Saathee Raleigh January 2023

Vikas Patel, MD

Elizabeth Ju, MD

Now

Laser

Happy New Year!

A new year brings promises and excitement of something new and fresh. We wish 2023 brings you joy and prosperity.

Read the essay "The In-Between: A Teenage Story" about navigating dual cultures while growing up in the United States. See page 22.

Read our Nutrition column and get the scoop on eating healthy Winter Foods. The article is on page 38.

The Dances of India column this month takes a look at the ancient Guru-Shishya relationship and how it is changing and evolving in contemporary times. The essay is on page 46.

Make the easy treats Uttarayan Chikkis with our recipe on page 66.

Looking for a life partner, a job, or a new business? Check our classifieds section on page 92.

Thank you for continuing to read Saathee and please share it with family and friends. Drop us a line with any comments or suggestions. We welcome conversations.

Connect with us via email: saathee@saathee.com.

Subscribe to Saathee magazine at saathee.com/subscription.

“Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent.”

January 2023 Issue # 296 - Saathee.comEditor

Samir Shukla (Samir@Saathee.com)

Publisher & Advertising

Divakar Shukla

704-527-7570 or rakavid@aol.com

Digital Media & Marketing

Jennifer W. Allen

Ad Design / Layout

DSJ Graphics & Manimaran

Contributors for this issue: Kirit Shukla, Taige Shukla, Sereena Kumar, Dr. Maha Gingrich, Balaji Prasad, Raajeev Aggerwhil, Parul Kharod, Mo Vidwans, & Jalendu Vaidya.

Mission: Our goal is to be a valuable source of information for the South Asian community and to be a vital advertising tool for businesses.

Cover: Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Rishikesh, or Hrishikesh, is a city in the North Indian state Uttarakhand. It is situated on the banks of the Ganges River and is a pilgrimage town for Hindus, with sages and saints meditating here in search of higher knowledge. There are numerous temples and ashrams built along the banks of the river. It is known as the "Yoga Capital of the World" and hosts the annual "International Yoga Festival" on the first week of March. Details can be found at internationalyogafestival.org.

- F OUNDED 1998Saathee Magazine

P.O. Box 11468 Charlotte, NC 28220 704.527.7570

Photo: Adobe Stock

Fax: 704.527.7590 Saathee@saathee.com

Saathee

(USPS 021-116) (ISSN: 1543-8147) is published monthly by: Shukla Entertainment Inc.

612 Heather Ln., Charlotte, NC 28209 Periodicals postage paid at Charlotte, NC and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Saathee, P.O. Box 11468, Charlotte, NC 28220-1468

Opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily of the publisher or editor. Please contact us prior to submitting articles or photographs. Saathee is published monthly. Deadlines for advertisement, submissions and events information is 15th of the month.

For a free Saathee subscription, visit saathee.com/subscription All content © 2023 Shukla Entertainment, Inc

"Ring out the false, ring in the true.”

- Alfred Lord Tennyson

The Editor’s Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 14

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 18

My Voice, Teenage Story . . . . . . . .pg. 22

Upcoming Movie Releases . . . . . . .pg. 26

Film Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 28

Raajeev’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 32

Thinking About Thinking . . . . . . .pg. 36

Nutrition for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 38

Mirror, Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 42

Dances of India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 46

College Admissions Insider . . . . . pg. 48

Spot the Differences . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 50

Nuclear Fusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 52

Personal Finances . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 54

News Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 58

Recipe: Uttarayan Chikki . . . . . . . .pg. 66

Energy Transition . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 72

Quiz Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 84

Pop’s Puzzles and Jokes . . . . . . . . .pg. 86

Festivals and Holidays . . . . . . . . . .pg. 88

Puzzle Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 88

AstroScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 90

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 92

Index of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 96

Serenity of Simple Joys

by Samir Shukla

On a recent fall day, while pondering my place in the grand cosmos, sitting outside a fast-food joint munching on hot French Fries, I started thinking about the philosophical nature, the simple goodness and multi-purpose usage of that all-American vegetable. Ketchup. The ultimate flexible condiment. It goes with anything. We eat it with our sandwiches and fries and countless other foods as well as with some of our favorite Indian dishes. It is chutney when chutney is missing. Dip a piece of hot onion naan or dhokla or a samosa into ketchup and plop it into your mouth. The stars will look brighter.

Ketchup is among life’s simple joys. Such joyscertain basic foods, the genuine belly laugh of a friend, a lost happy memory that inexplicably pops back in your head, such joys color daily living. There are myriad such simple joys awaiting capture.

A childhood wooden toy forgotten in a closet or attic, when found and held for a few moments, it replays those carefree days in brilliant technicolor. The simple joy of that old, static toy is incalculable, surpassing any multimedia tech gadget that is readily replaced for the latest version or gizmo.

That stop you make to catch your breath during a run, standing by a particularly lovely tree. In that moment you are not thinking about your run or your health, looking at your Fit Bit for the number of steps you’ve taken or miles you’ve run, but instead that pause while just observing the majesty of that tree is the release of a deeper breath. It is invigorating as that run. That is a simple joy.

Chatting with a toddler who is just mumbling words, garbled yet full of bright eyed, curious wisdom. Suddenly, the whole of future, which seemed grim a minute earlier, looks brighter. This is a simple joy.

Stuck in rush hour traffic with body tense, mind steaming? Pull over on the side or a parking lot for a moment. That late afternoon drive will turn into a purple, yellow and red twilight dancing in the sky. Take it in, feel looser, and then hit the road again. That is a simple joy.

These simple joys of life so often pass us by in the daily grind. They also get slapped aside during our quests for grand meanings of our existences. Most of us are joyful creatures and simply need to find joyful pauses, between the noise and dissonance. We become philosophical when we have the leisure time to think of such matters. Many don’t have that luxury and are forced to move through life like so many pawns in a

giant chess match, simply surviving. I have noticed that people with physical limitations, few means or limited economic access, seem to find many simple joys in their lives. They must or else life becomes unbearable. Those moments are completely theirs, owned, dictated, or regulated by none.

We all do what we must. The routine laboring, the worrying, the working, the balancing. The daily churn of making decisions, we mull them over and over, but once made, execute them, and don’t look back. That somber feeling, ‘Oh, if I had done this or if I had done that...’ Let it pass and do something simple, even childlike. A happier feeling will arrive.

In stress-filled moments, especially in stressfilled moments, a momentary recollection of that childhood toy, that dancing twilight, that happily mumbling toddler, can help unravel the cobwebs of confusion. Some of the stress will dissolve, clarity will shine. Simplify it.

As another year flips over to the other side, the rapidity of time passing by like a whirlwind, the usual bits of time passage, thinning hair, squeaking bones, another step closer to the ultimate end, they all inevitably increase, but just step off the treadmill for a moment and dig up simple joys that are your own. That resolution isn’t only for a new year day, but any day of the year.

When all else fails, just put a little ketchup on it and all will be well.

Samir Shukla

Editor of Saathee Magazine

Contact: Samir@Saathee.com

Twitter: @ShuklaWrites

Newsletter: ShuklaWrites.Substack.com

The Editor’s Desk

Upcoming Events

Keohane Distinguished Lecture: Durham, NC (January 19, 2023)

Pawan Dhingra will deliver the Keohane Distinguished Lecture on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 6pm. He will address the topic: A Symphony, but With What Audience. On the need to broaden the reach of Asian American Studies. There will free parking. For more details, visit Calendar.Duke.Edu.

Ice on Main: Greenville, SC (through January 23, 2023)

United Community Bank Ice on Main is an open outdoor ice-skating rink in the heart of downtown Greenville, SC. This year, this winter tradition and favorite activity of many in the Upstate is open through January 16, 2023. Located at Village Green near the Courtyard Marriott, the rink is open 7 days a week. For more info, visit Greenvillesc.gov.

Oak City Revolution: Raleigh, NC (January 28, 2023)

Raleigh’s premiere Bollywoodfusion student teams dance competition will take place at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh, NC on Saturday, January 28 , 2023. Teams from several universities will compete in the competition. For more details, Facebook.com/OakCityRevolution.

Navarasa Intercollegiate Dance Competition: Raleigh, NC (January 28, 2023)

North Carolina State University students present intercollegiate Indian classical dance competition on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Stewart Theater on the campus of NC State in Raleigh, NC. This is the only competition featuring Indian classical dance in the Southeastern United States. All proceeds will be donated to the 700 Rivers organization. For more details, visit Eventbrite and search for Navarasa competition 2023.

Blowing Rock WinterFest (January 26 - 29, 2023)

The 25th annual Blowing Rock WinterFest takes place from January 26-29, 2023 in Boone, NC. The fest features silent auction and raffle, arts and crafts, holiday themed activities, cork and canvas, concerts and performers, a polar bear plunge in Chetola Lake, ice-carvings, chili cook-off, wine tastings, auctions, and more. The fest is also a fundraiser for various charitable causes. Travel & Leisure magazine named Blowing Rock “one of America’s Prettiest Winter Towns.” Details, Blowingrockwinterfest.com.

North Carolina Jazz Festival: Wilmington, NC (February 2 - 4, 2023)

Enjoy one of the largest traditional jazz festivals in the Southeast from February 24, 2023. This musical weekend starts on Thursday evening and then continues Friday and Saturday night with four-hour concerts featuring seven sets with six or seven musicians per set (each with a different leader). Come experience some fantastic musicians from around the globe. Find out more at Ncjazzfestival.org.

Carolina Chocolate Festival: Morehead City, NC (February 4 - 5, 2023)

Chocolate lovers indulge! The annual Carolina Chocolate Festival will take place between February 4 & 5, 2023 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City. Both days will be packed with activities from tastings, demonstrations and Pro/Am and Junior bake-offs to relaxing at the spa. Find out more at Carolinachocolatefestival.com

Hilton Head Marathon (February 11, 2023)

Good vibes happen on the tides and The Hilton Head Island Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K is back delivering both. Join hundreds of runners on Saturday, February 11, 2023 for an island adventure running by beautiful lagoons, Cross Town Park, and over the Bay Bridge! The scenery is enough to give you that tropical state of mind you’ve been longing for. Registration and other info can be found at Hhmarathon.com.

Wine & Chocolate Festival: Greensboro, NC (February 11, 2023)

Wineries and wine enthusiasts from across the region will gather on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex for an unlimited sampling of dozens of NC wines of all styles and tastes. Bottles will be available for purchase. Everyone gets a free souvenir tasting glass. Enjoy a selection of tasty nibbles and treats, chocolates, and cheeses. Browse through mini boutiques. Check out Wineandchocolatefestivals.com.

Upcoming Events

Dog Days of Winter: Charlotte, NC (February 11, 2023)

Celebrate winter with your four-legged friends on February 11, 2023 with a variety of activities ranging from a 5K trail race, adoption events, ice rink access, dog yoga, doggy vendors and more. It will take place at the Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte, NC. For more details, visit Center.whitewater.org.

