Saathee Magazine April 2012 Charlotte by Shukla Entertainment

Mountain Train, Darjeeling

April 2012

In this issue: Full Frame Preview Commercial Umbrella Insurance

Hello Readers! Pramath Sinha says there are still exciting business opportunities in India, despite a slowdown. See pg. 8 for the interview. Burma, sealed off from Western investors by a thick shell of sanctions, could be open for business as soon as this year. Turn to pg. 12 for the article on Burma's Frontier Economy. The funky bhangra and brass band Red Baraat will be in the Carolinas this month. See pg. 14 for the story. Our annual preview of the Full Frame Documentary festival is on pg. 32. Read a medical student's journey through the long road of medical school on pg. 38. If you own a business, it maybe worth considering buying commercial umbrella insurance. Get the details on pg. 50. Do you need a will? Find all the pitfalls of not having a will in Personal Finance on pg. 60. Festivals and holidays are listed on pg. 118. Catch up on all the local and regional community organizations and events on pg. 90 and get up to the minute updates at our website: saathee.com.

A features magazine for the South Asian Community of the Carolinas

Quote: “Giving is a secret of a healthy life. Not necessarily money, but whatever a man has of encouragement and sympathy and understanding.” - John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

April 2012 – Issue # 168 Editor: Samir Shukla (saatheemag@hotmail.com) Publisher: Divakar Shukla (rakavid@aol.com) Community News Editor: Rajesh Ganatra Ad Design / Layout: Nate “Nageshwar” Andrews Consultant: Himanshu Desai Executive Assistant: Suzie Tanis Contributors: Kirit Shukla, Rajesh Ganatra, Judith L. Bergman, Chandan Sen, Gail Z. Martin, Smitha Prasad, Dr. Maha Gingrich, Amanda Sodhi, Krutika Chheda, Anjana Agarwal, Nirja Parikh, Anita Kulkarni, Jay Cohen, Sumeet P. Shah, Kamal Menghrajani, A.J. Shah, Jai Rangappa, Aneri Kothari, Amoli Kothari, and Jalendu Vaidya.

In This Issue India Business Slowdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 08 Burma’s Frontier Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 12 Red Baraat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 14 Saathee Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 18 Film Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 22 Sangeet and Evergreen Film Lyrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 24 Indian Classical Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 28 Dances of India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 30 Full Frame Festival 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 32 China Buying Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 36 Match Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 38 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 40 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 42 Children’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 44 Mastering Meaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 46 Astride three Continents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 48 Commercial Umbrella Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 50 Healthwise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 52 Stock Tickers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 56 Personal Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 60 Marketing Turnaround . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 62 Tax Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 66 The Chai Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 70 Cricket Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 72 Recipes of the Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 74 Immigration Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 76 Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 78 Community Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 84 Community Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 90 Pop’s Puzzles and Jokes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 116 Festivals and Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 118 AstroScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 120 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 122 Puzzle Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 124 Index of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 124 Saathee.com

All contents © 2012 Shukla Entertainment, Inc. 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 20th of the previous month. 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.

- Founded 1998 Saathee Magazine P.O. Box 11468 Charlotte, NC 28220 Phone: (704) 527-7570 Fax: (704) 527-7590 E-mail: saatheemag@hotmail.com

www.saathee.com Cover: Train near Darjeeling

A toy train follows a mountain road as it meanders up the mountain in Darjeeling. The trains are a popular mode of travel in the Himalayan region.

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Saathee Magazine, USPS 021-116, is a free subscription magazine published monthly by Shukla Entertainment Inc. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to Saathee, P.O. Box 11468, Charlotte, NC 28220-1468. Postage paid at Charlotte, NC. (ISSN: 1543-8147) April 2012

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In what areas does India seem to despair of any solution?

Top India CEO

This mantra of inclusive growth [introduced by the Congress party] is a good tagline, but despite the supposed progress that we’ve made on the average growth, or quality of our economy, the disparities have grown. The numbers of people who are still poor, who are still dying, who are still malnourished, who are still not getting an education are staggering. It almost requires a new business model, or a new economic model, or a new development model. We’ve given it the name of inclusive growth, but I don’t think we’ve figured out the answers.

Warns of

Slowdown Q & A: But find out where Pramath Sinha says there still are exciting business opportunities in India.

Some people argue that inequality doesn’t matter, as long as incomes are increasing.

By Jason Overdorf - GlobalPost.com Pramath Sinha, the founder and managing director of 9.9 Mediaworx, consulted with the Indian government and the country’s largest companies for 12 years as a partner at McKinsey & Co., where he helped to build the firm’s India practice. A highly respected adviser who knows virtually everybody who matters in India, Sinha’s diverse experience assisting clients in industries ranging from infrastructure to information technology in both America and Asia gives him rare insight into India’s business climate and the inner workings of its blue-chip firms. In 2001, he took leave from McKinsey to become the founding dean of the Indian School of Business (ISB), the first Indian institution to be included among the world’s top 20 business schools by the Financial Times. After leaving the consultancy business, he headed one of India’s largest media conglomerates as the CEO of ABP Pvt. Ltd., before starting his own media firm. GlobalPost’s senior correspondent for India, Jason Overdorf, quizzed him about the current business climate.

If you look at what is happening with the Maoist movement, it’s telling that [the simmering civil war that the prime minister has called the biggest threat to India’s security] is happening in that half of the country [the northeast]. Economists always draw a diagonal line from the northwest to the southeast, saying this is the part of the country that is in the dark ages, where it’s like sub-Saharan Africa, and this is where we have the Maoist problem. There’s a war going on there, and we don’t even hear about it. There are body bags coming out of the northeast, right from Chhattisgarh to Bihar to Uttar Pradesh every day. Every day people are counting how many dead, and we don’t even recognize it. What are some of the business opportunities that remain exciting?

Anything that feeds on the consumption boom and further fuels that boom, whether products or services, are all GlobalPost: We keep hearing that India’s economic reforms opportunities. Retail, food, education, health, all these essential have stalled, the government is paralyzed, and inflation is out services, are going to be tremendous. But investors will have to of control. Do these negative signals mean the shine has come be patient. The venture capital firm that invests in my company off the India story? calls it “patience capital.”

Pramath Sinha: The fact is that we are going to be looking at a period that is going to be full of uncertainty and therefore a lack of hard decisions getting made and therefore any extraordinary growth beyond what we are getting now is not going to be unlocked. We are looking at economic growth in the 6 percent range now, when only a few months ago, being bullish, we were looking in the 9-plus range. We are slowing down, and we will continue to peter out. It’s obviously disappointing given our potential. The potential could easily be 10 percent. As a CEO I feel sad that we are underperforming against our potential, and frankly this was a solvable problem.

What do you mean by that? You will grow, you will have opportunities, but you have to be prepared. The rules of the game will change, as they just have for telecom investors in India [with the Supreme Court decision to revoke 122 telecom licenses tainted by a corruption scandal], policies will not move quickly, local companies will provide unfair competition. All of those challenges will happen. It’s a tough market. Does that mean India is a more viable target for the big multinationals? Or are there good opportunities for smalland medium-sized enterprises as well? I think there’s a vibrant opportunity for small and medium enterprises also. Large multinationals always have a problem scaling up in India. The individual markets are still relatively small. So large multinationals come in and expect India to be huge and deliver hockey-stick growth. Then it doesn’t happen, and then they get disappointed. So to some extent this is a better market for the small- and medium-sized, because for them it’s just easier in terms of scale, and their energy and drive, to get stuff done.

What, then, are the biggest threats to the India story? Are they solvable problems?

There’s a real crisis in the leadership in this country, and the challenge is that it’s spread across all parties, or at least the two principal parties. It’s clear that the current set of leaders can’t pull them through, and it’s not clear who will be the next leader, and therefore everybody is trying to jockey to be the next leader In your experience with McKinsey, what were the most and pull each other down to size. Unless one of these large common misconceptions you confronted with other CEOs? parties gets their act together, managing coalitions and managing their own pulls and tugs is going to impact decision- The most common misconception was that people came into making, policy-making and the continued reforms we need in continued on page 80 this country. Saathee.com

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Burma’s Frontier Economy

included shelling villages and forcing civilians to act as military porters. The agency’s advice: start charitable programs that fill the void of government neglect and defy the central state’s long-standing prejudice toward ethnic minorities. Western firms can also avoid the mistakes that characterize China’s mega-projects in Burma, which have employed few locals and extracted raw materials without leaving behind much benefit for the Burmese. Burma’s best-known dissident, the Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has already helped erase the shame of Burma investments by encouraging “ethical, new and innovative” investments from the West. Democratic Senator John Kerry, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, openly conceded to Reuters that the process of deconstructing sanctions is underway. Lifting sanctions now appears contingent on a clean April byelection. This will be Aung San Suu Kyi’s first race since a 1990 vote — voided by the military — that should have sent her to the prime minister’s seat. In the by-election, Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, has said it will contest all 48 seats that are up for vote. Suu Kyi herself is likely to win a seat representing southern Rangoon. But even if sanctions lift soon, a thicket of corruption and lawlessness will await Western firms braving this nation on the mend. Transparency International, the global anti-corruption NGO, tied Burma’s corruption with Afghanistan’s in its most recent report. Only North Korea and Somalia were ranked as more corrupt. Among Burma’s most daunting risks to investors is its baffling currency system. In a 2010 report, the US State Department declared that the country’s “multiple exchange rates and currencies make conversion and repatriation of foreign exchange very complex and ripe for corruption.” “Very little can be accomplished, from the smallest transactions to the largest, without paying bribes,” according to the State Department. As it stands, even major sums are transferred through black-market channels while the IMF continues to shuttle in experts to repair Burma’s financial system. But Burma also faces a unique opportunity, according to Song, the CIMB economist. In a best-case scenario, he said, Burmese officials would pick and choose its neighbors’ most successful financial policies. “There’s no instant template,” he said, “but they could put laws together fairly quickly.” The current regime — an army-managed parliamentary system — remains short on allies. But it is relying on Singapore, one of the world’s pre-eminent financial centers, to help guide business reforms. “Singapore is fairly neutral and its officials have had a long relationship with Myanmar through thick and thin,” he said. “Singapore will obviously do its bit. It has no other agenda other than finding new opportunities for trade.” Burma’s appeal to investors — untapped natural resources, an impoverished population eager for jobs — could still be undermined by unforeseen events. Despite the break-neck speed of reforms, the current army-backed government is still at the mercy of generals who have led Burma down a dark path for decades. But Western investment, long seen as taboo, is now seen by some as a means of entrenching progress. When political pressure compelled American firms such as Levi Strauss and Adidas to exit Burma, Warhurst said, the employment vacuum left many workers “impoverished, isolated and vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking.” “Western companies looking to return to the country will, without doubt, be confronted with significant strategic and operational risks,” Warhurst said. “Ongoing monitoring of their operations and community engagement will be key to ensure a successful business story.”

Burma, sealed off from Western investors by a thick shell of sanctions, could be open for business as soon as this year.

By Patrick Winn - GlobalPost.com BANGKOK, Thailand — Burma, sealed off from Western investors by a thick shell of sanctions, could be open for business as soon as this year. But even if the US Congress and White House stay on course, and finally reward the authoritarian state’s recent reforms by cracking that shell, what will investors find underneath? The answer, experts suggest, is plenty of promise and plenty of pitfalls. “We’re very excited. Everyone is,” said Song Seng Wun, executive director of research operations at the Malaysia-based CIMB Group, one of Southeast Asia’s largest investment banks. “But we’re also mindful that there are a lot of doors in this long series of corridors to open,” he said. “This is a country that has to start almost from ground zero in writing its investment laws.” The former British colony-turned-army-controlled pariah is still convincing Western heads of state that its fledgling parliament is legit. As the rest of Southeast Asia chugged along in the last two decades, Burma has been frozen in place by civil wars, state oppression and sanctions. But Burma, officially titled Myanmar, appears ready to boom. The UK-based Maplecroft risk analysis firm determines that 2012 is the year most Western nations — including the US — will start untangling their overlapping layers of sanctions. Much of Burma’s current investment pledges come from China. Official figures show the rising power provided 70 percent of Burma’s $20 billion in foreign investment agreements for 2010 to 2011. In anticipation, the Burmese government’s courting of overseas interest appears strong: a proposed eight-year tax waiver for foreign investors, an IMF-assisted overhaul of its decrepit currency system and statements suggesting it will stop dumping half of its GDP into the misbehaving military. This optimism factors into the International Monetary Fund’s projection that, this fiscal year, Burma’s real GDP will grow by 5.5 percent and increase by a full 6 percent in 2012-2013. Bigger gains could be achieved in future years if all goes well. But investors hoping to ride that wave risk getting their hands more than a little dirty. “Vast opportunities lie ahead for business looking to return to Myanmar, particularly in the oil and gas and mining sectors as well as timber and agro-commodities,” said Alyson Warhurst, CEO of Maplecroft. Many of those resources, however, are located in regions claimed by ethnic minorities backed by well-armed militias. Various independence struggles are currently quelled by ceasefires in all but two areas: Kachin state, which borders China, and Karen state, which borders Thailand. Companies reliant on Burma’s army for protection — considered an unavoidable necessity in many regions — are at a “serious risk of potential allegation of complicity in violations of human rights committed by the state security forces,” according to Maplecroft. Burma’s well-documented military abuses have Saathee.com

April 2012

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April 2012

and United Nations Concert for Pakistan in 2010. In addition, he is the snare drummer for Bang on a Can’s 12-piece ensemble, Asphalt Orchestra, who recently recorded a song with David Byrne and St. Vincent. Sunny Jain began his percussion journey at a young age. He is now an accomplished and an in-demand jazz drummer. Here’s an interview with Sunny Jain.

Brass, Funk & Bhangra

What got you into percussion? I started playing drums at a young age doing symphonic percussion at school up in Rochester, NY. The drum teacher I had up there happened to be a jazz bebop drum teacher, so when I turned 13 and got my first drum set that’s what he wanted me to be introduced to. And as a kid you’re a sponge for anything and everything and I really kinda took it all in. It was challenging music to play with. By the time I was 16 or 17 I knew I wanted to do this as a profession. I wanted to go to college and study music. I loved playing drums and I wanted to learn more and study more.

By Samir Shukla One of the elements of colorful Indian weddings is the baraat (wedding procession). The baraat band, usually consisting of a singer with an orchestra featuring horns and percussion, marches right along with the groom and his party that’s headed toward the bride’s house. Meet Sunny Jain, a percussionist based in New York City. He is a drummer and dhol master and has assembled a band called Red Baraat, playing, what else, baraat (processional) music. Although you can’t peg them as simply a baraat band, as the combo plays brass and bhangra that’s funky, danceable, laden with eclectic world sounds, and is yet unmistakably Indian. The group released their debut recording, Chaal Baby a couple of years ago and the album features originals as well as brassy takes on Bollywood songs “Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna,” and “Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai.” There’s also a horns-infused version of Daler Mehndi’s “Tunak Tunak Tun.”

Was there any parental resistance? There wasn’t too much resistance from my parents. My older brother and sister had broken down some barriers. My parents were quite supportive when I look back on it, as compared to other Indian parents and their attitudes. I went to Rutgers and studied and always had in the back of mind that if this (music) didn’t work out, I can always become a lawyer or go into business or whatever. I cut my teeth in college playing professionally and booking gigs and later recording CDs. You know the more you put into something you love, it’s going to give back to you. I started doing small gigs in college and stepped it up a little ever since every year and that’s how it’s progressed. So you’re doing music fulltime? Yeah, after I got my masters degree at NYU, I got a gig touring with Kyle Eastwood’s band (Clint Eastwood’s son). I was touring around with him for a couple of years on and off in the States and Europe. I later developed some back problems and ran out of insurance with my parents, a friend of mine set me up with a temporary position and it turned into fulltime gig for a year. That was my only real fulltime job, other than that all I’ve ever done is play music and compose music and write instructional books. I play jazz drums and dhol and play some tabla and travel around in different circuits and perform with different folks.

photo by Ferny Chung/Louis F. Cuffari

Were you born here in the States? I was born here in 1975. Both of my parents are Punjabi and they’re originally from Sialkot before the partition and moved to Eastern Punjab after. Several family members migrated down to Rajasthan and now my mom’s side of the family lives in Delhi.

Jain’s dhol is the centerpiece pounding traditional Punjabi folk music while the horns evoke a New Orleans brass band. As musical paths around the world converge, more styles and genres like this are bound to converge. Red Baraat, though, is the first and only dhol ‘n’ brass band of its kind in the United States, where the dhol (double-sided, barrel-shaped North Indian drum slung over one shoulder) is the foundation. In Red Baraat Jain has assembled a varied group of musicians, Indian and non-Indian, all bringing their individual flair and sound into the mix. The combo is comprised of dhol, drumset, percussion, sousaphone and five horns. Jain also plays drumset and dhol for the sufi-rock group Junoon, for whom he recorded “Open Your Eyes,” featuring Peter Gabriel. The group performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2007, Kashmir, India in 2009 Saathee.com

So how did Red Baraat happen? Red Baraat came out of my wedding a few years ago. I wanted to write my own stuff for the music, some kind of imprint upon my own wedding. I’d go to my cousins’ weddings in India with baraat music, the colonial marching band, and the separate dhol player. At my wedding I just didn’t want to have a dholi (dhol player) since I have all these friends who are musicians. I put continued on page 78 14

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5 Ghantey Mien 5 Crore (Director: Faisal Saif) Cast: Meera, Abhishek Kumar, Shahwar Ali, Rashid Khan, Kavita Radheshyam, and Nassar Abdulla

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Maximum (Director: Kabeer Kaushik) Cast: Sonu Sood, Naseeruddin Shah, Neha Dhupia, Vinay Pathak, Aarya Babbar, Swanand Kirkire, and Anjana Sukhani

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Tension Mat Le Yaar (Director: Asgar Khan) Cast: Om Puri, Dalip Tahil, Alok Nath, Upasna Singh, Sunil Pal, Neha Bamb, Razzak Khan & Guddi Maruti

3. Blood Money “Teri Yaadon Se” Music: Pranay Singer: Mustafa Zahid 4. Bittoo Boss “Mann Jaage” Music: Raghav Sachar Singer: Shaid Mallya

Bittoo Boss (Director: Supavitra Babul) Cast: Pulkit Samrat and Amita Pathak Qasam Se Qasam Se (Director: Ashfaque Makrani) Cast: Azim Rizvi, Rakhi Sawant, Satish Kaushik, Mukesh Tiwari, Omkar Das Manikpuri, and Akbar Sami

5. Kahaani “Kahaani” Music: Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani Singers: K.K., & Vishal Dadlanai (Note: This top five is based on the following non-scientific research: your feedback, video rental, box office from India and United States, internet opinions & our opinion) Saathee.com

April 2012

CPCC Central Campus Dale F. Halton Theater Overcash Center Saturday April 28, 2012 4 p.m. Photo courtesy James Spence — CPCC

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Come celebrate unity and diversity within Charlotte’s international community. Experience traditional Indian classical and folk dances – rhythmic dance styles that tell the story of ancient India through lyrical movement and music. Tickets: $10, adults; $5, school-age children For ticket information, call the SunTrust Box Office at 704.330.6534 or visit tix.cpcc.edu. Free parking available in the faculty/staff parking deck located on 4th Street.

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Daler Mehndi Records Haryanavi Number

Film Clips

The Undisputed Pasha of Bhangra-pop Daler Mehndi is all set to burn the dance floors with his new Bollywood track. And this time he has belted out a Haryanavi number for the movie Life Ki Toh Lag Gayi. Apparently, the Haryanvi track by Mehndi is a first of its kind that’s got a hip-hop groove and Haryanvi lyrics. The director of the movie Rakesh Mehta wanted a different kind of music, so Vinay Jaiswal, the debutant music composer, came up with the song “Mein Haryane Ka Sher,” that will be sung by Mehndi with his signature croon.

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The India-set film the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel opens in theaters in U.S. and Canada on May 4, 2012. The film, directed by John Madden, features Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love, James Bond series), Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire), Bill Nighy (Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean), and Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton, Batman Begins). Madden’s The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of British retirees who decide to “outsource” their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and bolstered with visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past. The film is rated PG-13.

Naseeruddin Shah Stars in Indo-Pak film Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah recently went to Pakistan to shoot for a film that’s being made by the Indo-Pak director couple Minoo Gauhar and Mazhar Zaidi. In the film Shah reportedly plays a negative character. He told IndiaFM he is excited about the film, which is based on illegal immigrants. Shah also likes the film because the directors are sincere, Gauhar is a Hindu from Meerut and Zaidie a Muslim from Pakistan.

MPAA Chairman Wants U.S. and Indian Film Industry Alliance Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) delivered the keynote address at the 2012 FICCI FRAMES last month in Mumbai in front of Indian government officials, film and entertainment industry leaders. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) FRAMES covers a wide range of media and entertainment sectors such as film, broadcast, digital entertainment, animation, gaming and visual effects. The senator expressed his delight at the synergies being created between both communities and called for a greater alliance between the U.S and Indian film industries. He said, “Like America, India is a nation where movies matter and as in America, movies matter not only to the richness of your culture but to the vibrancy of your economy and the prosperity of the Indian middle class.” The senator commended the rapid evolution of India’s cinema industry, he added “Two years ago the Indian film industry was pegged at US$3.2 billion; in 2014 it is estimated to exceed US$5 billion, which is incredible. The industry contributes an estimated US$645 million to the Indian economy each year and supports an estimated 1.8 million jobs, as the trade body for the Hollywood entertainment industry MPAA could not be more delighted.” Talking about piracy he said, “According to a report by Ernst & Young, movie theft costs the Indian film industry nearly a billion dollars each year and threatens more than half million Indian jobs. I bring this up not to cast a shadow on your success but rather to invite you to join us in common purpose, content theft is a global problem and we must have a global commitment to solving it.”

The Sequel to Jannat Opens in May Reuniting actor Emraan Hashmi and director Kunal Deshmukh, Jannat 2, the sequel to the 2008 Delhi-set crime thriller will release in theaters worldwide on May 4, 2012. The film, produced by Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt, will also star Randeep Hooda, Esha Gupta, and Imran Zahid. Pritam is the film’s music director.

Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is devoted to a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films, supporting emerging filmmakers, recognizing the leadership of entertainment industry performers and business executives, and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora. Each year the Festival features a rich mix of film programs designed to build and support the growing interest in the Indian entertainment industry. This includes programming that cultivates an audience for Indian films while supporting filmmakers of Indian descent in career development as they navigate the larger studio system in Hollywood. IFFLA showcases a combination of features, shorts and documentaries. The 10th annual IFFLA will take place April 10-15, 2012 at ArcLight Hollywood, a state-of-the-art facility at Sunset and Vine in Hollywood. For Further Details visit www.indianfilmfestival.org. Saathee.com

April 2012

By Kirit Shukla

“Tribute to Past Music Directors” Ravi (1926 – 2012): Renowned music director Ravi Shankar Sharma, popularly referred to as simply Ravi, died in Mumbai on March 8, 2012 after a prolonged illness. Ravi composed the music for some of the most beloved songs of Indian cinema, including “Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho,” “Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai,” “Neele Gaganke Tale,” “Baabulki Duaaen Leti Ja, and “O Meri Zohra Jabin.” Ravi, oft described as the “King of soft melodies,” was born in Delhi March 3, 1926. He taught himself to play Harmonium and other instruments. Ravi went to Mumbai in 1951 with his wife and kids to fulfill his dream to work in films. During the early days of his struggle, he survived on a cup of tea and one meal for half a rupee per day. Ravi told an interviewer, “When I had left Delhi, I had also carried my electrical tools with me. So, I started taking odd jobs of repairing appliances to earn extra money. Then one day, I met music director Hemant Kumar, who allowed me to sing in the chorus for the Vande Mataram song in the film Anandmath (1952).” Guru Dutt gave Ravi his first big break to compose music for “Chaudhvin Ka Chand,” since then there was no looking back for him. Ravi composed music for over 200 songs in more than 70 Hindi films and about 14 Malayalam films. Later in life he struggled with his own son and daughter-in-law in a property dispute, saying in exasperation, “My life though, seems to be an endless struggle. Sometimes, your own people disappoint you.” Ravi was known for his heart-touching, soft, melodious tunes, which made his songs and music immortal.

Song: Dil ke armān ānsuomen ... Film: Nikaah Year: 1982 Music: Ravi Singers: Salma Agha Lyric: Hasan Kamal Based on Indian Classical Rāgā: Mishra Bhairavi Tāl/Rhythm: Kaharavā Starring: Salma Agha, Raj Babbar, Asrani Dil ke arman ansuomen... Lyrics in English: Dil ke armān ānsuomen baha gaye Ham vafā karake bhi tanahā rah gaye Dil ke armān ānsuomen baha gaye Zindagi eka pyās banakar rah gayi -2 Pyār ke kisse adhure rah gaye Ham vafā karake bhi tanahā rah gaye Dil ke armān ānsuomen baha gaye Shāyad unakā ākhiri ho yah sitam -2 Har sitam yah sochakar ham saha gaye Ham vafā karake bhi tanahā rah gaye Dil ke armān ānsuomen baha gaye Khud ko bhi hamane mitā Dālā magar Fāsle jo daramiyān the rah gaye Ham vafā karake bhi tanahā rah gaye Dil ke armān ānsuomen baha gaye

Some of the films for which he composed music: 1955 to 1959:Albeli, Vachan, Ek Saal, Narsi Bhagat, Dilli ka thug,, Dulhan, Ghar Sansar, Mehndi, Nai Raahen, Pehli Raat 1960: Apna Ghar, Chaudhvin ka chand, Ghunghat, Tu Nahin Aur Sahi 1961: Modern Girl, Gharana, Nazrana, Wanted, Pyaar Ka Saagar 1962: China Town, Raakhi, Tower House, Bombay Ka Chor 1963: Aaj aur kal, Gehra Daag, Gumrah, Nartaki, Ustadon Ke Ustaad, Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke. Bharosa, Pyar Kiya To Darna kya 1964: Door Ki Awaaz, Shehnai 1965: Kaajal, Khanmdaan, Waqt, Bahu Beti 1966: Do badan, Dus Lakh, Phool Aur Patthar, Sagaai 1967: Aurat, Humraaz, Meharban, Nayi Roshni 1968: Aakhen, Do Kaliyaan, Man Ka Meet, Neel kamal 1969: Paisa Ya Pyaar, Aadmi Aur Insaan, Anmol Moti, Badi Didi, Doli 1972 to 1977: Dharkan, Dhund, Mehmaan, Umeed, Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka, Aadmi Sadak Ka 1982: Nikaah 2003: Ek Alag Mausam

Meaning (Summary): My heart's desires ﬂowed out in my tears. Even as I kept faith with you, I remained so lonely. Life became an unquenchable thirst and love stories stayed incomplete. Even as I kept faith with you, I remained so lonely. Perhaps this will be their last atrocity, this is what I thought as I endured each one. Even as I kept faith with you, I remained so lonely. I obliterated even myself, but even so, the distances between us remained. Even as I kept faith with you, I remained so lonely.

Film fare Awards: 1962: Film Gharana 1966: Film Khandaan His hit Hindi song’s lyric: “Dil ke armān ānsuomen baha gaye...” is given in the column on the left. (Note: The contents for this article are compiled from the news, books, internet and my knowledge & love for music.) Kirit Shukla Contact him at kiritsshukla@hotmail.com

See this song on Nazar Television in April. Visit saathee.com for Nazar Television local listings. Saathee.com

April 2012

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April 2012

Influence of Classical music and vocalist on Film Music By Anita Kulkarni

Evolution of Carnatic music - a series By Smitha K. Prasad Dear readers, in last month’s column, we looked at some early women composers and their contributions to the field of music; this month, we will look at the contributions of more contemporary women to the field of Carnatic music. Among the contemporary women composers, Smt. Ambujam Krishna is perhaps the most well known. Ambujam Krishna was born in 1917 to a family of music lovers and was also taught music. Her visit to the Samadhi of the composer saint Thyagaraja inspired her to start composing. She composed in several different languages including Tamil, Kannada and Sanskrit. The lyrical content of her compositions was so rich that several leading musicians tuned a number of her compositions. Smt. Krishna also started a music school in Madurai which is currently a well established college. Andavan Pichai is another contemporary woman composer who composed in Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit. It is said that her vision of Lord Muruga was the impetus behind her compositions. Of late, many popular musicians have presented her compositions. Bangalore Nagarathnamma (1878-1952), the daughter of a very successful lawyer could trace her musical lineage to the composer saint Thyagaraja. She not only performed concerts but also gave discourses in Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit. Nagarathnamma had a dream in which she was charged with the responsibility of building a memorial to the composer saint Thyagaraja in the town of Thiruvaiyaru. In line with this vision, she set aside proceeds from her concerts and built a temple around the Samadhi of saint Thyagaraja. She was also responsible for the unified celebration of Thyagaraja aradhana (homage to Sri Thyagaraja) in Thiruvaiyaru. This event is now one of national importance; every year, in January, the who’s who of Carnatic music gather at the premises in Thiruvaiyaru and sing the saints famed Pancharathna krithis. The event is now broadcast live on the television as well as over the internet. It is interesting to note that despite the fact that it was Nagarathnamma’s efforts that led to the development of the shrine for Sri Thyagaraja, she was not allowed to perform during the aradhana since she was a woman! Nagarathnamma then started a women’s faction that performed its festivities separately. This continued till 1940 when women were allowed to perform on stage at the aradhana. Till we meet next time, do try and listen to Smt. Ambujam Krishna’s popular composition Guruvayoor Appane- you can find many renditions by popular artists on the Internet.

