Friday, September 2 2011 | Vol. 30, No. 35
Indo American erican News
Circulation Verified by
Colorful Celebration of
Janmashtami by Hindus of Greater Houston
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Lord Ganesha
Photo: Krishna Giri
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First 10-day Ganeshotsav sets off to an auspicious start with Shoba Yatra of Shree Siddhivinayak Dev to arrive at the new Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir
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Interview with BODYGUARD Star
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lila Poonawalla Foundation leading Indian ladies Ahead Through education
By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: It was nothing short of inspiring, the personal anecdotes recounted by women who had transcended hardships unimaginable to achieve success and become role models for future aspirants. “I never really thought about pursuing higher education because my family couldn’t afford it,” said Bhakti Purandare, an architect now based in New Jersey. “Then a friend introduced me to an organization that helps women through education. With a scholarship and the opportunity to study abroad I was able to fulfill my dream and I am so grateful for the support that the Lila Poonawalla Foundation gave me,” added Purandare. It was a sentiment reiterated by Manasi Gadkari, a Research Assistant at the Baylor College of Medicine in this city, who was also a beneficiary of the Lila Poonawalla Foundation (LPF). With a scholarship to study abroad, Gadkari was able to leave her native Pune in India and reach her goals on foreign soil. “I was motivated to excel and exceed my boundaries,” said Gadkari. “The LPF gives me ongoing support and keeps me involved in all the projects that the foundation conducts.” Both Purandare and Gadkari were attendees at the ICCHA The Hope Lila Poonawalla Foundation Fundraiser held at the Stafford Civic Center on August 26, 2011. Visiting from India were Guests of Honor Padmashree Lila Poonawalla and her husband Feroz, philanthropists and the visionary founders of LPF. The event, organized by Mithali and Subroto Bhanja Choudhary, Piyal Sen Gupta, and Sailaja Bandopadhyay, champions of LPF’s cause, was the first benefitting the organization in this
Standing, from left, Ichha - The Hope Team: Subroto Choudhary, Operations; Piyal Sen Gupta, Dance Production; Mithali Choudhary, Fund Raising and Publicity; Sailaja Bandyopadhyay, Fund Raising and Event Management. Seated in Front: Firoz and Lila Poonawalla
country; they presented Poonawalla with a cheque for $20,000. The India Development and Relief Fund, Inc. was the grand sponsor of the event that raised awareness of the mission of the foundation to empower women with education, and thereby break the debilitating cycle of illiteracy and poverty. Serving as Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening was Sangeeta Pasricha, a well-known artist in the local Indo American community. Dignitaries included County Judge Ed Emmett, Dr. Rathna Kumar, Director of the Anjali Center for Performing Arts, Fort Bend Independent School District Trustee Sonal Bhuchar, Houston Community College Trustee Neeta Sane, and Masala Radio’s CEO Sandhya Thakkar, to name a few. Following the traditional lighting of the lamp, Judge Emmett presented Poonawalla with a proclamation deeming August 26 the day for ICCHA, or hope. “Thank you for this unique rec-
ognition which is all the more significant as we all live on hope,” Lila Poonawalla said. “Our girls hail from humble homes, many are daughters of cobblers, maidservants, rickshaw-walas, and paanwalas. But what differentiates these girls from others is their determination to succeed. This year we have decided to select children from middle schools and put them through college and continue to mentor them. In India girl-children are at a disadvantage because they’re married off at 14 and 15 years of age and have to deal with dowries and abuse. We want to support more girls, but we need the funding,” added Poonawalla. Lila Poonawalla came to India as a refugee from the Hyderabad District of Pakistan as a young child. Growing up there were many financial hurdles but through sheer determination, she overcame them and graduated as the first female Mechanical En-
gineer from the Government College of Engineering in Pune. On her 50th birthday, she decided she wanted to give back to the community. She founded the Pune-based LPF in 1996 and since inception the organization has supported 834 women professionals to do their post-graduate studies in India and abroad. The foundation has also introduced scholarships for promising undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Engineering. LPF awards scholarships in varied fields including Computer Science, Architecture, Pharmacy, Law, Psychology, Travel and Tourism, and Environmental Science, to name a few. Every year, 14 girls from the foundation are selected to attend an enrichment program in the UK. “They learn leadership skills, and how to operate as a team. It is a tremendous program that trans-
forms the girls into courageous and confident individuals and socially responsible human beings,” said Poonawalla. Her name Lila is affectionately deemed an acronym for the catchphrase Leading Indian Ladies Ahead. During dinner guests enjoyed the entertainment for the evening, ICCHA – The Hope, a dance drama production depicting the journey of a young girl, Maya, whose quest for a better life takes her on a journey to success. Scripted by Piyal Sen Gupta and Subroto Bhanja Choudhary, the choreographers included Mahesh Mahbubani, Shipra Avantica Mehrotra, Parmita Mondol Modi, Keka Kar, Piyal Sen Gupta, and Arpita Mukhopadhyay. A local cast of dancers and artistes presented various styles of dance. For more information on the foundation visit http:// lilapoonawallafoundation.com/.
Parmita Modi of Nachle Dreamz performed at the Fundraiser
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Congratulations! Hindus of Greater Houston for yet another Joyous Janmashtami Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, sePTemBer 2 , 2011 • onlIne edITIon: www.IndoAmerIcAn-news.com
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Madras Pavilion
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well Attended Janmashtami celebration encourages organizers By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: By nine that evening it was obvious that the turnout for this year’s Janmashtami celebration was going to be huge. People were coming in droves and lingering on at the many stalls and three food vendors. The organizers heaved a sigh of relief that all their efforts to draw out a larger crowd than last year’s event were successful. By all accounts (they count the footwear that is checked in), there were over 6,000 people at the celebration – the 22nd annual held last Saturday, August 27 at the George Brown Convention Center and organized by the Hindus of Greater Houston. This was in contrast to the 4,000 who showed up last year and Vijay Pallod, a staunch supporter and key organizer, was delighted and especially about the young people who came. “We really pulled out all the stops to get the youth more involved,” he said a few days later, “and have worked on it all year long.” This year, the layout may have also helped for greater participation, with the booths from organizations and vendors on one side while the stage and audience chairs were on the other, rather than the third floor stadium seating that has been the hallmark in the past. The religious and temple booths were in the forefront, along with a beautiful rangoli by Sujata Bhutada in the center and the food court were ample seating was off to the corner. As in years past, the footwear was checked in and placed in large plastic
bags at a stall. Quite a few non-Indians attended the celebration too, some for the first time. “This was an incredible learning experience,” said Chiemeka Amuzie, a NigerianAmerican pharmacist who came for the first time wearing traditional pajama-kurta. “A close Indian friend invited me to come. I even enjoyed dancing the raas garba, though my feet hurt the whole of the next day!” Apart from the raas garba that traditionally wraps up the evening by midnight, the main attraction of this year’s celebration was the Krishna Kanayian pageant (see page 4 for a collage) that brought in nearly 70 entries of children, from babies to toddlers and up to 5 year olds, dressed in costume like the young Krishna of Mathura under the loving gaze of parents and relatives snapping up pictures. The other attractive event, organized under Sanjay Jajoo, was the “phoolon ki holi” or a holi of flowers in which half-a-million rose petals harvested by volunteers from 10,000 roses were thrown as confetti on devotees. Another attraction was an exhibit on “Hindu Culture and Dharmic Tradition of Bharat”, hosted by the Hindu Swayamsewak Sangh. Awards were also handed out to those who served the cause of Hinduism in the metropolis, with the Akhil Chopra Award” going to Varun Mehta and to Ramya Rav who have worked to establish Hindu Student Association chapters in Texas and other states. The
Janmashtami costume contest winners In collage on page 4
Photography: Krishna Giri & Rajesh Thatte 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Anjali Kumar: Group A 2nd Place Swar Chandak : Group A 1st Place Dhruv Mantri: Group A 1st Place Surabhi Iyengar : Group C 3rd Place Shiv Shah : Group B 3rd place Akilesh Kumar: Group C 2nd place Sanjita Chinta: Groupa 3rd place
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“Lifetime Achievement Service” award went to Suresh V. Patel, founder of the VHP-A Youth Camp and a leader in various capacities in the Gujarat Samaj of Houston (see page 22 for collage). Even though the event was a success for the Hindu community, especially in the large number of young people who turned out, the donation collections were meager, according to Pallod. Earlier this year,
staunch supporters Ramesh Bhutada and Jugal Malani had pledged $10,000 apiece towards the celebration which allowed this year’s event to take place in its present venue and shape. Hindus of Greater Houston President Girish Naik and his board have worked hard to make the event memorable and hope that they can generate more support throughout the year for the next one.
miss Teen Texas UsA winners
At the IFest held last Sunday, August 21 at the Goerge Brown Convention Center, Miss Teen Tx USA Neha Reddy (middle) flanked by the 1st Runner-up Thushara Koratty (right) and the 2nd Runner-up Rupal Mehta.
HOUSTON: The Miss Teen Texas USA beauty paegent was held last Sunday, August 21 at the George Brown Convention Center and ten girls participated in the hightly anticipated event which was the centerpiece of the IFest 2011 organized by the ICC. In 6 rounds, the contestants went from traditional suits to patroitic classical dance to modern dance and then evening wear. The paegent was choreographed and directed by Jasmeeta Singh, an ICC Secretary in the excutive committee who received an award from the Event Chair Harshad Patel (center) and Director Rajiv Bhavasar.