Mark Twain in Greenville (February 11, 2023)

Mark Twain was arguably America’s first celebrity and most quoted humorist. His fictional characters, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Becky Thatcher are more fondly remembered than most American presidents. It has been said of the influence he has had on our language, “Mark Twain wrote the way we talk, and now we talk the way he wrote.” At age 70, at the height of his fame, Mark Twain began to advertise his presence everywhere he went by wearing white suits in winter as well as summer. The secrets this man revealed were as carefully crafted as his art and as his personality. This special performance will take place on Friday, February 11, 2023 at the Greenville Theatre. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Find out more at Historycomesalive.org.

Reedy Reels Film Festival: Greenville, SC (February 17 - 19, 2023)

The Reedy Reels Film Festival promotes the appreciation of the art of filmmaking while generating support for independent filmmakers especially in the Upstate. The festival engages the community and creates exposure for local filmmaking while building inspiration and new opportunities for local artists. The 7th annual festival will take place from February 17-19, 2023 at the South Carolina Children’s Theatre in Greenville, SC. Find out more by visiting Reedyreels.com.

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition: Charleston, SC (February 17 - 19, 2023)

Experience the nation’s premier celebration of wildlife art and the great outdoors at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. Hunt for your next piece of fine art, collect handcrafted goods, witness live demonstrations, and get a taste of the Lowcountry. The exhibition will be on February 17-19, 2023, with events across Charleston at different venues. Learn more at sewe.com.

The Entertainers: Atlanta, GA (March 3, 2023)

Bollyood superstar Akshay Kumar headlines the show simply titled “The Entertainers,” along with many up and coming young actors and performers, including Mouni Roy, Zahrah Khan, Aparshakti

Khurana, Nora Fatehi, Disha Patani, Sonam Bajwa, Stebin Ben, Jasleen Royal, and others. The show will take place on Friday, March 3, 2023 at the Gas South Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA. For more details, call 770-904-9297 or 404-786-3252.

Red Baraat Festival of Colors: Raleigh, NC (March 3, 2023)

The 11th annual festival of colors tour by Red Baraat makes a stop at NC State University, Raleigh, NC on Friday, March 3, 2023. Red Baraat is a pioneering band from Brooklyn, New York. Conceived by dhol player Sunny Jain, the group has drawn worldwide praise for its singular sound, a merging of hard driving North Indian bhangra with elements of hip-hop, jazz and raw punk energy. For details, visit Redbaraat.com.

An Evening with Deepak Chopra: Charlotte, NC (March 22, 2023)

Doctor, author, speaker, & alternative medicine expert Deepak Chopra advocates for practicing gratitude to counteract stress and to stay healthy during times of stress. Chopra is a worldrenowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation who is known for his spiritual approach to wellness. He will speak at Queens University on March 22, 2023 beginning at 7pm. The event is sponsored by the Learning Society and will take place at Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement, Sandra Levine Theatre on the campus of Queens University. For more details, visit Queens.edu.

For our full events listings visit our website: saathee.com/events

If your organization is holding an event, send the details to Samir@Saathee.com.

We will publish the info if it is appropriate for our events sections.

The In-Betweens: A Teenage Story

Imagine a chameleon trying to blend in with its surroundings. It turns brown when it is climbing on a tree, but it turns green when it lands in the grass. This colorful creature adapts based on the conditions of its environment. I used to be that chameleon, feeling pressured to change, caught between two different cultures. I wanted to remain true to my parents’ Indian culture while I tried hard to fit in with my American peers. I call myself an “In-Between” and figured out how to coexist in a bicultural world while staying true to myself.

Things were simpler in Elementary School. I was a happy go lucky kid who didn’t quite have a mature lens of the world yet. To me, there was one culture in the universe, and I was just like everyone else. I never noticed how my family pronounced the letter, “H” differently than other families. If anybody gave me weird looks for pronouncing a word differently, it was because I had something in my teeth. The divisions between different cultures never stood out to me, until one day in 4th grade. On picture day, I proudly walked into class, wearing my golden lehenga. When I walked into class, I was proud of my identity, my bangles jingling with pride on my arms. When I walked out of class, I had lost my identity, and the bangles were hidden away in my backpack. No longer was I oblivious to my classmates’ sneers and whispers. No longer would I politely correct my friends on how to pronounce, “Diwali”. I finally recognized the distinctions between “their culture” and “my culture”.

The only goal that kids seemed to have in Middle School was to fit in. If you didn’t have the trendiest clothes, you’d better put it on your Christmas wish list and hope that your parents get it for you. My sister truly had the toughest time in Middle School, with this concept of “fitting in”. She was always this bold and charismatic kid who was confident enough to spark up a conversation with a random stranger on the street. Her spark was dimmed by the pressures of molding into majority. Like me, her eyes started catching subtle differences between her and her classmates. She

My Voice Teenage Story

My Voice by Sereena Kumar

Upcoming Movie Releases

January 6

The Old Way (Director: Brett Donowho)

Cast: Nicolas Cage and Ryan Kiera Armstrong

January 13

Kuttey

(Director: Aasmaan Bhardwaj) Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Tabu, and Konkona Sen Sharma

A Man Called Otto (Director: Marc Forster)

Cast: Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, and Mike Birbiglia

Veera Simja Reddy (Director: Gopichand Malineni) Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Shruti Haasan, and Chandrika Ravi

A Snowy Day in Oakland (Director: Kim Bass)

Cast: Arden Myrin, Keith David, Michael Jai White, and Nicole Ari Parker

Waltair Veerayya (Director: KS Ravindra)

Cast: Chiranjeevi, Ravi Teja, Shruti Haasan, and Bobby Simha

Plane (Director: Jean-François Richet)

Cast: Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, and Tony Goldwyn

January 20

The Son (Director: Florian Zeller)

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, and Anthony Hopkins

When You Finish Saving the World (Director: Jesse Eisenberg)

Cast: Julianne Moore, Alisha Boe, and Jay O. Sanders

January 27

Pathaan (Director: Siddharth Anand) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham Distant (Directors: Josh Gordon & Will Speck) Cast: Anthony Ramos, Naomi Scott, and Zachary Quinto

Teen Wolf: The Movie (Director: Russell Mulcahy) Cast: Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, and Colton Haynes

February 3

Infinity Pool (Director: Brandon Cronenberg) Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth, and Amanda Brugel

Shotgun Wedding (Director: Jason Moore) Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel, Lenny Kravitz, and Cheech Marin

Knock at the Cabin

(Director: M. Night Shyamalan Cast: Dave Bautista, Ben Aldridge, and Rupet Grint

Saathee.com/Movies has the latest info on where the movies are showing or streaming. All dates subject to change.

F i l m C l i p s

Pathaan

Shah Rukh Khan returns to the big screen in a starring role after a five-year absence with the action thriller Pathaan. Deepika Padukone and John Abraham co-star in the movie directed by Siddharth Anand. Look for the film in theaters during India’s Republic Day weekend on January 27, 2023.

Polite Society

Shotgun Wedding

A couple’s extravagant destination wedding is hijacked by criminals. In the process of saving their families, they rediscover why they fell in love in the first place. Jason Moore directs Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Coolidge, Lenny Kravitz, and Cheech Marin in this romantic action film. It begins streaming on January 27, 2023.

Knock at the Cabin

Suspense master M. Night Shyamalan returns with his latest film Knock at the Cabin, starring Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint. While vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse. The film opens on February 3, 2023.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne, along with Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, explore the Quantum Realm, where they interact with strange creatures and embark on an adventure that goes beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. The latest version of this miniature superhero stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, and Jonathan Majors. The film hits the screens on February 17, 2023.

The Nida Manzoor directed film will premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January 2023. Polite Society stars Priya Kansara, Ritu Arya, Nimra Bucha, Akshay Khanna, Seraphina Beh, and Ella Bruccoleri. A merry mash up of sisterly affection, parental disappointment and bold action, the film follows martial artist-in-training Ria Khan who believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her friends, Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood. Focus Features will release the film in theaters on April 28, 2023.

Kartik Aaryan to Star in Aashiqui 3

Kartik Aaryan on board as the leading man, the filmmakers of this third chapter are currently on a hunt for a new leading lady, according to Bollywood Hungama. In a recent statement given by producer Mukesh Bhatt to Pinkvilla, he said that they will be featuring a debutant as the leading lady opposite Aaryan. He said, “We are still looking. I am going through a very extensive search. We want to introduce a new face for Aashiqui 3.” The producer also revealed that the film is currently in the scripting stage and is expected to go on floors next year. Directed by Anurag Basu, the romantic musical will have songs composed by Pritam.

With

Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway

The Rani Mukerji-starrer Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway is going to release in cinemas on March 3, 2023, as per a latest announcement by the makers. Directed by Ashima Chibber, the film is inspired by a true story that rocked children and human rights at an international level. An official statement from the makers said, “The film recounts the story of an immigrant Indian mother’s battle against the Norwegian foster care system and legal machinery to win back the custody of her children.”

Comedians at War Round 3: Roast Battle

Corner by Raajeev Aggerwhil

We are off to a new year again. A new year is the time for making new resolutions that we can break after a couple of months and feel guilty for the next six months. One of my resolutions for the new year is to be able to do a stand-up duo set with my wife at a comedy club. As I have mentioned before, I got my wife into comedy. As a bania, it was a strategic decision. Instead of paying a marriage therapist, I thought we could let the audience pay us to listen to our problems. But such business plans come with challenges.

In 2022, we were asked by our Indian friends to do a comedy set at their 25th wedding anniversary. Our pride didn’t allow us to say no, so we agreed. It was actually a great success. Later we analyzed the main reason why it worked so well. Since we had such a traumatic experience performing together at an open mike five years ago, we decided to prepare for our sets individually and decided to improvise on the fly. The lack of preparation and being able to riff on the fly using our existing jokes worked very well at the wedding anniversary event.

A couple of months after that, we were asked by another friend to perform at her son’s wedding at the ladies sangeet. Since the wedding was going to take place in Los Angeles

and she gave us a three-month advance notice, we couldn’t find any excuse not to do a duo. So, we set some ground rules and got to work.

At the event, my wife started out making fun of us; how we are not exactly the model couple the newly wedded bride and groom should look up to. We did offer some money savings tips if they ever ran into any marital conflicts. Rather than paying for marriage counseling, they were welcome to utilize our outsource couple in India to fight on their behalf with an additional 30 percent discount for the next five years. That was our wedding gift to them!

Then we gave a little bit about our background and how we had been doing comedy individually for several years. I confessed that when some people approached us to do an act together, I didn’t think it was a good idea. “If I get a divorce, I’ll lose half my jokes.” However, my wife insisted, “But I have so many good jokes about you.”

I told the audience many people think Indian men are arrogant because we walk in front of our wives. They don’t understand that we come from an agricultural society. When we protect our wives from bull crap, we literally mean it. At that point, my wife said, “Oh, thank you for laying your jacket down.” I replied, “I didn’t. I laid your jacket down.” We got good laughter, mostly from men this time.

Raajeev’s

Bring Your Own Infinity!

Thinking About Thinking

by Balaji Prasad

“Falsehood has an infinity of combinations, but truth has only one mode of being.”

- Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Life can seem difficult. You need to deal with a lot out there: a veritable infinity of things. That alone would be difficult, but there are quite a few things inside you that have somehow taken root and have become exceedingly important. These things inside compete and entangle with one another.