The magnificence of Hindustani classical music came alive with Bade Ghulam Ali Khan singing “Premjogan ban ja” in the classic film Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Pandit D. V. Paluskar and Ustad Amir Khan presenting the duet, “Aaj gawat man mero jhum ke” in Baiju Bawra (1952), the duets of Ustad Bismillah Khan and Amir Khan in the movie Goonj Uthi Shehnai, and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s song in the movie Ankahee. Manna Dey, who of all the vocalists is best grounded in classical music, has recorded many wonderful classical-influenced songs including, “laga chunri mein daag”, “chalo kahe ko jhoothi banao batiyan” and “phul gendwa na maro.” K. L. Saigal’s resounding Bhairavi, “”babul mora” in the film Street Singer, made in Calcutta in 1939, is one of the immortal creations in Indian film music. Saigal was trained basically in ghazal singing, but was gifted with a purity of voice which is the soul of classical singing. In the movie Tansen made in 1943, he presented Raag Bilawal, “sapr suran teen gram,” with transparent purity of notes. So did Mohammad Rafi when he sang Raga Malkauns, “man tarapat hari darashan ko aaj,” in Baiju Bawra. In Kohinoor, he was even able to run into impressive taans when he sang “madhuban mein radhika nache re.” The song “Manamohana Bade Jhuthe” based on Raga Jaijaiwanti, made famous by the evergreen singer Lata Mangeshkar, came from a classical music background. Pandit Satyasheel Deshpande and Sanjiv Abhyankar sang a famous Ahir Bharav Raag’s bandish “Alabelaa Sajan Aaayo ri” in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. The old music directors Naushad, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Pandit Hridaynaath Mangeshkar and many others used raga melodies in the movie song. Even the music director like A R Rahman is famous for using the both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music melodies and rhythms in his compositions for films. Hence, Hindustani Classical music has straightforward influence on cinema, directly with great performers, music directors as well as indirectly through the voice of film playback singers. Enjoy the old classical based Hindi songs on www.chandrakanta.com.

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By Dr. Maha Gingrich Cheraw/Bamboo dance I feel like I learn something new every day in life, especially when it comes to performing arts. It is amazing to gather the different types of dances that exist just within India. A week ago, I was looking at the DVD from our Dances of India 2007 performance in the Halton Theater. I introduced several stick dances from Asia during this show. One of those dances was the Bamboo dance called Tinikling from Philippines. It reminded me of this dance from India, known as Cheraw, which is the most popular ritual dance in Mizoram. This place is located in the southern part of the Northeast region of India, between Myanmar and Bangladesh. The name means â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hill Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Land.â&#x20AC;? It is a picturesque place where the population is both predominantly tribal and overwhelmingly Christian. Cheraw is danced mainly by the girls of Mizo tribe. Originally, it was a ritual dance. However, you will now see these dances being performed during many occasions. This dance is inspired by a Mizo myth. According to this myth, Pu Pawla is the custodian of paradise. When a child dies, the spirit proceeds towards Pialral, the heavenly abode of the dead. The Cheraw dance is performed to propitiate the death of the child. The Mizos believe that if the dance is performed, the spirit of the dead child will easily enter the paradise without being harassed by Pu Pawla, similar to Yama in Hindu mythology. The Cheraw is a dance of skill involving quick reflexes with matching swiftness of feet. Mizo girls dance wearing their traditional colorful skirts, matching blouses, and headgears decorated with beads and feathers. Non-dancer or assistant boys or girls squat on the ground, holding long bamboo poles. Usually three pairs of assistants hold horizontally three pairs of bamboo poles. Other three pairs hold the bamboo poles vertically. They hold the bamboos in such a way that when the poles are held apart, square dancing spaces are created on the ground. In each square stands a dancer. She has to step out of the square when the poles are clapped. The poles are clapped rhythmically and the dancers alternately step in and out of the square keeping to the clapping of the poles that provides the rhythm for the dance. A gong (a metal disc) is sounded for change in the stepping pattern. Sometimes, when we think of ritual dances, we do not take skills or challenges into consideration. General public perception is that these dances are slow or non-technical in nature. Cheraw is an excellent example of such wrong notions. Skill, spirituality and coordination play an important role in performing such a unique dance.

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April 2012

Other invited films include the opening night film, Jesse Owens (Laurens Grant, 2012) about the famous African-American 1936 Olympics star. Love Free or Die (Macky Alston, 2012) is an invited film about the first openly gay Episcopal Church of America bishop, Gene Robinson. I have not yet seen any of the films slated to be shown; the Festival has been so successful that they have actually reduced press access this year (unfortunately) – they have no problem selling tickets! As always, quite a few of the new documentaries sound very worthwhile. For example, Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare (Matthew Heineman and Susan Froemke, 2012) addresses low-cost approaches to mending our health care system, described from perspectives of reformers and patients with their stories of their trajectories through the health care system, as well as suggesting lifestyle changes to focus on prevention. Historical films include one about the Polish secret service during the Cold War (Violated Letters [Cudze Listy], Maciej Drygas, 2011). The Roma, or gypsies are discussed in A People Uncounted: The Untold Story of the Roma (Aaron Yeger, 2011); filmed in 11 countries, it tells their story through the eyes of Holocaust survivors, musicians, activists, and others. The Roma, as many readers will know, originated in Northern India but now are mainly located in Central Europe. An exciting accounting of the Arab Spring is offered in Tahrir: Liberation Square (Stefano Savona, 2011). This film follows three Egyptians fighting for political justice through the dramatic events in Cairo’s Tahrir Square over two weeks early in 2011. I enjoyed Kevin Macdonald’s 2006 film The Last King of Scotland; his new 2012 film Marley is featured at Full Frame, and covers the life of the best known reggae artist, Bob Marley.

Full Frame Festival 2012 By Dilip Barman The fifteenth annual Full Frame Festival, the country’s largest documentary film festival, comes to Durham, NC from April 12-15, 2012. Seventy three films will be screened, including a number of world premieres. It always seems that the Indian subcontinent is well represented thematically, but this year there is only one film focused just on the area, The Kingdom of Mister Edhi (Director Amélie Saillez, 2011), about the status of women in Pakistan. It’s been my experience that a good documentary film is compelling and often more interesting and entertaining than many fictional films. A selection committee carefully reviews submissions (over 1200 films this year!) to choose typically four to six dozen (57 this year) new documentaries to present. Sixteen additional films were invited. My wife and I recently finished reading Pamela Constable’s 2011 book Playing with Fire: Pakistan at War with Itself. One of the high points of the book, for me, was the embarrassing (how could I have not known about this humanitarian giant?!) but happy revelation about a man, Abdul Sattar Edhi. At the age of nineteen in 1947 upon his family’s migration to Pakistan, he founded a humanitarian institution to aid the poor. Today, the Edhi Foundation operates many free rehabilitation and women’s shelters, clinics, and the world’s largest ambulance service. It was thus with delight that I found out about the film The Kingdom of Mister Edhi to be shown at Full Frame. It describes Abdul Sattar Edhi and his wife Bilquis Edhi, and their Edhi Center that they lead. The Center is a native Pakistani institution that many, particularly women and girls, some along with babies, have come to rely on for decades in times of hardship. But now that the Edhis are aging, who will take over the charity?

Among the invited films is Samsara (Ron Fricke, 2011), a film I am particularly excited about. Many readers are probably familiar with Baraka and the Qaatsi films, visual feasts with minimalistic music, reflecting on the human state and rooted in our various cultures. Samsara promises to be in this tradition and, as its predecessors, no doubt must be seen on a large screen. Saathee.com

Chasing Ice (Jeff Orlowski, 2012) covers a National Geographic photographer who uses “revolutionary time-lapse cameras across the brutal Arctic to capture a multi-year record” illustrating climate change. As a professional photographer, I particularly look forward to this film (there are actually several films about photography featured at the Festival). continued on page 80 32

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By Cain Nunns - GlobalPost.com TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwanese news coverage is the best money can buy, says National Taiwan University journalism lecturer Chang Chin-hua. It’s just too bad for the island’s democratic credentials that she was speaking literally. Chang and other experts say Chinese government departments have been shaping news coverage here by paying Taiwanese media outlets to run stories that paint China in a sympathetic light. A media watchdog report released last month backs up those claims. According to The Foundation for the Advancement of Media Excellence (FAME), the island’s five largest daily newspapers printed hundreds of stories that were directly paid for by the Chinese government in the run-up to January’s presidential election. Ties between Taipei and Beijing have warmed considerably since nationalist President Ma Ying-jeou swept into power in 2008. However, the two sides are technically still at war following their split in 1949. China says it will use force if necessary to bring the island back into the fold. “China is trying to propagate a united front in Taiwan by promoting the Taiwan-China relationship, while downplaying their human rights problems and lack of freedoms,” said Chang, whose graduate program is widely viewed as the top journalism school in the country. “This cannot be tolerated. It goes against professionalism and journalism ethics. It cheats the readers, who don’t know what to believe. It destroys the very function of news and readership trust. And it’s also a national security problem,” she said. The FAME report says that Chinese government agencies began placing advertorials in Taiwanese print media in 2008, but the number of “embedded” stories — which are published under the guise of objective journalism — more than doubled last year. Citing national security concerns, Taiwan does not permit Chinese nationals to invest in the island’s media. However, critics claim that Beijing skirts these rules by pumping money through offshore dummy companies, and through Taiwanese businessmen with close ties to mainland authorities. Tsai Eng-meng, chairman of the food manufacturer Want Want Group, has been singled out by media monitors as one such case. Earlier this month, Tsai came in second on Forbes’ richest Taiwanese list, with a fortune of $6.2 billion USD. He added $1 billion to his net wealth in 2011. Tsai, who runs many food, real estate, hotel and health businesses in China, recently started purchasing media outlets in Taiwan that champion closer ties between the two sides. He echoes the Beijing line that the Tiananmen massacre in 1989 was Saathee.com

overblown by Western media. To date, he has acquired three dailies, including the leading China Times, a TV station and a cable network and plans to secure to a second cable operator. Since Tsai purchased The China Times in 2008, a raft of senior journalists and editors have resigned over what they say is the increasing “Sinozation” of the paper. “The owners influence their writers. If you analyze editorials in these papers then obviously there is a lot more pro-China talk and a lot less about China’s problems. It’s in the [news] pages as well, although it’s more subtle. But it’s there,” Chang said. Freedom House, a US democracy advocate, has noticed the changes too. In its global press freedom survey, Taiwan fell to 47th place in 2011 from 23rd in 2008. Back then, this diplomatically isolated island about 130 miles off China’s southern coast, was ranked as having the freest press in Asia. Freedom house said it was Asia’s eighth freest media environment in 2011. “A growing trend of marketing disguised as news reports” took a heavy toll not only on the ranking but media credibility and morale in journalistic circles, the report said. It added: “growing commercial links across the Taiwan Strait raised concerns that media owners and some journalists were whitewashing news about China to protect their financial interests.” However, some media analysts lay the blame at the doorstep of an industry that has gradually become more fractured along party and societal lines, saying the much-lauded glitter of the country’s free press has been overrated for years. “Taiwan’s media is a slaughterhouse. They create stories and never apologize for the fallout. Some of them are so prone to distortion that they’re more like entertainment businesses,” said George Tsai, vice president of Taiwan Democracy Foundation, an NGO that promotes democratic values in Asia. Still, China’s forays into Taiwanese media mirrors an aggressive global expansion of what it calls “soft power” — the promotion of the Middle Kingdom through media and the arts. At last year’s National Congress in Beijing, China announced that the exportation of soft power would become a national interest. Since then, it has spent billions of dollars combating what it views as unfair bias by Western outlets, with much of that money going towards beefing up its state-run media apparatus in Asia, South America and Africa. “We are really worried about China’s media push through the rest of developing Asia as well. Obviously a one-party state such as theirs cannot tolerate different points of view,” said Chang. “They want to use their money to propagate their message. The ‘Free World’ doesn’t seem to understand how serious this could be.”

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April 2012

Match Day The long road through Medical School By Kamal Menghrajani March 16. Chapel Hill. It was a gorgeous spring-like morning, with the kind of Carolina blue sky that makes you feel glad to be alive. I came inside to see many of my good friends, one of whom took my grocery bags as I walked in. We stood there together by the stove, cracking raw eggs oneby-one and dropping them into a bowl, beating them with a fork until they had transformed into the makings of a great breakfast. Considering what we had all just been through, it was an apropos metaphor for our lives. For this was no ordinary brunch. Today was the day that we would see the results of how medical school had whipped us into shape. It was Match Day. Beginning at noon, we would be placed into our chosen specialty, and find out where in the country we would spend the next 3-7 years of our lives in training as resident physicians. How did we get to this point? For some, the journey begins in childhood. Many Indian parents see three career paths they want their children to follow: doctor, lawyer, or engineer. The first is very commonly encouraged, as being a doctor is thought of as a noble profession in which service to others is paramount. Or so I remember hearing again and again from my parents. For me, that sort of encouragement began at a very young age. For example, in elementary school, the teacher asked us to write down what we wanted to be when we grew up and why. I wrote that I wanted to be a doctor. The reason? My parents said so. The teacher gave me an incomplete. And rightly so. As a child, I did not have the wherewithal to understand what it would take to become a doctor, nor what other options were out there in terms of pursuing my career. So I trusted my parents’ guidance that this would be a good way forward instead of dreaming about what I wanted my life to be like. Several Indian students I have talked to told me they had had similar experiences. Cary native Viren Desai (whose name has been changed to protect his identity) is a fourth-year medical student who told me that his parents didn’t push him to become a doctor; they simply expected that it would happen. “I didn’t think there were any other options. I just never considered doing anything else.” Although Viren took to the idea of a career in medicine, he said that his parents did not know what they were signing him up for. They had an outsider’s perspective that didn’t necessarily hold true to the realities of being a doctor. “My uncle is a doctor, so we’d go up [to visit him] and he has a big house. It was all so glamourized,” he said. “My parents didn’t even know what on-call meant.” Being on-call essentially means that a doctor must remain in the hospital or nearby to care for patients – no matter what day of the week, or what hour of the night, the doctor can get called to the patient’s side to make critical life-or-death decisions. In many cases, it may also mean that the physician is responsible for admitting new patients who come to the hospital seeking care. Both tasks can be stressful and together require an allconsuming time commitment. Although Viren’s uncle was wellSaathee.com

to-do, being a doctor took a toll on his lifestyle as he had to work long hours, sometimes throughout the night. It was something Viren had not realized until he got into medicine himself. “You definitely don’t see what [being a doctor] is really like until you do it.” Still, Viren considers himself lucky. “It’s a good choice, I’m happy with the field. But if I wasn’t a fan of medicine, then I would probably resent [my parents].” Whether completely by choice or with lots of parental encouragement, many Indians today are still choosing to go to medical school. One of the joys of getting a medical education is that it is versatile and that it lends itself to some unexpected and exciting paths. A very popular path among many NC students is traveling abroad to provide health care to the poor and underserved. Several of my classmates went to the Indian-Tibetan border after their first year of medical school as part of the Himalayan Health Exchange, where they provided medical and dental care to over 1,300 patients. It was a rewarding, and at times frustrating, experience, one that helped them realize how abundant the resources are in the U.S. and how much effort it will take to bring modern health care to all parts of India. Others pursued research during medical school, working on the cutting-edge of science to develop a new understanding of disease and new forms of treatment. Some looked into the business of health, and how paying attention to the bottom line could be good or bad for patients and for the health system overall. Still others took on the task of writing about medicine, in the form of fiction, textbooks, or health news aimed at informing the general public. Medicine lends itself to a variety of pursuits, but students still have to choose what kind of doctor they want to be when they finish medical school. Whether it is a dermatologist, radiologist, cancer specialist, or primary care physician, the decision on what type of health care to provide is one that people make after only a year of experience in the hospital. And it is a choice that will likely stay with them for the rest of their lives. With the advent of the new health care law, the “Affordable Care Act,” it is difficult to know what the future will hold for physicians. The law is meant to provide health coverage to all Americans, but it also looks at ways to reduce health care costs. Some provisions of the law significantly reduce the amount of money radiologists can make while increasing payment to physicians who go into primary care, the area where the most doctors are needed. With reimbursement in flux, and more changes expected in the coming years, it makes less and less sense to choose a specialty based on financial compensation. In the end, most students told me they went with their gut and chose a path in medicine that they felt was a good fit for their personality. And on Match Day, these students found out where they were headed for their first job as an actual doctor. They shuffled into the large lecture hall, this time without notebooks or laptops. Each one approached the stage as their name was called, put a dollar in the kitty for good luck, and received the envelope inside which her/his fate was sealed. Most ripped open the letter with great zeal, excited to see what their future had in store. Some felt the thrill of landing their dream job; others fought back tears after learning their fate. In the end, they all knew that this marked the beginning of their career as a doctor, a simultaneously enviable and challenging position. And as for Viren, he was all smiles – he got his top choice. Kamal Menghrajani is fourth-year medical student at UNC-Chapel Hill. April 2012

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The Sly Company of People Who Care Author: Rahul Bhattacharya (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)

By Swapna Krishna American Dervish Author: Ayad Akhtar (Little, Brown and Company) Hayat Shah is a Pakistani-American boy living with his parents. His parents’ relationship isn’t ideal, but the family gets by. That is, until Hayat’s mother’s best friend arrives from India. Mina changes everything in the Shah household. The atmosphere becomes softer, less difficult, and Mina teaches Hayat about Islam and the Qur’an. But as things begin to change, Hayat clings to Quranic teachings, and is forced to learn difficult lessons about what he is capable of. “American Dervish” is a novel of contradictions. There is so much beauty, hope, and love in this novel that it is spilling out of the pages, yet these feelings are tempered by the ugliness of narrow mindedness and racism. Hayat is an appealing young boy, bright and eager to learn. It’s clear that he has become somewhat lost in the struggles between his parents, so when Mina arrives and showers attention on him, its Hayat’s dream come true. He can’t help but develop a crush on her as they study the Qur’an, and through the book, he finds peace. Akhtar captures the simultaneous beauty and ugliness of religion perfectly in “American Dervish.” He shows Islam as a religion of peace, something which can bring solace to an open soul. His portrayal of Islam is simple, yet gorgeous; through Akhtar’s prose, the religion’s appeal is completely understandable. Yet somehow, Akhtar also manages to show the reader the darker sides of Islam just as well. From the dangers that stem from a literal interpretation of the Qur’an to the closed-mindedness of some in Muslim communities, he does not shy away from these more difficult aspects. It’s incredibly well done, a nuanced portrait of a religion that, like any other, is subject to interpretation by its followers. However, even in the darkest points of the novel, the reader has Mina to remind them of Islam’s beauty and wonder. The novel focuses on the effect that religion can have on a young, naïve mind through Hayat, and it’s not a pretty picture. Hayat becomes more difficult and misguided as the novel progresses. Because Akhtar took so much care in developing him, Hayat never loses the reader’s sympathy, but it’s difficult to watch him go down this path. It’s an excellent commentary on the interplay between strict religious beliefs and modern life, especially in a child. Although the subject matter of “American Dervish” isn’t always the easiest to read - issues such as racism, adultery, and abuse permeate the novel - Akhtar’s prose lightens what would otherwise be a heavy burden. His gorgeous writing keeps the book from ever becoming too much and shows the reader the small joys of everyday life. I cannot say enough about how readable Akhtar’s prose is. I feel like I have gone on and on about this book, yet barely scratched its surface. It’s difficult to describe exactly why this book is so good. The expert character development, relevant issues, amazing prose - they all come together to create something that is truly incredible. Saathee.com

An unnamed twenty-six year old cricket journalist has just landed in Guyana from his home country of India. He has become disillusioned with India, swearing off his home and going in search of something new. He falls in love with what Guyana has to offer and proceeds to travel around the country, immersing himself in the culture and embarking upon new adventures. In many ways, “The Sly Company of People Who Care” is a literary masterpiece. The unnamed narrator travels around the country with no real sense of purpose or direction, describing vividly as he goes. This gives the novel a great atmosphere, and elevates its function to a sort of fictional travelogue. The reader really gets to see the country through the narrator’s eyes (with the caveat that his background and culture color everything he sees, meaning it’s not an objective account). Bhattacharya’s writing is beautiful and evocative; the reader can imagine the various settings through his descriptive prose. The unnamed narrator manages to comment on the world around him without divulging much of himself, which is very interesting. He meets all sorts of colorful characters in his travels; Bhattacharya has created unique and eccentric personalities to populate the novel. Their speech in Pidgin English adds a lot of flavor to “The Sly Company of People Who Care,” and immerses the reader in the cultural experience. Additionally, Bhattacharya’s commentary on Guyanese history and race relations, which takes up the second part of the threepart novel, is simply fascinating. It’s very eye-opening for someone unfamiliar with the country. But each of these amazing qualities comes with a caveat, and they all seem to cluster around the reading experience of “The Sly Company of People Who Care.” Yes, the narrator wanders aimlessly, and it really speaks to some of the themes in the novel, but it also means the book follows that same path. Readers may become frustrated with the slow, meandering pace of the book, as it rarely seems to be going anywhere, and definitely not in any sort of hurry. The narrator removes himself from the reader, which is a masterful accomplishment in terms of the writing, but it means the reader isn’t really invested in the main character or what becomes of him. The Pidgin English, which is such an interesting addition, also makes the book incredibly difficult to read at times. In sum, this book has two different dimensions upon which it can be reviewed: the literary accomplishments and the reading experience. It succeeds on the former, but lacks in the latter, and in my opinion, a book needs to satisfy both in order to really be great. Too often, I think literary fiction authors forget that they need more than just interesting literary devices; their books need to be enjoyable to read, otherwise why would readers want to pick them up? Don’t get me wrong, this was a good book. Bhattacharya accomplished a lot of interesting things with it, but it wasn’t a fully satisfying read in the end. Swapna Krishna Read more book reviews on her blog at www.skrishnasbooks.com

April 2012

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build upon the mehfil mood. The Remix version is also an awesome version to listen to because Malini Awasti’s rendition is very different from Nandini’s and has a very rustic feel to it. Good stuff! And, now things get a bit quirkier with “Pungi.” Mika Singh’s rendition, the melody, choice of instruments and Amitabh’s lyrics are very comical and catchy. The pace of the song is fast and maintains interest throughout. The Remix version isn’t quite earth-shattering but makes for good soundtrack filler material. “Agent Vinod Theme” is an ordinary instrumental piece that has the I-think-I’ve-heard-this-before feel to it. It’s ok while it lasts and certainly establishes the “thriller” mood of the film clearly. Overall, Agent Vinod‘s soundtrack is a mixed bag. There are plenty of remixes and variations of original compositions making it less of a must-have collector’s item. However, the soundtrack is worth a listen, no doubt, for “Dil Mera Muft Ka” (both versions), “Pungi,” and “Raabta” (Aditi Singh Sharma version).

By Amanda Sodhi Agent Vinod Original Soundtrack

After delivering the very memorable film Johnny Gaddaar (2007), Sriram Raghvan is back with the Saif Ali Khan-Kareena Kapoor starrer Agent Vinod, and the soundtrack is finally out. The soundtrack features eleven compositions by Pritam and lyrics by the talented Amitabh Bhattacharya. Let’s see how the music fares! “I Will Do the Talking Tonight” is an adaptation of “Rasputine,” and, thankfully this time Pritam credits the original source. While sheer originality would have been hoped for, “I Will Do the Talking Tonight” is still an enjoyable song. Techno beats, rap, middle-eastern elements, electronica and breezy vocals by Neeraj Shridhar, Aditi Singh Sharma, Shefali Alvaris, and Barbie Amod all go together well and create a pulsating track perfect for the clubs. “I Will Do the Talking Tonight Remix” is a faster-paced arrangement equally as enjoyable as the original, which is nice because usually remixes have a tendency to sound superannoying. Four versions of “Raabta” does seem a tad bit overdone. Seriously? Four versions? Anyway, the Shreya Ghoshal-Arjit Singh-Joy version is the weakest of the four perhaps because Sherya’s vocals sound too filmy, chirpy and not as soulful and meaningful as the other versions. No, that doesn’t mean she’s a bad singer by any means, but too much of a good thing can also be bad. The Hamsika-Arjit Singh, Joy version, Arijit Singh-Joy version, and Aditi Singh Sharma-Arijit Singh versions are way more pleasant to listen to. Pritam sure does have a flair for composing melodious romantic numbers. The percussion arrangements, soft rock feel, with inspirational, optimistic lyrics and chilled out, soothing vocals are a delight to listen to. Out of all the versions Aditi Singh Sharma’s rendition leaves the longest lasting impression. Hopefully more composers will utilize her distinct voice in upcoming soundtracks! “Dil Mera Muft Ka” is the highlight of the soundtrack and seems to be helping the film generate buzz through being used heavily in promos. There has been lots of buzz surrounding both versions of the song due to it falling under an innovative category of mujra rock. The Nandini Srikar version (also features supporting vocals by Muzzam, Rizwan, Shadab Faridi, Altamush Faridi, and Shabab Sabri) is oozing energy. Nandini’s vocal texture is unique and her rendition is flawless and full of attitude. Neelesh Misra’s lyrics are clever, as well and help Saathee.com

Amanda Sodhi is a Bollywood journalist, lyricist, screenwriter, and PR/marketing practitioner based in Los Angeles.

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E I

It sits alone, all by itself, It is abandoned. It sits, and shivers, and whimpers, and cries, But not even one, cares to reply.

A small furry creature all by itself, Waits all through the night.... in a tiny space. It waits under a mailbox, With just one yelp or two, Wondering what it should do... Because it is abandoned.

Make words using 4 or more letters. The central letter must be used in each word. Use all letters for the subject word. 26 + words = Excellent; 16 to 25 words = Good; 15 or less needs to improve. (Solution at bottom of page)

It tries to find someone, That will give it attention. But, none comes for years and years, ‘til the baby animal moves. Moves away, far, far away Where it can have Company, happiness, and fun Forever!!!

Candy Clouds By Aneri Kothari (Grade 6) There once was a town, Where clouds were sweet, Where little kids ate them, As a treat!

Word World (Solution): CREEP, CREPE, CRIPES, EPIC, ERIE, PECS, PEER, PERE, PERI, PERSE, PICE, PIECE, PIER, PIERCE, PIRE, PRECISE, PRICE, RECIPE, RICE, RIPE, RISE, SCREE, SEEP, SEER, SERE, SIRE, SPEC, SPICE, SPIRE, SPREE

They licked their fingers, And ate some more, Until one day, There was a knock on the door.

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The children, They, opened the door, Then the youngest one asked, Who are you and what are you here for?

FA M I LY D J N U M B E R O N E !

The man he simply, Pointed to the sky And said silently, Fixing his tie, The clouds are gone, But please don’t cry, There is a way to fix it, If we all try.”

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The clouds were more than food, They were protection, Made mysteriously, though with perfection. “Tell your parents to stop pollution, Tell them to start finding a solution. That, yes we will, We will go green. That we will bring back, The clouds we had once seen.

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thekenz@hotmail.com

April 2012

The time is always right to do what is right!

