is innovation. To develop a successful business model, you need to think differently and constantly innovate,” he says. “Finally, you need to follow the best practices in the industry if you want to succeed - this is one of the most important parts where I feel the other charitable organisations don’t pay adequate attention to.” At Mastichak, one of the more recent innovations has been introdcution of football, perhaps revealing a shade of the Bengali in Tiwary, despite his Bihari roots!. While working with the locals at the hospital, Tiwary realised that one of the biggest problems of the state is the wide-spread phenomenon of ‘male child preference’. From nutrition to health care to education and other needs, young girls are always placed on a lower footing than boys. Tiwary decided to
change this. He recalls the event which sparked the thought in his mind - “One day, I went to the local school to speak to the Headmaster. It was recess time and I noticed 4 or 5 young girls in the corner of a room - playing with a ball made of crumpled paper. I thought they were generally passing time. But when I asked them about what they were doing, they told me they were playing football. I was taken aback. I asked them where they learned to play, and they pointed to the playground in front of the school, where the boys play in the evenings, while the girls merely watched. I was elated, and said to myself that here is a chance to let these girls do what they want”. It was not easy. The parents did not at first agree to allow their girls to play in the field, that too dressed in shorts! Tiwary then made them a deal - offering to pay for the girls’ education in return, and also holding out the promise of a career linked to this education. He would train them well enough to seek to play for the state or even the country (which is usually also a guarantee of a secure government job!), or he would train them to become paramedics and offer a job himself, with a minimum salary of Rs. 10,000 a month. That worked, and after about a month, four girls came to play in the very playground from the periphery of which they used to watch games earlier. Still, Tiwary decided this was not enough. As long as these girls stayed in the environment of their homes, the could come out of the inferiority shell they had been pushed into, he felt. He proposed to open a girls’ hostel, where they could live together in a freer environment. Today, there are 43 girls in the facility, and another 200 are waiting to enrol. Tiwary himself is an avid football player and has played in first-division club tournaments. He says he is using football as a means to achieve the attitudinal change that rural Bihar desperately needs. There is a proud smile on his face when he says, “Seeing the girls swagger around in the compound fills me with pride more than watching them on the field. From being shy, with their arms wrapped around them, they’ve become informed and confident individuals. I think football has been instrumental in bringing about this change. They will become role models in their communities - the empowered women of tomorrow.” To succeed in even one of his endeavours - eradicating preventable blindness, or empowering young girls - would be a significant achievement. Mritunjay Tiwary has managed both. How does he find time out of his business and home to stay and work in Bihar?, I ask him. “Somewhere, you have to limit your personal ambitions; otherwise it becomes very difficult to follow this [kind of work]. I have all the comforts in Calcutta, and live very well here, but I sleep well there”, he says.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
September 16, 2011
Rajiv Malhotra’s “Breaking India” Creates Waves in Houston
BY RAVI RAGHAVAN HOUSTON: September is Hurricane Season in Houston. And, as expected, a powerful hurricane hit Houston last weekend, sweeping away 300 enthralled Indo-American intellectuals and professionals in its wake. Category 5 “Hurricane Rajiv” lingered on till late Sunday evening, long after renowned author Rajiv Malhotra made a compelling speech on the research behind his recently released and critically acclaimed 640page book “Breaking India: Western Interventions in Dravidian and Dalit Faultlines”. Speaking to a packed Houston audience on “Global Nexuses Undermining India” on September 11, Malhotra explained that India’s integrity is being undermined by three global networks that have wellestablished operating bases inside India: (i) Islamic radicalism linked with Pakistan, (ii) Maoists and Marxist radicals supported by China via intermediaries such as Nepal, and (iii) Dravidian and Dalit identity separatism being fostered by the West in the name of human rights. This book focuses on the third: the role of U.S. and European churches, academics, think-tanks, foundations, government and human rights groups in fostering separation of the identities of Dravidian and Dalit communities from the rest of India. The book is the result of five years of research, and uses information obtained in the West about foreign funding of these Indianbased activities. The research tracked