They also interact with the infinity outside in ways that produce uncertainty, anxiety and a sense that you can never succeed in quite the way that you would like to.

It is difficult because you are resource constrained. There is only one of you. You can hold only so many things at the same time in your head, let alone in your heart: a space that is smaller still. You only have so many hours in a day. And you know only so much.

So, you look for ways to match your small set of finite resources with the infinite tangle that the universe throws at you. This is essentially a supply-and-demand problem.

There are only two ways to do this: either shrink your universe or expand your resources.

Fortunately, both approaches are possible.

It’s a small world after all

The epiphany you need is that you don’t have to shrink the universe; you only need to shrink yours! It is critical to understand that these two are very different things.

The easiest way to do this is, of course, to examine the things you inject into your universe, to see if there is a way to whittle some of it down. Maybe if you did not accentuate certain things as much as you do, those things would cease to be such a strong gravitational force on everything else, causing them to have to spin around these? Maybe you could reduce the number of things that seemingly drive your engine, but which you don’t really need?

If you dig even lightly on the surface, it may yield: you may be surprised to find things that don’t matter much at all, in the overall scheme of things. Do those Facebook (or whatever social media is used) posts really need to get acclaim in the form of “likes” or other positive responses? Do you really need to get into that flaming battle online with someone who is not going to make a significant difference to your life? These are just examples, of course; there are many others that may be relevant for each individual as we sift through the rubble that is part of the life that we sometimes construct.

Winter Foods

Nutrition for Life

by Parul Kharod

Normally, all January health columns would be about New Year’s resolutions, but we already talked about being proactive about it in the November column (saathee.com/six-pillars-of-lifestyle-medicine). If you haven’t had a chance to read it, do refer to it to learn about mindful eating and creating a healthy yearlong lifestyle.

In this column, we will talk about foods to be eaten during winter. It is best to eat foods according to the seasons, although in this age of modern agriculture and transportation, most foods are available all year round. The season of winter brings cold air, and health concerns such as mucus buildup, cough and congestion, joint pain, mood disorders (winter blues), and lethargy. Eating the right foods can help prevent these issues, build immunity and improve digestion. During winter months, we need to eat foods that keep the body warm.

Grains: Millets are the best option for grains year-round, but especially during the winter months. The body needs to generate heat and needs better insulation. Millets are rich sources of protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, antioxidants, and important minerals, and are considered warm for the body. Bajri (pearl millet), Ragi (finger millet), Kangni (foxtail millet), and Jowar (sorghum) are grains recommended during winter. These can be used as the whole grain and made into a warm porridge; they can be soaked and ground into batter to make idli, dosa, dhokla, etc.; they can be used as flour to make roti. Try to use intact grains more frequently compared to finely ground flours.

Leafy Greens: Green leafy vegetables have an abundance of nutrients to help with blood circulation as well as boost immunity. Green leafy vegetables are also rich in antioxidants, lutein, vitamin K, nitrate, folate, αtocopherol, β-carotene, and the flavonoid kaempferol; these nutrients have also been studied to show benefits for brain health and prevention of cognitive decline. Certain greens used to be available only during winter months in India. Now we have the luxury of eating them throughout the year. While during summer you may eat more salads, it is advisable to eat cooked greens during winter. Green leafy vegetables can be made into sabji, curry, or soups. They can be mixed with dals and lentils for added protein and variety. Leafy greens can also be added to many other

Nutrition continued on page 82

Review for possible Federal or State income tax exposure.

Mortality, Forgiveness and the Fear

that Surrounds Both

Mirror, Mirror by Jennifer Allen

2022 was a confusing year.

We were still recovering from the two previous years of on and off isolationism and in the process had to come to terms with a new normal; a mixed bag of going out with or without masks depending on the either the rules of the venue or our own personal paranoia and relearning how to appropriately converse with other human beings in person as opposed to an electronic device.

On a more global scale, we witnessed various marginalized peoples from around the world valiantly stand up to their oppressors. From the defiance of the Ukrainians telling Russia that they won’t go quietly, to the outpouring of rebellion following the overturn of Roe vs. Wade, to the women of Iran standing up to a world still marred by sexual despotism, to the plethora of whistleblowers finally spilling the tea about corrupt practices in previously well thought of businesses.

The last 12 months were a challenge for many of us.

On a much more general level we, as a society, seem to have hit a point where mortality is seen as an unknown. Not only do we have Covid still clinging to our collective heels, but we also face the overarching factors of climate change, the ongoing economic crisis, ideological extremism, and the uncertainty of democracy across the globe.

We now live in a world that is so malleable as to change dramatically in a matter of years instead of decades. It is (mostly) controlled by a generation of people who themselves grew up in a world ravaged by some of the self-same issues we are facing now. Yet, these leaders have adopted an impassible “it’s my way or the highway” mentality and chosen to argue amongst themselves most of the time.

Mirror continued on page 80

Changes in the Relationship of Guru-Shishya

Dances

of India by Dr. Maha Gingrich

Recently, I am seeing major changes in the relationship of guru and the student. Unless you are learning classical dances, this relationship does not even exist. If you are learning classical dances, you will have a consistency in relationship between guru and the student as it takes 7 to 9 years to learn these dance styles. If not, you will learn a quick Bollywood dance for a month here and there to be on the stage for a show or a festival. So, what happened to the Guru-Shishya Parampara?

When you search for the meaning of Guru-Shishya Parampara, this is what we find: The guru–shishya tradition, or parampara (“lineage”), denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and religions such as Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism (Tibetan and Zen tradition).

If it is a succession plan, then all the classical dance teachers are in trouble in the USA as most of our students complete their arangetrams (dance graduations) before they graduate from high school. Then they leave for college eliminating any chances of succession.

Thousands of years ago in India, the Gurukul system laid out norms for the complex and fascinating relationship between the teacher and student. Because the fine arts are a spiritually uplifting experience, the guru came second only to god, and hence the sloka, Guru Bramha, Guru Visnu, Guru deva Maheshwara, Guru sakshat Parabramha tasmayee shri gurave namaha. Here the sloka compares the guru to the greatest undivided power or energy that forms the base of creation itself and combines the forces of the Creator, the Destroyer, and the Preserver according to the Vedic beliefs.

As time has passed, however, there have been progressive changes in the system. I still remember, I had to show my worthiness to learn Kuchipudi, from my guru’s guru. After showing our dances to the level we have learned, he chose to teach me and said “no” to others.

This transmission of privileged knowledge required the student’s demonstration of serious commitment, uniqueness, ability to learn, and potential to carry on the teachings of the guru.

Students spent an extensive amount of time every day with the gurus aspiring to be like them. They even learned other art forms such as music to enhance their understanding and practice of dance. Guru not only taught dancing, but also taught life lessons.

Dances of India

Colleges Without Supplemental Essays 2022-23

College Admissions Insider

by Violet Wei

Applying for college is a major undertaking. For some students, completing the Common App questions, activity list, personal statement, and the supplemental essays can take several months.

Recently, two trends in college applications have been observed. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of applications over the last year. For example, Common App, one of the largest college application platforms that has partnered with more than 900 schools, saw an average 14.4 percent increase in applications from 2019-2020 to 2021-2022. The University of California received 210,840 first-year applications, a 3.5 percent increase over the previous year. This brings us to the second trend: Increased competition among prestigious universities. For the class of 2026, Columbia University and Harvard University accepted less than 4 percent of their applicants. In addition, the number of UCLA applicants who graduated in the top 9 percent of their high school class increased by 32 percent.

As a result of the fierce competition, many students began applying to over ten colleges to help beat the odds. Nicole Grees, a college counselor at Moon Prep noted her medical students will usually apply to a total of 30-35 schools with a combination of BS/MD, Ivy League, and other colleges.

However, rather than focusing solely on applying to the ideal elite schools, it is critical to develop a balanced school list. A well-balanced list of reach, target, and safety schools provides students with more options, increases their chances of admission, and creates a backup plan for colleges to which they are most likely to be admitted, while also taking chances on a few dream schools.

Build a Balanced School List

The 5P strategy will help students build a balanced list that focuses on five factors: place, price, program, people, and philosophy. Do I want to live in this location? Can I afford the cost? Does the school provide programs that are relevant to my career goals? Do the people and the school share my values? What are the average student GPA and test scores? To begin, create an Excel or Google Doc spreadsheet and research

the questions to get started. Once you have gathered and input the answers, categorize the schools into reach schools, target schools, and safety schools. Aim for 2-3 schools for each category to have a balanced school list.

1. Reach schools. The acceptance rate is typically lower than 25 precent. A reach school is one where your academic credentials fall below the school’s range for the average or the schools with an acceptance rate of below 10 percent, that is a reach for everyone

2. Target schools. The acceptance rate is 25 percent or above. Your academic credentials fall well within (or even exceed) the college’s range.

3. Safety schools. The acceptance rate is at least 40 percent. Your academic credentials fall comfortably above the school’s range for the average.

Schools With No Supplemental Essays

The following schools do not require supplemental essays. Please keep in mind that if you are interested in their special programs such as honors, nursing programs, or scholarships, you may still be required to write essays. Having schools on your list that don’t require supplemental essays gives you more time and energy to apply to more schools and programs.

Albion College

Case Western University

Clemson University

Colby College

Connecticut College

Dillard University

DePaul University

DePauw University

Drexel University

Fairleigh Dickinson

Fordham University

Grinnell College

Kent State

Kenyon College

Middlebury College

Muhlenberg College

NJ Institute of Tech

Northeastern University

Ohio State University

Seton Hall University

Siena College

Skidmore College

Spelman College

Stevens Institute of Tech

Stony Brook University

SUNY Binghamton

SUNY Buffalo

University of Alabama

University of Arkansas

Univ Colorado-Denver

Univ of Connecticut

University of Dayton

University of Delaware

University of Denver

University of Iowa

University of Minnesota 37. Univ of Nebraska-Lincoln 38. Univ of New Hampshire 39. University of the Pacific 40. University of Pittsburgh 41. University of St. Thomas 42. University of Vermont 43. Wesleyan University

Spot the Differences

See if you can spot the 15 differences between the original photo below and modified one under it. Answers are on page 88.

Why Fusion Ignition is Being Hailed as a Major Breakthrough in Fusion

By Carolyn Kuranz

American scientists have announced what they have called a major breakthrough in a long-elusive goal of creating energy from nuclear fusion.

The U.S. Department of Energy said on Dec. 13, 2022, that for the first time – and after several decades of trying – scientists have managed to get more energy out of the process than they had to put in.

But just how significant is the development? And how far off is the long-sought dream of fusion providing abundant, clean energy? Carolyn Kuranz, an associate professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Michigan who has worked at the facility that just broke the fusion record, helps explain this new result

What happened in the fusion chamber?

Fusion is a nuclear reaction that combines two atoms to create one or more new atoms with slightly less total mass. The difference in mass is released as energy, as described by Einstein’s famous equation, E = mc2 , where energy equals mass times the speed of light squared. Since the speed of

light is enormous, converting just a tiny amount of mass into energy – like what happens in fusion – produces a similarly enormous amount of energy.