Beena thakkar Realtor/Broker Liscensed in NC & SC Direct: (704) 293-5323 Email: BeenaThakkar05@yahoo.com

Multi million dollar producer in 2010, 2011, and going strong in 2012 Short sale specialist â&#x20AC;˘ Foreclosure expert Experience, professionalism, eďŹ&#x192;ciency, and most importantly, the ability to get any transaction on the table, and closed. These are the qualities that make me the right agent for you.

Multi-million dollar ashram

Suggested strategies to increase your mastery of meaning this month: Read the Styles section, Opinions, Editorial and Advice columns in your daily and Sunday newspaper and underline all the idiomatic uses of button, cuff, collar and skirt. References: 1, http://www.idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

Mastering Meaning By Judith L. Bergman M.A. CCC

Answers: 1-d, 2-i, 3-h, 4-c, 5-b, 6-f, 7-j, 8-a, 9-g, 10-e,

“April showers bring May flowers,” goes the saying. April also brings some people the strong desire to empty out drawers and closets, sometimes called “spring cleaning.” This soon results in another familiar, somewhat exaggerated expression: “I haven’t a THING to wear!” Yes, clothing is a necessity as in “food, clothing and shelter” but simply covering one’s body vs. looking sharp and fashionable, just won’t suffice. Thus spring cleaning often leads to shopping trips. Names of articles (items) of clothing have found their way into many idioms in American English and here are some used in conversations you might overhear in your office.

Judith L. Bergman M.A CCC is the director of Triangle Speech Services specializing in foreign accent modification. Contact: jlbergman@mindspring.com or 919-489-5464 www.trianglespeech.com

Sepa Consulting

Kirti H. Shah

Listen in on the informal conversation below and match the idioms to the list of meanings that follow, using context clues. 1 Jim: “Bob, I tried (a) to collar the boss’s assistant to find out about the company’s reorganization plans but she (b) skirted the issue.” Bob: “It would be a better management strategy to be more transparent about such a (c) hot-button topic.” Jim: “Even a sincere (d) off-the-cuff announcement would be better than making us all wait for an official memo.” Bob: “Well we already know that the (e) blue-collar positions were out-sourced to vendors long ago, so will I.T. be next?” Jim: “Well we could (f) button our lips and wait and see.” Bob: “Or we could ask Mary to chat with the boss’ assistant. They are friends and Mary knows how to (g) push all the right buttons and stay very calm.” Jim: “Not a bad idea but the boss might get very (h) hot under the collar if his assistant tells him that both you and Mary were asking and couldn’t wait until the meeting next week.” Bob: “Hmm, I never thought of that! You’re (i) right on the button there!” Jim: “Speaking of buttons, maybe we should stay calm and not (j) hit the panic button.”

Certified Public Accountant

Doing business in the Carolinas since 2001. • Year round accounting and book-keeping services. • Payroll & sales tax along with quaterly & yearly payroll services. • Tax preparation and planning for individuals and business. • Financial statements review, compilation and audit. • Assistance in new business setup.

Phone: (704) 588.0011

Fax: (704) 588.0022

kirtihshahcpa@bellsouth.net

10960 Winds Crossing Dr. Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28273

1. spontaneous, unplanned ___ 2. exactly right ___ 3. upset and angry ___ 4. an important subject, arousing strong feelings ___ 5. avoided discussing a subject ___ 6. keep silent ___ 7. get very anxious and afraid ___ 8. to detain (informal) ___ 9. do exactly what is needed to get the desired result ___ 10. working class, implies manual or factory labor ___ Warning! Use these idioms with care. Some expressions can be seen as boastful, very informal or even rude and hostile. Children may be described as cute as a button or bright as a button but this could sound like you are boasting if you are talking about your own children! Button it! is a rude and impolite way to tell someone to stop talking and the expression, button our lips, used in the conversation above is only used informally among close friends and colleagues. Saathee.com

April 2012

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VIDEOPRODUCTIONS & PHOTOGRAPHY

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IT'S NOT JUST A WEDDING VIDEO IT'S A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, YOUR WEDDING, YOUR STORY!

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Access One Realty

Paving Your Access to the Future businesses Available for Sale Listing Code

Business

Location near

Price ‘000

Gross ‘000

Cash Flow ‘000

(GH) (Rb) (PH) (ND) (CV) (IK) (CQ) (UH) (LV) (FH) (RN) (SM) (UH) (KK) (ND) (bJ) (Rb)

C-store with Re Laundromat C-store with Re C-store with Re C-store Leased C-store Leased C-store Leased C-store with Re C-store leased C-store with Re C-store Leased C-store Leased C-store Leased C-store Leased C-store Leased Tanning, Leased Laundromat

Henderson, NC Durham, NC Hiddenite, NC Henderson, NC Creedmoor, NC Kinston, NC Claremont NC Rocky Mount, NC Louisburg, NC Holly Spring, NC Roanoke Rpd, NC Mebane, NC Rocky Mount, NC Pittsboro, NC Henderson, NC High Point, NC Durham, NC

599 375 325 249 250 199 179 149 130 99 80 60 49 10 10 39 25

2,517 106 223 596 2,654 2,855 1,729 540 1,364 307 899 1,694 540 632 596 46 106

180

Saathee.com

69 114 180 144 120 90 81 52 120 50 69 5

Business Broker & Loan Broker One-Stop Shop

Customer Satisfaction & Confidentiality is our goal! Chandravadan Shah Broker-In-Charge

919-439-5483 cs.real@gmail.com

Motel, Convenience Stores Gas Stations, Dry Cleaning, Laundromat, Office, Land, Retail, Apartments, Foreclosures, Homes, etc.

April 2012

I see man at the waterside, Casting nets for the surging tide. Oh island in the sun, Willed to me by my father’s hand, All my days I will sing in praise, Of your harvest waters, your shining sand. By Chanden Sen Florida Shall Not Go Under Well, our leaders have spoken and it does not bode well for us environmentalists. From Kyoto to Bali, Copenhagen to Cancun, and now Durban, the world leaders, meeting to discuss steps to combat global warming, have decided that economic progress is more important than sustainability. For the most part our leaders are democratically elected and so, willy-nilly, we have to go along with their decision. No matter that large parts of Florida will be flooded by the rising sea, which will also inundate some island nations in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, along with low lying areas in Bangladesh and the like. No matter that the polar ice caps will disappear, taking with them the polar bears. Who cares? It’s more important, or so say the cynics, that every person on planet earth has a color TV. The other day I told my son that whenever I catch myself thinking about it, I immediately switch off my portable radiant heater, reminding myself of the coal that is at that precise moment being burnt to produce the necessary electricity. My son corrected me and said that we in North Carolina get our juice from Shearon Harris, which is a nuclear power station. I reply that I thought that we were all connected on a common grid into which the electricity is fed from various power stations, nuclear, thermal, hydel etc. In any case, France has done well with nuclear power, with the result that the air quality over France is better than that over any other developed nation. But it takes only one nuclear mishap to set the clock back, and worldwide we’ve had several – Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and most recently Fukoshima. I tell my son, almost humorously, that Kolkata is becoming almost too hot for human habitation in the summer months. Those who can, drift off to cooler climes. Will Kolkata go the way of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro and become a desert? Who knows, but according to experts deserts are slated to grow in these times of heating climates. Even funnier thoughts invade my mind. I see myself, with a 20-year food supply, lodging myself in the International Space Station, or on the moon, or even on Mars! I don’t expect to live longer than 20 years, so I’ll lie on my back on the surface of Mars, and gaze out at the large blue orb in the sky which will be Planet Earth. This was the last scene in the movie Space Cowboys, starring Clint Eastwood. However, it’s not Clint but one of his cohorts that opts to go to Mars. Maybe those among us that are fortunate enough to be well connected will be able to abandon Planet Earth and leave like rats forsaking a sinking ship. Maybe, as in the Kevin Costner movie Waterworld, there will remain pockets of nominally civilized people floating on a water-logged planet. But how can America allow Florida to go under? That’s the thought that’ll be on my mind as I slowly exhaust my 20-year supply of food and fuel on Mars. A variation of the song goes: Oh planet in the sun, Willed to me by my father’s hand, All my days I will sing in praise, Of your harvest waters, your shining sand. I see woman on bended knee, Currying cane for her family, Saathee.com

Vanishing Rain Forests Most humans love forests for what they are – mysterious greenery that is a joy to explore, with a vibrant eco system consisting of flora and fauna, and a definite benefit for our planet. Yet it is shocking to know that, in the name of progress, slightly more than one acre of forests is cleared on earth every second. That amounts to almost 100,000 acres every day, and more than 34 million acres per year – an area the size of Greece. This is partially offset by new growth and organized tree-planting programs, so the net loss of forests each year amounts to 18 million acres. The biggest direct cause of deforestation is the “slash and burn” technique used to rapidly clear forests for subsistence farming, plantation agriculture, and cattle ranches – mostly in tropical and sub-tropical countries. The carbon dioxide emissions from deforestation are second only to the burning of fossil fuels for the production of electricity and heat as the largest source of global warming pollution on the planet. Indeed, an estimated 15 to 23 percent of annual carbon dioxide emissions – more than that from all the cars and trucks in the world – result from the destruction and burning of forests. The two countries accounting for 60 percent of the total acreage lost in deforestation are Brazil and Indonesia. In Brazil almost 20 percent of the Amazon forest has already been destroyed. After the best wood is removed, the remainder is burned away to make way for cattle and crops. Brazil has been historically sensitive to any efforts by the international community to engage the country in agreements that would give the rest of the world any say in the future of the Amazon. Nevertheless, Brazil has announced a national target of reducing deforestation by 70% by 2017. In August 2008, President Luis Imacio da Silva announced the creation of a fund and a set of new regulations designed to protect the Amazon. However, these new regulations are not yet being effectively enforced. In Indonesia, large peatland forests have been cleared of trees and drained to make way for palm oil plantations. More than 80 percent of the world’s palm oil comes from Indonesia and its next door neighbor Malaysia. In order to accelerate the drying process, the developers of these plantations burn the peatlands. That is why massive clouds of smoke and soot now cover large portions of the South East Asian archipelago every year during the burning season. To add to the problem, both Indonesia and Malaysia have enacted subsidies and other incentives for the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations. Indonesia’s official policy calls for the tripling of palm oil plantations by 2020. After Brazil and Indonesia, the next eight countries that top the list of deforesting nations are: Sudan, Myanmar, Zambia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Congo, Zimbabwe, and Venezuela. The good news is that governments throughout the world continued on page 118

Chandan Sen Contact: chandansen33@hotmail.com

April 2012

PayaL HaS MOVed tO a New, Larger LOCatION!

6233 South Boulevard, Charlotte, nC 28217 (previously Bombay Bazaar)

PAYAL

Indian Groceries & Spices graNd OPeNINg SaLe!

Laxmi Sonamasoori Rice..20lb .........$12.99 Ashirvad Export Pack Atta 20lb ...........$9.99 Laxmi Basmati Rice ..........10lb ...........$9.99 Nirav Besan ......................10lb ...........$8.99 Nirav Mango Pulp .............6 pack .......$8.99 Laxmi Toor Dal..................4lb .............$4.99 Laxmi Moong Dal..............4lb .............$4.99 Laxmi Urad Dal .................4lb .............$4.99

april 5th - april 15th, 2012 Laxmi Whole Moong .........4lb .............$4.99 Laxmi Kabuli Chana..........4lb .............$4.99 Nirav Chana dal ................4lb .............$3.99 Nirav Masoor Dal ..............4lb .............$3.99 Sharda Sooji .....................4lb .............$2.99 Deep Khakhara ...........................3 for $3.99 Ready to Eat (Haldiram, MTR, Kohinoor) Mix & Match .............................3 for $5.99

Garui Gujrat Snacks....................3 for $4.99 Payal Special Snacks .................2 for $4.99 Parle-G Small..............................6 for $0.99 All small Maggi............................3 for $0.99 Deep Homestyle Family Pack Paratha 20 Pack.......................$6.99 Mango Box (Ripe) Special and much more

Sale Ends April, 15th, 2012. Some restrictions may apply. While supplies last. See store for details.

Full Line Of groceries fresh vegetables at the lowest prices

eVery week!

fresh Snacks available every weekend! (Samosa, Khasta Kachori, Khaman etc.)

dVds are ONLy 99¢

exit 4 77 South

Archdale Dr.

Nations Ford Rd.

old Pineville Rd.

To 485

PAYAL

exit 4 77 north

OPen

7 dAYS A week! 11 AM To 8 PM 704-521-9680 We accept EBT Card

old Payal Location

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Jaipur

To Uptown

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Shyama Beauty Parlor Inside Payal grocery

It’s Raining Lawsuits – Commercial Umbrella Insurance

Deductibles on umbrella policies are usually $10,000 to $25,000. A common question business owners ask their insurance agents is, “How much umbrella coverage does my business need?” While your agent cannot make this determination for you, an educated selection can be made by analyzing your business operations, business structure, and exposures. When looking into umbrella policies, remember it is important to consider the number of possible lawsuits, injuries and claims from your business on a worst case basis. For example, it may be determined that, in addition to slips and falls, a motel’s most significant exposure to liability may be the airport shuttle service it provides to guests. In the event of a serious accident, each individual could file a claim causing the automobile limits of $1 million to erode quickly. A liquor store may be held liable for selling liquor to an underage person who goes out and causes a major auto accident with serious injuries. A guest at a fast food restaurant may slip and fall on the premises causing a major back injury. Thinking about your business loss exposure and claim potential can help you and your agent determine an appropriate amount of coverage for your commercial umbrella policy. Any business with significant assets should at get an umbrella policy quote. A business owner who takes time to carefully assess the situation will quickly realize that a commercial umbrella policy is an inexpensive way to ensure that the assets they own remain theirs.

By A.J. Shah These days, lawsuits are everywhere. All it takes is one lawsuit against your business to erase years of hard work. Think you’re protected? Why take the risk? It’s impossible to predict whether your business might be involved in a lawsuit resulting from a claim or accident. Nor is it possible to predict the insurance claim amount that your business might be responsible for paying. Whether a medical practice or a motel, a fast food restaurant or a travel agency, it is important to protect your business. Consider a commercial umbrella policy today. What is a commercial umbrella policy? An umbrella policy, also known as an excess policy, pays claim amounts that are higher than the available limits on your company’s commercial liability coverage, which may include general liability, commercial automobile or employer’s liability coverage. The umbrella policy picks up when your primary policy limits are exhausted. For example, let’s say your general liability policy provides $1 million worth of coverage. However, an accident at your business exposes you to $1.25 million worth of liability and a separate lawsuit throws another $1.5 million worth of liability at your business. The additional $250,000 and $500,000 beyond the $1 million mark would be covered by your commercial umbrella policy. What is the purpose of a commercial umbrella policy? An umbrella policy fulfills two major purposes. • The first is to provide “excess coverage” above the policy limits of your company’s general liability, auto liability, and workers compensation/employers liability Similar to the previous example, if a general liability claim is filed for $2 million, the additional $1 million not covered by your general liability policy will be covered and paid by the umbrella policy. • The second is to provide “drop down coverage.” Drop down coverage comes into play when prior claims have eliminated the general liability, auto liability, or workers compensation limits. However, drop down coverage is being phased out on some umbrella policies in favor of the previously mentioned simple excess coverage. What do I need to consider in purchasing an umbrella policy? When determining the right umbrella policy for your business, a few basic rules should be followed. • Make sure your policy is “follow form.” The umbrella policy should follow the same policy design as the primary liability coverage’s so the policies complement one another. They should fit together like a hand in a glove. You don’t want the excess umbrella insurance policy to contain coverage that is more restrictive than the primary liability policies. • Maintain require primary limits. If you allow your primary coverage to lapse, or do not maintain insurance limits required by your umbrella policy, you could experience a serious coverage gap. Umbrella policies will not cover a gap left by cancelled or underinsured coverage.

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Umbrella policies are purchased in increments of $1,000,000. Most insurance carriers can offer anywhere from $1 million to $10 million of umbrella coverage. Premiums range from only $500 to $1,500 per million of coverage and can vary depending on current business operations and past loss history. So, $10 million of coverage could be obtained for as little as $500. Saathee.com

A.J. Shah is a Principal at JAG Insurance Group, in Charlotte, NC. JAG specializes in Property & Casualty Business Insurance and Personal Lines Insurance. A.J. can be reached at ajshah@jaginsurancegroup.com or 704.981.1011.

April 2012

Artistic Eyebrows by Sejal Threading, Waxing and Henna

Sejal Patel 704.975.4331 or 704.237.4354 sejalpatel415@yahoo.com TWo LocaTionS

Fresh Vegetables eveRyDAy!

4935 Monroe Rd. charlotte, nc 28205

next to india Town Grocery

near Sharon amity

Shoma: 704.576.2225 email: mastidance.unlimited@gmail.com

Dance is fun, and fun is unlimited at...

Now offering CATERING & RENTAL service 980-254-5355 www.s-sphotostudio.com

Full Line of: • groceries • fresh Snacks • fresh vegetables • fresh fish & Meat • new & old cD & DvDs • gift items • ayurvedic Medicines • oxidized temples • Kitchen items

open: Wed, Thurs & Fri

2811 W. Sugar creek Rd. charlotte, nc 28262

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open: Sat, Sun, Mon & Tues

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Columbia, SC 29210

Directions: We accept i-20 take exit 63 All Major Credit i-26 take exit 108 Cards & Bush river rd., behind Burger King Food stamps

open Seven Days a week: Monday 11-6, tue-Sun 11-7:30 Saathee.com

April 2012

Foods which are very low in Vitamin K are bread and cereals, cheeses, eggs, meat, fish, dairy, nuts, fruits and vegetables not listed. If you eat green cucumber, peel the skin (the green skin has the vitamin K). Try Strawberry Toast (low in Vitamin K) for breakfast: 6 slices thick whole wheat bread or half a bagel 6 tablespoons light brown sugar or may use Splenda brown sugar 1 teaspoon lemon zest 2 teaspoons lemon juice 3 cups diced strawberries 3 tablespoon low fat cream cheese

By Anjana Agarwal

Coumadin (Warfarin) and Vitamin K If your doctor has prescribed Coumadin or Warfarin to “thin“your blood, you need to watch how much vitamin K you get from food and dietary supplements. When you are taking Coumadin, the doctor uses a test called INR (International normalized ratio) and PTT (Prothrombin time) to make sure your blood will not clot too quickly or too slowly. Changing how much Vitamin K you get can change INR. This change could result in bleeding or an unwanted blood clot. Formerly, people taking Coumadin were advised to avoid foods which were high in Vitamin K. However, a more current approach is to maintain a consistent intake of Vitamin K while the doctor titrates the Coumadin dose to maintain the desired PTT and INR levels.

Toast the bread, heat a skillet (high heat) add sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice and cook until mixture begin to bubble (one minute). Add strawberries and stir the berries 1-2 minutes until heated through (one to two minutes).Spread half tablespoon cream cheese on each piece of toast, top with warm strawberries mixture. You can prepare the strawberries mixture ahead, cover and refrigerate for up to two days or freeze up to one month. To reheat, microwave on high for about one minute (defrost first if frozen).

Recommendations: ● Take medication as prescribed by your doctor. ● Keep Vitamin K intake consistent. You may plan to eat no more than half cup of the following foods daily, avoid large increases or decreases in the amount of foods high in Vitamin K. ● Do not take supplements that contain more than 100 micrograms of Vitamin K. ● You can take a daily multi-vitamin. Many contain only 25 micrograms of Vitamin k. ● Generally it is not wise to take Vitamin E or Fish Oil supplements. ● Avoid smoking. ● Avoid drinking green tea. The package insert of Coumadin cautions to avoid cranberry juice and cranberry products. In 2003, a case report in the British medical Journal describing a man taking Coumadin, Digoxin and Phenytoin - whose diet was composed of cranberry juice for two weeks - died of gastrointestinal and pericardial hemorrhage. Since that time at least two other cased of hemorrhage in patients taking Coumadin and cranberry juice have been published. At lease three trials have since been published, and in all three trials, it is concluded that cranberry juice had little effect of INR or coagulation. Avoid cranberry juice if your doctor recommends. Following foods are high in Vitamin k: Food Amount

Vitamin K

Spinach, cooked Kale, cooked Collard, greens, cooked Mustard greens, cooked Spinach raw Broccoli, cooked Brussels sprout, cooked Lettuce, green leaf Cabbage Cooked Parsley, raw Spring onions, raw Green turnips, cooked

444 531 418 210 145 110 109 97 81 164 104 265

Consult with a registered dietitian for individualized meal plan. Many insurance companies now pay for the nutrition consult. Anjana Agarwal, MS, RD, LDN, CNSD, CDE Registered Dietitian Phone: 704-890-3162 Carolina Nutrition (Adult & Pediatric) www.carolinanutrition.com

(micrograms)

Saathee.com

half cup half cup half cup half cup one cup half cup half cup one cup half cup 10 springs half cup half cup

April 2012

foR WeDDInGS, SoCIAl funCTIonS AnD GeT ToGeTHeRS

looking for Multilingual Priest to Perform Hindu Rituals at your home?

• Specialized in BRIDAl MeHenDI (Indian, Arabic, Akhati Styles) • ARABIC MeHenDI • TATooS • MeHenDI CoACHInG (Basic and Advance Course)

BHAVInI PATel Call – (704) 544 6536 Website: mehendi4bride.webs.com, e-mail:patelbhavini@ymail.com

Serving both carolinas

HennA / MeHenDI ARTIST

Serving the South Asian community

We Speak Hindi & Punjabi

You Can Call Sastriji for Wedding, Upanayam, Various types of Hawans,

704.971.3030

Grapravesh, Sri Sathyanarayan Katha,

(Fax): 704.971.3033

Bhoomi Puja, and Astrology

www.mwoodford.com

Matt Woodford

Contact Sastriji @ 704-231-0751 or 704-625-7578. Email: sastrigal2003@yahoo.com

STATe FARM AGeNT matt.woodford.rv32@statefarm.com

Over 35 years experience

Saathee.com

Arjun Singh arjun.singh.uki5@statefarm.com

3220 Prosperity Church Rd., Suite 102, Charlotte, NC 28269

April 2012

www.RealtorAnish.com

Broker

Licensed in NC & SC

We are in a challenging Real Estate Market, you need an experienced agent on your side. If you want to get the job done right, call me! New Listing - Piper Glen Executive Home in Prestigious Piper Glen. Over 6,500 sq. Ft. Golf and Water View. Over $700,000 Below Tax Value. Great Cul-De-Sac location. Every floor has Huge Balcony for enjoyment and entertainment. A Steal! Motivated Seller! Only $595,000

Coming Soon - Lake Park Beautiful Builder's personal home in Sought after Lake Park. 4 bedrooms (2 master bedrooms), 2 1/2 baths, gourmet kitchen w/ SS appliances, granite counter tops, Tile floor. Lots of custom built-ins, surround sound, tons of other upgrades. This one is a must see. Call for price and details

Coming Soon - Cameron Wood Beautiful FULL Brick home with 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, Bonus Room, Huge Screened Porch, Incredible Location, cul-de-sacstreet. Many recent new upgrades. Call for the details and price!

New Listing - Weston Glen Amazing 5BR/4BA home w/open plan, neutral & beautiful. New Paint and Light Fixtures Through out. Huge kitchen w/island & 42'' Maple Cabinets. Big 2 Story great room, formals, king-sized master w/sitting room, Bedroom and Full Bath on Main Floor. Jack-n-Jill & 2nd guest bath up. Popular neighborhood w/swim club & playground. Walk to top schools & YMCA in upscale, convenient Ballantyne. A winner! $319,125

LD o S

New Listing - Weston Glen Incredible 5 bedroom, 4 Full Bath Evanshire floor plan. 2 story great room, Gourmet Kitchen, Guest Bedroom and Full bath on the main Floor. Incredible, fenced-in Private backyard with Pavers, Huge Master Bedroom with wet bar. Beautiful Master Bath w/ Dual Vanities and separate Shower and Garden Tub. Large secondary bedrooms and closet space. This one is a Must See! Only $309,900

LD o S

New Price - Weston Glen Pristine Weston Glen Home Offers Location, Location Location! Walk to Top Schools in Hot Ballantyne Area. Swim Club Neighborhood w/ Nearby Y. Perfect Plan w/ 5 Bedrooms & 3 Baths! Guest Bedroom Downstairs with Full Bath! Double Sided Fireplace for those Cold Winter Nights! Don't Miss This One! $284,900

LD o S

New Listing- Marvin Creek Don't Miss This Beaut. 5 BDR 4BA Home in Prestigious Marvin Creek. Kit has 42" Cstm Cabnts w/ Grnte Countr Tops, SS Appliances, 2 Str Grt Rm, 3rd Floor Bonus/Rec Room w/ Surround Sound. H/W Floors, Plantation Shutters, Crown Molding, Central Vac, Intercom. Mstr Suite w/ Trey Ceilngs, Lrg Mstr Bath w/ Dual Van. & 4 walk-in Closets. Huge Fenced Flat Backyd w/ Irrig. Screened-in Porch & Nice Deck. $539,000

LD o S

www.RealtorAnish.com I can save you up to 50%! Call for details. I have SOLD most of my listing and am in need of new listings. If you are thinking of selling, please contact me! New Price - Ashbrook

SHORT SALE - Timberlands Over 3,500 Sq. Ft., 5 Bedrooms, Almost $100,000 Below Purchased Price. OPEN FLOOR PLAN AND HARD TO FIND MASTER DOWN. IT HAS BOTH FORMALS, AND GREAT KITCHEN WITH A LOTS OF COUNTER SPACE. IT HAS 5 LARGE BEDROOMS WITH WALK-IN CLOSET ON .28 ACRE LOT. PROPERTY IS SOLD AS IS. PRICED TO SELL! DON'T MISS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY! Bank must approve the offer. Only $159,900

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By Rajesh T. Ganatra The Mumbai Sensex had a very positive start to CY2012 – the index started off the year at 15,454 and attained the mid 17,000s by mid-March 2012. The index also tried to reclaim the 18,000s but was unable to do so. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had a monetary policy review during mid-March 2012 and several market players were hoping for an interest rate reduction, which did not materialize. The RBI conducted a series of 13 interest rate increases during 2010/2011 to stem extremely high inflation levels and since the inflation readings have moderated in recent months, expectations are that the RBI may gradually start lowering rates to keep the economy moving. The Indian Rupee softened a bit and reached INR 51 to the $ during the third week of March 2012. Kingfisher Airlines continues to struggle - it has debts exceeding INR 7,000 Crore and total aggregate losses are INR 6,000 Crore. Kingfisher is behind in payments of salaries to its employees, payments to oil companies and airport fees as well. The airline’s schedule used to comprise of 400 daily flights with 64 aircraft, however, in February 2012 the network was trimmed down to 170 daily flights using 28 aircraft. In mid-March, the schedule was slashed even further to 130 flights and the airline will not operate international flights effective March 25. Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh indicated that he cannot shut down the airline unless there are safety concerns and the decision to cease operations would have to come from management. Kingfisher was formed in 2003 by Vijay Mallya and while the airline was initially successful, intense competition in the Indian domestic sector and the international gateways as well has created significant turbulence and headwinds for the carrier in the past few years. The Karachi KSE-100 started CY2012 at 11,347.66 and the index broke below 11,000 in early January 2012, however, the equity markets quick reversed the declines and made great progress into the 13,200s, which represented the best levels since May 2008. The prime driver behind the advances was hopes for reforms of the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and remittances home by overseas Pakistanis. The Pakistani Rupee reached historical lows against the US$ during early January 2012, reaching PKR 91.28 to the US$. The currency did recover slightly and traded at 90.60-90.80 to the $ by mid-March 2012. Pakistan’s trade deficit for July 2011-February 2012 was $14.6 billion, which represents a 41 percent increase over the same prior-year period, when the trade deficit was $10.34 billion. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is developing a long term strategy to create a database to track the tax payments and asset ownership of prominent and notable Pakistanis - the goals are to ensure that the wealthy are indeed paying their fair share and also broaden the tax base. Professions such as Government officials (especially within the tax department!), the judiciary, the armed forces, media / entertainment moguls and sports players would be included in the FBR’s database. The U.S. Markets had an extremely positive March 2012 The Dow surpassed 13,000, the NASDAQ exceeded 3,000 and the S&P 500 reclaimed the 1,400 level. The economy added 227,000 “non-farm” payrolls during February 2012 and the Saathee.com

Special Note: This article contains the ideas and thoughts of its author and it does not necessarily imply the viewpoints of “Saathee” magazine or its principals. Rajesh T. Ganatra Contact him at rajeshtganatra@rocketmail.com

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● Trust for Minor Children – Your Will can include a Trust for your minor children, to pay for their college education and their medical care and general support. You get to choose the age(s) when your children receive their inheritance from the Trust. ● Trust for Young Adult Children – If your children are over age 18 and you are concerned about their receipt of a large sum of money, you have the option to put their inheritance in a Trust. You get to choose the age(s) when your children receive their inheritance from the Trust.