and their Indian affiliates. Its goal is to spark an honest debate on the extent to which human rights and other “empowerment” projects are cover-ups for these nefarious activities. He made it explicit that if these Western nexuses continue to weaken the Vedic bedrock of India’s civilization, the breaking up of India will only benefit Middle-Eastern interests that are inimical to Western civilization. Rajiv Malhotra addresses the audience Handling the attendees’ queries with the money trails that start out claim- aplomb, Malhotra presented a sysing to be for “education,” “human tematic study of the manufacture of rights”, “empowerment training” and many such myths over the last several “leadership training,” but end up in years and tracked them to organized programs designed to produce angry vested interests. “Conferences” are youths who feel disenfranchised from being conducted by Caucasian rightIndian identity. wingers where concocted Afro-Dalit Malhotra explained how outdated theories are being spun and declararacial theories continue to provide tions such as “India is the mother academic frameworks and fuel the of racism”, “India is a Dravidian rhetoric that can trigger civil wars Christian Nation”, and “Christians and genocides in developing coun- made Sanskrit” are promulgated. tries. The invention of the Dravidian Many Dharma traditions and rituals race in the 19th century and its lat- are being misappropriated by prosest manifestation - the “Dravidian elytizing missionary organizations in Christianity” movement - fabricates a the guise of syncretism. The Aryan political and cultural history to exploit Race theory, completely rejected in old fault-lines and create new schisms Europe after the Holocaust, is still in Indian society. The book explicitly masquerading as the Aryan Invasion names individuals and institutions, Theory. Backed by painstaking and including prominent Western ones analytical research, detailed refer-
ences and an incisive analysis, the book lays bare the prominent actors in a race to undermine India. See: www.BreakingIndia.com Breaking India was released in Chennai last year by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, whom Malhotra praised as having the sagacity and broad-mindedness to pursue a pan-Hindu vision. The Houston event was organized by Arsha Vidya Satsanga (AVS), a non-profit organization dedicated to bring the teachings, critical thinking and humanitarian vision of Swami Dayananda Saraswati. AVS President Dr. Jayakumar succinctly explained that its vision is to re-establish the cultural self-identity of Vedic people. The Panel Discussion was led by three distinguished scholars, Dr. Madan Lal Goel (Prof. Emeritus of Political Science, Univ of West Florida), Dr. T.R.N.Rao (Prof. Emeritus, Univ of Louisiana) and Dr.Sarath Menon (Prof. of Sociology and Anthropology at HCC and Univ of Houston). Sweeping through the history of India from the Mughal rule, Dr. Goel demonstrated that “We cannot take the survivability or the unity of India for granted”. Addressing the role of British colonial policy in creating caste divisions in Indian Society, Dr. Rao described the most inhuman Criminal Tribes Act enacted in 1871 which blatantly sanctioned the genocide of 84 Indian tribes deemed “criminal” by birth. Dr. Menon has studied the effect of globalization on cultures and societ-
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ies. He got the audience thinking with his question: “What is the identity the Hindus have evolved over the years and what is the impact of foreign factors on this identity?” Prominent attendees included Subhash Gupta (President, EVF-USA), Jugal Malani (President, India House) and renowned danseuse Rathna Kumar. Noting the audience’s exuberant feedback, energy executive Sunil Pangarkar stressed, “ As surely as ‘sunlight is the best disinfectant’, this talk has shed light on major forces shaping the future of India and identity of Indians. I for one will read this scholarly book with great interest and pass on the word to as many as I can.” Entrepreneurs Suma Sistla and Krishna Mudan praised the organizers for “a well-conceived, meticulously planned and superbly executed event” and felt that “Malhotra’s intellectually stimulating talk inspired each of us to contribute something to this burning issue we face”. While Raghava Solipuram underlined that the book gave a sense of responsibility, awareness and clarity to NRIs to protect the motherland, Bhaskara Mutyala felt that educating US policy makers by using the data from the book would be productive. Sunitha Ramiah observed, “Attending this eye-opening program made the Indian history I knew, a fiction. This is the kind of truth about history and current nexuses, backed up by abundant facts and studies, which I want my child to learn to know the ‘True India’.”