Researchers at the U.S. Government’s National Ignition Facility in California have demonstrated, for the first time, what is known as “fusion ignition.” Ignition is when a fusion reaction produces more energy than is being put into the reaction from an outside source and becomes selfsustaining.

A gold and plastic canister. The fuel is held in a tiny canister designed to keep the reaction as free from contaminants as possible. U.S. Department of Energy/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

The technique used at the National Ignition Facility involved shooting 192 lasers at a 0.04 inch (1 mm) pellet of

Have You Heard Rules for Financial Abuse? They

are Here

Personal Finances

by Mo Vidwans

I get about three calls every week which inform me that either my credit card account is overcharged or my electric bill is overdue and threatening to turn off the heat and power unless large amount of money is withdrawn and sent immediately. Or some payments are overdue (which they are not) or something to that effect; sometimes there is an unpaid traffic ticket and my driver’s license will be revoked if not paid. The financial abuse of this kind, and there are many ways it can happen, has become so prevalent, especially for the senior population, that congress had to pass some laws to protect this segment of the population. The other most important point is that these attempts at abuse don’t stop here; those who are in that business find myriad ways of taking advantage of vulnerable seniors. Like cockroaches, we cannot get rid of them; that is for sure.

We live longer now compared to what it was even just a generation ago. It was very common for people to retire at 65, have social security going and then not be around after a few years. Now the average age has prolonged quite a bit and people do live to their mature age of 85 and up routinely. IRS estimates that average age for males to be around 84 and for females to be at 87. The result of having this longer life span is that as we age, we are more vulnerable to scams and those who deliberately work on such scams know this fact. Even those of sane and strong mind worry about little things like the example I gave above and are more likely to fall prey to such tactics.

The other most common tactics is to get seniors to withdraw a large sum of money from their account and have it ready to send somewhere. AARP works hard on getting its membership aware of this kind of fraud and prevent them to go into any drastic action by going into a panic mode. Financial Planners and Advisors are also allowed now to put a temporary hold on a suspicious disbursement request from you, so your money is safeguarded until the concern is investigated. Typically, once the money leaves an account, it is difficult to get it back.

Congress, state regulators and lawmakers, and the financial services industry have approved new laws and rules recently to help safeguard seniors and their assets, based on the idea that financial institutions and professionals are on the front lines of spotting elder financial abuse. The changes are meant to protect seniors and to shield financial professionals from liability for reporting exploitation.

On the Federal level, in 2018 Congress passed the Senior

Safe Act which protects financial services professionals from being sued over privacy and other violations for reporting suspected elder financial abuse. So, in the future, if a bank teller notices an elderly customer wanting to withdraw large amount or making puzzling transactions the teller could flag that behavior to a manager who could contact authorities. On the state level, 19 states have adopted some version of this Federal law that gives guidance to advisors and brokerdealers on notifying “Trusted point of contact” and putting a hold on the account to investigate fraud. Details differ by state and there are five more states that are considering similar measure.

The Trusted Contact is different from a trustee in a durable power of attorney (POA). The trusted contact cannot be used to transact any business for which you will need the POA but if a suspicious activity is noticed then the Trusted contact can get involved.

Unfortunately, the Planners and the Advisors aren’t trained in diagnosing cognitive decline. If they notice that the client is confused about money or other simple things, then they would reach out to the Trusted Contact for further actions in which a medical professional will be involved.

All the recent rules and laws complement each other but it is also clear that, though it is a good step in the right direction, it is not enough. In the meantime, we can help ourselves and take steps that will keep our accounts and those of our loved ones safe. Following are some basic rules we can follow and get our elders to follow to avoid getting sucked into a scam.

Scammers want to create instant panic in your mind; that is their main objective. Fear follows panic which is followed by calamity or some drastic action.

First action always is to do nothing until you settle down, just because someone says so, does not mean the world is going to collapse. Then get the Trusted Contact involved or may be others and determine what is going on. Usually, you don’t need to do anything.

A steady daily or weekly check on all your accounts is a must; it does not take that much time to do this. Learn some fast way of doing this so that it will not consume too much of your time. This way, you know where you stand with your accounts and that such calls are frivolous.

When scammers call, the best thing is to start asking questions about them, where they are coming from and how did they determine that you are in trouble. Usually, they hang up.

It is essential for you to do your own checking on whatever problem that was posed to you. Please remember that you have time on your side. Whatever the problem is, those organizations would contact you themselves without going through an outside outfit like the scammers that called.

Never, ever, give or confirm any personal information they may be asking.

Mo Vidwans

is an independent, board certified financial planner. For details visit, VidwansFinancial.com, call 984-888-0355 or write to: mpvidwans@yahoo.com

Pottery Barn Announces Global Collaboration with Deepika Padukone

Retailer Pottery Barn announced in early December a global partnership with the iconic international celebrity, Deepika Padukone. The actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist has been signed as a brand ambassador to promote Pottery Barn’s international expansion which began with the launch of potterybarn.in in July and the opening of the company’s first retail location in September in Delhi, India. As a brand ambassador for Pottery Barn, Padukone will also work closely with the brand to co-create a collection.

“I’ve always been fascinated with spaces and my passion for interior design is no secret!” said Deepika Padukone. “I am therefore thrilled to be collaborating with global home furnishing leader Pottery Barn and look forward to creating timeless pieces together!”

“We are excited to partner with global icon Deepika Padukone,” said Monica Bhargava, Pottery Barn Chief Design Officer. “Deepika’s passion for home design and timeless sense of style resonate with Pottery Barn fans worldwide—and through our collaboration launching in 2023, customers will have the opportunity to bring Pottery Barn’s coveted designs infused with Deepika’s signature style into their own homes.”

Mindy Kaling to Receive Norman Lear Achievement Award

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced recently that Mindy Kaling will be honored with the Guild’s Norman Lear Achievement Award. Kaling will receive the award at the 34th Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at The Beverly Hilton.

The Norman Lear Award recognizes a producer or producing team for their extraordinary body of work in television.

“Comedy can break boundaries and push culture forward; Mindy Kaling‘s immense contributions to the television comedy landscape are prime examples of this truth,” said Producers Guild of America Presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line. “Kaling is known for her trailblazing work on The Office, a

widely loved and infinitely rewatchable contemporary classic, but it’s her work producing series from diverse female perspectives that is reshaping the industry. From The Mindy Project, to Never Have I Ever, to The Sex Lives of College Girls, Kaling has proven just how much audiences have been craving funny, relatable stories about characters we’ve rarely see as television protagonists. We are so happy to present her with the Norman Lear Award at this year’s PGA Awards ceremony.”

“It is such an honor to be asked to receive the Norman Lear Award, a prize named after the prolific and groundbreaking producer I am so inspired by. To be included in this prestigious group of past recipients is humbling, and I’m so grateful to the Producers Guild for this recognition”, said Kaling.

Kaling is an Emmy-nominated writer, producer, author, director, actor, and, most recently Tony Award winner.

The Producers Guild of America represents over 8,500 producers. It is a non-profit trade organization that represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and new media.

Luminary Launching Podcasts Featuring Masaba Gupta and Konkona Sen Sharma

Luminary, a subscription-based podcast and audio entertainment network, has announced its official launch in India, with a content slate for global South Asians. The network is launching two new shows: Konkona Sen Sharma-hosted Barefoot Boys based on India’s historic soccer win against the British in 1911, and How I Masaba helmed by fashion mogul Masaba Gupta in conversation with remarkable women on business, art, culture and more.

Having seen considerable success globally with names like Dave Chappelle, Lena Dunham, and Russell Brand, Luminary will extend its content legacy to the Indian market. Luminary will develop and curate localized stories with a global appeal.

First on Luminary is Barefoot Boys, one of India’s greatest sports stories. The podcast will recreate the untold story of 11 barefooted Indian football players who defeated a trained, experienced British team during a 1911 match. Giving voice to the real-life story is National AwardWinning Actor Konkona Sen Sharma.

In How I Masaba, the business and creative leader Masaba Gupta takes a seat opposite fellow pioneering women who are breaking ceilings, barriers and boundaries. In this light-hearted, insightful businessmeets-life podcast, Masaba will get chatty with the changemakers, tastemakers and the trend-setters of

modern India, setting the pace for the next-gen ‘sheroes.’

Talking about her upcoming podcast, Masaba Gupta shares “I was always interested in back stories of badass women who have conquered so much. This is going to be really special since I get to talk to women I am inspired by every day! Expect a non-preachy, honest and crazy exchange of ideas, stories, and even mishaps.”

Upon entering the grounds, Mahant Swami Maharaj and the Prime Minister were greeted with a colorful welcome dance by hundreds of BAPS children and youths. Modi then offered his tribute by placing flowers before the beautiful 30-foot sculpted image of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

After the ceremonial opening, the Prime Minister was guided through the enchanting glow garden, where artistic renditions of moral stories and inspiring values reflected Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s efforts to illumine the lives of countless people globally. The Prime Minister then observed the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav display, celebrating 75 years of India’s independence through a tribute to Indian heroes and inspirational figures.

He then arrived at the Bal Nagari, the children’s cultural wonderland, where he was greeted by the BAPS children who created and produced the shows and exhibits.

Commenting on the concept of Barefoot Boys, Konkona Sen Sharma said “The tale of Barefoot Boys is timeless. It will stand the test of time even 100 years from now. This is the power and guts of the story. I am honored to tell this story, as a Bengali and more so as an Indian. Luminary has done a great job bringing this concept to fruition, which I am sure will be well-appreciated by audiences”

India is the third largest podcast consumer having 57.6 million monthly listeners (PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2020).

Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centennial Celebration

The Prime Minister viewed the three innovative musical shows in the Nagari. The ‘Sea of Suvarna’ is the story of “Swarna the Goldfish,” performed by 270 BAPS girls, emphasizing the importance of both hard work and prayers for success. The ‘Village of Buzo’ is the emotional journey of a tribal boy and the sacrifice of his parents, highlighting the value of respecting parents. Finally, the ‘Jungle of Sheru’ is about a young lion whose journey inspires the realization of our inner strength and true identity.

Finally, the Prime Minister joined Mahant Swami Maharaj on the main assembly stage, where they were enthusiastically greeted by tens of thousands of devotees present while millions watched live around the world.

The Head Swami of Akshardham in Gandhinagar, Anandswarup Swami said, “What was it in Pramukh Swami Maharaj that attracted so many and inspired them to positively transform their lives and selflessly serve? Pramukh Swami Maharaj was so simple and made himself easily accessible to everyone because he saw God in all. So anyone who came into his contact experienced so many virtues in him: selfless love, limitless compassion, contentment, divinity, peace, and the presence of God.”

Modi said, “I want to congratulate Mahant Swami Maharaj for inspiring this magnificent Nagar and the swamis for conceptualizing and creating it. It is not only impressive; it will be a source of inspiration for generations to come. This festival is great not just because of its scale and beauty but because of the experience of divinity and grand vision behind it, where everyone can learn about our heritage, history, faith and values.”