Do I Need a Will? By Sumeet P. Shah Quite simply, yes! Many may say that if they were to die without a will then all their possessions would go to their wife, kids and family members anyway so why do they need a will? This can happen, but it may take months or even years to settle your estate and it can become quite costly. In the end, everyone may not get what you wanted them to get. Consider this example: You are married with two minor children and you die without a will. Under Georgia law, your spouse receives only 1/3 of your property, and your children split the other 2/3. Under South Carolina law, 1/2 of your property goes to your surviving spouse and the other 1/2 is divided among your children. Under North Carolina law, your spouse will receive the first $30,000 in personal property plus 1/3 the remainder of your net estate. The remaining 2/3 will be divided equally among your children. And there is another problem - your children are minors, so they cannot receive money directly. Their shares will be held under court Guardianship/Conservatorship, with additional reporting requirements and costs. Your children will receive their inheritance in a lump sum at age 18, whether they are mature enough to handle the money or not. However, having a properly drawn will can help avoid these problems. There are three important documents you should have when creating your Will or estate plan.

What is an Advance Healthcare Directive (Living Will)? It’s a legal document that authorizes someone you trust to make medical decisions for you, including life and death and “pulling the plug” decisions, if you become incapacitated. It provides direction to a doctor as to what your wishes are if you are unable to make your own wishes known. This cannot be overwritten by anyone but it is revocable. What is a Durable Power of Attorney? It’s a legal document that authorizes someone you trust to handle all of your financial affairs. This includes paying your bills, managing your investments, and handling tax and insurance matters, if you are too ill to do these things for yourself. It can also be a document that gives permission to someone else to act in your place for a minor child such as when you go out of town and leave the minor children at home with the grandparents. Now is the time to protect your loved ones, to ensure that your most important wishes are carried out. Don’t let a court decide who raises your children, or who inherits your property. Everyone should have a current Will to choose who receives your property after you die or who will be the guardian of your minor children and executor of your estate.

● Last Will and Testament ● Advance Directive for Healthcare (Living Will) ● Durable Power of Attorney

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for general information only, and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice.

What sections can be included in my Last Will and Testament? Your Last Will and Testament can include the following:

Sumeet P. Shah is Principal Attorney at Shah Legal Group, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia. His areas of practice include franchise, corporate, real estate, and estate planning and business litigation. He can be reached at sumeet.shah@shahlegalgroup.com or (678) 274-9335.

● Family – Identifies your immediate family members such as spouse and children. ● Appointment of Executor – Names the person who you want to serve as Executor to settle your estate, and to serve as Trustee if your Will includes a Trust for your children. ● Powers of Executor – Explains in detail the powers granted to the Executor, to help them understand their powers and duties. ● Payment of Debts – Authorizes your Executor to pay your debts, taxes and final expenses. ● Gift of Tangible Personal Property – Names Beneficiaries to receive your furniture, home furnishings, automobiles, clothing, jewelry, etc. ● Gift of All Other Money & Property – Names Beneficiaries to receive all of your other assets (including your home, bank account, mutual funds, stocks, etc.). ● Guardian for Minor Children – Names the person you want to have the care and custody of your minor children, if you (and your spouse) are deceased.

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get their comics with their news. When they didn’t, most people didn’t want to pay for both news and comics. Comics not only lost distribution, but they lost exposure.

By Gail Z. Martin Dagwood, Beetle Bailey and Other Internet Losers Not too very long ago, in the days when everyone subscribed to a newspaper, one of the best parts of the day for adults and children alike was sitting down with the “funny papers.” The comics section was something everyone could relate to, following the adventures of The Phantom, Brenda Starr, Rex Morgan, and Flash Gordon, and the misadventures of Snuffy Smith, Dagwood and Blondie, Family Circus, Broom Hilde, Snoopy, Beetle Bailey, Shoe, Cathy and more. A funny thing happened on the way to the new millennium. Many newspapers went away. Many – if not most – readers moved online. And when the Internet shift came, the comic strips did not follow the newspapers.

Lesson three: When your distribution method changes, look for ways to stay visible. Even if comics had stayed with the online newspapers, it wouldn’t have won them the teen and child audience because those readers no longer care about newsletters. But teens and tweens spend a lot of time online. Comic books found a way to reach this audience. Comic strips did not. Take a lesson from the comics when you think of the future of your own business. Often, our own fear of new technology is our biggest stumbling block. As Pogo once observed, “We have met the enemy, and they is us.” Gail Martin is the author of 30 Days to Social Media Success and 30 Days to Online PR and Marketing Success. She owns DreamSpinner Communications (www.GailMartinMarketing.com)

There were reasons. Comic distributors and artists were wondering how they’d get paid in this brave new online world (as were the creators of online newspapers). Most of the wellknown comics went to membership/subscription sites, under the assumption that their fans would follow them. Some did. More didn’t.

Gail Z. Martin owns DreamSpinner Communications. Contact her at Gail@GailMartinMarketing.com

Fast forward a few decades. I was at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure Park, and wandered through Comic Strip Alley. There they all were, big as life, with gift shops and diners – all my old friends from the comics. Then I turned to my teenagers. With the exception of Charlie Brown, my kids didn’t recognize any of the comic strip icons.

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What happened? Consumers changed how they read their news. And no matter how reasonable or well-intentioned the comics’ reason for not embracing easy online access, the end result is oblivion for these once well-known characters as far as anyone under 40 is concerned.

Why should you care? Because for me, this was a rather alarming case study of just how quickly well-established brands can vanish when they don’t figure out how to use new technology. Comic strip characters are unknown to today’s young adults and kids. On the other hand, Islands of Adventure also has a comic book area, with heroes like Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, and Wolverine, as well as Spiderman. Did my kids know them? Absolutely. They might not have read the comics, but they’d seen the movies or played the video games. The comic book characters were still relevant, while the comic strips might as well have been silent movies.

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names or balances. It is difficult to fake a balance sheet. If you see goofy numbers on your Balance Sheet, your accounting system is not capturing the financial data of your business accurately and is not working as it should. The debt and long term value of your business is determined by the Balance Sheet. If you have a professional firm manage your books of accounts, you must be able to review your Balance Sheet at the end of each month or at least at the end of each quarter.

Is your Accounting System Broken? In the last few months we have heard and seen so much about Greece’s large debt burden and budget deficit leading to a contagion of problems that still threatens to take the entire Euro Zone down. You wonder how this problem just revealed itself so suddenly without any prior warning. After all didn’t the Government of Greece and the Euro Zone’s central bank know they were taking on too much debt? Wouldn’t their accounting system tell them the level of debt and growing deficit, as it got worse over the years? If Greece were not a nation but a corporation, it would probably have had to file for bankruptcy by now. The reason why its problems went undetected for so long is that they had a broken accounting system. Every year, I come across so many small and large businesses that have accounting systems that don’t work. Business owners invest in accounting programs such as QuickBooks and Peach Tree, and pay thousands of dollars in fees to CPA and accounting firms but their accounting systems are just not set up to do what they are supposed to. How to tell if your Accounting System is Broken? A broken accounting system can break your business and your financial well-being. Fortunately, you can tell very quickly if your accounting system is working the way it should. Here are some broad indications that can help you assess the health of your business accounting system. Warning Sign #1: You don’t know how much money your business made last week, month, quarter or year. Many small business owners just don’t know exactly how much money their business is making. They have a “‘general” idea that the business is making money, but have no clue of the exact profit or loss the business made last month or last year. If the accounting system is set up and running right, you should be able to tell at any point in time exactly how much money your business is making looking at the Profit and Loss Statement. Whether you hire a professional accounting firm to manage your books or do it yourself, you need to generate a profit and loss statement that summarizes your revenue and expenses for a specific interval of time. Given the nature of your business, you may not need to know your profit or loss on a daily or weekly basis. But you must be able to tell at least on a monthly basis, exactly how much money your business is making. If you hire an accounting firm to manage your books, make sure you receive a monthly profit and loss statement.

Warning Sign #3: Your CPA gives you lots of adjusting journal entries. It is common to get adjusting entries at the end of the year, especially during tax return preparation. At K&M Accounting and Tax Services, we often prepare a handful of accounting entries such as tax return depreciation, and deductions for small business clients while preparing the tax return. If your accountant or bookkeeper is making many other adjustments, however, you should verify that the accountant isn’t adjusting accounts at year-end because you’re not regularly tracking the account as you go through the year. Especially making adjusting entries to your Cash or Inventory Accounts is dangerous. Large end-of-year adjustments mean just one thing: The books aren’t up to date with the financial realities of your operation. This lack of up-to-date information, sadly, means you may be flying blind. Warning Sign #4: You don’t receive regular financial reports from your accountant for several months. As a business owner, you must expect regular reporting from your accounting system. Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, Sales Tax and Payroll Tax Report, Accounts receivables and payables report are some of the standard reports that you should have access to on a monthly basis. If your accounting system is not able to produce accurate and timely reports for your review, it is most likely broken and needs to be reviewed. A well managed and accurate accounting system not only provides you with the information needed to make important business decisions, it also serves as a system of record to prove your point in case of a legal or tax liability. Having a professionally managed accounting system becomes the first step in proving your case in a legal battle with business partners, IRS or any other claimant. Remember, broken accounting systems can eventually take down large corporations such as Enron as well as entire Nations and Regions. As a small business owner it is important to stay on top of your accounting system which in turn will help you stay on top of your business performance.

Keep in mind this column and the articles published here are only meant to provide you with high level information about tax and business matters and in no way should you consider this as tax advice. Consult your tax and legal advisors regarding your individual tax and business situation. This Article provides only an overview to the complex Tax Laws. It is not exhaustive nor a substitute for Independent Tax Advice provided by a Tax Accountant or a Tax Warning Sign #2: You see items on your Balance Sheet that Attorney familiar with your case. don’t make any sense to you. Balance Sheet is a record of your business assets, liabilities and owner’s funds. It provides a snapshot view and health of your business at a certain point in Krutika Chheda time. If there are items on your Balance Sheet that you do not K&M Accounting and Tax Services recognize or understand, your accounting system may be www.kmaccountant.com broken. Wrong balance sheet numbers include things like big You can Contact her at kmchheda@kmaccountant.com negative bank account balances, incorrect accounts receivable (704) 502 3960 or accounts payable, and any other accounts with strange Saathee.com

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HINDU CENTER

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Upcoming Hindu Center Events: Lord Swaminarayan Jayanti: April 7th, Saturday (4 to 7 PM) MahaPrabhuji Patotstav: April 16 & 21 Gayatri Jayanti Havan: June 2, Saturday Hindu Center’s General Body Meeting: July 28th Saturday. Anniversary Celebration & Health fair: July 28th Saturday.

HINdU CeNteR oF CHARLotte 7400 City View drive, Charlotte, NC 28212 HINdU CHARLotte Ph.CeNteR 704.535.3440 oF Fax. 704.535.6923 7400 City View drive, Charlotte, NC 28212 administrator@hcclt.org Ph. email: 704.535.3440 • Fax. 704.535.6923

hcclt.org email: administrator@hcclt.org •

hcclt.org

OF CHARLOTTE

Hanuman Jayanti Celebration Saturday, April 14, 2012 Hindu Center Vedanta Hall

Program: 1 pm: Pooja 1:30 pm: Recite Hanuman Chalisa 108 times 8 pm: Aarti Maha Prasad will be served

Saathee Readers Forum My Very Indian Adventure - Luck By Chance By Nirja Rakesh Parikh As I was sitting inside my maternal grandmother’s house, in an attempt to avoid the scorching heat, I heard a bunch of cars passing by with the famous song “Chammak Challo” blasting. I was wondering why the same track was playing out loud from each auto rickshaw and car. Soon enough, I found out that ShahRukh Khan was coming to Baroda Central Mall today to promote his upcoming movie, Ra One. ShahRukh Khan, King Khan, my most favorite actor since my childhood days, was in the same town as me and I was determined to not miss my chance to see him live. I called my neighbor, who is about my same age and told her that we have to go to Baroda Central Mall to see ShahRukh, but she was in college and exclaimed that in this heat and a very large crowd, we would not have a pleasant experience, so it was not worth to go. I still was not convinced by my neighbor, so I continued my quest. I started to call my local friends that I had made by this time to see who would accompany me. Finally, my friend Sanchi was ready to take me on her scooter to go to the Mall. I took a quick five minute cold shower and sat on Sanchi’s hot scooter. We were on our way to see ShahRukh Khan and I was excited. On our ride there, I started daydreaming of how ShahRukh would call me from the audience to dance with him. Suddenly, my daydream was interrupted when Sanchi started scolding me on how, “Nirja, don’t get too excited, you don’t know the Indian crowd, you will barely get to see a glimpse of him.” I nodded in agreement. As soon as we got to the venue, it was packed with thousands of fellow Indians all waiting for hours in the heat to see their favorite actor. My friend and I reached the venue really late and while we were parking her scooter, by chance ShahRukh’s security guard approached me. He asked if I knew how to dance and, of course, I replied out loudly yes! The next thing I know, I was on stage next to ShahRukh Khan with two other girls. He asked each of our names, and I thought to be just funny and witty, I announced my name as Nirja Khan. Then, ShahRukh announced that there was going to be a small dance competition between the three girls on the stage, and whoever had the most applause from the audience will be the announced winner. The music started to the famous soundtrack, “Chammak Chalo” sung by American music artist Akon and I started moving to the beat. I was having so much fun dancing on stage as ShahRukh Khan was standing five feet away from me. Saathee.com

He noticed that I loved the attention from the crowd and came next to me and started dancing. So there I was on stage dancing with ShahRukh Khan, almost every Bollywood lovers’ dream. At the end of the song, he called out all of our names to the large crowd, and somehow I received the most cheers, so I was announced the “winner.” ShahRukh himself even said that I danced with a lot of masti. He gifted me a big gift box which had autographed Ra One back to school supplies such as pencils, CDs, journal, pens, a small pencil bag, and a note pad. It was a great experience and after the King Khan finished his promotion, he left and people were taking videos, interviews, pictures of me. And you what? It felt great! This was definitely a once in a lifetime experience and a moment I will never forget, and I hope ShahRukh Khan won’t forget it either. As they say, sometimes it is all about where you are at the right time.

John Glen’s Space Flight 50th Anniversary By Jai Rangappa (Hampton, VA) February 20 2012 is the year fifty, Of a space flight round earth nifty, By US Astronaut John Glen. In the cold war ‘space run’. 1st to circle planet was Yuri Gagarin, Orbited globe 3 times did John Glen, Flying in the spacecraft Friendship 7, He thanked all who made it happen. With the Soviets the USA became even. America beat U.S.S.R. very soon, NASA landed a man on the Moon, Russia now, was old Soviet Union, All nations now use Space Station. 2nd time rocketed Senator Glen, In 1998, at age of seventy seven, With Astronaut Stephen Robinson, Became oldest in space, a human. At Cape Canaveral did old John Glen, Join many a surviving space veteran, Of NASA historic Project Mercury, Celebrated the 50th Anniversary. Thanked workers at Cape Kennedy, Who are now in their seventy to 80, Swapped stories of 1962, February 20, In wheelchairs and canes were retiree. Once America was a big Space might, Now China, India are into space flight, United States has to lead again to Mars, Carry humans into Space with no bars.

We welcome submissions from readers. If you have an interesting remembrance, essay, experience, travel story, or other short writings you would like to share with Saathee readers, send us an email with potential topics and samples. We will review the article get back to you if we can use anything - Send query to saatheemag@hotmail.com April 2012

Mahaprabhuji Shrimad Vallabhacharya

Celebration of 535th Pragatya Anniversary And Shreenathji Swarup Patotsav Monday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; April 16, 2012 6:00 to 8:00 PM And Saturday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; April 21, 2012 4:30 to 7:30 PM In Vihar hall of the Hindu Center On Monday the celebration will begin @ 5:30 PM, reciting Patth, followed by Kirtans. On Saturday will begain with Bhajans, Discourse, cultural program, Arti.

Mahaprasad will be served both days. Radio program dedicating to Shri Mahaprabhuji will be aired on Sunday April 15, 2012

Please join us, let us celebrate together! Upcoming event:July 12 to July 15 Vachnamrut Katha by Vrajraj Mahoday with 108 Shri YAMUNAJI LOTIJI Mahotsav Contacts: Kshitish Mehta 704-543-1995 or Gita Shah 704-587-0999

HINdU CeNteR oF CHARLotte 7400 City View drive, Charlotte, NC 28212 Ph. 704.535.3440

in a match against England on 8/14/1990 (at Manchester, England) and his first ODI Century came in a match against Australia on 9/9/1994 (at a neutral venue). Here is a chart that shows the opponents that the Centuries have come against:

By Rajesh T. Ganatra Hello Cricket Fans! There’s a lot happing in the world of Cricket these days so check out the International Action and News & Statistics Headquarters Current, Recent and Future International Action England visits Sri Lanka 1st Test: March 26-30, 2012 @ Galle 2nd Test: April 3-7 @ Colombo Australia visits West Indies 1st ODI - March 16, 2012 @ Kingston, St. Vincent Result: AUS won by 64 runs AUS 204/8 - 50.0 overs WI 140/all out, 32.2 overs 2nd ODI - March 18, 2012 @ Kingston, St. Vincent Result: WI won by five [5] wickets (D/L method) AUS 154/9, 40/40 overs WI 163/5, 38.2 overs

Rahul Dravid has been the cornerstone of the Indian cricket team for many years and on March 9, 2012, Dravid formally announced his retirement from the sport. It is always difficult to see one of the greats leave the game, however, there was plenty of speculation about some of the “current greats” retiring in order to pave the way for a new generation of players. Let us take a look back at Dravid’s magnificent career and statistics:

3rd ODI - March 20, 2012 @ Kingston, St. Vincent Result: Match tied AUS 220/all out, 49.5 overs WI 220/all out, 49.4 overs 4th ODI - March 23, 2012 @ Gros Islet, St. Lucia Result: WI won by 42 runs WI 294/7, 50.0 overs AUS 252/all out, 46.3 overs 5th ODI - March 25, 2012 @ Gros Islet, St. Lucia 1st 20-over match - March 27, 2012 @ Gros Islet, St. Lucia 2nd 20-over match - March 30, 2012 @ Bridgetown, Barbados 1st Test - April 7-11, 2012 @ Bridgetown, Barbados 2nd Test - April 15-19, 2012 @ Port of Spain, Trinidad 3rd Test - April 23-27, 2012 @ Guyana

Rajesh T. Ganatra Contact him at rajeshtganatra@rocketmail.com

West Indies visit England 1st Test - May 17-21, 2012 @ Lord’s, London 2nd Test - May 25-29, 2012 @ Nottingham 3rd Test - June 7-11, 2012 @ Birmingham 1st ODI - June 16, 2012 @ The Rose Bowl, Southampton 2nd ODI - June 19, 2012 @ Kennington Oval, London 3rd ODI - June 22, 2012 @ Headingley, Leeds Only 20-over: June 24, 2012 @ Trent Bridge, Nottingham News and Statistics Sachin Tendulkar achieved “a Century of Centuries” on March 16, 2012 in the 4th Asia Cup match against Bangladesh; he posted a score of 114 runs off 147 balls, which included a dozen “4s” and a “6”. Unfortunately, India did not have the opportunity to celebrate a victory that day, as the host, Bangladesh, won the match by five wickets. Of Tendulkar’s 100 Centuries, 51 have been achieved in Test play and 49 in ODI play. Tendulkar’s first Test Century came Saathee.com

April 2012

Indian Performing Arts Association of Charlotte (IPAAC)

presents

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April 2012

Crispy Fried Okra Ingredients: 1 pound fresh okra 2 large eggs 4 to 6 dashes hot pepper sauce 1 cup cornmeal 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, optional Oil for deep frying

Okra

Method: Wash okra and drain thoroughly. Cut off ends of the okra then cut okra crosswise into 1/2-inch rounds. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and hot sauce; add okra and stir to coat all pieces well. In a shallow dish, combine cornmeal, salt and cayenne pepper, if using. Dip okra pieces into cornmeal Okra, also known in many English-speaking countries as lady's mixture to coat well. Heat oil in the deep fryer at 375°. Fry okra fingers, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued in batches until browned, about 4 to 6 minutes for each batch. for its edible green seed pods. The geographical origin of okra Drain on paper towels and serve immediately. Serves 4. is disputed, with supporters of South Asian, Ethiopian and West African origins. The plant is cultivated in tropical, Okra Fritters subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world. The Ingredients: funky little veggie lends itself to all types of recipes and 2 pounds fresh okra, sliced in 1/8 inch pieces cuisines. Below are a few recipes to try: 1 large tomato, diced 1 onion, diced Okra in Tomato Sauce 6 packets instant grits Ingredients: 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 pound fresh baby okra, washed, dried, stem ends trimmed Salt and black pepper to taste very close to top 1/2 cup oil for frying, or as needed 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup finely chopped onion Method: Combine okra, tomato, and onion in a large bowl. Add 1 clove garlic, finely minced the grits, eggs, salt, and pepper and blend together using your 2 medium tomatoes, peeled, diced, or 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced hands. Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. tomatoes Form patties 2 1/2 inches in diameter, about 1/2 the size of a 1 tablespoon lemon juice hamburger. Place the fritter in the pan and cook until golden Dash salt and pepper brown, about five minutes. Flip with a spatula and cook until browned on the other side, about five minutes more. Remove Method: Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a saucepan over and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately. medium-high heat. Sauté the okra for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove with slotted spoon to paper towels. Heat the remaining Spicy Indian Stuffed Okra tablespoon of olive oil in the saucepan. When hot, add the Ingredients: chopped onion; sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and 1 lb okra sauté another 2 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes and stir Oil for shallow fry together until the mixture boils. Turn down to a simmer, add 2 tsp red chili powder the lemon juice, salt and pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes longer. 1tsp cumin powder To serve spoon about a few tablespoons of sauce into a serving 1½ tsp coriander powder dish. Top with the okra then cover with remaining sauce. Serves 1 tsp turmeric powder 4 to 6. Salt to taste 2 tsp lemon juice Curried Okra with Onions Ingredients: Method: Cut off both ends of the okra. Using a sharp knife cut 1 pound okra, washed, trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices a small pouch in the long side of each okra. Do this carefully so 2 tablespoons vegetable oil that the slit does not go right through the okra and both the 1 large onion, quartered and sliced ends are closed, otherwise the stuffing will fall out. Make the Dash cayenne pepper, or more to taste stuffing by mixing all the chili, cumin, coriander and turmeric 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric with the lemon juice. This should form a thick paste, if the 1/4 teaspoon mild curry powder, or to taste stuffing is runny it will come out of the okra during cooking. Salt and pepper, to taste Carefully stuff the paste inside the pouch of each okra. Heat the oil in a frying pan and shallow fry the stuffed okras on medium Method: Heat the oil in a large heavy non-stick or well seasoned heat. Fry a few stuffed okras at a time turning them occasionally iron skillet; add okra and fry for 10 minutes, turning frequently until they are crisp on all sides. Spicy stuffed okra dish should to keep from sticking. When the okra is lightly browned, add be served hot with plain rice. remaining ingredients. Continue cooking for another three minutes longer or until onions are tender. Serves 6. Saathee.com

April 2012

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USCIS Announces Citizenship and Integration Grant Opportunity WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced in March the availability of a competitive grant opportunity designed to promote immigrant civic integration and prepare permanent residents for citizenship. This year’s program will offer approximately $5 million in funding for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country. Through this grant opportunity, USCIS seeks to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services. Organizations selected to receive funding will offer both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services to permanent residents. USCIS expects to announce an estimated 31 award recipients in September 2012. Since the creation of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program in fiscal year (FY) 2009, USCIS has awarded a total of $18.3 million through 111 grants to immigrant-serving organizations, which have provided citizenship preparation services to more than 28,000 permanent residents in 30 states and the District of Columbia. To apply for this funding opportunity, visit www.grants.gov. Applications are due by May 7, 2012. USCIS encourages applicants to visit www.grants.gov in advance of this deadline in order to obtain registration information needed to complete the application process. For additional information on the FY 2012 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, visit www.uscis.gov/grants or contact the USCIS Office of Citizenship by email at citizenshipgrantprogram@dhs.gov.

business experts and USCIS employees, who will work collaboratively over the next several months to ensure that immigration pathways for foreign entrepreneurs are clear and consistent, and better reflect today’s business realities. The tactical team will identify ways to enhance USCIS policies, practices and training across a range of existing nonimmigrant visa categories used by entrepreneurs. Director Mayorkas joined the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness in Pittsburgh in October 2011 to announce the EIR Initiative. This effort follows a series of policy, operational and outreach efforts announced last year to promote startup enterprises and spur job creation within the context of current immigration law. As part of the Feb. 22 event, Director Mayorkas conducted a naturalization ceremony and welcomed 20 candidates from the Silicon Valley area as new U.S. citizens. In addition, he recognized five of America’s immigrant entrepreneurs who are naturalized citizens—Christopher Che, President and CEO of the Che International Group; Ping Fu, President and CEOof Geomagic; Michael Moritz, Partner at Sequoia Capital; Shervin Pishevar, Managing Director of Menlo Ventures; and Vivek Wadhwa, Academic, Researcher, Writer, Entrepreneur—as Outstanding Americans by Choice. The Outstanding American by Choice initiative recognizes the achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens through civic participation, professional achievement, and responsible citizenship. Recipients of this honor have demonstrated their commitment to this country and to the common civic values that unite us as Americans. For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov

USCIS Hosts Entrepreneurs in Residence Information Summit WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas hosted an Information Summit on February 22, 2012 at the NASA Research Park in Moffett Field, Calif., to launch the USCIS Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) Initiative. The agency kicked off the effort to ensure that immigration pathways for foreign entrepreneurs are clear and consistent, and better reflect today’s business realities “Today USCIS gained invaluable insights from prominent entrepreneurs and industry leaders on immigration issues critical to our nation’s economic prosperity,” said Director Mayorkas. “The introduction of expert views from the private and public sectors will help us ensure that our policies and processes fully realize the immigration laws’ potential to grow our economy and create American jobs.” The summit brought together more than 150 high-level representatives from the entrepreneurial community, academia and government to discuss how USCIS can realize the full potential of immigration law to foster entrepreneurship and bolster American prosperity. Through panel discussions and breakout sessions, the summit gave participants the opportunity to share their strategic thinking and business expertise with the agency. The event informed the work of the newly formed Entrepreneurs in Residence tactical team, comprised of external Saathee.com

April 2012

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April 2012

Red Baraat

continued from page 14

together a band of about 20 musicians, who are friends of mine anyway and were coming to the wedding, and asked them to bring me in (the procession). And literally that’s where the whole thing (concept for Red Baraat) started. After that the word spread in the tri-state area that there was an Indian marching band around and I started getting phone calls. We did a few weddings and started getting calls from all over the country. I did research on the Internet and found there was no Indian wedding marching band in the States and that’s how this spread so quickly. This went on from 2006 onward and Red Baraat is a bridge toward disparate cultures. Growing up in the United States in a very traditional Indian family and also a Jain family, music for me was also something that connected these two worlds. To me the dhol is the heartbeat of so much Indian music that you hear. I wanted to put together a group that was completely acoustic and I guess primal, raw and organic. I wanted just horns and drums where we can immediately march on the streets but then we can get in a club with a drum set and get in a heavy groove and pretty much rock out. With Red Baraat we do traditional wedding songs but a large portion is original music. It’s a fusion of bhangra, funk, and hip-hop. There’s also Brazilian music, jazz, Afro-beat. I just didn’t want to be a typical Indian baraat band. One reason is because we’re not all Indian in the band but also growing up in America I had all this music swirling around in my head. There was no reason for me to limit Red Baraat. I wanted the sound to be made up by the members of the band. The prime goal is does it sound good and can people dance?