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
EDUCATION
22 September 16, 2011
Pratham to Launch Back to School Initiative in India
HOUSTON: The month of August is synonymous with the decline of the hot summer months and “back to school”. Every household in this country looks forward to this month with mixed feelings. Parents look forward to their children going back to a disciplined life, teachers look at it as the month of getting back to routine and students look forward to new school bags, lunch totes, pencils and other school supplies. While everyone feels the loss of lazy summer days, there is optimism of the new school year with new gizmos, gadgets and old-fashioned backpacks. What better time than this to cast an eye at our mother country and think of all our under privileged children and their lack of school supplies? In fact, there is no “back to school” for them unless we take it upon ourselves to provide them with such a regimen. Pratham , initiated in 1994, is such an avenue . This organization will enable us to fulfill our dream and send the less fortunate in India back to school. Pratham has already established its track record of helping educate children in India with the establishment of Balwadis(for pre-school education), initiating the English Program ( for English education) , remedial classes, technology education, establishment of libraries, Read India II, vocational Skills program and awarding scholarships and awards to reward meritorious students. Pratham programs are innovative,, scalable, transparent and measurable. Pratham USA is a 501 ( c) (3) non-profit organization introduced to Houston in 1998. Swatantra Jain has been nominated the President of the Houston Chapter since April of 2011. His goal is simple - to continue the work initiated by his predecessors . Some of the ways he would like to achieve this is by: a. Spreading awareness of need for literacy in India
We would like to take this opportunity to humbly request your support and contribution for this cause. Donate to Pratham at www.PrathamUSA.org. A mere $ 20.00 dollars will educate a child. Your contributions are tax deductible. Join Pratham and help the underprivileged get
Swatantra Jain, President, Pratham Houston
b. By organizing fund raisers. c. Getting his peers to join hands with him in this noble cause. Following are the upcoming events planned in the not too distant future and we look forward to your support and participation. “Tee It Up For Literacy”: Charity Golf Tournament on Thursday October 6 Pratham Holiday Luncheon : Charity Luncheon on Friday December 2 at The Junior League of Houston 1811 Briar Oaks Lane Houston TX 77027 . Pratham Annual Gala 2012 Annual FundRaiser on April 21 at Hilton Americas Downtown Houston TX. Keynote Speaker: Ajay Banga, CEO, MasterCard. Ek Sham Pratham Ke Nam ( June 2012)
launched the Read India campaign, an innovative, low-cost effort to reach the 100 million children in India who cannot read, write or do basic math. Pratham Founder Madhav Chavan and Pratham were named as a 2011 recipient of the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship for their innovative approach to children’s education. With an annual budget of less than $15 million, Pratham works incollaboration with the government, local communities, parents, teachers and volunteers across the country to achieve its mission of every child in school and learning Pratham program in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh well. Pratham back to school. USA (www.prathamusa.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a four-star rating (the About Pratham: highest possible) from Charity Navigator, acPratham seeks to improve the quality of edu- cepts tax deductible contributions from U.S. cation in India and to ensure that all children donors. in India are not only attending but thriving Pratham has a new and improved website in school. Using very low-cost and scalable www.PrathamUSA.org .Please visit our webmethods, Pratham has emerged as one of the site to familiarize yourself with our programs, world’s largest non-profit organizations in the events and ways in which you can become a field of primary education. Today, Pratham’s part of Pratham. direct urban programs, including pre-schools, community libraries and remedial learning proFor more information, call 713-774-9599, grams reach hundreds of thousands of children or Swatantra Jain at 832-875-3511 or email every year. In 2007, with the support of the Wil- houston@prathamusa.org, svjain@gmail.com liam and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Pratham
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
Sewa International to Help Texas Families Displaced by Wild Fires Ravaging Bastrop
BASTROP, TX: Nearly 1500 homes have been destroyed, about 45 square miles have been blackened and at least two people have died in the wildfires in and around Bastrop, Texas, just outside Austin. Lost lives, destroyed communities, and griefstricken families have caused deep sorrow and many people are desperately seeking help. SEWA International, USA wants to provide relief to the suffering and helplessness of the families affected by wild fires. It is asking its volunteers to immediately contribute to relief operations in the affected areas. SEWA volunteers in Houston and Austin are galvanizing the support for local fire departments by collecting items such as clothing, toiletries, bedding, pillows, cots, sleeping bags, teddy bears or small toys for children and dog/cat food. Sewa International is also joining hands with Indo-American organizations to gather funds and in-kind donations for families displaced by the wild fires. President of India Cultural Center-Houston, Mr. Raj Bhalla and, Executive Director of Indo-American Charity Foundation, Mr. Surender Talwar, agreed to join efforts with Sewa International to gather help for families affected the fire. SEWA, a non-profit organization, is asking individuals, companies and other organizations to generously donate their time and tax-deductible
Bastrop a town of about 6,000 people was covered with huge clouds of smoke into the sky.