Mahant Swami Maharaj, in his blessings, stated, “Why has Narendrabhai Modi come? He is very intelligent and can grasp the entire nagar in an instant, but he has come solely to offer his homage to Pramukh Swami Maharaj.”

The colorful evening concluded with a maha-arti with tens of thousands of devotees. The celebration continues through January 15, 2023.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centennial Celebration was inaugurated on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, in Ahmedabad by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (B.A.P.S.).

The opening marked the public dedication of the monthlong festival spread over 600 acres that includes inspiring attractions, insightful exhibitions and enlightening programs that are free to all visitors.

Prime Minister Modi and Mahant Swami Maharaj commenced the auspicious inauguration ceremony amid the chanting of Vedic mantras and puja from the Sant Dwar, the majestic 380-foot-wide entrance gate honoring the great sages and saints of India. The Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat, theChief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel, and senior swamis of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha also participated in the ceremony.

The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a spiritual, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to improving society through individual growth by fostering the Hindu ideals of faith, unity, and selfless service. Visit Baps.org.

Events Planned to Commemorate 130th Birth Anniversary of Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

On January 5, 2023, thousands of yogis and spiritual seekers around the world will commemorate the 130th birth anniversary of Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, often referred to as the father of Yoga in the West, author of global bestseller Autobiography of a Yogi, and subject of the internationally acclaimed film Awake: The Life of Yogananda.

To honor the occasion, his worldwide organization SelfRealization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India

Masaba Gupta

(SRF/YSS) will livestream a devotional ceremony led by an SRF monastic on Thursday, January 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. (PST) from its international headquarters in Los Angeles, California. On Saturday, January 7, a six-hour meditation in honor of Paramahansa Yogananda’s birthday will be streamed live from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (PST). Both events will be conducted in English and available to watch live on Yogananda.org or on-demand until Monday, January 16 at 4:00 p.m. (PST).

“What Paramahansa Yogananda brought to the West,” says SRF/YSS President Brother Chidananda, “is perhaps one of the greatest gifts to humankind — India’s ancient science of Yoga, the science of knowing the Self, of realizing and experiencing who we truly are, divine souls with unlimited potential.”

During his 32 years in America and abroad, Paramahansaji brought Yoga and meditation to millions not only through his public lectures and classes, but through his many writings, and the temples and meditation centers he established around the world. Today, SRF and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS), which Yogananda established in 1917, have more than 800 temples, retreats, and meditation centers in over 60 countries around the world. His Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons are the complete home-study of his meditation and “how-to-live” teachings.

Yogananda passed away on March 7, 1952, in Los Angeles, following his speech at a banquet honoring Dr. Binay R. Sen, India’s Ambassador to the United States.

For more details, visit Yogananda.org.

India Better Positioned to Navigate Global Headwinds Than Other Major Emerging Economies: New World Bank Report

in 2022-23 financial year compared to 2021-22. Despite these challenges, the update expects India to register a strong GDP growth and remain one of the fasted growing major economies in the world, due to robust domestic demand.

The World Bank has revised its 2022-23 GDP forecast upward to 6.9 percent from 6.5 percent (in October 2022), considering a strong outturn in India in the second quarter (July-September) of the 2022-23 financial year.

“India’s economy has been remarkably resilient to the deteriorating external environment, and strong macroeconomic fundamentals have placed it in good stead compared to other emerging market economies,” said Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank’s Country Director in India. “However, continued vigilance is required as adverse global developments persist.”

The report forecasts that the India economy will grow at slightly lower rate of 6.6 percent in the 2023-24 fiscal year. A challenging external environment will affect India’s economic outlook through different channels. The report states that rapid monetary policy tightening in advanced economies has already resulted in large portfolio outflows and depreciation of the Indian Rupee while high global commodity prices have led to a widening of the current account deficit.

However, it argues that India’s economy is relatively insulated from global spillovers compared to other emerging markets. This is partly because India has a large domestic market and is relatively less exposed to international trade flows. The report finds that while a 1 percentage point decline in growth in the US is associated with a 0.4 percentage point decline in India’s growth, the effect is around 1.5 times larger for other emerging economies. Analysis for growth spillovers from the EU and China also yields similar results.

India’s external position has also improved considerably over the past decade. The current-account deficit is adequately financed by improving foreign direct investment inflows and a solid cushion of foreign exchange reserves (India has one of the largest holdings of international reserves in the world).

“A well-crafted and prudent policy response to global spillovers is helping India navigate global and domestic challenges,” said Dhruv Sharma, Senior Economist, World Bank, and lead author of the report.

World Hindi Conference in Fiji

The online registration for participation in 12th World Hindi Conference in Fiji is now in progress at Vishwahindisammelan.gov.in. The registration fee for the participants is as follows: Indian citizen: Rs. 2000; Indian Student: Rs. 500; Foreigner: US$ 50; Foreign Student: US$ 10. The fee can be paid online through the website. The fee has been reduced compared to the last Conference to encourage more participation.

India’s economy has demonstrated resilience despite a challenging external environment, says the World Bank in its latest India Development Update, a World Bank flagship publication. The report titled “Navigating the Storm”, finds that while the deteriorating external environment will weigh on India’s growth prospects, the economy is relatively well positioned to weather global spillovers compared to most other emerging markets.

Impact of a tightening global monetary policy cycle, slowing global growth and elevated commodity prices will mean that the Indian economy will experience lower growth

The 12th World Hindi Conference (WHC-12) is being organized by the Ministry of External Affairs from February 15 – 17, 2023 at Nadi in Fiji in collaboration with the Government of Fiji. The main theme of the Conference is “Hindi: From Traditional Knowledge to Artificial Intelligence”. The Website and Logo for the Conference were launched earlier in October 2022 in New Delhi by External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar.

The Website contains information on the 12th World Hindi conference, Visa requirements, accommodation and more for visitors to Fiji, in addition to information about previous World Hindi Conferences.

by Taige Shukla

Instagram: @whatsthe_chai

Uttarayan Chikki

Happy New Year Saathee fam! Hoping 2023 is filled with joy and many delicious new recipes. We’re starting this year off with a well-known sweet, commonly served in January during Uttarayan, which is a kite festival that takes place every year on January 14th & 15th, traditionally celebrated in the Northern states of India to mark when winter begins to transition into summer, and now celebrated internationally. Many snacks and sweets are served during the festival, with chikki being one of the most popular. Chikki is a type of sesame seed or peanut brittle made with jaggery (gor). Made up of only a few simple ingredients, this is a must have sweet if celebrating Uttaryan and a must have in your recipe book for any other celebrations through out the year. I’ve had the pleasure of celebrating the kite festival in Gujarat with friends and family. It is quite the sight to see, filled with excitement. Neighbors across the city gather along riverbanks and rooftops with packs full of colorful paper kites, taking to the sky to show off their kite flying skills or battling one another to see whose kite string remains intact the longest. The night usually ends with fireworks and lanterns full of lights flying through the night sky. So, grab your favorite kite and try out this super easy chikki recipe during Uttaryan this year!

Special thanks to Charu Shukla (Amma)

Ingredients Directions

Peanut Chikki

1 cup lightly salted or raw peanuts

½ cup Gor (jaggery), finely grated Ghee or butter, as needed 1 tbsp water

Til (Sesame Seed) Chikki

1 cup white sesame seeds Ghee or butter, as needed ½ cup Gor (jaggery), finely grated 1 tbsp water

Servings: About 20 pieces each Prep Time: 30 min

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

1. Prep your ingredients. Roughly chop peanuts and dry roast on medium heat until crunchy and lightly browned. If making Til chikki, do the same with the sesame seeds until fragrant and lightly browned. Set aside and let cool. Note: if peanuts have skin on them rub lightly between your hands until all skin is removed.

2. Prep your work surface. Grease a plate or cutting board with ghee or butter, this will help prevent the chikki from sticking once dry. Grease a rolling pin as well, if using it to flatten the sweet.

3. Next make the jaggery syrup. Make sure the jaggery is finely chopped or grated and add to a pan on low heat with 1 tbsp of water. Stir the mixture until melted and bubbles begin to disappear. The mixture will appear slightly darker in color. Be sure to continuously stir the syrup to prevent it from burning.

4. When the syrup is ready, turn the heat off and stir in roasted peanuts or til (sesame seeds) until well combined. Pour the chikki mixture on to the prepped work surface and roll or flatten into a thin, even layer. Before the mixture completely hardens cut it into bite sized squares.

5. Once the chikki has cooled it’s ready to serve!

An Energy Transition in India Will Likely be Bottom-up

While India presented a disappointing strategy for its long-term decarbonization at COP27 this is not the whole story: new jobs in the renewable sector are driving change

By Omair Ahmad

In an ironic comment on the COP27 process in Egypt, one of this year’s most significant climate initiatives was not announced at the UN climate summit. On November 15, 2022, the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Bali launched a USD 20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with Indonesia. As the fourth most populous country in the world, which generates about 60 percent of its electricity from a fleet of relatively young coal power plants, a clean energy transition for Indonesia has global repercussions, and was described by a US official as “probably the single largest climate finance transaction or partnership ever”.

Indonesia’s JETP follows the USD 8.5 billion JETP with South Africa launched at COP26. There has also been a push for India and Vietnam to become involved in the process. India, with its huge population and increasing carbon emissions – it is either the third-most polluting country, or the fourth political unit, depending on how one measures the European Union – would be the big prize. The Indian government has demurred so far, and its Long-Term LowCarbon Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) presented at COP27 goes some way to showing why.

The LT-LEDS can basically be summarized into three sections: (i) a strategy to build more renewable-based energy generation, thereby lowering the intensity of carbon emissions per unit of energy produced; (ii) the adoption of emerging technologies such as electric vehicles, bio-fuels, green hydrogen and (controversial) carbon capture and storage and (iii) a social movement that would drive lower consumption through the promotion of “traditional”, low-

consumption lifestyles. The last has no real metrics and is somewhat at odds with the energy generation focus of the first two. Nonetheless, what all three share is an absolute avoidance of phasing out coal-based power generation.

Coal in India is here to stay

There is no energy transition here, merely a promotion of renewable energy and its more fficient use alongside more coalbased power generation. In fact, over the past year India increased its coal-based power generation by 10 percent (alongside an increase in renewable energy by 21 percent). Almost threequarters of India’s energy is produced by coal plants, and while the aggressive adoption of renewable energy may lower its overall contribution to the Indian economy, total emissions are not on a downward trajectory.

One of the most important reasons is jobs. A few months ago, I was among a group of climate and environment journalists invited to a closed-door session with a senior Indian politician on India’s energy transition. One of the key questions the politician asked was how to sell the energy transition. His point was that, as an elected representative, his main responsibility is to his constituents – and their main demand is jobs.

This is a major sticking point. Coal India Limited is the largest government-owned coal production company in the world, and the third-largest employer in India. It employs just under 300,000 people directly, with about another million jobs coming from the private sector and ancillary

Dances of India

continued from page 46

During these times of instant gratification, even though you do have many dedicated classical dancers, the time younger students dedicate to dancing has diminished due to their school and social activities.