The North Carolina Same-Sex Marriage Amendment will appear on the May 8, 2012 ballot in the state of North Carolina as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment. Voters will be able to vote on that day, the same day of the Republican primary in North Carolina. The controversial measure, if passed, would deﬁne marriage in the state as between one man and one woman. Same-sex marriage is already banned in the state of North Carolina. The proposed measure, however, would add the ban to the state constitution. Debated in the state legislature during the Spring 2011 legislative session, the amendment failed to receive suﬃcient votes to qualify for the ballot. However, the measure was debated during the Fall session which began September 12, 2011. That very day, the House voted 75-42 in favor of referring the proposed amendment to the statewide ballot. The State Senate echoed the House with a 30-16 approval vote a day later on September 13, 2011. The text of the measure reads: Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. If approved, the proposed measure would amend Article 14 of the North Carolina Constitution by adding a new section: Sec. 6. Marriage. Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the You can’t miss the Indian foundation. Absolutely. Even though it’s a very democratic band, I’m the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts. leader of the band and my experience is of an Indian-American, growing up with Indian culture. All my music has that element. Get Involved It’s something I can’t refute. It’s the fabric of my identity. North Carolina Democratic Party (www.ncdp.org) North Carolina Republican Party (www.ncgop.org) Libertarian Party of North Carolina (www.lpnc.org) North Carolina Green Party (www.ncgreenparty.org) South Carolina Democratic Party (www.scdp.org) South Carolina Republican Party (www.scgop.org) South Carolina Libertarian Party (sclibertarians.net) South Carolina Green Party (www.scgreenparty.org)

Since their inception in October 2008, Red Baraat has delivered performances at globalFEST, Montreal Jazz Festival, Sunfest, Festival De Louisiane, Quebec City Summer Festival, Chicago World Music Festival, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Madison World Music Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz Festival (Finland), Molde Jazz Festival (Norway) and Chicago Folks & Roots Festival, among many others.

Upcoming Republican Presidential Primaries and Caucuses • April 3 Maryland Primary (37 delegates) • April 3 Washington, D.C. Primary (16 delegates) • April 3 Wisconsin Primary (39 delegates) • April 24 Connecticut Primary (28 delegates) • April 24 Delaware Primary (17 delegates) • April 24 New York Primary (95 delegates) • April 24 Pennsylvania Primary (72 delegates) • April 24 Rhode Island Primary (19 delegates) • May 8 Indiana Primary (46 delegates) • May 8 North Carolina Primary (55 delegates) • May 8 West Virginia Primary (31 delegates) • May 15 Nebraska Primary (35 delegates) • May 15 Oregon Primary (28 delegates) • May 22 Arkansas Primary (36 delegates) • May 22 Kentucky Primary (45 delegates) • May 29 Texas Primary (155 delegates)

The band is slated to perform in the Carolinas, on Apr 21, 2012 in Raleigh, NC at North Carolina State University and May 11, 2012 at the LEAF Festival, Black Mountain, NC. For more details visit redbaraat.com.

Saathee.com

charlotte, nc

April 2012

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April 2012

Top India CEO

Full Frame

continued from page 08

continued from page 32

Two scientific films interest me as an environmentalist and vegetarian. Raising Resistance (Bettina Borgfeld and David Bernet, 2011) about transgenic soy enjoys its North American premiere at Full Frame. Rachel Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring ushered in the modern environmental movement; Erin Espelie’s 2011 film Silent Springs is an experimental film that echoes Carson’s warnings. There’s so much more, such as a film on Ethel Kennedy’s life by her daughter (Ethel, Rory Kennedy, 2012), Detropia (Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, 2012) about modern day Detroit, The Law in these Parts (Shilton Ha’Chok, 2011) about Israeli law in the occupied territories, Italy Love it or Leave It (Gustav Hofer and Luca Ragazzi, 2011) about an exciting road trip, and many others that reveal fascinating, well-told stories. A short film from each of the past years of Full Frame will also be presented again – a first such retrospective for the Festival. Some may remember the bombing in 1985 by Philadelphia police of radical black liberation group MOVE’s row house; firefighters were not allowed for over an hour to fight the resulting conflagration in which five children and six adults were killed and sixty homes were destroyed. The 2012 film Let the Fire Burn (Jason Osder) is an invited documentary about this incident.

India with a certain business model or a certain product and assumed that people here were just waiting to buy it. They did not realize or understand that our consumers are quite distinct in their own right and don’t settle for a prepackaged product. They just assumed that if people around the world were buying it, why wouldn’t Indians buy it, too. What advice did you give them? Your strategy has to be India out. What I mean by that is you have to take an approach that says: “How do I customize my entire model, right from the product to my business system, to the Indian context?” Of course you bring in best practices, you bring in your core technology, or your distinctiveness. But how do you make sure that you are sufficiently adapted to the local context? The fact is that it’s easier to take your product from the United States to Latin America or Russia or Hungary than it is to bring it to India. We’ve seen that with Ford and General Motors rethinking the cars they’re selling here, and Pepsi putting more muscle behind its local brands like Lehar. The second thing is that people underestimated the quality of local competition. Often, people didn’t realize that there were very strong and vibrant Indian companies that would give them a run for their money. In all kinds of sectors. If you think about it, a Vodafone or an AT&T or a Verizon, when they first came to India, they didn’t anticipate that a Reliance or a Bharti would give them such a big run for their money. Or an airline [such as AirAsia] didn’t expect that an airline like Jet Airways or an Indigo would give them so much competition. Speaking of Vodafone and Reliance, what signals do you read in the recent Supreme Court judgments, canceling 122 telecom licenses associated with the 2G telecom spectrum scandal? Both these judgments show that there is a strong, thinking, legal resource that’s independent from the government. People always talk about the sanctity of our judicial system and both these cases have affirmed that. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they showed that the government doesn’t know what it’s doing. The courts are basically saying, “Hey guys, follow the rules. You make the rules. Why are you not following the rules.”

Many filmmakers attend Full Frame; there are opportunities at question and answer sessions immediately after screenings, as well as at panel discussions and informally in between events to engage with them. The Festival website, fullframefest.org, gives details about the films and events, including the schedule and ticketing information. Many travel from other states and even overseas to take advantage of this world class Festival that we have in our region. Beware that many films sell out; if you can, I highly recommend enjoying the Festival by purchasing a pass, rather than buying individual tickets. Even if you can only attend some screenings, you may become hooked and start looking forward to Full Frame 2013 as Sunday of the Festival comes and goes. Note: Full Frame logo and all pictures courtesy of the Full Frame Film Festival. All images are used with permission. Saathee.com

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events of Note Zakir Hussain and the Masters of Percussion Tabla master Zakir Hussain is touring with the fabulous masters of percussion. The troupe will be in the Southeast on following dates and venues: Thursday, April 5, 2012, 8 pm at the Savannah Music Festival, Savannah, GA. For Further Details: www.savannahmusicfestival.org. Full Frame Film Festival 2012 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is an annual international event dedicated to the theatrical exhibition of nonfiction cinema. Each spring Full Frame welcomes filmmakers and film lovers from around the world to historic downtown Durham, NC for a four-day, morning to midnight array of over 100 films as well as discussions, panels, and southern hospitality. Set within a four-block radius, the intimate festival landscape fosters community and conversation between filmmakers, film professionals and the public. Presenting Sponsor of the Festival is Duke University. Full Frame serves the documentary form and its community by showcasing the contemporary work of established and emerging filmmakers. The festival provides a space that nurtures conversation between artists, students, and the Full Frame audience. Full Frame is committed to enhancing public understanding and appreciation of the art form and its significance, while making films more accessible to a wider audience. The festival will take place on April 12-15, 2012. For further details visit www.fullframefest.org. Dances of India 2012 The 11th annual Dances of India returns at the CPCC Central Campus, Dale F. Halton Theater, Overcash Center on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 4 pm. The show will feature acclaimed performer Dr. Maha Gingrich and group. Celebrate unity and diversity within Charlotte’s international community. Experience traditional Indian classical and folk dances – rhythmic dance styles that tell the story of ancient India through lyrical movement and music. Tickets are $10, adults; $5, school-age children. For details call 704.330.6534 or visit tix.cpcc.edu. Free parking available in the faculty/staff parking deck located on 4th Street. AAHOA Convention and Trade Show 2012 The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) annual Convention & Trade Show takes place in Atlanta, GA from May 2-5, 2012, at the Omni Hotel and the Georgia World Congress Center. With nearly 11,000 members owning more than 20,000 hotels that total $128 billion in property value, AAHOA is one of the fastest-growing organizations in the hospitality industry. This event promises to be unlike any other as well as the showcase event for the voice of hotel owners in the industry. The AAHOA Annual Convention & Trade Show offers something for everyone. From the trade show that offers Saathee.com

one-stop shopping for every hotelier to the educational programs and esteemed guest speakers, the event will also feature authentic Indian cuisine, world-class entertainment, Bollywood performances, and more. For further details visit www.aahoa.com. Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Festival The 13th Annual Charlotte Asian Festival is a family-oriented event for the Asian and non-Asian community in the Charlotte area. The festival celebrates Asian cultures, diversity, ethnicity, roots and history. The Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival Race is an exciting team competition that has become a part of the Asian Festival. An important part of the traditional Chinese calendar, dragon boat racing originated over 2,300 years ago on the rivers of southern China. The Charlotte race is an open competition to anyone 15 years of age or older. The Charlotte Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Festival Race are organized by the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, and the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association. This year’s festivities will happen on Saturday, May 5, 2012. For further details visit www.charlottedragonboat.com. Gujarati Drama The Hindu society of Greater Spartanburg will present the Gujarati comedy drama “Tu Chhe La Jawab” Directed by Vipul Mehta and performed by Shrimati Sarita Joshi. The drama will take place on Monday, April 23, 2012 beginning at 8:30 pm at the Performing Arts Center, 800 University Way, USC Upstate, Spartanburg, SC 29303. Tickets are $25. For Further Details: Ashok Shah 864.599.7571 or Jashbhai Patel 864.587.0216. Tennis ball Cricket Tourney Get ready for springtime and lots of cricket. A tennis ball cricket tournament featuring regional teams starts on April 14, 2012. For further details visit www.cricketchamps.com. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Live Rahat was born in 1974 in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan into a family of traditional musicians. The son of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan, he was trained by his uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the art of classical music and Qawwali. In addition to qawwali, he also performs ghazals and other light music. He is popular as a Bollywood playback singer. Khan will perform live on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Progress Energy Center (Memorial Hall), Raleigh, NC. Tickets start at $49 and are available at www.ticketalternative.com. For Further details call 877.725.8849 or visit www.desiclub.com. Spring Festival India Association of Triad is organizing their annual Spring Festival on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at the Fanta City Community Center, 4925 West market St., Greensboro, NC 27407, from 11 am – 6 pm. The program includes cultural April 2012

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began with an invocation to Brihaspathi or Jupiter, the celestial Guru of the Devas, seeking his protection, like an armor covering each part of one’s body. Then it follows the journey of the seeker or Manushya, caught in an intricate web of relationships and tangled in the cycle of birth, life and death, till he realizes the illusory nature of his self. The event featured many other performances by dancers from the Natyarpana School of Dance & Music, Aakrisht Indian Contemporary Kailash Kher Singer, lyricist, and composer Kailash Dance Group and Natya Academy. Kher will perform on Sat, May 5, 2012 at the Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, NC as part of the Cary Baisakhi. The event will also feature food, arts & crafts, bazaar, vendors, games and more. For information on the show or Cary Baisakhi call 919.760.0759 or email info@punjabiunlimited.org.

programs, shopping booths, Indian cuisine, singing and dance competition, beauty contest, DJ music, door prizes and more. The admission is free for members, $5 and $3 for family and single nonmembers. For further details: Ruby Singh 336-4309068, rs7227@gmail.com or Krishna balu 336-292-9462, balu3103@triad.rr.com. www.iatnc.org.

Sonu Nigam Live in Concert Sonu Nigam returns to the Carolinas for a performance that is also a fundraiser for the NCIAP “People’s Medical Care” fund, which provides medical services for the uninsured and underinsured. The performance is on Friday, June 1, 2012 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at 8:30pm. Child care will be available for a fee. For further details on tickets or the show, visit www.livespectrum.com.

Basant Bahar 2012 The annual Basant Bahar, celebration of spring, presented once again by Hum Sub, took place on March 1, 2012 at the Cary Arts Center, Cary NC. The Guru –Shishya Parampara or the TeacherDisciple lineage has been one of the strongest building blocks of Indian culture. That is why Indian tradition has always placed the Guru on par with the Supreme. In fact, no invocation or prayer is complete without invoking the blessings of the Guru, who takes you by hand and guides you in your quest for enlightenment. In other words, it is the Guru who lights the spark of Divinity inside you and helps you realize the Supreme Being which is nothing but the realization of your own true self. Therefore it comes as no surprise that the beautiful choreographer duo of Ramya Sundaresan Kapadia and Rinku Bhattacharya Das chose to pay tribute to their Gurus through their excellent dance rendition titled “Aum Sad Gurubhyo Namaha – An Ode to the Guru.”The performance naturally Saathee.com

Photos by Doug Reinhardt

AAHOA NC Regional Conference The NC Regional Conference of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association was held in Charlotte on February 29, 2012. The daylong event featured trade show, financial seminar, reception, business meeting, and dinner. AAHOA members own more than 20,000 hotels across the United States, which is more than 40% of all US hotels and worth more than $128 billion in property value. 84

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UNC Charlotte One of 20 Teams at Solar Decathlon 2013 The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced the new teams and the new location for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013. The 20 student teams selected to participate in Solar Decathlon 2013 include nine returning teams, 11 new teams, and four international teams. The student team from University of NC at Charlotte is one of the selected teams. Conceptual designs submitted by these teams include a range of innovative building technologies such as smart home controls, building-integrated photovoltaics, energy-efficient building-envelope assemblies, and heat-recovery systems. Solar Decathlon 2013 will be held at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. It can easily accommodate the 20 Solar Decathlon 2013 competition houses and the special needs of the Solar Decathlon event. . Solar Decathlon 2013 teams •Arizona State University and The University of New Mexico (Tempe, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico) •Czech Technical University (Prague, Czech Republic) •Hampton University and Old Dominion University (Hampton and Norfolk, Virginia) •Middlebury College (Middlebury, Vermont) •Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla, Missouri) •Norwich University (Northfield, Vermont) •Queens University, Carleton University, and Algonquin College (Kingston and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) •Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, California) •Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology (Los Angeles, California) •Stanford University (Palo Alto, California) •Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, New Jersey) •The Catholic University of America, George Washington University, and American University (Washington, DC) •The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte, North Carolina) •The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College (El Paso, Texas) •University of Calgary (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) •University of Louisville, Ball State University and University of Kentucky (Louisville, Kentucky; Muncie, Indiana; and Lexington, Kentucky) •University of Nevada Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada) •University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California) •Vienna University of Technology (Vienna, Austria) •West Virginia University (Morgantown, West Virginia).

Trinidad Ambassador Visits Charlotte By Jay Patel Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to the United States Dr. Neil Parsan recently addressed the World Affairs Council of Charlotte (WACC) at a breakfast meeting on Trinidad and Tobago’s economy and business opportunities. WACC provided an opportunity to over 100 business executives, city officials and university students from the State of North Carolina to appreciate the investment opportunities, student and cultural exchange potential between business and institutions in Trinidad and Tobago. During the meeting, Ambassador Parsan explained the competitive advantages, economic indicators and investment climate available in the twin island Republic. Furthermore, the business incentives and trade agreements that are facilitative to business activity with United States were highlighted. Ambassador Parsan was also invited to address the Asian American Hotel Owners Association’s (AAHOA) North Carolina Regional Conference. Several hundred hotel owner members, operators as well as vendors were present during the business meeting. During his presentation, Dr. Parsan highlighted the efforts in Trinidad and Tobago in further developing the tourism and creative industries. The audience expressed great interest in learning more about the opportunities for tourism development, as well as the ancillary support services required to support traditional and niche opportunities in tourism. AAHOA Director Hemant Patel said, “We are always looking to create strong relationships with prominent figures that support the lodging industry, small business, and the business community…” Dr. Parsan also used the opportunity to invite attendees at the WACC and AAHOA meetings to the Investment week in May 2012 in Trinidad and Tobago. During this brief visit, local coordinator Jay Patel organized various meetings for Ambassador Parsan, including: a courtesy call to Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx. A working business luncheon was also held with city officials and business leaders; the luncheon was attended by Tom Murray (CEO – Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority), Mohammad Jenatian (President – Greater Charlotte Hospitality & Tourism Alliance/HTA), Chuck Allen (US Airways), Ron Kimble (Deputy City Manager, City of Charlotte) and Ravi Patel (CEO – SREE Hotels). Finally, the Ambassador also met with Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon at a Reception hosted by members of the Caribbean Community (CHATT – Caribbean Heritage Association of Trinidad and Tobago)

Boy or Girl? (All the way from A to Z) GENDER PLANNING BEFORE PREGNANCY: We are the first to discover & prove this new concept. Whereas gender is ‘determined’ by sperm, it is ‘influenced’ by hormones in the uterus at the time of conception. In one cycle, the uterus is ready for boy conception and in other, for girl. By testing urine for two consecutive cycles, we guide you in which cycle to conceive so as to get the baby of your dream naturally. Four out of five couples are getting it. Please read every word under “PreGender Test” at our website. Have your physician call us to discuss it because they will have to know it anyway. Worldwide patents are pending. GENDER DETECTION AFTER PREGNANCY: We can find the gender of the baby as soon as you can detect pregnancy. This is the earliest gender test in the world. All tests are done on urine samples, sent by mail. No need to travel. Call or email to get the sample collection & shipping method.

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509 North Polk St. (South Blvd) - Pineville, NC 28134 Phone: 704.889.2210 Fax: 704.889.2211 Contact Pritesh Patel Directions: 2 Miles from Carolina Place Mall and I-485 (exit 65-B- towards Pineville) Same Shopping Center as Subway & Sherwin Williams. Across the street from Performance Honda / Suzuki

Charlotte Gita Study Group Beginners and advanced students of the Gita are welcome. The group meets the second and fourth Sunday of each month from 3 - 5 pm. This course is based on the Home Study Course of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Saylorsburg, PA. Each session starts with a meditation followed by a recorded lecture in English, supplemented by discussion among the group. For further details: Rishi and Shikha Bhatnagar, rishi@solveron.com, 513.518.5300 Shridhar and Kruti Dave, skdave@hotmail.com, 704.844.9567 Naras and Beena Eechambadi, narasee@gmail.com www.freewebs.com/gitastudy

Charlotte Art of Living (Healing with the Breath) Art of Living is dedicated to serving society by strengthening the individual. This is done through self development programs that recharge the body, mind and spirit and allow people to function at their optimum potential. People from all backgrounds, religions and cultural traditions come together in service and celebration. For Further Details: 704.248.2647 / charlotte@us.artofliving.org www.artofliving.org

Charlotte Hindu Center Table Tennis The group meets every Monday and Wednesday from 6.30 - 10 pm. New players come after 7.30 pm for orientation. The TT action takes place at the Vihar Hall of Charlotte’s Hindu Center, 7400 City View Drive , Charlotte, NC 28134. All levels and types of play. Free coaching and lessons. For further details: s_jan@yahoo.com or visit www.ttclt.com.

Association for India’s Development - Charlotte A volunteer movement committed to promoting sustainable, equitable and just-development. AID Charlotte supports grassroots organizations in India and initiates efforts in various interconnected spheres such as education, livelihoods, natural resources, health, women’s empowerment and social justice. For further details: Kiran Uppalapati 704.307.6450; Venkata Ramana Duddu 662.231.2350.

Charlotte Indian Christian Fellowship The group meets the third Saturday of every month at 6:30 PM for Bible Study, Prayer and Fellowship. Everyone is welcome to join the fellowship along with family and friends. For Further Details: Hema at 704.841.7060 hadhopper@hotmail.com.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Regularly scheduled activities include a daily Aarti at 6:30 am and 7 pm. Darshan: Mon-Fri 6:30 am-12:30 pm and 4 - 8:30 pm, Sat/Sun 6:30 am-8:30 pm. Gujarati classes are held every Sunday from 3 - 4 pm and “Satsang Sabha” is held every Sunday at 4:30 p.m. The Swaminarayan Temple is located at 4100 Margaret Wallace Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28105. For Further Details: 704.573.0805 / 704.573.0820 (fax)

Charlotte Indian Karaoke Group CIKG invites karaoke lovers to come and sing Hindi songs on karaoke. It does not matter whether you are a beginner or experienced. The most important thing is to get together and have fun. The event is held once a month, usually on Friday or Saturday. Entry and participation is free. For Further Details: Dinesh Patel at cikgrocks@yahoo.com

Bethel Christian Fellowship Bethel Christian Fellowship offers services in various Indian languages (i.e. Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, etc.) .Sunday School Time - 11:15 - 11:45 am; Sunday Worship Service time : 11:45 - 1:15 pm. Sunday Service Location: Fort Mill Church of God, Student Life Center Building, 216 Academy Street, Room 102. Fort Mill, South Carolina 29715. Saturday Service Location: Life Builders Church - 730 Oak Dale Rd, Charlotte NC 28216. For further details: 803.792.7223; pastorofbcf@gmail.com (Pastor: Rajan Samuel).

Charlotte Kannada Koota The Charlotte Kannada Koota is an organization that promotes understanding of Karnataka culture and provides a medium for people of Karnataka (Kannadigas) to get together. The activities include social get-togethers, music, and drama. For Further Details: 704.526.9990 (Appan Patil), agm_patil@hotmail.com 704.281.8732 (Raj Kulgod), kraj7@yahoo.com

Carolina Sanskritk Maharashtra Mandal CSMM promotes Maharashtrian culture and language. Maharashtra mandal is committed to serve Carolina Marathi community with various cultural, social and traditional marathi programs and events. For Further Details: Sangeeta Korde, sangeet_k@yahoo.com, 704.421.4279 Sonali Tamhane, sonali_tamhane21@yahoo.com, 704.364.8605 Rajendra Desai, raj21desai@yahoo.com, 704.451.4578

Charlotte Kriya Yoga Group Charlotte Kriya Yoga Group Promotes Kriya Yoga Meditation practices as taught by lineage of realized masters such as Mahaavatar Baba Ji, Lahri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteshwar Giri, Paramahamsa Yogananda, Hariharananda, and Prajanananada. A sincere seeker who follows the path of Kriya Yoga with love and devotion and a desire for spiritual growth can attain Selfrealization- even in one lifetime.Center hosts two annual initiation programs and a weekly Sunday meditation for initiates. For Further Details: Agupta1@Carolina.rr.com www.kriya.org

Carolinas Christian Assembly - Charlotte Everyone is cordially invited to join for Sunday worship, Bible class, Sunday school: Sundays from 9 am - 12 pm. English and various Indian languages are used in the sunday services. Contact for further details Rev. Dr. K.C. Paul (704.771.1414), Rajan Mathew (704.756.4969), Jose Varughese (704.453.6177), Varughese K. Thomas (803.322.9549). Saathee.com

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Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India (EVFI) was established to help in the overall development of the remote tribal and rural villages in India. Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA along with EVFI is committed to the cause of eradicating illiteracy from tribal areas. Education is the key to self-esteem, self-sustenance, economic well being and happiness. Ekal Vidyalya (One School One Teacher in one village) plans to establish 100,000 schools in tribal areas by 2012. This will cover all the villages in tribal areas where there are no schools today. The Carolinas Region of the EVFUSA conducts fund raising and awareness programs in North and South Carolina. For Further Details: Ekal Charlotte Chapter: Neena Narumanchi neena.narumanchi@gmail.com Ekal Columbia: Janak Dalal / jaydalalcolumbia@gmail.com

Charlotte Table Tennis Club Charlotte Table Tennis Club is located at 345 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204 (at the Corner of East 7th St. & Hawthorne Lane near downtown). Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 6-10 pm, Saturday 2-6 pm Sunday 1-5 pm. For Further Details: www.charlottetabletennis.org Charlotte Tamil Sangam Charlotte Tamil Sangam works to bring together the vibrant Tamil community in the Charlotte area and strives to promote the Tamil language, arts and culture. For Further Details: Lakshmanan Krishnan (lakshmanank@hotmail.com) or visit www.cltts.org Charlotte Telangana Association Charlotte Telangana Assoc was formed to promote Telangana cultural activities within greater Charlotte area and also bring together all the Telangana people living in the area to discuss, plan, and take action around the development of Telangana focusing both on rural and urban Telangana areas. “CTA” will also actively engage in educating private, public and non-profit organizations about the great resources that Telangana has for business activities, political climate of Telangana reason. For Further Details: www.charlottetelangana.com

Gurdwara Sahib - Charlotte The Sikh Heritage Society strives to unite and enrich the lives of the Sikh & Punjabi communities of Charlotte and surrounding areas. “Gurdwara” address: 1760 Stoney Creek Lane, Charlotte, NC 28262. Regular Program: Every Sunday: 10 - 11am, Asa Di War by Bhai Satnam Singh Jee, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Keertan by Children, 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm, Keertan by Bhai Satnam Singh Jee, 1:15 pm - 1:30 pm, Ardaas, followed by Guru Ka Langar. For Further Details: Gurdwara: 704.509.2828 704.541.0350 (Sajjan Dhaliwal), sajjan@carolina.rr.com, 704.948.8091 (Inderjeet Rajpal), irajpal@aol.com

Charlotte Vipassana Meditation Group Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation. It was taught in India more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills. The Charlotte Vipassana Meditation Group holds weekly group sits and monthly all day sits for established students (those who have taken at least one ten day course from S. N. Goenka or one of his assistant teachers). Ten-day courses are also available for all students. There is never a charge for a course. New center now open in Jesup, GA. To apply for a 10 day retreat visit www.patapa.dhamma.org For Further Details: 704.277.5013, rbddesai@gmail.com 704.563.5440, dspranger@gmail.com www.dhamma.org

Hindu Center of Charlotte The Hindu Center is located at 7400 City View Drive, Charlotte, NC 28212. Temple Phone: 704.535.3440. The library is stocked with books, CDs, DVDs and other materials on varied genre such as religion, culture, history, philosophy, yoga and health. Library info: 704.554.0765. Children’s Religious Oriented Program (C.R.O.P.) is for children Kindergarten through 12th grade to educate them in culture and understand religious practices. A glimpse on understanding The Bhagvad Gita provides children with an opportunity to learn about the GITA with simplicity, ease and in an inclusive discussion format. Info on CROP 704.547.1676 (Chetna Patel) patel4260@bellsouth.net. The Senior Citizens Group meets on the 1st Sunday of every month at 4 pm and followed by Satyanarayan Katha at 5 pm. Future trips and activities are in the planning stages. Info on the group: 704.334.2462 (Gobind Bhojwani). The sloka class teaches children above the age of five different Hindu hymns, their meaning and significance. The class meets Sundays at 9:30 am. Info on the class: 704.814.9355 (Lakshmi Muthukrishnan). Info on the Social Welfare Committee: 704.372.1265 (Narain Amar) or 704.948.5609 (Dhinakaran Pillai). The Vedic Havan is held at the vedant hall on second Sunday of every month at 10:30 am to 12:00 pm noon followed by Prasadam. Info: 704.825.9223 (Swadesh Sawhney). The Pranayam classes are held on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Info: 704.649.5374 (Kajal Jain), 704.554.0765 (Manisha Naik), or 281.304.5597 (Sanjay Vyas) pranayamclt@aol.com. Yoga classes are held Sundays at 9 am. Info: 704.864.8212 pradip_bulsara@hotmail.com. Free Table Tennis Open Play & Coaching is available for Members and their families (especially

Classical Music Association of Charlotte (CMAC) CMAC sponsors many classical concerts during the year in Charlotte. Membership forms and further information are available at concerts. Upcoming Events: Sun Apr 1 at 3:30 p.m. - Flute Concert by Shashank, accompanied by H. N. Bhaskar on Violin and Sai Giridhar on Mridangam. Venue: Tate Hall @ CPCC Sun May 6 - Vocal Concert by Ranjani Gayatri @ CPCC, Time and Tickets info to be determined. For Further Details: 704.541.3361 (Rama Rachakonda), 704.814.9355 (Lakshmi Muthukrishnan), lakshmi7778@yahoo.com cmacmusic@yahoo.com www.onlinecmac.com