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Mountain Path by the River of Knowing a scholarly Tour de Force
By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: With a voice imbued with a hypnotic lilt, Himalayan yogi and savant Swami Vidyadhishananda held riveted a capacity audience of over 400 at the Brown Auditorium at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston with a ninety-minute-long first formal preview of Mountain Path by the River of Knowing, a book he is currently working on. The highly anticipated treatise, to be published in 2012, will be a tangible extension of the swami’s vision to preserve and promulgate the Sanskrit teachings, a project close to his heart and the nucleus of many of his discourses nationwide and abroad. With a slide presentation that included satellite images and antique photographs, the swami traced the course of the river Ganga from the Himalayan mountains through the plains to the river delta in the Bay of Bengal. He explained how the two rivers, the parched Saraswati and the lively Ganga, engendered historical lineages of ancient and modern civilization where the Sanskrit language thrived on their sacred banks. Affectionately called Swami V by an exponentially growing number of seekers, he explained how the popular Sanskrit-based tradition came about when the focus shifted from the Vedic Saraswati river to Ganga after the Mahabharata war, thus Ganga became the second River of Knowing in addition to the erstwhile Saraswati. The swami’s book will be a compilation of 144 verses of ancient Sanskrit texts and geographical references juxtaposed with art, lithographs and rare photographs. Seven chapters long, the book will begin with a quest, and journey toward realization
through poetry and prose, which are relatable as teachings from age-old times. The works of pioneer photographers/adventurers Samuel Bourne, G. T. Sparke, and John Edward Sache, to name a few, shall eloquently share space in the book, lenses trained on the inimitable grandeur of the Himalayas, the blue glaciers, and the clear waters that gush and flow and meld into the Ganga. Scottish artist and traveler James Baillie Fraser’s visit to the Himalayas in 1815, inspired vigorous watercolor renditions that will also dwell within the book. There are photographs reflecting contrasts too, of the Himalayas of yore, to the present day where there is visible evidence of global warming. All trans-Himalayan rivers and all headwaters ultimately lose their names and identities as they flow into the Ganga, said the swami, and surrounding mountains and difficult terrain safeguarded the many and various traditions and lineages of thousands of years where sages meditated. He pointed out holy pilgrimage sites along the way, and Nanda Devi, the high twin peaks that are a sanctuary for wildlife. Swami V showed two photographs of the Pindar River that originates from the Pindar Glacier taken 100 years apart that show how the glacier that was ample and structured, is today, evanescing. He traced the meandering path of Ganga to places sacrosanct to Hindus such as Haridwar, and the holy city of liberation, Varanasi, and Ganga’s own liberation as she humbly merged into the Bay of Bengal. The upcoming book will put together well-researched images in his upcoming book alongside English verses based on the Sanskrit teachings. The detailed references, picture legends and bibliography will also make this book suitable for curricula in higher institutions of learning. Swami V is the head of the Self Enquiry Life Fellowship based in Santa Barbara, California and is a realized spiritual master who trained in the Himalaya meditating on ancient Sanskrit verses. During the lecture he jokingly referred to the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of the Himalayas as “my terrain”. As diverse as Saraswati and Ganga, the swami is uniquely au courant and technologically savvy, highly educated, articulate, steeped in spirituality. He melds old-world wisdom with an élan that is contemporary and practical. Approachable, he traverses the generational divides effortlessly and relates to young and old with equal aplomb. For more information about Swami Vidyadhishananda Giri, write to the Nonprofit, Self Enquiry Life Fellowship at quest@ swamahiman.org or call 909-543-6003.
Students of Anjali Dance School performed at the Ichha- The Hope Fundraiser Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, sePTemBer 2, 2011 • onlIne edITIon: www.IndoAmerIcAn-news.com
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• Harish Jajoo, who was elected earlier this year to the Sugar Land City Council, has joined the civil engineering firm Isani Consultants as a partner. Jajoo will be responsible for engineering operations and business development for the firm. Isani Consultants, is a multidisciplinary company of professionals providing services in the areas of Engineering Design, Construction Management and Inspection Services located at 3143 Yellowstone Blvd. near Hwys 288 and 90. Isani is the successor firm formed in 2000 from Associated Testing Laboratories (which was established in Houston in 1959) and is owned by Jasbir Singh.
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Prostate cancer: A common cancer among Indian men By Dr. SEwa S. lEGha, M.D. Prostate gland is located in front of the urinary bladder and encircles the male urethra, which is the channel for urine outflow. This gland is prone to become cancerous, as men grow older. It is typically diagnosed in men in their 60’s (median age at diagnosis in the US is 68 years but the range is wide, upwards of 45years). Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men. It is estimated that 240,000 Americans will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011. More than 34,000 men will die of the disease, making prostate cancer the second largest cancer killer in men. Prostrate cancer is an uncommon cancer in the developing countries affecting 4-5 men per 100,000 population in India. The rate of prostate cancer per 100,000 population in the US is 85 (20 fold difference versus men living in India). The number of prostate cancer cases among Indian immigrants to the US has gone up substantially probably due to change of life style in their adopted country. This unfortunately is the case with all other cancers as well (such as breast and colon cancer) with current numbers for cancer, which are intermediate between the US figures and the natives in India. Diagnosis Prostate cancer, like most deep cancers (like colon cancer) is a silent disease until it is quite advanced in its evolution. Consequently men should undergo a digital rectal examination (DRE) and or a simple blood test, which measures a protein called prostate specific antigen (PSA). PSA is produced by the normal prostate gland but the normal blood level is quite low in younger aged men (under 50 year olds). It is typically under 2.5 ng/ml) in the 5060’s but goes up to >2.5 to 4 ng in men in their 70’s and 5-6 ng in the 80’s. High PSA levels (>4.0ng)
raises a flag for possible diagnosis of prostate cancer. However PSA level can also go up in some benign conditions (like prostatitis) and it is therefore not diagnostic of prostate cancer by itself (unless the level is >10 ng). An elevated PSA level is an indication for further investigation to rule out prostate cancer. A biopsy of the prostate gland is required in order to confirm a suspected diagnosis of prostate cancer. Prostate biopsy is typically done by an Urologist Staging of Prostate Cancer All cancers, including prostate Cancer are divided into 4 stages, depending on their size/extent and degree of spread beyond the confines of the organ of origin, which is prostate gland in this instance. Early prostate cancer (stage 1 and 2) means it i s
still lo- calized to the prostate gland whereas stage 3 is locally advanced cancer and stage 4 disease means it has spread into distant organs like, bone, lungs or liver. Metastatic prostate cancer commonly spreads into bones and often causes back pain, which can sometimes be the first symptom of this cancer unless localized disease is detected by means of a DRE or an elevated PSA blood test. Staging of cancer is done by means of additional blood tests and radiological tests such as CT scans or MRI imaging. The stage of cancer dictates the choice of appropriate treatment for each cancer. Prognosis Most cases of prostate cancer are indolent and rarely fatal, at least for 5-10 years after diagnosis. The grade of biopsy, called Gleason score, is a good predictor of the pace of disease. High grade cancers (Gleason score of 8-10) tend to grow and spread faster whereas
those with Gleason score of 6 or less, generally follow an indolent course. The overall 5-survival rate for prostate cancer is 99-100%, which is the highest for any cancer. Yet in 5-10% of cases this cancer tends to be more virulent and spreads to the bones within 5-10 years and can prove fatal. Treatment For localized prostate cancer (Stage 1 and 2) surgery (called Prostatectomy) or radiotherapy to prostate gland appears to be equally effective. For Stage 3 cancer hormonal therapy using androgen deprivation with drugs like Lupron injections and radiotherapy are commonly used. For metastatic (Stage 4) cancers the best initial therapy is hormone (androgen) deprivation which is quite effective but the benefit does not last more than 1-2 years. For androgen insensitive disease, several chemotherapy agents such as Taxotere (Docetaxel) and Cabazitaxel provide useful palliation for 9-12 months each. Abiraterone (Zytiga) is the newest androgen antagonist, which was approved in 2011 for treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. Once metastatic, prostate cancer is invariably incurable, survival limited to an average of 2-3 years. The Indian American Cancer Network (IACAN) is committed to promote cancer awareness and prevention through education by organizing outreach educational events in the community. The upcoming event: “Early Detection and Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer.... A Common Cancer among Indian Men” on Sunday, September 11, from 3-5pm at India House. Speakers are Pulin Pandya, M.D. Urologist Ganesh Palapattu, M.D., F.A.C.S. Chief of Urologic Oncology The Methodist Hospital For more information, visit www.iacannetwork.org or call 713-370-3489
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In the collage for the IFest printed in our last edition of August 26, 2001, on page 14 in the ad for Swapan Dhairayawan, we inadvertently listed him as the ICC President. While this was true for last year, it is not so this year as the current ICC President is Dr.. Raj Bhalla. The error and inconvenience is regretted.