monetary contributions to SEWA. These donations help step up the ongoing relief efforts and to provide compassionate assistance to families devastated by the Texas fires. SEWA International believes that “Service to humanity is service to God” and calls on people to contact their local SEWA chapters or one of SEWA’s national Texas Fire Relief coordinators Vasudev Singh (512554-6498) or Sharad Amin (713854-0633) to get involved in the relief efforts. SEWA has very low administrative overhead (4%) and uses all dona-
tions to provide immediate- or longterm relief such as building homes. Please donate online at http://www. sewausa.org or make your check payable to ‘SEWA International’ and put “Texas Fire Relief” in the memo area and send it to SEWA International, USA 3908 Westhollow Parkway, Houston, TX 77082. Sewa International is a 501(c)(3) Hindu faith-based charitable, nonprofit service organization that works with communities in need. Sewa can be contacted at (708) USA-SEWA, or at info@sewausa.org and www. sewausa.org.
September 16, 2011
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March Together Plans Fund Raising Event SUGAR LAND: March Together, a non-profit group based in Texas, organized a fund raising drive with a memorable Hindustani Classical performance on September 9 at Anjali Center for Performing Arts, Sugar Land. The evening started with a lecture and insight into Transcendental Meditation by Dr. Russell Herbert. This was followed by Mrinal Chaudhuri, President of March Together, who shared his vision of reaching the poor and needy through this organization. Ganga Narayan Ghosh, the founder, eloquently shared the story of his journey with March Together. It all started from his dream of a clean India. It prompted him in designing a simple and effective non- polluting garbage disposal system. He has successfully earned several patents as well. Partha Ghosal and Partha Sengupta shared a power point presentation with the audience. The highlight of the evening was a unique instrumental performance by three of our very own talented artists from the Bengali community. The rendition of the Indian classical ragas by Kaushik Roy on Guitar, Biplab Samaddar on Violin, and Raja Banga on Tabla, created an atmosphere of melody and tranquility that will last for a long time in the audiences’ memory. March Together was founded in 2003, by Ganga Narayan Ghosh, to enhance basic education, generate employment, provide healthcare, emergency relief operation, and reduce hunger for the under privileged
“MASALA WOK IS HOT. IT’S COOL, IT’S WOW” Dallas Morning News
in West Bengal, India and beyond. Since the beginning this organization has been instrumental in helping over 1300 children in the area of basic education. Over 300 young individuals have benefited from the different vocational trainings in getting gainful employment. Basic health care services have been provided to poor villagers who cannot afford medical help otherwise. March Together has disbursed over $127,000 towards positively affecting many needy families and children. Some schools have adopted and implemented the founder’s vision of “ Purna Siksha” a form of wholesome education that helps in emphasizing academics, along with leadership, character building, and physical health in young children. Much of the initiatives are rendered through renowned organization like Ramkrishna Vivekananda Mission (RVM) in Barrackpore, West Bengal. The primary aim of this evening’s fund raising effort was to provide sponsorship for basic education of more destitute children in Joyrambati, a small rural town in West Bengal. The tutorial center for needy high school students in Kolkata, India, would also benefit from this fund raising effort. The community deserves thanks and a sincere appreciation in making this evening a huge success. Please visit www.marchtogether.net to support and sponsor any of our projects. We need your help to march together forward.