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Indian Visual Artists Association of Charlotte (IVAAC) IVAAC was founded by artists of Indian origin living in the Charlotte, NC area in their pursuit of a creative outlet, stemming from an urge to express the flow of their innate artistic moods and ideas. The vision is to promote the enigmatic and intriguing Indian culture into meaningful forms of expression that exposes the rich traditions and diversity of one of the most ancient civilizations on earth, in today’s fast blending global culture and to create an organization that provides planning and funding required to ensure and support a vibrant and culturally diverse Indian art community. For Further Details: 704.540.8799 (Amit Shah), 704.688.5387 (Kinshuk Agarwal) www.ivaac.org

children 10 years and over). The hours are from 6.30pm to 10:00pm every Wednesday in the Vihar Hall. No prior registration is necessary. There are five good tables and can add more as necessary. Free coaching is also available from Srinivas Janardhan (SJ) and three other experienced certified coaches from Charlotte Table Tennis Club (CTTC). For further details visit www.TTCLT.com or contact SJ (s_jan@yahoo.com), Hemant Amin (hvamin@hotmail.com) or Chetan Thakker (chetanthakker@yahoo.com). Upcoming Events: Sun Apr 14 at 2 pm: Hanuman Jayanti celebration - continuous chanting of Hanuman Chalisas followed by Aarti and Mahaprasad. Mon Apr 16 @ 6:30 p.m. - Mahaprabhuji Bhajans Sat Apr 21 @ 4:00 p.m. - Mahaprabhuji Patotsav For Further Details: www.hcclt.org

Jain Center of Greater Charlotte (JCGC) The JCGC serves the spiritual, cultural, social, and community needs of Jain families in and around metropolitan Charlotte area. JCGC is dedicated to the practice, understanding, promotion, and preservation of the Jain faith. The members of JCGC meet regularly for worship, ceremonies, and festivals throughout the year. JCGC constructed and opened the doors to its Jain Temple in September 2011 in North Charlotte. The Jain Center is located at 7631 Mallard Creek Rd., Charlotte, NC 28262 and will coordinate and carry out numerous religious activities yearround. These activities included celebrating major religious festivals such as Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushan, and Diwali, and routine programs like Swadhyay, Poojas and children’s Pathshaala. Upcoming Events: Thu Apr 5 (Chaitra Sud Chaudas): 6:30 p.m. Aarti, 7:00 p.m. Pakki Pratikraman Sat Apr 7 (Mahavir Jayanti): 9:00 a.m. Snatra Pooja. 11:15 a.m. Cultural Program 12:45 p.m. Trophy Distribution 1:00 p.m. Swamivatsalya (Lunch) Sun Apr 15 (Chaudas): 10:30 a.m. Pathshaala Fri Apr 20 (Chaitra Vad Chaudas): 6:30 p.m. Aarti 7:00 p.m. Pakkhi Pratikraman Sun Apr 22: 10:30 a.m. Snatra Pooja Sun Apr 29: 4 pm - Regular monthly meeting. Swadhyay, Pathshaala, Aarti and Mangal Divo All Other Weekdays: 9:30am - Mon-Friday - Prakshal and Pooja, 7:30pm - Chaityavandan, Aarti and Mangal Divo Weekends: 10:30am - Prakshal and Pooja,7:30pm – Chaityavandan, Aarti and Mangal Divo For Further Details: JCGC President – Suresh Shah: 704.717.8481 or info@jaincenter.us. www.jaincenter.us

IAMC (Indian American Muslim Council) Charlotte Chapter IAMC formerly known as IMC-USA (Indian Muslim Council – USA) is an Independent not for profit, tax exempt organization committed to promoting peace, pluralism and social justice for all through advocacy. The organization is also committed to promote and protect human rights and human dignity in India as they are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace. IAMCCharlotte, seeks to reach out to Indian Muslims living in and around Charlotte to join our efforts as we are dedicated to promote Peace, Human Rights and Social Justice for all in India, to strive for Inter-Faith, Inter-Community understanding in the United States with particular focus on Indian Diaspora and to build alliances and relationships with individuals and groups who share the organization’s basic values. For Further Details: Ashfaq Mehdi 704.904.5778 Afzal Syed 704.770.1103 iamc-charlotte@yahoogroups.com India Association of Charlotte (Festival of India) Is a nonprofit organization with the goal of fostering better understanding of the rich diversity of Indian culture, by the larger community in and around Charlotte. A key activity is the annual Festival of India that is traditionally held during early September in Uptown Charlotte. For Further Details: Toni Sawhney 704-604-2133 Lal Vishin 704-545-3727 www.indiafestival.net Indian Performing Arts Association of Charlotte (IPAAC) IPAAC (Indian Performing Arts Association of Charlotte) promotes classical Hindustani music by inviting well-known artists from India. Upcoming Events: Sat, May 5, 2012 - Vocal Recital by Ms. Manjusha Kulkarni Patil For Further Details: Sarla Kumar 704.846.4423 Chaula Jain 704.364.0984 contact@ipaac.org www.ipaac.org

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April 2012

physical, mental and spiritual aspects of human being, while still encouraging people to maintain a normal family and working life. In the Charlotte area, group meditation is held at the Unity of Charlotte on Sundays and Wednesdays. For Further Details: Arun and Promila Sehra 704.844.0147 Srikanth Katakam 704.496.4411 naturalpath.nc@gmail.com www.srcm.org

countries, these regions share many basic cultural and historical similarities. KIRAN operates a crisis phone line Monday- Friday from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm. For help or information regarding domestic violence call an advocate. Services offered are confidential and free of charge: • Information in a culture- and context-sensitive manner • Non-judgmental help and support to women who are experiencing oppressive/crisis situations • Emotional support • Referrals to professional and community services regarding legal issues, health care, short-term child care, psychological counseling, and temporary shelter and housing • KIRAN’s services are completely confidential. Translators and crisis counselors do not disclose any information provided by our clients. For Further Details: Crisis Hotline: 1877- NC-KIRAN or 1-877-625-4726 Kiran@Kiraninc.org www.kiraninc.org

Sangamithra Foundation Sangamithra Foundation was formed by a group of people who strive to make a difference in society and has taken the path of identifying the needs of underprivileged communities in India and provide support to meet those needs. The first project of providing a water filtering system to a school in India was successfully completed within just months of the founding of the organization. The foundation is reaching out on a global scale and working collectively towards realizing its vision. For Futher Details: www.sangamithra.org www.facebook.com/SangamithraFoundation; email: info@sangamithra.org; twitter: @sangamithraUSA.

Net IP Charlotte NetIP Charlotte is the only official Carolinas chapter of North America’s Largest Network of Indian Professionals. NetIP Charlotte provides a forum for on-going Career Developmental and Professional Networking activities. It arranges various events and maintains deeper ties with Businesses & the community. It provides various effective ways for Carolinas’ Indian Professionals to connect with other successful professionals. For Further Details: www.netIPnc.org

Shree Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal Vadtal On the 1st Saturday of every month, Shree Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal Vadtal has kirtans and bhajans at the Hindu Center of Charlotte at 5 pm. After the bhajans, there is Aarti and Mahaprasad. In addition, on the 3rd Sunday of every month, an additional Satsang Sabha is held at sponsor’s house at 3 - 5 pm. For Further Details: 704.392.4488 - Ramesh Dhanani admin@issvcharlotte.org

Pratham - Charlotte Area Pratham is India’s largest non-profit organization with grass roots programs in the area of primary education. Pratham has made an impact on the learning levels of several million children through its Read India campaign which reached 31 million children across India. Pratham has developed an accelerated learning technique which helps children to read & write in two months. With nearly half the children in India who attend schools are not learning to read and write at the required level, Pratham is trying to fill an important gap in the area of primary education. For Further Details: Anju Desai (ajdesai66@gmail.com or 980-622-0125) and Shubhra Chakraborty (shubhra.chakraborty1@gmail.com) or 704-942-4798). www.prathamusa.org.

Shri Rang Avadhut Parivar (Parspar Devo Bhav) Soul devotees of Guru Dattatraya Rang Avadhut and Shri Prem Avadhut meet every Thursday evening in Charlotte, NC from 7 - 8 pm. for recital of Datta-Bavani, singing devotional Dattatraya Bhajans and reading Guru-Lilamrut. Detailed information about Charlotte meetings, literature, videos, Nareshwar Ashram and Shri Avadhut’s life is available. For Further Details: Bharat Shah - 704.724.6247 Nagesh Patel - 704.399.7805

Probasi of Charlotte Probasi is the Bengali community based in Charlotte and surrounding areas. The community’s goal is to organize cultural and educational program related to Bengal in the Greater Charlotte area, to increase Bengali cultural awareness, and to provide community service in the area. For Further Details: www.probasi.org

SouthPark Cricket Club South Park Cricket Club is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it has been an active member of the Mid Atlantic Cricket Conference since 2002. The club’s home ground is located at the Reedy Creek Park, 2900 Rocky River Road, Charlotte, NC. For Further Details: 847.722.9865 (Baseet Ahmed), baseer_11@yahoo.com www.southparkcc.org

Sahaj Marg Meditation- Charlotte Area Sahaj Marg, which means Simple or Natural path, is a Raj Yoga system of spiritual training based on the heart centered meditation. The unique features of this meditation include transmission of divine energy into the heart of the practitioner and cleaning of deep impressions, thereby regulating the mind. Regular practice of this system of meditation integrates the

Srishti of Charlotte Srishti based in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the past 6+ years has emerged to fulfill the North Carolina community’s need for togetherness and the desire to showcase Bengali culture, heritage, literature, theatre, music and popular arts. Literally, the word Srishti means an act of creation. Though established and coordinated by a group of Bengali families, Srishti welcomes and

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April 2012

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educational and social programs. GCAP, 127 Landmark Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410 For Further Details: Narendra Patel: 336.601.1978 (Pres.) Dipak Patel: 919.478.4759 (Vice Pres.) www.gcap.us

brings together people of varied cultures, ethnicity, languages, background and nationalities who are interested in East Indian traditions. Members include not only Bengalis but also Indians from other parts of the country and a few foreign nationals too. For Further Details: Samiksha Bose: 704-321-1964 Santanu Sarkar : 704-541-3451 Rituparna Mukherjee: 704-844-9505

India Association of the Triad The objective of the Association is to promote social, cultural and educational interests of its members, develop understanding between members of the Indian community and other residents of the Triad, and make the latter aware of issues of concern to the Indian community. Sat May 19 - Spring Festival. Venue: Fanta City Community Center, 4925 West Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27407. Timings: 11:00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., Program will include Indian cultural programs, shopping booths, Indian cuisine, singing and dance competition, beauty contest, DJ music, door prizes and many more. Admission free for members, $5 and $3 for family and single non-members. For Further Details: Ruby Singh 336.430.9068, rs7227@gmail.com Krishna Balu - 336.292.9462, balu3103@triad.rr.com www.iatnc.org

Steele Creek Cricket Club Cricket is played every Sunday morning at the Steele Creek Athletic Association complex at 13530 Choate Circle, (weather permitting) from 8 - 11 am. This group is dedicated to playing cricket with a hard tennis ball and/or soft baseball (also known as T-Ball) for fun in the Steele Creek Area of Charlotte. If you would like to stay informed about this club or would like to play or watch cricket, feel free to join and share your ideas. For information on current hours of play, location, and contacts. For Further Details: http://www.geocities.com/steelecreekcricketclub United Cricket Club Forming a team this March of experienced as well as beginners that love cricket. Team will play in the Atlantic League. Practice is every Sunday at Reedy Creek Park (11 to 4pm). Sunday and Monday evenings for ages 15 and up. Join the fun. For Further Details: 704.905.9127(Captain-Syed) 704.493.7629(Vice Captain-Mohsan)

Indo-US Cultural Association of Winston-Salem The Indo-US Cultural Association’s primary mission is to increase awareness of the cultural heritage of India which is tremendously rich in its diversity and history. The Association seeks to reach out to the thriving Indian-American community within the Piedmont and Triad areas to share the vibrant Indian culture and promote cross-cultural understanding. For Further Details: Manjunath C Shamanna, 336.413.5090 http://indouswinston.org/contact.aspx

Greensboro Art of Living (Greensboro) The Art of Living Foundation offers programs to uncover the strength, peace, and joy that lie at the core of every human being. Part I courses are offered regularly in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Charlotte and now Greensboro. The Part I course covers breathing techniques to eliminate stress & tension; skills for improving relationships at home & at work; practical wisdom to get the most out of life; insight into the laws that govern the mind & emotions; low-impact yoga and the masterpiece of the Art of Living Course is a powerful breathing-based technique called Sudarshan Kriya, or the healing breath. For Further Details: Nirupama Shankar @ shankar.nirupama@gmail.com Puja Verma @ puja_usa@yahoo.com http://us.artofliving.org/greensboro

Life Bliss Foundation The NC Chapter offers workshops, books, CD’s, and DVD’s on spirituality and enlightenment from living enlightened master Paramahamsa Nithyananda. Many videos are available on YouTube. Satsang in Greensboro is held the first Wednesday of each month. The meeting includes meditation, video discourse, and Q&A. Satsang Location: First Wednesday of the month, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, Integrative Therapies, 7-E Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro NC 27407. Meditation workshops are taught on a regular basis. For Further Details: 336.644.1111 www.lifebliss.org

Greensboro Cricket Club (GCC) Good news for cricket lovers! There are several teams that play cricket in Greensboro. The goals of GCC are fun, fitness, and friendship. For info on play and location contact below players. For Further Details: 336.501.3566 (9:00 am - 9:00 pm, S&S) Dev, Greensboro Warriors, happy4mehta@yahoo.com; Venky, Triad Tigers, venkyhot@hotmail.com.

Life Mission, USA This ashram has been established to provide helpful benefits for all - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. All these benefits can be achieved through the natural remedies of yoga therapy, ayurveda, naturopathy and diet. 8136 NC Highway 119 South Mebane, NC 27302. Upcoming Programs: April 6 - 8, 2012: Karma Gyan Bhakti Yoga Shibir May 26 - 28, 2012: Health Retreat June 2, 2012: Gayatri Yagna June 30 - July 4: Guru Purnima Patotsav

Gujarati Cultural Association of Piedmont (GCAP) The Gujarati Cultural Association of Piedmont serves the Asian Indian community through sponsored events, cultural, Saathee.com

April 2012

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the students will come from various countries around the world, and all students speak fluent English. They are of high school age (15-18) and will attend local high school in their respective communities. Each student will live as member of their American host family, sharing household duties and responsibilities. AFICE is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to bringing cultural gaps by allowing foreign students the opportunity to live as part of an American community. For Further Details: lathapamarthi@earthlink.net www.afice.org

July 5 - 11: Youth Camp For Further Details: 336.421.0690 lifemissionusa@gmail.com www.lifemissionusa.com Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center of Greensboro, NC The Center regularly conducting Sai Bhajans, Study Circle, various service activities and SSE class (for students) in Greensboro, NC all Sundays — 9:45 am to 12:15 pm For Further Details: Swami Rajendran 908-875-6964 Dr. Varatharajah 336-851-9150

Association for India’s Development (AID) Duke University Chapter AID’s mission is effect social change in India, by supporting projects with grassroots non-governmental organization in India in the areas of literacy, health care, rural credit, women’s empowerment etc. For Further Details: http://www.duke.edu/web/aid/

Triad Hindu Temple The Triad Hindu Temple is located at 2424 Huffine Mill Rd., Greensboro. Its mission is to serve the Hindu Community and promote Hindu Culture through religious, social and educational activities. Regularly scheduled events include Puja, bhajans, children’s programs, celebration of holidays and community service. For Further Details: www.triadhindutemple.org

Balagokulam Gokulam is where Lord Krishna’s magical childhood days were spent. It was here that his divine powers came to light. Every child has that spark of divinity within. Balagokulam is a forum for children (4-15 years age) to discover and manifest that divinity. It will enable Hindu children in the US to appreciate their cultural roots and learn values. This is done through games, yoga, stories, songs, shlokas, arts/crafts, and Seva (selfless service) in the community. Balagokulam sessions are free for all and are held on Saturdays. For Further Details: balagokulam.rtp@gmail.com hss.charlotte@hssus.org (Charlotte region) www.balagokulam.org

Triad Nepalese Community Center (TNCC) TNCC is an association of Nepalese and friends living in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina. The Piedmont Triad region encompasses the cities of Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem, and the surrounding areas. TNCC was established with a view to: Bring together Nepalese residents of this region and their friends to work cohesively toward preserving and promoting Nepalese ethnicity, culture and arts; Promote friendship, cooperation and mutual respect among the Nepalese people and the diverse Triad community; Provide direct and supportive services to the community; Empower community members to achieve skills and confidence in order to contribute to the well being of the Triad community; Collaborate closely with local organizations and agencies to fulfill our mission to address any challenges of the community. For further details: info@nctncc.org www.nctncc.org/portal/home.html

Raleigh AANC - Assamese Association of North Carolina AANC is a Socio Cultural organization with the objective of promoting and providing understanding of Assamese Culture and Language. AANC celebrates Assamese festivals and organizes cultural activities like Bihu Dance, music, songs and social get-togethers with essential touch of Assamese culture. Everyone from Assam as well as anyone with any connection to or interest in Assam or Assamese culture is most welcomed. For Further Details: 919.200.4020 assameseassociation.nc@gmail.com Academic Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (AFICE) Interested in exploring the diverse cultures of the world? Become a host family for a high school exchange student! All Saathee.com

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir BAPS Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir invites everyone to the regularly scheduled events: Ravi sabha - every Sunday at 4 - 6 pm followed by Aarti and Maha Prasad. Mahapuja – every Purnima at 7 pm. Many classes are conducted. Fresh Indian snacks and sweets available at Shayona. 1020 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560. For Further Details: 919.469.6605 www.swaminarayan.org Bengali Association of North Carolina (BANC) BANC seeks to promote Bengali culture, language, music, arts and social activities by offering varieties of programs for members of INDO-American community within North Carolina and adjacent states. The association is organized exclusively for charitable, cultural, social and educational purposes. For Further Details: 919.461.2386 (Ratan Ray), ratanray@hotmail.com 919.510.7943 (Swaty Sen), swaty_sen@yahoo.com banc_members@googlegroups.com www.banc-online.org Bharatiya Senior Citizens of North Carolina (BSCNC) BSCNC is a nonprofit organization for senior citizens of Indian

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origin that are age of 60 years and above. The BSCNC members meet on the second Saturday of each month at Cary Senior Center in Bond Park in Cary NC from 10am to 3pm. The next meeting will be on Sat Apr 14, at which there will be a Audio/Video Lecture of Pujya DADA BHAGVAN for approximately 1 hour. There will also be a lecture on General Health Problems by Dr. Akash Patel - Physician and will provide information for those who do not have health Insurance. The group will also celebrate “Ramnavmi”. Members who have renewed their membership for 2012 should have their ID with them and new members will have to pay guest charge. Existing members are requested to bring their old ID with them at the time of their renewal, otherwise they have to pay $1 for new ID plastic cover. All members are requested to wear their ID in all meetings. For Further Details: Mahendra Patel 919.793.6588 Carolina Rajasthani Association Visit the website for details of upcoming events and the group’s activities./ www.carolinarajasthanis.org Sushma Maheshwari - 919-880-8529, sushmaofnc@yahoo.com Shruti Singhi - 919-412-4819, mshruti@yahoo.com Chinmaya Mission Chinmaya Mission is a worldwide non-profit organization promoting spiritual growth, started by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. The Chinmaya Mission Raleigh Durham (CMRDU) chapter conducts Balavihar classes from 3 year old to youth on Sunday from 10 am to 11:30 am at Reedy Creek Middle School, Cary. The classes are tailored to each age group by special curriculum created by experienced Swamijis and Acharyas exclusively for CM Balavihar. Trained teachers conduct the classes. Curriculum includes learning to chant the Bhagavad-Gita verses, shlokas, singing devotional bhajans, stories from scriptures, family pujas, meditation, and fun activities like overnight lock-ins, picnics, and competitions. Introduction to Hindi and Sanskrit is also included. This year’s theme being Rama - My Brother, the children will learn to incorporate helpful virtues throughout their life. All festivals are celebrated with families and Prasad. Parents wishing to enroll their children in Balavihar can register through the website. A regular adult study group is conducted for adults on Sunday mornings at Reedy Creek Middle School, as well as other locations in the Triangle. For Further Details: Venkat Mandavilli at 919.387.8434 Srinivas Andhavarapu at 919.439.4444 http://www.chinmaya-rdu.org Dada Bhagwan Satsang Don’t miss on the lifetime event of “Gnan Vidhi” which opens up the path to “Moksha” - everyone is encouraged to procure details of the “Gnan Vidhi” at their nearest location. Meanwhile, download some spiritual books and enrich the spiritual foundation. Subscriptions for monthly spiritual magazine “Dadavani” are also available. When in India, don’t miss opportunity to visit Tri Mandir at Adalaj near Ahmedabad. Visit www.dadabhagwan.org and watch Satsang on Web TV. For children - visit www.kids.dadabhagwan.org Saathee.com

Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation RTP Chapter Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India (EVFI) was established to help in the overall development of the remote tribal and rural villages in India. Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA along with EVFI is committed to the cause of eradicating illiteracy from tribal areas. Education is the key to self-esteem, self-sustenance, economic well being and happiness. Ekal Vidyalya (One School One Teacher in one village) plans to establish 100,000 schools in tribal areas by 2012. This will cover all the villages in tribal areas where there are no schools today. The Raleigh Chapter EVFUSA conducts fund raising and awareness programs in the Triangle area. For further details: Ekal/RTP: raginiusa@yahoo.com Geet Bazaar Radio Program Every Sunday morning from 10 am - 12 noon on WKNC 88.1 FM, join hosts Afroz Taj and John Caldwell, for a wide variety of music from India, Pakistan, and other countries and languages of South Asia. Geet Bazaar will also publicize community events free of charge. For Further Details: 919.851.1119 (Dr. Afroj Taj) taj@unity.ncsu.edu GEM - Raleigh Church of God Attend worship services, prayer meetings or Sunday School. For Further Details: 919.395.6208 (Pastor Thankachan M.) globalem@gmail.com Heritage India Association of North Carolina (HIANC) Heritage India Association of NC aims at providing Indian cultural experience through performing arts, cultural arts, fine arts & crafts of India. Its mission is “to preserve and promote Indian heritage and culture.” During the year, Heritage India Association of North Carolina presents several events and also coordinates Indian dances for the main stage performances for the Raleigh International Festival. For Further Details: yashcgarg@gmail.com Hindi Vikas Mandal of NC Hindi Vikas Mandal (HVM), based in the RTP area, promotes study and appreciation of Hindi language and strives to foster Indian culture and traditions through Hindi. HVM has a special focus on the youths for the preservation of Indian Culture and heritage. For Further Details: Saroj Sharma 919.851.0225 V.P. Tiwari 919.423.0365 Hindu Society of North Carolina - Morrisville, NC The Hindu Society of North Carolina, located at 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, N.C. serves the Indian community in the Triangle area and its vicinity. Temple timings are: Mon. - Fri. 8 11 am and 5 - 9 pm, Sat. - Sun. 8 am - 7 pm. Daily Aarti and Puja is also conducted by the Priest. Other regular religious and cultural programs: Monthly Vedic Havan, Tuesday Hauman Chalisa recitation, Sri Ramakrishna Study Group, Sri Sai Baba Group, Gita Study Group, Devi Puja, Vaishnav Bhajan Group, 102

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Akhand Ramayana Recitation, Weekend Language and Spiritual Knowledge Classes, and Sloka classes for Children. Yoga classes are also offered twice a week (Sunday at 8:00 a.m.and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.) at the Cultural Hall. Priest services are available at your home and/or at the Temple at a nominal charge. For Further Details: Saroj Sharma at 919.654.5224 or 919.851.1225 Arvind Shah 919.434.8021 hsnc@hsncweb.org www.hsncweb.org Hindu Students Council (HSC) - NC State University HSC-NCSU is a chapter of the national organization Hindu Students Council (HSC). HSC-NCSU is a cultural and religious student organization. It aims to provide opportunities to learn about Hindu philosophy, spirituality and cultural heritage through various activities, events and projects and is dedicated to provide “seva” (service) to the community. For Further Details: 919.676.0298 (Mrinmoyee Sanyal) msanyal@ncsu.edu www.hsc-ncsu.org Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) The HSS conducts weekly activities to develop character and leadership skills in participants, emphasizing values such as self-discipline, self-confidence and a spirit of selfless service (seva) for humanity while maintaining Hindu cultural identity in harmony with the larger society. HSS is inspired by the idea that the whole world is one family. HSS started in 1989 in the United States and currently has over 100 chapters (shakhas) across the country. The Research Triangle Park chapter meets every Saturday. Activities are tailored to include yoga, games, songs, lectures and discussions on Hindu dharma and culture. For Further Details: hss.rtp@hssus.org - Triangle area hss.charlotte@hssus.org - Charlotte region. Hum Sub Hum Sub is dedicated to sharing the social and cultural traditions of India with the residents of the Research Triangle Park and North Carolina. For Further Details: 919.931.3572 - President (Meena Jeyakumar) 919.757.6666 - Vice President (Sunny Surana) www.humsub.net Indian American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE) IAFPE, known as the FORUM, is the oldest and largest Indian American organization for political education in the country. This is a non-profit organization with numerous chapters throughout the United States. The North Carolina Chapter is in Raleigh and has just established a new committee for a 2-year term. IAFPE is excited and motivated to educate the community on political issues and help the community with various services. Support is needed from the community and members to help us grow and provide relevant services and informative events. For Further Details: Nilesh - 919.656.4361 www.forum-nc.org

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Indian Classical Music & Dance Society (ICMDS) ICMDS is dedicated to the task of promoting Indian classical music and dance in the Triangle area. ICMDS invites the top artists from all over the world to perform in the Triangle area. Sun Apr 1 @ 3:00 p.m. —- Soothing flute concert by Shantala Subramanyam. Accompanied by Avaneeswaram Vinu on Violin and Melakkaveri Balaji on Mridangam. Venue: Durham Arts Council, Durham, NC. Sat Apr 14 @ 7 pm: Anoushka Shankar & The Traveller Ensamble: Venue: Page Auditorium, Duke University. Sun Apr 29 @ 2:00 p.m. —- Carnatic Concert of Gana Kala Shree, Vidushi, M.S. Sheela. This is a joint presentation by ICMDS and Sampige (Kannada Community). Venue: UNC-Chapel Hill Auditorium. Sat May 26 @ 6:00 p.m. —- A Classical Evening of Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty - The Versatile Vocalist of India. For Further Details: www.icmds.org Indo-American Friendship Foundation Did you know that about 90 percent of rural orphans are female and most of them are abandoned at birth due to their gender? Not one of them gets the opportunity to become a doctor, engineer, or even receive basic education. Because they cannot live in the orphanage when they turn 18, many of them fall victim to different types of exploitation, including sex trade. IAFF has created an orphanage education fund to help qualified orphans to rise as high as they can climb in the educational/professional ladder. For Further Details: 919.362.7653 (Dr. Subhas C. Mohapatra) www.iaff1.org Indus Foundation Indus Foundation was founded in NC by a group of professionals with the sole purpose of giving back to the community and the country that has helped members achieve success. Every dollar is wisely spent back into the community without any overheads. Current major projects: Indian Cancer Society rehabilitation Center in Mumbai, Mental Healthcare Center for socially rejected Women in Indore, and three Educational Centers in Gurgaon. Adopt an on-going project or launch an new project under specific guidelines. Make a commitment today to build a better tomorrow. For Further Details: 919.461.0001 (Dr. Vinnie Goel, Chairman) 919.467.0598 (Dr. Shri Kulkarni, President) 919.319.7294 (Dr. Vijaya Bapat, Vice-President) www.indusfoundation.info International Community Church CC is a worship center for people from India and neighboring countries. The pastor is Joseph B. Jesudason and the church office is located at 1215 Franklin Jones Road, Suite #204, Raleigh, NC 27606. For Further Details: 919.233.2900 www.internationalcommunitychurch.org International Hindi Association International Hindi Association (IHA) promotes Hindi language and literature and has chapters all over the United States. The Raleigh Chapter periodically organizes Kavi Sammelans with 104