So, where does that leave these kids when it comes to having a lifelong mentor/guru? As we all agree, the role of a teacher, mentor or guru is crucial in dance or any other field.

The teacher-student relationship is a revered one all through the world. In recent times, due to the institutionalization of dance education, it took away the role of the traditional gurus and the Guru-Shishya Parampara in most parts of India.

Also, due to the inconsistent transition from tradition to modernity, there is still a lot of confusion in this field. On one hand, some parents raised with traditions know the value and quality of a dance form. They go to any lengths to ensure their children learn the traditions of these classical dance forms in their most possible purest form. On the other hand, some just want it to be something quick and easy to check a box of completion.

However, all of us at some point in our career or life looked for mentors or individuals who have accomplished a lot in life. Many aspire to be like them. As stated in ancient scriptures, guru is the beacon of light that dispels the gloom of ignorance.

Considering the rigorous training over many years and a meticulous technique of codified movements that are required to be a good Indian classical dancer, it seemed necessary for this kind of relationship to exist for a deeper experience.

Tradition has a powerful timeless quality, which is thought to be such as it encompasses and fuses the past and the present.

We can see the Guru-Shishya relationship, any way we wish to see. You can call it an ancient and old practice that is not relevant to modernity, or you can say it is essential for the betterment of our community and culture.

Dance and Veda place a high value on cognition, intellectual knowing and comprehension. A successful dancer has gone through a regimented learning process creating a trained body and allowing the dancer to grasp knowledge, retain the facts and develop the power of discipline using right and left brains.

This concept is now being implemented in the modern world. Every organization seeks mentoring opportunities to better our community and the youth. May it be work, Yoga or dance, I hope we continue to be inspired by a guru’s teachings or a mentor’s advice.

And as gurus and mentors, I hope we will continue to impart our knowledge to develop the next generation of learners and leaders.

Dr. Maha Gingrich

For questions or comments, contact via email at GingrichMaha@gmail.com

My Voice Teenage Story

continued from page 22

became ashamed of her tiffin lunch box when her classmates pointed out the smell and how her food looked like “brown mush”.

I was surprised to see her getting up an hour early every morning to straighten her beautiful wavy hair, making an effort to keep it plain and straight like her friend’s hair. It was a repeat of what happened to me in Elementary School! By reflecting upon my sister’s and my experience in school, it occurred to me that this cultural shaming happens at a very young age. As the mind grows up feeling the pain of cultural shaming, this mindset of “fitting in” is embedded into our everyday actions. That chameleon persona slowly becomes a part of our soul and we lose that happy-go-lucky child in us that sees all cultures as one.

Little by little, I am learning that it is okay to present myself as a part of both the Indian community and the American community. If I abandon one community, I lose half of myself. My high school is a breath of fresh air where I feel comfortable expressing myself however I want to. My school organized a “Desi Day” where Indians could proudly dress up for Diwali. I wore my bangles proudly and unlike the fourth grade me, when someone rolled their eyes at my beautiful bangles, I smiled back at them. I thought to myself, “They are just jealous of my beautiful culture. I pity them for being unable to accept our cultural differences and letting the judgment in their heart overtake themselves.”

Throughout my cultural journey, I have learned that there is no strict definition of a “True Indian” or “True Americans”. We are all “True Humans” with our unique traditions and perspectives. My school has a more diverse community with more people that share the same traditions that I do. I am more accepted by society but most of all, I accept myself. It is perfectly fine to be an “In-between” as I like to describe myself. The lines between cultures have blurred. We, the In-Betweens have blended into one unique society.

Sereena Kumar is a sophomore at Enloe High School and has a passion for writing. Contact: slkumar@mycomedical.com

fuel made of deuterium and tritium – two versions of the element hydrogen with extra neutrons – placed in a gold canister. When the lasers hit the canister, they produce Xrays that heat and compress the fuel pellet to about 20 times the density of lead and to more than 5 million degrees Fahrenheit (3 million Celsius) – about 100 times hotter than the surface of the Sun. If you can maintain these conditions for a long enough time, the fuel will fuse and release energy.

The fuel and canister get vaporized within a few billionths of a second during the experiment. Researchers then hope their equipment survived the heat and accurately measured the energy released by the fusion reaction.

So what did they accomplish?

To assess the success of a fusion experiment, physicists look at the ratio between the energy released from the process of fusion and the amount of energy within the lasers. This ratio is called gain.

Anything above a gain of 1 means that the fusion process released more energy than the lasers delivered.

On Dec. 5, 2022, the National Ignition Facility shot a pellet of fuel with 2 million joules of laser energy –about the amount of power it takes to run a hair dryer for 15 minutes – all contained within a few billionths of a second. This triggered a fusion reaction that released 3 million joules. That is a gain of about 1.5, smashing the previous record of a gain of 0.7 achieved by the facility in August 2021.

How big a deal is this result?

Fusion energy has been the “holy grail” of energy production for nearly half a century. While a gain of 1.5 is, I believe, a truly historic scientific breakthrough, there is still a long way to go before fusion is a viable energy source.

While the laser energy of 2 million joules was less than the fusion yield of 3 million joules, it took the facility nearly 300 million joules to produce the lasers used in this experiment.

This result has shown that fusion ignition is possible, but it will take a lot of work to improve the efficiency to the point where fusion can provide a net positive energy return when taking into consideration the entire end-to-end system, not just a single interaction between the lasers and the fuel.

What needs to be improved?

There are a number of pieces of the fusion puzzle that scientists have been steadily improving for decades to produce this result, and further work can make this process more efficient.

First, lasers were only invented in 1960. When the U.S. government completed construction of the National Ignition Facility in 2009, it was the most powerful laser facility in the world, able to deliver 1 million joules of energy to a target. The 2 million joules it produces today is 50 times more energetic than the next most powerful laser on Earth.

More powerful lasers and less energy-intensive ways to

produce those powerful lasers could greatly improve the overall efficiency of the system.

Fusion conditions are very challenging to sustain, and any small imperfection in the capsule or fuel can increase the energy requirement and decrease efficiency. Scientists have made a lot of progress to more efficiently transfer energy from the laser to the canister and the X-ray radiation from the canister to the fuel capsule, but currently only about 10 percent to 30 percent of the total laser energy is transferred to the canister and to the fuel.

Finally, while one part of the fuel, deuterium, is naturally abundant in sea water, tritium is much rarer. Fusion itself actually produces tritium, so researchers are hoping to develop ways of harvesting this tritium directly. In the meantime, there are other methods available to produce the needed fuel.

These and other scientific, technological and engineering hurdles will need to be overcome before fusion will produce electricity for your home.

Work will also need to be done to bring the cost of a fusion power plant well down from the US$3.5 billion of the National Ignition Facility. These steps will require significant investment from both the federal government and private industry.

A hallway full of pipes, tubes and electronics. Machinery used to create the powerful lasers, like these preamplifiers, currently requires a lot more energy than the lasers themselves produce. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, CC

BY-SA

It’s worth noting that there is a global race around fusion, with many other labs around the world pursuing different techniques. But with the new result from the National Ignition Facility, the world has, for the first time, seen evidence that the dream of fusion is achievable.

Carolyn Kuranz is an Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering, University of Michigan Article courtesy of theconversation.com

Will we even survive as a species past 2200 at this rate?

It all makes me ponder if H.G. Wells’ predictions for humanity in his acclaimed novel The Time Machine to split off into two subgroups of the childlike Eloi and the savage Morlocks could theoretically be possible.

On top of all that, many fictional stories this past year emphasized a growing fear of becoming our parents. In some cases, these tales would show the parents coming to terms with the fact they were projecting the misery of their own lives onto their children. In others, there is the gradual resolution that familial trauma will forever be cyclical as the generations continue.

Ultimately, I think at least part of our fear concerning aging involves an inevitable confrontation with our parents which in turn means we must also confront ourselves… and finally, Death itself. Perhaps this conflict, in all its grotesquerie and mystery becomes a way to overcome it, at least psychologically.

As I now reach the cusp of turning 50, the “Gen X” values instilled in me to be flexible, independent, and resourceful are still there. However, I’ve attempted over the years to understand other generational mindsets. While some circumstances have caused me to utter phrases such as ‘those kids’ and ‘now I feel old’, for the most part I feel relatively open-minded about how the world is changing.

My parents, on the other hand, are baby boomers who have chosen to maintain a particular view of the world at large that is mirrored by many of those currently running it. As the years go by, their values brutally conflict my own like a bristle pad scraping along a non-stick pan.

I have little fear of becoming my parents due to how different we are and will always remain. I won’t lie that there is a small amount of doubt lingering there that this could not always be the case. All I can do is hope that the non-stick surface of my life will hold its own against those unforgiving metal shards.

Will the cycle continue? Will the kids of today grow up and despise what we as parents have become? It is entirely possible.

The only way to break such a rhythm is to acknowledge it and try to reshape it. And I believe that this goal is entirely plausible for any generation to accomplish… if they’re willing, that is.

As we start 2023, I foresee a year where we gradually stumble farther away from uncertainty and fear and find some form of temperate balance. Yes, Death will always be there waiting. That doesn’t mean we should stop enjoying life or thrust despair upon others.

If anything, our mortality should empower us as human beings to savor what we do have and in turn share that joy as much as possible.

Happy New Year, everyone….

Jennifer Allen works at Saathee and is also a Podcaster, Blogger, Photographer, Graphic Artist, Gamer, Martial Arts Practitioner, and an all around Pop Culture Geek. You can reach her at Saathee@Saathee.com

Raajeev

My wife offered advice to the new bride about how she faced a difficult situation when she suspected that her maid stole her Coach purse and how to keep the maid motivated, she got four more purses. I chimed in it was my idea and the purses were fake and were bought at a fraction of the price from Chinatown.

I countered back saying that my wife was learning French using an app so she could insult me in a whole different language. She explained, “I have to, English does not have enough words to describe your idiosyncrasies.” I confessed to the audience that I was not sure how she was insulting me, but she keeps saying, “Pardon my French.” The audience were engaged. They seemed to be laughing more if I was the victim of the joke.

I mentioned how I learned about a weird medical diagnosis. Apparently, you can develop facial muscle fatigue if you smile too much. I told the audience that some people don’t have to worry about it. Like my wife. We got some laughs from men, but women seemed to be grunting. At that point, my wife smiled. I wasn’t sure if she smiled to prove me wrong or was smiling about her upcoming joke.

She made fun of me saying how I was so absent minded that once I bought a book on how to organize and I lost it. I told the audience that she had lived in the US for over 30 years, and she was Americanized. But instead of saying, “Oh, My God,” she says, “Oh, my Gods!”

She mentioned how developing material together is challenging. While preparing for our set I told her that I would take out all the jokes that didn’t work earlier. She said, “So what are you going to do? Just stare at me for five minutes.” Then she poked fun at me saying that the last time she asked me if I took the trash out, I said, “Yes.” She said, “But you left all your jokes here.”

We had a few more jokes about arranged marriage and my cheapness. Then we reminded the audience that doing a duo was so challenging. We told them that in preparation for our set, we started out as a duo at an open mike show in Los Angeles. Then we had an argument and broke up. Luckily, it was on stage! The audience roared in laughter. If both of us were the target of the joke, they seemed to relish it even more.