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EXPO 2011 – F.I.T. for Business in Challenging Times HOUSTON: The Houston Minority Supplier Development Council’s (HMSDC) annual EXPO Business Opportunity Marketplace returns to the George R. Brown Convention Center in Exhibit Hall C on September 2122. EXPO 2011 is a must attend event for any company looking to grow their business in challenging economic times. EXPO 2011 will link minority-owned businesses with the information, insight and key connections essential to transforming and growing business and creating jobs, even in a down economy. Most of Houston’s leading minorityowned businesses credit the HMSDC EXPO for providing face to face contacts that have led to profitable business relationships for them. EXPO 2011 will also link major corporations and government agencies to firms with a proven record of performance and cost reduction. According to Tim Floyd, Director of Purchasing and Logistics for CenterPoint Energy, “The very function of the HMSDC is to bring together buyers and qualified suppliers. Nowhere else does that take place on a grander scale than at our annual EXPO, and rarely has there been a time or an economy where opportunities
for success are greater.” EXPO 2011 begins on September 21 with the 20/20 Insight Forums sponsored by State Farm Insurance. Top executives from seven sectors of Houston’s economy will share their insight on what new developments they forecast for their industry, business opportunities created by these new developments, and how MBEs
can best pursue those opportunities. The Capital Connections luncheon sponsored by Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs will address MBE needs for capital to grow their businesses. Also, corporate training will be provided by the Billion Dollar Roundtable to share best practices and brainstorm innovative strategies to speed the pace of minority business development. The grand finale of the day and kick off for EXPO 2011 is the Best of Class Reception spon-
sored by HMSDC leading Minority Business Enterprises. The morning of September 22 will start with an EXPO 2011 Early Bird Energizer Breakfast, a great venue for networking. The largest “Business Opportunity Marketplace” for minority owned businesses opens at 8:30 a.m. in Exhibit Hall C where there will be direct face-to-face access to 1,300 top decision makers from 200 major corporations, government agencies, and resource organizations. The Rigal Awards Luncheon invites MBEs to sit and develop relationships with corporations of their choice. EXPO 2011 is the sourcing opportunity of the year for corporate and government buyers and the marketing event of the year of Minority Business Enterprises. EXPO 2011 will assist MBEs with getting into shape to compete in a new economy by FOCUSING on customer desires, INSPIRE to bring innovative solutions, and TRANSFORM to compete in a global marketplace…F.I.T for Business! For more information, contact Richard A. Huebner at 713.271.7805, cell 713.443.9544, email: richard.huebner@hmsdc. org; EXPO website: http://hmsdcexpo.org ; website: www.hmsdc. org
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Srichandana Jannapureddy’s Arangetram Polished, Outstanding
By Kalyani Giri HOUSTON: Every once in a while there is a debuting performance so breathtakingly luminous, so polished, that its luster continues to resonate long after in the hearts of those who witnessed it. Blessed with the lissome grace of a born dancer, Srichandana Jannapureddy’s Bharathanatyam Arangetram held at the Kaplan Theatre, Jewish Community Center on August 27, 2011, was a celebration in adroit artistry. It was also a triumphant illustration of the power of diligence and the artiste’s years of devotedly adhering to the teachings of her guru Smt. Padmini Chari, founder/artistic director of the venerable institute for the arts, the Nritya School of Dance. Srichandana, the 70th student to be graduating from Nritya that commemorates its 30th anniversary this year, rendered her first full-length recital in the presence of her guru and a capacity audience of family, friends, and art lovers. Simple décor outfitted the stage. Two lamps adorned by flower garlands provided a backdrop, and to one side reposed an icon of the celestial dancer, Lord Nataraja.
Veeraragavan, a senior disciple of Smt. Chari’s paid touching tribute to her guru. “A good teacher is like a candle that lights the way for others and encourages creativity,” said Smt. Veeraragavan. “Despite my guru’s many accomplishments, she remains humble. She teaches from the heart and moulds us into better dancers and better human beings,” she added. Srichandana is the daughter of Vanaja and Gopal Jannapureddy of The Woodlands. Her odyssey to success bears testimony to laborious years of practice and dedication to the art. Serving as Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Dr. Mohan Chari,
Photos: Navin Mediwala
whose descriptions of the dances were educative and interesting. Rendering a magical evening more enchanting was the gifted orchestra visiting from India. The mellifluous voice of Smt. Pustukam Rama was wellcomplemented by the rich contralto of Smt. Chari’s recitation of jatis, or spoken syllables corresponding to specific footwork patterns. Flautist Sri. K. S. Jayaram along with percussionists Sri. Janardhana Rao (mridangam) and Sri. G. S. Pradyumna (rhythm pad) further enhanced the program. For more information about the Nritya School of Dance, visit http://www.nrityahouston.com/
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Conducted by Smt. Chari as nattuvanaar, Srichandana’s performance began auspiciously with Ananda Narthana Ganapathim, an invocatory offering to Lord Ganesha, praising Him as the joyously dancing One, and imploring the Remover of Obstacles to bless her first formal solo ascension to the stage; from her very first item, the artiste raised the bar and set the tone of excellence for the evening. The jatiswaram in the sonorous Raga Varali accorded Srichandana a compelling vehicle to put to use her large expressive eyes and to articulate through body vocabulary, the chaste, clearly delineated Kalakshetra tradition of Indian classical dance. Her varnam of choice was the ever-popular Swami Naan Unthan Adimai, a masterful composition by the poet Papanasam Sivan in Raga Nattakurinji. While every piece in the repertoire of the young artiste glowed and brimmed with intensity and inordinate maturity, this item was the hallmark gem in the evening’s recital with its stunning interludes of percussion and garlands of notation, or sollukattu, interspersed with Srichandana’s mathematically precise fast footwork, and excerpts of elaborate storytelling from the Puranas. With exuberance, quick handling of rhythmic sequences, and through lively facial eloquence or abhinaya, Srichandana extolled majestically through dance, Lord
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Dance Studio Infused Performing Arts Celebrates 1st Anniversary By Jacob David STAFFORD, TX: It’s a momentous occasion for the husbandwife team Kiron Kumar and Tina Bose as they beam brightly, their dance school Infused Performing Arts having crossed the 1st Anniversary milestone. Starting in August 2010, it’s been a long road to getting to where they are today. Tina started learning dance and the arts as young as one and a half years, giving her first performance at three, while Kiron started at the age of ten. To note their anniversary, the studio is planning to hold an all-out celebratory event by displaying their talents at the Old Stafford Civic Center on September 17, Saturday from 5:30 PM 9 PM. Infused Performing Arts is birthed out of their vision to engage the youth in Houston and help them develop a passion for the arts. The school teaches Classical, semi-classical, Bollywood, Hip-hop, Contemporary, folk, peppered with lessons in the stage and closet kind of magic. With an excessive leaning towards Bollywood styles of dance, their slogan aptly reads, “We define Bollywood.” The students combine their talent and energy to form vibrant dancing following well executed choreographic directions by both their teachers. Today the dance studio has locations in Pearland, Sugar Land, Stafford and Dallas. The National Indian American Nurses Association (NAINA) heard of their growing popularity and invited them to perform the opening number for their event. Kiron Kumar choreographing, the dance was a hit combined with a Houdini sense of magic, thirteen demonaic women trailing him with chains, binding him in a sack, but he appears walking from the audience.
Tina Bose and Kiron Kumar met at one of the Dance Tours of USA hosted by the actor Vineet
but also fashion shows, and giving speeches. She got the Kalathilakam (Art Excellence) award
Kiron Kumar and TIna Bose, husband wife team dance directors, Infused Performing arts, following their dream and passion to teach the spirit of dance to passionate youngsters and the young at heart
Kumar Jr. They continued meeting for dance performances in Houston and around USA. They continued giving individual dance lessons to students. Their students thought they made a good pair and schemed to bring them together. They succeeded in doing that and a romance bloomed between them. Tina Bose born in Miami, Florida started learning the classical dance of India, Bharathanatyam, at age five. She also gave equal importance to Western dance styles - Tap, Jazz and Ballet. She completed her classical dance training and publicly performed at 18, under the guidance of her teacher Srimati Malini Menon. At the Austin Angels High school Tina took to dancing the Modern, Military and Pom Dance styles. In 2004, Tina was selected by the Band of America to perform at the National level. Her photo was featured in the Houston Chronicle. Born with a passionate, ambitious and achieving spirit, Tina has excelled not only in dance
in 2005 from the St. Joseph Syro Malabar Church for art and literature. Tina won 1st place in all three categories of classical, cinema, and group dances in the talent search hosted by Asia Net U.S.A. She also won the Ms. FOKANA crown in 2006 in Florida for cultural dance events. Encouraged by audience re-
sponse, Tina started teaching dance to other kids when she was just 13. Later in life, She got the opportunity to be assistant to the Bollywood Choreographer, Anil Diwakar. “It taught me a lot and I also learned a lot being a dance choreographer and instructor myself when I joined the Bollywood Performing Arts in Long Island NY in 2006-2007” Only 23, she has given hundreds of stage performances for several organizations and gained immense recognition. She successfully completed her degree in Corporate Communications ans International Business. Tina Bose has dabbled in movies too. She worked in Ta Ra Rum Pam with Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherjee. She co-produced Daddy Cool with her dad Kurian Bose that starred Mammootty. Kiron Kumar 29, is Creative Director of Infused Performing Arts from Thrissur Kerala. Son to a famous dancer, Krishna Veni Nambiar, who taught students folk and classical styles, Kiron grew up watching dance students learn their moves, make mistakes and repeat the steps. It was a learn-
ing process for him by watching. He joined the Bal Bhavan at the age of 10. He took to learning Mridangam, Drama and Magic. He learned the Mridangam for 2 years, then continued pursuing the drama and magic. At age 21 at his mother’s encouragement, he took Bollywood dance lessons. He won the Balashree award for dance and magic from the former Indian President, K.R. Narayanan in 1998. Kiron is passionate in mimicry and was part of the troop called Funs Kerala during his youth. Today he trains movie stars like Nayantara, Vineet Kumar, Navya Nair, Bhavana, Anu Joseph, Dimple and Sukanya take their first dance steps. Kiron Kumar is a Commercegraduate and IT Hardware specialist. He has been shuttling back and forth to India, leaving and joining jobs, till he found his calling in wanting to teach dance and magic, share his passion and enthusiasm with youngsters. What got him going was his accomplishment of becoming an A grade artist at All India Radio.