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Making a World of Diﬀerence

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local and indigenous talents. Open to those interested in listening to poetry or in reciting poetry. For Further Details: 919.656.5224 (Saroj Sharma) 919.678.9056 (Sudha Om Dhingra) www.hindi.org

Classes. The classes are offered each Wednesday from 6 - 8 pm, and each Saturday from 11 am - 1 pm. For Further Details: 336.421.0690 lifemisionusa@gmail.com www.lifemissionusa.org

International Swaminarayan Satsang Organization (ISSO) Primary objective of ISSO is “To advance the Sanatan Dharma in accordance with the principles and teachings of Shree Swaminarayan Sampradaya, founded and ordained by Lord Shree Swaminarayan (Shree Sahajanand Swami),” enabling His devotees from both the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi (Ahmedabad) and Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi (Vadtal) to practice their religious duties in harmony. The Raleigh-Durham chapter organizes a “Satsang Sabha” every two weeks, typically on Friday or Saturday evenings, which includes Kirtan bhakti, Katha, Aarti and Mahaprasad. For Further Details: 919.363.2356 (Niraj Joshi) niraj_joshi@yahoo.com www.swaminarayan.info

Nuv Yug Nuv Yug is a cultural organization with a mission to promote awareness of Indian cultural arts and heritage. Striving to create synergy among various cultural groups from the South Asian region. For Further Details: www.nuvyug.net

Kiran KIRAN is a multi-cultural, non-religious, community based, South Asian organization. Promoting the self-reliance and empowerment of South Asian women who are in crisis through outreach, peer support, and referrals in a confidential manner. The group spreads awareness of South Asian women’s issues in the community and we cooperate and collaborate with organizations in the USA and elsewhere with similar objectives. Countries in South Asia include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Though there are differences in language, customs, and religions across these countries, these regions share many basic cultural and historical similarities. KIRAN operates a crisis phone line Monday- Friday from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm. For help or information regarding domestic violence call an advocate. Services offered are confidential and free of charge: • Information in a culture- and context-sensitive manner • Non-judgmental help and support to women who are experiencing oppressive/crisis situations • Emotional support • Referrals to professional and community services regarding legal issues, health care, short-term child care, psychological counseling, and temporary shelter and housing • KIRAN’s services are completely confidential. Translators and crisis counselors do not disclose any information provided by our clients. For Further Details: Crisis Hotline: 1877- NC-KIRAN or 1-877-625-4726 Kiran@Kiraninc.org www.kiraninc.org Lakulish Yoga and Health Retreat Lakulish Yoga and Health Retreat is a secluded resort in Caswell County, located at 8136 N.C. Highway 119 South, Mebane, NC 27302. It is a place of natural beauty that stimulates a spirit of detachment and inspires and uplifts visitors. This resort is hallowed by a Yogi, a Sannyasi who ensures that the true practice of Dharm and Yoga flourishes here, offering the North Carolina community and visitors an ongoing program of free Yoga Saathee.com

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Pakistani American Association The Pakistani-American Association (NCPAA) is a non-political, non-sectarian, cultural and social organization that promotes Pakistani culture to all the communities living in the Triangle Area of North Carolina. Several events are presented during the year. A family dinner is held on the second Friday every month. For Further Details: payamber@ncpaa.org / http://ncpaa.org Pratham - Triangle Area Founded as a UNICEF initiative, Pratham is a grass-roots organization that works towards universalizing primary education in India. With a goal of reaching 20 million children, Pratham is one of the largest NGOs in field of literacy movement in India. Pratham continues to evolve, grow and works to meet the continually changing needs of the children it educates. Pratham’s North Carolina chapter actively aims to collaborate with individuals, local organizations and community associations and seeks ideas, volunteers and resources to deliver the vision of “Every Child in School and Learning Well.” For details: Gunvant Bhakta, 919-488-8975; Punit Chhabra, 919-3809569; Sudha Rathie, 919-481-4451; Harshad Shah, 919-341-8894. For Further Details: www.prathamusa.org Priyadarshini Arts Known for their unique dance drama pieces, is a non-profit, duo sister team, promoting India’s Vedic and modern heritage through the various forms of dance and acting. For Further Details: Varshana at priyadarshini.arts@gmail.com http://www.youtube.com/user/PriyadarshiniArts Professional Indians’ Association [PIA] PIA is a meetup that serves young South Asian professionals in the Triangle Community. The group is made of Indian professionals and grad students interested in cultural events, socializing and meeting/making friends with like-minded people around the Triangle. Monthly events include meeting at bars/restaurants, Bollywood movie nights, potlucks, Indian concerts/performances, outdoor activities, community service and volunteering. This will also be an opportunity for professionals to share their thoughts on respective industries, social causes, the economy and politics. For Further Details: http://www.meetup.com/PIATriangle/ April 2012

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Punjabi Unlimited Punjabi Unlimited is a non-profit organization dedicated to promotion/creation of a public awareness and education about Punjabi Arts, Culture, Sports, Language, Music, Dance etc. All are welcome who are “Punjabi at Heart”. For more info visit www.punjabiunlimited.org Gurpreet Burmi president@punjabiunlimited,org Arvinder Singh vicepresident@punjabiunlimited.org Raleigh Karaoke Group Raleigh Karaoke Group meets once a month for the South East Asian community of the Triangle area to showcase their talent and lose themselves in nostalgia through song. The April session is scheduled for Friday 20 April 2012 from 7:30 PM till 11:30 PM at Zayka Indian Cuisine in the Brier Creek area of North Raleighphone 919.361.5370. Please come prepared to choose from over 15,000 Hindi Film, Non-Film, Ghazals, Gujrati, Punjabi, Kanada, Koli, Konkani, Malayalam, Malayalam Muslim, Marathi, Oriya, and English Songs including holiday favorites. Events are free and open to the entire music loving community for singing or listening to friends sing so bring your fans along if you wish and pass the word. For Further Details about the group call: Shafi Parekh at (919) 413-3924, or Email at shafi@pdiagnostics.com Raleigh Sai Center Parthi Sai devotees of Triangle area meet every Sunday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the Mini-Hall of Hindu Bhavan in Morrisville. There will be Study circle, Bhajan Practice, Veda Chanting etc. during the 4-5 pm slot depending on the week, followed by bhajans from 5:00 - 6:00. The center carries out several service activities as well. The Human Values Education (SSE) classes for the children of different age group will be from 3:30 - 5:00. All are invited to participate in the Satsangh and service activities. For Further Details: Ganesh Kumar, President, Raleigh Sai Center at (919) 413 0579 or (919) 833-7523 E-mail rsc.president@yahoo.com.

S. V. Temple of North Carolina S.V. Temple of North Carolina is built on over nine acres of centrally connected triangle area. This grand tribute to Lord Venkateswara and his consorts is designed to exacting standards of shilpa shasthra and features the only shrine in North America to incorporate abodes to Lord Viswaksena and Lord Sudarshana/Lord Narasimha as part of Srinivasa Parivaram. The temple rituals are performed in accordance with Pancharathra Agama Shastra. For Further Details: 919.468.0040 comm@svtemplenc.org www.svtemplenc.org Sahaj Marg Meditation - Triangle Area Sahaj Marg translates to “The Natural Path.” It is a natural, simple system of Raja Yoga meditation and spiritual practice that helps one realize the ultimate potential within oneself. Regular spiritual practice under capable guidance enables aspirants to progressively experience the sublime presence of the divine in their daily lives. Sahaj Marg system of meditation is freely offered to seekers worldwide through Shri Ram Chandra Mission. In Triangle area, group meditations are held on Sundays and Wednesdays. For Further Details: (919) 303-7447 (Raj Solanki) (919) 493-6180 (Devi Sekar) raleigh.center@gmail.com> www.srcm.org, www.sahajmarg.org SAMPIGE - Triangle Kannada Association The Triangle Kannada Association is a cultural association for people residing in the Triangle area from Karnataka, India. Sampige organizes Kannada (the language spoken in the Karnataka area) activities in music, dance and drama as well as social activities. For Further Details: sampigeeditor@yahoo.com www.sampige.org

Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of North Carolina The Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of NC draws inspiration from the timeless, philosophical wisdom of the Vedanta as practiced and preached in the modern day by Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda. Perhaps you know a great deal about Practical Vedanta and the message of the harmony of religions and the spiritual oneness of Existence - or perhaps you are just curious and want to learn more. Regardless of background and/or knowledge the organization welcomes participants. For Further Details: www.vedantanc.org

Share and Care Foundation Carolina Chapter Share and Care Foundation Carolina Chapter is part of Share and Care Foundation based in New Jersey. It is a Charitable organization focused their work in Rural India and their main goal is to empower children and women by providing funding to NGOs for their education, vocational training and microloans. More than 90% of donations reach the empowered people with the least administration and marketing cost. For further details: 919.237.2816 (Manu Patel), Patelmanu@hotmail.com 919.481.4618 (Piyush Patel) www.shareandcare.org

RTP Maharashtra Mandal RTP Maharashtra Mandal promotes Maharashtrian culture and language. Maharashtra mandal is committed to serve RTP community with various cultural, social and traditional marathi programs and events. For Further Details: 919.468.8824 (Jayant Yete) 919.757.7300 (Neeraj Shikarkhane) www.rtpmm.org

Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina The Sikh Gurudwara of NC welcomes visitors of all backgrounds regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender. All peoples, regardless of their origin or orientation, are welcome to attend services and share in the blessings of God. Religious services are held every Saturday evening and Sunday morning, followed by a community meal (langar). In addition to religious services, we offer educational programs for children and young adults. Adults participate in religious discourse during monthly

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and to equip them to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ. The group organizes, each year, an Annual Telugu Christian Family Conference. For further details: www.tcfnc.org Phone: 919-43-TCFNC(82362)

study circles. Members of the Sangat (congregation) regularly participate in community service projects in the Triangle area. Located at 3214 Banner Street in Durham, NC 27704. For Further Details: 919.220.9917 / http://www.sgncweb.org South Indian Fine Arts Academy (SIFAA) SIFAA is a non-profit organization that works to arrange and promote concerts and performances in the Triangle and Triad areas, concentrating on Carnatic music for the present. Upcoming Events: Sat, April 12: Sri O.S. Thyagarajan (vocal), Sri. Mullaivasal Chandramouli (Violin), Sri. Trivandrum Balaji (Mridangam) at West Cary Middle School, Cary, NC at 6:30 pm. For Further Details: 919.773.1580 / www.sifaa.org Sri Shirdi SaiBaba Mandir NC SSMNC promotes Sai philosophy and facilitates worship and services similar to Shirdi SaiBaba Temple, located in Shirdi-India. This Organization is dedicated to sponsor and support religious, spiritual, cultural, educational and charitable activities in the United States and abroad. Mandir Timings: Monday - Friday 9 10 am, 12 noon - 1pm, 6 - 9 pm. Sat - Sun 9 am - 9pm. Details at www.shirdisaimandirnc.org or call 919.386.1085. St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Holy Qurbana and Sunday School are held in Malayalam/English, led by Reverend Dr. M. K. Thomas at 225 Bashford Road, Raleigh, NC. For Further Details: 919.461.1773 sec@stgregoriosnc.org www.stgregoriosnc.org Tamil Cultural Association of North Carolina (TCA NC) TCA NC is a non-profit organization formed for the purpose of providing youths with exposure to Tamil culture. Everyone is invited to join TCA and become part of a wonderful organization promoting Tamil culture in the Triangle area.. For Further Details: tca_nc@yahoo.com www.tcanc.org Tamil Sangam of Carolina The Tamil Sangam is an organization that promotes understanding of Tamil culture and provides a medium for people of Tamil culture to get together. The activities include music, drama, lectures, Tamil movies, etc. For Further Details: (919)-465-1606 - Ravi Shanmugam (President) http://members.fortunecity.com/tamilsangamofcarolina Telugu Christian Fellowship of NC (TCFNC) The Telugu Christian Fellowship of North Carolina (TCFNC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to reach out to Telugu Christians living in North Carolina, to be united and bonded together as a Telugu Christian family of God and encourage and pray for each other. TCFNC provides a place for Telugu Christians for time of worship, prayer and fellowship. They also provide a forum for kids to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Saathee.com

Triangle Area Telugu Association (TATA) The Triangle Area Telugu Association (TATA) is a non-profit organization (started in 1983) committed to building a vibrant Telugu Community and promoting Telugu culture and language in the Triangle area of North Carolina. For Further Details: committee@tataonline.org www.tataonline.org Triangle Bangladesh Society (TBSNC) TBSNC strives to arrange musical programs by artists who have captured the hearts and minds of millions of Bengali-, Urdu- and Hindi-speaking music fans all around the globe. For Further Details: 919.741.9343 (Ishtiaque Mohiuddin) Ishtiaquem@gmail.com www.tbsnc.org Triangle Chapter-India Development & Relief Fund (IDRF) IDRF is a registered, tax-exempt non-profit organization that supports volunteer-based, honest and highly experienced nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in India in serving their populationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; critical needs around education, childcare, healthcare, women empowerment and tribal welfare, as well as relief and rehabilitation in times of natural disasters. For Further Details: www.idrf.org. Triangle Gujarati Association (TGA) TGAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; s mission is to promote and serve Gujarati culture in the Triangle area by organizing various events throughout the year and impart Gujarati culture and language on the youth. Upcoming events: For Further Details: www.nctga.org Triangle Indian Youth Organization (TIYO) This organization has been created with the purpose of encouraging youths of Indian origin aged between 12-18 years to develop skills for leadership, to organize team-oriented efforts, understand and participate in community services, understand and develop individual potential. There will be activities that will fall into the broad categories of education, arts, cultural, charity, religious and community services. For Further Details: 919.363.7339 (Latha Pamarthi [Director of TIYO]) triangleindianyouth@yahoo.com Triangle Rang Mandal Devotees of Pujya Sri Rang Avdhoot Maharaj meet every Saturday in Cary or Raleigh from 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM to sing devotional Dattatreya Bhajans and Datta-Bavani in a spiritual atmosphere. Special programs organized on Guru Purnima and Rang Jayanti and on the occasion of Pujya Sri Prem Avdhoot

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Bapji’s annual visit to the United States of America. For Further Details on the organization and upcoming events write to: rangmandal@gmail.com

Triangle Vegetarian Society (TVS) The mission of TVS is to build a sense of community between current vegetarians and people who are interested in vegetarianism and have a forum for a discussion of issues. For Further Details: barman@cs.unc.edu www.trianglevegsociety.org Two Cents of Hope (TCH) Two Cents of Hope was started by a group of Indian students at NC State University with the belief in empowering youth via education. The goal is to uplift the weaker sections of the society through education. The foundation lies in the power of cents giving TCH its name. As J. Carney put it, “Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean, and the pleasant land.” By using coin boxes to collect loose change, the total donations result in a collection that yields considerable amount of money, enough to give education to a poor student - indeed a firm footing for the rest of his or her life. Apart from the coin collection other sources of funding includes fundraising events (Trishna, Crescendo, and Booth in Cary Diwali) and sponsors. In the last three years TCH has funded $21,689, which includes 77 projects benefitting 270 students and two schools in India. To keep a coin box at your place or to know more about Two Cents of Hope, email - coordinator@nc.twocentsofhope.com. www.twocentsofhope.com Urdu Majlis Urdu Majlis is a literary organization for the promotion of Urdu language and literature and has no political, national or religious affiliations. The group has regularly scheduled monthly meetings in which enthusiasts and scholars of Urdu literature meet to discuss the life and works of a selected literary figure. For Further Details: 919.851.1119 (Dr. Afroz Taj) 919.596.4792 (Ashraf and Seema Faruqi) taj@unity.ncsu.edu Vaishnav Samaj of Triangle Area The Vaishnav Samaj is a group of like-minded devotees who meet for religious worship and understand Pushti Marg Principles at large. Recently, a sub-chapter of Vallabh Youth Organization (VYO) was formed under the leadership of Mrs. Harsha Shah. Regular Bhajan recitations are held 2nd Sunday of the month from 4-6 pm and Seniors are requested to encourage youngsters to participate in the activities. For Further Details: Arvindbhai Shah 919.233.7677 Vithalbhai Shah 919.467.4254 Navinbhai Parikh 919.387.8808

Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce The Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (GIACC) develops and promotes trade, business, commercial and professional relationships between India and the United States, especially within the state of Georgia. GIACC was formed recognizing the need for promoting bi-lateral activities among South Asian and mainstream communities in the United States and South Asia. For Further Details: 678.762.7589 AniThirdM@aol.com, ani@giacc.org. 770.840.1925 - susan@giacc.org. www.giacc.org Hindu Bhavan of Fayetteville, NC Hindu Bhavan of Fayetteville, NC is a non profit organization. Ceremonies and events take place regularly. Temple Address: 907 Cedar Creek Road, Fayetteville, NC 28302. For further details: 910.485.4626 / 910.484.8956 hindubhavan@yahoo.com www.hindubhavan.org Hindu Society Of Eastern NC (Greenville, NC) Upcoming Events: Sun Apr 15, Apr 22, May 6, May 20, May 27: Balagokulam from 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Sun Apr 8, Apr 15, Apr 22, May 20, May 27: Geeta Study with B.S. Srivastava from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Sun Apr 8, Apr 22, May 20, May 27: Bala Vihar with Roopa Gandhi from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Aarti/Prasad at 12 noon. Sun Apr 1: Sri Ramnavami Pooja & Baisakhi - 11 am - 12:30 p.m. Sun Apr 28 & 29: Talks by Swami Brahmarupanandaji (from Vedanta Center of Washington, DC) Sun May 6: Bhajans by Devotees from 11 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Sun May 13: Mother’s Day from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For Further Details: B.S. Srivatsa 508.654.0360 Hindutemplenc@gmail.com Sri Somesvara Temple Sri Somesvara Temple is located near Asheville, NC. Temple hours are 8 am - 7:30pm. Regularly scheduled pujas: Subrabhath Aarti - 8 am, Rudrabhishek Nityapuja - 9 am - 12 noon, Pradoshakala puja and mangala aarti - 6 pm - 7:30pm. The temple also hosts special events. Contact the temple: 828.476.4073. 95 Mount Soma Blvd., Clyde, NC 28721 For details visit: www.srisomesvara.org.

South Carolina

Regional Cape Fear Cultural Association of India - Wilmington Cape Fear Cultural Association of India is an organization that promotes understanding of Indian culture and promotes a Saathee.com

medium for people of Indian culture to get together. For Further Details: Shashin Patel, President. (910.790.9448) Sanjay Batish, Vice-President. (910.371.9860) Anjali Dashputre, Treasurer. (910.395.6633) Sukhbir Dhillon, Cultural Secretary (910.796.1965)

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American South Asian Cultural Association of Columbia, SC The American South Asian Cultural Association of Columbia’s fundamental goal is to increase cultural awareness and develop April 2012

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cultural understanding among American Southeast Asian Community in Columbia area. A monthly Lunch meeting will be held on the Second Sunday of every month between 1 to 3 PM. There will be $7.00 Per Person charge for Lunch (Kids Ages 6-10 pay half price) at Delhi Palace, 542 Saint Andrew Road, Columbia, 29210. Contact in the evenings: (803) 233-7042 OR (803) 233-3995. Bethel Christian Fellowship Bethel Christian Fellowship offers services in various Indian languages (i.e. Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, etc.) and Sunday Worship services are at 11:30 a.m. Address: Fort Mill Church of God, Student Life Center Building, 216 Academy Street, Room 102. Fort Mill, South Carolina 29715 For Further Details: 803.792.7223 Pastor Rajan Samuel @ pastorofbcf@gmail.com www.bethelchristianfellowship.org Carolina Buddhist Vihara (Greenville, SC) Regular beginner meditation program conducted by a Buddhist Monk. Activities are held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings: 6:30 pm (puja), 7 pm (meditation), and 8 pm (“Dhamma” talk or discussion). A “youth program” is also held once a month. For Further Details: dhammasc@hotmail.com Hindu Society of Greater Spartanburg The daily Aarti is at 7:00 p.m., Balvihar classes are conducted from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on scheduled Sundays, and Satsang is on second Sunday every month from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Temple is located on 1130 Fairview Church Road in Boiling Springs, S.C. 29303. Temple Info: 864.599.7048 Mon Apr 23 @ 8:30 p.m. —- Gujarati Comedy Drama : “Tu Chhe La Jawab” Directed by Vipul Mehta and played by well known artist Shrimati Sarita Joshi known as “Santu Rangili” of Mumbai. Venue: Performing Arts Center, 800 University Way, USC Upstate, Spartanburg, SC 29303. Tickets : $25/person. Drama Info: Ashok Shah 864-599-7571 Jashbhai Patel 864-587-0216 Hindu Temple of South Carolina The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of South Carolina was established with an objective to fill the need for thousands of Hindus in the State of South Carolina to worship and pray together, perform sacraments and rituals, to observe and celebrate festivals, and to perform and engage in humanitarian and educational activities. For Further Details: http://www.hindutemplesc.org/index.php India Assoc. of Greater Charleston (IAGC) The IAGC was founded in Charleston to bring together people who were interested in India and to provide a forum to increase the understanding of the heritage of India in US. For Further Details: 803.884.0859 iagcfolks@yahoo.com Saathee.com

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International Fellowship Church of Greenville, SC International Fellowship Church offers Sunday worship services and other weekly activities for people of Indian origin. For Further Details: 864.234.1256 (Pastor Suhas Raiborde) www.internationalfellowshipchurch.org Masjid Noor-UL-Huda The Mosque is located at 517 Winmet Drive, Columbia, S.C. On the first Saturday and third Saturday of every month from 6 PM to 8 PM, Islamic session is held by Hafiz Mohammed Basheer. Quranic Reading classes are conducted daily, and everyone is encouraged to send their children to these sessions. For Further Details: 803.749.0827 (Dr. Shami) 803.740.5127 (Qari Abdul Khader Multani) 803.754.2632 (Mosque main number) Mrudani School of Performing Arts Mrudani School of Performing Arts is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the classical arts of India. Mrudani School offers classes in Bharathanatyam (Kalakshetra style) and Kuchipudi in Columbia, Orangeburg, and Charleston, SC. For Further Details: Monica @ 843.849.7841 Anuradha @ 803.347.3851 classicaldance.india@gmail.com Sirigannada Sirigannada, the Kannada Association of South Carolina, a nonprofit organization was created by the interested Kannada speaking people of South Carolina. It is a voluntary organization primarily run by memberships and donations from Kannadigas of the State of South Carolina. For Further Details: www.sirigannada.org Telugu Association of Greater Greenville ,SC Telugu Association of Greater Greenville, SC, serves the Telugu community of the Greenville/Spartanburg area of South Carolina. The group sponsors several events throughout the year. For Further Details: www.taggsc.org Triad Avatar Meher Baba Group The Meher Center is a spiritual retreat/ashram located on SC Highway 17 immediately North of the Highway 22 connection 8 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC. Meher Baba visited this place 3 times and considered it His home in the West. A small brick house built especially for Him is open for “Darshan” on Fridays and Sunday (11:00 am.) / Meher Center: (843) 272-5777. For Further Details: 336.299.9683 runderwood@webtv.net www.avatarmeherbaba.org

Send updates or events for your club, group, organization, or association, for inclusion in the Community News section by the 15th of the month to: saatheemag@hotmail.com April 2012

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Pop’s Puzzles & Jokes Clues Down:

By Kirit Shukla

Note: * denotes abbreviation of the word or phrase Clues Across: 1. The official state bird of South Carolina. 11. A musical play with elaborate costumes & choreography. 12. Emergency Room. (*) 13. The seventh letter of Greek alphabet. (η) 14. The birthday of Lord Rama. (Hindu festival) (4-1-2012) 17. The city on the big island, AKA County of Hawaii. 18. The ardent devotee of Lord Rama, in the monkey form. 20. Elevation. (*) 21. Under the influence of liquor or drugs. (Slang) 23. Rhode Island. (*) 24. In a collision or a tangle. 26. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. (*) 28. A straight round bar of wood or metal. 29. Electromagnetic. (*) 31. The seventh letter of Greek alphabet. (Δ) 33. Laborious. 36. A spool on which thread, wire or film is wound. 37. Somewhat like the color of deep sea. 38. Senator. (*)39. Done by or carried on mind. (Without writing.) 41. Portable Document Format. (*) 43. American Institute of Steel Construction. (*) 45. The son of Isaac and Rebecca. (Bible) 47. Object Oriented. (*) 48. Tennessee. (*) 49. Troubling by repeated raids or attacks.

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1. Colorado. (*) 2. Victim of jokes played on April first. 3. The basic monetary unit of Brazil. 4. Imitation gold leaf. 5. Local Area Network. (*) 6. The state in western US, Nickname: The Silver State. 7. A spider. 8. A strip of ox hide used for twisting into ropes. 9. Eastern Time. (*) 10. A hill station in Uttarakhand, India. 15. American Heart Association. (*) 16. Race horses that perform on a wet, muddy track. 17. One pulsation of the heart. 19. Arkansas. (*) 22. A polymer synthetic fiber, AKA Polypropylene. 25. Contemporary theaters or concert halls. 27. A natural, regularly recurring condition of rest of body and mind, during which the eyes are usually closed. 30. To assemble for a roll call. 32. A tough flexible tissue that connects a muscle to a bone. 34. Either of the vertical edges of a square sail. 35. The capital of Tibet. 40. “— Vegas,” a city in Nevada. 42. A cloud on the ground. 44. Indiana. (*) 46. Objective form of “We”. (Puzzle solutions are on page 124. NO peeking!)

Hee Hee Q:“Who is your favorite writer?” Q:“Oh. What does he write?”

A: “My husband.” A: “Checks!”

•••••••••••••• Boss: “I am going out of oﬃce for some important work. If Mafatlal comes to see me, tell him to come back at 2 pm.” Booddhoo: “If he does not come, what should I tell him?” •••••••••••••• Teacher: “Is the “pant” singular or plural?” Student: “Singular at the top and plural at the bottom.” •••••••••••••• Child: “Daddy, when will I grown up big enough that I don’t have to ask mom if I want to go somewhere; do something?” Daddy: “Son, even I am not grown up yet for that!”

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YOUTH CORNER (Created By Kirit Shukla) (Find & circle the words in the puzzle). (Subject: “Meeting Places” )

ARMORY ASSEMBLY BAR BAZAAR BLEACHERS CAFÉ CAMPUS CHURCH CLUB CONCERT CORNER DEPOT GYMNASIUM

HALL MALL MARKET OPERA PLAYGROUND POOL RESTAURANT ROOM SCHOOL STADIUM STATION TOWNSQUARE YMCA

The unused 11 letters spell “This puzzle section of Saathee.”

EZ-BZ TEST YOUR OWN IQ The common letters are “OT” - Fill in the blanks 1. A male fellow member of the same race. _ _ OT _ _ _ 2. Capital of Canada in SE Ontario. OT _ _ _ _ 3. The origin of river Ganges in Uttar Kashi. _ _ _ _ OT _ _ 4. A small shed for fowl, sheep etc. _ OT _ 5. A wild animal resembling a small wolf. _ _ _ OT _ 6. A clear soup made by boiling meat in water. _ _ OT _ 7. An area of intense heat or radiation. _ OT _ _ OT 8. A woman as she is related to her child. _ OT _ _ _ 9. The largest city in South of NC. _ _ _ _ _ OT _ _ 10. To reproduce a statement of. _ _ OT _ 11. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. (*) OT _ _ 12. A warehouse; Storehouse. _ _ _ OT 13. Whichever end is underneath; Base. _ OT _ _ _ 14. A full scale, operational model. _ _ OTOT _ _ _ 15. The third largest city in the state of Gujarat. _ _ _ _ OT 16. Strangely beautiful and enticing. _ _ OT _ _ 17. Off-track betting. (*) OT _ 18. A mass of metal cast into a bar. _ _ _ OT 19. To make objection to; speak strongly against. _ _ OT _ _ _ 20. A horse-drawn, two wheeled cart used in ancient times for war, racing, parades etc. _ _ _ _ _ OT 21. A furry carnivore (family Mustelidae) with webbed feet used in swimming and a long, flattened tail. OT_ _ _ 22. A small container for holding ink. _ _ _ _ OT 23. A piece of land marked off for some special use. _ _ OT 24. A hotel on the road side for overnight stay. _ OT _ _ 25. Secluded. _ _ _ OT _ (Puzzle solutions are on page 124. NO peeking!)