In the end, our duo set at the sangeet was a great success. The audience laughed because not only did we have some good jokes, but we also followed some ground rules. We alternated the victim’s choice between my wife and me. Also, contrary to real married life, we kept score, ensuring that she had a higher score at the end. That meant that I was the “butt of the joke” more often than her. We also made sure she had the last laugh. She delivered the last joke telling the audience that in some normal households they have dinner. In our household, we call it a roast battle!

I hope this year we will be able to do our roast battle at some premier comedy clubs in Los Angeles. And that is a new year resolution, I hope to keep. Oops, we hope to keep!

Raajeev Aggerwhil

is a Los Angeles-based comedian. Follow him on Instagram @raajeevcomedy. Find him on YouTube.

cooked dishes to increase nutrient density. Do include a variety of green such as Methi, Sarso (Mustard Greens), Palak (Spinach), and also Beet Greens, Radish greens, Kale, Turnip Greens, Tandalja or Chawli (Amaranth), Collard Greens, Arvi/Arbi (Colocasia), and Bok Choy.

Spices: Spices are key to keeping the body warm and preventing and treating winter maladies such as cold, cough, and congestion. Spices are a powerhouse of nutrients and have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and other health promoting and disease preventing properties. Certain spices help with proper blood circulation and improve digestion, and have phytonutrients, essential oils, minerals and vitamins that are vital for good health. Spices can of course be used in cooking, but during winter months you can use them for medicinal purposes and to make herbal teas. Turmeric, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, carom (ajwain), fenugreek seeds (methi), and black pepper are all spices that should be used during winter months.

Nuts & Seeds: Nuts and seeds provide much needed energy during winter, and provide protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. Almonds, pistachios, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, poppy seeds, and lotus seeds (makhana) are all important to include in your diet, albeit in small quantities.

Legumes & pulse flours: Various pulse flours are used to make special winter dishes that provide energy and warmth to the body. Besan (chickpea flour), Mung flour, and urad flours are mixed with nuts, seeds, and spices to make delicacies that provide healthy fats and protein, and other benefits to help fight cold cough and other maladies during the winter weather. Different regions of India are known for their own unique recipes. Try to consume whatever dishes are traditional to your family and heritage.

Jaggery & Ghee: Normally we talk about avoiding or limiting sugar and fat. During winter months, the body needs more warmth and energy. Pure jaggery and ghee are okay to consume in small quantities for overall health. Do be mindful if you have diabetes and heart disease.

Dairy products: Dairy products should be limited as they tend to build mucus and increase congestion. If you consume dairy, limit to one cup of warm milk with turmeric and other spices. Limit/avoid cheese and paneer. It is also advisable to limit yogurt during the winter months. You can also easily make warm turmeric milk with any non-dairy milks such as almond or oat milk.

Above recommendations are for general purposes. If you have any specific health issues, consider consulting a Registered Dietitian for your individualized plan.

Parul Kharod is a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist and works as a Clinical Dietitian. She can be reached at parulkharod@gmail.com

Thinking

continued from page 36

So, when we “make” decisions, it may be this fantastic statistical machine that hums silently under the surface making us make all these decisions while we tell stories to ourselves about the decisions we make. Because we’re good at telling stories with the words, logic and language that we have.

All these things that drain your time, though, aren’t even the real issue; they are mere symptoms of a deeper, more pernicious disease that creates these, and more. Is it possible that you care a bit too much – make that a lot! – about how you think others see you? Since there are always lots of people around, preoccupation about how others might think of you can be a tremendous drain on your limited resources.

Of course, there are some situations where what specific people think of you may matter to some degree, for example, those who determine how much you get paid, or even get paid at all. But does your acquaintance’s – whom you don’t even particularly like – view of your political leanings hold enough of a return-on-investment for you to go chasing after with so much gusto?

All that is the supply side of the equation. The demand side of things also offers a path to dealing more effectively with things.

You are much larger than you think Nature is bountiful. It is often redundant, repetitive and replete with surfeit. We only need to look around and see, for example, that a plant may not really need all the leaves that it has, and that even when it loses some, it is able to keep functioning. And when things deteriorate, there is a healing that occurs, and things grow back miraculously to fill any vacuum that begins to manifest.

The point is that we don’t need to solve everything. The universe not only throws problems at us – many of which are “problems” created by our minds – it also takes care of them on our behalf, unbeknownst to us, if only we would have a bit more trust. For example, other organisms such as bacteria and viruses compete for survival with us and instill fear in us that they might prevail in the battle with us. But it is also worth noting that most often they do not. Part of this is because there are things inside us that are also part of the bounty of nature that rise up silently and deal with things that transfix us with fear. There is risk, of course, in leaving things to the mysteries of nature’s hand. But there is risk in not doing so too. And this is where people differ. Some err on the side of the invisible hand of nature and the unseen infinity of resources it brings, while some lean strongly toward taking control with the limited resources that can be seen.

So, infinity may feel like a difficult thing to engage with, if you don’t see the infinity that you are, and have access to. May you bring your own inifinity to the new year!

Balaji Prasad

is an IIT/IIM graduate, a published author, SAT/ACT Online and in-person Coach, and K-12 Math Tutor at NewCranium. balaji.prasad@newcranium.com.

Quiz Corner

Word

World

By Kirit Shukla

I

Who wants to be a Scholar?!

Answer the ones you know and research the rest. There is only one correct answer!

1. Arrange these digestive body organs starting from top to bottom. (a) Anus (b) Small intestine (c) Esophagus (d) Large intestine

2. Amount of Filmfare Awards received by legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar?

(a) 5(b) 6 (c) 7(d) 8

3. Oil, natural gas and coal are examples of?

(a) Fossil fuels(b) Renewable resources (c) Bio fuels (d) Geothermal resources

4. ‘Abate’ means

(a) Aid(b) To put an end to (c) Howl(d) A sharp blow

5. How far is Earth from the Sun?

(a) 50 Million Miles (b) 150 Million Miles (c) 93 Million Miles (d) 30 Million Miles

6. Find the number in this sequence; 1,8,27,64... (a) 125(b) 155 (c) 186(d) 216

7. What state share borders with 3 other states?

(a) California(b) New Hampshire (c) North Dakota(d) All of the above

8. College Football National Champs of 2021. (a) Crimson Tide (b) Bulldogs (c) Buckeyes(d) Bearcats

9. The NC State general assembly draft and approve bills to become laws for (a) Immigration(b) Voting Rights (c) Hate Crimes(d) All of the above

10. The Ramayana teaches the value of (a) Warfare(b) Religion (c) Behavior(d) None of above

Answers are on bottom left. No Peeking.

Scholar: All correct; 1st Class: 9 Correct; 2nd Class: 8 Correct; 3rd Class: 7 Correct; Need to improve: 6 or less

Key Word Search

Fill in blanks of these clues, then take the first letter of each word and unscramble them to

nd this month’s Key Word. Indian Basic unit of currency.

O

cial language of the United States. ___ To disregard deliberately. ___ Day + ___ = 24 Hours. Female spouse. ___ Chai means ___.

Answers on page 88

PUZZLES AND JOKES

By Kirit Shukla

Note: * denotes abbreviation of the word or phrase

Clues Across: 1. The S. Eastern US States; Cap. Raleigh (N), Columbia (S). 8. North Carolina. (*) 10. Hawaii. (*) 11. Banaras, a pilgrimage city in India. 12. Automated Clearing House. (*) 13. United States of ___. 15. Bishop of Wells from 1060 to 1088. A native of Lorraine. 16. Minnesota Association of County. (*) 17. An assemblage of objects regarded as a unit. 18. The front part from waist to knees of a seated person. 20. International News Photo. (*) 22. The letter n. 23. Plural of ODI. (Noun combining form) 25. The plural of the verb ‘IS’. 26. As much as you please. (*) (Used in writing Rx.) 27. A native of North Carolina, used as a nickname. 29. News Headlines Updated Hourly (*) 31. Within. 32. Three Mile Island. (*) (Nuclear power plant in PA.) 34. Office of Energy Initiatives (*) (Governmental). 35. Election Assistance Commission. (*) 37. The amount held on a shelf. 39. An international medical journal founded in 1823. 41. The music for lively Scottish-Highland dance. 42. A saline mixture used as an aperient or cathartic. 43. Of or elating to them especially as objects of an action. 45. Chief of staff. (*) 46. Second smallest of the world’s continents, occupying nearly one-fifteenth of the world’s total land area. 47. In the way or manner indicated, described, or implied.

Clues Down:

1. A Queen City in NC. 2. To point a weapon at an object. 3. Ladies’ finger. (British) (A vegetable) 4. Reduce to lay status. 5. International Society for Krishna Consciousness. (*) [No K]

6. National Highway Authority. (*)

7. A slow moving three toed sloth.

8. North Carolina State University. (*)

9. A town in Orange, Durham & Chatham counties in NC.

12. A Hellenistic deity associated with time, the orb or circle encompassing the universe and the zodiac.

14. Originating in or based on observation or experience.

15. Not ripened or matured.

19. American Dental Association. (*)

21. Any of several usually low-growing fan-leaved palms. 24. Allegheny Health Network. (*) 26. Group of people waiting in line. 28. Old Hebrew variation of Ethan. 30. A city in eastern China west of Nanjing. 33. Illinois. (*) 36. Used to express unhappiness or pity. (Interjection) 37. South Carolina State University. (*) 38. Not costing or charging anything. 40. Not to exceed (*) 42. South Carolina. (*) 44. Horse Power. (*)

(solution on page 88)

Hee Hee

Jokes & Riddles From Around The World

Booddhoo and Mafatlal watched two monkeys sitting in a nearby tree. Suddenly one jumped off followed by the other. Mafatlal: “Huh. Wonder why the other monkey jumped too.” Booddhoo smiled: “Well as they say. Monkey see, monkey do.”

To prove he loved his wife, a husband once climbed the highest mountain, swam the deepest ocean, and walked the biggest desert. Unfortunately, the wife left him anyway for never being home.

What goes up but never comes down? Your age.

When Aakash was 8, his brother was half his age. Now, Aakash is 14. How old is his brother?

Answer: His brother is 10. Half of 8 is 4, so Aakash's brother is 4 years younger. This means when Aakash is 14, his brother is still 4 years younger, so he’s 10.

Which word becomes shorter when you add 2 letters to it?  Answer: The word “short.”

Find & circle the words in the puzzle.