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Indian consulate starts Functioning at new location HOUSTON: The Consulate has started fully functioning from its own building, located at 4300 Scotland Street, Houston, Texas 77007, with effect from 30 August, 2011. The entrance to the Consular Section is at O’Reilly Street. Even during the short period of shifting to its new premises from August 25-27, the Consulate rendered consular services for emergency cases. Consulate General of India, Houston was established in October 1995 and services 9 States of USA - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. There has been substantial expansion of the Consulate’s volume of work and activities since its inception. The area of the leased premises where the Consulate was located since its inception was 11,353 sq.ft. The building purchased by Government of India has a total area of 24,829 sq.ft. (0.57 acres) and built-up area of 18,500 sq.ft. This centrally located, modern and spacious property would further enhance the Consulate’s capacity to serve the Indian American community. The Consulate’s telephone/fax numbers
Indo American News • Friday, Sep 2, 2011
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The new Indian Consulate building
and e-mail addresses are the same at its new premises.
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Breathless Vedic Chanting at India House
HOUSTON: Synchronized chanting of the Veda mantra is an immensely uplifting experience for any listener. India House was once again transformed by the mesmerizing sounds of Veda mantra on Friday, August 19th. This chanting program called SwaraGanga aptly represented the flow and variation of different styles of chanting, and was thus named as Resonant Streams of Vedic Chanting. This beautiful program was hosted by the Nonprofit, Self Enquiry Life Fellowship, and was presided over by His Holiness Swami Vidyadhishananda. Two local priests, or Vaidikacharya, Sri Achyuta Ramaiah and Sri Vibhudatt Mishra, joined in to chant two major branches of the Veda. The Houston community has had the opportunity to hear Vedic chanting in the past at the same venue, and especially memorable was last year’s SwastiKalpanam peace chant program held on 9/11. Swami Vidyadhishananda has been presenting educational lectures about Vedic heritage and Sanskruti over the last few years in Houston and is well known for his ability to bring complex subjects within the reach of the average listener. He began the evening with an opening chant closely followed by chants from the two priests which set the stage for the event. The lecture opened with an explanation of intonation and the role of variations based on the different branches of Veda. The revered Swami explained how the Vedic Sanskrit tradition is linked with the erstwhile Saraswati river mentioned in the Ruk Veda, whereas the popular Sanskrit tradition, which came about after the Mahab-
Swami Vidyadhishananda with Priests
harata war, is linked with the river Ganga. These are the only two rivers with the word ‘knowledge’ or ‘jnana’ is often appended as a prefix. “The Saaraswat oral tradition was not necessitated due to lack of paper or writing medium, but because of the Shruti
technique that improved memory and whole brain learning”, Swami stated. Swami Vidyadhishananda then went on to quote Sanskrit literature and explain how 1131 branches of the Veda came about from the Saaraswat tradition. He also explained
that only 11 branches are currently practiced through lineage based teachings and one branch of Atharva Veda has only a few experts chanting the mantra. Eight different methods or ashta vikruti within a branch of chanting were explained with examples. The priests then performed an elaborate expansion of the Chamakam from Rudram using many of these eight different methods according to the Tattiriya branch of Krishna Yajur Veda. Two enthralling pieces of chanting by priests in India were played on the audio system, the first from Ruk Veda, Shaakala branch, and the second a peace chant from Atharva Veda, Shounaka branch. Swami Vidyadhishananda explained how this second peace chant series was the most exhaustive of all peace chants in the Veda. He also played a beautiful variation on the Gayatri mantra according to Sama Veda, Kouthumiya branch, and explained how to correctly sing the Gayatri mantra and retain its benefits. The audience was entranced by the end of these riveting chants. Lastly, the saintly Swami emphasized the importance of pitch, duration, continuity and pronunciation in holding together the variations of intonation in Vedic chanting. The Houston community is indeed blessed to have such high caliber programs presented in an easily accessible way. More information may be obtained by writing to the Nonprofit, Self Enquiry Life Fellowship at quest@swamahiman.org or call 909-543-6003.
Downtown Happy Hour Mixer with the Mayor for IACF
N ow
La un ch ed
By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: Certainly it was a different venue, to meet at Venue downtown and have a happy hour that had a purpose. As if happy hours different have a purpose, like loosening stress, meeting people and supporting your favorite watering hole! But no kidding! This was officially a Happy Hour With A Purpose, an initiative of Mayor Anisse Parker’s community outreach campaign to get more people involved in community service and offers an opportunity to plug their favorite causes. The event is usually sponsored by the group and the Mayor’s initiative donates a check for $500 back to the group’s cause or charity. This past Tuesday evening, it was the turn of the supporters of the Indo American Charity Foundation to plug their organization for all the laudable deeds that it performs in the city by “supporting 30 other deserving causes throughout the Houston area,” explained President Anu Bala as she stood next to Parker in Venue, a bar at 719 Main Street. “IACF has been around for 23 years and this year we have launched a new education initiative to help children at a local elementary school.” Bala and a large number of the IACF Board members were on hand to make sure they spread the message of the mixer which was organized by IACF board director Sanjay Ram and Indo American PAC President
Mayor Anisse Parker with the raffle ticket that she bought for the Mercedes Benz Smart Car. Members of the Board of Directors of the Indo American Charity Foundation with the Mayor and a copy of the $500 check that het campaign donated to the IACF. The event was held at the Venue bar on Main St. Photos: Jawahar Malhotra
Mini Timmaraju, both of whom introduced the setup to the nearly 60 people who attended. Besides the initiative, Bala also spoke about the upcoming IACF annual fundrais-
ing gala of September 16 at the Intercontinental Hotel on Westheimer (which will feature Parker as chief guest and speaker) and a raffle for a Mercedes Benz Smart car that the IACF hopes will bring in additional funds. Several $100 raffle tickets were sold,
including one to Mayor Parker herself! For more information on the IACF, Gala and the other programs call Anu Bala at 832-865-6222 or Executive Director Surender Talwar at 713-668-2948
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Bellcrest Auto Still Open for Business, Despite Fire By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: It is every person’s nightmare: to see their business go up in flames and especially surreal as it happens in the middle of the night. That’s exactly what happened to Jayanti, 64 and Vasudev Patel, 59 as they stood in the parking lot across the street from their auto repair shop and saw the firemen work frantically to douse the fire that leapt through the central portion of their 9,000 sf shop on Wilcrest and Bellaire. They cut huge triangles in the rolling garage doors in order to get in. The fire apparently started around 3am on Wednesday, August 16 in one of the cars that was parked inside a bay. “We usually keep all the cars that we were working on inside, and then park a couple more in the other bays,” said Jayanti a fortnight later. “The fire was so intense that the plastic melted on the other cars.” Apparently the fire may have been due to an electrical short and two cars in one bay were reduced to skeletons. There was soot on the floor and all surfaces, charred remains of cars, melted plastic, dangling insulation and that acrid burnt smell everywhere. The Patel brothers have been in the auto repair business since they were kids in Kampala, Uganda where their father had an auto repair shop and learnt the craft well. They both came to Houston in 1969 to study engineering at the University of Houston and after getting their Bachelor’s degrees decided to continue on working at the Sears Automotive Center on Main St. They later set up their own shop on
Kirkwood near Bellaire and eventually bought out the shop at the present location almost 20 years ago. Both brothers are devout Hindus and when the calling came while they were still in college, they started holding services in their house in 1978with the blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. They became among the founding families of the building of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Stafford, of which Jayanti has been the Chief Volunteer in the past and Vasudev continues as the sound and video director. Both brothers and their families are deeply involved and respected at the mandir which they have helped to grow over the decades. And they are also known for their automotive skills and honest workmanship. Although they have never advertized, their shop is always busy
and packed with cars that line the fenced in compound. Even now, despite the loss of twelve bays, they were able to open up four bays that had been closed and used for storage, to repair cars. On the east end, the parts storage and office areas were not damaged either and Jayanti sat at a chair with his work orders, receipts and other papers strewn on the floor in front of him with a calm smile. “What can you do?” he said stoically. “Life must go on.” Jayanti (left) and Vasudev Patel in a burnt out bay of their repair shop, Bellcrest Auto at Wilcrest and Bellaire. The fire that blazed on Wednesday, August 16 and took out 12 bays did not stop the brothers from continuing their work in the remaining four bays. Photos: Jawahar Malhotra
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Be a Sport
Lack of proper infrastructure and inefficiency of national sports bodies are often held up as reasons for India’s lacklustre performance at international sporting events. The few instances of brilliance credited to our athletes have been possible through individual determination despite an unhelpful system. While China has emerged a sporting powerhouse, India struggles to project itself as serious competition. Given this, the effort to spruce up Indian sport as envisaged in the National Sports (Development) Bill, 2011 seemed fitting. But if the Bill’s not been cleared by the cabinet, there’s reason. Ideas on paper can’t translate into improved sporting standards and accountability just by government playing big brother over sporting bodies. As is evident, the condition of state-monitored national sports federations (NSF) is nothing short of pathetic. Mired in nepotism and corruption, they’ve little time for genuine talent spotting or developing sports at the grassroots. A case in point: the Bhiwani Boxing Club has thrown up some of India’s best boxers, including Vijender Singh and Paramjeet Samota. But despite having won laurels and promises of help from the authorities, the club continues to languish. NSFs have become personal fiefs of politicians, many heading these bodies for more than a decade. Yes, there’s growing realisation that we need to limit the age and tenure of sports administrators. But it’s as critical that the sporting establishment is de-politi-cised - and that will not be achieved simply by reserving some parking space for ex-sportsmen. Sports federations need greater autonomy rather than more government scrutiny in their nuts-and-bolts functioning under the guise of promoting ‘transparency’. Only by minimising political interference can sports administration be a professional, profitable endeavour. Take the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) - a body the Bill sought rather contentiously to bring within the government’s umbrella. It’s by far the most successful sports body and has helped make India a cricketing powerhouse. This, despite some politicians doubling up as administrators. Run like a selfregulating corporate entity, it holds regular elections, churns out huge profits and is in a position to influence the course of world cricket. All of this has been possible because BCCI functions independently, and its fortunes are directly linked to its performance. While there’s a case for ensuring more transparency even in the functioning of autonomous sports bodies, their autonomy itself will bring greater accountability. The government’s focus should rather be on nurturing sports at the grassroots to foster a sporting culture across India. Cricket is already doing phenomenally well. So, why doesn’t the government focus on popularising other neglected forms of sport, providing more sports scholarships and building basic infrastructure? The aim should be to create an enabling environment for sport. Times of India