Kirit Shukla Contact him at kiritsshukla@hotmail.com

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Astride

continued from page 48

have now tentatively agreed to efforts aimed at sharply reducing deforestation. However, one must be aware of the underlying causes of deforestation. These are, first and foremost, poverty and population growth in poor countries, followed by the ravenous appetite in the globalized market for cheap sources of wood and for palm oil, beef, soybeans, sugarcane and other commodities that large deforesters produce on the land that is cleared. Last but not least is the failure of market economies to value living forests for anything other than the earnings produced by their destruction.

April 2012 Apr. 1 - Rām Navami Apr. 1 - Swāminārāyan Jayanti Apr. 1 - April fool Day Apr. 3 - Kāmadā Ekādasi Apr. 5 - Mahāvir Jayanti Apr. 6 - Hanumān Jayanti Apr. 6 - Good Friday (Full Moon) Apr. 8 - Easter Apr. 13 - Baishākhi Apr. 16 - Varuthini Smārt Ekādasi Apr. 17 - Income Tax due Apr. 21 - Chaitri Amās (No Moon) Apr. 22 - Earth Day Apr. 24 - Akshay Trutiā Apr. 24 - Parshurām Jayanti Apr. 26 - Ādya Shankarācharya Jayanti Apr. 27 - Ramanujācharya Jayanti Apr. 28 - Gangā Saptami May 2012 May 1 - Mahā Gujarat/ Maharastra Day May 2 - Mohini Ekādasi May 4 - Nrusinh Jayanti May 6 - Buddha Purnimā (Full Moon) May 8 - Tagore Jayanti May 13 - Mother’s Day May 16 - Aparā Ekādasi May 28 - Memorial Day May 20 - Darsh Amās (No Moon) (Solar Eclipse) May 24 - Maharana Pratap Jayanti May 25 - Guru Arjundev Shahid day May 25 - Jarathost no Diso June 2012 - July 2012 Jun. 1 - Bhim Ekādasi Jun. 2 - Vatasāvitri Vrat begins Jun. 4 - Akshar Purnimā Jun. 4 - Vatasāvitri Vrat ends Jun. 15 - Yogini Ekādasi Jun. 17 - Father’s day Jun. 19 - Darsh Amās (No Moon) Jun. 21 - Rath Yātrā Jun. 30 - Devshayani Ekādasi Jul. 3 - Guru Purnimā (Full Moon) Jul. 4 - Independence Day (US) Jul. 20 - Divāso Saathee.com

Davos and Hay It is well said that an artist helps you to decide, but does not decide himself. More than 2000 of the world’s top business and political leaders gathered in the last week of January 2012, in the Swiss ski resort of Davos looking for solutions to the world’s problems. But were they in the right place? Half a world away, in the balmy Caribbean colonial city of Cartagena, a very different type of global conversation was taking place among some of the planet’s leading thinkers, writers, poets, scientists and philosophers, inspired by the Renaissance notion that the exchange of ideas between intellectuals of different disciplines fosters original thought. The Davos annual meeting was of the World Economic Forum, which also holds some 6 - 8 regional meetings each year in locations like Latin America and East Asia, as well as undertaking two further annual meetings in China and UAE. On the plus side, political leaders have used the meeting in Davos as a neutral platform to resolve their differences. The Davos Declaration was signed in 1988 by Greece and Turkey, helping them turn back from the brink of war. In 1992 South African President F. W. de Klerk met with Nelson Mandela and Chief Buthelezi, their first joint meeting outside South Africa. At the 1994 annual meeting, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat reached a draft agreement on Gaza and Jericho. Critics such as anti-globalization activists, in the late 1990s, targeted G7, World Bank, WTO and IMF and claimed that capitalism and globalization were increasing poverty and destroying the environment. Singer Bono, tonguein-cheek, called the Davos meeting “fat cats in the snow” and 10,000 demonstrators disrupted the WEF meeting by obstructing passage of 200 delegates to the meeting. The global Hay Festival agenda, once described by former US President Bill Clinton as “the Woodstock of the mind” now stretches well beyond literature and the arts to encompass freedom of expression, climate change, conflict resolution and human rights and has spawned a worldwide network of events from Bangladesh to Mexico. At first sight, the idea of comparing two such diverse forums – one a gathering of the rich and powerful, the other a mecca for bohemians – might seem bizarre. Yet Davos and Hay Cartagena were discussing some of the same big global themes and targeting the same audience of global thinkers with their ideas. Peter Florence, the Hay Festival’s easy going global director, described the events ethos thus: “Festivals should be that place where you can explore ideas in total freedom without political responsibility. The political class only ever listens to the political class. Here you bring writers, thinkers, politicians and scientists together and you give them complete freedom. That’s why it’s not like Davos.” He might well have added: Politicians think of the next elections, while statesmen think of the next generation. 118

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week of the month may boost your confidence. Don’t take any major investment or borrowing risk for now. Wait and watch for now and let time pass. LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 23) You may have to make important decisions in the beginning of the month. Try to compromise and move forward positively. You may have to work against your ideology to enjoy benefits. The circumstances may take a favorable turn for you during the second half of the month. Your spouse and family may come forward to boost your confidence. Good health is clearly indicated. Take full advantage of upcoming changes.

General Predictions for April 2012 ARIES (Mar 20- Apr 20) You may experience major changes this month. After a disturbing start, life should take a fast and positive turn. Before the month ends, you will become very busy. Don’t count on your spouse or siblings during these changes. Your health may not fully cooperate with you. Rely on your own intelligence and move ahead with confidence, destiny will guide you. Unexpected financial gain may also delight you this month.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 22) New opportunities may knock on your door this month. Get ready to act immediately and work in coordination with your family and spouse. Some improvement in health and a rise in income may boost your confidence. Don’t count on your friends or associates. Long distance journey should be avoided this month. Focus on your career and moneymaking activities. You must keep away from speculation.

TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 21) Watch your health carefully this month; life should be fine otherwise. Improvement in relations with friends and family members may give you major relief. Heavy workload may make you feel tired and sick. You may also work on your dream project. You may plan to invest in real estate or business and increase your work. Don’t look for immediate return on your investment.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 21) You may come in contact with politicians and other learned people this month. You may also earn name and fame during last week of the month. Luck may favor you, but not at the desired pace and time. You may make false comment in the beginning of month, but will pass through. Your religious beliefs and understandings may lead you towards maturity and self-confidence. Your friends may not only disappoint you but will also work against you.

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 21) After a negative start, time may take a slow, positive turn. Be prepared for extensive travel during the second half of the month. Life is taking a major turn. This process may last longer than anticipated. New careerrelated opportunities may come your way and you may have to make quick decisions and take immediate actions during second half of the month. Outside help may be required for achieving any success this month.

CAPRICORN (Dec 21 - Jan 20) A major setback is possible this month. Your enemies may enjoy an upper hand over you. Any risk-taking tendency must be curbed. Study related to traveling may bring some relief for you. Your child may prove to be an unexpected good support for you. Be prepared to compromise and work below status for now. Let destiny guide your life in the right direction. Focus on career-related education to enjoy long run benefits.

CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22) Co-ordination with family members for businessrelated activities can bring big financial return for you during the second half of the month. Your creative work may get appreciated this month. A rise in selfconfidence and energy can lead you towards a very busy and successful phase of life. However, a misunderstanding with business partner may lead towards disaster, so take it easy. Don’t count on your friends or associates, as they may not keep their word.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 19) You may have to compromise and work with your competitors to survive during this month. Your siblings and spouse may come forward to rescue you during second half of the month. At least you should enjoy good health during the period. Check your diet and control your habits. Income may come your way but you won’t have control over the flow. You are passing through a tough time of the year, but it should end with good results soon.

LEO (Jul 22 - Aug 23) April may start with mistakes and frustration, but life may take a dramatic turn during the middle of the month. You may enter into an agreement and the time may start flying for you. Ignore your family and focus on your career for now, but don’t ignore health-related problems. Uncertainty regarding travel may keep on bothering you this month. Now is the time to focus on career and income, try to get the best out of it.

PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 20) Be careful while making comments in public. Life may give you administrative powers this month. Your smart decisions and honesty may get appreciated, but healthrelated issues may block you from taking responsibilities. Numerous short distance travels are possible; they may boost your knowledge and understanding. Happy family life is clearly indicated. Take health-related issues seriously this month.

VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 23) Dispute with your partner may get worse this month. Your own mistakes may lead you towards disaster in the beginning of the month. You may realize your mistake immediately and start fixing the situation. Meanwhile unexpected financial gain during third Saathee.com

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April 2012

Saathee

Classifieds BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: Triangle businesses for sale: Autobody shop w/RE $950K; Auto Repair shop w/RE $1.449M. Please contact: info@entrustassociates.com Motel Investment Opportunity in NC. 50 rooms, 3.37 acre land, right off interstate exit. Call for details 336-314-4101 C-Stores: Lenoir, NC, $599K+ Inv., GR $1.2M; Hemingway, SC, $1.3M + Inv., GR $2.5M; Charlotte, NC, $1.2M + Inv., GR $1.8M; Salisbury, NC, $129K, + Inv., GR $2M; Statesville, NC, $149K, + Inv., GR $2.2M; 704814-9435 www.countysouth.biz Gas station for sale / lease in Lake Waccamaw, N.C. Call Anee 347-433-7615. BP gas station/convenience and separate liquor store for sale/lease: Excellent running business, college town, high volume, no contract in gas, owner moving, Clinton (SC). Call Gordon: 864-923-4213. Coin Laundry for sale($130k) Gross sale $130k has 22 washers, 16 dryers,2 change machines, can drink machine, snack machine, single load soap vend machine. Please call 704-866-0690. Indian Restaurant For Sale: Durham/RTP Area North Carolina. Great location. For more information call 919-260-8588. Store with Gas Station For Quick Sale: Includes property. Located in Hiddenite, NC 28636. Please call Dinesh at 828-632-2759 or 646-549-4097. Business for sale: One of the oldest Indo/Pak grocery and halal meat store in Charlotte area. Great location. Halal area is licensed by the city. Ahsim Saleem 704-493-7629. Commercial Property w/ Laundromat and Retail Space: 5200 Sq. ft. space in Gastonia, NC. Includes full laundromat plus two retail spaces. $2,000 monthly rent for both retail spaces; 919-749-5810 / 704-868-3718 (8 to noon) Virginia Motel For Sale: 14 rooms plus a 3 BR house. $275,000. Owner financing, no credit check, $50,000 down and monthly payments of $2,150. Call John at 434-953-8794 or e-mail at johnmjanson@gmail.com. Other commercial properties available. BP Gas Station For Sale near Shelby, NC, Low Rent/pm, Good Running Business, same hands 20 years So Must Be SEEN. Please call between 10am to 5pm 864-384-6900 for details Numerous commercial pads in South Hill, Virginia. Adjacent to new I-85, exit 15, Love’s Travel Plaza, McDonald’s, Subway etc. Ideal for hotel, restaurant, or c-store. Possible lease, build to suit, or owner finance. Utilities and zoning in place. Call John 434-953-8794 or email johnmjanson@gmail.com Saathee.com

Indian Restaurant For Sale: Well established and profitable in North Charlotte prime location. Serious buyers only. Contact: indian.food270@gmail.com.

Nanny Wanted: Seeking an experienced daytime Nanny in Cary NC to take care of 3 month-old. Some cooking and light housework. Call 919-324-2797

Motel Investment Opportunity: Raleigh, NC. Days Inn Hotel 86 Rooms. Call 919-455-5949.

Help Wanted: Experienced Sales Person needed immediately for part/full time position in men’s clothing store in Gastonia, NC. Must speak fluent English and be people friendly. Call 704-865-6699.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: Help Needed: Couple needed for a wife at home while husband is at work. Valid DL required / 9-5 hrs. For further information please call 336-471-1901. Eyebrow Threading specialist needed for established salons in Triangle area including Cary, Raleigh, Morrisville. Excellent pay and benefits. Call 919-244-4425 Help Wanted: Office - Warehouse Assistant. Position open for convenience store distribution, Charlotte, NC and Greensboro, NC. C-store experience and fluent GujaratiEnglish a must. Contact Haresh Patel: 704472-1572 or hitalia@yahoo.com Nanny Needed: full time (6-8 hrs/day) to care for a 3 month old baby in Highland Creek area of Charlotte, NC. Please call 704-766-0301. Motel Help Wanted: For front desk, 3rd shift, part-time(fri-sat) in concord, english a must call 704-236-4679 between 9:00-3:00pm only Babysitter Needed: In South Charlotte to take care of 2 year old (2 full days and 3 half days weekly). Should be able to drop off and pick up from pre-school. Please call 704-248-2910 or 203-918-7130. Threading Practitioners Wanted: Full or parttime. In Winston Salem. Experience & good English skills needed. Please call 336-765-1707. Hotel Management Firm Now Hiring: ANDERSON SC AREA Various positions available for House keepers, front desk (must speak fluent English), and General Manager/s of franchise hotels. Experience is REQUIRED. Serious inquiries only. E-mail resumes to Danny@phc-hotels.com OR call ( 864-7527192) m-f , 9:00 am- 5:00pm) Part time assistant needed in UNCC area for office work and tasks. Flexible hours. English, computer skills and reliable transport required. 704-258-4507. Motel Help Needed: Franchise motel in Huntersville, NC is hiring housekeepers, laundry person, and part/full time front desk clerks. Please call 828-308-4488.

Nanny Needed: Friendly punjabi couple in Rutherfordton, NC seeking nanny to care for 2 and 6 yr old. Preferably Punjabi/Hindi speaking. Please call 516-456-4487 or email madhusandhu@hotmail.com Need help for Front Desk and Housekeeping positions for a franchised hotel in Duncan, SC. Must be authorized to work in US. Accommodation will be provided. Please Call: 774-249-5377. Front Desk applicants must be fluent in English. Motel Help Wanted Immediately: Charlotte, NC. Front desk, must have Green card or US Citizenship and speak fluent English. Contact V Patel 202-255-3008. Help Wanted full time convenience store/gas station in Danville, VA 1 hour from Greensboro and Durham NC. Single or couple. Contact: 704-724-1337 or 704-724-8356. Hotel Management Firm Now Hiring: Various positions available for House keepers, front desk (must speak fluent English), and General Manager/s of franchise hotels. Experience is REQUIRED for all positions. Serious inquiries only. E-mail resumes to abcone@abcinns.com OR call ( 704-649-6833 m-f , 9:00 am- 5:00pm) Gas Station Help Wanted: Looking for a Couple or single. Full-Time for convenience store / gas station / restaurant near Charlotte, Accommodations Provided! 704-701-9975 Refulgent Technologies Inc.: IT staffing company is currently recruiting Java, .Net, SQL Server and QA candidates. We also do Training & Placement. Contact Anu: e-mail: recruiter @refulgent-tech.com or 704-405-4238 Threading Practitioners Wanted: Full or PartTime. In Charlotte, Raleigh, & Richmond areas. Experience & good English skills needed. Please call 980-322-1110

Help Needed in kitchen for fast food restaurant in University Area. Please call 704909-7783.

Nanny Needed: Seeking a loving and energetic part time nanny(tues, wed, thur 8-5) for 8 month old. Matthews, NC. Prefer English and Gujarati speaking. Must have transportation. Call 407-488-5334 or email matthewsnanny1@gmail.com.

Help Wanted for Subway and Store (Greensboro & Burlington Area): Must speak fluent English have legal status. Call Bailey 704-737-1555 or e-mail bali2623@yahoo.com.

Looking for help with house activities: Livein OK. Cooking, cleaning etc in Cornelius (near Charlotte), NC. Please call 510-213-4997 or email neeraj_jindal@infosys.com.

Looking for a Gujarati nanny in North Charlotte(Mallard Creek Church rd.), for a new born baby from May 2012. More details to be discussed in person. Please contact 704300-4443.

Immediate opening for EXPERIENCED general manager for choice franchise property in Charlotte area.Good salary plus incentive. Please send your resume at hoteljob2010@hotmail.com

122

April 2012

Hiring Immediately: Energetic Sales Person. Opportunity for advancement. For part/full time position in men’s clothing store. Must speak fluent English and people friendly. Stores located in Camden, Columbia, & Orangeburg, SC. Good Pay+Commissions. Contact 803-427-1681. Help Wanted: Franchise Motel in Raleigh, NC needs couple for front desk. Must have Legal status. Must Speak English, Accommodation will be provided. Please Call: 919-208-3513 Help Wanted: Full Time Employee for CSTORE / GAS STATION near Wadesboro, NC. Accommodations provided, call: 704695-7553 or 704-465-8089. e-mail: ratravijay@gmail.com Gujurati speaking Nanny needed in Cary, NC. Vegetarian cooking and light housekeeping. Excellent pay and accommodations. 919-444-1597 Help Wanted: Energetic male or female needed for retail clothing stores in South Carolina. Must speak fluent English. CONTACT 706-877-0314 or email resume@PAMSUM70@gmail.com Gas Station Help: Looking for full-time or part-time single or couple help for a gas station in Mooresville, NC (Charlotte Area). Experience preferred but not needed. Call 704-222-8998 or leave a message. Need Manager for Subway Restaurant near Monroe, NC. No Experience required. Student & H1 Visa accepted. We may File GC. Call for Inquiry 848-565-4512. Threading job in Winston Salem. Hair Threading female position open for IMMEDIATE HIRE. Full-time or Part-Time, for long term. Call 980-622-4386. Help Wanted: Franchise Motel in Raleigh, NC need couple for Housekeeping. Must have Legal status. Accommodation will be provided. Please Call: 919-208-3514 Full Time Cashier Needed: Looking for a couple or single full-time for gas station / Subway / near Rock Hill. Must speak fluent English & have legal status. Call 803-981-2242. Seeking Manager and Assistant Manager: Applicants with management experience are preferred, but a people person with great organizational skills and a willingness to learn would be considered. Call 704-763-5873 MATRIMONIAL: Seeking A Hindu Indian Female: For a divorced male age 37 for marriage, working in NC on h1b. For info call: 704-957-9005 Gujarati Hindu Girl 30/5'4 BSC HONS Business, born and raised in UK. Looking for US or UK citizen educated and professional handsome boy who knows our traditional values. It’s very important for me. Please call 704-877-0622. Saathee.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE OR RENT: Rental property for sale in Georgia. 6 onebedroom individual houses included on 2.25 acres of land. Asking $250,000. Call 912-4967767 ex 0 for more details. Room Available in Charlotte for female. Walking distance to UNCC. Fully furnished house with Laundry. For more info Call 704.564.1881. House for sale in Durham County between RTP and Duke Univ. On 1.76 acres of land, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. $145,000. Call 919-5964636 Beautiful House in safe neighborhood for rent: 4 bed, 2.5 bath, office formals, open plan, lots of sunlight. Very near I-84/485, Concord Mills. Please call 704-510-1443. Townhome for sale near Park Rd Shopping Center Charlotte. Great Location and Myers Park High School zone. 2 br; 1.5 bath, fireplace. 135k. For details e-mail: rakavid@aol.com SERVICES: Tutor Available: Experienced Math, Physics, Chemistry tutor for middle, high school, IB, AP courses (including AP Statistics). Cary, Raleigh, Durham area. Call 704-497-2639 Eneez studio line presents the latest designs in indian sarees and suits, complete wedding dresses and attire available on request. By appointment only. For more information please call Sarita 980-225-3610 or email gogimayer@hotmail.com Babysitting Available at our place: In South Charlotte area for all ages, Homely environment. Fluent in English /Hindi/Gujarati. Please contact 704-469-2216. Fusion Brushes / Painting Class: Age 4 & up. Learn to draw & paint with oil pastels / water / acrylic colors. Advance training for 15+. (facebook.com/fusionbrushes). Contact Rutika (rutika.gunjal@yahoo.com | 704-780-1546). Harmony / Music Class: Age 4 and up. Vocal training in Hindustani classical music including ragas and alankars. Learn to sing and play (keyboard) devotional, patriotic and bollywood songs. Contact Rutika (rutika.gunjal@yahoo.com | 704-780- 1546) Tax Returns: Federal & State Tax Preparation with e-filing, Accounting and Bookkeeping Services for Individuals, Self-employed, Partnerships & S-corporations. Call Mahesh Patel, EA (704) 799-6377, e-mail: masupatel4@yahoo.com Priest Services: Astrology: Pass down from generation to generations. Specialized in all Poojas, PerformWedding, Vratha, Homa, Japa, Navagraha Pooja… Call 704-564-2615 or 256-337-6458 Computer Consulting: Assistance with software installation, set-up, formatting, backup, troubleshooting and more. Very reasonable rates. 704-619-2358 123

Independent Balaji Priest: All kinds of puja, havan, katha, weddings, graha shanti, funeral services & Shraadh. In Hindi, English & Tamil. 704.877.6320 or 704-545-7220 or e-mail: vbbalaji@hotmail.com. South Indian Priest: Sastriji is an independent priest Call for Pujas, Gruhapravesh, Weddings, Multi-lingual, Vedic traditional priestly services, etc. Call 704-625-7578 or 704-231-0751. E-mail: sastrigal2003@yahoo.com Dholi For Hire: Plays the Dhol (drum) for any occasion! Classes Available! Barat, Doli, Graduation, Birthdays, Baby Showers & any other festivity. Affordable rates! Call Arpan Bhandari 704-843-7202 or email: arpandholi@yahoo.com Software Testing (QA) and Business System Analysis: Training Classes and Placement Assistance in Charlotte. Please Contact 704806-8907 for details. Gujarati Priest: Devendra Dave Independent priest. Ganesh, Randal, Navratri, Diwali’s Laxmi & Sharda Pujas, Satyanarayan Katha, Weddings, Vastu, Baby Showers, Funeral Seva. Call Daveji 704-780-3563. God Blessings to All. Ribald Farms Nursery & Florist: Specializes in Indian wedding reception design and floral arrangements. For more information contact Shawna Turner at 803-328-2266 or www.rockhillflowers.com Neeta’s Beauty Parlor: Charlotte area open 7 days a week. Full service. Please call for appointment. 704-968-0270 Mehandi (Henna): Award winning artist from Jaipur, India specializing in wedding parties (Bride & attendants). Satisfaction guaranteed regarding design, color & price. Please call: Krishna Priya Dasi 919-824-7734 E-Mail: krsnapriyad@hotmail.com Pari Beauty In Matthews, NC: Threading, Waxing, Facials, Bleaching & Much More! 20 years of experience. Special Deals & Great Service. For Appointment Call: 704-846-7912

Saathee Classifieds: Business ads are $25 & personal ads are $15 up to 25 words. Ask about upgrades to color and box. Submit classifieds on-line at saathee.com Deadline is the 20th. We accept credit cards and checks. Ads are posted on saathee.com at no extra charge with paid print listing. Feel free to call us with any questions. 704.527.7570 Fax: 704.527.7590 Saatheemag@hotmail.com www.saathee.com PO Box 11468, Charlotte, NC 28220 April 2012

Meghna Jewelers Sale and Show in NC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Motel For Sale (Patel, Akshat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 MyTripFare (Travel agent) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Nationwide Ins. (Maqsood Khan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Neeta's Beauty Parlor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Norwood-Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Oza, Rishi (Immigration Legal Services) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Paracha Entertainment (Rahat Fateh Ali Khan) . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Pardasani, Kamlesh (Real Estate - CharlotteArea.com) . . . . .97 Passage To India - Fine Indian Cuisine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 Patel Brothers (Charlotte) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Patel, Champa (Real Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 Patel, Mrugesh (Law Offices) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Payal Groceries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Piedmont GYN/OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Poplai, Deepak (White Insurance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Punjabi Unlimited (Baishaki Mela) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Raj D Batra (Kamera Art Photo & Video) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Rajbhog Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Rajdeep Mandap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Rajdeep Video & Photography (Ramesh Panjabi) . . . . . . . . . .85 Rajesh Jyotishi (Shalin Financial Services Inc.) . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Ramana Coaching Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Religious Ceremonies (Swminath Sastrigal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Roop Beauty (Pooja Patel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 S S Photography Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Saffron Restaurant and Catering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 Sarvaga Studios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Shah, Anish (Real Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54/55 Shah, Kirti (CPA - Sepa Consulting) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Shining Star Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126 Shukla, Kirit (Music Lession & Band) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Skynet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Sleep Inn (Charlotte) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Sonu Nigam Concert Raleigh (NCIAP Medical Care) . . . . . . .9 South Char. Endocrinology (Kanakasabai Narasimhan, MD)93 Spice South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 State Farm Ins (Matt Woodford) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Summit Plastic & Hand Surgery (Dr. Mohan Pillai) . . . . . . .107 Swift Telecom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Tactical Wealth Management Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Thakkar, Beena (Realty) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 The Blue Taj . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Transportation (Diamond Cab) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Travel Universe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Travelinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Triangle Speech Services (Judith L. Bergman) . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Ttravel Guru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 UroGender Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Usha Decor (Wedding Planning & Decor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Vivaah Mela Greensboro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Vyas Travels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Weldone Beauti Parlour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 White Horse Weddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Woodlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Worldwide travels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Yogi Cash & Carry (Indian Food & Spices) . . . . . . . . . . . . .64/65

Index of advertisers A & A Events (Event Planning) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 A & V Satellites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Abacus Math . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 Access Realty & Funding (Chandravadan Shah) . . . . . . . . . .47 Ali & Sons Car Care (Formerly Rapid Car Care) . . . . . . . . . . .34 All Car Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Anil Bedi & Associates PC (CPA & Consultants) . . . . . . . . .125 Apna Travels (Morrisville) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119 Artistic Eyebrows by Sejal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Ashwini Kathak Dance Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Asiana Fusion.Sushi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Aura And More... Boutique (Ladies Fashions) . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 BallantyneTech Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Bashyam & Spiro LLP (Immigration Law) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125 Bethel Christian Fellowship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 Bharat Bazaar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Bhindi Jewellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Bipin & Smita Parekh (Real Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Blooming Buds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 Blue Mango Indian Cuisine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Bollywood Bites (Restaurant) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Bombay Grille Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Borrego Springs Bank, N.A. (Ritesh P. Shah) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 British American School of Charlotte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 Brow Bar (henna, hair, make up, threading...) . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Carolina Law Group (Monty Desai) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 CaroMont Medical Group (Dr. Manu Patel) . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Cary Photo & Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 Chai Pani (Restaurant - Ashville, NC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Challa Law Offices, PLC (Immigration) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Chiro-Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Concha, David - Immigration Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 County South Realty & Business Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 Cricket Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Dada Bhagwan Seminar Raleigh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Dances of India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Delhi Palace (Columbia, SC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Dentist (Dr. Prashant Rao - Cedar Walk Dentistry) . . . . . . . .29 Desai Desai Accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Desai, Rajarshi (CPA, PLLC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Dish Network (Viren Mehta) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 DJ Hangama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 DJ Kenz (Kenz Desai) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 DJ Desi (Amit Vasi) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 DJ Don (David Pandoria) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 DJ Lalit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 DJ Ravi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Elegant Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119 Eshaan Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Fairview Home Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Festival Of India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Flavors Of India (Uptown Charlotte) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Friends Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Fu Lin Asian Cuisine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Gaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Gandhi International Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Grover Medical Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 H2 Laser & Skin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Henna Mehendi Artists (Bhavini Patel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Henna's Dulhan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 Hindu Center Charlotte (Events) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68/69 Huntington Learning Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 iFuturistics Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 India Grocers (Charlotte) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 India Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Indian Grocery (Columbia, SC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Indian Performing Arts Association of Charlotte . . . . . . . . . .73 Jaipur Indian Restaurant (Charlotte) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Jay Swaminarayan Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 K & M Accountant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 K.B. Zaveree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Kaya Designs Boutique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 KD Photographics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 Kumar, Kokila (Real Estate - Allen Tate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Legacy Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 Mahabazar.com Travels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Mahaprabhuji Shrimad Vallabhacharya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Maharani Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Malani Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128 Malaya Kitchen (Charlotte) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Masti Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Mathur, Gitanjali (Allen Tate Realtors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Saathee.com

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Helping children develop to their fullest potential through a secure, nurturing, loving stimulating environment. Helping children develop toand their fullest potential through a secure, nurturing, loving and stimulating environment.

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