“THIS WOK ROCKS WITH INDIAN AND CHINESE FLAVORS” SAYS THE GUIDE
LOCATION
10001 Westheimer Road. Houston, TX 77042 Phone: 713-784-8811 www.MasalaWok.com INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
24 September 16, 2011
An 11-Day Ganesha Celebration at Hindu Temple of The Woodlands
BY BETH KULKARNI WOODLANDS, TX: From September 1 to 11, the joyous refrain of “Ganapati Bappa Moriya” could be heard at the Hindu Temple of The Woodlands (HTW), one of the newest Houston area temples. This was perhaps the first time, in the Houston area, that a truly “sarvajanic” (which literally means having the involvement of everyone), 11-day Ganapati Chaturthi was held. The festival was celebrated with families and friends residing in North Houston encompassing Conroe, Huntsville, Kingwood, Spring, Tomball, Woodlands and other surrounding areas. The event was designed from the beginning by co-
HTW’s Ganesh in all his finery
Ganeshotsav on Hillcroft
HOUSTON: Houston’s first 10-day observance of Ganesh Utsav culminated with a colorful procession and Visarjan (immersion) ceremonies on Saturday, September 10. The newly acquired 10 foot tall Ganesh idol presided at the head of the procession that commenced at the new Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir on Harwin. As it wound its way through Little India, a large number of devotees joined in from the business district singing, dancing and nearly bringing the traffic to a standstill on Hillcroft. Adding to the festivities was Masala Radio’s Hummer with mobile sound with Sunil Thakkar, DJ Zee and the Masala dancers in matching bright colored bandini saris After a frenzied finale of Bollywood dancing and Garba at the Olympic Center at Hilcroft and 59, Founder and Chief Priest Virat Mehta Maharaj offered aarti to Lord Ganesha before the procession proceeded to Madras Pavilion Sugar Land for the final Visarjan, or releasing of the clay moorthis into water.
HTW devotees taking HTW clay Ganesha for immersion.
coordinators Deepak Gupta and Venu Mannem to include children as active participants. The joy of the occasion could be seen in the smiles of children of all ages, as well as their parents and grandparents. Another aspect to note was the leadership of many women in the event including making preparations for pujas, preparing and distributing prasadam and coordinating and participating in the daily cultural programs. The decorations created by Anita Reddy and many others were especially beautiful and included lights and decorations made with flowers, leaves and fruits. Even the place of Visargan was nicely decorated with lights. Mr. Lakshmi Singh, a temple trustee and founding member, noted that the palki, was created and decorated by community members and that similarly the temple’s Ganapati of natural clay was created by Dr. Neeta Shulka and Mrs. Pallabita Bhuyan. Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated
wherever Hindus reside with a belief that Lord Ganesha, son of Shiva and Parvati, bestows His blessings on His devotees on this day. It is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the God of wisdom and giver of good fortune. For ten days, from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi according to the Hindu calendar, Ganesha is worshipped. Various cultural events are held everywhere. After much celebration, on the 11th day, the time of farewell comes and the clay image of the beloved God taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing and singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea (or whatever body of water is nearby) symbolizing a ritual send-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash. The prayer is that in this journey, He will also take away with him the misfortunes of all humankind. The celebration ends with the immersion, accompanied by loud joyous shouts of “Ganapati Bappa Moriya”.
Several people were very pleased to note that, in The Woodlands, the celebration was eco-friendly. Children, youth and adults participated in making Ganesha using natural clay with their hands. The whole community was invited to participate, led by several talented ladies who took the initiative in this activity. Families then participated in Puja with their own Ganesha, took their Ganesha home for their family celebrations and returned for immersion at the end of the celebration. On the first day and the eleventh day (Visarjan day) about 400 people participated in the temple’s events. In addition to pujas and abhisekhams, all eleven days included cultural programs of devotional songs and dances. The community celebrated the festival with great joy. The experience was truly the same as participating in India and more. Families and children all had a unique personal experience as it was not crowded like in Mumbai or other Indian cities, but the joy and mood of celebration was with many recognizable faces, creating a sense of community for the Hindu-Americans in the area. The Hindu Temple of The Woodlands is located at 7601 S. Forestgate at Woodlands Parkway, The Woodlands, TX 77382. It has Deities of Lord Venkateshwara, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and the Navagrahas installed. Goddess Lakshmi and Radha-Krishna will be installed early 2012. The temple’s mission also includes education and community service. For more information, visit www. woodlandshindutemple.org.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 , 2011 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
HOROSCOPE
September 16, 2011
25
WEEKLY HOROSCOPE
www.GaneshaSpeaks.com
ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20: The break-neck speed at which you have been working in the past few weeks has you stressed. To de-stress, take up activities that divert your mind and elevate your spirits like offering voluntary services in a charity. Since you have earned enough and feel gratitude for the divine, you will want to return the favor to society at large. Those of you in the health care fields like nursing, psychiatry or psychotherapy will scale dizzy heights and may even gain international recognition. You will now develop a leaning towards spirituality. TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 The full moon this week will turn your attention inwards. The hectic activities of the past few weeks have definitely left you fatigued and craving for rest. You will lean towards devotional activities and dig deeper into the spiritual aspects of life. Though you are a profoundly sensual person, you will seek to find out the higher purpose of life. There may be some conflict on this account between your worldly and other-worldly activities. You will seriously consider doing some selfless service for uplifting the underprivileged classes. Your family will back you to the hilt. GEMINI May 22 - Jun 21: You hit a purple patch now, and will be blessed with everything you wish for. Rest assured that you deserve all that comes your way now, you have put in the hard work required for it in the past. Your career graph shoots up and it is the right time to build even more on it explore new ideas and avenues, unleash the creativity, and you will find your bank balance soaring and will land a leadership role. Both your colleagues and family will hold you in high esteem. CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 23: This is a delicate phase for you, as you are making all-out efforts in every sphere of life. A lot of variety and diversity in the work you do, whether it is in the personal or professional sphere. Collaborations with foreign companies, for full-fledged or for just a minor project, are bound to be successful; they will generate a lot of finances. You will be required to travel abroad and interact with people from diverse cultures. You are working at optimum capacity, and it leaves you little time for personal affairs, it gives you great satisfaction. LEO July 24 - Aug 23: You now attempt to elevate your inner self by taking upon yourself the responsibility of lending a helping hand to the underprivileged lot of society. You will help the needy both by sharing your financial resources and also by procuring medicines for those who cannot afford them. In return, you will get their heartfelt blessings. You believe that serving the needy is the same as serving God. It gives you joy and rejuvenates your spirits. You are not neglecting your family, you are doing your duty by them too. You spend enough time with your children and beloved. VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23: You may expect some dramatic changes in your life during this phase. You are brimming with enthusiasm, self-confidence and a sense of control over your destiny. You will remain busy with domestic functions and religious rituals. Friends will make heavy demands on your time, and you will try your best to meet all their demands. You become far more selfless than ever before, and your priorities too will be the needs of people around you rather than your own needs. LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23: This is a decisive
phase, you are faced with multiple choices. You have to be strong to make the right decisions. The problem is that some of the decisions you take might antagonize some of your associates, which you don’t want to happen. This a good time to open your heart and become more generous, share your resources with the needy, maybe make a donation to a charity organization. You have become laid back, jolt yourself out of it before it becomes a habit. SCORPIO Oct 24 - Nov 22: You will be consistent in your hard work and reap the benefits of it. But your life is not so dull there will be entertainment too. You will come up with novel ways to transcend your worries. In this eventful phase, there will be huge expenses, secretive deals and affairs, ever-increasing opportunities to make money and a lot of unforeseen events. You will think that life is spiralling out of your control and you will feel helpless, but things will end happily SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 22: You are at your zenith and feeling thrilled about it. Your hard work will be duly rewarded and you will gain the deserved recognition in your firm. You are radiating positive vibrations which affect all those around you. People will exhibit great affection for you, your emotions will be understood and appreciated, and if you are in love, your dreams will come to fruition. You have a certain charisma, your natural charm will shine through. You have a strong intuition and are sensitive towards the feelings of others, which makes you encourage them. CAPRICORN Dec 23 - Jan 20: You feel so motivated now that you keep yourself preoccupied with work, it is bound to translate into positive results. Even though you are busy with work, you will not neglect your family and manage to squeeze out time for your loved ones. There are strong possibilities of travel. But unexpected events and bad health of a family member may distract you, and will prove to be a drain on your time and resources. At your workplace, you will have to deal diplomatically with the prevailing politics and ill-feelings for you among your peers. Apply your discrimination while judging people or confiding in them. AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19: You will experience the emotion of intense love, so much that, it will seem almost as if you are in love with the very concept of love. It can be a beautiful experience if only you can muster the courage to share it with someone. You feel like you are in love with everything around you and to manifest it you might even go out and get yourself an unusual pet such as a parrot or a rabbit. You will also be in best health; there will be better professional prospects; your monetary inflow will increase. What more can one ask for? PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20: You are still feeling distressed and your emotions are still in a mess. You are withdrawing yourself from your family, friends, colleagues and even from your work. You are tormented by your own inner demons, and you are the only one to be blamed, because all your problems are self-created. Though you are unable to pin-point the genesis of this trauma, it is firmly embedded in your psyche and is tearing you apart. Do some hard introspection, look at the positive side of things, avoid drugs and alcohol, you tide over these difficult times.
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