editorial
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A Fast is Not Enough By H.K. Dua The best of victories are those in which neither of the combatants suffers defeat or a loss of face. Anna Hazare and the government can claim some credit — the former for pushing the government to the backfoot and the latter for refusing to yield ground on the essential demands. While Hazare’s movement has placed corruption high on the national agenda, it will be for the government to decide how best to tackle it. Also, it will be in Parliament, not Ramlila Maidan or Jantar Mantar, that laws will be enacted. Hazare realised that people are fed up with the way corruption is affecting everyone’s life and that the government is not willing to do much about it. His movement brought out people’s anger over corruption and, at times, even challenged the legitimacy of Parliament, the executive and the judiciary. But it could not force Parliament to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill, which has been drafted by a handful of self-appointed people. The naïve usually oversimplify a problem and believe what they prescribe is the only solution. This prescriptive psychology is natural to evangelists, but it can arouse passions among people that a leader may not be able to control later. However, it goes to Hazare’s credit that no incidents of violence were reported from Ramlila Maidan or elsewhere in the country. This is because of the Gandhian approach that he adopted to press his demands, as also the readiness of the government to engage him in talks to find a way out. For his colleagues to claim that this was a second freedom struggle or a movement of the kind Jayaprakash Narayan led in the 1970s was sheer hyperbole. Hazare is neither a Mahatma Gandhi nor a JP. His lieutenants strangely equated what they called ‘civil society’ with the entire country, although large sections of adivasis, Dalits and OBCs kept out. Though they are also victims of corruption, these communities seem to fear that Hazare’s attack on parliamentary democracy is aimed at undoing the guarantees that the Constitution
Hazare’s movement has placed corruption high on the national agenda, it will be for the government to decide how best to tackle it. Also, it will be in Parliament, not Ramlila Maidan or Jantar Mantar, that laws will be enacted. promises them. Therefore, the movement was essentially an urban middle class phenomenon, meant to voice the concerns of the city-bred. When Hazare and his men jacked up their demands, many in the intelligentsia felt that forcing deadlines on Parliament to pass the bill was undemocratic and a threat to Parliament’s supremacy in framing legislation. It’s not that people should not put pressure on the government to demand reforms, but dictating laws to Parliament amounts to acquiring extra-constitutional authority, which no reasonable citizen can accept — it is a sheer case of overreach. The crowd at Ramlila Maidan was making the organisers somewhat intolerant of people who didn’t share their opinions. An atmosphere of arrogance was fast developing and Hazare’s fast constrained the government’s strategy. The attitude and inexperience of some of the Union ministers further complicated the matter for the government. Hazare’s arrest and his subsequent transfer to Tihar is a case in point. The political system and politicians in general were under attack. So were the institutions, particularly the Parliament, which has been procrastinating over the Lokpal Bill over the past four decades. The demand that Parliament must pass the Jan Lokpal Bill by August 30 made Members of Parliament (MPs) come to believe that the authorities of
Parliament and the Constitution were under threat. The overbearing attitude of Hazare’s colleagues resulted in the coming together of these MPs from various political parties. The final resolution was the result of negotiations between the Congress and the Opposition parties, and it was aimed at ending Hazare’s fast. By this time even Hazare had realised the limit beyond which the movement could not have been stretched. There was also the risk that the movement may go out of hand or, worse, be hijacked by wrong people. There are a couple of lessons that Hazare’s agitation has thrown up for the country. First, in order to end corruption, it is necessary to bring about major reforms in the political and judicial systems to make them more responsive to the people. Second, we can achieve much by evolving a consensus among political parties inside and outside Parliament than by confrontational politics. A consensus on political reforms and the working of vital institutions on issues like national security, terrorism, foreign policy, and pluralism can be achieved if members of various political parties show the kind of wisdom they did in both Houses last Saturday. HK Dua is a senior journalist and Member of Parliament.
Reader I agree with the general language how an action by the people can be good to improve the working of our government when not trying to overstep themselves. But I disagree with the implication in this writing that the established democratic institution is already the best possible. Nations with district elections end up establishing a steeper-sloped society than nations with more fair elections (either proportional or district-adjusted elections). Data shows that a nation’s elite controls a democracy more when elections are held in districts and also when proportionally-elected parliaments are headed by a separately (but empowered) president. Fred Rick
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Archie Panjabi Appointed as Pratham Ambassador Pratham USA announced that Emmy-award winning actress Archie Panjabi will serve as an Ambassador to the organization, lending her voice and celebrity to its cause of educating India’s underprivileged children. Her first formal appearance as Pratham Ambassador will be at the 2011 Pratham Gala in New York scheduled for October 5th at the Pierre Hotel. Archie will host this year’s event that typically will raise upwards of $1.5 million and attracts a sold out crowd of prominent philanthropists and business people from the Tri-State area. Archie Panjabi currently stars as Kalinda Sharma on CBS’s critically acclaimed hit drama, The Good Wife. Her big screen credits include domestic and international hits Bend It Like Beckham, Yasmin, The Constant Gardner, A Good Year and A Mighty Heart. As an Amabassador to Pratham, Archie will help create awareness in the United States and abroad about the 100 million undereducated youth in India today. “The best way to shine the light on education in India is to continue to bring this incredibly important conversation to the global stage. These children are our future and in turn, we are theirs,” Panjabi said. Archie is looking forward to participating in Pratham programs in India this November and spending time with the Pratham staff, volunteers, and of course the children served by the organization. About Pratham: Pratham, which means “first” in Sanskrit, was founded in the slums of Mumbai in 1994 with UNICEF support. Today, Pratham’s direct urban programs, including pre-schools, community libraries and remedial learning programs reach hundreds of thousands of children every year. In 2007, with the support of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Pratham 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. With the continued support of the Hewlett Foundation in 2010, the Read India campaign has entered its second phase, focusing its attention at the village level and teaching more advanced learning skills. Pratham’s Annual Status of Educa-
Emmy Award-winning actress, Archie Panjabi, currently stars as Kalinda Sharma on CBS’ s critically acclaimed hit drama, The Good Wife
tion Report (ASER) evaluates India’s status of education through direct testing of over 700,000 children in 16,000 villages across India. ASER is the only annual measurement of basic literacy and numeracy conducted at scale in India today and its widespread dissemination has helped focus government attention on the issue of learning. To support newly literate children across India, Pratham Books has developed and published over 130 titles and printed over 3 million children’s books in local Indian languages. With an annual budget of less than $15 million, Pratham combines largescale impact with an extremely efficient use of funds. Pratham USA (www.PrathamUSA.org), a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with a four-star rating (the highest possible) from Charity Navigator, accepts tax deductible contributions from U.S. donors. About Archie Panjabi Emmy Award-winning actress, Archie Panjabi, currently stars as Kalinda Sharma on CBS’ s critically acclaimed hit drama, The Good Wife. Archie’s portrayal as the mysterious and tenaciously tough investigator captivated both viewers and critics alike earning her the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2010). Her big screen credits include domestic and international hits Bend It Like Beckham, Yasmin, The Constant Gardner, A Good Year and A
Mighty Heart. Her international film accolades include the Best Actress Award at the Reims Festival (2005), the Shooting Star Award at the Berlin International Film Festival (2005), the Best Actress Award at the Mons International Festival (2005) and The Chopard Trophy at The Cannes Film Festival (2007). She was named one of the Top 10 Faces on TV to Watch by Variety (2009), celebrated as one of the Breakout TV Stars of the Year by Entertainment Weekly (2010) and named as one of the Top Young Power Women Under 40 by Verve Magazine (2011). In addition to her work as an actress, Archie has dedicated herself to several philanthropic endeavors globally. In 2011, she was appointed as an Ambassador to Pratham USA representing the largest educational movement in India. Additional highlights include: Rotary International in partnership with UNICEF, The Gates Foundation, The CDC and WHO for the “We are this Close” international campaign to eradicate the last 1% of polio left in the world, The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and partner organizations for their national campaign, The Heart Truth®, where the campaign’s goal is to increase awareness of the danger of heart disease, the #1 killer of women. In support of women’s rights, she has partnered with Amnesty International to head their Stop Violence Against Women campaign to change the “no recourse to public funds” rule that traps women in a cycle of violence. In 2011, she accepted an invitation to participate in Harvard University’s prestigious Artist in Residence Program in Cambridge, Massachusetts and received an honorary doctorate from her alma mater Brunel University in England. Born in the United Kingdom (Edgware, Middlesex, England), Panjabi spent a portion of her childhood in Mumbai (Bombay) India and considers herself “part Bombayite, part British”. With a great love of travel, she enjoys exploring new countries and cultures identifying causes and issues to which she can lend her support. A graduate from Brunel University in England, with a degree in Management Studies, Archie had always wanted to become an actress. She wrote a letter to actor Nick Berry of EastEnders, hired an agent and her career began. Ms. Panjabi currently resides in New York and London.