Subject: Carolinas

ASHEVILLE

BEACH BLUERIDGE CAPEFEAR CAROWINDS CATAWBA

CHARLSTON (family name, not city) CITADEL CLT COLUMBIA CORN COTTON DUNES

GSO GSP HILTONHEAD IAN LAKES LUMBER MARION MCGUIRE NEUSE RDU SAND SMOKY

The unused 20 letters spell is “A mountain range rising along the North Carolina border.” (answer on page 88)

Math Magic

Fill in the empty squares to get = the final given answers. Use any number from 1 to 8 only once: Note: Follow the order of operation per basic math rule: ×,÷, +,The multiplication or division is done before addition and subtraction. (solution on page 88)

EZ-BZ

TEST YOUR IQ

The common letters are “NUA” - Fill in the blanks)

1. First month of the Gregorian calendar year. _ _ NUA _ _ 2. To weaken. _ _ _ _ NUA _ _ 3. Waterfall in Yosemite National Park. _ _ _ _ NUA _ _ _ 4. A subtle quality. NUA _ _ _ 5. Having two horns. _ _ _ _ _ NUA _ _ 6. Having the margin wavy with indentation. _ _ NUA _ _ 7. Plural of continuum. _ _ _ _ _ NUA 8. Islands in the southwestern Pacific northeast of New Caledonia and west of Fiji; capital Port-Vila. _ _ NUA _ _ 9. One of a group of five 17th century English Presbyterian clergymen collaborating in a pamphlet attacking the episcopacy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ NUA _ 10. A Luo Nilotic ethnic group of East Africa. _ NUA _ 11. A member of Dayaks in East Kalimantan. _ _ NUA _ 12. Occurs twice each year. _ _ _ _ _ _NUA _ 13. The act or fact of going on, persisting. _ _ _ _ _ NUA _ _ _ _ 14. The language spoken in Papua New Guinea. _ _ ANU _ 15. A handbook that is conveniently handled. _ _ NUA _ 16. Medicine which increases the fluidity of the humors. _ _ _ _ NUA _ _ 17. Weaken; Rarefy. _ _ _ NUA _ _ _ 18. A large jib that overlaps the mainsail. (racing) _ _ NUA 19. Short term stimulant to treat obesity. _ _ NUA _ 20.The Māori word for land. _ _ _ NUA

(Puzzle solutions are on page 88. NO peeking!)

Saathee Puzzle Master Kirit Shukla kiritsshukla@gmail.com

Festivals & Holidays

January 2023

Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day

Jan. 2 - Putradā / Vaikuntha Ekadashi

Jan. 6 - Shakambhari / Poshi Purnima (Full Moon)

Jan. 7 - Mahāyāna New Year

Jan. 12 - Vivekanand Jayanti

Jan. 14 - Maghi / Lohri

Jan. 15 - Uttarāyan / Makar Sankranti

Jan. 16 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Jan. 18 - Shatila Ekadashi

Jan. 21 - Māgh / Darsh Anas (No Moon)

Jan. 21 - National Hug Day

Jan. 22 - Lunar New Year (Year of the Rabbit)

Jan. 23 - Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti

Jan. 26 - Vasant Panchami

Jan. 26 - Republic Day (India)

Jan. 30 - Gandhi Punya Tithi

Aries

(March 21 – April 20)

You may have to wait until the second half of the month to enjoy the fruits of success gained from the past few. Don’t expect these new changes to come to fruition this month. Family happiness is clearly indicated. You may spend some money to please your partner or loved ones but try not to go overboard. Watch your speech during the last week. A minor health issue could be there.

Taurus

(April 21 – May 20)

Things should improve slowly for you, but it won’t help to overcome an overly stressful situation on the horizon. A boost of positive energy will assist with financial gain. Be sure to avoid legal disputes or unnecessary expenses. Good health combined with a victory against your enemies should stop any other potential opponents. Be sure to watch your diet as it could still create minor health problems. A job opportunity may come your way but take your time on the decision.

Gemini

(May 21 – June 20)

You may need to compromise your morals this month. A promotion is possible while your skills will bring in money for you. You could even earn a name for yourself due to creative activities. Destiny is on your side. This is a good time to make new friends or an important marriage decision. Things could get very busy at work, so be sure to take extra precautions for your health and avoid enemies.

Cancer

(June 21 – July 22)

Life should fly this month, though you may experience major ups and downs in the process. You could emerge with great success by the end, but only by maintaining your morals. You should be able to count on your business associates, but don’t trust them blindly. Minor family problems may prove distracting. A heavy workload could also keep you on your toes most of the time.

Leo

(July 23 – August 22)

A very hectic month is shaping up for you. You may be forced to juggle an aggressive work schedule and enjoying family time. Such added responsibilities could provoke potential mistakes. Any major decisions or aggressive actions must be curbed this month, and instead listen to your partner before accepting any commitment. You could also experience poor health. Just slow down and control your anger.

Virgo

(August 23 – September 21)

Remain calm during the first half of the month as a major family issue may disturb your piece of mind. Things should return to normal during the second half, and your partner may even prove to be a great help. Don’t rely on your wits to make easy money. Evade aggression and act wisely with your work associates.

Libra

(September 22 – October 20)

A pleasant period is on its way. You should enjoy respect in society, meet with reputable people, and elevate your career to new heights. Money may flow in from more than one direction. Self-confidence and good luck are your best powers at this time. Any investments should also bring excellent returns. Minor disputes with your partner are possible. Try to ignore them.

Scorpio

(October 21 – November 20)

Labor put in the first half of the month will produce satisfactory results during the second. You could experience disturbances in your day-to-day pursuits, so be sure to not get involved in too many projects at the same time. A religious or social ceremony is also possible within the family. This is also a good time to take a vacation.

Sagittarius

(November 21 – December 21)

Fun and happiness along with self-confidence should help this month remain very positive. A steady rise in income despite a busy workflow may help time fly for you. Love and support from your partner will also boost your ego. Be prepared to travel during the second half of the month. You may have to manage unwanted expenses. A close friend could behave strangely this month, so be cautious.

Capricorn

(December 22 – January 21)

This month will be quite action-oriented and could gain you success at your place of business. Friends and family will offer whatever help you require. You will be relieved from financial worries. A new relationship with someone of a different gender will help you feel relaxed. A change of residence or new business investment is also indicated.

Aquarius

(January 22 – February 18)

After a negative start during the first week of the month, you should feel more relaxed. Be sure to spend money for a social or religious event within the family. This is also a good time to invest in real estate, though you may face some delays in collecting outstanding payments. A good state of health is clearly indicated. Enjoy a fun trip with friends and family.

Pisces

(February 19 – March 20)

This is a good time for property investment plans to materialize. You should be successful due to an active lifestyle and aggressive actions. Friends and family will offer whatever assistance you need. Opponents dare not to face you right now. Don’t get involved in a love affair. Students could see unexpected positive results. Try to control your speech and egoistical thoughts. Unexpected expenses are also possible.

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enterprises. Adding in the informal sector, the industry affects millions more people working in six relatively poor Indian states. This does not account for the jobs created in coal transshipment by rail – another government-owned enterprise that is the largest in the world in its sector. In fact, the railways use the heavy freight charges for coal to subsidize rail travel.

Many of these jobs are neither dignified nor well paying, but in a country with a large and growing population, any steady job is welcome.

Furthermore, there is an important distinction between India and Indonesia. Indonesian territory accounts for about 40 percent of the world’s geothermal energy, of which maybe 5 percent has been tapped. Indonesia has the option to wean itself off coal while still expanding energy supply and creating high-quality jobs. Although India is rapidly expanding its renewable energy capacity, this is a long slog, with issues of resolving base power – when the sun is not shining or wind blowing – rather than a potentially quick switch.

No political consensus to underpin a just transition

There is also an important distinction between South Africa and India, in that the South African government has focused on the energy transition to move away from its troubled past. The “Just” part of the JETP is very important, and the creation of a Presidential Climate Finance Task Team is politically important in a country that wants to “address present and historical inequality, creates jobs, relieves poverty, enables resilience to climate impacts and energy instability, provides access to affordable electricity, and leaves no one behind”. While the South African JETP has come under scathing criticism for failing on some of these objectives and empowering the private sector at the cost of a public undertaking that could deal with some of these issues, the criticism itself has been built around these political claims.

In India, no such political consensus exists. In fact, the same companies that are the leaders in investing in renewable energy such as solar power are often involved in conflicts over land for coal mining.

Moreover, there is a concern that has come out of the criticism from South Africa’s experience, which is how “just” exactly are the JETPs? Although the exact numbers are unavailable, reporting indicates that only about 4% of the USD 8.5 billion will be in the form of grants, with the rest primarily in loans, adding to the country’s debt burden. And even USD 8.5 billion pales in comparison with the 1.5 trillion South African rands (USD 98 billion) the country needs over the next five years for its transition. Similarly, Indonesia needs an estimated USD 37 billion just to shut down its coal fleet, without even accounting for building new energy infrastructure.

The number being spoken of when it comes to India’s JETP is USD 80 billion, but once again it is unclear how much of it is in grants or loans. It is understandable that India is resistant to taking on a larger debt burden, or as is often said, “Paying to solve a problem it has not made, with money it does not have”.

Nonetheless, it is worth asking if the current trajectory of Indian investment is designed to deal with the challenges of a changing climate. India has written off more than USD

123 billion of bad debt in the last five years alone, most of it from public sector banks – tax money. While it is unknown how much of this was in the coal sector, a December 2019 report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis estimated that India had USD 40-60 billion in thermal plants that were “stranded assets”. In a telling quote, it noted that “According to the World Resources Institute, ~40 percent of India’s current thermal capacity is located in water-stressed areas, with water shortages leading to losses in electricity generation and significant revenue losses for power producers.”

With more scientific evidence on the inequality of the impact of climate change becoming available, it is entirely just for countries like India to demand that the countries most responsible for the crisis pay up, rather than merely increase the burden. That said, an energy transition may simply make sense from a domestic perspective, and for purely good investment reasons.

Hope is in bottom-up change in India

Without a clear government action plan, alternatives for jobs or energy generation, or a political consensus, the road to a just energy transition in India looks incredibly hard. And yet, despite its current approach of merely continuing its energy expansion, India may be creating the conditions for bottom-up change. In January 2022, a joint report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Skill Council for Green Jobs estimated that the solar and wind sectors had created a workforce of 111,400 and further estimated that if India were to achieve targets of 101 GW wind and 238 GW solar energy by 2030, this would create about 3.4 million short and long-term jobs, and result in a million stable jobs in the renewables sector.

That number would rival the number directly employed by the coal sector, creating a large political demand that would challenge the current status quo. What is more interesting is where many of these jobs are located. A report released by Power for All in September 2022 identified about 80,000 jobs created by the decentralized renewable energy sector in India. For decentralized energy specifically, the jobs are often in rural areas where demand is higher, as grid electricity is either not available or is unreliable. Moreover, in contrast to less mature markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, in India the demand is for mini grids or standalone commercial or industrial solar systems rather than basic solar home systems.

This meant that the people employed were often much higher skilled (71% of the workforce), and these systems themselves would have the positive knock-on effects of boosting industry and livelihoods in rural areas.

Given its size, diversity and competing political claims, it is often said that change happens in India despite, rather than because of the government. The deeply protectionist approach that the country adopts on the global stage, while disappointing, is not the whole story. Small, cascading changes happening on the ground may be a far better metric of how the country is transforming.

Article courtesy of The Third Pole Omair Ahmad is managing editor for South Asia at The Third Pole. He has worked as a political analyst and journalist, with a particular focus on the Himalayan region Visit Thethirdpole.net

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