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Going easy on planet earth
They’re entrepreneurs with a conscience. With banana fibre saris, bio-degradable plastic bags, screw pine baskets and detergents made from fruits, they make a living out of supporting traditional artisans and in doing so make the world a greener place. The writer meets these eco-guardians By aNuSha parthaSarathy (Hindu) Hermit Crab Subangani Rajkumar’s home in Adyar extends into a small store filled with eco-friendly knick-knacks. There are natural soaps, coconutbased artefacts, bags, sandals, seed and paper jewellery, wallets and baskets made of screw pine, water hyacinth, jute and cotton, among other interesting finds. “My childhood friend, Srividya Babu and I decided to do something together. And Hermit Crab began in 2009 as a fragrance store. Our basic aim was to please the five senses but we soon realised that it didn’t work out too well. I had brought in a few palm leaf baskets from my native place near Tirunelveli and kept it in the store and was surprised to find that they became quite popular. We slowly began to convert the store into an eco-friendly gift boutique,” explains Subangani. While most of the items are sourced from around the southern states, the friends also add to the store’s collection from their travels abroad. “We get a lot of things from Kerala, Kanyakumari, Krishnagiri and Auroville. We also provide space for display of products made by housewives, NGOs and others.” Just outside Hermit Crab is a patio coloured green by the leaves that completely envelop it. This is ‘Plantist’, part of Hermit Crab’s ‘Gift-aplant’ initiative. “We’re both botanists,” says Subangani, “We thought we’d have a florist but realised that flowers wilt in a matter of days. Instead, we thought we’d ask people to gift plants and help customise it. That way, you’re not just gifting a plant but making the city greener.” Visit Hermit Crab at www.hermitcrab.co.in
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Biotec Bags It takes 1,000 years for plastic to degrade. And Biotec Bags, to rid the world of at least a percentage of nondegradable material has come up with bio-degradable plastic bags that turn into compost at the end of a year. “It’s very important to have an alternative to plastic because we realise banning plastic bags itself won’t help. Our bags, which are priced same as plastic bags are injected with an enzyme that makes them bio-degradable,” says T.S. Shankar, director, Biotec Bags. The company has been catering to a growing list of clientele since it went public a couple of years ago. “We wanted to take our product to the world and also make it affordable for the common man. We cater to stores of all sizes. Our clients include Apollo Pharmacy, Fruitshop on Greams Road, Sangeetha chain of restaurants and Ponds to name a few,” he says. Shankar also dismisses using too many paper bags. “While paper does tend to be eco-friendly, what many people don’t realise it that it’s ex-
Subangani Rajkumar’s home in Adyar. Photo: M. Karunakaran
pensive to make and cutting 17 trees gives you one tonne of paper. And more often than not, we reuse plastic bags than those made of paper. So instead of being good to the environment, it causes more physical waste.” Visit Biotec Bags at www.biotecbags.com Shrikriti Just off Nungambakkam in Kamdar Nagar is a boutique of a different kind. You get paper, terracotta and wood jewellery, organic cotton kurtis and tops, sarees made of bamboo and banana fibre and almost everything that is friendly to the Earth and your pockets. “We’ve been doing paper jewellery for seven years,” says Y. Satyakumar, who runs Shrikriti with his cousin Usha Natrajan, “We were looking for a bigger place and decided to expand into a complete fashion boutique. Everything here is eco-friendly and we were also able to support a few traditional artisans through our initiative.” A forest tribe in Karnataka, housewives who do handicrafts and an Estonian girl who is settled here are some of the people they support. “We went back to our roots to find out what we can do differently. We realise that there isn’t much time these days for people to support causes even when they want to. By buying things from us, they are helping us in our cause,” he says. Satyakumar and Usha are soon planning to adopt a village near Chennai and teach crafts. “We would like to give the people an opportunity to work at a skill even while patronis-
ing traditional crafts.” Visit Shrikriti at 73/67, Scheme Road, III Street, Kamdar Nagar, Mahalingapuram, Nungmabakkam. Krya Preethi Sukumaran and Srinivas Krishnaswamy lead a lifestyle most people would find amusing. They don’t own a car or use synthetics at home; they’re strict vegans and swear by organic food. “It’s not enough if you say you want to be eco-friendly. It’s a lifestyle by itself,” says Srinivas while Preethi adds, “we have a Krya formulation for everything; for hair, skin, clothes and even floors.” Krya products are sustainable and completely biodegradable. With an unofficial soft launch a month ago, the couple started their venture with detergents made from soapberries. “This idea has been around for a while, but no one has produced it in a detergent format. It makes it easier for people to use on an everyday basis,” says Preethi. While the soapberries are good on clothes, the detergent and the water used is recyclable, they explain. “Many people who have been interested in Krya are those who have water problems at home. When you use our detergent, the residue becomes compost for plants while the water used to wash can be used again to water them. It saves you from wasting so many litres everyday,” Srinivas explains. “You only need to use a tablespoon everyday. You get a better wash with good lather which is safe on Indian colours and children’s clothes, sans the chemicals and their after effects.” Contact Krya at www.facebook. com/kryagoodies
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Program schedule for Ganesh Utsav at new sanatan shiv shakti mandir
Kerala Hindu society’s splendid onam celebrations
By Chittoor raMaChaNDraN HOUSTON: Houston,’s Kerala Hindu Society (KHS), the descendants of such a tradition, as if they were following this as a tenet, made a point to rejoice the homecoming of Maveli once again on August 28 with great pomp. A series of formalities in sequence including lighting up of bhadradeepam and prayers marked the beginning of a fabulous celebration. Soon the pompous sound of chenda melam could be heard from the distance outside. Elegantly and attractively dressed women with thalam and ashtamangalyam in two rows slowly moved into the hall. Majestically costumed Mahabali with a grandeur look of an imaginary emperor walked at the end of the line. The remarkable variety entertainment presented in honor of the emperor was also a glimpse of the Houston Indians’ social life. Although , Onam celebration is an annual social event celebrated by primarily malayalees worldwide, it needs to be understood that Onam is a day of spiritual awakening. Srimad Bhagavatha Puranam describes the story of Mahabali (Maveli), a virtuous emperor who is known for his exemplary rule, treating all his subjects well and equal. Despite being from the Asura sect, Mahabali had many good qualities of a trustworthy emperor. His manner of reign made even the Gods jealous of him. Vamana ( fifth incarnation of Mahavishnu), after subjecting the emperor to a very severe test, took back all his physical wealth. With a subdued respect, Mahabali accepted Al-
Wednesday, August 31- Saturday, September 10
Cultural Program Every Evening! PROGRAM SCHEDULE: Schedule for September 1 through September 8 (other than September 3rd) 5.15pm: Pooja 6.30 to 7.30pm: Cultural Program 7.30pm: Maha Aarti followed by Maha Prasad Houston Keralites wlcoming the King Maveli
The grand feast (sadya) is an essential tradition associated with Onam celebrations. Houston festival indeed ‘ ‘lived up to the expectation’ . ‘Onam feast is a reminder to take a moment to think about helping the millions who live in this world struggling for food ’ The ultimate magnificence of Onam celebrations, although superficially appears to be an entertainment show, is the theme that has a special spiritual importance. Through the legend of Mahabali as a symbol, Onam highlights an administrative system that existed in the past which adhered to trustworthiness, honesty and generosity. The blessings from Almighty in support of such a system is also indicated in the legend. The happiness Mahabali elicits generations later also is an example of the greatness of such values in everyday life.
mighty’s decision with equanimity. Pleased by his impeccable devotion , the Lord blessed him with Amarathwam (immortality and offered him a place in Suthala, a world many fold better than heaven. The message conveyed by this line is: “Mahabali is the symbol of trustworthiness, and bears an unshaken personality with ardent devotion to his principles despite loss of all he owns in this world. The message of Onam is that we can gain credits (punyam) of good deeds by having goodness within us. The broadminded emperor earned immortality as he merged with divinity. The celebration was an astounding display of Indian folk and classical arts befitting the tradition. This event refreshed the memory of hundreds of people in the audience who have lived away from home for major part of their lives.
maheshwaris celebrate Badi Teej
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BollywoodShow EXPLOSION 2009s4U Brings to Houston HOUSTON: Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan and Hard Kaur are set to make a stunning the Explosions eventappearance in organized by Bollywood Shows 4 U conducted by Moid Khan. The event is set to be held at the Reliant Arena on August 7, 2009.
ers to Houston thus
making Houstonians dreams organizing “Explosion come true, by 2009” Concert. “Explosion 2009 will be giving Houston residents a night non-stop session of long rocking Bollywood melodies, promising one of the most memorable musical treats like never witnessed before. For tickets log on to www.bollywoodshows4u.com or call 281-2354711.
Houston. The Foundation could not have chosen to raise awarenessa better topic among IndoB P Americans in Houston K HOUSTON: If there’s Indian studies programs.about its one recent movie that has Prior to the discussion of polarized opinions the film, Parul about India, it Fernandes and is Krishna Vavilala lionaire. The movieSlumdog Milexplained that has all the elthe Foundation ements of entertainment is currently conducting designed to glue you to your Hindi Level I and Level seat – shock, II courses as awe, amusement, well as classes disgust, on Hinduism, true love and inspiration. Jainism and the Some people Anthropology of have seen movie India. The Foundation several times, has also each time moved received support to tears and joy. from There are a few Indian government’s Ministry others, however, of Overwho could not seas Indians to get past the slum fund a Chair for kid’s jump into Indian studies at the UH. blinding of a child. cesspool or the An 11-minute clip More than 120 people Millionaire, edited of Slumdog with probably 200 opinions mar, was screened by Anil Kuabout the movie assembled at a the discussion. The to stimulate town clip included held at India House hall meeting scenes depicting last Sunday negative aspects afternoon. of India such as religious The town hall mony, child prostitution, disharmeeting was organized by the and police brutality. These Foundation for scenes were India Studies at followed by uplifting the University of scenes in
Page 11
Houston Page 11
Central Texas Temple Grows
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NRI nvestors Lose Money Chilled IACCGH to Maytas Watermel Helps to on Properties in SoupHire India Page Page 5 26
NRI Investors Lose Money to Maytas Properties in India Page 21 Indo-American
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Maharani Gayatri Devi passes away at the age of 90
Moid Khan informed that Houston residents have been waiting for a long time to see the live performance of Sonu Nigam. Bollywoodshows4u is bringing the perform-
Ambassador Ambassador Meera Meera Shankar Shankar visits Houston Visits
Saturday September 3 & Friday September 9: 5.15pm: Pooja 7.30pm: Maha Aarti followed by Maha Prasad 8.30pm to 11.30pm: Dandiya Raas to Live Music
New Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir 6640 Harwin, Houston TX 77036 For more information, call Virat Mehta at 713.784.5500 or 281.342.1968
Greater sharpstown management district Public safety committee meeting
Greater Sharpstown Management District will hold a Public Safety Committee Meeting arranged first time for the benefit of Hillcroft HILLCROFT harwin merchants at 12pm. on Friday, September 9 at East West International 5810 Hillcroft Street, Houston, TX 77036. Inside the boundaries of Greater Sharpstown District and open to the public to consider, discuss, make recommendations, and take direct actions as may be necessary, desirable, or convenient. Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and would like to request auxiliary aids or services are requested to contact the District’s office at 713-271-2119 at least three business days prior to the meeting so that the appropriate arrangements can be made.
2011 oVdI Information session at mTs PEARLAND: On Sunday, August 28, Meenakshi Temple Society’s Public Relations Committee successfully organized an information session at the Kalyana Mantapam on the new 2011 OVDI (Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative). Jay Kabad, CFP, President of Jaykay Wealth Advisors, Inc. and Jayesh Ojha, CPA, were the speakers. Both the speakers stressed the importance of following the law and consulting with their own CPA in regard to the attendees’ specific situation. While Jay Kabad gave an overview of the filing of the disclosure forms and moderated the Q&A, Jayesh Ojha specifically described the filing requirements of the
Recently Maheshwari women gathered at Pallod residence in Houston to celebrate Badi Teej. Badi Teej is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and celebrated by women to pray for the wellbeing of their husbands and receive blessings for marital bliss.
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Presenters Jay Kabad and Jayesh Ojha with MTS organizers Tupil Narasiman, Sam Kannappan, Meena Kannappan and Padmini Ranganathan
FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report) and the OVDI and how it applies to the Indian community. Ojha also gave a hand out describing the details of the program. In the Q&A, Mr. Ojha answered almost one hundred questions from the audience specifically about which forms need to be filed, the filing deadlines and the penalties under the amnesty as well as for noncompliance. The session lasted almost 2 ½ hours from 2:30-5pm, and about 175 people attended. Due to Hurricane Irene, the deadline for the new 2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative, which was to end on August 31, has now been extended to September 9. The speakers were honored by Meenakshi Temple Chairman Dr. G.S. Gopalakrishna and Treasurer T.A Gnanam. Vice-Chairman, Tupil Narasiman, welcomed the gathering. The session was coordinated by Sam Kannappan and Dr. Padmini Nathan.
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Janamashtami at GRB Brings New Colorful Programs
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Attorney-at-law 281-893-8644 • www.sharmalaws.net 14411 Cornerstone Village Dr, Houston, TX 77014
Left Across from top: (from left) Jugal and Raj Malani, Suresh Patel, Swami Radha Krishna Prabhu, Ramya Ravi, Varun Mehta, Kiran and Ramesh Bhutada; Swagatham at the entrance; raas-garba in the hall at the GRB; Event Coordinator Sanjay Jajoo with his wife Uma after Phoolon ki Holi; kids performing onstage; part of the cultural program; Vegan Socitey of Peace’s Kristen Ohanyan with her husband; devotees surround the baby Krishna craddle; two young revelers after the Phoolon ki Holi; the rangoli with the centerpiece floating rangoli; people enjoying the program; Meera Bai ki Jhanki
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Mohanjit Jolly: Making the connection
By Deepti Chaudhary (Mint) I am already 20 minutes late for my appointment with Mohanjit Jolly at his Bangalore office, but Jolly flashes his trademark warm smile and brushes aside my apology, saying he has often been a victim of Bangalore’s snarling traffic. Dressed in a red and white polo shirt with sleeves rolled up, the 42-year-old looks dramatically different from his counterparts in the venture capital (VC) world. For one, this investor believes in giving people a chance. “Any person who comes to your door deserves respect. I have the ability to connect with anyone from a baseball bum in Los Angeles to a Fortune 500 company’s chief executive,” he says. Jolly’s ability to connect with people across the spectrum reflects in the kind of investor companies he has added to the Silicon Valleybased global venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson’s (DFJ’s) portfolio since he joined in 2007 as managing director of DFJ India. DFJ’s India portfolio currently has 20 companies, including Cleartrip, Komli Media, Gingersoft Media and iYogi. The VC firm has exited one investment in India so far—Reva Electric Car Co. last year—with a profit, after Mahindra and Mahindra bought a 55.2% stake in the car maker. Jolly refuses to discuss the returns from the Reva deal, saying a fund’s success is measured by its portfolio, not by individual companies. Globally, DFJ has been investing for over 25 years and has backed at least 600 companies. Last year, DFJ raised $350 million (around Rs. 1,575 crore) for its 10th fund. Of this fund, DFJ India manages about $50 million. Early stage investment funds are of particular importance in an emerging market like India, where over 90% of start-ups die prematurely owing to lack of capital and mentoring support. Emphasizing his personal focus on technology, Jolly has just closed DFJ’s latest deal, which is in the clean technology space. The deal will be announced in mid-September. Jolly spent the latter part of his childhood in the US. His family—parents and younger brother—moved from New Delhi to Los Angeles when he was 13, in search of better job prospects. His father Inderjit Singh Jolly used to work as part of the ground staff at Delhi’s Palam airport (now called Indira Gandhi International Airport). The feisty teenager was infatuated with planes and could watch them taking off and landing for hours. The migration to California was not easy for the family. The US was grappling with unemployment. His mother Baljit Kaur, a trained nurse, worked double shifts to keep the family going. His father faced many rejections in job interviews because he was a Sikh. “I caught him crying several times,” remembers Jolly. Ameri-
The managing director of DFJ India has the ability to get along with anyone—and it reflects in his business
Right investment: Mohanjit Jolly says failure does not frighten him. ‘I don’t strive for it, but I am not afraid of it. That’s what makes a VC investor.’ Jayachandran/Mint
cans live in a state of “ignorance and arrogance”, they don’t want to learn, he adds. He was singled out too for his patka (the turban that young Sikh boys wear), and his inability to understand the American accent, but Jolly quickly learnt to cope—he studied hard, topped every subject in class and would help his American classmates. Soon, he was friends with most of them—perhaps the first sign of his ability to “connect with anyone”. His mother became a full-time nurse, while his dad got a job at a bank, where he rose to the post of a loan officer. Jolly recalls the first American classic he was introduced to: a McDonald’s burger, which he was quick to dislike because of the “strange meat smells”. The quick service restaurant chain is still not his “go to” destination. Yet, the Jollys stayed on in the US because they saw opportunity. “In 1983, everything was big there—cars, buildings, even people were big. There was 24x7 colour TV. Capitalism at
its best got the best of us,” he says. For someone who was so fascinated by planes, a BS in aeronautics and astronautics, and a master’s in the field of space propulsion from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), were perhaps natural choices. After his master’s in 1993, he joined Boston-based Itek Optical Systems (then a Fortune 500 company) as a structural engineer. But he was yearning to be on the business side and two years later, approached the chief executive of the company, requesting a change. He got it, and was part of the team which clinched a $100 million contract for spy cameras. It was then that he began thinking about getting into business school. But with loans to pay off from his MIT days, Jolly was not sure if he could manage without his salary. Around this time, he accompanied a friend to an interview at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As luck would have it, the dean of admissions was excited about Jolly’s background and asked him to apply. “I applied and got a scholarship. By then, I was pretty sure that I wanted to do something related to entrepreneurship and technology.” After his MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA in 1998, he joined Mattel, Inc. as a strategic planning manager. The toy company was developing technology that could be embedded in the toys of the future. The turning point came when he got a call to join investment banking firm Garage Technology Ventures in mid-1999. This took him on a different career path. “We were supposed to go public. As the markets were bad, we couldn’t. But as we had raised capital, we shifted from being an investment bank to a seed fund,” says Jolly. When Garage was at the end of the first fund, Jolly visited India to see if there was any interest among limited partners (corporate houses) here for investment funds. While here, he was invited
to an ISB/TiE (Indian School of Business/The Indus Entrepreneurs) event in Hyderabad. Sitting next to him was Raj Atluru, a managing director with DFJ. Atluru and Jolly got talking and three months later, Jolly joined DFJ and shifted back to India with his wife and children. “My DNA is early stage investing, which comes down to the gut,” he says. “In early stage, there is no data to go back to and cross-check things. You look into the eyes of entrepreneurs and ask if they can execute, is the market opportunity large enough?” While early stage investments, or investments in start-ups less than five years old, will always remain close to Jolly’s heart, DFJ will now also start scouting for growth stage deals in India. DFJ Growth Fund, a partner fund that focuses on growth stage deals in the US, has started looking for a pipeline in India and has identified at least two-three technology companies with an average annual revenue of more than $10 million, the investment threshold for DFJ Growth. Jolly, who has seen the Indian VC market developing over the last four years, says investing in both early and growth stage has become difficult, with deals getting more competitive. But despite the competition, high valuations and lack of fast-growing companies, he is hopeful of creating “gems” in his portfolio. A few are shaping up really well, he says. “There is nothing on the exit side that I can discuss right now, but we will be in good form with some of them.” When not scouting for deals and mentoring start-ups, Jolly likes to spend time with wife Vini and their three children—two girls and a boy aged 11, 8 and 7, respectively. He travels at least once a week domestically, so he is zealously possessive about his weekends. “This is the time to see them grow,” says Jolly. Besides domestic travel, he goes to the US four times a year to meet DFJ’s global partners, besides visiting Dubai and South-East Asia for conferences and conclaves. Jolly is a romantic at heart. He proposed to his wife at the stroke of midnight on 31 December 1997, at Half Moon Bay (a coastal city in San Mateo County, California), after they had been dating for a year. Thankfully, she said yes, chuckles Jolly. “She is my support system,” he says, adding that his Gucci-loving wife is still trying to get him to wear designer brands. “I refuse to wear anything that I cannot spell or pronounce.”
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WEEKLY HOROSCOPE
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ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20: At work, a smooth sailing is expected, things will fall into place by themselves. Travelling is on the cards but it will not be time or energy consuming. You will clean your home, decorate it with artefacts, throw a casual or lavish party, invite your friends and have a ball. However, all the merrymaking will not deviate you from your goals. Now, you will work hard to achieve the targets. If you are an artist or a performer, the week will bring you a lot of success. Money too will come in easily. TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Quite often, your ‘my-way-or-no-way’ approach makes you unpopular among your loved ones and colleagues. Your stubbornness can become an obstacle in your progress path. You may feel you deserve more pay at your work place. This may cause a lot of dissatisfaction and distress. You may need to borrow money from a friend or a bank if you’re into a business. A domestic issue may make your purse weigh lighter. You will spend quality time with friends, family, and that special someone! GEMINI May 22 - Jun 21: It is the time when you can take risks without any apprehensions. That’s the only way to do business. If you’re doing a job, you won’t be satisfied with it be it your salary, position, or future prospects. There will be some uncertainties because of which your financial graph. Carefully plan out your investments and income sources. Separation from your beloved can be avoided only if you curb your ego and control your temper. Handle minor agreements carefully. CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 23: Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the prettiest of them all?’ you’ll keep asking this question again and again! An expensive, designer dress, a costly beauty treatment in a spa, or even a cosmetic surgery- your materialistic attitude will be at its peak this week. You are likely to face fierce competition in the business world. But if you are associated with a firm or self-employed, the week will pass smoothly. Be very careful when you’re travelling. If you are planning to move your base to a foreign location, you will have to wait for some more time. LEO July 24 - Aug 23: You’ll merely be a spectator this week as the situations unfold in front of you. The results of your efforts may be different from your expectations. Be prepared for the unexpected. Familial matters may start to divert your attention and energies this week. But you are a true Lion, and you will be able to sort them out effectively. Times are not favorable for buying or acquiring property. Think twice before commiting or taking crucial decisions or if you plan to lend money to someone you know. Travelling is on the cards. VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23: You are likely to be quite self-centred this week. Everything you do, will be about you. Communication will be the key to the growth of your career. If you’re into business, you plan out details for expansion. If you are employed, you will try hard to improve relations with your bosses and enter their good books. If you are married will have a lovely time this week. But if you are into a relationship, things are not looking very good for you. Preferably avoid travelling this week. LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23: Sometimes, you Scales find it difficult to deal with the challenges life throws at you. You learn how to solve such
problems and come out victorious in whatever you do. Expectations are the roots of disappointment, they say, so keep them under check. Accept and appreciate life the way it comes. You may want to do some savings but unfortunately, mounting expenses won’t let you do so. At work, if you are presented with new responsibilities, accept them, as they will help you climb the success ladder faster. SCORPIO Oct 24 - Nov 22: Remember: to be a good leader, you need to be a good follower. At work, you will be entrusted with more power, but don’t let this power go to your head. Be polite, tactful, and obedient so that you can successfully make your team-members gel well with one another and at the same time achieve the targets set by your bosses. With power come responsibilities. You’ll need to balance everything evenly like a true fighter, you will overcome all the hurdles. Do take care of your health. If you’re in a relationship, the time is appropriate for popping the million dollar question! SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 22: Otherwise optimistic and jovial, you Archers may start this week on a shaky note. But you will find the lost stability, once again. Your carelessness can cost you a lot, may be your most prized relationship. Make sincere efforts and concentrate on your personal life. The differences between you and your partner may grow bigger and bigger. Business will be pretty satisfactory. If you’re an employee, you will be extremely busy attending meetings and planning new projects. You spend money carefully this week. CAPRICORN Dec 23 - Jan 20: Everyone longs for stability on the professional front, and you are no different. You’ll realize that stability is stagnating your growth be it in business or job. You may desperately want a refreshing change in your life. A break can help you recharge your batteries. Try out new things, meet new people, and widen your outlook. These exercises may affect your work, you’ll make up for the lost time. Love is in the air for you this week. If you’re single, Cupid is all set to hit you with an arrow. AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19: It’s a favorable time to acquire new property such as house, land, office or to buy a new vehicle. As far as your business is concerned, expect highs and lows. Personally and professionally, commitments may increase and they will consume a lot of your energy. You need to understand the importance of taking the right decision at the right time in order to achieve success. At work, keep away from the blame game and office politics. Avoid arguing with your spouse, it will affect your relationship. PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20: Slowly yet steadily your work will start gaining momentum during the month. Your achievements are valuable. Practically, you will utilize all your skills, put extra effort and ultimately earn good moolah. Work seems more of a pleasure than a burden. Brilliant and impressive contributions at workplace may win you accolades. But remember that it’s equally important to listen to others. Love and marital relationships will need care and attention, besides level-headed decisions. You should listen to elders’ advise if in a dilemma. Spirituality is likely to provide balance to your mind.
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she-nags-he-snores_flyer_p 8/18/11 2:06 PM Page 1
Free seminar and workshop! (PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED)
Serving South Asian Families
iPad & iPod Giveaways!
She Nags, He Snores How to communicate without conflict Saturday, September 17, 2011
Speakers/Facilitators
Location
Jasbina Ahluwalia Happily married Indian– American lawyer turned matchmaker/dating coach/relationship columnist. As a secondgeneration Indian–American raised in the U.S., Jasbina has a unique understanding of the successful blending of Indian and American cultures. Jasbina has a B.A. and M.A. in philosophy from Vanderbilt University and earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. www.intersectionsmatch.com
Hilton Southwest 6780 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77074-2102
Schedule 9:00 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Registration and breakfast Morning sessions Lunch Couples-only workshop Limited to 30 couples
Morning Sessions [open to all] Overview From online chats to real-life commitments, finding and keeping the person who is right for you.
Partner for Life Identifying the gem among online profiles and mixers and getting Mom and Dad on board with you.
Happily Ever After Joys and perils of couplehood—communicating your thoughts without losing your cool.
Oh…Baby Patel–Smith? Reddy–Singh? Raising your child with a solid sense of identity and pride in her multicultural heritage.
Afternoon Workshop [couples only] She Nags; He Snores Dating or engaged, newlywed or married forever, communication is the key to keep the fires burning. Learn how to navigate differences and maximize strengths with the help of relationship experts in an informal, interactive workshop. All registrants for the morning sessions will be entered in free drawings for iPod Touch, iPod Nano and iPod shuffle. All registrants for the afternoon workshop will be entered in a free drawing for an iPad.You must be present to win. Certain restrictions apply. See website for details.
Parijat Deshpande Psychology lecturer
(UC Berkeley) and founder of MySahana, Deshpande promotes total well-being among South Asians by challenging them to take charge of their emotional lives. Through her website and blog, Deshpande provides culturally-relevant answers, coping strategies and resources to numerous mental health issues, thereby empowering the community to realize its inner fortitude and make informed decisions and choices. www.mysahana.org
Dr. C. Patrick Brady A private-practicing
psychologist, Dr. Brady has over 30 years of experience working with children and parents, 26 of them at Depelchin Children’s Center as chief psychologist. He has trained students and professionals and conducted research on infant development, caregiver-infant attachment and other related topics.
Damian Duplechain A seasoned marriage
counselor and executive director of the Center for Marriage & Family Relationships in Houston. Duplechain has, through his workshops, guided hundreds of couples to communicate effectively, change counterproductive behaviors and strengthen their relationships. His workshops are tailored for couples in any stage of relationship and level of difficulties.
www.houstoncounselingmarriage.com
For information and registration, visit:
www.dayahouston.org Or call:
713-981-7645
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Indo American News • Friday, Sep 2, 2011
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